About The Georgia post. (Knoxville, Crawford County, Ga.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 28, 2013)
Issue 45 Thursday, November 28, 2013 Arrest made in hit and run Michael Shaun Bryant, 36, of 3379 Sandy Point Rd. Lizella, GA was arrested Thursday, November 21, 2013 by Crawford Coun ty deputies. Bryant was the driver involved in the hit and run accident that occurred on November 12, 2013 on Sandy Point Road. The victim, Ricky Dennis Bacchus, 36 of Lizella, died from injuries sustatined in that accident. Bryant has been charged with Homicide By Vehicle (First Degree), Hit And Run, Failure To Report Accident With Injury/Death/Dam age, Following Too Closely and Safe Distance (Not Less Than 3 Feet) When Feasi ble, When Overtaking And Passing A Bicycle That Is Proceeding In The Same Direction. Bryant On November 21, 2013 at approximately 1:30 p.m. Michael Shaun Bryant went before Magistrate Judge Richard Spencer on his first appearance hearing and he was denied a bond. Arrest made in gas theft from fire truck Crawford County Fire Chief Randall Pate met with Sheriff Lewis S. Walker and Investigators at the begin ning of November 2013 about gas being stolen from his fire truck at Station 7. An investigation into Chief Pate’s complaint has led to the arrest of Quatavin Yamond Harris, 23, of Ro berta, GA a Fire Department Member of Station 7. Harris has been charged with (2) counts of burglary first degree and (2) counts of theft by taking govern ment property. He has made bond in the amount of sixty Peterman to serve 160-180 days of 10 year probation sentence Judge Tracy Moulton Senior Judge from Blakely, Ga presided over the trial of former Magistrate Judge Andrea Peterman who had been accused of fiduciary theft. The Superior Judges from this circuit recused themselves since they all had legal contact with the defendant in the scope of her position, District Attorney David Cooke presented the charges of Theft from the Magistrate Court, theft by taking and Vio lation of Oath of Office. In a plea deal, the first charge was then dropped and Mrs. Peterman plead quity to the second and third charges. Cooke told the judge Peterman had es sentially admitted she’d been taking money and using it for family expenses. Peterman responded to questions from the judge. Cooke said that Peterman had taken money multiple times from each of the courts and tried to pay it back on payday, but that was not legal. “Any time someone involved in public trust violates that trust, they’re going to do time,” he said. Judge Moultonthen sentenced Mrs. Peterman to ten years in a Felony detention center. All but 180 days would be served on probation. It is possible that she will have to serve only 160 days. DA Cooke had the Judge reminded Mrs. Peterman that if she did not surrender to authorities on December 6th by twelve noon that a warrant would be issued for her arrest. Peterman has to report to court on a bankruptcy charge before she begins her prison sentence. Peterman was Crawford County’s Chief Magistrate Judge and had served in the Probate Court. In addition to the time, Petermen must pay back $12,717 to cover costs of a foren sic audit which was conducted. No audit was done in the Probate Court. Peterman has also agreed not to seek or hold public office, which now that she is a convicted felon, she is prevented from doing anyway. Harris thousand dollars at the time of this press release. The Voice of Crawford County Since 1921 2 Sections, 14 Pages One Dollar also serving Byron and Peach County Ribbon cutting at parent center The Roberta-Crawford Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Crawford County Title I Parent Center on Thursday evening, Nov. 21. The center was officially opened with help from Charles Cook, Patti Temple, and Mayor Becky Smith. Numerous parents, students, teachers and Parent Advisory Members attended, enjoying light refreshments and learning about the uses of the Parent Center. The Parent Center houses four computer stations, printer, and has free internet access. The Parent Involvement/Mentor Coordinator, Mrs. Cheryl Whitaker, is available to help parents in a variety of ways, from accessing students’ grades to completing resumes and job applications. Many self-help on-line courses for adults are available, along with study helps for students. The Parent Center is located at the Crawford County BOE, and is currently open on Tuesdays 8-12, Thursdays 12-4, or by request, at any time. Please contact Cheryl Whitaker, 478-836-3426. Water deposit fee increases for renters BY VICTORIA SIMMONS The Georgia Post Water deposit fees for persons who rent will increase from $100 to $150 after last week’s vote of the County Commission to increase those fees. County Administrator Pat Kelly requested the increase saying there have been several instances where the $100 de posit was not enough to cover outstanding bills when renters leave without notice. The board unanimously approved the request. It was Emergency Man agement Agency night at the meeting last week, which lasted two hours. Jake Watson, the local EMA (Emergency Management Agency) director had four items on the agenda. First up was the request for proposals on the warning sirens. Only one bid was received for in stallation of the sirens. Sheets Communication bid $36,994 for the project and the board approved awarding the compa ny the contract. Because installation of the sirens came in under the $40,000 allocated, Watson asked that the EMA budget be amended to the tune of $1800. Watson noted that the EMA had also received an addition al $2000 in matching funds from the Hazardous Mitiga tion Plan and an additional $500 from GEMA for training which was not anticipated. He requested the additional funds to purchase an identification card machine and to complete needed repairs to the disaster bus. After little discussion, the request was uanimously approved. Watson then requested that the board adopt a proposed Crawford County EMA Social Media Content Policy, noting that social media could reach a lot more people in the event of a disaster. The policy is only for EMA social media sites which will be maintained by EMA staff who are to moni tor it. County Attorney David Mincey said his only concerns were who had access to update, comment and control site content. Watson assured him it would only be EMA staff, mainly Watson, and that nega tive, slanderous, etc. comments would be removed. The motion to adopt the proposed policy passed unanimously. Next, Watson asked the board to approve a proposed Crawford County Disaster Volunteer Management Plan to maximize response and recovery efforts. This would help manage a large number of volunteers who would not be affiliated with the local response organization and cut down on confusion. The board adopted the plan unanimously. Alice Hughes appeared before the board concerning her property taxes. She told the board last year she tried to pay her taxes and was told by the Tax Commissioner’s Office they had been paid. Hughes said there was confusion about the parcel numbers and address. However, when she went to pay this year, she was told last year’s had not been paid and there were penalties and interest now. She felt be cause of the error made by the county she should not have to pay last year’s taxes. Mincey said that the board could authorize the Tax Com missioner to waive the penal ties and interest but even doing that, the final decision was up to the Tax Commissioner. They board could not waive the taxes. John Thomas made die motion to ask that the penal ties and interest be waived and it passed unanimously. A representative of Robinson Paving, which was awarded the DOT project to replace the Flint River Bridge, told the board the project required approximately 25,000 cubic yards of fill dirt which they would like to purchase from the county. They also needed a place to crush the concrete por tions of the old bridge, which could be used on the county’s road maintenance projects. Board members discussed pros and cons. Mr. Robinson of die paving company assured the board the necessary insur ance policies would be provid ed so there would be no lia bilities to the county and that DOT had to sign off on the final reclamation before the contract was closed. After discussion about ensuring the county was protected, the board approved the request unanimously. In other business the board: • again discussed Blue Bird Lane and tabled it until the county engineer could make a recommendation. • named Kelly the County Legislative Coordinator. •was made aware Mr. Owensby has a 32-acre site he would like to sell adjoining the recreation ball fields. •entered into an intergov ernmental agreement for drawdowns from the Crawford County Revolving Loan fund for the Development Authority. •approved undertaking a consolidation study with the Regional Commission. •approved the Sheriff Office’s radar road list. •approved closing county offices at noon on Nov. 27th. Keep your grass cut or pay city BY TAMI WALBERG The Georgia Post The city of Roberta will be sending letters out to several residences in the city limits that are not following the city ordinance on grass height, which is not to exceed 10”. The city will mow some of the lawns or vacant lots but a bill will be sent and if its not paid it will be added to the owners tax bill. The city employees will be receiv ing their Christmas bonuses this year as planned and budgeted. They will receive a week’s pay in a separate check from their regular paychecks. The employees will have December 24th and 25th off and January 1st off for the holidays this year. Cynde Dickey who has been the treasurer for the Keep Roberta Craw ford Beautiful association for the past 24 years, asked the city if they could contribute $2,000.00 towards the $4,500.00 that they needed for a new recycling truck. The truck is used throughout Roberta to pick up cardboard that is then recycled. The proceeds are used for various beauti fication projects around Roberta. Dr. Billy Bassett who is a city council board member, will be donating the full $2,000.00 personally. The middle school has been annexed in to the city of Roberta so the city police can monitor the area alongside the county sheriffs department. The sidewalk project is also moving forward despite not having all owners’ permis sion and their property included. All approved areas will have sidewalks and after getting the approvals from the remaining property owners, the DOT will finish those gaps in the sidewalk at a future time.
