About Lake Oconee news. (Greensboro, GA) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 22, 2017)
Friday, December 22,2017 Lake Oconee News Page A9 Holidays will bring increased DUI enforcement Don’t wreck Christmas and New Year’s before you can deck the halls •• '•51 of drunk drivers say they drink more during the holidays compared to the rest of the year The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is teaming up with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and law enforcement officers this holiday season to remind all motorists that drinking and dr iv- ing will not only get you on Santa’s naughty list, but it will also send you straight to jail. That means that from Dec. 15 to Jan. 2 in Georgia, law enforcement all over the state will be looking to prevent tragedy before it strikes duringtheholidayenforcementcam- paign of Drive Sober Or Get Pulled Over. While Georgia’s impaired driving laws are enforced 24/7/365, the holiday season brings extra emphasis because of the increased number of travelers hitting the road to see friends and family. Why the continued emphasis on drunk driving? In 2016, Georgia experienced 368 alco hol-impaired fatalities, which is 10 more than 2015, for a total of 24 percent of all traffic fatalities. This means nearly a quarter of all traffic deaths in Georgia involve an impaired driver. “Theholidaysshouldbeatimefor celebra tions and making memories, not a time of tragedy,” GOHS Director Harris Blackwood said. “Not only do we want people to get a designated driverto begin with,butwe want them to know that if they fail to do so, they will go to jail. No warnings, no excuses.” According to NHTSA, 37,461 people were killed in trafficcrashesin20l6,and28 percent of those fatalities involved a driver with a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit of .08, which is the current limit in all 50 states. These crash deaths affect motorists, passengers and pedestrians alike. “Unfortunately, alcohol at many holi day events contributes to the number of impaired drivers on our roads,” Blackwood said. “When you are planning what you are going to wear, what time you are going to arrive and what you are going to bring, also plan ahead for your sober ride home with a designated driver, ride service or a friend.” Drinking and driving should never be combined. It’s essential to plan a sober ride in advance if the holiday celebration will include alcohol. The alternative could change your life, not to mention the lives of your passengers, or of other pedestrians or drivers and pas sengers nearby. GOHS and NHTSA suggest the fol lowing safety tips to enjoy a safe night out this holiday season: • Plan ahead. If you plan to drink, plan for a sober driver to take you home. If it’s your turn to be the designated driver, take the responsibility seriously. • Remember that it is never okay to drink and drive. Even if you’ve only had one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation to get home safely. • Use rideshare programs like Uber or Lyft. • Download GOHS’ ‘Drive Sober, Georgia’ smartphone app for a list of sober ride programs and taxi services in your area or program taxi company phone numbers into your phone ahead of time. • Be prepared to take keys away from someone who is impaired, and if you see an impaired driver while on the road, call 9 -1-1 or dial *GSP from your cell phone to be connected to the nearest state patrol post. “We want to keep Georgia’s roads safe this holiday season and help people understand thattheonlytimethey should bebehind the wheel is when they are sober,” Blackwood said. “Alcohol affects people differently and you do not have to be feeling or acting drunk to be too impaired to drive.” For more information on the impaired driving program at the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, go to www.gahighway- safety.org or visit us on social media at www.facehook.com/gaMghwaysafety and @gohsgeorgia on Twitter. INCIDENT REPORTS These vacuums don't suck The Coach and Buggy Car Wash located 1544 Eatonton Road reported an unusual problem to the Madison Police Department. Customers were complainingthatequipmentatthebusiness didn’t suck. According to an employee of the car wash, multiple cus tomers called to complain about low suction in the vacuum cleaners on Dec. 13. An inspection of the vacuum cleaners revealed that the service doors on several units had not been properly closed. The service doors, which require a key to be opened, didn’t appear to be forced open. Further inspection revealed that six of the vacuum cleaners were missing refuse collectors, valued at $40 each. Areview of surveillancevideo showed a 1997 Honda Accord moving from vacuum cleaner to vacuum cleaner at approx imately 1 a.m. The Madison Police Department followed up with the tag number and has identified the owner of the vehicle. The incident was still under investigation at press time. - T. Michael Stone Rifles stolen in Buckhead According to the Morgan County Sheriff s office, two rifles have been reported stolen from a residence on Saffold Road in Buckhead. The rifles were reported missing by owners on Dec. 11. They were last seen behind the back seat of a silver 2007 Dodge Ram truck. The owner of the guns was hospitalized and asked his son to remove the guns from the vehicle and put them in a gun safe. When he tried to retrieve the rifles, they were gone. The rifles were identified as a .243 Winchester bolt action model, blue with a brown stock with serial number G1751709 and a Marlin .22 bolt action long rifle, dark blue with a black stock, serial number 91481003. The estimated value of the two rifles is $850. -T. Michael Stone Lake Country Crime Reports MORGAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE Carnell Porter, 60, of Madison was arrested Dec. 14 and charged with obstruction of an officer. Tyquan Maurice Harris, 22, of Hephzibah was arrested Dec. 14 and charged with possession of marijuana (less than one ounce), improper passing and failure to maintain lane. Nyeisa Goodman, 22, of Madison was arrested Dec. 16 and charged with driving with a suspended license. Michelle Hepburn Crumbery, 51, of River- dale was arrested Dec. 16 and charged with driving with a suspended license. GREENE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE Larodus Demetric Jackson, 39, of Union Point was arrested Dec. 12 and charged with DUI, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, criminal use of an arti cle with an altered ID, no insurance and impeding the flow of traffic. Darren A. Ware, 50, of Bluffton, South Carolina, was arrested Dec. 12 and charged with driving while his license was sus pended or revoked. Matthew Neil Whitton, 35, of was arrested Dec. 14 on a probation violation. Kerry Ladell Clemons, 37, was arrested Dec. 14. (No charges listed). Nathan Ortez Broadus, 29, of Greensboro was arrested Dec. 14 and charged with DUI (drugs). Darlene Ward Mitchell, 51, of Siloam was arrested Dec. 15 and charged with criminal trespassing. Chadrick Lamont Sims, 30, of Atlanta was arrested Dec. 15 and charged with driving with a suspended license and giving a false name or false information to a police officer. Ronald Mckely Moore, 47, of Lewis Center, Ohio, was arrested Dec. 16 on a warrant issued by the Atlanta Police Department. Brandon Chico Johnson, 30, of Greensboro was arrested Dec. 16 and charged with DUI and speeding. Catlyn Wendi Ward, 27, was arrested Dec. 17 and charged with simple battery. Dustin Lee Cronan, 31, of Grovetown was arrested Dec. 18 and charged with fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, habitual violator, reckless driving license plate and registration violations. GREENSBORO POLICE On Monday, Dec. 11, officers responded to the Family Dollar located at 210 North Main Street, Greensboro, in reference to a possible theft by taking. The store asso ciate stated that two empty boxes of male cologne were left in the isle and that she was unable to get access to the camera at the time of the report. There was no further incident. On Monday, Dec. 11, officers responded to 1150 Pool Road, Lot No. 6, Greensboro, in reference to a verbal dispute. After speaking to both parties, they agreed to separate for the night. There was no further incident. On Thursday, Dec. 14, officers responded to 1900 Old Union Point Road, Greensboro, in reference to a fight. The complainant said a co-worker was being assaulted by her boyfriend, so she got into the com plainant's vehicle where he gave her a ride back to work. Upon arrival at their job, the girlfriend ran into the building, and the boyfriend tried to fight the complainant. Officers spoke with the girlfriend, and she stated that she normally meets with her boyfriend during break, they got into an argument and he began choking her. She got away from him and jumped into a co-worker's vehicle. The shift supervi sor advised that he wanted the boyfriend criminally trespassed from the property. STEFFEN THOMAS MUSEUM SHOP Tuesday - Saturday 11:00 AM-4:00 PM Steven Thomas Oriffinads and Prints Currently featuring a wide selection of pottery from North Carolina Potters, Interchangable Snap Jewelry and much more! Shop first and get free admission to Museum with shop purchase of $10 or more! 4200 Bethany Road, Buckhead, GA 30625 706-342-7557 www.steffenthomas.org Karl Burton of 1920 Short Road, Sparta, was issued a criminal trespassing warning for 1900 Old Union Point Road, Greens boro. Burton was unable to be located at the time of the report. The victim was advised of the TPO process. On Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017, Officers responded to 203 East South Street, Greensboro GA in reference to an alarm activation. All windows and doors were secured. On Thursday Dec. 14, officers arrested James Saunders of 1290 Green Acres Drive, Union Point. Saunders was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, no insurance, driving while license suspend ed, suspended registration and an open container violation. Saunders was also ar rested on a warrant for probation violation out of Social Circle. On Thursday, Dec. 14, Officers arrested Mario Sweat of 1900 Walker Church Road, Greensboro. Sweat was charged with an open container violation and obstruction of law enforcement. Sweat was also ar rested on a warrant out of Greensboro. For the week of December 10-16, rhe Greensboro Police Department responded to five accidents and 10 citations were issued. Troubled by Past Dental Visits? 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