EAST METRO Top Stories for Feb 29th
Publish Date: February 28th
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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, February 29th, and Happy 47th birthday to rapper Ja Rule.
***02.29.24 – BIRTHDAY – JA RULE***
I’m Keith Ippolito and here are your top stories presented by Drake Realty
Plus, Bruce Jenkins’ conversation with Leah McGrath on from Ingles Markets on food products from other stores.
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: Rockdale Youth Soccer Association Files Breach of Contract, Fraud Lawsuit
In a surprising twist of events, the Rockdale Youth Soccer Association has lodged a lawsuit against Dutch businessman Patrick Vierhout, his football club East Atlanta Dutch Lions FC, and Sportiff Company USA LLC. They stand accused of fraud and deceit over a deal that saw RYSA assets worth over $400,000 transferred to EADL.
The agreement involved EADL taking on RYSA's debts and committing to a hefty $5 million worth of enhancements to RYSA's complex. However, rather than fulfilling these obligations, EADL allegedly allowed RYSA's loans to fall into foreclosure, inflicting significant financial damage upon RYSA.
The lawsuit suggests that Vierhout and EADL intentionally conspired to defraud RYSA, failing to deliver the promised services. Adding another layer of complexity to the case, a separate lease agreement involving Sportiff Real Estate — another company associated with Vierhout — is also being closely examined.
Vierhout, for his part, denies any knowledge of an eviction notice.
STORY 2: A $1,000 reward offered to catch graffiti bandits vandalizing Rutledge
A mysterious graffiti outbreak, characterized by the tag "ROT23," has left local authorities in Rutledge scratching their heads. Since October 2023, over 30 incidents of this peculiar graffiti have been reported, leading the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office to offer a $1,000 reward for information that results in arrests.
The puzzling symbols, which have appeared on various government-owned properties, have left investigators in a quandary. They suspect these acts of vandalism are the handiwork of either a lone perpetrator or a group. Despite no apparent links to gang activity, the culprits, once apprehended, could face misdemeanor charges. However, these could escalate to felony charges if the cost of the damages surpasses $1,500.
Local authorities are calling on the community's support and vigilance in this matter. They urge anyone with information that could aid in the capture and prosecution of these vandals to come forward.
STORY 3: Murder of Georgia college student touches off debate over illegal immigration
State Senate Republicans have taken President Biden to task over what they perceive to be lax immigration laws enforcement. This criticism follows the tragic murder of a nursing student at the University of Georgia, allegedly at the hands of an undocumented immigrant.
The accused, Jose Ibarra, a Venezuelan national, has been charged with the heinous crime. Republicans assert that more stringent enforcement of immigration laws could have potentially averted this tragedy.
However, Democrats have countered these claims, citing data that indicates immigrants commit fewer crimes. They accuse Republicans of unfairly vilifying immigrants and hold former President Trump accountable for obstructing bipartisan immigration reform.
Republicans, on the other hand, lay the blame squarely at Biden's feet for his perceived relaxation of immigration laws. They are demanding answers from the Biden administration on how they plan to ensure the safety of American citizens.
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We’ll be right back.
Break: HENRY CO SHERIFFS OFFICE
STORY 4: JDA releases $2 million in PILOT payments for counties invested into Stanton Springs
The Joint Development Authority of Jasper, Morgan, Newton, and Walton counties has taken a unanimous decision to disburse a $2 million Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) across the counties that have invested in Stanton Springs. As per a 15 percent revenue sharing agreement, Morgan County is slated to receive $300,000 from META's PILOT.
However, ongoing legal disputes related to the Rivian mega-factory have delayed the release of these funds. The JDA currently holds $11 million, which includes PILOT payments and tax revenues from entities such as Takeda Pharmaceuticals and META Data Centers. Morgan County is estimated to receive approximately $824,162 from this tax revenue.
An additional sum of $3.5 million is still being held back until the finalization of the Fiscal Year 2025 budget.
STORY 5: Rockdale County Student Launches Digital Newsroom for Local High School
Jesus Lopez, a dedicated junior at Rockdale Magnet School, has made waves in the local news scene by creating a digital newsroom for his school. Since its launch in May 2023, the student-led news team has consistently produced weekly episodes that are broadcast on YouTube.
Their commitment and professionalism have not gone unnoticed; they've managed to secure interviews with notable personalities and have even clinched first place at the Southern Association of Student Councils.
Lopez takes immense pride in the strides they've made so far and is actively seeking more student volunteers to join the ranks of the newsroom. With senior anchors poised to graduate, there are opportunities for students interested in reporting, anchoring, and contributing their unique talents to the team.
Break: CHERRY BLOSSOM
STORY 6: Interview
And now here is Bruce Jenkins’ conversation with Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on food products from other stores.
STORY 7: LEAH INTERVIEW
We’ll have closing comments after this.
Break: INGLES 2
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.
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