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hammer in blank 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 Subscribe. Your name goes on the label in this box 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