Twenty juveniles were arrested after a disturbance at the Downing Clark Center in Gordon County, last week.

Gordon County deputy sheriffs responded to the report of a disturbance at the facility, a juvenile resident treatment center, at approximately 10:20 p.m. The center is located at 1773 Trimble Hollow Road in unincorporated Adairsville, Gordon County.

According to the sheriff’s office:

Responding deputies found the resident juveniles and young-adults “out of control”, divided into opposing groups, and displaying hostility toward the few staff members on site as well as the officers.

Food and other items were thrown and strewn about, and several doors were damaged. Amidst the confusion, the responding officers worked to contain the disturbance, which involved multiple groups of girls in different sections of the building.

Deputies report that the situation was compounded by “what appeared to be an insufficient amount of staff members to fully control the unruly residents.”

The initial responding officers requested assistance and additional deputy sheriffs as well as state troopers were dispatched to the scene.

The officers arrested a total of 20 facility residents. Fifteen of those arrested were juveniles who were charged with offenses against public order in Gordon County Juvenile Court. The following persons were also arrested and charged with rioting:

Helen Francis Lowe, age 17, 1773 Trimble Hollow Road, Adairsville.

Felicia Jatoyia White, age 17, 982 Joseph Blvd., Atlanta.

Iesha Rajeehay Cromer, age 17, 1773 Trimble Hollow Road, Adairsville.

Aioshi Abrion Orbisorn, age 17, 200 Tutt Road, Cornelia, Ga.

Whitney Katrina Parker, age 17, 1773 Trimble Hollow Road, Adairsville.

Georgia law requires persons aged 17 and over who are arrested for criminal offenses be treated as adults in the criminal justice system.

Officers were on the scene for several hours.

The 15 juveniles were all detained in Regional Youth Detention Centers by order of the Juvenile Court.

“We are saddened by our girls aged 12 to 17 that were arrested. The safety and well being of our girls is priority number one as always for our girls,” said Downing-Clark President and Co-founder Kelly Clark. “We are looking forward to getting with our sheriff to establish a protocol for a treatment facility and for our unique situation.”

Clark said that no youths or staff members were injured during Monday night’s disturbance.

This incident was not the first disturbance at the center, and the investigation into the events is ongoing.

Calhoun Times

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ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Labor will host the Georgia Jobs Summit on Monday, Jan. 18, in Atlanta. The theme of the Summit is Shaping Georgia’s Economic Destiny. The Jobs Summit will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center at 800 Spring St. It is open to the public at no charge.

“This bipartisan gathering will work to develop a comprehensive strategy to spur private sector job creation and hiring in Georgia,” said State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond. “The Georgia Jobs Summit is a call to action for citizens to exchange ideas and strategies that will help stimulate the state’s job market.”

The agenda will address Five Critical Questions:

• Who are Georgia’s discouraged, unemployed and underemployed workers?
• How can existing federal, state, local and non-profit resources be strategically matched to specific demographic groups to stimulate private sector job creation and hiring?
• How do the shifting demographics of Georgia’s discouraged, unemployed and underemployed citizens impact state policy and the delivery of employment, training and educational opportunities?
• How can existing training and education opportunities be enhanced to help discouraged, unemployed and underemployed Georgians become more competitive in the job market?
• How can federal income support programs (i.e. unemployment insurance, Work Opportunity Tax Credits, TANF, food stamps, and earned income tax credits) be redeployed to help discouraged, unemployed and underemployed workers as they acquire new skills, qualifications and jobs?

Thurmond added, “By working together, we can jumpstart Georgia’s economic recovery.”

Those interested in participating in, or gaining additional information about, the Georgia Jobs Summit may visit www.dol.state.ga.us or email inquiries to gaworks@dol.state.ga.us. Telephone operators are available at 1-877-WORKS09 (1-877-967-5709).

Those planning to attend should RSVP to gaworks@dol.state.ga.us or call 1-877-WORKS09 (1-877-967-5709).
 

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State Representative Barbara Massey Reece told AM 1180 on Monday afternoon that David Ralston has been elected Speaker of the House in the Georgia General Assembly.

Reece had stated earlier that she was looking forward to working with Ralston, who represents several counties in Northeast Georgia.  According to the Gainsville Times, Ralston is the first speaker elected from North Georgia in 150 years.  Reece said that often times North Georgia gets overlooked in the legislature and that having a North Georgia native would be a benefit.

Ralston addressed the House this afternoon after his election to the Speaker’s Chair.

The City of Summerville is working on a water main in the Dry Valley Area.  Any City of Summerville Water customers that are experiencing low water pressure are asked to contact the city public works department.

Chattooga County Probate Judge Jon Payne told AM 1180 that the Courthouse will be closing today at noon due to electrical problems.  Hopefuly the problems will be resolved this afternoon and the courthouse will re-open tommorow morning on schedule.  Stay tuned to AM 1180 Chattooga County Radio for more details as they become available.

UPDTATED

Chattooga County Commissioner Jason Winters told AM 1180 that the cause of the electrical problem at the courthouse was an older fuse panel.  Winters said that Superior Court and the Probate Judges offices were the main areas affected.  An electrician has been brought in to fix the problem.  Winters said that sometime after 3 PM this afternoon their should be word on if the problem is resolved.  Stay tuned to AM 1180 for updates.

Winters also stressed that all other county offices outside the courthouse are not affected by the courthouse closing.

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Attention parents of high school juniors and seniors: Chattooga High School will be hosting Chattooga Chat tonight from 5:30 to 7:30pm. The second half of the Financial Aid workshop will be held for juniors and seniors in the media center. All students and parents are invited and encouraged to attend. This will be an informative seminar that will provide valuable information for those looking for ways to finance higher education.  For more information call 706-857-2402.