Stolen Truck Found In Lake Wedowee

From http://www.therandolphleader.com/articles/2008/05/29/news/385-rcso.txt

Stolen truck pulled from Lake Wedowee

A white Honda truck, reported stolen from Douglasville, Ga., was discovered in Lake Wedowee on Sunday at the end of County Road 90 near Mt. Grove church.

According to investigator Jimmy Holmes, someone spotted the truck, which had its windows rolled down with the keys inside.

About the same time, an Alabama State Trooper helicopter had been sent up to search for country singer Doug Stone, who had been reported missing while floating the river but who later was located.

For a time, it was thought this vehicle might have been left for Stone and his friends to ride in when they completed their float on the river, but the two things turned out not to be related.

Needed Improvements To Clinton Nature Preserve

I'm not sure why the children's playground has been neglected so, but I decided to take some pictures and tell you about some of the things that needed to be fixed or improved.  You can find the pictures at http://good-times.webshots.com/album/563634483LnJzUt

Some things aren't absolutely needed, but would most likely be appreciated by citizens who visit this park.  Such as having the Douglas County Master Gardeners plant flowers in the two flower beds in which there are pretty much no flowers, only a couple of shrubs.  Maybe a fenced-in compost pile could be something to consider because it would create excellent nutrients for the plants already in the children's playgarden. 

Something desperately needed, I'm sure, is a vending machine for bottled water and another for healthy snacks, because there isn't a water fountain in the entire park.  This would also give the park needed income for improvements.  Another picnic area near the children's playground would also be appreciated--sometimes that picnic area is full of people on busy days and there isn't another one near the playground.

But what is really needed are improvements to safety.  For example, there are open trash cans in the children's play area.  These trash cans need to be covered, or animals will get into them--much like I found a trashcan on the day I took these pictures.  Two spinning poles are missing--one has a hollow tube sticking up out of the ground and the other is covered by an orange traffic cone.  Also, there is a sand/erosion problem.  Sand is somehow coming out of the sandbox and covering the walkway next to it and also getting into the wood chips in the next play area.  Sand is also piling up in the circular driveway in front of the playground.  I found two swear words traced in the sand in this location last week--and one of them began with an f.

Down on the trails, there is a large bridge going over a creek that has a slanted incline that is difficult to step onto and there are loose boards in the middle of the bridge.  I'll add pictures of the bridge later.  Also, the metal poles holding the bridge up are rusted.

The driveway into the gravel parking lot has a sinkhole as well, so if you hit it at a certain point, well, watch out.  The gravel parking lot should also be expanded--I've seen it full and I've had to park in the field across the drive, and the field there is very uneven because the sand and dirt covering it has caused erosion and there are deep ruts in the dirt.

Also, the fence around the playground needs to be replaced.  Part of it is due to shoddy construction--boards don't meet other boards evenly, metal screws holding the fence together are missing, some fence slats (bearing people's names, people who helped build this playground) have fallen off (or been kicked off, possibly) or have split in two (I'll add a picture later).  It just seems like, to me, if the Junior League helped build the playground, they should help with the upkeep or the county should.  They might also include a map to the park for people who have never been there before.  A lot of people don't know there are several trails or that there is an old log cabin at the end of one of these trails.

I'll be adding more pictures to Webshots.com as time allows.  I intend on going to the Hydrangea Festival next weekend (June 7-8) so I'll have pictures of it.

Anyone have any other suggestions for improvements to Clinton Nature Preserve?

ATTN Clinton Nature Preserve Walkers!

I've created an online team on the State Farm-sponsored website 50MillionPounds.com for Clinton Nature Preserve's walkers.  You can find it here: http://www.50millionpounds.com/challenge_teams/teamprofile.aspx?id=885dc21d-0159-475c-9a29-fa1f338256b5

There's no set day for the team to walk--maybe in the future.  I plan on going at least twice a week.

For those of you who walk at other parks in Douglas County, you can join for free and create your own team.  I noticed there aren't any other teams for Douglas County.  I know people walk at Hunter Park and Deerlick Park.

DC For Sale/Lease

Two spaces are available for sale in historic downtown Douglasville--one of them is where the beanie baby/doll shop was.  Asking price is $493,000.  Looks like this is also available to be leased as well.

CVS on Fairburn Road  is for sale.  Asking price is $5,286,696.  There is a 25 year lease on the building that expires January 31, 2033.  I thought the shopping center behind this was going to be bulldozed for the Bright Star Connector??  Wonder if that's why it's being sold.

There is a one acre tract at the Super Wal-Mart on Concourse Parkway for sale.  Asking price is $775,000.

8.216 acres on Strawn Road in Winston is for sale.  The ad says it is "surrounded by light industrial zoning."

Looks like the location where Sassafrass Bistro was is for sale.  No price listed--it just says negotiable.

Former Smoky Bones location is for lease.  $20.91 per square foot.

The strip mall across from Bill Arp Park is leasing.  They're going to call it Live Oak Village.  There are nine spaces for lease, ranging from $15-$20 per square foot.  The largest spaces (four of them) are 1,200 square feet.  It says the strip mall was supposed to be complete in April.  One of the selling highlights is "visually appealing facility utilizing Old Growth Oak Trees on Site".  One tenant already announced is Subway.  They did a traffic count (not sure when) and they estimated that 12,000 cars travel past the strip mall every day.  I think there are probably more than that.  They are advertising this as administrative office/mixed use.

899 Students Fail CRCT

899 eligible for summer school

Math failures doubling enrollment of normal session

By Winston Jones
Staff Writer

All seven Douglas County middle schools will offer summer school remedial sessions this year due to the large influx of students who failed the eighth grade math CRCT (Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests).

“We have 899 students eligible for summer school,” said Dr. David Whitfield, chief of staff of middle school, high school and vocational instruction. He said this is about twice the size of the normal summer class.

“In past years, middle schools paired up and shared a site,” Whitfield said. “This year every middle school will have its own site.”

He said there will be no bus transportation provided this year, as during past summers, since the buses were used only for shuttling students from their home schools to the host schools.

Although students can retake the CRCT test a second time without attending summer school, Whitfield said attendance is preferred.

“It helps us to identify their weaknesses, so they can pass the test on the second try,” he said.

If a student fails the test for a second time, he/she must go before a placement committee that decides if the student can be promoted or must repeat the grade. Third-, fifth- and eighth-graders must pass the CRCT for promotion to the next grade. The math and reading CRCT scores are also part of what Georgia uses to meet federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) standards.

The state has promised $1.4 million extra to help school districts offset the extra summer school costs, but Whitfield said so far he’s not received any information on this from the state.

State School Superintendent Kathy Cox threw out social studies CRCT scores for sixth- and seventh-graders after announcing that 70 to 80 percent failed that portion of the test. Social studies scores are not used for promotion. Cox has said the math scores will stand.

Nearly half (45 percent) of Douglas County eighth graders failed the math CRCT, which was about the same level that failed statewide.

State officials said they expected more students to fail because the test was more difficult this year. The scores reported are preliminary, with final statewide scores due to be released in June.

--The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Teen Shot In Douglasville

I have very little info on this due to the fact that Fox5 decided to post this as a video instead of an article, and I'm currently on dial-up so I can't watch the video.  If anyone would like to watch the video  (located at http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=6623266&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.2.1 ) and post a comment as to what the video said, please feel free.

This was the only details about it on Fox5's website, other than the video:

"Police said a 19-year-old man was shot by his roommate in Douglasville and the shooting happened in front of several witnesses, including children."

McDade Outraged With State's Commutation Decision

From the Douglas County Sentinel:

'Slap in face'

D.A., Sheriff outraged at execution decision

By Winston Jones
Staff Writer

Douglas County District Attorney David McDade and Sheriff Phil Miller are disappointed in the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles decision Thursday that stopped the scheduled 7 p.m. execution of Samuel David Crowe.

The board announced its vote about 4:45 p.m. Thursday to commute Crowe’s sentence to life without parole. The announcement came just a little over two hours before Crowe was due to die by lethal injection at the Jackson state prison.

Crowe, 47, had already eaten what was to be his last meal and was on suicide watch in the holding cell next to the death chamber.

Since 1995, the board has heard 24 appeals for commutation, and this was the third sentence commuted. The Georgia Supreme Court earlier in the day had turned down Crowe’s request for a stay of execution and an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was pending.

“I was thoroughly disgusted and disappointed in the decision,” McDade said Friday morning; “not for me, but for the victim’s family. His wife and daughter had waited 20 years for justice, and it was snatched away from them at the last minute by the board’s decision.”

McDade said he and Miller had testified earlier before the Pardons and Paroles Board and were on their way to Jackson to witness the execution when they received notification of the decision.

McDade said he had the duty to call the victim’s widow in Birmingham and daughter in Massachusetts to notify them.

“They were devastated,” he said. “The only cruel and unusual thing about the death penalty in this case is to the victim’s family and how they were denied justice. This is a case where Mr. Crowe’s guilt had been unequivocally established over 20 years. He confessed and pled guilty to murder. The victim’s family was entitled to justice, not this charade.”

Miller, who supervised the Sheriff’s Office Detective Division when the March 2, 1988, murder was committed, said Friday he was also upset over the board’s decision. He called the crime a “horrible, terrible murder.”

Miller said he was the officer who arrested Crowe at Crowe’s Fairburn Road home the morning after the murder.

“Capt. Eddie Price lived diagonally across the road from Crowe’s house,” Miller said. “We sat in his (Price’s) yard and waited until he (Crowe) came home. I told him he was under arrest and advised him of his rights. He admitted to the murder and told me where the gun was. He took me upstairs and showed me the gun.”

Miller said Sheriff Earl Lee arrived a few minutes later with a search warrant and authorities seized the gun, paint cans and other evidence from Crowe’s Pontiac.

“I represent the people of Douglas County,” Miller said. “The jury spoke and the courts said we did what should have been done. For the parole board to set aside what we did and what the courts did and commute his sentence, I think it’s a slap in the face to all people involved in the case.”

Crowe, 27 at the time he committed the crime, went to Wickes Lumber Co. as manager Joseph Pala was closing the store. Crowe was a former Wickes employee and associate of Pala’s. Crowe admitted to shooting Pala in the back with a .44-caliber handgun, then beating him on the head with a paint can and a crowbar. He took about $1,100 in the robbery.

At the Thursday Pardons and Paroles Board hearing, Crowe’s attorney, Ann Fort, said Crowe had stopped using cocaine and was in severe withdrawal the night of the murder. She said Crowe had no prior convictions before the murder and had been a model prisoner. She said he has always been very remorseful for his actions. Fort presented a box of testimonial letters to the board, including one from a retired corrections officer.

Crowe would have been the second Georgia man to be executed in 16 days. Georgia had the first execution in the nation, William Earl Lynd on May 6, after an April U.S. Supreme Court decision on lethal injection ended an unofficial moratorium. Mississippi executed Earl Wesley Berry, 49, on Wednesday.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report)

Douglas County Animal Shelter Closed; Animals Euthanized

From the Douglas County Sentinel:

Disease closes animal shelter

The Georgia Department of Agriculture has temporarily closed the Carroll County and Douglas County animal shelters due to an outbreak of canine distemper in the West Georgia area.

The Carroll County shelter was closed last week, and the Douglas County shelter was closed Thursday night, according to Wes Tallon, county communications and community relations director.

“Canine distemper is a contagious, incurable, viral disease that affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal and central nervous systems,” Tallon said. “It is preventable in dogs via vaccinations. However, the virus occurs among, and is fairly common, in canine species including raccoons, skunks, coyotes and foxes.”

Infected animals primarily transmit the virus through the air -- close contact is enough. For example, an unvaccinated domestic dog can become infected through an interaction with an infected raccoon while chasing it. Puppies between 3 - 6 months old and unhealthy adult dogs are the most susceptible to infection and disease.

“Officials surmise that an infected wild animal came in contact with a domesticated dog somewhere in West Georgia, and that the virus then began to quickly spread,” Tallon said. “This is not a virus that has occurred due to kennel conditions.”

Tallon said it’s somewhat difficult to identify canine distemper at first due to its mimic of kennel cough, a common and non-threatening occurrence of animals in a close-environment shelter. More advanced symptoms include heavier respiratory symptoms and may include seizures.

He said the Douglas County Animal Shelter has segregated as many of the housed animals as possible and is in the process of scrubbing and sanitizing all cages and kennels, as required by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. “Since the virus is airborne, all ceiling tiles and duct work in the shelter are being cleaned and sanitized, as well as the air conditioning system,” Tallon said. “Ceiling tiles not able to be reused will be disinfected to the extent possible, double-bagged and sealed before being appropriately disposed. Countertops and surfaces are being sanitized. The animal control vehicles are also being sanitized.”

Unfortunately, very young puppies and the sick and injured dogs in the Shelter had to be euthanized on the advice and counsel of the kennel veterinarian due to their low immune system, Tallon said. The remainder of the animals are being segregated inside and outside in sanitized kennels with permission by the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

The sanitized outside runs at the Douglas County Animal Shelter will be used on Sunday, May 25, with state approval, for segregation of the stray dogs picked up by animal shelter staff.

No animals will be allowed to be dropped off at the Douglas County Animal Shelter until at least June 6 after the quarantine period is over and an inspection from the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Tallon said. It is anticipated that the animal shelter will reopen at that time.

“Veterinarians in both Carroll and Douglas counties said that they had not seen an outbreak of distemper in about 18 years due to the vaccination program,” Tallon said.

During the quarantine period, the Douglas County Animal Shelter will replace some of the ductwork in the building -- a renovation planned for later this year, but which has been moved up on the schedule due to this occurrence.

The shelter staff is coordinating efforts will shelters in other areas to accept pets needing to be turned in by their owners since no animals can be accepted at the Douglas County Animal Shelter at this time.

No visitors will be allowed in the shelter during the quarantine. Humans most likely cannot be infected, but can be a carrier of the virus and then can pass it along to their personal pets. Dogs that are pets of animal shelter employees and volunteers were all previously vaccinated against the virus, but employees are taking precautions of washing clothes and personal items immediately after leaving the shelter, Tallon said.

Blog On Hiatus

I've got a bad sinus infection so I probably won't be updating the blog for another week or so.  I'll post if I feel like it.

Petition Against Bill Arp Grocery Store

I live in the Bill Arp area--I have for over twenty years.  I've always thought that it included Alexander Parkway, Mason Creek, Pool Road, Banks Mill, Dorsett Shoals, Big A, and Kilroy Lane, and all the back roads that intertwine these roads.

Mike Hughes, in his comment to the other post about this, brought up a good point.  Those who moved here moved here because it was a small town community and because it had very few businesses and very little traffic and it was a safe community.  For the most part, it is still a safe community.

This post is a petition against the grocery store.  To sign it, simply post a comment.  If you're opposed to a grocery store coming into the Bill Arp Community because you moved here to live in a small town, post a comment.  If you're opposed to it because you live in a subdivision and it will be yards away from you, post a comment.  If you're opposed to it because it will increase traffic and/or crime, post a comment.  Full names will be appreciated, but if you don't want to post your full name, just put your first name and your last initial.  Also post why you do not want a grocery store in Bill Arp.  You also might suggest what could be put on the property instead of a grocery store.  Perhaps a library?  A farmer's market?  A feed/garden supply store?  This is still a rural area, after all, especially down Pool Road, and I know of several people who have large vegetable gardens and many have horses, cows, or even goats.  At the end of the month I'll email the BOC and the P&Z Board and direct them to this petition.

Police Scanner

12:26pm One by number.

12:30pm One vehicle accident near a restaurant.  No injuries.

12:34pm The 12:30pm accident is past the restaurant and is in a ditch.

12:34pm Someone locked their keys in their vehicle.

12:36pm Someone possibly discharging firearms in Chestnut Log subdivision.

12:37pm I'm now hearing the fire department on the scanner.  They went to check out a house, but it appears it's okay.

12:40pm I think I'm also hearing the Douglasville Police Dept. now.

12:43pm Suspicious vehicle was actually someone out of gas.

12:44pm 10-28

12:52pm Possible hit and run already occurred.

12:53pm One by name and DOB.

12:57pm Apparently a post office was having difficulties opening a postal store or a post office box or something.

1:04pm Kid playing on phone has called 911.

1:17pm My scanner feed stopped, so I had to restart it--sounds like they might be looking for someone.

1:19pm Miscommunication as to where police are supposed to escort a funeral procession.

1:26pm Accident on Post Rd.

1:30pm Car now out of ditch.

1:33pm Reckless on I-20 Westbound.

1:39pm 10-27 and 10-28

1:46pm Accident in front of First National Bank of Georgia at The Landing.  Two vehicles involved.

1:49pm Sounded like dispatcher said a truck was blocking a lane on I-20.

1:49pm Red-light at Lee & I-20 is malfunctioning.

1:50pm Someone locked their keys in their vehicle at a motel.

2:01pm Accident I-20 Westbound.  Two vehicles involved, is in inside lane.

2:02pm Someone's been arrested.

2:03pm Another accident on I-20 involves injuries and an overturned vehicle.

2:04pm Tractor trailer jackknifed--sounds like dispatcher said it was in the middle of the road.

2:06pm Fire "person" directing traffic into emergency lane--ALL lanes blocked.

2:07pm Interstate now closed east of South Baggett.

2:11pm Transporting prisoner to PD.

2:11pm Shoplifter not in custody--not sure what store.

2:13pm Shoplifter now in custody.

2:19pm Police now trying to stop people from going up the entrance ramp on Post Road.

2:20pm Someone's been arrested.

2:23pm GA DOT saying the tractor-trailer accident involves multiple vehicles.

AJC: FIND UNIT

Someone (I'm not going to print his name) asked the AJC what the FIND UNIT was in Douglas County:

Q: When traveling west on I-20 there is nearly always at least one black law enforcement vehicle around Douglasville with "F.I.N.D. UNIT" on the side. What does F.I.N.D. signify, and is it a local, state or federal unit?

*****, Marietta

A: F.I.N.D. stands for "Felony Interception and Narcotic Detection." The unit mainly patrols I-20, a major corridor for criminal activity, according to Chief Deputy Stan Copeland of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. Its job is to look out for drug traffickers, recover stolen vehicles and intercept criminals. F.I.N.D. was started in 2002 by Douglasville police and the Douglas County sheriff.

Bargain Village Owner Runs For Commission Chairman

From the Douglas Neighbor...

Malanchuk will challenge for chairman

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 1:26 PM EDT

By Stephanie Siegel

Douglas Neighbor Staff Writer

Igor Malanchuk, 43, of Winston has filed to challenge Tom Worthan in the July 15 Republican primary for chairmanship of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners.

The owner of Bargain Village furniture store on Highway 5, Malanchuk said he would run government like a small business.

He also does commercial lending, a line of work that is slumping right now. And almost a third of the furniture store's customers who financed with the store are behind on their payments, he said.

Recently the home where he has lived for five years was advertised for foreclosure. But Malanchuk said his late mortgage payments had been caught up months before the ad ran, and there was no foreclosure.

"I preserved the business and let the house slide," he explained.

Malanchuk said taxpayers have a gigantic burden to keep up with the growth of government.

"In tough economic times we must keep the tax burden as low as possible," said Malanchuk. "I'm confident I can save at least 5 percent of the budget. I will run it like a small business, lean and mean, and have customer service."

He would look for redundancies and opportunities to outsource or combine services, he said, citing the county and city governments each having their own cable television station, staff and equipment.

"It feels like the leadership here is a little like kings," he said. "They feel like they're beyond reproach."

He told of an incident that led him to run for office.

"When a zoning officer comes into my business and says he doesn't want you to do a certain thing 'because the commissioner says so,' that's Soviet Union," Malanchuk said. "I said, 'Wait a minute. Are we in the United States? A commissioner says so?' I thought this was a country of law. That's a king-like behavior.

"Coming from the Soviet Union, that's why I'm so sensitive," he said. "I have seen the hell, I know how it smells, how it walks and how it talks and I will not tolerate it."

He would hold county commission meetings and work sessions in the evening, "so more working folks can attend and participate in their government," he said.

Malanchuk also has experience in facilitating group interactions and "conflict transformation." As director of development and training for the Georgia Council for International Visitors in the 1990s, the Russian native managed U.S. State Department training programs for foreign leaders and business executives. He has a bachelor's degree in business administration and a master's in intercultural management and training. He runs a non-profit called Intercultural Services.

Police Scanner

3:39pm Accident on Thornton Rd.  Officer responds and says it is probably related to the transformer that blew.

3:42pm  Mechanical breakdown.  10-28

3:43pm  Residential alarm.

3:43pm BOLO for man.

3:44pm  Accident earlier at mall at Bed Bath & Beyond.

3:47pm  Traffic light at Lee & Hwy 92 out.

3:48pm Accident at Wal-Mart on Concourse.

3:48pm Business alarm.

3:50pm Wrecker needed for mechanical breakdown.

3:51pm Residential alarm at apartment complex.

3:52pm  Officers still looking for man.

3:56pm Traffic light at Hwy 92 & 166 is out.

3:59pm Man may have been spotted.

3:59pm Domestic problem reported.

4:01pm Man was involved in a larceny at gas station.  Officer taking suspect to gas station to see if this is the man involved.

4:03pm Residential alarm.

4:04pm Residential alarm.

4:08pm Alarm at a church on Dorsett Shoals.

4:10pm Business alarm.

4:11pm One person arrested.

4:12pm BOLO for a vehicle.

4:15pm One person arrested.

Post Road

I am assuming power is still out after seeing a powerline on fire near the corner of Post and Pool Road a couple of hours ago.  When I came back, the fire was out and crews were working on the lines.  I wish I had taken a picture of it--it is probably something I'll never see again, at least that close.

The power has been going on and off all afternoon, but I know power crews are working on lines. 

I can confirm that Pool Road is clear all the way up to Ephesus Church.  But I would recommend NOT traveling on Post Road if you can help it.

Police Scanner

Please excuse the short post.  I have to go catch up on sleep now.

6:41am A lot of power lines and trees down on Hannah Road.

6:42am Something about Capps Ferry being closed.

6:43am Residence alarm.

6:44am Concern for welfare reported.

6:46am Tyree Road is blocked south of 166.

6:48am  A tree fell on a residence.

6:59pm Officers trying to figure out who owns particular power (or other) lines.

7:04pm Officers calling Greystone Power.

7:10pm Hwy 5 north of Cantrell being closed.

7:17pm Concern for welfare—a tree fell on a residence.

7:25am  One lane on Hwy 5 south of (Hollows?) open.

DC Authorities Tell Citizens To Go Home

I just heard on 750 AM that authorities in Douglas County are telling citizens to stop driving around to look at damage and go home because it is hindering the cleanup work and also injuring those who are working on fixing power lines.

Possible Tornado In Fairplay

My cable is out but 750 AM is doing storm coverage, and occasionally broadcasting WSB tv as well.  Here's what I know:

A possible tornado in Fairplay has torn down trees and knocked out power.

A woman called in and said there are downed trees and power lines on Basket Creek Road and Capps Ferry Road and said a tree was uprooted.

There might also be damage on Hwy 166.

A man called in and said the awning (I think the roof above the gas pumps) at the Marathon station on Hwy 92 (the one that usually has the cheapest gas) has, in his words, flipped over.

Also there was a possible tornado near Lake Carroll in Carrollton that caused damage (no word on what and how much) and also another possible tornado between Bremen and Carrollton.

Any damage in your area?  Post a comment!

Police Scanner

Lots going on tonight...

9:57pm 10-28

10:00pm BOLO Reckless vehicle on Bankhead—pulled into apartment complex.

10:02pm Domestic problem reported.  Anneewakee area.

10:03pm Concern for welfare reported.

10:08pm Reckless on Fairburn—poss. intoxicated driver.

10:10pm Damage to property reported.

10:12pm Officer spots an open door of a residence.

10:17pm 10-62 reported (see http://www.scandouglas.com for 10 codes)

10:20pm One person has been arrested.

10:21pm 911 hang-up.

10:25pm Someone locked their keys in their vehicle.

10:25pm One by name and DOB.

10:27pm 10-28

10:28pm 10-28

10:29pm Mailbox damage and possible burglary reported.

10:29pm 10-29

10:30pm 10-27 & 10-29

10:31pm 10-28

10:34pm Officer taking person to hospital.

10:34pm Possible home invasion (no one home at time)

10:36pm 10-28

10:38pm Barking dog complaint.

10:39pm Officer now responding to 10:25pm call of someone locking their keys in their vehicle.

10:39pm Officer may have apprehended car from earlier accident that may have fled scene.

10:41pm Subject with a firearm at a mobile home park near a hotel.

10:43pm Officer has two vehicles that match description of vehicle with locked keys in vehicle.

10:44pm Business alarm.

10:45pm Suspicious vehicle in neighborhood.

10:46pm Person supposedly in parking lot of restaurant inside vehicle screaming.

10:48pm 10-28

10:49pm 10-28

10:49pm Possible burglary is just damage to property.

10:50-11:00pm—Feed stopped—didn’t realize.

11:01pm Heard a dog whining.  Must be the dog complaint call.

11:01pm 10-28

11:03pm Suspicious vehicle in neighborhood.

11:03pm One by name and DOB.

11:04pm Damage to vehicle reported.

11:05pm Officer unable to silence dog.

11:06pm 10-28

11:06pm Juveniles running into the road on Alexander Pkwy.

11:08pm 10-28

11:09pm Officer possibly found juveniles.

11:10pm Theft occurred at a residence.

11:11pm Loud music complaint.  Can be heard two houses away.

11:12pm People (or person) screaming at a residence.

11:15pm 10-28

11:16pm Apparently there was an officer patrolling the carnival at the mall.

11:17pm 50-60 people standing outside screaming and yelling.  Looks like it’s somewhere in the area of (but not at) Stewart Middle School.

11:18pm At least two officers going to scene of 50-60 people screaming.

11:24pm Intoxicated driver leaving a building.

12:25pm Crowd of 50-60 apparently are leaving a party.

12:25pm 10-28

11:25pm 10-28 & 10-29

11:28pm 10-28 on I-20 exit ramp (regular officer, not FIND officer)

Grocery Store To Be Built In Bill Arp

Yes, you heard me right.  It will be where Dowda Equipment is now.  It was approved during one of the BOC meetings on Tuesday.  I just found out on Wednesday, and kept forgetting to post about it.  They own the land all the way to the subdivision behind Dowda Equipment.  Most likely it will be a Kroger because I have been hearing for the past year that Kroger wanted that property.  This will be either the third or fourth Kroger in the county.  How many of each grocery store (or drug store, for that matter) do we really need?

But here's the reasoning behind the BOC's approval of this--they think putting a large grocery store in the Bill Arp area will lessen the traffic in Douglasville.  I don't think it will--in fact, I think it will make the traffic in Bill Arp worse.  Traffic is already bad.  Thankfully there are a lot of back roads.  Dorsett Shoals and Kings Hwy will get you to Douglasville.  Mason Creek is also a good shortcut.  Think about using more back roads instead of Hwy 5.

Do you support a big grocery store coming into the Bill Arp community?  Do you plan on shopping there once it's open?  Post a comment!

Police Scanner

1:45pm 10-28

1:46pm Domestic dispute in progress.

1:47pm Two by name and DOB.

1:48pm Dispatcher asking another officer to assist with domestic dispute.

2:14pm Officer pulling over vehicle with no tag.  Both on probation.

2:28pm Someone’s been arrested.

2:29pm BOLO for two people.  Officer responds, said he saw them at Dog River.

2:32pm Apparently the people are wanted in Cedartown.

2:35pm Silence on scanner.

2:40pm McKowan Rd @ Burnt Hickory—Accident.  Vehicle went into ditch.

2:42pm Suspicious object in someone’s mailbox.

2:46pm Domestic—possibly intoxicated person.

2:49pm Georgia State Patrol on scene on Hwy 166—this may be regarding the BOLO for two people.

2:53pm Identity fraud reported.

2:55pm I think there was an accident (or either someone hit something) in a parking lot somewhere—officer said it was accidental.

2:56pm Tresspassing reported.

2:59pm Burglary reported in a mobile home park.

3:00pm Domestic dispute with person.  Animal control also on scene.

3:02pm Someone’s been arrested.

3:03pm 911 hangup.

3:04pm Residential alarm.

3:05pm Reckless on Yeager Rd going to Kings Hwy.  Ran a stop sign, passed a school bus.

3:08pm Theft at The Attic in progress.  Two people being detained in store.

3:12pm Two officers responding to theft.

3:13pm 10-27 (three).  Dispatcher tells officer to stand by.

3:13pm Assault in Corn Crib reported.

3:16pm Someone’s license is suspended.

3:17pm Traffic complaint reported.

3:21pm Two juveniles have been arrested from a middle school. (listen to the archives at http://www.scandouglas.com if you want to know the name of the school--it will probably be around 3:19pm or 3:20pm)

Qualifying Candidates

Here are the candidates qualified for the upcoming local elections:

Phil Miller (Sheriff--Incumbent)
John Francis (Democrat, Sheriff)
Derrick Broughton (Democrat, Sheriff)

Kelly Robinson (Democrat, County Commission District 2)
Charley Camp (Republican, County Commission District 2--Incumbent)

Igor Malanchuk (Republican, County Comission Chairman)
James Quarterman (Democrat, County Commission Chairman)
Tom Worthan (County Comission Chairman--Incumbent)

Brian Fortner (Republican, Solicitor--Incumbent)

Randy Daniel (Republican, Coroner--Incumbent)

Rhonda Payne (Republican, Superior Court Clerk--Incumbent)
Iteeah Pounds (Democrat, Superior Court Clerk)
Sandra Rollins (Republican, Superior Court Clerk)

Todd Cowan (Republican, Tax Commissioner)
Henry Mitchell III (Democrat, Tax Commissioner)
Joan Edenfield (Republican, Tax Comissioner)

Mike Miller (Republican, BOE, District 1)
Christine Smith (Republican, BOE, District 1--Incumbent)
Menyuan Smith (Democrat, BOE, District 1)

Jeff Morris (BOE, District 5)
Linda Allen (Democrat, BOE, District 5)
Rickey Roland (Republican, BOE, District 5)
Keith Thornton (Republican, BOE, District 5)
Mark Worthy (Republican, BOE, District 5)

There are no candidates for surveyor.

If anyone has links for any others or knows of any other candidates that have been qualified, reply to this post and I'll edit this post to include the links.

Police Scanner

10:10pm Reckless driver I-20 Westbound passing Hwy 5.  Weaving.
10:19pm 10-28
10:20pm 10-28

10:25pm Possible hit and run.
10:26pm Business alarm.

10:27pm 911 hang-up

10:27pm Someone’s been arrested.

10:28pm Person on drugs driving—they don’t know where the vehicle is.  BOLO.

10:29pm Domestic problem, BOLO for a vehicle.

10:31pm Someone locked their keys in their vehicle.

10:31pm 10-28 (Anneewakee)

10:33pm 10-27

10:35pm Officer now responding to 10:26pm business alarm.

10:37pm Earlier there was a broken window on a trailer.  Domestic related.

10:38pm A gas station on Anneewakee  is code 10 (safe).

10:44pm 10-28

10:45pm Mt. Carmel Elementary code 10.

10:45pm The 10:44pm 10-28 might be the 10:10pm reckless driver.

10:46pm Business from 10:26pm business alarm is secure.

10:50pm 10-28

10:51pm There is at least one FIND vehicle on I-20.

10:59pm Fraud reported.

11:00pm Accident on I-20 between Hwy 92 & Lee Road.  Dispatcher says vehicle hit a gator (gater?).  Maybe a tailgater?

11:02pm 10-28

11:03pm Three males near Jolly Wally’s.  Officer wants assistance.

11:04pm Officer with 11:03pm not responding.  Other officer turned on his siren and is going to scene.

11:05pm Officer is fine.

11:08pm Three by number.

11:10pm Someone ringing someone’s doorbell.

11:14pm Dispatcher says the city is backed up.

11:16pm At least two FIND vehicles on I-20.

11:17pm An officer’s camera is malfunctioning.

11:18pm I-20 EB 10-28 (this is a regular officer)

11:19pm Jolly Wally’s is code 10.

11:19pm I-20 10-28 (this is a FIND vehicle—we now have at least three on I-20)

11:22pm I’ve counted 17 Douglas County officers patrolling right now.

11:23pm BOLO a vehicle leaving Fitzgerald, GA.  Drugs somehow involved.

11:24pm Officer to pick prisoner up from another police dept.

11:25pm 10-28

11:25pm I haven’t heard any Douglasville scanner traffic.  Can anyone shed light on this?

11:27pm 10-28

11:28pm Shoppes at Chapel Hill code 10.

11:29pm 10-28

11:30pm An officer pulled over another officer (must be an undercover officer).  LOL!

11:31pm At least two people on a carport screaming at each other.

Resorts In Douglas County? Surely You Jest

This was in the AJC today:

Developer seeks comeback with 6,300 homes in rural projects

By KEVIN DUFFY
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/06/08

Twenty years ago, W. Harrison Merrill was taking on risky redevelopment projects when redevelopment was not so chic.

His company, Landmark American, refurbished Marietta Station and the Kennesaw House in Marietta, the Buggy Works in East Point and the Odd Fellows Building on Auburn Avenue.










Landmark American went bankrupt in 1990, but Merrill bounced back as the head of Resort Hotels, Vanguard Properties, and Merrill Trust Communities and Resorts.

Now the 64-year-old Atlanta native is pitching his two most ambitious local projects on 2,400 rural acres in Palmetto and Douglas County.

Representatives of Merrill Trust met Monday with the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority to lay out the company's proposals. Regional approval could come this summer; after that, local governments will have to sign off on the plans.

In Palmetto in south Fulton County, Merrill Trust proposes building 5,400 residences and 1.1 million square feet of commercial space on 1,300 acres. The project would take 20 years to complete.

Merrill's 12-year project in Douglas would have 910 resort residences and up to 2.3 million square feet of commercial space on 1,100 acres.

Consultants hired by Merrill Trust estimate the Palmetto project, called Foxhall Village, would add 30,000 vehicle trips a day to that area when finished in about 2028. The Douglas project, dubbed Foxhall Resort and Sporting Club, would add about 20,000 trips, they say.

The Foxhall Resort site is in the southeast corner of Douglas, bounded by the Chattahoochee River and Capps Ferry Road, which becomes South Fulton Parkway in Fulton County. Access would be restricted to resort guests and residents.

To the east, the Foxhall Village land is in the northwest area of Palmetto, bisected by Cochran Mill Road. That area is designated for village development in the Chattahoochee Hill Country master plan for south Fulton, which calls for clustered development to protect big swaths of green space.

Foxhall Village would have 330,000 square feet of retail space, 770,000 square feet of office space, 1,909 detached homes, 1,231 apartments and 2,232 townhouses and condominiums.

Merrill was out of town Monday and not available to discuss the projects. Two representatives of Merrill Trust met with the ARC and GRTA.

In Rabun County near North Carolina, Merrill Trust owns the Sky Valley Resort and Country Club, where mountain homes and home sites are for sale.

Near Phoenix, "the Trust and affiliated entities have acquired ... over 25,000 acres which has been zoned for over 120,000 lots, making the Trust by far the largest single owner of entitled lots in Arizona," according to Harrison Merrill's biography on the Web site Ugandan American Partnership Organization. Merrill is a board member for the organization, founded by his daughter.

Merrill graduated from the Westminster Schools, the University of North Carolina and Emory University Law School. He practiced law for about three years before starting Vanguard Properties.

He is a member of the Westminster sports hall of fame because of his swimming prowess. He funded the school's natatorium, which opened eight years ago.

Tonight's Planning & Zoning Meeting

Two interesting pieces of news came from tonight's meeting.  First of all, we have the first chain restaurant coming to the Bill Arp community--a Subway will be in the strip mall across from the old Bill Arp Elementary School.  The board members said they thought the sign said the strip mall was just going to be offices and the owner corrected them, saying offices/retail.  It will be interesting to see just how much more traffic the community will get because of this strip mall.

The owner (who was trying to get a sign approved) also mentioned the sign at Prays Mill.  The board members agreed that this sign is extremely distracting because it is a full-color sign and shows text as well as pictures and changes too frequently.  The sign is on 24/7.  Does anyone else think this sign is distracting?  The owner also mentioned the five-way stop in this area--is there anywhere else in the county where there is a five way stop?  It seems like it would be a dangerous intersection, especially if one person is not paying attention.  It's not really a five way stop, though, because traffic on Hwy 5 doesn't stop, only the traffic on Dorsett, Banks Mill, and Pool Road stops.

A BOC member also estimated that it would probably be fifty years until Hwy 5 was widened in the Bill Arp community.

Police Scanner

12:16pm 911 hang-up.
12:19pm child was playing on phone.
12:20pm I-20 Westbound near Post Rd—a pole with a tarp (came off a pickup truck) was in the middle lane.  Officer requests this be given to the FIND unit to pick up.
12:24pm six high school students walking in the road.
12:28pm Report written.
12:31pm Someone took someone else’s car.
12:32pm 10-28

12:32pm 10-28

12:33pm Officer giving someone a ride to a gas station to get gas.
12:34pm One by name and DOB.

12:34pm Gas station requesting assistance for an intoxicated person. Maxham Road area.
12:35pm 10-28
12:36pm Someone locked their keys in their vehicle at a gas station.
12:46pm Someone has invalid insurance and their registration is suspended.

12:37pm Complaint in a subdivision.

12:37pm 10-28
12:39pm 10-28 for a mechanical breakdown at Sweetwater Bluff.
12:41pm 10-28

12:43pm 10-28

BOC Meeting Agenda Added

I've added this morning's BOC Meeting Agenda.  Why, you ask, did I add it after the meeting?  The county did not add it to their website until this morning.  They apparently didn't realize it wasn't on the website.

New Business Licenses April

Armin Mechanical, 3318 Hwy 5 Ste 442 (Plumbing, Heating, AC)
Automotek Transmissions, 3867 Bankhead Hwy (Automotive Repairs and Maintenance)
Bran New Developments LLC, 3318 Hwy 5 Ste 221 (Lawncare & Landscaping)
Forever Antiques (No address listed)
A new restaurant on Marsh Avenue in Lithia Springs (name not listed)
Pressey Lawncare Service
Rainwater Homes (Residential Remodelers)
a Hatian Church
The Crab Cake Factory of Georgia (they've already been in business--don't they already have a license?)

I think this is the first time in months there hasn't been a business license approved that has a Chapel Hill Road address.  Hard to believe.

New Republican Candidate for BOC Chairman

His name is Igor Malanchuk.  You can find his website at http://www.igor2008.com.  He'll be running against Tom Worthan in the July 16 Republican Primary.  Some of the issues he brings up on his website (these are direct quotes):

"I wil end the 'good ol' boy' system that still exists in Douglas County.  I will represent the citizens not Special Interest."

"I will make sure that our existing parks and recreational facilities are provided the funding needed to bring these facilities up to community standards before we continue expanding to new facilities."

"I pledge to never seek a tax increase and will find ways to better utilize your tax dollars."

And here's the clincher for those who hate SPLOST:

"I will not support placing another SPLOST tax vote on the ballot.  We must pay as we go and avoid the expense of another long term debt."

"I will not support massive borrow and spend projects such as a YMCA, Horse and Dog Parks, or other special interest projects that waste our limited tax dollars and competes with privately owned businesses."

"I support tax incentives for local small businesses that are impacted by the competition of 'big box' companies so they have a fair chance of economic survival."

"I will work to find low cost solution to jail overcrowding while ensuring our citizens are protected."