EAST METRO Top Stories for March 28th   

Publish Date: March 28th       

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From the Ingles Studio, Welcome to The Community Podcast. This Podcast brings you the top stories from the Rockdale-Newton Citizen and the Morgan Citizen.  

Today is Thursday, March 28th and Happy 68th birthday to singer Reba McEntire.

***03.28.24 – BIRTHDAY – REBA MCENTIRE***

I’m KEITH IPPOLITO and here are your top stories presented by Drake Realty

1. Bomb threat at Morgan County High School quickly diffused on Tuesday
2. Cops continue search for Rutledge man who fled Friday after high-speed chase
3. Newton County Chairman Marcello Banes Calls for Continued Unity in State of the County Address

Plus, Bruce Jenkins’ conversation with Leah McGrath on raw milk’s health benefits.

These stories and more are coming up in today’s edition of the Community Podcast for Rockdale, Newton, and Morgan Counties! Please like, follow, and subscribe.

BREAK: DRAKE 

STORY 1: Bomb threat at Morgan County High School quickly diffused on Tuesday

Morgan County High School experienced a "soft lockdown" for about 20 minutes due to a bomb threat called in by an unidentified person claiming to be a student. Authorities swiftly located the student mentioned in the call but determined they were not involved. The lockdown was precautionary, indicating no immediate danger. Investigators traced the call to a 14-year-old eighth-grade student, with another 13-year-old student also implicated. Both face charges of making terroristic threats and disrupting a public school. The school system is taking the incident seriously and intends to prosecute the students fully.

STORY 2: Still at large: Cops continue search for Rutledge man who fled Friday after high-speed chase

Henry “Hank” Roundtree, a Rutledge man, is being sought by Morgan County officials after leading Georgia State Patrol troopers and deputies on a high-speed chase, reaching speeds over 100 mph. The chase began on Interstate 20 when Roundtree, riding a motorcycle with no tag, fled from troopers. He drove recklessly, even going the wrong way on the interstate. Law enforcement halted pursuit for safety reasons. Roundtree's motorcycle was later found hidden behind a dumpster. Despite an extensive search aided by a helicopter and tracking dogs, Roundtree evaded capture. Authorities suspect he fled the area, and he faces multiple charges, including obstruction, fleeing, reckless driving, and probation violation.

STORY 3: Newton County Chairman Marcello Banes Calls for Continued Unity in State of the County Address

Newton County's State of the County address emphasized collaboration and progress toward the OneNewton vision, focusing on unity among local governments and districts. Chairman Marcello Banes highlighted achievements like road improvements, public safety enhancements, and community projects. He emphasized the importance of collective efforts for the county's prosperity. Awards were given to community leaders and county employees for their contributions, including Pastor Clara Lett for her homeless ministry, Laura Bertram for senior home repair grants, and twin sisters Chandra Mitchell and Felicia Harris for volunteer work. County employees also received Unsung Hero awards for their dedicated service across various departments.

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We’ll be right back  

Break: WHEELER FUNERAL HOME – HENRY CO SHERIFFS OFFICE

STORY 4: The Wheelhouse receives massive grant

The Wheelhouse, a volunteer organization supporting rural entrepreneurs in Morgan County, received a $368,000 grant from Senator Raphael Warnock as part of the Minibus Government Funding Bill. The grant aims to empower small business startups and establish an Entrepreneurship Center. Founded in 2021, The Wheelhouse provides mentorship and resources for entrepreneurs. The organization plans to utilize the grant for enhancing their services and possibly securing a physical location. Excited about the opportunity, they aim to continue their impactful work in supporting local businesses and fostering entrepreneurship in the area.

STORY 5: Newton County Sheriff Requests Funding for Mental Health Co-Responder

Newton County Sheriff Ezell Brown urged for additional funding to support a mental health co-responder unit, which would dispatch caseworkers alongside officers on crisis-related calls. Brown highlighted the high percentage of inmates in the jail requiring psychotropic medication, emphasizing the need for mental health interventions. He proposed allocating $100,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act funds for this purpose, citing potential long-term cost savings and the program's positive impact on reducing recidivism. While some commissioners suggested including the funding in the next fiscal year's budget, Brown emphasized the urgency of immediate funding to address the critical need. County Manager Harold Cooper agreed to review available funding options and present a recommendation at the next board meeting.

We’ll be back in a moment.  

Break: INGLES 8

STORY 6: Interview 

And now here is Bruce Jenkins’ conversation with Leah McGrath on raw milk’s health benefits.

STORY 7:  LEAH INTERVIEW

We’ll have closing comments after this. 

Break: CURIOSITY LAB BIKE RACE – ATL HEALTH FAIR

Signoff-   

Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Marietta Daily Journal podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Gwinnett Daily Post, the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties, or the Paulding County News Podcast. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at MDJonline.com.   

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Produced by the BG Podcast Network

Show Sponsors:

• ingles-markets.com
• drakerealty.com
• henrycountysheriffga.gov
• wheelerfuneralhome.com
• peachtreecornersga.gov/385/Curiosity-Lab-Criterium-2024
• acc.org/ATLHealthFair

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