Voluntary layoffs were announced today at the Chattooga County Sheriff's Office and Jail. That according to Sheriff John Everett, who met with Chattooga County Commissioner Jason Winters earlier in the day.

Everett says there will be 16 positions cut in all. Eleven of those will be from the Sheriff's Department and 5 from the jail. Today, all employees received letters announcing voluntary layoffs until October 1. If 16 employees don't volunteer to lose their jobs by October 1, more employees will be laid off to reach the required number.  Everett says there may be two employees eligible for retirement.

The layoffs are mandatory because of a a new 11.534 millage rate that was recently approved and a decrease in the tax digest. That means the county will have about $340,000 less to work with in 2013 than in 2012, and $600,000 less than in 2011.   

Everett told AM1180 that the layoffs effect 16 families and the new administration won't be able to fill those positions, which puts public safety at risk. However he added that the new administration would probably make about a 75% change in administration and this gives those laid off a chance to draw unemployment and look for jobs. He said there isn't enough money in the payroll to pay 16 people for November and December and no one wants to work for free.

The county is operating on property tax income of 4.6 to 4.9 million dollars, according to Winters. He said the only way we can do that is with some cuts in positions. Other cost saving measures could include employee furloughs and cuts to health care benefits.

Listed on the September 7 Arrest Report, according to the Chattooga County Jail docket are;

Tonya Necco Allison, Savannah, Ga — Probation Violation/ Original Charge: Theft by Shoplifting

Benjamin Franklin Clayton, Summerville — Failure to Appear/ Original Charge: Suspended License/Affix License Plate/Theft By Taking

Peggy Cathrine Mitchell, Trion — Failure to Secure Load; Open Container of Alcohol; DUI/Alc/0.08 Grams or more/21 YOA or older

Lloyd Arthur Grasser, Summerville — Probation Violation/Original Charge: Simple Battery

Robert Nathan Wofford, Summerville — Possession of Sawed off Weapon; Driving Without a License on person; DUI/Drugs/Less Safe; Improper Use of Central Turn Lane

The Lyerly Pre-K class has two available slots. To qualify children must be four-years old by September 1, 2012 and reside in Georgia.
The pre-k class is funded by the Georgia Lottery.
For more information contact Judy Money @ 706-857-3490.

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Listed on the September 6 Arrest Report, according to the Chattooga County Jail docket are:

Kasper Rose Beck, Summerville — DUI/Drugs/Less Safe; Driving with a Suspended/Revoked License; Failure to Maintain a Single Lane; DUI/ Child Endangerment; Hit and Run/Leaving the Scene of an Accident

Arthur Lloyd Grassey, Summerville — Probation Violation/Original Charge: Simple Battery

Amy Darlene Rhodes, Summerville — VGCSA/ Possession of Schedule IV Conazapam; VGCSA/ Possession of Methamphetamine; VGCSA/ Possession of Schedule III Hydrocodone; Possession/Use of Drug Related Objects

Robert Nathan Wofford, Summerville — Possession of Sawed-Off Shotgun/Machine Gun/Silencer/Dangerous Weapon; DUI/Drugs/Less Safe; Improper Use of Central Turning Lane

Falon Elyse Reynolds, Summerville — Destruction/Removal/Concealment of Property Subject to Security Interest

Tracie Ann Williams, Summerville — Expired tag; Improper Backing; Driving with a Valid LIcense/Expired Tag; Defective Tires

Listed on the September 5 Arrest Report, according to the Chattooga County Jail docket are:

Alan Korel Adams, Summerville — Parole Violation

Shana Francharla Hampton, Trion — 3 counts VGCSA/ Possession of Methamphetamine; 2 counts VGCSA Possession of Methamphetamine with intent to distribute; 2 counts VGCSA/Sale of Methamphetamine; VGCSA/Possession of Marijuana less than 1 oz.; Use of Communications facility in the commission of a crime.

Misty Lashea Lively, Summerville — VGCSA/ Possession of Methamphetamine; Possession of Drug Related Objects

Eric Eugene Neal, Summerville — Simple Battery/FVA

Beverly Ann Wheeler, Armuchee — Probation Violation/ Original Charge: Possession of Cocaine and Possession of Cocaine with Intent

Melissa Rose Womack, Summerville — 2 counts VGCSA

Steven Kyle Blackmon, Trion — Underage Consumption of Alcohol

Jeffery Dewayne Caldwell, Summerville — Theft by Taking

Harold Leonard Cochran Jr., Trion — Driving with a Suspended License; DUI/Alcohol/0.08 grams or more/21 YOA or older; Giving False Name/Address/Birth date to Law Enforcement Officers

Dalton Colby Evans, Trion — Acquiring Alcohol for Underage

Listed on the August 31-Sept. 4 Arrest Report according to the Chattooga County Jail Docket are:

Arlonzo Rakharian Johnson, Summerville – Aggravated Child Molestation; Possession of Marijuana Less Than 1 Oz.

Phillip Brandon McGill, Trion — No Charges Listed

Michael Lee Teague, Summerville — Probation Violation/ Original Charge: Driving with a Suspended License

Jamie Wayne Boyd, Summerville — Unlawful Manufacture/Possession/Distribution Non-Controlled Substances

Evan Tyler Ellis, Menlo — Pedestrian Under the Influence Drugs/Alcohol; Disorderly Conduct

Lisandro Ma Enriquez Serrano, Fort Payne, Al — Driving Without Valid License/Expired License

Johnny Paul Payton, Menlo — Good Behavior Warrant

Johnny Wayne Reynolds, Summerville — DUI/Alcohol/Less Safe; Driving too Fast for Conditions; Failure to Maintain a Single Lane

Heather Ann Smith, Summerville — Failure To Appear/Original Charge: Driving Without a Valid License

Audrey Elizabeth Wooten, Summerville — Disorderly Conduct; Unlawful Conduct During 911 Call

Harold Leonard Cochran, Jr. — Driving with Suspended/Revoked license; DUI/Alcohol/0.08 grams or more; Giving False Name/ Address/ Birth Date to Law Enforcement Officers

Colby Evans Dalton — Acquiring Alcohol for Underage

Tanya Lee Carrol — Probation Violation/ Original charge, Possession of Methamphetamine

Steven Kyle Blackmon — Underage Consumption of Alcohol

Mario Quinell Jones — Intoxication

Kevin Max Thomas — Pedestrian Under the Influence of Alcohol/ Drugs; Willful Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officers

Rebecca Louise Edwards — Battery FVA

Angela Faye Atkins — Hold For Cedartown

Mildred Pauline Page — Failure to Maintain Single Lane; DUI/Drugs/Less Safe

Reta Faye Wright — Failure to Maintain a Single Lane; DUI/Multiple Substances/Less Safe; Failure to Maintain a Single Lane 

Three Georgia education organizations released a statement this week urging the public to educate themselves about the political controversy regarding House Bill 1162, a state constitutional amendment that would allow the state to authorize state charter schools that have been rejected by local boards of education.

In the news release, the Georgia School Boards Association, the Georgia School Superintendents Association and the Professional Association of Georgia Educators  assert that “blatant tactics of bullying and intimidation” have been used recently in attempt to silence two groups that opposed the amendment.

“From the beginning we have been clear that the vote in November is NOT about Charter schools,” the statement said.

The GSBA, GSSA and GPTA “believe in charter schools that are approved at the local level by school boards that answer to their local citizens,” the statement said, adding that current state law already provides an appeals process for charters denied at local levels to be reconsidered by the state board of education.

“Do not believe our opponents’ rhetoric,” they said. “This is a state power grab to set up and fund a dual public school system: One system of public schools approved by local boards of education representing the voice of their communities and another STATE public school system with decisions made by an appointed group with no accountability to local citizens.”