the NEWS April 18, 2015 Volume 7, Issue 1
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CHICAGO The warrant hearing for Rockdale County Probate Judge Charles Mays Sr., brought by former Probate Court worker Freya Pearson, was postponed after a conflict of interest question was raised about a city traffic ticket. Pearson’s attorney, Mike Waldrop, also serves as the city attorney and the solicitor for Conyers Municipal Court. Pearson reportedly had a traffic ticket from February 2015.
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OLDE TOWN
Business incubator plan is in doubt By John Ruch
jruch@rockdalenews.com
Heritage High’s Academy for Performing and Visual Arts and the Patriot Players bring to life the Bob Fosse Broadway musical “Chicago.” The hit show is based on a 1926 play of the same name by reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins about actual criminals and crimes she reported on. Directed by Michelle Thorne, musical direction by Terrance Green, with choreographer Heather Bragg, guest choreographer Henry Scott, technical direction by Jim Thorne, production managers Leanne Wheeler and William Adcock. Starring Jade Gonzalez and Jackie Manning as murderesses Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart, Anthony Martin as slick lawyer Billy Flynn, Bianca Brown as jail Matron Morton, Devin Patterson as Amos Hart, and more. Enjoy a spectacular show as these local young people wow you with their talent. April 16-18 and 23-25 at 7:30 p.m., April 19 and 23 at 2:30 p.m. More photos at rockdalenewsdigital.com (photos by Michelle Kim)
Warrant hearing for probate judge deferred By Michelle Kim
Check out where these students are headed Serving Rockdale County and Conyers
rockdalenews.com
mkim@rockdalenews.com
SIGNING DAY:
DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Linda Hunter heard the case Wednesday in place of Rockdale judges, who recused themselves from hearing the case involving a judge in the same circuit. Pearson alleged that she worked for Mays on behalf of the Probate Court in trying to set up a Veteran’s or Accountability Court – though Mays reportedly had been told it was not technically feasible to set up that accountability court under the Probate court – and is owed about $20,000 in back pay. The warrant
is seeking counts for theft of services, theft by deception for using state funds to pursue setting up the accountability court, and forgery in allegedly defrauding Rockdale Water Resources. Mays had previously said regarding the charges, “None of the allegations she’s making are true.” The arguments on these points were not heard on Wednesday, however. Mays’ defense attorney Gary
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Plans for a business incubator in Olde Town are in doubt due to a competing tenant. It’s the latest challenge to local government’s efforts to attract startup companies, a push that has had its own problems starting up. The latest incubator proposal targets the long-vacant former Michelangelo restaurant, a sprawling Victorian house at Railroad and Elm streets. At their Winter Retreat in January, Conyers city officials talked in detail about collaborating with property owner Harris Tessler on a plan for startup space and a new Conyers Main Street Program office. But now, that plan is in doubt. “[Tessler] had another offer for use of the building and I’m not sure where that stands,” Conyers Chief Operating Officer David Spann told the News. “He is still in negotiations with some individuals about a possible different business there, but the remodel may be too great for that project.” “As of right now, we are still evaluating the concept for this location,” Tessler told the News, adding that details of a future use might be clearer in a few weeks. Tessler is the vice president of brokerage at Ackerman & Co., an Atlanta-based commercial real estate firm. Harris represents an LLC that owns the building, but the purchase was partly financed by the Conyers Downtown Development Authority, Spann said. Spann said that the city has not identified any alternative site for an incubator if this plan falls through. Various types of facilities to support the birth of new businesses are popular around metro Atlanta and the nation. They are called a variety of terms, with “business incubator” and “coworking space” among them. They always involve a number of small businesses sharing the space, and offer facilities— such as the commercial kitchen and office space that
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