Week in Review
Week in Review: May 5 to May 11, 2007
--A Boston police officer has died in what is being called an accidental shooting.
--A new member of the city school board is selected.
--Thomasville Fire-Rescue units went to two brush fires.
--Governor Sonny Perdue withdrew his veto of the state's 2007 mid-year supplemental budget.
--Georgia crops are at a significant risk because of a drought.
--Archbold Hospital names employee of the year.
BOSTON POLICE OFFICER SHOT
A Boston police officer has died in what is being called an accidental shooting. Officer Al Suarez was pronounced dead Friday night, May 4, at 7:19PM at Archbold Memorial Hospital after being shot in the chest by another officer cleaning his gun. The incident took place about 6PM at the Boston Police Department at shift change. Another Boston police officer was present when the incident took place. Boston police Chief Chuck Weaver arrived at the department shortly after the incident. Ray Bradford, was the officer who was cleaning his gun when it discharged. Bradford was an officer in Boston for seven months and had previously worked for the Pavo Police Department. While the incident is being investigated by the Thomas County Sheriff's Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the sheriff's office will provide police protection for the eastern county city.
--Suarez worked at the Thomas County Jail as a jailer before becoming Boston's police chief, a position he later surrendered. However he remained with the department as an officer. Captain John Richards of the Thomas County Sheriff's Office said Friday night, "The preliminary investigation is leaning toward accidental shooting."
NEW CITY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER
John A Everett, 43 and a banker at Commercial Bank, has been selected by the Thomasville City School Board to fill out until November elections the rest of the term of Rick Ivey who resigned earlier this year. The action was taken at a special called meeting of the school board Tuesday morning, May 8, and he was immediately sworn in to fill the rest of Ivey's term until municipal elections in November. Everett said he would be a candidate in November to fill out the rest of the two years left in the term.
--Everett has been with Commercial Bank since 1985 and is a Senior Vice President. He is a native of Thomasville and attended the Thomasville City School System, graduating from Thomasville High School in 1981. His wife is Lori Brasher Everett and he has three children, one is Harrison, 6 and a student at Jerger School, the others are Anderson, 2 ½, and Owen, 10 months. He is the son of the late George Everett, a long-time director at the Thomasville YMCA, and his mother is educator Dr. Helen Everett.
--Rick Ivey resigned from the Thomasville City Board of Education effective April 24, 2007, citing work pressures. In a statement Ivey said a new position "with Archbold requires a great deal of out-of-town travel, often without much advance notice, and I just don't feel that I'm able to fulfill my duties as I would like."
--The qualifying period for municipal elections is August 27, 2007, to August 31, 2007. The election will be November 6, 2007. The seats up for election on the Thomasville City School Board are currently held by Matthew Conyers, jr, Andy Jones, George Lilly and Jimmy Woodward. Ivey was elected to a four year term in 2005. There will be two seats up for election on the Thomasville City Council: the ones currently held by Camille Payne and David Lewis.
FIRE CALLS
Thomasville Fire-Rescue units went to two brush fires Monday, May 7, during this dry and dangerous time. At 8PM fire units were called to 1846 Lower Cairo Road when an electrical short in a well pump house started a fire that destroyed that building, another one nearby and an area of brush around the sheds. At 5:35PM, on 111Woodwin Drive, fire units put out a brush fire that started from a trash fire that got out of control. No injuries reported in both incidents.
GOVERNOR SIGNS SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET
Governor Sonny Perdue withdrew his veto of the state's 2007 mid-year supplemental budget Tuesday, May 8, but used his line-item veto power to reject a $142 million dollar property tax refund. The Governor had previously vetoed the entire $700 million budget, giving rise to the possibility of a special session, but now there will not be a special session. Perdue said Tuesday that dropping tax collections were indicating a slowing economy, making the one-time tax cut "imprudent." He said he became convinced in recent days that legislators returning to Atlanta would be unproductive.
--The budget Perdue will now will sign contains $81 million for PeachCare, the state's health insurance program for poor children, and $8.5 million for public defenders. Perdue said the midyear budget was still flawed and would likely force furlough of prosecutors and adult literacy teachers before the end of the fiscal year June 30.
GEORIGIA CROPS AT RISK
State Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin says Georgia crops are at a significant risk because of a drought that has reached extreme conditions in 33 out of 159 counties, the worst he has seen in 38 years of being commissioner. Irvin says some farmers could lose their entire harvests. Irvin says there have been longer and harsher droughts in the past, but he cannot remember a year that was so dry this early. The extreme dought conditions in 33 counties, including Thomas County, are expected by weather experts only once every 50 years.
ARCHBOLD CELEBRATES NATIONAL HOSPITAL WEEK
In celebration of National Hospital Week, John D. Archbold Memorial Hospital held a steak picnic Thursday. At the picnic, Ben Morris was named Employee of the Year for 2006. Mr. Morris has worked as a Systems Analyst in the Information Systems department for 13 years. Mr. Morris' nominators said, "Ben is one of the most professional people I know. He has the major responsibility of some of the larger departments, but he makes you feel as if you are his only customer. He truly represents the team spirit and I think he should be recognized for the silent part he plays in the success of this organization." In recognition of his performance, Mr. Morris received a plaque, a check for $500, and a reserved parking space for the next 12 months. A committee chose Mr. Morris from the 16 Employees of the Quarter nominated in 2006 by their peers.