Welcome to 2005 Jan. - March
DouglasPolitics.com Editorial Archive

Disclaimer: The letters expressed on this site are not necessarily the opinions of the owner, editor, or webmaster of this web site. I publish opinions and ideas. I do not publish finger-pointing and name calling since these do not help our County and Country move forward. 

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PRAY FOR OUR TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES

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VOTE NO FOR SPLOST ON MARCH 15

YOU KNOW WHY !!

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MAYOR'S STANCE

03-28-05

Many postings on this site have been about the mayor's stance on law enforcement in this community and what seems to be a dwindling away of the police department.  After most of these postings I have not had many responses by other readers.  I was wondering what the community as a whole is feeling about where the police department, and the city itself for that matter, is heading.  As has been said in the past, the mayor has some opinions about the operation of law enforcement in this city that differs greatly from the beliefs of mayors in other cities.  For example, the mayor has made it known that he does not believe there should be any criminal or speed enforcement on the interstate by the police department and furthermore, if drugs are just passing through, which they do on a daily basis, we should leave them alone.  That is the problem of other jurisdictions.  The mayor is also against the S.W.A.T. team and wants to disband it.  He made the statement, "Why should we pay our officers to kill people?".  The mayor and council also believe the city has too many police officers when the statistics provided by the GBI and FBI show that crime in this county is on the rise when in many other areas of the country the crimes rates have fallen.  I read in the paper recently that the city council members cannot agree among themselves concerning the city budget.  They even said that many figures concerning revenues and expenditures are inaccurate or inflated and it is widely known that the city is in bad financial shape.  City employees were recently informed that their next raises would be in 2007 at the earliest.  I would like to read the opinions of other citizens on this site to see if they are happy with the state of affairs of the city and what their opinions are of the current mayor and council.

anonymous

 

 

03-27-05

Comments:

After reading the articles by Tony Zizza (3/30/05, 3/12/05), I was disappointed.  All blame for low performing students was applied to the parents and the students.  Our taxes spent on teachers and administrators are not factored in.  Parents are expected to be educated enough to tutor their child or have the funds to hire a tutor, because our tax funded system can't handle the work.  Yes STAR is unexceptable.  But, should I wrongly expect the schools to educate my children?  My friends tell me not to home school so I sadly depend on the tax funded system to educate my children.  Then I get blamed for the student not being educated.  Regarding graduation exemption tests, once again, the tax funded system can't teach the information from K- 12, because of the parents and the students (according to Mr. Zizza).  I think Mr. Zizza should listen to both sides, the school system and the parents of low performing students.  All of us are not focusing on our child's looks, although being
clean and neat should not be seen as a negative factor in academic performance. Nor is using clinically diagnosed ADHD/ADD (although some may be using medicine as a reluctant recourse--sometimes under pressure from the school staff as an excuse for lack of academic performance). 

Please sign me,

Frustrated Mother

 

03-28-05

I have just a few comments concerning the mother who is frustrated.  As she mentioned there are problems on both sides meaning there are sometimes problems with the educators and the parents, however, in most cases the problems begin at home and carry over to school.  I see these children firsthand in their living environment and it is obvious where the problems started.  Many of these children have parents who either do not care or simply aren't educated enough themselves to provide proper parenting.  The "I don't care" attitudes these children display are simply reflections of their parents.  The unfortunate part is that these parents were treated the same way by their parents and the cycle continues.  I am not defending these parents by any means and I must say that many of these people are or were criminal offenders.  Fortunately, I have seen many cases where parents recognized there was a problem on there own and did all they could to improve their parenting skills.  I commend these people.  Sometimes the educators do not do enough but we should not blame the education system as a whole.  Teachers work extremely hard at what they do and should be commended for the effort they put forth.  Place the majority of the blame where it belongs, in the home.

Anonymous

 

 

3-27-05

Here's to cute bunnies and Easter eggs that remind us of the good things in life –

          

And here's to the meaning of Easter –

        

             “Even when we make mistakes,

            With a good dose of remorse and some effort,

            We can be forgiven and renew things in our lives!”

          Enjoy spring! Listen to the birds, smell the flowers, and walk hand in hand with someone you love!

Raymond F.Page, Editor

Friday, April 1st, 2005 "THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING 'HAPPENING' IN DOUGLAS COUNTY" IT'S NOW EASIER TO FIND US! www.celebratedouglascounty.com Please feel free to print out this e-mail for the office bulletin board and/or forward it to persons in your personal or office e-mail address book, or click for the printer-friendly version . Help bring our community together by passing "Happenings" along to others. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THIS WEEKEND! April is Child Abuse Awareness Month Drive by the Douglas County Courthouse this week and see the graphic demonstration of how many child abuse cases were reported in Douglas County last year! One pinwheel for each reported child abuse case! How many went unreported? Can you help? Call Douglas CORE at 770.920.7438 Saturday, April 2nd: April Shows on dctv23: check us out at www.dctv23.com Gesundheit! To Your Health! 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, and 7:00 p.m. on Monday nights presented by Janice Thompson State Farm Insurance It's morning, TJ! Get up and get going! Dinner at Eight ~ our New Show! 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, and 8:00 p.m. on Monday nights Chairman Tom Worthan enjoys dinner with Douglas County Department of Transportation managers and they talk roadways, signals, traffic and lots of other stuff you need to know! Douglas County Living 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, and 9:00 p.m. on Monday nights American Cancer Society Relay for Life ~ Fire Safety House teaches our kids how to be safe ~ Sights and Sounds of Douglas County ~ Chicken Marsala at the Blue Sky CafŽ ~ Learn what the Chamber of Commerce can do for you ~ Garden tips ~ and much more! SUNDAY, APRIL 3RD, AT 2 A.M.: DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS ~ SPRING FORWARD AND CHANGE THE BATTERIES IN YOUR SMOKE ALARM! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NEXT WEEK Monday, April 4th - Friday, April 8th: Spring Break Arts Camp at Deer Lick Park Offering intensive arts exploration guided by five artists for 7 - 11 year olds ~ $75 per child, $60 for Cultural Arts Council family members Call the Cultural Arts Center at 770.949.2787 for more information Tuesday, April 5th: Student Art Exhibit for April Opens at the Courthouse Gallery Opening Reception: 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., Courthouse Gallery, Third Floor, Douglas County Courthouse Open to the Public ~ Free Admission Thursday, April 7th: "Contemporary Realism: Three Approaches ~ Larry Grams, David Mathews, Rick McClung" Exhibit Opening at the Cultural Arts Center 6:00 p.m., Cultural Arts Center, 8652 Campbellton Street ~ Open to the Public ~ Free Admission Gallery Open 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., Mondays - Fridays and 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Sundays Memberships Available ~ Call 770.949.0907 for more information Friday, April 8th: Susan Wittig Albert Book Talk and Signing ~ "Dead Man's Bones" ~ at the Douglas County Library, Selman Drive 10:30 a.m. ~ Susan Wittig Albert is the Nationally acclaimed author of eleven China Bayles herbal mysteries ~ "Dead Man's Bones" will be made available for purchase and signing at this event Call 770.920.7125 for more information and directions Friday - Sunday, April 8th - 10th: "National County Government Week" Exhibit at Arbor Place Mall Operating Hours ~ Come visit the center court between Macy's and Bed, Bath and Beyond and see Douglas County services and meet the County staff Saturday - Sunday, April 9th - 10th: Yard Sale to Support Families of Deployed National Guardsmen from Douglasville Armory 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., National Guard Armory, Church Street, Downtown Douglasville Food and yard sale items needed for sale ~ Tax-deductible donations ~ Call 770.920.7593 for more information ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GOVERNMENT MEETINGS AND NOTICES City of Douglasville Mayor and Council City Council: 7:30 p.m., Monday, April 4th, Council Chambers, City Hall, O'Neal Plaza Work Session: 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 14th, Council Chambers, City Hall, O'Neal Plaza Douglas County School System Spring Break: April 4th - 8th Board of Education Meeting: 7:00 p.m., Monday, April 11th, Board of Education Central Office, Georgia Highway 5 at Gurley Road Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority Board Meeting: 5:30 p.m., Monday, April 12th, WSA Offices, Hospital Drive Douglas County Board of Commissioners Work Session: 10:00 a.m., Monday, April 4th, Commissioners Conference Room, Third Floor, Douglas County Courthouse Commission Meeting: 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 5th, Citizen's Hall, Douglas County Courthouse Televised live on dctv23 and taped for re-broadcast at 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. daily and at 6 p.m. Tuesdays when there is not a live broadcast Planning and Zoning Meeting: 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 5th, Citizen's Hall, Douglas County Courthouse Televised live but not videotaped ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MARK YOUR CALENDARS Friday, April 15th: Annual Community Awards Night at the American Legion Post 145 7:00 p.m. ~ Community Awards given to outstanding employees of the City of Douglasville, Douglas County, Douglas County Fire/EMS Department, Douglas County Sheriff's Department, City of Douglasville Police Department, Georgia State Patrol, Douglas Public Health, and Douglas County Board of Education Free Admission ~ Open to the Public Saturday, April 16th: Prevent Child Abuse Community Awareness Rally at Jessie Davis Memorial Park 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. ~ Douglas County Youth Core will be working with several community organizations to distribute wallet cards with support information inscribed to help youth stay out of trouble For more information, call 678.385.1371 Monday, April 18th: Arlington Christian Academy Annual Golf Tournament at "The Frog" Teams Requested ~ Hole Sponsors Needed ~ Proceeds benefit the library and administrative offices Call Linda Dancer at 770.214.8445 or 770.964.9871 for more information Tuesday, April 19th: "Protecting Our Children from Internet Predators" Free Informational Seminar 7:00 p.m., Chapel Hill High School Auditorium ~ Critical Internet Safety Information for Parents ~ Sponsored by Douglas County District Attorney's Office and the Douglas County Sheriff's Office Call 770.920.7292 for more information Thursday, April 21st: Roast "The Donald" Remillard for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life 6:30 p.m., Downtown Douglasville Conference Center ~ $20 per person, $35 per couple Dinner catered by Sam & Rosco's, desserts by Sweet Teresa's Dessert Shop, and additional food from Publix Call 770.651.2084 for tickets and information Saturday, April 23rd: Public Safety Softball Tournament to Benefit the Children of Slain Douglas County Sheriff's Deputy Blake Gammill Arbor Heights Baptist Church Softball Field, Reynolds Road at Stewarts Mill Road Teams Needed ~ Limited to 8 teams ~ Slow pitch softball ~ $250 per team Contact Obe Garcia at 678.576.4382 or GSP Trooper Larry Schnall at 404.886.2520 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ VISIT THE NEW HOME PAGE OF THE DOUGLAS COUNTY WEB SITE AT WWW.CO.DOUGLAS.GA.US AND ENTER YOUR OWN COMMUNITY EVENT IN THE NEW COMMUNITY CALENDAR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Do you have announcements that you wish to see in "Happenings" and on dctv23? E-mail them to channel23@co.douglas.ga.us or FAX them to 770.920.7445 and include all the details, including your name and telephone number, and we'll see what we can do to help you publicize your program or event! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Douglas County "Happenings" is a weekly listing of events and meetings of general interest to Douglas County citizens. Douglas County "Happenings" is compiled by the Douglas County Department of Communications and Community Relations as a Public Service to our citizens, and our e-mail list is not published or sold.

“Life is a hard battle anyway; and if we laugh and sing a little as we fight the good fight of freedom, it makes it all go easier.” - Sojourner Truth

 

3-21-05

RIGHT TO LIFE? OR COMMON SENSE

In most states when someone is executed they die by lethal injection. Don't the terminally ill have the same right to a pain free death as convicted murderers?

Tom Delay, who can wallpaper his office with the ethics charges against him, would not even have his job except that the Republican Congress changed the rules so no one who was indicted, could be removed from his/her job.

However, Delay said something the other day that I totally agree with. He says that removing Mrs. Schiavo's feeding tube -- letting her starve to death -- is barbaric!. So then, why is Dr. Kavorkian in prison for assisting a terminally ill patient to die? A patient who was in pain and who asked for help to end his own life. Would Tom Delay agree to use a lethal injection to end Mrs. Schiavo's life mercifully? NO, he wouldn't. He and the pro-life movement are behind this effort to keep this brain-dead woman alive.

Here's where the hypocrisy comes in -- the only way the pro-life folks agreed to allow a patient with a living will to die was by natural causes. (except in cases where life support could be removed) Thus they insisted -- agreed to -- approved of starvation as a method of dying because they consider that natural.

We all know that in America a pregnant woman cannot have a late term abortion even though her own life is threatened by some medical problem. Our government is saying that the life of the unborn is of greater importance than the life of a living woman (with a husband and perhaps children!). This is because it's OK for a mother to die of natural causes and it is NOT OK for the unborn to die by medical means.

I truly believe should Tom Delay succeed in this effort to allow this brain dead woman to live in the care of her loving parents, that this is the beginning of a Republican Theocracy.

The Religion Police are gathering.

continuing...

In light of what's been in the news lately it seems perfectly logical to:

1. check the website for sex offenders in your neighborhood -- near your church and school -- and where your children play and give the web address to your friends and neighbors who may not be reading my web site yet.

2. double check to see if your home alarm system needs upgrading -- remember that Greystone does this (among others).

3. prepare a living will and other related documents. The one I use is really easy. You can get copies and other information on www.agingwithdignity.org. Look for "Five Wishes", or perhaps your attorney can provide you with suitable papers. 

Raymond F. Page, Editor

 

03-19-05

   After watching the story on the 9 year old girl
Jessica missing in Florida and presumed killed by a
known child molester who lived across the street, I
did some research of my own. I guess living in Douglas
County all my life I've been too naive.

   As I was searching areas in Douglas County on the
internet I came across this question.
   How is the public notified if a sex offender is
residing in their community?
   The public may access the internet to view all sex
offenders in Georgia. The Statewide Sex Offender
Registry can be obtained through the internet at
( www.ganet.org/gbi/disclaim.html ) or by contacting the
local Sheriff to view listing. My search revealed the
following.

   zip code-30135-23 sex offenders- 12 for child
molestation.
            30134-36 sex offenders- 17 for child
molestation.
            30122-lithia springs- 21 sex offenders
            15 for child molestation
                  villa rica-3 sex offenders- 2 for
child molestation.
            46 registered child molesters in Douglas
County was a shocking find. The website has photos and
addresses.

THANK YOU SENDER! RAYMOND F PAGE EDITOR

 

March 21, 2005

Dear Members and Supporters of The Interfaith Alliance:

Over the past several hours many of you have been kind enough to share with us your thoughtful reflections and questions regarding the tragic situation involving Theresa Marie Schiavo.  Several of you have inquired as to whether or not The Interfaith Alliance has taken a position on the end-of-life issues swirling around Mrs. Schiavo or on the involvement of the United States government in this case by way of votes in the United States Senate and in the United States House of Representatives on Sunday evening and early Monday morning respectively.

The Board of Directors of The Interfaith Alliance has not adopted a position on end-of-life issues or directed the staff of The Interfaith Alliance to give attention to these issues either in our policy work or our educational efforts.  I cannot speak for them or for the organization on these issues.  However, I am astonished, appalled, and grieved by the actions of the two houses of the United States Congress and the White House that have prompted me to write this personal letter.

The life-and-death issues brought into focus by Mrs. Schiavo's sad condition involve medical questions and legal considerations far too complex for me to address without more information.  I might add that, in my opinion, members of the United States Congress would have been well advised to adopt a posture of humility and compassion related to these issues as they impact Mrs. Schiavo and her family. Neither Members of Congress nor any of us have any business seeking to dictate procedures for members of a grieving family and numerous doctors, lawyers, and courts that already have considered the familial, medical, legal and personal issues involved in this situation and attempted to address them with fundamental moral, medical, and legal values.

As a pastor for many years, I repeatedly have stood with troubled families grappling with the issues that surround Mrs. Schiavo's bedside.  Those experiences have taught me the myths that often get perpetrated as facts in public debates regarding circumstances like those involving Mrs. Schiavo. No perspective regarding a resolution for such a difficult situation has all of the weight of compassion and wisdom behind it

Alongside my concern for the family of Mrs. Schiavo stands my concern for our nation.  A family's grief over the loss of a loved one is being compounded by pontifical posturing among politicians and religious leaders who know too little about the situation even to comment on it much less to attempt to control it.  A tragic situation is being made more tragic by the insensitive intrusion into it by Washington politicians seeking yet another venue for speaking to their partisan constituencies and for strengthening their political “base.” For Congress and the White House to jump into this tragic situation at the last minute, after years of court proceedings, and to take a position on the value of life so inconsistent with, if not contradictory to, many of their other decisions, represent unconscionable meddling in the private decision of an American family—a family who needs our thoughts and prayers, not our spirit of blatant judgment and our not-too-subtle politicization. 

Profound questions disturb me. Are there no limits on the intrusive reach of this government?  Where will Washington go next?  Do claims of both religious and political authority give a government the right to invade the spheres of personal autonomy and religious independence?  How long will the American public wait for such questions to be answered.

Dear friends, all of us would do well to step back from the bedside of a woman caught somewhere between death and life, divorce our political initiatives from this realm of personal and familial pain, pray for the peace of Terri Schiavo and her family, and after taking a hard look at how we feel about politicians who are willing to manipulate even personal pain in an effort aimed at political gain, decide what we are going to do about our democracy.

Sincerely,
Rev. C. Welton Gaddy
President, The Interfaith Alliance

 

 

Comments:
03-20-05
Hi Ray:

A big thank you goes out to you and DouglasPolitics.com for 3 awesome years of - serving the people.....

Your site, and everything it offers, has the courage to truly give multiple points of view to a wide variety of issues.

Douglas County owes you a big debt of gratitude for what you are doing.  For what you have done.  For what you will continue to do.

Again.....you serve the people of our county and beyond, and it is very much - appreciated.


Thanks,

Tony Zizza
Douglas County

 

Friday, March 25th, 2005 "THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING 'HAPPENING' IN DOUGLAS COUNTY" IT'S NOW EASIER TO FIND US! www.celebratedouglascounty.com Please feel free to print out this e-mail for the office bulletin board and/or forward it to persons in your personal or office e-mail address book, or click for the printer-friendly version . Help bring our community together by passing "Happenings" along to others. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THIS WEEKEND! Friday, March 25th, Good Friday: Douglas County Courthouse Closed Saturday, March 26th: Beulah Bulldogs Youth Cheerleading Registration 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Deer Lick Park Concession Stand ~ For more info, call 770.949.5332 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NEXT WEEK Monday, March 28th: District 4 Community Meeting with Commissioner David Latham at Westview Baptist Church 6:00 p.m., South Giles Road at Georgia Highway 5 ~ Open to the Public Tuesday, March 29th: Golf Tournament to Benefit Alexander High School Baseball Facilities 8:30 a.m. Registration; 9:30 a.m., Shotgun Start ~ St. Andrews County Club ~ Hole sponsorships needed To register or for more information, call Anthony Campbell at 770.214.5301 or 770.489.2020 Tuesday, March 29th: Groundbreaking for the New Bill Arp Elementary School, Alexander Parkway 4:00 p.m., Alexander Parkway at the entrance to Alexander High School ~ Open to the Public Call 770.651.2037 for more information Tuesday, March 29th: Interstate 20 HOV Lanes Informational Open House 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., Citizen's Hall, Douglas County Courthouse ~ Drop in anytime during the Open House period ~ Maps of the proposed project will be on view with staff to answer your questions ~ HOV lanes planned for Interstate 20 in the next few years Come see where and when Presented by the Georgia Department of Transportation by Sycamore Consulting ~ Call 404.377.7578 for more information Thursday, March 31st: Georgia Power Coffee Card Exchange at the Douglas County Chamber of Commerce 8:00 a.m., Chamber of Commerce, 6658 Church Street, Historic Downtown Douglasville ~ Sponsored by Java Junction Café and Cartridge World of Lithia Springs ~ Please RSVP to 770.942.5022, extension 306 Thursday, March 31st: Property Assessment Informational Meeting by the Douglas County Board of Assessors 6:00 p.m., Citizen's Hall, Douglas County Courthouse ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GOVERNMENT MEETINGS AND NOTICES City of Douglasville Mayor and Council Work Session: 7:30 p.m., Thursday, March 31st, Council Chambers, City Hall, O'Neal Plaza City Council: 7:30 p.m., Monday, April 4th, Council Chambers, City Hall, O'Neal Plaza Douglas County School System Spring Break: April 4th - 8th Board of Education Meeting: 7:00 p.m., Monday, April 11th, Board of Education Central Office, Georgia Highway 5 at Gurley Road Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority Work Session: 5:30 p.m., Monday, March 28th, WSA Offices, Hospital Drive Douglas County Board of Commissioners Work Session: 10:00 a.m., Monday, April 4th, Commissioners Conference Room, Third Floor, Douglas County Courthouse Commission Meeting: 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 5th, Citizen's Hall, Douglas County Courthouse Televised live on dctv23 and taped for re-broadcast at 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. daily and at 6 p.m. Tuesdays when there is not a live broadcast Planning and Zoning Meeting: 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 5th, Citizen's Hall, Douglas County Courthouse Televised live but not videotaped ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MARK YOUR CALENDARS Tuesday, April 5th: Student Art Exhibit for April Opens at the Courthouse Gallery Opening Reception: 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., Courthouse Gallery, Third Floor, Douglas County Courthouse Open to the Public ~ Free Admission Thursday, April 7th: "Contemporary Realism" Exhibit Opening at the Cultural Arts Center 6:00 p.m., Cultural Arts Center, 8652 Campbellton Street ~ Open to the Public ~ Free Admission Gallery Open 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., Mondays - Fridays and 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Sundays Memberships Available ~ Call 770.949.0907 for more information Friday - Sunday, April 8th - 10th: "National County Government Week" Exhibit at Arbor Place Mall Operating Hours ~ Come visit the center court between Macy's and Bed, Bath and Beyond and see Douglas County services and meet the County staff Saturday - Sunday, April 9th - 10th: Yard Sale to Support Families of Deployed National Guardsmen from Douglasville Armory 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., National Guard Armory, Church Street, Downtown Douglasville Food and yard sale items needed for sale ~ Tax-deductible donations ~ Call 770.920.7593 for more information Saturday, April 16th: Prevent Child Abuse Community Awareness Rally at Jessie Davis Memorial Park 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. ~ Douglas County Youth Core will be working with several community organizations to distribute wallet cards with support information inscribed to help youth stay out of trouble For more information, call 678.385.1371 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Looking for a way to help our Georgia Army National Guard soldiers preparing to join the war on terrorism? The Family Readiness Program is asking for new or good used items to be donated to furnish 9 "day rooms" at Ft. Stewart, Georgia, where our soldiers can go on their down time for some relaxation. Items requested include: adult bicycles, pool tables, ping-pong tables, dart boards and darts, televisions, DVD players and DVDs, Playstations and video games, board games, playing cards, nerf basketball hoops, books and magazines Bring items for donation to the Douglasville Armory, East Church Street, Douglasville ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Public Safety Softball Tournament to Benefit the Children of Slain Douglas County Sheriff's Deputy Blake Gammill Saturday, April 23rd, Arbor Heights Baptist Church Softball Field, Reynolds Road at Stewarts Mill Road Teams Needed ~ Limited to 8 teams ~ Slow pitch softball ~ $250 per team Contact Obe Garcia at 678.576.4382 or GSP Trooper Larry Schnall at 404.886.2520 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ March Shows on dctv23: check us out at www.dctv23.com Gesundheit! To Your Health! 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, and 7:00 p.m. on Monday nights presented by Janice Thompson State Farm Insurance Healthy Lasagna? You Bet! And a visit from an Italian Soccer Star! Coffee and Conversation ~ our New Show! 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, and 8:00 p.m. on Monday nights Interviews with your Douglas County neighbors and friends! Wes talks with Andrew Stone about his life, loves, and music! Douglas County Living 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, and 9:00 p.m. on Monday nights Wes is holding a baby? ~ Code Enforcement helps our citizens ~ Sights and Sounds of Douglas County ~ Eating good at The Olive Garden! ~ Business-to-Business Expo coming up ~ Garden tips ~ and much more! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ VISIT THE NEW HOME PAGE OF THE DOUGLAS COUNTY WEB SITE AT WWW.CO.DOUGLAS.GA.US AND ENTER YOUR OWN COMMUNITY EVENT IN THE NEW COMMUNITY CALENDAR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Do you have announcements that you wish to see in "Happenings" and on dctv23? E-mail them to channel23@co.douglas.ga.us or FAX them to 770.920.7445 and include all the details, including your name and telephone number, and we'll see what we can do to help you publicize your program or event! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Douglas County "Happenings" is a weekly listing of events and meetings of general interest to Douglas County citizens. Douglas County "Happenings" is compiled by the Douglas County Department of Communications and Community Relations as a Public Service to our citizens, and our e-mail list is not published or sold.

 

 

03-20-05

"Time To Scrap The STAR Program"

by: Tony Zizza



When it comes to public education, perhaps the old
maxim, "The road to hell is paved with good
intentions", rings louder than anything known to the
human ear.

Keep this in mind while we talk about the STAR
program.  This program is offered at the Douglas
County Comprehensive High School, and who knows at how
many other schools here in Georgia.  More than likely,
the STAR program operates in similar forms even at
private schools.

So what's the problem with the STAR program?  Isn't it
something that will make students who are "behind" -
shine a little brighter?  Give additional points of
light to educational darkness and dimming or dimmed
academic potential?

The two letters which form the following word should
sum it up nicely for you: NO.

Or, as David Spade puts it in his hysterical Capitol
One television commercials, "Nunca!"

STAR is an acronym for "Student Teacher Academic
Referral."  The STAR form I have in front of me,
explains the STAR program as one "designed to provide
opportunities for students to improve classroom
performance and increased learning by receiving extra
help from teachers outside of the regular school day."
 Furthermore, the STAR program is "designed to help
students achieve specific short term learning
objectives."

Okay.  Let's wrap our minds around this.  Once you get
past a serving of enabler buzzwords like "objectives",
"extra help" and "opportunities", you should be able
to see this Teacher or Student referral spells trouble
with a capital T.  It really does.

Here's why.  The grading system under the STAR program
smacks of a skydive into mediocrity and coddling both
students and society cannot afford.  I think parents
who sign on to the STAR program make a big mistake.
Perhaps not so much if they sign on just for the
minimum of two 50 minute sessions, and terminate it
there. 

Yet, when the referral is allowed to last from the
date of a progress report or report card to the end of
a semester, what is really accomplished?  This
represents a student being under the STAR program
grading system for at least seven weeks, and this may
include up to two of their four classes in any given
semester.

Under the STAR program, the grading system allows for
the following:

*averaged in as an extra grade

*replace grades for assignments given previously for
objectives

*add _ points to the nine weeks/semester grade

*other


It's beyond pathetic to subjectively give students an
arbitrary number of points by virtue of being in - a
program.  But what do you really expect from a school
system that also allows giving a number of points to,
mind you, high school students - who do not utilize
all their bathroom passes for a given semester?

From what I understand, the "other" under the STAR
program grading system can also mean replacing 0's a
high school student has "earned" from not completing
homework assignments - with the daily value.
Essentially, 70 points.  Why the 70 free points?  This
is moronic.  Senseless.  Do we now have to really
wonder why so many students know more about the lives
of celebrities, than they do of what basic social
security reform or the flat tax offers their soon to
be - future?  Do they know they even have one?  That
is, a future?

To be fair, we can't sit here and objetively say since
our tax dollars pay for our children's public
education, they had better emerge from high school
firmly educated, whether they ever wanted to be or
not. There is only so much public or private teachers
can do. After all, there are students who year after
year are convinced to a tee that the only thing that
matters is how they - look.  Their depth perception is
only willing to go so far. 

On the other hand,  there are a good number of public
high school students who obtain a tutor to better
their B point grade average to an A grade point
average, in order to find placement in the best
colleges and universities.

Thankfully, we know the answer to a student reaching
their academic potential isn't through labels or ADHD
drugs.  You wouldn't know this if you read any free
Parent magazine in most big cities.  Full page glossy
ads selling alleged learning diseases and drugs
abound.  We do know full well no matter how much we
deny it, the two people most responsible for ensuring
an enduring education are: the parent and the child.

So there you have it.  Let's go ahead and scrap the
STAR program, along with all other enabler programs.
No one can afford any further watering down of having
to "earn" good grades.  The STAR program sends the
wrong message: if you as a parent don't want to study
with your child, or your child won't find a classmate
to study with, we'll replace 0's and add points.
Average everything in.  Just because we can.  And you
signed on to it.  Probably without even really reading
the referral form and understanding what it - means.

A free and civil society ceases to exist once we give
the government things to do we as parents (and
children) must do ourselves.  Or am I way off base
here?



Zizza is a freelance writer who writes frequently
about children and education.  He serves as the Vice
President of the State of Georgia for the
organization, Parents For Label and Drug Free
Education.

Web site: http://www.ablechild.org

Email Zizza at: tz777@yahoo.com

 

From Faith Leaders:

The leaders of five Protestant denominations, the Episcopal Church USA, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the United Church of Christ, and the United Methodist Church, recently called President Bush's budget "unjust." The leader of the National Council of Churches said that "this budget is immoral and does not reflect the values we hold as people of faith." The Interfaith Alliance declared, "Fairness, compassion, integrity, and justice are the moral principles that should drive the crafting of the federal budget. As a moral document, the federal budget should not, and cannot, be built on the backs of the poor, the elderly and future generations."

Democrats value hard work and a living wage for that work. Democrats value all children and believe all children should have the education, health care and communities to support their growth. Democrats believe when you wear the uniform of the United States of America, your sacrifice is never forgotten. Those are the values we stand for.

 

03-17-05

Is it the goal of Mr. Hall's Republican Party that every American

think the same

believe the same

act the same???

Absolutely, as scripture instructs. The Bible doesn't ask that we become Christians; it commands it of everyone. Christ is the only way. God carefully explains what our stands are to be on almost every issue; we have little discretion... Jimmy Hall

Mr Page

I noticed something you posted about me, when I described Howard Dean EXACTLY as he is.... It doesn't bother me, as any publicity is good publicity! Thank you! Dean is actually much worse than I described him; he is a hypocrite as well, a doctor who believes it is perfectly fine to murder babies and endorse queers, and he was a supporter of Saddam Hussein right up until and during the war, enough said... If he is your type fine, I am glad that me and God are not!!!  Jimmy Hall

By the way, is cutting medical benefits for the poor as Pres. Bush proposes, a Christian thing to do?

Raymond F Page,Editor

 

Comments:

Concerns about conditions at the county Animal Shelter.
03/16/05

   It has been one year today since the county started operating the Animal Shelter themselves. The way animals are being housed or generally kept have NOT improved, to say the least. I visited the shelter today since it marks one year under county control. Just as I always witness, I saw many sick cats available for adoption to the public. I saw a few sick dogs. I saw feces in every kennel. Pretty sad, huh?? The bigger problem with my visit to the shelter today lies with two very sick dogs that are being 'housed' outside in the cold rainy weather. The sicker of the two was a female Boxer. The other sick dog being kept outside is possibly a Lab mix. These two sick dogs are each in their own tiny chain link pen. The pens are situated side by side. While I was looking at the two dogs the Boxer coughed, choked and sneezed the entire time. I was out there for approx. 5 minutes. You may be saying -- 'so what' -- well I ask you, the readers, if your loved one (child, spouse etc.) ha!
d a nasty cold or was otherwise very sick would you try to make them go outside into the cold, rainy, or otherwise nasty weather?? Of course NOT - right?? That would only make them worse - right?? Well the county shelter staff feels that it is okay to make a very sick animal stay outside in the elements. Both dogs did have a doghouse but NO bedding of any sort to help them keep warm and dry on a nasty day like today. I spoke with the director, Chuck Brawn, of the animal shelter over the phone after I visited the shelter. I inquired on why the sick Boxer was kept outside while sick and what it would take to get her well. He told me that the reason she was outside is because she IS sick and needs fresh air. He also told me that she would only require some mild antibiotics in order to get well. There are some problems with the responses I received from Chuck Brawn. First off, inside the building (out of the weather) there were at least 5 empty and available kennels for the housin!
g of large dogs. The sick Boxer could have been housed in one of those kennels instead of outdoors. Secondly, if the county shelter staff KNOWS and ADMITS to what a sick animal needs then why are they not providing it?? (i.e. antibiotics) Could it be that they want potential adopters to foot the bill for sick animals instead of absorbing the cost themselves?? If county animal control responded to a call regarding a sick animal they would require or demand that the owner of said animal seek and obtain necessary medical or Vet treatment required to heal the animal, yet they do not follow that same procedure themselves! Must be a classic example, from the county's standpoint, of "Do what I say, not what I do!" Changes need to occur at the animal shelter in regards to how the animals are housed or generally 'kept'. These changes need to happen soon before more animals, like the Boxer I saw today, end up suffering with sickness or disease.

Stephanie Bell

 

 

DOUGLAS COUNTY CITIZENS OVERWHELMINGLY VOTE FOR RENEWAL OF ONE PERCENT SPECIAL PURPOSE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX FOR THE DOUGLAS COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION

 

Unofficial Results – All precincts reporting, provisional ballots not counted (a total of 2 provisional ballots)

Yes              4002             75.88%

No                1272             24.12%

 

03-15-05

  Ray it looks as though the school system will get
the splost continued. You may know the answer to this.
At the meeting with the citizens that Audrey Aaron
organized this question was asked If the SPLOST does
not pass will our property taxes go up? The answer was
yes, by Mr. Remillard. If the schools' millage rate is
capped out by state law the school system would be at
the mercy of the Appraisal Department after the
mandated revalue of property this year for any tax
revenue increase. We both know that the most likely
scenerio will be an increase in property taxes due to
the mandated property revalue. The school system now
gets 70cents out of every dollar. Now that the SPLOST
has passed, did Mr. Remillard obligate himself and the
school system to lower the millage rate this year
so we will not see an increase in the school portion
of our property taxes? If not it would mean we will
indeed see an increase of the school portion of our
taxes. Also  how is the county wide audit Mr. Worthan
promised if elected going?

ANONYMOUS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONCERNED

As a concerned reader I want to continue to express my fears regarding the mayor and city council's stance on cutting law enforcement in this city and I hope that leads to some changes.  Over the past year I have heard numerous people complain about a lack of police presence but either these people do not express their views to our leaders or those leaders simply do not listen.  I did some fact checking on the Georgia Bureau of Investigation website concerning county crime statistics which anyone can do and I noticed an alarming trend.  Thankfully, the number of murders in Douglas County dropped in 2003 from the previous year, however, the rate of every other type of crime rose in 2003 including theft, car theft, rape, robbery, burglary, and assaults against persons.  I simply do not understand how cutting law enforcement will help protect me from being the victim of these crimes.  Atlanta's overwhelming crime problem seems to creep closer to us every year and it seems our leaders feel that ignoring it will make it go away.  Atlanta's police department is playing a game of catch up and that is a dangerous gamble for its citizens.  I believe the city should be proactive rather than reactive.  The Douglas County Sheriff's Office recently started a crime suppression unit to concentrate on areas with specific crime problems.  That is a tool that has proven to be very effective all over the country.  The sheriff's office also has a DUI task force to catch drunk drivers before they hit an innocent victim.  Those are excellent examples of proactive law enforcement.  With the mayor and council cutting the manpower at the police department and refusing to fill vacant positions there aren't enough people to form specialized units such as a crime suppression unit or DUI task force.  Would any reasonable person prefer that a police department focus most of it's resources on reacting to crimes already committed or preventing many of these crimes by catching these people before they commit them?  If reacting to crime is your choice then you do not mind being a victim.  Hopefully, the citizens of Douglasville will tell our leaders to shape up or ship out.

Anonymous

 

MEDIA EVENT: 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 15th, Douglas County Fire Department Station No. 5, 3901 Chapel Hill Road, Douglasville, GA 30135

Backpacks will be explained and “gentle” decontamination process for children will be demonstrated. Representatives on site will be from Douglas Public Health, Douglas County Fire Department, and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

___________________________________________________________________



DRUG-ENDANGERED CHILDREN RECEIVE NEEDED ASSISTANCE, THANKS TO DOUGLAS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, FIRE DEPARTMENT AND DOUGLAS PUBLIC HEALTH



Methamphetamine use is rampant, and Douglas County is in the forefront of methamphetamine education, detection and prosecution due to its groundbreaking Sheriff’s Office Methamphetamine Task Force, recognized Nationally as one of the best. Douglas Public Health has now added to their ability to assist non-involved but drug-affected adolescents when a meth lab is identified, located and destroyed.



Methamphetamine Task Force members relate that meth is so addictive that users will do anything and give up everything to get meth. Unfortunately, this often results in the children of meth users being neglected. When a meth lab or location is “busted”, the children are contaminated even though they have not used the drug because meth powder permeates everything in its proximity.



When a child is brought out from a meth lab or user’s location, they must be decontaminated and the whole experience is traumatic to the child. They also may have been deprived due to possible neglect from the adult meth users. Due to the permeating effects of methamphetamine, everything the child wears and owns must be destroyed, and they are left with nothing. Douglas Public Health’s Douglasville Youth Organizations Collaboration (DYOC) volunteered to provide “child backpacks” to the Douglas County Fire Department’s emergency medical responders so that children being removed from meth lab sites would have clothing and other articles that are age and gender appropriate (including a pacifier, a stuffed animal, coloring book and crayons for the younger ones) to help minimize the trauma of loss and separation until they are settled into a safe place, usually in foster care.



Douglas Public Health’s Adolescent Health and Youth Development Program purchased 34 clear backpacks into which clothing, personal hygiene and comfort items will be placed. Each backpack is tagged with gender and age.



The Douglas County Fire Department’s Hazard Materials (HazMat) Team is tasked with decontaminating the people who are affected by the meth, including children. The normal decontamination process by the HazMat Team is in full protection gear, but affected children, who are normally already traumatized by the experience, are decontaminated by Team members without protection gear so that the Team members may talk to and with the children, give them the backpacks, and assure them of their safety and well-being.



Donations of additional backpacks and supplies will be appreciated.



MEDIA EVENT: 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 15th, Douglas County Fire Department Station No. 5, 3901 Chapel Hill Road, Douglasville, GA 30135

Backpacks will be explained and “gentle” decontamination process for children will be demonstrated. Representatives on site will be from Douglas Public Health, Douglas County Fire Department, and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office



Representatives: Douglas Public Health

Elizabeth Atkison, Public Health Educator

Dr. Alpha Fowler Bryan, District Health Director

Matthew Daily, Public Information Officer



Douglas County Fire Department

Scott Spencer, Fire Chief

Lt. Kim Ransom, Hazard Mitigation Team

Wes Tallon, Public Information Officer



Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

Traci Sullivan, Public Information Officer



Douglas County Board of Commissioners

Tom Worthan, Chairman

________________________________________________________________________________



For more information concerning this Press Release, please contact Wes Tallon, Director of Communications for Douglas County at 770-920-7593.

 

 

 

3/12/05

New Column:

"Graduation Test Exemption Is An Exceptionally Asinine
Idea"

by: Tony Zizza
email address: tz777@yahoo.com



As if we needed further evidence that our children are
being dumbed down both at home and in school, along
comes an alarming article published in The Atlanta
Journal-Constitution newspaper om March 11th.

Reporter Mary MacDonald informs us of legislation
pending in Georgia that will essentially "give
students who repeatedly fail the high school
graduation test a chance to get a diploma."  We are
expected to believe that there are, according to
supporters of the high school graduation test
exemption, "good students who cannot pass the
high-stakes exam."  Is this Owellian doublespeak or
what?  You better believe it.

Let me tell you something.  There is absolutely
nothing "high-stakes" to a high school graduation test
if you as a student, and perhaps more importantly, you
as a parent, actually exercise RFE (respect for
education) - on a daily basis. 

Oh no.  I can just picture it.  Psychiatry will expand
on its obnoxious Test Taking disorder and create a
stiffer label and drug which will specifically be
prescribed to high school students who, for some
extremely odd reason, just continue to fail and fail
and fail the high school graduation test as many as -
four times.

Kudos to state Superintendent Kathy Cox, who correctly
says to legislators and others such an exemption will
"devalue the high school diploma."  Wouldn't it be
nice if Kathy Cox and others could help weed out all
psychiatric drugs and incorrect labels from our
schools as well? 

The way I see this high school graduation test
exemption, there's one reason, and one reason only,
that explains why after four long years of high school
a student (and more than likely, a parent that never
bothered to regularly quiz their child who stinks at
tests) has their entire high school career hanging
from an itty bitty thread. 

It's the D word, and I don't mean Dallas.  Or dude.  I
mean, discipline.

The cold fact of the matter is virtually all high
school students who take the easiest track in high
school, where one doesn't even have to take the SAT,
undoubtedly come from a family where at least one of
their parents is more like a buddy to them, than a
parent.  Discipline may mean no telephone if the child
is failing a course, but watching television is OK for
that  - failing child.  Talk about pushing a boulder
up a mountain just to watch and let it roll down on
you.

Good parenting in step with good children who listen,
will not tolerate abject failure.  Laziness.
Stubborness.  Constant trauma and drama.  Below sea
level expectations.  Spoiled mood swings.  A guiding
philosophy of: "Hey, as long as I - pass!"

Consider this when you take into account Sean
McKenzie, a Dalton high school teacher who supports
legislation that will still give students a diploma if
they can't pass the high school graduation test.  He
testified in front of legislators, and was quoted in
The Atlanta Journal-Constutution reporter Mary
MacDonald's article as stating this slippery
falsehood: "You don't base a kid's future on one
test."

Excuse me. But even if we did - so what?  When a
teenager enters high school, this is when the
proverbial bell is rung.  It's on.  High school has
started.  It's a constant game of either consistency -
or pathetic coddling.  A cumulative process is at
play, if you will.  What you do in the 9th or 10th
grade, may very well guide you in the 11th or 12th
grade.  Garbage in/garbage out - rules the day as it
should.  Especially when it's time (and you knew it
was coming!) to take the high school graduation test.

You know, all you really have to do is think for a
minute about what the most successful and happy people
do with their lives, and the lives of their children.
There are expectations.  Rewards.  Punishments.  Lists
of things to do are made.  Eventually, all the things
to do are crossed off as - completed.  Good attitudes
abound.  By no means, does a philosophy of: "Hey, as
long as I - pass!" take hold in a truly healthy,
loving, disciplined family. 

Family matters.  The overall success of a family
should not be dependent on excuses for failure from
our elected politicians.  We have been lied to as
parents by psychiatrists who tell us our children are
the way they are because of - deficits in attention.
How silly.  And stupid.  More Orwellian doublespeak.

However, today's award for the darkest doublespeak
goes to Rep. Carolyn Hugley (D- Columbus)- as she is a
co-sponsor of the bill to "give students who
repeatedly fail the high school graduation test a
chance to get a diploma." 

According to Rep. Carolyn Hugley, "We know as a state
we have not done as much as we can do to prepare these
students to pass that test."  Is it just me, or do
other people also wonder what kind of cheese is being
served with this "whine" at the Capitol? 

So, this is what we're faced with.  Either our
children are responsible for their lives as students -
or the State is.  Either parents need to study with
their own flesh and blood more - or simply stop being
a buddy to them.  Failure and totalitarianism is not
an option. 

It's just too bad so little is expected of Georgia's
high school students when it comes to giving of
themselves to take a final test before their life in
the real world - begins.




Tony Zizza serves as the Vice President for the State
of Georgia for the organization, Parents For Label and
Drug Free Education.  Web site:
http://www.ablechild.org

Email Zizza at: tz777@yahoo.com

 

 

03-12-05

   Nothing will be harder Tuesday than for me to vote
myself a tax increase. The school system says they
desperately need the funds to build schools. Without
the funds the school system will start on a downward
spiral. If this happens our homes values will soon
follow this same path. I feel I have no choice except
to vote yes to protect my homes value, and consider
moving before property values start to decline due to
all the years of bad planning. If you check the
archives on Douglaspolitics, you will find post that
warned over a year ago about the situation the county
and school system are now in. In 2003 the former Board
of Assessors and Chief Appraiser concluded that our
tax digest would actually go backwards. This means
that in 2003 our tax digest did not reflect the
counties growth. (shortfall in tax revenue) After the
State Audit report came in and the grand jury reviewd
the actions of the previous Board of Assessors they
resigned, and left the new BOA to clean up the mess
that caused a huge loss of tax revenue. The school
system is at the mercy of the Board of Assessors to
assess ALL property fairly and equal, they cannot
control the ethics of this board. The actions of the
previous BOA, the sales tax shortfall, and the out of
control growth is more than the school system can
overcome. I can't control the ethics of the BOC
appointed boards, nor can I make some on the BOC
understand the citizens have had enough. But I am
expected to help clean up this mess by paying higher taxes.

Anonymous

Editor's Comment:

But if we approve money now to solve the BOE's problem, all we have done is pushed the tax problem to the back burner where it will continue to stew.

The above letter -- as sincere as this writer seems to be -- forgets the fact that in a month or so our taxes are all going up just like the last time we voted in favor of SPLOST.

VOTE NO !!

 

 

From the Saturday, March 12, 2005 edition of the
Times-Georgian Newspaper (Carroll County)

http://www.times-georgian.com

ARC Chief Questions Wolf Creek
By Steve Fitzsimmons

The director of the Atlanta Regional Commission has
expressed in a letter some serious misgivings about
the proposed Wolf Creek development.

Charles Krautler suggested an extension of the 30-day
review period by the Chattahoochee-Flint Regional
Development Center and said the project, as it
currently stands, would overburden the existing
infrastructure.

The project is a planned 11,500-acre development in
the southeastern portion of Carroll County, 1,000
acres of which would spill over into Douglas County.

A development of regional impact (DRI) study is under
way at Chatt-Flint. Krautler`s letter was addressed to
Henry Booker, Chatt-Flint`s executive director.

`This development is the largest single DRI proposed
since the review program`s inception and as such
should be carefully evaluated prior to any
governmental decision,` the letter reads.

Krautler said the ARC will seek mediation through the
Georgia Department of Community Affairs when the
review is completed.

`Given the deficiencies in the (Wolf Creek) proposal,
if no deferral is sought by the applicant, then we
strongly recommend that this development be found not
in the best interest of the region and therefore the
state,` he said.

The ARC has three main areas of concern, Krautler
wrote: land use and infrastructure; water and
wastewater service; and air quality.

DC Watchdog

 

 

Comments:
03-11-05
I always thought SPLOST, as the name implies, was for special purposes. It seems the  county and school system now use it for general purposes. They have become addicted to it. Sales taxes are the worse of all taxes.  I can remember when we did not have any sales taxes in Georgia and we did very well.  We need to wean the county and school system away from sales taxes.  A good start would be a NO vote on Tuesday.

Frank Nelms

 

03-11-05

I agree with Mr. Page and other readers that SPLOST should only be for special purposes and not used for funding general items that should be accounted for in yearly budgets.  SPLOST, I believe, should only be used to fund one time projects or projects that are required once over two or so decades such as the replacement of old firestations or sixty year old police departments.  Unfortunately, public safety has taken a back seat to the whims of our officials and the purchase of a useless golf course or the building of schools that, even though are necessary, should be paid for by the general funds.  Mr. Page is right when he says that the current SPLOST referendum should be voted down.  This will hopefully send a message to our leaders that they should get their priorities straight.  Another good idea would be for our leaders to work out of these crumbling buildings the public safety workers are forced to use rather than the plush offices they have built for themselves. 

Anonymous

 

 

Monday, March 14
7:30 p.m.
Citizens Hall @ Courthouse
Open forum about SPLOST
Superintendent and school board members will be available for questions (ABOUT THE SPLOST ONLY).  All citizens of Douglas County are invited; all have a vested interest in this issue.

 

 

DRUG-ENDANGERED CHILDREN RECEIVE NEEDED ASSISTANCE, THANKS TO DOUGLAS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, FIRE DEPARTMENT AND DOUGLAS PUBLIC HEALTH

          Methamphetamine use is rampant, and Douglas County is in the forefront of methamphetamine education, detection and prosecution due to its groundbreaking Sheriff's Office Methamphetamine Task Force, recognized Nationally as one of the best.  Douglas Public Health has now added to their ability to assist non-involved but drug-affected adolescents when a meth lab is identified, located and destroyed.

          Methamphetamine Task Force members relate that meth is so addictive that users will do anything and give up everything to get meth.  Unfortunately, this often results in the children of meth users being neglected.  When a meth lab or location is “busted”, the children are contaminated even though they have not used the drug because meth powder permeates everything in its proximity.

          When a child is brought out from a meth lab or user's location, they must be decontaminated and the whole experience is traumatic to the child.  They also may have been deprived due to possible neglect from the adult meth users.  Due to the permeating effects of methamphetamine, everything the child wears and owns must be destroyed, and they are left with nothing.  Douglas Public Health's Douglasville Youth Organizations Collaboration (DYOC) volunteered to provide “child backpacks” to the Douglas County Fire Department's emergency medical responders so that children being removed from meth lab sites would have clothing and other articles that are age and gender appropriate (including a pacifier, a stuffed animal, coloring book and crayons for the younger ones) to help minimize the trauma of loss and separation until they are settled into a safe place, usually in foster care.

          Douglas Public Health's Adolescent Health and Youth Development Program purchased 34 clear backpacks into which clothing, personal hygiene and comfort items will be placed.  Each backpack is tagged with gender and age.

          The Douglas County Fire Department's Hazard Materials (HazMat) Team is tasked with decontaminating the people who are affected by the meth, including children.  The normal decontamination process by the HazMat Team is in full protection gear, but affected children, who are normally already traumatized by the experience, are decontaminated by Team members without protection gear so that the Team members may talk to and with the children, give them the backpacks, and assure them of their safety and well-being.

          Donations of additional backpacks and supplies will be appreciated.

MEDIA EVENT :         10:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 15 th , Douglas County Fire Department Station No. 5, 3901 Chapel Hill Road, Douglasville, GA  30135

                                    Backpacks will be explained and “gentle” decontamination process for children will be demonstrated.  Representatives on site will be from Douglas Public Health, Douglas County Fire Department, and the Douglas County Sheriff's Office

Representatives:       Douglas Public Health

Elizabeth Atkison, Public Health Educator

                             Dr. Alpha Fowler Bryan, District Health Director

                             Matthew Daily, Public Information Officer

Douglas County Fire Department

                             Scott Spencer, Fire Chief

                             Lt. Kim Ransom, Hazard Mitigation Team

                             Wes Tallon, Public Information Officer

Douglas County Sheriff's Office

Traci Sullivan , Public Information Officer

Douglas County Board of Commissioners

Tom Worthan , Chairman

 

 

 

03-10-05

Mr. Page:

Thank you for including "Douglas County Happenings" and press releases from County government on douglaspolitics.com.  Your forum allows us to reach more of our community with information that will, hopefully, bring them closer and get them more involved, regardless of which side of an issue they take.  If we don't keep our community spirit, we will become another nameless suburb of greater Atlanta, and all of us lose.

Best wishes,
Wes Tallon, Director of Communications
Douglas County

 

HEROES KEEP FIGHTING

Michael Muncy, Gary Price, Joel Chapman, Don Spann and the other 150 people who came out to protest a Publix shopping center in their neighborhood are champion citizens and just because they were defeated by their Commissioners doesn't mean they are less heroic to the rest of us.  Thanks to all of you and to Deborah Woody and Tom Worthan who supported you.  Right now you probably feel depressed and wonder what you can do.

Here are some suggestions:

1. Keep your neighborhood group together and informed.

2. Find out when the County Commissioners are up for re-election. douglaspolitics.com will help you spread the word that your commissioner doesn't represent the taxpayers who put him in office. We need to vote out people who take money from developers for their campaigns and then help developers get whatever they want once they are elected.

3. Get out and vote NO on 3-15-05 on SPLOST. You may wonder how these two are related -- but it's all about taxes. In the SPLOST case we voters are in control. Send a loud and clear message -- "You can't have my money if you don't respect my neighborhood."

4. If you have a heart please run for public office !!

The County has dug themselves into a financial mess -- all by themselves -- with no help from us taxpayers.  Trust me, they need SPLOST really, really badly, but we need them to stay within their budget.

Don't be swayed by catch phrases like, "it's not the kids' fault" or "the school system will collapse" etc.

SPLOST was always intended for special projects not as a permanent part of the County budget.

Special thanks to Stephanie Siegel of the Douglas Neighbor. She seems to have a knack for the kind of in-depth reporting that we haven't seen in some time.

Raymond F. Page, Editor

 

 

 

TROOP SCHEDULE

Anticipated National Guard Troop Schedule (Douglasville National Guard Armory)



March 19th – 22nd 3-day Pass for soldiers to come home for the weekend before going to California

March 23rd Advance team goes to Ft. Irwin, California

March 31st Remainder of soldiers go to Ft. Irwin

May 2nd (tentative) National Guard returns to Ft. Stewart for final preparations and training for Iraq

Mid-May 5- to 10-day Pass for soldiers to come home before going to Iraq

May 30th (tentative) Soldiers leave for Iraq

June 2nd (tentative) In Country





Garage Sale to Support the Families of the Deployed Troops



Saturday – Sunday, April 9 – 10

7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Douglasville National Guard Armory



Sponsored by American Legion Post 145, the Family Readiness Group, the National Guard Armory, and dctv23



Donations of items that can be sold are needed and appreciated. Donations can be taken to the Armory. Food will also be available for purchase. Donation of food items is also appreciated.



Proceeds from the sale of the food items and the garage sale items will go to support the families of the Douglasville National Guard Armory who are being deployed to Iraq. The main income producer for most of these families has had to leave his regular job to serve his Nation in the War on Terrorism, and many of these families have reduced incomes due to this deployment. The proceeds will help them during the anticipated 18 months that the soldiers will be in Iraq.



In addition, the wife of one of the soldiers has been diagnosed with brain cancer, and, although the soldier is being held at home to attend to his wife, the medical expenses are enormous and some of the proceeds from this sale will go to aid this soldier with medical bills.

 

 

CONCERN

3-8-05

I have a concern that I would like to express and I hope that I am mistaken and will be corrected by another reader of this site.  It is my understanding that the Douglasville Mayor and all of the City Council members had better things to do than attend the funeral of Deputy Blake Gammill.  This was brought to my attention and I thought that the person who informed me of this must have been mistaken, however, I have been told by many others that they did not attend.  This deputy was a hero and gave his life protecting the citizens of not only Douglas County but also Douglasville.  If the mayor and council did not attend the funeral it shows how much they value these officers who put their lives on the line each day protecting our citizens.  Remember, Jimmy Bilbo was seen approaching his victims at Arbor Place Mall which is located within the city limits of Douglasville.  That event set the chain of events in motion that lead to Deputy Gammill's death.  The current mayor and council claim to be pro-law enforcement but their actions continually tell a different story and if this trend continues we can count on Douglasville being no different than Fulton Industrial Boulevard or downtown Atlanta in a few short years.  If I am wrong, and I hope that I am, I do apologize for being misinformed.

Anonymous

...continuing...

3-8-05

Dear Readers,

I contacted the Mayor directly after receiving the above letter. The Mayor explained that he had a previous committment that he could not cancel and went on to say that he could not speak for the Council Members. He also mentioned that the Douglasville Police helped the County Sheriff's Dept. in every way possible in this case. The Mayor said that he would have preferred to have been at Deputy Gammill's funeral.

Raymond F. Page, Editor

 

03-08-05

I was a friend and co worker with Dep. B. Gammill. It amazes me beyond all things great and small that the mayor of this town (Douglasville) couldn't show because of a previous engagement. And to be quite honest I am glad he didn't. Blake was a Law Enforcement officer thru and thru. The mayor only believes in tearing down what is left of Douglasville P.D not even mentioning the obvious lack of morale. We all know that the mayors wife thought that it only takes a 10th grade education to be a Law Enforcement......Blake was a college grad and one of the smartest people that I knew. Everyone that is a citizen of Douglasville should be proud of the job that the City done that day! And I can promise you one thing,,,it had nothing to do with the mayor,,,there wasn't one officer there that didn't want to attend,,,,and I bet they had previous commitments that day also,,,but were willing to do what they had to do for a brother LEO!!

Anonymous

 

Friday, March 11th, 2005 "THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING 'HAPPENING' IN DOUGLAS COUNTY" IT'S NOW EASIER TO FIND US! www.celebratedouglascounty.com Please feel free to print out this e-mail for the office bulletin board and/or forward it to persons in your personal or office e-mail address book, or click for the printer-friendly version . Help bring our community together by passing "Happenings" along to others. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THIS WEEKEND! Friday - Sunday, March 11th - 13th: Red Nation Intertribal Powwow at Clinton Farms Nature Preserve 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. ~ Native Crafts and Vendors, Primitive Camp with Native Skills and Black Powder Demonstrations, Activities for Children and Adults ~ Free Parking~ Open to the Public ~ Free Admission Call 770.489.7263 for more information Saturday, March 12th: Baseball Camp for Youth 7 - 14 Conducted by the Lithia Springs High School Coaching Staff 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Lithia Springs High School ~ $50 per participant Call Coach David Stephenson to register at 770.651.6759 Saturdays, March 12th and 26th: Beulah Bulldogs Youth Cheerleading Registration 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Deer Lick Park Concession Stand ~ For more info, call 770.949.5332 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NEXT WEEK Monday, March 14th: Blake Gammill Family Benefit "Cut-a-thon" at Chastain & Company Salon and Day Spa 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., The Landing at Arbor Place (across from Toys R Us) $10 haircuts and all proceeds go to the children of Deputy Blake Gammill For more information, call 770.489.2050 Monday, March 14th: Open Public Forum to Ask Questions to the Board of Education about the SPLOST Referendum 6:30 p.m., Citizen's Hall, Douglas County Courthouse Sponsored by the Democratic Party Association ~ For more information, call 678.913.9003 Tuesday, March 15th: Special Election to Consider Renewal of the Board of Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) Polls Open 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.; Watch Election Returns on dctv23 Tuesday, March 15th: GreyStone Power Monthly Luncheon Series features The Foxhall Cup 12:00 noon, Downtown Douglasville Conference Center $10 in advance ~ $15 at the door ~ Call the Chamber of Commerce at 770.942.5022, extension 304 for reservations For information concerning The Foxhall Cup, call 770.251.9978 Wednesday, March 16th: Blake Gammill Family Benefit Concert Including Travis Tritt 7:00 p.m., Lithia Springs High School ~ SOLD OUT! Mr. Tritt will perform a 20-minute acoustic session during the concert that will also feature other artists All proceeds go to benefit the Blake Gammill Family Thursday, March 17th: Duralee Lane Extension Open House/Design Review 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., Douglas County Multi-modal Transportation Center ~ Open to the Public ~ Drop-in Format to View Drawings and Meet One-on-One with the Staff Thursday, March 17th - Saturday, March 19th: "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and "Sleeping Beauty" at Lithia Springs High School Presented by the Lithia Springs Theatre Company ~ their 6th Annual Children's Theatre Production Call 770.942.4941 for ticket reservations and information Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, March 18th, 19th, and 20th and March 24th, 25th, and 26th: "Seussical, The Musical" at Chapel Hill High School Presented by the Chapel Hill High School Fine Arts Department ~ All performances at 7:00 p.m. except for March 20th at 3:00 p.m. Call 770.651.6275 for ticket reservations and information Saturday, March 19th: March of Dimes WalkAmerica at the Douglas County Courthouse 9:00 a.m., Court of Honor, Douglas County Courthouse ~ Walk continues through the streets of the City of Douglasville Come walk and save babies! Arts, Crafts and Collectibles Fair during the WalkAmerica in the Courthouse Parking Lot 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. ~ $15 per parking space ~ Call 770.920.7593 for more information ~ Registration fees go to the March of Dimes Saturday, March 19th: Mad Hatters Tea Party at the Cultural Arts Center 10:00 a.m. for children under 6 years old; 1:00 p.m. for children 6 years and older Tea Parties and Storytelling ~ Cultural Arts Center, 8652 Campbellton Street Call 770.949.2787 for more information: www.artsdouglas.org Saturday, March 19th: Natalie Grant in Concert at Lifepointe Ministries to Benefit "Iron for Clay" 2990 Bright Star Road at Interstate 20 ~ Tickets $15 Advance, $20 Door ~ Call 678.643.2244 for tickets and for more information Saturday, March 19th: Free Wrestling Event at Deer Lick Park to Benefit "Mission on the Move" 7:00 p.m. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GOVERNMENT MEETINGS AND NOTICES City of Douglasville Mayor and Council Work Session: 7:30 p.m., Thursday, March 17th, City Hall, O'Neal Plaza Council Meeting: 7:30 p.m., Monday, March 7th, Council Chambers, City Hall, O'Neal Plaza Douglas County School System Report Cards Issued: Thursday, March 17th Board of Education Meeting: 7:00 p.m., Monday, March 21st, Board of Education Central Office, Georgia Highway 5 at Gurley Road Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority Board of Directors Meeting: 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 22nd, WSA Offices, Hospital Drive Douglas County Board of Commissioners Work Session: 10:00 a.m., Monday, March 14th, Commissioners Conference Room, Third Floor, Douglas County Courthouse Commission Meeting: 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 15th, Citizen's Hall, Douglas County Courthouse Televised live on dctv23 and taped for re-broadcast at 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. daily and at 6 p.m. Tuesdays when there is not a live broadcast ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MARK YOUR CALENDARS Tuesday, March 22nd: Douglas County Chamber Singers Spring Concert 8:00 p.m., Douglasville First United Methodist Church, Prestley Mill Road at Hospital Drive Free Admission ~ Tax-exempt Donations Accepted ~ Children Under 5 Not Admitted Call 770.489.8275 for more information Thursday, March 24th: Chamber of Commerce Business-to-Business Expo at West Central Technical College Conference Center 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ~ Open to the Public ~ Free Admission ~ Come visit dozens of Douglas County businesses! COME BY THE DOUGLAS COUNTY GOVERNMENT BOOTH AND TELL US YOU HEARD ABOUT THE EXPO FROM DOUGLAS COUNTY HAPPENINGS! For more information, call the Chamber of Commerce at 770.942.5022 Tuesday, March 29th: Golf Tournament to Benefit Alexander High School Baseball Facilities 8:30 a.m. Registration; 9:30 a.m., Shotgun Start ~ St. Andrews County Club ~ Hole sponsorships needed To register or for more information, call Anthony Campbell at 770.214.5301 or 770.489.2020 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ March Shows on dctv23: check us out at www.dctv23.com Gesundheit! To Your Health! 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, and 7:00 p.m. on Monday nights presented by Janice Thompson State Farm Insurance Healthy Lasagna? You Bet! And a visit from an Italian Soccer Star! Coffee and Conversation ~ our New Show! 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, and 8:00 p.m. on Monday nights Interviews with your Douglas County neighbors and friends! Wes talks with Andrew Stone about his life, loves, and music! Douglas County Living 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, and 9:00 p.m. on Monday nights Wes is holding a baby? ~ Code Enforcement helps our citizens ~ Sights and Sounds of Douglas County ~ Eating good at The Olive Garden! ~ Business-to-Business Expo coming up ~ Garden tips ~ and much more! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ VISIT THE NEW HOME PAGE OF THE DOUGLAS COUNTY WEB SITE AT WWW.CO.DOUGLAS.GA.US AND ENTER YOUR OWN COMMUNITY EVENT IN THE NEW COMMUNITY CALENDAR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Do you have announcements that you wish to see in "Happenings" and on dctv23? E-mail them to channel23@co.douglas.ga.us or FAX them to 770.920.7445 and include all the details, including your name and telephone number, and we'll see what we can do to help you publicize your program or event! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Douglas County "Happenings" is a weekly listing of events and meetings of general interest to Douglas County citizens. Douglas County "Happenings" is compiled by the Douglas County Department of Communications and Community Relations as a Public Service to our citizens, and our e-mail list is not published or sold.

 

 

 

DOUGLAS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND

THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO HOLD

PROJECT DESIGN PUBLIC INFORMATION OPEN HOUSE

FOR THE DURALEE LANE EXTENSION PROJECT

          On March 17, 2005, the Douglas County Department of Transportation and the Georgia Department of Transportation will hold a public information open house to present the proposed design of the Duralee Lane Extension Project.  The public information open house will be held from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm in the Douglas County Multimodal Transportation Center , located at 8800 Dorris Road , just east and behind the Douglas County Courthouse.

          The purpose of this new roadway project is to reduce traffic flow and congestion on Hospital Drive by creating a second access to the Douglas County Courthouse, the Multi-modal Transportation Center, and the new Woodie Fite Senior Citizens Center, all located on the County government campus.  This roadway will also provide better and easier access for the Douglas County Vanpool and Express Bus Programs, and for the users of this program.  Citizens visiting the Courthouse from the eastern part of Douglas County will have a new entrance to the Courthouse campus that should ease congestion at the intersection of Fairburn Road/Hospital Drive , and also on Bankhead Highway and Fairburn Road for County citizens coming from the eastern end of the County.

The preliminary project design extends the current Duralee Lane from its intersection with Fairburn Road (Georgia Highway 92) southward across Slater Mill Creek and then along the western boundary of and below the bus loading platform of the Douglas County Multimodal Transportation Center before forming a new “T” intersection with Dorris Road.

• The existing short Duralee Lane segment will be repaved as part of this project.
• From the end of the existing Duralee Lane to just north of Slater Mill Creek, the new roadway will have two 12-foot-wide traffic lanes and a paved striped median/center two-way turn lane.
• Slater Mill Creek will be crossed by a box culvert.
• From Slater Mill Creek to Dorris Road , the new roadway will have two 12-foot-wide traffic lanes with a 20-foot-wide, raised grassy and landscaped median.
• Sidewalks (6-foot-width) are proposed to be constructed along the complete length of the new roadway.

 

         Representatives from the Douglas County Department of Transportation and the Georgia Department of Transportation will be available from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm with drawings and displays to explain the project to the Public and answer questions; there will be no formal presentation.  A court reporter will be available during this time to allow the public an opportunity to make comments about the project.  These comments will be included in the transcript of the public information open house.  Comment cards will also be available for those who wish to submit written comments for the project records.

         The Public is invited and encouraged to attend the open house.

 

 

On Thursday, March 10, our State Representatives will vote on House Bill 83, and we must URGE them to vote NO .   HB 83 threatens women's health by depriving them of mandated health coverage.  If passed, this bill would deny women coverage for their basic health care needs, including prescription birth control pills.  The same legislators who just voted to restrict abortion access are supporting a bill that denies women contraceptive coverage! 
 
Prescriptive equity is BASIC health care for Georgia's women.  And we must pull out all the stops to ensure that the new leadership under the Gold Dome doesn't turn back years of hard work.  Please click here to send a message to your representative, and forward this message to at least 10 people in your address book.  We must make our legislators accountable to the women in Georgia! 

THIS IS NUTS. RAYMOND F PAGE EDITOR

 

MARCH OF DIMES TO HOLD ARTS, CRAFTS AND COLLECTIBLES FAIR DURING SATURDAY, MARCH 19 TH , WALKAMERICA AT DOUGLAS COUNTY COURTHOUSE

CRAFTERS AND COLLECTORS REQUESTED!

 

          For the second year, the Douglas County Courthouse parking lot will be the headquarters for the March of Dimes WalkAmerica on Saturday morning, March 19 th .  Accompanying WalkAmerica for the second year will be an Arts, Crafts and Collectibles Fair from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. that is open to the Public, and all registration fees from the Fair will go to the March of Dimes.

          Registration is $15 per parking space (about 9 feet by 17 feet in size), and checks may be made payable to the March of Dimes.  Location in the parking lot in front of the Courthouse will be first-come, first-served on Saturday morning, March 19 th .  Registration for the Fair may be made by mailing the check to the Douglas County Department of Communications, 8700 Hospital Drive , Douglasville , GA 30134 .  Questions may be directed to 770.920.7593.  There is no limit to the number of parking spaces that a vendor may purchase, and there is no limit to the number of vendors overall.  Vendors may keep all proceeds from the sale of their items.

          It's a good way to support the March of Dimes and to sell your crafts and collectibles, too!

________________________________________________________________________________

          For more information concerning this Press Release, please contact Wes Tallon, Director of Communications for Douglas County at 770-920-7593.

 

 

03-07-05

RE: 3641 Highway 5 (large 2-story yellow house at the
intersection of Highway 5 and Kings Highway, across
from the Shell station.)

Hello,

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the above property
currently zoned residential? Aren't we supposed to get
approved commercial zoning AND THEN get inspections
and permits so that remodeling and construction can
begin?

Over 18 months ago, in August of 2003, Zandra Turner
of Bryant Realty Douglasville contracted with George
W. Smith to open a Century 21 office at the above
residence. LOTS of exterior remodeling, painting and
driveway work was done, at that time.

Since then, a lot of interior work has gradually been
done as well.. plumbing, heating/air, electrical,
carpentry and paint.

In February and March of 2005, the remodeling brigade
has returned big time, so it appears occupancy is
near.

By the way, if you visit, be careful! It is a VERY
dangerous driveway to exit. (Blind curve, with
vehicles often going way over the speed limit.)

Do our laws, codes and ordinances mean anything?

Thanks for your time.

Watchdog

 

03-07-05

         Yellow House at 3641 Hwy.5
  I don't know the answer to your zoning questions,
but I do know this property is owned by Mr. Smith. Mr.
Smith was our previous Chairman to the Board of
Assessors, as you know this BOA resigned last year.
His duty to the citizens of Douglas County was to
oversee the property tax office. After an
investigation by the Dept. of Revenue they stated to
the Sentinel, "this was the worst run property tax
office they had ever investigated". Documents were
presented to the Grand Jury showing numerous laws
broken by this Board of Assessors. Other than the
resignations nothing was done to any member of the
previous BOA. According to property tax records
available to all citizens on the county web site the
value of the property at 3641 Hwy.5 is $145,547, with
house and 2.5 acres as of 2004. The property across
the street owned by another party is 2.3 acres valued
at $317,993 with no house, as of 2004. Mr. Smith was
on the Board of Assessors overseeing property taxes
from 2002 to 2004. In 2002 the property value for the
yellow house at 3641 Hwy5. started decreasing in value
to its current status in 2004. The property across the
street increased in value.
  You ask, do our laws, codes, and ordinances mean
anything? This same question was ask last year when
the previous BOA resigned. Without stating my opinion
I'll let you draw your own conclusion...

ANONYMOUS

 

Comments:
03-05-05
Mr Page

Will you please post this website on douglas politics for anyone who is interested in visiting the officer down memorial page, this link goes directly to Deputy Gammill's page and anyone can leave a little note to him or his family.  I just thought it would be a good site for anyone who is interested in viewing his memorial.  The website is:  http://odmp.org/officer.php?oid=17573 --- this link goes directly to Blake Gammill's page.  The actually web address to the complete officer down memorial website is:  http://odmp.org/

If you would please paste those on your website I thought maybe someone would be interested.

Thanks for your time, and all of your hard work.  I really enjoy your website it keeps us up to date for things that aren't printed in the newspaper!!

ANONYMOUS

 

03-03-05

Wednesday, March 16, 2005

Lithia Springs High School Gymnasium
2520 East County Line Road
Lithia Springs , GA 30122
Doors 7pm; Concert 8pm

Limited number of concert tickets (2,000) available for $25.00 each
All proceeds benefit The Blake Gammill Memorial Fund

Concert tickets available for purchase starting Monday, March 7 at 10 am

Concert Tickets available for purchase only at the following locations:

o Douglas County Sheriff's Department  - 6856 Broad Street , Douglasville
o First Commerce Community Bank - Highway 5, Douglasville
o Georgia State Bank - Hospital Drive , Douglasville
o Harley-Davidson of Atlanta  - 501 Thornton Road , Lithia Springs        

Harley-Davidson of Atlanta Sportster Raffle
2005 Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 XL

Limited number Raffle tickets (1,000) available for purchase $25.00 each
Raffle Tickets available starting Monday, March 7 at 10 am at the following locations:

o Douglas County Sheriff's Dept -   6840 West Church Street , Douglasville
o Harley-Davidson of Atlanta - 501 Thornton Road in Lithia Springs
o Also available at the door the night of the show while supplies last
o Grand prize drawing after concert (do not need to be present to win)

 

03-03-05

Mr. Page,

This should emphasize the importance of HB 218 Economic Development not being approved. We have fought a Private Land Fill in Douglas County before because there is NO way for the County to have any input or control as to what can be brought in.

Mr. Ron Stephens of Chatham County who introduced this Bill is a four term representative which includes Savannah who already allows all manor of materials to be brought through their ports for the purpose of dumping.  His agenda for fighting so hard for this Bill is surely to be for other counties in Georgia to open up to take some of the load off of them.

As most of your readers know we already have negations going on behind the citizens backs and then brought before the Planning and Zonings and approved.  

If this law is passed. WE would have NO way of fining out even if we heard a rumor.

I urge all of your readers to contact their representatives and ask friends in other Counties to do the same and ask that they vote NO ON THIS BILL. At present it has been tabled, however as you know from local things tabled, it will come back immediately after those in opposition feel it safe and it will be approved.

Please, we must stay on this until it is definitely shot down.

We could experience all manor of evils coming into the City/County that will have more impact than our current zoning could ever have on us.

Helen Chambers

 

IN MEMORY OF DEPUTY GAMMILL

We all know that our life comes from the Creator and that the Scriptures say that only the Creator can take back a life.

It seems to me that taking the life of a law enforcement officer is a crime more ugly than murder since they take an oath to protect life including the lives of the persons who murder them.

Deputy Gammill lost his life.

The Sheriff's Department lost Deputy Gammill.

Douglas County lost Deputy Gammill.

Our community lost a dedicated officer.

Our heartfelt and sincerest condolences to his fiance, his children and his family and friends.

Let each of us at this sad time recall again the preciousness of our own short lives and renew our efforts to be kind to each other.

Let us be grateful once again for these officers who serve and protect us.

Sincerely, Raymond F. Page, Editor

 

Officer killed in the line of duty

As you might have heard on the news one of our Officers was killed in the line of duty last night please pray for us and Blake's family.The family and friends are gathering at Blake's parents neighbors house. Advise everyone who is interested this is where the food or anything else may be sent.Thank all of you for you calls and support. Lindy

Brenda Schartla

3000 S. Sweetwater Rd.

Lithia Springs

770-948-4833 home

404-258-0594 cell

Blake was an eight year veteran of the Sheriff's Office. He is survived by his mother and father, two daughters, Haven (3 years old) and Jewel (18 months) and Fiancé Dawn Marlow. Please send any contributions to...... 

The Blake Gammill Memorial Fund:

First Commerce Community Bank

9464 Hwy 5

Douglasville, GA

2-25-05

Dear Readers,

Wednesday the House approved OVERWHELMINGLY to enact a 24 hour waiting period for women seeking a legal abortion. They would also be given "new warnings about the procedure's health risks." In the cases of minors a parent would need to be physically present to give permission for the abortion. (Think how nice that will be if your parent abuses you or is the father of your pregnancy!)

I would have thought that long ago the anti-abortion folks would have widely published all the cases of medically dangerous abortions to scare women, their husbands and especially teens. Could it be that since abortion has been legal in this country since 1973 that perhaps they aren't so dangerous?

Never forget that if you have money you can take a bit of a trip to Germany, France, Holland, Japan, Canada, England etc. where abortions are safe and legal. You don't even have to tell your doctor or your husband or your minister. You can just be grateful you are not poor, and have transportation and enough money to put gas in your car to drive yourself to the airport !!!!

Raymond F. Page, Editor

 

 

REPUBLICAN BILL SB 174 PROMOTES ABORTION

Presently health insurance companies pay for MAMMOGRAMS, PAP SMEARS, BIRTH CONTROL METHODS AND TESTING FOR SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES. Why would the Georgia State legislators take such a large step backward since we all know that insurance companies didn't agree to pay for these services without a substantial fight in the first place ??

Do Republican legislators really want their mothers, daughters and spouses to have to pay for these services out of pocket ?  If this legislation passes it will affect Republican women as well as Independent and Democrat women.

THE QUESTION IS:  Why do our legislators want women to pay out of pocket for these services when insurance companies are presently paying for them ?

THE ANSWER IS: It's payback time for the insurance companies for their huge contributions to the Republican Party's campaigns. They want their money back !!!

The dumbest part of this legislation is the Republicans saying that they're anti-abortion and then promoting a bill that's anti-birth control. AMAZING !!!

If you are as stunned as we are, here are the names and numbers of the members of the Insurance Committee. Call them and tell them to vote NO for SB 174.

Ralph Hudgens - Chairman 404 656 4700

David Shafer - Vice Chairman 404 651 7738

Dan Moody - Secretary 404 463 8055

Dan Balfour  404 656 0095

Robert Brown  404 656 5035

Jeff Chapman  404 656 0045

Tim Golden  404 656 7580

Ed Harbison 404 656 0074

Seth Harp 404 463 3931

Chip Rogers  404 463 1378

Bill Stephens  404 656 0048

Sam Zamarripa  404 463 8054

Raymond F. Page, Editor

 

The US House of Representatives is expected to vote on H.R. 27, "The Job Training Improvement Act," next week. This is the first vote on the faith-based initiative in 2005 and a crucial vote for the 109th congress.

Simply put, this Bill allows religious organizations receiving federal tax dollars for their job training programs to discriminate based on religion when hiring staff.

This represents a dramatic shift in government policy towards religion as it repeals longstanding civil rights protections which have traditionally protected people of faith and goodwill from religious employment discrimination in federally funded job training programs.

TAKE ACTION
Contact your Representative and let them know an amendment to reinstate civil rights protections may be offered on the House floor by Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA).  This civil rights amendment should be supported and if the protections are not reinstated, this Bill should be defeated.

Taxpayer dollars should not be used to discriminate against employees because of their religion or religious beliefs.  Tell your representative that you don't want taxpayers to subsidize religious discrimination in publicly-funded job training programs.

Thank you for your continual support of the mission of The Interfaith Alliance.

Warm Regards,
Rev. C. Welton Gaddy
President, The Interfaith Alliance

JIMMY HALL, THE NAME CALLER !

In today's Sentinel Mr. Hall refers to Howard Dean, the new Chairman of the Democratic Party, as crazy, bizarre and a divider. I'm surprised he didn't also add "God hater and queer lover" as he has used these terms recently! Is this the same Howard Dean, ex-Governor of Vermont, who balanced Vermont's budget and figured out how to provide every Vermonter with health coverage?

douglasvillepolitics.com doesn't print name calling and finger pointing as we believe this approach can never solve problems or move us forward.

Is it the goal of Mr. Hall's Republican Party that every American

think the same

believe the same

act the same???

We are under the impression that this described the old Soviet Union.

Raymond F. Page, Editor

 

PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION

AND

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING AGENDA

 

March 1, 2005

 

Call to Order – Board of Commissioners

 

AGENDA

 

Z2005-26	Anthony C. & Debra A. Dumitras – Request for rezoning from R-LD to L-I for an office/warehouse at 6990 Bankhead Highway : Land Lot 165, District 2, Section 5, Parcel 10. Lot size: 5.726 Acres.	[TAB 1]
M2005-10 & Z2005-25 & S2005-27	Continental 156 Fund, LLC – Request for an amendment to the Future Land Use Map from Suburban Living to Community Village Center and a rezoning from R-LD to C-C with a Special Use Permit for a grocery anchored retail shopping center at the corner of Anneewakee Road and Chapel Hill Road: Land Lot 73, District 1, Section 5, Parcel(s) 5, 6 & 140. Lot size: 9.05107 Acres.	[TAB 2]

 

 

RECESS

 

 

Call to Order – Planning Commission

 

 

APPROVAL of MINUTES

 

January 4, 2005

  

 

AGENDA

 

Z2005-07	Chapman Properties, Inc. – Request for a rezoning from R-LD to R-TC for ranch style condominiums at 2297 Slater Mill Road : Land Lot 80, District 1, Section 5, Parcel 37. Lot size: 22.23 Acres. Tabled by the Planning Commission 01/04/2005	[TAB 3]
S2005-19	Islamic Center of West Georgia – Request for a Special Use Permit RENEWAL for a worship center at 4055 Anneewakee Road : Land Lot 89, District 1, Section 5, Parcel 14. Lot size: 3.23 Acres.	[TAB 4]
Z2005-20	Paul H. Robinson, Jr. – Request for an amendment to the P.U.D. for a tea room and antique store at 2506 Lee Road : Land Lot 1009 & 131, District 18 & 1, Section 2 & 5, Parcel(s) 28 & 31. Lot size: 1.62 Acres.	[TAB 5]
S2005-21	J.J. Maier – Request for a Special Use Permit for an additional house for parents at 5385 Kilroy Lane : Land Lot 28, District 2, Section 5, Parcel 112. Lot size: 7.28 Acres.	[TAB 6]
S2005-22	Powertel/Atlanta – Request for Special Use Permit for a 150' monopole telecommunications tower at 6867 South Sweetwater Road : Land Lot 432, District 18, Section 2, Parcel(s) 22. Lot size: 2.11 Acres.	[TAB 7]
Z2005-25	Maverick Construction, Inc. – Request for a rezoning from R-LD to R-MD for a single family residential subdivision on the south side of Warren Road : Land Lot 76, District 1, Section 5, Parcel(s) 3, 4, 12, 17, 33 & 34. Lot size: 34.01 Acres.	[TAB 8]

 

OTHER BUSINESS

Amendments to UDC                    [TAB 9]

 

 

 

ADJOURN

 

 

Friday, February 25th, 2005 "THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING 'HAPPENING' IN DOUGLAS COUNTY" IT'S NOW EASIER TO FIND US! www.celebratedouglascounty.com Please feel free to print out this e-mail for the office bulletin board and/or forward it to persons in your personal or office e-mail address book, or click for the printer-friendly version . Help bring our community together by passing "Happenings" along to others. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THIS WEEKEND Friday - Saturday, February 25th - 26th: 10th Annual Cowboy Poets Gathering Friday, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.: "Trails Plowed Under: The Crow Painting" by Jim Dunham and Doc Stovall, Downtown Douglasville Conference Center Saturday, 7:00 p.m.: Cowboy Poets Gathering, Downtown Douglasville Conference Center Sponsored by the Cultural Arts Council ~ Call 770.949.2787 for more information Saturday, February 26th: Ritzy Rummage Sale at the Old Courthouse by the Junior League of Douglas County Sale Day on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon: Free Admission Preview Sale and Party on Friday, February 25th, from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.: $5 entry Saturday, February 26th: "Celebrate Education" Fund-raiser at Parisian, Arbor Place 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. ~ Purchase a $5 ticket, the school of your choice gets the $5, and you get 20% discounts on almost everything in the store Call Sherry Giles at 678.838.2200 to participate or for more information Saturdays in February: History Walks at Sweetwater Creek State Conservation Park 2:00 p.m. ~ Free Admission, but $2 parking fee is required ~ Walks are along the red trail and are conducted by Dan Emsweller ~ Contributions appreciated to the new Visitors Center now under construction! Saturdays in February: Beulah Ball Park Baseball Registration 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the Ball Park ~ Call 770.942.9864 for more information ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NEXT WEEK Monday, February 28th - Friday, March 4th: "Music in Our Schools" Month Concerts in the Courthouse by Douglas County School Choruses Continue 12:15 p.m. Daily in the Courthouse Atrium ~ Open to the Public ~ Free Admission ~ Seating on the First Floor Come and Enjoy the Wonderful Sounds of Children Singing! ~ Televised LIVE on dctv23 ~ Replays on dctv23 on the weekends beginning at 12 noon Monday, February 28th: South Douglas Elementary School Chorus Tuesday, March 1st: Dorsett Shoals Elementary School Chorus Wednesday, March 2nd: Winston Elementary School Chorus Thursday, March 3rd: Chapel Hill High School Chorus Friday, March 4th: Holly Springs Elementary School Chorus Monday, February 28th: Community Meeting with District 4 Commissioner David Latham at Mirror Lake Clubhouse 6:00 p.m. ~ Open to all residents of District 4 ~ County staff and Villa Rica officials will also be present Tuesday, March 1st: "Youth Art Month" Exhibition at the Douglas County Courthouse Opening Reception 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., Courthouse Gallery, Third Floor, Douglas County Courthouse Open to the Public ~ Free Admission ~ Exhibit runs through March 31st Friday - Saturday, March 4th - 5th: Harvester Christian Academy Kids Consignment Sale Great place to sell and shop for gently worn children's clothing, toys, baby items, bicycles, strollers and more Call 770.942.1583 for more information Friday, March 4th: World Day of Prayer, Douglas County Observance, at First Presbyterian Church 7:00 p.m., 9190 Campbellton Street at Interstate 20 ~ Open to the Public ~ Nursery Provided ~ Free Admission Saturday, March 5th: Order of the Eastern Star Fund-raising Breakfast at the Douglasville Masonic Lodge 7:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. ~ Proceeds go to charitable functions of the OES Saturday - Sunday, March 5th - 6th: Home and Garden Truckload Clearance Sale at the Douglasville Armory to Benefit the HOPE Project Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. ~ Sunday, 1:00 p.m. - 5 p.m. Decorative home and garden metal work, beautiful clay and chalk pottery and sculpture, unique craft items imported from around the world For more information, call 770.947.8606 or visit www.hoperestored.org Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Douglasville ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GOVERNMENT MEETINGS AND NOTICES City of Douglasville Mayor and Council Council Work Session: 7:30 p.m., Thursday, March 3rd, City Hall Council Meeting: 7:30 p.m., Monday, March 7th, Council Chambers, City Hall, O'Neal Plaza Douglas County School System Thursday, March 3rd: High School 1/2-day Conference Monday, March 7th: Student Holiday/Teacher Work Day Board of Education Meeting: 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 8th, Board of Education Central Office, Georgia Highway 5 at Gurley Road Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority Work Session: 5:30 p.m., Monday, February 28th, WSA Offices Board of Directors Meeting: 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 8th, WSA Offices, Hospital Drive Douglas County Board of Commissioners Work Session: 10:00 a.m., Monday, February 28th, Commissioners Conference Room, Third Floor, Douglas County Courthouse Agenda posted on www.celebratedouglascounty.com Commission Meeting: 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 1st, Citizen's Hall, Douglas County Courthouse Televised live on dctv23 and taped for re-broadcast at 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. daily and at 6 p.m. Tuesdays when there is not a live broadcast Joint Meeting of the Board of Commissioners with the Planning and Zoning Commission: 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 1st, Citizen's Hall, Douglas County Courthouse Televised live on dctv23 NOTICE OF ROAD CLOSURE: BROOKSTONE DRIVE will be closed for approximately 5 days beginning at 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 1st, for stormwater facilities work by the Water and Sewer Authority ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MARK YOUR CALENDARS Sunday, March 6th: "Youth Art Month" Exhibition at the Cultural Arts Center Opening Reception 2:00 p.m., 8652 Campbellton Street, Historic Douglasville Open to the Public ~ Free Admission ~ Exhibit runs through March 31st Friday - Sunday, March 11th - 13th: Red Nation Intertribal Powwow at Clinton Farms Nature Preserve 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. ~ Native Crafts and Vendors, Primitive Camp with Native Skills and Black Powder Demonstrations, Activities for Children and Adults ~ Free Parking~ Open to the Public ~ Free Admission Call 770.489.7263 for more information Saturdays, March 12th and 26th: Beulah Bulldogs Youth Cheerleading Registration 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Deer Lick Park Concession Stand ~ For more info, call 770.949.5332 Saturday, March 19th: Natalie Grant in Concert at Lifepointe Ministries to Benefit "Iron for Clay" 2990 Bright Star Road at Interstate 20 ~ Tickets $15 Advance, $20 Door ~ Call 678.643.2244 for tickets and for more information Saturday, March 19th: Free Wrestling Event at Deer Lick Park to Benefit "Mission on the Move" 7:00 p.m. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ VISIT THE NEW HOME PAGE OF THE DOUGLAS COUNTY WEB SITE AT WWW.CO.DOUGLAS.GA.US AND ENTER YOUR OWN COMMUNITY EVENT IN THE NEW COMMUNITY CALENDAR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ February Shows on dctv23 Gesundheit! To Your Health! 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, and 7:00 p.m. on Monday nights presented by Janice Thompson State Farm Insurance Romantic Dinner and Dancing! TJ and Mickey prepare a romantic dinner for their wives for Valentine's Day, and then the couples go dancing into the moonlight! Douglas County Living 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, and 9:00 p.m. on Monday nights Celebrate the Cowboy Poets 10th Annual Gathering with stories around the campfire ~ Cowboys love BBQ ~ Modern chuck wagons may need their windows tinted ~ Dr. Buff gives some good advice ~ Deadlines are coming up for your business licenses ~ and more! See our complete channel line-up. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Do you have announcements that you wish to see in "Happenings" and on dctv23? E-mail them to channel23@co.douglas.ga.us or FAX them to 770.920.7445 and include all the details, including your name and telephone number, and we'll see what we can do to help you publicize your program or event! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Douglas County "Happenings" is a weekly listing of events and meetings of general interest to Douglas County citizens. Douglas County "Happenings" is compiled by the Douglas County Department of Communications and Community Relations as a Public Service to our citizens, and our e-mail list is not published or sold.

 

THE FLAG, AGAIN !

 2-21-05Dear Readers,

Whenever an issue is too hot to handle the legislators say, "Let's make it a referendum in the next election."  What that really means is that our duly elected state officials don't have the courage to vote up or down on a hot topic.

In a Republic, which America is through the wisdom of our forefathers, minority groups are represented.

In a pure Democracy, minorities are disregarded since the majority rules.

Moving an issue to a referendum actually circumvents the State Legislators' responsibilities -- "We didn't vote for it -- the majority voted for it."  and that makes it all OK.

When the Legislature wants something badly and they don't have the votes to pass it themselves, they put it to a referendum. This process is pure democracy and minority groups are left out.

PROOF:

The Legislature could never have passed the anti-gay-same sex-marriage bill so they sent it to the people so the majority could rule. THIS IS NOT WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES !!

Now the flag issue has surfaced again. The only reason I'm glad that it has resurfaced is because it really wasn't fair not to include the Stars and Bars when it was voted on the last time. So let's have another vote which includes the Stars and Bars. It's more likely that this time the Stars and Bars would be chosen and, using pure democracy, all the legislators in Atlanta will be exempt from responsibility.

NOW COME THE RAMIFICATIONS:

We've already angered the gay (minority) population by denying them the right to have rights (same sex marriage).

And once again we're going to anger the Black (minority) community.

Both of these groups have clout.We can look forward to boycotts from Black and gay groups around the Nation, which will hurt businesses in the Atlanta area. Some of you surely recall that the Atlanta-Fulton County Chamber of Commerce was the driving force behind NOT REINSTATING the Stars and Bars the last time because they feared anti-business retaliation of hotels etc.

Remember the Stars and Bars is not remembered as the flag of the heroes and patriots of the Confederacy. It has sadly become a symbol of hate through this entire country.

Raymond F. Page, Editor

 

02-21-05

I agree with Mr. Page when he says that the flag issue needs to be revisited.  As a southerner I am proud of the stars and bars and  see it as a symbol of heritage rather than hate, however, I have to admit that specific groups have used that flag as a symbol for their hate and intolerance.  Because of the misuse of the flag by those groups I do not see a way for african americans to see past the hate and what it actually stands for and who can blame them.  Even so, I also know that the issue will never die if the people of Georgia are not allowed to either vote for or against the stars and bars.  Personally, I am very happy with the current flag and I think everyone would be as well as long as it is voted for by the majority.  I also do not believe that the majority of Georgians would vote to bring the confederate battle flag back even if they prefer that flag because of the problems that would come with it.

Anonymous

 

>A three year old little boy was examining his testicles while taking a bath.
>
>"Mama," he asked, "Are these my brains?"
>
>Mama answered, "Not yet."

 

2/21/05

Column: "New Divorce Bill Ripe For Abuse and Bias"

by: Tony Zizza
email Address: tz777@yahoo.com

A new divorce bill in Georgia is ripe for abuse and
bias.  It's actually an amended bill.  The original
bill would extend the waiting period for an
uncontested divorce from 30 days to 120 days for a
couple without children and 180 days for a couple with
children.

The amendment waives any waiting periods if one spouse
(almost always the wife) has "obtained a protective
order or alleged abuse in a formal statement."  Common
sense dictates that judges do not make spouses stay
lock and key in a marriage if there is real abuse
going on.  Women who are being abused have a plethora
of services available to them if they are being
abused.  On the other hand, men will just keep it to
themselves because they have nowhere to turn.

Now, on the surface I agree with Sen. Mitch Seabaugh's
(R-Sharpsburg) measure to extend waiting periods.
Couples with or without children need to exhaust all
remedies before making a divorce - final.  What really
spins my head around is the requirement that all
couples with children must take educational classes on
"the impact of separation or divorced on kids." 

Who will teach these classes?  How much are they going
to cost?  The ones available at courts right now are a
joke.  This all strikes me as Orwellian and reminds me
of the sissification of grown adults.  Or mental
health screening.  Why is the government in control of
the divorce process? The government won't even take a
strong stand against the drugging of our children with
drugs like Zoloft.

Getting back to why the bill had to be amended, let's
just be honest and admit Sen. Mitch Seabaugh
(R-Sharpsburg) and Sen. Preston Smith (R-Rome) bowed
down to domestic violence pressure groups like the
Georgia Commission on Family Violence.  Spouses
(almost always the wife) will now be allowed, thanks
to Sen. Preston Smith, to "submit a confidential
affidavit to the court alleging domestic violence in
lieu of a public hearing."

This is great news for the billion dollar divorce
industry.  The fact of the matter is domestic violence
and child abuse do not run nearly as rampant as we're
led to be believe, but now you can be sure false
allegations of abuse will be flying all over the place
even faster.  This is why good intentions, such as
trying to put a temporary hold on divorces, are always
worse than the original problem once put into play by
the government.

I say if this new amended divorce bill is something
both Senators Smith and Seabaugh, along with Rebecca
Bukant, executive director of the Georgia Commission
on Family Violence, think will keep families together,
they're not thinking straight. Or seeing the big
picture clearly.

The real epidemic of false allegations will grow even
wider, and no one will dare introduce laws that will
punish those who make false allegations the same as a
real abuser.  Families have been split apart by false
allegations, but all politicians and pressure groups
do when the legislature is in session is reinvent the
wheel and play politics. It's pathetic and dangerous.

Believe me, my heart goes out to the victims of real
domestic violence of both genders. Unfortunately, we
have politicized the process of divorce, so abuse and
bias will be even stronger now.  Couples will think,
"Ok, I'll just sign something that says I'm being
abused, then I'm out of the marriage."

I challenge both Sen. Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg)
and Sen. Preston Smith (R-Rome) to put some teeth in
the amended divorce bill.  That is, if you lie about
being the victim of domestic violence, you will be
sitting in jail.  Period.  End of discussion. If there
are no teeth in this amended divorce bill, it is ripe
for abuse and bias.  And that's absolutely
disgraceful.

 

  Everyone should by now understand the implications of Georgia House Bill 218 and Senate Bill 5 that would remove from the light of day actions of the state and local governments and set dangerous precedents in confiscation of private property.  What is not realized is how pervasive this mentality is with our local, state, and federal elected representatives.

    For the past two decades I have voted predominately Republican since the party platform embraced smaller government, tax reductions, individual rights, and less government involvement in citizens' daily lives.  Sadly, these lofty ideals appear to be have been voiced for the ultimate goal of gaining power rather than furthering the principles this once great republic was founded upon.

     On the federal level we have seen government become bloated and unprecedented intrusions into citizens' privacy and liberties. From a state level, we find essentially the same problems as with the federal government, but must add the moves of taking from the light of day actions sanctioned under HB 218 and Senate Bill 5.

    Locally, the tawdry actions of our elected representatives encouraging total development of the county as fast as possible and their desire to infringe on citizens rights has reached alarming proportions.

    Hind sight being nearly perfect suggests that little difference exists between Republicans and Democrats when it comes to the goal of obtaining power over the citizens and dictating their daily lives.

    This nation, state, and local jurisdiction are essentially under siege by our elected representatives and the citizens should begin displaying the respective flags in the inverted position to signify same.

Albert Chambers

Douglasville

 

Click here: HB218.html

There are two HB218's  don't know why but this is the one we've been fighting the last two weeks.  Will send you the article written in the AJC in case you didn't see it. This comes under Department of Economic Development. Introduced by Stephens of Chatham County, Garden City, Ga., outside of Savannah.

Helen Chambers

 

Comments:

Thanks to Mr. Page, I have now found your site.

In a meeting at St. Andrews Country Club last month.  Mr. Latham stated that the county would be allowed only 4 NEW traffic lights  this year and that would be one for each district.  Well, his district is 4th and the largest, you would think he would get at least two of the four. Looks like the developers should have to foot the bill for some of these lights that are needed. They are creating the traffic. They should also have to pay for speed humps that their developments create so many cars through our subdivisions too. Nothing was said about how many the city would get so I don't know if this is a total of lights or just in the County.

As for PepsiCo, my question is if the building is so big why only a hundred or so employees?  That isn't many and they won't all be from Douglas County, I'm sure.  Did I read it would be 5 or 10 years before they actually start paying taxes? Does this mean we have to watch for a tax hike to help it along?

NOTICE? No one knew about PepsiCo until PepsiCo announced it.  So this HB 218 that they want to pass isn't neccesary at all.  Just a ploy by Stephens who introduced it.He's from Chatham County(Savannah) whrere they allow all manner of things to be shipped into their portfor disposal.  He probably wants to be able to ship it to other counties.

Watch out for that Private Land Fill we fought so hard to keep out years ago to come to LIFE again if this bill passes. Plus no telling what else that will be allowed without a public hearing.  You can bet our leaders will quickly make amendments to our Codes to allow them to do what they please.  BUT THEY WILL BY LAW HAVE TO ADVERTISE IT IN THE LEGAL ORGAN OF THE COUNTY SO WATCH YOUR PAPERS and ATTEND THE MEETINGS.They will say that EPD will monitor these things but EPD funds have been drastily cut by Bush and that will not happen.
THE CITY COUNSIL AND BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOTH LIKE TO SEE HEAD COUNTS. So attend meetings when you can.

Don't know if you saw this weeks NEIGHBOR but there was good coverage on a meeting Mr. Worthan atteneded with the Home Builders and gave them down the country, said there were too many forclosures and houses even being advertised in New York for Section 8 rentals.He also said that one up-scale subdivision when built now was like the projects. Does this tell us why some of us have become affraid to stick our heads out the door after dark.  We had a neighbor robbed at gun point two weeks ago when he was getting purchases out of the back seat of his car around 9:PM.  A robbery of a Bank at the entrance to our subdivision causeed a man hunt with dogs in our subdivision.  We were never notified if either were caught. Probably not, just got right on I-20 and gone. Main reason for this is the commercial abutting residental.  But try to tell them that.

I feel sorry for our officers!  They think it's because of the MALL, but it isn't about the MALL.  It's the people that are able to come in and rent on Section 8 or buy on government subsidized loans and trash things and be gone before the second note or rent is due.

Gee, for the good old days when a crook was affraid to cross the county line to break a law.  They knew they might not leave. 

There is all sorts of things to be learned by attending the Board of Commissioners meetings.  Zoning is now one of the MOST important so call and find out when these are.  First Tuesday evening of every month at 6PM in Citizens Hall is the Zoning Meetings. Or you can see it live at 6PM on Cable Chanell 23. The ZONING MEETINGS ARE NOT REPLAYED only the morning Commission meetings are rebroadcast at 11PM.
I find these VERY interesting as you can see YOUR representive in action and if you don't like what you see you can let them know. It wouldn't hurt to get to know your Codes too, then you are a more educated listener. Been here 30 plus years and have learned a lot. 
Thanks,
Helen Chambers   

 

Are you right or left brained? Here is a fun thing to do with everyone in your family -

http://www.mtsu.edu/~studskl/hd/hemis.html (you have to type in the whole address in including the http – I do no know why, but it true).

This website will run you through a list of 19 questions and then tell you if you are more left or right brained in the way that you think and process information. It was fun to see how each person in our family came out. It also gives you hints how to better use your less dominant side and also helps you better understand how a person who is predominately the opposite of you thinks!

Alli's class did this at school to reinforce the information that they are learning as they study the brain!

Have fun with it!

Your left brain friend,

Tracey Adamowski

 

 

 

DOUGLAS COUNTY ACCEPTS 100 PERCENT GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION GRANT FOR TRAFFIC SIGNAL CONTROLLER PROJECT

          The Douglas County Board of Commissioners this

week accepted a $120,204 grant from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to provide traffic signal controller upgrades throughout the County.  This 100 percent grant will provide state-of-the-art computerized traffic signals at twelve locations that are currently signalized, but have older equipment that needs to be replaced.  The twelve locations are:

Kings Highway at Dorsett Shoals Road

Kings Highway at Central Church Road

Chapel Hill Road at Central Church/Bomar Road

Chapel Hill Road at Willow Ridge Road/Douglas County Fire Department Station No. 5

Chapel Hill Road at Stewarts Mill Road

Chapel Hill Road at Dorsett Shoals/Anneewakee Road

Stewarts Mill Road at Yancey/West Stewarts Mill Road

Maxham Road at Tree Terrace Apartments

Maxham Road at Skyview Drive

South Sweetwater Road at Skyview Drive

East County Line Road at Lee Road

Blairs Bridge Road at Lynch Road .

The project includes procurement of controller hardware, conversion and input of signal timing plans into the controller, modification of the controller cabinet to accept the new equipment, installation of the signal controller, and final testing of its operation.

          This grant and project will help meet the goal of the Board of Commissioners to synchronize signals along the busy Chapel Hill Road and Maxham Road corridors where traffic currently does not flow efficiently.  The signals will be able to be timed for better traffic flow, and to accommodate heavy traffic days.  This equipment installation will also be the first step towards a computerized management system that can be monitored from a remote location and signals changed to assist in routing traffic due to accidents, natural disasters, or other occurrences.

          Commission Chairman Tom Worthan stated that “the synchronization of traffic signals and traffic flow were problems that the citizens told the Board of Commissioners that they wanted fixed if the SPLOST referendum was approved.  We are grateful to GDOT Commissioner Harold Linnenkohl for his recognition of our needs and his support of our County.”

          The project is budgeted to take 24 months, but the GDOT will allow time extensions, if needed, to coordinate the signal controller installations with roadway improvements that are currently designed or underway as part of the SPLOST roadway/transportation program of Douglas County .

          The project is being coordinated by Randy Hulsey , Director of the Douglas County Department of Transportation

 

 

"GOVERNOR PERDUE DID IT"

02-17-05

Mr. Page,

I read your comments from your Feb. 7 editorial, and want to point something out to you (correct, actually) regarding who privatized gas companies and thus caused prices to rise dramatically:  Not just any old democrat did it. Our own esteemed Governor Perdue, before he switched parties, was the author and the one who ran it through. 

What do you think about the Senate's proposal to lower the minimum wage (called a trainee wage) from $5.25 to $4.25 hr. for those under the age of 20?  With a 16 year old son who wants to enter the job market and start saving for a car and college, I am certainly against it.  My older daughters all began working at local restaurants for about $6 - $7 an hour.  Setting the wage so low is a travesity!  I certainly hope it is not too late for the House to slap this atrocious bill down and knock it out.

When I moved to Douglas County in early 1979, I checked out the job market and the going hiring rate was $4.25 hr!   I find it shameful that our politicians would add to the poverty rate in favor of big businesses.  Thank goodness I found a job that paid $5.50 hr. around the same time the $4.25 was offered.  I had to go through a employment agency - Rainwater employment, and paid them $500 to find me this job.  Ripoff.  Thank goodness I was married at the time, even though my husband only brought home $350 net a month from his job.  With $200 rent and a baby we barely got by, but we eventually did. 

I've discovered that in order for 1 person living by themself to get by without any charity handouts or help from kin or welfare, they would have to make around $29,000 gross a year.  Sadly, this society is geared towards the wealthy and a two-wage earner family.   With rent and mortgages averaging around $800-$1000 and up a year is it any wonder that the census bureau has recently reported an upswing in the poverty rate in the U.S.?  People can't afford to rent or buy a house making $7 or even $12 an hour!  Wages are stagnant after falling 2 years in a row.  All it would take is for Asia and Europe to start cashing in their U.S. Bonds, and our economy will be sunk.  I think it's too bad we've allowed Stockholders and the stockmarket to dictate what should or shouldn't happen to the economy and businesses.   Society is not too far away from losing it's humanity and compassion in many respects.

Anyway, I appreciate reading Douglas County Politics.  Keep up the good work.

Sincerely,

C. McCormack

 

Comments:
02-17-05
Here we go again.  Another warehouse(Pepsi) for Douglas County.  This is not a plus, it is a minus.  More low paying jobs and more truck traffic. And our county commissioners are giving them 10 year tax abatement. We need to stop this corporate welfare. The next time our commissioners complain they need more money they should start by recinding the numerous tax abatements they have granted, abolish the Developement Authority and stop funding the Chamber of Commerce with tax money.

Frank Nelms

 

Friday, February 18th, 2004 "THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING 'HAPPENING' IN DOUGLAS COUNTY" IT'S NOW EASIER TO FIND US! www.celebratedouglascounty.com www.co.douglas.ga.us Please feel free to print out this e-mail for the office bulletin board and/or forward it to persons in your personal or office e-mail address book, or click for the printer-friendly version . Help bring our community together by passing "Happenings" along to others. THIS WEEKEND Saturdays in February: History Walks at Sweetwater Creek State Conservation Park 2:00 p.m. ~ Free Admission, but $2 parking fee is required ~ Walks are along the red trail and are conducted by Dan Emsweller ~ Contributions appreciated to the new Visitors Center now under construction! Saturday, February 19th: Woodrow Wilson Park Pony Baseball Sign-ups 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Saturday at the Park ~ Ages 3 - 14 ~ For more information, call 770.944.1876 or 770.363.8185 Saturdays in February: Beulah Ball Park Baseball Registration 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the Ball Park ~ Call 770.942.9864 for more information ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THIS WEEK Tuesday, February 22nd: VIP (Very Involved Parent) of Burnett Elementary School Students FREE Breakfast and Meeting 8:15 a.m., Burnett Media Center ~ "Different Learning Styles" ~ These meetings count for the SMART After-School Program as a required parent meeting. Wednesday, February 23rd - Friday, March 4th: "Music in Our Schools" Month Concerts in the Courthouse by Douglas County School Choruses 12:15 p.m. Daily in the Courthouse Atrium ~ Open to the Public ~ Free Admission ~ Seating on the First Floor Come and Enjoy the Wonderful Sounds of Children Singing! ~ Televised LIVE on dctv23 Wednesday, February 23rd: Arbor Station Elementary School Chorus Thursday, February 24th: Bill Arp Elementary School Chorus Monday, February 28th: South Douglas Elementary School Chorus Tuesday, March 1st: Dorsett Shoals Elementary School Chorus Wednesday, March 2nd: Winston Elementary School Chorus Thursday, March 3rd: Chapel Hill High School Chorus Friday, March 4th: Holly Springs Elementary School Chorus Thursday, February 24th: Douglas County Community Blood Drive for the American Red Cross at the New County Multi-modal Transportation Center 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Transportation Center Lobby Area ~ Please call 1-800-GIVE LIFE to make an appointment to donate blood EVERY DONATION COUNTS! The County Multi-modal Transportation Center is located at the eastern end of Dorris Road behind the Douglas County Courthouse. Thursday, February 24th: VIP (Very Involved Parent) of Eastside Elementary School Students FREE Lunch and Meeting 1:00 p.m., Eastside Media Center ~ "Different Learning Styles" ~ These meetings count for the SMART After-School Program as a required parent meeting. Thursday, February 24th: Student/Employer Connection Career Fair for Douglas County Students 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., West Central Technical College Conference Center StudentsÉLooking for work? Planning your career? Need a change? Want to learn more about careers and local employers? Come to the Student/Employer Connection Career Fair! For more information, talk to your school guidance counselor. Sponsored by the Douglas County Board of Education, West Central Technical College, and the Douglas County Chamber of Commerce Friday - Saturday, February 25th - 26th: 10th Annual Cowboy Poets Gathering Friday, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.: "Trails Plowed Under: The Crow Painting" by Jim Dunham and Doc Stovall, Downtown Douglasville Conference Center Saturday, 7:00 p.m.: Cowboy Poets Gathering, Downtown Douglasville Conference Center Saturday, February 26th: Ritzy Rummage Sale at the Old Courthouse by the Junior League of Douglas County Sale Day on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon: Free Admission Preview Sale and Party on Friday, February 25th, from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.: $5 entry Saturday, February 26th: "Celebrate Education" Fund-raiser at Parisian, Arbor Place 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. ~ Purchase a $5 ticket, the school of your choice gets the $5, and you get 20% discounts on almost everything in the store Call Sherry Giles at 678.838.2200 to participate or for more information ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GOVERNMENT MEETINGS AND NOTICES City of Douglasville Mayor and Council Council Meeting: 7:30 p.m., Monday, February 21st, Council Chambers, City Hall, O'Neal Plaza Douglas County School System Thursday, March 3rd: High School 1/2-day Conference Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority Board of Directors Meeting: 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, February 22nd, WSA Offices Work Session: 5:30 p.m., Monday, February 28th, WSA Offices Douglas County Board of Commissioners Work Session: 10:00 a.m., Monday, February 28th, Commissioners Conference Room, Third Floor, Douglas County Courthouse Commission Meeting: 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 1st, Citizen's Hall, Douglas County Courthouse Televised live on dctv23 and taped for re-broadcast at 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. daily and at 6 p.m. Tuesdays when there is not a live broadcast Joint Meeting of the Board of Commissioners with the Planning and Zoning Commission: 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 1st, Citizen's Hall, Douglas County Courthouse Televised live on dctv23 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MARK YOUR CALENDARS Monday, February 28th: Community Meeting with District 4 Commissioner David Latham at Mirror Lake Clubhouse 6:00 p.m. ~ Open to all residents of District 4 ~ County staff and Villa Rica officials will also be present Tuesday, March 1st: "Youth Art Month" Exhibition at the Douglas County Courthouse Opening Reception 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., Courthouse Gallery, Third Floor, Douglas County Courthouse Open to the Public ~ Free Admission ~ Exhibit runs through March 31st Friday - Saturday, March 4th - 5th: Harvester Christian Academy Kids Consignment Sale Great place to sell and shop for gently worn children's clothing, toys, baby items, bicycles, strollers and more Call 770.942.1583 for more information Friday, March 4th: World Day of Prayer, Douglas County Observance, at First Presbyterian Church 7:00 p.m., 9190 Campbellton Street at Interstate 20 ~ Open to the Public ~ Nursery Provided ~ Free Admission Saturday, March 5th: Order of the Eastern Star Fund-raising Breakfast at the Douglasville Masonic Lodge 7:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. ~ Proceeds go to charitable functions of the OES Sunday, March 6th: "Youth Art Month" Exhibition at the Cultural Arts Center Opening Reception 2:00 p.m., 8652 Campbellton Street, Historic Douglasville Open to the Public ~ Free Admission ~ Exhibit runs through March 31st ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ February Shows on dctv23: check us out at www.dctv23.com Gesundheit! To Your Health! 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, and 7:00 p.m. on Monday nights presented by Janice Thompson State Farm Insurance Romantic Dinner and Dancing! TJ and Mickey prepare a romantic dinner for their wives for Valentine's Day, and then the couples go dancing into the moonlight! Douglas County Living 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, and 9:00 p.m. on Monday nights Celebrate the Cowboy Poets 10th Annual Gathering with stories around the campfire ~ Cowboys love BBQ ~ Modern chuck wagons may need their windows tinted ~ Dr. Buff gives some good advice ~ Deadlines are coming up for your business licenses ~ and more! See our complete channel line-up. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Do you have announcements that you wish to see in "Happenings" and on dctv23? E-mail them to channel23@co.douglas.ga.us or FAX them to 770.920.7445 and include all the details, including your name and telephone number, and we'll see what we can do to help you publicize your program or event! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Douglas County "Happenings" is a weekly listing of events and meetings of general interest to Douglas County citizens. Douglas County "Happenings" is compiled by the Douglas County Department of Communications and Community Relations as a Public Service to our citizens, and our e-mail list is not published or sold. If you would like to add or remove your email address from this newsletter mailing list, simply visit http://www.co.douglas.ga.us/news/unsubscribe.html Do you have announcements that you wish to see in "Happenings" and on dctv23? E-mail them to channel23@co.douglas.ga.us or FAX them to 770.920.7445 and include all the details, including your name and telephone number, and we'll see what we can do to help you publicize your program or event! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Douglas County "Happenings" is a weekly listing of events and meetings of general interest to Douglas County citizens. Douglas County "Happenings" is compiled by the Douglas County Department of Communications and Community Relations as a Public Service to our citizens, and our e-mail list is not published or sold.

 

Outsourcing Jobs Reaches New Heights

by Staff Reporter Melynda Jill

Washington DC - Congress today announced that the Office of President of the United States will be outsourced to overseas interests as of September 30th, the end of this fiscal year. The move is being made to save $400K a year in salary, a record $521 Billion in deficit expenditures and related overhead.

"The cost savings will be quite significant" says Congressman Adam Smith (D - Wash) who, with the aid of the GAO (the General Accounting Office) has studied outsourcing of American jobs extensively. "We simply can no longer afford this level of outlay and remain competitive in the world stage," Congressman Smith said.

Mr. Bush was informed by email this morning of the termination of his position. He will receive health coverage, expenses and salary until his final day of employment. After that, with a two week waiting period, he will then be eligible for $240 dollars a week from unemployment insurance for 13 weeks. Unfortunately he will not be able to receive state Medicaid health insurance coverage as his unemployment benefits are over the required limit.

Preparations have been underway for some time for the job move. Sanji Gurvinder Singh of Indus Teleservices, Mumbai, India will be assuming the Office of President of the United States as of October 1. Mr. Singh was born in the United States while his parents were here on student visas, thus making him eligible for the position. He will receive a salary of $320 (USD) a month but with no health coverage or other benefits. Due to the time difference between the US and India, Mr. Singh will be working primarily at night, when offices of the US Government will be open.

"I am excited to serve in this position," Mr. Singh stated in an exclusive interview. "Working nights will let me keep my day job at the American Express call center. I always knew I could be President someday."

Congress stressed patience when calling Mr. Singh as he may not be fully aware of all the issues involved with his new position. A Congressional Spokesperson noted that Mr. Singh has been given a script tree to follow which will allow him to respond to most topics of concern. The Spokesperson further noted that "additional savings will be realized as these scripting tools have been successfully used by Mr. Bush and will enable Mr. Singh to provide an answer without having to fully understand the issue itself."

Mr. Bush has been offered the use of a Congressional Page to help him write a resume and prepare for his upcoming job transition. According to Manpower, Inc., the placement firm, Mr. Bush may have difficulties in securing a new position as job prospects in the Sports Franchise Ownership arena remain limited. A recently released report from the Pentagon suggests a good prospect for him as a newly unemployed person may be in the Army National Guard. There he would be called up with his unit and stationed in Iraq, a country he has visited briefly before.

"I've been there, I know all about Iraq and the conditions there," stated Mr. Bush. He gained invaluable knowledge of the country in his first visit at the Baghdad Airport non-smoking terminal and gift shop.

Meanwhile in Baghdad and Falluja, Iraq, sources report that local Iraqis say Mr. Bush would receive an especially warm reception from them. Such sources stated the Iraqis only request would be to be informed of which convoy he would be riding in order to give him the welcome he deserves.

Congress continues to explore other outsourcing possibilities including that of Vice-president and most Cabinet positions.

 

 

COURTHOUSE TO HOST SCHOOL CONCERTS IN RECOGNITION OF “MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH”

          The Douglas County Board of Commissioners is pleased to announce that a series of concerts by public school choruses will be presented on the Grand Staircase of the Courthouse Atrium during late February – early March in recognition of “Music in Our Schools” Month.  Board of Commissioners Chairman Tom Worthan stated that “our public education system should be well rounded, and expose and teach our children many facets of life, including the arts, so that they will be better equipped to be an active and productive adult member of society.  The Douglas County School System strives to provide a balanced curriculum for our youth, and we are pleased to be able to provide an opportunity for these talented youth to perform.”

          The lunchtime concerts will be held in the Courthouse Atrium beginning at 12:15 p.m. each day, and the Public is invited to take their lunch hour and attend.  Seating will be available.  The music and voices will soar through the four floors of the Atrium, 165 feet from the performance level to the cupola.  The schedule of concert appearances is as follows:

          Wednesday, February 23 rd              Arbor Station Elementary School Chorus

          Thursday, February 24 th Bill Arp Elementary School Chorus

          Monday, February 28 th South Douglas Elementary School Chorus

          Tuesday, March 1 st                        Dorsett Shoals Elementary School Chorus

          Wednesday, March 2 nd Winston Elementary School Chorus

          Thursday, March 3 rd Chapel Hill High School Chorus

          Friday, March 4 th                           Holly Springs Elementary School Chorus

All performances will be broadcast live over dctv23, the Douglas County government access channel, and taped for re-broadcast beginning at 1 p.m. on the weekends following the concerts.  The re-plays will air through the month of March.

          The Board of Commissioners is pleased to be able to provide this forum to highlight this important aspect of our children's education.

 

Comments:

In Response to the editorial - "It Isn't Always Easy To Do The Right Thing" by Tony Zizza
02-16-05
I'm not entirely positive of all the facts related to your individual sitiuation regarding the "not stray" cat you had to turn in, however I can be fairly certain that it was not the Douglas County Humane Society that you took her to. If the place that you took her to was the Animal Shelter next to the county landfill then I can assure you that it was not the Douglas County Humane Society. The clerks that helped you were not 'with' the Douglas County Humane Society. The Douglas County Humane Society no longer operates the county Animal Shelter. This has been so since March 16, 2004. Ever since that date Douglas County (government) has been responsible for any and all operations at the Animal Shelter as well as county Animal Control services. I, amoung others, have submitted many different editorials to this website concerning this very topic. While the Douglas County Humane Society used to operate the county Animal Shelter (they did so from the mid-80's until 3/16/04), the Dou!
glas County Government (Rita Rainwater) refused to renew the operational budget with the Douglas Conty Humane Society in early 2004. Ever since the county itself now operates the Animal Shelter. The building next to the county landfill is NOT the Humane Society - it is simply a county-run Animal Shelter. The Douglas County Humane Society now operates from a 'home office' and (due to zoning) cannot take in homeless animals. While I relate to how you feel regarding the cat you found (I sympathize completely as I have experienced the same 'type' of sadness as well concerning animals) I must let you know that donating kitty litter (even though it is a nice gesture) will not benefit the majority of the cats at the Douglas County Animal Shelter. If you ever visit the 'Cat Room' of the County Shelter you will notice that not one of the 'caged' cats has a litter pan (let alone litter). I have noticed that only a few of the cats (the ones kept up front near the entrance) are 'lucky' en!
ough to have litter pans with litter. Also, while a $500.00 (dollar) donation is a very nice thought, if you take it to the County Animal Shelter (next to the landfill) you would be basically donating to the Douglas County Government because the D.C. government is now the one entity responsible for paying (or budgeting) to operate the Shelter and provide Animal Control service to Douglas County. Now that the county operates said facility they do not have any 'extra' programs in place to further 'help' animals or citizens such as those that the Douglas County Humane Society had in place (i.e. low cost spay/neuter certificates, extra medical attention for injured/sick animals and/or Educational programs). Also additional items, such as blankets and toys, are not being provided to ALL animals (as was the case with the Humane Society) now that the county government operates the Animal Shelter. Tony Zizza, I know that you had a very hard time turning the cat into the Douglas County!
 Animal Shelter and I want you to know that I'm not trying to make you feel even worse because thats really the last thing I want to accomplish with this editorial. I just want to make it Crystal Clear that the D.C Humane Society and the D.C Animal Shelter (near the landfill) are two totally seperate entities now. the D.C. Humane Society does still exist and is continuing to offer their services and programs to the animals and citizens, the difference is now they are no longer at the Douglas County Animal Shelter (near landfill). I apologize in advance if the place you took the cat was truely the D.C. Humane Society as they have helped a few animals to find new homes since they were 'booted' out of the county Animal Shelter by the Douglas County government. The difference is now the D.C. Humane Society cannot 'take in' animals or help as large of numbers of animals as they were once able to do when they did operate the Animal Shelter (prior to 3/16/04). In any case forgive me !
if the place you the cat to was NOT the Shelter next to the landfill. Also, one can probably read the older editorials that have been submitted to this site by accessing the 'archive' section or doing a search (on this site) of 'Humane Society'. Best of luck to 'Mindy' and her future kittens - the one good thing is that spring is right around the corner and with it comes 'kitten season' and there are usually lots of people looking to adopt kittens during that time of year. Maybe Mindy (and kittens) will be lucky enough to each find their permenant, responsible, and forever home.
Stephanie Bell 

 

02-16-05

Dear Mr.Page

Thank you for contacting me. Representing the State of Georgia in the United States Senate is an honor and a privilege.

I appreciate hearing from you and knowing your concerns. To better serve and communicate with my constituents, I have updated my e-mail system by creating a web form that will not only allow me to respond to your questions in a more timely manner, but will also allow me to reply to you electronically.  While you can be assured that all e-mail will be reviewed, I am not able to reply directly to e-mail sent to HYPERLINK " mailto:Saxby_Chambliss@chambliss.senate.gov "Saxby_Chambliss@chambliss.senate.gov.  

To send a message and receive a reply, I encourage you to visit my website at HYPERLINK " http://www.chambliss.senate.gov "www.chambliss.senate.gov,click the "Contact" link on the Navigation menu on the left and then click on the link to "Send your questions, comments and concerns to Senator Chambliss" to submit your requests.

*** If you are having a problem with a specific government agency, the Federal Privacy Act of 1974 requires that I have your written authorization, signed by you, in order to contact the agency about the problem. Since electronic communications do not meet the requirements of the Federal Privacy Act, please call 1-800-234-4208 or visit my website and select "How Can I Help You?" from the menu at the left, then select "Case Work" for information on beginning the process.***

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me. I look forward to staying in touch.

Very truly yours,
Saxby Chambliss
United States Senate

 

"As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron." — H. L. Mencken

 

SPLOST AGAIN

 

2-14-05

Dear Readers,

There is a meeting this Thursday, 2-17-05 at 7pm at Chapel HIll Middle School Gym to discuss a hot topic -- GROWTH.  We've known about this hot topic for years now and the school administrators have also known about it.

They chose to ignore it !! The bottom line is that this meeting is to SELL SPLOST !!

douglaspolitics.com is against approving SPLOST because our taxes are sure to go up right behind this.

It wasn't so long ago that Citizens Hall was filled with folks wanting Rita Rainwater to explain why they were being double taxed !! The City and County have to learn to live within their budgets. SPLOST was supposed to be for out-of-the-ordinary projects like parks and playgrounds,  not to become part of our tax system. Pretty soon SPLOST will be needing 2% and then 3%.

STOP SPLOST NOW

Remember:  Deceive me once, shame on you. Deceive me twice, shame on me.

 

I know it's a rainy day, but if you haven't had your child's car seat checked please zip over to Arbor Mall before 1pm today.  When the fire department checked car seats some years ago at the pediatricians' office where my wife worked, 50% WERE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY!!

Happy Valentine's from Raymond F. Page, Editor

 

New Column:

"It Isn't Always Easy To Do The Right Thing"

by: Tony Zizza
email address: tz777@yahoo.com



There was a story in the news recently about a woman
who was living with something like 150 cats.  Almost
all of them were sick, and some of them were dead.
This is disgusting.  It's completely uncalled for.
The woman deserves serious jail time. 

However, with the state of mental health in this
country, she will probably be able to weasle herself
out of personal responsibility and adopt a new mental
disorder with a subsequent prescription for an
antipsychotic medication.

The story did bother me at gut level because I
absolutely adore cats.  I wish I could have 150 cats,
but reason tells me I can't.  Simple as that.  This
number of cats would suffer at my hands for the fact I
am unable to care for that many cats.  While I have a
capacity of desire to be surrounded by a lot of cats,
common sense says it is a losing proposition.

This being said, having to give up even a stray cat to
the local county humane society brings up a lot of
emotions.  When adoption attempts have misfired, what
do you do?  You cannot assume ownership of every cat
who comes along when you have a small house.  You
would not being doing "the cat" justice. 

Interestingly, I don't even care for the word "stray"
when it comes to cats.  It seems once you hold a cat
and feed it, a bond can form.

This, I say, from personal experience.

Last Saturday, I had to give up a cat who had been
hanging outside the house for a while.  I named the
female cat - Mindy.  I chose this name because when I
first spotted her, it was very windy outside.

She was a cute calico type cat.  Unfortunately, she
did not get along enough of the time with the 3 cats I
already had.  Not to mention, a dog.  Nevertheless, I
fed her Science Diet cat food for a while.  I tried to
find her a better home to no avail.

All this was imperative and real because Mindy was -
pregnant.  I could not handle 3 cats, a dog, and a cat
with kittens.  Yet, she did not feel like, to go back
to that dreaded word, a - stray cat.

Needless to say, last Saturday turned out to be a day
when I learned it isn't always easy to do the right
thing.  I was caught in such a horrible bind.  I knew
I could not fully take on another adult cat and
kittens to boot, but then I worried about her fate at
the Douglas County Humane Society.  From what I
understand, the Fulton County Animal Shelter is a
disgrace.

A whirlwind of emotions consumed me when I drove the
12 miles to the Douglas County Humane Society.  Mindy
and her not quite visible babies didn't particularly
enjoy the motion of a car ride.  In the trunk, I had
many items to donate such as cat litter, soap,
blankets. 

I tried to be "all a matter of fact" and it lasted for
a little while.  That is, until I had to tell one of
the clerks at the Douglas County Humane Society WHY I
was giving her up.  I tried to explain that my hands
were already full with 3 cats and a dog.  She seemed
to understand in that there is only so much one person
can do for a certain number of animals.  This did not
prevent me from what was to come.

The clerk then had me sign my name to the final
paperwork.  Looking back, I didn't even read it
because I knew what it really meant.  But I started
crying well before I could finish signing my name,
Tony Zizza.

Was I a murderer?  What kind of person brings a cat to
a county humane society/shelter?  Why was I not
banging on hundreds and hundreds of doors begging
strangers to take an adult cat about to give birth to
a litter of kittens?  Why didn't I know she was
pregnant?

I finished signing my name, and had to leave.  I
looked at Mindy one last name and quietly said, "I'm
sorry." 

I'll never forget her aqua blue eyes for the rest of
my life, nor will I ever forget that it isn't always
easy to do the right thing.  I one day would love to
be able to have more cats, and donate $500.00 to the
Douglas County Humane Society.  God bless everyone at
the Douglas County Humane Society who must bear
witness to the throes of both humans and animals.

Who knows what happened to Mindy and her kittens.  I
can only hope kind hearts brought them in.  Perhaps
kind hearts had a different perspective regarding, it
isn't always easy to do the right thing, and for them
it meant: let's go to our local county humane society
and bring home a cat. Or two.

Maybe even Mindy.  

 

 

NARAL Pro-Choice America has issued a challenge to opponents of a woman's right to choose.  Now we need your help to persuade your anti-choice U.S. senator to take the first step toward ending the debate over abortion by supporting legislation that could reduce unintended pregnancies. Pro-choice Americans believe passionately that women have the right to decide for themselves when to bring children into the world - without government interference.  Our opponents disagree - passionately and sincerely. We will never resolve our differences on this basic question.  But we should be able to agree on an equally fundamental point:  America would be a better country if we helped more woman avoid the difficult choices posed by an unintended pregnancy.   Senator Harry Reid - who opposes a woman's right to choose - has offered a common-sense bill called the Prevention First Act that would help reduce unintended pregnancies through better access to birth control.  Sign our petition to anti-choice senators to urge their support of Senator Reid's bill. Sign this petition and notify: U.S. Senators Pro-choice and pro-life Americans may never resolve our differences on the basic question of a woman's right to choose. However, I believe we should try to agree on an equally fundamental point: America would be a better country if we helped more women avoid the difficult choices posed by an unintended pregnancy. Senator Harry Reid - who opposes a woman's right to choose - has offered a common-sense bill called the Prevention First Act that would help reduce unintended pregnancies through better access to birth control. What better way to end the debate over abortion than by eliminating the need for abortion? Please cosponsor Senator Reid's Prevention First Act. If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for NARAL Pro-Choice America's Choice Action Network . If you would like to unsubscribe from NARAL Pro-Choice America's Choice Action Network or update your account settings, please click here .

 

From the Saturday, February 12, 2005 Times-Georgian
Newspaper (Carroll County)

http://www.times-georgian.com/

Wolf Creek Tax Needs Concern BOC
By Steve Fitzsimmons

The Carroll County Board of Commissioners is wondering
if the county will ultimately have to pay for services
related to the proposed Wolf Creek development near
Whitesburg.

The board discussed Wolf Creek Friday during a
planning retreat at the Historic Banning Mills resort.

The discussion centered around whether the county
would ultimately be forced to pay for services to the
enormous development - services that might not be
completely covered by taxes generated from the
10,850-acre development.

County attorney David Basil said a `development
agreement` would identify and measure the impact of
Wolf Creek, while finding the means to finance things
like roads, utilities, schools, police and fire
protection, and other publicly funded services.

The agreement is `the best way to make decision,`
Basil said, and different departments in the county
government can help determine what the impact of the
development would be.

Some board members wanted to hold the developer -
Temple-Inland Land and Timer - responsible for much of
the cost, and expressed misgivings about the
development, which could ultimately bring 20,000 new
homes to the county.

> DC Watchdog <

 

TIME GETS BETTER WITH AGE

I learned that I like my teacher because she cries when we sing "Silent Night".

Age 5

I learned that our dog doesn't want to eat my broccoli either.

Age 7

I learned that when I wave to people in the country , they stop what they are doing and wave back.

Age 9

I learned that just when I get my room the way I like it, Mom makes me clean it up again.

Age 12

I learned that if you want to cheer yourself up, you should try cheering someone else up.

Age 14

I learned that although it's hard to admit it, I'm secretly glad my parents are strict with me.

Age 15

I learned that silent company is often more healing than words of advice.

Age 24

I learned that brushing my child's hair is one of life's great pleasures.

Age 26

I learned that wherever I go, the world's worst drivers have followed me there.

Age 29

I learned that if someone says something unkind about me, I must live so that no one will believe it.

Age 30

I learned that there are people who love you dearly but just don't know how to show it.

Age 42

I learned that you can make some one's day by simply sending them a little note.

Age 44

I learned that the greater a person's sense of guilt, the greater his or her need to cast blame on others.

Age 46

I learned that children and grand parents are natural allies.

Age 47

I learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

Age 48

I learned that singing "Amazing Grace" can lift my spirits for hours.

Age 49

I learned that motel mattresses are better on the side away from the phone.

Age 50

I learned that you can tell a lot about a man by the way he handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

Age 51

I learned that keeping a vegetable garden is worth a medicine cabinet full of pills.

Age 52

I learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you miss them terribly after they die.

Age 53

I learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life.

Age 58

I learned that if you want to do something positive for your children, work to improve your marriage.

Age 61

I learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

Age 62

I learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catchers mitt on both hands.  You need to be able to throw something back.

Age 64

I learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you.  But if you focus on your family, the needs of others, your work, meeting new people, and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.

Age 65

I learned that whenever I decide something with kindness, I usually make the right decision.

Age 66

I learned that everyone can use a prayer.

Age 72

I learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

Age 82

I learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone.  People love that human touch-holding hands , a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

Age 90

I learned that I still have a lot to learn.

Age 92

Tracey Adamowski

 

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---

Media Roundup –February 11, 2005
A Project of  The Interfaith Alliance

DATES/EVENTS/THINGS TO KNOW
The National Leadership Gathering -- Washington, DC, March 4, 5, 6.  JOIN hundreds of activists from around the nation; RECEIVE expert training in fundraising, media, the internet; FORMULATE strategy on important public policy issues; DISCUSS vital election-year issues, central to religious liberty and a healthy democracy; PLAN interfaith efforts to promote a healthy role for religion in public life.  Open to the public and all members, activists and supporters of TIA.  Contact jdavis@interfaithalliance.org for more information.


WHAT'S BEEN WRITTEN THIS WEEK ON THE INTERSECTION OF RELIGION AND POLITCS
Religious Communities Polarized Over Full Range Of Issues
“The divide between and within religious communities that was so conspicuous during the 2004 presidential election is not going to disappear. That is the prediction of John Green, director of the University of Akron's Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics and one of the nation's foremost experts on the influence of religion on American politics. `Religion matters. There is a lot of polarization among religious groups over the full range of issues,'' Green said. ``The divisions are pretty deep and there are very few groups that are evenly divided.'' Green's opinion is based on the results of a nationwide survey released Thursday that showed what he called ``surprising'' polarization between and within major religious traditions. The survey, conducted by the Bliss Institute and sponsored by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, focused on the religious landscape and the recent presidential election….The survey, conducted in November and December, showed that foreign policy and economic issues were more important to the overall vote than social issues like abortion and same-sex marriage. But social issues were more important to Bush's religious supporters, while economic issues were more important to those who voted for Kerry.” (Akron Beacon, “Religious groups' political divide here to stay, expert says,” 02-03-05)

National Association of Evangelicals Says Moral Majority Of The 80's Was “An Aberration”
“Evangelical Protestants, despite enjoying increasing cultural influence as a result of their perceived electoral clout, have sometimes ''lost their perspective" by paying too little attention to social concerns such as the environment and poverty, leading evangelicals said yesterday. A top official of the National Association of Evangelicals told reporters gathered at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary that the Moral Majority, a 1980s political movement dominated by Christian conservatives, was ''an aberration and a regrettable one at that," even though it drew evangelicals into the political process, because the organization was ''fatally flawed by a hubris that made the movement condescending and more than a bit judgmental." ''The Moral Majority lacked a servant heart of Christ born out of humility and compassion for a fallen humanity," said the official, Robert Wenz, who is vice president of national ministries for the National Association of Evangelicals.” (Boston Globe, “NAE Official chides Christian right,” 02-05-05)

Religious Conservatives Want Their Values Reflected In Wide Array Of Policy Measures
“Religious conservatives, who voted their values in the last election and discovered their power, aren't planning to stop with re-electing a devout Christian in the White House and passing nearly a dozen same-sex marriage bans across the states. They hope to continue to make a mark on public policy at all levels of government, and there are plenty of signs their clout has already taken on deeper dimensions: They're even influencing the parlance of political leaders who disagree with them on most issues. Their true political strength is hard to gauge, but they want their values and morality more broadly reflected in a wide swath of society, with families, teachers, entertainers, judges and even foreign policy-makers. And they've prompted a broader debate about the role that religion should play in the public square….Faith may not be any more prevalent in people's lives than it used to be, but it's coming out of the privacy of homes and houses of worship and into the public arena.” (Detroit News, “The Values Agenda,” 02-06-05)

Some Evangelicals Are Turning Green
“Thanks to the Rev. Leroy Hedman, the parishioners at Georgetown Gospel Chapel take their baptismal waters cold. The preacher has unplugged the electricity-guzzling heater in the immersion baptism tank behind his pulpit. He has also installed energy-saving fluorescent light bulbs throughout the church and has placed water barrels beneath its gutter pipes -- using runoff to irrigate the congregation's all-organic gardens. Such "creation care" should be at the heart of evangelical life, Hedman says, along with condemning abortion, protecting family and loving Jesus. He uses the term "creation care" because, he says, it does not annoy conservative Christians for whom the word "environmentalism" connotes liberals, secularists and Democrats…There is growing evidence -- in polling and in public statements of church leaders -- that evangelicals are beginning to go for the green.” (The Washington Post, “The Greening of Evangelicals,” 02-06-05)

TIA Rochester Promotes Fair Campaign Practices
“Open the new League of Women Voters pamphlets and you find a bright red set of boxing gloves. The white gloves that might have characterized the organization in the past are off, said the local chapter's new co-presidents, Dorothy Borgus and Sally Brown. That's good news for this community, which needs more of that kind of fighting spirit from its good-government groups. Between lobbying Albany for needed reforms and keeping an eye on upcoming local elections, there's a lot of work to be done….It's good that the League, in partnership with Interfaith Alliance of Rochester, has reactivated the Fair Campaign Practices Committee.” (Democrat and Chronicle, “Local League of Women Voters is getting more engaged,” 02-09-05)

Poll Indicates A Jewish Political Gap
“The Bible Belt might represent the heart of Bush country, but a new study suggests that even among Jews, blue quickly turns to red at the sanctuary door. Released by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, the new study found that while Jews generally tend to be more liberal than any religious group in America, significant differences exist between Jews who attend religious services regularly and those who don't. Jews who attend synagogue services once a week or more are twice as likely to support the war in Iraq and to define themselves as politically conservative than Jews who seldom or never go to synagogue, according to the study.” (The Forward, “Poll Finds Jewish Political Gap,” 02-04-05)

 

 

THE REPUBLICANS HAVE ARRIVED!!

 

2-7-05

Dear Readers,

Now that the Republicans are in office in Georgia, we should be expecting a great deal more than we got from the Democrats. Here are some major issues that need prompt attention.

1. Developers and builders are running and ruining the State of Georgia because we have a law that says that you can use your property anyway you like. Builders and developers have the money -- they buy the land -- and they call the shots.  Gwinnett County is a mess and Douglas is coming straight behind them. When cities and counties say, "NO"  to builders and developers, the builders and developers run to court and win 100 % of the time. We need this law changed.

2. Since Democrats de-regulated gas and caused such a financial hardship for everybody especially our poorest taxpayers, now is the chance for the Republicans to re-regulate gas and please us all.

3. Address the fact that the minimum wage is too low and adopt a higher state minimum wage like some other states have already done.

4. Re-evalaute Georgia's position as a Right To Work State. This is a pro-business and anti-employee piece of legislation that was originally set up to favor businesses when employees get hurt on the job.  The previous system wasn't much better  -- it made it too easy for employees to sue employers. Our Republicans need to re-evaluate the one-sideness of this policy and level the playing field for both sides.

5. Address the unfair treatment of employees by employers. It's no longer acceptable to say, "But what do you expect, this is Georgia" , which we hear every day.

   a. employers can still "lay off " employees because thay make too much money and replace them with new employees whom they pay less. The former "laid off " employees never get recalled to work.

    b. security companies (whose pay scale is very low) make their employees pay for their uniforms. Then, if they quit the job, they are required to turn in those same uniforms in order to get their last paycheck. Imagine how many times those same uniforms get paid for. Employers need to provide uniforms if they require them. A law is needed.

We'll all be watching to see if our wonderful Republicans, who have waited so many, many, many years to become the major party in Georgia, will impress us with their accomplishments.

Raymond F. Page, Editor

 

Friday, February 11th, 2005 "THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING 'HAPPENING' IN DOUGLAS COUNTY" www.co.douglas.ga.us Please feel free to print out this e-mail for the office bulletin board and/or forward it to persons in your personal or office e-mail address book, or click for the printer-friendly version . Help bring our community together by passing "Happenings" along to others. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THIS WEEKEND Saturdays in February: History Walks at Sweetwater Creek State Conservation Park 2:00 p.m. ~ Free Admission, but $2 parking fee is required ~ Walks are along the red trail and are conducted by Dan Emsweller ~ Contributions appreciated to the new Visitors Center now under construction! Saturdays, February 12th - February 19th: Woodrow Wilson Park Pony Baseball Sign-ups 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Each Saturday at the Park ~ Ages 3 - 14 ~ For more information, call 770.944.1876 or 770.363.8185 Saturdays in February: Beulah Ball Park Baseball Registration 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the Ball Park ~ Call 770.942.9864 for more information Saturday, February 12th: Free Breast Cancer Screenings for Women Ages 50 - 64 without Health Insurance 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Douglas Public Health, 6770 Selman Drive, Douglasville For more information, call 678.504.1069 Sunday, February 13th: February Exhibition at the Cultural Arts Center Opens ~ "Duality" by Sistagraphy for Black History Month Opening Reception: 4:00 p.m., 8652 Campbellton Street, Historic Douglasville ~ Hosted by the Douglas County Connection, Musical Entertainment by JOCADA Museum of Jazz History Works by Atlanta-based African-American Women Photographers presented in conjunction with the National Women's Caucus for Art Conference ~ Exhibit on View through February 27th Open to the Public ~ Free Admission ~ Call 770.949.2787 for more information Sunday, February 13th: Vietnam Veterans of America Valentine's Dinner for Vietnam Vets and Spouses 4:00 p.m., Yummy's European CafŽ, Stewarts Mill Road at Chapel Hill Road ~ Open to all Vietnam Vets and their Spouses Call 770.949.6787 for more information Sunday, February 13th: Valentine's Concert featuring Jeff Williams, Pianist, at New Covenant United Methodist Church 7:00 p.m., 5960 Georgia Highway 5 (one mile south of the Dog River bridge) ~ Free Admission ~ Open to the Public For more information, call 770.489.7608 Sunday, February 13th: Open House at Colonial Hills Christian School 2:00 p.m., 7131 Mt. Vernon Road, Lithia Springs Additional Open Houses on Thursday, February 17th at 7:00 p.m. and Friday, February 18th at 9:00 a.m. For more information, contact Chris Roberts at 770.941.6342 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NEXT WEEK Monday, February 14th: Last Day for New Voters to Register to Vote in the March 15th Special Election for the Board of Education SPLOST Referendum 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Voter Registration Office, First Floor, Douglas County Courthouse Tuesday, February 15th: GreyStone Power Luncheon ~ "Stormwater" with Pete Frost, Executive Director of the Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority 12:00 noon, Downtown Douglasville Conference Center ~ $10 tickets in advance, $15 at the door Call the Chamber of Commerce at 770.942.5022 to make reservations Tuesday, February 15th: Douglas County Rideshare Director Gary Watson Book Signing of "Fifteen Minutes of Fame" in the Courthouse Gallery 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. ~ Gary autographs copies of his first novel ~ Books can be purchased at the signing for $13.50 ~ Courthouse Gallery is located on the third floor, Douglas County Courthouse Wednesday, February 16th: Social Security Administration Personnel at the Douglas County Courthouse Personnel Office ~ 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Thursday, February 17th: VIP (Very Involved Parent) of Annette Winn Elementary School Students FREE Lunch and Meeting 1:00 p.m., Annette Winn Media Center ~ "Different Learning Styles" ~ These meetings count for the SMART After-School Program as a required parent meeting. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GOVERNMENT MEETINGS AND NOTICES City of Douglasville Mayor and Council Work Session: 7:30 p.m., Thursday, February 17th, Council Chambers, City Hall, O'Neal Plaza Council Meeting: 7:30 p.m., Monday, February 21st, Council Chambers, City Hall, O'Neal Plaza Douglas County School System Board of Education Meeting: 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 15th, Board of Education, Gurley Road at Georgia Highway 5 Monday, February 14th: Student Holiday/Staff Development Day Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority Board of Directors Meeting: 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, February 22nd, WSA Offices Douglas County Board of Commissioners Board of Commissioners Meeting: 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 15th, Citizen's Hall, Douglas County Courthouse Televised live on dctv23 and recorded for later broadcast at 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. daily Notice of Public Hearing: Commission Meeting of Tuesday, February 15th, 6:00 p.m. * Installation of a multi-way stop at Pilgrim Drive/Plymouth Rock in Pilgrim's Landing subdivision * An amendment to Chapter 14, Section 14-74 of the Douglas County Code (School Zones) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MARK YOUR CALENDARS Tuesday, February 22nd: VIP (Very Involved Parent) of Burnett Elementary School Students FREE Breakfast and Meeting 8:15 a.m., Burnett Media Center ~ "Different Learning Styles" ~ These meetings count for the SMART After-School Program as a required parent meeting. Wednesday, February 23rd - Friday, March 4th: Spring Concerts in the Courthouse by Douglas County School Choruses 12:15 p.m. Daily in the Courthouse Atrium ~ Open to the Public ~ Free Admission ~ Seating on the First Floor Come and Enjoy the Wonderful Sounds of Children Singing! ~ Televised LIVE on dctv23 Wednesday, February 23rd: Arbor Station Elementary School Chorus Thursday, February 24th: Bill Arp Elementary School Chorus Monday, February 28th: South Douglas Elementary School Chorus Tuesday, March 1st: Dorsett Shoals Elementary School Chorus Wednesday, March 2nd: Winston Elementary School Chorus Thursday, March 3rd: Chapel Hill High School Chorus Friday, March 4th: Holly Springs Elementary School Chorus Thursday, February 24th: Douglas County Community Blood Drive for the American Red Cross at the New County Multi-modal Transportation Center 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Transportation Center Lobby Area ~ Please call 1-800-GIVE LIFE to make an appointment to donate blood EVERY DONATION COUNTS! The County Multi-modal Transportation Center is located at the eastern end of Dorris Road behind the Douglas County Courthouse. Thursday, February 24th: VIP (Very Involved Parent) of Eastside Elementary School Students FREE Lunch and Meeting 1:00 p.m., Eastside Media Center ~ "Different Learning Styles" ~ These meetings count for the SMART After-School Program as a required parent meeting. Thursday, February 24th: Student/Employer Connection Career Fair for Douglas County Students 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., West Central Technical College Conference Center StudentsÉLooking for work? Planning your career? Need a change? Want to learn more about careers and local employers? Come to the Student/Employer Connection Career Fair! For more information, talk to your school guidance counselor. Sponsored by the Douglas County Board of Education, West Central Technical College, and the Douglas County Chamber of Commerce Friday - Saturday, February 25th - 26th: 10th Annual Cowboy Poets Gathering Friday, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.: "Trails Plowed Under: The Crow Painting" by Jim Dunham and Doc Stovall, Downtown Conference Center Saturday, 7:00 p.m.: Cowboy Poets Gathering, Mashburn Theatre, Douglas County High School Saturday, February 26th: Ritzy Rummage Sale at the Old Courthouse by the Junior League of Douglas County Sale Day on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon: Free Admission Preview Sale and Party on Friday, February 25th, from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.: $5 entry Saturday, February 26th: "Celebrate Education" Fund-raiser at Parisian, Arbor Place 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. ~ Purchase a $5 ticket, the school of your choice gets the $5, and you get 20% discounts on almost everything in the store Call Sherry Giles at 678.838.2200 to participate or for more information Monday, February 28th: Community Meeting with District 4 Commissioner David Latham at Mirror Lake Clubhouse 6:00 p.m. ~ Open to all residents of District 4 ~ County staff and Villa Rica officials will also be present ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ VISIT THE NEW HOME PAGE OF THE DOUGLAS COUNTY WEB SITE AT WWW.CO.DOUGLAS.GA.US AND ENTER YOUR OWN COMMUNITY EVENT IN THE NEW COMMUNITY CALENDAR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ February Shows on dctv23 Gesundheit! To Your Health! 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, and 7:00 p.m. on Monday nights presented by Janice Thompson State Farm Insurance Romantic Dinner and Dancing! TJ and Mickey prepare a romantic dinner for their wives for Valentine's Day, and then the couples go dancing into the moonlight! Douglas County Living 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, and 9:00 p.m. on Monday nights Celebrate the Cowboy Poets 10th Annual Gathering with stories around the campfire ~ Cowboys love BBQ ~ Modern chuck wagons may need their windows tinted ~ Dr. Buff gives some good advice ~ Deadlines are coming up for your business licenses ~ and more! See our complete channel line-up. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Do you have announcements that you wish to see in "Happenings" and on dctv23? E-mail them to channel23@co.douglas.ga.us or FAX them to 770.920.7445 and include all the details, including your name and telephone number, and we'll see what we can do to help you publicize your program or event! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Douglas County "Happenings" is a weekly listing of events and meetings of general interest to Douglas County citizens. Douglas County "Happenings" is compiled by the Douglas County Department of Communications and Community Relations as a Public Service to our citizens, and our e-mail list is not published or sold.

 

 

DOUGLAS COUNTY AND DOUGLASVILLE OFFICIALS BREAK GROUND FOR NEW DOWNTOWN DOUGLASVILLE FIRE STATION



Douglas County and City of Douglasville officials jointly broke ground on a new downtown Douglasville fire station to replace the aging Fire Station No. 10. The new fire station will be constructed between the National Guard Armory and the Seventh-Day Adventist Church (formerly First Baptist Church), directly across the street from the current Fire Station No. 10. The new station’s three bays will accommodate an engine, a rescue unit and a ladder truck that is currently stationed elsewhere. Nine bunk rooms, a kitchen/dining room, laundry area, day room and offices complete the building. The fire equipment will enter the bays from Spring Street and exit out on Church Street.



The ceremony was chaired by Douglasville City Manager Bill Osborne who stated that this day “had been a long time in the making”, and marked the fifth location proposed for this new fire station, the development of which has been ongoing for over a decade. Douglasville Mayor Mickey Thompson stated that this was the first station within the City of Douglasville “in modern times”. Mayor Thompson commended the Douglas County Fire Department for their daily professionalism and work taking care of the citizens. He said that the two governments breaking ground on a mutually beneficial building was “a first” in Douglasville and Douglas County, and that he looked forward to more joint ventures between the two governments in the future.



Douglas County Commission Chairman Tom Worthan stated that “he had been a member of the Board of Commissioners when this project was first conceived” in the 1980s, and that he was pleased to see construction finally beginning on a much-needed project. Chairman Worthan said that this would be one of two fire stations to open in late 2005, the other one being Fire Station No. 1 in Lithia Springs. “Both fire stations will bring better working conditions, better living quarters, and a better life” for our firefighters, according to Worthan.



Douglas County Fire Chief Scott Spencer thanked the approximately 60 people in attendance for braving the February morning cold to witness this “wonderful occasion”. Chief Spencer said that he was “extremely pleased that this was finally happening”, and that he was honored to be the Fire Chief, and honored to serve the citizens of Douglas County. He thanked the City and County for their joint cooperation in making this project possible.



City and County officials then “tossed dirt” to make the groundbreaking official. Participating were (left to right in photo) Douglasville City Manager Bill Osborne, Douglasville Councilmember Winton Moreland, Douglasville Councilmember Michael Carter, Douglasville Mayor Pro Tem Henry Mitchell, III, Douglasville Mayor Mickey Thompson, Douglas County Fire Chief Scott Spencer, Douglas County Commission Chairman Tom Worthan, Douglas County Commission Vice Chair Claude Abercrombie, Douglas County Commissioner Deborah Woody, Douglas County Commissioner Buddy Gordon, Douglas County Manager Mike Cason, and Douglas County Firefighters Lon Wynn and Danny Murdock.



The fire station is being designed and constructed by The Facility Group of Smyrna, Georgia. Its cost is approximately $1,254,000, and construction is scheduled for completion in August 2005.

 

 

 

 

 

02-07-05

Comments: Last week, the City of Douglasville lost a great man with the passing of George Gagnon.  Some may know this name, others may not.
George was a man that had protected his Country for 40 years, retired to Douglasville Georgia with his wonderful wife and family, Lived in the Fairways, volunteered for everything that the Fairways did.  A few

yearsago the Fairways had Santa Claus for two night's.  You could always count on George.  This spread to the City parks, I am sure some of you will remember.  we spent two nights in each city park so the children coul see Santa, George was always one of the helpers.
Before Rose avenue had traffic lights and all of the Traffic, George would be out with a few others cleaning the sides of the streets.  People always thought we had been caught driving drunk and were doing community service but no, this was the Fairways giving back to the City of Douglasville and George was always in the middle of it!
When Hunter Park was awarded the Aircraft that sits there today, George was one of the main people working on the aircraft.
George worked hard for his Church ( St. Teresa's) long before the new buildings were built.  George was always one of the first to set tables for the yard sales for the Church.   Cook BBQ to be sold for the Church! 
George did so much more it really is hard to try to put everything in writing that he did do.  He asked for no publicity, he just did his work for His Country and the City of Douglasville.
I know first hand of his work in Viet Nam, George was a Helicopter Pilot.  He flew the big ones that hauled water, fuel and the communications towers that we built, he helped set them up.
I also know that this would not be written if not for George Gagnon.
He saved my life one long hard day on a mountain top, close to the Cambodian Border.  I am going to miss George, we are going to miss George.  If there were more George Gagnon's in this world, it would be a much better place.
THANK YOU MY FRIEND!!

James G Fadely

 

02-05-05   Gun Owners vs Doctors

a. The number of physicians in the United States is 700,000
b. Accidental deaths caused by Physicians per year is 120,000.
c. Accidental deaths per physician is 0.171. (US Dept. of Health
& Human Services)

THINK ABOUT THIS:

a. The number of gun owners in the US is 80,000,000 (yes, eighty-million!).
b. The number of accidental gun deaths per year (all age groups) is 1,500.
c. The number of accidental deaths per gun owner is .0000188.

Statistically, doctors are about 9,000 times more dangerous than gun owners.


FACT: NOT EVERYONE HAS A GUN, BUT ALMOST EVERYONE HAS A DOCTOR.

Alert your friends to this threat.

We must ban doctors before this gets out of hand.


As a public health measure --
We have withheld the statistics on lawyers for
fear that the shock could
cause people to seek medical attention!!

 

Jim Shew

 

 

 

"VACANT POSITIONS AT THE POLICE DEPPARTMENT"

02-02-05

Tomorrown night(Thursday) the Douglasville City Council will take several issues into consideration and the most important concerns vacant positions at the police department which totals approximately 15.  It is my understanding that the mayor and council plans to eliminate these positions to accomodate the city's budget.  As many of you already know the police department is in dire straits and these officers are already breaking their necks to handle calls for service on a daily basis because the city leaders refuse to fully staff the department.  It is not only dangerous it is exhausting and wearing on the morale of the department.  Take a look around you.  Anyone with a brain can see that the number of officers should be rising but the department has 15 fewer officers than it did 5 years ago.  The city is also annexing a development on Riverside Parkway that totals over 800 acres.  Who will police that area?  There aren't enough officers to cover the current city limits.  As citizens we need to tell our leaders enough is enough.  It is obvious that they are not going to stop taking property from the county and adding more area and people for the officers to police so it's time to add officers and have a department that we can once again be proud of.  I hope that each of you will take it upon yourselves to personally call the mayor and council to let them know that we do not want the positions eliminated and in fact there should be 15 new positions added and filled.  If not we will not have a police department in a few years and will have to depend on the Sheriff's office.  Maybe that is the Mayor's goal.

Anonymous

 

 

02-01-05

"United States officials were surprised and heartened today at the size of turnout in South Vietnam's presidential election despite a Vietcong terrorist campaign to disrupt the voting. According to reports from Saigon, 83 percent of the 5.85 million registered voters cast their ballots yesterday. Many of them risked reprisals threatened by the Vietcong. A successful election has long been seen as the keystone in President Johnson's policy of encouraging the growth of constitutional processes in South Vietnam."

- Peter Grose, in a page 2 New York Times article titled, 'U.S. Encouraged by Vietnam Vote,' September 4, 1967.

Jim Shew

 

Friday, February 4th, 2005 "THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING 'HAPPENING' IN DOUGLAS COUNTY" www.co.douglas.ga.us Please feel free to print out this e-mail for the office bulletin board and/or forward it to persons in your personal or office e-mail address book, or click for the printer-friendly version . Help bring our community together by passing "Happenings" along to others. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THIS WEEKEND Friday, February 4th: Deadline for Registration for the 16th Annual Daddy-Daughter Dance at Hunter Park For girls 3rd - 6th grades ~ Call 770.920.3007 for registration information Saturday, February 5th: February Shows debut on dctv23 Gesundheit! To Your Health! 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, and 7:00 p.m. on Monday nights presented by Janice Thompson State Farm Insurance Romantic Dinner and Dancing! TJ shows Mickey how to prepare a romantic dinner for Valentine's Day, and then the couples go dancing into the moonlight! Douglas County Living 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, and 9:00 p.m. on Monday nights Celebrate the Cowboy Poets 10th Annual Gathering with stories around the campfire ~ Cowboys love BBQ ~ Modern chuck wagons may need their windows tinted ~ Dr. Buff gives some good advice ~ Deadlines are coming up for your business licenses ~ and more! Saturday, February 5th: Four Chaplains Ceremony at American Legion Post 145 11:00 a.m. ~ Ceremony honors four military chaplains who died giving up their lifeboat seats so that other servicemen could be saved during a ship sinking ~ Open to the Public ~ Free Admission Saturdays, February 5th - February 19th: Woodrow Wilson Park Pony Baseball Sign-ups 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Each Saturday at the Park ~ Ages 3 - 14 ~ For more information, call 770.944.1876 or 770.363.8185 Saturday, February 5th: Spring Softball and DYBL Baseball Sign-ups Gables Sporting Goods Main Store, Fairburn Road at Dorris Road Baseball: 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Baseball: For more information, call 770.920.5090 Softball: 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Softball: For more information, call Danny Barrow at 770.745.0474 or 404.886.4123 Saturday, February 5th: Registration for Deer Lick Park Girls Softball, Recreational Slow Pitch and Fast Pitch 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Deer Lick Park ~ Coaches needed, too! For more information, call Terry Henley at 770.949.0873 Saturday, February 5th: Winston Baseball Spring Registration 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Winston Elementary School, Bankhead Highway ~ Please bring a copy of your birth certificate for age verification ~ Different Leagues for Ages 4 through 14 Call Ed Villanacci at 770.577.7051 for more information Saturdays in February: Beulah Ball Park Baseball Registration 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the Ball Park ~ Call 770.942.9864 for more information ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NEXT WEEK Monday, February 7th: Groundbreaking for the new Downtown Douglasville Fire Station (Station 10 Replacement) 10:00 a.m., West Church Street at Pray Street (between the Armory and the former First Baptist Church buildings) ~ Reception afterwards at the Downtown Douglasville Conference Center Open to the Public ~ Free Admission ~ For more information, call Marsha Hampton at 678.715.6091 Tuesday, February 8th: "Crime Prevention and Awareness" at the February CORE Forum 9:45 a.m., West Central Technical College Conference Center ~ Open to the Public ~ Free Admission Be Seen, be Aware, Be Involved...Be a Community Organizing Resources for Excellence! For more information, call Amanda Bryant at 770.920.7438 Thursday, February 10th: Open House to View the Final Report on the Chapel Hill Road/Stewarts Mill Road Corridor Study 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., Drop-in, Citizen's Hall, Douglas County Courthouse Short Presentation at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, February 10th: "Love is Not Abuse", A Fundraiser presented by The Pampered Chef to benefit the S.H.A.R.E. House 7:00 p.m., Old Douglas County Courthouse ~ Come learn some quick, easy and healthy cooking tips for you and your family. Research shows that family mealtimes make kids healthier and help in preventing teen drug and alcohol abuse For more information, contact Debbie Spencer at 770.942.4288 Saturday, February 12th: Free Breast Cancer Screenings for Women Ages 50 - 64 without Health Insurance 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Douglas Public Health, 6770 Selman Drive, Douglasville For more information, call 678.504.1069 Sunday, February 13th: February Exhibition at the Cultural Arts Center Opens ~ "Duality" by Sistagraphy for Black History Month Opening Reception: 4:00 p.m., 8652 Campbellton Street, Historic Douglasville ~ Hosted by the Douglas County Connection, Musical Entertainment by JOCADA Museum of Jazz History Works by Atlanta-based African-American Women Photographers presented in conjunction with the National Women's Caucus for Art Conference ~ Exhibit on View through February 27th Open to the Public ~ Free Admission ~ Call 770.949.2787 for more information Sunday, February 13th: Vietnam Veterans of America Valentine's Dinner for Vietnam Vets and Spouses 4:00 p.m., Yummy's European CafŽ, Stewarts Mill Road at Chapel Hill Road ~ Open to all Vietnam Vets and their Spouses of the general Public Call 770.949.6787 for more information Sunday, February 13th: Valentine's Concert featuring Jeff Williams, Pianist, at New Covenant United Methodist Church 7:00 p.m., 5960 Georgia Highway 5 (one mile south of the Dog River bridge) ~ Free Admission ~ Open to the Public For more information, call 770.489.7608 Sunday, February 13th: Open House at Colonial Hills Christian School 2:00 p.m., 7131 Mt. Vernon Road, Lithia Springs Additional Open Houses on Thursday, February 17th at 7:00 p.m. and Friday, February 18th at 9:00 a.m. For more information, contact Chris Roberts at 770.941.6342 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GOVERNMENT MEETINGS AND NOTICES City of Douglasville Mayor and Council Council Meeting: 7:30 p.m., Monday, February 7th, Council Chambers, City Hall, O'Neal Plaza Douglas County School System Board of Education Meeting: 7:00 p.m., Monday, February 7th and Tuesday, February 15th, Board of Education, Gurley Road at Georgia Highway 5 Tuesday, February 8th: Elementary Schools -Day Conference Thursday, February 10th Middle Schools -Day Conference Monday, February 14th: Student Holiday/Staff Development Day Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority Board of Directors Meeting: 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, February 8th, WSA Offices Douglas County Board of Commissioners Commissioners Work Session: 10:00 a.m., Thursday, February 10th, Commissioners Conference Room, Third Floor, Douglas County Courthouse ~ Note date change due to the ACCG Legislative Conference in Atlanta Board of Commissioners Meeting: 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 15th, Citizen's Hall, Douglas County Courthouse Televised live on dctv23 and recorded for later broadcast at 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. daily ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MARK YOUR CALENDARS Monday, February 14th: Last Day for New Voters to Register to Vote in the March 15th Special Election for the Board of Election SPLOST Referendum 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Voter Registration Office, First Floor, Douglas County Courthouse Tuesday, February 15th: Douglas County Rideshare Director Gary Watson Book Signing of "Fifteen Minutes of Fame" in the Courthouse Gallery 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. ~ Gary autographs copies of his first novel ~ Books can be purchased at the signing for $13.50 ~ Courthouse Gallery is located on the third floor, Douglas County Courthouse Thursday, February 17th: VIP (Very Involved Parent) of Annette Winn Elementary School Students FREE Lunch and Meeting 1:00 p.m., A