Newspaper Page Text
THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 25. 2021 PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS PAGE 5B
Man admits to murder of girlfriend
in Waleska, sentenced to life
photo/Cherokee Sheriff’s Office
Jesse Lamar Simmons
November 18, 2021 -
Cherokee County District At
torney Shannon Wallace an
nounces that Jesse Lamar
Simmons, 43, pled guilty on
Wednesday, November 17 to
malice murder, felony mur
der, aggravated assault, vio
lation of Georgia Controlled
Substances Act, and tamper
ing with evidence.
The charges relate to a
shooting that occurred on
January 5, 2019, in Waleska.
After shooting his girlfriend
Tammy Gilbert, 55, Sim
mons called 911 to report a
suicide attempt in their base
ment apartment.
Upon arrival, Cherokee
Sheriff’s Office deputies
found Gilbert critically in
jured with a single gunshot
wound to her chest and a
gunshot graze to her upper
arm. When law enforcement
arrived, Gilbert was still
alive; however, the defendant
photo/Blue Ridge Judicial District
Tammy Gilbert
had not attempted to treat her
wounds.
Cherokee County Fire &
Emergency Services engaged
in lifesaving efforts that con
tinued during the transport to
the hospital, but Gilbert died
shortly after arrival at the
hospital.
Simmons initially told in
vestigators that Gilbert was
depressed, had a history of
suicide attempts, and had
shot herself after the couple
argued. He then changed his
story, claiming the gun acci
dentally misfired. Eventually,
he admitted to shooting her,
adding that she had yelled at
him to ‘‘get out.”
During the investigation,
deputies discovered a sus
pected methamphetamine
pipe and the defendant later
tested positive for metham
phetamine.
Gilbert’s family members
told investigators that she had
Former Public Service
Commission candidate to
head EPA’s Southeast region
By Dave Williams
Bureau Chief
Capitol Beat News Service
ice, a project of the Georgia
Press Educational Founda
tion.
been in an abusive relation
ship with Simmons and
feared leaving him would
have fatal consequences. The
day of the murder, Gilbert
told her brother that she was
going to leave Simmons and
planned to move in with her
sister.
“January 5, 2019 started
out as one of the happiest
days of Tammy’s life. That
day, she celebrated her
daughter’s wedding and
made plans to finally leave an
abusive relationship and
break the cycle of violence,”
said Deputy Chief Assistant
District Attorney Rachel
Ashe, who prosecuted the
case on behalf of the State.
“Unfortunately, her happy
day ended with unimaginable
tragedy when this much
loved woman was shot by
Simmons, who then went on
to lie about his involvement
and hide evidence.”
After Simmons entered
his negotiated guilty plea,
members of the victim’s fam
ily provided victim impact
statements that describe the
family’s “broken heart” and
the pain, loss, and anger they
continue feel.
Judge Anthony Baker then
sentenced Simmons as nego
tiated to life in prison.
“It was heartbreaking to
hear this family describe a
life without their mother, sis
ter, grandmother during the
plea hearing,” said District
Attorney Shannon Wallace.
“While his guilty plea will
not bring back their loved
one, our hope is that this sen
tence will bring some clo
sure.”
Domestic Violence:
Domestic violence typi
cally follows a pattern, with
tension building, followed by
a major act of violence, a
calm period, and then cycling
back to tension building. This
cycle of violence can con
tinue over years or even
decades. As time passes, the
violent episodes often get
more serious and may lead to
a lethal act.
If you or someone you
know’ is impacted by domes
tic violence, please contact
the Cherokee Family Vio
lence Center, CFVC.org,
770-479-1703 (24/7 crisis
hotline). In case of an emer
gency, call 911.
The Office of the District
Attorney for the Blue Ridge
Judicial Circuit is committed
to seekingjustice, acting with
integrity, and collaborating
with partner agencies in the
criminal justice system in
order to protect the citizens
of Cherokee County and the
State of Georgia.
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ATLANTA - A 2020 Dem
ocratic candidate for a seat on
the Georgia Public Service
Commission (PSC) is Presi
dent Joe Biden’s choice to
become Southeast regional
administrator of the U.S. En
vironmental Protection
Agency.
Biden appointed Daniel
Blackman Thursday to head
an Atlanta-based EPA region
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the post by U.S. Sen. Jon Os-
sofif, D-Ga.
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pect that he will bring vision
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day.
“As climate change pres
ents a real and urgent threat
to our country, Daniel has
been a steadfast champion for
environmental stewardship
and creating opportunities for
underserved communities
across Georgia,” added Sen.
Raphael Ossoff, D-Ga.
“EPA’s Southeast region will
benefit from his leadership.”
Blackman, who lives in
Forsyth County, has spent
more than a decade advising
policymakers at the Georgia
capitol and advocating on be
half of Georgia ratepayers
and small businesses in en
ergy-related matters before
the PSC.
He ran for the commission
last year, forcing Republican
incumbent Lauren “Bubba”
McDonald into a January
runoff before losing by a nar
row margin.
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reer working to protect the
environment and our com
munities from the effects of
climate change, especially
those marginalized and left
behind,” Blackman said.
“I look forward to hitting
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port Administrator [Michael]
Regan in advancing the
Biden administration’s com
mitment to working with our
state, local, and tribal part
ners to secure clean air, safe
food, and clean drinking
water throughout the region.”
Blackman is the son of
immigrants from Barbados
and is an alumnus of Clark
Atlanta University.
This story is available
through a news partnership
with Capitol Beat News Serv-
PICKENS COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
SCHEDULE OF APPROVED LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX PROJECTS
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2021
PROJECT
ORIGINAL
ESTIMATED
COST (1)
CURRENT
ESTIMATED
COSTS (2)
AMOUNT
EXPENDED
IN CURRENT
YEAR (3)
AMOUNT
EXPENDED
IN PRIOR
YEARS (3)
TOTAL
COMPLETION
COST
EXCESS
PROCEEDS NOT
EXPENDED
ESTIMATED
COMPLETION
DATE
SPLOST V
The acquisition and installation of new technology, textbooks,
and equipment for all educational facilities.
$
4,000,000.00 $
4,000,000.00 $
1,426,326.98 $
1,844,981.83 $
4,000,000.00 $
728,691.19
12/31/21
The acquisition of new school buses, vehicles, and
transportation equipment including but not limited to
modifications to existing school buses.
3,300,000.00
3,300,000.00
717,159.80
733,551.00
3,300,000.00
1,849,289.20
12/31/21
The construction and equipping of additional classroom space
and related facilities on the campus of Pickens High School and
the renovation, repair, construction, modification and equipping
of buildings and facilities located on the campus of Pickens High
School.
5,500,000.00
9,200,000.00
156,418.74
8,748,902.84
9,200,000.00
294,678.42
12/31/21
The construction and equipping of additional classroom space
and related facilities on the campus of Jasper Elementary
School and the renovation, repair, construction, modification
and equipping of buildings and facilities located on the campus
of Jasper Elementary School.
1,700,000.00
1,700,000.00
14,605.50
103,177.14
1,700,000.00
1,582,217.36
12/31/21
The construction and equipping of additional classroom space
and related facilities on the campus of Tate Elementary School;
the renovation, repair, construction, modification and equipping
of buildings and facilities located on the campus of Tate
Elementary School; the renovation, repair, construction,
modification and equipping of buildings located on the campus
of Tate Elementary School; the renovation, modification,
construction and equipping of cafeteria, lunchroom and kitchen
facilities located on the campus of Tate Elementary School;
1,500,000.00
1,500,000.00
5,055.00
13,308.00
1,500,000.00
1,481,637.00
12/31/21
The construction and equipping of additional classroom space
and related facilities on the campus of Pickens County Middle
School; the renovation, repair, construction, modification and
equipping of buildings and facilities located on the campus of
Pickens County Middle School;
6,000,000.00
11,700,000.00
830,925.27
10,668,012.25
11,700,000.00
201,062.48
12/31/21
The construction and equipping of additional classroom space
and related facilities on the campus of Jasper Middle School;
the renovation, repair, construction, modification and equipping
of buildings and facilities located on the campus of Jasper
Middle School;
1,000,000.00
1,000,000.00
0.00
5,577.00
1,000,000.00
994,423.00
12/31/21
The construction and equipping of additional classroom space
and related facilities on the campus of Hill City Elementary
School; the renovation, repair, construction, modification and
equipping of buildings and facilities located on the campus of
Hill City Elementary School;
3,000,000.00
3,000,000.00
5,055.00
0.00
3,000,000.00
2,994,945.00
12/31/21
The construction and equipping of additional classroom space
and related facilities on the campus of Harmony Elementary
School; the renovation, repair, construction, modification and
equipping of buildings and facilities located on the campus of
Harmony Elementary School;
1,500,000.00
1,500,000.00
27,045.00
8,883.00
1,500,000.00
1,464,072.00
12/31/21
Renovations and modifications to existing educational facilities
and the acquisition and installation of equipment at all other
educational facilities
1,500,000.00
1,500,000.00
6,740.00
142,908.47
1,500,000.00
1,350,351.53
12/31/21
The acquisition and purchase of real estate; the preparation,
acquisition, and payment of engineering plans, specifications,
and other preliminary construction costs associated with the
building of a new school facility.
500,000.00
500,000.00
0.00
0.00
500,000.00
500,000.00
12/31/21
The payment of principal and interest on bonds.
500,000.00
500,000.00
0.00
0.00
500,000.00
500,000.00
12/31/21
$
30,000,000.00 $
39,400,000.00 $
3,189,331.29 $
22,269,301.53
39,400,000.00 $
13,941,367.18
(1) The School District's original cost estimate as specified In the resolution calling for the Imposition of the Local Option Sales Tax.
(2) The School District's current estimate of total cost for the projects). Includes all cost from project Inception to completion.
(3) The voters of Pickens County approved the imposition of a 1% sales tax to fund the above project.
Amounts expended for these projects may Include sales tax proceeds, state, local property
taxes and/or other funds over the life of the project.
(4) In addition to the expenditures shown above, the School District has Incurred Interest to provide advance funding for the above projects) as follows:
Prior Years $
Current Year
Total $