College student arrested on gun charges
By Erika Neldner
erikaneldner@ledgernews.com

A Reinhardt College student was arrested on terroristic threats and weapons charges after getting in a verbal altercation with the security officer, documents show.

Ryan Sexson (Right), 24, of Atlanta, was allegedly drunk when he went to turn on the kiln in the art building in the early morning hours of April 26.

Someone reported to campus security that there was a person driving drunk in a black sport-utility vehicle.

The security officer approached Sexson, who reportedly was belligerent and disorderly, according to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office incident report.

The sheriff’s office and Canton police responded to the incident just after 2 a.m.

Sexson allegedly threatened the security officer by saying “If I were you, I would be scared for your life right now,” the report said.

The security officer stayed between Sexson and his vehicle, which had a Glock-model handgun, an old shotgun and birdshot.

The handgun was disassembled, police said.

Sgt. Jay Baker, public information officer for the sheriff’s office, said police don’t believe Sexson had any intention of harming anyone at the school, but his actions, including his words to the security officer led to his arrest.

Baker said sheriff’s deputies didn’t have any problems with Sexson once they arrived.

“It is illegal to possess firearms on any campus, and any time weapons and ammunitions are located on school property, it is a cause for concern,” Baker said. “The incident that occurred at Reinhardt was certainly a violation of the law, and although he reportedly threatened the security guard, further investigation suggests that Sexson didn’t intend to cause harm to anyone else on campus. Sexson made a very poor choice that resulted in his arrest.”

Sexson has been suspended from school and will remain suspended until his case has gone through the student judicial process, according to Marsha White, executive director of marketing and communications for Reinhardt College.

“It is addressed in our code of conduct that firearms are not allowed on the Reinhardt campus,” White said.

Sexson’s judicial hearing at the school is separate from any outcome of the judicial process he will go through as a result of his arrest.

School officials would not say if Sexson had any prior problems at the school due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Sexson was released on an $18,155 bond April 26.

- Staff Writer Carolyn Mathews contributed to this article.

Rep. Byrd faces challenger
By Tom Brooks
tombrooks@ledgernews.com

A Republican challenger is seeking to unseat incumbent State Rep. Charlice Byrd (Right) in this summer’s July 15 general primary election.

The Woodstock Republican lawmaker is to face hopeful Shawn O’Rourke (Below Left), also of Woodstock, in the primary election for the House District 20 post representing southwestern Cherokee County.

No Democratic candidate signed up for the District 20 race for the Nov. 4 general election by the close of last week’s candidate qualifying period that ended on May 2. Byrd is seeking a third two-year legislative term.

Out of the six seats of the Cherokee County Legislative Delegation, the qualifying period concluded with two Republican legislative contests slated for the July 15 primary and two general election contests lined up as eight Republicans and two Democrats officially entered the contests.

In addition to the House District 20 race, Republican voters in House District 22 will go the polls to choose between incumbent State Rep. Sean Jerguson, R-Holly Springs, and challenger Mary Wilhite, of Sixes. The contest is the third between the two seeking to represent the district that includes portions of Canton, Holly Springs and central Cherokee. Jerguson is in his first term.

The winner of the House District 22 contest will face Democratic candidate Bill Brown, a Woodstock businessman, in the general election.

State Sen. Chip Rogers, R-Woodstock, is scheduled to face Democratic challenger Carlos Lopez, of Marietta, in the general election contest for Senate District 21. Rogers is a small business owner. Lopez is a managing partner and chief financial officer of an executive search company. The senate district includes portions of southern Cherokee and northern Cobb counties.

State Sen. Jack Murphy, R-Cumming; State Rep. Mark Hamilton, R-Cumming; and State Rep. Calvin Hill, R-Canton, are unopposed for new two-year terms under the Gold Dome.

Both Byrd and O’Rourke cited the reduction of taxes, less government and personal responsibility as key themes of their respective campaigns.

O’Rourke said “eroding state funding for education” and traffic congestion are chief concerns for him. According to O’Rourke, the past legislative session resulted in stalemate over major issues affecting local residents.

“It is time that Cherokee County has a leader in the state Legislature that is more representative of our community and who has the ability to deliver meaningful results,” said O’Rourke, an executive in a commercial real estate company in Atlanta and a U.S. Army veteran.

Byrd said the campaign is an opportunity for her to meet voters and listen to their views. She has discovered, Byrd said, that her views on issues match those of her constituents.

“Doing this gives me a great chance to hear what the people of Cherokee really care about,” said Byrd, a former schoolteacher. “It cements in my brain that I am at the capitol to serve and represent the voters of Cherokee County and no one else.”

Canton woman arrested after stabbing
By Erika Neldner
erikaneldner@ledgernews.com

Detectives with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office arrested a woman after she allegedly stabbed another person during a fight.

The women got into an argument that escalated into a physical fight May 3 on Canton Street. Taryn Watts (Right), 34, of Canton, allegedly stabbed the other woman, said Sgt. Jay Baker, public information officer for the sheriff’s office.

The other woman, Tava Murphy, 25, of Canton, was taken to Northside Hospital-Cherokee where she received treatment for cuts on her ear, face, back and arm.

Murphy’s injuries needed 180 stitches, police said.

She is expected to recover from her wounds.

Watts was charged with aggravated assault and aggravated batter, Baker said.

Watts was taken to the Cherokee County jail, where she was being held without bond, Baker said.

The stabbing incident is still under investigation by the Violent Crimes Unit.

Officials trim Woodstock budget, forgo layoffs
By Erika Neldner
erikaneldner@ledgernews.com

Woodstock employees have been promised they won’t be laid off, and city officials continue to find ways to cut the 2008-09 budget, which was $4 million in the red.

The city’s general fund budget was short about $2 million, and the water and sewer fund was short $2 million, officials said.

With a one mill rate increase and cuts totaling $1.9 million, the general fund budget will be balanced, the city’s Chief Financial Officer Henry Bucci said last week.

“That should take care of it,” Bucci said.

The current millage rate is 5.880 mills. One mill is equal to $1,000 of assessed value, after exemptions.

According to data compiled by city officials, the one mill rate increase for a homeowner with a $250,000 home is an added $95 in taxes per year. A homeowner with a $100,000 home would pay $35 more in taxes, documents show.

The $15 million budget will be presented to the city council May 12. The first reading and public hearing are scheduled for May 19. A second reading will be held June 9, if necessary.

All meetings are held at Woodstock City Hall, 103 Arnold Mill Road. The meetings begin at 7 p.m. unless announced otherwise.

The city’s water and sewer fund was originally facing a $2.3 million deficit, however, budget cuts have reduced the deficit to $1.3 million, Bucci said. City officials reduced the debt service by $500,000 and increased revenues by $455,000.

“We believe the natural growth in sales next year will make up the difference,” Bucci said.

Originally, the city was facing a $2.4 million shortfall in the general fund, however, Bucci changed the projected growth to 4.4 percent, from a 0 percent growth, which increased the property tax collection.

“Originally, I had it at no growth,” Bucci said. “That brought in some extra money. There will definitely be growth.”

Some of the largest cuts include about $600,000 from the police budget, documents show.

The city police department was initially asking for five new sworn positions, and the first review cut all five officer positions, as well as three of the nine positions OK’d during last year’s budget cycle.

Six of the nine positions approved in 2007 had not been filled.

The new proposed budget, including the recent cuts, keeps three police officer positions in the department’s budget. The $128,000 put back into the budget by the city council includes training and equipment for the three new officers.

Police Chief Ric Moss said discussions are still ongoing about the budget.

“While these are the indications, nothing is firm at this point,” Moss said, adding he didn’t want to comment on specific numbers until final decisions were made.

City officials also cut overtime for all departments by half, totaling $207,000. While city employees are expected to keep their jobs through this budget cycle, they won’t be seeing merit raises, which were cut by $172,500.

New city manager Jeff Moon and Mayor Donnie Henriques held several meetings with city staff, and Henriques said the consensus was employees would rather lose raises this year.

“I think they’d rather keep their jobs,” Henriques said.

City council members are also debating on whether or not to keep a salary/benefit study.

Councilwoman Tracy Collins (Above Right) said she feels the city needs to be ready to do the study this year and implement the findings by next year.

She suggested increasing the millage rate 1.5 mills instead of one mill to ensure it would be financially feasible to implement the study next year.

“We’re not competitive with other agencies,” Collins said specifically speaking of police departments.

Other agencies like John’s Creek and Milton are hiring officers at substantially higher salaries.

“I think that’s premature without knowing how the economy is going to go,” Councilman Randy Brewer said of the added half a mill increase.

Councilman Steve Faris (Above Left) said the city council needs to be very diligent in deciding the policy and dealing with the budget.

“We have to justify that,” Faris said of the extra millage increase. “Everything is on the table.”

He mentioned that increased property taxes on residents and especially businesses that are already struggling could mean staying open or shutting down.

“It means thousands of dollars to struggling businesses,” Faris said. “We’re going to be asking them to pay more than they have.”

School board hears about lawsuit against state
By Carolyn Mathews
carolynmathews@ledgernews.com

The Cherokee County School Board heard a plea April 24 from the president and the spokesman of a group of school systems suing the state for allegedly failing to meet its constitutional duty to provide adequate school funding. The group wants the Cherokee County School District to join in the suit.

At its last work session, the board agreed to schedule Joseph G. Martin Jr., the man who is spearheading an education-funding lawsuit involving 50 mostly-rural public school districts. Martin was joined at the work session by Superintendent Jeff Welch of Oglethorpe County, the president of the Consortium for Adequate School Funding in Georgia (CASFG).

Cherokee School Superintendent Dr. Frank Petruzielo said the school district was able to avoid having its funding sources on the local level cut by the state Legislature this year, but it still could happen next year.

(Right: Joe Martin, who is spearheading a group of school districts who are suing the state over funding, left, speaks to the school board. Listening, from left, are board members Stephen Bentley and Janet Flint, and Superintendent Dr. Frank Petruzielo. Carolyn Mathews | Ledger-News)

“Adequacy in funding as defined in the Georgia Constitution is clearly an issue,” Petruzielo said. “How can we assure adequate funding for the short and long term?”

Petruzielo said the school board would not be ready to make a decision as to whether to join in CASFG’s suit at the work session, but should listen to and consider what its leaders had to say.

Petruzielo said representatives of most of the state’s larger school systems would hear CASFG’s case at the meeting of the Georgia Education Coalition May 8. Cherokee board member Mike Chapman chairs that organization.

Martin told the school board that having the larger systems on board would make the difference after the suit, when the time comes to negotiate a “fix” with the General Assembly regarding the amount of state funding local systems receive.

“It would give us more political muscle and money,” Welch said. “It’s going to take some clout. If we don’t win for our children, we all lose.”

“You are a microcosm; another example of what’s happening across the state,” Martin told the board. “We’re struggling to pay our bills, and we can’t compete as a state if Georgia is not living up to the (funding) formula.”

Martin said that local funding of the Cherokee school district has gone up by 10 percent to make up for lack of funding on the state level over the past 12 years.

“Your taxpayers are making up the difference,” he said.

The districts formed CASFG in 2001. Their lawsuit, which alleges the state is violating its Constitutional obligation to provide for an adequate education for Georgia’s children, demands that the state allocate more funds for education. It is due to be heard Oct. 21 in Fulton County Superior Court by Judge Elizabeth E. Long.

Martin is a former Central Atlanta Progress president, former Atlanta School Board president, and a past Democratic candidate for state school superintendent.

His brother, Jim Martin, has announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate against Saxby Chambliss in 2008.

Martin said, however, that the CASFG is a bipartisan pursuit. Martin said public education is under attack and now is the time to stand up in protest.

“This is about our children,” he said to the board. “We are here tonight because we want you to join with us; our ability to advocate for public education is much stronger together,” Martin said. “You are a leader; if you support us, our standing would really rise as we make our plea.”

Martin said larger metro and urban school districts have been hesitant to join the suit because they feel if it was won it might create a “Robin Hood” situation in which wealthier systems would have to support poorer ones.

“Unless everybody is better off, we won’t have a good situation,” Martin said.

Welch noted that the consortium is not trying to change the funding formula set out by the Georgia Constitution; instead it alleges that the state has not fully funded it.

Welch noted that for him, it’s a personal issue as to whether Cherokee has the budget to provide a quality education, since his married son and his family live in the county.

“We’re all interdependent,” Welch said. “This suit will help to dictate the quality of life in every county in Georgia. Right now, we’ve got a hole in the bottom of the boat, and we’re sinking.”

He noted that the state contributes the same amount they did in the 1970s toward the price of textbooks, which have risen dramatically, and transportation funding to the local schools has been cut back three times in recent years.

Welch said he’s asked legislators since 1999 to increase state school funding and “they’ve looked at me, eyeball to eyeball, and said, ‘Jeff, you’ll have to sue us.’”

He said he’s made pleas with both Democratic former Gov. Roy Barnes and present Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue to increase state school funding.

Board member Dr. Gary Puckett asked Martin what the cost would be for Cherokee to become a member of CASFG, thus joining in support for the state funding suit.

Martin replied that school systems were charged on formula based on school system size for membership, and then on top of that fee, expenses of the organization were evenly split among districts. Last year, he said that amount equaled a financial commitment for each school district of about $8 per student, but he said the cost would go down if more districts joined.

Martin said if Cherokee joined, it would have a voice in asking the state to provide more money for building schools and paying for technology.

“That is currently not a part of the agenda, but as a member you could make sure it was part of our agenda,” he said.

Welch said his system has received no ill will on the part of the Legislature because of his presidency of CASFG.

“The best thing that happened to us (school districts) this year is a dysfunctional legislature,” Welch said. “And it still put through $165 million in tax cuts.”

District outlines anti-bullying provisions
By Carolyn Mathews
carolynmathews@ledgernews.com

In its 72-page student/parent handbook and discipline code for next year, which is distributed to every student attending Cherokee County public schools, the district has for the first time outlined its procedure for preventing bullying and handling bullying incidents.

The provisions regarding bullying were approved April 24 by the Cherokee County Board of Education.

“There’s a little bit of new stuff, but this basically is documenting procedures that we have in place,” said Dr. Brian Hightower, director of school operations. “For the past eight years we’ve supplied principals with funding to provide training to their staffs on bullying.”

Hightower said the district’s anti-bullying program is modeled after a bullying prevention program developed by Dr. Dan Olweus, a Norweigan educator and noted researcher in school bullying.

The school district discipline code defines bullying as: “Any (pattern of) willful attempts or threats to inflict injury on another person, when accompanied by an apparent present ability to do so; or any intentional display of force such as that which would give the victim reason to fear or expect immediate bodily harm.”

In addition to acts or threats of violence, the guidelines note that bullying may include “malicious maltreatment” such as reported name-calling/derogatory comments, malicious gossip/rumors/lies and exclusion-based behavior designed to purposely hurt others.

Included is an anti-bullying statement, endorsed by the school district, which will be posted on all school grounds: “The Cherokee County School District expressly prohibits the bullying of any person, by any means, at school, on school property, or at school-related functions.”

The new guidelines included in the discipline code note that the use of school-owned technology for the purposes of bullying another student is prohibited.

The guidelines outline the consequences for bullying.

In grades kindergarten through five, punishment is at the discretion of the principal, taking into account the student’s age and level of maturity.

For grades six through 12, consequences for a first offense are three school days of suspension or other appropriate punishment as the principal determines.

A second offense would bring five days of suspension or other appropriate punishment determined by the principal.

A third offense, the guidelines state, will bring nine days assignment to the alternative school, along with a principal’s determination in regard to long-term alternative school assignment or expulsion.

The guidelines address bullying activity at bus stops or on buses, noting that in such cases suspension from bus transportation will be included along with the consequences listed above.

Once students are allowed back on the bus, a behavior contract and special seating may be required.

The guidelines call for all school staff to report bullying immediately and prohibits retaliation for the reporting of bullying incidents. Students who file false reports of bullying, they state, will be disciplined.

Hightower noted, however, that schools can’t discipline an alleged bully based on hearsay – a witness or some proof is necessary to determine what occurred.

The guidelines also outline how bullying will be investigated, how parents will be notified, and how records will be maintained. A safety plan will be developed for the victimized student.

Hightower said incidents of bullying tend to peak at the middle school level, when boys grow at dramatically varying rates and girls become increasingly socially oriented.

While physical intimidation is used more often by boys, girls tend to use hurtful gossip or social exclusion to bully, he said.

He said students are reporting bully incidents more often.

“But that’s good, because it shows kids are talking about it and talking to us,” he said.

Donna Ratliff, counselor at Woodstock Middle School, instituted an Olweus program at the end of 2005. She said the school holds regular classroom meetings each month that include lessons on bullying.

“A huge part is naming what is going on, and knowing that it’s not OK,” Ratliff said. “We see more students recognizing and using the word.”

She said the school has just resurveyed the students after two years of the program’s existence, and is in the process of compiling the results to see if the school’s “climate” has improved since regular anti-bullying lessons began.

“I’ve seen several kids who ID themselves as a bully and say, ‘I do need to work on that,’” she said.

Graduation schedules set

All Cherokee County School District high school graduations except for Polaris Evening School will be held at First Baptist Church of Woodstock at the corner of Ga. 92 and Trickum Road. Polaris graduation will be held at Woodstock High School.

Woodstock High School graduation is set for 7 p.m. May 30, with school board member Mike Chapman and district School Superintendent Dr. Frank Petruzielo attending; Sequoyah High School is planned for 9 a.m., May 31, with board member Debi Radcliff and Assistant Superintendent Candler Howell attending; Etowah High School will be at 1 p.m. May 31, with board member Rick Steiner and Assistant Superintendent Trey Olson attending; Cherokee High School is scheduled for 5 p.m. May 31, with board member Dr. Gary Puckett and Assistant Superintendent Doe Kirkland attending.

Polaris Evening School will hold graduation at 7 p.m. May 30 with board member Stephen Bentley and Assistant Superintendent Randy Martin attending. Polaris summer school graduation is set for 7 p.m. June 27, with School Board Chair Janet Read and Assistant Superintendent Luther Jones attending.

Holly Springs OKs bid for street project
By Erika Neldner
erikaneldner@ledgernews.com

Holly Springs officials approved the bid for the city’s resurfacing project for the main thoroughfare in the city and an existing neighborhood.

The city council voted 5-0 to approve C.W. Matthew’s bid of $569,444.68 at its April 21 meeting. Councilwoman Jacqueline Patrick was absent.

The bid approved was the lowest received during the process. Other bids included Butch Thompson Enterprises for $686,675; Blount Construction for $720,194.44; and Atlanta Asphalt for $807,372.20.

The project is to resurface Holly Springs Parkway (Old Ga. 5) from Toonigh Road to the Little River Bridge, as well as the Morgan Falls subdivision.

In other business, the city council implemented a 30-day moratorium on peddler/solicitor permits in the city to determine the extent of the regulation.

“I would like to see the city ban door-to-door sales,” Chief Ken Ball said, adding he’s aware some groups cannot be stopped.

He said there have been problems with door-to-door salesmen in certain neighborhoods, and after they were notified that they had to have permits, the city has been inundated with permit applications.

“The problem is the permit application doesn’t tell me where they are going to go,” Ball said.

He also told the city council he would like to have a criminal background check on each peddler/solicitor so they know who is going into the neighborhoods.

The police chief, city manager and city attorney are expected to review the permit process to determine how the city wants to handle the permits in the future. It is expected to be brought back to the city council in about a month.

City officials also adopted Cherokee County’s vehicle for hire and loitering ordinances. Officials were expected to review and adopt the county’s recently updated animal control ordinance, however, city staff asked for more time to review. The animal control ordinance was tabled.

Previously, no permit was necessary in the city for vehicles for hire. While no permit fee or application fee has been adopted, officials are mulling a $50 per year permit fee and a one-time $50 application fee.

Woodstock to hold city council retreat

The Woodstock City Council will be holding its strategic planning retreat May 9 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and May 10 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Both meetings are in council chambers at Woodstock City Hall, 103 Arnold Mill Road. During the planning retreats, city officials discuss goals and objectives for upcoming years. The meetings are open to the public, but the public cannot participate in the retreat.

Arnold Mill to hold election

The school council at Arnold Mill Elementary School will hold an election for two parent members at 2:30 p.m. May 12 in the media center.
The council will include the principal, two or more teacher members, two or more parent members, and two parent/business persons.
A nomination form for parents interesting in serving on school council, including information regarding the responsibilities, is available in the school office. Parents at the school must be in attendance to vote.

Meeting set to form PTA at new elementary school

A meeting to form the Parent Teacher Association at the new Joseph Knox Elementary School will be held at 7 p.m. May 13.
At the meeting, to be held in the Liberty Elementary School cafeteria, parents will have the opportunity to meet Principal Dr. Kelly Jo Brooks.
Denise Nani, 13th District Director of Georgia PTA, encourages all parents of children who will be attending the school next year to attend.

KSU plans summer camps for kids and teens

From June 2 to July 25, Kennesaw State University will hold week-long summer camps for kids and teens. “Summer University” will feature poetry, computer, drama and science camps, as well as camps on other subjects. Price for camps range from $149 to $299.
To register, call 770-423-6765 or visit www.kennesaw.edu/ConEd.

Correction

The article “Woodstock OKs impact fees,” published April 23, 2008, should have said Joe Padilla is the government affairs representative for the Cherokee Chapter of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association.