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CARROLL COUNTY, GEORGIA'S ONLY LOCALLY OWNED / LOCALLY OPERATED NEWSPAPER
EASTER Messages 2024 j
/row area pastors - beginning on page 9
A FREE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER IS VITAL TO A FREE COUNTRY StarNews monthly traditional/zmzf/StarNews Online daily local news
MARCH 17, 2024 • VOLUME 30 NUMBER 3
www.starnewsgaonline.com
Bowdon City Manager dies
in vehicular accident after
striking rear of log truck
Accident was Feb. 22nd at intersection
of GA-166 and Farmers High Road
Bowdon City Manager Gary Bullock,
age 82, died the evening of February 22,
2014, as a result of a
vehicular accident in
which his Chevrolet
Avalanche struck the
right rear of a
Freightliner logging
trailer that had just
entered Highway 1-
66 from Farmers
^ „ „ , See BULLOCK
Gary Bullock page 2 J
Villa Rica City Manager Tom Barber
suspended for 5 days without pay and
with stipulations: “Barber does not
care about the will of the council”
Original motion by Warmoth was to fire Barber; but vote failed 2-3
with Warmoth and Carter voting to fire Barber immediately
Second motion by Momtahan was 5-day suspension without pay;
passed unanimously; council will revisit situation March 18th
story by Sue Horn
Villa Rica City Manager Tom Barber narrowly escaped being fired by
council Tuesday, March 12th after a 2-3 vote to oust him failed. Instead,
in a unanimous vote, he was put on a 5-day suspension without pay.
Council had rescinded their vote to lin e defeated mayor Gil McDougal as
Deputy City manager, but Barber put McDougal on paid leave instead.
Council Member Stephanie Warmoth said, “Barber does not care about
See BARBER SUSPENDED page 24
Carroll County’s May 21st General Primary
offers host of candidate choices in two races:
U.S. Representative District 3 and
Carroll County Commission District 5
District 3 Congressional seat: 2 Democrats and 6 Republicans
District 5 Carroll County Commission seat: 7 Republicans
County school board: two seats contested in Non-Partisan races
story by Sue Horn
The 2024 General Primary
Nonpartisan Election is May 21,
2024, with early voting April 29th
through May 17th. Most likely, a
runoff election will be held due to
the host of candidates in two races.
The District 3 U.S Representative
race has two Democrats and six
Republicans vying for the seat. The
General Primary / Nonpartisan
Election is May 21, 2024
General Primary / Nonpartisan
Runoff is June 18, 2024
Carroll County Board of
Commissioners District 5 race has
seven Republican candidates.
Runoff is scheduled for June 18th.
The jobs of sheriff, coroner,
See LIST of CANDIDATES page 26
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20:26:16.630
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Camera17
All Cameras on Layout
20:26:12 I W W
Shown above on a county computer monitor is a still shot from video footage
of a private business’s vehicle, Morgan Oil, in the county Public Works
maintenance building on Feb. 13th (see date/Camera 17) having new decals put
on by another private company. Morgan Oil is County Commission Chairman
Michelle Morgan’s family’s business. When asked for a comment on this,
Carroll County Communications Director Ashley Hulsey told StarNews, “it
was a dumb idea” but “was not criminal”. Photo submitted by Keith Knowles
Citizen’s Open Records Request to county
government met with $21,123.09 fee
Citizen decides to run for county government seat instead
Keith Knowles witnesses vehicle owned by Chairman Michelle Morgan’s family’s business
entering county public works maintenance building; requests video surveillance recordings
story by Sue Horn
On February 13th, citizen Keith Knowles witnessed a Morgan Oil buck entering the Pubhc Works
Maintenance building. He requested video recordings from the county along with a request for the
names of “all county employees currently employed under Civil Service”. The county responded
they were obligated to do so and would provide those items, but the fees for retrieval, search, and
redactions would be $21,123.09 - and that amount would need to be prepaid. Knowles withdrew his
Civil Service requests; viewed the videos in person taking pics of the Morgan Oil tmck with his cell
phone (see photo this page): and on March 7th, qualified for the open seat of District 5, Carroll
County Commission. Knowles paid $15.00 for the video pics. See $21,123 FEE page 26
Carroll County Mental Health Advocates
director under criminal investigation
Goodman
Jodie Goodman now under investigation by sheriff’s department for
alleged “misappropriation of funds” from Carroll Mental Health Advocates
CMHA held 5th Annual “Masquerade Ball” last October at Venue on Cedar
story by Sue Horn
Jodie Goodman, executive director, Carroll Mental Health Advocates (CMHA),
was fired mid-February after a “whistleblower” from CMHA came forth to the
Carroll County Sheriff’s office about “potential issues” concerning funds. A crimi
nal investigation began immediately. This case continues under active investigation
by Lieutenant Jackson Lawrence, 770-830-5926. The alleged crime(s) attached is
“Misappropriation of Funds” from CMHA’s fundraising account.
See MISAPPROPRIATION $$ page 26
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