~[~e (~l~[~ ~n~; ~#-, Wednesday, March 7, 2018 Page 3
Gospel Tabernacle anniversary
Gospel Tabernacle COGIC will be celebrating their 16th
Church Anniversary every Sunday in March beginning at
4 p.m. Gospel Tabernacle is located at 207 East Dame Av-
enue (across from Jerry J's). Everyone is invited to attend.
Griffin reunion set for March 18
The annual Harry and Lou Griffin reunion will be held
on Sunday, March 18 at 1 p.m. at Nick Booth's blueberry
shed. Please bring a covered dish. All family and friends
are invited.
ture wil be hosting a one-day workshop for produce growers
on Tuesday, April 17 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. with lunch pro-
vided. The workshop will take place at Dougherty County
Extension Office located at 125 Pine Avenue #100, Albany,
Georgia 31701. The cost is $10 per person. For more infor-
mation, call (229) 436-7216 or e-mail uge4095@uga.edu.
WACKY ministry at Place of Blessings
Place of Blessings Church of God will have their
W.A.C.K.Y. (Wild About Christ Kids and Youth) Ministry
on Sundays at 6 p.m. Van pick up is available, text (229)
548.0056.
Jesus and Jam seeking donations
Jesus and Jam is. a non-profit organization that provides
sack lunches to over 600 children, elderly, and disabled
members of our community. Currently, they are seeking
donations for the new facility being built on Hwy 84. Any-
one interested in making donations may send them to 2404
Chester Mattox Road, Homerville, GA 31634. For more in-
formation, contact Lajuanta Mattox at (912) 337-5342.
CMH Auxiliary seeks new members
Clinch Memorial Hospital's Auxiliary (Pink Ladies and
Red Vests) is looking for someone who would like to vol-
unteer a couple of hours a week for Community Service.
Interested persons should call Alice Babbit (912) 487-3661
or Phyllis Bennet (912) 487-5617.
Story & Craft Time at library
The Clinch County Public Library will host a Story and
Craft Time every week at 4 p.m. For more information on
dates and times, contact the library at 487-3200 or go to
the website at www.okrls.org/calendar.
Free GED classes available
Free GED Classes: Coastal Pines Technical College
(CPTC) offers free GEl:)@ classes through the Clinch Coun-
ty Adult Education Program located at the Clinch Coun-
ty Public Library at 478 W. Dame Avenue in Homerville.
Clinch residents interested in earning a GED or increasing
their reading, English, and math skills should stop by the
center or e-mail Patia Tolle at ptolle@coastalpines.edu for
more information. Classes are free, and $500 HOPE Grants
awarded to qualified GED@ graduates.
Clinch County Family Connection and Certified Literate
Community Program are asking for donations of sports
related books or magazines for the Little Free Libraries
located throughout Clinch County. Donations may be
dropped off at the Little Free Libraries at the recreation
park or Pea Ridge Park.
Jesus and Jam needs volunteers
Jesus and Jam needs volunteers. Jesus and Jam pre-
pares and delivers over 600 sack lunches each Saturday.
For information or to volunteer call Lajauanta Mattox at
912-337-5342.
Notify with address change
If you are a subscriber to The Clinch County News or
one of our publicationsand have or will be moving, please
let us know your new address. Please include the name on
the subscription, new and old mailing address, and a phone
number for if we have a question. Also include a date to
start using the new address. The News mailing address is
PO Box 377 Homerville, GA 31634, phone number 912-
487-5337, or email Carolyn at carolyn65@windstrean.net.
Homerville
Police Deparlme,t
The following is a list
of calls answered by the
Homerville Police Depart-
ment recently:
February 26 - Officer
responded to a Sweat Street
address in reference to a bat-
tery and cruelty to person
65 years or older call. The
officer met with a man who
stated his mother resides
at a local nursing home for
rehabilitation efforts. He
stated that on February 23,
he was made aware of an in-
jury his mother had on her
leg. He stated that she had a
large knot and severe swell-
ing of her left shin area all
the way to her ankle. He
stated that his mother told
him that a new physical
therapist came to her room
on February 19 to start her
physical therapy. The man
stated that his mother is
bed ridden so she can not
get up on her own and that
his mother said the physi-
cal therapist was attempt-
ing to get her up by herself
by swinging her legs around
and she hit her left shin
with the therapist's knee.
He stated that his mother
told him afterwards the
therapist put her back into
the bed and left the room.
The man stated that no
one was notified of the in-
jury and when he asked the
staff about it, they stated
that it was from a fall his
mother had, even though
she can rmt get out of bed
on her own. He stated that
his mother told him on Feb-
ruary 20 she went to her di-
alysis appointment and the
and that if he goes back to
the complainant's residence
to get his stuff that he needs
to call for an officer to come
around.
February 26 - Officer
responded to a South Col-
lege Street address in refer-
ence to a call from the wa-
ter department of the City
of Homerville. The officer
spoke with a water depart-
ment employee who stated
that the meter to the resi-
dence had been tampered
with several times in the
past. The man stated that
the resident owes a large bill
to the City of Homerville in
reference to usage and the
water service was terminat-
ed. The man stated that one
of the city's employees ob-
served a truck parked over
the meter a week ago with
tools under the truck. The
man states that he suspects
the resident may have been
tampering with the water
meter at that point. He stat-
ed the meter would be fixed
towards the complainant,speed.
The officer followed her and The officer ran back to his
when the officer thought she patrol vehicle and activated
was going to attack the corn- his patrol siren in additon
plainant, the officer drew to his emergency lights. The
his taser and gave more ver- other officer activated his
bal commands to stop. Ms.
Clarkson reached the com-
plainant and made contact
with her chest. The officer
seperated the two and had
to force the woman to back
away, with one of her shoes
coming off in the process.
emergency lights and siren
and followed behind the
first officer, giving location
and other information to
dispatch as the pursuit con-
tinued. The van continued
to disregard the emergency
lights and sirens, continuing
The officer:gaVe Clark: e'stb oimd toWai d: the: city
son three verbal commands
to be quiet and calm down at
the vehicle as the officer
treived her shoe. Ms. Clark-
son did not follow directions
and continued to yell and
curse very loudly. The offi-
cer placed her under arrest
for disorderly conduct and
placed her in the patrol car
with a visual search only.
limits. The vehicle reached
the city limits of Homerville
and entered the county ju;
riSdlction traveling approxi-
mately 67 mph in a 45 mph
speed zone. The vehicle
turned down an unnamed
dirt road leading into the
rear of Dupont Wood Yard
and eventually reached a
dead end facing the wooded
Ms. Clarkson's belongings area
were removed from the ve- Mr. Vasquec exited the
hicle (except her wallet) by vehicle and ran toward the
the former occupants of the woodline. The officer parked
vehicle when they left as his patrol vehicle and
with a new locking device.
The officer spoke with the
resident and he stated he
did not break the meter but
did turn the water back on
to his house because of his
daughter's birthday party
the previous weekend. The
officer advised the resident
that if he tampered with
the meter again he would be
charged with the violation.
February 26 - Officer
responded to Huey's gas sta-
tion in reference to a forgery
call. The officer spoke withe
an employee who stated that
a man attempted to purchase
some items with a fake $100
bill. The officer examined
the bill and at first glance it
doctor there saw her injury . appeared to be real until he
and gave her some antibi-
otics because it appeared to
be infected. He stated his
mother told him that a doc-
tor came to the facility on
February 21 and prescribed
more medication for her leg.
The man stated that he
has seen all of the nurses's
read "for motion picture use
only." The officer showed the
caption to the man and stat-
ed he had exchanged 5 $20
bills with an individual that
needed change and that is
how he aquired the bill. The
owner of Huey's stated he
did not want to press charg-
she was being arrested. The
officer took her wallet and
placed it in the patrol car an
transported her to the police
department for booking. The
vehicle in question had the
complainant's name only on
the paperwork and it was
returned to him.
February 27 - Officers
responded to a South Dick-
erson Street address in
reference to an alarm call.
The officers spoke with the
resident who stated that her
alarm would not shut off
and she had a partial power
failure. A check of the home
was conducted and a thrown
breaker was located and re-
set. No further action was
required.
February 28 - Officers
responded to a Reddick
Street address in reference
to assisting EMS with a
code blue. The officers met
with EMS who were bring-
ing a woman out of the resi-
dence on a stretcher to the
ambulance. One officer as-
chased after him on foot,
followed by the other officer.
Mr. Vasquec ignored all ver-
bal commands to stop. The
officer withdrew his taser
and discharged the taser
cartridge making positve
contact with Mr. Vasquec's
upper back, causing him
to fall forward. The nearby
brush and branches pulled
one of the probes out of Mr.
Vasquec's back and he began
to get back up. The officer
then used his body to gently
force him back down until
the other officer arrived.
The other officer took
control of Mr. Vasquec's
lower body and the first of-
ricer stood ready 'to deploy
a second taser while he was
being placed in h. dcuffs
i (double locked and checked
for proper fit). The officers
were joined by Clinch Coun-
ty Sheriffs Department dep-
uties, who secured the of-
ficer's patrol vehicles while
Mr. Vasquec was escorted
from the woods.
and doctor's reports for his
mother at the facility arid
nowhere in the reports show
her being injured.
February 26 - Officer
responded to a Virginia Av-
enue address in reference to
a terroristic threats and acts
and civil matter call. The offi-
cer spoke with the complain-
ant, who stated that a man
came to l er residence and
threatened to beat up her
husband and rape her. The
officer asked the complain-
ant why the man would say
these things and she stated
that the man believes that
her husband owes him mon-
ey for work he was supposed
to have done. The complain-
ant said that the man has
not worked for her husband
much. The man rode by on a
bicycle and yelled he would
be back tomorrow and that
the complainant's husband
better give him what he
owes him. There was no
one else that heard the man
make the threats to the com-
plainant and her husband.
The officer went to a South
Church Street address and
spoke with the man. He stat-
ed that he was helping the
.complainant's husband start
a business and was prom-
ised half of everything they
worked on. He said that he
was owed $4,800. The man
stated he only.wants what is
owed to him for the work he
did. The officer informed the
man that he needed to get a
copy of his report and take
it to the magistrate judge
to get what is owed to him
es because he was not out sisted with CPR by doing Mr. Vasquec was placed
any money. The fake money chest compressions until a in the back seat of a patrol
was placed into evidence at pulse was regained. During vehicle.The van towed
the Homerville Police De- this time, the fire depart- from that location after a
Partrnent. ment arrived and assisted briefinventoryofthevechile
February 25 - Officer
responded to the Family
Dollar store in reference to
a theft by taking call.
February 26 - Officer
arrested Felicia Tanwan
Clarkson, 35, of a Homeville
adress and charged her with
disorderly conduct and un-
authorized use of a vehicle.
The officer responded to a
Brown Street address in ref-
erence to an unauthorized
use of a vehicle call. The of-
ricer spoke with a complain-
ant who stated that his ex-
girlfriend had his vehicle
and would not give it back.
The officer escorted the com-
plainant to the location on
as directed by EMS. EMS
transported the woman
to the hospital for further
treatment.
March 1 - Officer ar-
rested Tomas Vasquec, 40,
of a Homerville address and
charged him with failure to
maintain lane, driving with-
McConnell Road to retrieve
the vehicle. Upon turning on
McConnell Road; the vehicle
was coming out and turned
onto a side street on West
Forrest Avenue. The officer van and activated his emer-
conducted a traffic stop on gency lights to indicate to
the. vehicle and Ms. Clark- the driver that they were be-
was conducted. Mr. Vasquec
was transported to Homer-
ville Police Department
where he was processed and
then transported to Coffee
County Jail for holding.
Warrants will be secured
in reference to the charges.
March 4 - Officer re-
out a license, and fleeing/at- sponded to a Reddick Street
tempting to elude police, address in reference to har-
Officers were parked near rassing phone calls.
the intersection of Reddick March 4 - Officers re-
Street and Robinson Street, sponded to a Wiregrass
observing the area for traf- Street address in reference
tic violations. One officer to a prowler. The officers
observed a van make a left spoke with the complain-
turn from Robinson Street ant, who stated that some-
onto Reddick Street and it one had been coming up to
failed to maintain its lane her window trying to get in
during the turn, leaving the her residence. The officers
west bound lane and trav- walked around the resi-
eling into oncoming traffic, dence and no one was on the
The officer positioned his property. The officers also
patrol vehicle behind the rode around the neighbor-
hood and could not find any-
one fitting the description
provided. The officers came
son jumped out and started ing stopped by a law enforce- back to the residence two
yelling, ment officer. The vehicle more times and both times,
The officer asked Ms. made a complete stop near no one was on the property.
Clarl son to get the paper- the intersection of Reddick The complainant said that
work for the vehicle and Street and Gaskins Street. the person could be in the
at that point she began to The officer exited the. patrol shed, but there wasa pad-
curse and get louder. She vehicle and slowl v ked lock or :.the do6 : d.lthen
gave the officer the paper-, toward thevehicle.Up6rihis said he could be on the:rb0f.
work from the vehicle and approach of ti eve cle, the : The ,:office / checked and
started walking toward the: officer observed tl i :vehicle there ttsno one:therefore
complainant. The officer at- transition from parked, complainant's father arrived
tempted to get Ms. Clarkson back into drive. The driver, and informed the officers
to stay where she was and later identified as Tomas that he would take care of
she did not follow direc- Vasquec, drove away fromher. No further action was
tions and continued walking the officers at a low rate of taken.
House
(Continued from Page 1)
said Clinch County
Commission Chairman
Kenton McLaine. "If this
passes, I think FLPA will
be terminated soon after.
I'm concerned about it. But
whatever the effects, they
won't be positive for us."
Ryan said there are
numerous issues with HB
85, as it was passed Friday.
Among them are:
' The vast majority of
timberland in Clinch County,
and in South Georgia, would
likely be valued by DOR
officials, not local boards of
tax assessors, who currently
value such land. McLaine
said the state would use the
"income approach," in part, to
value the timberland, which
would result in diminished
tax revenues for timber-
heavy counties like Clinch.
The exact method of
valuation is unknown, but
the DOR commissioner
will adopt a "timberland
property appraisal manual."
Ryan said that manual will
be made with consultation
from lobbying groups of the
timber industry. She said
there are "grave concerns"
that school boards or elected
governmental entities will
not be a part of that process.
Any appeal of the
valuation set by the DOR
will take place in the Georgia
Tax Tribunal in Atlanta
before a judge appointed by
the governor, rather than
a local jurisdiction before a
judge elected by that circuit's
voters.
back to the counties for
reimbursement for the tax
breaks, she said.
If HB 85 is" passed by
the Senate, it will have :to
be approved by Governor
HB 85 would change Deal. Then, it will go
FLPA, with the state before Georgia's voters as a
revenue commissioner
retaining an administrative
fee of three percent, "which
would impact our county,
municipality, or county or
independent school district,"
according to Ryan. Ryan
said that the local FLPA
grant would be ensured
at a lower percentage in
constitutional amendment
in the November 6 general
election.
Ryan said she is concerned
that if the matter goes
before a vote, the wording
of the amendment will be
confusing, and voters ill
not understand its impact
on Clinch County and other
the future, according to :rural:. counties: reliant, on
the bill. That means less timbert d acreage
money from FLPA coming revenue.
