Page 2C March 14, 2018
:aReporter
Continued from Front
concrete with his arms,
benchpressing more than
600 pounds and doing over
30 reps with 315 pounds.
At Mary Persons Raines
rolled up a frying pan he
said he bought at the Macon
Walmart so that it looked
"like a burrito"
DJ Smooth, who has
joined with Raines for the
past three years, came to
Mary Persons to provide
music for the event. Rainesl
invited two students each
from the freshman, sopho-
more, junior and senior
dasses to show their dance
moves, followed by five
teachers who showed what
they can do on the dance
floor.
Raines pointed but that
everyone had fun with the
dancers, even though they
were different people who
came from different sets
in life. He said that school
should bring the same ac-
ceptance and enthusiasm
for learning every day.
"But many don't show
up because of bullying"
said Raines. "You must
be responsible because of
negative words. You cause
people to wear labels. You
don't know what they're go-
ing through; they may be on
the edge. If you just record-
ed it, if you just laughed,
you're just as guilty."
He spoke of trying to
know what to say when
he spoke in a gym where
the head cheerleader had
just been found hanging
from the basketball goal, a
victim of suicide. He told
of giving the eulogy for his
best friend's 13-year-old
son who killed himself and
left his father, who traveled
with Raines giving motiva-
tional messages, a note that
Above, Mary Persons students carry signs at the Respect Rally reflecting the type of nega-
tive [abels people are often given. Left, Willie 'Freight Train' Raines tells students why he
travels the country with his anti-bullying message while Mary Persons senior Quez Lyons
waits to help with the message.
he couldn't tell his father, He advised all the Mary for a purpose."
his hero, that he was being Persons students to do the As part of the Respect
bullied, same. Rally, members of the Best
Raines said he tells his "Like C.S. Lewis said, the Buddies Club encouraged
three daughters, ages 22, greatest gift is uniqueness, all students to sign links of
20 and 4, to look in the The last time I checked, a paper chain to "Link up to
mirror every day and tell doning is illegal ' said End the R Word [Retarded]
themselves three things they Raines. "Each of you has,and spread respect"
like about themselves and the potential of greatest; it The chain was stretched
then find someone else to doesn't matter what the seed across the gym during the
say something good about, is wrapped in You're here Respect Rally.
Anita Barkin of the North Central HealthDistrict presented Monroe County Health Department Nurse Catie Dennis the Shining Star Award at the March 12 Monroe County
Board of Health meetihg. -
Nurse Dennis accepted the challenge of taking on a leadership role while the county's nurse manager was on maternity leave even though she was relatively new to the Monroe
County Health Department. She acted not only as a motivated leader but a dedicated team player for Monroe County Health Department. Dennis had'to take on the responsibility of
the health department earlier than expected, and she stepped into the role willingly even though she may not have been taught how to do everything. She did all this with a smile on
her face and without complaining, showing the qualities ofa go9d leader. Dennis truly is a Shining Star as she helps the clients and staffofMonroe County Health Department.
Pictured, left to right, are Health Board members Chris Hewett, Hugh Cromer, Eric Wilson, Barkin, Dr. Jeremy Goodwin, Dennis, killian Davis Dr. Mike Hickman, Larry Evans.
!
I
new
.q
Mart m
By Diane 61idewell to granting the license, and
news@mymcr.net Melvin Lawrence in favor
of granting it. Council
Forsyth denied an'appli- members Greg Goolsby
cation for a license for beer and Mike Dodd were not
and wine package sales at the council meeting.
from Ashu Raina on March "The store has been
5 with council members there a while; most cus-
Julius Stroud, Dexter King tomers walk to the store;'
and Chris Hewer opposed said Lawrence. "They're
Car + Home =
See me for Car and Home Insurance and save.
41kStateFarm"
Steve O~orne, Agent
80 Martin t.uther King Jr Drive
Fors' |h, 6A 31029
Bus 478.994.1041
S teve,iJ~burrl~,c~, ff@$tateta~k (gll
LIKE
A GOOD NEIGHBOR, STATE FARM IS TI IERE,
Providing Insurance and Financial Services
domestic charges; everyone
-to laws about the distance
application at the public
deserves a second chance" hearing; Raina was present required between churches
Stroud said that he at the hearing to answer and sites of alcohol sales.
also bdieves that people any questions. City manager ]anice Hall
deserve second chances Council briefly discussed told council that Raings
and that he did not want to that a religious organi- green card is being held
direct his "no" vote against zation. Divine Grace because he was charged
Raina personally. He said Ministries, is leasing a with three misdemeanors
he opposed the application building about 125 feet in 2017. Raina said that
because all the i's were not south of Welcome Food means he cannot travel
dotted and t's crossed.Mart's front entrance. The outside the U.S. without
';Knd I don't want to see group is using the build- special permission. He
another liquor store in a ing to distribute food and said the misdemeanorg
minority community" said dothing to the needy and resulted from a domestic
Stroud. to have Bible study. City dispute between him and
Raina appliedfor the attorney Bobby Melton his former wife because she
license for Welcome Food recommended that because would not let him see his
Mart, 37 South JackSon St Welcome Food Mart was daoghter, who is a U.S. citi-
Forsyth. The store has had in place and selling beer zen. After the charges, he
a nse for beer and wineand wine before Divineattempted suicide and was
sales for several Grace Ministries leased the hospitalized. He was taken
years, but Raina.was re- building and because there directly from the hospital
quired to apply for a license are not regularly scheduled to jail and was incarcerated
in his name as new man-worship services at the site, for a month.
ager of the store. No one the application be treated Raina said his attorney
spoke in opposition to the as grahdfathered in regard told him that if he did not
to earn enough money to
pay an attorney to help
him get the right to see his
daughter.
Raings aunt is helping
him by giving him the job
managing the Welcome
Food Mart.
"The store is already fa-
mous for its chicken wings,
but we need [to keep the
alcohol license] to increase
business" said Raina.
Melton told council that
a misdemeanor usually re-
fers to a charge that carries
a maximum penalty of less
than a $1,000 fine and less
than three months time
to serve. He said the key
to whether misdemeanor
charges are pertinent to an
alcohol license is whether
they involve moral tur-
pitude, with the decision
based on the best interests
plead guilty, he would be of the general public.
in jail for another month "I don't ink these rise to
before his case came to trial that status, said Melton.
and that ffhe lost the case, The denial of the ap-
he could be jailed for up' plication does not affect
H '~C Seru~ all broads
Mike Weeks &
Mark McCranie
Serving Middle Georgia 20 Years
Licensed & Insnn~d
, Installation
. Indoor Air Quality
, Preventive Maintenance
,Replacements
,Refrigeration
,Cooking Equipment
,Commercial Kitchen Repail~
, NATE Certified
, Factory At~thorized Dealer
, Fil~cing Available ',~, ith Great Rates
to a year. So he pied guilty
and was placed on proba-
tion until January 2019. He
said he was then depressed
because he could not see
his daughter and went
to India to stay with his
mother for a while. Now
he is back in the U.S. trying
the beer and wine pack-
age license that is already
granted to the previous
manager at Welcome Food
Mart since there was not
a change in ownership. If
that person continues to
own the store, there is no
need for a new license.
i
