Captain William "Harvey" Hicks August 1 1935 - April 19 2014

Captain William “Harvey” Hicks of Mansfield died Saturday, April 19, 2014. He is preceded by his parents, William and Verna Hicks. Mr. Hicks is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mrs. Maris Hicks of Mansfield; sons David Hicks of Mansfield, Rusty Hicks of Conyers; sisters, Shirley Johns of Bostwick, Diane and Tim Wardlaw of Snellville; 4 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, April 22, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. at Scot Ward’s Green Meadow Chapel with Dr. Jeffery Perkins officiating; interment will follow at Green Meadow Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends Monday, April 21, 2014 from 6 until 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Captain Hicks retired from the Dekalb County Police Department in 1987 and later retired from the Henry County Police Department in 2001. He was a member of the Mansfield Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon. Harvey enjoyed playing the Banjo and was a member of the Mansfield Pickers; he also enjoyed Golf and was an avid Race Car Driver and was a member of Panthersville Masonic Lodge.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Mansfield Baptist Church Building Fund, 101 Woodlawn Rd, Mansfield, GA 30055. Scot Ward Funeral Services, 699 American Legion Road, Conyers, 30012, 770-483-7216.

Visitation
Monday April 21, 2014, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM at Scot Ward Funeral Services at Green Meadow Memorial Gardens
Click for Map and Directions

Funeral Service
Tuesday April 22, 2014, 1:00 PM at Scot Ward Funeral Services at Green Meadow Memorial Gardens
Click for Map and Directions

Vernon Trailing In Internal Poll

This afternoon, we received a polling memo generated by Melvin Mitchell’s campaign for DeKalb County sheriff.

The automated survey, conducted among 1,524 likely voters on April 13 and 14, has a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percent.

The poll focuses only on three of the eight candidates. Not surprisingly, the survey puts Mitchell – a sergeant with the Atlanta Police Department — in the lead, with 38 percent. Former DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones polled 32.4 percent. Jeff Mann, who served as chief deputy under Sheriff Tom Brown and is now interim sheriff, came in at 24 percent

Dekalb Tied To Another Political Corruption Case

Say it isn't so.

And the Chamber of Commerce wonders why new businesses are avoiding DeKalb County like the plague, or the mob.

Click here to read was coming in June.

Retired Captain D.D. Wilson Has Died

Details forthcoming.

Go in peace brother.

And Where Were They When It Comes To Sharon Barnes?

So, a coalition of folks want Elaine Boyer booted. We ask, where are these people when it comes to Sharon Barnes?

Hypocrisy? Surely not.

To refresh your memory, click here.

By Johnny Edwards

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

                           

A coalition of DeKalb County watchdog groups wants County Commissioner Elaine Boyer booted from office for abusing her county Visa card.

Two men lodged complaints with the Board of Ethics on Thursday against Boyer and her chief of staff, saying Boyer violated her oath of office and her top aide used his position for special privileges. The complaints were prompted by an investigation last month by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which found Boyer spent more than $12,000 on personal purchases, including airline tickets, rental cars and a ski resort booking.

Some of the purchases were made while Boyer and her husband were having financial problems.
The commissioner reimbursed many of the charges within days, weeks or months, but she paid back another $4,000 after the AJC began asking questions. She told Channel 2 Action News that “it never dawned on me that what I was doing was wrong.”

The newspaper also reported that she and her chief of staff, Robert Lundsten, spent more than $11,000 for restaurant meals at taxpayer expense in 2012 and 2013.

Thomas Owens, of Atlanta, and Joseph Newton, of Norcross, who filed the ethics complaints, say they have the backing of Joel Edwards of Restore DeKalb and Viola Davis of the DeKalb Unhappy Taxpayer and Voter group.

They are asking the ethics board to audit Boyer’s Visa card use, require her and Lundsten to pay back improper charges, find out if any other commissioners or their staffers have misused their cards, refer the case to the District Attorney for possible prosecution and request that the county’s purchasing card policy be revised to cover commissioners.

They also want Boyer removed from office — which the ethics board can do — and both she and Lundsten barred from ever working for DeKalb County again.
Lundsten said the complaints against him are the latest in ongoing personal attacks by Owens and Newton, who he has been sparring with for years. Boyer has not consented to interviews since the AJC published its investigation.

Another One of DeKalb's Finest Citizens Making Us Proud!

Georgia high court disbars former State Court Judge and Congresswoman Majette....

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/georgia-high-court-disbars-former-congresswoman-ma/nfM7g/

Retired Sergeant Diane Rava Has Died UPDATE

Diane Marilyn Rava 52, passed away on Wednesday March 19, 2014, at the home of her sister, Deborah Hopps, in Round Rock Texas, surrounded by her loving family after a heroic battle with cancer.

 Diane was born in Constableville, NY, on August 13, 1961, a daughter of Edward M. and Charlotte C. Ziankoski Rava. She grew up on the Rava Homestead farm near Boonville, NY, and graduated from South Lewis Central High School, Turin, NY, with the Class of 1979. Thereafter she continued her education at Jefferson Community College and then Utica College, where she studied White Collar Crime. Diane graduated Cum Laude from St. Leo University, St. Leo, Fla, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice in 2011.

She moved to Buford, Georgia in 1983 where she met Bruce Potts. They married on December 31, 1990. On July 29, 1985, Diane was accepted into the DeKalb County Police Academy, and graduated in November, 1985. She had a very distinguished career with the DeKalb County Police Department and received over 30 commendations in 30 years. In 1985 she started her career as a member of the Uniform Division Patrol. From 1989 to 2003 she was a Burglary Detective in the Criminal Investigation Division and received Top Honors as Detective of the Year in 1998 and 1999. In 2003 she cleared 119 cases as a detective and recovered $166,531 worth of stolen property.

 In 2003 she was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and worked Uniform Division, Patrol & was a member of the Training Review Board. In 2005 she was assigned to the Program Operations Division which supported the District Attorney and Solicitor General 's Office. In 2006 Diane was assigned to the Office of the Director of Public Safety/Communications and served as Acting Commander of the 911 Communications Center, where she was responsible for the $23 million Digital Radio System upgrade for the DeKalb County Police and Fire Department. From 2010-2013, she served in the Investigations and Support Services Division as Supervisor over all county business permits to include taxi and wrecker services. Diane qualified with a 90% or higher with her departmental issued weapon twice a year since she joined the department. Diane stated frequently how much she loved her job. She described herself as "black and white, direct, and always doing the right thing ". She was extremely honest, you could have a conversation with Diane - and knew it would absolutely remain private, period.

Diane loved her nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews; they were a very important part of her life. There were times where she knew things before their parents! Diane had an uncanny knack for delivering every story she told with every detail from start to finish. You would be wanting to tell her…alright already just tell me what happened! There was nothing that she loved more than an interesting conversation with a good friend. Diane could have an engaging conversation with anyone. Diane loved animals and especially “her chows ". She was a member and past president of the Chow Chow Fanciers of Atlanta, GA.

Diane grew up in a home where the love of God was strong. She was an active member and greatly enjoyed attending Mary Our Queen Catholic Church, Norcross, GA, Diane enjoyed shopping, baking, traveling and working in her flower and vegetable gardens.

In addition to her husband, Bruce, of Buford, Diane is survived by sisters Deborah Hopps and husband Rick, Austin, TX, Denise Hawk and her husband, Pat, Umatilla, FL, Dawn and her husband, Dennis, Boonville, her mother, Charlotte Rava, Boonville and many special nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her father, Edward Rava, on January 22, 2000.

The viewing for Diane with full Police honors will be held in Norcross, Ga. at Crowell Brothers Funeral Home from 5:00pm to 8:00pm on Monday, March 24, 2014. Church services with Police honors will be celebrated at Mary our Queen Catholic Church March 25, 2014 at 2:30pm.

Viewing in Boonville, NY will be held at the Trainor Funeral Home 143 Schuyler St. from 5:00pm to 8:00pm on March 27, 2014. Funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph 's Catholic Church, March 28, 2014 at 10:00am with internment at St. Joseph 's cemetery in the spring. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Mary our Queen Catholic Church, 6260 The Co ers Pkwy NW, Norcross, GA 30092 or St Joseph 's Catholic Church, 110 Charles St, Boonville, NY 13309.

Open Comments

Will They or Won't They?

Today is the day. The commissioners vote on a few privileged getting take home cars, and returning the 10% promotional pay increase.

Will they or won't they?

New Sheriff In Town?

Retired Officer Gary "Gunny" Moore Has Died UPDATE

T. G. “Gunny” Moore, 71, of Dawsonville passed away Saturday February 15, 2014 at Northeast Georgia Medical Center following a period of declining health.

Born December 2, 1942 in Knoxville, Tennessee to the late Tom and Polly Moore, he lived in Dawson County for the past 14 years having moved from Norcross. Gunny retired from the Dekalb County Police Department after 23 years of service after which he was employed by the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office for 6 years. Gunny served 21 years in the U. S. Armed Forces with the U. S. Marine Corps and the U. S. Air Force. He served three tours in Viet Nam. He was a member of Grace Presbyterian Church, was an avid gun collector, was a charter member and past president of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 970, and was a member of Etowah Lodge # 222 F & AM.
Surviving are his wife of 26 years, Linda Moore, Dawsonville; son, Patrick (Ashley) Moore, Watkinsville; daughter, Kelly Peterson, Decatur; three grandchildren; and cousin/brother, Kyle M. (Carol) Webb, Canton.

Memorial services will be held Saturday February 22, 2014 at 2 o’clock at Bearden Funeral Home Chapel. Donna Weaver will officiate.

The family will receive friends Saturday from 12 noon until 2 at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to VVA Chapter 970, P. O. Box 1205, Dawsonville, GA 30534.

Condolences may be expressed at www.beardenfuneralhome.com. Bearden Funeral Home, Dawsonville, Georgia

Go in peace brother!

Are We Ready For A Catastrophe?

The National Weather Service is predicting the impending ice storm will be a catastrophe. The police department is taking it so serious, they have devised a plan to make sure we, the officers, will be well taken care of.  NOT!

Here is the brilliant plan; we are being told to bring toiletries and a change of clothing with us, because who knows when we will be able to get home.

We are being told, if we can't get home, and are forced to get a hotel room, the county will reimburse us. The county has failed to contract with any hotel to block off sufficient number of rooms or make arrangements for a discount government price.

If the weather is going to be of catastrophic proportions, what about food? All the restaurants will be closed. What are we suppose to eat, crackers from some vending machine?

Why hasn't Cedric not planned on taking care of the officers? This storm is no secret. Could he not have make arrangements with the National Guard for a shelter in place for us? Could he not have contacted the Red Cross to make sure we are fed?

And while we will be tired, hungry and miserable, what about our families?

Surely a man who received an $8000.00 per year raise in salary would have the smarts to preplan.

Welcome to amateur hour.

East Precinct Officer Shot

Support HB 29 Georgia Campus Carry Act of 2013; enact

With the raise of predator crimes against college students, it's time to let the students rightfully protect themselves.

You let a couple of those predators "hold one" and you will see a drastic reduction of these types of crimes.

Call your state representative and encourage them pass House Bill 29.

Retired Captain D.D. Wilson Hospitalized

Retired Captain D.D. Wilson has been admitted in to Piedmont/Henry County hospital in very serious conditions.

Please keep him and his family in your prays.