Newspaper Page Text
Vol. 129, No. 32 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830
Wednesday, November 18, 2009 - $1.00
FINAL
FOUR
and hungry
for more
After an impressive 21-12 win over Sherwood Christian, the
Edmund Burke Academy Spartans have found themselves one
game shy of making it to the state title game. This Friday, the
Spartans will have a rematch with Memorial Day School at Rogers
Field in the semi-finals. The two teams met earlier in the season
and the Spartans took the 21 -7 victory. But, Memorial's star player
was injured midway through the game and did not play the entire
second half. He has made a full recovery and is expected to play
during this Friday’s game. The Spartans are up for the challenge.
They’ve been the underdog several times this season and some
how found a way to come out on top. Everything is on the line this
time as Edmund Burke hopes history will repeat itself. They’ll try to
advance to the state championship game for just the second time in
nearly 30 years. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. Above, Alex Sturkie
and Boyd Lively celebrate after Friday night's big win.
- See story page 11
Drug dog joins local police force
By Elizabeth Billips
lizbillips@yahoo.com
There’s a new member on
the police force, and he an
swers to Po-Po.
The 2-year-old drug sniff
ing German shepherd reported
to work at the Waynesboro
Police Department Tuesday
morning, following a unani
mous nod from city council.
“I just think this is going to
be a big plus,” councilman
Dick Byne said, predicting the
benefits would outweigh the
estimated $2,500 the canine
will cost taxpayers annually.
The dog will be handled by
trainer and owner. Officer
Bruce Petitt, who has been on
the force since early summer.
Officials said having an in-
house owner will save the city
tens of thousands in start-up
costs and training.
"I already have the dog and
the training ... and the city has
a need,” Officer Petitt told city
council Monday night, adding
that his dog is already nation
ally certified in officer pro
tection, building clearance,
tracking and narcotic detec
tion.
That means Po-Po won’t
only help sniff out drugs, but
can track burglary suspects or
missing persons and assist
with crowd control.
The nearby Wadley Police
Department has been working
with canines like Po-Po for a
number of years, and officers
there say the addition will be
a good one for Waynesboro,
as well as the nearby agen
cies.
"Having a drug dog in ser
vice is a tremendous deterrent
to the drug world,” said
Wadley Police Sgt. Patrick
Paquette. “We wouldn’t have
it any other way.”
He says that cash seizures
and fines resulting from
Wadley’s canines have paid
for four new patrol cars, as
well as equipment including
cameras for all of their cars
and body cameras worn by all
officers.
Their newest dog, Probable
Cause, also trained by Officer
Petitt, came onto the force in
April and has already had sev
eral big narcotic finds.
f
Officer Bruce Petitt with Po-Po.
Two run over
Local woman
arrested for
Myrtle Beach
hit and run
By Elizabeth Billips
lizbillips@yahoo.com
A Burke County woman has been jailed by Myrtle Beach
authorities for stealing a purse from an elderly woman,
then running over two people during her getaway.
Katherine Michelle Johnson, 31, was arrested Wednes
day while working at Bankers Insurance and Casualty in
Augusta.
Johnson had been on the lam since last Monday morn
ing when she allegedly snatched a purse from a 73-year-
old woman in a K-Mart check-out line.
The victim began screaming for help and followed
Johnson to her car.
Brenda Williams, 50, of Conway and another man in
side the store both came to the victim’s aid and tried to
stop Johnson, who was attempting to drive off. Accord
ing to reports, Johnson backed into the 73-year-old and
then ran over Williams, who was dragged approximately
100 feet before she went under the back tires.
Burke County authorities helped crack the case after
they were alerted by a caller who had become suspicious
when Johnson returned from her trip early with damage
to the trunk and door of the car she’d borrowed.
While the 73-year-old is expected to make a full re
covery, Williams’ family members told Myrtle Beach
media last week that she is paralyzed and in critical con
dition.
At Boggs
Charter school
appeals to state
By Anne Marie Kyzer
annemariek@thetruecitizen.com
A local charter school organization that was denied ap
proval by the Burke County Board of Education has ap
pealed at the state level.
The Boggs Community Development Corporation, Inc.
(BCDC) argued its petition Friday before the Georgia
Charter Schools Commission.
Members of the BCDC, which seeks to establish Boggs
Charter Academy for local at-risk middle school students,
spoke to the independent panel in Atlanta at an hour-
long hearing.
Retired Richmond County principal and Burke County
native Dr. Vivian Pennamon and Burke County Even Start
director Allene Reed spoke on behalf of the BCDC at the
proceeding.
The commission has the power to approve or deny pe
titions for charter schools that local boards of education
have previously denied.
“The hearing seemingly went well,” BCDC president
and former Burke County BOE member Lela Stone said.
The Burke County BOE, which was represented by at
torney James Hyder and administrative liaison Chris
Henry, was given 10 minutes to explain why the petition
was denied locally.
They argued that the school’s plan lacked specifics for
goals and objectives, and at-risk middle school students
were being helped through initiatives already adminis
tered by the public schools.
The state commission is expected to issue a decision in
mid-December, according to Stone.
If the charter petition is approved, organizers plan to
locate the school at the historic Boggs Academy campus
on Quaker Road near Keysville. Organizers had planned
to open for sixth and seventh grade students next fall.
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