in 1 Tuesday, February 28, 2012 The Newnan Times-Herald 3- STATE CAL House subcommittee advances Sunshine Laws revision bill ATLANTA A complete overhaul of the state's open meeting and open records laws cleared its first legislative hurdie Monday when a House subcommittee moved it to the full Judiciary Committee with the recommendation that it pass. The bill is the work of Attorney General Sam Olens who vowed when elected in 2010 that he would sponsor a revision of the laws that govern public access to meetings and government documents. It lowers the cost to get copies of official documents, requires private contractors disclose government files they have, and it stiffens some penalties for agencies that fail to comply. His staff spent months last year drafting House Bill 397, but by the time it was introduced, much of the legislative session was over. He decided to halt consideration then to allow more time when lawmakers weren't as rushed.
Work on the measure. this year has included multiple sessions with interested groups, mainly government organizations and media outlets. Olens said he was pleased with the bill the subcommittee approved because it was the compromise reached from those discussions. "I think the bill's very balanced," he said. "The stakeholders have all worked hard." People on both sides applaud the attorney general for coming up with a revision that incorporates court decisions in the decades since the current law was enacted.
That will remove confusion that has frustrated people wanting to get access to meetings and information as well as the public officials trying to understand where the lines are drawn between what is public and what is confidential. For example, interviews by government boards with highlevel job applicants are considered private by some entities and public by others. The bill would make them private. Media representatives are disappointed that the bill expands the range of confidential topics beyond what's in the current law. Some other objections they have include requiring people requesting records to submit them to a particular agency staffer and to do it in writing if the agency demands it.
They also aren't happy with letting agencies supply electronic records instead of printed ones. The media groups especially objected to a provision added in a version of the bill last week that allowed the agencies to charge anyone requesting documents for the fees of attorneys hired to black out sensitive information. Social Security numbers and certain other details related to identity theft are specifically protected from disclosure and may be blacked out before releasing the requested records. "Charging for legal fees in connection with Open Records Act requests is strictly forbidden under current law and, to our knowledge, is not allowed in a single jurisdiction in the United States," wrote a committee from the Georgia First Amendment Foundation in a letter to Olens and key legislators. However, the provision for attorney's fees was stripped from the version the committee approved, according to Rep.
Jay Powell, R-Camilla, the legislative sponsor. Local-government groups aren't happy with everything in the bill either. They don't want to absorb the expense of making copies, for instance. "Our main concern with the bill is that it treats e-mail as if it were an open meeting as opposed to an open record," said Amy Henderson, spokeswoman for the Georgia Municipal Association. Olens has said he wanted to prevent county commissioners from debating major issues via email instead of discussing them during meetings, so he wrote the bill to treat electronic messages shared by a majority of a government board as an public meeting.
Henderson said that it's hard for someone sending an email to know how many people wind up reading it and whether that constitutes a majority of a board. Next comes a vote before the full House Judiciary Committee. Approval there could send it toward a vote by the whole House and next the Senate. Bird flu, pig flu, now bat flu? Human risk unclear ATLANTA (AP) For the first time, scientists have found evidence of flu in bats, reporting a never-before-seen virus whose risk to humans is unclear. The surprising discovery of genetic fragments of a flu virus is the first well-documented report of it in the winged mammals.
So far, scientists haven't been able to grow it, and it's not clear if or how well it spreads. Flu bugs are common in humans, birds and pigs and have even been seen in dogs, horses, seals and whales, among others. About five years ago, Russian virologists, claimed finding flui in bats; but they never offered evidence. "Most people are fairly convinced we had already discovered flu in all the possible" animals, said Ruben Donis, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scientist who co-authored the new study. Scientists suspect that some bats caught flu centuries ago and that the virus mutated within the bat population into this new variety.
Scientists haven't even been able to grow the new virus in chicken eggs or in human cell culture, as they do with more conventional flu strains. But it still could pose a threat to humans. For example, if it mingled with more common forms of influenza, it could swap genes and mutate into something more dangerous, a scenario at the heart of the global flu epidemic movie "Contagion." The research was posted online Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The CDC has an international outpost in Guatemala, and that's where researchers collected more than 300 bats in 2009 and 2010. The research was mainly focused on rabies, but the scientists also checked specimens for other germs and stumbled upon the new virus.
It was in the intestines of little yellowshouldered bats, said Donis, a veterinarian by training. These bats eat fruit and insects but don't bite people. Yet it's possible they could leave the virus on produce and a human could get infected by taking a bite. It's conceivable some people were infected with the virus in the past. Now that scientists know what it looks like, they are looking for it in, other bats as well as humans and other animals, said Donis, who heads the Molecular Virology and Vaccines Branch in the CDC's flu division.
At least one expert said CDC researchers need to do more to establish they've actually found a flu virus. Technically, what the CDC officials found was genetic material of a flu virus. They used a lab technique to find genes for the virus and amplify it. All they found was a segment of genetic material, said Richard "Mick" Fulton, a bird disease researcher at Michigan State University. What they should do is draw blood from more bats, try to infect other bats and take other steps to establish that the virus is spreading among the animals, he continued.
"In my mind, if you can't grow the virus, how do you know that the virus is there?" Donis said work is going on to try to infect healthy bats, but noted there are other viruses that were discovered by genetic sequencing but are hard to grow in a lab, including hepatitis C. Ga. Democrats regrouping amid dwindling funds ATLANTA (AP) Georgia's Democratic Party is regrouping to deal with the departure of its executive director and dwinding financial resources as it gears up to mobilize voters to help re-elect President Barack Obama and state and federal lawmakers who are up for election this fall. Chairman Mike Berlon said Monday that the party was recently down to about a month's worth of operating expenses but has since made adjustments that will keep it in business through the spring. Berlon confirmed that the party's executive director resigned over the weekend over concerns about the party's finances, but that he was not fully informed about the fiscal picture.
Berlon said revenues expected from the party's upcoming Jefferso Dinner and staffing cuts will give the organization about three months' worth of operating funds. Obama lost in Georgia by five percentage points in 2008, but the party hopes to have a better showing this year. Berlon dismissed talk that the party's finances will be a By WALTER C. JONES Morris News Service Sarah Jane Bynum, 75, of Carrollton, GA, died Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Sewell Mortuary Grantville, GA. Katie Elizabeth Culbreth, 86, of Newnan, GA, died Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012 at Brightmoor Nursing Center. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb.
29, in the chapel of Conner-Westbury Funeral Home, Griffin, GA. Burial in College Park Cemetery. Friends may visit the family Wednesday from 1 p.m. until the hour of service. Randy D.
Faith, 53, of NE Obituaries Mrs. Katie Elizabeth Culbreth Mrs. Katie Elizabeth Culbreth, age 86, of Newnan, GA, passed away Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012 at Brightmoor Nursing Center. Mrs.
Culbreth was born in Raleigh, North. Carolina, March 4, 1926. She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry Bascom Reems and Sally M. Hooper Reems; and by her husband, Clinton Rex Culbreth. Mrs.
Culbreth was a homemaker and a member of Heatherwood Baptist Church in Newnan. Survivors include her sons and daughters-in-law, Jim and Nancy Culbreth, Terry and Jessie Culbreth; daughter and son-in-law. Elaine and Chuck Tucker; grandchildren and their spouses, Nicole Culbreth, Matt and Denise Culbreth, Warren and Dana Tucker, Mark and Michelle Tucker, Trish and Tommy All; 10 greatgrandchildren; brother. Pete Reems. Funeral services will be 2 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 29, in the chapel of Conner-Westbury Funeral Home, Griffin, GA. Dr. Tom Daugherty will officiate. Interment will follow in College Park Cemetery.
Friends may visit the family Wednesday from 1 p.m. until the hour of service. Conner-Westbury Funeral Home, 1891 West Mcintosh Griffin, Georgia 30223: 770-227-2300. Mrs. Jennifer Ann Inman Mrs.
Jennifer Ann Inman, age 60, of White, GA, passed away on Feb. 24, 2012. Out of all of your suffering, you showed compassion and empathy to everyone. Pain never changed you. Jennifer is survived by her husband, David, and sons, Cory and Christopher.
For full obituary go to www.winkenhoferpineridgefune ralhome.com Winkenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home, Kennesaw, GA; 770-422-7299. Mr. Clyde Vernon Prescott Mr. Clyde Vernon Prescott, age 74, died at Piedmont Newnan Hospital on Feb. 26, 2012.
He was born on April 15, 1937 in Harrison, Michigan to the late Charles Derwood Prescott and Laura Elizabeth Kennedy Prescott. He retired from the U.S. Army after 21 years of service, including three tours of duty in Vietnam. He was an avid Braves fan and Christmas was his favorite time of the year. Mr.
Prescott was a member of Sargent Baptist Church and his happiest hours were spent with his grandchildren. In addition to his parents he was predeceased by a grandson, Timothy Lee. Surviving are his wife, Joyce Hunnicutt Prescott; sons and their wives, Charles and Sherry Prescott and James and LuAnn Prescott; daughters, Debby Miller and Carleen Hubbard and her husband Terry; sister, Carolyn Davis and her husband Marvin; grandchildren, Sammy Joe Miller, Drew Gunnin, Kimberley Clark, Laura Gunnin, Cameron Miller, Justin Clark, Kayla Prescott, Amanda Prescott, James Prescott, Clyde Prescott I1, Rebecca Lee, Johnny Hubbard. Online condolences may be sent to the family at IN LOVING MEMORY Thomas Bridges, Sr. Some may think you are forgotten, but in our memory you are with us always.
Love, Wife, Bessie and the family www.higginshillcrestchapel.co m. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 29. at Higgins Hillcrest Chapel Funeral Home with Rev.
Robert Hunnicutt officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens College Park. The family will receive: friends at the funeral home today. Tuesday, 6-8 p.m. Higgins Hillcrest Chapel, Newnan.
Verdell Brown Griffin Mrs. Verdell Brown Griffin Mrs. Verdell Brown Griffin, age 89. of Newnan. GA, passed gently onto the shores of her heavenly home on Feb.
26, 2012. She was born in Turner County, GA, Sept. 17, 1922 and was one of 13 children born to the late William Jesse and Minnie Violer Wortham Brown. She is predeceased by her siblings Hoyet Hale. Inez Hale, Wiley Hale.
Jessie Arnold Brown, William Hubert Brown, Durell Brown, John Brown. Mattie Faye Brown Smith, Eva Maude Brown Wade and James Allen Brown. She married Otis Griffin on Jan. 16. 1943 in Dooly County, GA.
He predeceased her in 1971. Mrs. Griffin was employed for many years as a seamstress for International Playtex at the Newnan plant. She was a dedicated member of East Newnan Baptist Church, The crowning glory of her life was found in her family. Mrs.
Griffin is survived by her son Otis "Jerrel" Griffin and his wife Doris Floyd, Griffin of Newnan, Her en pare Tammy Roberts (Gunner Grimm) distraction during election season. "I was concerned that the numbers got down as far as they did before I was aware of it," Berlon said. "I feel pretty good about where we are at this point. We have a significant amount of money coming into the campaign over the upcoming election period for us to be able to do what we need to do." While he declined to discuss the party's overall finances, Berlon said he cut about $160,000 out of the budget Monday. In addition to the departure of the executive director, Berlon slashed the party's fundraising department from four people to two.
Expected revenues from the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner on April 28, which will feature former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, will also help. Should the Obama campaign decide Georgia is in play this year, Berlon said the state party will get help from the national organization. That decision isn't expected to come until at least next month. Berlon said he hopes to identify a new executive director by May, and will put together a search committee with House and Senate Democratic lawmakers over the next week to find a successor.
State Rep. Pedro Marin, who also serves as the state Democratic Party's vice chairman of constituency services, said that the situation is worrying for him as an officer, but that the party has undergone positive changes in the past year. "Maybe for some folks we're not doing that well, but I think that what I have been involved with we're going to do okay," he said. Berlon took over as chairman in 2010, and the party has moved to expand its presence in the state in recent months. In addition to opening a new office in west Atlanta, the party also opened satellite offices in Augusta and Savannah.
Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz paid a visit to the Atlanta headquarters last fall. Still, Democrats hold no statewide offices and are in the minority party in the Legislature. University of Georgia political science professor Charles Deaths Deaths Newnan, GA, died Friday, Feb. 24, 2012. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, Feb.
29, at 5 p.m. in the chapel of McKoon Funeral Home, 38 Jackson Newnan, GA 30263; 770-253-4580. Joseph Gray Hollis 89, of Newnan, GA, died Monday, Feb. 27, 2012 at PiedmontFayette Hospital. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by McKoon Funeral Home, Newnan, GA.
Jennifer Ann Inman, 60, of White, GA, died Feb. 24, 2012. Winkenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home, Kennesaw, GA Bullock said Democrats got too comfortable during their decades-old reign in Georgia, and now find themselves scrambling to organize as the minority. "What it points to is that the Democratic Party needs a major reorganization," Bullock asid. "For generations, they haven't had to worry about an organization, raising money, recruiting candidates, because they were winning.
One might argue that rather than paying the rent on a shiny new office, maybe they should've been hiring grass-roots activists." Berlon acknowledged that Democrats did not do enough to shore up the party in better political times. "No effort was really made to put money aside to build on the future with," he said. "When you do lose and you're the party out of power, the money dries up pretty considerably and it becomes very difficult to raise it, especially when you're in an economy like this one. It's unfortunate that nothing was planned out earlier, but we're hoping not to make those same mistakes in the future." Clyde Vernon Prescott, 74, died at Piedmont Newnan Hospital Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012.
Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 29, at Higgins Hillcrest Chapel Funeral Home, Newnan. Burial in Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in College Park. The family will receive friends at the funeral home today, Tuesday, 6-8 p.m.
Rodney Jerome Washington, of Newnan, GA, died Monday, Feb. 27, 2012, at his residence. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by R. W. Andrews Mortuary, East Point, GA.
Newnan, Mandy Duncan (Tim, Duncan) of Newnan, and Seth. J. Floyd Jr. of McDonough. Her.
great-grandchildren are Jeremy Roberts, Jordan Roberts, Austin Duncan, Griffin Duncan, all of Newnan and Trip Floyd and Ashby Floyd of McDonough. Also surviving are her siblings, Mae Belle Brown Bridges of Newnan and Wallace Brown of Stockbridge. Funeral arrangements are by McKoon Funeral Home at 38 Jackson Street in Newnan where visitation with the family will be on Tuesday evening between 6 and 8 p.m. The funeral service will be onWednesday, Feb. 29, at 11 a.m.
in the McKoon Funeral Home' chapel with Reverend Pat Latta, Reverend Frank Powers and Reverend Rick Duncan officiating. Interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. Online condolences may be expressed at www.mckoon.com. McKoon Funeral Home, 770-253-4580. IN CELEBRATION OF William G.
Scruggs is handling arrangements. Harry Lewis, 78, of Franklin, GA, died Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012 at Piedmont Newnan Hospital. Final arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Sellers-Smith Funeral Home Newnan, GA. Verdell Brown Griffin, 89, of Newnan, GA, died Feb.
26, 2012. Visitation with the family will be Tuesday 6 to 8 p.m. at McKoon Funeral Home, Newnan. The funeral service will be Wednesday, Feb. 29, at 11 a.m.
in the funeral home chapel. Burial in Oak Hill Cemetery. Right now you're in a different place and though we seem apart, you're closer than you ever were. You're here inside' my heart. 're with when I meet each day and when the sun shines bright.
You're here to share the sunsets, too. You're with me every night and when that day arrives when we no longer are apart, I'll smile and in my heart. You are loved hold you close to me, forever! missed every day. Forever, Connie.
