The News Oct 11th 2014

rockdalenews.com Serving Rockdale County and Conyers

the NewSOct. 11, 2014 Volume 6, Issue 28 75 cents

Page 11

Friend to gardeners: Meet Rockdale’s new

Extension Agent

Like us at facebook.com/rockdalenews

Follow us @rockdalenews

Page 4

Sewer rate hike continues

Page 12

HeritageatHlete of tHe week

Patriots’ QB Anthony Stanley is

Heritage’s ATW.

The dispute over a de-cades-old inert landfill in the north Rockdale reservoir water-shed may be heading to court as Rockdale County and the land-fill’s private owners, Jonny and Lynn Brown, remain at logger-heads.

During a Thursday meeting of the Rockdale County Water and Sewerage Authority, mem-bers discussed a draft letter to the Environmental Protection Division regarding the permit application of J.A. Brown Grad-ing Inc., a grading and hauling company on Chandler Road in north Rockdale, to allow a 3.2-acre inert landfill on 83 acres of private property.

An inert landfill is composed of non-decomposing, earth-like material such as concrete, asphalt, dirt, rocks and tree branches that does not pro-duce leachate that can seep into groundwater. There are about 25 inert landfills in Rockdale, according to the EPD, with 14 of them still active and 11 of them closed. Most are private and associated with subdivision construction in the Brentwood neighborhood but also include the Rockdale County Public Works, Town and County Truck on Iris Drive. There are six pri-vate inert landfills in Newton County, all still active.

“We asked that this permit not be exchanged or renewed,” said Elaine Nash, who chairs the Watershed Subcommittee. The WSA’s mission was “to look af-ter the current and future water quality” of the county, she said.

The business’s co-owner

By Michelle [email protected]

Your guide to fall’s best festivals, Part 2

Page 6

2014 elections Clash over inert landfill may lead to litigation

See LANDFILL, Page 14

Battle for Post 2Rockdale County Board of Commissioners

Early voting begins Monday, Oct. 13, and up for grabs in the only local race this year is the Post 2 Rockdale County Board of Commissioner seat.

The two candidates running are Republican JaNice Van Ness, the incumbent candidate who’s seeking her third term as a com-missioner, and Democrat Doreen Williams, who lost her bid for state representative of district 92 after falling short in the dem-ocratic primary runoff election in 2012 and is trying to win her first public office seat.

By Martin Rand [email protected]

See ELECTION, Page 9

JaNIce VaN Ness DoReeN WILLIaMs

Rockdale Rotary celebrates Literacy Day

The News2 • Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014

SPLOST Water Subcommittee, Mon., Oct. 13, 6:15 p.m., 2420 Tatum Road

Board of Commissioners work session, Tues.,Oct. 14, 10 a.m., 901 Main St.

Keep Conyers-Rockdale Beautiful Advisory Council meeting, Tues., Oct. 14, 6 p.m., Nancy Guinn Memorial Library, 864 Green Street.

Conyers City Council, Wed. Oct. 15, 7 p.m., 1194 Scott St.

Board of Education work session, Thursday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m., 954 N. Main St.

Meeting Place

1Battling sex trafficking in Conyers

2’Vacation’ movie reboot films in Covington

3 Teen attacks police again, faces multiple charges

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In honor of International Literacy Day, The Rotary Club of Rockdale Coun-ty’s Club President Alain Bouzoubaa along with Immediate Past-President Elly Dalton and Youth Services Director Cheryl Cooper deliver books that are donated to Pine Street Elementary’s Media Center in honor of the speakers who come weekly to the club’s 7:30 a.m. meeting on Wednes-days. The speakers enjoy knowing that their visit helps support the impor-tance of Literacy and the students love the new choices of books to read.

The office of Judge Charles Mays and the Rockdale County Probate Court launches weekly free “Ask The Attorney” sessions on the second Tuesday of the month, starting Oct 14, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m., by appointment only. The 30-minute sessions cover probate court-related questions. To sched-ule appointments, contact the Pro-bate Office at 770-278-7700.

‘Vacation’ movie films in Covington

“Vacation,” a reboot-sequel

to the classic 1983 film starring Chevy Chase and Beverly D’An-gelo, filmed sorority house scenes in Covington Oct. 3 at the iconic Twelve Oaks. Ed Helms and Cris-tina Applegate star in this New Line Cinema production.

‘Man Event’ youth RoundtableCommissioner Oz Nesbitt hosts

a male youth roundtable on Satur-day, Oct. 18, noon to 2 p.m. in the meeting room at the Johnson Park Recreation Center, 1781 Ebenezer Road; 770-278-7011

Free ‘Ask the Attorney’ session, Oct. 14

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Ka-Aja Brown, a third grade teacher at CJ Hicks Elementary, was the winner of a $25 O’Charley’s gift card for signing up to receive The News’ new Android smartphone App and Wednesday Digital Paper. To sign up and be entered to win a $25 O’Charley’s gift card, go to rockdalenews.com or scan the QR code to download the Android App (Apple App coming soon.)

23

The state fell seven points to 1445 while the nation dropped by one point to 1497. RCPS de-creased to 1331, down 47 points from last year’s score of 1378. The previ-ous year, it had increased 22 points.

“I am disappointed that our 2014 scores do not continue the growth trajectory that we expe-rienced for the past two years,” said Superinten-dent Richard Autry.

“We are currently evalu-ating our advisement pro-cess to ensure that students are taking the SAT when they are most prepared

and most apt to do well. Unfortunately, our initial analysis reveals that many students had not complet-ed the necessary core aca-demic courses or exposed themselves to the rigor of advance placement cours-es critical to posting a high score on this type of as-sessment. Students sign up independently to take the SAT. RCPS does not deny any student the opportuni-ty to take this assessment. We strongly want to sup-port our students’ aspira-tions to go to college.

“We will continue to provide free SAT prep and improved advisement to parents and students so that they may achieve this goal. We have a guide

for parents and students called Map Your Future which outlines the best approach and timeline for preparing to take college entrance exams begin-ning at the middle school level. SAT scores cannot be significantly increased through short-term prepa-ration programs or mem-orization strategies. Stu-dents must be exposed to higher level concepts, complex reading material, and sophisticated prob-lem solving activities at an early age. As a school district, we will continue to provide increased op-portunities for advanced and enriched learning that exceeds that of the basic curriculum.”

By Staff [email protected]

The News Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014 • 3

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Rockdale SAT scores follow state, national dip

RCPS recommended the fol-lowing guidelines for students to be successful with college entrance exams:

• Know which entrance exam is required by the college for which you are applying (ACT, SAT, PLAN).

• Take the exam as late as possi-ble. Ideally, students should take entrance exams at the begin-ning of their senior year after successful completion of core content courses.

• Students should complete at least one Advanced Placement (AP) course prior to testing.

• Students should complete the official College Board SAT prep program offered free of charge at each high school.

• Students should attend the free one-week summer SAT prep workshop.

• Follow the RCPS Map Your Future which is a basic guide for preparation beginning in mid-dle school. All middle and high schools have copies of the guide.

• Increase exposure to com-plex reading material at home through material such as the Wall Street Journal or Wall Street Journal for kids.

The Water and Sewer Au-thority Board unanimously approved the Rockdale Water Resources proposed 2015 bud-get at a special-called meeting Thursday morning.

The proposed budget will see sewage volumetric rates, the amount of sewage water you use, take a 4.9 percent spike over current rates. The increase is part of the RWR three-year plan, which was adopted in 2013, to increase sewage rates to maintain the current system or make any improvements to it.

Water and Sewer Authority Chairwoman Elaine Nash says RWR was losing about $3 mil-lion annually because of sewer water and rather than have rev-enue from water rates subsidize the sewer system, the rate in-crease was the better option.

RWR is requesting $9.57 mil-lion for capital funding expen-ditures. The largest amount of this money, $3.60 million, will be used on a system expansion project titled “DeKalb Sew-er Line.” Rockdale Water Re-sources Director Dwight Wicks said details on this project will discussed at the board’s next work session meeting in No-vember.

Another $3.257 million will be used on replacement or res-toration of equipment. About $802,000 will be used to imple-ment smart water meters, which will be the beginning stages of

allowing citizens to use their smartphone to manage their ac-counts, and a new phone system that will allow for real-time ac-count statuses.

The proposed operating bud-get will increase by one mil-lion dollars in 2015 to $26.92 million. The majority of the increase is due to two new po-sitions, with a pay of $100,942 combined, being created to ad-dress easement clearing and a benefits increase. That amount could be higher once proposed raises for employees are includ-ed in the budget.

Projected revenue, which fac-tors in the sewer rate increase and 120 new Rockdale County customers switching from New-ton County’s water lines, will be about $28.66 million.

There was some urgency on the board’s behalf to recom-mend the budget for approval before the Rockdale County Board of Commissioners vot-ing session on Oct. 21. This will give the county board an oppor-tunity to approve the RWR bud-get prior to Nov. 1, the deadline set to have a budget of county expenses completed.


By Martin Rand, [email protected]

Water budget approved by Water and Sewer Authority

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Dear Editor: In response to Tommy Plummer, acting Chair of the Rockdale Democratic Party, with regard to the letter speaking of his members’ “outrage,” (Oct. 4, 2014 edition, “Outrage at no vote on Sunday voting”) I shall counter with the truth.

Your delegation for Sunday voting did not offer any factual information but only relied on volatile emotion and yes of course, one of your advocates had to try the race card. This is a very old Saul Alinsky tactic; when there are not any facts on your side; try to muddy the waters of truth. However, the No- Sunday voting delegation did present facts concerning the sanctity of the Sabbath and arguments that less than one percent of eligible voters utilize Saturday voting but the taxpayers pick up the bill for this wasteful loss. Absentee Ballots by Mail can be requested and sent to your official home address of record. Obviously, therein lays the rub. If you are no longer residing at the Rockdale residence, you will not be able to commit voter fraud by voting in a county where you no longer reside. During the last election, there were more cars in the Board of Elections parking lot tagged with out-of-state and other county tags than ones from Rockdale.

I would not be surprised if the progressives/socialists demand next to vote while they get their fast-food order. Many patriots died in battlefields for our right to vote; it is insulting and degrading to their memory and their sacrifice to speak about inconvenience.

Obviously, you are not aware the Board of Elections/Voter Registration’s power is cumulative; no one member’s vote carries more weight than the other two. Their operational guideline state,

“All politics shall be left at the door.”Referencing your statement, “We will use the disrespect shown to

many Rockdale citizens by the Board Chair.....”, Mr. Todd and the full Board listened to, asked questions and weighed the statements but the motion died for lack of a second. Apparently, the lack of factual evidence was the deciding factor. Your threats concerning the

use of intimidation to try to force your agenda is appalling. Note I stated appalling, not surprising.

In closing, for a person or group to charge others with “disrespect,” I point directly to Obama and all in his administration. He has consistently shown his disrespect to our Constitution, our military, our longtime allies of Israel and the United Kingdom and his fiasco of forcing Obama-care, on us but not himself, that is destroying our great health-care system. His using of the acronym of “ISIL” versus “ISIS,”

all of which show his lack of care for our safety and his disconnect with Americans. Add into this abysmal mix of his confusion, his drowning of us with illegal aliens bringing Third World diseases, i.e. the unknown respiratory virus, rising cases of measles, mumps, whooping cough and now Ebola; smallpox will be showcased in your neighborhood soon. Our public schools cost taxpayers the majority of their property bills, are overwhelmed by children that do not speak English.

Enough is enough! Temper your rhetoric with common sense, learn the facts and in the future convey the truth.

Lynn I. Brown, Chair of the Rockdale Republican Party

We welcome letters to the editor. Letters must be 350 words or less. They should be limited to issues of public interest and may be edited for content, grammar, spelling and length.

• Mail: Editor, The News, 1009 Milstead Ave., Suite 200, Conyers, GA 30012 • Email: [email protected]

HAVE YOUR SAY

OpiniOnSaturday, Oct. 11, 2014

RockdaleNews.com/opinionPage 5

Our Thoughts

EditorMichelle Kim

[email protected]

SalES dirEctorAnnette Godwin

[email protected]

comptrollErDebbie [email protected]

publiShErT. Pat Cavanaugh

[email protected]

circulation dir.Amanda [email protected]

dESign EditorSabastian Wee

[email protected]

the NEWS

Teacher of the Year

To be a teacher in today’s new bold world takes more than just being passionate. It means that constantly you have to willing to change to keep up with new methods of teaching that are required.

Modern teachers not only have to teach, they have to be psychiatrists, social workers, health monitors, and disciplinarians – and then most have to go home to their other job raising a family, which requires most of the same skills.

Last week the Rockdale County Public Schools honored the school-level Teachers of the Year, chosen by their peers, and named the county’s Teacher of the Year.

Cherie Ullo, an English teacher at the Rockdale Magnet School of Science and Technology, was hon-ored with this prestigious award.

We congratulate Ullo and her fellow teachers for mak-ing wise decisions and their students who are for sure enriched by their passion.

“ I would not be surprised if the progressives/socialists demand next to vote while they get their fast food order. Many patriots died in the battlefields for our right to vote; it is insulting and degrating to their memory and their sacrifice to speak about inconvenience.

“

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Response to ‘Outrage at no vote on Sunday voting’

Dear Editor: Last weekend’s letter from the Chairman of Rockdale County Democratic Party brought forth very clearly his party’s willingness to change the rules of the game in the fourth quarter. Moving to add Sunday voting right after church with only two weeks to go before election day is a desperate effort to squeeze more votes from the uninformed (read: uninterested).

Let’s try it in two years, okay?

Jerry Walden,Conyers

Response to ‘Outrage at no vote on Sunday vot-ing’

Dear Editor: It’s October and we’re approaching Halloween. Across Rockdale County, scores of children of all ages will dress in costume and pretend to be someone/something that they are not. Most will be dressed as comic book characters or princesses and will be crying out “Trick or Treat.”

My guess is that Lynn I. Brown, Chair of the Rockdale Republican Party, will dress in the costume of a patriot with powdered wig and tri-corner hat and will cry out the name “Saul Alinsky,” evoking images of communist takeover of our government. Ms. Brown’s truth is simple. She wants to reduce the ability of Rockdale citizens to vote, calling any effort to allow weekend voting a “wasteful loss.” She claims that “it is insulting and degrading” to the memory and sacrifice of our servicemen to allow more of our citizens to vote! My recollection is that we have fought wars and amended our Constitution for the freedom to vote.

She argues that absentee ballots by mail are the only honest way to vote, claiming that a majority of voters on last election day were from out-of-state or from a county other than Rockdale. Where is her factual evidence? To whom did she report these

illegalities? She concludes with a tirade

against our president in which she blames him for “Third World diseases (the unknown respiratory virus, rising cases of measles, mumps, whooping cough and now Ebola; smallpox will be showcased in your neighborhood soon) and for our public schools which cost taxpayers the majority of their property bills and are overwhelmed by children that do not speak English.”

I’ll not insult your readers by quoting all of her closing

paragraph about “disrespect” but I will include her final sentence. “Enough is enough! Temper your rhetoric with common sense, learn the facts and in the future convey the truth.”

Milt LongbottomRockdale County

Response to Lynn Brown’s response

“ My guess is that Lynn I. Brown... will dress in the costume of a patriot with a powdered wig and tri-corner hat and will cry out the name of ‘Saul Alinsky’... Ms. Brown’s truth is simple. She wants to reduce the ability of Rockdale citizens to vote.

“

Wednesday, Oct. 1-Nov. 1

‘Fear the Woods’ Zombie Paintball and Haunted Woods / Pumpkin Patch

Fear the Woods open 7 p.m. – midnight Fri-Sat, 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. Sunday, open Halloween Night; Yule Forest’s Pumpkin Patch, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Mon – Fri, 10 a.m. -6 p.m. Sat – Sun; located at 3565 Ga. Hwy 155 N, Stockbridge. Stock-bridge’s newest zombie phenom is sure to thrill with a zombie paintball ride through the woods; A chilling haunted house and haunted trail await. You can also take hayrides, shoot a pumpkin cannon, be buried alive, and visit the frozen room, skinner shack, and swamp. By day, the family friendly Pumpkin Patch also offers a petting zoo, talking chicken show, science center, pirate ship, obsta-cle course, reptile house, and pioneer rabbit village. For more on the Pumpkin Patch, 770-944-9356, www.aboutyule.com. For more on Fear Woods, 770-954-9356, www.fearthewoods.com

Thursday, Oct. 9

Blithe Spirit 8 p.m. Oct. 9–11 and

16–18; 3: p.m. Oct. 12 and 19; tickets $20, senors/students $16; New Depot Players stage the Noël Coward classic comedy “Blythe Spirit; directed by Gina Hay-Bryan; Are you ready for a night of witty jokes with a ghostly twist? The New Depot Players are proud to bring you the wildly successful Blithe Spirit. The comedy hit that has wowed audiences in London and New York makes its way to Olde Town Conyers starting October 9th, with a special preview performance on October 8th. The play fol-lows the exploits of Charles Condomime, a disgruntled novelist quite literally haunt-

ed by his incurably sassy late wife. This classic play has been delighting audi-ences since 1941;thenewd-epotplayers.com

Saturday, Oct. 11

Pumpkin Festival Arts and Crafts Expo

11 a.m. - 10 p.m.; Mit-cham Farms, 797 Mace-donia Church Rd, Oxford, Ga; Live music, giveaways, hayrides, petting zoo, corn cannon, hay jumper; tickets $10, children 3 years old and under free; www.mit-chamfarm.com

Stone Mountain Village Oktoberfest

1-7 p.m. Oct. 11-12; at the Village Corner Restau-rant, 6655 James B Rivers Memorial Dr, Stone Moun-tain; $30 tickets; www.stonemountainvillage.com/oktoberfest0809.html

Rock’n RibvilleNoon; Free; Downtown

Lawrenceville Lawn; You’re going to have BBQ sauce under your nails for a week. Check out Rock’n Ribville and dig into some of the best ribs in Georgia while taking in the lush Law-renceville lawn. Wash down you’re rib feast with some good old fashioned Rock’n Roll from several different Georgia based bands. Visit the vendors area for a little

shopping, swing by the kid’s area for some inflatables and face painting, or simply grab a comfy patch of grass and soak up some October sun; www.rocknribville.com

Fox Theatre Ghost Tours

7 p.m. ; Fox Theatre, Atlanta; Cost $25; There are some whose passion for the theatre is so immense that not even death can sepa-rate them from the stage. The Fox Theatre offers up a chilling ghost tour through their large and historic facility for one week only beginning on October 11th . Get into the Halloween spirit with haunted tales from the past as an experienced

guide directs you through the spaces occupied by the theatre’s resident ghosts. Tours start every twenty minutes until 10 p.m. and are not recommended for children under 10 years old; www.foxtheatre.org

Saturday, Oct. 18

Senior Bazaar8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Bald

Rock Baptist; 2284 Old Covington Rd, Conyers; Find great bargains from peanuts and jellies to clothing fash-ions and home decor; 770-929-3421.


FALL FESTIVAL

Continued on next page

Pumpkin FestivalArts and Crafts Expo

October 11th • 11am to 10pm

Live Music withJonathan Parrot and Friends

Rachal PhillipsDale Arrowood

Great Give-aways5 Pumpkins every hour

5 - $20.00 gift cards to Longhorns

Concessions • Hay RidePetting Zoo

Large Mountain SlideCorn Cannon • Hay JumperCow train and much more

for the whole Family

Saturday, Oct. 25

Race Against Violence8 a.m. One Mile Fun Run;

8:15 a.m. 5K; starts and ends at Conyers First United Methodist, 921 N. Main St, Conyers; Registration $20 before Oct. 10, $25 on race day; proceeds go to Rockdale Family Violence Task Force; www.rockdaleaware.com

Olde Town Fall Festival10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Olde Town

Conyers; family friendly activ-ities, games, Pets and Kids Costume Contest, arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, and more; www.oldetownfall-festival.com

Paula Vaughn Theater Dedication

Dedication of the Black Box Theater in Olde Town Conyers in honor of Paula Vaughn, founder of the Conyers-Rock-dale Council for the Arts

RCA Fall FestivalRoockdale Career Academy,

1064 Culpepper Road; 770-388.-677

Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat

4-7 p.m.; Conyers Church of God, 1825 Ga. Hwy 138, Conyers; “Heroes of the Bible”-themed fall festival; egg and spoon race, pumpkin race, health screenings, trunk or treat; 770-922-5834

Sunday, Oct. 26

Trunk or Treat5-7 p.m.; County Line Bap-

tist Church, 3325 Hwy 162, Covington; Shelia Archer, 770-786-2637

Trunk or Treat5-7 p.m.; Solid Rock Bap-

tist Church, 8111 Brown Bridge Rd, Covington; 770-784-0982, www.solidrock-baptist.com

Wednesday, Oct. 29

Hallelujah Night/Trunk-or-Treat

6 p.m.; Bald Rock Bap-tist; 2284 Old Covington Rd, Conyers; bring the youth out for Hallelujah Night; an eve-ning of food, fun, games and Trunk-or-Treating; 770-929-3421.

Continued from previous page


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GUIDE, Part II

The NewsSaturday, Oct. 11, 2014

2014 ELECTIONSFOR GOVERNOR

J. NATHAN DEAL, (Incumbent) RepublicanJASON J. CARTER, DemocratANDREW T. HUNT, Libertarian

FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNORL. S. “CASEY” CAGLE, (Incumbent) RepublicanCONNIE J. STOKES, Democrat

FOR SECRETARY OF STATEBRIAN P. KEMP, (Incumbent) RepublicanDOREEN CARTER, Democrat

FOR ATTORNEY GENERALSAMUEL S. OLENS, (Incumbent) RepublicanGREGORY K. “GREG” HECHT, Democrat

FOR COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTUREGARY W. BLACK, (Incumbent) RepublicanCHRISTOPHER JAMES IRVIN, Democrat

FOR COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCERALPH T. HUDGENS, (Incumbent) RepublicanELIZABETH N. “LIZ” JOHNSON, DemocratEDWARD T. “TED” METZ, Libertarian

FOR STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTRICHARD L. WOODS, RepublicanVALARIE D. WILSON, Democrat

FOR COMMISSIONER OF LABORJ. MARK BUTLER, (Incumbent) RepublicanROBBIN K. SHIPP, Democrat

FOR PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONER (TO SUCCEED H. DOUG EVERETT)

HERMAN D. “DOUG” EVERETT, (Incumbent) RepublicanJOHN H. MONDS, Libertarian

FOR PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONER (TO SUCCEED LAUREN W. MCDONALD)

LAUREN W. “BUBBA” MCDONALD, (Incumbent) RepublicanDANIEL A. BLACKMAN, DemocratROBIN AARON GILMER, Libertarian

FOR U.S. REPRESENTATIVE IN 114TH CONGRESS FROM THE 4TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF GEORGIA

HENRY C. “HANK” JOHNSON JR., (Incumbent) Democrat

FOR STATE SENATOR FROM 17TH DISTRICTRICHARD M. JEFFARES, (Incumbent) Republican

FOR STATE SENATOR FROM 43RD DISTRICTRONALD B. RAMSEY SR., (Incumbent) Democrat

FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FROM 90TH DISTRICT

PAMELA S. STEPHENSON, (Incumbent) Democrat

FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FROM 91ST DISTRICT

D. “DEE” DAWKINS-HAIGLER, (Incumbent) Democrat

FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FROM 92ND DISTRICT

TONYA P. ANDERSON, (Incumbent) Democrat


R. DALE RUTLEDGE, (Incumbent) Republican


PAMELA A. “PAM” DICKERSON, (Incumbent) Democrat


L. THOMAS “TOM” KIRBY, (Incumbent) RepublicanG. KEITH THOMAS, Democrat

FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF THE ROCKDALE JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

RICHARD R. READ, (Incumbent) Republican

FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER POST 2JANICE VANNESS, (Incumbent) RepublicanDOREEN L. WILLIAMS, Democrat

FOR ROCKDALE COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT SUPERVISOR (NONPARTISAN)

(Vote for three)DAVID L. SHIPPRUSSELL W. TONNINGWrite In Candidate

PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

- A -To prohibit an increase in the state income tax rate in effect January 1, 2015 (Senate Resolution 415). Senate Resolution No. 415, Act No. 592“Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to prohibit the General Assembly from increasing the maximum state income tax rate?”

YESNO

- B -Adding reckless driving penalties or fees to the brain and spinal injury trust fund House Resolution 1183). House Resolution No. 1183, Act No. 589“Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow additional reckless driving penalties or fees to be added to the Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund to pay for care and rehabilitative services for Georgia citizens who have survived neurotrauma with head or spinal cord injuries?”

YESNO

PROPOSED STATEWIDE REFERENDUM

- 1 -Allows property owned by the University System of Georgia and operated by providers of student housing and other facilities to remain exempt from taxation.House Bill No. 788, Act No. 613“Shall property owned by the University System of Georgia and utilized by providers of college and university student housing and other facilities continue to be exempt from taxation to keep costs affordable?”

YESNO

Not sure who’s on the ballot this year? No worries, we got you covered. We even made this sample ballot for you to cut out, fill out and use as a guide when you’re at the polls Nov. 4.

Van Ness is hoping the constit-uents will value her nearly eight years of experience serving as a Rockdale commissioner and vote her back into office.

“I think experience in a position like this is very important,” Van Ness told The News. “I have a vast array of knowledge regarding county operations and legislative pieces in the county, and probably one of the more important things is the knowledge and historical experience working on a budget because that is our focus and how we operate this community.”

She continues on to say that while the county has seen some growth, there are still more chal-lenges down the road that can be bested with someone of her exper-tise helping to lead the county.

“Although I see a lot of growth and development in Rockdale, there are still a lot of challenges we need to overcome,” said Van Ness, who owns Peachtree Academy, a local Christian private school. “To do that, I think you have to have someone who has the business savvy and the financial awareness that I do.”

But Williams obviously views things differently. What she sees is a three-member county board where “discord and contention” persist during board meetings, and sometimes stifles decision making.

While she doesn’t blame Van Ness directly for the “dysfunc-tion that’s happened” among the board members, Williams, a re-tired school teacher, believes that adding in a new personality into the mix can change the dynamic of how things operate.

“My experience in education is that you take emotion out of things. You look at the research,” said Williams. “You try to make rational (and) thoughtful de-cisions based on research and talking to people, interviewing

people to get the best information you can. Not just making wil-ly-nilly decisions because that’s what you what or somebody else wants or doesn’t want.”

Even though they’re competing against each other the two candi-dates share one common goal and that’s to have an operational eth-ics board.

Rockdale County adopted a res-olution to create an ethics board in 2008, but it has never been activated.

Van Ness proposed a new method to ap-point members to the board of ethics during the board’s Aug. 12 voting session, but her motion to approve her sponsored ordi-nance amend-ment didn’t re-ceive a second and died on the floor.

Van Ness won’t wait until next year to try to get a board up and running.

“I’m going to push it the rest of this year because that should be a done deal,” she said.

If elected, enacting an ethics board will be Williams’s number one priority next year.

“It’s come up a couple of times and it didn’t get anywhere be-cause there was unwillingness to negotiate. That’s unacceptable,” said Williams. “We need an ethics commission that going to work.”

Also on William’s agenda will be formulating a long-range strate-gic plan for Rockdale County. A plan, sort of like ones that neigh-boring Newton and Gwinnett Counties have adopted, will guide Rockdale commissioners deci-sion-making towards achieving benchmarks set forth in the plan, says Williams.

Job creation is also big on Van

Ness’ platform. While the county commissioners can create jobs, Van Ness says as a commissioner she feels it’s her responsibility “to help facilitate and encourage job development and job growth and work to retain jobs in the commu-nity as well as recruit those jobs that will have higher paying wages and salaries.”

While the addition of Williams will mean Rock-dale will have a one-party coun-ty board, with Chairmen Oden and Post 1 Com-missioner Oz Nesbitt both be-ing Democrats, neither candi-date thinks po-litical affiliation will hinder them in the election.

“I don’t think that the fact that there would be three democrats (on the board) is a real major is-sue because, to me, running the

county is a non-partisan activity,” said Williams. “You’re looking out for everybody. I don’t think it means that just because you all belong to the same political par-ty that you necessarily have the same thought or align yourself with each other.”

“I’m an optimist and I think the people of Rockdale County are smart enough to know that I’ve done a great job and hopefully they’ll educate themselves on the issues that are critical for the future of this community and realize that it doesn’t matter the letter behind the name,” Van Ness said. “I feel very confident that people will reach across party lines and see that I represent everybody not just certain people that have a certain letter behind their name.”

Early in-person poll voting lasts until Oct. 31. Regular in-person poll voting will be Nov. 4.

ELECTIONFrom front page


Fall 2014 General Election Early In-Person Voting Information

Absentee voting by mail started Sept. 19, and in-person early voting starts Oct. 13 at 1400 Parker Road; both run until Oct. 31.

Location: 1400 Parker Road, Lobby C

Hours: Oct. 13-17 (Mon - Fri), Oct. 20-24 (Mon - Fri) and Oct. 27-28 (Mon - Wed) 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Saturday voting on Oct. 25 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Extended hours Oct. 28-31 (Wed - Fri) 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

What do I need to bring: Any registered Georgia voter can vote early. When going to cast your ballot, make sure you bring photo identification, which can be a Geor-gia driver’s license, a state-issued voter ID card, a valid U.S. passport or a valid U.S. military ID card.

For more information: Contact the Rock-dale Board of Elections/Voter Registration Office at 770-278-7333 or www.rockdale-county.org. Registered voters can see their specific sample ballot, check voter registration status, view polling and early voting locations and track the status of their absentee ballot online at Secretary of State Brian Kemp’s “My Voter Page” website at mvp.sos.ga.gov. Voters can also download the “My Voter Page” app on mobile devices with Apple and Android platforms by searching for “GA Votes.”

I don’t think that the fact that there would be three Democrats (on the board) is a real major issue because, to me, running the county is a non-partisan activity”

“— Doreen Williams,

Post 2 County Board of Commissioner candidate


Submitted photo/The News

Sunday, Oct. 12ATLANTA 2-DAY WALK FOR BREAST CANCER 30 miles of Atlanta over the course of two days, starting 7 a.m. Oct. 11 and ending 1:30 p.m. Oct. 12. Each year, over 800 walkers commit to fundraising and training for this event.http://itsthejourney.org/event/12th-annual-atlanta-2-day-walk-for-breast-cancer/

Sunday, Oct. 19WORSHIP IN PINK CELEBRATION10 a.m.; The annual “Worship in Pink Celebration” recognizing breast cancer awareness month; at Antioch A.M.E. Church on Ebenezer Road.

Tuesday, Oct. 212014 WALL OF HOPE, KIM’S CLOSET UNVEILING3 p.m.; the unvealing of the annual Wall of Hope portraits of breast cancer survivors at Rockdale Medical Center’s Women’s Diagnostic Center. New this year, the breast cancer boutique at RMC will also be unveiled; 1412 Milstead Ave NE, Conyers; Contact Jean Yontz, 404-775-8893 for more information.

Saturday, Nov. 1CHILI COOKOFF AND RIDEChili Cookoff; Eat for $5 or register for the competition; Registration is free; go to http://ride.kimatkins.net/ChiliCookoff.aspx or call (770) 922-9578 ext 215

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Snapping Shoals EMC’s linemen will be making a fashion statement and an effort to educate members and employees about breast cancer prevalence and early detection during the month of October. Each Snapping Shoals EMC’s linemen will be wearing pink hard hats all month long. The hats, which meet safety codes, are emblazoned with the co-ops logo. The pink hard hats are manufactured by 3M, who is making a $15,000 dona-tion to breast cancer research to the American Cancer Society from the sale of the hats. Snapping Shoals EMC is a consumer-owned cooperative providing electric service to approximately 95,000 homes and businesses primarily in Newton, Rockdale, Henry and southern DeKalb counties.

Pooches and their people (and ponies and more) were all awash in pink Sunday, Oct. 5 for the second Pink Pooch Parade in Olde Town Conyers. Attendees browsed vendor booths, selling everything from doggie treats to classic guitars and information from nonprofits, and Just4Fun radio emceed the festivities. Parade marchers walked a loop through Olde Town Conyers back to the Olde Town Pavilion. They were led by Girl Scout Troop 14866, Com-missioner Oz Nesbitt and his pup Sophie, Party Ponies, Etc. and the newly bright pink pony Snowflake, accented with cheerleaders from the Peachtree Academy Panthers and the Rockdale County Fire Department’s classic 1956 firetruck. Breast cancer can strike anyone at any age, said organizers, who walked in memory of 27-year-old Ashley Hester who passed away in June from breast cancer. Proceeds go to the Pink Patriots team for the Atlanta 2-Day Walk on Oct. 11.

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Michelle Kim/The News

It all started in high school for Steve Pettis.

As a student in Upson County High School, which no longer exists in Upson County, Pettis took vocational classes centered on plant life, an area of interest for him since he was a child growing up on his grandparent’s farm.

The high school had a greenhouse where his class would grow poinsettias and geraniums and then sell them in the summer and winter to raise money for the school’s Future Farmers of America program.

These were his first steps into the agriculture industry and he hasn’t look back.

“That’s how I got into the green industry,” said Pettis. “So basically, since 1988, I’ve been working in this field.”

Pettis, 41, now uses his love and knowledge of plant life to help the Rockdale County community as the Rockdale County Cooperative Extension Agent for agriculture. He’s been doing the job for two months replacing Jule-Lynne Macie,

who was promoted in the UGA Extension Service as agriculture program development coordinator for the Northwest District in March after 26 years serving as Rockdale County Extension Agent.

While more rural agriculture

extension agents have clients that mostly consist of farmers, working in the more rocky area of Rockdale, Pettis, who’s been working in Rockdale for two months, mainly hears concerns from homeowners for their home gardens, lawn care industry professionals who need credits toward their pesticide license and Rockdale County Parks and Recreation officials when they need help with one of the counties many park fields.

Pettis has plans to implement more agriculture themed programs for the community sometime in the Spring. He’s also working with the Kevin Surrette, program director for the Rockdale Career Academy Agriculture Education, to create a new candler education course.

Pettis’ previous experience working as an agent in Gwinnett County years ago helps him handle his current duties.

“I’m really lucky that I landed in Rockdale. One of the reasons I think I was hired for this position is my experience

in a suburban county,” said Pettis. “County extension agents who are use to being in more of a rural county, may not enjoy this job.”

But, Pettis is enjoying himself, primarily because he’s back helping people on a daily basis.

No matter how strange the plant or problem seems to be, Pettis says he gets calls of all kinds. And if he can’t help solve the problem with the tools at his dispose, he’ll pass it along to the research professors at the University of Georgia.

Either way, they’re going to work to get to the bottom of it, he says.

“I’ve been eagerly trying to get back,” said Pettis. “The greatest thing about this job is that we do get to help people all day long. People come to us wanting answers and help and that’s a very rewarding feeling to be able to help somebody.”

Pettis received his bachelors in horticulture from UGA, and then his masters in plant protection and pest management also from UGA.


Martin Rand III /The NewsNew Extension Agent Steve Pettis, helping local gardener

By Martin Rand [email protected]

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rockdalenews.com SportS

SEC Banter

Ben Prevost

Change, for better or worse, is part of life. Someone smarter than I once said the only consistent thing in life is inconsistency, or change.

The subject has fascinated musical artists since the dawn of time. Or, at least since the 1970s.

David Bowie sang about ch-ch-ch-ch-change in his 1971 single, “Chang-es.” The King of Pop boldly encouraged us to take a look at ourselves and make that change in 1987’s “Man in the Mirror.” And, not to be forgotten, the Scorpions told us how the children of tomorrow dream away in their 1990 ballad, “Wind of Change.”

SEC Banter performed extensive research to deter-mine whether these songs about change were actually in reference to SEC football. The results were incon-clusive.

But there’s no doubt that winds of change are howl-ing across the Southeastern Conference.

Look no further than the two SEC teams from the Magnolia State. Ole Miss, long entrenched in a seem-ingly never-ending struggle for relevance, signaled to the college football world last week that it is ready to run with the big dogs.

Ole Miss outplayed Alabama and capped off a fan-tastic weekend in Oxford, highlighted by a superb broadcast from ESPN’s College GameDay.

Speaking of GameDay, the show travels just down the road to Starkville this Saturday, where No. 3 Mis-sissippi State (No. 3!) hosts No. 2 Auburn. GameDay has its hands full in trying to make Starkvegas look like a remotely interesting place.

But I digress. Can you ever remember the Mississip-pi State/Auburn game carrying so much significance? Heck, ANY significance? Times they’re a changing in-deed.

Upstart SEC programs challenging the status quo ar-en’t limited to the West. The SEC East is in the midst of change, as well.

Missouri has essentially cemented itself as a constant threat to win the division. Tennessee, though winless in the conference, is on the rise under head coach Butch Jones. The Vols will turn the corner soon.

And kudos to Kentucky. SEC Banter has lampooned the Wildcats as nothing more than an afterthought at a basketball-crazy school. But Mark Stoops has Ken-tucky trending in the right direction and, at this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Wildcats went down to Baton Rouge later this year and beat LSU.

Not that beating LSU is difficult, because while some teams are emerging as new forces to be reckoned with, other programs are in decline.

LSU’s fall from grace is faster than Chevy Chase’s in the 1990s. While the Tigers have lost something like 354 players to the draft in the past few years, the cup-board appears dreadfully bare in Baton Rouge and Les Miles’s continued coaching gaffes don’t help.

LSU isn’t the only former SEC superpower that’s struggling. Florida’s athletic director slowly removed his finger from the big red “Fire Muschamp” button on his desk as the Gators squeaked by Tennessee last week. But you have to believe Muschamp’s days are limited as Florida is stuck in a swamp of mediocrity.

Alabama’s loss last week doesn’t portend the fall of the Saban empire, but it does hammer home just how competitive the league has become.

Change is everywhere in the SEC. Embrace it. Change makes life, and SEC football, more interesting.

In the meantime, I’m embracing change at home. I changed the car’s flat tire. I can’t tell you how many darn light bulbs I’ve changed recently. The baby’s di-aper always needs changing. I mean always. Even more urgent, the remote control batteries need to be changed. I’m on it!

Times, they're a changing

Full force

The HHS Patriots and RCPS FORCE football players at their game on Sept. 15th. FORCE Flag football is a league that brings students of all abilities together to enjoy the game of football. The FORCE flag Football team serves students from all three high schools and several middle schools.

submitted photo/The News


Heritage athlete of the week: Anthony Stanley

Anthony Stanley (3), of Heritage High School, has been selected as The Urban Moo athlete of the week. Stanley replaced the injured David Turner at quarterback and accounted for three total touchdowns (two rushing, one passing) in the Patriot’s 18-13 win over Cedar Shoals.

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Lynn Brown, who also hap-pens to be Chair of the Rockdale Republican Party, said they had been in contact with EPD in-spectors. “I spoke to Chad Hall Friday afternoon. He said, as far as EPD is concerned, my inert landfill has met all the require-ments,” she said.

“I will fight this,” said Brown. “EPD has told me what my op-tions are. I will take this to liti-gation,” she said, later adding that the county has lately had to spend substantial amounts of money in litigation and settle-ments for zoning issues.

“This won’t put you out of business,” said Nash.

“It will dampen my business,” said Brown.

“You will have to change your business,” replied Nash.

“I’m not going to do that,” said Brown. “I will fight you in liti-gation.”

The Environmental Protection Division of Georgia recently changed the regulations gov-erning inert landfill permitting. Previously, it had been permitted on a case by case basis, as long as the county determined zon-ing regulations were followed. Under the new rules, inert land-fill owners have to reapply for permits and the landfills will be more closely monitored by EPD.

Jonny Brown said he had spent $4,000 to provide studies and documentation for the appli-cation. “We all had to hire a civil engineer and get them to come out, survey the landfill, calcu-late how much has been inputted over the years and what the end result it would be when it was finished.”

The Browns’ private landfill, which had been in use since the 1950s when Jonny’s father op-erated the business, is estimated to have about 52,000 tons of ma-terial added since 1993. Jonny Brown said there’s only about 20 more feet available in the pri-vate landfill, which will be cov-ered with dirt and grassed over when it is full. “Basically we started filing in a hole,” said Jon-ny Brown. “That’s all we were doing.” The Browns live on the property with their sons’ families and draw their drinking water from three wells on the property. A lake is also located next to the

inert landfill. The Browns had sued the

county for a business license in 1993 and a court order signed by then-State Court Judge William Todd grandfathered in the prop-erty as long as the business and landfill remained within speci-fied parameters.

Lynn Brown, who worked at the business since 1972 when she and Jonny married, and said she had brought 20 years’ worth of documentation to then-county attorney John Nix.

Nash said an inert landfill was not a permitted use under the county’s zoning regulations when the Browns received their EPD permit in 1993 and the county should not have allowed it.

Nash said she knew about the Browns’ business and inert landfill but began looking into it after hearing complaints about the business’s truck traffic. Lynn Brown attended a Watershed Subcommittee meeting and said

they had a 1993 court order and they were grandfathered in with a non-conforming use compli-ance.

“Rockdale County as far as I remember never had any permit-ted uses of inert landfills,” said Nash. However, the early 1990s was a busy time in the county as the reservoir was being built and the county and city were trying to host an Olympic venue and the matter may have gotten as much attention as it deserved, said Nash.

Lynn Brown later replied, “Her opinion of what John Nix should have done is immaterial to me.”

About 12,000 acres lie within

the Big Haynes Creek protected watershed area, which drains to the Randy Poynter Reservoir where Rockdale Water Resourc-es draws its drinking water. Other household landfill, such as one on Miller Bottom Road, were closed in the 1990s as the county built its drinking water reservoir and rezoned areas to protect the watershed.

“My landfill is not doing anything,” said Lynn Brown. “We’ve followed all the require-ments. All this is just political posturing and payback.”

For a timeline of reservoir construction, landfill closings and watershed zonings, go to rockdalenews.com


LandfiLLFrom front page

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The AT&T office at 2315 Salem Road recently held their annual Employee Giving Event. One of the activ-ities was a mini putt golf tournament and barbecue lunch to benefit local charities. This year the recipients were The Rockdale Houses for Men and Women. Shown here surveying the course are (left to right): Executive Director of the Rockdale House for Men Richard Strickland, Executive Director of the Rockdale House for Women Renee Kalb and Justin Reeves of AT&T.

Submitted photo /The News

AT&T Employees GiveEastminster Learning Expeditions

Submitted photos /The News

Eastminster School students from kin-dergarten through fourth grade have participated in a Learning Expedition. “From insects and their role in the ecosystem to learn-ing about various Native American societies and their histories, grades K-4 are engaged in an in-depth inter-disciplinary study,” Headmaster Blake Craft said. “We are so proud of how hard these kids work and would like to invite the com-munity to visit our campus to share in this special event.” The exhibitions will be held in the Lower School building and visitors can tour K-4 on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.

Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology students recently returned from the Johnson Joust Debate Tournament, winning honors in the following fields: (From left to right) 2nd Place Original Oratory: Catherine Travis; 1st Place Prose and Poetry: Morgan Riemersma; 2nd Place Impromptu Speaking: Bobby Lundy; 4th Place Public Forum Speaker: Jazz Duncan; 5th Place Prose and Poetry: Molly Niemczyk.

Submitted photo /The News

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help Wantedlooking For experienced HVAC Commercial Installers. Need at least 2 years experience. Please email resume and include phone number to [email protected] and we will contact you.

real Estate

For renttWo BEDrooM, living room, kitchen with appliances, laundry room with w/d connections, Central H/A. Very nice respectful area, Convenient to locations. 1 or two people only. $650/mo refundable deposit $200 No Pets 770-786-2734

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The News Oct 11th 2014