LOCAL NEWS

Berry College Farmers' Market Seeks Vendors

Tuesday, June 18, 2013 -- 9:31 pm EDT

By: Laura-Jane Hatcher (WRGA News) 



Attention local growers and crafters: Berry College is seeking more vendors for their Student Enterprises Farmers Market. 

 

A variety of items will be for-sale at the market and you don’t have to be affiliated at all with the college to participate.

 

“We’d love to have you,” says Chances Wait, with the college’s Student Enterprise. “The more vendors, the more fun it is—--and the more we can jump around from table-to-table to buy each others’ stuff.” 

 

To sign up, contact Robin Holt via email at rholt@berry.edu or by phone at 706-378-2854. A $15 particpation fee is required. 

 

The Farmers Market will be held Saturday July 13th, from 7am to 1pm. 

 

 

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Bartow Shooting Suspect Apprehended

Tuesday, June 18, 2013 -- 9:08 pm EDT

By: Laura-Jane Hatcher (WRGA News) 

 

The manhunt for a Cartersville man suspected of shooting his girlfriend’s sister has ended. 

 

Following a nearly week long pursuit, Cartersville Police Captain Mark Camp says U.S. Marshalls apprehended William Dexter Weems, Jr. on Monday. Weems is accused of shooting his girlfriend’s sister in the leg after a fight around 3pm. Authorities say Weems fled the area soon after. 

 

The woman was taken to Floyd Medical Center for treatment, and is reportedly okay. 

 

Now that Weems is in police custody, he will have to answer to charges of Aggravated Assault and Battery.    

 

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Rome Bar Faces Three-Day Entertainment License Suspension

Tuesday, June 18, 2013 -- 8:39 pm EDT

By: Laura-Jane Hatcher (WRGA News) 

 

A local bar is facing a temporary suspension of their entertainment license after multiple noise complaints to police.

 

Fred Simpson, the manager of the Lateran Bar, stood before the Alcohol Control Commission Tuesday, defending his Maple St. business after its second noise citation in two months. During the hearing, Simpson alleged his bar had been targeted by Rome Cops because of false accusations made against it. Police Chief Elaine Snow says this was not the case. 

 

“We don’t target any business specifically---unless there was an on-going problem at a business and we had complaints about that location, then we would potentially monitor that location,” Snow says. “In this situation, we received a complaint from a citizen that came through 9-1-1.” 

 

Already issued a letter of warning for their first offense, The Lantern’s entertainment license was suspended for three days in July, meaning there can be no music or dancing in the establishment on those days. 

 

The property’s owner was grateful for the sentence, claiming that too hefty a fine or penalty would force him to close the business’ doors. 

 

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First of Three Bodies in Weiss Crash Identified

Tuesday, June 18, 2013 -- 12:58 pm EDT

By: Marc Summers (WEIS News) & Kevin Karel (WRGA News)

One of the three bodies discovered inside a Dodge pickup truck in Weiss Lake last week has been identified as a Piedmont man in his early 40’s. The other two bodies remained unidentified at this time. Marc Summers has the update from Cherokee County, Alabama;

"According to Cherokee County Coroner Broderick Smith, one of the bodies is that of 41-year-old Bobby DeWayne Hyatt.  A positive ID has yet to be made on the other two.  Smith had previously informed WEIS Radio News that the bodies were believed to be those of two adult males and one adult female.  All three bodies were sent to the Department of Forensic Sciences in Huntsville for autopsies and for help in the identification process."

The truck was pulled from the water Thursday June 13th at about 1:30 pm. Cherokee County police detectives have identified the case as an accident and not a homicide investigation.
 

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UPDATE: Suspect ID'd in weekend shooting on Crane Street

Tuesday, June 18, 2013 -- 9:46 am EDT

By: Andrew Carter (WRGA News)

Police are looking for a man believed to be directly involved in Sunday morning’s shooting that injured a Rome man.

Rome Police Lt. Gary Clayton says his department is searching for 21-year-old Marcquell Williams in connection with the weekend shooting that left Alfred Jamaal Echols with a single gunshot wound to the thigh.

In a statement to investigators, Echols, 20, told the officer that he was walking along Crane Street with his sister when he was shot from behind in the thigh. Interviews with various witnesses on the scene pointed to arrest warrants being filed for Williams’ apprehension.

Upon his capture, Williams would face felony charges including aggravated assault, aggravated battery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and reckless conduct.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Williams is asked to contact Investigator Michelle Sims at the Rome Police Department at (706) 238-5111. 

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South Atlantic League Hosts All-Star Game

Tuesday, June 18, 2013 -- 7:04 am EDT

By: Kevin Karel (WRGA News)

The 54th Annual South Atlantic League All-Star Game will be held tonight on the Jersey Shore and a quartet of Rome Braves will take part in the annual classic.

Among the Rome standouts expected to take the field is slugging outfielder Josh Elander, who is among the league leaders in several major offensive categories, including RBI’s with 59. Elander leads all Rome players with 11 home runs and 22 doubles.

Starting second-baseman Levi Hyams will also represent the Rome Braves at the All-Star Game, as will relief pitcher Shae Simmons. Hyams has been red hot at the plate and is now batting .317 on the season with 12 stolen bases. Simmons crafted a 2.20 ERA and 18 saves in the first half of the season to earn his nod to the roster.

Finally, the Rome Braves got a last minute addition to the All-Star team as infielder Eric Garcia was announced as a replacement player Monday by South Atlantic League President Eric Krupa.

First pitch for tonight’s All-Star Game is set for 7 PM from FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood, New Jersey, home of the Blue Claws.

Rome begins the 2nd half of their 2013 season Thursday night at State Mutual Stadium against Charleston.
 

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Atlanta Media Heavyweight Tyler Perry Donates 50k to Mike Patterson Fund

Monday, June 17, 2013 -- 10:26 pm EDT

By: Laura-Jane Hatcher (WRGA News) 

 



Prayers and support are pouring in from all across the nation, and even from an Atlanta movie giant, to the Rockmart man who was critically injured saving a drowning 4-year-old girl. 

 

According to the Friends of Mike Patterson Facebook Page, Atlanta writer, actor and producer Tyler Perry has donated $50,000 to the fund set-up to help uninsured Mike Patterson with his medical costs. 

 

It’s been a little over a week since Patterson was paralyzed after diving into a creek off the Silver Comet Trail to save a young girl swept away in the currents. 

 

After a rough weekend, family members report Patterson’s condition continues to improve. Doctors at Redmond Regional Medical Center struggled to reel in his high fever, which his family says is finally coming down.  

 

So far, some $74,000 has been raised for Patterson, and the donations keep pouring in. To find out how you can donate, visit Facebook.com/FriendsofMikePatterson. 

 

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Rome City Recieves Good Financial News at Meeting

Monday, June 17, 2013 -- 10:01 pm EDT

By: Laura-Jane Hatcher (WRGA News)

 

Some good financial news was on the agenda for City Commissioners Monday night.  

 

 

At their meeting, the City of Rome got a clean-bill of health for their 2012 financials. Much like the county last week, Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC audited the city, finding a healthy budget with revenues exceeding expenditures by over $900,000. 

 

Also on the docket, commissioners heard the recommendation made by the finance committee to keep the current 26.15 millage rate the same. This will be the third year the rate remains unchanged, says Mayor Pro-Tem Jamie Doss.    

 

“We have been through a rough economy, and so for the school system and the City of Rome to maintain the current millage rate---I think it’s outstanding,” Doss says.

 

Though commissioners did not take any official action, they will be holding a public hearing on the recommended millage rate in July. 

 

 

Even with the Rome City Schools millage rate staying constant at 17.45 Mils, the system was still able to earmark $300,000 to eliminate two furlough days, bringing the total amount down to eight. 

 

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Plans Underway for North Rome Redevelopment

Monday, June 17, 2013 -- 9:14 pm EDT

By: Laura-Jane Hatcher (WRGA News) 



Plans are underway to redevelop the some 2,000 acres of North Rome, where city officials say there are concentrated areas of blight and numerous vacant properties. At the Rome City Commission’s Tuesday caucus, Development Director Melissa Jones revealed a breakdown of the area centered on North Broad St., which is now divvied into eight neighborhoods. Though any concrete plans for North Rome are a long ways away, Jones says the city is taking its first steps towards a major renovation.

 

“Our next step is to study the area,” Jones says. “We’re going to look at our demographics and then from there we’re going to come up with some initiatives that we can do fairly simple and easy utilizing city staff. So, looking at our litter index, our neighborhood focus, and a strong code enforcement buy-in.” 

 

According to Jones, this redevelopment will differ from its counterpart in South Rome, mostly because of the industry already present in the neighborhood. Also, North Rome does not have the large tracts of land available to it that South did; vacant properties are scattered throughout it. 

 

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UPDATE: Rome Teen Drowns at Little River Canyon

Sunday, June 16, 2013 -- 8:40 am EDT

By: David Crowder (WEISS News ) & Laura-Jane Hatcher (WRGA News) 

 



UPDATE: The first drowning death of the season at Little River Canyon occurred over the weekend, claiming the life of a 19-year-old Rome teen.

 

WAFF-TV in Huntsville reports that Ricardo Perez of Rome was with friends crossing Little River when he slipped under the water at Martha’s Falls. His friends tried to help him, but they were unable to find him, calling authorities around 8pm.

 

Perez’s body was found an hour later in nine feet of water.

 

Though this is the first drowning at the popular National Preserve this year, Little River Canyon Superintendent Gail Bishop says there have been four rescues along the river.

 

The National Park Service does ask people to refrain from swimming across Little River, the underlying force of water currents generated by the movement down rocky falls and ledges. 

 

PREVIOUSLY: 

 

A teen believed to be from Cedartown drowned at Little River Canyon Saturday evening.

 

According to Weiss News Radio, DeKalb County, Alabama authorities confirmed the death of the 19-year-old boy whose name has not yet been released yet. 

 

He was reportedly swimming at Martha’s Falls, formerly Little Falls, which is a popular swimming area at Little River Canyon National Preserve. 

 

Law enforcement say the boy’s friend told the National Park Service he went under and never came up.  

 

This story is still developing; we’ll bring you more information as we have it. 

 

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