Newspaper Page Text
The
Commerce News
Page 2A • November 28, 2007
Region Roundup
Former Jefferson
Police Chief
Gets Suit Tossed
A federal court judge has ruled
in favor of former Jefferson
Police Chief Darren Glenn in a
civil action filed against him in
2006. U.S. District Court Judge
William O’Kelley granted Glenn’s
motion for summary judgment
last week in a 2006 suit filed
by Jefferson officer Lee New
against Glenn over a 2005 demo
tion. The handling of that demo
tion and New’s threat of a lawsuit
led to Glenn’s firing by Jefferson
officials in June 2006.
Meanwhile, Glenn is scheduled
to appear before the Jackson
County Grand Jury next Tuesday
as prosecutors try for a third
time to indict him for having
run car tag information illegally.
Glenn’s grand jury appearance
will be the first time Glenn’s side
of the case is aired as prosecu
tors have previously declined to
interview Glenn and attempted
to block his appearing before the
grand jury.
Last month, Superior Court
Judge Bob Adamson dismissed
30 indictments against Glenn
because prosecutors from the
Georgia Prosecuting Council in
Atlanta did not let Glenn make
a statement to the grand jury in
September. Under Georgia law,
law enforcement officers have
the right to make a statement to
the grand jury if they face indict
ment on charges related to their
position.
December’s hearing will be
the third time state prosecutors
have attempted to indict Glenn.
In December 2006, prosecutors
attempted to present similar
indictments against Glenn and
four other former JPD officers,
but those indictments had to be
withdrawn after Glenn’s attor
ney, former Georgia Attorney
General Michael Bowers, point
ed out that they cited a state law
code that does not exist.
Last week’s ruling was a major
victory for Glenn after 18 months
of complex legal wrangling.
In 2005, Glenn demoted New
from sergeant to patrol status.
New did not contest the demo
tion at that time, but five months
later, in May 2006, his lawyer
began sending aggressive letters
to Jefferson officials, hinting at a
lawsuit and claiming that Glenn
had violated New’s civil rights.
All during May 2006, letters
went back and forth between the
city, New’s attorney and Glenn.
On at least two occasions, Glenn
asked for a meeting with city
officials to discuss New’s lawsuit
threats, but no meeting was ever
held.
On June 1, 2006, city manager
David Clabo, assistant city man
ager John Ward and city attorney
Ronnie Hopkins met with New
and his attorney to discuss the
threatened lawsuit. At that meet
ing, the city agreed to pay New
$3,800, restore him to the rank of
sergeant, give him the day shift
for at least three months and give
him a raise to $16.58 per hour. In
return, New signed an agreement
not to sue the city or anyone
associated with the city over his
demotion.
Later that same day, Clabo and
Ward summoned Glenn to city
hall and fired him over his han
dling of the New matter.
Despite having agreed not to
sue anyone over his demotion,
New later filed a federal lawsuit
against Glenn alleging his civil
rights had been violated.
However, last week the suit was
effectively tossed when O’Kelley
agreed with Glenn that New had
signed the agreement not to sue
the city or “any other individuals”
acting on behalf of the city.
Comer Gallery
Holds Open House
Through Dec. 22
COMER -- Blue Bell Gallery,
Comer, is holding its holiday
open house through Saturday,
Dec. 22, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The event will feature more
than 40 local artists.
Also, the gallery will host a
“Holiday Celebration” with a
wine and cheese reception
Friday, Nov. 30, at 6 p.m.
Blue Bell Gallery is located in
downtown Comer, at 89 East
North Avenue. For more informa
tion, contact Tina McCullough at
706-783-4665 or bluebellgallery@
windstream.net.
Blood Drive Set
Dec. 26 At
Jackson EMC
The American Red Cross will
hold a blood drive Wednesday,
Dec. 26, from 12:30-5:30 p.m.,
at Jackson EMC, located at 850
Commerce Road, Jefferson.
For more information, call
1-800-448-3543 or visit www.red-
crossblood.org.
GEFA Shows
Ways To Save
On Energy Bills
The Georgia Environmental
Facilities Authority’s (GEFA)
Weatherization Assistance
Program recently hosted a site
demonstration on measures that
homeowners can take to increase
home energy efficiency and to
lower their energy bills.
“The need for increased energy
efficiency continues to rise as
the state of Georgia grows and
we require more energy,” said
GEFA executive director Chris
Clark.
“Georgia’s Weatherization
Assistance Program helps low-
income families save money
through energy efficiency and it
demonstrates effective steps that
all of us can take in our homes to
conserve energy,” Clark added.
The Weatherization Assistance
Program (WAP) works with low-
income families to reduce energy
costs by providing free home
energy efficiency testing and
solutions for individuals and
families whose incomes do not
exceed 150 percent of the fed
eral poverty level (about $30,000
for a family of four). Preference
is given to the elderly, people
with disabilities and families with
children.
Last year in Georgia, 2,467
homes were weatherized, serving
3,618 clients. Nationally, weather-
ization programs provide ener
gy-efficiency services to nearly
100,000 homes on average every
year. Based on current energy
prices, weatherizing a home
reduces average annual energy
costs per household by $358 in
the first year alone.
Weatherization measures that
were demonstrated included
the installation of wall and attic
insulation, duct pressure testing,
sealing of ductwork, appliance
metering, blower door air infil
tration testing, and a “house of
pressure” demonstration, which
demonstrates air flows through
out a house.
WAP was created by the federal
government in 1976 to assist low-
income families who lacked the
resources to respond to volatile
energy markets by helping those
families invest in energy efficiency.
For more information regard
ing Georgia’s Weatherization
Assistance Program, call 404
584-1000 or visit http://www.
gefa.org/Index.aspx?page=68.
Red Cross Advises
Readiness For
Drought Disaster
The American Red Cross is
urging residents to prepare for
extreme drought conditions
— and other potential disasters
— with a well-stocked disaster
supplies kit.
“Water is often overlooked in
preparing a disaster supplies kit
because, in the past, it’s been
readily available,” said Jennifer
Pennington, executive director
for East Georgia Chapter of the
American Red Cross.
“The drought is reminding all of
us that water can’t be taken for
granted,” she added. “We need
to plan for our water needs in
a disaster along with those for
food, clothing, flashlights, bat
teries, personal items and other
essentials.”
Having enough clean water
is essential to life. A normally,
active person needs to drink at
least two quarts of water each
day. Hot environments can dou
ble that amount. Children, nurs
ing mothers and ill people will
need even more. Water is also
needed for hygiene and to pre
pare food.
The Red Cross recommends
that everyone store at least one
gallon of water, per person, per
day. You should store a two-week
supply of water for each member
of your family.
HOW TO STORE WATER
•While it is safe to store tap
water in clean, plastic containers
such, as soft drink bottles, the
Red Cross recommends that you
purchase commercially bottled
water in this situation to help
conserve the public water sup
ply.
•Consider purchasing contain
ers of water a few at a time when
you go to the grocery store.
This will help you to manage the
expense of stocking water for
long-term use.
•Keep bottled water in its origi
nal container, and do not open it
until you need to use it.
•Store water in a cool, dark
place and rotate your supply
every six months.
•As you stock food in your
disaster supply kit, look for
foods that require little, if any,
water for preparation. Also look
for canned foods that contain
water as a primary ingredient.
• Don’t forget to include enough
water for pets in your emergency
supply kit.
Two High-Profile
Trials Slated
For Early 2008
DANIELSVILLE - Court pro
ceedings involving two high-pro
file cases will continue in the
early part of 2008.
According to the District
Attorney’s office, Jason Moon,
who is charged with the murder
Jan. 2007 of Edourado Monrico
Barnett, will be tried in early 2008
while Cana Chambers, accused
of stealing over $20,000 from the
county probate office back in
July, is expected to appear before
the grand jury in mid-January.
Northern Circuit District
Attorney Bob Lavender will try
both cases.
Moon, a Comer man who is
accused of the shooting death
of Barnett, a 35-year-old Colbert
man, has been incarcerated for
almost a year. Moon’s case was
sent to Superior Court after a
January pre-trial hearing.
Barnett’s body was discovered
off Bellew Drake Road Jan. 5 and
Moon quickly surfaced as a sus
pect. Moon initially confessed
to the killing, but recanted that
statement in later conversations
with police.
Chambers, a former employee
of the Madison County Probate
Office, was arrested July 12 for
the July 4 theft of over $20,000 in
cash and checks from the office.
Chambers, who actually report
ed the crime to police July 5, was
charged with one count each of
theft by taking and false report
of a crime after police after dis
crepancies between statements
made by Chambers and others in
the office raised concerns among
investigators.
Square Dance
Lessons Offered
In Danielsville
Square dancing lessons will be
offered beginning Jan. 8 at the
American Legion Building in
Danielsville from 7 to 9 p.m. at a
cost of $3. The first two lessons
are free.
The instructors are Willis Cook
and Ken Perkins. For more infor
mation, call Elizabeth Williams
at 706-757-3747 or Jerry Ingram at
706-783-3570.
New Resource
Available For
Local Veterans
Veterans seeking help in fil
ing claims with the Veterans
Administration now have a new
resource.
The “Veterans’ Benefits Manual
& Related Laws and Regulations”
is now available at the Commerce
Public Library on CD-ROM.
The document contains the appli
cable federal laws, VA claim pro
cessing policies, advice on how to
file claims, information on veterans
advocates and much more. It was
created by seven civilian attorneys
on behalf of the National Veterans
Legal Services Program, and it is
updated annually.
If the CD is not on hand,
library patrons can ask that it be
reserved.
Animal Shelter
Joins Effort To
Find Good Homes
DANIELSVILLE -- The
Madison-Oglethorpe Animal
Shelter (MOAS) will be a part of
the IAMS Home for the Holidays
(H4TH) 2007 adoption cam
paign.
“We are looking for a few good
two-legged friends to help our
four-legged ones find the kind of
loving good home they deserve,”
shelter officials said.
Between now and the end of
2007, MOAS will be taking part
along with over 2,600 shelters
around the world trying to find
homes for lost, stray or home
less animals. Last year, Home for
the Holidays was able to place
over 379,000 animals with new
families, and MOAS “wants to
help make 2007 an even more
successful year.”
All new pets will go home not
only with a new family, but with
an IAMS Starter kit of food
and information to help get the
pets and family off on the “right
paw.”
For more information, or if
you want to be a part of H4TH
2007 and adopt a pet, call the
Madison-Oglethorpe Animal
Shelter at 706-795-2868.
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