EAST METRO Top Stories for Jan 11th
Publish Date: Jan 10th
Commercial: Henssler :15
From the Ingles Studio, Welcome to The Community Podcast. This Podcast brings you the top stories from the Rockdale-Newton Citizen and the Morgan Citizen.
Today is Thursday, January 11th and Happy 71st birthday to golfer Ben Crenshaw.
***01.11.24 – BIRTHDAY – BEN CRENSHAW***
I’m KEITH IPPOLITO and here are your top stories presented by Drake Realty
Plus, Bruce Jenkins’ conversation with Leah McGrath on winter vegetables.
These stories and more are coming up in today’s edition of the Community Podcast for Rockdale, Newton, and Morgan Counties! Please like, follow, and subscribe.
BREAK: DRAKE
STORY 1: Morgan County mom pleads guilty to murder of 7-year-old son
Alison Gail Jones, charged with shooting her 7-year-old son, Maddox Jones, on March 1, 2021, pleaded guilty but mentally ill in Morgan County Superior Court. Jones received a life sentence with the possibility of parole at 70. District Attorney Wright Barksdale stated that Jones had been diagnosed with mental illness twice, displaying a history of mental health issues and suicide attempts. Defense attorney Morris H. Wiltshire, Jr. emphasized Jones' delusional state during the crime. Maddox's murder deeply impacted the community, prompting a memorial service by Morgan County Primary School. Jones expressed deep sorrow, stating her love for Maddox.
STORY 2: Georgia schools getting electric buses through federal grant
Seven Georgia school districts will receive almost $60 million in federal funding for new electric and low-emission buses as part of a nationwide initiative. The funds, originating from the bipartisan infrastructure spending bill passed in 2021, aim to replace predominantly diesel school buses with cleaner alternatives. The grant will provide 156 new electric buses, with Clayton and DeKalb County each receiving 50 buses, Richmond County 25, Bibb County 15, Carrollton City School District 10, and Glynn County 6. Additionally, the Marietta school system will receive 15 propane-fueled buses. The initiative is seen as a step toward reducing air pollution and providing cleaner transportation for students.
STORY 3: Four Newton County Students Nominated For Spots At Prestigious U.S. Service Academies
Four Newton County students, among 32 nominated candidates, have received nominations to attend U.S. service academies. Congressman Mike Collins announced the nominations, with the selected students and their respective academies as follows:
These students are among Georgia's best and brightest, representing their communities and aspiring to lead in the United States Armed Forces. The nominations are part of the competitive process, and those selected for the Class of 2028 will enter their respective academies in June 2024.
We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.799.6810 for more info.
We’ll be right back
Break: ESOG – CARDINAL CLEANERS
STORY 4: Madison takes ownership of old middle school after Board of Ed agrees to $500K for repairs
The City of Madison has officially acquired the Pearl-Burney Campus, the former middle school property that housed the historic all-black Pearl High School. The Madison-Mayor and City Council voted unanimously to accept the property transfer from the Morgan County Board of Education. The Board of Education has committed $500,000 for building repairs and future demolition costs. The property, spanning around eight acres with historic buildings on Pearl Street, will be turned over to the Madison Downtown Development Authority (DDA) for redevelopment. The DDA plans to use the funds for necessary repairs and develop a vision for revitalizing the property in the future.
STORY 5: Rockdale County Judge Rules in Favor of $110 million Bond For New Judicial and Administrative Courthouse Project
Rockdale County Chief Superior Court Judge Robert Mumford ruled in favor of issuing $110 million revenue bonds for the construction and design of Rockdale County's new courthouse complex. The Public Facilities Authority had approved the resolution, including an intergovernmental agreement with the county to pay the debt service and interest. The courthouse project is the county's largest capital investment, and the ruling has drawn attention, with some residents questioning Judge Mumford's involvement in the process due to his prior service on a task force for the project. The task force recommended preserving the Old Jail and making additions and renovations to the courthouse annex. The proposed project includes new courthouse and administrative spaces, renovations, a parking deck, and site improvements. A town hall meeting on January 17 will provide more insight into the initial plans.
We’ll be back in a moment
Break: GCPS – INGLES 2
STORY 6: Interview
And now here is Bruce Jenkins’ conversation with Leah McGrath on winter vegetables.
STORY 7: LEAH INTERVIEW
We’ll have closing comments after this.
Break: Henssler :60
Signoff-
Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Community podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Gwinnett Daily Post, the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties, or the Paulding County News Podcast.
Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Produced by the BG Podcast Network
Show Sponsors:
#NewsPodcast #CurrentEvents #TopHeadlines #BreakingNews #PodcastDiscussion #PodcastNews #InDepthAnalysis #NewsAnalysis #PodcastTrending #WorldNews #LocalNews #GlobalNews #PodcastInsights #NewsBrief #PodcastUpdate #NewsRoundup #WeeklyNews #DailyNews #PodcastInterviews #HotTopics #PodcastOpinions #InvestigativeJournalism #BehindTheHeadlines #PodcastMedia #NewsStories #PodcastReports #JournalismMatters #PodcastPerspectives #NewsCommentary #PodcastListeners #NewsPodcastCommunity #NewsSource #PodcastCuration #WorldAffairs #PodcastUpdates #AudioNews #PodcastJournalism #EmergingStories #NewsFlash #PodcastConversations
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
