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HEADS HOME / 4A
Tuesday, January 26,2021
barnesville.com
Barnesville, Ga. 30204
HERE’S THE
SCOOP
Militia districts
to be formed
On Jan. 27, 1921, coun
ty ordinary B.H. Hardy an
nounced he had formed a
committee to
create mili
tia districts
for the new
county of
Lamar. It was
announced in
the News-Ga
zette the committee was
to meet the next day:
It is important that
the new county fix the
number of these districts
and define their bound
aries right away and it
is hoped the full com
mittee will be present at
the meeting Friday. The
committee by districts is
as follows: Barnesville:
Capt. E. J. Murphy and J.
W. Garland; Johnstonville:
Farley Haygood and Omer
Ingram; Redbone: Mel P.
Bush and J. A. Sapping-
ton; Piedmont: T. M. Allen
and J .L. Waller; Milner:
J. B. Head and B. F. Cook;
Unionville: J. E. Spruce
and T. M. Mann.
HARDY
Increased EMS response times
have county looking for answers
WALTER GEIGER
news@barnesville.com
At its meeting Jan. 19 the
Lamar County commission au
thorized county administrator
Sean Townsend to negotiate
with Community Ambulance
regarding the current short
age of EMTs and drastically
increased response times on
EMS calls in the county.
Those close to the situation
report Community has lost
a large number of personnel
over the last six months. Many
left for other companies for
higher pay and better ben
efits. The commission asked
Townsend to look into the
county possibly augmenting
the pay of EMTs to address the
shortage of paramedics.
Attorney Scott Mayfield
told the commissioners that,
though the county pays no
subsidy, the county does have
a contract with Community
so any changes would have
to be made in an amendment.
“There is a contract but they
are not abiding by it,” Mayfield
alleged.
Sheriff Brad White reported
his dispatchers have had
instances where
they had five calls
waiting for an am
bulance to arrive.
“Our dispatchers
are repeatedly
having to call sur
rounding coun
ties, trying to get
mutual aid through other EMS
providers to cover local calls,”
the sheriff said.
Barnesville’s fire depart
ment does not answer medical
calls so paid staff and volun
teers from the
county fire de
partment are left
covering the entire
area when no
ambulance is avail
able. “I know this,
MATTHEWS it is running the
volunteer firefight
ers ragged,” one source close
to the issue who requested
anonymity said. Another said
the shortages began in earnest
last October and there are
rarely two ambulances dedi
cated to Lamar County on duty
overnight as the contract calls
for.
One EMS unit is often staged
at the Rock Ranch to handle
calls in Lamar and Upson
counties. Additionally, EMS
crews often prioritize
SEE EMS 4A
WHITE
THE HERALD GAZETTE/WALTER GEIGER
A Griffin man was at the wheel of an older model Ford Ranger involved in a bizarre crash here late Saturday af
ternoon. David Robertson (inset) was northbound on Veterans Parkway when the Ranger left the roadway, jumped
a fire hydrant, accelerated through the parking lot at Top Form Electrical and into the side of the Saylor Flooring
building adjacent to the new Farm Supply store which is under construction.
Despite COVID-19, county’s
financial status improving
Blood Drive
is Thursday
A Red Cross Blood
Drive will be held here
Jan. 28 from 1-6 p.m. in
the fellowship hall at First
United Methodist Church.
The drive is sponsored
by the Barnesville Rotary
Club and the Women’s
League.
Safety protocols will be
in effect including a mask
requirement, distancing
and hand sanitizing. The
Red Cross will screen for
COVID-19 antibodies so
donors will be able to
learn if they have been
exposed to the virus.
Lamar County has
been very supportive of
blood drives. The previ
ous 42 drives have col
lected almost 2000 units
of blood. The goal for this
drive is 55-60 units.
You can make an ap
pointment and get more
information by calling
1.800.RED CROSS or by
visiting redcrossblood.
org and using the spon
sor code ‘lamar’.
WALTER GEIGER
news@barnesville.com
The Lamar County commis
sion was met with a brighter
than expected financial picture
at its first meeting of 2021 Jan.
19. The meeting opened with
chairman Charles Glass post
poning discussion of acquiring
tax anticipation note (TAN)
funding until next month or
possibly March.
TAN funding has been a
staple of the commission’s
operating budget for nearly 20
years. Through it, the county
borrows operating funds and
pays the note back once tax
collections start rolling in in
the fall.
“We are trying to be fiscally
responsible,” Glass said.
Later in the meeting, county
administrator Sean Townsend
agreed the TAN could wait
until March. The glimpse of
economic stability comes from
sales tax revenues which are
far ahead of projections.
“Our cash flow is about $1
million ahead of what we pro
jected,” Townsend said. Com
missioner Bob Heiney led the
praise for Townsend and his
staff for their hard work in cut
ting costs. Townsend deflected
the credit to the county’s
department heads.
Deputies make $178,040 seizure on I-75
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WALTER GEIGER
news@barnesville.com
With the help of a sharp
nosed K-9, Lamar County depu
ties seized a large amount of
cash thought to be tied to drug
distribution on 1-75 Jan. 13.
Sgt. Brandon Goins of the
drug interdiction team, was
patrolling north on the inter
state just before noon when
he spotted a silver GMC Yukon
driving down the divider line
and moving out of its lane sev
eral times. He stopped the SUV
near mile marker 202.
The driver provided a Cali
fornia license identifying him
as Abraham Leon, 42. Leon
said he went over the divider
because he had been trying to
avoid Goins coming up behind
him and another patrol car
which was out on a stop. Leon
said he had not consumed
alcohol or other intoxicants.
Abraham said he was go
ing to Nashville but lived in
San Diego. He said he and his
family had flown
to Orlando but he
was driving back.
A passenger
was identified
as Raul Leon. He
also said they
SGT. GOINS were driving back
to California but
other family members had
flown back from a theme park
visit. The dates of their flights
and visits did not add up.
As Goins was writing out
a warning for Abraham Leon,
Sgt. Michael Brayton arrived.
Abraham Leon was breathing
heavily and his carotid artery
was pulsing so he was advised
K-9 Figo would do a free air
sniff around the vehicle.
Both Leons said there
were no drugs, guns or large
amounts of cash in the SUV.
Figo’s nose told a different
story as the dog alerted to the
rear of the vehicle.
Two locked suitcases were
found. Raul Leon unlocked one
of them, claiming it as his. A
search of both bags turned up
five one-gallon bags containing
large bundles of rubber-band
ed currency.
Both Abraham and Raul
Leon denied knowledge and
ownership of the cash. They
signed waiver forms and were
released.
Lt. Chad Payne arrived and
the money was placed in a
locked bank bag for transport.
The cash was taken to United
Bank where it was counted.
The total was $178,040. The
money went into the LCSO
seizure account at the bank.
The bags, rubber bands and
a money pen were held for
evidence.
Hearing
Wednesday
on English's
election
eligibility
A hearing is scheduled for
10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27 on
the eligibility of Arthur (Brutz)
English to stand for election.
English is one of four candi
dates who have qualified to
seek the vacant
post as Lamar’s
chief magistrate
judge.
Elections super
intendent Anita
Reid challenged
English’s eligibility
after district attor
ney Jonathan Adams offered an
opinion on the matter. “It is the
opinion of the Office of the Sec
retary of State and my opinion
as District Attorney that Mr.
Arthur English is not eligible to
stand for election at this time,”
Adams wrote Reid Jan. 19.
At issue is a criminal convic
tion on English’s record. He
has subsequently had his civil
rights restored but has not
met the 10-year waiting period
required before running for of
fice, according to Adams.
English posted both letters
on his campaign social media.
“I fully expected this and we
are well-prepared,” he wrote.
Adams said Monday he feels
confident English would be
eligible to run in 2022 when
the 10-year period runs out.
He also said Reid will preside
at Wednesday’s hearing. If she
rules against English, he can
appeal to superior court.
Adams also said the Judicial
Qualifications Commission
may become involved. “They
are not involved until after the
election. They determine if you
are fit to sit as a judge. There is
a different standard for judg
es,” Adams concluded.
Gordon
coach faces
theft charges
WALTER GEIGER
news@bamesville.com
Though it has yet to play a
game, the Gordon Highlanders
club football team is already
looking for a new
coach.
Brandon Carter,
36, who was hired
to start the pro
gram at GSC, is un
der investigation
CARTER f° r embezzling
athletic fees paid
by players to the program.
LCSO investigator Lt. Chad
Payne met with Wesley Horne,
director of ethics and
SEE COACH 3A
City warns of
water service
interruptions
The City of Barnesville is
warning of water service inter
ruptions beginning Wednesday,
Jan 27 on Washington, Jenkins,
Jackson, 1st and 2nd streets.
The disruptions will be in
termittent for the next three
weeks.
There may also be some wa
ter discoloration after service
is restored. Residents should
run their cold water until it is
clear before drinking or doing
laundry.
The city is improving water
and sewer infrastructure in
the areas listed and received
$750,000 in CDBG funds to do
the work. The water line work
is 90% complete. Sewer line
work will begin within the next
month.
If you need more informa
tion or have questions, call city
hall at 770.358.0181.
ENGLISH
©2021 THE HERALD GAZETTE, BARNESVILLE, LAMAR COUNTY, GA 30204, 770.358.NEWS