The Rockdale News Saturday Nov 8th, 2014

the NEWS Nov. 8, 2014

Season Previews RHS basketball season previews are inside

Page 13

Budget

proposed $63.5 million pitched for 2015

SEEING

BLUE

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Page 10

Serving Rockdale County and Conyers

Williams

54%

Williams wins BOC Post 2 seat with strong showing. Historic change to all Democratic BOC

By Martin Rand III

mrand@rockdalenews.com

It went silent at Rockdale County Post 2 Commissioner JaNice Van Ness’ political campaign headquarters on Parker Road Tuesday night just moments after she saw the final tally of votes.

In the race for the BOC Post 2 seat, Democratic challenger Doreen Williams, who has never held a public office, supplanted Republican incumbent Van Ness by winning 54 percent of the votes to Van Ness’ 46 percent.

Van Ness, who has sat on the BOC for the past eight years, said only one word as she stared at the results while shaking her head, “Unbelievable.”

Visibly shaken by the election outcome, she went to a back room of the facility and was soon followed by her husband, friends and

Page 4 Acuity discussion hits snag

Celebrating our veterans

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See ELECTION, Page 8

Woman suing probate judge indicted

By Michelle Kim & Martin Rand III

news@rockdalenews.com

The woman seeking to sue Probate Judge Charles K. Mays, Sr. for $20,000 in alleged unpaid backpay was herself federally indicted on nine counts in Missouri recently for allegedly stealing $480,000 from a lotto winner.

Freya Pearson, 41, has three counts of wire fraud, four

counts of money laundering, one count of tax evasion and one count of making false statements being brought against in the Western District of Missouri for incidents that took place over a four year span, beginning in 2010, and cost local and federal governments and a 65-year-old woman to lose a combined total of $640,667.

Pearson was indicted in the U.S. District court for the Western District of Missouri on Tuesday, Oct. 28. She

bonded out on a $10,000 unsecured bond and entered a not guilty plea at her first appearance. She was back in Rockdale on Wednesday, Nov. 5, for adisposessory case hearing in Magistrate Court against her, which was dismissed at the last minute.

Pearson’s attorney Mike Waldrop, who is representing her in the case against Mays, said Wednesday he was aware of her federal indictment.

“I’ve been in communication

briefly with an attorney” in Missouri, he said. Waldrop is not representing Pearson in the Missouri case. It was his understanding that Pearson had borrowed money from the victim and had been unable to pay it back, he said.

“I’m sure they’re glad to find out and muddy the waters,”

See JUDGE, Page 15 Also: Mays loses lawsuit against him, Page 3

The News

2 • Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014

What’s Trending Acuity discussions hit snag ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

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Standoff ends with kidnapping suspect in custody Woman stabs husband with kitchen knife Warrant applied for judge’s arrest

Meeting Place Board of Commissioners meeting, Tues., Nov. 11, 10 a.m., 901 Main St. Board of Education meeting, Thursday, Nov. 13, 7 p.m., 954 N. Main St. Rockdale County Board of Health, Fri., Nov. 14,8:15 a.m., 985 Taylor St., open to public.

Crime Briefs TitleBucks armed rober caught with license plate reader help

Less than a week after TitleBucks on Ga. Hwy 138 was robbed at gunpoint, the suspect in that robbery and several other pawn and title store robberies Avery Frazier, 47, of Douglasville - was captured with the help of license plate reading technology and the sharp eyes of Conyers Officer Spencer Holland and Douglasville police officers.

Man breaking into neighbor’s home caught

Two suspects were caught breaking into a home in Olde Salem Township, near the suspect’s own home, thanks to the sharp eye of another neighbor and the quick reaction time of Rockdale deputies Thursday. John Mabry, 26, of Conyers, was charged with tresspassing. The other suspect, a thin black male, escaped. If you have more information, call 770-278-8157.

the

By Michelle Kim

mkim@rockdalenews.com

Discussions between Acuity Brands and the county on incentives for its planned renovations and expansion in Rockdale hit a bump in the road Tuesday morning when the Development Authority of Rockdale County, the financial vehicle for the county’s economic development efforts, balked at approving part of the incentives package that had been offered to the company.

Mayor Randy Mills said afterwards he was optimistic things could be worked out. “Hopefully good minds will come together and put this thing to bed. We’ve got a couple days. I’m optimistic the community can get this done.”

Development Authority Chairman Mike Sullivan said at the outset of the tense meeting he understood there were confidentiality agreements in place, but there had been not much information given to him or to the rest of the board about the incentives package and what the Development Authority board would be asked to approve.

“We start digging into it. There are some problems with it, as far as I’m personally concerned.”

Development Authority member Roland Vaughn said he thought the tax abatements offered were for improvements and future development, not for currently existing property. “I applaud Acuity for proposing a good deal for Acuity,” he said. “But I cannot support what’s in front of us today.” He expressed concern it would set a precedent that other large companies existing in Rockdale would seek to also be awarded.

Members Gerald Rakestraw and

Martin Rand, III/The News

(From left to right) Members of the second graduating class of the Rockdale County Drug Court, Lynn Christian, Nora Shannon, Rockdale County Superior Court Judge Robert Mumford, Brandi Moon. The three new graduates of the Rockdale County Adult Drug Court stand with Judge Robert Mumford as they receive a crystal plaque and certificate for completing the 18-month program. This brings the Adult Drug Court total number of graduates to six since the program starting in January 2013. The guest speaker at the graduation held Thursday, Nov. 6, was Georgia Supreme Court Justice Robert Benham.

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Rick Simons echoed Vaughn’s thoughts.

The incentives package, offered in August, included full tax abatement, or exemption, for five years on property and equipment. Over the next five years, that exemption would gradually ramp back, with a 100 percent at year 11. According to a study by Robert Lann Consulting, commissioned by the Development Authority, the incentives would mean a difference of $1.6 million in taxes the county collected over 10 years and a $2 million difference over 20 years. School tax abatement was not included as part of the incentive package.

Conyers-Rockdale Economic Development Council Director Marty Jones wrote after the meeting that the Acuity expansion with the incentives proposed, would have a $950,000 positive impact on Rockdale County Revenues over ten years and the school system would have a positive impact of $2,900,000 over ten years.

“That is just short of 4 million dollars to help fund both our County Government and School System over the next ten years,” Jones wrote.

The negotiations were carried out through the state’s economic development arm.

Jones said he, Commission Chairman Richard Oden and Mayor Randy Mills were bound by confidentiality agreements. But he said he would take responsibility in that he should have asked Acuity for leeway to inform Development Authority Chairman Mike Sullivan.

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The News

Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014 • 3

DEVELOPING STORY

Contractor wins lawsuit against probate judge 11th hour dismissal of disposessory case against woman suing judge for backpay

By Martin Rand, III

mrand@rockdalenews.com

A contractor who sued Probate Judge Charles K. Mays Sr. for $10,500 of unpaid work and materials won his case against the judge Wednesday in Magistrate Court. A dispossessory case from the Mays family seeking to evict a former Probate Court worker living in Mays’ home, who is also suing Mays for $20,000 of alleged unpaid backpay, was dismissed minutes before the hearing was to start Wednesday.

The two cases took place before Judge Phyllis R. Williams of DeKalb County Magistrate Court. Williams was sitting in for Rockdale’s Magistrate Court judges, who recused themselves because the matter involved a judge sitting in the same circuit.

The Mays Family Trust has filed a disposessory case seeking payment of rent and to evict Freya Pearson, who is living with her 13-year-old daughter and 5-year-old granddaughter at the rented McCalla Street home of Judge Charles K. Mays and his family in Conyers.

However, just minutes before the slightly delayed hearing at Rockdale Magistrate Court, originally scheduled at 1 p.m., attorney Michael Waldrop, who represents Pearson, was served

by DJ Asante with a motion to dismiss the case. The motion was filed in Rockdale County Clerk of Courts office at 1:01 p.m.

A line from the motion, which referred to Pearson as having vacated the premises as of Oct. 24 was struck at Waldrop’s request and the motion to dismiss was accepted.

In the case that moved forward, after hearing nearly four hours of testimony, Judge Williams concluded the parties did not question that the work had been done to the condominium, but there had been no formal contract regarding the work and that the lease purchase contract did not address the upgrading work Scott had done.

Contractor Rodney Scott, who was not represented by an attorney, was awarded a little under $10,000 and termination of the lease purchase contract between Scott and the Mays Family trust, as Scott requested. Scott was ordered to pay the October and November rent and move out of

the condominium at the end of 30 days, at the end of November.

A counterclaim filed by DJ Asante, who represented himself to the court as a trustee of the Mays Family Trust, had asked $2,000 be awarded to Asante for damages. That claim was dismissed.

In June and July, Scott had been brought on board by Judge Charles K. Mays, who has a home repair and contracting business, to repair the condominium, which Scott described as not being in livable condition. Scott expressed interest in buying the condominium, he said, as a way to help the Mays family who were behind on their payments for the condominium and because he needed a more permanent home; at the time he was living with his daughter and her children. Scott thought he was buying a home from Mays and had put about $10,500 worth of renovations into the condominium, where he currently lives.

He said there had been a verbal agreement between Mays and himself that Mays would cover the cost of the repairs.

“I felt I was being taken advantage of to spend the money I do have and the skills I do have,” said Scott during his opening statement in court.

Scott said he also made two down payments of $1,500 and one payment of $1,000 to the Mays family, with no receipts.

“I thought I was trusting a judge,” said Scott, on why he

never asked for receipts for his payments.

Mays and Asante contended there had been no evidence given to them of the work and no receipts turned in for the work, besides receipts for parts of an electrical panel Scott had repaired by a certified electrician.

“You got all the payment you deserved,” said Mays on the stand.

Asante said when he tried to ask for the receipts and to go onto the property, Scott became “belligerent,” refusing to talk with Asante and wanting to talk with Judge Mays.

Scott later testified that he had talked over the phone with Mays and attempted to arrange a way to submit the totals, either by phone or in person, but was turned down. Scott said he had recorded the phone conversation with Mays.

Scott previously told The News he considered himself a supporter of the Mays family and had even loaned them $300 in order for them to come back from a trip to Florida, he said.

He began noticing red flags when the paperwork for the condominium was a long time coming. When the contract did arrive, Scott’s lease purchase option contract was drawn up between the Mays Family Trust and himself; later he found out just a month earlier the condominium had been sold to Charles Kevin Mays Jr.

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DJ Asante, who sat in court next to Mays’ attorney Prince Brumfield, testified that the property had been transferred from Charles Kevin Mays Jr. to the Mays Family Trust.

The security deed between Mays Jr. and the previous owner specified there would need to be written notice of any transfer of property. The previous owner and deed holder told The News in October she was not aware the Mays family had attempted to transfer the property.

Judge Mays and the Mays family still face more court hearings.

Last week Pearson filed a warrant for Mays’ arrest for felony theft; Rockdale’s Superior Court Judges have recused themselves from the warrant hearing.

DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Gregory Adams will hear the warrant hearing, which has

not been scheduled.

The Viewpointe East Condominium Association is suing Charles K. Mays, Jr. over unpaid association fees.

The president of the Viewpoint Condominiums Homeowners Association, Mike Zanetti, is also suing Judge Charles Mays Sr. for about $2,500 of unpaid wages for supervisory work he did for Mays on a contract for the Marriott hotel in Conyers, near Home Depot.

Pearson also faces separate federal court actions in Kansas City, Missouri where she was recently indicted by a federal grand jury for nine counts, including wire fraud, money laundering, tax evasion and false witness.

The charges are related to Pearson allegedly stealing more than $400,000 from a Missouri lotto winner. (See front page)

The News

4 • Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014

County Chairman proposes $63.5 million budget for next year

By Martin Rand, III

mrand@rockdalenews.com

Rockdale County Chairman Richard Oden made his proposal for the county’s 2015 budget available for public viewing Monday.

The proposed budget is about $63.5 million, which is approximately $5 million more than approved budget from a year ago.

The public safety division of the county is set to receive more than half, $32.4 million, of the annual budget under this proposal. The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office would be allotted the most public safety money with about $21.1 million for operating expenses.

The department requested a $2.3 million increase for personnel, but is only receiving a $1.8 million bump in funding.

Other department allocations include $9.4 million for the Rockdale County Fire and Rescue, $6.6 million for Finance $2.2 million for the Rockdale Department of Transportation and $1.2 million for the Planning and Development.

The Chair’s proposal also keeps funding the Conyers Rockdale Economic Development Council with $125,000.

Post 1 Commissioner Oz Nesbitt has urged for the board to increase the county’s contributions to as much as $250,000.

The public safety department would dominate the funds of

the county’s $2.4 capital bud- public hearing in relation to the budget is scheduled to take get under Oden’s proposal. The proposed 2015 budget Nov. 11 place Nov. 25 at 10 a.m. and the fire department would receive a at 10 a.m. in the Assembly Hall, Discount. second reading and adoption of little more than $1 million, 44 901 Main Street, Conyers. The next year’s budget should ocDiscount. percent, of the budget next year. regular meeting of the BoardDiscount. of Discount. cur at the board’s regular meetAfter receiving about 75 Commissioners will follow the Discount. ing scheduled for, Dec. 9 at Discount. percent of the capital budget- public hearing.

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The Rockdale County celebrated its newly completed Black Shoals Retreat House and Nature Trail project with a ribbon cutting and trail walk Oct. 20, attended by officials, including Commission Chairman Richard Oden, Commissioner JaNice Van Ness, Commissioner Oz Nesbitt, Parks and Recreation Director Jackie Lunsford, Capital Projects Manager Andrew Hammer, Parks and Recreation SPLOST Subcommittee chair Chuck McCullough, and more. The natural trail is a 1.8-mile unpaved scenic trail.

The Retreat House is the first-ever indoor facility at Black Shoals Park/Veteran’s Park/Walk of Heroes with heat and AC, toilets, kitchen, a porch with picnic tables, and space for large meetings or events. Beginning in January 2015, the new facility will offer community classes and programs such as yoga.

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Opinion NEWS

PUBLISHER T. Pat Cavanaugh

A peace before sunset

EDITOR Michelle Kim

pcavanaugh@rockdalenews.com

mkim@rockdalenews.com

DESIGN EDITOR Sabastian Wee

SALES DIRECTOR Annette Godwin

swee@rockdalenews.com

agodwin@rockdalenews.com

CIRCULATION DIR. Amanda Ellington

COMPTROLLER Debbie Thompson

aellington@covnews.com

Thoughts of a Baby Boomer

dthompson@covnews.com

Our Thoughts Change While the recent election brought about a sweep of Republicans into office across the state and nation, in Rockdale it was Democrat Dr. Doreen Williams who was swept into office and Republican JaNice Van Ness who was swept out of office.

It’s too bad we couldn’t have both Van Ness and Williams in office.

We want to thank Van Ness for her service. We respect her direct honesty and energy. She has never been afraid to fight for what she has believed in and is a successful businesswoman and educator.

We don’t think she is going to fade off into the sunset after this; that’s not her personality.

She has shown she loves her community and is willing to put in the time to see that it stays the progressive community that is.

Dr. Doreen Williams is from a western state and with all of our dealings with Westerners we have found them to be direct and to the point and for the most part honest.

The major concern that we have heard expressed is if she will be an independent thinker as she serves on the BOC Post 2 position, that she will not be swayed by political party affiliation or any other type of like pressure.

Williams has made it clear that she will be her own person; we believe her.

We wish JaNice Van Ness the very best in her future activities and we wish Dr. Doreen Williams the very best in helping to bring our county into a positive future.

L

ast week a neighbor friend passed on to his own personal sunset; the last month of his life was filled with anxiety about his life and what the future was to be for him.

During the last two weeks of his life he was racked w i t h numbing pain because of fast growing canT. Pat cer.

Cavanaugh I can Publisher assure you there is no way that you can be calm suffering numbing pain.

Just a few days ago he finally accepted hospice as his health manager He was immediately given the medicine needed to take his pain away and for a short time. He finally seemed to be in peace.

During my time I worked with hospice I came to an understanding about life that I had not experienced before.

I wrote the following column when I was in Arizona working with RTA Hospice, I hope it helps you as you deal with relatives and friends who are about to die or for those of you who are left behind to mourn.

More than a month has passed since I joined the staff of RTA Hospice, filled then with a passion to do something that would make a difference in people’s lives. If anything, I actually feel more of that passion.

It’s not necessarily because of my own energy and enthusiasm, but because every day I am buoyed by the strength, courage and quiet dignity of our patients and the strength and courage of the RTA Hospice staff.

We all experience those days when we feel down from just the tension and pressure of “living.” For me it changes when I walk into

the in-patient unit here at Hospice House. Whether I’m just stopping in for a short visit with a patient here for symptom management or to chat with a someone whose caregiver needed some re-

“

very moment a person elects comfort care over aggressive treatment. Our staff becomes deeply involved in the lives of their patients’ and throughout the course of care; the hospice staff be-

Bereavement should include a time to acknowledge and celebrate the life of the one you loved. It should include a testimony of the good things that your loved one was or meant to you.

spite time and will soon return home, or to visit those who are here because death is imminent and they will soon pass away.

Whatever the reason, my contact with them makes me feel at peace. These are fantastic people who have led fulfilling and varied lives, but who are approaching their own journey with a determination to be in control of their lives until the very end. The have chosen comfort, dignity and peace and are happy to have their families with them. These individuals – full of pride for the lives they have lived – make me smile and occasionally shed a tear – as I witness their strength and courage.

Sadly, last week, as I was making my rounds, I realized that several of my new friends had already passed away. I only knew them briefly, but I still felt a very real loss. It made me wonder how the hospice staff – the physicians, the nurses, the personal care attendants, social workers and chaplains – all of whom work so very closely with our patients and their families – deal with the continued losses they face. The hospice relationship – patient and family and hospice staff is a relationship that begins at the

“

the

Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014 RockdaleNews.com/opinion Page 5

comes an integral part of that family’s life. They provide comfort, they worry, they often smile and occasionally they cry with them, and they grieve for them when they pass.

How do we all – families and staff – deal with our grief when a loved one passes?

Some of us handle loss with great stoicism and a determination to show no emotion at any cost. Some are much more emotional and cry – even wail – as though his or her heart is forever broken. The way that each handles his or her grief is unique.

As I thought about my own grief and the grieving that all of our families and our staff face, I realized more fully the importance of the Hospice bereavement program.

A program that offers grief counseling and support to families both before (if needed) and after death and continues for thirteen months.

It’s important to remember that grieving is a normal process, that everyone’s grief is different, and the journey through it occurs within one’s own time frame. But it is something that must occur so that the person left behind can even-

tually move on with “living.” It brought to mind, the times that I have told someone - out of love and with the best of intentions - to stop grieving and get on with life; that their loved one would not want them to spend their time grieving. Now I know how wrong I was and how sorry I am that I ever uttered those sentiments. It is of utmost importance to keep the spirit of your loved one alive by celebrating the life that you shared.

The word “bereavement” is often scary and carries negative connotations for some, but it shouldn’t. It now seems to me, that after talking to so many of our families after their loved one has died, that bereavement should include a time to acknowledge and celebrate the life of the one you loved. It should include a testimony of the good things that your loved one was or meant to you. Will your sadness be eliminated – of course not – but that’s OK as sadness is a normal part of the grieving process.

Remember, bereavement is not about hiding your feelings away; it’s about honoring the person that you love.

T. Pat Cavanaugh is the Publisher of The News in Rockdale and Covington.

You can reach him at pcavanaugh@rockdalenews.com

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

• Mail: Editor, The News, 1009 Milstead Ave., Suite 200, Conyers, GA 30012 • Email: news@rockdalenews. com

6 • Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014

The News

The News

Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014 • 7

Obituary Edna Louise Simon

Community Calendar

Gregory B. Levett and Sons Funeral Home Memorial Services for Mrs. Edna Louise Simon of Covington, GA will be held on Saturday November 8, 1 p.m. at the Scottdale Chapel 351 N.Clarendon Ave., Scottdale, GA. Pastor William M. Britton Sr., Officiating. Private interment.

She is survived by one son Calvin Wayne Simon of Stone Mountain, GA, one daughter Lisa Faye Rowe of Decatur, GA, three grandchildren, five great grandchildren, a host of other relatives and friends who are asked to assemble at Scottdale Chapel at 12:30 pm.

Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc., Rockdale Chapel 770285-6673. For more information Text ESimon to 7272 The Rockdale News Nov. 8, 2014

The Community Calendar deadline is noon Thursday. Email a description, place, time, phone number to news@rockdalenews. com.

SATURDAY, NOV. 8

Praise in the Park for Phoenix Pass 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Free; Enjoy a day of free music and good company with Phoenix Pass’ Praise in the Park event in Lighthouse Village; donations are greatly appreciated; Phoenix Pass benefits women and families experiencing temporary homelessness by giving them an opportunity to reestablish self-sufficiency; For more, www. phoenixpass.org

Teen Leadership Summit 8:30 a.m. - noon; At Rockdale Career Academy; registration closed, volunteers/sponsors needed; katy@ conyers-rockdale.com

Monastery Lectures 6:30-8 p.m.; Monastery of the Holy Spirit, Conyers, GA;2625 Georgia 212, Conyers, 30094 (770) 483-8705; Admission of $20 is required

TUESDAY, NOV.11

Walk of Heroes Veteran’s Day Ceremony 11 a.m., Walk of Heroes Veterans Memorial at Black Shoals Park, 3001 Black Shoals Rd., Conyers; key note speaker at the event will be Captain John Warren, Marine Corps 20042008; In 2006, he fought in the Battle of Ramadi in Iraq; now president and founder of Lima One Capital; For more, go to www.walkofheroes.org

American Legion Veteran’s Day Ceremony 11 a.m.; American Legion Post 77, 674 AmericanLegion Road, NE; honor guard, color guard; guest speaker Bob Green; luncheon afterwards; public invited

GPTC Veterans Day Celebration 12-2 p.m. Luncheon; 4-6 p.m. Veteran and Military Support Center Reception; Ga. Piedmont Technical collge DeKalb Campus; To RSVP 404-2979522 ext: 1165 or andersce@gptc.edu

DMS Veterans Day events 2 p.m. WWII biplane Stearman Squadron flyover, 2:30 p.m. ceremony at gym guest speakers The News’ “A Veteran’s Story” columnist Pete Mecca

and Herb Smith, former guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 12

Healthy Living with Diabetes Event

10 a.m.- 4 p.m.; Hoasted by Rockdale Medical Center Conyers, GA 30012;(770) 918-3000; this event is open to the public and no registration is required.

THURSDAY, NOV. 13

HHS fall musical “The Addams Family”

7:30 p.m. Nov. 13-15, 20-22; 2:30 p.m. Sundays Nov. 16, 23; A new musical comedy; tickets $10 adults, $8 senior citizens, $5 students; 770-4835428 x27177, patriotboxoffice@yahoo. com, www.patriotplayers.com

SATURDAY, NOV. 15

Ella the Elephant at Stonecrest 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 3:30 p.m., join Ella the Elephant for her Christmas Adventures; free; Stonecrest Mall off Turner Hill exit on I-20, Lithonia

SUNDAY, NOV.16

Prematurity Awareness Service

8 a.m.; Hosted by The Phi Omicron Zeta Chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc; Bethlehem Baptist Church of Covington; Near Usher, St Clark St and

Emory St; to educate the public about the importance of prenatal care

Civil War 150th Anniversary marker dedication 3 p.m.; Olde Town Conyers Depot/ Welcome Center; dedication of state historical marker for Conyers events along the path of Sherman’s Army and Sherman’s March to the Sea

THURSDAY, NOV. 20

XYZ Organization meeting

10:30 a.m.; First Baptist of Conyers at 2100 GA. Hwy.; Lunch is $6.00; Deadline to register is Nov. 14, 2014; For reservations call 770-760-0083.

Mobile Food Pantry 12-4 p.m.; The Resource Center for Community Action; 1400 Parker Road Conyers, GA. 30094; food is available while quantities last to anyone in need; 678-288-5433 ext.101

SHS fall musical “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” Nov. 20-22, 8 p.m. and Nov 23, at 3 p.m. Salem High School is Performing “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”;3551 Underwood Rd SE, Conyers, GA 30013;Tickets are Presale $5.00 for students and seniors and $7.00 for adults. At the door $6:00 for students and seniors and $8.00 for adults.Ticket info (770) 929-0176

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8 • Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014

ELECTION From front page

campaign supporters. Moments later, she returned from the back room with her entourage in tow and her teary eyes red.

“It’s been a long race, so I’m just glad for tonight to be over,” Van Ness said. “I wish her (Williams) well in her tenure over the next four years. It’s been an incredible job serving the people of Rockdale County. I’ve done the best that I can, and I feel happy with that.”

The happiness wasn’t evident on the face of Van Ness, but the Williams camp was exuding with joy at her campaign celebration event at Sudo Bar & Grill, 2270 Salem Road, Conyers, after hearing the news of Williams’ victory.

With Kool & the Gang’s classic 1980’s hit “Celebrate” blasting through the speakers of the restaurant, the Rockdale County Democratic Party Chairman Tommy Palmer asked the DJ to pause the music for a moment to congratulate Williams and share in a round of applause with all of her supporters at the event.

“You can’t do this by yourself,” Williams said later in the event.

“It takes a lot of people supporting you.”

It also takes a lot of votes, and Williams believes the voters sided with her during this mid-term election year because of her desire to get the county’s ethics commission up and running and wanting to implement an overall strategic plan for the county.

“I think they like the vision I have for Rockdale County,” she said. “… We need to know what Rockdale County wants and where we want to be in five, 10,

The News

“

We need to know what Rockdale County wants and where we want to be in five, 10, 15 (or) 20 years from now, so that the decisions we make now fit into that plan and they’re not just in isolation that may or may not work with where we decide to go in the end.

—Doreen Williams 15 (or) 20 years from now, so that the decisions we make now fit into that plan and they’re not just in isolation that may or may not work with where we decide to go in the end.”

On the other side of the political spectrum, Van Ness described reasons as to why the Rockdale citizens chose to not vote her back into office.

Those reasons included not having a high voter turnout because it wasn’t a presidential year, not getting enough Democratic voters on her side through campaigning and voter’s feeling disenfranchised by state and national candidates in other election races.

“But I think we ran a great ethical race and I think anyone who really looked at the facts and credentials of the candidates certainly would easily have been able to choose me, unfortunately voters today, those are not the things that they look at,” said Van Ness. “It could be the way someone name is, the way they look, the party they’re affiliated. We see a lot of that.”

When Williams takes office in January 2015, it will mark the first time in Rockdale’s history that all

Democrats will sit on the county board of commissioners. Williams says she’s “scared to death,” but is looking forward to the opportunity to serve Rockdale.

“I’m very excited. It’s the culmination of months of hard work, so that’s very gratifying,” she said. “I know that I have a lot to learn, but I’ll do it. I’ll put in the work just like I put in the work for my campaign.”

Her win brought approval of other Democratic officials. Rockdale County Post 1 Commissioner Oz Nesbitt, Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office Eric Levett and Rockdale County Tax Commissioner RJ Hadley joined Williams at Sudo to congratulate her.

Rockdale County Chairman Richard Oden didn’t attend the event but did send Williams a congratulatory text message, said Williams.

In a later conversation with The News, Oden called Williams’ victory in the election a “super result” and has no doubt that the citizens chose the right candidate.

He says he’s looking forward to hearing Williams’ goals and strategies for moving Rockdale County forward.

“I’ve watched her work and her work ethic. She’ll bring that calm voice and calm reason to the table, and maturity,” he said. “I’m a firm believer in that. I look forward to working with everyone and taking care of the people’s business. I think Doreen Williams is going to help me get there, as well as Post 1 (Commissioner Nesbitt), as a team.”

Oden also took a moment to speak about Van Ness’ departure from the board.

“I wish her well as she runs her education business (Peachtree Academy),” he said.

“Any time a citizen steps for-

ward to make that sacrifice to serve the public as an elected official, as she did for eight years, it’s worth recognizing.”

The Rockdale County Republican Party Chair Lynn Brown isn’t as thrilled about Williams election to the BOC. On top of thinking Van Ness was the better candidate due to her experience in office and in business, Brown feels that with three Democrats on the county board issues won’t be addressed with different perspectives.

Brown valued Van Ness’ tendency to test issues, ask questions and challenge her fellow commissioners.

“I don’t think they’ll challenge each other,” Brown said during a phone interview.

“They’ll be walking foot-in-line with each other.”

Brown also doesn’t see an ethics commission coming into fruition any time soon, even though enacting an ethics board was a key platform issue of Williams during her campaign.

“I believe Rockdale is in for a much rougher time now,” she said. “I hope for the sake of Rockdale I’m wrong.”

ON the other hand, Rockdale County Democratic Party Chairman Tommy Plummer believes that having three Democrats on the board won’t be as big of an issue as Brown does.

“Rockdale County will have the finest commission,” said Plummer. “No disrespect to JaNice Van Ness, but it’s time for Doreen Williams to step up,” he said.

As long as their all doing the jobs and making good decisions for the betterment of the county, having three people from the same political party shouldn’t be a worry of the citizens, says Plummer.

GOVERNOR Rockdale Deal 40.2% Carter 58.01%

SENATE Rockdale Perdue 39.77% Nunn 58.77%

State Deal 54.1% Carter 43.5% State Perdue 54.3% Nunn 43.75%

SEC. OF STATE Rockdale Carter 56.16% Kemp 43.79%

State Carter 41.12% Kemp 58.88%

ATTORNEY GEN.

Rockdale Olens 43.63% Hecht 56.33%

State Olens 58.33% Hecht 41.67%

STATE SUPERINT. Rockdale Wilson 57.72% Woods 42.21%

State Wilson 43.47% Woods 56.53%

STATE HOUSE 114 Rockdale Kirby 54.42% Thomas 45.52%

State Kirby 75.39% Thomas 24.61%

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The News

Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014 • 9

The News

10 • Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014

veterans day

Giving back to the troops

By Sandra Brands

mrand@rockdalenews.com

At the time, Julie Pearson just wanted to do something for her fiancé, who was beginning his second tour of Iraq. With her mother, Virginia, she put together 32 Christmas stockings stuffed with 420 pounds of snacks, toiletries and other items and sent them to her fiancé to share with his unit.

The idea of sending care packages to troops stationed in a combat zone snowballed. Donations came in and volunteers showed up to help pack boxes. Since its beginning in November 2004, Operation Sandbox-Georgia has reached more than 86,000 men and women from across the Unit-

ed States serving overseas, said Virginia Pearson, co-founder and president of Operation Sandbox-Georgia.

The name Operation Sandbox-Georgia came from veterans, Pearson said, who claimed serving in Iraq was like being in a sandbox. Now a nonprofit organization, Operation Sandbox has moved its operations from a small church to the National Guard Armory in Covington and continues sending boxes to troops serving in combat zones, mainly in Afghanistan.

“I did it at first to support my daughter,” Virginia Pearson said.

“I wanted to let troops know that I appreciated what they were doing for my freedom. When I got into

it, I saw what it meant to the soldiers and their families.”

The boxes, which range in size from small to large, can carry anything from coffee, Q-tips, cotton balls, beef jerky, powdered drink mixes and a variety of toiletries, to games, phone cards, blankets, heaters and DVD players. A packet containing a “thank you” letter to the troops and a form that soldiers can fill out to request specific items is also included. Boxes can be individually tailored to meet requests and needs.

“If you have someone serving over there [in a combat zone], all it takes is an email telling us about them and we can send the unit a box,” Pearson said. “It

Operation Sandbox celebrates 10 years

doesn’t cost you anything.”

Unfortunately, Pearson said, there has been a decline in interest in the project since U.S. troops pulled out of Iraq three years ago.

According to military reports earlier this year, there are still 38,000 troops in Afghanistan.

Pearson said there is a need for beef jerky, Slim Jims, mouthwash, toothpaste, travel size baby wipes, individually packed peanuts, hard candy, deodorant, lip balm, dental floss, flavored drink singles and individual microwaveable meals.

Left over Halloween candy can be donated as well.

Volunteers meet at the National Guard Armory on Carroll Street in Covington on Wednes-

day mornings, packing boxes and getting them ready to mail from 9 a.m. to noon.

“I would love to see more people help,” Wolcott said. “Everyone talks about supporting the military and this is a great way to do it, even if they can only come once a month.

Operation Sandbox-Georgia serves not only troops in all branches of the military from the state, but from around the country.

For more information about Operation Sandbox-Georgia, visit the website or send an email to opsandboxga@bellsouth.net.

A list of requested items is also available for download at Operation Sandbox-Georgia’s web site.

recent military graduates

upcoming veterans day events

Rockdale students and residents have gone on to serve in many branches of the military. Here are a few recent military training graduates.

Walk of Heroes to host Veterans Day program

Petty Officer 1st Class Angel Jimenez, a 1994 George Walton Academy graduate, is serving aboard one of the U.S. Navy’s newest and most advanced ships, the destroyer Zumwalt (DDG 1000), which is currently under construction at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Valencia Benton, a boatswain’s mate and 2009 Newton High School graduate from Covington, Ga., is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard one of the world’s largest warships, the San Diego-based aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).

Air Force Reserve Senior Master Sgt. David F. Strickland has retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserve after serving honorably for 26 years. Strickland was last serving as a First Sergeant with 94th Airlift Wing, Dobbins Air Base, Ga. Army Pvt. Delante N. Williams has graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Benning, Ga. Army Pvt. Joseph D. Wright has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. Army Pfc. Leondra Alexander has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. Army Pvt. Sydney Livingston has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. Army Pvt. Mukal Smith has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. Army Spc. Dixie Robinson has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.

Air Force Airman 1st Class Akil J. Maynard graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.

Air Force Airman Jaron J. Johnson graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.

Air Force Airman Ramonte T. Grier graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.

Air Force Airman Charles D. Tait graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.

Air Force Airman Joshua A. Felice graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas with distinction as an honor graduate.

Army Pfc. Skylar K. Holcombe has graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga.

The Georgia Veterans Memorial Park Foundation will host a Veterans Day program honoring late and current veterans next week.

The event will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11 and take place at the stage area of the Walk of Heroes Memorial, which is located at Black Shoals Park, 3001 Black Shoals Rd., Conyers.

The key note speaker at the event will be Captain John Warren. He served in the United States Marine Corps for four years, from 2004-2008 and. In 2006, he fought in the Battle of Ramadi, which was part of the Iraq War.

Warren is now president and founder of Lima One Capital, a lending company for residential real estate investors.

GPTC Veterans Day Celebration Nov. 1, noon – 2 p.m. Luncheon; 4-6p Support Center Reception GPTC DeKalb Campus Georgia Piedmont Technical College celebrates students and employees who are veterans with a Veterans Luncheon from noon -2 p.m. at the Conference Center and a Veteran and Military Support Center Reception at room A170 To RSVP, 404-297-9522 x1165, andersce@gptc.edu

Air Force Airman Isaac D. Alexander graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.

Air Force Reserve Airman 1st Class Leandre R. Webb graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.

Air Force Airman Bryan C. Johnson graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.

Army Pvt. DeAsia Rudder has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.

Navy Seaman Alexander Booker recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.

Air Force Airman Donovan D. Howard graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.

Navy Seaman Christi C. Hatch recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.

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The News

Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014 • 11

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Sports

Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014 Page 12 rockdalenews.com

SEASON PREVIEWS Shakeem Holloway /The

Lady Bulldogs look to climb the ranks

By Shakeem Holloway

sholloway@rockdalenews.com

L

ast year, Rockdale County High School’s Lady Dawgs finished the region tied for second, but took third as the result of a coin toss. The team eventually suffered a tough loss in the third place region game against Alcovy 42-38.

On a team that has just four seniors and young but inexperienced talent, Lady Bulldogs’ head coach Gladys King has her work cut out. King has been preaching fundamentals and discipline to her team, and more importantly, playing within the system.

The team returns three starters from last year and the rest are players brought up from JV and middle school.

“We’re kind of young,” King

said. “My thing is just work on the fundamentals and the confidence level to build those girls and get them strong to get them where they need to be as a young team. Some of the ones that are returning, I want them to come out and play their role and we can get back to being at the top of the region. I don’t have doubt that we can’t, but I feel that we can work hard to get there.”

Kings says that the team has a defense-first approach toward this season, which is evident in their practices. Watching the Lady Dawgs practice against the ninth grade boys, you can see that playing against the guys adds a level of aggression and physicality to the way the girls play.

In practice the girls go after the boys and pressure the ball.

Q&A: King takes over Rockdale basketball

By Shakeem Holloway

sholloway@rockdalenews.com

Tyrone King will take over as Rockdale County basketball head coach this season after serving as an assistant under former coach Al Williams last year. The Bulldogs are coming off a 10-17 (5-7 region) season that ended in a first round exit in the state playoffs, but

that team was young and King thinks this year the team could win state.

The Rockdale News: With this being your first season as Rockdale’s head coach what are some of the things you want to do and implement?

Tyrone King: Well basically I just want keep on the tradition

They forced multiple turnovers in the scrimmage by pressuring the ball and knowing where to be when trapping a ball handler.

With the way Rockdale plans to pressure the ball, they also need to be able to dribble/pass outside of pressure/traps. They worked on both in their simulation against the ninth grade boys.

“We’ve been working on a lot of ball handling. We’ve been working on a lot of defense.

As we all know, defense wins games. We’ve been working on our defense a lot and different defenses – press (defense) and things like that. Defense has been the key,” King said.

Rockdale travels to open its season against Green Forest Christian on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. that coach Williams had the guys know. Being his assistant I learned about the program.

We’ve got some great athletes in the program and I think we can do a lot. The main thing is just getting them committed to defense and rebounding. Last year we were very young and I didn’t think they understood the importance of even though you’re athletic, we still need to play tough on the defensive end. The rebounding aspect was big for us last year especially when we played teams

See King on PAGE 13

A Rockdale player drives to the basket for a layup during warm-ups.

Shakeem Holloway /The

Shakeem Holloway /The

Rockdale boys basketball head coach Tyrone King talks to players before they scrimmage on Friday.

13 13

The News The The News News

King

talking with coach Williams last year, that’s one of the things we can focus on. Another thing we focus on, just perfecting the basics. Let’s finish at the rin and make free throws. Free throws and field goals win championships in basketball and football...If we’re not making free throws we’re not gonna win those close games…

From 12

that were bigger than us.

RN: Coach talk a little bit about the system that you’re going to have.

King: We’re very athletic this year and I think we’re even more athletic than last year especially at the bigger positions. It just depends on the type of team we’re playing.

If we just see weakness in teams with their guards we’re going to apply a lot of pressure. Basically, we’re trying to score in transition this year. Just keep the same principles on defense, but just be more intense on defense this year. Getting our hands in the passing lanes – that’s one of the things after reviewing last year’s film and just

RN: I know you’ve got some of your players playing football. So coach how has that affected you as far as practice goes?

King: Right now it’s really not affecting us. We have a lot of guys that are out for basketball. You might get a couple guys from football, but mainly these guys have been playing all summer. We have about 14 or 15 guys that are just strictly basketball guys. We might catch about one or two kids on the varsity that are from football, but it really hasn’t slowed down anything. It’s the teams in

Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014 • 13 Saturday, Saturday, Nov. Nov. 8, 8, 2014 2014 •• 3 3 South Georgia that have the whole basketball team as the football team. I think we’re faring pretty well with that.

RN: What are your goals for this season?

King: I just let the kids know that we have the potential to not only make it to a state championship, but to win a state championship. We have all the pieces that we need.

We’re loaded at the guard position. We’re really deep. I think with the addition of Dwayne Brown this year. He’s had bad luck the last two years. He’s had back surgery last year, so he missed his whole 11th grade year. I know that if this team plays to the capability that they can play, I know that not just the state tournament but the state championship is a goal that we have and there’s no reason that we can’t make it if everybody comes together and does what they’re supposed to do

YACS Middle School Volleyball Wins the MACAC Conference

submitted photo

100 100 Days Days Same Same as as CASH CASH

100 Days Same 100 Days as CASH

Same as CASH

YACS Middle School Volleyball team won the MACAC Conference. Overall, the team finished the season with a 9-2 record. Coach Kerry Brown stated: “I could not be more proud of these girls. They worked incredibly hard and never gave up! They did all of this while keeping a positive attitude.”

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The News

The News

Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014 • 15

JUDGE

From front page

Lotto winner

The 65-year-old female victim ropolitan area while there is a in this case won approximately lack of evidence to suggest any $2 million in the Missouri lot- of the money was used for the tery in 2008. nonprofit.

She would In 2013, meet Pearson Pearson One time I called two years latproduced a her, and she was getting loan agreeer in January 2010. ready to board the plane ment where According the victim to the Bahamas, ... to the indictallegedly ment records, agreed to She was a smart, slick, in the spring lend Pearson of 2010, Pear$420,000 lying, educated crook. son allegedly and Pearson convinced would repay the victim —Marva Wilson, victim the victim the to transfer full amount a total of loaned in $480,000 into three years. a checking account setup for a However, this never happened nonprofit organization, Recidi- and after making payments tovism at Work, Pearson founded. taling $38,170, allegedly using When questioned by law en- Wilson’s own money, Pearson forcement about the transfer, stopped making payments in Pearson allegedly stated the August of 2011 and still owes money was an investment and the victim $441,830. the total supplied from the victim was only $200,000. She Tax evader also allegedly claimed to have In May 2010, Pearson setup a used the money strictly for second bank account for RAW, business purposes. which was allegedly used to However, according to the only receive transfers from the indictment, Pearson alleged- first RAW checking account ly used the money to gamble, that held the money from the travel, buy cars, clothes and victim. furniture and pay rent while Pearson filed for Chapter 7 she lived in the St. Louis met- bankruptcy protection in De-

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cember 2010, allegedly under the guise that she had only $1,770 in assets, $91,883 in unsecured debt and no job. Pearson allegedly didn’t disclose either of the RAW bank accounts which had a combined balance of $56,506 at the time.

Pearson also neglected to disclose any of the debt she allegedly owed to the victim.

She received a discharge of her debts, worth $122,000 in March 2011.

Fraud In March 2010, Pearson allegedly applied for federal housing benefits, specifically the Section 8 tenant voucher housing program. Later that month, she was admitted into the program.

Pearson continued to receive benefits for a rental home in Kansas City, Missouri, while living in St. Louis, Missouri through March 2012. Later that month she was approved for transfers of benefits to Orange County, California, although her benefits were still paid by the Western Housing Authority.

Pearson received federal housing benefits from the Weston Housing Authority from April 2010 through April of this year totaling $76,837.

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said Waldrop, referring to Mays’ party. “But the case there has nothing to do with whether the good judge violated the law.”

Waldrop pointed out several of the accusations against Mays, including theft - for spending money establishing a veteran’s or mental health court after Mays had been advised of its legal impossibility under a Probate Court judge - and forgery on a document Mays submitted to Rockdale Water Resources to reduce his overdue water bill did not depend on Pearson.

When asked Wednesday about the indictment, Pearson declined to comment and referred questions to Waldrop.

Mays also declined to comment Wednesday on Pearson’s indictment and referred questions to his attorney Gary Washington. Washington said he is acting in an advisory role, since no official charges have been pressed. He declined to comment but added, regarding Pearson’s indictment, “As a legal matter, there’s been no conviction. But where there’s

smoke, there’s fire.”

According to an article in the Kansas City Star, Pearson met the victim, Marva Wilson, who was described as financially unsophisticated, in 2010. Wilson, then had won $2 million in the lottery in 2008. Pearson convinced Wilson to withdraw money from an annuity that had been set up for Wilson and give it to a nonprofit Pearson had set up called Recidivism At Work, Inc. Wilson told KSHB Channel 41 Action News in Kansas City, “They said that I signed some papers. I didn’t know what the hell I signed. What I signed was a way for my money to be gone.”

“I didn’t know it,” said the 65-year-old, weeping. “”One time I called her, and she was getting ready to board the plane to the Bahamas,” Wilson said to KSHB. “She was a smart, slick, lying, educated crook.”

Pearson is facing up to 40 years in federal prison if convicted of all the charges.

Pearson has a history of evictions, garnishments and other civil cases against her in Missouri stretching back at least to 1997.

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16 • Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014

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