Tag Archives: Lowndes County

drug testing —Susan Leavens

Received 28 June 2011. -jsq
the attached is the drug test every employee had after the GDA turned the statements over to the county manager… he “Joe Prichard” stated some employees were interviewed EVERYONE even Linda was Drug tested… she was the only one that showed concern for the drug test, she stated because she mixed the pentasol she may test positive to the drug. But all employees were certified to euthenis and we get it all over our fingers and some of us have even had the syringes explode from the needles and get in our eyes and mouth and we were not scared of testing positive. And “all” employees were interviewed not “some”! And I might add we all passed! Notice it is also under reasonable suspicion not random…

-Susan Leavens

Now they change their minds, so we’ve got a right to change our minds —Calvin Marshall @ LCC 12 July 2011

Somebody finally called a developer’s bluff! Answering Commissioners’ questions about his opposition to rezoning for Nottinghill on Cat Creek Road, Calvin Marshall did what I’ve never seen anyone do before in opposing a subdivision: he upped the ante.

Commissioner Richard Raines said he would require Nottinghill lots to have:

“Not perhaps, but a fence around the edge of the property. … Need to make sure that bicycles and fourwheelers, that children are not playing in a field that is used to grow crops.”
Seems fair, except that he seemed to be talking about each individual eventual property owner having to put up a fence, and I can tell you by experience that that won’t happen without the neighboring landowner personally insisting to each lot owner. Unless the Commission insists that county code enforcement actually enforce such a condition, which would be a good thing for a change.

Then Commissioner Raines asked Calvin Marshall:

“Is it still your position that 12-15,000 square foot lots are OK?”
Calvin Marshall answered: Continue reading →

What are they going to put for a buffer for farms at Nottinghill —Calvin Marshall @ LCC 12 July 2011

Neighboring landowner demolishes developers’ arguments; explains agriculture to Lowndes County Comission.

Neighboring landowner Calvin Marshall, speaking against rezoning for REZ-2011-10 Nottinghill, said neighbors,

“We’re not interested in a Bluepool, We’re not interested in a Chatham Place. And we’re certainly not interested in what they built out on Val Del Road. We’ve also looked at what they’ve done with Old Pine, and we’re definitely not interested in that, either. Too small lots, small homes.”
That last one is presumably Glen Laurel, which had a roomful of neighbors opposing it last year.

Calvin Marshall asked for the Commissioners to deny the Nottinghill rezoning request.

He also asked:

“The other thing that we asked the developer … what you going to do about the neighbors that have got a farm on each side? What kind of buffer are you going to put there?
…
We farm that land, we grow crops, we run cows, we run goats, we run hogs, and we’re going to continue to do that.
…
We don’t have an answer as to what they’re going to do for a buffer.”

Calvin Marshall continued with the economic argument:

“There’s three or four generations of property owners in this room tonight. These people go back for three or four generations. And these people have worked hard.
Continue reading →

Nottinghill, Cat Creek Road, rezoning —Jason Davenport

County Planner Jason Davenport introduced REZ-2011-10 Nottinghill, Cat Creek Rd, 0144 0255-0258, ~15.75 ac., 49 lots, Co W/S, R-1 to R-10.

He said the TRC recommended approval with a condition, the Planning Commission recommended approval with a different condition, and now staff preferred requiring a minimum lot size of 12,000 square feet.

Here’s the video:


Nottinghill, Cat Creek Road, rezoning —Jason Davenport
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 12 July 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

-jsq

I was disinvited to be on Black Crow radio —Ashley Paulk

It wasn’t after the Commission meeting that Ashley Paulk said
“I was disinvited to be on Black Crow radio.”
It was during the meeting, as in this video. I was confused because I left the room briefly and didn’t see it. Fortunately, Gretchen had a camera going.

Here’s the video:


I was disinvited to be on Black Crow radio —Ashley Paulk
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 12 July 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

-jsq

Graphic horse case —Susan Leavens

Received 28 June 2011. -jsq
On 05-07-2010 horse was euthenised

This 18 month old Tenn. Walking Horse was refused vet care or euthensia not only by its owner but by my Director as well. I was alerted through 911 dispatch on a Saturday while working. I spoke to my director (Linda) about the colts situation and she advised me she was not going to WASTE COUNTY FUNDS picking him up, euthenising him or disposing of him. Five days later with a Lowndes County deputy and Officer Ronnie Ganas and Dr. Mary Rogers, he was darted (colt was not halter broken) and euthenised; Tifton Diagnostic Lab found a high utensil wire embedded in the left hind leg (pastern) which had severed his deep flexor tendon. PLEASE REMEMBER vet care or euthenising was REFUSED

Continue reading →

Something else for LAKE watchers to watch: Five Points Committee

Maybe some folks who didn’t get appointed to the committee but are interested in what happens at 5 points could start attending these meetings and taking some videos.

David Rodock wrote in the VDT 15 July 2011, Five Points revitalization taking shape: Committee to select building consultant

“Members will meet again on August 28 at 5 p.m. to review prospective engineering and design firms for the redevelopment project, along with October 13 at 10 a.m. City Council members will vote to approve the contract at their October 20 regular session.

…

The Five Points and Municipal Auditorium Steering Committee meets at the City Hall Annex multi-purpose room. The public is invited to attend.”

-gretchen

Arrests for speaking in an Arizona town

Something seems familiar about this story of a couple of people being arrested at small town council meetings for speaking up.

Ben Popken wrote for the Consumerist 15 July 2011, Small Arizona Town In Furor After 2nd Citizen Arrested For Speaking At Town Meeting:

The town of Quartzsite, AZ, population 3,466, is in disarray after a video showing police hauling away a citizen for speaking at the town meeting podium went viral. The woman was saying that the town council had been violating open meeting laws.

It was the second citizen arrested at a Quartzsite town meeting in two weeks.

What’s all this about? Continue reading →

Return of the Sock Puppets!

A new spate of sock puppets, this time spitting against animals!

Someone commenting as lowndes county tax payer and resident yelled and screamed a bit, concluding

“DAMN.”
Less than an hour later, long time citizen as well commented:
“I certainly can agree with you on that….”
Guess what? They both posted from the same IP address and supplied the same email address. And then lifetime citizen of lowndes county, not just a visitor complaining posted
“STOP BOTHERING THOSE PEOPLE”
with a different IP address, yet the same email address. You may have suspected that just from the same kind of ALL CAPS INVECTIVE.

This is a sock puppet:

sock puppet: the act of creating a fake online identity to praise, defend or create the illusion of support for one’s self, allies or company. — New York Times

As I pointed out back in April, Sock puppets may not be such a good idea, because: Continue reading →

Too many people are making literally billions from the illicit drug trade —Major Neill Franklin

The only way to stop drug lords from reaping billions from the drug trade is to end drug prohibition, says a former leader of the drug war. The same applies to private prison companies reaping millions.

Tony O’Neill wrote 14 June 2011 in The Fix, Why Growing Numbers of Police Are Slamming Drug Prohibition:

For decades, police were convinced that total prohibition was the only way to end America’s deadly drug wars. Now thousands of cops are not only having second thoughts but actually taking to the streets in protest.

“I was pro-prohibition: that’s what my training was about!” says Major Neill Franklin, Executive Director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), who previously served for 33 years with the Maryland State Police and the Baltimore police forces on the front line of America’s longest running war. “Even though I grew up in Baltimore and saw what was going on, we were taught and trained to believe that if we push hard enough, if we lock up the people involved, then this will eventually dissipate, or at least be reduced to a manageable level.” He gives a long, world-weary sigh. “Of course back then I had no clue…You just can’t tell somebody not to use and they’re gonna stop using! As long as there are people willing to buy, and as long as people don’t have employment, then you’re going to have an illicit drug trade. I saw that we made these arrests—we locked up dealers and users alike—and it might get quiet for a few days, or even a couple of weeks, but give it time and it all starts up again.”

The War on Drugs has failed. Like alcohol prohibition before it, it breeds more violence. Law enforcement against it just makes it worse: Continue reading →