SHEILA A.

MARSHALL
sheila@the-grip.net
Necessity is the mother of
invention.
This adage certainly
proved true for local
businessman Dan Dunson,
who is seeking to patent
The Whip a unique alarm
system for heating and air
conditioning units.
As the owner of numerous
residential rental
properties in Grifn,
Dunson was all too familiar
with the scourge of copper
thefts that leave HVAC
units destroyed.
When youre paying
anywhere from $2,000 to
$3,000 to replace them, it
gets
very expensive when
youve lost 56 of them, he
said of his fnancial losses
due to copper thefts at
rental properties, which he
does not consider unusual.
There are many other
landlords who can tell you
similar stories. The copper
thefts arent going to get
any better; theyre going
to continue to grow. With
the economy the way it is
and these losses added to
it, it was a real setback. I
knew I had to get on top of
this. I knew I was smarter
than these thieves, and I
had to fgure out a way to
stop this.
With nothing on the
market at that time,
Dunson opted to utilize
previous product design
experience and electronics
manufacturing expertise
to devise his own solution.
His result was The Whip,
an alarm that is simple to
install and functions with
practically all security
systems currently on the
market.
Dunson added that The
Whip was designed
to detect the type of
tampering that must occur
with any HVAC copper
theft.
Its a pressure system
that detects the pressure
of the coolant, Dunson
explained. Its impossible
to steal the copper from
an air conditioning unit
without releasing the
pressure. When that
happens, it actuates the
alarm system its attached
to.
The ensuing alarm may be
programmed to produce
either a silent or audible
alarm at the owners
request. While both will be
promptly reported to local
law enforcement ofcials
by the owners alarm
monitoring company, the
silent alarm may enable
responders to arrest
copper theft perpetrators,
with an audible alarm
serving as an immediate
deterrent, causing the
would-be thief to fee.
One additional feature
Dunson included in his
design is an electronic
system that prevents alarm
tampering.
Its a secure device, he
said. The electronics dont
allow thieves to jump the
wire to disable the alarm.
But, its simple. Most of the
best ideas are simple.
JESSICA GREGORY
After working for two years to become a Georgia Work
Ready Certifed community, Spalding County reached
the benchmark goals set by the Governors Ofce of
Workforce Development (GOWD) in December 2011.
Goals were set in six workforce categories: private and
public sectors, unemployed individuals, and high school,
GED and college students.
The certifcation process began in June 2009, but didnt
gain momentum until late 2010, when the school
system and several local companies asked students and
employees to take the tests.
Still slightly lacking in October 2011 in the private and
public sector categories, the Grifn-Spalding Georgia
Work Ready Committee upped the ante by ofering an
JAN 5 - JAN 18, 2012 VOL. 02 NO. 01
CONT, work ready, pg 7
CONT, invention, pg 2
Officials respond
to reader's inquiry
regarding what to
do about Griffin's
gang problem p. 4
Always wanted
to kick the habit?
Electronic cigarettes
may be the
final answer p. 5
The revival of Kick
@$$ Job of the
Week - recovering
planes from their
crash sites p. 7
CORRECTIONS:
The Grifn Area Concert
Association has issued a
correction to the earlier
published date of the Emily
Hearn concert. The original
article [Dec. 15] stated the
concert would be held on
Thursday, Jan. 17. The correct
date for her performance is
Tuesday, Jan. 17, not Thursday.
In the Dec. 15 article
"Commissioners respond to
confict of interest concerns,"
The Grip incorrectly reported
that the county BOC voted to
raise the minimum acreage of
the Conservation Use Land tax
exemption to 25 acres by a 4-1
vote. The actual vote was 3-2,
with Chairman Freeman and
Flowers-Taylor dissenting.
Corrections policy: If you fnd an
error in The Grip, we will gladly
publish a correction in the next issue.
Please e-mail concerns to
jessica@the-grip.net.
Spalding meets Work Ready goals
January 2011
Grifn Board of
Commissioners elected
Joanne Todd mayor for 2011.
The Airport Advisory
Committee fnalized the EPA
draft for the primary site
proposed for the new airport
to submit to city and county
ofcials.
February 2011
City commissioners voted on
Feb. 8 to store the historical
Sixth Street bridge after the
GDOT dismantles it in Sept.
County commissioner Bob
Gilreath was censured at the
Feb. 7 meeting for acts of
misbehavior, unprofessional
behavior and discourtesy to
employees.
William Wilson is chosen by
the commissioners to replace
interim county manager Tim
Whalen, who declined an
ofer to serve as permanent
manager at the end of 2010.
March 2011
On March 30, local
governments all over Georgia
submitted a list of all the
transportation projects
they wish to be considered
for funding by a regional
transportation sales tax
(TSPLOST).
The Spalding County animal
shelter reopened its doors
after being shut down by the
Georgia Dept. of Agriculture
due to chipping paint.
April 2011
With a reported 137 tornados
across the nation, April 27 was
one of the deadliest tornado
days in the United States
since 1925. A level 3 tornado
ripped through Spalding
County with 165 mph winds,
causing 371 damaged homes,
105 destroyed homes, 18
2011 Year in Review
Copper thefts lead local alarm specialist to HVAC protection invention
After experiencing damage to 56 of his air conditioning units at rental properties, Dan
Dunson, owner of Direct Alarm, used his knowledge to create an alarm device specifically
designed to protect against HVAC copper theft.
Thousands of Spalding County citizens had to piece their lives back together
after the April 28 tornado.
CONT, review, pg 6
First anniversary issue comes
out January 19 - Be on the
lookout for something special!
WATCHDOG VIEWPOINTS LIFESTYLE BUSINESS
City Commissioner
Doug Hollberg
pushes legislation to
allow saggy pants
ban p. 3
Other features:
Community Calendar...p. 6
Pet of the Week... p. 5
Kick @$$ Job of the Week... p.7
COPPER THEFTS...
How local LEOs are responding to theft increases
Local ordinances impede selling stolen copper
p. 2
SHEILA A. MARSHALL
sheila@the-grip.net
Local law enforcement
agencies face an ongoing
struggle as they fght
a difcult uphill battle
against increasing numbers
of copper thefts.
Four or fve years ago,
we really didnt have this
problem. It really wasnt an
issue, said Capt. Dwayne
Jones, of the Grifn Police
Department. Now, I
would classify it as a major
problem. Its a weekly
problem now. In other
words, I cant remember a
week passing by when we
didnt receive a report of a
copper theft.
This crime afects both
residents and business
owners alike, with losses
for some exceeding
$100,000.
Its [copper] obviously
going for enough money
to risk going to jail, or
in the case of a recent
Spalding County incident,
risk their lives, to steal it,
Jones said.
He explained that copper
thefts are a particularly
challenging type of
property crime because of
the difculty ofcers face
in identifying recovered
copper as having been
stolen from a particular
incident.
Jones said there are steps
that can be taken that may
reduce the likelihood of
a theft occurring. Some,
such as neighbor looking
after neighbor, is basic, yet
efective.
People know who
typically comes and
goes in a neighborhood
routine activities, he
said. I would much rather
take a few minutes for an
ofcer to respond to a call
of potentially suspicious
activity than see someone
victimized.
Even as scrap copper prices
incite thieves to take great
risks to obtain the material,
some residents go to great
lengths to protect their
property.
Jones also suggested one
proactive step that can
be taken to make their air
conditioning units less
than ideal for thieves.
One thing some people
will do is theyll actually
spray paint portions
of their copper pipes a
fuorescent orange. If we
make a routine trafc
stop, it certainly makes it
easier to identify, and the
copper thieves know that.
Metal recyclers will also
sometimes call us if they
see that and believe it may
be stolen, he said. Some
people are going so far
as using alarms or even
putting cages on their air
conditioning units. Theyre
hoping to reduce the
possibility from a deterrent
standpoint.
particular type of crime.
When we get these cases,
we really like to pop them
because its just a mean
crime, he said. These
thieves are only getting a
small amount of money
for these crimes that
are costing the victims
thousands, and thats just
mean.
However, despite his
desire to prosecute copper
thieves, Ballard said
both law enforcement
agencies and his ofce face
challenges throughout the
process.
Ballard said the initial
difculty comes in linking
suspects to reported
incidents due to the
nearly impossible task of
identifying copper once
it has been removed from
a business or residence,
but the work does not end
there.
For one thing, theres the
statute of limitations. You
have to prove it wasnt
stolen fve years ago. Then,
theres also the question
of jurisdiction. You have to
prove where it was stolen
that it was actually stolen
in your jurisdiction, he said.
The current laws regulating
Georgias metal recycling
industry also concern
Ballard.
One thing thats
frustrating to me is how
quickly the copper is
recycled. I wish the law
would require a waiting
period, he said. That
might at least allow law
enforcement time to
identify copper that has
been stolen. As it is now,
the copper is recycled
immediately, and that
makes it impossible to tie it
to a theft.
Ballard said he realizes
the cost may be an
impediment to some, but
he said one of the best
prosecutorial tools is cold
hard proof.
One thing that would help
in all kinds of prosecutions
is if more people had
video surveillance. Theres
nothing better than
walking into court with
video of the crime itself, he
said. Anything that allows
us to catch these thieves in
the act is invaluable.
He said he recognizes
the frustration victims
experience in copper
theft cases, but sought
to reassure them that
local ofcials are striving
to combat the thriving
epidemic.
I think if the general public
could see law enforcement
eforts in this, they would
be very proud, he said. Its
not a glamorous crime to
deal with, but untold hours
are spent trying to put a
stop to it.
2 Jan. 5 - Jan. 18, 2012
invention, cont.
top StorieS
770-233-0902
126 W. College Street, Griffin
Pick up a few
pieces to nish
your collection
before theyre
all gone!
CITY FINANCE & TAX SERVICE
112 N. Hill Street, Grin
770.228.1660
All loans subject to our liberal lending policies and guidelines, if any.
City Finance
& Income Tax Service
2011 TAX PREPARATION
& E-FILING
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refund! See us for fast
and friendly service.
Bling in the New Year.
124 W. SOLOMON ST.
DOWNTOWN GRIFFIN
SHEILA A. MARSHALL
sheila@the-grip.net
While seeking to bring
those responsible for
copper thefts to justice,
Grifn Judicial Circuit
District Attorney Scott
Ballard also has very
strong personal opinions
regarding those who
victimize his constituents
by committing this
Increase in
Grifn copper
thefts pose
challenge to
police
Inability to
identify copper
a hindrance in
prosecuting
copper thieves
To describe The Whip
as simple is perhaps an
understatement, considering
that the installation involves
only one nut and two wires.
Professional installation
is required, Dunson said,
but any alarm company is
qualifed to do so.
The Whip entered the
marketplace in May 2011,
and has taken the home
security industry by storm
with its manufacturing
company, Starlite Security
Devices LLC, now boasting
200 distributors across the
United States and Canada.
Further expansion and sales
increases are anticipated, as
2012 will mark the beginning
of European distribution.
The Whip retails for $249,
compared to the average
$1,000 insurance deductible
most copper theft victims
must pay, Dunson said.
In addition to providing
protection to prevent
victimization, Dunson said
The Whip also meets another
growing need.
A lot of insurance companies
are now requiring air
conditioning units to be
protected to be covered, he
said. The Whip does that.
For additional product
information, visit www.
thewhip.co or call Grifn-
based Starlite Security
Devices at 770-467-6873.
SHEILA A. MARSHALL
sheila@the-grip.net
Recent rains have left the
Head Creek Reservoir at full
pool, which has resulted
in the outdoor water ban
being rescinded.
According to Dr. Brant
Keller, Grifn director of
public works, said residents
may now prepare for the
upcoming spring planting
season under the previous
odd/even watering
schedule.
The Georgia Water
Stewardship Act went
into efect statewide
June 2, 2010. It allows
daily outdoor watering
for purposes of planting,
growing, managing or
maintaining ground cover,
trees, shrubs or other plants
only between the hours
of 4 to 10 p.m. by anyone
whose water is supplied by
a water system permitted
by the Environmental
Protection Division.
Outdoor water use for
any purposes other than
watering of plants, such as
power washing or washing
cars, is still restricted to the
odd/even schedule.
Odd-numbered addresses
may water on Tuesdays,
Thursdays and Sundays;
even-numbered and
unnumbered addresses
may water on Mondays,
Wednesdays and Sundays.
We have to wait and
see about the weather
we get, but as far as
conservation is concerned,
residents should use water
responsibly, Keller said.
But as long as we have
water, people can use it.
Head Creek Reservoir reaches full pool;
drought restrictions rescinded
Despite the difcult nature
of metal theft cases,
personnel of the Spalding
County Sherifs Ofce are
seeing positive results from
the use of Leads Online,
which links local ofcials
with a national database.
We went only with Leads
Online, which is a national
Web page. Based on our
county ordinances, it
allows us to go into that
system and check names
of, I guess you could say,
frequent fyers for scrap
metal recycling, said Capt.
Tony Ranieri, of the SCSO
Criminal Investigation
Division. When we enter
a name into the system,
it shows everywhere in
the nation that individual
has gone to recycle scrap
metal.
Ranieri said Leads Online
has proved to be highly
benefcial to investigators,
contributing to the
successful resolution of
numerous metal theft
cases.
All the scrap metal
businesses are cooperating
with us on that, too. It
works, Ranieri added.
Leads Online is also
connected online with
GCIC, the Georgia Crime
Information Center, which
all state law enforcement
ofcials use in the course of
their investigations.
Spalding County Attorney
Jim Fortune said the Board
of Commissioners has also
instituted local ordinances
covering scrap metal
recyclers that are intended
to make it more difcult
for thieves to sale stolen
copper.
The pawn shops have
to electronically report
everything they get in
everyday. Its the same
thing with the scrap metal
businesses, Fortune said.
Sellers have to provide
their names and show
identifcation.
Sherif Wendell Beam also
said additional support
must come from the state
legislative branch, in the
form of more stringent
laws.
Theyre working on that.
Theyre trying to put more
regulations on both the
people who sell and buy
it, he said. Lawmakers are
attempting to close the
loopholes.
National database helps S.O.
connect dots on local theft cases
Copper thieves can cause thousands of dollars
worth of damage to procure the small amount
of copper located inside an HVAC system.
ROYCE DRAKE
royce@the-grip.net
At the close of 2011, Spalding Animal
Care and Control Advisory Board
(ACCAB) and the County Board of
Commissioners discussed a new set
of animal living condition policies,
the most controversial of which is a
proposed license for owners of dogs
and cats.
Kelly Palmatier, the current chair of
ACCAB, stressed that the proposed
policies are to protect the animals
and human inhabitants of the county.
The license would increase owner
responsibility by identifying pets with
their owners and encourage spaying
and neutering, as the fee would be
reduced for fxed animals.
The license would also help the
county gauge animal control
measures, such as limits on the
number of household pets and the
county animal shelter.
"If we see that there are several
households with six pets who have
never had a complaint issued against
them, then that supports the claim
that six animals in a household is
acceptable, said Palmatier.
According to Palmatier, the county
animal shelter takes in 4,000 animals
each year, but there is no way to
estimate if the county is improving
or not.
For example, she said, if the number
of animals residing in the county
increases each year, and our intake to
the shelter remains the same or goes
down, that shows progress.
ACCAB also proposed banning the
tethering or chaining of dogs and a
new minimum enclosure sizes.
Unattended tethering is already
restricted in over a dozen states
and banned in more than 40
municipalities, including six in
Georgia.
The new restraint and enclosure
ordinances would be county-wide,
in order to ease confusion
for residents.
In some cases it varied
from one side of a street to
another, Palmatier said.
The new rules would
mandate minimum
enclosures based on the
size of dogs divided into
small, medium, and large.
Commissioner Bob Gilreath
also expressed concern
with the transportation of
dogs in the back of pick up
trucks. Dogs are generally
recognized by the Humane
Society and several states to be safer
in the cab of trucks.
Palmatier stressed that the discussion
regarding licensing is not ofcial and
the Animal Care and Control Board
welcomes input from residents.
It is very important to us to balance
the needs of our residents and the
needs of our countys animals.
watCHdog
Jan. 5 - Jan. 18, 2012 3
You've got questions? We'll fnd the
answers. Curious about some rumor
you heard about local government,
what an organization does, or who
paid for what? Send an e-mail to
watchdog@the-grip.net.
J. Michaels
770-467-0025
130 South Hill Street
The Weaver
and other works by
Teresa Thurston
now on display
Celebrating
Griffins rich
heritage as a
mill town
Thank you to all the local
businesses and residents that we
have served over the past 10 years.
We look forward to being your
source for IT services in the future.
SHEILA A. MARSHALL
sheila@the-grip.net
Residents who claim
those who wear baggy
pants are committing
indecent exposure may
soon have relief, thanks
to the Grifn Board of
Commissioners.
Mayor Joanne Todd said
she has twice previously
initiated discussion
at BOC meetings
on the subject, and
Commissioner Doug
Hollberg had discussed
it once, but upon legal
advice, no further action
was taken at those times.
Our attorney (Drew
Whalen) advised that
it wouldnt hold up
in court, Todd said.
Thats the only reason
we didnt pursue it
that any ordinance we
passed wouldnt hold up
if challenged in court.
It would have no legal
standing.
Hollbergs interest in
passing a local ordinance
banning saggy pants
led him to present the
BOC with information
regarding similar
action taken by other
municipalities.
I presented to the
commissioners an
article from another
jurisdiction about what
theyve done, he said.
The city of Albany,
in one year, received
$3,916 from citations
issued to individuals
wearing saggy pants,
but Drew (Whalen)
said we couldnt do it.
His interpretation is
that we cannot pass an
ordinance. We value
Drews legal opinion,
and he said it wouldnt
hold up in court because
its unconstitutional
under Georgia law. So,
we had two choices:
A, pass an ordinance
and wait for it to be
challenged in court, or B,
wait until the legislature
changes the law.
Rather than wait until
the legislature makes
the necessary changes
that would enable the
city of Grifn to pass an
ordinance of its own,
Hollberg now says he is
going to work to efect
that change by having
Whalen draft potential
legislation to be
presented to Rep. David
Knight.
Its something weve
discussed before and
its something I want
to push through this
legislative session,
he said. Its defnitely
something I want to
research. I would like to
see legislation drafted
and presented within
the next 30 days that
would allow us to pass
an ordinance forbidding
saggy pants, or for the
law to be statewide
forbidding saggy pants.

Hollberg moves forward with eforts to legally ban saggy pants
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Animal Care & Control Advisory Board explores pet licensure options
VOTE NOW AT WWW.THE-GRIP.NET
4 Jan. 5 - Jan. 18, 2012
viewpointS
GET A GRIP: POLL OF THE WEEK
Each week at www.the-grip.net a Get A Grip poll will
be posted. The results and any related content will be
published in the consecutive print edition of The Grip.
Visit www.the-grip.net to vote today!
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Reader asks:
Should we divert
funds from golf
course to the
efort to fght
gang activity?
Dear editor: I read the paper
copy of The Grip today and
was absolutely stunned at
the number of gangs we
have now and how it is
predicted to get worse in
the near future. I am one
of those city tax paying
Grifnites who is completely
against losing money on the
golf course. I am against
wasting money period.

I would like to see our local
commissioners interviewed--
with the statistics in hand
during interview so they
have to acknowledge that
these problems do exist. I
would like to know what
they feel is more important-
-using this money to better
staf and equip our police
department and sherif
departments or wasting it
on the golf course and other
trivial expenditures.
I am thinking of the Sixth
Street pocket park and
the fancy new screen
they just got for it. I am a
constituent of Joanne Todd.
I am requesting that she
specifcally be interviewed
on the subject because she
is the main supporter of that
golf course.
Grifn deserves better than
this. The ones who want
to ignore the gang issue
need to look no further than
Clayton County. I lived in
the same house for 26 years
-- born and raised there. It
was a fabulous, safe, and
very convenient community
to live in.
I have wonderful memories
growing up there. I
remember when the Target/
Home Depot plaza on
Mt. Zion Blvd. was a cow
pasture. But now it has
been under gang control
for a number of years, and
well, it speaks for itself. The
government and school
board are both full of
corruption. Big companies
are pulling out. Toys R Us
is shutting its doors and
moving to McDonough, into
the same area that Kohl's is
located. To ignore what is
coming is to be ignorant. If
you do not plan--you will fail.
My husband and I won't stay
here--its not worth living
through that kind of shift.
If our own local government
doesn't want to give the
necessary attention that is
needed to this snowballing
problem--they can have it.

As for "creating dialogue"
that was quoted in your
article--that is just bunk.
You don't give them the
opportunity to present
themselves as equal players
in the justice system.

I could go on and on. Would
you please do this story and
put the pressure on and get
real answers?

Thanks,
Julie Brandenburg
Letters to the editor concerning any subject relevant to Grifn citizens are en-
couraged and welcomed, as are cheers & jeers. Any comments or letters must be
signed and should be e-mailed to jessica@the-grip.net or posted to P.O. Box 2251,
Grifn, Georgia 30224. We reserve the right to edit for space.
Ofcials respond:
Grifn Police Department Chief
Frank Strickland:
"It's not a question of
throwing more money at
the issue, this is not a new
problem in Grifn, it has
been a problem since the
1980s. We have a very good
nucleus of ofcers who
are very knowledgeable of
the numbers of diferent
groups and their members
and we work every day to
limit their criminal activity
and make arrests of them.
We have made several
attempts at educating
parents, teachers and
others in the community
with a program Sgt. John
Hayes and Lt. Morris Pike
put together last spring. It
was ofered several times
at the police department
and was aimed at getting
the community involved
to assist the department in
stopping it neighborhood
by neighborhood. The
response was not what we
had hoped for from the
community, parents or
others. So we continue to
try and work through the
court system to deal with
the problem."
City Manager Kenny Smith via
e-mail to city commissioners on
Monday, Jan. 2:
. . . We cannot deny that
we have gangs in the city
and cannot contradict the
information the ofcers
provided (without my
knowledge or direction).
[Editor's note: Smith is
referring to the reported
statistic of 75 percent
of crime in Grifn being
gang-related in the article
entitled "Grifn's great and
growing gang problem" that
ran in the Dec. 15 edition].
I will be meeting with
Chief Strickland and his
staf Tuesday morning to
discuss this issue. I do not
believe that more money
to the police department is
the answer but better use
of the resources we have.
. . I will provide more info
after I return to the ofce
on Tuesday and after I meet
with the police department
command staf.
[Editor's note: This e-mail
was edited for space, as
the e-mail below reiterates
much of what was cut.]
City Manager Kenny Smith via
e-mail to city commissioners on
Tuesday, Jan. 3:
Our police department is
adequately stafed, well
trained and efectively
equipped. We have more
ofcers per population
than most jurisdictions due
to our high poverty rates,
rental percentages and
crime rates. Although we
acknowledge the presence
of gang activity in the city
we do not believe that
activity is responsible for
three of every four crimes
committed as stated in the
Dec. 15 edition of the Grip
(our police department
cannot produce any
statistics that confrms that
statement and The Grip will
not release where they got
that statement from).
Our police department is
fully stafed with 95 sworn
ofcers, 14 of whom have
college degrees at the
Masters level, and 24 with
bachelors or associates
degrees. There are 152
advanced certifcations in
our department. Last year
the police department
completed 13,436 hours of
training. Our department
is state certifed and
nationally accredited.
Although our crime rate
exceeds the national and
state averages, the violent
crime rate has decreased
46 percent in the last 10
years. Property crimes
have decreased 20 percent
in the same time frame.
From 2009 to 2010 alone,
incidents reported to the
department decreased by
more than 19 percent.
Do we have a gang
problem? Yes. Is it
worsening? Probably. Can
the police department or
the city government cure
the problem alone? No
way.
Over the past years/
months we have attempted
to integrate the Gang
Resistance Education and
Training (GREAT) program
in the local schools but
were told there was not
enough classroom contact
hours available for the
class.
The department has
attempted to have
gang educational and
informational meetings for
community education and
input with approximately
only seven people
attending.
The department has used
the Georgia Code that
relates to the prosecution
of gang activity to its
advantage in prosecuting
acts that could be proven
to be gang related.
The department has used
and continues to use
clandestine methods and
operations to gather gang
intelligence and infltrate
gangs and gang activity.
Although we cannot
divulge our investigative
techniques, our operations
are and will continue to be
enhanced to address the
problem.
It is important that the
public understand that
the police department
nor the city government
can solve this problem.
Social agencies, churches,
educational professionals,
parents, grandparents,
neighbors, and citizens
must get involved. There
appears to be many
agencies with resources
that could be targeted
toward this issue but we
cannot seem to identify
or collaborate so that
the entire community is
working toward the same
goal.
Our police department
will continue to use every
person and resource
available to combat
all crime and keep our
citizens, businesses, visitors
and their property safe.
City Manager Kenny Smith via
e-mail to Grip publisher on Wed.
Jan. 4:
I appreciate your paper
and think it is wonderful.
However, I feel the article
headlined Grifns Great
and Growing Gang
Problem: 75% of Crime in
Grifn is Gang Related
is not only inaccurate
but detrimental to the
economic growth and well-
being of the city. The police
department has certain
gang intelligence (which
they may not be able to
share publicly) and certain
statistics, but statistics are
not kept that will show
that three of every four
crimes committed in the
city are gang related. In
fact, I would bet that if you
reviewed the statistics,
you would fnd that a
small percentage are
actually documented as
gang related.There was
probably an assumption
made on someones part
that a certain assault, or
robbery, or shoplifting may
have stemmed from gang
activity, but with no frm
knowledge of that fact and
no documentation. I would
suggest you get with me,
along with Chief Strickland
to look at statistics.
Mayor Joanne Todd:
There is no stealing money
from one department to
another be it the golf
course (which is enterprise)
and public safety, which is
police and fre.

Also as I told Ms. Marshall
in her interview with me
several weeks ago, we
have several programs
that dont carry their
weight as far as meeting
their budget the airport
traditionally loses as much
money as the golf course
to her specifc question
about diverting money
from the golf course to
fund public safety I
responded that the city
would never sacrifce the
safety of its citizens for any
program. The golf course
loses money but it is an
amenity that citizens enjoy
much like what ball felds
cost for your youth and
other issues. Recreation
for your community is
important and it does not
pay for itself either.

The city maintains the
Park at Sixth Street. The
county built this park
with hotel/motel money
which is designated for
tourist attraction. The
city purchased the sound
system. So as much as
those who are unhappy
campers that want to
complain it is an asset.
The same goes for the
improvements to the dry
detention pond at Ashton
Place the city has had to
maintain it for years due to
contractor failure those
citizens only wanted it
maintained it abuts their
properties. So the city is
going to plant shrubbery
and fowers that maintain
themselves and mow the
walking track. We will
beneft in the long run due
to less maintenance.

One can pick and choose
whatever bugs them
but it doesnt change
reality; and the more one
tries to compare apples
and oranges, the same
conclusion will be drawn.
Other than being fruit, they
taste diferently and look
diferent. Both are good
for you. I think there is a
message there.

In conclusion I will
repeat public safety of
our citizens is not being
sacrifced; our policemen
are aware of all criminal
activity, however, it never
hurts to publicly give this
reassurance.
FOR
AGAINST
20%
(4 VOTES)
80%
(16 VOTES)
Valid Concerns and Helpful
Solutions: The $1,000 Meatloaf
This is a semi-regular column devoted
to addressing issues, tackling
problems and giving all-around good
advice to the leaders and citizenry of
the greater Grifn-Spalding County
area.
DIRT MCGIRT
In todays fast-paced and
technology-fueled world one
of the best ways to gather
the family together is around
a home cooked meal. Since
the cook hopes to repeat this
event many times a week,
it is very important that the
meals are both delicious
and original. The pressure
to produce mouth watering
entres often leads many
home cooks to venture from
their standard meatloaf
recipe and seek advice from
professional chefs.
Despite the fact that these
culinary explorers lack the
training, years of experience,
top of the line appliances,
state-of-the-art kitchens, well-
stocked pantries and trained
sous chefs that professional
chefs have at their disposal,
they are convinced that
they can also produce world
class cuisine. As with many
ill-fated attempts at home
improvement, the driving
force behind this culinary
experimentation and false
sense of cuisine competence
can be traced to television.
Cooking shows used to be
simple with the chef showing
the audience how to prepare
a delicious pot roast or apple
pie using ingredients readily
available to the average
person. The proliferation of
competition cooking shows
has changed this traditional
format. These shows feature
world-famous chefs battling
each other to create the
most amazing dishes using
ingredients fown in from
all corners of the world.
The winner has often made
something like Black Trufe
infused Kobe Beef tenderloin
braised in 200-year-old
champagne and topped with
caviar, a South American quail
egg and gold shavings.
As is so often the case viewers
of these shows convince
themselves that they can
also prepare that dish and
that they can do so in the
thirty minutes it took the
professional chef.
The amateur
chef frst
heads to
the store
to be the
ingredients
necessary
to prepare
such a
meal. The
chef soon
realizes that
his local stores do not carry
trufes, caviar and quail eggs
and thus heads of to Atlanta
in search of these prizes. Nine
farmers market, six specialty
stores and $589 later, the
chef has fnally gathered all
of the ingredients except the
200-year-old champagne,
crme fraiche and gold
shavings.
Upon returning home, the
chef realizes that his kitchen
lacks the necessary appliances
to infuse the Kobe beef. He
then travels back to Atlanta
and purchases the $300 beef
infuser from the laughing
sales clerk who explains that
it is so simple to use it doesnt
matter that the instructions on
the box are written in Chinese.
He also spent $80 to refll his
car with the gas burned by the
two 100-mile round trips.
Once home, the chef begins
preparing the meal just as
he remembered the chef
doing on television. However,
things begin to deteriorate
immediately as the $6 bottle
of champagne from the fridge
he used as a substitute for the
expensive bubbly catches fre
and scorches the beef. As the
chef takes the batteries out of
the smoke detector, the dog
pulls the bag containing the
black trufe of the counter
and consumes it in one bite.
The chef cusses the sales clerk
when he realizes that there
is no such thing as an infuser
when he opens the box only
to fnd an electric toothbrush.
When the chef badly cuts his
hand using a cheese grater to
shave gold from his wedding
ring to top the burned beef he
has fnally had enough.
The dejected chef then
trudges back to the local
grocery store and spends $31
buying the ingredients for a
meal he can cook. That night
his family gathers around the
table and enjoys what only the
chef knows is the worlds frst
$1000 meatloaf.
Question: I have wanted to
quit smoking cigarettes for
years. I know theyre bad for
me, but quitting the habit is
tough. What is the story on the
electronic cigarettes? Do they
work? Are they safe?
As a non-smoker, I have to
rely on experience of other
folks sometimes. I have
learned to be thankful for
my smoke allergies that
removed all temptation to
either smoke or associate
with smokers, as they
only made me sneeze and
cough more. Seriously,
it afected my choices of
friends because my allergy
was that bad.
You are right about the
difculty in quitting.
Nicotine has been shown
in some studies to be
more quickly addictive
than heroine. It is a
powerful stimulant drug
that increases heart rate
and causes blood vessels
to narrow, promoting
higher blood pressure. It
greatly increases risk of
cardiovascular disease,
cancer, and lung disease,
as you know. Also, as you
know, a pack per day will
cost you nearly $2,000/
year for cigarettes alone.
The electronic cigarettes
are becoming a popular
option for many who seek
freedom from their habit.
The one with which I am
most familiar is comprised
of a cartridge (inhaler,
liquid container and
vaporizer are built as one
piece) and rechargeable
battery with indicator
light. There are small
and graduated doses of
nicotine available so that
you can literally wean
yourself of the addictive
drug. They even come
in regular and menthol
favor.
There are oral drugs (pills
and chewing gum) that
can also help you wean
yourself from nicotine,
but many report that the
act of putting something
up to the mouth is itself a
habit that is hard to break
after years of doing it. The
electronic cigarette ofers
the opportunity to slowly
break the physical habit as
well as the chemical habit.
I was introduced to this
product by Tim, one of
our patients who came
to see us one day to say
goodbye. Tim had been
a lifelong smoker, up
to two or three packs
per day, and was facing
surgery for a throat lump
that was nearly certain
to be cancer. His heart
and lungs were ruined,
so chances of making
it through surgery
were slim. Even then, a
malignancy loomed as his
reward for his habit.
Tim sported a new
electronic cigarette,
though, and proudly
stated that he had kicked
the habit that had ruined
him. He had to travel
all the way to a truck
stop to get his supplies,
though, because no one
in Grifn had them. He
demonstrated that he
could inhale normally as
the electronic cigarette
delivered a measured dose
of nicotine and mist. He
exhaled harmless water
vapor. It looked and felt
realistic to him, but there
was no smoke and nothing
to give him cancer or make
me sneeze.
On Tims recommendation,
I researched this product
and ordered some. We
have tried them with some
patients with great success.
I cant tell you how great
it is to hear of people
breaking this habit and
turning to health. We hear
from them as they begin
to breathe better, taste
food again, and even smell
fowers that they could not
enjoy as smokers.
One told me just this
morning that she is already
going to the smaller dose
of nicotine on her way to
breaking the addiction
altogether. Her next order
of electronic cigarette
flters will be nicotine-free,
and she will have kicked
the habit. Her lungs will
begin the long process of
self-cleaning and repair
after the assault they have
sustained.
If you need help to stop
smoking, give us a call or
drop by the clinic for cofee
and a chat. I will be glad
to drop everything except
patients to talk with you
about how you can quit
and do it cleanly. By the
way, youll save a lot of
money that wont go up in
smoke.
And Tims tumor was
benignthis time.
DR. BOB HAYDEN
DC, PhD, FICC
Have a question
for Dr. Bob?
Send it to
IrisCity@aol.com.
LiFeStyLe
Jan. 5 - Jan. 18, 2012 5
Your Grandaughter, Amanda
Has multiple tattoos and piercings
Works as a waitress
Goes to a club every night
Believes strongly in reincarnation
Wishes to give everything she has
to animal rights groups
Are you sure you want to
leave it all to her outright
?
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Bad habit
goes up in
smoke
ANNE HENDRICKS CHILDRESS
We all love our
grandmothers, and when
they are gone we miss
them. I recently visited
my husbands paternal
grandmothers grave (he
called her MaMaw) and
we spent a lovely fve
minutes in a one-sided
conversation. I told her
how well she reared her
grandson. Just like my
own grandmother, his
grandmother lived with his
parents for over 20 years
and helped rear him.
He adored her, as all
Southern boys love
their MaMaws. I think
Southerners come up with
the best names for their
grandmothers.
Yankees do not seem to
get the entire Southern
method of naming a
grandmother. Mrs. Louise
Parksa dear elderly
friendonce told me,
Southern grandchildren
often name their
grandmothers. Moreover,
it is true she nailed it.
I personally had a Kentucky
MeeMaw whereas my
David had a Tennessee
MaMaw. In my 40 years,
I have heard Grandma,
Nana,Wanna, and
Yannie. My personal
favorite is the name my
best friend, Gwenna
White Maddox, is called
Gwennie!
I had fve grandmothers
in my everyday life one
was a step, one was a
biological, two were
great grandmothers who
infuenced my rearing and
physical appearance, and
my maternal grandmother,
Mrs. Aliene Pillow Carman.
If you knew her, youd
remember her as my sassy
and spunky MeeMaw.
In addition, yes, she was
redheaded. MeeMaw
could cook anything, grow
anything, smoked like a
chimney, and, most of all,
tore my bottom up to save
me.
My other grandmother
was a step-grandparent.
She was college educated,
of Eastern Kentucky stock,
and made an art form out
of marrying well. In other
words, she had been my
grandfathers mistress
before he married her.
However, this woman
became the best friend I
have ever had.
She paid for both my
college degrees, and
was available 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week for
advice, love, uplifting, and
laughter. And, of course,
she never spanked me.
I called her Grandma,
and losing her at the age
of 98 still brings tears to
my eyes. There is not one
day that goes by that I do
not start crying over the
death of my paternal step-
grandmother.
Southern grandmothers
they often provided
the free childcare our
mothers utilized when
they burned their bras
and went to work. My
mother was a working
mother, and until recently,
I was a working mother
and librarian. Just about
everyone in my family has
been a working mother.
My mother continues to
care for my son, Ian, in
the afternoons when I do
volunteer work or writing
assignments. Nevertheless,
our grandmothers kept
us, fed us, watched us like
hawks, and wore our seats
out. My own Kentucky
MeeMaw worked in a war
plant during World War II
(making bullets to kill the
Axis Powers, as she used
to say), and my mothers
Kentucky MeeMaw kept
her children on the family
farm.
With me, one grandmother
was a parental fgure, the
other my best friend. My
grandmothers are buried
in Western Kentucky.
I visit them yearly and
have lovely one-sided
conversations with them.
I visited my MeeMaw last
fall, and yes, she is doing
fne. Shed be ashamed
I ventured to her grave,
on a beautiful hillside
in a Missionary Baptist
cemetery, without fowers.
Instead, I employed a
method gleaned from my
Jewish heritage: I placed a
rock on her grave.
We had a lovely
conversation with my
husband, David, right
there. My reddish hair must
have glistened in the sun
because it was from her
that it came. He noticed the
date of her death June
of 1995 and commented
his MaMaw died the
previous year (his MaMaw,
like my MeeMaw, had had
Alzheimers). We just stood
there quietly, emotionally
bonding yet again. I still
cant talk about it, I told
him. And he kissed me,
right there, in front of my
MeeMaw.
I have not decided on
how I will be known to
my grandchildren, but I
think MaMaw Childress
or MeeMaw Childress
has a nice ring to it. What
recently tickled me was
how my new mother-in-
law, Geneva Childress, was
debating on what Ian was
to call her. She is a frst time
grandmother, becoming
the step-grandparent
to an 11-year-old boy.
He mentioned that he
liked Grandma to honor
my own beloved step
grandmother.
I love it.
The importance of a Southern MeeMaw
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PET OF THE WEEK: Buttercup
Buttercup's owner
was not able to
keep her and
the other cat he
had. The living
conditions were
not the greatest
for these kitties
either. She is the
sweetest kitty,
so loving and
afectionate. She
is about 3 years
old but still young
for a cat as they
live for 17-20 years
normally.
If interested contact
catsanddogs4you@yahoo.com.
Adoption fees include spay/neuter and
routine shots.
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Whether a short visit or
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Sewing classes
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Call today to sign up!
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APIEGRIFFIN: American Pie Griffin
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BOWLING: Magnolia Lanes
CLEANING: Hospitality Cleaning
Text the red keywords to 55958
to receive updates and coupons
from your favorite local businesses!
*If you dont see your favorite business on
this list, tell them to contact TXT COM today!
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1559 Williamson Rd, Griffin, GA 30224
Hair Stylist & Color Specialist
To have your information appear in the this section of The Grip,
(space permitting) e-mail a press release to sheila@the-grip.net.
Community briefs
The newly formed
Southside Photography
group is meeting at Liberty
Technology at 120 E. Taylor
st. on the last Tuesday of
each month at 7 p.m.
We are looking for
new members that
are just starting out in
photography as well
as those that have
knowledge to ofer.
We have professional
photographers all the way
to the hobbyist.
The club will be having a
show for the whole month
of January at A Novel
Experience bookstore in
Zebulon on the square. The
members will showcase
some of their photographs
and ofer them for sale.
A reception will be held at
the bookstore on January
14 at 7 p.m. serving a
southern cuisine. The event
is open to the public.
If you would like more
information send an e-mail
to mcdaniel303@gmail.
com.
New photography club starts in Grifn
On Tuesday, Feb. 7, The
Grifn-Spalding Chamber
of Commerce and the LEAF
(Leading Entrepreneurs
Advancing the Future )
program will host a free
Lunch & Learn with guest
speaker Gary Hermsmeier
of TXT-COM Mobile
Marketing.
The topic will be
"Introducing a new era in
marketing" and will cover
topics such as mobile
marketing, social media
marketing and mobile web
design and optimization.
The lunch will be held
from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at
the Grifn Welcome Center
at 143 N. Hill Street. Lunch
will be provided, but
reservations are required.
Call 770-228-8200 or email
nturner@cityofgrifn.com
for more information.
New era of marketing
damaged businesses and
two lost lives. Countless
volunteers stepped up to
the plate in the following
months to help others
piece their lives back
together.
Though many citizens
expressed their opposition
at the joint city and county
commissioners meeting on
April 7, the commissioners
voted to move forward
with moving the G-S
Airport to east Grifn
between Jackson and High
Falls roads.
May 2011
After failed motions to
both table and deny the
re-routing of Hwy. 155
down N. McDonough Hwy.,
County Commissioners
Raymond Ray, Gwen
Flowers-Taylor and Eddie
Freeman carried the
motion to approve.
On May 26, the Grifn
Police Department
responded to an apparent
suicide attempt on Hwy.
16 bridge. Ofcers located
53-year-old Stephen Turner
with a steel cable around
his neck and attached to
the bridge. Ofcers were
eventually able to pull him
to safety.
Grifn resident Vernon
Thomas Young, 65, was
arrested and charged with
the murder of his 63-year-
old wife, Olivia.
June 2011
Spalding County citizens
continued to recover
from April tornados, and
preliminary damage
fgures were estimated to
be over $450,000.
The Third Ward pocket
park opened with a ribbon
cutting on June 18.
The Airport Advisory Board
requested $98,000 from
Spalding County to cover a
funding gap. After county
ofcials tabled the request,
city ofcials stated they had
adequate funds to meet
the airports operational
defcit.
July 2011
Spalding County Sherif
Dee Stewart passed away
July 3 as a result of severe
head injuries sustained
in a June 23 wreck that
occurred as he was
patrolling the county.
City commissioners voted
to raise the blighted
property tax from three to
seven times the set millage
rate.
Spalding County
commissioners rejected
the Western Commercial
Connector proposal
made by Paulding County
Commission Chairman
David Austin. The toll road
was proposed to ease
trafc by providing another
corridor around Atlanta.
August 2011
County Manager William
Wilson announced the
appointment of Kenny
West as Spalding County
Fire Chief.
Academy Award winner
Billy Bob Thornton spent
over a week in Grifn at the
historical Bailey-Tebault
house flming the movie
Jayne Mansfelds Car.
Preliminary numbers
indicated that four G-S
schools may not meet
Adequate Yearly Progress
(AYP). Final numbers
were released in Nov. that
showed 17 of 18 individual
review, cont.
On Jan. 26, the annual
Power Partners Expo
will be held at Southern
Crescent Technical College.
The Power-Packed
Session will include
local entrepreneurs and
business owners leading
an informative panel
discussion from 10:30 to
11:30 a.m.
The Entrepreneur Expo
will follow directly
and last until 1:30 p.m.
Representatives from
national, state and
local agencies that can
provide help for start-up
businesses,or businesses
looking to expand will be
available.
For more information, call
770-228-8200.
Entrepreneur Expo set for January 26
January 10; Tuesday;
Ceramics class; 5-9:30
p.m.; Spalding County
Parks and Recreation
main ofce; for additional
information call 770-467-
4750.
January 11; Wednesday;
La Leche League
of Grifn; 10 a.m.;
provides breastfeeding
information, help and
support; for additional
information call Mercy at
770-228-3972.
January 12; Thursday;
Chamber of Commerce
Annual Dinner; 6:30 p.m.;
Grifn Welcome Center;
awards presented to
Small Business of the
Year, Organization of the
Year, Outstanding Citizen,
Good Corporate Citizen,
Ambassador of the Year,
Member of the Year, and
General Grifn 2012 will
be named.
January 14; Saturday;
Grifn's Got Talent; Moore
Elementary School; 6 p.m.
January 17; Tuesday;
Emily Hearn concert
presented by Grifn Area
Concert Association;
Grifn Auditorium 234 E.
Taylor Street, Grifn; for
more information call
770-228-3229.
January 20; Friday;
Comedy Night at Grifn
Country Club; 8 - 11 p.m.;
call 770-228-0710 for
more details.
January 21; Saturday;
Zumbathon fundraiser
for Stepping Stones ETC;
registration at 9:30 a.m.
Zumba starts at 10 a.m.;
141 Futral Road, Grifn.
February 16-26;
"Tuesdays with Morrie"
presented by the
Mainstreet Players;
the autobiographical
story of Mitch Albom,
an accomplished
journalist driven solely
by his career, and Morrie
Schwartz, his former
college professor. Sixteen
years after graduation,
Mitch happens to catch
Morries appearance on a
television news program
and learns that his old
professor is battling Lou
Gehrigs Disease. Mitch is
reunited with Morrie, and
what starts as a simple
visit turns into a weekly
pilgrimage and a last
class in the meaning of
life.
Our community
calendar is
sponsored by
UGA Grifn
Campus & 92.5
FM The Bear
CONT, review, pg 7
BUSineSS/edUCation
Jan. 5 - Jan. 18, 2012 7
770-227-2242
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iPod Nano and Kindle
Fire through a random
drawing as an enticement
for taking the Work Ready
assessment in November
and early December.
By mid-December, the
committee had reached its
goal.
Though GOWD has
not made an ofcial
announcement, Steve
Hendrix, job profler for
the Georgia Work Ready,
anticipates the release
of another list of Work
Ready communities in two
months. They had just
released [a list] right before
we reached our goal, and
they only do it every few
months, said Hendrix.
Were obviously going
ahead and letting people
know were a Work Ready
community, though.
Grifn-Spalding Chamber
of Commerce Director
Bonnie Pfrogner states
that once the ofcial
notifcation comes from
GOWD, promotion of being
a Work Ready community
will begin.
The Work Ready
Committee focused so
heavily on reaching the
required numbers that any
promotion of attaining
the status as a Work Ready
Community was something
not fully developed. With
the ofcial notifcation,
work will then begin on
what will be appropriate,
said Pfrogner.
What we do know is that
businesses and industries
looking at the diferent
areas are beginning to
inquire as to whether a
city or county is a Certifed
Work Ready community
as designated by the state
of Georgia. This can be an
important recruitment tool
for our area and provides
an added incentive to
those working to bring
new business and industry
here, she continued.
The designation will not
only help the community
entice industry to locate
in Spalding County, but
also help individuals who
took the test obtain quality
employment.
Its also helping the
individuals who have
earned that certifcation,
said Hendrix. There are
several businesses in the
area, not just Spalding, but
also from Pike and Henry
counties, that are going
to be looking for those
people with certifcations
to help staf their open
positions.
Businesses such as
Caterpillar in Spalding,
John Deere in Henry
and Southern States
in Hampton have also
completed job profles
through Georgia Work
Ready, helping them
identify key information to
look for on an individuals
Work Ready certifcate in
order to match them with
the correct position within
their company.
work ready cont.
G-S schools met AYP, with
A.Z. Kelsey being the only
school not meeting AYP
standards.
September 2011
City and county ofcials
asked the city and
county attorneys to draft
an intergovernmental
agreement for the creation
of a joint airport authority.
City commissioners
approved the rezoning
necessary for Kroger
to relocate from the
current location on
North Expressway to
Georgia Highway 16 near
Lowes. The store will be
123,600 square feet and is
projected to open in Oct.
2012.
October 2011
Maj. Wendell Beam was
elected as the new sherif
of Spalding County in a
runof against Capt. Keith
Duncan with 67 percent of
the 6,928 votes.
Spalding County
Correctional Institute
inmate Roley Gabriel
Faubion escaped on Oct.
18 while out on work detail
and was later apprehended
in Cobb County after
ordering a pizza and
stealing the delivery
vehicle.
Three Rivers Commission
Regional Transportation
Roundtable approved a
two-option plan for the
TSPLOST. Both options left
the commuter rail as the
frst priority, but allocate
diferent funding amounts
to the project. This was
done to protect funding in
case other counties cut the
commuter rail from their
lists.
November 2011
Spalding County gained
funding for an emergency
notifcation system in
response to the April 2011
tornados. The system
allows each citizen to enter
up to fve points of contact
information into a portal,
and will automatically
notify the citizens in the
event of an emergency.
The G-S Board of Education
adopted a 170-day school
calendar for 2012-13,
beginning on Aug. 13
and ending May 24.
Each school day will be
extended by 20 minutes
in the afternoon so as to
not loose any instructional
time.
City Commissioners Doug
Hollberg, City at Large, and
Joanne Todd, District 4,
were re-elected in the Nov.
8 election, while Will Evans,
District 2, was unseated by
former commissioner Cora
Flowers. A city ordinance
allowing Sunday alcohol
sales also passed.
Grifn prepared for the
worst-case scenario
regarding water levels not
meeting local needs by
shifting water production
from Head Creek Reservoir
to Still Branch Reservoir,
and estimates that there
are 116 days of water
supply left.
December 2011
The city of Grifn passed
an ordinance allowing golf
carts on most roads with
a speed limit of 35 mph or
lower. The ordinance was
enacted in order to place
limits to the new state
ordinance allowing the
use of golf carts on public
roadways.
The Spalding County
School Board approved
the resolution to place a
new school SPLOST on the
March 6, 2012 ballot. The
three-year school SPLOST
is projected to raise $25
million with no bonded
indebtedness, and would
cover technology and
building updates.
The Spalding County Board
of Commissioners voted
to raise the Conservation
Use Land requirement
from nine to 25 acres by
a 3-2 vote, with Chairman
Eddie Freeman and Gwen
Flowers-Taylor dissenting.

reivew, cont.
Kick @$$ Job of the Week:
Aircraft Recovery Manager
When an aircraft
crashes in the
Southeast, chances
are that the Atlanta
Air Recovery crew
is on the site within
24 hours. It's Todd
Thaxton's job to
coordinate the
recovery of those
crashes.
Tell us a little about what
Atlanta Air Recovery does.
Thaxton: We transport
aircraft when they can't fy
for some reason. A large
part of our business is crash
recovery. When an aircraft
crashes in the southeast,
we are usually dispatched
to the site to transport
the wreckage back to our
facility for storage and
investigation.

And what does a recovery
manager do?
Thaxton: As recovery
manager I coordinate
equipment and personnel.
I'm the one who has my
phone on 24/7 to take the
call when something bad
happens. I'm also the one
who keeps up with our
inventory of stored aircraft.

How did you get into this
industry? Did you wake up one
day and decide you wanted to
fsh airplanes out of swamps?
Thaxton: Of course. Who
wouldn't want to have a
job where you hike and
play in the mud? Actually I
have always loved airplanes
and I have been a licensed
aircraft mechanic for over
18 years. I learned about
the company from working
at the airport and I thought
it sounded like something I
would enjoy.

What's the most interested
recovery mission you've been on?
Thaxton: It's hard to pick
the most interesting. The
details of every crash are
interesting. One that comes
to mind is the man who
tried to fake his death and
jumped out of his airplane
with a parachute. After
radioing in the reports of
"damage" to his aircraft
and pretending to lose
radio contact, the pilot
initiated autopilot and
parachuted form the plane
over Birmingham.
Another plane was
deployed and few
alongside the pilot's plane,
fnding it completely intact
and abandoned. The
pilot had intended for the
aircraft to make it to the
ocean but it crashed before
it made it that far. It was
remarkably intact which
made for an easy case
against the guy after he
was found.
Another interesting job
was to store a huge piece
of the titanic. We have large
climate controlled storage
areas which were perfect
for this large piece of
history to be stored when it
wasn't on exhibit.

What does AAR do with the
planes it recovers?
Thaxton: They are stored for
investigation. Sometimes
there is litigation involved
so some planes are with us
for years. When there's no
longer a need for storage
the airplanes are destroyed
or auctioned.

So after seeing all the
wreckages, do you still fy?
Thaxton: Sure I do. I think air
travel is safe. There's going
to be accidents in any
mode of transportation.
The biggest problems I see
are people running out of
fuel and fying in weather
that they know they
shouldn't be in.
Griffins ONLY
Jewelry Supercenter
770-227-7715
Corner of 10
th
& Solomon Street
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www.rockbottomscapes.com


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