Newspaper Page Text
THE
^SLANDER
500
Published by
Permar Publications
www.theislanderonline.com
ssislander@bellsouth.net
June 28, 2010
Established 1972
Vol 38 Issue 26
Sunset Plaza
Top: Standing in the new
Sunset Plaza at the end
of Mallery St. next to the
St. Simons Island pier is the
team largely responsible
for the second phase of
the Neptune Park renova
tion: (left to right) David
Pierce, vice president and
co-owner of Poppell-Eller
Inc., general contractor;
County Commissioner Tony
Thaw (Dist. 3); Robert Uss-
ery, Ussery-Rule Architects;
Assistant Glynn County
Administrator Paul Christian, project manager; Bill Edenfield, Landscape Architect;
and former District 2 Glynn County Commissioner Uli Keller.
Bottom: Last week the county paved 22 new parking spaces in the county right-of-
way between Kings Way and Ocean Blvd. across Kings Way from the Queen's Court
motel. Islander Staff Photos - Permar
Phase II of Neptune Park renovation complete
in time for tourist season
Brunswick
Police Chief
'relieved of
duties'
• Harris: "Decision was
mine"
By Matthew J. Permar
Brunswick City Police Chief
Edna Johnson was "relieved
of her duties" with the police
department as of 3:00 p.m. last
Thursday, June 24, according
to a press release issued by
City Manager Roosevelt Har
ris.
While city officials are, for
the most part not talking about
the issue, it has been widely
reported that Chief Johnson
admitted giving City Manager
Roosevelt Harris and the city
commission incorrect informa
tion about a police officer who
had sex with a prostitute.
Johnson reportedly told Har
ris and the commission that
Officer Demetrius E. Dixon did
not know the woman he had
sex with last September was a
prostitute and that he passed a
lie detector test.
According to the Internal
Affairs investigation report,
that was obtained through an
open records request, Dixon
did know the woman was a
prostitute and failed the poly
graph before he admitted it.
The city commission met in
a two horn' closed session on
Wednesday morning, June 23
to discuss personnel issues.
In a telephone interview
Wednesday evening, Mayor
Brian Thompson told The
Islander that the commission
came out of the closed session,
reconvened the open session
and then adjourned with no
votes or actions being taken.
When asked if Chief John
son was the topic of discussion
in the closed session, Thomp
son declined to comment.
In a telephone interview
with The Islander on Friday,
June 25, City Manager Roos
evelt Harris also chose not to
Turn to Page 6
City chief ousted
When talking about the
Neptune Park renovation proj
ect on St. Simons Island that
he worked so hard to see to
fruition, former Glynn County
Commissioner Uli Keller will
still occasionally joke about the
imaginary "scars" he received
at the hands of constituents
who opposed either part or all
By Matthew J. Permar
of the renovation project.
But just as Phase I of the
project, the swimming pool,
miniature golf course and play
ground, were a huge success
when they opened last year, so
does Phase II seem to be very
well received by the public.
Keller told The Islander
last week, "The renovation of
Neptune Park, funded through
SPLOST dollars, has exceeded
all expectations. It has tinned
out to be a wonderful family
oriented recreational facility
for residents and tourists alike.
The Master Plan Committee
Turn to Page 5
Park project finished
Commission votes
to fund Altamaha
River study
• Study needed to apply
for Corps of Engineers
permit
By Pamela Permar
Shierling
At a special called meet
ing of the Glynn County Com
mission Tuesday, June 22
members voted unanimously
to spend $65,000 to contin
ue studies that will allow the
County to ask the Corps of
Engineers for a permit to cor
rect the shoaling problem at
Altamaha Park.
For some time shoaling in
front of the Park's boat ramp
has been a problem. The shoal
ing is caused by the deteriora
tion of pilings in the Altamaha
River that cause the river to
flow deeper on the east bank
side leaving the boat ramp,
located on the west bank, in
Turn to Page 7
Altamaha River study
BOE adopts
budget
• Amendment likely
By Pamela Permar
Shierling
The Glynn Comity Board of
Education passed its first non-
balanced budget since 2006
with the approval of fiscal year
2010-2010 budget at its Tues
day, June 22 meeting.
For fiscal year 10-11 the
general fund is budgeted at a
$758,200 deficit. The 2010-11
general fund budget includes a
12% reduction in revenues and
an 11% reduction in expenses
from the 09-10 budget and
three furlough days.
Andrea Preston, Assistant
Superintendent of Finance,
told board members to expect
another 3.5 percent to 4 per
cent reduction in state rev
enues.
"State revenues for April
and May are down causing a
Turn to Page 9
BOE budget
Surfin’
the
News
Flood Insurance
Community News
- Pg 2
County-Wide News - Read County-Wide
First Friday Page
Feature Section
- Pg 8
Jonah Hex
Movie Review
-Pg 12
Back Talk
Editorial Column
-Pg 20
