WGAA 1340AM Cedartown

Bryan Williams

A man who is alleged to have been involved in the slaying of a 19 year old Cedartown man pleads guilty to murder. 40-year old Bryan Williams pleaded guilty to murder Friday in Floyd Superior Court in the 2009 shooting death of Jeffrey Pledger.  Police say that Williams and three others lured Pledger to a home on East 19th Street in Rome with the intent to rob him. Williams will be sentenced at a later date.  He will be facing life in prison.

A Buchanan woman was killed in a single car accident in Rockmart over the weekend. According to officials at the Georgia State Patrol, 83 year old Olene Richardson of a Buchanan address died from injuries sustained in a wreck on Morgan Valley Road near Stringer Road. Officials say that she died after being taken to the hospital. The accident occurred around 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon. Reports state that Richardson overcorrected in her 2006 Chevy Cobalt and ran off the road into an embankment, eventually hitting a group of tress off the south shoulder of the road. Three passengers in the car received moderate injuries and were taken by Redmond EMS to an area hospital where the extent of their injuries is unknown at this time.

Cherokee County, Alabama authorities are investigating the discovery of a body which was found floating on Cowan Creek early Monday afternoon. According to reports, an individual who was mowing grass near the boat dock’s, discovered a white female floating and called 9-1-1 at 2:25 Monday afternoon. Cherokee County Sheriff’s Investigator Seth Rochester said that the victim is possibly from the Floyd County area and that right now the incident is being treated as a possible suicide. The investigation is ongoing at this time and we’ll have more as additional information is made available.

Shorter University President Harold Newman announced his plans to retire on Monday. Newman said that his contract, which ends June 2012, would be the last of his tenure at the University. A Presidential Search Committee will be appointed by Trustee Chairman Dr. Nelson Price to find the new president. Newman will retire when the choice is made. No timeline is set for a new president, however, Price said that it will be at least several months before the search begins.

According to a News Release from Calhoun County Sheriff Larry Amerson, on Thursday another person was arrested in connection to the marijuana seizure in Piedmont, 53 year old Phillip Earl Candler, from Piedmont, was arrested and charged with Trafficking Marijuana. He is being held in the Calhoun County Jail pending a $250,000 cash bond and has a court date of July 5, 2010. On Tuesday Deputies were working with Alabama State Troopers performing marijuana eradication. When they discovered a marijuana field on Piedmont Springs Rd. The investigation recovered over 50 marijuana plants. 55 year old Eddie Michael Chandler, from Piedmont, was arrested and charged with Trafficking in Marijuana. He is being held in the Calhoun County Jail pending a $250,000 cash bond and has a court date of July 5, 2010. Eddie Chandler was on Federal Probation of growing marijuana in the past, and his Probation Officer was instrumental in assisting the deputies.

The Cedartown City Commission will be among approximately 2,000 city officials to participate in discussions and training on issues affecting Georgia’s cities at the 77th annual convention of the Georgia Municipal Association, or GMA June 25-29. City leaders from all over the state will gather in Savannah to discuss the ways that their individual communities are being transformed and to explore what future lies in store for their cities. Seminars will be offered on a variety of topics. The City Commission will be attending various seminars consisting of downtown development, economic development and open meetings and open records. Based in Atlanta, GMA is a voluntary, non-profit organization that provides legislative advocacy, educational, employee benefit and consulting services to its 500 member cities.

Voters will have a month and a half to cast ballots for the July 20th Primary Election. Early voting begins this week. You can vote at the elections office at the Polk County Administration Building at 144 West Avenue each weekday from 9am until 5pm until Friday, July the 16th. Local voters will help decide a number of statewide contests including the Democratic and Republican primary contests for Governor. Races for State House and Senate seats will also be decided along with Democratic and Republican primaries for Polk County Commission and Polk County Board of Education. For more information about early voting, visit the Georgia Secretary of State’s website.

The case involving the fatal shooting of a 19-year-old Cedartown resident was in court Friday. Jeffrey Pledger died from gunshot wounds May 6th of last year. One of 4 defendants – Trenton Tyrice Williamson – entered a guilty plea to a reduced charge of conspiracy to commit robbery – a lesser charge from the original of conspiracy to commit armed robbery. A Judge recommended a sentence of 10 years – with only 3 to serve – in a bootcamp-type facility. The Judge is withholding final sentencing pending the trial of the other 3 charged in connection with the crime. The other 3 co-defendants – Chiresco Rodriques Montgomery, Eric Bernard Hightower, and Bryan Edward Williams – have trial dates scheduled for June 28th. All three face murder and firearm charges, among multiple others.

A very large crowd saw 229 seniors receive their diplomas Sunday night on Doc Ayers Field. Rains held off until after commencement exercises were over as parents flooded the field for pictures. One hundred forty-six Rockmart High School Seniors turned their tassels Friday night at their graduation exercises. The threat of rain was present, but the ceremonies continued. During the past week, middle and elementary schools conducted their graduation exercises as the year wrapped up.

Frank Burgess Press Box

Demolition of the old press box at Cedartown Memorial Stadium began on Friday and will be completed this week as officials break ground to build a new concession stand, press box, and restroom facility in one. Cedartown High School Principal Hal David said that the new facility will house both home and visitor coaches, visitor press, among other amenities. The project also will see a new concession stand and restroom being built on the visitor’s side underneath the bleachers. Funding for the project comes from special local option sales tax funds, but most of the cost is covered by the W.D. Tripp Foundation.