Newspaper Page Text
July 6, 2016
iReporter
PAGE 3A
Officer, gentleman John Fields
retires from FPD after 38 years
BY ALEX KINSELLA
Sgt. John Fields of the Forsyth Police Department
retired on Thursday, June 30 after 38 years of service.
In his early days with the department, Fields worked
closely with Cpt. Robert Lee Jones of the Police
Department and ex-Chief Benjamin Ponder of the PD.
One of Fields’ most prominent moments was seizing
about a million dollars worth of cocaine.
A Corvette was speeding near the Tift College area
in Forsyth. Fields flashed his lights to get the car to
stop, but it turned around and went down a hill.
Fields took another route and met the car head-
on.
It is the largest drug bust—a ~30-year
record—the Forsyth Police have made.
Interim Chief Eddie Harris of the Forsyth PD
recalls that Fields was his FTO when he started
32 years ago.
“He meant a great deal to the police depart
ment,” Harris said. “He’s a good person—very
compassionate.”
Fields’ advice, especially to recruits and new
officers, is to not let ego get in the way of good law
enforcement work.
“Be fair with everybody,” he said. “Your work
will speak for itself.”
Fields reflected on how previous generations
seemed to be more respectful of law enforcement than
young people today.
But, he said happily, “I never had to shoot anyone.”
Fields plans on maintaining his trucking business,
traveling, and otherwise doing odd jobs after retir
ing.
It was “a good 38 years,” he said from his car,
which was on its way to a vacation trip to Michigan
on Friday.
11 n-WuM i? 11] h ill [ul $ 11 it
‘Staying One Step Ahead of Everyone Else’
X (478)461-6570 t
headvac.com
<$x
Residential 8<
Commercial
We Service All Brands
Honest & Reliable
Service
• Licensed & Insured
• Locally Owned
• Family Operated
• Financing Available
• Service Agreements
Our Customers
Will Receive
Great Warranties
Backed by Quality
Workmanship and
Reliable Service!
Ucmnsm # CN21 mm
PREMIER DEALER
LENNOX)
Tending to All Your Pet Needs!
Inv. John Fields, left, and Mayor Eric Wilson at Fields’
retirement party last Thursday.
BOE approves $37 million budget
BY DIANE
GLIDEWELL
news@mymcr. net
Monroe County Board
of Education passed a
$37.3 million budget
for 2016-17 on June 14,
a spending plan that
includes a bonus for
teachers and increases
for other employees.
The BOE held a pub
lic hearing on June 14
with no comments and
no discussion by board
members. Since the pro
jected budget is based
on local revenue from
the same property tax
millage rate as last year,
the board was required
to hold only one public
hearing.
The 2017 budget is
an increase of $1,768
million over the 2016
budget of $35.6 million.
Most of the increased
expenses are for sala
ries and benefits for
employees. The supple
ment which will be
paid to teachers will be
$540,000. This is the
raise awarded to teach
ers by the state with
local boards deciding
how to implement it.
Other step increases in
pay to certified person
nel will be $358,000.
The increased expense
to the school system
for health insurance
for classified employ
ees will be $209,000,
and the increase in the
salary scale for classi
fied employees will be
$165,000. The start-up
cost for the JROTC
program is $300,000,
two-thirds of which is
personnel costs.
The 2017 budget is
based on $21.4 million
in local revenue and
$15.5 million in money
from the state, with the
local fund equity mak
ing up the $439,000
gap between revenue
and expenses. $24 mil
lion of the expenses are
instruction, including
the costs for personnel.
As of May 31, with
only one month remain
ing in fiscal year 2016,
the school system’s
expenses were at $29.1
million (81.8 percent
of budget) and revenue
was at $32.4 million
(91 percent of budget).
Monroe County Schools
received 100.3 percent
of what they expected
from local taxes and 78
percent of what they
expected from the state.
The school system had
not received all of the
bills from the county for
fuel it used and had one
month of salaries left to
pay for FY2016.
At its called meeting
on June 28, assistant
superintendent Jackson
Daniel updated the
board on anticipated
local revenue. He said
that at a meeting
on June 23 with the
Monroe County tax
appraiser, tax assessor
and other officials, he
learned that the county
expects a 1 percent
increase in residential
values but a 5.5 percent
decrease in utility val
ues, which means the
tax digest will be down
almost 3 percent overall.
Daniel told the board
that he would continue
to monitor the projec
tion on millage closely,
but he feels comfort
able with the projected
FY2017 budget the
board passed.
“We look 2-3 years
out,” said Daniel.
“We just need to
tighten our belt; it’s not
a disaster, no wholesale
re-figuring of the bud
get,” said board chair
man Dr. J. Ray Grant.
Daniel said utility val
ues are set by the state
Department of Revenue,
not by local officials as
residential values are.
He said county officials
plan a total re-evalua-
tion of residential prop
erties next year. Local
appeals will continue
through July 15. The
local tax digest should
be ready the first week
of September.
Dr. Butler Caldwell, DVM
1 Preventative
medicine, including
vaccinations and flea,
tick and heartworm
medications.
- Comprehensive
medical management,
including diseases
such as diabetes and
heart disease.
1 Surgery
- Boarding
Caldwell Veterinary
Hospital, LLC
Butler Caldwell, DVM
951 Hwy 41 South • Forsyth, GA
(478) 994-8228
www.caldwellvet.com
STARR
Heating & A/C, Inc.
We Service All Brands of Heating
& Air Conditioning Units
Serving Monroe County &
Surrounding Areas for over 40 years
Free Estimates
Financing Available
Juliette Rd. • Forsyth, GA
478-994-6127
Ga.Reg.CU 401419
turn to the experts 8
It’s Time
If you have not had
your air ducts cleaned
in the last 5 years, it’s
time.
Cleaning your air ducts re
moves accumulated dust,
dander, allergens, and odor
causing fungi from your air
ducts.
Each pipe is cleaned and
then fogged with an organo-
silane product that helps pre
vent mold in the dark, damp
air duct environment.
Breathe Easier
Call 478-742-1411
Duraclean
“Nobody Does It Better”
478-742-1411
www. duracleanup. com
Don't miss your chance to be a part of
Welcome Home 2016
Monroe County's ONLY Magazine of the Year!
Showcasing the Best Things about our Community
Judged Bestir1 State by the Georgia Press Assodation
Summer is coming and that means new families will be moving
into Monroe County. Why not turn these new residents into
YOUR customers by telling them, and reminding the rest of the
county, what you have to offer in Welcome Home 2016, THE
Newcomers Guide
for Monroe County. Welt
Published in con
junction with the
Forsyth-Monroe
County Chamber of
Commerce, this
guide will include all
kinds of information
about what makes
Monroe County a
great place to live,
work and play, and
helpful information
for newcomers.
• Established special
edition, published
annually since 2009,
as a full color, slick
magazine
• Everything you
need to know about Monroe County government, schools, recre
ation, housing, churches, services and businesses
• Perfect for newcomers and long-time residents
• Guide's timeless information gives it staying power -- readers will
keep handy
• Distributed through all copies of the Reporter and in local
restaurants, waiting rooms etc.
To Reserve Your Space
Contact:
Carolyn Martel
478-960-2259
ads@mymcr.net
Deadline July 15
Premium Page;
Full Page,
1/2 Page or 1/4 Page
sizes available
Prices include color charges