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VOL. 132 NO. 45 36 PAGES 5 SECTIONS PLUS INSERTS A PUBLICATION OF MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. JEFFERSON, JACKSON COUNTY GEORGIA 30549 50« COPY : lmide - Glenn sues 7 Jefferson officials •Whole Foods opens page 2A FORMER JEFFERSON Police Chief Darren Glenn filed suit against seven of his former boss es Tuesday in Jackson County Superior Court. In the lawsuit, Glenn claims that he was unjustly fired in 2006 and was subsequent ly denied a name-clearing hearing by the officials. Named in the lawsuit are Mayor Jim Joiner, councilmembers Steve Kinney, David Varnadoe, C.D. Kidd, and Bosie Griffeth, city manager John Ward and former city manager David Clabo. The seven are being sued as individuals and the city itself isn’t named in the lawsuit. Former city councilman Philip Thompson is not named in the suit. Thompson opposed Glenn's firing in 2006. The lawsuit asks for $100,000 in lost wages, $5,540 in attorney fees and punitive damages of $1 million. The suit asks for a jury trial to decide the matter. Glenn is being represented by former Georgia Attorney General Michael Bowers in the suit. BACKGROUND When Jefferson officials fired Glenn in 2006, they said it was because he had mishandled a 2005 demotion involving JPD officer Lee New. According to this week’s lawsuit, city attorney Ronnie Hopkins recommended in 2006 that Clabo and Ward fire Glenn because it would be cheaper for the city to do that than fight a lawsuit being threatened by the policeman’s lawyer. Glenn was fired later that same day and New agreed not to sue the city. But Glenn was denied a subsequent name-clearing hearing, according to the suit. The denial of that hearing forms the crux of Glenn’s action against the officials named in the suit. STRING OF LITIGATION Glenn has been the subject of multiple legal actions since 2005. Two months after he was fired, Glenn won an unemployment hearing against the city. That decision outlined the fail ure by city officials to prove Glenn violated any city policies and procedures. Glenn was also the subject of a lengthy state criminal investigation starting in 2005. Glenn was cleared of any wrongdoing in that probe by a grand jury in December 2007. Glenn also won a federal court ruling in 2007 that threw out a civil rights suit filed by JPD officer New. Op/Ed: •'Do research before speak ing out' page 4A Sports: I •JHS undefeated in region play page 1B Features: •E-recycling event held Saturday by Keep Jakson County Beautiful page 1C Other News: •School News .... pages 5A, 11 A, 9-11B •Public Safety pages 8-9A •Legals pages 7-14C •Church News pages 7-8B •Obituaries page 10A MULTIPLE INJURIES IN WED. WRECK Multiple people were injured Wednesday afternoon around 2 p.m. in a single car wreck on Hwy. 15 in front of Apple Valley Church. Law enforcement officials were reportedly chasing a vehicle when it wrecked, ejecting several passengers. Four ambuances and two helicopters were dispatched to the scene, along with a number of rescue and fire units. One person from the vehicle reportedly fled the scene and was being sought by law officers. One child was reportedly airlifted to Egleston Hospital and a second helicopter also transported a patient. No details on the extent of injuries was available at press time. Photo by Justin Poole Noise complaint aired at Jefferson council meeting Neighbors complain about bar noise Group wants new Civil War monument in downtown BY ANGELA GARY A GROUP OF Jefferson area citizens are interested in seeing a new Civil War monument located downtown. Michael Bowen presented a proposal to the Jefferson City Council Monday night to replace the current monument with a replica to the original, which was damaged in 1940 resulting in the top of the monument being broken off. “The beautification of the square and the monument move has created a resurgence of interest in the broken original statue and for a continued on page 6A Hearing set Fri. for Linn Jones BY ANGELA GARY TWO MEN who live near Mike’s Down Under bar in Jefferson say the noise on Saturday nights is too loud and that it is causing prob lems for them. But bar owner Mike Carron said he checks the noise level to make sure it is under the city’s 60 decimal maximum. Len Sturkie, who lives one block from the bar, said the noise from Mike’s has caused a “negative qual ity of life in my residence.’’ He said it has caused the “windows of his home to rattle.” He added that the noise is “impossible to ignore.” “We can’t go to sleep,” he said. “We can’t rest when this is going on. We can’t open our windows and enjoy fresh air. We can’t sit on our screened porch and we can’t have friends over to sit on our patio. This goes on until at least one and sometimes two on Sunday morn ings. .. our home has been a private residence for 120 years. We are being treated as commercial prop erty because the city has included several residences in the C-2 high way commercial district.” Sturkie asked that the decimal level maximum be lowered to 45 db from 60 db. He also asked that the music end at midnight instead of 1 a.m. continued on page 6A A PLEA hearing related to theft charges filed against, Linn Jones, the wife of for mer district attorney Tim Madison, will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the Banks County courthouse in Homer. Jones worked in the DA’s office and faces theft charges related to having falsi fied payroll documents. Madison earlier pled guilty to theft charges and is serving time in prison. Thurs. hearing set for ‘puppy mill’ case A HEARING ON whether or not some 300 dogs from a Nicholson puppy mill will be confiscated and released for adoption will be held Thursday. The forfeiture hearing has been set for 2 p.m. Thursday, April 17, before Judge David Motes in courtroom 3 at the Jackson County courthouse. In February, more than 300 puppies were removed from a Nicholson kennel following the arrests of its owners after allegations of abuse and neglect. The kennel license has been revoked by the Georgia Department of Agriculture and state officials said the owners would likely never be allowed to operate a kennel again because of the condition of the dogs. Kennel owners and operators, Marie, Jennifer and Ronnie Hughes and Brandy Stone, were all charged with misdemeanor and federal animal cru elty charges. Jefferson to vote on hotel, shops April 28 BY ANGELA GARY A VARIANCE request needed for a hotel to locate at 1-85 and Hwy. 129 in Jefferson was heard by the Jefferson City Council Monday night. The city council will take action on the request from Jefferson Hospitality Inc. when it meets at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 28, at the civic center. The Quad Cities Planning Commission earlier recommended approval of the request. Jefferson Hospitality Inc. proposes locating a Country Inn and Suites hotel and retail shops at 5221 Hwy. 129. The variances being asked for are to reduce the side and rear setbacks and continued on page 6A : : -7 ■ •' >’’ V- -• • G CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH OBSERVED Pinwheels were placed in Marlow Park in downtown Jefferson Tuesday to represent the 255 substan tiated cases of child abuse in Jackson County in the past year. Among those putting the pinwheels in the park were: (L-R) Rick Bridgeman, Jackson County district attorney, Annette Raymond, CASA director; and Sharon Newton, Peace Place. Shown in the back is Cathy Bitterman, director of the Jackson County Department of Family and Children Services. Photo by Angela Gary Arcade police chief expresses concerns about rising gas prices BY CHRIS BRIDGES CITY OF Arcade Police Chief Randy Williams expressed concern to the city council about the ongoing increase in the cost of fuel during Monday night’s meeting. Williams said gas prices are pro jected to reach $4 per gallon by this summer. During the first three months of 2008, the chief said his department has used approximately 1,120 gallons per month. “I am planning to meet with my sergeants with ways to save on gas consumption,” Williams said. The chief also told council mem bers since the city remains under a watering ban that he plans to use rain barrels to collect runoff water from the roof of the police department. He noted it is possible to harvest “hundreds of gallons” of water using this method because of the way the police department is designed. Also during March, Williams said his officers answered 60 calls and for the first time since June 2007 there was not an accident within the city. In other business during Monday’s 40-minute meeting, the council: •heard a presentation from James Scott, president of Jackson County Community Outreach Program. Scott outlined the history and goals of the program which helps supports needy students with financial funds to attend college. The group’s 10th anniversary banquet is planned for Nov. 22 and Scott asked Arcade officials to consider sponsoring the event. •nominated, appointed and swore in Deborah Mockus as city admin istrator. •voted to surplus and sale used office furniture from the former city hall and public safety buildings.