Saturday Edition of The News by The Covington News

the NEWS Oct. 4, 2014

Volume 6, Issue 27

Your guide to fall’s best festivals Page 8

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Serving Rockdale County and Conyers

domestic violence month

SALEM

athlete of the week All-purpose back Hasan Boddie is Salem’s ATW.

Page 12 No word on Gen. Mills Covington cuts

Page 2 How you can battle breast cancer

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Breaking out of the ‘Man Box’ Advocates seek men to step up on domestic violence issues By Martin Rand III

mrand@rockdalenews.com

In a domestic violence situation, the male is generally perceived as being the aggressor or offender. That mindset of thinking doesn’t come without merit. Overall, women are victims in domestic violence, which include physical, emotional, mental and sexual abuse, incidents about 85 percent of the time. One in four women will be a victim at some point during their life. The number of domestic violence incidents against women in the City of Conyers almost mirrors the national average. According to the Conyers Police Department, there have been a total of 2,006 document cases of domestic violence over the last 10 years. In nearly 80 percent of those cases, the male was the offender. For Rockdale County, in 2013, there were 420 reports and 1,127 calls for domestic violence situations; out of those, 124 men and 44 women were arrested. Read the story, PAGE 4

Cherie Ullo named Teacher of the Year

Read the full story, PAGE 3

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Name of contruction worker killed on I-20 released Burglary victim dies after window escape Newton teacher arrested for sexual assault

Meeting Place Board of Education work session, Thursday, Oct. 9, 7 p.m., 954 N. Main St.

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Business

General Mills Covington layoffs unknown By Bryan Fazio

bfazio@rockdalenews.com

No announcements have been made from General Mills concerning layoffs at the Covington plant. The Minneapolis based company, which employs about 43,000 full-time and part-time employees, announced it will cut approximately 700-800 jobs. In a Sept. 18 form 8-K filing, which is a form used to notify investors of an event important to shareholders or the SEC, General Mills announced several multi-year restructuring initiatives, including Project Catalyst. The Form 8-K, acquired by The Covington News, described Project Catalyst as “a restructuring plan designed to increase organizational effectiveness and reduce overhead expense.” General Mills expects about $135 million

File photo

General Mills’ Covington plant produces General Mills cereals and other products.

to $160 million in restructuring charges and foresees annual cost savings of approximately $125 million to $150 million, starting in fiscal 2016. General Mills anticipates the current restructuring to be completed by the end of fiscal year 2015.

Fighting sex trafficking

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Burglary suspect gets murder charge In addition to his previous charges of being party to a crime, Kiquan Rogers, 21, a suspect in the burglary and death of Shawn Pracht, 23, is now being charged with felony murder. Investigators presented evidence to Chief Magistrate Court Judge Phinia Aten during a committal hearing. The crux of the claim is in the fact that Rodgers’ actions pertaining to the alleged

Logan Bouchillion talks with Jordan and Toni Kelecheck about their CFUMC mission trip to bring clean water to Haiti

the

Bridget Christenson, External Communications Manager for General Mills said the layoffs will effect primarily salaried positions in General Mills’ U.S. businesses, and the functions and groups that support those businesses. According to the Star Tribune, General Mills last had a company-wide layoff in 2012, eliminating about 850 jobs. Last month General Mills, which also makes Cheerios and Yoplait yogurt, said that it was closing a facility in Methuen, Massachusetts, which would eliminate about 250 positions. It also announced plans to close a plant in Lodi, California that would result in approximately 430 jobs being cut. General Mills said in a regulatory filing at the time that the decision on the Lodi facility was tentative, as it still had to have negotiations with the union there. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

armed robbery led to Pracht’s death after he jumped out the window to escape and bled to death. When you cause a death directly or indirectly while in the act of committing a felony, that can carry a felony murder charge, says Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office Cpl. Michael Camp. The other suspect, Nicholas Coggins, has an armed robbery charge and is awaitng his com-

AMBROSIA EXPRESSIONS

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(Top, Left to right) 4Sarah founder Kasey McClure, Conyers Rotary Club member and Clerk of Courts Ruth Wilson, Conyers Police Lt. Chris Moon, Conyers Rotary President Thua Barlay. McClure and Moon were the guest speakers for the Oct. 2 luncheon on the CPD’s efforts to fight prostitution, pandering and trafficking. McClure’s nonprofit, 4Sarah, helps women and girls leave the sex industry.

Read the full story at rockdalenews.com

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Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014 • 3

Ullo named Teacher of the Year By Michelle Kim

mkim@rockdalenews.com

Cherie Ullo, English teacher at the Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology, was named the 2014 Rockdale County Teacher of the Year in a ceremony Thursday night at Rockdale Career Academy. “I am so, so thankful to be here tonight,” she said. Ullo thanked her husband Bill, three children - Morgan, 16, Maybin, 3, Auden, 1 - and Magnet School administrative team and family. Teaching is in Ullo’s blood and she joked that with parents, grandparents and other relatives who were teachers, she started becoming a teacher at birth. She recalled her first year teaching at Salem High where she learned from then-Principal Bob Cresswell that successful students make a personal connection with their teacher first before they connect with the sub-

ject. “The students look to us not only for instruction but for guidance and instruction as well.” In keeping with her etymology class, Ullo explained that the Old English root of the word “teach” means to show, or sign, miracle, keepsake, memento. “If we point out the wonders, marvels, miracles of our subject, won’t we aid in teaching them?” Rockdale Magnet School principal Dr. Debra Arnold described the challenge of finding an English teacher comfortable and fitted to a STEM environment. Arnold said of Ullo, “Students respond to her excitement in the classroom.” “Cherie is a teacher that I respect and admire and she inspires me to read.... Her passion for literature is so engaging,” said Arnold. Arnold said Ullo’s philosophy can be summed up as “The more you read, the more you know. The more you know, the more you grow” and the more students

can exhibit their own voice. Last year’s Teacher of the Year, Kim Manget, a math teacher, outlined the teacher of the year process by the numbers. Studies have found effective teachers work an average of 53 hours a week, and Manget assured the audience the teachers on the stage have worked far more as they come early, stay late and work at home. The teachers of the year are dedicated to bringing success to all 16,400 students. “All means all,” she said. Superintendent Richard Autry said, “Before you can teach the mind, you have to reach the heart. Our students don’t care how much we know until they know how much we care.” The teachers of the year demonstrate competence and quality along with the humanistic characteristics of compassion, kindness and a genuine love of students, he said. They are creative, plugged into technology in the

classroom, lifelong learners. The three TOTY finalists this year were Ullo, Kim Kammerer, and Breana Vinings Brown. Gen. Ray Davis Middle School’s Kim Kammerer, a former math and current social studies teacher, named her elementary and junior high teachers, along with track and basketball coaches, as among those who influenced her to become a teacher. She and her husband of 10 years, Josh, have two sons. English teacher Cherie Ullo has taught for 15 years, the last five at Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology, is the current chair of the English Department. Her father was a math teacher and assistant superintendent and her mother was a German teacher, grandmother a second grade teacher, and grandfather a high school teacher. The most rewarding experience she’s had as a teacher is having former students share with

her that she influenced them to become teachers. CJ Hicks Elementary teacher Breanna Vinings Brown is a former Technology Teacher of the Year, recently married, has an 11-year-old stepson and she and her husband are expecting. She said the most rewarding experience teaching that comes to mind was seeing a student who was struggling blossom through the use of technology. Prizes included plaques, donated items, gift cards from Cannon Financial Strategists, $300 cosmetic gift basket from Belk, and for the winner a $500 check, $500 Kroger gift card, and a three-day, two-night vacation package to St. Simons’s Island. For the full list of sponsors, see rockdalenews.com The 22 school-level Teachers of the Year were chosen by their peers. The Rockdale County Teacher of the Year will go on to compete at the state level for Georgia Teacher of the Year.

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Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014 • 4

The News

Breaking out of the ‘Man Box’: Continued from

FRONT PAGE

And since men are committing these crimes at the fastest rate, it’s time for more men to speak out against the violence happening to women as well, says Derek Marchman, a Rockdale County courts family violence consultant. “The thing is domestic violence advocates for the most part have been women. For the most part, a lot of the victims are women. It is time for men to step up,” he said. “The biggest thing in terms of family violence is that we as men have to do more. Think about, we’re 90 percent of the reason why it occurs.” Men need to protest The most important things a man could do to aid in the battle against violence against women are protest like so many women already do and don’t fall victim to the bystander effect, the act of witnessing or knowing about a women being abused and not intervening in some way, says Marchmen. Marchmen, who gives speeches around the country on this issue, sees it often that men will only speak out against domestic violence when a family member or friend is involved but rarely ever for a stranger. The main reason is because guys follow the “guy code” of that’s not my business so I’m going to stay out of it or they didn’t know what to do when the situation was unfolding, says Marchmen. Speaking at a conference on domestic violence geared toward men in September, Marcus Delgado, chairman of Partnership Against Domestic Violence, echoes Marchmen’s stance that men need to do more to be on the preventative side of domestic violence. Delgado, the first male chair of the PADV, a nonprofit domestic violence organization in Georgia, says that a key to getting men to become activists is to break the stereotype that this is a women’s issue. Ted Bunch, co-founder of A Call to Men, a national violence prevention organization providing training and education for men and boys, says that there’s an overwhelming majority of men who do not commit domestic

violence offenses and the role they must play is speaking out against it and cultural things that promote it. “This is not an indictment of manhood,” he said at the same conference as Delgado. “It’s an invitation to be part of solution.” Don’t be a bystander Marchmen offers this advice to men who may not be sure how to react if they find themselves in a bystander effect situation. It’s ok to say, “I don’t know what the situation here is, but what you’re doing here is wrong. No one should be treated that way,” he said. “Half the time people just need to know that people see them doing something wrong. It’s not an issue of saying the right words. The biggest thing is taking some form of action.” The co-founder of A Call to Men, Tony Porter, adds that men may find it hard to join in the fight against domestic violence because they’re stuck in what Porter calls a “Man Box,” which is stereotypical gender socialization roles. Some key ideas of Porter’s “Man Box” is that men are strong physically, while women are weak and thus inferior, not being allowed to show interest in women outside of a sexual context and fear of being thought of as gay, which is also perceived as a sign of weakness. Being trapped in this box makes men afraid of associating themselves with anything that

they feel might make others perceived them as weak, inferior or homosexual, says Porter. Neither ignorance nor fear are excuses for not making the right decision. “When it comes to bystander effect, don’t let not knowing what to do interfere with what’s right,” he said. ““There’s enough mad women going, “This is wrong,” or picketing and working in shelters. This is not a woman’s issue. This is a communal issue.” Women support But, Conyers resident Pamela Lowery doesn’t think it would be a sign a weakness at all on a man’s part to join the battle against domestic violence Lowery, 53, was a victim of domestic abuse from her exhusband for 12 years. That time period began when she was 20 years old. She’s been remarried to a different man for 17 years now and is a mother to a 15-yearold son. She would welcome men supporting victims of domestic abuse with open arms. “That would be awesome,” Lowery said of men who haven’t been domestic violence offenders advocating against the crime. Men as victims While the number of reported cases of domestic violence against women are going up, which could be interpreted as a positive sign that more women are seeking help, the number of

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Advocates seek men to step up on domestic violence issues cases where men are victims are still relatively low. Vickie Stevenson, director of Project ReNeWal, a shelter for victims of domestic violence living in Rockdale, Newton and Walton Counties, believes that men are victims of domestic abuse a lot more times than what gets reported, or rather, a lot more than they’ll actually admit. There’s added level of shame when a male admits to losing to a female. “It’s very hard for a man to say a woman got the best of them,” said Stevenson. “There’s a lot of shame in (a domestic violence situation) for women, but I think there may be more for men.” Homosexual relationships could be more of a risk for males than a heterosexual one. Stevenson says the violence against men in homosexual relationships seems to be more extreme. She recalls when one male

victim broke his leg because his boyfriend pushed him out of a moving car. In another incident, a guy escaped the stronghold of his abusive boyfriend by moving out of the state and into an apartment with a male roommate. The estranged boyfriend eventually found the guy and murdered his roommate. “They’re really, really hard on each other,” said Stevenson. “It may be that they’re more dedicated (to the relationship).” Stevenson adds that social pressures and stresses could contribute to the harsher level of violence among homosexual couples. “When you’re in a relationship like and you’re fighting society to be together, the break-up could be harder to bear.” Project ReNeWal has assisted 3,149 clients since it started. Of those, only 425 were men seeking help.

Opinion 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

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 driveins. 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 enacted such a curfew. Teenagers under the age of 16 are not allowed to be out on city streets after 11 p.m. without being accompanied by an adult, except for certain exceptions. Two weeks ago, police in Conyers renewed a crackdown in the ordinance enforcement; it turns out many of the teens whose parents were issued citations were from nearby Newton County. 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. Don’t leave them with a bad taste in their mouth because the police are doing their job. Have your children off the streets of Conyers by 11 p.m. That is just as much your responsibility as parents to do this as it is your children’ to follow the law.

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

Thoughts of a Baby Boomer

50th reunion a time to reunite with friends This past summer I travelled back home to attend the 50th year reunion of the Class of 1964 of St Mary’s High in Annapolis, Md. Although I really am a graduate of the Class of 1965 Annapolis High, I had spent 10 years of my young life with the class of ’64, having lost a year because T. Pat of my first year in the Cavanaugh 10th grade. Publisher During that time I was emerging from my previous hermit life in the country and realized that girls were more than just friends and how wonderful and exciting the real world was. As a result of my new discovery of life I had no time for studies. I promptly failed Geometry, Latin 2, French 1 and Chemistry. As a result goodbye St Mary’s, hello Annapolis Panthers. I then proceeded to enjoy my new life even more and only through the grace I suppose of the Good Lord and a great English teacher who passed me in spite of my foolishness

I proudly graduated from good old AHS. Since I didn’t graduate from St. Mary’s I was surprised that one of my former classmates tracked me down and insisted that I should celebrate this great

“

they still were and are my best friends. My wife Molly never could understand how I could call these folks my best friends. She reminded me on many occasions that it was hard to call

A friend becomes part of your memories and is intertwined in your heart just like a family member. An acquaintance, on the other hand, touches your life at a certain time of your life and that’s it.

occasion with my former classmates. I did and I truly enjoyed going down memory lane. It’s funny, it seems like only yesterday I was taking my grandmother down to the bus station and sending her off to celebrate her 50th class reunion and I can remember as clear as day wondering what old people would have to do at a 50th reunion of everything. But before I say anything about the reunion, I need to tell you that my greatest joy about this reunion was reuniting with my best four friends in the world. I hadn’t seen them or talked to them in 30 years but

“

the

Saturday, Oct. 4 2014 RockdaleNews.com/opinion Page 5

someone your friend that you hadn’t seen for 33 years. After our visit I believe she truly now understands. In my life I have hundreds of acquaintances that I have met around the country. I can still talk to them on the phone share a few laughs and if we were together would have a grand time. In my life I have only allowed six people to take a part of my heart and become my friend for life; one just died so I now have five. A friend becomes part of your memories and is intertwined in your heart just like a family member. An acquaintance, on

the other hand, touches your life at a certain time of your life and that’s it. I am grateful for both acquaintances and friends, but my friends – like Marie, Gene, Bobby and Bitsy – I love. The reunion was neat most folks didn’t change and talking to them was just like we talked 50 years ago. Most were successful; some had struggled; but for a moment we were all young again and the future seemed bright and full of promise just like it did 50 years ago in a peaceful old colonial town that rolled up the sidewalks at 5:30 p.m. I loved Annapolis and I had dreams then of politics and future success and I had additional dreams that I would someday move back and everything would be the same. But I learned that Thomas Wolfe was right when he wrote in the book “Look Homeward, Angel” that you really can’t go home again, unless of course it is just for a brief moment to enjoy of a past reflection of a grand time in your life. T. Pat Cavanaugh is the Publisher of The News in Rockdale and Covington. You can reach him at pcavanaugh@rockdalenews.com

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Outrage at no vote on Sunday voting Dear Editor: The Rockdale County Democratic Party is outraged by the action to deny its members the opportunity to vote on the issue of Sunday voting recently taken by the Rockdale County Board of Elections. In light of vows by Republican lawmakers to limit voter access to the polls by stripping the authority of counties to provide an early voting option on Sundays, it is imperative the Rockdale County board of elections bring to a vote and approve the measure to ensure voter access is protected in our county. In fulfilling our commitment to ensure equal voting access for all, we support all actions that increase citizens’ participation in the voting process, and demand

each member of the elections board be made to vote on the measure. When faced with the decision to provide citizens additional opportunities to participate in one of our country’s most important exercises in civic engagement, we believe the recent obstructive actions taken by members of the board run contrary to ensuring full participation in the voting process. We will use the disrespect shown to many Rockdale citizens by the Board Chair, William Todd, to fuel an even stronger voter turnout. Tommy Plummer, Chairman of the Rockdale County Democratic Party

Breast Cancer Awareness

6 • Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014

Demystifying Breast Cancer

RMC physician panel sheds light on breast cancer findings By John Ruch

jruch@rockdalenews.com

As a relatively common yet mysterious disease, breast cancer can be a confusing and fearful topic to understand. Doctors on Rockdale Medical Center’s breast cancer treatment team held a panel discussion Oct. 2 to demystify treatments, debunk some myths, and offer the latest information. About 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives. The good news is that there are more treatment options than ever, and survival rates are climbing. And, despite some recent debates, that annual mammogram for women 40 and older is still important, the doctors said. The panel included Dr. Leslie Holmes (radiology/oncology), Dr. Kathleen Lambert (hematology/ oncology), Dr. April Speed (breast surgery ) and Dr. Richard Stiles (radiology).

trating disease that happens for reasons we don’t understand,” said Stiles. “We just don’t know how to prevent it as well as we’d like to.” The doctors recommended exercise and healthy eating—which are great benefits no matter what—but those are no guarantees against cancer. Stiles said he often has patients who are frustrated that they lived healthy lifestyles and developed breast cancer. Some of the apparent biggest risk factors are difficult or impossible to control, such as the time of a woman’s first period or menopause. Speed and Lambert discussed some studies that have loosely linked breast cancer to alcohol or tobacco use, or to parabens and phthalates—chemicals used in cos-

metics and plastics. But there is no proof that any of those substances cause breast cancer. Likewise, there is no proof that consuming soy products affects the risk one way or another. Screening With the causes of breast cancer largely unknown, regular examinations to catch any cancer early are very important. Breast cancer is usually curable when caught early. “Early detection beats prevention every day,” Stiles said. There are three basic screenings every woman should do: a monthly breast self-exam; an annual breast physical exam; and for older women, an annual mammogram. Many women are familiar

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Prevention What causes breast cancer and what can women do to avoid it? That’s the main thing everyone wants to know. But in the vast majority of cases, doctors have no idea. Some breast cancer comes from genetic factors, but in about 80 percent of cases, the patients have no known risk factors. “[Breast cancer is] a very frus-

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Darrell Everidge/The News

(Left to right) Radiologist Dr. Richard Stiles, breast surgeon Dr. April Speed, oncologist Dr. Kathleen Lambert, radiation oncologist Dr. Leslie Holmes

with the self-exam as the classic “checking for lumps.” But, Speed explained, the idea of that exam is changing. Doctors now advise women about the concept of “breast self-awareness.” That means to think about the big picture of the breast’s overall condition, not just lumps or the mechanics of the exam. Any type of change, such as skin color or nipple discharge— could be a cancer symptom. It is also important to check under the arm, not just the front of the breast. The annual mammogram has been under fire in recent years, with some widely reported studies say-

ing they are unnecessary. Stiles explained that there is some validity to the criticisms, but he expressed concerns that media reports oversimplify the debate. His opinion is that annual mammograms are still crucial for life-saving early detection. Mammogram screening rates are dropping, Stiles said, and his big fear is that primary care doctors are advising women to skip them. Various studies have questioned whether mammograms are ef-

See rockdalenews.com for full story

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The News

Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014 • 7

Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014

The News

FALL FESTIVAL GUIDE Olde Town Fall Festival Fall brings Conyers’ longest-running festival, the Olde Town Fall Festival, back for its 34th edition on Saturday, Oct. 25, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The festival, coordinated by the city of Conyers, draws residents and visitors to historic Olde Town for a day of browsing among artists, crafters and local merchants in Olde Town Conyers. Center, Commercial and Railroad Streets will be closed to traffic 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday for festival goers. “From woodworking and jewelry to baked goods and crocheted items, there is a fantastic variety of vendors lined up for this year’s festival,” said Harriet Gattis, tourism manager for the Conyers Convention and Visitors Bureau and one of the festival organizers. “Started by the Rockdale County Historical Society in 1980, we are proud to continue this tradition of fall fun in the streets of Olde Town.” The Olde Town Fall Festival features two stages of entertainment, more than 70 arts and crafts vendors, a variety of food and children’s activities and a number of local non-profit organizations. A costume contest for kids and a pet costume contest sponsored by The Rockdale News will take place on the Conyers Depot stage at 11:40 a.m. The Conyers Police Department and Rockdale County Fire Department and Sheriff’s Department will be on hand for fun safety activities and interaction with children and adults, alike. Children’s activities and a mini soccer clinic sponsored by Rockdale Youth Soccer Association will be part of the festivities. Entertainment includes performances from the Dominy School of the Performing Arts, Sole Momentum Cloggers, Pine Street Elementary Singers/Drum Group, the Big, Shiny Brass Tuba Ensemble and even an appearance by Elvis. Admission and parking are free. For more information, visit www.oldetownfallfestival.com or http://tinyurl. comOTCFB or call the Conyers Welcome Center at 770602-2606.

Wednesday, Oct. 1-Nov. 1 ‘Fear the Woods’ Zombie Paintball and Haunted Woods / Pumpkin Patch Fear the Woods open 7 p.m. – midnight Fri-Sat, 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. Sunday, open Halloween Night; Yule Forest’s Pumpkin Patch, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Mon – Fri, 10 a.m. -6 p.m. Sat – Sun; located at 3565 Ga. Hwy 155 N, Stockbridge. Stockbridge’s newest zombie phenom is sure to thrill with a zombie paintball ride through the woods; A chilling haunted house and haunted trail await. You can also take hayrides, shoot a pumpkin cannon, be buried alive, and visit the frozen room, skinner shack, and swamp. By day, the family friendly Pumpkin Patch also offers a petting zoo, talking chicken show, science center, pirate ship, obstacle course, reptile house, and pioneer rabbit village. For more on the Pumpkin Patch, 770-944-9356, www.aboutyule.com. For more on Fear Woods, 770-954-9356, www.fearthewoods.com

www.trappist.net/events

Social Circle; arts & crafts, food, kids entertainment; socialcirclegabht.com/friendship_ festival.htm

Social Circle Friendship Festival 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.; 10th annual festival in historic downtown

Continued on next page

Saturday, Oct. 4 Monastery Fall Festival and Health Fair 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Monastery of the Holy Spirit, 2625 Hwy 212 SW, Conyers; family friendly festivities including a petting zoo, hay rides, face art, arts and crafts, tree climbing, classic cars, music and live entertainment; free health screenings 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. including dental dermatologist/skin, Prostate/ PSA, blood work, Ask a Medical Question/ Ask a Pharmacist;

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The News

Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014 • 9

Continued from previous page Salem UMC Barbecue 11:15 a.m.-2:15 p.m.; Salem United Methodist, 3962 Salem Rd, Covington; $8 plates of barbecue; Brunswick stew for sale too; cakes, pies, desserts for sale; benefits church missions programs; 770-786-6027 Miller Lite Chili BBQ Cook-off 10 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.; Ga. Int’l Horse Park, 996 Centennial Olympic Pkwy, Conyers; adults $10, children 12 and under are free; parking $5; proceeds benefit Camp Twin Lakes; live music; about 150 chili booths will provide free chili samples to public; BBQ teams also doing limited sampling; Samples start 11 a.m. first come first served; www.theatlantachilicookoff.com Blessing of the Animals 2-4 p.m.; St. Simon’s Episcopal, 155 Ga. Hwy 138 NE, Conyers; Blessing of the animals and bluegrass concert with The Donna Bopp Band; 770-483-3242 Gatlinburg Fine Arts Festival Oct. 3-5, at the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, 556 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN; Participating exhibitors chosen by jury in 16 categories, ranging from ceramics and glass to watercolor and woodworking; www.arrowmont.org; 800-5881817 Sunday, Oct. 5 Pink Pooch Parade 3 -6 p.m.; start and end at Olde Town Conyers Pavilion; $25 registration at The Pampered Puppy 953 South Main St., or contact pinkpoochparade@gmail. com, 770-712-7653.

Thursday, Oct. 9 Blithe Spirit New Depot Players stage the Noël Coward classic comedy “Blythe Spirit; directed by Gina HayBryan; October 9 – 19 (preview night October 8); thenewdepotplayers.com

Saturday, Oct. 18 Senior Bazaar 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Bald Rock Baptist; 2284 Old Covington Rd, Conyers; Find great bargains from peanuts and jellies to clothing fashions and home decor; 770-929-3421.

Saturday, Oct. 11 Georgia Apple Festival 9 a.m. - 5/6 p.m., Oct. 11-12, 18-19; Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds, 1729 South Main St, Ellijay, GA; $10 tickets; Head into the mountains for the 43rd annual Ga. Apple Festival; car show Oct. 11, parade Oct. 18; www. georgiaapplefestival.org

Saturday, Oct. 25 Race Against Violence 8 a.m. One Mile Fun Run; 8:15 a.m. 5K; starts and ends at Conyers First United Methodist, 921 N. Main St, Conyers; Registration $20 before Oct. 10, $25 on race day; proceeds go to Rockdale Family Violence Task Force; www. rockdaleaware.com

Stone Mountain Village Oktoberfest 1-7 p.m. Oct. 11-12; at the Village Corner Restaurant, 6655 James B Rivers Memorial Dr, Stone Mountain; $30 tickets; www.stonemountainvillage. com/oktoberfest0809.html

of God, 1825 Ga. Hwy 138, Conyers; “Heroes of the Bible”themed fall festival; egg and spoon race, pumpkin race, health screenings, trunk or treat; 770922-5834 Sunday, Oct. 26 Trunk or Treat 5-7 p.m.; County Line Baptist Church, 3325 Hwy 162, Covington; Shelia Archer, 770786-2637

Trunk or Treat 5-7 p.m.; Solid Rock Baptist Church, 8111 Brown Bridge Rd, Covington; 770-784-0982, www. solidrockbaptist.com Wednesday, Oct. 29 Hallelujah Night/Trunk-orTreat 6 p.m.; Bald Rock Baptist; 2284 Old Covington Rd, Conyers; bring the youth out for Hallelujah Night; an evening of food, fun, games and Trunk-or-

Olde Town Fall Festival 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Olde Town Conyers; family friendly activities, games, Pets and Kids Costume Contest, arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, and more; www.oldetownfallfestival.com Fall Festival/ Trunk or Treat 4-7 p.m.; Conyers Church

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Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014 • 11

FLYING with LAUGHTER By Pete Mecca

news@rockdalenews.com

Arranging an interview quickly turns into something even more exciting when the veteran suggests, “Let’s just fire up the old Stearman and fly down to Peach State Aerodrome for lunch at Barnstormer’s Grill. Then we can fly back for an interview at my house.” Needless to say, nobody had to twist my arm. The grass airfield in Williamson, Georgia, is also home to the Candler Field Museum and the Civil Air Patrol. Pilots who frequent Barnstormer’s are seasoned aviators with thousands of hours behind the controls of contemporary aircraft, but these guys would feel right at home inside the cockpit of a WWI era Sopwith Camel, a French Spad, or the Fokker Dreidecker (triplane) of Red Barron renown. Loiter around the grass field long enough and you may see a floppy-eared Beagle land his dog house. John Laughter can recite Barnstormer’s menu by heart from one too many hamburgers and gooey desserts shared with other daring young men and their flying machines. Thing is, many of the flyboys are no longer young, and their machines are older than they are, but in aviation ‘older’ means an enormous amount of hard-earned experience by trial and error, sometimes even the death of a wingman. As a Navy fighter pilot Laughter flew into the most heavily defended country of his era, a place called North Vietnam. This is his story. “I was born into a family of aviators in Horse Shoe, North Carolina. My dad served with the 101st Airborne in WWII. He was severely wounded on the 2nd day of the Normandy invasion, which ended his military career, but that didn’t stop him from becoming a private pilot, even with a steel pin in his leg. Dad soloed after four hours of instruction. My mom had a fear of flying but conquered that fear to become the first licensed female pilot in western North Carolina.

My uncle trained young pilots during WWII using the Stearman biplane. He became a commercial airline pilot and took me for my first flight in a Globe/Temco Swift. I fell in love with aviation and decided then and there I wanted to be a fighter pilot then a commercial pilot. I remember going to the airfield with the family when I was 10 years old and sitting in the cockpit of a Stearman duster. I bought that same Stearman in 1985.” John’s third year of college at East Carolina gave him the opportunity to fulfill his aviation dream. “Navy recruiters were on campus and offered me a ride in a T-34 (Beachcraft Mentor). Of course I took the ride then said to myself, ‘Yep, this is for me.’ I signed up and arrived in Pensacola in Dec. of ’64. I figured the U.S. Navy had a plane waiting for me with my name on it, but I soon found out things didn’t work that way.” John said of his youthful rebellious nature, “You know, after joining the Navy I realized everything my dad had taught me made sense. Dad was a disciplined man, and it helped me become the aviator I am today.” Pre Flight School at Pensacola paved the way for primary flight school at Saufley Field. John recalled, “I soloed in the T-34 and learned basic acrobatics but kept wondering if jets or props would be in my future. Luckily I got jets and was sent to Meridian, Mississippi, to master the T-2 (North American Buckeye).” Proficient behind the controls of a Buckeye, John returned to Pensacola for gunnery school and carrier qual (qualification). Carrier landings and takeoffs would be mastered on the legendary USS Lexington stationed in the Gulf of Mexico. His thoughts on his first carrier landing, “I didn’t think that much of it because of all the training the Navy had given me. Everything went as I had been briefed. My first shot (catapult) off the carrier was perfect…. exciting, but perfect.” Next port-of-call: Chase Field in Beeville, Texas, to train on the F-9 Cougar and F-11 Grumman Tiger. One F-11

training mission caused a bit of a problem. “I was rolling in on target in the Gulf during gunnery training when the ‘low oil pressure’ warning light came on. I headed for Corpus Christi and called in my emergency. I’m on a precautionary approach and let the gear down…then the darn plane falls out of the sky. Normal thrust failed, the gear is sucked back up, engine power was not normal, so I’m just hoping for the best. I made it to the short runway but had to shut down the engine on final approach and dead stick it back down to earth. I made it okay.” All his experience, all his training, all he ever learned about flying would now come into play. Assigned to VF-124 squadron at Miramar near San Diego, John mastered the F-8 Vought Crusader supersonic Navy fighter, “a wonderful plane,” he said. “Plus I married my forever sweetheart, the beautiful Carole Bowden.” After winning Carole’s affection, John reported to the Sundowners of VF-111 and by April of ’67 set sail for Westpac aboard the USS Oriskany. His destination was Yankee Station in the Gulf of Tonkin off the coast of North Vietnam. Upon arrival: “We had experienced guys on the Oriskany from the year before who briefed us on their experiences, but it didn’t help too much because of the new targets, the capitol city of Hanoi and the major port of Haiphong. I flew ‘iron hand’ combat escort for A-4 Skyhawks, a few flak suppression missions with Zuni missiles, TarCap, Barcap, Migcap, and photo recon escort. We lost one plane per day the first week, then didn’t lose a plane for one day only, then lost two the next day. My F-8 was the C model without hard points on the wing. We carried 4 Zuni rockets or 4 Sidewinders. The E model F-8s carried bombs because they had hard points on their wings.” Tactics: “A Skyhawk would fly an Iron Hand mission and launch a Shrike missile at a SAM (surface to air missile) location. The Shrike would fly right down the SAM’s radar

beam and destroy the site, unless they saw it coming and quickly shut down their system. Our Crusaders would protect the A-4s plus escort strike forces into their target. We actually drew the SAMs toward us and away from the strike force. One tactic was to let loose a Zuni toward Hanoi to make the SAM operators shut down their radar because the Zuni looked like a Shrike coming at you. The North Vietnamese had 37mm, 57mm, 85mm, and I think some 100mm guns plus SAMs. One of their tactics was to form a ‘cone’ of anti-aircraft fire which our planes were forced to maneuver through. If we missed the target we’d have to go back another day and fly through the ‘cone’ again.” On losing a pilot: “It was tough. You’re sitting in a

Read full story at rockdalenews.com briefing room with 30 pilots and you know that one probably isn’t coming back. You just hope it’s not your day to be that missing pilot. On our first cruise the A-4 Skyhawks took a pounding, about 28 planes either lost or damaged. We also used ‘wet-winging’ to improve our survival rate. If you’re shot up and leaking fuel and lucky enough to reach the sea then an aerial fuel tanker would hook up to you and keep pumping fuel into your plane to replace the fuel being leaked. Some holes in our planes were large enough to stick your head through.” Pete Mecca is a Vietnam veteran, columnist and freelance writer. You can reach him at aveteransstory@gmail.com or aveteransstory.us.

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Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014 Page 12 rockdalenews.com

Falcons end Patriots season with doubleheader sweep By Phil Manson

news@rockdalenews.com

A season that started in August with such promise (a 12-2 start), came to a screeching halt on the first day of October as the Lady Patriots softball team was swept in a playoff doubleheader by upstart Flowery Branch 5-3 and 5-4. The season-ending losses dropped Heritage’s record to 22-7, while the Lady Falcons improved to 13-15 on the season, and 3-0 in the playoffs. Errors in both games really hurt the Patriots. Game one started slowly as pitchers Kamryn Toney (Heritage) and McKenzie Harris (Falcons) kept the batters guessing. Each team had as many hits (2) as strikeouts through two innings. Two unearned Falcons runs in the top of the third inning did not help the Patriots fortunes.

With one out in the third, Falcons leadoff hitter Kelly Kahlert chopped a 3-2 pitch to third and beat the throw to first for an infield hit. She stole second. And then, batter Chloe Zoeller smacked a shot to third baseman Ta’lor Bynum. Bynum fielded the ball, but threw it over first baseman Destiny Herrera’s outstretched glove, allowing Kahlert to score and leaving Zoeller standing at second. Then, Bynum booted second baseman Bailey Sims’ grounder, allowing Zoeller to score and staking Flowery Branch to lead 2-0 after three innings. Heritage went down one-twothree in the bottom of the third and fourth inning, but Toney provided a highlight for the Patriots in the top of the fourth as she struck out the side. The Patriots would tie the game in the bottom of the fifth inning when with one out and run-

ners on first and third, Heritage right-fielder Lakaitlen Barney bunted and beat the throw to first. The ball got away from Falcons first baseman Maddie Hetzel, and Bynum scored from third to make the score 2-1. Germecia Joseph, who was on first, went to third on the play, and was driven home on Jamiya Barker’s groundout to third to tie the Falcons at 2-2 after five innings. Neither team scored in the sixth or seventh inning, and the game went to extra innings. Flowery Branch scored three runs in the top of the eighth. Heritage pushed across a run in the home half of the eighth inning, but Bynum flew out to left field as the Falcons took game one 5-3. Game two started well for the Patriots as Addy Allegretti and Morgan Whiten hit consecutive doubles, and Destiny Herrera singled to drive in Whiten and give Heritage a 2-0 lead after a half-inning. Flowery Branch would muster a run in its half of the first as Kahlert (4-5, two runs scored in the second game) led off with a single and stole second. Allegretti then made the defensive play of the evening as the next batter, Zoeller, hit a soft, tailing liner over

third base. Allegretti broke for the ball and made a diving catch that probably saved a run. However, two Falcons batters later, Kahlert would score on Hetzel’s two-out single to halve the Patriots lead 2-1 after one inning. Neither team would score again until Heritage extended its lead to 4-1 in the top of the fourth inning. Toney led off with a single, and second baseman Paige Owens sacrifice-bunted to move Toney to second. On a 3-1 pitch, Bynum grounded to Falcons shortstop Courtney Harris. Harris’ throw went past first baseman Hetzel. Toney scored when the umpires determined that Falcons third baseman Johanna Earnhart blocked Toney and awarded her home plate. Bynum, who moved to second on the errant Harris throw, was sacrificed to third by Joseph. She scored on Barney’s two-out single to give the Patriots a 4-1 lead. Flowery Branch would get two unearned runs back with two out in the bottom of the fifth inning as third baseman Bynum botched Bailey Sims’ grounder with the bases loaded and allowed Flowery Branch to cut the lead to 4-3. Heritage wouldn’t get another runner past second base as Flow-

ery Branch pitcher Kara Knight and the Falcons defense played stellar ball. Still trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Harris led off and reached on an Allegretti error. One out later, Kahlert singled for the fourth time in the game, and Falcons were on first and third with one out. Zoeller hit a soft liner to Toney on the mound for the second out. Sims was intentionally walked to load the bases for Hetzel. And, Hetzel singled to center on Toney’s first offering, driving in Harris and Kahlert for the 5-4 victory. Heritage Coach Jason McBay was stoic, but disappointed after the losses. “It’s a shocker,” McBay said. “It’s going to be really, really weird not playing softball into late October. We’re not used to that around here. But, (give) credit to them. They came prepared. They were hungry. They have great senior leadership. Kelly Kahlert in center does a good job. Bailey Sims, who is just a junior at second, does a heck of a job. They’re like coaches on the field. So, credit to them, and credit to Coach (Laura Novotny) Beaver.” And now, the Lady Patriots will have to spend the winter thinking about what might have been.

SEC Banter

High expectations for Wild West Weekend The sixth Saturday of Southeastern Conference football ushers in October, my favorite month. Cool, crisp air, sharp blue October skies, and kids talking incessantly about Halloween weeks away from trick-or-treating. (“Daddy, can we eat ALL our candy on Halloween night? Please! Please!”) October also heralds the arrival of big boy football and, fortunately for SEC afficionados, Saturday is absolutely loaded with blockbuster SEC West matchups carrying implications difficult to overstate. Six SEC West teams ranked in the top 15 will square off, as No. 6 Texas A&M meets No. 12 Mississippi State at noon, No. 3 Alabama visits No. 11 Ole Miss at 3:30 p.m., and No. 15 LSU battles No. 5 Auburn as night falls at 7 p.m. It’s been dubbed “Separation Saturday,” “Wild West Saturday,” or, as SEC Banter prefers, “Consume Junk Food and Booze in Excess Because There are Huge Games on Saturday.” Regardless of the label, it’s a massive weekend in the SEC West and the first time in the sport’s illustrious history that a single division serves up so many top-ranked matchups in one day. Saturday will alter the landscape of the most rugged, treacherous division in college football. If you’re like me (which means you rock), your expectations are sky high for a twelve-hour, back-to-back-to-back marathon of the nation’s finest college football on display. And therein lies the problem: expectations. Rarely are they met. The hype surrounding Saturday makes SEC Banter wonder whether it can live up to our lofty expectations.

Expectations. Mine are probably too high in general. For example, after endless commercials during endless SEC games, my expectations were through the roof for “endless shrimp” at Red Lobster, so I took the bait. Let’s just say I was glad when endless Ben Prevost shrimp ended. Expectations. As a young buck, I had enormous expectations every Thursday night for the alltime undisputed best show in television history, “Magnum, P.I.” Thomas Sullivan Magnum IV’s exploits always exceeded my expectations. (Any truth to that rumor of a “Magnum, P.I.” movie? Please be true!) Expectations. When Democrats controlled all of Washington a few years ago, some folks had dreamy expectations of unleashing the full power of the federal government to solve everyone’s everyday problems. Thankfully, liberals have little in common with Saturday’s SEC West slate and, high as our expectations might be, this trio of top-ranked games should deliver. Consume Junk Food and Booze in Excess Because There are Huge Games on Saturday begins with Texas A&M at Mississippi State. The Bulldogs are slight favorites but SEC Banter sees the Agriculturals harvesting the raucous Starkville midday crowd and quieting the cow bells in a close one. Next, just over 90 miles away in the Magnolia State, Alabama faces Mississippi in what is billed as the biggest game

in the history of Oxford, Miss. The contest marks the first time that ESPN College GameDay visits Oxford, one of SEC Banter’s favorite fall settings. If you can’t enjoy yourself in the Grove before a big Ole Miss game, seek psychiatric help immediately. The Rebels have heard all week that this is their moment. A chance to join the national conversation. A chance at relevance, the one thing Ole Miss has so desperately pined for through the years. Tough expectations to meet, to be sure, and that’s why SEC Banter predicts the Tide rolls, and rolls big. The day concludes with LSU traveling to the plains of Auburn. This rivalry has a fabled past of wacky, last-minute endings, which means Les Miles feels right at home. But the Bayou Bengals’ quarterback is a true freshman making his first career start. I performed extensive online research and learned that the quarterback position is an important one on the gridiron. A true freshman’s first collegiate start at Jordan-Hare Stadium almost guarantees an Auburn win and, as I predicted last week, LSU will not win an SEC West game this season. So, there you have it. Let’s hope this first October SEC Saturday meets our expectations. In the meantime, Red Lobster invited me to dinner with the Democratic congressional leadership. We’re having — you guessed it — endless shrimp. Expectations are quite low, however, I convinced them to run endless episodes of “Magnum, P.I.” on the TV in the bar. There’s hope yet!

The News

Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ 13

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