Newspaper Page Text
Page 7C
February 2, 2022
^Reporter
GPSTC’s Hopper is an Everyday Hero
By Steve Reece
stevereece@gmail.com
After many years of
working and finally reach
ing retirement, some
people still feel the need
to continue to contribute
something worthwhile
to the community David
Hopper fulfilled this need
when he began volunteer
ing as a technical consul
tant at the Georgia Public
Safety Training Center
(GPSTC).
A lifelong Monroe Coun
ty resident, David was born
in the Monroe County
Clinic in 1954 and gradu
ated from Mary Persons in
1972. He learned electron
ics at Upson Tech and
started his career working
with two-way radios with
a business in Thomaston.
It was his first real job. The
business was eventually
MOMtOH COUNTY’S
4 EA
EVERYDAY HEROES
sold to another company,
but David stayed on.
After retiring 42 years
later, a good friend and
fellow Ham radio enthu
siast, Truman Boyle, a
retired Georgia Highway
Patrol Trooper, got David
involved by volunteering
with the crash test accident
reconstruction team at
GPSTC.
David said when they
first started out, they used
old junk cars that wouldn’t
run, and Boyle would have
to push them with another
vehicle from behind. Push
ing a car at fifty-five miles
per hour can get hairy but
Hopper said, “Boyle got
pretty good at it.”
Hopper saw a need to
be able to steer the crash
vehicle to the target, so
with spare parts he created
a remote-control steer
ing system. He then came
up with a remote braking
system. Once the state
started providing vehicles
that ran without needing to
be pushed, the next logical
step was to invent remote
acceleration control. Hop
per was up for the chal
lenge. Test crash vehicles
at GPSTC tracks are now
safely driven from the side
of a track with a device
that resembles the remote
controls of a large remote-
controlled model airplane.
Using Hoppers devices,
the 4-member crash team
was able to make an old
Crown Vic reach 83 mph
during a recent demonstra
tion. Crash data is gathered
from an onboard computer
to use in accident investiga
tion reconstruction classes.
David met his wife,
Sharon, originally from
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., while
she was studying at Tift
College. They were mar
ried in 1980 and have one
daughter, Jennifer, and one
granddaughter, Seren.
David says his philosophy
has always been, “Do the
best you can with what
you’ve got.”
Workers converting old bank location
on square into a 2-bedroom apartment
By Steve Reece
stevereece@gmail.com
One hundred and thirty-
seven years ago, the gray
building with marble trim
and a heavy cast metal
cornice at 27 North Lee
Street in Forsyth was an
office. Then according
to Ralph Bass, Monroe
County historian, in 1895
the space was transformed
into a gentlemen’s goods
store. According to Bass’s
research, the location then
went through a series of
transformations starting in
1900 when it was a hard
ware store, then a military
store and eventually be
came the Bank of Forsyth.
Work began on the con
oid bank vault door
struction of the building
for the Bank of Forsyth in
late 1905 at a cost of $5,000
and was fitted “with a
marble and solid plate glass
front and a splendid marble
floor”. In January 1932 the
Bank of Forsyth and the
Citizens Bank merged to
become Citizens Bank of
Forsyth with its location
at the corner of North Lee
Historic 27 North lee Street
Carpenters are nearing completion of the framing phrase of new apartment
and East Johnston Streets.
It later became known as
the Hardins’ bank.
Geneva S. Crutchfield, a
legendary Forsyth restau
rateur, had an eatery here
for a brief period. She sold
the property in 1977 to
W. Ashley Hawkins, an
attorney, who maintained
his offices here as long as
he was in active practice.
More recently the building
housed Harbin Repairs, a
computer repair company.
Currently the Hawkins
family is renovating the
historic building into a
2-bedroom residence with
around 2,200 square foot of
living space with a base-
Escape charge from 2014 delays
release for former Burruss inmate
A former Burruss prison
inmate finished an 8-year
sentence for robbing his
Chick-Fil-A
manager at
gunpoint in
2013 on July 4,
and was imme
diately brought
back to Mon
roe County
to be charged
with escaping
a work detail
here in 2014.
But it appears
the charges
will be dropped because
the statute of limitations
has passed.
Jeremy Aaron Huffman,
28, now of Connie
Springs, N.C.,
was due to be
released from the
Georgia prison
system around
Independence
Day, July 4. But
before he could be
released, Huffman
had a warrant for
escaping from a
work detail at Tift Col
lege in 2014 and was
brought here to be booked
and charged. He was then
released on bond.
But authorities said the
statute of limitations is
7 years on such cases so
the case would likely be
dropped.
Huffman was 19 years
old in 2013 when he and a
coworker at the Woodstock
Chick-Fil-A held their
manager at gunpoint, stole
some cash and ran into
the woods. Huffman was
arrested at home the next
day.
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
ment area where the old
bank vault still stands.
Workers say nothing
more than two ancient
bottles of an unknown
liquid were found in the
vault after they were able to
dig out around it enough
to open the door. Fram
ing of the apartment is
now nearly complete with
electrical, plumbing and
finishing work scheduled
soon.
Smart security.
Professionally installed,
Protection starts with prevention
Get FREE Professional
Installation and Four FREE
Months of Monitoring Service*
Use Promo Code 4FREE
CALL NOW TO CUSTOMIZE
YOUR SYSTEM
844-485-2490
A.vivint
•Qualifying system purchase requires minimum $599.99 equipment purchase, professional installation and applicable services agree
ment. DIY system purchases and reactivations of previouslyinstalled systems not eligible tor offer. Offer not available in all states or
provinces. Equipment purchase may be financed separately subject to an agreement with one of Vivint’s third-party financing partners.
Monthly $1.48 cellular network maintenance fee applies. Taxes and local permit fees may apply. New Vivint Customers only. Financing
eligibility and terms subject to credit approval by one of Vivint’s third-party financing partners. Qualified customers may finance equip
ment purchase at 0% APR for up to 60 months. Month-to-month service agreement available when equipment is purchased upfront.
System supports up to six cameras subject to sufficient WiFi speeds. Without a Vivint services plan, product and system functionality is
limited (including loss of remote connectivity). Speak to a Vivint representative at the phone number in this offer for complete equipment,
services, and package details, including pricing and financing details. Products and services in Louisiana provided by Vivint Louisiana
Commercial Certificate #58280. See comprehensive Vivint license numbers on Vivint.com.
Owens Insurance
Agency
1 6 East Johnson St.
Forsyth, GA 31029
AUTO • HOME • LIFE
LONG-TERM CARE
DISABILITY
Rick Owens
(478) 994-1515
(478) 742-7966
rick.owens@countryfinancial.com
DON NY'S
PROPANE
CLEAN AMERICAN ENERGY"
Large enough to serve
you, small enough to
know you
(478) 992-8326
24-Hour
Emergency Service
donnyspropanegas.com
To advertise your business,
call Seth Berkebile at 478-718-8302,
or e-mail her at ads@mymcr.net.
CITY OF CULLODEN
P.O. BOX 38 • CULLODEN, GA 31016
FOR GENERAL ELECTION
FOR THE CITY OF CULLODEN
Notice is hereby given that the governing
authority of the City of Culloden has set the
following dates for filing of candidacy of persons
seeking office in the General Election for the City
of Culloden that shall be held on Tuesday,
November 8, 2022.
For the Office of Alderman - Two (2) Positions -
4 year terms - August 15, 2022 thru August 18,
2022 from 8:00 a.m. till 1:00 p.m.
For the Office of Mayor - 4 year term - August
15, 2022 thru August 18, 2022 - from 8:00 a.m.
thru 1:00 p.m.
The City of Culloden has set the qualifying fee
at $10.00 for persons wishing to seek office for
Council and for Mayor for the November 8, 2022
Election.
Filing of Notice of Candidacy must be made in
person at the City Hall with the City Clerk during
the times and dates specified and within business
hours.
Council of the City of Culloden.