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BUSINESS
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HOGANSVILLE, GA
PERMIT NO, 35
Formerly The Hogansville Herald
Serving the Hogansville-Grantville Area Since 1944
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59, NO. 32
HOGANSVILLE, GEORGIA- THURSDAY, AUG. 8, 2002
10 PAGES . 1 SECTION • 1 INSERT • 50€
Cotmcil Draws Heat
$4.366/00p to Atlanta
/
/
/
LIONS AND MOOSE AND BEARS, OH
MY! - Oscar Hofer is standing with an African
lion. The lion has been on display at Wildlife
Experience Museum for the past three year
located on Main Street in downtown
Hogansville. Rex Baker, owner, is moving
the museum to Nebraska this week, stat-
ing the reason as being "not enough traf-
fic" in Hogansville to hire a full time employ-
ee. Bottom Left: Wayne Gdssom of
Hogansville grabs a moose by its homs as
he takes the mounted animal to the truck
to be shipped to its new home in Nebraska.
Bottom Right: Nathaniel Gates of
Hogansville admires the two bears that
were on display at the Wildlife Experience
Museum. More than 500 species of exotic
wildlife have been on display for the last
three years.
Bender Leads to DUI Arrest
Hogansville led
the Hogansville Police
on Saturday around 7:30
parking lot in reference to an
Strong, Jr., 65, of 203 Brooks
a 1994 Lincoln Mark VIII,
the concrete barrier for
striking a 1991
Corolla driven by Ruby J.
of 800 R]s Road.
either of the
bumper of Strong's car
right corner of Morgan's car,
white paint on the bumper,
which was black.
Dunklee said she spoke with Strong
and noticed slurred speech and a strong
odor of alcoholic beverage.
She said the Alco-Check registered
positive, so Strong was taken to the HPD,
where he had trouble walking, getting
out of the patrol car and climbing steps.
Strong was charged with DUI and
made bond at the police station and
released to a friend.
• In a separate incident, a
Hogansville man was arrested on July
30 and charged with VGCSA and Driving
while license suspended or revoked.
Timmy Lee Clark of 123 Granite
Street was stopped by Hogansville
Police Chief Guy Spradlin as he drove
his 1987 white Ford Mustang on Askew
Street.
Sgt. Tommy Hatcher responded to
the call and found out that Spradlin had
knowledge that Clark did not have a
valid driver's license.
Radio traffic verified that Clark
license was indeed revoked and he had
a probation violation on him.
After placing Clark under an arrest,
Hatcher went to the passenger's side of
the car where Geoffrey Wheeler of 913
1/2 E. Maia was sitting.
Hatcher said he noticed a partially
smoked suspected marijuana cigarette
which Clark said was his.
Clark gave police consent to search
the vehicle where under the passenger's
seat, less than one ounce of suspected
marijuana was found.
'Need Training,' Says Councilman
Who Took His Girlfriend Along
By BRYAN GETER
Hogansville's city coun-
cil members were under fire
Monday night for taking a
$4,366 trip to Atlanta.
Former councilman and
county commissioner
Thomas Pike asked why, if
the city's budget is so tight
that "you had the cut the fat
and trimm it'to the bone,"
members of the council went
to the Georgia Municipal
Association Mayor's Day in
Atlanta at the cost of $4,366
for two days.
%Vhy couldn't you com-
mute each day since it is only
a 50 mile trip and save the
city money?" asked Pike.
"Five of you could ride in a
city vehicle."
Hogansville may get an extra
road paved because of his
being there and talking to the
right people.
'I got a stack of books that
will help me," Frazier stated.
"All departments of Georgia
are there and meet and talk
with the elected officials."
Leidner asked, "Are you
saying I'm stealing money,
Mr. Pike?"
Pike answered, "No."
Leidner told the
Hogansville Home News
Tuesday morning that never
in his 54 years has even a
shadow of a doubt been cast
on his integrity.
"If people of Hogansville
cannot see the need for a
council who is helping to
rewrite a planning and zon-
ing ordinance to attend a
Pike asked why it was basic state course in planning
...... ¢iled s Day" if the--. mai a-, -
council goes. Pike also
inquired about the high
priced hotel rooms being
between $590-$647.
"We have people on fixed
incomes who get their pre-
scriptions half-filled each
month because they can't
afford to get it completely
filled," he asserted.
Then Pike asked why the
GMA Savannah trip cost
$8,387. "That is too much
money," he said. "Did you all
get receipts or bring balances
back?"
Councilmen Charlie
Frank Martin and Jack
Leidner both said they
returned the balances.
Pike asked why five pet)-
ple had to go.
Councilman Bobby Joe
Frazier said, "This is a GMA
meeting and we need train-
ing and schooling."
Frazier said that past
council members have row
tinely gone on such trips for
training.
Pike said he served two
terms and he went on one trip
to Jekyll Island one time and
it was a waste of money. "I
never went as a county com-
missioner," he said.
"It's a waste of money you
spent on a two- day conven-
tion," Pike stated,'" when peo-
ple in Hogansville have to
choose between medicine
and groceries."
Frazier said it was not a
waste of money, for
be it."
Leidner said, "As of today
(Tuesday) "I have therefore
paid for it, myself."
Concerned citizen Mrs.
Weeks asked the council,
"Why is there never any
money to do what we need
done, but you can go to these
places?"
She then asked if the
knowledge would be applied.
"I get disgusted when I
drive around town. "I hear a
lot of talk and not much
action," she said.
Mrs. Weeks said all she
ever hears about the $8 mil-
lion debt for ten years.
Frazier noted, "You'll
probably hear about it for 20
more years."
Dennis Austin asked if
any relatives went on the trip.
Councilmen Martin and
Leidner answered no.
City Manager David
Aldrich said his wife went
with him and Frazier said his
girlfriend went with him.
Mayor Wilson St. Clair
and councilwoman Jean
Crocker didn't attend the
meetings.
Austin said that all that.is
needed to be a good council-
man is to have "A good heart
and horse sense. You don't
need classes, but horse
sense," he added.
"The city needs to use
every nickel you get to pay
on the $8 million bond we
owe," Austin said.
Robbers Find No Money in Restaurant
BRYAN GETER
:When the employees of Cato's
located at 10S Hwy 29 S, opened
door for business on Monday at 5:30
a big surprise confronted them.
Two men Sth their heads covered with
tee shirt with eye holes cut out
the building, police believe,
a side entrance and demanded
Reports state that the three employees,
Smith, Linda Smith and Laura Cato,
ordered to the floor and were asked
armed robbers, "where is the
victims assured thb robbers that
would be no money until Mr. Cato
the owner, arrived.
Then the three were told to get into the
closet. Bryan Smith said that is when one
of the robbers took his wallet, which he
stated had no money in it.
The two male assailants are believed
to be in their early 20's.
The black male was wearing darkplants
and a light colored shirt and weighed
approximately 150 lbs. and the other is
believed to be hispanic about 150 lbs. wear-
ing khaki baggy pants with a sweater.
It is not known ff the robbers were
already in the business when it opened or
hey entered shortly after it openecL
Hogansville Police officers Dunklee,
Lee, and I.ckard were on the scene in min-
utes.
Chief Guy Spradlin, Sgt. Tommy
Hatcher and Investigator Corey Keele
work diligently on the case throughout the
day.
The case has now been turned over to
the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
• In a separate case, Sara Green Harmon
of 313 Taliaferro Drive told police that on
August 1 that someone took her 1984
Oldsmobile Delta 88 from under her car-
port.
She said it was there at 8 p.m. but it was
gone by 2 a.m. the next morning.
Harmon said she didn't know it was
stolen until the Meriwether County
Sheriff's Department called to let her know
that her car was on the side of the road in
Meriwether County.
The vehicle was returned to Mrs.
Harmon. The suspects were taken into
custody and are in the Meriwether County
jail.
The value of the vehicle is $2,000.
vBa
CRIME REALLY DOESN PAY - Cato's
Restaurant was the target of a robbery early
Monday morning. The thugs found out that
not only was there no money in the cash
register, but awallet taken from an employ-
ee turned out to be empty, too.
