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nR‘e‘fiorter
July 17, 2019
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Meet Rob Laukaitis, a.k.a. Gomez Addams
By Bailey Storey
bolleyollyso siorey©gmoilcom
Everyone who has ever owned
a TV probably knows the name
Gomez Addams. He is the father
in one of the world’s most famous,
creepiest fictional families. Un-
less they’re a regular at the Rose
Theater, the name people may
not know is Rob Laukaitis, who is
playing Gomez in the Roses pro—
duction of “The Addams Family”
this July.
Rob was born in a small town in
northern Pennsylvania, but grew
up in New Albany. He began doing
theater in ninth grade after his mu-
sic teacher told him to audition for
the school musical. He got a lead
role, letting theater become a huge
part of his life. While he didn’t
move on to study it in college, Rob
still stuck with theater in his spare
time by performing in shows and
taking voice lessons. After moving
to Monroe County in 1997, Rob
began working with local acting
group The Backlot Players. Rob’s
first show with them was “Oliver!”
in 1999. Since high school, he’s
been in at least 23 plays, two TV
commercials, some training vid-
eos, and an unreleased movie.
I asked Rob if he found it diflicult
to play Gomez because the char-
acter is so well known, and he told
me no. He said the only thing he
really found challenging was not
letting his memory of other actors
that have played Gomez steer him
too far away from the musical’s
script. He said he gives 120% when
he’s playing Gomez because of the
type of character he is. He is all
about his family, and he never tries
to be the center of attention. There
is no middle ground to his char-
acter. Rob said he likes to know
the characters he plays, and that
growing up with “The Addams
Family” TV show and movies re-
ally helped him understand how to
play Gomez. He also watched dif—
ferent productions of the musical
on YouTube and looked at Charles
Addams original cartoons from
1938. The directors are also impor-
tant when it comes to building a
character because they’re the ones
who make all final decisions about
the actor’s performance.
During rehearsals, he will try dif-
ferent movements or will say lines
with different emotions to see if it
fits the character. Rob said he may
change his appearance slightly in
order to play a role. He also finds
it difficult to disassociate from his
character sometimes, but that dif-
ficulty varies from show to show. I
asked him if he considered himself
a method actor, and he said
while he did agree to
have some of the same
tendencies as a method
actor, he is still able to
separate from the char-
acter. He wasn’t sure if
that made him a method
actor or just a dedicated
one.
Rob spoke very
highly of his cast—
mates in “The
Addams Family”. He
said they’re all very
talented and devoted
actors, and that they are passionate
in their roles and always give 100%
of their effort into each rehearsal.
While he never did consider act—
ing as a career, Rob still believes
anyone he’s worked with at The
Rose could make it big working in
theater. “Ifyou think you can do it,
LAUKAITIS
then do it,” he said.
When he isn’t per-
forming, Rob works
as the Strategic and
Capabilities—Based
I planning branch chief
for Headquarters Air
Force Reserve Com-
mand at Robins
Air Force Base.
He also enjoys
spending time
with his family.
“The Addams
Family” has four
more performances, July 19
and 20 at 7:30 pm, and July 20 and
21 at 2:30 pm. For more infor—
mation or if you have any ques-
tions, you can visit the theater’s
website,wwwthebacklotplayers.
org, or their Facebook page. Per-
formance dates and times are also
located on the theater’s marquee.
Monroe Co. faces l9percent hike in iudicial costs .
By Richard Dumas County will pay from the million. The total Circuit
forsyfhnimymcmej previous year. budget is divided between
Commissioners approved Butts, Lamar and Monroe
r Monroe County Com_ a 2020 Circuit budget counties based upon casel—
i missioners approved on (which took effect on oad. Monroe County spent
Tuesday, july 2 a 2020 July 1) in which Monroe $582,285, or just under 35
i Towaliga judicial Circuit County will pay $691,738, percent, of the total
Circuit
3 budget that calls for a or just over 41 percent, of amount of just over
$1.67
; nearly 19 percent increase the total Circuit budget million in the 2019
year.
I amount of just under $1.68 Of the approximately
. in the amount Monroe
$1.68 million 2020 budget, Juvenile Judges/Services. Ambrose’s motion,
com—-
$313,994 (18.7 percent) District 3 commissioner missioners approved the I
is allocated to judges, John Ambrose motioned measure by a 4-0 vote.
$510,321 (31 percent) is to approve the 2020 budget District 4 commissioner
allocated to the District as long as the percentages George Emami missed
the
Attorney’s office, $639,960 were for one year only and regular meeting as
he was
(38.1 percent) is allocated would be re—evaluated by holding a separate
town
to the Public Defender’s caseload again next year. hall meeting to
discuss
office, and $204,434 (12.2 After commission chair— internet needs at the
same
percent) is allocated to man Greg Tapley seconded time.
Commissioners raise cost of picking up school trash
eight Monroe County Schools locations.
Commissioners nixed the contract, urging
county manager Jim Hedges to determine
exactly how much it costs the county to
provide the service.
Hedges then broke down the costs to
commissioners on Tuesday, July 2, estimat—
ing the county spends $23,662 annually
to pick up school trash. He said gasoline
By Richard Dumas
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e a...
Monroe County Commissioners will
charge the Monroe County Board of
Education about 44 percent more for trash
collection.
On June 18, the BOE proposed pay-
ing the county $16,500 in exchange for
wfl‘IwIn.
. (»le~5g§t§‘j
mass-~
employees costs $4,689, disposal costs
$14,420, vehicle depreciation costs $803
and employee supervision costs $3,375 for
the $23,662 total.
Hedges then recommended charging the
BOE $23,700 for the next school year with
the amount to increase by $700 to $24,400
in 2020-21 and by another $700 to $25,100
in 2021-22.
motioned to approve Hedges’ recommen-
dation, which was seconded by District 2
commissioner Eddie Rowland. Commis-
sioners then approved the measure 3-1
with District 1 commissioner Larry Evans
the lone dissenter. District 4 commissioner
George Emami missed the regular meet-
ing as he was holding a separate town hall
meeting to discuss internet needs at the
the county picking up trash weekly at costs $374, salaries and benefits
for county District 3 commissioner John Ambrose same time. I y
. _ Themanalsonotifiedhisbankaboutthe ”
Join, as [at am 0°““““ed"°'“53 '
Juliette post office employee 4:” I
Driver arrested after high- repgfls work van side" “i +
speed chase on Hwy. 42 N. I l
At about 8 am. on July 11, a female Juliette ‘
A 35-year'old white Jackson woman was post Office employee told Cpl.
Jake Justice that l
anestedand charged with DUI afteratraffic hergmyZQOO Honda Odyssey
workvanhad l
stop on West Johnston Street on July 11. At been stolen. The employee said
her father :
about 2; 15 am, Dep, Wade Kendrick was bought the van for her andsaid she
only drives ]
. i . headed northbound on Hwy, 42 North when it for work The employee said
she typically ]
,, awhite 2011 Buick Lucerne crossed over leaves thevanpaiked at the post
office, located r
' , . the center line, forcing Kendrick to drivehis on Bowdoin Road
The employee said on July 1
‘ v ‘ patrol car off the road to keep from getting hit. 10, She parked
the V311 near the loading dOCk ‘
. Kendrick then turned around and pursued behind the post office but
discovered it was 5
it the car at speeds in excess of 100 mph but was missing When She arrived
at WOIKOD lUlY 11- f
not able to locate it. Kendrick then spotted A male CO-WOI'ker told the
employee that her
thecarnearFairviewChurchRoadanst. vanwasstillparl<edh1itsspotat§z30pmon
E
ChadBeckfinallystopped the caron West July 10 when he left the post
office. Justice (
Johnston Street near Country Club Drive. The then entered the van as
stolen.
female driver, who smelled strongly of alcohol
Monday J U 9 ‘ andYVhose 6Y6? Wf’vreglazedandbloodslfot» Florida
couple arrested after
’ ’ muedmdmmgmb‘m'me duvet de uties discover mari'uana 1
5_8 m Dro In thenfailedafieldsobrietytest. Kendrickfound P , l 1
p p inside the air an open container of Modelo 1 _ _
beer. He also found on the front passenger seat A 407%”) d Whlte B omta
Spmgs Fla ,
- . -- man was arrested and charged wrth Violation 1
apillbottlecontainmgsuspectedmarijuana fth Geo . Co nedS] Mafia
Kendrick then took the driver to the Monroe 0 tragi rgla mm th Ce abo
, , , 7 , Countylajlqhedfiverwasalsochargedmm a cstoponl—75Sou
.onJuly7.At _ ut ‘
r r f .. . 10:08 am, Sgt Kevrn Williams sawa white 5
possesswn 0 mamuana’ an Open comma Ford Five Hundred without a brake
light t,
violation failure to maintain lane and reckless . . . . . '
0W . . ’ , wasfailingtomarntainitslaneonI-7580uth
’ dnvmg' firmflednfiarker saw thgomale
, 'eran emale tseatpassenger th .
68 weSt J Oh “Ston F O rSyth, Forsyth man calls deputies
verynervouswith tremblingstom—
’ achs and Williams smelled
July, 17th 2019 p ‘
“Troop 51 has been a blessing to my son. He has had
positive role models through troop leaders and his peers,
that'helped him reach Eagle Scout. Being a single mom
with a high functioning autism son that is very important.”
Jill Turner .
Cub Sout Pack 51 and By S ut T o 51
M..g;~,grgj,a,rm«smqagamwwy.w.«w,
“wmwflk‘rnrthsamm-
over possible fraud
AtaboutSpm. on July 11, aForsythman
told Cpl. Christian Sawley he posted a grill
for sale online and was contacted by a buyer
via text message The buyer told the man
he was out of town but would have a mov-
ing company come by and pick up the grill.
However, the buyer asked the man to pay
the moving company for him. The man said
the buyer then sent him a check for $3,800,
$1,200 for the grill and $2,600 for the moving
company The man said he then sent money
to the moving company but was told it wasn’t
enough for them to pick up the grill The man
said he then messaged the buyer whotold him
he was in a dispute with the moving company.
The man said the buyer then sent'him another
check for $5,950 and told him to send the
money to a Pennsylvania trucking company.
Themansaidthebuyerinstructedhimtocash
the check and then go to the post office and
buy money orders in $1,000 increments. The
mansaidhe thendepositedthe checkathis
bank, First Union, and then waited 24 hours
before taking $5,950 in cash to the post office.
The man said he then bought the money
orders and sent them to the trucking company
' but later found out that his check bounced.
possession o marijuana
marijuana coming from the passenger, but the
driver did not appear impaired The front seat
passenger admittedto ' amarijuana
cigar out of the vehicle prior to the stop, and
thedriverrefusedtoallowWilliamstosearch
the vehicle. Williams’ K—9 dog Zibi alerted
on the vehicle. Williams and Cpl. Thomas
Haskins then found in the driver side door
pocket a plastic bag containing a powdery
white substance. They also found in the center
console avapepenwith THC oil
inside of it. Inside the driver’s book bag, depu-
ties found two cigarette packs containing THC
oilandrawmarijuanaaswellasseveralwhite
pills behaved to be Oxyoodone. The driver told
deputies that everything belonged to him ex—
cept for the marijuana and the powdery white
substance while the front seat passenger said
the marijuana was hers. Williams later sent the
powdery white substance to the Geo ' Bu-
reau of Investigation (GBI) crime lab r test-
ing. Both the driver and the passenger Were
then taken to the Monroe County Jail while
twobackseatp ers, ages 16 and 17,were
nottakenintocdst .Thedriverwasalso
charged with having defective equipment.
Meanwhile, the passenge , a 37-year-old white
Bonita Sp ' Fla woman, was charged with
