the News June 13, 2015 Volume 7, Issue 9

the NEWS June 13 - 19, 2015

Volume 7, Issue 9

rockdalenews.com

$1

BioLabs to expand, add 50-70 jobs, PAGE 4 Serving Rockdale County and Conyers

USE OF FORCE Law enforcement’s response to civilians has been in the national spotlight. We take a look at the options local police and deputies have and how they’re trained to respond.

Story by Martin Rand III

RCSO Chief Deputy to head Athens-Clarke police, PAGE 2

2 • Saturday, June 13, 2015

the NEWS 1009 Milstead Ave., Ste 200, Conyers, 30012 www.rockdalenews.com Office 770-787-6397 FAX 678-253-5988 News Tips: 770-728-1437, news@rockdalenews.com Advertising: 770-728-1436 Circulation: 770-728-1414 The News (USPS 15544) is published weekly on Saturday, for $32.00 a year (plus tax) for home delivery, or $33.92 by mail per year by Covington Newspaper Company, Inc. 1166 Usher Street, Covington, Ga. 30014. Periodicals postage paid at Covington, Ga. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The News, P. O. Box 1249, Covington, Ga. 30015

Meeting Place

RECREATION SPLOST MEETING Mon., June 15, 6 p.m. Johnson Park, 1781 Ebenezer Rd.

The News

Sheriff’s second in command to be Athens-Clarke County Police Chief

By Staff Reports

news@rockdalenews.com

Rockdale County Sheriff ’s Office Chief Deputy Scott Freeman will be leaving Rockdale to become the next police chief of the Athens-Clarke County Police Department starting July 6.

Freeman was appointed to RCSO Chief Deputy under Sheriff Eric Levett starting 2013. Previously, he was the Deputy Chief at the Conyers Police Department, the agency where he began his law enforcement career 25 years ago.

“It is with great pleasure (we) announce that Chief Freeman has accepted the position of Chief of Police for Athens Clarke County Police Department,” announced Sheriff Eric Levett on Tuesday.

“I’m very excited about this next chapter in my career and my life,” said Freeman, who was offered the position on Monday.

Levett said he will run day-today operations at the RCSO for the time being. “I’ll seek a chief deputy at some point,” he said.

Freeman became more familiar

with Athens as he was reFreeman’s passion for searching things that could law enforcement began be used in Rockdale, such at Rockdale County High as their camera system and School, where he parparking meters. “I just deticipated in the Explorer veloped a profound image program designed to give of them and everything the young adults interested in Freeman police department does.” law enforcement careers He said he has been hapthe opportunity to learn py in Rockdale but when the posi- about the job. tion opened in Athens, he saw it as After graduating in 1990, he an opportunity. He will be relocat- worked as a dispatcher at the Coing there by the end of the year. nyers Police Department for a year The Athens Clarke County Po- before attending the police acadelice Department is the eighth larg- my and becoming an officer. He beest police department in the state came a Major in the CPD and has and is made up of 240 sworn offi- earned both a master’s degree and a cers and 65 civilian employees. The Ph.D. in public policy from Walden position of Chief of Police for Ath- University, and also graduated the ens Clarke County Police Depart- Federal Bureau of Investigation’s ment recently became available af- Academy in Quantico, Va. in 2012. ter Chief Jack Lumpkin retired after As teenagers in the Explorer pro17 years and became the Savannah gram together, Levett and Freeman Chief of Police. set a goal that they both would one Freeman was the top choice out day become a Chief or Sheriff. Both of 64 applicants, according to the agreed whoever obtained their goal Athens Banner-Herald. first would hire the other as their “I’m extremely proud of him,” second in command. said Sheriff Levett. “I hate to see him Shortly after Sheriff Levett was go... At the same time, it’s a goal he’s voted Sheriff of Rockdale County accomplishing and I support it.” in 2012, he offered Freeman the

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position of Chief Deputy. Freeman accepted the position with honor because he could serve the citizens of Rockdale County and continue to serve the citizens of the City of Conyers, according to Levett Freeman was instrumental in assisting Sheriff Levett in re-organizing the RCSO to make it run more efficiently and fight crime more effectively, Levett said in a statement.

Some of Freeman’s biggest accomplishments include improving the morale at the RCSO, gaining the respect of the employees, equipping deputies, increasing deputy salaries, and starting the CALEA accreditation application process. The CALEA application is a time-consuming goal that remains unfinished, said Levett.

“I am going to miss working directly with Chief Freeman however I am excited for him because this is a great opportunity for him and Athens Clark County Police Department” said Sheriff Levett. “He has always had a goal of becoming a Chief of Police and he will serve

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The News

Saturday, June 13, 2015 • 3

Bed and Breakfast request denied by the Conyers-Rockdale Planning Commission

By Martin Rand III

news@rockdalenews.com

The Conyers-Rockdale Planning Commission recommended Thursday night to not issuing a special permit to two homeowners who want to start a bed and breakfast business at their home.

A motion to not approve of the married couple’s request for the special permit passed the board 4-3 in front of a crowed audience at the Assembly Hall, 901 Main Street, Thursday night.

Board member Linda Carter,

who made the initial motion, questioned why the couple would want to start the business in a community that was against it.

“I don’t question your integrity,” she said to the couple. “From a humanity standpoint, I don’t understand why you want to start the bed and breakfast when the community seems to be against it.”

The couple, Terrie and Ruben Alexander, cited upcoming retirement as a reason why they wanted to start the business now at their single-family house located at 2724 Sunday Road.

“The property will remain a sin-

gle-family home,” Terrie said to the board. “It will never be a hotel, motel, or inn.”

However, that is just one of the fears of the couple’s surrounding neighbors. Two neighbors, who weren’t in attendance at the meeting, had people read letters to the board on their behalf expressing their concerns.

The main issues concerning the neighbors are security issues with random strangers coming and going from the Alexander’s property and traffic issues with increased cars at the property. If the special permit is issued, the bed and break-

Parking restrictions for businesses eased

By Staff Reports

news@rockdalenews.com

The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners (BOC) approved of moving forward with the rehabilitation project on the Lakefield Dam and Reservoir during its voting session Tuesday.

With unanimous approval of the consent agenda, the board awarded Atlanta-based Golder Associates, Inc. a total sum of $148,500 to continue with restoration effort of the dam.

The money will be paid entirely using grant money.

The dam’s restoration effort had been suspended since August because the original contract from 2012 expired. However work must resume soon to prevent enforcement action by the Georgia Safe

Dams Program and to maintain Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding.

In other county business: -The board approved amendments to an existing ordinance that will make it a more “business friendly ordinance,” says Rockdale Planning and Development Director Marshall Walker.

The amendment will delete a restriction in general and local commercial districts which states that no more than 25 percent of required vehicle parking be located between the street right-of-way and the front of buildings.

“We certainly hope it will continue to attract businesses by the removal of that particular criteria,” said Walker to the BOC.

-The board approved of a multi-million dollar funding agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to partly finance the third phase of the Parker Road Widening Project.

GDOT will pay $3.25 million towards the project. That’s more than half the total cost of the project, which is estimated to cost about $5.6 million. The third phase will widen Parker Road from Flat Shoals Road to Ga. Hwy 138.

The initial concept for the Parker Road project was developed in the mid-90s. The first part of the project widened Parker Road Bridge.

The second phase of the project extended the widening of Parker Road to Flat Shoals Road. The final phase of the project will widen Parker Road from Ga. Hwy 138 to Ga. Hwy 20 South.

fast would allow only four guests at one time.

“If (the couple) wants to operate a bed and breakfast, I suggest he purchase one somewhere else,” the letter from one neighbor read.

“This neighborhood is no place for a business.”

The couple plans to do remodeling to their 4,000-square-foot home that sits on about 7 acres of land. The addition would increase the house size by about 800-square-feet, which would make it a “very large house” and “standout” from the surrounding homes, says board member

Chuck Russell.

But, the couple feels like the remodeling wouldn’t be an intrusion on the neighborhood because “people remodel their homes all the time,” Terrie says.

“Because we don’t feel like it will change the landscape of the community, we don’t see it as a problem” she said.

The couple, who have lived at the property for ten years, claimed that the property has been used as a business as recent as 1999.

“There was a business located on our property. It was called Sweet Sunday Farm,” she said.

#BragOnDad It’s time to Brag on Dad! Father’s Day is around the corner and you can win a prize for your dad by sending us a Tweet, with #BragOnDad, to @rockdalenews about why your father is the best. Or email us at news@rockdalenews.com. Deadline June 15.

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Don’t forget FAMILY NIGHT June 26th, 7:00PM to celebrate VBS!

4 • Saturday, June 13, 2015

The News

Car clutch manufacturer expands in Conyers-Rockdale

Rockdale Works graduates first class of students

By Staff Reports

news@rockdalenews.com

The unemployment rate in Rockdale has been steadily going down and a new program hopes to help continue that trend by putting people to work.

Rockdale Works, a workplace fundamental certification program, graduated its first class of students May 13. Out of the six students who graduated, four have already found jobs in the manufacturing, healthcare and government fields.

Georgia Piedmont Technical College (GPTC) Continuing Education Director Katrina Young, who also serves on the Rockdale County school board, was a driving force behind getting this program implemented. She says, that seeing people go through the program and earn positions “makes you feel good” because the program has helped them.

The program is aimed at helping people who are unemployed, underemployed or displaced. The 94-hour training program is designed to prepare students with practical skills for the workforce. Specific training can earn students certificates in various fields including, but not limited to, lift truck operation, general industry

By John Ruch

jruch@rockdalenews.com

and computer skills.

The program had a lot of community support behind it as well. Including the GPTC, Rockdale County Public Schools-Work Based Learning, Atlanta Regional Workforce Board, Ceek to Fulfill, City of Conyers, Connection Consultants, Conyers Housing Authority, Conyers-Rockdale Chamber, Exel, Inc., Future Staff, Georgia Department of Labor, Monarch Consulting LLC, Rockdale Coalition for Children and Families, Rockdale County Accountability Courts, Rockdale County Emergency Relief, Rockdale County Government, Rockdale County Sheriff ’s Office and the United Way have all supported the program in some capacity.

Giving the students “exposure” to new things is a major benefit of the program, says Young. “(Their) new skills (will help them) get out there and compete in the workforce arena,” she said.

The students who earn jobs will be monitored at their new places of employment for one year to see if the needs of the job are being meant, says Young. Their assessments for those studies will help mold the program for future students.

Young says there are plans to host the program again later this year.

A high end manufacturer of sport compact assemblies and competitive car clutches is doubling in size with a new headquarters in Conyers.

Chris Jewell, CEO of Conyers-based Competition Clutch (CCI), proudly announced the expansion. “Competition Clutch (CCI) is the fastest growing performance clutch company in North America. CCI contributes this growth to its commitment in the innovation and quality of the products that we manufacture and supply, complimented by a sincere desire to provide unparalleled customer service and delivery,” said Jewell.

Located in Rockdale County for more than a decade, Competition Clutch has just completed the purchase of its new headquarters on Ellington Drive, in Conyers.

“While the move is only a few blocks east across town, it will allow the company room to grow.

CCI will immediately double their space to just over 30,000 square feet with room for future growth and expansion to 60,000 square feet,” said Conyers Rockdale Eco-

BioLab to expand, add 50-70 new jobs

By Staff Reports

news@rockdalenews.com

The Conyers-Rockdale Economic Development Council announced that BioLab Inc.is expanding significantly in Conyers-Rockdale and will be adding 5070 new jobs.

BioLab Inc., a KIK Custom Products Company, has a local campus that covers approximately 52 acres, and 450,000 square feet of manufacturing and distribution space.

This expansion will result in 50 to 70 new jobs created, increased local capital investment, and has led to the leasing of additional manufacturing/warehouse space in the community. The 196,000 square foot bulding at 1350 Lester Road is owned by Ashley Capital.

In order to fill these new positions, Biolab will be hosting a job fair on Monday, June 15, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn/Stonecrest in Lithonia.

Below is a list of jobs available: - Machine Operators - Warehouse/ Forklift Operators - Material Handlers - Quality Auditor - Maintenance The Conyers manufacturing facility opened in 1973.

According to the company’s website, the Conyers facility houses several hundred square feet of warehousing and four production facilities. BioLab-Conyers supplies water-treatment products for pools and spas. BioLab was purchased from Chemtura by Canadian chemical company KIK in 2012.

nomic Development Council Director Marty Jones.

Mayor Randy Mills also expressed his interest and appreciation for Competition Clutch’s continued investment in Conyers and Rockdale County, “Chris’s vision for this ‘diamond in the rough’ facility fits in perfectly with the vision of the City of Conyers for the revitalization of this area.”

Jewell said he feels his investment represents a partnership with the City of Conyers and his business.

According to the company’s website, Competition Clutch “specializes in manufacturing sport compact assemblies from street driven to full race applications. Its products are “used in some of the fastest sport compact race cars in the country, including a number of the most recognized industry icon vehicles.”

Conyers Rockdale Economic Development Council represents both Rockdale County and the City of Conyers. The mission of CREDC is to promote and enhance the economic vitality of the community through the retention and/or expansion of existing business and the resource appropriate attraction of new business.

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Opinion the

NEWS

PUBLISHER T. Pat Cavanaugh

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

dthompson@covnews.com

Our Thoughts Curfew reminder Parenting is truly one of the hardest jobs a person can ever do. No child comes with a guidebook and every child is a different. The fruits of parenting also come years after the hard work, discipline, love and time that you invest in your child.

Probably since the dawn of time and when humans began to walk upright teens have wanted to congregate with other teens.

This is an age old custom as many of us who are slightly older might remember; we hung out at car hops and drive-ins.

In those days, if a policeman told you to move on, you did what you were told. Today many teens are not as cooperative and cities have been forced to put in place curfews to assist parents in the management of their teens.

The city of Conyers has such a curfew. Teenagers under the age of 16 are not allowed to be out on city streets 9:30 p.m. - 6 a.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. - 6 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays without being accompanied by an adult, except for certain exceptions.

We suggest that you monitor your teens if they choose to go to a late movie. Make plans to pick them up right after the show is over.

As parents it is your responsibility to see that your children obey the law. The courts can enact fines and penalties on you, as parents, for your child’s behavior.

So put in the time with your children now, while they are children, before they become teenagers. Surround them with good influences and environments.

By the time they are teens, they are already out in the world, for better or for worse.

Saturday, June 13, 2015 Page 5 rockdalenews.com

Panthers, Pathos and Pride The Bartlett High housing shady-looking School Panthers, class businesses, chunks of broof 1965, held their 50th ken cement utilized for a reunion over Memorial parking lot. A beautiful Day weekend. My wife church once dominated and I attended. For many the main intersection. The of my old classmates time building even now resemhas graciously stood still. bles a place of worship but Others, fighting various the sign out front identiPete Mecca fies cancers or unable to atthe property as Motel Columnist 6. Our once-proud neightend due to unscheduled bypass surgery, were not borhood in Raleigh has as fortunate. lost its pride. Looking upon my parMy old high school stomping ent’s last home brought tears to my ground, Bartlett, Tennessee, was eyes, trees gone, the yard unkempt, anything but old. What used to be a broken window, paint chipped, farms, cotton fields, and secretive and cheaply constructed houses dirt roads great for parking with backed up against our once-beautiyour uninterested date, had been ful backyard. paved, bricked, and mortared.

Nearby homes of neighborhood Clean and appealing restaurants, classmates fared no better. I knew businesses, hotels and banks were the families, I knew the pride and thriving, plus local neighborhoods dignity of hard working Americans displayed the homes and manicured whose efforts financed these Ameryards of owners who cared. ican dreams, these were veterans of To relive high school and talk World War II, this was the Greatest about all the trouble we managed Generation. Garbage now clutters to find was a trip back to a time of carports and curbs, tacky additions faith, fastback Fords, and fathers screamed of cheapness, cars were who were unaware that discipline jacked up for repairs put on hold. of unruly offspring violated the My sister’s beautiful two-story home progeny’s right to grow up to be- was painted a bright florescent come a social misfit. And we Pan- green; my aunt’s cute residence once thers were Patriots. referred to as “the doll house” now We served our country in large resembles a dilapidated dog house. numbers, a couple boys didn’t make Our reunion’s finale at Colonial it home, but we were taught to re- Country Club became a nostalgic spect the Flag of our Fathers so we event for yours truly. Classmates did what had to be done. The place I may never see again laughed for our trial was Vietnam, but unlike and hugged and kissed and remour fathers, we were not allowed to inisced, plus the Panthers were win. The tiny country of Vietnam gracious enough to allow me to changed us all. hog the mic and pay tribute to our Memphis and Raleigh had classmates who served, all veterchanged, too. In 1965, Bartlett and ans of the Vietnam era, and to reRaleigh were “bedroom communi- call the boys we lost. ties” of the superior Memphis metSunday’s long drive home was an ropolitan area, but now while Bart- emotional roller coaster of pleasant lett thrives Memphis and Raleigh memories yet a heartsickness for the shows signs of decay and neglect. boys lost, for a community lost, and My childhood home in Memphis for our lost innocence at the DMZ, near Highland Heights had virtually in the Central Highlands, down to disappeared, as had the once-proud the murky Mekong Delta. I needed middle class neighborhood. Person- a serious dose of Happy. al household belongings from reBright and early Memorial cent evictions cluttered a few front Day morning, Bill LeCount and I yards, fences sagged, doors ajar, crawled into American Legion Ridfoliage dead or unattended, front er Charlie Rizzo’s dazzling yellow porches boxed in with plywood. dune buggy, call sign: Big Bird. The Our church was no longer a place of event, my second in a month with worship; the gorgeous stained glass the Legion Riders, is called The Ride windows my big sister painted re- for America. placed by tinted glass.

My first event this month, The We moved to picturesque and Ride for the Fallen, drew over 200 peaceful Raleigh in 1962. What riders plus Big Bird. The Ride for the used to be a bedroom communi- Fallen was inspiring; however, The ty now looks like a war zone. The Ride for America on Memorial Day indoor mall was mostly boarded left me amazed and proud of my up, replaced by shabby structures fellow Americans and a gathering

of self-sacrificing patriots called The Riders. What they did and what became apparent on Memorial Day is worthy of a second article on an assemblage of individuals unmatched in their enthusiasm and dedication to their country and fellow veterans.

They supplied me with a serious dose of Happy.

Once upon on time in America John Q. Citizen lined the streets to watch patriotic parades.

They cheered as men and women marched, typically to the music of “The March King,” John Philip Sousa. His marching music included “The Stars and Stripes Forever” and “Semper Fidelis,” official marching song of the United States Marine Corps. Patriotic parades are now rare, Sousa’s music played mostly during national programs; a new genre of music and patriots having stepped forward to fill the gap.

On this Memorial Day Bruce “the Boss” Springsteen’s ballad “Born in the U.S.A.” boomed over loud speakers as over 1,000 motorcycles and Big Bird pulled out of Loganville’s American Legion Post 233 to form a two abreast military formation in the Ride for America.

The last vehicle, Big Bird, pulled out 17 minutes after the first motorcycle took the point. A “parade” of motorcycles, police escorts, and honored guests in vibrant Jeeps, and one dune buggy, stretched for 4 miles. All intersections and traffic signals were blocked off by our police escort.

The route took the parade through Between (yes, there is a Georgia town named Between), Monroe, Social Circle, Rutledge, with the final destination, Madison, GA. Riders, jeeps, and Big Bird paid $10 per vehicle/bike and $5 per passenger. Several participants paid more than requested. One hundred percent of monies collected went to the Legacy Fund, set up since 9/11 to pay the tuition and college books for children of fallen soldiers. At present, 123 college students receive an education due to the Legacy Fund.

Approximately 85 percent of the Riders were veterans, the oldest an 85 year old Korean War veteran.

Pride, sacrifice, love of country, all wrapped up in 4 miles of revved bikes, jeeps, and Big Bird. The ride itself is an awesome experience, but the big surprise was John Q. Citizen. People showed up in droves along the “parade” route to project the patriotism many Americans feel has died of apathy. To the contrary, patriotism is alive and well in small

town America.

All races, creeds, and colors waited for hours to witness the parade of Riders. Nursing home and assisted living residents lined the roadways, sitting in wheel chairs, smiling, waving their tiny American flags. Riding lawn mowers with their owners perched on top awaited the procession at various intersections or side streets - if their motors were running we sure as heck couldn’t hear them.

Church parking lots were congested with flag-waving Christians, people sat in lawn chairs along the roadside waving hands and American flags non-stop at the long parade of patriots, children perched on parents’ shoulders smiled, waved, and gazed in disbelief as a seemingly never-ending procession of noisy, but cool, motorcycles thundered by. Poor sections of towns stood in unity with “the haves” to honor the men and women in uniform who gave their all to keep the American dream alive for every man, woman, and child in this land of opportunity.

Monroe, Rutledge, Between, Social Circle, hundreds of cars parked by the side of the road and driveways filled with cheering residents, the beds of pickup trucks jammed with starry-eyed kids, small town cops blocking off traffic, and the big-hearted denizens of Madison welcoming the parade of thundering bikes, vivid Jeeps and a yellow dune buggy, all to express joy in patriotism, to support a hometown Memorial Day program, and to remember what Memorial Day is all about.

This year was a great year to recognize Memorial Day. American Legion Post 77 in Conyers had a great turnout for their Memorial Day cookout, the Walk of Heroes had a great turnout for their evening program, and Honor Flight Conyers made its 13th flight to Washington, DC with WWII and Korean War veterans on Wednesday, May 27, and yes, you guessed it, folks came out in droves at the airports and memorials to honor our aging warriors.

As one veteran stated, “This is great, absolutely great.”

And that’s the way it should be: a great nation honoring the Greatest Generation, and remembering the greatest of heroes… the ones who fell for freedom.

Pete Mecca is a Vietnam veteran, columnist and freelance writer. You can reach him at aveteransstory@ gmail.com or aveteransstory.us.

6 • Saturday, June 13, 2015

The News

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a veteran’s story

The News

Saturday, June 13, 2015 • 7

Medic faced daily horrors

By Pete Mecca

news@rockdalenews.com

He served as a combat medic in Vietnam, picked up pieces of humanity; desperately struggled to save lives during the critical 60 minutes of the ‘Golden Hour’ in which the survival rate increased to 95 percent, and treaded through mine fields to recover the dead and wounded.

I interviewed Jerry Anderson more than a year ago. He conveyed a narrative of the sacrifice to save and the struggle to remain sane. In Jerry’s own words: “It was tough on everybody, the doctors, the chopper pilots, the young medics… we’d never seen bodies blown all to hell, but in Vietnam it happened day in and day out.”

Day in and day out: non-stop death, non-stop bloodshed, and non-stop war. Jerry started drinking heavily just to cope. Asked his worst day in Vietnam, Jerry replied, “Every day.” Three medics killed in a single day, 126 casualties during the infamous 1968 Tet Offensive, mangled bodies, day in and day out.

Even though he was burned out mentally and physically after his first one-year tour, Jerry attempted to reenlist, but his commanding officer knew what shape he was in and wouldn’t allow it. Jerry spent the next 25 years suppressing his nightmares with alcohol. In 1992 he was admitted to the VA. His diagnosis reflected the agony and despondency of Vietnam veterans: unemployable with 100 percent PTSD. This ‘Guardian Angel of the Battlefield’ never touched another drop of alcohol.

Laid back and soft spoken, Jerry retired early from home improve-

ments and dedicated his life to helping veterans with VA claims and volunteering at the Department of Labor to assist his Band of Brothers. It seems like only yesterday when Jerry informed me of his continuing struggle with cancer.

Jerry Anderson passed from this life on October 10, 2014. As a young medic he took a pledge: ‘Not for Self but Others.’ Jerry completed his pledge.

Here is his story: According to the Geneva Convention, knowingly firing on an accurately identified unarmed combat medic is a war crime.

Although the United States has endeavored to accept the Geneva Convention along with the rules of engagement, our adversaries have placed a bull’s eye on our combat medics.

Targeting a combat medic kills him and the soldiers he could save; thus, the merciless logic of our enemies. American combat medics are well-trained and dedicated, but one unit’s motto, “Fear Not,” speaks volumes about their courage.

“Peshuta-Akichita” (Medical Soldiers) requires an exceptional breed of warrior. To tend the wounded, a combat medic positions his own body between the injured soldier and enemy fire. Another medical brigade’s motto: ‘‘Not for Self But Others’’ personifies combat medics and Conyers resident Jerry Anderson. Anderson said, “I enlisted in the Army in 1965 when I was 17 years old with the notion of being a John Wayne. I quickly found out I wasn’t.”

During basic at Fort Benning, Anderson took a battery of tests and was chosen to train as a medic.

“My father was a medic in World War II, so I guess I was predestined,” he said.

After basic, Anderson was sent to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, for eight weeks of medical training, then spent four weeks in San Francisco at Letterman General Hospital for Ward Training.

He recalled, “I slept in the room across from where my dad slept during his training. His initials are still above his bunk.”

Anderson’s main duty was the care and welfare of paraplegic officers from Vietnam.

“I volunteered for Vietnam,” Anderson said. “But I ended up in Hawaii at Schofield Barracks for 17 months with the 11th Light Infantry Brigade. We trained for jungle warfare in the Koolau Mountains on the island of Oahu.”

In December 1967, the 11th Light Infantry Brigade boarded a World War II-era troop ship, the USS General Wiegle, for a twoweek cruise to Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam.

Anderson said, “We set up an aid station at Duc Pho. We had two Dust Offs (Medevac choppers) and triaged casualties within a 30-mile radius.”

January 1968: The communists

launched their infamous Tet Offensive.

Anderson recalled, “The first morning we took in 130 civilian casualties. You can’t train for seeing women and kids blown apart. It’s traumatic, it’s nauseating, and you wonder, ‘How in the world will I cope with stuff like this?’”

Medical veterans of the Korean War taught Anderson how to cope.

He recalled, “They told me, ‘The body on the table is a machine, and your job is to keep that machine

alive. Do what you were trained to do; then, move on to the next one.’

It was like Grady Hospital, a 24/7 operation, never shutting down, never letting up. The casualties were constant.”

Their goal was the “Golden Hour,” 60 critical minutes to get a soldier or civilian into the aid station. Anderson said, “Within the Golden Hour, the survival rate was 95 percent.”

see MEDIC on PAGE 14

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8 • Saturday, June 13, 2015

The News

The use of force continuum is a diagram that illustrates the escalating levels of force and can help guide police on how they should respond to a given situation.

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) acknowledges “that the officer may move from one part of the continuum to another in a matter of seconds.”

Presence - An officer simply making an appearance at the incident is the first level of force. The officer should present themselves in a nonthreatening manner.

Verbal - Speaking is the next level of force. At this level the officer is only talking to individuals and probably giving nonthreatening commands.

Hands on - The next level of force involves hand-to-hand combat techniques, such as grabbing, holding, punching and kicking, to restrain an individual.

Less-lethal methods of subduing a suspect is the next level. The first broken into three levels beginning with: Baton - Blunt force: the officer uses their baton to gain control of the situation.

Pepper Spray Chemical: the officer will use their pepper spray Taser - Conducted Energy Devices: an officer will use their Taser gun on a suspect

Gun - The top level of force is lethal. This is when an officer will use their firearm on an individual. The NIJ notes that this should only be used if a suspect poses a serious threat to the officer or another individual.

UNDERSTANDING

THE USE OF

FORCE

Methods and guidelines police consider and how they’re trained to respond

By Martin Rand III

mrand@rockdalenews.com

Local law enforcement agencies (LEA) have had a rough time in the national spotlight over the last several months.

With so many violent, and often fatal, police interactions with citizens being brought to the forefront of the nation’s conscious, people are being left with more questions than answers with every new incident.

Questions specifically aimed at how to mitigate future situations from occurring again like the ones that have happened in Ferguson, Missouri (Michael Brown), Baltimore, Maryland (Freddie Gray), Cleveland, Ohio (Tamir Rice) and New York City, New York (Eric Garner).

Thankfully, the Rockdale County Sheriff ’s Office (RCSO) and the Conyers Police Department (CPD) haven’t had any similar situations arise lately, but still, the question remains about how to continue to prevent Rockdale citizens’ lives from being taken unnecessarily.

Better P.O.L.I.C.E. training RCSO Chief Deputy Scott Freeman has been paying attention to what’s been going on in other cities and the information that has been released about other LEAs from federal investigations. He says that something will have to change in order to help restore the public’s trust in LEAs. “We have to have a new direction when it comes to law enforcement in this country. It’s something I have always believed in,” he said. “I think that police officers, when they are trained at the basic mandate level, there’s so much focus on being in control, in charge at the scene, I think that we lose that element of respect.”

To help with the respect issue, Freeman took the word police and created an acronym out of the word to teach each deputy what would be an appropriate way

to approach citizens. The department became teaching the method to deputies in 2014.

P.O.L.I.C.E. can be broken down into: • Present yourself as a respectful professional.

• Offer an introduction, such as rank, name, agency.

• Link the stop or inquiry to a violation, public safety and knowledge known about the area.

• Investigate the situation, incident, circumstances and the person.

• Communicate what you have discovered, determines or need to do next.

• End the encounter by the most appropriate means or action.

“I have found that it works very well,” said Freeman.

“It helps establish that respectful communication with people.”

Also, in 2013, when Rockdale Sheriff Eric Levett was voted into office, the department created a professional and respect communication program and made it a part of mandatory in-service training for each deputy, according to Freeman.

“We are working on those types of communications because we have found, and I have found, that the research shows that if you present that information to people it kind of deescalates the situation,” he said.

But, the P.O.L.I.C.E. method and the new professional communications training hasn’t stopped the department from receiving citizen complaints of excessive force being used on them.

In 2014, the RCSO received 46 citizens’ complaints, its highest total dating back to 2010—from 2010 to 2012 the department was under different leadership, so Freeman says they can’t determine the accuracy of those year’s stats.

Of those complaints, there were at least three incidents where a deputy was found to have used an

The News open hand, such as a slap, against RCSO policy and two incidents where a deputy used pepper spray out of policy.

This year alone, the department has received 11 citizen complaints and determined that a deputy broke policy by using an open hand and another deputy who fired his gun on an animal.

“Changing organizational cultural, whether it’s how we interact with individuals and how we deal with people, it does take time,” said Freeman. “The expectations that we have of the deputies is for them to be respectful, be professional, but they also have to remember that they may be required to use any level of force in order to protect themselves and/or the life of another.”

Whether any of these grievances are examples of excessive use of force is subjective at best because there is no clear cut definition of what categorizes something as being excessive, according to the Nation Institute of Justice (NIJ).

“There is no single, universally agreed upon definition of use of force. The International Association of Chiefs of Police has described use of force as the ‘amount of effort required by police to compel compliance by an unwilling subject,’” according to the NIJ’s website. “Officers receive guidance from their individual agencies, but no universal set of rules governs when officers should use force and how much.”

Basic level training Major Harry McCann, director of the law enforcement academy in DeKalb County, says that it’s difficult to determine what‘s use of force in the moment a situation is occurring.

Determining what’s excessive use of force is always better in hindsight.

“You can sit back and look at a situation after it’s happened and say, ‘well they probably shouldn’t (have done this or done that),’” he said.

All situations are different, and it’s up to the officer in the situation to determine the best use of action, he says.

“There’s absolutely no way I can sit here and say if you do this, then this will happen,” says McCann.

One primary case law taught to students is the Graham v. Connor case. This ruling suggested that police should use whatever force reasonable and necessary to resolve a situation, says McCann.

What’s reasonable and necessary may be different for different officers even put in the same situation, he says.

Training for mental health situations Police interactions with the men-

Saturday, June 13, 2015 • 9 tally handicapped have also been a major topic of discussion in recent weeks, with police at other LEAs, as close as Atlanta Police, fatally shooting mentally ill people.

Freeman acknowledges training on dealing with these types of individuals needs to improve, even at the RCSO. “We do a one hour block every year on how to deal with those types of individuals,” he said. “It’s not enough.”

Although he couldn’t say for sure how many mentally ill people deputies encounter on a daily basis, Freeman says deputies come into contact with people who suffer from a mental disorder, which includes but not limited to paranoid schizophrenia, dementia, Alzheimer’s, depression, and suicidal thoughts, quite often.

While deputies may be effective in how they handle these situations, Freeman says that he would like to see every deputy in the RCSO go through a 40-hour crisis intervention training program. However, there are hurdles to implementing this process, according to Freeman.

“We’re not only hindered and restricted by our own resources, whether it’s man power or finances, we’re also at the mercy of having instructors come here on site or somewhere else,” he said. “It’s not as simple as people think it is.”

To counter act these deficiencies, the RCSO has been working with a police psychologist to implement a program that will help train deputies on how to handle citizens’ interactions, said Freeman.

“That’s a work in progress right now,” he said. “I’m very, very excited about that because we can set the hours and provide very special training to the things we need to address, whether its things we’ve seen or from complaints that have come in.

Stephen Sampson is the law enforcement psychologist hired to train the RCSO in the art of social intelligence. Samson, a Madison County resident, has been working the sheriff ’s office for about a year and half on the training procedures.

“Social intelligence teaches people how to talk to other people that’s socially and emotionally intelligent,” said Sampson. “This creates a climate that’s less stressful.”

Being socially intelligent will allow an officer to control their emotions during interactions while also attempting to calm the emotions of the citizen, says Sampson, who first developed this program working with the Broward Sheriff ’s Office in Florida.

“The main thing is to not escalate the situation,” he said.

However, Sampson says that safety is a priority and sometimes

“not everyone” can be talked into calming down. At that point, the officer has to “sum up the situation” and “determine what level of force is needed” to deescalate the situation.

“It’s not an easy solution, but it’s not an easy problem either,” said Freeman.

Accountability a major issue While more training may help mitigate lethal civilian interactions with police, Adam Bates, criminal justice policy analyst for the Cato Institute- a public policy research organization- believes the increased number situations where a civilian is left dead by police hands stems from a deeper problem.

For starters, there’s a lack of accountability among LEAs when there’s a death in an incident. On top of it being rare for a police officer to be charged in a civilian killing, says Bates, there’s also no way to officially know how many people die from interacting with police because there’s no federal or national tracking system for those stats.

“We should know how many people they kill each year,” he said.

“There’s no incentive to do that. It’s a lot of paperwork. That information can only hurt them.”

He does acknowledge that some LEAs are small in staff and adding extra administrative duties may cut into their patrolling time.

“But you would think how many civilians are killed each year would be an important stat they want to have,” Bates said.

To help keep track of such incidents, Bates operates The Cato Institute’s National Misconduct Reporting Project.

The National Misconduct Reporting Project is an online website that aggregates news articles from across the nation related to police misconduct into one place where the public has access to them.

The project was started by an individual researcher and then he turned over management of the project to the Cato Institute in 2010.

Its purpose is to prove that these police incidents aren’t isolated at one LEA, says Bates. The findings from the website could be converted into an annual report released

by Cato, but there aren’t any plans as of yet.

“These kinds of stories happen every day,” said Bates.

Another cause for these situations is the increased military mindsets stemming from the “war on drugs” police have been battling for nearly three decades.

Bates also says that increasing transparency, such as making officers personal files public, among law enforcement and reducing the number of tasks local governments ask of its LEAs could also

help lessen the number civilians killed by police.

Thinking under fire Although, citizens can’t expect for officers to have respect for them if they are not showing any respect to the officer.

This was a main point stressed

by CPD Sgt. Corey Hambrick as he hosted an event called “Thinking Under Fire,” which sought to teach citizens- mainly teenagers and young adults- how to interact with officers when in lethal situations.

“Tonight we want to give you information that will save your life, if you’re ever in a confrontation with law enforcement, lethal confrontation,” said Hambrick to a crowd of about 40 people inside the Rockdale County High School gymnasium during the May 15 event.

The prime method Hambrick preached to the audience was the C.A.R. method. This acronym can be broken into steps people can take when dealing with law enforcement in lethal situations, such as a gun being pointed at their direction “for whatever reason,” said Hambrick, who was involved in a fatal shooting on duty in 2012.

The first letter of the method stands for “Comply.”

“This is not the time about how you didn’t do it. This is not the time for you to reach for anything,” he said. “This is the time for you do close your mouth and (comply to the officer).”

The next letter in the method stands for “Analyze.” After complying, this is the time for the person to think about the situation and question everything that just occurred, according to Hambrick.

“You maybe analyzing in the back of a police car with some handcuffs on…. But you’re thinking! You’re thinking,” Hambrick shouted.

A critical question Hambrick pointed out was for the person to try to think about if any of their civil rights were just violated.

The final letter stands for “Respond.” This is time for people to attempt to hold the law enforcement officer responsible for their actions.

Hambrick summed it up by saying a person should go the officer’s job and “tell on them.”

“Just because I’m a cop doesn’t mean I can treat you less than human, and if you feel that way, you do it during the response stage,” he said. “Not while the gun is pointed at you.”

The general audience seemed to agree with Hambrick about following this acronym as they all applauded when he was done presenting it.

“The bottom line is… you’re living,” said Hambrick. It’s hard to tell your part of the story and you’re six feet under.”

Conyers Police Department Citizen Complaints 2014 - (28) 2013 - (31) 2012 - (50) 2011 - (35) 2010 - (24) RCSO Citizen Complaints

2010 Total complaints

26 Founded complaints: 8 Unfounded complaints: 16 Unable to verify: 2

2011 Total complaints

16 Founded complaints: 2 Unfounded complaints: 13 Unable to verify: 1

2012 Total complaints

12 Founded complaints: 3 Unfounded complaints: 9 Unable to verify: 0

2013 Total complaints

30 Founded complaints: 8 Unfounded complaints: 22 Unable to verify: 0

2014 Total complaints

46 Founded complaints: 8 Unfounded complaints: 29 Unable to verify: 6

10 • Saturday, June 13, 2015

The News

Through the Lens Rockdale County Public Schools held Enrichment Camp at the Rockdale Career Academy, June 8-11. Rockdale County students who were invited and enrolled spent the week learning about a wide variety of topics. Second graders learned about “Life in the Forest” or Hispanic culture, third graders studied the science of dogs in “Dogs 101,” fourth graders learned about ancient Egyptians or the principles of flight, and fifth graders studied digital photography techniques or the science of aviation. Middle school students took Digital Photography, where they create original works of light graffiti and melting self-portraits, or Animation.

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The News

Saturday, June 13, 2015 • 11

Community Calendar SATURDAY, JUNE 13 Monastery 5K Run Deadline for registration at the Gift Store is Friday 5 PM; Registration fee is $25 for the 5K, $20 for the 1.5 mile Fun Run / Walk

East Metro Atlanta Christian Writers 10 a.m. – noon, at Ga. Piedmont Technical College, Covington Campus, 8100 Bob Williams Pkwy; meets monthly second Saturdays; 404-2939011; emacw.blogspot.com

Olde Town Summer Film Series: Box Trolls Starts after dark; at Olde Town Pavilion; “The BoxTrolls,” free.

Community Walk 9 a.m. in Chimney Park, Covington; sponsored by Newton County Parks; Join Vanessa Nolley, Newton Trails Board member; hour-and-a-half walk; www.newtontrails.org.

Juneteenth 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. ; Morgan County African American Museum will hold “Juneteenth-A Day of Remembrance,” celebrating the end of slav-

ery; celebration includes vendors, free face and nail painting, music, storytelling at Moore House at 156 Academy St., Madison; culminates with “Music in the Park,” at Madison Town Park, 218 W. Jefferson Street, Madison, 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets $10 in advance, $15 at the gate; (706) 342-9191, www.mcaam.org.

“13” Madison Community Theater will present “13” at the Morgan County High School Auditorium Friday, June 12 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, June 13, at 2:30 p.m. For more infomration, visit http://mctheater. org or call (706) 474-2912.

Brookhaven Beer Festival The Brookhaven Beer Fest will be held June 13, from 3 to 8 p.m.

Sample 150 beers, hear live music and visit food vendors. Tickets are $40, and can be purchased online at https://www.xorbia. com/e/spiral/bbf2015. The event is held behind the Brookhaven Marta Station on Apple Valley Road. For more information, visit http://www.spiralentertainment.com/events/brookhaven-beer-fest.

American Hydrangea Society

Garden Tour Hydrangeas blooming in several different settings in large and small garden will be part of the 21st Annual American Hydrangea Society’s Garden Tour, Saturday, June 13, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The tickets are $30 for individuals, $40 for couples, and includes a one-year membership in the society. The tour starts at the first of five gardens, located at 640 Tanglewood Trail, Sandy Springs.

For more information, visit http:// americanhydrangeasociety.org/ Annual-Garden-Tour.

SUNDAY, JUNE 14 Bald Rock Mother Board Anniversary 11 a.m.; Bald Rock Baptist Church, 2284 Old Covington Road, Conyers; Mother Board is celebrating their Anniversary; 770-929-3421.

Cruisin’ to the Cross The First Baptist Church in Conyers will be holding its annual car show, “Cruisin’ to the Cross,” Sunday, June 14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Local business owner Tim Thompson, whose business, Atlanta Picture Cars, has rented

the

NEWS

DIGITAL EDITION Every Wednesday, just in time for your morning coffee.

What’s in this week’s edition:

cars to production companies for some of the recently filmed movies in Conyers, metro Atlanta and beyond, will be on hand with some of his autos. Proceeds from the 8th annual show will benefit 4Sarahv[http://4sarah.net/], a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower change in the life of women and girls working in the sex trade by providing a holistic approach which includes residential program assistance, scholarships, STD/HIV resources, suicide intervention, addiction, domestic violence resources, church placement and prayer.

Georgia Caribbean American Heritage Coalition’s 10th anniversary Caribbean American Heritage Month will be celebrated at the Olde Town Conyers Pavilion, 949 South Main St., Sunday, beginning at 4 p.m. The Georgia Caribbean American Heritage Coalition’s 10th anniversary will feature music, food and performances. Tickets are $15 for adults, children, 6-12, $5, and children under 5 free. For more information, call (770) 602-2606, email mitzi.quarles@ conyersga.com, or visit http://

News

Wednesday, June 10, 2015 Serving Rockdale County and Conyers, Ga.

Newswrap

Perspectives

www.atlanta.net/events/detail/ caribbean-american-heritage-month/96667/.

MONDAY, JUNE 15 ArtSmart Camp ArtSmart Camp runs June 1518, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at Rockdale Career Academy; Registration $125 before June 1, $150 after; call 770-922-3143.

THURSDAY, JUNE 18 Jazz Workshop Instrumental Jazz Workshop for rising 9th through 12 grade students will be held today and Sunday at the Porter Auditorium, 157 Ram Dr., Covington. The workshop is sponsored by the Arts Association. For more information, call (770) 786-8188 or visit www. newtoncountyarts.org.

Jugtime Rag Band The Jugtime Rag Band will play from 7:30 to 9:30 at Madison Town Park, 218 W. Jefferson Street, as part of the “Oh, Those Summer Nights!” concert series, Saturday night. For more information, call (706) 342-1251, x208, or email chall@madisonga.com.

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— Athens’ New Top Cop: Rockdale Sheriff ’s second-in-command named the new Athens-Clarke County Police Chief Register for free, then visit rockdalenewsdigital.com

Also inside: Rockdale Sheriff’s Second-In-Command leaving to head Athens-Clarke County Police

Sports

Saturday, June 13, 2015 Page 12 rockdalenews.com

UNDISPUTED

Candace Hill is No. 1 in the world The track program at Rockdale County had a great season. It began with an individual by the name of Candace Hill. Candace has been unbelievable the past two years. Candace has won 88 races in a row. She has set the county, region and state records two years in a row. She won the Mobile Meet of Champions two years in a row. She is the fastest track runner in the history of track and field in the state of Georgia. Candace won the Golden West track classic last summer and she also won the New Balance Outdoors National Championship last summer. This summer she has already won the Nike Dream 200 race at the Prefontaine in Eugene, Oregon. Going into the Great Southwest Classic in New Mexico this past weekend as the No. 1 sprinter in the nation in the 100 and 200 meter dashes with times of 11.30 and 23.05. Candace left New Mexico with her being the fastest high school 100 and 200 meter runner in the world! Her times were 11.15 in the 100 and 22.76 in the 200. This is Rockdale’s own superstar. She flew out Thursday to New York to compete in the Adidas Dream 100 facing 7 of the top 100 meter runners in the nation. Candace will travel to Seattle to compete in the Brooks PR track classic and then to Chicago to try out for the U.S. Junior National team that will compete in Cali Colombia on July 15.

Two-minute warning

Iggy, you the real MVP After two games of seeing rebounds and dished out three asCleveland put all of their money sists in that short timespan. on LeBron creating offense on an Lee lost his starting job earisland and relying on Matthew ly in the season to Draymond Dellavedova to “stop” Stephen Green, and slowly fell out of the Curry, we’ve finally seen Steve rotation completely. Now, he’s Kerr make a necessary adjustment found his way back to being an and sit Andrew Bogut for so-farimportant piece in the Warriors Shakeem rotation, a piece that could inevFinals-MVP Andre Iguodala.

The adjustment led to a double Holloway itably help Golden State win the digit victory, the first for either Sports editor NBA championship. team in the series, for Golden Lee’s resurgence itself is State. Curry didn’t play have a testament to how deep an outstanding performance, the Warriors are as a team, but he played well with 22 although the Cavs could points and six assists. probably make a similar Andre Iguodala, in the claim had the team been words of the illustrious completely healthy. The Kevin Durant, YOU THE Warriors, however, still REAL MVP. Iggy has been have their depth and it’s playing out of his mind what will get them over the great lately, especially in hump in the Finals. games one and four. He’s The Cavaliers’ key to debeen tasked with the seemfending the MVP, Steph ingly hopeless assignment Curry, has been to double of being the primary dehim on pick and rolls, force fender on LeBron James, a pass and allow someone and he’s answered the bell else to beat them. Until and then some.

Thursday night, that defense was a recipe According to ESPN’s Ethan Straus, Leb- for success. Green, Iguodala and Barnes ron James is shooting 35 percent with Iggy had all seemed timid to shoot open threes, on the floor and the Cavs are minus-25. but that stopped in game four as the three Kerr’s gutsy move to start Andre Iguodala combined to go 7-17 from deep, which over Bogut was about more than just de- isn’t spectacular but it’s enough to make fense. On offense Iggy scored 22 points Cleveland regret leaving them open. while going 4-9 from three, but he was Green, particularly, was special at the invaluable to Golden State’s offense. With four, he made just one of his three shots Iguodala on the floor the Warriors were beyond the arc but when he got the ball at able to push the pace and attack the Cavs’ the top of the key, he didn’t hesitate. Green defense in a way they weren’t able to in the drove the lane, looked for the teardrop, the previous two games. lob or an open teammate behind the arc.

Golden State played as fast as it had all He finished the game with six assists and series and scored in triple digits for the 17 assists, going 4-7 at the charity stripe. first time in a blowout victory. CleveThat’s how the Warriors beat you with land couldn’t get its offense going against pace and nine or 10 really good players.

Golden State with Timofey Mozgov be- They make you pick your poison, splash ing the high-point-man for the Cavs with brothers or everyone else, most people 28 points and 10 rebounds in 33 minutes. would pick everyone else, but the WarBeing able to play fast is everything for riors’ everyone else almost always wins, Curry and co. With that pace, the Cava- and then once they’ve got it going you liers, a team that has relied mostly on seven can’t really stop the splash brothers. or eight players the entire series, become It’ll be interesting to see what David Blatt extremely exhausted which allows the decides to do in game five. Whether he Warriors to impose their will on Cleveland chooses to play some of his veterans like late in games, as they did last night.

Shawn Marion and Mike Miller, or whethYou could see it with Dellavedova ask- er he decides to play Mozgov more or less ing to come out, it’s a part of the Warriors against Golden State’s small-ball lineup. grand design, a design that is now back in It’s a game of adjustments, first Golden play thanks to Iguodala and let’s not forget, State had to adjust to Cleveland’s slow ISO David Lee. Lee’s resurgence began in game offense and now Blatt will have to adjust three when Golden State came back from to Golden State’s small-ball fast paced apdown 20 points, playing Lee a lot and Bogut proach. The coach that makes the better less. Now he’s a focal point for Golden State’s adjustments with the best execution from bench, even if he’s only getting 15 minutes its players, will be holding the trophy at a game. Lee scored nine points, had five the end of the series.

The News

Saturday, June 13, 2015 • 13

HERITAGE’S 3RD ANNUAL SOFTBALL CAMP The theme of the week was “Your BEST or nothing.” We emphasized that in softball and life anything that is worth doing deserves your best effort. We had camp Monday, June 1st - Thursday, June 4th. We had 64 campers ages 6 - 13 attend.

The camp was led by the Heritage Coaching Staff (Jason McBay, Duane Turner and Brandon Davis), former Heritage players: Callie Alford (Georgia State), Amanda Voyles (West Georgia), Kierra Camp (Georgia Southern), Nielah Floyd, Heidi Shepherd, Taylor Moser (Thomas University), Carri Wilkerson, Diamond Callwood (King University) and adopted former Patriot Rylee Rogers (Williams Baptist College).

Campers worked on skills such as sac bunting, drag/push bunts, bunt/slash, hitting mechanics, tee work, proper throwing, backhands, forehands, slow rollers, short hops, baserunning, team building, underhand feeds, backhand feeds and more.

The Campers of the Week: Jamie Tarleton (age 13), Katelynn Anglin (11), Syerra Palmer (10), & Kaylie McDonald (7).

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14 • Saturday, June 13, 2015

FREEMAN From PAGE 2

the citizens of Athens Clarke County with honor and integrity. I have always said that everyone has their own season and this is Chief Freeman’s season. Even though Chief Freeman will be working for another department, we will continue

The News

to work together as we have always done since we started Law Enforcement together. I will continue to run the day to day operations of the agency until such time that I select a new Chief Deputy.”

Freeman said his goal for the first 100 days in his new position would be to learn the agency and community.

“I want to spend my first 100 days getting to know the men

MEDIC From PAGE 7

Anderson flew on Dust Off flights into the thick of combat to retrieve the wounded or dead.

“We always got fired at,” he said. “The enemy would wait for our Dust Off and try to shoot it down, their logic to kill the medic, thus the wounded die.”

Anderson also worked as an RTO (Radio Transmit Operator), calling in choppers and/or getting a clear picture of the type of wounded aboard a Dust Off. He said, “One of the few funny things I recall is that our RTOs were all Southerners, our Dust Off pilots from North Carolina, and the VC and NVA couldn’t understand our English. Actually, our 1st sergeant from New York couldn’t understand us, either.”

“It was tough on everybody,” he continued. “The doctors, the chopper pilots, the medics; we’d never seen bodies blown all to hell, but in ’Nam it happened day in and day out.”

Anderson walked through mine fields to recover dead and wounded. “I know that’s crazy,’’ he said, “but somebody had to do it.”

Medics save lives, but in Vietnam sometimes it was necessary to take a life to save a life.

“The communists would coerce women and kids

and women of the department and giving them a chance to get to know me. I think it’s important they know who their police chief is,” said Freeman. He wants to spend time to get to know the community and build relationships, especially with the media.

The police department there has such a good reputation he doesn’t feel the need to start moving things around, he said.

onto a road to stop a convoy, then ambush the trucks and personnel. In our case, they wanted the medical supplies. We couldn’t stop or we would die.

“It was war, a dirty war, and I had to run over a woman once. I can still see her, but we did what we had to do. Yes, sir, it was a dirty little war.”

Non-stop death, non-stop bloodshed, non-stop war; Anderson started drinking heavily to manage the unmanageable: three medics killed in one day, 126 casualties during Tet, mangled bodies.

Asked his worst day, Anderson replied, “Every day.”

Memories of the women and children still torment him.

“My commanding officer wouldn’t let me reenlist,” he said. “He knew I was in no shape to continue.”

Anderson drowned repeated nightmares in alcohol for 25 years. Admitted to the VA Hospital in 1992, diagnosed unemployable with 100 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, this “Guardian Angel of the Battlefield” hasn’t touched a drop of alcohol since.

Retired early from a career in home improvement, Anderson helps veterans with claims and volunteers at the Department of Labor to assist his “Band of Brothers.”

A member of numerous veterans organizations, including the Georgia Vietnam Veterans Alliance, he still honors the pledge he took as a young soldier: “Not for Self but Others.”

Restaurant health inspection scores American Deli, 1360 Dogwood Dr Ste 203 Conyers, May 27, 2015 Score: 81, Grade: B 2 Guys & A Grill Catering, LLC, 1035 Green ST Conyers, May 14, 2015 Score: 94, Grade: A Seven Gables Restaurant, 1897 Georgia Highway 20 SE Conyers, April 16, 2015 Score: 100, Grade: A CAFE MILANOS, 875 Flat Shoals Rd,Ste 200 Conyers, April 15, 2015 Score: 100, Grade: A CAPTAIN D’S, 1735 Georgia Highway 138 SW Conyers, April 17, 2015 Score: 82, Grade: B AMF American Lanes, 885 Flat Shoals Rd, Conyers, May 15, 2015 Score: 95, Grade: A Chili’s, 1570 Dogwood Dr Conyers, June 3, 2015 Score: 89, Grade: B O’Charley’s LLC, 1289 Dogwood Dr SW CONYERS, May 12, 2015 Score: 97, Grade: A COZUMEL MEXICAN RESTAURANT, 425 Sigman Rd Ste 114-116 Conyers, April 15, 2015 Score: 81, Grade: B

The News

Saturday, June 13, 2015 • 15

Pets & Animals Pets Free Gerbils to a good home.

Contact Andrea at 770-5108848.

Jobs Drivers Wanted Local trucking Company looking to hire. Must pass drug/background and have experience. Send resume to kandisshaw@bellsouth.net, fax to 678-342-9038 or call 678-283-7370.

Help Wanted Busy cardiology practice seeking part time billing and front desk clerk. Knowledge of word, excel, and EMR (ECW software is a plus). Please fax resume to 678-729-0122.

Now Hiring Part-Time Housekeeper at Hard Labor Creek State Park.

Must pass background check.

706-557-3001 The Covington News is looking for dependable Independent Contractors to delivery our Sunday Publication if interested please Call the Covington News at 770-728-1414

K-2 Towing is now accepting applications for a full time tow truck driver. Responsibilities consist of responding to emergency roadside assistance calls. Providing customer service to people that need assistance and local and long distance tows.

Job Requirements: 3 year clean MVR Minimal class C GA drivers license DOT Medical Card Previous experience in the towing industry Clean background and drug free CDL is a plus MUST LIVE IN COVINGTON, GA Salary based on experience Apply in person at 9179 Aaron Dr. Covington, GA 30014 or you may contact Tim at 770294-5238 between the hours of 8-6 Monday-Friday.

Dedicated Team Runs Available.

Choose the Total Package Frequent Home Time, Top Pay, Benefits, Monthly Bonuses & More!

CDL-A, 6 mos Exp. Req’d EEOE/AAP

866-370-4476

www.drive4marten.com

WANT TO OWN YOUR OWN BUSINESS? CAR WASHES CAN BE A CASH COW? AVAILABLE IN YOUR AREA NOW! ELLIOT SILVERSTONE

(512) 416-1000

The Dermatology Center of Newton/Rockdale is seeking a full time

CERTIFIED MEDICAL ASSISTANT. Ideal candidate must be able to multi-task in a front and back office capacity. Compensation is based on experience and skills.

The position is Monday - Thursday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am - 12:00 pm.

Interested candidates send application/resume to

dermatologycenter4155@gmail.com.

No phone calls please. EOE

Real Estate

House For Rent

For Rent

House for rent. Younger or older couple. Very nice 2 bedroom, 1 bath. Appliances included. Yard with small gardening spot in a very nice neighborhood. In town with easy access to I-20. Rent + Deposit.

CONYERS- In-law apartment, completely furnished, 1BR, 1BA, kitchen & living room area, Cable & Utilities included. Very Nice neighborhood. $700/month, $150/ deposit. No Pets 678-5585478 Walk down town Covington.

Large 1 bedroom duplex with office. Front/back porches, hardwood floors.

Well maintained street single family homes and duplexes.

Appliances/washer/dryer, and yard mainantence included. $675 rent/deposit. (Teacher special) speedwayrentalproperties.com or 770-883-7586.

Spacious 3 bed, 2.5 bath house for rent. Vaulted ceilings, living room with fireplace. $900/month. One month free rent. Section 8 welcome. 404834-5402 Walk down town Covington.

Brick home 2 bedroom, 1 bath, office, hardwood floors, nice yard/deck. Appliances/ washer/dryer, and yard maintenance. $840 rent/ deposit. (Teacher special) Speedwayrentalproperties. com or 770-883-7586.

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT The City of Covington is currently accepting applications for a Roll-off Driver in the Sanitation Department. This position is responsible for operating a heavy refuse collection truck. The operation of the equipment requires that the employee maintain collection schedules and follow established routes.

Requirements • Graduation from high school or GED equivalent, or • Ability to read and write English; experience in using heavy refuse collection truck and equipment operation, and in laboring work; or any combination of education and experience.

• Possession of a valid Georgia motor vehicle license Class B or above, must submit a current three (3) year motor vehicle record with application.

Salary range is an annual minimum of $28,787 to an annual maximum of $38,584 and will be determined based upon qualifications. Qualified applicants may apply via our website at www. cityofcovington.org or may send resume to or apply at the City of Covington Human Resources Office, 2194 Emory Street, Covington, Georgia 30014, (770) 385.2025. Position will remain open until 4:00 p.m. on June 19th, 2015. The City of Covington is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

NOW HIRING! Local Co. hiring for full time

ASSEMBLY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS in Snellville.

Looking for Hard working, Punctual, and Professional applicants.

Starting pay at $1900.00 a month.

Call now for an immediate interview!

(770) 696-5390 ask for Tom or Judy.

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT The City of Covington is currently accepting applications for a GIS Technician I in the Engineering Department. This position is responsible for providing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technical support and assistance to the City Of Covington with the implementation, design, and support of geospatial data. Other duties include processing of geospatial data, equipment maintenance, map creation, the collection of GIS data utilizing GPS (Global Positioning System) equipment, electronic data recorders, and digitizers.

Requirements • Graduation from an accredited two-year college or university with an associate’s Degree or equivalent.

• Minimum of (4) years of experience with computers.

• Experience in operating ESRI software, GPS equipment, Microsoft Access & Excel; or • Basic knowledge of Geographic Information System, Global Positioning System and, Cartographic principles.

Salary range is an annual minimum of $35,672 to an annual maximum of $46,675 and will be determined based upon qualifications. Qualified applicants may apply via our website at www.cityofcovington. org or may send resume to or apply at the City of Covington Human Resources Office, 2194 Emory Street, Covington, Georgia 30014, (770) 385.2025.

Position will remain open until 4:00 p.m. on June 19th, 2015. The City of Covington is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

16 • Saturday, June 13, 2015

The News

Fathers Day Photo Contest

Come in the store and have your picture taken. We will upload it to our Facebook page. The picture that gets the most likes wins $100 store credit.

See sales associate for details

$

1,629

Tavor SAR Bullpup B16 5.56mm NATO 16.5 Inch Chrome-Lined Barrel BUIS Black Finish 30 Round (TSB16)

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY. USA

$

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY. USA

44995 Free Mag

$

XD Mod.2 Sub-Compact 9mm 3 Inch Barrel Black 10 Round (XDG9801SP)

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY. USA

42995 Free Mag

XDS Essential .45 ACP 3.3 Inch Barrel Double Action Only USA Trigger System Black Melonite Finish Slide Black Polymer Frame 5 Round

$

44995 Free Mag

Mod 2 Sub-Compact Sub Co XD Mod.2 .40 Smith & Wesson 3 Inch Barrel Black One 9 Round and One 12 Round with X-Tension (XDG9802HCSP)

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY. USA

$

479

95

XD Mod.2 Sub-Compact .45ACP 3 Inch Barrel Black One 9 Round and One 13 Round with XTension (XDG9845BHCSP)

$

295 Free Mag

$

95

Bodyguard .380 ACP 2.75 Inch Barrel Matte Black Finish Polymer Frame 6 Round (109381)

35995 Free Mag

M&P Shield 9mm 3.1 Inch Barrel Black Melonite Finish Polymer Frame One 7 Round and One 8 Round Magazine (180021)

Up to $25 on on Ruger 1022 Rifles!!!

Sale ends 6-20-2016