Newspaper Page Text
District 4
From page one
“They’ve been doing that for
years,” said Wilson, referring to
grand jury allegations that com
missioners have been wasting tax
payer dollars.
“It almost makes you hesitate
to run because it’s a bunch of
crooks out there. Freddie Handy?
He’s done nothing worse than
anyone else. He just got caught,”
said Wilson in reference to the
District 2 commissioner recently
involved in personnel matters con
cerning his son, Tony Martin, who
resigned from a city job after ad
mitting to stealing azalea plants.
Wilson, 34, owns aresidential and
commercial security firm.
Singleton, whowas alsodefeated
in a previous bid to oust former
District 4 commissioner Moses
Todd, feels the current heat being
felt by the commission board is
warranted.
“I believe the county commis
sioners have failed the people of
Richmond County; not only in as
pects pointed out by the grand
jury, but they (commissioners)
weren’t open to the people. Now,
the people have an attitude to
ward them. To me, it’s a call to
unseat the incumbents,” said
Singleton who works as a local
businessman. :
Green ran an unsuccessful bid
for Lee Beard’s District 1 commis
sioner seatin 1997. A former U.S.
Beard
From page one
jury’s initial investigation.
“Idon’t know anything that was
specifieally done to prompt this.
report or an investigationinto the
;ommission,” commented district
tworepresentative Freddie Handy.
‘I would hate to think that some
oneis trying to sabotage the com
mission.”
But according to Bill Bowcutt,
chief assistant to the Richmond
County District Attorney,agrand
jury does not need a particular
reason toinvestigate the commis
sion.
“One of their responsibilities is
to make sure that the county gov
ernment is running smoothly,” he
explained. “They don’t need a
reason tostart aninvestigation or
to subpoena people before them
as part of an investigation.”
Over the last two weeks, all of
the commissioners were brought
before the jury, first as a group,
then individually. During that
time Beard was asked to furnish
the dates ofhis dealings with OMI,
and initially refused, stating that
he was under oath, and didn’t
have the dates with him. Eventu
ally he appeared before the grand
jury again, and gave the dates,
hoping it would clear him of any
wrongdoing.
“I gave them the information
and they still stated that there
was a conflict in the report,” ex
plained the commissioner. “I be
lieve a conflict would have been
warranted if my dealings with OMI
were just before or around April
20th.”
Beard has been on the commis
sion since '96, and states that
there has never been a grand jury
probe or report to this magnitude.
He says there are commissioners
that have dealt with county con
tractors in the past, and have
never been investigated.
Beard also took issue with the
grand jury process, stating that
their free reign to investigate,
without having to furnish evi
dence, gives them too much
power.
~ Augusta Focus
welcomes all new
subscribers who
joined while
visiting the CSRA
Black Business
Expo on Sept. 18.
candidates
Marine, Green said his platform
targets being accountable to the
people with attention on alleviat
ing problems experienced by youth
in his community.
“Juvenile crime is a rising prob
lem in south Richmond County.
We're talking dope, gangs and not
going to school. People see it, but
no one says anything. Especially
our leaders:. A large percentage of
our children are just out of con
trol,” he said.
Concerning the commission’s
plight, Green said, “It was bound to
happen. Political appointments,
cronies, back-scratching — this is
nothing new. It’sjust comingtothe
Shootings
from page one
have screwed up the system. It’s
all our fault,” he added.
Gun availability is a problem,
said Chief Strength. “Without a
‘doubt, there are a growing num
ber of weapons on the street and
the percentage of young people
carryingthemisgrowing,” hesaid.
“This is a concern of ours,” he
added. :
As founder and president of
Blacks Against Black Crime, Bar
bara Thurmond is sorry for the
deathsof Davenport and Thomas.
E.C. Productions Presents
HavestFor The WORLD Concer
The ISLEY j.gh &
e g * ;:2 3;;32‘ , |
BROTHERS ("
With Special Guest S
: AB Rt _”w’"@“ . S e
PP Al ANGIE
BRICK ™S STONE
Augusta
Civic Center
City / Region
surface. But it does bring a dark
cloud over the commission,” he
admitted. Whether he would balk
on running because of current alle
gations facing the board, Green
replied, “Negative. Nobody can set
you upifyou’re not doing anything
wrong. I can win, and I consider
myself the No. 1 candidate,” said
the 36-year-old car sales consult
ant.
In describing what he calls his
“Contract 2000,” the 30-year-old
Singleton said his reason for an
other election attempt is because
“It’s time to give somethingback to
the people.” He lists three primary
areas his contract plan will target
Still, sherecalls when the murder
rate among young black males
reached frightening levels.
“It’s always sad when young
people are Kkilled like this, but
when you look at the numbers, we
have made a difference.” In 1991,
Thurmond said there were 66
homicides in Richmond County.
Todate, there are 13, according to
Chief Deputy Strength. Blacks
Against Black Crime was formed
to specifically address escalating
numbersof Augusta’s black males
involved in homicides.
At age 57, Tanzymore offers
resolutions fcr stopping gunshot
deaths. “Put in a curfew and en
force it. And teachers need a new
direction —the ability to use dis
cipline powers,” he said.
Doors Open 7:00 PM-Show Starts 8:00 P.M.
Tickets Available At The Civic Center Box Office & All Ticket Master Locations
~ For Information Call 706-826-7700 or 404-249-6400
in assisting south Augusta: devel
opment of a viable plan to resolve
continuous water problems, ex
panding bus routes for all county
residents while ensuring his con
stituents have access to trash
pickup — “likewhat was promised
to us when the county and city
b 1 Does the jungle of information out 7l .“,
‘ \\4 y there have you puzzled? ,/ 1
* /I Then go on the search for answers \\\ : .;.
# : ar... e
; i‘ The Child with Special Needs: ) "
/ L From Infancy through Adolescence ;| \ ‘
/lIN September 30 - October 1, 1999 AN B
’, Radisson Riverfront Hotel el
TN Augusta, Georgia AN El:
’l Topics include: ‘I é
* School Re-Entry Following a Brain Injury '
’ * Spasticity Management ‘
. * Nutritional Supplements ;
" * Neuro Developmental Treatment (NDT) ‘ ; .
‘ * Funding ,
g,/;‘: + Building Parent and Professional Partnerships oy
/§,‘ - Adaptive Recreational Opportunities ,@
’ Attendee's Choice of a hands on session for either Rigid \
/ and Kinetic Taping or Sensory Integration. l\
/ 3
]\ Presented by %, Jgjr € CHILDREN'S f
Bl ;fi.-;_.{g’ REHABILITATION |
_ DEPIIR CENTER
‘| / AT WAITON REHABILITATION HOSPITAL \ I'
i ’ 1 For more information, please call the f ‘ ail
| | ARI Children's Rehabilitation Center at Y '
f‘ f 706-823-8560 or 800-366-6055! a ¥
=528 i Early registration deadline is August 30th! /) ]l \
AUGUSTA FOCUS
consolidated,” said Singleton.
Attractingjobs throughindustry
development, solving the water
problem and cutting crime, are
Wilson’s primary goals as candi
date. “There aren’t enough jobs out
here. Too many young people are
idle,”said Wilson who'’sa part-time
SAT. zw(;
OCT. 2
SEPTEMBER 23, 1999
minister at Inner Faith Christian.
Center. "
Colclough was appointed to the.»
District 4 seat last fall when Todd
stepped down from the post beforsl
being ousted in last year’s City of
Augusta mayoral race, won by Bob:s
Young. ard
3A