Newspaper Page Text
January 21, 2009
PAGE 3A
^Reporter
Local News
Have local news to report? Call 994-2358 or email news@mymcr.net.
1-75 wreck claims Mercer professor Sunday
A Mercer University can
cer researcher and an
Atlanta man were killed in
an 1-75 wreck in Monroe
County on Sunday after
noon.
Kristina Detmer, 56, of
Macon, was driving her
maroon Honda Civic south
bound when she struck a
van while changing lanes,
according to Trooper
Brandon Brown of the
Georgia State Patrol. The
accident happened between
the High Falls and
Johnstonville Road exits,
said Brown. Brown said
Detmer may have been
getting out of the right-
hand lane after spotting
31-year-old Mayoke Pambi
on the right shoulder try
ing to change a flat tire on
his silver Chrysler Pacifica.
“We’re thinking she saw
him on the shoulder and
moved to give him room,”
said Brown.
Instead, Detmer struck a
Ford Econoline van in the
middle lane, causing her to
lose control and spin into
the Pacifica and Pambi on
the shoulder.
A professor in Mercer’s
School of Medicine, Detmer
died at the scene. Pambi
was rushed to the Medical
Center but died at the hos
pital.
The van hit by Detmer
fled the scene and was
found by Monroe County
sheriff’s deputies at the
Shoney’s parking lot in
Forsyth. Brown said the
driver, Venekiqua
Rawlings, 29, Macon, fled
the scene because her chil
dren weren’t in safety
seats. She was charged
with fleeing the scene of a
fatal accident and failing
to have children properly
restrained.
Deputies: Butts Co.
man drives drunk
to bail out daughter
BY LAURA
THACKSTON
A Butts County man
drove to the Monroe
County Sheriff’s office to
bail his daughter, Brittany
Gober, out of jail on Jan.
10. But deputies said when
they discovered he drove
there drunk, he wound up
in jail, too.
According to a sheriff’s
report, Jim Gober went to
the Monroe County Jail to
pick up his daughter,
Brittany, after she had
been arrested the day
before for hindering the
apprehension of a wanted
felon. While at the jail,
Deputy Copelan said he
became concerned when he
noticed Gober slurring his
speech and acting intoxi
cated. Even more disturb
ing was the fact that Gober
and his wife had a two-
year-old with them.
Copelan then watched as
Gober got behind the
wheel of his F150 truck
and drove off. He immedi
ately informed Sgt. Randy
Grindstaff of the situation
and gave a description of
the truck.
Grindstaff found Gober
and stopped him at the
Shell Station on Hwy. 42
North, less than a mile
from the Sheriff’s office.
Gober told Grindstaff he
had consumed two or three
beers. According to the
report, there was a strong
odor of alcohol coming from
Gober and he had slurred
speech. Gober tested posi
tive for alcohol consump
tion and was given sobriety
tests. Gober had a pros
thetic leg and was not
asked to do the walk and
turn test or one leg stand.
According to the report,
Grindstaff had Gober
recite the alphabet, which
he “reinvented.” Gober
told Grindstaff he thought
he had recited it correctly.
Grindstaff told Gober’s
wife and daughter that he
was being arrested for
DUI. Gober’s wife said she
knew he was DUI and had
tried to get him not to
drive, but said they were
unable to find someone to
take them to the Sheriff’s
office. At the jail, Gober
blew a .151 during the
breathalyzer test. He
refused additional tests
and was charged with DUI
and endangerment of a
child under the age of 14.
Vote for the Best
Who has the best sandwich in Monroe County? What’s
the best place to buy new tires?
Cast your vote in the 2nd Annual Best of Monroe
County contest in the ballot on page 6C of this week’s
Reporter. The contest gives readers the opportunty to rec
ognize those people and businesses who are doing excel
lent work in the county.
The ballot will be published weekly through Feb. 4 and
ballots are due Feb. 6. Winners will be announced in a
special edition of the Reporter.
Monroe County Opinion Poll
Do you think re-drawing the Bibb-Monroe
county line is a good thing?
Yes, it will restore the
line to where it should
be and give Monroe
back its territory.
21 votes, 43%
No, a compromise
would have resolved
the thing and avoided
what will be a long,
contentious dispute.
18 votes, 37%
I'll wait and see.
10 votes, 20%
From left, Capt. Randy Gonzalez, Capt. Jason Lott and Kristy Coop
er clean up the scene of a fatal wreck on 1-75 on Sunday.
(Photo/Shane Cook-Monroe County EMS)
can make it to an exit to
change a flat tire. If they
can’t, said Brown, they
should move as far as they
can onto the shoulder.
Even then, as the fatal
wreck shows, there’s no
guarantee.
R&C Day
4-810 Boxankle Rd
(In High Falls)
478 994 8364
■ Perfect for after school children
■ Drop-ins welcome too!
Breakfast Lunch Snacks
Drug Free Facility
8 State Certified
Care
OPEN
6:00 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
6 weeks up
to 12 years old
As someone who’s regu- Brown said the wreck is
larly on the side of the sobering. He said it’s
road for traffic stops, always best if motorists
Owned <5 Operated bp Ralph <5 Cathie Lenning
'You know Cathie - She's the Tax Lady"
R&C INCOME
TAX SERVICE
If you want to save money
Come See US, Cathie & Donna!
We guarantee the Lowest Prices
Phone
(478)992-9575
Cathie Lee Lenning
Owner
88 Ruby Road
Jackson, GA 30233
Fax: 478-994-8364
Cell: (478)808-1020
We Now Offer
Advance Checks
TAX REFUND?
THIS YEAR
TREAT YOUSELF
TO A NEW BED!
1 TIME
SPECIAL!
Full or Queen
Eurotop Mattress Sets
$1 gg
TWIN SIZE
HEADBOARDS
Starting At
$ Oft 95
39
BUCK METAL FUTON
W/B* MATTRESS
ONLY
3815 Mercer University Dr.
Macon, GA • Next to Sonic
Waterbeds • Futons • Furniture
www.maconbedroomoutlet.com
478-405-0679
• Visco Memory Foam Mattress Set • Latex Beds
’Regular & Pillowtop Mattresses • Adjustable Beds
• Quality Children’s Furniture
3070 Watson Boulevard, Suite 100
Warner Robins, GA • Next to Kohl’s
Kids Beds • Futons • Waterbeds
Innerspring & Specialty Mattresses
478-971-1220
www.maconbedroomoutlet.com
www.robinsbedandmattress.com
Georgia’s Largest Selection Of Waterbeds & Futons & Matching Accessories