About Lake Oconee news. (Greensboro, GA) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 11, 2015)
Friday, December 11,2015 Lake Oconee News Page A7 Crime Reports MORGAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE Ashley Nicole Hightower, 2770 Headland Drive, Atlanta, was arrested Nov. 25 and charged with speeding in excess of maximum limits and driv ing while license suspended/revoked. Marcelino Lugo Castillo, 134 Providence St., Shadydale, was arrested Nov. 25 and charged with driving with an expired or no driver's license. Walter Joseph Johnson, 4271 Eatonton Road, Madison, was arrested Nov. 25 and charged with failure to appear in court. Julius Scott Hardigree, 301 Deer Track Road, Buckhead, was arrested Nov. 26 and charged with driving while license suspended/revoked. Bereket James Lewis, 1227 Grant St., Atlanta, was arrested Nov. 26 and charged with pos session of a Schedule 2 controlled substance, prescription drugs not in their original container and misdemeanor obstruction of an officer. Kourtney Alexa Bishop, 2461 Farmington Road, Madison, was arrested Nov. 26 and charged with disorderly conduct. Yancy Tatuya Estep, 1050 Pintail Lane, Madison, was arrested Nov. 26 to hold for Walton County. Jared Jamesuraih, 2 Bayberry Court, Cherry Hill, N.J., was arrested Nov. 27 and charged with reckless driving, speeding in excess of maxi mum limits and driving in the emergency lane. Tywain Jackson, 1080 Indian Bend Drive, Rut ledge, was arrested Nov. 27 and charged with battery-family violence, driving while license suspended/revoked and attempting to elude a peace officer. Christopher Dewayne Smith, 1101 Flat Rock Road, Madison, was arrested Nov. 27 and charged with driving under the influence and failing to meet a headlight requirement. Steven Donald Hilsman, 445 Poplar St., Mad ison, was arrested Nov. 28 and charged with driving under the influence, failing to main tain lane and possession of an open alcohol container. Brandon Rivers, 3890 Bostwick Road, Madison, was arrested Nov. 28 and charged with posses sion of marijuana with intent to distribute. Steven Anthony Elliott, 1640 Aqua Road, Madison, was arrested Nov. 29 and charged with disorderly conduct, prescription drugs not in their original container and obstructing or hindering an EMT. Amanda Michelle Willoughby, 4044 Friendship Road, Buford, was arrested Nov. 29 for a parole violation. Jonathon David Quintana, 1600 Old Bainbridge Road, Tallahassee, Fla., was arrested Nov. 29 for reckless driving and speeding in excess of maximum limits. James Stephens Cronic, 4530 Buckhead Road, Buckhead, was arrested Nov. 30 for failure to appear in court. Raquesha Lashay McLean, 950 Hudson Road, Marietta, was arrested Dec. 1 for driving while license suspended/revoked and speeding in excess of maximum limits. Jarid Ray Cordon, 1010 Little Creek Lane, Mad ison, was arrested Dec. 1 for possession of marijuana less than one ounce. Quantavious Williams, 1039 Green Meadows Drive, Madison, was arrested Dec. 1 to hold for Putnam County. Schools Continued from A5 LOA also has been the most divisive addition to Greene County in the past decade. Creation of three gerrymandered attendance zones, drawn to provide tax- payer-funded profits for land owners from attendance zone one, has been and con tinues to be economic segre gation (e.g., excluded Harbor Club, a competing gated community) and geographic segregation (e.g., excluded all taxpaying families north of 1-20). One simple question for all LOA parents living in attendance zone one; how would you feel as a lifelong taxpaying parent living in attendance zone three if required to wait for a lottery drawing each year while new arrivals to attendance zone one, many moving into rental homes and thus not paying school taxes, moved to the front of the line ahead of your children? Failure to provide bus transportation is another form of segregation, es pecially for single parent working moms with only one car. The administrative decision to use coached young LOA students for an expensive and disrespectful “debate” video, replete with misrepresentations, was misguided and inappropri ate. Greene County’s Students The overwhelming majority are eager to learn, well behaved and have unlimited potential. Two examples: Greene County High School’s 2015 Valedictorian Jasmine Williams is a Gates Millennium scholarship re cipient. Though she chose to attend the University of Alabama, we still love and admire her. Lake Oconee Academy sophomore Sydney Horton already has done more to help others than most people will in a lifetime. She started a gifted scholarship program, tutors at the Pete Nance Boys and Girls Club, works part time in a car diologist’s office and spent Thanksgiving providing medical care to underserved people in Honduras. LOA Expansion Bond The recent attempt to in tentionally by-pass taxpayer approval for a twenty million dollar high school construction bond predict ably was determined to be invalid by Georgia’s Superior Court and then by Georgia’s Supreme Court. The energy wasted and costs incurred (more than three hundred thousand taxpayer dollars just in legal fees) could have been and should have been avoided. All citizens who believe in the rule of law and proper taxpayer representa tion should thank Mr. Dee Lindsey. His willingness to step forward, endure a barrage of unjust criticism and pay intervenor legal fees out of his own pocket should be applauded. Greene County Board of Commissioners Chairman Ed Bullard’s divisive and dismissive style has been harmful and dis appointing. Hopefully the next chairman will embrace government in the sunshine, welcome the opinions and authority of the four other elected commissioners, rein in County Manager Byron Lombard and prioritize the interests of all Greene County citizens and busi nesses. Taxpayer Abuse Greene County taxpayers, particularly retirees on fixed incomes throughout Greene County, continue to be taken for granted. Following are some examples of current and potential future abuse: GCSS cost per student is one of the very highest for public schools in Georgia. LOA’s funding per student is at least 30 percent higher than the average for other charter schools in Georgia. Though there is significant student capacity available at Carson Middle School and Greene County High School, all parties seem intent on adding new buildings to their fiefdoms. The BOC’s attempt to foist a 20 million dollar LOA ex pansion bond on taxpayers while concurrently planning to gift 25 acres of recently purchased land to LOA are two recent examples of taxpayer interests being ignored. BOC Chairman Ed Bul lard’s plans to build a sev en-figure welcome center and also a plan to purchase an eight-figure tract of ad ditional vacant land for a yet to be vetted or validated megasite are two potential abuses waiting to happen. LOA Charter Renewal The charter definitely should be renewed but not until changes are made and additional financial infor mation is obtained, verified and analyzed. Attendance zones should be eliminated now, not used as a bargaining chip. Countywide bus transpor tation should be included. LOA should be tasked with providing: Operation and facility funding levels compared to other charter schools in Georgia Operating cost budgets and actuals for significant line item categories (e.g., senior management com pensation, support staff, teachers, insurance, legal fees, public relations etc.). Preliminary data indicate that LOA’s total current funding per student, in an apples to apples com parison that separates out GCSS transportation and mandated special educa tion costs, actually might be higher than the GCSS cost per student. Current and project ed future reserve dollar amounts should be scruti nized. The contention that a new high school will be self funded by LOA would prove to be disingenuous if large taxpayer reserves meant for operating costs in reality turned out to be targeted to build a new high school. A new school should be funded by a voter approved construction bond, the LOA Foundation or a combina tion of the two. November 2016 Election A new majority of both the BOE and the BOC (3 of 5 members) will be elected in 11 months. Citizens hope fully will become informed and then support capable new leaders who will bring our county back together. Closing Comment Children are our county’s and our country’s future, and a quality education for all is vital to assuring that future. Most Greene County citizens in this giving com munity have demonstrated a willingness to pay our fair share or more for educa tion costs but we expect a good product, cost efficien cy, no behind closed door gimmicks and the payment of their fair share by all res idents. *S» HARMONY CROSSING H ANIMAL HOSPITAL Scott Richter, DVM Scott Gibson, DVM Practice Limited To Small Animals 1013 Lake Oconee Pkwy. Suite 102 • Eatonton, GA31024 706-923-1456 Humbling to hear CCA passion of giants I just got to spend the day sitting among the giants - I couldn’t help but think as I pulled out of the Board of Education parking lot last Thursday. It was an experience I would have cleared my schedule for any day. I was given the oppor tunity to ride with some of Morgan County’s top voices in education to receive a grant that will change the landscape of our com munity’s schools forever. Spending the day with this group was definitely an honor, and I hope they are aware how grateful I was to be among them on this occasion. In the car ride to Gwinnett Technical College, I had the oppor tunity to ride with three distinguished women in education. During one of our conversations, it was brought up that their children may not really get to experience all that the new College and Career Academy has to offer, to which they all responded this isn’t so much about impacting their own kids as it is about impacting the lives of all Morgan County students including future students. It was humbling to hear their passion for the new CCA and their students,but it didn’t occur to me until later that some of the students who will get to ex perience this new institu- Brown Continued from A4 Eatonton. Leave it to Turnipseed to buy your groceries and deliver them to your house. “Pantry Placement? No problem,” said Turnipseed. “We’ll shop for your gro ceries and deliver them to your house. And for an additional fee, if you really want, we’ll actually go in the house and put your gro ceries away. “Matter of fact, if you want something from the hardware store or your dry cleaning delivered, we can work something out.” Turnipseed is from the Atlanta area. She’s been around the lake the past dozen years selling antiques and art. Now she’s making a go with WeGoShop. WeGoShop allows you to select your particular brand of groceries as well as the store or stores. There is no club to join and no registra tion fee for the service that WeGoShop offers. For more information about personalized grocery shopping and free delivery, you can reach WeGoShop Leila Scoggins Reporter tion may one day be mine. Although Derek and I don’t have any children current ly, God willing, we will one day, and if it is in the Lord’s plans that we stay in Morgan County they will experience the new College and Career Academy. I sat in a public hearing for the Charter on Monday, I was reminded of the promise of what great things lay ahead for the students of Morgan County. When asked what I thought about the pre sentation I struggled to hold back, before giving in to telling those present in the presentation about the student that I was in high school. I was unmotivated - lacking passion and desire for my schoolwork, not really knowing what I wanted to do post high school, often wonder ing how the classes I was taking would apply to my adult life. by calling 770-789-8918 or toll free 1-877-934-6746 ext. 69, or you can also visit them online by going to the WeGoShop.com web site. Hey, great service at a restaurant is worth the tips I generously provide on a quid pro quo basis - always at least 10 percent even if the waitress scratches her armpit and/or puts her thumb in the scrambled eggs... and sometimes up to 20 percent if I’m not cut off I’d like to believe that if I had access to a CCA, or even a charter school, my adult and career life might have been a whole lot dif ferent. The new charter will allow the system the ability to accommodate every type of student from giving them physical ed ucation credits for partic ipating in rigorous sports teams, to allowing them to alter when students are in classes, giving them the ability to get work experi ence through internships. This flexibility might have been able to have changed my life and I believe it will make a difference in our area students’ lives. There’s a lot of the horizon for the Morgan County Charter School System - I believe in this system and the people that are in charge of enhancing our student’s education al experience and I think others should too. From the perspective of a young married couple whose family is being established in this community there is nothing that brings me greater joy then knowing just what my future children will have access too educationally. One of my favorite com munity leaders, Dr. James Woodard says, “It’s an exciting time for Morgan County,” and as for me I feel blessed to be a part of it. from the bar again. Turnipseed deserves to get paid for bringing home the bacon, even if she doesn’t fry it up in a pan. Thanks once again for coming back to this tiny ink spot in your favorite newspaper. I appreciate you inviting me into your homes and businesses. You may want to ask WeGoShop over to the house to see if you like the service. M n o JCONEE Pets of the Week REGIONAL liMANE ICItlY RODEO, male, Pit mix, 2 yrs. old. Very sweet dog for the right family. Ask for Bonnie 706-454-1508. All Tabbies on Special fee. DECEMBER SPECIALS ON ALL CATS: All adults cats (no matter what color) $20. All (TABBY) stripe kittens, 6 mos.+ $20. All (TABBY) stripe kittens, - 6 mos. $45. All other kittens (no matter what color) $90. We want all our shelter cats in homes by the end of the year. Adopters will be screened for eligibility. Call Kari for appt. 706-454-1508
