Mary Jo Sawyer Hall, age 69, of Baldwin, Georgia, went to be with Jesus on Wednesday, July 22, 2015 following complications from surgery.
Arrendale Prison hosts first ever charter high school graduation
In a special ceremony Thursday at Lee Arrendale State Prison, 19 young women received their high school diplomas after completing a special program through the Mountain Education Charter High School.
The program brings teachers from the school together with inmates. It was the brainchild of Georgia’s Assistant Commissioner of Inmate Services Buster Evans.
He says earning a diploma improves inmates’ chances of getting into college and gaining employment upon their release.
He also points to studies that show educated inmates have lower recidivism rates.
“We wanted to try it out.” says Evans. “We knew that if we started here and it was a success It would give us the opportunity to know if we would want to expand.”
Evans is a former educator. Governor Nathan Deal brought him into the Corrections Department to focus on educational initiatives as part of Georgia’s ongoing prison reform efforts. “It exceeded all our expectations,” Evans says. “To see our ladies overcome their pasts to create a new future, for me, is one of the greatest experiences of my professional career.”
Graduate Jasmiyah Whitehead personifies Evans vision. Now 21, she’s been behind bars since she was 16 years old.
Class of 2015 Valedictorian Jasmiyah Whitehead graduation address
She and her twin sister were arrested and charged in connection to the death of their mother in 2010. Last year, Jasmiyah entered a guilty plea to a charge of voluntary manslaughter. She’s now serving a 30 year sentence.
When the prison high school program started, organizers targeted her for the first class. They could see in her the potential and a drive to succeed. She was hesitant at first. “When I was sentenced, I thought, even if I do get out, I’m already past the point of high school age.”
She’d already gotten her GED earlier in her incarceration but educators convinced her that a diploma would take her further. “We all know, when you got to college, a high school diploma is so much better than a GED.”
Thursday, Jasmiyah stood before her classmates as the Valedictorian of the class of 2015.
Her official file with the Corrections Department lists the year 2040 as her “Max Possible Release Date” and she’s already planning on putting the years ahead to good use furthering her education behind bars.
“I would love to major in child psychology,” she explains. “I want to be a family counselor or something with kids because I was a kid when I was first incarcerated. If I could help kids not make the same mistakes that I made or help families not make the same mistakes my family made, it would be wonderful.”
Right now, Jasmiyah works as a teacher’s aid for the next class of prison high school students at Lee Arrendale. Buster Evans says the state will start a similar program for male inmates next month at Burruss Correctional Training Center in Monroe.
Robert “Bob” Matthews Alden, Sr.
Robert “Bob” Matthews Alden, Sr., age 90, passed away peacefully on July 23, 2015.
Farmers’ Market Report for July 25
Mmmmm, when the weather is hot, cool melons can help beat the heat! Lucky for us, there are lots of new melons coming in season. Be sure to stop by Melon Head farms booth to sample some of their yummy melons! As for the rest, there are plenty of our favorite summer veggies so come on out and stock the fridge. As a special treat, Gretchen from Memory Lane, an art gallery and working studio in Batesville, will be on hand. She is very talented and several local talented artists are represented at the Gallery. Stop by and get some great Christmas gifts.
Clarkesville Farmers’ Market: cucumbers, sitao, Asian eggplant, basil, Italian parsley, hokkaido squash, squash, melons!!, italian sweet peppers, beans, basil, mint , heirloom tomatoes, squash and zucchini , garlic, poatoes, okra, asian noodle beans, swiss chard, eggplant, beets, radishes, green beans, noodle beans, savoy cabbage, baby hakurei turnips, microgreen mix, baby carrots, sunflower shoots, spinach, baby kales, baby beet greens, sorell, very baby arugula, Chinese cabbage heads, scarlet frill mustard greens. They will also have some great soaps, wonderful bags from A Frayed Knot and more!
Soque Farmers’ Market: Abby J’s new cookbook has arrived! Come by to get your copy and some others for gifts. They will also have okra, tomatoes, sweet corn, basil, mint, eggplant, romas, pumpkin squash
Hovey Captured in Gwinnett County
According to jail records, Ryan Van Hovey was booked into the Gwinnett County Jail early Thursday morning.
Authorities had been searching for him since July 16th when he was involved in a high speed chase up Highway 365 near Alto.
That night, Hovey apparently turned off the highway onto a dirt road. His car became mired in mud and he fled on foot. Air support as well as Hall, Habersham and Baldwin officers joined in the search along Yonah Post Road for several hours without success. At the time, troopers say they found ammunition, body armour and drugs in Hovey’s car.
Hovey has a long list of previous charges as well as current warrants from Dekalb County and the City of Lawrenceville.
He was booked into Gwinnett County overnight on charges of Possession of firearm during a crime, Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Armed Robbery and probation violation.
The following press release was issued by the Georgia State Patrol:
“The Georgia State Patrol was assisted by the Hall County Sheriff’s Department, Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Department and the Gwinnett County Police Department in capturing Ryan Van Hovey tonight in Suwanee, GA. at approximately 0146 hours. After an extensive search Hovey was taken into custody with no further incident. At the time of arrest, Hovey was armed with a semi-automatic pistol and several extra magazines. Hovey also had in his possession a quantity of methamphetamine which will result in additional charges in Gwinnett County. The Georgia State Patrol had previously taken warrants for Hovey’s arrest for felony fleeing/eluding officers, trafficking methamphetamine, reckless driving, and several other traffic related charges that occurred on July 15,2015.”
At times, we are the one
Luke 15:3-7, “Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
If you are a Star Trek fan like me, you will remember Spock’s infamous words to Captain Kirk when he sacrificed himself to save their spaceship The Enterprise, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few – or the one.” Spock rescued the space ship from imminent destruction but as a result, lost his life.
Henry Spencer and Charles Darwin suggested that the fittest humans will rise to the top through natural selection. The weaker human beings would not prevail. Evolutionist push the idea that only the dominant survive.
But Jesus, He was all about the one.
At times in our lives, we are the one sheep, separated from the group, alone, hurt, grieving, confused, and abandoned. And He comes after us. It seems a bit strange to imagine that God is more concerned with one sinner than over ninety-nine people who do not need to repent. The more sensible route would be to let the one go and focus on the 99. That is probably what you and I would do. But our God is a relentless Savior. That’s what sets Him apart from the gods man has manufactured or the demons of this world. Have you ever asked yourself, why He saves?
Simply, it brings Him joy. He rejoices in our return to Him for His love for us is deeper than we can comprehend.
Psalm 139:7-12, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”
So, are you the one? Are you lost and alone? Be assured, Jesus is working to bring you back to His flock. There is nowhere you can hide from His presence. There is nowhere you can go that He will not seek you out. There is nothing you can do to keep Him from finding you.
Meeting Minds: Geraldine Ferraro
When we meet the minds of others, we can better understand one another. Today, meet the mind of Geraldine Ferraro, an attorney and the first female vice presidential candidate representing a major American political party.
“Some leaders are born women. ” – Geraldine Ferraro.
New Cleveland intersection opens early
Cleveland, Ga. – The closure of Tesnatee Gap Valley Road at its intersection with State Route 115 is now open to traffic, six days ahead of the required 15 days. Approximately 500 feet of Tesnatee Gap Valley Road closest to the intersection with SR 155 is was closed to traffic for the grade of Tesnatee Gap Valley Road to be raised about 8 feet.
“Please slow down through the area as everyone gets used to the new intersection. You should notice a great improvement in your view while waiting to turn onto the highway from Tesnatee Gap Valley Road. Leveling out the intersection will improve safety as it allows motorists to see oncoming traffic and make wiser decisions. Thank you for your patience as this work occurs,” explained Harold Mull, Georgia DOT District Construction Engineer.
The contract to build Phase One the Cleveland Bypass in White County was awarded to Sunbelt Structures, Inc. of Tucker. This 1.97 mile long project begins at Hope Drive at US 129/SR 11 and extends northwest to SR 115.
Feds indict former Habersham deputy in “Bou Bou” case
Former Habersham County deputy Nikki Autry was indicted by a federal grand jury this week in relation to the botched 2014 Cornelia drug raid that left a toddler badly injured.
Acting U.S. Attorney John Horn announced the indictment Tuesday, “Our criminal justice system depends upon our police officers’ sworn duty to present facts truthfully and accurately, there is no arrest that is worth selling out the integrity of our law enforcement officers,”
The indictment accuses Autry of falsely swearing that an informant made a drug buy at a house on Lakeview Heights Circle in Cornelia in order to get a no-knock search warrant. Officers from a regional drug task force then used that warrant to enter the home. They threw in a flash-bang grenade that landed close to Bounkham Phonesavanh, badly burning the child.
Read the Indictment
“In this case, Autry is charged with making false statements to a judge in order to obtain search and arrest warrants,” Horn says. “Without her false statements, there was no probable cause to search the premises for drugs or to make the arrest. And in this case, the consequences of the unlawful search were tragic.”
The indictment charges Autry with four counts of civil rights violations for “willfully depriving the occupants of the residence of their right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures by a police officer”
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the District Attorney’s Office of the Mountain Judicial Circuit.
$10 million verdict in Habersham malpractice lawsuit
A seven-day civil trial resulted in a multi-million dollar jury verdict in a medical malpractice case in Habersham County.
Glenda Daniels brought suit after a 2012 procedure to remove her gallbladder at Habersham County Medical Center went wrong. According to her attorney Richard Hendrix, “As she began to bleed profusely from the lacerated artery, she was in need of an emergency blood transfusion. Despite losing most of her blood, she was not given a blood transfusion at the Habersham Medical Center before being transferred to the Northeast Georgia Medical Center, with devastating results that left her permanently impaired and profoundly disabled.”
Daniels named her surgeon, Dr. Chadwick Thomas, and two Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists employed by Habersham Anesthesiology Associates, Inc. in the lawsuit. “The jury found that she had received substandard medical care from employees of the Habersham Medical Center,” Hendrix says.
HMC CEO Jerry Wise says the hospital and Dr. Thomas settled the claims against them before the case went to trial.
After a week of testimony at Habersham County Courthouse, the jury returned a verdict of $10,964,000 in favor of Daniels.
Daniels Attorneys, Hendrix and Steven Wisebram of Atlanta-based firm Finch McCranie, claim this is a record-setting case for the county. “The verdict of $10,964,000.00 is believed to be the largest medical malpractice verdict in Habersham County history; it is also believed to be the largest personal injury jury verdict ever returned in Habersham County.”
Sex Trafficking in the U.S.
I had the privilege of hearing a Super Lawyer speak tonight. A Super Lawyer, in the legal world, is a distinguished rating used to recognize outstanding lawyers in certain fields; and even though this lawyer holds the title in the area of Aviation Law and Medical Malpractice, it isn’t what I mean. David William Boone is a super lawyer because of what he stands against. Founder and President of CLAWS (Civil Lawyers Against World Sex-Slavery), Boone uses the civil justice system to bring pro bono lawsuits on behalf of survivors of sex slavery. The goal of CLAWS is “to empower victims, take economic resources away from those who are benefiting from trafficking, and raise awareness among the public through education, legislation, and litigation.”
Atlanta ranks high in cities for sex trafficking in the United States.
Boone spoke openly to a packed house at The Torch in Demorest, Georgia, about the crisis we find ourselves in today. 85% of the children taken into sex trafficking are girls, 15% boys. He said the average age of a child forced into the sex slave industry is 12 to 13 years of age, and frighteningly, 300 children are abducted per month in the State of Georgia.
One of the greatest marketing tools for these predators, these modern-day pimps, is social media. I’ve heard about sex trafficking, in far away places, not close to home. It happened in dark, dangerous places, and it happened to women and children who were sold into it because of poverty. It wasn’t in the malls or on playgrounds or in neighborhoods. And certainly not in the United States.
I learned, as David Boone opened his heart and expressed his faith to a congregation of mostly teens and parents, that Americans are buying and selling Americans, and it happens every day. The predators that entrap young girls and boys befriend them on Facebook, through texting, and Instagram. They meet up at the Mall and ball games. These pimps manipulate teens into believing they are their friends, their boyfriend or girlfriend, and they love them more than their parents. Over and over, our young people are falling for it.
Boone spends tireless hours educating people on how we can become aware of the pitfalls and understand who the predators are and how they prey on people. The best advise he can give for parents is to BE PARENTS – not friends. Know who your teenagers are texting, what they are viewing on the internet, and with whom they are spending time.
There are organizations all over the world working to stop this atrocity. Take the time and learn how you can help prevent sex trafficking in the U.S. and in the world. It starts with us – one person at a time.
If you would like more information about CLAWS and how you can become involved in helping keep these predators off the street, you can visit their website at https://www.usclaws.org.
Meeting Minds: Judy Garland
When we meet the minds of others, we can better understand one another. Today, meet the mind of Judy Garland, American singer and actress, best known for her role as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.
“Be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of someone else. ” – Judy Garland.