The missing teen from Aragon has been found according to authorities. Aragon Police say that 14 year old Amber Graham of Aragon was reported missing back on February 21. U.S. Marshalls had been called in to assist with the search for Graham and according to Raymond Kitson of the Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, she was found Wednesday afternoon hiding behind a wall at her boyfriend’s house. She was questioned at the Aragon Police Department and her 16-year-old boyfriend was taken into custody and will be housed at the Youth Detention Center in Rome. His identity will not be released due to the fact that he is a minor. However, the boyfriend’s mother, Stacy Dukes of 2003 First Ave. in Rockmart faces charges of obstruction of law enforcement and interfering with custody in relation to the case. She is currently housed in the Polk County Jail. U.S. Marshalls, along with the Aragon Police Department, Rockmart Police, and Polk County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the arrest.
A disturbance Wednesday afternoon on College Drive in Cedartown caused quite an uproar. According to Cedartown Assistant Police Chief Jamie Newsome, police arrived on the scene to the report of possible gunfire. When police arrived, they observed 44 year old Jerry Eugene Shaw acting irate and delusional. He tried to wave down a vehicle driving on College Drive when police arrived. He was captured at that time. It was later discovered that he had tried to shoot his mother. No one was injured in the incident. Shaw faces charges of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, reckless conduct, and violation of the Georgia Controlled Substance Act. Shaw was taken to Polk Medical Center to be checked, but he was then transported to the Polk County Jail.
The Polk County Commission denied a gaming machine license to and area business at their regular meeting Tuesday night. County Commissioner Sandra Galloway said that the building inspector declared that the building was not up to proper code, including bad wiring and not meeting fire safety codes. The business, known as L & L Variety at 515 Piedmont Highway, had requested a gaming license at the January meeting but it was tabled to allow further investigation. In other business, the commission approved an amendment to the personnel policy to allow sick leave to be used toward retirement. County Manager Clinton Lester says there are several advantages to this new policy. Lester also reviewed the county finances.
The roads in Polk County appear to be virtually clear this morning as parents and students prepare to leave their homes this morning to head to work or school. It appears that the wind has dried up most of the moisture on the roads, but some does remain. As of news time this morning, all schools in Polk County will open as normal this morning with buses running as usual. Yesterday’s snow caused several area school systems to release their kids early before we saw greater than expected snowfall cover the ground. Rains that mixed in with the snow in the latter part of the day Tuesday contributed to the melting of most of the accumulation. Winds blowing in a drier air mass evaporated much of the water on our roads overnight.
DALLAS, GA (AP) — A man who authorities say provoked authorities to shoot him in a suicide-by-police attempt Monday has died. Paulding County Sheriff’s Office officials say they responded to a suicide threat call to find 47-year-old Douglas Scott Piltcher barricaded inside a home. Officials say the Piltcher forced deputies to fire one shot at him when he came outside and pointed a scoped rifle at the deputies. He was airlifted by helicopter to Kennestone Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Aragon police are asking for the public’s help in the search for a teenage girl that went missing over a week ago. According to police, 14 year old Amber Graham was last seen when her mother told her goodnight back on February 21. Police originally thought that she was a runaway, but her relationship with her mother seemed to be good and she seemed to be a good girl. Amber is 4-foot-8-inches tall, weighs around 100 pounds, and has blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last seen in bedclothes, but it is not known what she is currently wearing. Anyone with any information can call 911 or the Aragon Police Department at 770-684-6563 or 770-684-6564.
Citations have been levied against one of the drivers in a four car collision in Aragon back on February 22. Aragon Police reports say that Jesse Andre Purser of a Rockmart address was cited for following too closely and driving too fast for conditions. He was reportedly driving a Ford Ranger pickup. According to reports, the wreck which occurred on February 22 at around 3:30 p.m. on Highway 101 involved a Nissan Maxima, a Lincoln Towncar, Ford Ranger, and GMC van. Aragon Police say that Kioto Crawford and Katie Chappell, both of Rockmart, were taken to Floyd Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries sustained during the wreck. The Maxima, Towncar, and Ranger were all traveling south on Highway 101 when the van turned on to the highway off of Prospect Road. None of the other drivers were cited in the wreck.
The University System of Georgia Board of Regents agreed with the proposal of Georgia Highlands College on Monday that will slash $2.4 million from its budget. The regents’ proposal will now go to the General Assembly, which will decide on the final cuts.
The cuts include: (more…)
School & Daycare Closings
- Polk School District - early release at 10 a.m.
- Bartow County Schools - early release at 11 a.m.
- Gordon County Schools - early release at 11 a.m.
- Calhoun City Schools - early release at 1:30 p.m.
- Trion City Schools - early release
- Chattooga County Schools - early release
- Cherokee County Schools (Ala.) - closed
- Georgia Northwestern Technical College - all campuses close at 11 a.m.
- Worldview Daycare - closed
- Anna Kresge Daycare - closed
- Tallatoona Daycare - closed
- Stepping Stones Daycare - closing at 2 p.m.
- Excel Daycare - closing at 1 p.m.
Church Closings/Cancellations
- WM meeting at Victory Baptist Church - canceled
- Marietta Street United Methodist Church - Tues. Night Bible Study canceled
Business Closings
- First National Bank of Polk County - closing at 2 p.m.
- Cedartown Senior Citizens Nutrition Center - closed
NOTICE: The Polk School District Board of Education Budgetary and Non-budgetary committee meetings for this evening have been canceled.
Polk School District Superintendent Marvin Williams announced this morning that school will be released early today due to the winter weather. Williams said that school will be released at 10 a.m. due to mountain roads that are starting to accumulate snowfall. Parents are advised to pick up their children as soon as possible. Winter Weather Advisory was cancelled as a Winter Storm Warning was issued as 1 to 3 inches of snow are expected in Northwest Georgia today. Stay tuned to the Big Double A for the latest weather updates and for closings from around the listening area.
