A LOCAL JURY FOUND WESLEY DUANE EMMETT AND BERNARD SMITH, III, NOT GUILTY OF MORE THAN 20 CHARGES, INCLUDING ARSON, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.

MEANWHILE, TWO CO-DEFENDANTS IN THE CASE WILL SERVE PRISON TIME. NICHOLAS SHIRLEY ENTERED A GUILTY PLEA BEFORE THE TRIAL BEGAN, AND LEWIS RICHARDS ENTERED A PLEA MID-TRIAL. DURING HIS TESTIMONY AGAINST EMMETT AND SMITH, RICHARDS SAID HE WAS NOT GUILTY BUT WAS AFRAID THEY WOULD NOT WIN THE CASE.

POLICE WERE CALLED TO 25 BRAMBLEWOOD DRIVE ON NOV. 7, 2008. THE RESIDENTS OF THE HOME TOLD POLICE THAT A TRUCK CONTAINING FOUR MEN SHOT AT THE HOUSE. THE GROUP ALLEGEDLY CAME BACK SEVERAL HOURS LATER AND SHOT AT THE HOUSE AGAIN. A VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY ALSO WAS SET ON FIRE.

ATTORNEYS FOR THE MEN TOLD WBHF THAT THE STATE WASN’T ABLE TO PROVE THE MEN EVER VISITED THE RESIDENCE.

OFFICIALS SAY A CONTRACTOR STRUCK A NATURAL GAS LINE, CAUSING IT TO RUPTURE. BARTOW COUNTY FIREFIGHTERS EVACUATED THE 100, 200, 300 AND 400 BUILDINGS AND, THOUGH ATLANTA GAS LIGHT WORKERS ESTIMATED A 3-4 HOUR TIME FRAME TO FIX THE LEAK, REPAIRS ONLY TOOK ONE HOUR. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, AND THE ONLY INJURIES WERE TO THE GAS LINE. ACCESS TO THE CAMPUS WAS RESTORED AROUND 2 P.M.

THE COLLEGE DID NOT CANCEL CLASSES, OTHER THAN THOSE BEING HELD DURING THE EVACUATION, BUT A SPOKESPERSON SAID INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTORS MAY HAVE MADE THE DECISION TO CANCEL THEIR CLASSES. CLASSES THE HEALTH AND HORTICULTURE BUILDINGS WERE NOT AFFECTED BY THE LEAK.

ACCORDING TO WWW.GOUPSTATE.COM, YESENIA CORTEZ RAMIREZ PLEADED GUILTY TO TWO COUNTS OF BEING AN ACCESSORY AFTER THE FACT OF MURDER AND BEING AN ACCESSORY BEFORE THE FACT OF FIRST DEGREE BURGLARY FOR THE MURDERS OF HUGO LUGO HERNANDEZ, 24, AND TERESA AVILLA MARTINEZ, 21.

THE KILLINGS OCCURRED ON JAN. 25, 2009, IN GREER, S.C. LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS SAY THE MURDERS WERE THE RESULT OF AN UNRESOLVED DRUG DEBT BETWEEN HERNANDEZ AND CONVICTED KILLER JUAN CARLOS VAZQUEZ. ACCORDING TO REPORTS, THE VICTIMS’ FINGERS WERE SEVERED WITH BOLT CUTTERS, AND BOTH WERE SHOT SEVERAL TIMES.

RAMIREZ REPORTEDLY LEFT HER EMERSON HOME AND TRAVELED TO SOUTHER CAROLINA TO HELP COLLECT THE DRUG DEBT. SHE STAYED IN THE CAR DURING THE MURDERS AND KEPT IN CONTACT WITH THE KILLERS VIA TWO-WAY RADIO. DURING SENTENCING, HER ATTORNEY ASKED FOR MERCY, SAYING HIS CLIENT WAS TEH MOTHER OF NINE CHILDREN, HAVING HAD THE FIRST WHEN SHE WAS 12 YEARS OLD.

RAMIREZ MUST SERVE 85 PERCENT OF HER SENTENCE BEFORE BECOMING ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE.

UNDER THE CITY’S CURRENT ORDINANCE, SIGN HOLDERS CAN FLIP THEIR SIGNS IN THE RIGHT OF WAY, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY KEITH LOVELL SAYS NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. COUNCILMAN LOUIS TONSMEIERE SAYS THAT ALLOWING SIGN FLIPPERS IN THE RIGHT OF WAY IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO KEEPING THE CITY SAFE.

ANOTHER ASPECT OF THE REVISED ORDINANCE THAT GARNERED DISCUSSION WAS THE ISSUE OF ALLOWING BILLBOARDS ON INTERSTATE 75 IN THE CITY LIMITS. CITY PLANNER RICHARD OSBORNE SAYS THAT JURISDICTIONS IN GEORGIA EITHER ALLOW THEM OR PROHIBIT THEM ENTIRELY.

COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE PRESENTED WITH THREE OPTIONS – CONTINUING TO PROHIBIT BILLBOARDS ON THE INTERSTATE, ALLOWING BILLBOARDS BUT REQUIRING THEM TO BE SPACED 3,000 FEET APART AND ALLOWING BILLBOARDS BUT REQUIRING THEM TO BE SPACED 1,500 FEET APART.

TUESDAY’S WORK SESSION WAS THE SECOND THE COUNCIL HAS HAD REGARDING REVISIONS TO THE SIGN ORDINANCE.

THE BOARD OF EDUCATION VOTED ON MONDAY NIGHT TO CONTRACT WITH RONALD MESIMER TO REVIEW THE BOOSTER CLUBS’ COMPLIANCE WITH SCHOOL BOARD POLICIES AND PROCEDURES – SUCH AS WITH TICKET SALE RECONCILIATION – AND TO REVIEW THE SCHOOL SYSTEM’S COMPLIANCE WITH BIDDING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.

SCHOOL BOARD VICE PRESIDENT KELLEY DIAL SAYS THAT QUESTIONS WERE RAISED WHEN OFFICIALS WERE PREPARING A RESPONSE TO AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST PERTAINING TO THE HIGH SCHOOL’S ATHELETIC BOOSTER CLUBS.

SUPERINTENDENT HOWARD HINESLEY SAYS QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS BEGAN IN 2006 WHEN THE FOOTBALL BOOSTER CLUB PAID FOR HEAD COACH FRANK BARDEN TO TAKE A TRIP TO HAWAII. BOOSTER CLUB MEMBERS SAID THE VOTE WASN’T TAKEN BY SECRET BALLOT, AND SOME ASSISTANT COACHES COMPLAINED THAT THEIR BONUSES WERE REDUCED THAT YEAR.
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HINESLEY SAYS QUESTIONS BEGAN COMING IN FROM BOOSTER CLUB MEMBERS REGARDING BARDEN’S MEMBERSHIP AT THE COUNTRY CLUB BEING PAID FOR BY THE BOOSTER CLUB, WHICH HINESLEY SAYS IS ALLOWED. SOME BOOSTER CLUB MEMBERS THEN QUESTIONED WHO PAID THE TAXES ON THAT MEMBERSHIP, WHICH HE SAYS PROMPTED THE SCHOOL BOARD TO SET A POLICY STATING THAT ANY EXTRA BENEFITS MUST GO IN THE SCHOOL’S BOOKS AND TAXES MUST BE PAID.

A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, HINESLEY SAYS SOMEONE CLAIMING TO BE A MEMBER OF THE FOOTBALL BOOSTER CLUB BUT REFUSING TO GIVE HIS NAME ASKED ABOUT THE COUNTRY CLUB MEMBERSHIP AND TOLD HINESLEY THAT THE COACH WAS RECEIVING ANOTHER BENEFIT. HINESLEY DISCOVERED THAT THE COACH’S CELL PHONE BILL WAS BEING PAID BY THE BOOSTER CLUB, WHICH HE SAYS IS PERMISSIBLE.

OTHER COMPLAINTS REVOLVED AROUND STUDENTS NOT BEING ABLE TO WORK IN THE DUGOUT CLUB’S SUMMER WORK PROGRAM THROUGH PERFECT GAME, WHICH HOSTS TOURNAMENTS AT RICHARD BELL FIELD, AND ISSUES WERE RAISED THAT WORKERS WERE BEING PAID MORE THAN THE $600 IRS THRESHOLD. AFTER THE DUGOUT CLUB TREASURER WAS ALERTED TO THAT, HINESLEY SAYS W-9 FORMS WERE SENT OUT SO 1099 FORMS COULD BE ISSUED.

GENE LEWIS, WHO HAS BEEN THE DUGOUT CLUB PRESIDENT, SAYS THEY USE STUDENTS WHO KNOW HOW TO WORK THE FIELD AND PAY THEM $15 A GAME IN CASH FROM CONCESSION FUNDS.

A SURVEY WILL BE PUT ON THE SCHOOL SYSTEM’S WEBSITE ON FRIDAY FOR CONCERNS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. THE REVIEW OF COMPLIANCE OF POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IS EXPECTED TO BE DISCUSSED AT THE SCHOOL BOARD’S DECEMBER MEETING.

“I WISH THAT COMMISSIONER (CLARENCE) BROWN WOULD STAY AS COMMISSIONER, BUT SINCE HE’S NOT, I WOULD LIKE TO PUT MY NAME IN AS BEING A CANDIDATE FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER,” TIDWELL SAYS.

TIDWELL, WHO HAS BEEN EMPLOYED BY BARTOW COUNTY FOR 28 YEARS, SAYS THAT HIS EXPERIENCE IN THE LOCAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT MAKES HIM A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR THE JOB.

“I’VE ATTENDED JUST ABOUT ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEAD MEETINGS WE’VE HAD OVER ALL THE YEARS,” HE SAID. “I FEEL LIKE I’M MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE OPERATIONS OF THE COUNTY, THE WAY THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER, PERSONNEL POLICIES. THAT PART I SHOULDN’T HAVE TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME LEARNING. THAT WILL GIVE ME MORE TIME TO SPEND ON THE ACTUAL DUTIES THAT THE COMMISSIONER HAS TO MAKE DECISIONS ON.”

THE TRANSITION FROM COUNTY EMPLOYEE TO COMMISSIONER SHOULDN’T BE DIFFICULT, SAYS TIDWELL. HE SAYS HIS COWORKERS ARE EXCITED ABOUT HIS CANDIDACY.

“THEY SAID THEY’D DO WHATEVER THEY COULD TO HELP ME OUT AND SUPPORT ME IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE,” TIDWELL SAYS.

IF ELECTED, TIDWELL SAYS IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO FIND WAYS TO CUT EXPENDITURES.

“I THINK COMMISSIONER BROWN HAS DONE A GOOD JOB WITH IT BUT, WITH ANYTHING ELSE, MAYBE HE’S OVERLOOKED SOMETHING THAT I CAN PICK UP ON,” TIDWELL SAYS.

A SURVEY IS CURRENTLY BEING CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE WAYS TO SAVE, SUCH AS ONE FUEL OR OPERATING COSTS. OFFERING EARLY RETIREMENT AGAIN TO EMPLOYEES COULD BE ANOTHER OPTION.

“WE’RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AND SEE IF THERE’S ANYTHING ELSE THAT CAN BE DONE BECAUSE THE TAX REVENUES ARE DOWN, PROPERTY TAX REVENUES ARE DOWN,” TIDWELL SAYS.

TIDWELL SAYS THERE ALSO ARE SEVERAL ONGOING PROJECTS – SUCH AS THE LANDFILL AND ROADS – THAT HE WANTS TO COMPLETE.

“UNTIL YOU REALLY GET IN THERE, IT’S HARD TO SAY EXACTLY WHAT YOU WOULD DO,” TIDWELL SAYS.

SOLE COMMISSIONER CLARENCE BROWN HAS HELD HIS POSITION FOR 20 YEARS. HIS SEAT WILL BE ON THE NOVEMBER 2012 BALLOT.

DIANA PRUITT LIVES ON CLINE SMITH ROAD AND SAYS THAT THE PROPOSED ROUTE WILL BE BUILT SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET FROM HER HOUSE. SHE SAYS SHE DOESN’T WANT A ROAD IN HER FRONT YARD.

MABLE COOK WON’T BE AFFECTED DIRECTLY BY THE PROJECT, BUT THE CLINE SMITH ROAD RESIDENT SAYS SHE DOESN’T WANT DOBBINS MOUNTAIN – WHICH SHE CAN SEE FROM HER BACK WINDOW – TO BE DESTROYED.

NORMA GROSS, WHO LIVES IN THE SAME APARTMENT COMPLEX AS COOK, SAYS THE MOUNTAINS ARE WHAT MAKE CARTERSVILLE.

THE PROPOSED 411 CONNECTOR PROJECT WOULD INCLUDE BUILDING A RURAL FREEWAY BETWEEN THE U.S. 411/U.S. 41 INTERCHANGE AND THE CURRENT STATE ROUTE 20 EAST OF INTERSTATE 75 WITH A NEW INTERSTATE 75 INTERCHANGE. THE PROPOSED ROUTE, D-VE, WOULD GO THROUGH DOBBINS MOUNTAIN. OPPONENTS SAY THEY SUPPORT ROUTE G, WHICH THEY SAY WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND WOULD BE LESS EXPENSIVE.

CORY STEWART, A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE COALITION FOR THE RIGHT ROAD, SAYS NOW THERE IS SPECULATION ABOUT A ROUTE C, WHICH WOULD FOLLOW D-VE’S ROUTE BUT TERMINATE ON HIGHWAY 411 AT THE ROLLINS PROPERTY BEFORE CONTINUING NORTH TO EXIT 293 OFF INTERSTATE 75. STEWART SAYS THE COALITION CAN’T TAKE A STANCE ROUTE C UNTIL THEY SEE FINAL DETAILS. STEWART SAYS THE COALITION FOR THE RIGHT ROAD OPPOSES THE ENTIRE TSPLOST BECAUSE IT INCLUDES THE 411 CONNECTOR.

THE 411 CONNECTOR IS JUST ONE OF MANY PROJECTS ON THE TSPLOST LIST FOR A 15-COUNTY REGION. OTHER PROJECTS IN BARTOW COUNTY INCLUDE:
• RECONSTRUCTION OF CASS-WHITE ROAD AT THE INTERSTATE 75 INTERCHANGE;
• IMPROVING DOUTHIT FERRY ROAD FROM OLD ALABAMA ROAD TO WEST AVENUE;
• A WIDENING AND IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ON OLD ALABAMA ROAD IN EMERSON;
• PARTIAL RELOCATION OF STATE ROUTE 20 FROM INTERSTATE 75 TO U.S. HIGHWAY 411;
• CSX RAILWAY CROSSING SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS ON RICHARDS ROAD IN WHITE;
• IMPROVEMENTS TO STATE ROUTE 140 FROM OOTHCALOOGA CREEK TO U.S. HIGHWAY 41;
• IMPROVEMENTS TO THE INTERSECTION OF STAMP CREEK ROAD AND U.S. HIGHWAY 41;
• CONSTRUCTION OF THE U.S. HIGHWAY 411 CONNECTOR;
• AND IMPROVEMENTS TO U.S. HIGHWAY 41 FROM MAIN STREET TO STATE ROUTE 61.

DAVID AUSTIN, CHAIRMAN OF THE PAULDING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, CHAIRED THE REGIONAL ROUNDTABLE AND SAID THAT THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE WAS TASKED WITH TAKING $10 BILLION IN PROJECTS AND PARING THEM DOWN TO $1 BILLION, WHICH IS THE REVENUE THE ONE-CENT SALES TAX IS EXPECTED TO GENERATE IN A 10-YEAR PERIOD.

RESIDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO VOTE ON THE TSPLOST IN JULY 2012, AND AUSTIN SAYS IT MUST BE PASSED BY THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN EACH REGIONAL COMMISSION IN ORDER FOR THE ENTIRE PACKAGE TO PASS. AUSTIN SAYS THERE ARE MONETARY INCENTIVES IN THE FORM OF MATCHING MONEY FROM THE STATE RANGING FROM 10-35 PERCENT THAT COUNTIES CAN RECEIVE FOR PUTTING THE ITEM ON THE BALLOT, HAVING IT PASS THE COUNTY AND HAVING IT PASS IN THE REGION.

THE REGIONAL ROUNDTABLE IS EXPECTED TO VOTE TO APPROVE THE PROJECT LIST AT A CALLED MEETING ON SEPT. 29.

WSB-TV IN ATLANTA INTERVIEWED JESSICA COOLEY ABOUT HER SON’S ORDEAL ON SEPT. 9. JAMARI COOLEY ATTENDS STARS PRE-K FOR SPEECH THERAPY. HE WAS LOADED ONTO THE BUS AROUND 6:40 A.M. AND WAS DISCOVERED STILL IN THE SEAT AROUND NOON. COOLEY SAID HER SON’S FACE AND EYES WERE RED, SHE SAID HE WAS SWEATY AND HE HAD URINATED ON HIMSELF.

BARTOW COUNTY SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT JOHN HARPER SAYS THIS WAS A MISTAKE MADE BY A USUALLY RELIABLE BUS DRIVER. HE SAID THE DRIVER DID NOT COMPLETELY FOLLOW THE PROCEDURE AND MISSED THE CHILD. HARPER WOULD NOT SAY WHAT ACTION WAS TAKEN AGAINST THE DRIVER SAYING THIS WAS PERSONNEL ISSUE. HARPER SAYS THANKFULLY THIS WAS A COOL DAY.

THE BOY’S MOTHER WAS NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY AFTER HE WAS FOUND. SCHOOL SYSTEM OFFICIALS MET WITH HER TWO DAYS LATER. COOLEY TOLD CHANNEL 2 THAT SHE VIEWED THE VIDEO TAPE OF THE DRIVER CHECKING FOR CHILDREN AND WITNESSED WHEN THE MISTAKE OCCURRED.

IN AN ATTEMPT TO PROVE THAT THEIR STAFF IS THE SMARTEST IN THE COMMUNITY, LOCAL COMPANIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE PART IN THE CONTEST WHICH SERVES AS A FUNDRAISER FOR THE CARTERSVILLE SCHOOLS FOUNDATION. ORGANIZER LISA BELL SAYS FOR THIS YEAR’S BRAIN BOWL, ALL TEAMS WILL GET TO TAKE PART IN THE FAST-PACED ‘BUZZER ROUND’ WHICH HAS BEEN POPULAR WITH MANY PARTICIPANTS IN YEAR’S PAST. THE DEADLINE FOR ALL TEAMS TO REGISTER IS WEDNESDAY AT 5 PM. THE COST PER FOUR-PERSON-TEAM IS $200, WHICH INCLUDES LUNCH. ALL PARTICIPATING TEAMS ARE ASKED TO ARRIVE AT THE CIVIC CENTER BY 11:30 AM ON FRIDAY.

TO REGISTER A BUSINESS FOR THE 2011 BRAIN BOWL CONTACT BELL AT 770-387-4710.

THE ANNOUNCMENT OF THE POSSIBLE CONSOLIDATION OF 200 PROCESSING FACILITIES WAS MADE THURSDAY MORNING BY THE POSTMASTER GENERAL IN WASHINGTON D.C. MICHAEL MILES, ATLANTA REGION SPOKESMAN, SAID THAT CARTERSVILLE’S MAIL WOULD BE PROCESSED IN DULUTH SHOULD THE LOCAL PROCESSING FACILITY BE CONSOLIDATED.

“IT’S NOT THE POST OFFICE,” MILES SAID. “IT’S JUST THE PORTION OF THAT UNIT THAT PROCESSES MAIL. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CLERKS UP FRONT. IT DOESN’T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE DELIVERY OF MAIL. IT’S JUST THE PROCESSING PART OF THE OPERATION THERE. THE CARTERSVILLE POST OFFICE ISN’T GOING ANYWHERE, BUT WE MIGHT LOOK AT JUST SIMPLY NOT HAVING A MAIL PROCESSING OPERATION THERE ANYMORE.”

MILES SAYS THAT MANY YEARS AGO, CARTERSVILLE’S MAIL WAS PROCESSED IN GWINNETT COUNTY AND, OVER TIME, SATELLITE LOCATIONS LIKE CARTERSVILLE’S WERE SET UP.

“BUT, OVER TIME, THINGS HAVE CHANGED. MAIL VOLUME ISN’T AS HIGH AS IT USED TO BE, SO WE DON’T NEED THOSE SATELLITE FACILITIES LIKE WE ONCE DID,” MILES SAID.

APPROXIMATELY 20 EMPLOYEES WORK IN THE PROCESSING FACILITY AT THE CARTERSVILLE POST OFFICE. MILES SAYS NO ONE WILL LOSE THEIR JOBS AND THAT THOSE EMPLOYEES WILL EITHER BE ASSIGNED DIFFERENT DUTIES OR MOVED TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION.

ALTHOUGH CARTERSVILLE COULD LOSE ITS PROCESSING FACILITY, MILES SAID NO POST OFFICES IN BARTOW COUNTY ARE ON THE LIST TO POTENTIALLY BE CLOSED. OF THE 3,700 ON THE LIST NATIONWIDE, EIGHT ARE IN THE ATLANTA REGION. SIX ARE IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA, AND THE OTHER TWO ARE LOCATED IN HALL AND UPSON COUNTIES.