The band director at Lakeview Middle School, in Catoosa County, resigned last week, after a parent brought charges that he sent "inappropriate text messages" to a student. No word on the content of the messages from Thomas Blevins, who was suspended because of the allegations. He has been band director at Lakeview middle for six years.
A woman working at a Rome restaurant was in jail Friday night after she was charged with two counts of felony financial card fraud, according to Floyd County Jail reports.
According to the report:
Carey Komica Smith, 33, of 623 Denson Lane, is accused of changing the tip amount on a receipt on two separate occasions in May when customers used a debit card as payment at Fox’s Pizza, 3672 Martha Berry Highway.
She changed the tip amount from zero to $5 on one receipt and from $2 to $3 on another.
Breakfast with Santa at Mount Berry Square mall was a success Saturday. More than 100 children and parents participated and in all $305 was doanted to Hospitality House for Women in Rome.
Parents will also have the opportunity to sit with their kids, but must purchase a separate meal if they choose to eat.
The 1st Annual Arthritis Foundation Jingle Bell Run/Walk in Rome is coming up on December 15th. Register online at www.romejbrw.org or call (423) 341-4788. This holiday event will raise money to help combat Arthritis.. Arthritis is much more widespread than imagined, affecting 50 million adults and approximately 300,000 children across the nation. Here in Georgia there are 1.6 million adults and nearly 9,200 children with a doctor-diagnosed form of the disease. Volunteer organizers anticipate more than 200 runners and walkers to participate at the Rome event this year, and they aim to raise $35,000.
Gov. Nathan Deal announced late last week that Georgia’s net tax collections for November totaled nearly $1.35 billion, which was a decrease of $ 9 million, or 0.7 percent, compared to the same period last fiscal year. Through five months, however, net tax revenue collections are up $249.5 million, or 3.7 percent, compared to YTD November 2011.
Individual Income Tax: Individual Income Tax collections for November totaled $701.5 million – up from $679.25 million in November 2011, for an increase of $22.25 million, or 3.3 percent.
Sales and Use Tax: Net Sales and Use Tax collections for November totaled $435 million — down from $451.25 million in November 2011 — for a decrease of $(16.25) million, or -3.6 percent. While gross sales tax collections improved $15.75 million, or 2.0 percent, compared to last year, the distribution to local governments totaled $378.5 million, which was an increase of nearly $32 million or, 9.2 percent, compared to last year’s distribution. With refunds essentially flat, the large distribution variance offset the growth in gross collections.
Corporate Income Tax: Corporate Income Tax collections for November were down $(20) million, or -191 percent, compared to last year. Net corporate refunds outstripped monthly revenues to create a negative revenue figure of $(9.5) million, down from $10.5 million in net tax revenue during November 2011.
Ridgeland and Calhoun both won their semi-final games Friday night, and both are on their way to Atlanta for State Championship games. The Ridgeland Panthers came from behind to beat Marist Friday night – 28 to 27. This will be the Panthers' first -ever State Championship game appearance. They will take on undefeated Sandy Creek for the State 4A Title, next Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at the Georgia Dome. The Calhoun Yellow Jackets beat Lamar County in the 2A semi-final match up. The score was 21 to 14. Calhoun will play Jefferson next Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at the Dome.
Lafayette's Downtown Development Authority discussed the possibility of returning parking meters to the square to help regulate an ongoing problem with parking. Some board members preferred the idea of a two-hour limit for on-the-square parking. Others said the main problem is employee parking in front of their places of business, leaving no spaces for customers. The DDA also discussed a new walking/biking trail. It add to and improve the existing Rotary Club Train along Town Creek, extending it from the site of Fort Cumming on Indiana Street, all the way to West Main, behind the Housing Authority.
A Narrows Road, Trion resident reported a burglary at his home on Monday. According to the report by the Chattooga County Sheriff's office, the man who lives at the home had gone hunting and returned around 11:30 a.m. Monday. His daughter had left the residence at 8:30 a.m. Kenny Hampton said when he returned home he noticed that the double doors were open at the bottom. He said he entered the residence and no one was there, but his gun case was open and appeared as though someone had gone through it. He said someone had also gone through an upstairs bedroom dresses. There is no indication on the report what, if anything, was stolen from the residence or if it is being investigated.
A burglary at a Lake Wanda Reita Road residence was reported back in November but AM1180 has just received the report. According to the report from the Chattooga County Sheriff's Office, Renee Dukes said that she left her home on the morning of November 20th and returned later that evening to find her side garage door broken and the door ajar. Dukes said several things were msising and was to produce a list and estimated value to the Sheriff's Office.
