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Thursday, August 25, 2022 | Volume 135 Number 19 | Jasper, Georgia | 22 pages, 2 sections | Published Weekly | $1-00 Two school bus drivers arrested for DUI within a week Photo/Kelley Little Parent Kelley Little’s 10-year-old son was on the Pickens County school bus when it ran off the road into a ditch. She took this photo after rushing to the scene. “All I could hear was panicked children and kids screaming and crying, ” parent said. By Angela Reinhardt Staff Writer areinhardt@pickensprogress.com Two Pickens County school bus drivers were arrested and charged with DUIs within four days of each other in separate instances. The inci dents have left parents enraged and the school system under fire. The first incident occurred on Fri day, Aug. 19. According to reports, deputies were dispatched to a school bus crash on Fortner Road near McGinnis Acres. Deputies found the bus with its right side leaning on an embankment. Driver Jeffery Tucker was taking students home from school when the incident occurred. Approximately 40 kids were on board at the time of the crash. The sheriff’s report states that Tucker was attempting to move over for another bus traveling in the op posite direction when he left the roadway and slid into a ditch. It also states that Tucker told officers and deputies that he was okay to finish his route, and that he was allowed to leave to get another bus at the trans portation department. After learning of his departure, a school official on site contacted the transportation de partment and asked Tucker to stay until law officers could speak to him and check for impairment. While officers were on the way to the transportation department, Pick ens 911 requested one of the deputies call a parent who said “his son was on the bus at the time it wrecked,” the report states. “[The parent] stated his son told him the bus driver got in his face and yelled at him, and when he did the son could smell an alcohol-type bever age on his breath.” When the deputy and trooper ar rived at the transportation depart ment they could smell alcohol on Tucker’s breath. The bus driver told officers he had had a glass of wine at around 11 a.m. that day. Field sobri ety and breath tests were performed and Tucker was taken into custody. The bus driver has been charged with DUI, Failure to Maintain Lane, Hit and Run, 40 Counts of DUI Child Endangerment, 40 County Reckless Conducts, Cruelty in the 2nd Degree. The Pickens school system issued a press release regarding the incident that day, which stated no children had been injured and that parents had been contacted regarding the crash. “The District takes this matter very seriously,” the release states. “Student safety is our highest prior ity and utmost concern. Once law enforcement has completed its in vestigation, we will conduct our own review into the facts and circum stances surrounding this egregious event.” The second incident occurred on Monday, Aug. 22. Pickens school bus driver Tammy Lynn Decerbo See BUS DRIVERS on 11A Child molestation trial must start over Storm damages historic Tate Cemetery By Alex Goble Staff Writer agoble@pickensprogress.com County crews were out working on extensive weekend storm damage in the Old Tate Ceme tery starting Monday. Despite multiple trees being down, it appears that the majority of gravestones there have not been impacted. Most of the downed trees fell in the south end of the cemetery (closest to Bell’s Pharmacy) and to the east near Highway 53. The Tate family section, farther in, was untouched by broken branches or fallen trees, while a few other head stones had close calls as pictured. Crews were using heavy machinery and a large wood chipper to dispose of the largest pieces, and had finished a large chunk of the work near the railroad tracks Monday. Talking Rock fire station losing official status following ISO inspection A week of court proceedings lost By Angela Reinhardt Staff Writer areinhardt@pickensprogress.com A child molestation trial that began last week with motions and jury selection will be forced to start over after a medical issue arose with the senior judge. Court documents show that the case, in which defen dant Michael Travis Case, 39, faces 29 counts including Rape, Aggravated Child Mo lestation, False Imprison ment, Aggravated Sodomy, and others for sexually abus ing a child under the age of 14. Court officials said as the motions and jury selection process got underway, it was clear that there was a medical issue with the judge that could undermine the defen dant’s right to a fair trial. “We, as court officials, all figured out it was definitely something wrong medically, and (defense attorney) Lee Fitzpatrick and Alison Sose- bee agreed on the continu ance,” said Pickens Clerk of Court Jennifer Jordan. Sosebee would not com ment on specifics, but said that filing the continuance' was a difficult decision due to the serious nature of the case and charges brought against the defendant. "Unfortunately, due to a medical issue with personnel involved in the trial of this case, State v. Case was con tinued,” said District Attor ney Alison Sosebee. “It is the understanding of the District See TRIAL on 11A Book-in photo/Sheriff’s Office Michael Travis Case has been charged with sexually abusing and raping a child under 14. His case has been delayed after a continu ance. Homeowners could see insurance rates at the max; businesses will fare even worse, says long-time insurance agent By Dan Pool Editor dpool@pickensprogress.com Talking Rock’s mayor and Pickens County officials met Tuesday to discuss what can be done after receiving word the small town’s vol unteer fire station would not be officially recognized for ISO (insurance ratings) be ginning September 1. In a letter/e-mail from May 30, 2022 the Insurance Services Office notified Mayor Randy Banks that their public protection clas sification would move to a 10, effective September 1, 2022. Talking Rock had pre viously been an ISO 6. While not providing any specifics, the ISO letter states “that as part of our analysis it was determined that the following fire sta tion^) did not meet the min imum requirements for recognition: Talking Rock Fire Station is not recog nized.” Fire officials and an ex perienced insurance profes sional explained that a 10 is the same rating as an area with no fire protection. This new rating will greatly in crease insurance costs for homes and businesses that fall in the Talking Rock fire district and could make it difficult for commercial property to get insurance at all if it’s not corrected. County officials familiar with the process said it ap pears the main problem is Talking Rock needed to show a roster of at least four certified and active fire fighters and only had two. Kristie Easterwood, 911 op erations manager, said they check that volunteers are ac tive and responding for them to count. Talking Rock officials first contacted by the Progress said they had been unaware of the situation as late as last month. And one reason for them to be un aware is it appears the Insur ance Services Office notified Talking Rock in a letter/e mail addressed to the former mayor’s e-mail; and the let ter itself sent to an incorrect address. The letter shows an address of 429 Old Blairsville Road, Talking Rock, the address of the Talking Rock Baptist Church where the town council met at one point years ago. On Tuesday, Talking Rock Mayor James Bryant, Jr. said he had a productive meeting with the county and fire officials but learned that since the fire department is all volunteer, the city doesn’t have direct control over it. Bryant said he is learning how the relationship be tween the county, city and volunteer department works and he hopes to develop a re lationship with Talking Rock Fire Chief Larry Keener and see what they can do to rem edy this situation working with the county. Bryant noted that he has served as mayor pro tem for two years, coming in during a con tentious situation and has had “zero transition.” “We are trying to move forward but I am learning on the job,” he said. He said a goal of his in a five-year pe riod is to see the town build See TALKING ROCK 11A Jammin for Joy raises funds for local teen ministry Page 10B JeepFest Agenda for the big Labor Day weekend event in Marble Hill Page 2B Obituaries - 8A • Amy Clark • Brandon Qualls • Earl Towery • Howard Schoen • James Yount • Jean Deal • Jeani Guttery • Leonard Dixon • Linda Mundy Contact Us 94 North Main Street Jasper, Ga. 30143 706-253-2457 pickensprogress.com Open for business during these hours: Mon-Thurs, 9-5, and Fri, 9-4:30 $1.00 per copy 4879 08163" o