About The Georgia post. (Knoxville, Crawford County, Ga.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (June 19, 2014)
Opening Doors of Opportunity for Business, Friday, June 20, downtown Roberta, 5:30-7:30 p.m. spon sored by Roberta-Crawford County Chamber of Commerce. Call Patti at 478- 836-3825 for more information. SHOP LOCAL. EAT LOCAL. SPEND LOCAL. ENJOY LOCAL. Siart a ^Crencf FOURTH ANNUAL PEACHES & POLITICS, Thursday, June 19, 6-8 p.m. at Dickey Farms Packinghouse, Musella. Peachy refreshments will be enjoyed. Issue 24 Thursday, June 19, 2014 The Voice of Crawford County Since 1921 also serving Byron and Peach County 2 Sections, 12 Pages One Dollar School board approves tentative $13 million budget BY KRISTI WATKINS - The Georgia Post Saffold sentenced to 40 years probation BY VICTORIA SIMMONS The Georgia Post Alex Wood, a 2010 gradu ate of Crawford County High School, has been chosen for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics as a 2014 Daktronics-NAIA Soft- ball Scholar Athlete. In order to quality for this award, student athletes must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and have achieved a junior academic status. Wood has a 4.0 GPA. The daughter of John and Debbie Wood of Knoxville and Suzanne Longhurst, she graduated from Waycross College with an Associate of Arts degree. While at Waycross she played fast pitch softball, volunteered to coach younger girls at BY VICTORIA SIMMONS The Georgia Post Carlteze J. Saffold, 29, of Roberta pleased guilty to seven counts of sexual battery on a child under 16 and four counts of attempted child molestation in Crawford County Superior Court last week. The former Crawford County school teach er’s aide and coach was sentenced to 40 years probation by Judge Tripp Self, and must also register as a sex offender and pay a $500 fine. He had been charged earlier this year with 12 counts of child molestation and one count of aggravated child molestation. Saffold has been in jail since the charges. According to the prosecutor, Elizabeth Bobbitt, Saffold’s activities with children came to light in October 2013 after a school system employee saw a video of a group of boys at Saffold’s house during a sleepover. Saffold is shown in the video, pulling down the boys’ pants, making inappropriate comments and massaging the boys’ buttocks. The employee reported the video to the high school principal who called in law enforcement. The boys had been with Saffold earlier in the day at a camp. Some of the boys viewed Saffold’s acts at the slumber part as a joke but authorities said it was a sexual experience for Saffold. He kissed some of the boys on their stomachs and tried to kiss some on their faces, according to the indictment. Two of the boys said Saffold put his hands in their pants’ pockets saying he was searching for chewing tobacco but he touched private parts and the boys did not think it was acci dental. According to the indictment Saffold tack led a boy while playing football at the middle school and while holding the boy’s hands down, licked the boy’s neck and tried to bite it. In another incident he also bit a boy’s ear in a middle school classroom. During last week’s hearing, Saffold did not say anything and close to 20 others who ap peared to support him, also sat silently. When the charges first surfaced, many in the com munity did not believe what happened, but as more and more information surfaced and he was indicted, some changed their minds. Saffold filled in as a preacher occasionally at multiple churches in Crawford County. The District Attorney, David Cooke, said Saf fold used his positions to get close to the boys and desensitize them through inappropriate touching. Cooke said the plea ensures Saffold won’t have access to children anymore. softball camps and was cho sen as Homecoming Queen. Through all of this she maintained her grades. This fall she will graduate from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University with a BA degree in Homeland Security and minor degrees in psychology and business. She has contin ued to play softball and got the first hit in the school’s his tory during the first game of the inaugural season. At Emry Riddle, she is a member of the Student Athlete Leadership Team, volunteers at softball camps and hospice, and made the Dean’s List. In addition she is Academic All-Confer ence. This summer she will attend a study abroad trip to England, Ireland and France. After graduation Alex has her sights set on obtaining a Master’s degree in forensics and psychoanalysis. She played 35 games in 2013 for the Emry Riddle Eagles, primarily in the out- tied and at shortstop and was fifth best on the team and ended the season with a .545 batting average. At Waycross she played two seasons, playing in 40 games. At CCHS she was a four- year letter winner and select ed four times to the first team All-Region and two time team MVP and recipient of the team’s leadership award. She played basketball and softball at CCHS. Alex Wood The Crawford County Board of Education 2015 Tentative Budget has a bottom line of $13 million plus and will be posted next week in the Georgia Post for the citizens to view prior to a vote that will be held at the next meeting in July. At last week’s meeting the up-to-date financials were posted for the board members, even though the actual final financials will be known in September, to whether the Craw ford County Board of Education will be on or above budget for 2015. According to the financial advisor, Heather Donovan, the Fund Balance was wrong for the 2013-2014 school year by an increase of $50,000, but the CCBOE over spent by more than $100,000. Once the tentative budget is voted on in July, the budget will be sent to the federal level which is due in September. The CCBOE will commence to use the federal funds first before using the local revenue. The 2015 Gen eral Funds Budget given at the meeting, Raymond Dickey - Chairman, noticed a discrepancy of approximately $21,000 more than last noted in a previous meeting. John Douglas, Superintendent, noted the budget has been the same budget for the last two-three months. Although, Dickey questioned the discrepancy, Tim Johnson motioned to pass the tentative budget and Jake Howell seconded the motion which passed. New changes have been added to the 2014-2015 Student/ Parent Handbook for the high school. Dickey noted the new handbook should be posted on each school website for parents and students to have access to the updated school handbooks. One of the noted changes mentioned was that cell phone use during the Georgia Standardized Tests would incur an expulsion to the student. With the new changes, Dickey made a recommendation when cell phone use was present during any and all tests, not just Georgia Standard ized Tests, should be grounds for expulsion. Tim Johnson mentioned that some step repairs are need on the high school grounds around the areas of the foot ball and softball fields. Johnson also brought attention to possibly removing the old satellite dishes at the school board office and the high school. Superintendent, John Douglas, noted that he would get a list of items that are not being used which could be sold for extra revenue. With other surrounding counties having an 180-day school year, Crawford County will be utilizing a 160-day school year which is the minimum number of days required by law for schools in Georgia. Another item brought to the board’s attention is there are some positions needing to be filled because of relocation outside and inside the Crawford County Board of Education. Cash Mob/ Thank you Mob strikes again Once again, despite some photo shy people there were 13 people taking part in the Thursday, June 12th Cash Mob and Thank you Mob. Meeting the Crazy Lady with the bell (Patti Temple, Chamber Executive Director) in the park gazebo this time the group first Thanked Camp Grace and Lucas Farmer for locating in the county and offering the children here and in inner cities a week of camp in rural Crawford County. Donations to provide children with a wholesome program is always welcome. The last two years the gymnasium at Camp Grace has been the chamber’s site for the Annual Meeting and Banquet offering accommodations for over 200 people. The Crazy old Lady led the group through the post office ringing the bell the whole way until they reached their next destination which was Turner’s Wings. Delighted to see the tribe come through the door, Gary Turner greeted them and all were given a menu. Some chose to purchase gift certificates for a lunch at a later date. Turner’s, was one of last year’s Business of the Ouarter recipients, always offering breakfast through dinner and snacks, they offer a variety of chicken wings and other dinners and lunch buffet each day. The next Cash Mob and Thank You Mob names have been drawn and may Be YOUR business! But remember your chamber always appreciates you! Stay tuned! Ideas and plans are in the works for a Scavenger Hunt by The Georgia Post which will culminate in a Grand Prize. This will involve landmarks and businesses in Crawford County. So keep reading The Geor gia Post and watch for the information to participate. CCHS graduate on NAIA list Two events to Thursday and attend Friday Don’t forget the Peaches and Politics event tonight (June 19) at Dickey Farms from 6-7:30. You can greet and meet politicians and enjoy peachy refreshments. Invited guests include Governor Nathan Deal, Allen Peake, Gary Black - Com missioner of Agriculture and others. Friday, June 20th, the Roberta-Crawford County Chamber of Commerce is presenting “Opening the Doors of Opportunity for Businesses”. This is a way to promote empty storefronts for possible renters to fill. Businesses who might be looking to begin or expand their business have been contacted to take a look at downtown Roberta. It is the responsibility of the owners to show the property. Representatives of the Small Business Development Center will be on hand as well for discussions with business owners if needed. The goal is to locate and provide a boost to the local economy by adding busi nesses to Roberta’s historic downtown as well as other areas of the city and county. This event will be held downtown Friday from 5:30- 7 p.m. Mark your calendar for July’s Tasting All of Crawford County on the 17th starting at 5:30 p.m. This will be the second year of this event, which is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. Local businesses will offer a taste of food from their menu items. Cost will be $5 per adult and $3 per child (12 and under). This event was well attended and lot of fun last year so you’ll want to be there this year. For more information contact Patti Temple at 478- 836-3825.
