"What do you think? You decide." 'Stockbridge City Council Member Makes light of serious situation'

"What do you think? You decide."

'Stockbridge City Council Member

Makes light of serious situation'

In the days leading up to the visit to the Henry County area by Irma, the storm that was a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic Basin and was one of the strongest in recorded history, the City of Stockbridge council member Mr. Alexander who has annointed himself Mr. Atlanta South made fun of and ridiculed the Henry County Board of Education and many citizens of the county. He was saying that people were in a panic, but reliable sources said they witnessed no panic just people stocking up on supplies just in case things got bad here. Of course he was saying that the news being reported about the coming storm was "Fake News." There will be screen shots provided of all that has been said by this gentleman prior to the event. By him saying these things it could have caused some people not to be prepared for the coming storm. The National Hurricane Center issued a Tropical Storm Watch for the area and Governor Deal placed the whole state under a State of Emergency. That was all done after the Henry County Board of Education said that schools would be closed for Monday and Tuesday. They had gotten the word that it would be bad from Emergency Management. They cancelled an event on Saturday that can wait. He made a point of ridiculing the BoE for cancelling the event. Many people made comments on his facebook page about this matter. Then, he had posted on his Progressive Henry Page that Schools would be closed and when you opened to look at it the inside was a joke. This is no joking matter. When the BoE did call the schools to be closed he made the comment that, "This is exactly why 35 out of 51 Henry County schools are underperforming. Our kids need to be in school and so does the staff improving our schools." He went on to say, "The kids are out of school all the time, break after break and classes cancelled for snow storms that never materialize." He also said, "I have never agreed with the overreaction closings crying Safety to justify overreacting to what could be a simple wind or rain storm." This sounds like someone who doesn't need to be in a leadership position of any kind.

Then, make matters worse when he finds that the storm is bad he puts himself out there like he is the god send of all. He is praising the Lord which is fine, but just a few days earlier he was denouncing this storm and God was looking out for people by warning them. He was blind to it. And saying he was the person putting out information on social media that the south side depending on. That is thinking of self and wrong. In truth, he was trying to cover for his words and inaction that came earlier. His main reason for attacking the BoE like did was because his choice for school superintendent was denied. He has been on a crusade since to attack them and to cause them trouble.

If he wanted to be a true leader in the Stockbridge area why didn't he organize a place for people to go that needed a safe place to stay? The city of McDonough provided such a place and so did the people of Locust Grove. Other areas provided food and shelter during the storm. But the largest city in Henry County sat on their thumbs. Yes, the work crews of the City of Stockbridge did an excellent job clearing streets from debris. But he was not a work crew member. He was running around pretending to be a reporter. Remember before the storm he said it wasn't going to be bad yet there were thousands without power, roads blocked, homes damaged and people in fear because of the high winds. In the Stockbridge area alone the following roads were blocked by trees: East Atlanta Road, Rustic Road, Glenloch Lane, Jodeco Road, multiple roads in Swan Lake, Old Conyers Road, Mays Road, Scott Blvd, Charlotte Street, Millers Mill Road and Selfridge Road all within the Stockbridge area. The school buses could not have run so the BoE made the correct call to cancell school.

By him calling the storm a small wind storm and rain before the event shows poor judgement and leadership skills. The people of Stockbridge need to let the other leadership and city know that they disapprove of his actions and to not let him get away with after the fact saying that the storm was bad and He thanks God for helping him. That is so self centered and truly mocking that this person should step down from his job and let someone with the proper skills take over.

The Coalition for a Better Henry County

Turning Fifty And Missing You Sweetheart

It’s been sixteen years sweetheart since you were taken from me on that clear blue September day. I have thought of you every day and I still miss you so much that tears still flow for you. For some time now I have been thinking of you in a different way. This year I will turn fifty later in September. I still see you as that beautiful twenty six year old that I lost. It’s hard to see you as a forty three year old lady you would have been. I think of what our kids would be now. They would be just a year or two younger than my grand niece Victoria. She was born in late January after you were taken from me. You would have love Vic she is a little like you were a little tom boy, but also a little girly too. She was born just four months after you were gone and she saved me from going crazy over losing you sweetheart. You see my niece Kristie needed someone to watch Vic, so she could work and I said I would watch her for Kristie. Vic helped me to keep my mind busy from your tragic passing.   

After I was injured on the job, and we decided I would run our farm and raise a small herd of ostriches, I think of what our farm would be like now with the horses and the birds. I can see you teaching Vic and our kids to ride horses and how to take care of them. I think of how well you would have done in your architectural and engineering work you loved so much. Whenever I see a couple I can’t help but think of us and how happy we were together and then I think of what would have been, and I get very sad and lonely in my heart. Baby, I miss everything about you. Your long golden hair, your bright blue eyes, your caring heart, your love. But most of all I just miss you being next to me and having my back on things. I look back and I can honestly say the six years we were together were the years I was alive. So, as I am about to be fifty years old I can still say you will always be my love of a lifetime.

Alfred Britt.  

Photographs, Memories Of You.

I look at your photograph and remember there was no mountain we could not climb,

Looking at your beautiful smile takes me back to a wonderful time.

I have photographs of you throughout the house,

My love for you is so strong it cannot be dowsed.

I think of your love that you gave freely,

For you to be in my arms looking into each other’s eyes is what I need really.

I have photographs of you and your bright beautiful smile,

I remember the love you had for me with your own kind of style.

Your photographs remind me of the time I was truly alive,

For the past sixteen years, I have ceased to live without your love by my side.

As I am about to turn fifty years old,  I still see you as the twenty six year old sweetheart I lost,

But I know you would be a beautiful lady now, but without you by my side, I am living in a world of the tumbled and tossed.

Alfred Britt

(c)2017

Citizen Allowed To Change Our Flag At The BOC

There is a video floating on you tube of the US flag with the fringe being removed from the Henry County Board of Commission Chamber by a person who comes up meeting after meeting to attack the  BoC.  Then, to make things worse he has the person who is wanting to have the monument removed from the McDonough Square helping him.  Also, in the video the person says they will be taking the eagle down as well.  According to the rules of the US about flags, you can have the fringe on a flag for special purposes.  There is no law prescribed by Congress that says you do not put gold fringe on a flag.  Then, here also is the information about the eagle on a flag pole. "According to the USA Flag Site commentator, eagles should not be used to top outside flag poles since the wind may wrap the flag around the eagle and tear the flag. The gold or silver ball on top of the pole is preferred for outside flag poles. Indoors, an eagle is allowed. While there is no official statement about the direction the eagle should face on the flag pole, many believe that the eagle should face as if it were flying toward Washington, D.C. In times of war the eagle is sometimes turned to face the direction of our troops on foreign soil. The eagle on the pole that is with the deployed troops faces back home, in the direction of the United States. The eagle on top of the flag pole should be gold or silver in color."  So, we can understand why that young person who is unpatriotic and leans toward the communist way of life it looks like the older gentleman who made the video is unpatriotic as well.  Those who love this nation are seeing red at this time when they watch this video.  And what is truly sad is that the Henry County BoC let them do it.

The People to Protect Our Nation's Flag

The Illegal Flag Change

Henry County's Unhealthy Water Report A Must Read for Your Safety

The following report about Henry County water can be deceiving.  "EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the EPA (January to March 2017), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards."  Then the report turns right around and says that there are 8  contaminants found above the guidelines for human consumption.  These are:

Bromodichloromethane can cause cancer.  Bromodichloromethane, one of the total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), is formed when chlorine or other disinfectants are used to treat drinking water. Bromodichloromethane and other disinfection byproducts increase the risk of cancer and may cause problems during pregnancy. 

Chloroform is a cancer causing agent.  Chloroform, one of the total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), is formed when chlorine or other disinfectants are used to treat drinking water. Chloroform and other disinfection byproducts increase the risk of cancer and may cause problems during pregnancy.

Chromium (hexavalent) can cause cancer.  Chromium (hexavalent) is a carcinogen that commonly contaminates American drinking water. Chromium (hexavalent) in drinking water may be due to industrial pollution or natural occurrences in mineral deposits and groundwater. 

Dibromochloromethane is a cancer causing agent.  Dibromochloromethane, one of the total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), is formed when chlorine or other disinfectants are used to treat drinking water. Dibromochloromethane and other disinfection byproducts increase the risk of cancer and may cause problems during pregnancy. 

Dichloroacetic acid can cause cancer.  Dichloroacetic acid, one of the group of five haloacetic acids regulated by federal standards, is formed when chlorine or other disinfectants are used to treat drinking water. Haloacetic acids and other disinfection byproducts increase the risk of cancer and may cause problems during pregnancy. 

Radiological contaminants which are radioactive can cause cancer.  This utility detected Radium, combined (-226 & -228) & Radium-228.

Radiological contaminants leach into water from certain minerals and from mining. Drinking water contamination with radioactive substances increases the risk of cancer and may harm fetal development.

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) are cancer causing.  Trihalomethanes are cancer-causing contaminants that form during water treatment with chlorine and other disinfectants. The total trihalomethanes group includes four chemicals: chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane and bromoform.

Trichloroacetic acid is a cancer causing agent.  Trichloroacetic acid, one of the group of five haloacetic acids regulated by federal standards, is formed when chlorine or other disinfectants are used to treat drinking water. Haloacetic acids and other disinfection byproducts increase the risk of cancer and may cause problems during pregnancy. 

Here is also a list of 8 other contaminants the report lists.

Chlorate--Chlorate forms in drinking water as a byproduct of disinfection. Chlorate impairs thyroid function, making chlorate exposure most harmful during pregnancy and childhood.

Chromium (total)--Chromium is a naturally occurring metal, but industrial uses can elevate its levels in water. One form, hexavalent chromium, causes cancer. Total chromium is not a good indicator of the amount of hexavalent chromium in drinking water.

Fluoride--Fluoride occurs naturally in surface and groundwater and is also added to drinking water by many water systems.

Haloacetic acids (HAA5)--Haloacetic acids are formed when disinfectants such as chlorine are added to tap water. The group of five haloacetic acids regulated by federal standards includes monochloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, monobromoacetic acid and dibromoacetic acid.

Monochloroacetic acid--Monochloroacetic acid, one of the group of five haloacetic acids regulated by federal standards, is formed when chlorine or other disinfectants are used to treat drinking water. Haloacetic acids and other disinfection byproducts increase the risk of cancer and may cause problems during pregnancy.

Nitrate and nitrite--Nitrate and nitrite enter water from fertilizer runoff, septic tanks and urban runoff. These contaminants can cause oxygen deprivation for infants and increase the risk of cancer. Nitrite is significantly more toxic than nitrate. 

Strontium--Strontium is a metal that accumulates in the bones. Radioactive strontium-90 can cause bone cancer and leukemia, and any form of strontium at high doses can harm bone health.

Vanadium--Vanadium is a metal used in steels and other alloys. People are commonly exposed to vanadium in water and food. Excessive exposure can be toxic during pregnancy and childhood.

With all these chemicals and heavy metals plus radiologicals found in the water it makes you wonder what will this do to a person over a period of time.  Here is an example.  There is a street in the Stockbridge area that over the last 40 years has had a high incidence of cancer.  25 people have developed cancer and so far 22 have died from it there.  Fifteen people developed heart disease and 10 of those have died.  Six people had developed thyroid problems.  And five have developed dementia.  And this is in one small section of the area with 33 homes.  People don't need to be ingesting these types of things into their bodies.  Many times the water smells like garlic or has a musty odor.  Strange that this group that did the testing gave the HCWSA a clean bill of health yet they do a double standard by listing the contaminants found knowing the dangers of them.   Maybe some payola was done who knows, but one thing is for sure it would be wise to buy your water or get a very intensive and costly water purification system for your home.  It might save your life.

The Staff of the Community News Blog.

Henry County Ambulance Fees May Increase

It looks like Henry County is mulling over another increase in the fees to transport patients in ambulances.  They are wanted a sizeable increase on the heals of a 2012 increase.  This will put a sure burden on the poor and those with no insurance.  One can picture it now a patient is being transported to the hospital having a heart attack or stroke and the paramedics learn they have no money or insurance.  They pull along the side of the road and place the patient on the ground and drive away. 

 

This could bring about a new wave of transportation for the sick or injured who have little money.  There could be a Uber service set up using pick up trucks with covers on the back.  They can stock it with first aid, oxygen tanks they can get, and go on eBay and buy a portable defibrillator.  Call the Uber driver for a fraction of the cost of the paramedics and a need fixed.  Now that is the American way to take care of a problem and make a little money also.

The Staff

Henry County's Dam Problems

The Henry County Board of Commissioners will be voting on special tax districts for dams in Henry County.  The tax district would apply to communities that border lakes and would be applicable to Category 1 dams — dams that can cause loss of human life — and Category 2 dams, which are those that have the potential to impact county roads or other public infrastructure. Properties within the district would be taxed to pay for bonds acquired by Henry County to assist property owners in dam rehabilitation and repair.  There are nearly 30 Category 1 and just over 50 Category 2 dams in Henry County, according to the draft ordinance.  A study had been in the works since 2013 to look at what can be done to revitalize dams that could pose a threat.  Several people spoke from Lake Dow and they said the dam is a Category 1 dam because there are residents in the flood release below the dam.  The dam is not dangerous to the extent it is ready to break; it has a problem with the spillway.  The water from upstream is gathering too quickly in the lake because of the building of homes from upstream.  This problem about the dams has been an issue for years now.  It was brought to our attention several years ago by the late Leon Forrer who had already looked at the State reports on the safety of dams in Henry County.  For some reason, this has been a very slow process on something that could pose a serious life threat if the dams were to fail.

Staff of the Community News Blog

Your Property Taxes

The Henry County Board of Commissioners recently voted to keep the millage rate for the county the same.  There was talk that they might go up 1 millage point as requested by the staff.  But the problem is that you and I will still be paying more this year for property taxes because the assessments for the properties in the county have gone up this year.  Thus, if the commissioners didn't want to raise the property tax they should have rolled back the current millage rate so that it would reflect the same tax amount as last year.  They all knew the assessment values went up and knew that it was a sure thing for a property tax increase.    

The Henry County Board of Education also met recently to say they would leave their millage rate at the maximum of 20 mills.  This will generate over $7 million for the BoE.  The BoC will get just over $5 million dollars more and the total will be $12 million for the county as a whole in an increase this year.  The BoE could have rolled back the millage rate as well to help, but they all voted for it to remain the same.

The increase in taxes is going to hurt everyone, not just one sector.  And this once again shows that Henry County needs some real companies with high paying jobs to come to the county to help offset some of these taxes that the homeowners are saddled with on their backs.  At over 38 mills the county is one of the highest taxed counties in the state.  There is more tax money coming in through SPLOST, unseen taxes in the fuel you buy, the food you eat and the products you purchase daily.  And the BoC is proposing to put another tax on you through something called T-SPLOST for roads to be fixed.  If they start this tax it will never end.  With all the regulations, taxes, resolutions, fees and other things that bring in money for the municipalities and the county, one would think that Henry County would be more affluent than it really is in the eyes of others.  It is just merely a county being filled with multi family homes, and warehouses many of which remain empty.  You would also think with all the money going into the school system that the county would have one of the highest rated school systems in the state.  But they have 31 out of 53 schools that are failing and that is not a good sign when the funds are there.

You hear people coming to the county that have no idea what is happening here that say they want and they want, but they are only going to get what the people have to put in the bank account for the system.  Henry County is rapidly becoming a county doomed to have too much of the same thing over and over.  Too much fast food, too many strip malls with the same stores, and too many parks that have to be maintained.  Yet, the county wants to grow more and more by bringing in people by the thousands.  Somewhere it would be wise to put a moratorium on new homes and businesses until things are truly fixed in the infrastructure.  But the blame game has been going for some time.  It was those people's fault from 20 years ago that didn't plan right for what has happened.  No, they didn't plan right, but people came anyway.  

Look for your property assessments to go up again next year.  That is a cash cow that the BoC and BoE don't want to lose.  And don't forget the water department they get 2 mills of your property tax on your bill each year.  Yes, it is the most taxed place in the region currently and what do you really have to show for it.  Monstrous traffic, ill people, crime and poor services.  Stockbridge won't even put together it's own police force with it's surplus funds.  They would rather spend it on trails and walking paths.   

Remember also, that crime follows more people in the population.  That is a given fact.   When the crime rate continues to rise it will deter good companies from wanting to build in Henry County.  They need to put a sign as you enter the county that this is the highest taxed county in this area to remind people while they wait in traffic.  T-SPLOST is not the answer, but halting the influx of people would give the county an opportunity to catch up with the infrastructure.  But they won't.  They want that extra money.  Remember this when election time rolls around once again and these folks want to keep their jobs.  Find those that will want to be good stewards of your money and do the right things for the people.  But from the election results of the last decade, it is a poor chance that things will change.

The Staff