the NEWS May 23, 2015
Volume 7, Issue 6
$1
Life after high school
1
tion dua
e f i L
2015
gra
Aftergh School Hi
t to
s New men
pple
l su
ecia
a sp
MAY
2015
See our special graduation special edition inside
Serving Rockdale County and Conyers
rockdalenews.com
Meet the Vals & Sals Pill identified by GBI, investigation ongoing By Martin Rand III
jruch@rockdalenews.com
The GBI have identified the unknown pill that Magistrate Court Judge Phinia Aten found in her glass of water last week, according to Sherry Lang, public information officer for the Georgia Bureau of Investigations. Lang says while the GBI has identified the pill, the agency is withholding any further information because the situation is still under investigation. On May 11, Aten found a white pill in her water after first appearance hearings at the Rockdale
See PILL on PAGE 14
City’s $14M budget to include new police cadet program
OPEN WITH A SPLASH
By John Ruch
jruch@rockdalenews.com
The Conyers City Council held its first hearing on the city’s proposed $14 million Fiscal Year 2015 budget on May 20. Among the significant new budget items is a police cadet program requested by Conyers Police Chief Gene Wilson to boost police recruiting and diversity. City Chief Financial Officer Isabel Rogers estimated general fund revenues and expenditures balancing out at $14,143,988 - a number that surely would change in practice. The budget requires a second council hearing before it can be approved in time for the start of the fiscal year
See PROGRAM on PAGE 14
Like us at facebook. com/ rockdalenews
Follow us @rockdalenews
Rockdale County Department of Recreation & Maintenance and the SPLOST Citizens Oversight Committee celebrated the grand opening of the Milstead Park splash pad on Monday, May 18, at Milstead Park, 1665 Main Street, Conyers 30012. After taking nearly a year and a half to complete, the newly renovated park includes an open lawn, small walking trail, a pavilion, picnic area, grill, swings and exercise equipment. The 20 by 30 foot splash pad, which now stands where the old historic Milstead pool used to be, is an above ground play area with various water fountains and streams, and combines different water movements to entertain users. The park and splash pad is open for public use 8 a.m.-8 p.m. The splash pad uses anywhere from 30-60 gallons per second and is the same drinkable water that comes from household taps. Officials in attendance included Rockdale County CEO and Board of Commissioners Chairman Richard Oden, Post I Commissioner Oz Nesbitt, Post II Commissioner Doreen Williams, SPLOST Citizens Oversight subcommittee members Barbara Kilpatrick, Frank Culbreath, Bill Hughey, Sam Smiley, Charlene Ellis, Rockdale County Recreation Commission members Dotti Bala (chairman, pictured holding scissors), Robin Berry, Eddie Shirey, Zeste Debro, Chester Benton, Valerie Sewell, and Rockdale County Recreation and Maintenance Directo Jackie Lunsford, Deputy Director Sue Roberts, Capital Projects Manager Andrew Morton, and parents including Debbie Stephens. Craig McCullough, head of the parks and recreation subcommittee SPLOST Citizens Oversight Committee, proclaimed after the ribbon cutting, “Ladies and gentlemen and kids, your park is now open!” (photos by Michelle Kim)