Police are currently searching for two boys who ran away from the Murphy Harpst Children’s Center on Wednesday. According to reports from the Polk County police department, a worker saw the two children running toward the woods at the center’s location at 128 Grady Road while she was loading other children into a van. Polk County police, with the assistance of a K-9 Unit from the Cedartown Police Department began to search the property yesterday afternoon. According to the police report, an officer attempted to call an administrator from the main campus of Murphy Harpst on Fletcher Street, but couldn’t reach anyone. A complaint form has yet to be completed by an administrator as of last night, the report states. The two boys are still on the run as the search for them continues. We’ll have more details on this story as they develop.
The Polk School District Board of Education met in a special called session Tuesday at Central Office on College Street in Cedartown. Superintendent Marvin Williams recommended to the board that the salary package for the new Cedartown High School Head Football, Scott Hendrix be changed. The board had previously approved a package that included a reduction in the head coaching supplement. The board voted to give the new head coach the full head coaching supplement along with the athletic director supplement. The next regular meeting for the school board will be Tuesday, March 9 at central office on College Street in Cedartown.
Georgia State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond will be on hand for the open house at the new Cedartown Career Center
ATLANTA, GA — State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said today that an open house ceremony for a new Georgia Department of Labor Career Center in Cedartown has been set for 2 p.m. Thursday, March 4. The location of the new career center is 262 North Park Blvd. in Cedartown. The public is invited to attend the open house. The 9,062-square-foot facility provides employment-related services for employers and job seekers, as well as user-friendly access to vocational rehabilitation customers. Employment-related services include: job referrals, Internet access, resume preparation assistance, career exploration, labor market information, job search and interview preparation, referral to training and education programs, assistive technology for persons with disabilities, and counseling for the deaf and hearing impaired, the blind and visually impaired, and those with mental health disabilities. The new career center also features two training rooms and a business center where employers can interview clients, conduct group meetings, and have access to copiers, faxes, and computers. It also has accommodations for staff members of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), who provide on-the-job training services to jobseekers. The career center is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. The telephone and fax machine numbers will remain the same at (770) 749-2213 and (770) 749-2277, respectively. Additional information about the services of the Georgia Department of Labor is available at www.dol.state.ga.us
Cedartown was recognized by the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA community for its commitment to urban forestry. It is the 16th year Cedartown has earned this national designation. The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service. Cedartown has met the four standards to become a Tree City USA community. These communities must have a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, a comprehensive community forestry program and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit, environmental and education organization of nearly one million members, with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information on the foundation and its programs can be found at www.arborday.org.
Two car collision blocks northbound lanes of Syble W. Brannon Parkway at North Park Blvd.
A two car collision on the Cedartown Bypass Monday afternoon shutdown the Northbound lanes of Highway 27, causing rush hour headaches. The wreck occurred sometime around 3:30 p.m. at the intersection of the Syble W. Brannon Parkway and North Park Blvd. It appeared that a late model Buick Rendezvous struck a black Ford Taurus on the passenger side, causing the Taurus to run off the road. Both vehicles had to be towed from the scene. At least one person was taken to the hospital and their identity and condition are not known at this time. Cedartown Police, along with Cedartown Fire Department vehicles, Redmond EMS, and the Georgia State Patrol were on the scene. Northbound lanes of Highway 27 were blocked for nearly an hour as crews worked to remove debris from the highway. All lanes of traffic were back open at approximately 4:45 p.m.
Seven people were arrested Thursday for conspiracy to manufacture and traffic methamphetamine after the Polk County Narcotics Enforcement Team, assisted by the Cedartown Police Department, served warrants at 121 Perry Street in Cedartown. The seven were booked into the Polk County Jail on Friday February 19th. According to reports, Jeannie Hopkins and Jason Glenn of the Perry Street address were taken into custody. Cory Puckett, Brittany Puckett, Daniel Gladden, Cicely Summerville, and Kimberly McDaniel were also arrested at that location. All seven people were charged with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine, possession of drug related objects and possession of marijuana.
Andrew Glover
A Cedartown man faces battery charges after a confrontation with another man at an area store. According to reports, 20 year old Andrew Glover was arrested and taken to Polk County Jail on a charge of battery. Polk County police say that the incident happened around 10 p.m. Saturday night at Poteet’s Store located at 180 Morgan Valley Rd. in Rockmart. The victim, identified as 55 year old Anthony Clark of a Rockmart address, was found lying in the parking lot where EMT’s rendered aid. A witness told authorities that Glover punched Clark until he fell to the ground and then continued to beat him. Other witnesses confirmed the identity of Glover. He was arrested at the home of his mother without incident. Clark was hospitalized but released Sunday. Police believe the argument was about money.
A four car wreck in Aragon Monday afternoon sent two people to the hospital, blocking traffic for nearly an hour. According to reports, the wreck which occurred 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 two people 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. The cause of the wreck had not been determined and the accident was still under investigation. The wreck blocked Highway 101 for about an hour. The road was reopened to traffic around 4:45 p.m.
Two women are under arrest after they are alleged to have stolen a bottle of liquor from an area beverage store, and police say they are currently searching for a male suspect who was with the women at the time of the theft. According to Cedartown police, an employee said that the two white females and the white male came in the store and bought one bottle of liquor. However, one female placed a bottle of vodka in her jacket and left without paying for it. An officer with the Cedartown Police Department recognized on of the females as he reviewed surveillance footage. Police later arrested 22 year old Barbara Jean Chastain of a Ledbetter Road address and 42 year old Betty Norris of a Bethlehem Road address in Rockmart. The man’s identity is not known at this time. The two women were each charged with misdemeanor theft by shoplifting.
Two local heroes were recognized Tuesday night at Cedartown Fire Department. Firefighters Kyle Watters and Lance Green each received the medal of valor for saving the life of a Cedartown man trapped inside a burning home back on January 12. Cedartown fire Chief Sammy Stephens, along with deputy chief Lee Wilkerson, and a host of other firefighters, city officials, commissioners, and local citizens were on hand for the recognition. On the day of the fire, Waters and Green were ion the area when they heard the initial dispatch over the and promptly responded to the scene. The two firefighters, in regular clothing, pulled the unidentified man from the burning building as units arrived. Watters and Green suffered from smoke inhalation but were treated on the scene and cleared. The man they saved, 84 year old Hal Thompson is still in the hospital but is expected to be released today.
