Dekalb Fire Department Admits Firefighters Failed to Follow Procedures in death of Elderly Woman Ann Bartlett

Ann Bartlett, an elderly woman residing in Dekalb county, Ga., lost her life due to the negligence of the Fire Department. Ms. Bartlett called 911 to report a fire in her home in Dunwoody. The firefighters dispatched to her home didn't see smoke and didn't bother getting out of their truck to knock on her door to see whether or not there was an actual fire. Well, Ms. Bartlett's house in literally reduced to a smoldering heap within a few short hours. What's worst, her body was found in the garage.

The Fire Department had no choice but to admit that the firefighters involved didn't follow proper procedures.

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WEB EXTRA: DeKalb Fire Investigation Report, WSB-TV

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This is a disgrace and Ms. Bartlett's life may have been saved if these firefighters had just done their jobs and investigated to see if there was an actual fire. According to WSB-TV, Ann Bartlett tried to escape the blaze through her garage, but the fire knocked out power to her electric garage door opener.

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Sharon Barnes Sutton, Commissioner in Dekalb County, Ga., Plagued by Bad Checks, Foreclosure, Unpaid Bills

Why is Sharon Barnes Sutton still a commissioner in Dekalb County, Ga? Ms. Sutton, who is charged with the task of overseeing a $600 million budget is a hot mess. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, she has written several bad checks, lost her home to foreclosure and has had her wages garnished. What's shocking is that Ms. Sutton had four outstanding warrants for writing four bad checks, for $300 to $400 each, to a Costco warehouse in Gwinnett county in 2007. She was involved in a minor traffic accident Wednesday night and the police officer did not see that she had these open warrants. Why was she allowed to leave the scene of the accident? She has since paid a little over $1,000 to satisfy the checks and a judge has recalled the warrants. She said, in an interview with the AJC, that she has made some mistakes, but her financial struggles help her better relate to taxpayers. Really? How many people have a history of bouncing checks and have had warrants out for their arrest because of such acts?

She claims that she can't remember writing the checks to Costco and further, she said she has contacted her attorney to look into the matter for her. Here's my two cents. If this was the first time this happened to her, one could give her a pass, but this isn't the first time. She was pleaded no contest in 1996 for writing a bad check to West Building Supply in Stone Mountain and she reportedly received a citation for writing another bad check to Advance Income Services in Lawrenceville.

DeKalb court records show she was sued by Atlanta Gynecology & Obstetrics in 1995 for not paying $1,817. She also had suits filed against her by a Tucker dentist and Atlanta Addictive Disease & Psychiatric for not paying bills.

Her wages were garnished for the Addictive Disease bill, but that case has since been closed, according to court records. The case with the dentist is ongoing.

Sutton is now paying $6,950 to Primus Automotive Financial Services after defaulting on payments for her Lexus. Since 2008, Primus has been garnishing her wages from DeKalb public schools, where Sutton teaches business and career technology. Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution

The reality is that due to the challenging economic conditions, most of us are struggling to make ends meet, but this woman seems to be the extreme. She needs to step down from her job as a commissioner.  She is clearly not the best person to represent Dekalb county in these tough economic times. If she can't handle how own finances, how in the world can she manage the county's budget? She basically ignored the parties to whom she wrote those bad checks and forced them to seek redress from the courts. That is bad and she does not deserve to be sitting in such a job. Ms. Sutton was elected in 2008 to represent District 4.

Please, email Ms. Sutton at sbsutton@co.dekalb.ga.us to express your concern with her fiscal responsibility. You may also contact her at 404-371-4907.

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Court Knowingly Incarcerates Frank Hatley Over Non-Payment of Child Support for Son that Isn't His Biological Child

Frank Hatley has been sitting in a south Georgia prison since June 25, 2008, because he failed to reimburse the state for all the public assistance his so-called son received over the past two decades. The only problem with this is that the son in question isn't his biological child. What is unconscionable is that the special assistant state attorney and a judge knew that, but they threw him in jail anyway.

Hatley, who is currently incarcerated in the Adel county jail, is costing the county between $35 to $40 daily, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Hartey paid thousands of dollars to the state even after learning that he was not the biological father of the child. This is a classic case of the court system trying to "squeeze water from a rock." Even after losing his job and becoming homeless, Hatley still reportedly made payments out of his unemployment benefits.

According to the AJC, Hatley had a relationship with Essie Lee Morrison, who became pregnant and gave birth to a son, Travon, in 1987. The couple split up shortly after the birth. Morrison applied for public assistance for her son in 1989. The state then moved to get Hatley to reimburse the cost of Travon's support. Hatley agreed to make payments because he believed the child was his. According to court records, DNA samples taken from Hatley and Travon in 2000 showed that the two are not related. Another DNA test was recently done that confirms the findings of the earlier test.


This is a disgrace and he should turn around, once released from prison, and sue the county and the mother of this child. To read the entire article in the Atlanta Journal, CLICK HERE.

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Gunman Kills Two People, Wounds Two Others at Penske Truck Rental Business in Kennesaw, Ga.

URGENT: A gunman has killed two people and wounded two others at at Penske truck rental establishment in Kennesaw, Ga., Tuesday.

According to WSBTV, the gunman, who was dressed in camouflage, was taken into custody. Cobb County dispatch said Life Flight was called and transported two people from the scene to the hospital.

Ofc. Joe Hernandez told CBS Atlanta that said the man, who was identified only as Jesse, was dressed in all camouflage and walked into the Penske truck rental business at 3011 Barrett Lakes Blvd. and began firing.

Story developing. More to follow.

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Paula Deen's Cookbook "Paula Deen's Kitchen Classics" Named Unhealthiest of the Decade

Paula Deen has snagged a honor she certainly wishes she didn't win. Deen, Bobby Flay and Julia Child were named authors of books to avoid for people looking to eat healthy meals, at least that's how the Washington-based Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine feels in its latest list of "Best and Worst Cookbooks of the Decade." Deen's heavy dependence on fatty ingredients catapulted her to the top of the list, with her book, "Paula Deen's Kitchen Classics" named the unhealthiest cookbook of the decade. Ouch. I don't think Paula Deen's intention was to ever eat healthy. We visited her restaurant in Savannah two years ago and I couldn't find anything on the menu that was for the health-conscious diner, though her fried chicken was delicious. Still, the place was packed and there was a long line wrapped around the side of the building.

According to Savannah Morning News, the "Queen of Southern decadence," in essence a heartache-waiting-to-happen, released a statement through her publicist, Nancy Assuncao, stating “As always, I stand by my position that certain foods are meant to be eaten in moderation. One wouldn’t expect to eat dessert three times a day. You have to exercise some common sense.” It's time for Paula Deen to realize that she can tout much more healthy dishes and not the kind that packs on the pounds, no matter if it is eaten in moderation.

“Best and Worst Cookbooks of the Decade”
Compiled by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

Unhealthiest
“Paula Deen’s Kitchen Classics,” by Paula Deen
“Mastering the Art of French Cooking,” 13th edition, by Julia Child
“Bobby Flay’s Grilling for Life,” by Bobby Flay
Better Homes and Gardens “New Cook Book: Celebrating the Promise”
“Bones: Recipes, History, and Lore,” by Jennifer McLagan

Healthiest
“The Kind Diet,” by Alicia Silverstone
“Skinny Bitch in the Kitch,” by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin
“The Conscious Cook,” by Tal Ronnen
“The Engine 2 Diet,” by Rip Esselstyn
“Cooking the Whole Foods Way,” by Christina Pirello

I think it's safe to say people looking for healthy meals would not consult a cookbook by Paula Deen for such a meal. With that said, I am sure she isn't losing any sleep taking the top spot on this list, though it may be time for a paradigm shift for this Southern belle. 

Photo credit: Paula Deen, (John Carrington/Savannah Morning News)

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Georgia Revenues Continue to Plunge with Tax Revenues Falling 13.7% in 2009 Fiscal Year

Georgia's revenues continue to plunge. For the fiscal year that begun in July 2009, tax collections are reportedly down 13.7 percent, a decline of $1.1 billion. Governor Sonny Perdue has ordered state agencies to slash $900 million, with additional tax cuts possibly coming in the very near future.

Sales and corporate income taxes both continued to decline in December, sales taxes by 20 percent and corporate taxes by 23 percent, while personal income taxes rose 6.3 percent, which is viewed as an encouraging sign by some.

December's 13.7 percent drop is the 13th straight month tax collections in Georgia have dropped.

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Michael Pruitt is Being Sought by Richmond County, Ga., Police for Attempted Robbery Allegations

Michael Pruitt is being sought by Richmond County police for allegedly attempting to rob an unidentified woman at knifepoint as she picked up a prescription at Belle Terrace Health Center Saturday, authorities said.

The woman told police she received a telephone call from the prescription program coordinator at the health center telling her she needed to come back to sign something. According to media reports, she told police when she returned the man asked her to go into his office and he then allegedly put a knife to her neck and told her not to scream.

She was released without the suspect taking anything from her. This story seems shady, but it is still developing. Georgia Juice has placed a call to the Richmond County police department and we haven't received a return telephone call as yet.

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Teens Jacob Bullock & Marven Mathurin Die After Falling into Frozen Pond in Dacula, Ga., a Third Teen in Fair Condition

Two teens, Jacob Bullock and cousin Marven Mathurin, die after falling into frozen pond in Dacula, Ga. A third teen listed in fair condition.

In the aftermath of the snow that fell in the Atlanta metropolitan area on Thursday, there have been events ranging from a 29-car pile-up due to ice on the roads to people being stranded and some without electricity, but the latest news is tragic. Three teens, ages 13 to 15, in Dacula, Georgia, were reportedly playing near the middle of a frozen pond in the Daniel Park subdivision and fell through the ice. Two of the children, identified as Jacob Bullock, 15 and his cousin Marven Mathurin, 14, have died, while a third, named Alex Paul, 15, is in fair condition. Okay folks, yes, we have had some unusually cold weather in the ATL, but that does not mean that a pond which appears to be frozen is safe to walk or play on. There is the very real possibility that it isn't frozen enough to withstand the weight of one person, let alone three.

According to WSB-TV, investigators said one kid made it out of the pond okay, but the other two got trapped underneath the ice and were in the water for more than an hour. The two boys who were trapped were unresponsive and unconscious when help arrived, according to the authorities.

This is a real tragedy, but why were the boys allowed to play on the ice? The freezing temperatures in Georgia in no way means that it is safe to walk on ice covering a body of water. It may not be stable, as evidenced in this case. The subdivision had reportedly sent to residents in the subdivision this week warning not to trust the ice on the pond.

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Atlanta Record Producer, Rapper Demetrius Stewart "Shawty Redd" Arrested on Murder Charges

Demetrius Stewart, popularly known as "Shawty Redd," has been accused of murder. The Atlanta based record producer, rapper and songwriter, is currently being held in the Henry County jail. He is scheduled to make a court appearance on January 12, 2010, after his appearance for Saturday was reset.

Shawty Redd allegedly shot and killed Damon Martin, 35, of Detroit, after the two got into an altercation, which turned physical and led to the murder.

Shawty Redd reportedly told police initially that he accidentally shot his friend in a house in the 2000 block of Ballymeade Lane in Hampton Friday morning. After the police conducted an investigation, they determined that the victim was shot following an altercation.

Demetrius Stewart has worked with artists including Young Jeezy and Snoop Dogg.

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Georgia Personal Bankruptcies Rate Skyrockets to Third-Highest in the Nation, a 22% Increase Over 2008

The state of Georgia has the third highest bankruptcy rate in the country. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, one in 50 households in Georgia declared bankruptcy in the first 11 months of 2009. The National Bankruptcy Research Center's statistics show that federal bankruptcy courts in Georgia handled 66,925 filings from January to November 2009, a 22 percent increase over 2008. The NBRC's report states that on a national scale, there were nearly 1.3 million personal bankruptcy filings between January and November 2009 -- a staggering 32 percent over 2008. The states with the highest household-adjusted filing rates are Nevada, which comes in at two and one-half times the national average, followed by Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and Indiana. The lowest filing rates occurred in Alaska, which came in at less than a third of the national average, followed by the District of Columbia, North Dakota, South Carolina and South Dakota, all less than half the national average.

Experts have attributed the increase in bankruptcy filings to high unemployment, a real estate meltdown and creditor-friendly laws among the biggest factors. Georgia's position near the top of the list is nothing new. It has occupied this position for years because it is a very creditor-friendly state. Georgia's foreclosure laws have played a big role in the decision of many filers. The state's foreclosure process occurs without court or government supervision and takes approximately two weeks. That's quite the opposite of what occurs in the other states. That's a real shame that Georgians who face foreclosure are literally forced into bankruptcy because of this process.

According to NBRC, more than half of the filings by Georgians between January and November 2009 were for Chapter 7, which is liquidation that essentially wipes out most debts, but some assets are not protected by exemptions. Approximately 47 percent of filers in Georgia opted for Chapter 13, in which consumers are allowed to keep a house and car, but requires a restructuring of their debts to repay a portion to creditors, usually on a percentage for unsecured creditors -- two percent of the balance of a credit card, for example.

This trend is expected to continue as the economic conditions continue to dog the United States and unemployment rates remain high.

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