Newspaper Page Text
Page 2A, The Lee County Ledger, Thursday, January 1, 2004
Elderly Georgians Often
Victims Of Fire
Two elderly Georgia women
— a 74-year-old in Columbia
County and an 89-year-old in
Bulloch County — lost their lives
in home fires; Insurance and
Safety Fire Commissioner John
W. Oxendine urges Georgians to
watch over their senior neigh
bors to help them avoid house
fires.
“We’ve had six fatalities in
Georgia over the past week, and
all of the victims were over age
60,” Commissioner Oxendine
said. “We are asking neighbors
to keep an eye on older residents
in their neighborhood, especial
ly regarding fire safety.”
In addition to the two this
morning, fatal fires have
claimed older residents in
Bryan, Montgomery, Toombs
and Catoosa counties since Dec.
19.
Oxendine said senior citi
zens make up a disproportion
ate number of the state’s fire
victims for a variety of reasons.
“They may lack the mobility to
escape a fire. Also, many older
people are security-conscious,
and install burglar bars around
windows and doors. While this
protection decreases the likeli
hood of a break-in, it also makes
it more difficult to exit the home,
and makes it harder for firefight
ers to get inside to battle a fire.”
The Commissioner said smoke
detectors are especially essential
for senior citizens. “Since they
may need more time to escape,
an early fire warning is invalu
able. Nine out of ten fire victims
are already dead before the
fire department is even called,
gases. That’s why Georgia law
now requires a smoke detector in
every home.”
Once installed, detectors need
regular battery replacement.
Older people may have a hard
time reaching a detector that is
properly mounted (high on a
wall or on the ceiling.) “If you
can help an older relative or
neighbor by making sure they
have a working smoke detector,
you could possibly save a life,”
Oxendine said.
Each household should have
a well-rehearsed family escape
plan, with at least two exit paths
for every room. Seniors need
to plan an escape route that they
can easily utilize in case of an
emergency.
While a fire extinguisher can
be helpful for a small fire, most
people should plan to leave
a burning home as rapidly as
possible, and once outside, stay
there. “Don’t re-enter a burn
ing building for any reason,”
Oxendine warned. “Many
fatalities occur every year when
people escape a fire only to go
back inside to retrieve a pocket-
book or a photo album.”
Public Meeting On Services For People
with Disabilities Set For February
The Georgia Department of
Labor’s Division of Rehabilita
tion Services will host a state
wide public meeting to examine
the best way to provide better
vocational rehabilitation ser
vices to people with disabilities.
The meeting will be conducted
via satellite teleconference on
Wednesday, February 4, 2004
from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
The teleconference will origi
nate from the studios of Georgia
Public Television (GPTV) in
Atlanta. The public will be
able to participate from several
viewing sites within the 12
regional areas of the Vocational
Rehabilitation (VR) program.
The format will allow the audi
ence to hear comments from
participants all across the state.
People with disabilities,
advocates, employers, commu
nity partners, and others who
are interested are encouraged
to participate. The department
noted that such customers input
is valuable in making plans to
abilities.
Through its VR program, the
labor department is the prin
cipal agency charged with the
responsibility to provide people
with disabilities the rehabilita
tion and assistance necessary
to move into the workforce
successfully. The VR program’s
state plan must be reviewed and
updated annually in compliance
with the Rehabilitation Act of
1973, as amended.
To find the nearest location to
view the teleconference, people
should contact the vocational
rehabilitation office in their
area. A list of regional offices is
located at www.vocrehahga.org/
offs.html. People may also call
(404) 486-6331 in metro Atlanta
or 1-866-489-0001 toll free
statewide to obtain the appropri
ate regional office address and
phone number.
People who are unable to
attend the public meeting may
submit their written comments
in no more than two pages,
double-spaced, by Friday, Janu
ary 23, 2004 to the following
address: Georgia Department of
Labor, VR Program State Plan,
1700 Century Circle, Suite 300,
Atlanta, GA 30345. The fax
number is (404) 486-0197. The
email address is vrpcustomer-
service@dol.state.ga.us.
New Year’s Eve
by Grace Rhodes
I woke up this morning
To a day so bright and clear,
I thought of it as just another day
That I would hold most dear.
But then I realized that it was
The one that I must see,
Was not only the end of the month but -
The end of a year for me.
I wondered if on the morrow I
Would wake to the same kind of day,
That would bring for me a bright new year
Good health, good luck, good ways.
My hopes and dreams are very strong
My outlook for the days ahead,
Are just to be safe and free from woes
That may end anger my soul of dread.
So I look to this year as a means of peace
For a world that is war-torn, that’s true
And I’ll give of myself all that I can
So it will be a great help to you!
Sheriff’s Department
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Lee County Sheriff Harold
Breeden reports that officers
worked several cases and inci
dents recently including cases
involving giving false name and
date of birth to an officer, aggra
vated battery and shoplifting.
David Lamb, 58, who is
homeless, was charged with
shoplifting at Wal-Mart De
cember 28. Dep. Edward Hamil
responded to 2825 in refer
ence to a shoplifting and made
contact with the loss prevention
officer. The loss prevention of
ficer observed Mr. Lamb trying
to leave the store without pay
ing for items valued at 4162.87.
He was placed under arrest and
transported to the Lee County
Jail and booked.
Michael Charles Waller, 37,
1015 E. Roosevelt Ave., Albany,
was charged with shoplifting
December 28 at Wal-Mart. Dep.
M.R. Wilcox made contact with
the loss prevention officer at
Wal-Mart who stated that two
witnesses followed Waller to
a West Oglethorpe address.
They identified Mr. Waller to
an Albany police officer who
detained Mr. Waller until he was
transported back to Wal-Mart by
Dep. Yearicks. He gave a false
name, birth date and address to
Dep. Wilcox. Mr. Waller was
transported to the Lee County
Jail and later released on magis
trate court summons for theft by
shoplifting.
James Hilton Owens, 32,
of 2606 A Ponte North, Al
bany, was charged with mak
ing harassing telephone calls,
criminal trespass and stalking.
On December 27 Cpl. Howard
Fisher was dispatched to an
Armena Road address in refer
ence to criminal trespass by
Mr. Owens. The victim stated
that James Hilton Owens made
several calls to her and came
to her house after being told
not to. The officer called Mr.
Owens and told him that the
victim requested that he not call
again or return to her property.
On December 28, Dep. Edward
Hamil responded to the Armena
address in reference to an un
wanted guest. The victim stated
that Mr. Owens had returned to
her house. Dep. Hamil talked
to Owens on the phone who
stated that he was at home in
Albany. The deputy went to that
address with an Albany police
officer but Owens did not come
to the door. He was stopped by
Albany Police in a traffic stop a
few minutes later. Dep. Hamil
responded to the traffic stop
on Dawson Road and placed
Owens under arrest for criminal
trespass, harassing phone calls
and stalking.
Tyler Anthony Melvin, 21, of
151 Dunaway, was charged with
headlights required, D.U.I. Mar
ijuana and possession of mari
juana less than ounce and John
Dame Woody III was charged
with possession of marijuana
less than an ounce December
25 by Officer Frank Pundavela.
The officer stopped Melvin
after observing his vehicle with
headlights turned off. Sgt. Mike
Rouse responded to the scene
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Governor Perdue Enrolls Grandchildren
in Georgia’s 529 College Savings Plan,
Pledges to Save for College Education
Governor Sonny Perdue
enrolled his two granddaughters,
Mary Kate and Sunni, and his
grandson Jack in the Georgia
Higher Education Savings Plan,
Georgia’s Section 529 college
savings plan. This program,
which recently reached the mile
stone of $100 million in assets,
offers tax advantages to families
trying to save for higher educa
tion expenses. The plan, like the
HOPE Scholarship, helps make
college accessible for more
Georgia families.
“I am acting today as a grand-
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parent,” said Governor Sonny
Perdue. “I urge all Georgians to
plan and save for their children
and grandchildren because an
investment in their education is
an investment in their future.”
The Georgia Section 529
college savings program has
enjoyed rapid growth since its
launch in 2002. The program’s
goal is to help participants pre
pare for college expenses, and to
raise awareness of the costs of
higher education. The program
also emphasizes that beginning
early and saving consistently
helps participants take maxi
mum advantage of the program.
Investment earnings in
Georgia’s college savings plan
grow free of federal and state
taxes, and withdrawals are
exempt from federal and state
taxes when they are used to pay
for qualified education expens
es. With certain limitations,
contributions may be deductible
from Georgia taxable income
up to a maximum of $2,000 a
year per beneficiary. The state
tax deduction is available every
year, and contributions made by
April 15th may be deducted on
the preceding year’s return.
Under the Georgia college
savings plan, contributions to
investment accounts can be
made for a beneficiary (the
eventual student) by a parent,
grandparent, relative or oth
ers. The program offers five
different investment options,
and allows contributions until
the account balance reaches
$235,000. There is no separate
annual cap on contributions.
Savings under the program can
be used at Georgia schools for
expenses not covered by the
HOPE scholarship, or may be
used at other schools throughout
the country.
The program web site -
www.GAcollegesavings.com
- provides complete informa
tion and includes an on-line
enrollment feature. Information
and applications can also be
obtained through a customer
service center, 1-877-424-4377
(toll free). Accounts in the Sec
tion 529 college savings plan
can be opened for as little as
$25, and there are no income or
residency restrictions on who
can open an account.
For more information about
Georgia’s Section 529 college
savings plan, contact Chuck
Penuel at 404-463-0000 or by
email at chuckpenuel@otfs.stat
e.ga.us.
in reference to back-up. The
deputy smelled the scent of an
alcoholic beverage on Melvin’s
breath. When the driver and
passengers exited the vehicle,
Sgt. Rouse observed a glass
smoking pipe and a green leafy
substance on the passenger side
of the vehicle. Woody stated
that the marijuana belonged to
him. Melvin and Woody were
transported to the Lee County
Jail where they were processed.
Christopher Michael Mitch
ell, 27, of 834 Stocks Dairy
Road, Leesburg, was charged
with D.U.I. alcohol December
24 by Officer B. Browning.
Officer Browning observed
Mr. Mitchell driving on Stocks
Dairy Road. While talking to
Mr. Mitchell, the officer smelled
alcohol on Mitchell’s breath.
April Averene Davis, 27, of
184 West Highland Ave., Al
bany, was charged with giving
false name and date of birth to
an officer and was also arrested
on two warrants for deposit
account fraud December 22 by
Officer B. Browning. Officer
Browning responded to the
2800 block of Ledo Road in
reference to a traffic accident.
The officer made contact with
April Davis who gave him a
different name and birth date.
The dispatch officer contacted
the family of that person who
stated that she was at home and
told dispatch that April Davis
was driving the vehicle. She
was charged for giving false
name and date of birth and was
wanted on two warrants for
deposit account fraud.
Curtis Ray Reynolds, 44,
132 E Century Road West,
Leesburg, was charged with
aggravated assault following a
physical alteration with a female
December 22 by Officer C.
Anderson.
Brenda Poole, 39, 1507 Nelms
Road, Albany, was charged with
shoplifting December 21 by
Officer B. Browning. Officer
Browning responded to Wal-
Mart in reference to theft by
shoplifting. He made contact
with the lost prevention officer
who advised that he observed
on video Ms. Poole ringing up
merchandise and giving it away
to a second party who left the
store with the merchandise. The
loss prevention officer placed
Ms. Poole under arrest in the
presence of the deputy and
she was transported to the Lee
County Jail.