the NEWS Nov. 22, 2014
Volume 6, Issue 33
Guide Gift
Don’t let Black Friday stress you out. Check out our the guide inside.
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rockdalenews.com
Serving Rockdale County and Conyers Courtesy of the City of Conyers/The News
CONYERS PILOT CLUB
Christmas
(Pictured: Susie Garner and daughter Lindsay)This distinctive, six bedroom, three and a half bath high-ceilinged home at 972 N. Main St., built in 1905 by Joe Crumbley, has been an Olde Town fixture, located right next to the former Conyers public school and current school system central office. Susie Garner purchased it in 2002 and renovated it in nine months to make it handicap accessible and energy efficient and add a second floor.
Other homes on the tour are:
984 N. Main St., home of Don and Samantha Swaney; built in 1880 by Mr. Frost, purchased by Roland Huff for his new bride Cora Hogan; willed to Cora’s sister Stella Hogan, who never lived in the house and died in 2006 at age of 100; purchased by the Swaneys in 2009.
tour of homes
online exclusive
Heritage ATW
Check out Heritage’s athlete of the week online
Locally grown
A guide to Rockdale’s local farms
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1273 Shadowlawn Dr., home of Peggy Lawrence; built in 1985 by David and Mary Smith and purchased by Lawrence in 2011.
1116 Milstead Ave., home of Paige McCord; built in 1896, owned by Herbert Summers, Mr. & Mrs. W.A. Henson, Mr. & Mrs. Zack Almond, and purchased by McCord in 2000. Completely renovated.
991 N. Main St., home of the Currie family; built in 1935 by John Ogletree for Lawrence and Martha Veal; given to Lawrence Veal by his mother Sarah Beulah; Currie family residence since 2012.
The Pilot Club Conyers Christmas Tour of Homes returns for its 17th season with five beautifully decorated, historic homes in Olde Town Conyers on Sunday, Dec. 7, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Tickets, $12 in advance/$15 day of, can be purchased from Pilot Club members or at the Olde Jail Museum, 967 Milstead Ave. For more photos, go to www.rockdalenews.com
Budget hearing turns into personal grilling By Martin Rand III
news@rockdalenews.com
“Embarrassed” and “ashamed” were the only words Rockdale County Post 1 Commissioner Oz Nesbitt could use to describe how he felt after Commission Chairman Richard Oden addressed Conyers-Rockdale Economic Development Council Director Marty Jones during his presentation at the 2015 budget work session Tuesday afternoon. Rockdale County Post 2 Commissioner JaNice Van Ness silently shook her head in agreement to Nesbitt’s statement. The shared feelings among the Post 1 and Post 2 commissioners came from the actions of Rockdale County Commission Chairman and CEO Richard Oden. They
both felt as though Oden’s line questioning, presentation of questioning and overall tone towards Jones was out of line during the public meeting. “On behalf of the board of commissioners of Rockdale County, we do apologize,” Nesbitt said to Jones. Oden seemed to be troubled because Jones was requesting the county give $25,000 more annually to the CREDC, but Oden claims he still hasn’t received information related to the CREDC’s exact return on investment to the county, exact number of jobs created, new business comparison for the county and city, an action plan for the CREDC and other financial information
See BUDGET, Page 13
Police, schools, clergy prepare for possible Ferguson-related protests By Staff Reports
news@rockdalenews.com
Local law enforcement agencies, churches and school systems in Conyers, Rockdale and Newton counties are preparing for any possible Ferguson-style conflicts ahead of a grand jury ruling of the officer accused of killing an unarmed black teenager in Missouri. Ferguson, Mo., has drawn protests and sparked a national civil rights debate since the Aug. 9 killing of an unarmed black teen by a white police officer. Nationwide protests are likely following a pending grand jury decision on Dan Wilson, the policer officer accused of killing Michael Brown, 18, and whether he will be charged with any crimes. The City of Conyers is preparing by holding planning meetings between Police
See FERGUSON, Page 2