March 6,
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Reporter
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I'm madder than Hillary Clinton in a dry county after the city said it's gouna hold on to the old city hall annex rather
than selling it. City says it's gouna use it as an "event venue". Now the city did the fight thing with the adjacent city hall
building, selling it to Scoops for a new ice cream and candy shop. But I ain't sure about holding onto this annex. I mean
I thought the whole point was to turn buildings on the square over to private businesses? Now, instead, the city's gonna
rent out space? For what, birthday parties? I mean the city has already taken over and begun repairs for the old American
Legion building, which is good for hosting events. 1hen the county spent $1 million buying the Monroe County Conference Center.
And then the county spent another $200;000 building the Monroe County Clubhouse for eventS after tearing down the old one. We
also have devdopers planning on building an event venue for Forsyth (stay tuned). People can also rent
Alderman Hall, the Conley Building at the railroad depot, etc. Do we really need local governments
managing so many event venues? Shootfire, can't anyone play this game?
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Mary Persons High
principal Dr. Jim Finch
was honored last month
at the 16th International
Conference on Posi-
tive Behavior Support in
Washington, D. C. He
was presented the Jim
Carr Award, a prestigious
international recognition
for leading and nurturing
a positive school climate.
Dr. Finch is the first
Georgian to receive this
award. Through support
from local and state PBIS
personnel, Mary Persons
High School is considered
a model school for PBIS
in Georgia. Dr. Finch
has also helped lead the
statewide PBIS strategic
plan in Georgia and has
also consulted with the
Georgia Professional Stan-
dards Commission to help
develop the first PBIS en-
dorsement to certificated
personnel in Georgia.
Dr. Finch brought
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By Rkhard I ams
forsyth@mymcr.net
A Jacksonville, Fla. woman
was arrested after a Monroe
County deputy had to shatter
her vehide window to get
her to exit a stolen taxi cab on
1-75 North on Feb. 22.
Kaytan Christina Eno
Edem, 24, was taken to the
Monroe County Jail and
charged
,with ob-
kenewsisgeffi struction.
worse. Glad to read Accord-
ingtothe
ington has a report, "
at about
4:17
Cpls.hcobEDEM
Rob
: lONERS HATEB GP I and Brace
Hughley, each ofthe Monroe
County Sheriff's Office, met
at the Wame on
black bian College Drive with Edem,
he often wor to death who was confused as to
where she left her car. Edem,
who said she didn't know
what type ofvehide she was
driving, said she knew her
vehicle was somewhere near
mile marker 185.
Robins then locatedan
abandoned white and orange
Dodge Caravan taxi with a
Florida tag, sitting just north
ofthe Exit 185 entrance
ramp that was still warm t0
the touch. Robins retumed
to Waffle House and asked
Edem whether her vehide
was a Dodge Caravan and
whether she had a key for it.
Edem told Robins she meant
; no disresoect but refused to
votes: 4
answer either of his ques-
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MPHS students with
him to Washington D.C.
Trippe Moore, Brianna
Morgan; Daizha Outlaw,
and Sunny DeVane shared
the great lhings happen-
ing at MP in a conference
session focused on student
choice and leveraging
student input in support
of positive behavior in the
high school culture. The
students were chaperoned
by TGS Teacher Marie
Moore. Congratulations
to Dr. Finch, the MP staff,
MP students, family, and
community.
From left, Mary Persons' students Trippe Moore, Brianna
Morgan, Daizha Outlaw, and Sunny DeVane went with
principal Dr. Jim Finch, right, to Washington to talk about
the school's positive behavior program as Finch received
the Jim Carr Award. (Special to the Reporter)
tions, saying she only wanted
a ride to Atlanta. When Rob-
ins told Hughley the aban-
doned minivan most likely
belonged to Edem, she got
upset and tried to jump out of
Hughley's patrol car and dart
at Robins. Edem instead hit
her head on Hughley's patrol
car roof and said she would
just walk to Atlanta.
Dispatchers then contacted
the taxi cab company who
idenlLfied Edem.and said she
did not have permission to
drive the minivan out of state.
A company representative
then asked Robins to have
the minivan towed but said
he didn't want to prosecute
Edem for theft, speculating
she was trying to run away.
As Robins called for a tow
truck, Edem got into the
driver's seat of the minivan
and refused to get out. As
Edem locked the minivan,
Robins told her he would
have to bust the window if
she wouldn't get out. AS Rob-
ins struck the window with
his flashlight, Edem cranked
up the minivan. Robins then
told dispatchers Edem was
laying to escape at which
point Hughley got out his
axe, causing Edem to jump
into the passenger seat. When
Edem moved, Hughley hit
the window with the blunt
end of his axe, shattering the
window. Robins then reached
in and unlocked the door,
and deputies removed the
driver f om the minivan and
arrested her.
Car + Home =
See me fi,)r (:ar and Home Insurance and save.
S ateFarm
LIKE A GOOD NEIGItBOR, STATE FARM IS THERE,'
Providing Insurance and Financial Services
By Sen. John F. Kennedy (R - Macon)
j0hn.kennedy@senate.ga.g0v
Seven weeks have passed here under the
Gold Dome and Crossover Day will be this
Thursday--only three days away. Crossover
Day is the deadline for all bills that originated
in the Senate to be passed on to the House of
Representatives for consideration, and vice-
versa. In preparation for this key point in the
legislative session, we passed over
30 bills in the Senate over the past
two weeks.
During our sixth week, we passed
Senate Bill 48 which provides a
comprehensive outline for dyslexia
education in Georgia. Dyslexia
affects one in five children and cur-
rent law provides no guidance for
how schools can identify the learn-
ing challenge and teach dyslexic
students. SB 48 would require all
kindergartners to be screened for
dyslexia and provide dyslexia education train-
ing for teachers. I am so proud to have seen
this bill pass the chamber with unanimous
support as Georgia's schoolchildren are our
most valuable asset.
In continuing with the Senate's efforts to
prioritize our children, last week we passed
Senate Bill 15 or the"Keeping Georgia's Schools
Safe ActYThis bill is based off of extensive first-
hand research by the Senate Study Committee
on School Safety and focuses on streamlining
communication between key emergency
services, the Department of Education and
schools themselves. I commend my col-
leagues on their hard work on this bill and I
am confident that this will continue to ensure
our students'safety in Georgia's schools. I look
forward to the House approving both SB 15
and SB 48 as they are both priorities to ensure
our children are not only safe, but have every
resource available to succeed.
On Friday of last week, we passed Senate Bill
158.This bill increases the penalties for those
found guilty of human trafficking and updates
that age at which a victim of sex trafficking is
considered a minor. Atlanta is home to one
of the world's largest airports, and with it, one
of the world's largest sex trafficking hubs.
SB 158 is one part of a continuing fight to
ensure that all Georgians, and all people who
travel through Our state, are safe. I commend
both Sen. Briart Strickland and First Lady
Marry Kemp for their leadership in passing this
important legislation. In addition to passing
SB 158 to protect our children, the Senate also
received information on the Georgia Crisis and
Access line.This is a service where any of our
citizeos- including children - can call the hot-
line to have a confidential conversation with an
expert about any crises that maybe occurring
in their lives. If you or anyone you know maybe
dealing with an issues, please con-
tact 1-800-715-4225. This service is
free of charge and is there to help
our citizens.
Outside of our legislative duties,
the Senate often welcomes distin-
guished guests to our chamber to
be honored. Last week, I sponsored
Senate Resolution 132 welcom-
ing the Boy Scouts of America for
Scouts BSA Day at the Capitol. It is
wonderful to see so many intel-
ligent young men get involved in
their communities and work towards self-
growth, l also welcomed representatives from
Middle Georgia State University to celebrate
Aerospace Day at the Capitol. Middle Georgia
State University has a wonderful aerospace
education program and I am proud to see our
universities and students working towards
careers in STEM.
With Crossover Day set for this Thursday,
the Senate will take up over 30 bills this week.
While we have done some good work so far
under the Gold Dome, there is still much to
do.While this week will be our busiest yet,
our office is willing and able to assist with any
questions or concerns you may have.Thank
you for continuing to trust me to continue
representing you at the Capitol, it is always a
pleasure to serve the 18th District. If you have
any questions about current legislation or the
legislative process please contact my office by
phone or email.
Sen. John E Kennedy 404.656.0045
Sen. John E Kennedy serves as Majority
Caucus Chairman. He represents the 18th
Senate District which includes Upson,
Monroe, Peach, Crawford, and portions
of Bibb and Houston Counties. He may be
reached at 404.656.0045 or by email at john.
kennedy@senate.ga.gov
