the NEWS Sept. 13, 2014 Volume 6, Issue 24
75 cents
rockdalenews.com
CHANGING BEHAVIOR: New system for children showing results, PAGE 3
Serving Rockdale County and Conyers Rockdale County Public Schools announced its top three finalists for Teacher of the Year with surprise visits Tuesday to the classrooms of CJ Hicks Elementary’s Breana Vinings Brown, Rockdale Magnet School’s Cherie Ullo and Davis Middle’s Kim Kammerer. The finalists are in the running for Rockdale County Teacher of the Year, which will be announced at the Oct. 2 ceremony. Judges will observe each finalist teaching students in his/her classroom and interview the teachers. The Rockdale County Teacher of the Year will go on to represent Rockdale County Public Schools at the state competition.
TEACHER OF THE YEAR Puttin’
in
work Ayanna Mitchell recalls her journey from torn ACL to LSU committ
FINALISTS
Page 12
Remembering 9/11 Page 10
St. Pius X celebrates 40 years
Page 7
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Kim Kammerer
Cherie Ullo
Breana Vinings Brown
When Kim Kammerer and her husband were called to the front office over the intercom system at General Ray Davis Middle School Tuesday morning, she didn’t know what to expect. “It was a little nerve racking because they called us both up over the big intercom, so it made me think that something
In some ways, Teacher of the Year finalist and Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology English teacher Cherie Ullo is simply paying it forward in a big way. As a student growing up in Patterson, located in southeast Georgia,Ullo had inspirational teachers like Gene Baker, now the Chief of Staff in RCPS’s
Teaching at CJ Hicks Elementary is a homecoming for Breana Vining-Brown. The third grade teacher is giving back to the place that nurtured her as a child when she attended from second to fifth grade. “CJ Hicks has always been my home. This is where I started,” she said.
See FINALISTS, Page 9
Deputies fired and demoted for involvement in cheating scandal By Martin Rand, III
mrand@rockdalenews.com
The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office completed discipline hearings for seven deputies that were placed on paid administrative leave last week amid allegations of cheating on an online test. One supervisor resigned while under investigation before a discipline hearing could be scheduled. Investigator Lendon McCoy, Investigator Jennifer Perry, Investigator Tracy Radford, Investigator Grote Levett and Investigator Travus Blevins received a disciplinary demotion to the rank of Certified Sheriff’s Deputy I and were transferred from the Criminal Investigations Bureau to the Field Services Bureau. All five of these deputies also received a 10-day suspension without pay and are required to attend remedial training in a classroom setting for Ethics and Professionalism and for Legislative and Case Law Update. They will eventually be able to get back to the level of investigator, but it’s not guaranteed, says RCSO spokesperson Sergeant Andrew Arnold. “They would have to go through the same promotional process as they did before,” he said. Investigator Eddie Wilson was terminated due to his involvement in unethical activity and an additional founded allegation that he was non-truthful during the internal affairs investigation.
See CHEATING, Page 14
2
2 • Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014 2 • Saturday, September 13, 2014
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Lockdown at Heritage
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Sept. 5-12
Search for suspect causes RCHS lockdown Drugs, guns thrown out window during slow chase on I-20 Suspect wanted for two murders arrested by Sheriff’s Office
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Meeting Place Board of Commissioners work session, Tues., Sept. 16,10 a.m.; 901 Main St. Conyers Housing Authority commission meeting, Wed., Sept. 17, 4:30 p.m.,1214 Summer Cir., City Council meeting, Wed., Sept. 17, 7 p.m., 954 North Main Street Board of Education meeting, Thursday, Sept. 18, 7 p.m., 954 N. Main St.
the
Submitted photo
Deputies and the Sheriff search for a missing gun on the side of I-20. GDOT and inmate crews later came to cut the grass to help the search. No firearm was found.
Drugs, guns tossed in low-speed I-20 chase
Around 12:20 p.m. Tuesday, a RCSO deputy attempted to stop a blue Chevrolet pickup truck for failure to maintain lanes on I-20 eastbound near Newton County. The truck slowed to about 20 mph and pulled over as if it was going to stop but sped up again to 45 mph; three weapons and a bag of narcotics were thrown out the window. As the truck approached exit 90, the deputy performed a P.I.T. ma-
See rockdalenews.com for full story
The “Carnival For Children be accessible for the children with With Special Needs” is an event special needs. setup by about 120 youths, ages The carnival will feature an 12 to 18, from the Conyers Stake obstacle course, a ring toss, pony of the Church of Jesus Christ of ride, face painting and other activiLatter-day Saints and the Heritage ties. Julie Kimble, an adult coordiDiscount. High School Beta Club. nator for the carnival, says that no Discount. Discount. With the help of adults, the kids, matter what disability a child has Discount. who hail from Rockdale County there will be something for them Discount. Discount. and other counties in the surroundSee rockdalenews.com for ing area, had to think of games and full story setup ten to 15 booths that would
Two Newton schools on lockdown
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the morning of Sept. 11. A male student from Alcovy told his mother Monday, Sept. 8 there would be a bomb threat at Alcovy on Sept. 11, according to NCSO Sgt. Morrison. When the mother asked who made the threat, the boy was unable to give more information. Two female Liberty students, one of whom was the Alcovy student’s sister, were talking about the threat at school and told an adult, explaining there was a bomb threat at South Salem Elementary School, Liberty and Alcovy on Facebook. School administration then placed the schools on soft lockdown, and the resrouce officers were notified. When the girls were questioned, they were asked to pull up the Facebook page that posted the threat but were unable to find anything, concluding the threat was a hoax. No students were in harm at any point, Morrison said. She was unsure if charges will be filed
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neuver to stop the truck. Marquis McGahee, 24, of Thomson, Ga. and passenger, Darius Whimper, 22, of Covington were arrested. Their charges include posession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Two weapons and the drugs were found by the side of I-20; the third weapons was not as of Friday.
Bullets found on school grounds reportedly caused Heritage High School to go into a brief lockdown Thursday afternoon. A student was found to have 10 bullets in his posession, said Rockdale County Public Schools spokesperson Cindy Ball. “There was never any threat or weapon associated with this matter,” she emphasized. Gunshots were not heard in the area, said Sergeant Andrew Arnold, spokesperson for the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office. A newly acquired K-9 trained in detecting explosive odors was sent to the school and nearby areas as a precaution to locate a 9-millimeter handgun around 1:30 p.m. The search yielded no results. The lockdown was lifted after 10 minutes.
Special needs carnival, Sept. 20
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The News
Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014 • 3
BUSINESS
Careful planning By John Ruch
news@rockdalenews.com
More than a year after the City of Conyers granted its zoning approval, Four A International’s massive, mixed-use development south of Iris Drive is still in the planning stages. But more information about the 308-acre project will be coming soon as the company is working to get it right on this first phase, Four A Director of Development David Roper told the News. Roper declined to say exactly what that information will be. But he did reveal that the plan is scaling back on its originally announced 1,451 housing units. And the tentative construction start of late this year has been pushed back to 2015. “We’ve put a lot of work into it, and it’s ongoing... I think we’re moving in the right direction,” Roper said, adding that “patience” and “persistence” are Four A’s de-
Submitted photo/The News
The areas owned by Four A for this project are outlined in orange.
velopment mantras. David Spann, chief operating officer for the City of Conyers, said Four A has submitted a “tentative master plan” as requested, but no building plans yet as the company continues to work on drafts. Spann said the city has “no concerns”
about the delay, as Four A-which has owned the wooded site since the 1980s-has always taken its time. Four A essentially plans to build a new mini-neighborhood on the site, with a wide variety of housing types mixed with commercial spac-
BUSINESS
CREDC looks for more funding
By John Ruch
news@rockdalenews.com
As the Conyers Rockdale Economic Development Council works to stabilize its budget, it today heard good news about city funding-but bad news from the county. The City of Conyers will boost its annual contribution well over the current $60,000, said Mayor Randy Mills, who also chairs CREDC. But Board of Commissioners Chairman Richard Oden wants to cut the county’s share by 20 percent, to $100,000, CREDC Executive Director Marty Jones reported. Oden’s position isn’t the final word on BOC funding, and Mills called it “more politics than anything.” But the clock is ticking on setting CREDC’s 2015 budget, which begins in January, and is operating at a deficit. County Commisioner Oz Nesbitt, CREDC’s vice chairman, is a proponent of boosting CREDC’s funding. He said he will have another round of conversations with his fellow commissioners about CREDC’s importance. In the 10 months since Jones was hired, CREDC has been beefing up its presence and work at attracting and retaining big business. The main goal is making Rockdale a major player in metro Atlanta’s economic development scene. But for now, CREDC has only two staff members. Its $210,000
budget - more than half of which goes to salaries - is considered far too small by board members, and it is operating at a $60,000 deficit. Jones offered two draft budgets, both of them modest. One proposed the city increasing its funding to $75,000, and the county increasing its funding from $125,000 to $150,000. Combined with health insurance cost cuts, that would make a “status quo budget” with a lower deficit around $10,000, Jones said. Without a funding increase, deep cuts would be necessary, Jones said, proposing to slash his own $90,000 salary. Nesbitt said that move would be unacceptable because it would be difficult to regain funding to attract future employees. Mills announced Conyers City Council at its Summer Retreat last month agreed to boost its share to over the requested $75,000, though he would not specify the exact amount yet. But Jones reported that Oden, in a recent private meeting with CREDC staff, wants to cut county funding back to $100,000 and see the city match it. That could also impact CREDC’s other main funder, the county Development Authority, which provides $25,000 a year on a deal contingent on county funding. “His main concern is return on investment,” Jones said of Oden’s concerns. “He’s frustrated with the lack of development on Sigman Road and I-20,” and other unincor-
porated areas. Jones said he pointed to such CREDC successes as attracting the TV show “The Originals,” which employs 350 people and spends millions of dollars here, and retaining the gigantic manufacturer Hillphoenix here. “The chairman was nonplussed by those examples,” Jones said. Board member Deborah Armstrong, chief executive officer of Rockdale Medical Center, said it is important to communicate to Oden that investment in economic development is long-term and takes time to pay off. Fred Boscarino, president and chief executive officer of the Conyers-Rockdale Chamber of Commerce, agreed with her. “It’s patience. This stuff doesn’t happen overnight,” Boscarino said. “Marty has hit the ground running. He’s doing a great job.” Several board members suggested that Oden’s position is largely political, without going into details. Oden has had an uneven relationship with CREDC. He was a longtime holdout in the nearly year-long process of hiring Jones, and in recent months, CREDC has denied Oden’s requests to pay for his own development-oriented travel and publicity expenses. Other forms of fundraising are not on the table at the moment. CREDC last month officially became a 501(c)6 not-for-profit business association. See rockdalenews.com for more
Four A continues first phase of massive development es, all at a pedestrian-friendly scale. “It’s a fairly complex table to set,” Roper said. “It’s a giant math problem with a lot of moving parts.” One issue that came up about a year ago, he said, is larger-than-expected buffer zones around a stream on the site. That is one issue requiring some shuffling of the puzzle pieces. One item being rearranged is the housing. “We’re not going to reach 1,400 [units]. We’re going to have to scale back a bit,” Roper said.
“We’ve learned a lot about the site. We’ve been able to put together some cost structures,” Roper said. “We’ve got to get our arms around the economics and be realistic.” Four A remains committed to its overall vision, which includes preserving some natural elements of the site, adding to its complexity. And on a project that could take a decade to fully build, the company views the first phase as crucial to get right. “We’re not your typical opportu-
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exceptional communication become confident, caring leaders in Our Community, Educating skills demonstrated in his entry in their community and respective Our Community, Giving Back to video. schools. Our Community, and Graduation. The budding young scientist To be nominated for participaFor more, contact Caroline St. recognized tion in RYL, students must have John, RCPS Work-Based 4has • been Saturday, Sept.for 13,his 2014 TheLearnNews project on an acid rain filtration met the following criteria: ing & Youth Apprenticeship Cosystem. County • Demonstrate leadership po- ordinator, 770-388-5677 x 31303 Rockdale 14 Crafts • Saturday, Sept.special 6, 2014 The News will receive tential. (school/community) or cstjohn@rockdale.k12.ga.us. recognition on the challenge Family Violence The News youngscientistchalRockdale County jail Log Use of Drug Related Objects 14website, • Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014 She said if it helps Michala, lenge.com, and a 3M innova- even in the slightest, it will all be Sherrie Swain, 50, CovingRickey Depal Wilson, 32, tion prize pack. worth it. Nedra Denise Woody, 48, Co- ton, Aug 25, Theft By Shoplifting Conyers, Aug 25, Hold for Other saidis ifnotit ahelps of than Drug$300), Related Objects of a Family Rockdale County jailAggraLog Use front page TheFrom Discovery Education She (Less Possession “This kneeMichala, jerk reAgencyViolence nyers, Criminal Attempt 770-388-9971 770-482-0150 even in the slightest, it will all be Sherrie Swain, 50, CovingRickey Depal Wilson, 32, The project began makeAssault, sure that we stay fund. I Controlled Substance, “The patching isTurner usually done 3M By Young Scientist Challenge sponse that tookinitially place after Abe andvated Justin Turner, 27, Cruelty To on Chil-tionSchedule 1432 Dogwood Drive SE Osasuyi 2965 Hill Road Martin Rand, III ton, Aug 25, Theft By Shoplifting Conyers, Aug 25, Hold for Other worth it. Nedra Denise Woody, 48, CoConyers, GA ahead (beside Office 2011“It’s when the 3rd wayDegree through the Commissioner JaNice VanReofDepot) the resurfacing,” targets students in the years November GA said The Hopkins family Kelliofsaid. too the late budget Possession and Use of Drug Covington, AugLithonia, 25, Hold for drenall In The mrand@rockdalenews.com From front page hopes to died,” (Less than $300), of a Miguel “This isand notWakefield knee look jerk reAgency nyers, Criminal Attempt Aggrawhen research inindicates their county Beasley process. That way when 2, hadPossession some quesValentin, director of the move to Colorado mid-October. for Abe,hired it adoesn’t like design latedPost Objects Other Agency Jennifer Lynn Meyer, 38, Co-Ness, Schedule Controlled Substance, that took as place Abe Justin Turner, 27, Assault, To– Family Chilinterest ina science to sponse and Associates architect. get to construction we tions aboutIShamia whether this conCounty “Finding place to begins live Kyna Stron, 24, Co- Rockdale WesleyOsasuyi ChanceDepartment Ellis-Toyco, Michala is going tothe be after able to get wevated nyers, Aug 25,Cruelty Batteryand A renovation project for that the The Hopkins family hopes to died,” Kelli said. “It’s too late Possession and Use of Drug ReCovington, Aug 25, Hold for dren In The 3rd Degree Michelle Kim/The News wane and encourages them to New South was hired in Seppresent the final construction tract was to only fill patches of Transportation. “It hasn’t works for County our family far to as into it. Waiting is not an option at nyers, Aug 25, Theft by Shoplift- 19, Covington, Aug 26, ConViolence Rockdale Jail as is set move to Colorado in mid-October. for Abe, and it doesn’t look like lated Objects Other Agency Jennifer Lynn Meyer, 38, Co(minimum exploreorscientific concepts and tember ANY 2013.Middle School STEM Academy budget, we’re within budget.” 49,in ing the–chosen roadstotal or resur- been done (to Klondike eighth graderLewis Noah Crafts, minimal nonearly steps, single-stoFelony thisMemorial point.” sumption byFOOD Minor and Flat Robert Shepherd, be completed three mil“Finding a communicate place to live that Shamia Stron, 24, Co- Shoals) Wesley Chance Ellis-Toyco, isparents going to be able to this get Crafts.In nyers, Aug 25, Battery –board FamilyoffaceKyna check value $50.00) with hisorder Monica and Morgan Noah was named a 3M creatively their Michala PURCHASE “In to make sure other business, the the whole roads. Van Ness yet.” ry, no previous pets in the home They will not only be loaded Matthew Carlyle Williams, Tanish Sherrell Lester, 31, Lithonia, Aug 25, Violation lion dollars. works for our family as far as nyers, Aug 25, Theft by Shopliftinto it. Waiting is not an option at 19, Covington, Aug 26, ConViolence Young Scientist for his science research project. findings. project was collaborative and unanimously approved a constated she’s only see patching, Prior to adjournment, the because of respiratory issues and with added expenses. Kelli said 34, Stockbridge, Aug 25, Failure Conyers, Aug 25, Possession and Probation – Felony The Rockdale County Board minimal or no steps, single-stoing – Felony this point.” sumption by Minor Robert Lewis Shepherd, 49, "It is imperative that we culnot adversarial, we made sure tract worth about $1.2 million which is like filling in potholes board went into executive sesallergies has been unanimously a challenge, they are dealing with the added Tara Lynn Morris, 43, Stock- to Appear, Possession of Mar- Use of Drug Related Objects, of Commissioners ry, no previous petspeople innext thehelping home will nota only be loaded Matthew Carlyle Williams, Tanish Sherrell Lester, Less 31, Lithonia, Aug25,25,Failure Violation of with tivate ourmany nation’s gener- that we hired contractor just men with Marietta-based C.W. Matasphalt, two pre- sion to discuss acquisition and curiosity.” inThey the Discovery Education 3M even with ijuana Lessdone ThantoOne Ounce, stress of having the family apart Possession ofland Marijuana bridge, Aug to Keep approved the project to move on with because of respiratory issues and 34, Stockbridge, Aug 25, Failure Conyers, Aug 25, Possession and added expenses. Kelli said Probation – Felony ation of great thinkers, innovahired the architect,” Contracting to resurface vious roads approved forBattery resur- – and threatening pending litigaFor more information on Youngwe Scientist Challenge, we thews us search,” Kelli said. and build- after when Mike is at work and “leavPossession of Cocaine, Than One Ounce Drugs in Their Original Containto theand construction allergies has been a will challenge, to Appear, Possession of Flat Mar- tion. Use of Drug Related Objects, they are dealing with thepassion added Tara Lynn Morris, 43, Stocktors science communicators the Discovery Education 3M hope to spark a lifelong said Andrew Hammer, capi3.8 miles of road in the Rockfacing, Klondike Road and The whole family move, ing our support system, church er, No License on Person, Possesing phase during their Tuesday even with many people helping ijuanaRoad. Less Than One Ounce, Possession of Marijuana Less stress of our having the and family apart bridge, 25, Failure togo Keep Shoals providing them with engagChallenge, forproject science, technology, engital manager fortheRockdale. butbyMike will fly back to Georfamily, friends com- Young sionScientist ofAug a Schedule II Controlled voting session. New when usmorning search,” Kelli said. Mike is at work and “leavPossession of Cocaine, Battery – Than One Ounce Drugs in Their Original Containing ways to explore the science www.youngscientistchalneering math (STEM) and County. “They work all to The money will come from gia weekly to continuean hisAtlanjob to dale forts of aand town where we were Substance South Constructions, The whole family will move, ing our support system, church er, No License on Person, Possesthat goes on every day in the strengthen their science acu- lenge.com develop the design the 2011 Transportasupport the family, will returning on together born and to raised.” JulioSPLOST Jose Mojica-Roman, ta-based company, oversee but Mike around will fly them,” back to Georour friends and theMichala comsion of a Schedule II Obstruction Controlled world said Dr. family, 3.5” x 3.5” 2.5” |2.5” Maximum Font Size: 30 pt 2574 old covington hwy., conyers, ga 30012 weekends to help Kelli take care The plan is to give 35, Conyers, Aug 25, x | Maximum Font Size: 30 pt theCindy project. gia weekly to continue his job to forts of a town where we were Substance Moss, Director of GlobLocated Directly Behind Chowdog Restaurant (Next to Rockdale Flea Market) of The theirproject children.cost has a guar- three months on medical marior Hindering Persons Making, support thesaid family, returning on born and raised.” Julio Battery, Jose Mojica-Roman, al STEM Initiatives for DiscovKelli they will incur juana in Colorado and see how Simple Simple Assault – we custom order anteed maximum limit of 2574 old covington hwy., conyers, ga 30012 770-483-8200 weekends to help and Kelli take care Theresponds. plan is The to give Michala ery Education. “Thewill Discovery 35, Conyers, Aug 25, Obstruction moving costs have she family attendFamily Violence Firearms accessories $2,905,911. All the funds will Located Directly Behind Chowdog Restaurant (Next to Rockdale Flea Market) pawn buy sell since 1977 oftotheir children. Education 3M Young Scientist three on medical marior Eva Hindering Persons payfrom monthly housing costs ed a months conference in Chicago the M Baltazar, 38, Making, Conyers, come special purpose loChallenge encourages the ex- juana in Colorado and see how Kelli said they will incur Simple Battery, Simple Assault – • top Dollar paid For Firearms we custom order 770-483-8200 andoption utilities for proper- weekend before Abe died and Aug 25, Public Drunk (City) cal sales tax two money. • title pawns on 1998 & newer Vehicles ploration of science andhave inno- she responds. The family attendmoving costs and will Family Violence Firearms accessories pawn buy sell since 1977 ties. They will have additional heard from parents who saw the Laquetta Joyce Prince, 28, More than half of the funds (includes Motocycles) vation among America's youth ed a conference in Chicago the tomedical pay monthly housing costs Eva M Baltazar, 38, Conyers,of bills while in Colorado medicine reduce their children’s Conyers, Aug 25, Violation • top Dollar paid For Firearms will go towards the weekend before Abe died and andutilities helps develop students who and for renovating two propertop dollar for scrap gold, silver, platinum Aug 25, Public Drunk (City) from out-of-network doctors, seizures by at least half. • title pawns on 1998 & newer Vehicles Probation – Misdemeanor main jail building and adminareThey prepared for success in col- heard diamonds and gold & silver coins ties. will have additional from parents who saw the Laquetta Joyce Prince, 28, Brian M Callaway (includes Motocycles) appointments and medications. “If there is no improvement Quandre Christopher Felton, Brian M Callaway istration offices, include medicine reduce their children’s lege, career andwhich life." medical bills while in Colorado Conyers, Aug 25,Aug Violation of • shotsilver, Guns & Rifles $95 most gold, cars Financial Advisor Travel costs will pile up with at all after three months, we will 18, Stockbridge, 25, Violatop dollar for scrap platinum Financial AdvisorProbation – Misdemeanor adding security glass, doctors, frames, “The opportunity to foster seizures by at least half. . from out-of-network • Ruger Rifles (30/06) & 270 . diamonds and gold & silver coins $349.99 Mike’s weekly flights. back home,” Kelli said. Parkway tion of Probation – Misdemeanor 2135 Eastview and The medical areas move thedoors. next generation of innovaappointments and medications. “If there is no improvement Quandre Christopher Felton, 2135 Eastview Parkway Se Habla Espanol • 9mm pistols $179.99 They applied to the Journey of “We are expectingSuite a great reTimothy Wayne Jones, 24, starting at • shot Guns & Rifles $95 200200 will also receive security tive scientific thinkers isglass. at the Travel costs will pile up with at all after three months, we will Suite 18, Stockbridge, Aug 25, Viola• Ruger lc 380 $359.99 Hope Fund, which is a foundation sponse, so then we will stay as Free Diagnosis on Any Make and Model Covington, Aug 25, Violation of Conyers, GA 30013 • Ruger Rifles (30/06) & 270 $349.99 The weekly old3M’s jailflights. portion, said what’s core of culture,” JesConyers, GA 30013 Mike’s back home,” Kelli said. tion of Probation – Misdemeanor started by Rep. Allen Peake, who move long as it takes. 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Opinion
Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014 RockdaleNews.com/opinion Page 5
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 Too much
The congressman who represents us here in Rockdale is Hank Johnson, who in reality is elected for us by the voters of DeKalb County, his home base. Johnson is liberal who leans far to the left and has supported every project that the President has proposed in his six years of being in office. As our representative in congress, he has at times caused us embarrassment by his comments on issues of the day. We can complain about his voting habits until the cows come home and the voters in our county are not going to be able to do anything about it because we don’t have the numbers his DeKalb constituents have. We need to also remember that this is the same crowd that voted Cynthia McKinney into office. According to reports, Johnson’s latest action is to plan to introduce a bill that will ban local law enforcement officials from picking up Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles and heavy weapons for free from the Pentagon’s 1033 program. We see no reason why Johnson would feel that he would have to do this. We live in an era where a great many people have no respect for the law and a great many more have weapons that are more powerful than our local police have. There are a lot of bills that Johnson could co-sponsor or sponsor to help the citizens of our community. Choosing do this one is no more than pandering to a small group of people who feel the police overstepped their authority in the Ferguson, Mo. case. The only hope we have that if indeed Johnson proposes is such a bill is it will never get through the House. To propose any bill that lessons the strength of our local law enforcement is nothing less than shameful and if he does this Congressman Johnson should be ashamed of himself. We doubt that he will be.
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Your response to “Deputies fired, demoted for cheating scandal” on facebook.com/ rockdalenews Susie Mcintosh said: They should all be fired... said: JT Rodriguez move. It’s b m du ry Very ve police open season on hing yt an d right now. An or ng ro w s ar that appe and s w ne e th , ng is wro g to eat it citizens are goin th it!!! wor as w up. Hope it
Melissa G arcia Mart said: inez Its unfortun ate that the y chose to make a p o probably ha or decision that will un their lives. G t them the rest of re nice to know at job RCSO, it’s to keep our your doing your best c way around ounty clean all the .
Mary Massey Treadwell said: Very sad to see some of the names involved. Good guys, bad choices. Very glad that the administration is equally enforcing policy.
Haley Wilson Carr oll said: How do you consider it equal enforcement if the co nsequence was not equal for all 7! I guess it’s all in who you know! Those who live in glass houses shou ld not throw stones!
Danita Wh ite said: Oh wow.
Blind to the world’s broken glass “All politics is local,” the late Speaker of the House Tip O’ Neill famously said. How right he was. The world today is suffering from the failure of President Obama to apply a school of law enforcement that happened to originate in O’Neill’s hometown, Boston, and goes by the moniker “broken windows.” The problem, simply stated, is that Obama was deaf to Richard the sound of Cohen tinkling glass. The term Columnist “broken windows” comes from a 1982 article in the then-Boston-based Atlantic Monthly. Its title was in fact “Broken Windows,” and the authors were two academics, James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling. Here is an example: “Consider a building with a few broken windows. If the windows are not repaired, the tendency is for vandals to break a few more windows. Eventually, they may even break into the building, and if it’s unoccupied, perhaps become squatters or light fires inside.” The article was hugely influential and it mightily impressed William J. Bratton, now, for the second time, New York’s police commissioner. He had originally come from Boston to head New York’s transit police and he immediately applied the broken windows theory to the subways. He arrested fare jumpers, pay-
“
We all like to feel someone’s
in charge. If the subways are emblazoned with graffiti, our sense of security is affected.
ing attention to the little crimes and finding out, as Wilson and Kelling had predicted, that if you took care of the little stuff, the big stuff tended not to happen. Get a fare jumper and you’ve got a criminal before he commits a more serious crime — and sometimes someone carrying a weapon. “Broken windows” is more than a theory of criminology. It’s an observation of human nature: We all like to feel that someone’s in charge. If the subways are emblazoned with graffiti, our sense of security is affected. Something is wrong. Something is out of control. What works for the subways or a city works as well in international relations. President Obama eschewed a broken windows approach to foreign relations. He treated every crisis as an isolated event or problem unrelated to anything bigger. He did not understand that by doing so, the world’s bad guys felt that no one was watching. The Islamic State metastasized in the Syrian-Iraqi desert. The U.S. knew of its formation, but did not bother with the small stuff. Even when the Islamic State took Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, we lifted hardly a finger. Small stuff. Small stuff.
“
the
Similarly, Obama could not see a connection between ignoring his own red line in Syria and what would follow. The issue — the challenge — was not only to remove chemical weapons from Syria but to make an American president’s word matter. What the world took from this episode was that Obama held little stock in such symbolism. He was coldly pragmatic, logical and oh-so collected. His foreign policy priorities were twofold: to get out of Iraq and Afghanistan and to make sure no terrorist attacked the United States. Both are worthy goals, but in Iraq they produced a power vacuum that the Islamic State rushed to fill. The broken windows started to add up. In Syria, Bashar al-Assad paid Obama little heed. Obama wanted Assad gone, but he didn’t go. Instead, Assad escalated his violence step by step — as if each step of the way he was looking over his shoulder to see if anyone was watching. By now, he has shelled and gassed civilians and massacred his enemies. The Chinese, too, seem woefully unintimidated, and Japan has started to feel awfully lonely out there in the Pacific. In Ukraine and Crimea, Vladimir Putin has done pretty much what he wants, unfazed by NATO, a
capon posing as a rooster. Now an Obama administration that has contributed a lexicon of passivity to international relations — “leading from behind,” “we don’t have a strategy yet” and the hardly Churchillian “don’t do stupid stuff” — is busy assembling a coalition to deal with the Islamic State. He has done so because things have gotten out of hand. But the coalition’s European component is reluctant to take the fight to Syria, and its Arab members are more adept at signing checks than actually getting into a fight. In order for this to work, the United States must really take the lead — and that means more than the usual presidential speech, but a gut understanding that as bad as things are now, they can actually get worse. This does not mean American boots on the ground. It does mean, though, that it’s time to sweep up the broken glass. Richard Cohen is a writer with the Washington Post Writers Group. He can be reached at cohenr@washpost.com.
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
6 • Saturday, September 13, 2014
The News
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Religion
40
Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014 Page 7 rockdalenews.com
years counting
&
(Right top) St. Pius X Catholic Church today. (Right middle) The original church at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit. (Left, clockwise) Parishoners enjoy a day of community festivities Aug. 16, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the church. / Father Randy Mattox. / Past pastor Father John Kieran / Beth Wright sings an uplifting musical number.
Courtesy of Lee Depkin and St. Pius X Catholic Church / The Georgia Bulletin / The News
For four decades, St. Pius X Catholic Church has been deeply connected to the community. And they’re showing no signs of slowing down By Lisa Hetzel
news@rockdalenews.com
Seems like yesterday. You could hear that sentiment over and over at St. Pius X Catholic Church’s anniversary picnic and ministry fair. Over 300 parishioners joined in the festivities in honor of the church’s 40 year history. Pastor Randy Mattox said, “I’m very excited about the turnout. Everyone seems to be having fun learning about the various ministries. There’s a lot of signing up happening.” Over 30 booths represented those ministries. The founders would be so proud of the church’s growth. St. Pius’ website, www.spxconyers. com, includes information about the church’s history. The parish began as a mission at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit. The first catholic families in Rockdale County celebrated Mass with the monks. In 1958, a permanent chapel was erected to serve the needs of the group of 80. Over the next few years, the number of Catholics in the area increased. In 1974, the mission had 125 families. Archbishop Donnellan granted a request to establish a parish in Rockdale County. Property was purchased and buildings were constructed. During this time, Mr. and Mrs. Waldo Bowen of White’s Funeral Home generously allowed Masses to be celebrated in their chapel. The Rockdale County Recreation Department arranged room for religious education
classes at the Milstead Recreation Center. The transition lasted until the first Mass was celebrated in the new sanctuary on November 21, 1976. Since then, the number has grown to over 1000. As a result, a new sanctuary was added. Several priests have served the parish over the years. Many families have made St. Pius X their church home. Jackie and Jerry Walden, joined the parish last Spring. “We wanted to be close to our family.” The couple recently celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary and have plenty of family members to see: 5 children, 10 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Joy Cotterell joined six months ago. She was concerned about getting lost in a church with so many people. “Not a problem, I love it here, “she said. “We feel a real connection with our community. The people are friendly. We love functions like this,” said Vanla and Patrick Harnett. “I love this church. There are good people,” said Jane Bates. “There’s a good mix of old and young, as well as diversity in culture. People are here from all over,” said Bill Bates. “I love the open hearts of our parish,” said Kathy Pusch. Plans for the church’s future include remodeling the sanctuary and gathering area to create an even warmer, reverent atmosphere. For more information, visit www.spx.conyers.com
8 • Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014
The News
New culture
New system aims to change behavior from the ground up
MMS students used shared values and techniques to refocus during a recent NASA Skype session Michelle Kim/The News
By Martin Rand III
mrand@rockdalenews.com
Eric Landers has been overhauling student’s behavior in public schools for well over a decade. Now, Landers is using the Positive Behavior Intervention and Support, PBIS, program, a program he’s used at schools throughout the country, on schools in Rockdale County. The key to the program’s success is to increase prevention of particular student behaviors before it even becomes a problem by first unifying the teachers of the particular school on an established set of behavioral expectations for the students, says Landers, who holds a doctorate in special education with a specialty in children with behavioral disorders from the University of Florida. “The biggest issue at most schools is that every teacher has their own concept of what a student should do,” he said. “(PBIS) brings the school together and we define in the common areas what are the acceptable behaviors that we want kids to do so every teacher is aware of it and every teacher is teaching the same thing.” What is PBIS? The program, developed in the mid-1990s by two professors from the University of Oregon and now used in over
20,000 schools across the nation, is designed to be a framework for all teachers and administrators to build consistent reactions to student’s actions. This will help reduce environmental deficiencies within the school, says Landers. “A lot of kids fail in school because of us adults,” he said. “We create these environmental deficiencies by not communicating with one other and saying, ‘Hey, what are our expectations of these kids. ‘ We don’t want to setup a system where we give kids things to behave.” While the letter “P” in the acronym PBIS means positive, Landers stresses that just being positive about unacceptable behavioral will only get school teachers and officials more of the same with little to no results. Stopping the behavior before it escalates is the only way to solve problems because, “if I can be preventative I’m not dealing with that behavior in the first place therefore I’m teaching more and therefore I can have a critical interaction with that child.” Rockdale Getting Proactive Landers met some of the school system officials at his annual southeastern conference on PBIS in June. After hearing more about the program, Rockdale officials were interested, says Landers, and he’s been working with the teachers and
school officials since the early part of July. Rockdale County Public Schools began implementing this program in middle and high schools in July. Elementary schools will start the PBIS program next year. April Fallon, director of community and student support for Rockdale County Public Schools, says that the school system has been discussing implementing a PBIS program at schools “to establish a really positive, social culture for teachers and students.” Teaching behavioral skills sometimes go overlooked as students get older and progress through their academic careers, she said. “I think sometimes we think (students) should know how to behave, but if it isn’t reiterated as they get older, it can be forgotten,” said Fallon. “We do that a lot in academics but not so much with behavior.” Landers met with representatives from the participating schools and school system administrators Aug. 29 to evaluate the first month of the program and continue the help the teachers and school officials establish behavioral guidelines for their school. “They are doing a superb job at implementing these programs at their secondary schools,” Landers said of the teachers and
administrators. “My goal for myself is to work myself out of a job.” But does it work? The best way to determine if the program is successful is by looking at the number of student referrals, says Landers. He postulates that within the first year of him facilitating a school’s implantation of the program the school’s number of referrals decreases 20 to 30% on average. “The percentage continues to drop after the first year,” he said. Rockdale County High School teacher Dean Poole, PBIS team coordinator for Rockdale County High School, says that there’s been a visual change in the way the teachers interact with the students and vice versa within the first month of the program. “We’re still building, but even in the first month, walking through our halls in week four versus week one I’ve seen just how much clearer they are and (how students are with) talking to teachers,” said Poole, who’s worked at the school for six years. The school has it’s PBIS goals for students, being responsible, respectful, on time and ready to learn, shouted out over the loud speaker every morning to reinforce that message. But, he’s quick to acknowledge that this program is still brand new to everyone and it
will take time more time before the desired effect is achieved. “This is a slow burn process,” said Poole. “The whole process is designed to be implemented over a three to five years. You’re kind of changing the school’s culture.” Rockdale County High School is currently tracking data, such as tardy referrals, behavioral referrals and other academic data, so they “have a base data so we can look back at each month.” Data for the month of August wasn’t readily available at the time of print. Follow up meetings Landers is scheduled to make a return to Rockdale Sept. 23. He’ll be here for three days monitoring the progress of the program at schools by walking the halls of every school and getting a first-person view of the two-month trial. He’ll make a return again Oct. 1 to begin facilitating the program for elementary schools in the county. Since elementary school teachers spend so much time teaching behavior to their students, the RPSS thought it best to rollout the plan early with the secondary schools, says Fallon. “Students are younger and they spend a lot of time learning about behavior,” she said. “(Elementary Schools) have a lot of that in place already. We just want to enhance (what they learn).”
The News
Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014 • 9
FINALISTS From front page
By Martin Rand III & Michelle Kim
news@rockdalenews.com
Kim Kammerer
.... was wrong,” she said.
Every possible terrible thought raced through her mind as she made her way down the halls of the school. She thought about her father, who’s sick in the hospital battling cancer. She thought maybe her 8-year-old son, who attends Lorraine Elementary School directly across from General Ray Davis Middle School, might have had a devastating accident and needed medical assistance. She even thought maybe her 19-year-old son was in trouble. Josh Kammerer, her husband of 10 years, also had a concerned look on his face. The two made their way to the front office in not saying much to each other, while Kim Kammerer anticipated the worst. But, when they finally arrived, Kim Kammerer was told that she not only was nothing wrong, but that she was one of the three finalists to win the Teacher of the Year Award for Rockdale County Public Schools. “I was shocked,” she said. “I know that Davis has some amazing teachers so just to be nominat-
ed within Davis is an honor, and Rockdale is blessed with a lot of great teachers. So to be in the top three is humbling.” This is Kim Kammerer’s 17th year teaching and eighth at General Ray Davis. She is “a math teacher at heart,” but is spending this year teaching seventh-grade social studies. Teaching the young minds of today is something Kim Kammerer has always wanted to do, she said. “I feel my job is a calling,” said Kim Kammerer. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and I love what I do. I love forming relationships with the students. I love challenging them and just watching them grow.” In 2001, Kim Kammerer won Teacher of the Year at Edwards Middle School, but didn’t make it to the finalist stage. She wouldn’t mind taking home the top award this time around. SEE FULL STORY AT ROCKDALENEWS.COM
Cherie Ullo, RMSST
.... cabinet, who was teaching AP US History teacher at the time. And now, after 14 years of teaching - first at Salem High then at the Magnet School for the last five years - she is seeing the fruit of her investment in her students. “The most rewarding experience I have had as a teacher is having former students entering the teaching profession tell me that I influenced them to become teachers,” she wrote. The University of Georgia alumnus was attracted to Salem High by the enthusiasm of its staff and its philosophy of educating and expecting excellence in all students. She is now the chair of the English department at RMSST. Her family includes three children Morgan, 16, Maybin, 3, Auden, 1 - and husband Bill. In her spare time, she enjoys writing, running, singing and baking.
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come into her classroom at the beginning of the year with “areas of concern noted in her academic record and communicated by her parent.” Vining-Brown used the student’s excitement with technology to motivate her and she became an honor roll student. Vinings recently got married in June and is mother to an 11-year-old stepson, 2-yearold son, and is expecting another child. She earned her undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education from Georgia State University and is about to graduate with her Master’s in Education-Reading and Literacy from Walden University. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, shopping, mentoring, ice-skating and fine dining.
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10 • Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014
The News
WE ARE ALL
VETERANS OF 9/11 The word ‘veteran’ customarily represents an individual who served in the military. The keyword ‘military’ customarily represents a fighting alliance like the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines or the Navy. Arguably, two other groups could be classified as veterans: Merchant Mariners and members of the Home Front. By Pete Mecca
news@rockdalenews.com
On Sept. 11, 2001 a sneak attack by terrorists on American soil made veterans out of all of us. We remember the day, the time and the continuing calamity playing out on TV for the whole world to see. We watched a reality show with real deaths. We watched our fellow citizens die in the crumbling buildings. We watched as the narratives came in about a planeload of Americans that said “enough is enough” and courageously fought back over Shanksville, Penn., and we heard the nerve-center of our military, the Pentagon, had been hit. Bill LeCount is a citizen veteran of 9/11. He witnessed the catastrophe with his own eyes, saw the second airliner strike then watched as both towers collapsed. One dogged remembrance Bill lives with is the ashy white clouds and debris slithering out over the Hudson River and New York Harbor. This is his story. A resident of Conyers on 9/11, Bill commuted to New Jersey each week for Price-Waterhouse-Coopers. He recalls, “My apartment was about two blocks from the office which was about
three blocks from the water of the Hudson River and straight across from the World Trade Center Towers. I was walking to work after the first plane hit the North Tower but did not know the extent of the damage. People were walking away from the downtown area and I kept hearing comments like ‘a small Cessna hit the North Tower’ or ‘something bad happened at the World Trade Center.’ When I arrived at work the main lobby was empty. Our office was on the top floor of the tallest building in New Jersey at the time.” Taking the elevator to the top floor, Bill joined a group of employees on the east side of the room gazing out the glass walls. He said, “Just as I joined the group the second plane hit the South Tower. One of the girls let out what can only be described as a blood-curling scream. At that time our senior partner said, ‘We are out of here, people.’ We didn’t know what was going on, other than that second plane strike was not a coincidence.” “Low-flying aircraft near Manhatten was not unusual. We often ate at a restaurant on the top floor of the World Trade Center called Top of the World. You could look
down and see planes below you. Three airports are within 15 miles of each other, LaGuardia, Kennedy, and Newark, so watching planes in their landing patterns was no cause for alarm.” Bill described the confused yet speedy organizations by certain factors following the attack. “The PATH (subway system) was shut down since the first stop from New Jersey to Manhatten was the Trade Center but both lines were soon used to evacuate people from the New York side of the PATH system. I remember all the boats and ferry craft the Coast Guard commandeered to evacuate people. In all the confusion there seemed to be organization by trained personnel. Debris was all over the place,
but we had no idea that the towers would or could collapse.” Bill and two other senior partners set up a command center in Bill’s apartment. “We had 140 of our people to account for so we started calling, faxing, texting, anything to contact our people. My window gave us a clear view of the burning towers, maybe a mile across the Hudson. Smoke was pouring out and about 20 helicopters circled the area. I was watching the events on TV when a reporter said, ‘One of the buildings is moving’, and that’s when the South Tower came down. Ironically I kept watching the collapse on TV until I realized the tragedy was right outside my window. By the time I turned around there was
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nothing but broad daylight where the South Tower once stood. It just wasn’t there anymore.” As the North Tower continued to burn, Bill and his coworkers witnessed the phenomena of a huge mushroom cloud covering Manhattan. “The smoke was unbelievable,” he said. “We could actually smell the smoke from inside our apartment building. It was eerie, surreal to the point of disbelief. The debris and smoke almost obscured the North Tower but at 10:28 a.m. we saw it come down. The massive structure looked like it was falling in slow motion, collapsing in an organized sequence, almost as if it was melting.”
See 9/11 on PAGE 11
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The News
Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014 • 11
PRAYER FOR EDUCATION
REMEMBERING 9/11 AT HONEY CREEK ELEMENTARY The In God We Trust organization held a county-wide interdenominational prayer rally at Salem High School Thursday night, on the 13th anniversary of 9/11, to pray for the county’s students, sports, educational administration, teachers, custodial staff, school board, clubs and extra curricular groups, security, transportation, private schools and educational institutions. The event was attended by leaders and officials across the county as well as educators and members of the public. Submitted photos / The News
9/11
From page 10
In the midst of tragedy, human nature can offer a moment of humor in the strangest of circumstances. Bill recalled, “An Asian guy worked for us but could never get to work on time. To get him to work at 9 a.m. we told him to be there at 8:30am. The idea usually worked, but that morning he had just walked out of the South Tower when it started to collapse. This guy was 5’4” and athletic, so he took off running, ahead of about 1,000 other people. We didn’t hear from him for two days.” When asked what happened to the gentleman, Bill replied, “Well, he was about 40 feet in front of the debris cloud and terrified the people behind him would run him down, so he sprinted all the way across the Brooklyn Bridge and home to Queens.” Asked the distance, Bill stated, “About 15 miles, and we believed him. He never stopped. By the way, he never came back to work for us.” People walked everywhere. Tunnels were closed; all roads closed to traffic. Bill recalled, “The Lincoln Tunnel was still open so people used it. You know, they pumped water into ground zero for months and the only place for it to go was into the subway system. They pumped the water out of the subway system which meant the outpour was on the Jersey side. Firefighters and first responders have cancers the doctors haven’t seen before. Think of all the ‘stuff’ accumulated in a subway system for years, and all the debris from the towers, I mean who knows what was in that water.” When American Airlines Flight 77 struck the Pentagon, Bill was still in his apartment with coworkers. “When we heard the news about the Pentagon someone in the apartment said, ‘We’re going to war,’ about the same time a reporter on TV stated, ‘We’re at war,’….. well, we knew war had come to America but we didn’t know who we were at war with and then we heard about the plane crashing in Shanksville. That threw us for a
loop. Why Shanksville? What’s in Shanksville? We didn’t know at the time it was targeting either the White House or Capitol Building. I know one thing; those were brave Americans on the Shanksville plane. God bless them.” As dusk fell, a spine-chilling silence engulfed the area. Bill said, “It was so strange. You could hear sirens but other than that you could have heard a pin drop. Then we decided to get a bite to eat at the Grand Banks Restaurant near my apartment building. Outside we noticed convoy after convoy of refrigerated tractor-trailers, probably 50 or 60 total, heading for the river. We walked down to the shoreline….they were bringing people across the river straight to the shore, no dock, and the refrigerated trucks were on ‘stand-by’ waiting for the expected bodies to arrive.” On calling home: “The cellphone communication towers went down with the buildings so cellphones were dead, except for AT&T. Their towers were on the Jersey side so I still had my cell, all five bars. I called my wife and told her I was okay and so were my people. Being able to use a cellphone on 9/11 was a blessing.” His final thoughts were varied and poignant. “9/11 is hard for
me to talk about. For months it didn’t bother me, but now it does. It is hard to describe the feelings surging through your body as you watched the towers fall. Something I will never forget is watching the South Tower fall on TV then suddenly turning around to look out the window and there’s nothing to see. You know, the towers blocked the sun in the morning and I never had to close my blinds. After they fell, I had to close the blinds every morning. It’s strange how silly things like that stay in your mind….yet, a lot of things about 9/11 remain on my mind.” Bill occasionally choked up. “Ground zero is hallowed ground as far as I’m concerned. They’re still finding bits of airplane parts and pieces of human parts, and we should never forget what happened on 9/11. And as for the terrorists, nuke them. I know we can’t do that because of the collateral damage and nuclear fallout, but if you saw what I personally witnessed on America’s second day of infamy, well…..enough said.” Pete Mecca is a Vietnam veteran, columnist and freelance writer. You can reach him at aveteransstory@ gmail.com or aveteransstory.us.
Darrell Everidge / The News
How do you present an event as tragic and history-changing as September 11, 2001 to students who weren’t even born when it happened? Educators at Honey Creek Elementary try and mark the day each year with an assembly or event. “We try to do something every year to remember and honor our military and first responders,” said Counselor Tanya Hunt. PE Teacher Jane Van Heest, a driving organizer of the events, read aloud a letter written by Laura Bush to elementary school students after the events of 9/11. This year the post commander of the VFW Post 2938, Michael French, came to show students the proper way to retire the American flag with an official flag burning ceremony. French’s grandson attends HCE. Students were also asked to draw pictures of people they are thankful for, and relatives were invited to attend as well. Each grade paraded around the track with flags and their pictures.
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Sports
Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014 Page 12 rockdalenews.com
Wild pitches push Patriots past Lanier Shakeem Holloway sholloway@rockdalenews.com
photo courtesy of prospectsnation.com
Building a work ethic How Ayanna Mitchell wouldn’t let a torn ACL break her Shakeem Holloway sholloway@rockdalenews.com
A
torn ACL is a jarring injury for anybody, but it was life-changing for a promising athlete in Salem’s Ayanna Mitchell. Mitchell tore her ACL during freshman year in the semifinals of the region championships. For Mitchell, she had two choices, work hard and get better or be content with where she’s at. Mitchell chose the former. “It was so devastating. It was an eye-opener for me. At the beginning I felt like basketball could get me far, but I really wasn’t working at it. It came natural so that’s what I was gonna go with, but after I tore my ACL and I sat there. I saw people play the sport I couldn’t play. I actually felt like I loved it more and I appreciated it,” Mitchell said. “So, I started working hard. I had rehab the day after my surgery, the day after, still swollen and all. [I] couldn’t do anything, I couldn’t even ride a bike, just lift it up and down, up and down. It made me appreciate it a lot more. I guess, that’s what really built my work habit.” “With me, it’s just like either I gotta put in the extra work to catch up with them (her teammates) or I can chill out and be satisfied. And I was like, no. That’s how it was,” Mitchell said. Mitchell said watching other people play the game she loved
was something she needed to see. She felt like everybody else was moving and she was at a standstill. Mitchell knew she had some catching up to do. Mitchell went from having a torn ACL to now, entering her senior season, reaching a verbal commitment on a full-ride to attend LSU. “I chose LSU because when I first got there I felt a connection with them,” Mitchell said. “It was a family environment. When I was there on my visit, we went to coach Nikki’s (Caldwell) house, and they do that on the norm. That’s what they do. Everybody is close...It’s like a big family, and that was a big thing that I was looking for when I was making my decision on where I wanted to go.” Mitchell turned bad fortune into a way of life. She works hard at everything she does now, as you cans see from her 3.6 GPA. Mitchell is a workhorse on the boards. She averaged 18 points, 12 rebounds, four steals and one block in her junior season. Her work ethic is the reason she’s such a good basketball player, just ask her new coach at LSU. “She (Caldwell) said that she liked that I was a versatile player. She said that she likes the way I just go after it,” Mitchell said. “I feel like if I take any time off, my skill level is gonna drop. I don’t wanna just sign a paper to say I signed. I wanna say that I
signed somewhere and I actually played somewhere,” Mitchell said. Despite having verbally committed to a top-tier SEC school, Mitchell still isn’t satisfied with her game. She says she’s looking to add to it this season. “I plan on working out with my trainer/therapist. I do that with him, maybe three times a week. I still do my rehab on my torn ACL. I still do my weights. I still do my ball handling and my shooting. I still do all of that even in the off-season,” Mitchell said. “This year I’m hoping to add another part to my game, which is shooting mid-range shots, shooting perimeter shots, three-range shots and stuff like that. That’s what I’m working on right now to add to my game,” Mitchell added. “As you can see, when you watch my tapes and when you look at my stats you see I don’t take as many three pointers. And I’m open a lot of times, so I’m gonna start trying to add that in. It’s still going to be the rebounding, it’s still gonna be the putbacks, it’s still gonna be the free throw line. I just gotta add that perimeter play this year.” Mitchell remains humble throughout the process. She said that when she sees girls at AAU she’s wowed. That’s when it sets in that she can actually play. “I don’t even think it hit me yet.
See Ayanna, Page 13
Heritage junior Kamryn Toney struck out 14 Lanier batters and allowed just three hits over nine innings. But, it was two consecutive wild pitches by Longhorns’ pitcher Cameron Dillard in the bottom of the ninth inning that allowed the Patriots to escape with a 3-2 victory at home. With the win, Heritage improved its record to 14-2, 5-1 in Region 8-AAAAA. Lanier fell to 10-9, 3-3 in region play. “Every region game is big. We don’t take anybody lightly,” Patriots coach Jason McBay said. “They’re (Lanier) new to our region, but familiar in their coach, Ryan Hill, who was an assistant at Apalachee. We knew they’d be solid, defensively. We knew they weren’t going to beat themselves, and they were exactly (who) we thought (they’d be).” Longhorns catcher Maygan Loparo led off the game with an infield hit, just beating the throw of Patriots third baseman Ta’lor Bynum to first base. Centerfielder Isabelle Petty tried to bunt Loparo to second, but she popped up to Toney. Loparo was leaning towards second on the play, and Toney threw a bullet to first baseman Destiny Herrera to double up Loparo off first. Toney then collected the first of her 14 strikeouts as she fanned left fielder Kristen Laughlin for the third out. Dillard got the Patriots in order in the bottom of the first. And, Toney returned the favor in the top of the second inning. Heritage had a scoring chance in the home half of the second. Toney, who has verbally committed to play softball for the University of Central Florida, hit a one-out single. Glory Seay was brought in as a courtesy runner, but Seay was thrown out trying to steal second. The caught stealing was especially unfortunate as the next batter, second baseman Paige Owens, smacked a two-out double off the left-field fence that probably would’ve scored Seay. Owens moved to third on a Dillard wild pitch, but Bynum popped out to Laughlin to end the scoring threat. Toney struck out the side in the third inning, and had four more strikeouts in the fourth and fifth innings to give her 10 through five innings. Dillard, who was backed up by excellent fielding, was equally effective as she held the Patriots offense scoreless through five innings. Lanier, however, got on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth inning. Dillard popped up a bunt attempt, but Patriots catcher Morgan Whiten dropped the ball allowing Dillard to reach first base on the error. Then, Whiten tried to pick Dillard off first. The ball got past Herrera, and Dillard moved to second base. Loparo followed with an RBI single to give the Longhorns a 1-0 lead. Heritage went down in order in the bottom of the sixth, and Toney retired the Longhorns in order in the top of the seventh inning. Trailing 1-0, and down to their last three outs, the Patriots needed someone to step up. Herrera stepped up as she led off with a crisp single. Speedster Jordan Browning was put in as a pinch runner for Herrera. Browning stole second, and Toney laid down a nice sacrifice bunt to move Browning to third base. Owens walked to put runners on the corners with one out. Bynum, however popped out to the shortstop, and the Patriots were down to their final out as designated player Germecia Joseph stepped to the plate. Joseph laced Dillard’s first pitch into left field, driving in Browning and tying the game 1-1. Left fielder Lakaitlen Barney grounded out pitcher-to-first to end the inning, but Heritage had new life as the game went to extra innings. In girl’s high school softball games that go to extra innings, each team starts with a runner on second base – usually the player who See Patriots, Page 13
The News
Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014 • 13
Patriots
Anthony Stanley: Heritage athlete of the week
>> From 12
made the final out in the previous inning. Lanier second baseman Julianna Garcia made the final out in the seventh inning, so she was put on second as the inning began. Third baseman Taylor Rove tried to bunt Garcia to third, but Whiten made up for her sixth-inning throwing error with a great catch of Rove’s pop-bunt. Dillard grounded out shortstop to first base. Garcia advanced third on the throw to first base. But, first baseman Herrera made an ill-advised throw to third trying to catch Garcia. The ball got past third baseman Bynum, and Garcia scored to put the Longhorns up 2-1. Toney struck out right fielder Savannah Cowdry to end the inning. With Barney on second to start the bottom of the eighth inning, leadoff hitter Barker lined out to second. Shortstop Ally Allegretti grounded out to first base, but Barney was able to advance to third base. So, for the second time
file photo/The News
Anthony Stanley (3) has been selected as Heritage High School’s The Urban Moo, athlete of the week. Stanley plays multiple positions for Heritage including quarterback, running back and receiver.
Ayanna >> From 12
I don’t look at myself as one of the top players. I look at it as I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to play at the next level, but I feel like it’s a lot of stuff I still need to work on. It’s a lot of stuff I still need to
improve on to make me the best,” Mitchell said passionately. Mitchell says she wouldn’t be where she is now if it weren’t for her family, friends and coaches. In fact, it was Mitchell’s mom who got her involved in basketball at eight years old. Mitchell laughed and said her mom told she and her sister that they had anger issues, so she wanted Mitchell to
focus them constructively. Mitchell started playing at Gresham Park. She said she was the biggest thing on the court, but she couldn’t make free throws and it frustrated her because she would get fouled a lot. The rebounding came natural to her, and obviously, it still does. Mitchell worked at her free throws in the off-season, and
when she came back and played at the age of nine she finally had ‘it.’ Mitchell said her coaches have told her throughout the years that they see her doing something special with the sport. As for her future, Mitchell says she’s thinking beyond basketball, but if the opportunity is there, she’ll take it. “I feel like I had the opportunity
in two innings, Heritage was down to its final out. Whiten got the run back she had given to Lanier in the sixth inning with a solid single to score Barney and knot the score at 2-2. Herrera grounded out pitcherto-first to end the inning. With Cowdry on second base, Loparo bunted her to third. Petty came to the plate and tried a squeeze bunt, but missed the ball. Cowdry, who had broken for home, was caught in no-man’s land. Whiten smartly threw the ball to Allegretti, who was covering third, and Allegretti ran down Cowdry for the second out. Toney struck out Petty to end the inning with the score still tied 2-2. With Jordan Browing at second pinch-running again for Herrera, and Toney at bat, Dillard immediately threw a wild pitch, which allowed Browning to move to third base. Her next pitch was a ball. But, when she threw a second wild pitch, Browning broke for home. Catcher Loparo tossed the ball to Dillard, who was covering home plate, but Browning slid in under the tag to give Heritage the pulsating 3-2 victory. to play in the league, I would take it, but that’s not what I’m banking on,” Mitchell said. “I feel like it’s more to me than just basketball. I feel like once I do get my education and the tools that I need that it’s gonna help me affect people’s lives more than just athletically.” Next year around this time, Mitchell will be along way from Gresham Park.
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The News
Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014 • 15
CHEATING From front page
within the next week. On Sept. 3, seven RCSO investigators were placed on leave so the RCSO could investigate allegations of cheating on an online test. The test was for an online class on 2014 changes to state law, a class given every year after the Georgia General Assembly Session, explained RCSO Chief Deputy Scott Freeman. The class is part of annual training given by the Georgia Public Safety Training Center and required for certified law enforcement. The test can be taken anywhere there is internet access. Those who fail the test have to retake the three-hour class and take the test again. According to Freeman, a deputy learned the answers to the test had been written down and passed around among some RCSO investigators. Supervisors were notified and they reportedly intercepted the written-down answers as it was used by an investigator.
Rockdale County jail Log Kimberly Dionne Adams, 39, Conyers, Sept 1, Simple Battery – Family violence, Violation of Probation – Misdemeanor, Cruelty To Children – Allow Child To Witness Antoine Neville Darden, 39, Conyers, Sept 1, Simple Battery – Family Violence Jonathan David Matthews, 27, Conyers, Sept 1, Simple Battery Willie Howard Reynolds, 62, Conyers, Sept 1, Driving Without a Valid License (Misdemeanor) Raymond NMN Ballard, 51, Lithonia, Sept 1, Theft by Shoplifting – Misdemeanor Andres NMN Perez-Resendiz, 21, Roswell, Sept 1, Driving Without a Valid License (Misdemeanor), Fail to Stop/Emer Veh/Police Lauren Amber Terrell-White, 32, Conyers, Sept 1, Criminal Trespass
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After the internal affairs investigation began, it was determined that Certified Sheriff’s Deputy II David Wegemer was also involved in unethical activity during the same incident. Wegemer was terminated from employment due to his involvement in the situation, for insubordination and for being non-truthful during the internal affairs investigation. The RCSO completed discipline hearings on Sept. 10. Corporal Shawn Edenfield resigned while under investigation during the internal affairs investigation before a discipline hearing could be scheduled. The unethical allegations were founded against Edenfield along with a founded allegation of being non-truthful during the investigation. “It is unfortunate that poor
decisions were made and three employees are no longer employed by the RCSO,” said Sheriff Eric Levett in a press release. “I will not tolerate cheating and have zero-tolerance for any level of untruthfulness from RCSO employees.” All terminations, demotions and disciplinary action relating to this internal affairs investigation have been reported to the Rockdale County District Attorney’s Office and to the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council. “I want to commend the Sergeant that brought this issue to the attention of the command staff,” said Levett. “The citizens of Rockdale County deserve the highest level of professionalism and integrity in their law enforcement officers. Now, we will pick up and move forward with our continued efforts to fight crime and make Rockdale County safe.” The internal affairs investigation is still active relating to this incident and should be closed
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Name: COVINGTON NEWS; Width: 3.8998 in; Depth: 5 in; Color: Black; Ad Number: 270_1
16 • Saturday, September 13, 2014
The News
Rockdale Cares, Inc. Continues to be blessed by the support of our community.
Our 34th Annual Fundraiser was successful thanks to our sponsors, individual contributors, auction donations, foundation grants, business and corporate donors, and Professional Affairs, Inc. for Casino Games and food service. Proceeds from this event will be used to provide relief to caregivers responsible for 24/7 care of their developmentally challenged family member. Our respite home is located in The Light House Village and provides overnight, weekend and weekly care for this special population. We currently serve nine surrounding counties in the East Metro area. Our sincere thanks and blessings to each of you.
Monetary Donations:
Art Plumbing Contractors Mrs. Jacqueline Barboe Conyers Flower Shop, Inc. Conyers-Rockdale Chamber of Commerce James & Cecelia Costley Peggy & B. H. Davis Jeff & Mary Anne Edwards Hal & Mary Ann Fisher Kathryn P. Head David & Gerry Kenemer Thomas & Jean Long Ron & Kay Maddox Ben & Gwyndolyn Mainor John & Kathy Meyers Hillman & Jane Moon Barbara Morgan John & Jane Morovich Patrick & Catherine McCullagh Tom & Susan McNeely Doctors Flynn & Susan Nance Gloria & Martin Nash Mike & Gloria Potts Mike & Kim Rascoe Douglas & Patricia Riley William & Patricia Rogers Ron & Aileene Simpson Brian & Jessica Smith Rev. Carl & Delmous Smith Lynn & Noel Smith Jayne & David Thomas Mary & Edward Tracey
Auction Donors:
Randolph Barksdale Greta Beech Alain Bouzoubaa By Design International Clemson University Athletic Department Chris Conner –Sign Solutions Conyers Pharmacy Cowan Hardware Lynda English Florida State University Joan Garrison-Fun & Fancy Jewelry Georgia Tech Athletic Department-Anthony Norton Cindy Gray Hedrick & Dodson Family Dentistry Brandy Herrmann-Thirty One Gifts Senior Consultant Honey Creek Veterinary Hospital, Inc. Ben and Deanne Mance Mr. Coin Sigman Bottle Shop Sigman Mills Furniture University of Georgia Athletic Department Scot Ward Ivy Wroe Numerous Anonymous Donors Art Work donated by our Day Program Participants: Bethany Beech Missy Rascoe Ryan Shadrix
A special “thank you” to the Conyers Kiwanis Club and the Rockdale Medical Center Auxiliary Volunteers for selling Green Egg Raffle tickets for us. We appreciate your support.
34th Annual Fundraiser Diamond Sponsors
Platimun Sponsor Kendall D. Newman
Gold Sponsor
Bronze Sponsor
Patron Sponsors
Donald & Darlene Hotchkiss