Heard On Scanner

Police were called out to Woodland subdivision where racial slurs were spray-painted on a leash law sign.  Not sure if they've arrested anyone or not.

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Scanner Happenings

11:50am 10-28

11:51am Domestic problem

11:52am 10-28

11:52am Business alarm.

11:58am Business alarm being responded to.

12:02pm someone flagging down an officer.

12:03pm Domestic problem inside Mirror Lake Publix—someone harassing someone else.

12:04pm person that flagged down officer—a child found wandering in that person's backyard.  No id, since he's a child, so they have no idea who he is.

12:05pm Villa Rica PD will be enroute to Publix.

12:10pm Dispatcher does not approve a 10-42 (Ending Tour of Duty)

12:13pm Child returned to grandmother.

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Scanner Happenings

1:47pm Possible tractor trailer on fire at Racetrac.

1:47pm 10-27

1:49pm Tractor trailer not on fire.

1:51pm Police wanting Villa Rica's help with motorcycle ride from Hiram.

1:51pm A hold being put on a suspect.

1:55pm Someone obstructed an intersection.

1:56pm Domestic problem.

1:58pm Officer beginning tour of duty.

2:01pm Dispute reported.

2:02pm Officer checking retention pond for tresspassers.

2:02pm Reported burglary last night at Fred's.

2:04pm Funeral procession at Cobb/Douglas line—officer needed.

2:06pm Someone's dog possibly dug up a human bone.  One officer at scene—another on the way.

2:10pm Residential alarm in Tributary—no one answering phone.

2:11pm Funeral procession—another officer needed.

2:12pm Someone tailgating someone else.

2:13pm 10-28

2:16pm Dispute reported in an apartment complex.

2:18pm 10-28—wanted for arrest in another county.

2:19pm Heard a location of a construction site (Belmont Park), then an officer said to let Hightower know.  Make of it what you will.  Didn't hear anything else.

2:22pm Accident on Fairburn Rd near Chick-Fil-A.

2:23pm Requesting warrant for arrest.

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Today's Sentinel

The Douglas County Sentinel is reporting that the Dog River Reservoir has 57% of the reservoir capacity remaining.  There is grass growing where water should be.  And the executive director of WSA, Pete Frost, says that there is a limit on the amount of purchases they can make regarding buying Cobb County's water.  And Frost says the lower the reservoir is, the worse our water will taste, smell, and look.  Currently the Dog River Reservoir is 94 inches below the top of the dam.

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Scan Douglas

A big shout out to http://thetdesigner.com/ of the Bill Arp area for encouraging passersby, via their sign, to check out http://www.scandouglas.com!

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Scanner Happenings

8:16pm Two car accident with injuries on I-20 near Burnt Hickory Rd bridge.  Car door stuck.

8:17pm Several power lines in the middle of a road.  Not sure where.

8:22pm somebody locked their keys in their car.

8:27pm Hit and run occurred in parking lot of gas station.

8:29pm missing juvenile reported.

8:30pm Accident at John Bleakly Ford.

8:38pm Someone caught w/ expired license.

8:38pm 10-27

8:49pm Bank alarm

8:51pm one person arrested.

8:53pm Fireworks off Maroney Mill Rd.

8:53pm Larceny reported in Aneewakee Falls.

8:56pm subjects seen walking behind a building in a shopping center.

8:58pm Austell PD reported to Douglas PD a wreck at Hwy 6 and Hwy 78.

9:08pm Intoxicated driver last seen at Hwy 5 and Rose Avenue.  All city police busy—county will have to find.

9:09pm Two people arrested.

9:10pm Flagview Mobile home park—landlord causing problems.

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Poll

Once the poll gets 100 votes, I'm going to take the top four options and make another poll.  I might add some other options to this new poll--anyone have any constructive suggestions (besides the ones listed in the poll) on what Douglas County needs?  This could be anything--a specific business or service the county does not offer, a restaurant you'd like to see come to our county, etc.  I might add Captain D's because Douglasville no longer has one.  They have great shrimp.  I went to the new location in Bowden not too long ago--it was much nicer than the one we had.

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Chapel Hill High School

Received this from the county:

 

The Douglas County Sheriff's Department has confirmed that there was NOT a shooting at Chapel Hill High School this morning, and another one has NOT been threatened to occur this afternoon. The Sheriff's Department has investigators at Chapel Hill High School to try to determine who started this rumor. Students at the school are not in danger.

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

More Info On Body Found

I found this on B 92.1 FM's website:

 

Body Found
Thursday, September 27, 2007
(WLBB RADIO) The Douglasville Police Department is investigating a possible murder in connection with a body floating in a shallow pond yesterday morning. An Arbor Station maintenance employee reportedly located the body off of Arbor Parkway. An autopsy is reportedly being conducted today on the body which is described as a black male approximately 30 years in age. Major Oliver Fladrick says this was a recent incident but officers cannot speculate what the cause was, just continue to follow up on leads. (Copyright 2007 by Gradick Communications; LLC all rights reserved)

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Body Found In Pond

From WSBtv.com:

 

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ga. -- Douglasville officials said a body was found in a pond Wednesday afternoon.

Authorities were called to the pond in front of the Arbor Station Subdivision at the corner of Highway 5 and Arbor Parkway.

Police officials have not yet released further details.

Channel 2 has a crew headed to the scene and will have more on this developing story on Channel 2 Action News at 5.

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

City Council Meeting Agenda

CITY OF DOUGLASVILLE CITY COUNCIL
Legislative Work Session
September 27, 2007
7:30 p.m.

AGENDA
1. Call to Order

 

2. Invocation

3. Pledge of Allegiance

4. Public Safety Committee/Dennis McLain

a. Request in a change in the agent outlet manager for the alcohol beverage license for Ruby Tuesday #2734 for the on premises sale and consumption of wine, malt beverage, and spirituous liquor at 9579 Georgia Highway 5. Application by Ruby Tuesday, Inc.

b. Adopt a resolution concerning parades, marches, and other events using City streets and requiring deployment of City Police Department personnel for traffic safety and traffic control.

5. Community & Economic Development Committee/John Schildroth

a. Adopt a resolution concerning requests from the Irish Bred Pub restaurant, to be located at 6682 East Broad Street, for placement of a second story emergency exit and for outdoor dining on the City of Douglasville's O'Neal Plaza.

b. Authorize removal of shrubbery in the City of Douglasville's O'Neal Plaza adjacent to a section of the building at 6680 East Broad Street and accessibility to said building from O'Neal Plaza.

6. Planning & Zoning Committee/Michael Carter

Tabled from September 17, 2007:
a. Request for a change in zoning from R-2 (Single Family Detached Residential District) to CG (General Commercial District) certain tracts through which the planned Bright Star Road Connector will pass on approximately 6.68 acres. Application by the City of Douglasville.

New Business:

b. Consider the request for interpretation of the City Zoning Ordinance, filed by Jennifer Outwater for Historic Ghost Tours.

7. Parks & Recreation Committee/Roy Mims

8. Finance Committee/Henry Mitchell III

a. Authorize the City of Douglasville to offer surplus property for sale on Saturday, November 10, 2007, through an auction to be held at the Douglasville National Guard Armory and conducted by Elrod Auctioning.

b. Authorize the expenditure of funds for purchase and installation of insulation and heating/air conditioning equipment in the bay area of the former fire station in the downtown area, now used by the City Police Department, and for a warranty on said department's new emergency generator.

9. Information Technology Committee/Henry Mitchell III

a. Authorize the Mayor to submit a grant application to the Georgia Emergency Management Agency for a Fiscal Year 2007 NTIA/DHS Public Safety Interoperable Communications Grant for a radio communications project.

10. Maintenance & Sanitation Committee/Charles Banks

a. Adopt a resolution proclaiming Monday, October 29, through Thursday, November 1, to be the 2007 Douglasville Recycles Week, sponsored by Keep Douglasville Beautiful and the City's Sanitation Department.

11. Transportation Committee/Michael Carter

a. Authorize the Mayor to sign an agreement for design and engineering services for intersection improvements at Georgia Highway 92 (Dallas Highway) and Malone Road.

12. Personnel & Organization Committee/Roy Mims

a. Adopt an ordinance and authorize the Mayor to sign an Adoption Agreement and Addendum with the Georgia Municipal Employees Benefit System, modifying the retirement plan for City employees to allow purchase of retirement credits for qualified military service, and to subject non-vested rehired employees to the same rules as new hires for vesting of benefits.

b. Establish the position of Arborist in the City Planning Department and adopt a job description for said position.

13. Ordinances & Intergovernmental Committee/Callye B. Holmes

a. Approve the form for a background information questionnaire for applicant appointees to City boards, commissions, and committees.

14. Other Business

15. City Attorney/Joel Dodson

16. Chief Assistant City Attorney/Suzan Littlefield

17. City Manager/Bill Osborne

18. Comments from Citizens and Delegates

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Update

Channel 2 news reports the body found at Arbor Station subdivision was a 46 year old man with no visible signs of trauma was found by mowers just before lunch today. An autopsy will be performed. There was no indication at the scene of what the man was doing there.

Heard on the news

I just heard on the channel 5 news that a body was found this morning in the pond at Arbor Station off Hwy 5. That's all they said. Updates when we get them.

Scanner Happenings

1:12pm Someone reportedly riding a bike through Beall's parking lot shouting at customers not to shop there.
1:15pm Domestic problem reported--Rent a Center driver and homeowner.
1:16pm Someone caught driving w/o license and is on probation.
1:17pm 10-28 on I-20.
1:17pm Child locked in vehicle at a gas station.  Fire dept busy--police will respond.
1:17pm 10-95
1:18pm 10-28
1:21pm bike suspect apprehended.
1:21pm 10-27 (2)
1:22pm 10-95 - requesting transport unit.  Possession.
1:25pm Domestic problem at a business.
1:26pm 10-28
1:27pm Someone on the way to hospital.

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

More Info On Anneewakee Creek Death

I got this in my inbox today:

 

"I read on your blog "Heard something on the scanner" I wanted to give you a few details on it but please do not mention my name.  A friend on mine's ex husband had been missing since Thursday and they found his body Monday afternoon in Anneewakee creek off of Tackett Road.  They are not sure of all of the details yet from what I understand it was an accident.   Anyhow the DOT found his body while bush hogging on Monday. So that is what was heard on the scanner. Again this is a friend of mine so please do not publish my name....."

 

Condolences to this man's friends and family.

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

BOC/P&Z Meeting

PLANNING & ZONING BOARD AND BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING AGENDA

October 2, 2007

APPROVAL of MINUTES
- September 4, 2007

AGENDA

S2007-48 | Tab [1] Mary Jo Tanner – Request for a Special Use Permit (RENEWAL) to allow an in-home manicurist's shop at the property located at 3796 Longview Drive: Land Lot(s) 82, District 1, Section 5, Parcel(s) 66. Lot size: 0.33 acres.

S2007-49 | Tab [2] Ronald B. & Kathryn L. Edenfield – Request for a Special Use Permit to allow a garage apartment at the property located at 4191 Cole Road: Land Lot(s) 83, District 2, Section 5, Parcel(s) 11. Lot size: 10.36 acres.

Z2007-50 | Tab [3] Douglas County BOC – Request for a rezoning (administrative) from R-LD to C-H to bring the property into conformance with the Future Land Use Map and the historic use of the property at the property located at 4281 Highway 78: Land Lot(s) 653, District 18, Section 2, Parcel(s) 4. Lot size: 0.445 acres.

ADJOURN

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Mall Evacuated Tuesday Morning

Someone reported on the Topix message board that the entire mall was evacuated this morning after the alarms went off.  I listened to the police scanner and heard nothing; however, upon listening to the EMS feed I heard that a subject was cornered in a bathroom and had weapons.  They did not specify what kind of weapons.  They do not mention that this is in the mall but since the person mentioned the time, this report corresponds with the time that the subject was mentioned on the feed.  Nothing else was mentioned in the span of several minutes about this.  If anyone has any more information please post a comment.

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Overnight Accident

There was a one vehicle accident with injuries at Dorsett Shoals and Kings Hwy.  It happened about 12:46am. Two young people were involved, one of whom is a minor. Both are injured.  Both are pinned in the car which overturned. Two EMS units were en route to the accident.  One unit apparently passed the accident scene and was told to turn around.

1:14am One lifeflight helicopter has landed in the parking lot of Pray's Mill Baptist Church.  Another one is on the way to the same parking lot.
1:18am The second just flew over my house.
1:30am Quiet feed.  Haven't heard helicopters take off yet.
1:32am Beeps--usually this means there is a new call, but it's followed by silence.
1:38am Silence, regarding both the feed and the helicopters.
1:39am Heard someone on feed but part of what they said was cut off.
1:40am Someone wants a dispatch time.  Apparently it was dispatched at 12:46am.
1:43am Silence.
1:45am First person has been extricated from the vehicle.
1:49am Lots of static on the radios from the accident scene.  It's cutting off the EMS workers.  One EMS unit with one patient (I guess) is on its way to the church for the patient to be lifeflighted to hospital.
1:59am A helicopter has taken off.
2:03am More beeps.
2:12pm Someone asked if extrication was complete and the answer was no.
2:29am Close to extricating second person, someone says.
2:32am More beeps.
2:35am Another unit responding to a child who is having difficulty breathing.
2:41am They've just completed extricating the second person about two hours after the accident happened.

2:44am About seven minutes away from the second person being taken to the church.

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Heard On Scanner Last Week

This comes from one of my regular readers:

 

"I heard a strange thing on the scanner it was last week, I think it was last week.  Someone in the road department found something near Sitka off Tackett Rd.   Whatever it was, the person who found it was "shaken up"  and there was hardly anything said on the scanner after that. I even went back and listened to the feed again, because I thought I had missed something – but it never said what was found…I did hear more than one person respond and ask for directions to the location –

 To me the whole thing implied whatever was found was important and gross."

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

El Pollo Loco Coming To Lithia Springs

From QSR.com:

 

Competitors Converge on Georgia's Chicken Chains

Bojangles and El Pollo Loco move forward with aggressive expansion plans for Georgia.

By Mark A. DeSorbo

 

El Pollo Loco Inc. and Bojangles Famous Chicken and Biscuits are expanding into greater Atlanta with plans to open more than 130 new restaurants in that already thriving quick-serve market.

Atlanta is already home to several major quick-serve chicken chains, including Chick-fil-A, Mrs. Winner's, and Popeyes, but officials at Irvine, California–based El Pollo Loco and Charlotte, North Carolina–based Bojangles are confident there is plenty of room for business in the city, saying they can distinguish themselves from the hometown competition.

"Georgia is our highest growth area," says Eric Newman, executive vice president of Bojangles. "We have critical mass in the Carolinas, and we have had a presence in Georgia since the inception of the company. The culture and the local palate make Georgia a natural fit for us."

Steve Carley, president and CEO of El Pollo Loco, says that like the West Coast, Atlanta offers an equally lucrative market for its citrus-marinated, flame-grilled chicken.

"Atlanta is a terrific market for us, and while there are numerous other chains that offer chicken in the Atlanta area, none offer what El Pollo Loco does," he says.

In early August, El Pollo Loco announced that it plans to open 50 locations in metro Atlanta within the next six years. On August 27, the city of Hiram became home to the Southeast's first El Pollo Loco, unveiling the company's new building concept, which features "contemporary Mexican design with multiple textures, geometric shapes, natural wood, and Aztec design elements."

"We are very excited about our expansion momentum underway," Carley says, adding that five stores are under construction throughout metro Atlanta—Gainesville, Marietta, Lithia Springs, Roswell, Lithonia, and Chamblee.

 

For the rest of the article, click here: http://www.qsrmagazine.com/articles/exclusives/0907/chicken-1.phtml

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Cold Stone Creamery

I had someone come to my blog after asking a search engine why Cold Stone Creamery closed.  I hadn't realized they had closed.  I knew the franchise owner was trying to sell it--perhaps no one would buy it?  After all, there are two Dairy Queen locations, Bruster's, Ben & Jerry's, Baskin-Robbins (if there's still a location on Fairburn Rd) so there was plenty of competition.

 

I would love to see a gelato place come to Douglasville.  Gelato is Italian ice cream, and it is so much richer in flavor than ice cream is.  Yummy European Cafe has it but theirs cannot compare to the gelato I had once on vacation in Destin, FL.  Wal-Mart sells Blue Bunny Gelato--I've had the chocolate, and it's pretty good.  Or frozen custard--now that's good stuff.  There was a frozen custard shop in New Orleans by the name of Chelsea's that had been open since the 1950s and my great uncle would take me and all of his grandchildren for frozen custard when we were there on vacation.  It closed several years ago.  I still remember how it tasted.

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Scanner Happenings

3:58pm 10-50 in front of Dunkin Donuts.

3:59pm Reckless driver at I-20 near Post Rd.

4:05pm House fire with a child inside.  Child is injured—is going to local hospital and then will be lifeflighted.  Police are working to clear traffic so the ambulance can get to Douglas General.  Looks like the house fire was in Villa Rica.

4:07pm 10-27

4:07pm 10-28

4:14pm Two intoxicated individuals behind Kroger on Hwy 5.

4:15pm Officers all along route to hospital to clear traffic for ambulance.

4:16pm Four minutes until the lifeflight helicopter lands at the hospital.  Ambulance is on Dorris Rd.

4:18pm 10-28

4:20pm No one seems to know where the helicopter is going to land at the hospital.  Apparently they have a landing pad but they don't know if it's going to land on the pad.

4:21pm Dispatcher says helicopter is 2 minutes away; officer responds they're landing now.

4:22pm Someone tells the fire department they did a good job.

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Chaunce's Seafood~Steaks~Spirits

Recently found the owner of Chaunce's on MySpace and he provided me with the link to the restaurant's website.  He says it's 75% complete.  The lunch menu is very affordable--hopefully the dinner menu will be posted soon.  The address is http://chauncestavern.com

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Stewart Mill Road

I emailed the county yesterday and got the following response today:

 

This road is being repaired and will then be resurfaced under our current SPLOST program. This work is done by two separate crews. The repair or patching crew is mobilized to do the necessary repair work to the roads that are on the contract in that area.  The contractor has told us that the repair work should be completed by tomorrow. They will then mobilize the resurfacing crew and road striping crew to complete this paving project. Weather permitting, they should be completed with this project by the end of next week.

We apologize for any inconvenience and we appreciate your patience as we continually strive to make your drive throughout Douglas County one that will not only be "Safe" but also one to be proud of.

The Douglas County Department of Transportation welcomes your comments and concerns. Please feel free to email us @ www.douglascountydot.com

 

Editor's Note:  There's some interesting traffic reports on the above page, which is part of www.celebratedouglascounty.com.

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Scanner Happenings

12:32pm Domestic problem at Folks.
12:32pm 10-28
12:33pm Evicted apartment robbed by people who were evicted.  Damage.
12:34pm Terroristic threats made toward a person.
12:35pm Assault to a child reported at a dentist office in Douglasville.
12:40pm 10-28
12:42pm possible stolen trailer stopped by officer.
12:45pm - 12:35pm incident reported again.
12:49pm - possible arrest.

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

SPLOST Comments

I'm glad the SPLOST failed.  There were too many, as others have said, "pork projects" included, such as the performing arts center (a business could have paid for this) and the YMCA.  And we do not need a dog and horse park when Clinton Nature Preserve already apparently allows dogs and horses.  That is a HUGE park with miles of trails and at the end of the trails there are fantastic views--I know.  I walked down to the end of one trail this afternoon and at the end of the trail, I stood on the top of a hill underneath the high voltage power lines and saw for miles in four directions.

 

Yes, we did need a library, but this could have been funded by a grant or by something else.  There are plenty of ways to raise money for a library.  Whitesburg will soon have or already has a library, and I think they had several companies donate money toward it as well as the electric company and have a large book sale several days a week--if you've never been, go.  They have an entire shelf of antique books selling for just a couple of bucks as well as novels, children's books, cookbooks, etc. and most of it is under $5.  I found some first editions of old books there.  I think citizens donated most of the money.

 

And there is still the question of if we need a jail.  I read an article online that "jail overcrowding" is a myth--most who want jails want the extra beds so they can get extra income from housing federal prisoners.  And four beds to a cell seems perfectly fine for those people who aren't there for extremely violent crimes.  Jail is jail, not your home.  You're there because you committed a crime.  A person is not supposed to be comfortable in jail.  People will argue that we'll get it anyway--but those who voted no yesterday have shown that they still do not want a jail or do not want the jail the sheriff is visualizing (or either don't want the pork projects).   We don't need a fancy jail to show off to other counties.  We already have a fancy courthouse.  If we do need one, we need one more like the one in Carrollton that someone on the comments section of today's SPLOST article of the Sentinel said was built with $20 million.   Maybe not that high, and definitely not right in the city.  Imagine if someone escaped.  I hear about someone escaping from the DC jail about once a month, and I think there was an article in yesterday's Sentinel regarding a woman who escaped by putting someone else's name on her release papers.

 

Any comments about yesterday's failed SPLOST??  Post a comment!

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

FINAL RESULTS

No: 3,357  51%

Yes: 3,188  49%

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Results So Far

Boundary Waters

Yes 59

No 43

 

Total:

Yes: 2,812  49.38%

No: 2,883 50.62%

 

In The Majority:

The Precincts Voting Yes: 8

The Precincts Voting No: 13

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Results So Far

By Precincts:

 

Mirror Lake Elementary

Yes 99

No 90

 

Golden UMC

Yes 39

No 63

 

Stewart Middle

Yes 32

No 47

 

Total:

Yes: 2,582  49.36%

No: 2,649  50.64%

 

In The Majority:

The Precincts Voting Yes: 7

The Precincts Voting No: 12

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Results So Far

By Precinct:

 

Beulah Elementary:

Yes 120

No 141

 

Bright Star UMC:

Yes 144

No 119

 

Dorsett Shoals Elementary:

Yes 119

No 156

 

Chapel Hill Middle

Yes 97

No 119

 

Chestnut Log Middle:

Yes 75

No 73

 

And currently DCTV is deceiving to its viewers by rounding up the "Yes".  This is what it looks like on celebratedouglascounty.com:

 

Yes: 2,322  49.83%

No: 2,338  50.17%

 

In The Majority:

The Precincts Voting Yes: 6

The Precincts Voting No: 9

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Results So Far

By Precincts:

 

Factory Shoals Elementary:

Yes 79

No 85

 

Bill Arp Elementary

Yes 198

No 231

 

Annette Winn Elementary

Yes 111

No 150

 

Deer Lick Park

Yes 63

No 113

 

Total:

 

Yes: 50.82% 1911

No: 49.18% 1849

 

In The Majority:

The Precincts Voting Yes: 4

The Precincts Voting No: 6

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Results So Far

By precinct:

 

Old Courthouse:

225 Yes

193 No

 

Arbor Station Elementary:

110 Yes

92 No

 

Holly Springs Elementary:

179 Yes

247 No

 

Lutheran Church

179 Yes

164 No

 

Colonial Hills School

12 Yes

29 No

 

Ephesus Baptist:

245 Yes

175 No

 

Absentee:

366 Yes

251 No

 

Total:

1,316 Yes 53.34%

1,151 No  46.66%

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Traffic To Avoid This AM

My mother has reported an overturned cement truck at Hwy 5 and Douglas Blvd.  Alternate routes to Chapel Hill Road are Central Church Rd to Stewart Mill, Bright Star to Central Church to Stewart Mill, Hwy 5 to Hwy 166 to Chapel Hill, Dorsett Shoals to Chapel Hill, and I'm sure there are others.  Don't forget about the backroads--there are plenty of alternative routes to get to where you're going.

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Scanner Happenings

10:49 AM - something is in the road.
10:49 am 10-91x3 to jail.
10:50am 10-91 to jail.
10:53am damage to car poss. by juvenilles.
10:56am Mechanical breakdown I-20 westbound.
10:57am verbal warning given to someone who was soliciting.
10:58am county dispatches officer to mechanical breakdown.
11:01am reckless driver I-20 westbound east of north county line bridge.
11:03am domestic problem
11:11am 10-28

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Scanner Happenings

11:32am 911 hangup at JB Hunt on Bankhead Hwy
11:33am Business Alarm on Bankhead Hwy
11:37am Residence alarm at Charleston Place Subdivision.
11:39pm 10-28
11:46am Gas leak somewhere in county--GA Power will not arrive until around 1pm.
11:51am 10-91 at the Sentinel office--10-91 is pick up prisoner/suspect.  Not sure what this is about.
11:52am Residence alarm.
11:52am Power is out in Lithia Springs.
11:54am Runaway from LSHS.
11:56am Person shot possibly sometime this past weekend at an apartment complex.  Already gone to hospital but now having medical problems.
11:59am Officer needed to direct traffic at Temple St. and Humphries Hill
12:00pm Domestic problem.
12:19pm Austell police are closing intersection of Temple St. and Humphries Hill--not sure why.  Rerouting traffic back to Thornton Rd.
12:22pm Domestic problem at a business with a customer.
12:23pm Residence alarm.
12:25pm Residence alarm.
12:26pm Two people from LSHS taken to juvenile court services.
12:29pm Forgery occurred.

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Cheaper Gas

Sunday, September 16th: Price of Gas Got You Throttled? Hope Community Church Wants To Help!

10:00 a.m., Shell Gas Station, 4081 Anneewakee Road ~ 20 cents off each gallon for the first 2000 gallons

Courtesy of Hope Community Church and its Members showing their love for God in a practical way to their neighbors
www.Hope4Douglasville.org

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Soldiers' Angels Benefit Concert At Brookshire's

Brookshire's Taste of Nashville presents the Soldiers' Angels "Christmas For The Troops" Benefit Concert, on September 27, 2007, featuring the Southpaw Band! Doors will open at 8pm and the show will start at 9pm.

Join us for a night of music & fun while helping us to raise funds towards providing Christmas stockings for 20,000 of our Georgia-based troops currently serving in war zones. Admission is $10 at the door and there will be a silent auction and Soldiers' Angels merchandise for sale as well. Food & drinks are available from Brookshire's.

Brookshire's is located at 5778 Fairburn Road in Douglasville, GA. For directions call 678-391-1487.

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Winston Man Wins Chuck Wagon Cookoff

From The Sand Mountain Reporter:

Hundreds flock to Chuck Wagon Cook-Off

By George Jones The Reporter

Published September 11, 2007

The second annual Old West Day Chuck Wagon Cook-off at Albertville's old Civitan Park on Saturday was a sellout success.

"We sold all 280 $10 meal tickets for folks to sample the results of the contestant's cooking," said Susan Denham, wife of the event's founder, David Denham.

"The only thing we had left was a few beans."

This year's overall winner was "Fair Play," a wagon owned by Charley Holloway, from Winston, Ga.

The wagon won top honors for best wagon authenticity, while its four-member cook-team won three first-place finishes and one third-place in the cooking events.

The team of Ken and Peggy McClure, Frank Wood and Jerry Maxwell all were from Georgia.

David Denham, owner of the now-closed Denham Feed Mill in Albertville, initiated the Old West Days.
A member of the Marshall County Cowboy Church that meets in the old feed mill each Sunday, he said, "I saw something similar on a trip, and our church was looking for an outreach program and this has become it.

"It brings folks together. It gives Christian families something different to do."

Looking like a western character from a Hollywood movie set, the lanky, mustachioed Denham added, "It's something from the past you don't see anymore."

Joel Hayes, of Douglasville, Ga., looked right at home in his 10-gallon hat and long grey handlebar mustache as he stood next to a group of old fire-blackened iron kettles and skillets being licked by an early morning fire.

For Hayes, the event satisfies his "love of history – love of people, and just the fun we have when friends come together."

"The respect and admiration is what keeps us coming back."

Although a community effort, Hayes — who cooks a mean chicken fried steak made of flour, cracker crumbs, an egg wash, some Texas Pete hot sauce and Essence of Emerald (Editor's Note: I think he means Essence of Emeril) — said, "I was the one who had to stay by the fire and get cooked."

Judging by the size of Saturday's crowd, there were a lot of people enjoying the fun together with Hayes.

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Peachtree City and Douglasville Police Work Together To Arrest Slovakian Man

PTC arrest man for child exploitation

Wed, 09/12/2007 - 8:48pm

By: John Munford

A cruise ship waiter has become the 21st person arrested by Peachtree City police in an undercover sting targeted at people who use computers to prey on children, police said.

Zoltan Ferencz, 27, of the Republic of Slovakia, was arrested Tuesday after he traveled to Peachtree City to meet with an undercover officer whom he thought was a 14-year-old girl.

The Peachtree City investigation was conducted with help from the Douglasville Police Department and the Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, police said.

Police said Ferencz is charged with one count of violation of the computer pornography and child exploitation act.

Ferencz, who is currently in the U.S. on a tourist visa, is employed as a waiter on Princess Cruise Lines where he has worked for the past five years, police said.

Although 21 people have so far faced charges in the undercover sting since May 2004, not all of them have been brazen enough to come to Peachtree City to meet up with the "girl" they think is 14. Some, however, have shared pornographic images with the undercover detective via instant messaging or e-mail.

Peachtree City Police Chief James Murray encourages parents to insure their children only access the home computer in places where their activity can be observed. Parents can take advantage of special software that can provide copies of e-mail, instant messaging and other correspondence on-line.

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Home Invasion News

Some actual news in this article--there is, apparently, no second suspect.  Someone on the Topix forum mentioned Thompson was also charged with kidnapping, and it was added to the list of charges this Sentinel article mentions.

 

Resident scares off two burglars

Posted: Thursday, September 13, 2007 1:20 AM EDT

 

A Highway 166 resident came out of the shower Wednesday morning to find two burglars in his house.

The two suspects fled the scene when they realized the man was at home, said Douglas County Chief

 

Deputy Stan Copeland. He said no goods were taken from the home and nobody was injured in the 11 a.m. break-in.

He described the incident as an attempted burglary, rather than a home invasion.

 

"They had broken in through a lower basement area, but were scared off when the man came out of the shower," Copeland said.

Officials have posted a lookout for the suspects described as two young, black males, driving an older model white Honda or similar car, last seen headed westbound on Highway 166 toward Carroll County.

Wednesday's attempted burglary was not related to a Monday morning home invasion, officials said.

A pregnant woman and her boyfriend were attacked and severely beaten by a baseball bat-wielding home invader early Monday morning at their Central Church Road home. Douglas County officials later arrested Justin Thompson, 25. He faces charges of aggravated assault, aggravated battery, kidnapping with bodily injury, burglary and armed robbery.

Copeland said an earlier second suspect is no longer believed involved in the robbery and is not being sought.

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Thompson Denied Bond

Excuse me for not posting a summary instead--I have two tests due today and don't have time. 

 

Bond denied on charges in home invasion case

By Bobby Moore
Staff Writer

Justin Thompson, charged in Monday's home invasion on Central Church Road, was denied bond Wednesday by Judge Susan Camp.

Thompson faces charges of two counts of aggravated battery, aggravated assault, two counts of kidnapping with bodily injury, burglary and two counts of armed robbery.

Two men broke into the home early Monday morning and attacked a pregnant woman and her boyfriend with a baseball bat, officials said.

 

The men, who reportedly attended a party at the house earlier in the weekend, allegedly returned to the home Monday to steal electronics.

"This is probably the most vicious home invasion we have seen in a long time," District Attorney David McDade said at the bond hearing.

Both victims were airlifted to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta.

 

In other news, Daniel Sawyer was denied bond for charges of burglary, impersonating a public officer and false imprisonment.

The charges are linked to an ongoing investigation regarding crimes allegedly committed when Sawyer was working as a security guard at Arbor Village Mobile Home Park.

On Aug. 31, Sawyer was denied bond on charges of false imprisonment, battery, kidnapping and impersonating an officer.

 

Antoine Parker received a $17,500 bond for charges of second degree forgery, habitual violator, fleeing/attempting to elude and reckless driving.

Parker was also given a preset bond on a speeding ticket after being caught allegedly driving 85 miles per hour in a 45 mph zone.

According to the police report, Parker is wanted in Virginia on unrelated charges.

 

A bond of $9,500 was set for Joseph Oliver on charges of fleeing/attempting to elude and reckless driving in addition to a preset bond for charges of driving unlicensed and driving on the wrong side of the road.

Jeffery Jenkins, Ruthie Spencer and Marquez Glover each received a $10,000 bond for a charge of burglary. The charges are linked to an incident that occurred Tuesday around 10 p.m. on Cambridge Drive, officials said.

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Sentinel Writes About Home Invasion

There's a short article about Monday's home invasion--but it looks like all they did was rewrite the WSB Radio article as there is no new news in it.  I posted a comment yesterday on their website asking why they didn't cover the home invasion--and it was published.

 

But it's not newsworthy if all the writer does is rewrite an article.  If there was new information, if he had said, "As of Tuesday afternoon the female victim was in___condition and the male victim was in ____condition..." it would have been a better article.  If he had interviewed one of the victims' relatives about the horrific crime who begged the accomplice to turn him or herself in, it would have been a better article. It looks like he did talk to Sheriff Phil Miller, who apparently told him the same thing as Lt. Bruce Ferguson told the WSB Radio article writer.  But again, rewriting an article that has already been published on another website--that's not good newspaper etiquette, and it's not good newspaper writing.

 

Here's the Sentinel's article about it.  Bolded in the Sentinel article is the same sentence or phrase that was in the WSB Radio article.

--------------------------------------------------------

One charged, one sought in home invasion

By Winston Jones
Staff Writer

One man was arrested and a second one is sought after an early Monday morning home invasion that seriously injured a couple living on Central Church Road.

Justin Thompson, 25, has been charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault and aggravated battery in connection with the incident, according to Douglas County Sheriff Phil Miller.

The pair is accused of using a baseball bat to attack a pregnant woman and her boyfriend early Monday morning in their home. The suspects, who attended a party at the house over the weekend, allegedly came back to the home early Monday morning to steal electronics.

 

The pregnant woman is listed in critical condition at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, while her boyfriend, also at Grady, is listed in serious condition.

------------------------------------------------------------

And here's the WSB Radio Article:

 

(WSB Radio) -- Authorities investigating a violent home invasion in Douglas County have one suspect in custody and are looking for another.

25-year-old Justin Thompson and an accomplice are accused of attacking a pregnant woman and her boyfriend early Monday morning in their home on Central Church Road off of Highway 5 in Douglasville.

Douglas County Sheriff's Department Lt. Bruce Ferguson says the victims were beaten with a baseball bat.

The suspects, who had attended a party at the house over the weekend, allegedly came back to steal electronics.

Thompson is charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault and aggravated battery.

The pregnant woman is in critical condition at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. Her boyfriend is listed in serious condition.

11 September 2007

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Old City Of Douglasville Website

Is anyone seeing the previous version of the City of Douglasville's website??

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Home Invasion

More info about the home invasion that happened yesterday from WSB Radio:

 

Douglas Co. Home Invasion

(WSB Radio) -- Authorities investigating a violent home invasion in Douglas County have one suspect in custody and are looking for another. 25-year-old Justin Thompson and an accomplice are accused of attacking a pregnant woman and her boyfriend early Monday morning in their home on Central Church Road off of Highway 5 in Douglasville. Douglas County Sheriff's Department Lt. Bruce Ferguson says the victims were beaten with a baseball bat. The suspects, who had attended a party at the house over the weekend, allegedly came back to steal electronics. Thompson is charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault and aggravated battery. The pregnant woman is in critical condition at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. Her boyfriend is listed in serious condition. 11 September 2007

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Question For All: Fast Food?

I was watching MSNBC a few minutes ago and they said the city of Los Angeles is considering a two year moratorium on fast food restaurants so people can eat healthier.  Do you think something like that should be done in Douglasville?  I don't think it would go over well with the city and I don't think they'd approve it since they're always trying to bring new commerce to Douglasville, but we would still have multiple McDonald's and other fast food places so there would still be options for those who just have to have a burger. 

 

I think it's a good idea.  We have too many fast food places already.  I'd love to see a good healthy restaurant come to Douglasville.  Most of what we have now is "southern cooking" like Cracker Barrel, Folks, and Michelle's, all favorite places of mine, but it's not the most healthy thing in the world.  I would like to see a Piccadilly come to Douglasville--they have some healthy items, like salads, fruit, fish, and chicken.

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Gangs In DC

I wasn't off by much several months ago when I told you I had found a list online of 16 gangs in Douglas County.  Officers now say there are 24 active gangs in Douglas County, as the Douglas County Sentinel reports today.  They also mention that there was a PowerPoint presentation at the meeting on Friday--why can't this be added to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office website so more would have a chance to view it?

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

City Council September 13 Meeting Agenda

CITY OF DOUGLASVILLE CITY COUNCIL
Legislative Work Session
September 13, 2007
7:30 p.m.

AGENDA
1. Call to Order

2. Invocation

3. Pledge of Allegiance

4. Public Safety Committee/Dennis McLain
a. Authorize the Mayor to sign an agreement with the United States Department of Justice for a
Fiscal Year 2007 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistant Grant to the City Police Department of
$23,592.00 to purchase a "mobile plate hunter license plate recognition system" and a spike strip
system to help end vehicle pursuits.

b. Adopt a resolution authorizing the Douglas County Rogue Runners to use certain City streets for
the 2007 Moonlight Run on Saturday night, October 27.

5. Community & Economic Development Committee/John Schildroth
a. Adopt a resolution concerning activities in Downtown Douglasville on the weekend of Friday,
October 26, to Sunday, October 28, including the Cultural Arts Council's 2007 Chili Cook-Off and
the Rogue Runners' 2007 Moonlight Run.

b. Consider appointing an individual to the Post 1 position on the City's Downtown Development
Authority to complete a term which extends through March 22, 2010.

c. Authorize the Mayor to sign the necessary documents for closings on certain parcels needed for
construction of the City of Douglasville's Plaza East project, primarily to be funded from the
Georgia Department of Transportation through a Transportation Enhancement grant.

d. Consider the sealed bids for construction of the stage cover in O'Neal Plaza in Downtown
Douglasville, and the possible selection of a contractor for this project.

6. Planning & Zoning Committee/Michael Carter
Tabled from September 4, 2000:
a. Request for a change in zoning from R-2 (Single Family Detached Residential District) to CG
(General Commercial District) certain tracts through which the planned Bright Star Road
Connector will pass on approximately 6.68 acres. Application by the City of Douglasville.

New Business:
b. Request for a change in zoning from CG (General Commercial District) in the City's Historic
District to CG (General Commercial District) with a Special Land Use Permit for a church on
approximately .76 acre at 6472 Church Street. Application by Mark Twyman.

c. Request for a change in zoning from CG (General Commercial District) to CG (General
Commercial District) with a Special Land Use Permit for a church on approximately .65 acre at
8957 Georgia Highway 5. Application by The Redeemed Christian Church of God Praise
Chapel/Oluremi Fisayo.

d. Request for a change in zoning from IL (Light Industrial District) to IL (Light Industrial District)
with a Special Land Use Permit for a modular unit on approximately 99.558 acres at 1444
Municipal Parkway. Application by Prince Ventures, LLC.

e. Request for a change in zoning from CG (General Commercial District) to CG (General
Commercial District) with a Special Land Use Permit for a church on approximately .69 acre at
5728 Georgia Highway 92 (Fairburn Road), Suite F. Application by Believer's Harvest Church.

f. Request for a change in zoning from R-2 (Single Family Detached Residential District) to R-2
(Single Family Detached Residential District) with a Special Land Use Permit for a day care center
as an accessory use to a church on approximately 11 acres at 9190 Campbellton Street. Application
by First Presbyterian Church.

7. Parks & Recreation Committee/Roy Mims
a. Authorize the Mayor to sign an amendment to the City's agreement with Breedlove Land
Planning, Inc., for preparation of more detailed plans for the City's planned new park on Bright Star
Road.

8. Finance Committee/Henry Mitchell III
a. Adopt an ordinance to amend the Fiscal Year 2006 - 2007 City of Douglasville budgets.

9. Information Technology Committee/Henry Mitchell III
a. Authorize the Mayor to sign an agreement with MCCI for hardware, software, software support,
laptops, and related services in order to establish a paperless system of providing information to the
Douglasville City Council.

10. Maintenance & Sanitation Committee/Charles Banks

11. Transportation Committee/Michael Carter
a. Authorize the Mayor to sign an agreement with Bron Cleveland Associates, Inc., to provide
design services for sidewalks to be scheduled for construction after July 1, 2008, along Arbor
Parkway and along sections of Stewart Parkway, Malone Road, and Dallas Highway with Georgia Department of Transportation funding assistance.

12. Personnel & Organization Committee/Roy Mims

13. Ordinances & Intergovernmental Committee/Callye B. Holmes

14. Other Business

15. City Attorney/Joel Dodson

16. Chief Assistant City Attorney/Suzan Littlefield

17. City Manager/Bill Osborne

18. Comments from Citizens and Delegates

---

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.