EAST METRO Top Stories for March 14th   

Publish Date: March 13th       

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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 14th, and Happy heavenly birthday to astronaut Frank Boreman.

***03.14.24 – BIRTHDAY – FRANK BOREMAN***

I’m Keith Ippolito and here are your top stories presented by Drake Realty

1. Morgan County Traffic Stop Leads to Drug Arrest with Two-Year-Old in the front seat
2. Conyers Authorities Address Rising Incidents of Reckless Driving
3. Firearms Safety Class held by The Morgan County Sheriff's Office

Plus, Bruce Jenkins’ conversation with Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on food longevity.

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: Man arrested for drugs in Morgan County during traffic stop on I-20 with a two-year-old in the front

During a traffic stop for speeding on I-20, Morgan County Sheriff's deputies apprehended Michael Q. Adams, 35, from Laurinburg, N.C., who was allegedly in possession of a significant quantity of suspected marijuana and Ecstasy pills. Also present in the vehicle was an improperly secured two-year-old child seated in the front.

Deputy Cameron Ptak reported that the child's car seat was not buckled correctly and noted a strong scent of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. Adams admitted to carrying a firearm, which was seized by Ptak along with the suspected drugs found in the car.

Adams is facing several charges, including intent to distribute Ecstasy and marijuana, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and violation of child restraint regulations. The child was subsequently placed under the care of the Department of Family and Child Services.

STORY 2: Conyers Officials Targets Influx of Reckless Driving Exhibitions

In response to an uptick in street racing and reckless driving, officials in Conyers have taken decisive action. The City Council has unanimously approved an ordinance that outlaws street racing and exhibitions of reckless driving within the city limits. This move allows law enforcement officers to impound vehicles involved in such activities and issue citations.

The primary objective of this ordinance is to bolster public safety and address concerns expressed by residents and visitor.. It defines street racing as any motor vehicle speed contest conducted on public roads or private properties.

Officials are emphasizing the importance of maintaining Conyers as a safe community, free from such hazardous activities.

STORY 3: Morgan County Sheriff's Office holds firearms safety class

The Morgan County Sheriff's Office has scheduled a Citizen Firearms Class for March 23. The class will encompass topics such as firearms safety, Georgia's use of force laws, and shooting techniques.

This instructional session, blending theoretical lecture and practical hands-on training, is set to occur at the Morgan County Public Safety Complex and its associated firing range. Although completion of this course is not a prerequisite for a Georgia Weapons Carry License, it is highly recommended.

Eligible participants must be at least 18 years of age, with no felony or domestic violence convictions, and they must be residents of Morgan County. The course, which includes both classroom instruction and a range practice session, is slated to run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Due to space limitations, registration is limited and can be completed on the morgancountyga.gov website.

We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.799.6810 for more info.  

We’ll be right back.

Break: WHEELER FUNERAL HOME – INGLES 6

STORY 4: Rockdale Will Not Add 2 Commission Seats. Here's What We Know

House Bill 741, which proposed to increase the number of seats on the Rockdale County Board of Commissioners from three to five, did not pass in the 2024 legislative session. The bill, despite attempts to address public concerns by separating the code of ethics, failed to gather sufficient support.

The reintroduced bill only received signatures from two out of three Rockdale County delegates, falling short of the required three. Representative Darshun Kendrick's decision not to sign, due to her impending exit from office, was a significant obstacle to the bill's advancement.

Representative Rhonda Taylor expressed her disappointment at the outcome but encouraged citizens to pursue change through voting.

STORY 5: No smaller lot sizers for Prior Farms housing development in Madison

The proposal to shrink lot sizes for the Prior Farms housing development in Madison was turned down by the Mayor and City Council. The decision was influenced by apprehensions about potential overcrowding and establishing an undesirable precedent. Despite this, the project will still incorporate smaller house sizes as a measure to ensure affordability.

The developers had planned to construct 40 single-family homes on a 16.9-acre plot to cater to the workforce housing needs, with rent starting from an affordable $600 per month. Although the proposed lot sizes were a point of contention, Mayor Perriman underscored the significance of providing affordable housing to meet the demands of the community.

The development is funded through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, underscoring its commitment to provide quality housing for families in Madison.

We’ll be back in a moment.

Break: CHERRY BLOSSOM – HENRY CO SHERIFFS OFFICE

STORY 6: Interview 

And now here is Bruce Jenkins’ conversation with Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on food longevity.

STORY 7:  LEAH INTERVIEW

We’ll have closing comments after this. 

Break: CURIOSITY LAB BIKE RACE – GCPS

Signoff-   

Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Community 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.

Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Produced by the BG Podcast Network

Show Sponsors:

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

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