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CARROLL COUNTY, CL
StarNews
CARROLL COUNTY, GEORGIA'S ONLY LOCALLY OWNED LOCALLY OPERATED NEWSPAPER
NEWS REPORTING / NEWS RECAP / NEWS ANALYSIS
FEBRUARY 2020 • VOLUME 26 NUMBER 2
“Who’s Carroll?”2020
Featuring our Community Leaders
who affect the quality of life in West Georgia
beginning on Page 10
www.starnewsgaonline.com
StarNews monthly traditional print publication /StarNews Online daily local news
Tickets still available for
“Leadership Luncheon”
Villa Rica Main Street’s leadership series
continues with presentation by three
time Olympic medalist Elana Myers
The Villa Rica “Leadership Luncheon
Series” brings together executives, entre
preneurs, educational leaders, and innova
tors to discuss trends, challenges and oppor
tunities. Open to the public, the leadership
luncheon is held bi-monthly on the second
Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. at The Venue, 150
Stone Street, downtown Villa Rica. The
next luncheon will be held Wed. Feb. 12th,
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., and will feature
three time Olympic medalist Elana Meyers.
See OLYMPIC MEDALIST page 8
Tyus Carrollton Road speed
limit has been lowered from
55 mph to 45 mph
from press release
County officials have announced that the
speed limit on Tyus Carrollton Road has
been reduced from 55 mph to 45 mph. This
decision came as a result of a Facebook
page posted by a local paramedic that high
lighted several vehicular accidents on that
county road.
See 45 MPH page 17
Qualifying to be held
March 2-6, 2020
for the following elected positions:
• Board of Commissioners
Chairman
• Board of Commissioners Districts
1,3, 5
• Carroll County School Board
Districts 1, 3, 4, 6
• Carroll County Sheriff
• Carroll County Coroner
• Tax Commissioner
• Clerk of Superior Court
•□Solicitor • Surveyor
• State Court Judge
•□Probate Court Judge
• Chief Magistrate Judge
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UWG hosts MLK Interfaith
Luncheon: “moral checkup”
from UWG press release
by Emily Sprewell
The University of West
Georgia recently hosted an inter
faith luncheon to honor Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. The
interfaith luncheon gave
attendees the chance to listen
and engage in a discussion
regarding diversity and King’s
legacy. The luncheon began with
an introduction from UWG’s
Interim President, Dr. Stuart
Rayfield.
“The University of West
Georgia has a strong commit
ment to diversity and inclusion
and it’s important for us to make
sure that we broaden the way we
think of diversity and inclusion,”
Rayfield said. “The legacy of
this institution is every single
person who is sitting in this
room today, and it’s the ripple
effect of education that creates
the legacy of UWG. It’s what
you learn while you’re here, but
it’s also what you take away and
how you share your gifts and
See MLK page 6
Judge John Simpson shares about new
veterans court to Carrollton Kiwanis Club
Carroll County Judge John Simpson recently spoke to the
Carrollton Kiwanis Club. He has formed a veterans court in
Carroll County, and shared its successes with club members
and guests. Simpson is shown above with club president
Cathy Farley. See story page 25. Photo by Neil Weathington
Carroll County voters to
decide Educational SPLOST
E-SPLOST school vote will be on the March 24th local ballot
along with the Presidential Primary Preference choice
One penny tax would pay for “previously Incurred debt” by
Carrollton/Bremen schools; projects for Carrollton/county schools
by Sue Horn
On Tuesday, March 24, 2020,
Carroll County voters will once
again have the option to
approve, or not, the continuation
of a one cent tax with the
monies benefiting three local
school systems. Also on the bal
lot will be the Presidential
Preference Primary question.
Voters will have a choice of a
Republican, Democrat, or Non-
Partisan Ballot, but all will con
tain the local E-SPLOST
question.
See MARCH 24th page 30
County commissioners discuss
5 year fire department plan; annual
audit; tax assessors; and “old white
men” remark at day long work session
by Sue Horn Courthouse. All commissioners
The Carroll County Board of were present, as was the chair-
Commissioners held a day long man, two county attorneys,
work session / retreat Friday, county clerk and assistant,
January 31, 2020 in the com- finance director, and human
mission room, top floor of the resource director. Also present
historic Carroll County See 0 LD WHITE MEN page 30
Seven member county school
board takes three tries
to nominate/elect a chair
On third attempt, board member Donald Nixon
nominates himself, but Bryant Turner becomes
Board of Education chairman with majority vote
by Prissi Sullivan
The Carroll County Board of
Education elected a chairman
and vice-chairman at their work
session held Monday, January
13, 2020.
Having waited for the arrival
of member Clayton Kierbow,
Chairman Bart Cater opened the
floor for nominations. Member
Rob Cleveland nominated
Member Bryant Turner;
Member Sandra Morris nomi
nated Member Robert
Pinckney; and Cater nominated
Member Donald Nixon.
With no nominee having a
majority of votes, which would
have been four for a seven-
See VOTE page 17
West Georgia Right to Life hosts
“Pizza and a Movie Outreach”
Well-attended free event featured the film “Unplanned” with
pro-life advocate and movie actor Robert Thomason as emcee
by Amber George
On a brisk Saturday evening in January,
just over 300 individuals, friends, and fam
ily members squeezed into the sanctuary of
North Point Baptist Church in Carrollton - a
sanctuary that has only 325 seats available.
Who rallied these individuals to come?
What was the common draw of these ordi
nary citizens? It was an opportunity to rally
and learn from The West Georgia Right to
Life group through an evening of fellow
ship, free pizza, and a movie showing of the
pro-life film “Unplanned”. WGRTL presi
dent Duane Hack said he had held other
showings of the movie last year at other
venues, but the Saturday, January 25th
event in Carrollton was the most successfu
so far.
The newest pro-life film “Unplanned”,
directed by Cary Solomon and Chuck
Konzelman is based on the true story of
Abbey Johnson, the youngest clinic director
in Planned Parenthood history. She made a
radical career change of advocating the pro
life movement after witnessing an abortion,
and wrote a book titled “Unplanned”.
WGRTL also brought in Robert
See PRO-LIFE OUTREACH page 3
Temple City Council
considering 35 mph
speed limit on all
city/subdivision streets
by Prissi Sullivan
Temple City Council and mayor met for
their first meeting of the 2020 on Monday,
January 6th. Mayor Michael Johnson swore
in newly re-elected council members
Richard Bracknell, Tom Wallace, and Hiley
Miller. Bracknell was elected Mayor Pro
Tern for the upcoming year.
The council continues to consider an
ordinance to establish speed limits on all
city streets including within subdivisions.
No proposed ordinance was presented at
See TEMPLE CITY COUNCIL page 8
