Newspaper Page Text
Sports: 2B
Leopard players
honored for season
Community: I2A
Youth highlight
of horse show
June 18,2008
The Banks County News
504^ Homer, Banks County, Georgia 30547 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. • mainstreetnews.com • 26 Pages, 3 Sections Plus Supplements • Vol. 39 No. 45
Banks school system officials
investigating BCES incident
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
A group of Banks County
Elementary School parents arrived
at the Board of Education meet
ing Monday night hoping for some
answers in the investigation into a
situation involving assistant principal
Lori Rylee.
The parents left the brief meeting
with no additional information than
when they arrived.
Banks County Board of Education
members and superintendent Chris
Erwin are continuing their investiga
tion into an alleged incident at BCES
involving male fifth grade students
being forced to drink from a water
fountain in which a substance was
poured. Some parents fear the sub
stance may have been urine.
Keith Segars, a parent of a fifth
grade student at BCES, spoke once
again to the board during Monday’s
June meeting. Segars is representing
a group of parents who want Rylee
removed from her assistant principal
position.
Before speaking of the alleged inci
dent at BCES, Segars congratulated
the board members for the quality
scores on the recent CRCT.
Segars then spoke of the ongoing
investigation into the incident at the
elementary school saying it was a
“disgraceful incident.”
“We expressed our desire to work
with you about this,” Segars said. “We
are here to talk with you to see if you
can relay some information to us. It
has been a month now.”
BOE chairman Ron Gardiner said
the investigation is still ongoing.
“When we have something we will
let you know,” Gardiner said.
Monday’s BOE meeting lasted six
minutes. A reporter and cameraman
from an Atlanta television station were
also in attendance.
The concerned group of parents has
hired an attorney, B. Chan Caudell
of Cornelia. Following Monday’s
meeting, Caudell issued the following
statement:
“Too often in our society, no one
wants to accept personal responsibil
ity for their actions. My clients and I
feel that, sadly, this is another instance
of someone refusing to admit that
they were wrong. This incident hap
pened over one month ago and all that
we have heard and seen thus far are
excuses and denials.
“We know that the vice principal
at Banks County Elementary School
PARENTS SPEAK OUT
Keith Segars, center, speaks to a television reporter prior to Monday night’s board of education meet
ing. Segars is the spokesman for a group of fifth grade parents at Banks County Elementary School
who are seeking the dismissal of assistant principal Lori Rylee, saying Rylee forced male fifth grade
students to drink from the water fountain after an unknown substance, possibly urine, was poured
into it. The BOE took no action on the matter Monday, saying the investigation is still being con
ducted. Segars is shown with attorney Chan Caudell, who is representing the concerned parents.
Photo by Chris Bridges
forced the boys in the fifth grade to
line up in the hallway and drink from
a water fountain where there was
concern that urine had been poured.
These facts are not in dispute.
“As parents and as taxpayers of
Banks County, my clients are anxious
to see if the Banks County School
Superintendent and the Banks County
Ms. Rylee would like to thank the
many parents and colleagues that have
continued to support her and acknowl
edge her 13 years of dedication to the
children of Banks County.”
Parents await decision on assistant principal
Board of Education will stand up and
protect their school children.
“The school system has a print
ed motto that states, ‘Attitude
is Everything.’ We hope the
Superintendent and the elected
officials will display an attitude of
accountability and leadership by hold
ing the school official responsible for
these deplorable actions. My clients,
their children, and the community are
closely watching.”
The parents also contend Rylee told
the students not to talk of the incident
or law enforcement or Department of
Family and Children Services would
be contacted.
Several members of the teaching
staff at BCES have expressed their
support for Rylee in this situation.
Numerous teachers turned out during
the May meeting to show support for
the assistant principal.
Stan Baker, who is Rylee’s attorney,
issued the following statement follow
ing Monday’s meeting:
“Ms. Rylee appreciates the fact that
the School Board is not rushing to
judgment. We are confident that the
investigation will reveal that much of
the allegations circulating are based
on inaccurate rumors and innuendo.
Pottery festival
planned Sat.
The 8th annual North Georgia
Folk Potters Festival will be
Saturday, June 21, from 8 a.m. to 2
p.m. at the Banks County Middle
School gym, 712 Thompson
Street, Homer.
There will be 40 potters from
across the southeast, as well as
from the Banks County arts depart
ment selling their creations.
There will be also a raffle for
the Banks County Art Department.
Each potter who attends donates
one of their creations to the art
department. The art department
will be selling $1 raffle tickets.
News - 2-3A
•Homer streetscape
update given — page 3A
• ‘A rude awakening’
— page 4A
Other news
•Social News — pages 9-11A
•School News — pages 6-8B
•Public Safety — page 6A
•Legals — pages 4-5B
• Church — page 8A
• Obituaries — page 7A
Helmet Club offers role models, summer fun
MENTORING PROGRAM
A little summer fun was a key element to the
first meeting of the Banks County Helmet
Club last Friday morning. Banks County High
School varsity football players have been
paired with younger players to provide them
with a role model on and off the gridiron. At
left, BCHS assistant coach Tony Bowen and
his son, varsity football player Justin Bowen,
take part in some needed relief from the heat
with a fire hose during the session. Organizers
of the club say it is a way for younger and older
players to hold each other accountable for
their actions and to represent their school and
community. See page 1B for more photos.
Photos by Lyn Sengupta
Vintage Corvette recovered in Rockdale County
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
A Florida man will have his 1965 Corvette
returned to him.
Authorities in Rockdale County discovered
the stolen vehicle last week and currently have
the classic car impounded. It will be returned
to owner Paul Smith who had the vehicle
stolen while he was in Banks County for the
Super Chevy Show at Atlanta Dragway.
The Corvette, which is valued at well over
$100,000, was reported stolen the morning
after Smith arrived in Banks County from
Florida. He discovered the Corvette, along
with the truck and trailer he used to transport
it, all stolen from a local motel parking lot.
The truck, a 1983 Chevrolet that Smith
also purchased when it was new, is still
missing. Family members say Smith would
also like to recover the truck, since it has
sentimental value even though its monetary
value is not as high as the Corvette.
The trailer is also still missing.
Banks County sheriff Charles Chapman,
who has been in contact with Rockdale County
law enforcement officials, said the Corvette
has not been damaged and is still “in mint
condition.”
The car was impounded since officials sus
pect it may have been used in the commission
of a home invasion in Rockdale County.
Political forum
planned Thurs.
Candidates in the July 15 election have been invited
to two area events.
The Banks County
Chamber of Commerce
will hold a political forum
from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on
Thursday, June 19, at the Banks County High School
auditorium.
A “meet and greet” with the candidates will be held
from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 21, at Hebron
Presbyterian Church and Schoolhouse. This event is
sponsored by the church and the historical society. The
church is located between Sims Bridge Road and Bold
Springs Road on Hebron Church Road.
Five arrested in county
water plant break-in
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
Five people, including one juvenile, were arrested
last week after allegedly breaking into the Banks
County water plant located on Water Plant Road in the
Commerce area.
Banks County sheriff Charles Chapman said it
appeared nothing had been taken from the location,
but the doorknob had been removed and the suspects
had entered the building.
Arrests and charged with criminal trespassing
were:
•Kevin Lee Birr, 22, 354 Water Plant Road,
Commerce.
•Sharee Rosalee Lunsford, 19, 126 Blackberry
Lane, Gillsville.
•Kalum Shane Hart, 17, 354 Water Plant Road,
Commerce.
•Kevin Nathan Carter, 18, 116 Hillcrest Street,
Commerce.
All four were booked into the Banks County jail and
later released on bond.
Chapman said a juvenile was also arrested and was
turned over to juvenile authorities.
The sheriff said investigators were able to track the
suspects down rather quickly after conducting inter
views in the area. Chapman said investigators believed
at least some of the suspects lived nearby.