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THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL THURSDAY. JULY 28. 2016 — PAGE 3A
Area News:
Former Barrow County school
head confesses to forging checks
By Alex Pace
alex@mainstreetnews.com
Ron Saunders is facing
charges of theft and forgery after
he allegedly stole over $100,000
from Adult Literacy Barrow.
Saunders, a well-known com
munity leader and former super
intendent of the Barrow County
School System, confessed
to authorities last week that
he forged signatures on some
of the organization’s checks.
Warrants for Saunders’ arrest
say he unlawfully took $ 111,160
from the organization. He was
arrested by the Barrow County
Sheriff’s Office last week for
felony theft by taking and fourth
degree forgery.
Saunders was terminated
from his position as execu
tive director of Adult Literacy
Barrow shortly after the arrest.
The arrest was made as part
of a BCSO investigation into
possible financial fraudu
lent activity of the finances of
Adult Literacy Barrow. The
organization’s board of direc
tors was notified of some sus
picious activity on luly 18,
and in turn notified the BCSO.
The board suspected Saunders
of forging signatures of other
board members on checks
and then having those checks
cashed. Officers were given
copies of this month's checks.
Saunders confessed to officers
luly 19 that he forged the signa
tures on the checks in question
and to other bank transactions
that the board wasn't aware of.
Because the investigation into
the bank records was still incom
plete, Saunders was allowed to
leave, according to the arrest
report. But he was told the
investigation was ongoing and
criminal charges were possible.
Saunders was later arrested on
RON SAUNDERS
July 21 at his Winder residence.
The arrest report indicates the
incident occurred from July 20,
2013, through July 19, 2016.
He was booked into the
Barrow County Detention
Center where he is being
held until receiving a bond.
This is an ongoing investiga
tion and the Barrow County
Sheriff’s Office will release
more information as it becomes
available. There is a possibil
ity of additional charges as
the investigation continues.
Saunders has been executive
director of the organization
since 2012. The 23-year-old
program was previously known
as the Winder-Barrow Coalition
for Adult and Continuing
Education. It offers assistance for
those taking GED and English
as a Second Language courses.
There will be no interruption
in any adult literacy classes,
GED prep classes, and classes
for adults learning English as
a second language, according
to Adult Literacy Barrow chair
Susan Wages.
MOREABOUT
SAUNDERS
Saunders was born in
Tallassee, Ala., in 1947. He
moved to Auburn, Ala., in 1957
when his father became asso
ciate dean of the College of
Education at Auburn University.
Saunders graduated from
Auburn High School in 1965
and Auburn University in
1970. He immediately began
a professional education career
in Huntsville, Ala., and was a
teacher, assistant principal, high
school principal and super
intendent in tire Huntsville
City Schools for 28 years. He
received a doctorate of edu
cation from the University of
Alabama in 1982.
Saunders came to Barrow
County in 1998 after he
became the superintendent of
tire Barrow County School
System in February of that year.
He announced his retirement
in February 2009 and stayed
on until tire end of tire 2010
school year, when Wanda Creel
became the new superintendent.
He’s received several recogni
tions over tire years. He was the
2008 Georgia Superintendent
of the Year and the 2008
Barrow County Chamber of
Commerce’s “Shining Star.”
He received the 2015 Certified
Literary Community Program
Leader of Distinction Award.
Most recently, he was named
the 2016 Barbara Loar Award
Winner in a Certified Literate
Community Program.
He’s also been involved in
several civic organizations in
the area over the years. He has
served on tire Banow County
Chamber of Commerce and
was previously Chamber chair.
He is a former Winder Rotary
Club president.
Saunders also served on
the Barrow Regional Medical
Center board of trustees begin
ning in 2005. He was also pre
viously president of the Winder-
Barrow Boys and Girls Club.
Effective July 28, 2016,
The Athens Housing Authority
will accept applications
for the public housing program
on behalf of the
Comer Housing Authority
Interested individuals and families may obtain
pre-applications for the
Comer Housing Authority
in the following manner:
• Request in person:
Athens Housing Authority,
300 S. Rocksprings St.,
Athens GA 30606;
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. OR,
Comer Housing Authority,
55 Ivy St., Comer GA 30629;
Thursdays between 10 a.m. and Noon
• Request by email at comer@athenshousing.org
• Download the form at www.athenshousing.org,
click on Comer Housing Authority tab
• Request by Fax at 706-425-5293
• Request by mail:
Athens Housing Authority,
P.O. Box 1469,Athens GA 30603-1469
All directions for submission will be included
in the pre-application packet.
Call 706-425-5300 for additional information or visit
www.athenshousing.org
New ideas. Better communities.
Athens Housing
Authority
Madison Co. BOC to meet Monday
The Madison County
Board of Commissioners
will meet at 6:30 p.m.,
Monday, Aug. 1.
Agenda items include:
•Business involving
guests, groups or multiple
visitors.
•Chairman’s report.
•Hearing and actions
on rezone matters, spe
cial use permits, etc.
(Linda Fortson and Wayne
Douglas.
•Robert and Kristine
Woodward are requesting
to rezone 2 acres of their
8.46-acre parcel from A-2
to R-R for an additional
home site. The property is
located on Map 30 Parcel
147 on Clark Circle in
District 3.
•Randall Broome is
requesting to rezone his
69.9 acre parcel from A-2
to A-l for poultry hous
es. This property is locat
ed on Highway 106 and
Neese-Commerce Road in
District 1.
•Statements and remarks
from citizens on agenda
items.
•Consider bids for road
striping for LMIG Off-
System Safety Program.
(Alan Lapczynski)
•Consider hiring for
full-time position at the
transfer station. (Chairman
Dove)
•Consider speed limit
for Peach Orchard Road.
(Pete Bond)
•Roads update.
•Urgent matters.
•Statement and remarks
from citizens.
•Closed session to dis
cuss land acquisition,
personnel matters and/
or potential litigation (if
needed).
Madison Co. IDA issues report to commissioners
Madison County Indus
trial Development and
Building Authority Execu
tive Director Marvin White
issued the following report
to county commissioners
Monday:
“We are working on get
ting water line plans for the
Georgia Renewable Power
LLC plant at Colbert (old
Weyerhaeuser facility). They
will be a big user of water.
“The Hwy. 106 Moons
Grove Road Dollar Store is
now open; the Comer and
Danielsville stores will open
soon. All three are super
nice facilities.
“Solar Farm continuing,
100 acres of solar panels.
“We are working on a
plan to connect to city of
Elberton who gets water
from Lake Russell. This
would give Madison Coun
ty water for the future years
to come with Commerce.
Franklin County and Elber
ton connections.
“We are working with a
recycling company looking
at Madison County.”
Support
Nadison County
SHOP
LOCALLY
Sponsored by
The Nadison County
Chamber of Commerce
A Christian Based Learning Environment
NOW ACCEPTING
TWO YEAR OLDS!
Currently accepting
applications for enrollment
Full Day
(ages 2-5)
After School
(ages 5-12)
Please contact
Tammy to obtain
more information or
schedule a tour!
The Busy Box
706-795-2951
4715 Moons Grove Church Rd.
Danielsville, GA 30633