The Monroe County reporter. (Forsyth, Ga.) 1972-current, May 16, 2018, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextTHIS WEEK’S INSIDE DEALS ►►► best of monroe county . smartsource . lowe’s . sears . cvs. ingles . badcock i i ii ii mi ii ii i ii ii mi ii ii i ii ii mi ii ii i ii ii mi ii ii i ii ii mi ii ii i ii ii mi ii ii i ii ii mi ii ii i ii ii mi ii ii i ii ii ii i ii ii i ii ii ii i ii ii i ii ii ii i ii ii i ii ii ii i ii ii mi ii ii i ii ii mi ii ii i ii ii mi ii ii i ii ii mi ii ii i ii ii mi ii ii i ii ii mi ii ii i ii ii mi ii ii i ii ii mi ii ii i ii ii in ii ii i ii ii in ii ii i ii ii ii i ii ii i ii ii ii i ii ii i ii ii ii i ii ii i ii ii ii Mock wins MVP award SEE PAGE 2B Graduation ads due Thursday Deadline extended to 5 p.m. on May 17 Seven Project encourages good choices SEE PAGE 7C TO THE FAMILY William Kirkland Jason & Dana Lott Michelle Sawley Everett Collins Lamar NeSmith Betty Clements James Martin Roger Riley Amanda Manly Robert Smith Melba Cantrell Marke Baker Margaret Cameron Ryan Pittman Gerald Haney Jr. Marilyn Cox Its an exciting time in Monroe County.’ - Commissioner Eddie Rowland sports ►►► On the Porch 4A On the Outside Looking In 5A By Will Davis publisher@mymcr.net Work has begun to build a 715,000-square- foot distribution warehouse in the Rumble Road industrial park that is expected to bring about 250 jobs to Monroe County. Conlan Company of Marietta is doing the work but so far everyone is tight-lipped about what company will eventually occupy the facil ity. A convoy of graders and heavy equipment, as well as a construction trailer, have been un loaded on a 21-acre tract in the IDI Industrial Park at Rumble Road and 1-75. Those graders began working on Monday. The Monroe County Development Author ity (MCDA) has been working for several months with at least two prospective com panies with high interest in locating there. However MCDA president Bo Gregory said he cannot yet comment. “There’s a bigger story down the road,” said Gregory, indicating they’re still working with state economic developers on the project and that he maybe returning to county commis sioners to discuss incentive packages. Already, the company that owns the in dustrial park, IDI, has applied to re-zone the 21-acre tract on Logistics Center Parkway from industrial to commercial. The county zoning board is scheduled to hear that request at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 29. The request will then go before county commissioners at 6 p.m. on June 5. Commissioner George Emami said he doesn’t think there will be much opposi tion since the company is seeking commercial zoning, which is more restrictive than its cur rent industrial zoning. County zoning official Kelsey Fortner said the application was submit ted before commissioners imposed a freeze on commercial zoning at its May 1 meeting in response to the attempt to put low-income apartments in south Monroe County. Commissioner Eddie Rowland, whose District 2 includes the Rumble Road industrial park, said he too is waiting for details about the project but said it sounds like a great opportu nity to bring jobs to the county. “Now we’ve just got to get some good hous ing for them to able to live and work here,” said Rowland. “I’d like for our people to have those jobs. It’s an exciting time in Monroe County See JOBS • Page 7A www.MyMCR.net • Vol. 47 • No. 20 5 Sections • 64 Pages • Wednesday • May Man saves dog from burning home A Hwy. 42 home was de stroyed on Saturday after a motorcycle caught fire in the garage, accord ing to Monroe County EMS. No one was hurt and a thought ful passerby even saved the family dog. Lt. Shane Cook of Monroe County EMS said the motor cycle fire spread and engulfed the home of Tim Singletary at 5620 Hwy. 42 on Satur day before firefighters were dispatched that afternoon. Singletary had gone to the store and when he returned, See DOG • Page 7A Left: Rocky and John Ethan Smith of High Falls, who saved him. Right: Fire gutted the Hwy. 42 home. ( Rocky” photo cour tesy of Shay Singletary) NEW SUBSCRIBERS OF THE WEEK DEATHS m6A Dale Ponder Jackson Betty Johnson Lundy John Garret Bushoven Kenneth Edward Tillman Thomas Donald Davis Robert Alexander Minnie Smith INDEX ► ►► MCR VENT. 3A. Opinion & Letters.... 4-5A. Sports 1B-3B Community Calendar. 4C Church News 5C Public Record 4B-6B Classified ID leaals 7D-4D fi OfiflOS 3341b fi '0 4879 16264 3 What they love about Monroe County Monroe County is celebrat ing Founders Week as the county turned 197years old on May 15. Todd and Stacy Tolbert of Tolbert and Associates sponsor a “What I Love About Monroe County” essay contest each year for the county’s birthday, giving away $700 in prizes. The Reporter urges locals to Shop At Home this week to support Monroe County on its birthday. See C section for more essays. Here’s the essay from Mary Persons’ senior Hope Williams that won first place in the youth division: By Hope Williams First Place-Youth P eople associate Monroe County with many differ ent things. Many think of it as the first county they drive through on their commute from Macon to Atlanta, and some people think of it as home to “The 7 Little Johnstons.” I, however, See LOVE MC • Page 3A Todd and Stacy Tolbert, center, awarded prizes to the winners on Monday. At left, Hope Williams won first place in the youth category and got a new gold iPad mini. Makenna Howard won second and got a cash prize. At right, adult winners Tiffany Lar- rabee (first place) and Christi Landers (second place) also got cash prizes. Freeman joins crowded sheriffs race FREEMAN Monroe County Sheriff s Office Capt. Brad Freeman announced this week his inten tion to run for Sheriff to put his 32 years of experience in law enforcement with the Sheriff s Office to work to protect and serve the people of Monroe County. It was recently announced that Sheriff John Cary Bittick has been confirmed as a U.S. Marshal and will officially take the position in the near future. There will be a Special Election once he vacates the office. Said Freeman, “I am excited to announce my intention to run for Sheriff. I love Monroe County. I graduated High School here, graduated college nearby at Mercer, and I have committed my professional life to keeping our families and community safe. I am ready to take the experience and leader ship ability I have gained from being on the frontlines of law enforcement in this county for over 30 years to the office of Sheriff to ensure Monroe County is the safest place to live, work, and raise a family’ “Through the years, I have worked in See FREEMAN. Page7A Election Day is Tuesday, May 22 See Election Results in STORE COPIES ONLY of next week's Reporter AND at www.mymcr.net

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The Monroe County reporter. (Forsyth, Ga.) 1972-current, May 16, 2018, Image 1