Newspaper Page Text
September 24, 2008
Cooling
^Reporter
PAGE 7A
continued from the front page
race for District 2 because
he actually lives in District
6. Cooling lives on Hwy. 42,
which forms the boundary
between districts 2 and 6.
When he registered to vote
after moving to his home
three years ago, the regis-
tar/tax office put him in
the school board's District
2. However, tax commis
sioner Patsy Miller said
that was a mistake.
"We're very sorry it has
happened," said Miller,
who supervised the regis
trar's office until it moved
into its own location this
summer. "The even and
odd numbers got reversed."
Miller said she apolo
gized to Cooling and
assured him there was no
malicious intent on the
part of her office. However,
Miller said she had to file
a challenge to Cooling's
residency after a voter
called to say Cooling does
n't live in District 2.
Cooling said he had
called the tax office back in
June, before the qualifying
deadline, to check on his
residency because he want
ed to run in District 6,
where incumbent Tammy
Fletcher would be seeking
re-election. But the tax
office told him he must run
in whatever district is
denoted by his voter regis
tration card, which was
District 2. So that's what
he did.
But Miller said Monday
the map is a better way to
determine residency.
"It would be more accu
rate to look at a map to
determine where someone
lives than to go by voter
registration card," said
Miller.
On Monday, Cooling
acknowledged that the dis
trict map does appear to
show he's in District 6.
Residents on the west side
of Hwy. 42 in that area are
in District 2 and on the
east side are in District 6.
Cooling's home is on the
east side.
But now the qualifying
time has passed and the
point is moot. Miller said
she hopes the mistake
doesn't discourage Cooling
from running again.
With early voting start
ing this Monday, Pitman
said the ballots have
already been printed but
signs will be posted at the
four precincts in District 2
to note that votes for
Cooling won’t counted. The
ruling means Grant auto
matically gets another four
years on the board. The
foul-up makes District 2
the only post on either the
county school board or
county commission that is
not contested.
Zaldua
Medical Center of Central
Georgia for treatment due
to the extent of his
injuries.
Bibb sheriff’s deputy
Thomas Sullivan arrived
at the accident scene at
4:41 a.m. and discovered a
red 1991 Honda Accord
approximately 30 feet off
the road in a wooded area
and Kelly Hill’s body lying
near the vehicle. Bibb
County Coroner Leon
Jones declared Hill dead at
the scene.
“I have been working as
an EMT for 34 years and
as coroner for 18 years and
this accident was one of
the top three accidents I’ve
ever seen,” said Jones. “And
I’ve seen my share of
wrecks, but this one was
bad. The car was so man
gled. It hit two trees. It
looked liked twisted
metal.”
According to George
Meadows of the Bibb
County Sheriff’s Office, the
accident was estimated to
have occured at least an
hour prior to Zaldua being
seen at the hospital.
Jones said Hill’s injuries
were very extensive, but he
was unable to determine if
she died instantly or was
alive for a while after the
accident. Jones said there
is no way of knowing if Hill
could have survived if
Zaldua had reported the
accident immediately.
Zaldua told a Bibb
deputy that Hill had been
driving the vehicle.
Investigators later discov
ered that Zaldua called a
friend, Stacy Bryant of
Monroe County, from the
accident scene with a cell
phone. According to the
Bibb Sheriff’s report,
Bryant picked Zaldua up
on 1-475 and took him to
the Coliseum Medical
Center. Zaldua failed to
report the accident imme
diately and obtain assis
tance for Hill.
The Bibb County
Sheriff’s Office says acci
dent scene evidence indi
cated that the Honda
Accord occupied by Hill
and Zaldua was south
bound on 1-475 south when
the vehicle left the road
way and struck several
trees on the right shoulder
of the road; ejecting both
occupants.
Accident investigators
immediately had reason to
believe that alcohol use
may have been a contribut
ing factor in the accident
due to on scene evidence
and statements from wit
nesses.
Evidence retrieved from
the vehicle and injuries
suffered by Zaldua have
lead investigators to the
conclusion that Zaldua was
in fact the driver of the
vehicle; not Hill as he orig
inally claimed.
Blood sample results
obtained from Zaldua indi
cate that he was under the
influence of alcohol at the
time of the accident.
Zaldua remains in the
Bibb County jail. His case
was transferred to the
superior court. A bond
hearing had not been set
as of press time Monday.
First degree vehicular
homicide carries a maxi
mum sentence of 15 years
in prison.
Chapman
I appreciate this more than anyone knows. But,
Wiybody that knows me knows I don't believe in bei
in the front of the picture. I'm a servant I'm not a lea
- J.D. Chapman
try in the Navy where he taught fire
school. In 1971 Chapman served as the
Georgia state president for the United
Fraternal Order of Firefighters. In 1972
he graduated the Georgia Fire School and
in 1973 received EMT training. In 1975
Chapman was promoted to Captain and
retired from Macon-Bibb County fire
department in 1988. He joined
Bolingbroke Volunteer Fire Department in
1996. Chapman has served as an arson
investigator, HASMAT technician, fire
instructor and CPR instructor.
"Over the 50 years that you've dedicated
to the fire service, you have been a leader
to many of us, including me," Weeks told
Chapman.
Georgia Fire Marshall representative
Jimmy Crawley read a proclamation
declaring Sept. 20, 2008 as Captain John
D. Chapman Day.
"This is a very tight-knit group of volun
teers here and a community that actually
backs up," said Crawley. "That only exem
plifies leadership."
Chapman was also presented with a
bronzed axe by his fellow volunteer fire
fighters. Humbled by all the attention he
said, "I appreciate this more than anyone
knows. But, anybody that knows me
knows I
don't
believe in
being in the
front of the
picture. I'm
a servant
I'm not a
leader."
McCAIN
Monroe County GQP Campaign HQ Open!
199 E Main SI.
Right behind old Piggly Wiggly on RR tracks.
Monday. Tuesday and Thursday 5-8 pm.
Refreshments served.
Questions? Call 478-994-4206.
Paid for by the Monroe County Republican Party.
continued from the front page
At
cuicLzrz
Your locally owned garden center
specializing in personal service.
continued from the front page
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Fall Annuals Available:
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Mon-Fri 8-5 • Sat 9-1
Office:
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NOTICE OF PROPERTY
TAX INCREASE
The City of Forsyth has tentatively adopted a
millage rate which will require an increase in property
taxes by .497 percent (the percentage increase over the
roll-back rate).
All concerned citizens are invited to the public
hearings on this tax increase to be held at City Hall
Council Chambers in Forsyth, Georgia, on October 7,
2008 at 7:00 PM. and on October 14. 2008 at 4:00
PM, and on October 21, 2008 at 6:30 PM.
This 16th day of September. 2008
Mayor and Council of the City of Forsyth
The City Council of Forsyth hereby announces that the millage rate for the City will be set at a meeting to be held
at City Hall Council Chambers at City Hall Annex on the 21st day of October, 2008, at 6:30 PM, and pursuant
to OCGA Section 48-5-32, hereby publishes the following presentation of the current year tax digest and levy along
with the history of the tax digest and levy for the past five years.
CURRENT 2008 TAX DIGEST AND 5 YEAR H
ISTORY OF LEVY
CITY
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Real & Personal
79,739,816
80,941,599
84,044,710
87,387,531
89,351,146
99,159,916
Motor Vehicles
8,677,453
8,302,890
7,602,480
6,892,700
7,088,650
7,771,610
Mobile Homes
153,202
171,951
185,701
296,083
335,328
296,943
Timber - 100%
Heavy Duty Equipment
50,305
0
Gross Digest
88,570,471
89,416,440
91,832,891
94,576,314
96,825,429
107,228,469
Less M& O Exemptions
10,980,745
11,294,684
13,365,379
2,231,789
1,645,726
2,276,383
Net M & O Digest
77,589,726
78,121,756
78,467,512
$92,344,525
$95,179,703
104,952,086
Gross M&O Millage
7.070
7.015
6.515
6.000
5.750
5.75
Less Rollbacks
Net M&O Millage
7.070
7.015
6.515
6.000
5.750
5.75
Net Taxes Levied
$548,559
$548,024
$511,216
$554,067
$547,283
$603,474
TOTAL CITY
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Total Value
77,589,726
78,121,756
78,467,512
92,344,525
95,179,703
104,952,086
Total Taxes Levied
$548,559
$548,024
$511,216
$554,067
$547,283
$603,474
Net Taxes $ Increase
-$535
-$36,808
$42,851
-$6,784
$56,191
Net Taxes % Increase
-0.10%
-6.72%
8.38%
-1.22%
10%