WGAA 1340AM Cedartown

A two vehicle wreck in Cedartown early this morning shutdown both southbound lanes of Highway 27. According to Polk County Police reports, the wreck occurred at approximately 5:45 a.m. this morning, blocking both southbound lanes of Highway 27 at Lewis Road in the north end of Cedartown for nearly an hour. Redmond EMS reports that two individuals were injured, one seriously injured. Redmond EMS transported the victim to Floyd Medical Center were his or her condition is unknown at this time. Polk County police now say that both lanes of Highway 27 southbound and one northbound lane are back open.

A couple of Cedartown men were arrested early Sunday on several felony charges. According to reports from the Floyd County Jail, 46 year old David Allen Dawson and 47 year old Tony Maurice Mitchell, both of Cedartown, were taken to Floyd County Jail on charges of burglary, theft by taking, criminal damage to property in the second degree, and obstruction or hindering law enforcement officers. Reports indicate that the two men are alleged to have broken into a residence on Preacher Smith Road in Floyd County at approximately 2 a.m. Sunday morning. They are reported to have taken several items from inside the residence and from two storage buildings. Both men threw down the items when confronted and fled from police into the woods, where they were apprehended.

The Polk County Census Committee is still looking for personnel to help conduct the 2010 census. The positions pay $13 per hour. Anyone interested in one of these positions should contact Elizabeth Scott at the Georgia Department of Labor at 770-749-2213. The Cedartown Georgia Department of Labor of Labor office is located on North Park Blvd. in the Cedartown North Industrial Park between the bypass and Davis Road.

The Cedartown Lady Dawgs and Bulldogs basketball teams wrapped up their 2009-2010 seasons Saturday at home in great fashion. Senior Kristen Little who scored 33 points in her last game as a Lady Dawg, led her team to a 73 to 55 routing of the Haralson County Rebelettes on Senior Day. The Lady Dawgs end their season at 2-5 in region 6AAA subregion B and 2-19 overall. The Bulldogs would have a tougher time with the Rebels as the decision was still in doubt late in the 4^th quarter. However, the Dawgs pulled out a thrilling 47-45 win over Haralson County, ending with a 3-4 region mark and 6-15 overall for the season.

Little details are known at this time regarding a Polk County man being arrested on child molestation charges. According to officials, 30 year old Benjamin Lee Weaver of 460 Jule Peek Avenue in Cedartown was taken into custody on one charge of child molestation. Police say the alleged victim told a parent about the incident and that parent then contacted police. Reports indicate that the child is under 12 years old.

Two individuals were transported to Polk County Jail after being arrested on several drug charges. According to Polk County Police reports, 50 year old Allyson Gay Walding and 23 year old Terrall Allan Walding both of 836 College Street in Rockmart were arrested on Monday. The elder Walding was charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, methamphetamine possession, trafficking methamphetamine, and possession of tools for the commission of a crime. Mr. Walding faces charges of manufacturing methamphetamine, methamphetamine possession, trafficking methamphetamine, and possession of tools for the commission of a crime. They both remain in Polk County Jail at this time.

Elijah Joseph Ingram

A second man sought in the alleged assault of a Rockmart man is now in custody. According to Polk County Police, 17 year old Elijah Joseph Ingram of 215 Cochran Ridge Road in Dallas is accused of aiding 21 year old William Harings of 85 Floyd Mountain Circle in Rockmart in the January 15 assault. Dockets indicate Ingram faces charges of kidnapping, false imprisonment, aggravated battery, pointing or aiming a gun at another, terroristic threats and acts, theft by taking, possession of a firearm or knife in the commission of a crime, criminal damage to property in the second degree, burglary and aggravated assault. Police arrested Ingram Wednesday after it was learned that a second man could have been involved in the incident. Ingram is currently in the Polk County Jail, along with Harings who was arrested shortly after the incident. Harings and Ingram allegedly went to the victim’s residence and began to beat a man. The suspects then dragged the man out into the woods while continuing to assault him. Harings left before police arrived and was believed to be heading toward Paulding County. Polk County Police initiated a traffic stop on Haring’s vehicle where he was arrested without incident.

A former Polk County Sheriff’s Deputy who pleaded guilty to mail fraud in November was sentenced in federal court Thursday. According to reports, 43 year old Kenneth Lane Gravett of Cedartown will serve five years probation for falsifying an insurance claim in order to pay off a debt. Gravett will serve the first 10 months confined to his home with electronic monitoring, according to U.S. District Court Judge Robert L. Vining Jr. Gravett reportedly used the insurance proceeds to pay off the delinquent loan on his motorcycle and on Dec. 4, 2008, another co-conspirator sold the motorcycle to an FBI informant for $1,500. He then reported the theft to his insurance carrier American Modern Select Insurance Company, mailing the fraudulent police report to the company, reportedly in order to obtain funds to pay off the motorcycle. Gravett was ordered to pay back $12,517.02 and was ordered to immediately pay a special assessment of $100 to the government. Vining said if he could not pay the total amount to the insurance company for the fraudulent claim, he would have to pay it back in installments of $300 a month.

Brenda Lee Craig

A Rockmart man who suffered a gunshot wound from a domestic dispute with his wife has been moved out of the intensive care unit and into a regular hospital room. According to reports, 35 year old Brenda Lee Craig of an Elm Street address in Rockmart allegedly shot her husband late Monday night. A Polk County Jail docket report indicates that Craig is charged with aggravated assault and aggravated battery under the Family Violence Act. Police say she is alleged to have shot her husband with a .380 pistol at the Saddlebrook Apartment Complex. The husband, Douglas Craig, was transported to an area hospital where he was placed in the intensive care unit. Polk County Police initially responded to the call.

CMS 8th graders at the real estate booth at Wednesday's "Reality Fair" at Rockmart High School.

The Polk School District’s Career, Technical, and Agricultural Department held their second annual “Reality Fair” for Polk County’s 8^th grade students. Students were given a paystub representing a month’s wages from a job. They then visited booths depicting housing, insurance, groceries, utilities, and other living expenses. The students would have money deducted from their check to pay for real world expenses to show them the costs of living. The fair was held in the upper gym at Rockmart High School on Wednesday. Polk School District CTAE Director Katie Couch says that the success of the CTAE program lies with the teachers and support from the school district. Cedartown Middle School 8^th graders participated in the event Wednesday morning and Rockmart’s 8^th graders took part in the fair in the afternoon.