About Dawson County news. (Dawsonville, Georgia) 2015-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 26, 2022)
4A I DAWSON COUNTY NEWS I dawsonnews.com Wednesday, October 26,2022 Second person arrested in suspected car fraud scheme By Julia Fechter jfechter@dawsonnews.com A California man is now behind bars in Dawson County after an alleged scheme with three others to fraudulently buy vehicles went awry. Bradley Scott Wismar, 37, of Modesto was booked into the Dawson County Detention Center on Oct. 12. Wismar is one of four people accused of trying to fraudulent ly obtain vehicles using an elderly Dawson County cou ple’s financial information. In September, the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office appre hended Jazmine Ranae Wheeler, 28, of Sacramento, for her alleged role in the scheme. The other two suspects, who are also from California, have been apprehended and are in Wismar Wheeler the process of being transported back to Georgia, Dawson County Sheriff Jeff Johnson told DCN in a Sept. 22 email. As of Oct. 19, Wismar and Wheeler are both being held at the jail without bond, although bond has been requested for Wheeler. Accusations In June, grand jurors in Dawson County indicted Wheeler, Brandon Phillip Raible, Austin William Reid and Bradley Scott Wismar on various charges relating to the allegations, according to Dawson County Superior Court documents. Arrest orders were issued for each of the defendants back in July. The indictment states Wismar allegedly tried to use that checking number to obtain a 2020 Toyota Tacoma and also stole more than $25,000 from one of the victims on Feb. 13. Raible is accused of trying to use one of the victims’ check ing account number to buy a BMW X-5 SUV on Feb. 6, 2022, the indictment stated. He has also been accused of obtaining one of the victims’ banking account number and statement on Feb. 23 with the intent to use that information fraudulently. Additionally, Raible and Reid were both accused in the indict ment of attempting to use that same information in order to pur chase a motorcycle on Feb. 17. Wheeler allegedly used a vic tim’s checking information on Feb. 12 to supposedly write a counterfeit check of $35,096.57 to CarMax for a 2017 Mercedes C300 sedan, according to the indictment and her DCSO war rants. Charges Wismar has been charged with one count each of identity fraud, theft by taking and exploiting an elderly person. Wheeler received one felony count each of identity fraud, criminal attempt to commit theft by taking and exploiting, threat ening or intimidating a disabled or elderly person. She is still being held at the Dawson County jail without bond. DCSO charged Raible with three counts of identity fraud and Reid with one count of that offense. In his previous email to DCN, Sheriff Johnson explained that fraud cases are “unfortunately becoming more and more prevalent.” “Although locally, we do not experience many cases where multiple suspects use the same illegally-obtained information, it is not a rare occurrence,” Johnson said. “Whenever online personal information is compromised, there are those who are lying in wait to take advantage of oth ers. We urge our community to take the necessary steps to guard their information, as well as continually monitoring it for any signs of fraudulent activi ty.” Photos by Erica Jones Dawson County News Cars participate in the Saturday morning parade during the 55th annual Mountain Moonshine Festival on Oct. 22. FROM 1A Moonshine This year’s Grand Marshal was Donnie Allison, a NASCAR leg end who is known for his role as part of the famous “Alabama Gang”, a group of NASCAR drivers out of Hueytown, Alabama. As the Grand Marshal, Allison led the parade on Saturday morning and spoke during the opening ceremonies for the festi val. “I wanna thank every body for coming out and supporting such a great cause,” Allison said. “It’s truly a great experience; I’m looking at all these cars up and down both sides of the parking area here and what a tremen dous effort everybody puts into it.” Also during the opening ceremonies, representa tives from K.A.R.E. for Kids presented their annu al Humanitarian Award to Bobby Benfield, a long time volunteer with the festival. The award was first created to honor Gordon Pirkle seven years ago, and each year since then a new recipient has been recognized with the award for their dedication and love for the festival and for K.A.R.E. for Kids. “Every recipient has been a pillar of strength in keeping this event going; their commitment to work in support of something that is so near and dear to my daddy is truly amaz ing,” Pirkle’s daughter and K.A.R.E. for Kids Board Member Hayley Garrett said. “This year’s recipient falls right into that description — he arrives early to help park cars and anything else that’s asked of him. He promotes the festival year-round in his commu nity, and he always has a smile on his face. He loves the festival and K.A.R.E. for Kids, and we love him.” The three newest inductees to the National Moonshiners Hall of Fame were also announced during the opening ceremonies, and representatives for each of the honorees came for ward to accept plaques for the achievement. This year’s inductees were Duane “Skeeter” Fields, Ted Bauguess and Tommy “Catfish” Davis. Fields made liquor in Dawson, Lumpkin and surrounding counties and is known as an expert in making the liquor most efficiently using less sugar. Bauguess was from Traphill, North Carolina, followed in his father’s footsteps in the moonshine business, and was arrested several times before being killed in a car crash at only 40 years old. Davis began making moonshine as a way to survive after losing both of his parents at a young age and was arrested three times before he was given probation to pursue a career in cutting timber, but he always found time to make a little liquor up until his death in 2013. The opening ceremo nies began and ended with performances by Shyla, Mila and Lilly Sheffield, who sang the national anthem at the beginning and “Country Roads” at the end. Faith Thomas gave the invocation fol lowing the performance of the national anthem. K.A.R.E. for Kids President Rhonda Evans thanked all of the many volunteers who helped to make this year’s festival happen, applauding each of them for their hard work ahead of and during the festival. “Thank you everybody, from the smallest thing you do to the greatest, it takes us all and it’s a joy just to see it come togeth er,” Evans said. For more information about K.A.R.E. for Kids, the annual festival, and how to help support the nonprofit’s Christmas pro gram, go to http://www. kareforkids.org/. §§M-taMk Your vote changes the direction of the country - GO VOTE Be part of the solution - GO VOTE Voting is essential to the survival of our democracy - GO VOTE "We the people" should never expect or allow others to speak for us - GO VOTE Voting Details: • Early voting: M-F, 8 AM-5 PM, Oct. 17th thru Nov. 4th and Sat, Oct. 22nd & 29th 9AM-5PM • Election Day Voting - November 8 7:00AM - 7:00PM DAWSON COUNTY Election Office, 96 Academy Ave. (706) 344-3640 phone Absentee Voting is Oct. 10th thru Oct. 28th Dawsoncountyga.gov Vote Your Values... DEMOCRAT REPUBLICAN Candidate for Governor Stacy Abrams Candidate for Governor Brian Kemp SPEND, SPEND, SPEND $$$ REFUND STATE SURPLUS TO TAX PAYER REPEAL CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY SUPPORTS 2ND AMENDMENT REPEAL HEARTBEAT BILL SUPPORTS SCHOOL CHOICE UNLIMITED ABORTION PROLIFE/PRO-FAMILY SUPPORTS OPEN BORDERS SECURE OUR BORDERS VOTE STRAIGHT REPUBLICAN... ALL THE WAY DOWN THE BALLOT GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP LT. GOVERNOR BURT JONES SECRETARY OF STATE BRAD RAFFENSPERGER ATTORNEY GENERAL CHRIS CARR US SENATE HERSCHEL WALKER US HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES RICH McCORMICK COMMISSIONER OF LABOR BRUCE THOMPSON COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE TYLER HARPER STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT RICHARD WOODS STATE SENATE DISTRICT 51 STEVE GOOCH STATE HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 9 WILL WADE Paid for by: DAWSON COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF WATER SUPPLY WELL FOR THE CITY OF DAWSONVILLE, GEORGIA Sealed proposals will be received the City of Dawsonville, Georgia at the Dawsonville City Hall, 415 Highway 53 East, Suite 100, Dawsonville, Georgia 30534 until 1:00 p.m. local time, Tuesday, November 15, 2022 at which time and place they will be publicly opened and read. No submitted bid may be withdrawn after the scheduled closing time for receipt of bids for a period of 90 days. All Bidders must have a State of Georgia Well Drillers License and be a member of the Georgia Water Well Drillers Association. The work to be done consists of furnishing all materials, equipment and labor for the construction of: Construction of a 6-inch test well, 8-inch production well, 72-hour aquifer test and abandonment as needed. Time allotted for construction is 90 consecutive calendar days for substantial completion and 120 days for final completion. Proposals for the complete work in one general contract shall be made on the proposal form provided and shall contain prices in words and figures for the work bid on. All proposals shall be accompanied by a Bid Bond drawn in favor of the City of Dawsonville, Georgia, in the amount of at least 10% of the lump sum bid for the complete work; such Bid Bond representing that the Bidder, if awarded the contract, will promptly enter into a contract and furnish Performance Bond and Payment Bond as provided by law and approved by the Attorney for the City of Dawsonville, Georgia. Each bond shall be equal to 100% of the contract amount. The Bid Bond shall be forfeited to the City of Dawsonville, Georgia as liquidated damages if the Bidder fails to execute the contract and provide Performance and Payment Bonds within 10 days after being notified that he has been awarded the contract. Bidding documents are open to public inspection at the office of the City of Dawsonville, Georgia and at the offices of Turnipseed Engineers in Augusta and Atlanta, Georgia. Copies of the bidding documents must be obtained from Turnipseed Engineers, 2255 Cumberland Parkway, Building 400, Atlanta, Georgia 30339, upon receipt of $75.00. Digital copies of the documents are not available. GBT/DOC MCS 04/22 AB-1 ADVERTISEMENT FORBIDS Dawsonville/212468 Upon receipt of all documents in undamaged condition within 30 days after the date of opening of bids, half of the deposit will be refunded. The difference between the deposit and the amount refunded represents the cost of reproduction. No refund will be made for documents receive after 30 days or in damaged condition. The Owner reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive informalities. DAWSONVILLE, GEORGIA fohn Walden, Mayor Pro-Tem ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS GBT/DOC MCS 04/22 Dawsonville/212468 AB-2
