Misc Info FYI:
This is one of at least half a dozen+ blogs that I have about Kennesaw and all of them are pretty much out of service as I have been gone from K for just over 3 yrs, after 15 years living there.
So with the passage of time I have posted less and less. The site 'may' now and then have another post but it is pretty much off my radar scope these days. So take a look, you might find something of interest, I see that several folks come back repeatedly and are probably disappointed to find nothing new here. Thanks for looking in -
1/14/18
Who is Who in Kennesaw?
Note that Ms Yvette Daniel is already removed from the list.
Friday, January 12, 2018
Kennesaw Councilwoman Yvette Daniel has resigned
Staff reports MDJ - 1/12/18
Following a number of absences from city council meetings during her time in office, Kennesaw Councilwoman Yvette Daniel on Friday informed the mayor and city manager she is resigning her seat effective immediately.
Her colleagues said Daniel missed about 75 percent of council meetings last year as rumors circulated earlier this week that she planned to step down from her Post 2 seat.
Council attendance records obtained from the city clerk show Daniel missed a total of 29 meetings over her two years in office — 23 in 2017 alone.
When reached by phone Thursday in an attempt to set straight the rumors that she would resign, Daniel declined to comment. Friday morning, however, she tenured her resignation to the city, citing personal reasons and asking that her family’s privacy be respected. According to her Facebook page, Daniel has traveling back and forth between Kennesaw and Augusta recently to care for her mother.
Repeated attempts to reach her again Friday afternoon to ask what factored into her decision proved unsuccessful as she did not return calls, texts or emails by press time.
Mayor Derek Easterling and City Manager Jeff Drobney said council members plan to discuss the matter at Tuesday evening’s meeting, and a special, city-wide election will be called to fill the vacancy. Cobb Elections Director Janine Eveler said it is up to the city to call a special election in either March or May.
Daniel was elected to the council in 2015 and her term was set to expire at the end of 2019.
Former councilwoman Cris Eaton-Welsh, who served six years on Kennesaw’s council, said Daniel has been a “complete disappointment” since taking office two years ago.
“I have noticed considerable absences for the past year,” she said. “She would miss three and then come to one. It was ridiculous.”
Speaking ahead of Friday’s announcement, the former councilwoman said Daniel’s resignation would be “one of the best things that could happen for our city.”
Eaton-Welsh said she missed just one meeting during her time in office. Her former colleague Bill Thrash, who died in office after a long battle with cancer in 2013, missed just five meetings over three terms, she said.
“Even while dying of cancer, he would call in — he would make efforts,” said Eaton-Welsh. “(Daniel) could have done telephone call-ins. There was no reason for her to miss a meeting. There was no reason for her to just no-call-no-show. If she had been with an employer, she would have been fired.”
Councilman Chris Henderson, who took office this month, said he was irked by the frequency of Daniel’s absences when he started regularly attending council meetings early last year.
“I was very worried about the number of meetings council members could miss without any ramifications,” he said. “It’s frustrating because you take that position to serve the people, and if you’re only attending one out of every four meetings, that’s not doing justice to the people who have put you there.”
He said numerous constituents reached out to him frustrated that Daniel was being paid each month to do what they described as a quarter of the work.
Because of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on Monday, next week’s council meeting will be held Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Kennesaw City Hall, 2529 J.O. Stephenson Avenue.
See also:
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YVETTE DANIEL - RESIGNS HER COUNCIL POST IN KENNESAW
Gee what a shame she is leaving, maybe she can pay the City back for all the money she wasted on courses etc?
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BREAKING - Kennesaw Councilwoman Yvette Daniel has resigned
1/12/18 MDJ Staff reports
Kennesaw Councilwoman Yvette Daniel has notified city officials that she is resigning her seat effective immediately.
"Ms. Daniel cites personal reasons as the cause of her resignation and asks that the privacy of her family be respected during this time," a press release from the city states.
The mayor and remaining city council members will discuss plans for a special election to fill Daniel's seat within the week, the city's press release says.
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9/4/17
Expense Report for Council/Mayor and Youth Council
During this time the Council representitive for the Youth Council was Yvette Daniel, who as you can see likes to spend City money.
11/29/16 Here is some more nonsense from and about one racist council member, someone who should never have been elected to the Council. I've said before that she is 10 miles of bad road. She has a very poor financial record and additionally is a bankrupt and skipped out on her debts owed for her 'pole dancing' salon. I understand that she stiffed the strip mall owner for over 100K. Do you want to let her continue her antics on the Council and continue to waste taxpayer funds?
Council Actions Summary November 21 Meeting
November 22nd, 2016 by Pam Davis
Authorization to grant a refund of a $250 donation (Custom Sponsorship Package) to the Kennesaw Youth Council by Marie Green/M. Walters Accounting Services & More, LLC. Motion by Councilmember Daniel to approve, seconded by Councilmember Patel. Vote taken, motion failed 1-3-1 (Councilmembers Patel, Dickens and Sebastian opposed; Councilmember Eaton absent).
Consideration to amend fiscal year 2015-2016 budget to allocate funds to cover $362.88 overage for Councilmember Daniel to attend the Regional Leadership Conference in Savannah. Motion by Councilmember Patel to amend the agenda item to $721.13 not $362.88, seconded by Councilmember Daniel. Vote taken to approve amendment to agenda item, 2-2-1 (Councilmembers Dickens and Sebastian opposed, Councilmember Eaton absent). Mayor Easterling broke the tie with a vote to approve, 3-2-1. Motion carried. Vote by Councilmember Patel to approve the budget amendment for FY 2015-16, seconded by Councilmember Daniel. Vote taken to approve budget amendment, 2-2-1 (Councilmembers Dickens and Sebastian opposed, Councilmember Eaton absent). Mayor Easterling broke the tie with a vote to approve, 3-2-1. Motion carried.
Consideration of expenses incurred for a trip to Savannah on behalf of the Youth Council by Councilmember Daniel on September 23-24, 2016. Total costs for hotel, vehicle, parking and food was $418.04. Motion by Councilmember Daniel to amend the agenda item to $678.79 not $418.04, seconded by Councilmember Patel. Vote taken to approve amendment to agenda item, 2-2-1 (Councilmembers Dickens and Sebastian opposed, Councilmember Eaton absent). Mayor Easterling broke the tie with a vote to approve, 3-2-1. Motion carried. Vote by Councilmember Daniel to approve the expenditure on behalf of the Youth Council, seconded by Councilmember Patel. Vote taken to approve expenditure, 1-3-1 (Councilmembers Patel, Dickens and Sebastian opposed, Councilmember Eaton absent). Motion failed.
7/25/16
Taxpayer Money Being Wasted on Useless Courses for New Council Member
Davey Crockett asked Jim Sebastian:Ethics Question
New Council member Daniel will attend a 6 day $2400 ARC program 9/25/30. This was approved by a 5-0 vote in Council on June 20th. In effect she voted for her own 6 day vacation.
Why do Council members vote on issues that benefit them?
Didn’t the City Attorney cover this sort of ethics issue for the new members and if he didn’t why not.
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Jim Sebastian•
Earlier in the year, the Council voted for the Leadership Cobb program for one member (Mayor or Council) to attend. At that time, there were no known members chosen. Ultimately, none were selected for the upcoming nine (9) month class.
Unbeknown to most of the Council, Ms Daniel applied (or was nominated) for the ARC program and was accepted. The vote you are referring to was to apply the $3,000 set aside for the Leadership Cobb program for the ARC program. There needed to be a vote as it was an unbudgeted item.
As a side, there are no funds in the upcoming budget allocated for these events. Each member has a set allowance for classes/travel and that is it. You can track each elected officials spending via an Open Records Requests. You will find some spend everything they have while others spend next to nothing.
We were not advised by the City Attorney regarding the specifics of who could vote or not vote on this issue as it was considered a generic fund. Given she took the route of asking for forgiveness rather than notifying and getting approval of the Council ahead of time is something you need to address with her.
•
Even if there was no formal ‘Introduction to Ethics’ provided by the City Attorney, it should be obvious to anyone with connected brain cells that if a course of action is going to benefit a serving Council member that said member should avoid casting a vote on the issue.
Also it would have been nice had others on the Council suggested that if she wanted to go back to her old S. Georgia neighborhood for 6 days that she should pay for it herself.
$2,400 is a lot of taxpayer money for a new council member, for a Mayor, maybe but what use is this for one of 5 council members? This sort of pork barrel stuff should not happen.
Hopefully the City didn't issue her a credit card. Her past bankruptcy and large debts should be enough to make a credit card out of the question.
I recall that in the closing days of the old mayor Mathews administration he wanted to get an expense paid trip to some place out west for a conference and even the old City Council had enough guts to say that the City wasn’t going to pay for the trip. He went anyway but had to pay for it himself.
A pretty poor showing that this new Council wasn’t even up to the minimal standards of an old Council.
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Let's see.If I'm correct, and. Daniel has been in office for seven months and has gone on two long distant trips on tax payers dollars. Not to mention th spending hike on those trips. Now we see she is attending another program, all in her first seven months. She's requested additional monies for education and travel - all TAX PAYERS dollars.
Exactly who monitors the Mayor and Council spending? It's very evident Ms. Daniel has found her cash cow in the Kennesaw government and most citizens are just to naive to see it, or they simply don't care.
Ms. Daniel campaigned on transparency, financial stewardship, and honesty. Appears it was typical politician rhetoric. Does Kennesaw really have that much excess money to be paying for a "government funded lifestyle" for this Councilmember? Are people afraid to confront Ms. Daniel or the Council regarding the spending taking place with this new Council? This ARC program is not mandatory, it's a luxury. Are we to continue to pay for the political career plans of a local politician with a questionable past financially and educationally.
Didn't the prior Council reduce the Mayor/Council budget around $32,000? Now Ms. Daniel is requesting to increase it for her personal/professional benefit? With her bent on 100% disability, she can't work and draw a paycheck, so she chooses a profession in politics for the "recognition".
How can he citizens stop this erroneous spending by the "tribe" before it's too late, and put those dollars where it's most needed?
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Davey Crockett says:
Don't forget to keep up with her at:
2/21/16
YVETTE DANIEL – KENNESAW COUNCIL MEMBER MUST GO
In recent years Kennesaw voters have made some bad choices
for Council representation.
The latest bad choice is a bankrupt from Augusta who dragged
in here with a long history of bad debt and continued this activity while running up signifigent debt with a local businessman who she stiffed for around
$100,000 for her pole dancing/exercise
salon.
With new debts coming to light monthly for this
Councilmember and her lack of any worthwhile contribution to Council activities
we need to ask/demand that she resign from the Council so that a more qualified
and honest resident can take up the position.
see also: https://www.facebook.com/bringyoursass/videos/795754030666/
see also: https://www.facebook.com/bringyoursass/videos/795754030666/
Just Wondering?
Does Ms. Daniel have a City issued credit card? If so you better get it back PDQ!
Does Ms. Daniel have a City issued credit card? If so you better get it back PDQ!
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$191,600 Loan Default on Ms Daniel's home at: 3401 Thames Pl, Hephzibah, GA 30815
(Note: Richmond County Records correctly shows address as 3401, Publication Notice shows 2401.)
3401 Thames Pl, Hephzibah, GA 30815*
- Est. $166,418
4 beds, 2 baths, 2,271 sq ft
3401 Thames Pl is a Single family located in Pepperidge, GA, in Richmond county. Built in 2005, this property was last sold for $180,900 in 2006 to Yvette Daniel and currently has an estimated value of $166,418. The median price for this area is $97,500.
This 2271 square foot single family home has 4 bedrooms and 2.0
bathrooms. It is located at 3401 Thames Pl Hephzibah, Georgia. 4 beds 2 baths 2,271
sq ft
This 2271 square foot single family home has 4 bedrooms and 2.0
bathrooms. It is located at 3401 Thames Pl Hephzibah, Georgia. 4 beds 2 baths 2,271
sq ft
See also: http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3401-Thames-Pl-Hephzibah-GA-30815/81528528_zpid/
(Note: Richmond County Records correctly shows address as 3401, Publication Notice shows 2401.)
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Publication Name: The Augusta Chronicle
Publication URL:
Publication City and State: Augusta, GA
Publication County: Richmond
Notice Popular Keyword Category:
Notice Keywords: Yvette Daniel
Notice Authentication Number: 201602201912597679326
1660618094
1660618094
Notice Content
Notice of Sale Under Power. State of Georgia, County of RICHMOND. Under and by virtue of the Power of Sale contained in a Deed to Secure Debt given by YVETTE MICHELLE ANN DANIEL to WACHOVIA MORTGAGE CORPORATION , dated 09/24/2007, and Recorded on 10/03/2007 as Book No. 1145 and Page No. 2436, RICHMOND County, Georgia records, as last assigned to JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (the Secured Creditor), by assignment, conveying the after described property to secure a Note of even date in the original principal amount of $191,600.00, with interest at the rate specified therein, there will be sold by the undersigned at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash at the RICHMOND County Courthouse within the legal hours of sale on the first Tuesday in May, 2015, the following described property:
ALL THAT LOT, TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND, TOGETHER WITH IMPROVEMENTS THEREON, IF ANY, LYING AND BEING AND SITUATE IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA AND COUNTY OF RICHMOND, BEING KNOWN AND DESIGNATED AS LOT 24 OF BLOCK F OF CAMBRIDGE SUBDIVISION, SECTION TEN, ON A PLAT OF SURVEY RECORDED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF SUPERIOR COURT OF RICHMOND COUNTY, GEORGIA IN PLAT BOOK 2 AT PAGE 113, REFERENCE BEING MADE TO SAID PLAT FOR A MORE COMPLETE AND ACCURATE DESCRIPTION AS TO METES, BOUNDS, COURSES, LOCATION AND DISTANCES OF SAID PROPERTY. SAID PROPERTY IS CONVEYED SUBJECT TO ANY AND ALL APPLICABLE COVENANTS, EASEMENTS, RESERVATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS OF RECORD. PROPERTY ADDRESS 2401 THAMES PLACE, HEPHZIBAH, GEORGIA 30815 TAXID NO. 143 1 053 00 0 The debt secured by said Deed to Secure Debt has been and is hereby declared due because of, among other possible events of default, failure to pay the indebtedness as and when due and in the manner provided in the Note and Deed to Secure Debt. Because the debt remains in default, this sale will be made for the purpose of paying the same and all expenses of this sale, as provided in the Deed to Secure Debt and by law, including attorney's fees (notice of intent to collect attorney's fees having been given). JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. holds the duly endorsed Note and is the current assignee of the Security Deed to the property. JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, acting on behalf of and, as necessary, in consultation with JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (the current investor on the loan), is the entity with the full authority to negotiate, amend, and modify all terms of the loan. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. 44 14 162.2, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION may be contacted at: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, 3415 VISION DRIVE, COLUMBUS, OH 43219, 866 550 5705. Please note that, pursuant to O.C.G.A. 44 14 162.2, the secured creditor is not required to amend or modify the terms of the loan.
To the best knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the party/parties in possession of the subject property known as 2401 THAMES PL, HEPHZIBAH, GEORGIA 30815* is/are: YVETTE MICHELLE ANN DANIEL or tenant/tenants. Said property will be sold subject to (a) any outstanding ad valorem taxes (including taxes which are a lien, but not yet due and payable), (b) any matters which might be disclosed by an accurate survey and inspection of the property, and (c) all matters of record superior to the Deed to Secure Debt first set out above, including, but not limited to, assessments, liens, encumbrances, zoning ordinances, easements, restrictions, covenants, etc. The sale will be conducted subject to (1) confirmation that the sale is not prohibited under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code; and (2) final confirmation and audit of the status of the loan with the holder of the security deed. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. Section 9 13 172.1, which allows for certain procedures regarding the rescission of judicial and nonjudicial sales in the State of Georgia, the Deed Under Power and other foreclosure documents may not be provided until final confirmation and audit of the status of the loan as provided in the preceding paragraph. JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. as Attorney in Fact for YVETTE MICHELLE ANN DANIEL.
THIS LAW FIRM IS ACTING AS A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. 00000005108717 BARRETT DAFFIN FRAPPIER LEVINE & BLOCK, LLP 15000 Surveyor Boulevard Addison, Texas 75001 Telephone: (972) 341 5398. April 9, 16, 23, 30, 2015 Ad #16592397
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SUPERIOR COURT: RICHMOND COUNTY, GA.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Case # | Case Style | Judge | Status | Filing | Disp. Date | Disp. Stage | Disp. Code | Case Type(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 2005RCD01091 | YVETTE M DANIEL VS TROY A MOSES | SHERYL B. JOLLY | CL | 6/30/2005 | 8/2/2005 | NT | SETTLE | Divorce Annulment |
| 2009RCD01459 | LEON A FLETCHER VS YVETTE M DANIEL | DANIEL J. CRAIG | CL | 10/9/2009 | 3/8/2010 | NT | JUDPLE | Paternity/Legitimation |
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Yvette M. A. Daniel Bankruptcy Information
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You know i find it very strange that a racist man named Davey Crockett can go around here humiliating my race, posting things on Facebook that is very inappropriate and nothing is said. But when a black man like me, who wants equal and fairness in this city, who is fed up and tired of seeing his race disrespected puts on his gloves to fight back and delivers the blows it becomes a problem. Listen Crockett whatever you call yourself, when you address me in my inbox you address me as Mr. Freeman. You are sad and need to be put in your place because this is not the old days, As i told you i am a proud strong black man who will not let you or anyone else keep humiliating my race and every other considered minority race! We have a voice in this city, we pay taxes just like every other citizen, so we will be respected! You think that you are the only one in this city that can get personal info and blast people? You think that you are the only one who has the power? Well i got news for you, check your memo it will say NOT! Their are people even in your race who want to do what's right that are sick of this non sense that is going on behind the scenes and ready to stop it! Enough is enough, you are so racist that the first person that you can think of to blame this on is Yvette Daniel for Kennesaw City Council Post 2 when you have no clue of how many people in this city absolutely hate what you are doing. But i am the one that will not sit around and let this bullying take place! That woman has no clue of how many supporters she has.
What's sad is that you all want to point fingers and pin this on someone when you need to be looking in the mirror at yourself! Thanks for the inbox and confederate flag that you sent to crockett i know more than enough!
What's sad is that you all want to point fingers and pin this on someone when you need to be looking in the mirror at yourself! Thanks for the inbox and confederate flag that you sent to crockett i know more than enough!
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Perhaps our new Council member could start her term by paying back Mr. Patel the 100K she owes for her rent on the failed Pole Dancing Exercise Salon on Cobb Pky.
She also called her fellow Black councilman an Uncle Tom when writing as 'Catcher Freeman on her Facebook blog site.
The below article appeared Sunday 1/31/16 and has been appended below FYI. The author is a Black woman reporter for the MDJ.
Anyway here is the Sunday puff piece about her from the MDJ:
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Believe, belong and become: Kennesaw councilwoman ready to bring new perspective to the job
January 30, 2016
Kennesaw Councilwoman Yvette Daniel, one of the city’s first black council members, points to family photos citing her family as her support system, above, and sits on her sofa, below. / Staff-Jon Gargis
Councilwoman Yvette Daniel, one of Kennesaw's first black councilmembers, sits in her Kennesaw home on Monday, Jan. 25, 2016.
“Nothing that we have done up until now can prepare you for this,” Daniel said. “I have been hitting the ground. I want to say my first 45 days that I have plotted out have been two or three meetings a day sometimes.”
While Daniel said she has always made it her mission to be involved in the community, the former Augusta police officer didn’t have her sights set on elected office.
That changed when she became involved in Big Shanty Intermediate School’s PTA.
“I knew I was pretty good at getting people involved,” she said. “I’m mission oriented, so I pick a goal and I work toward it to get it accomplished.”
What Daniel realized was that Kennesaw had a lot of people who wanted to be involved. They just needed the right leaders, she said.
As a cancer survivor and single mom of four children, Daniel said she knows how it feels to face challenges.
“I know what it feels like to be an outsider just from being in the military and always moving to another place so I can identify with that person,” she said.
Daniel served in the U.S. Army before a fight with cancer caused her to leave the service and move to Kennesaw.
While she grew up in Augusta, Daniel’s father was also in the military and the family often moved. In 2007, she graduated from Central Michigan University with a master’s degree in public administration.
“I just have had to all my life be a person who can overcome and adapt, and I think that’s the diversity that I bring because I can pretty much work with anybody as a functional team for the greater good of Kennesaw.”
Diversity is what Daniel said she appreciates most about the City Council.
“Everyone on this council has a different energy that we bring in our own respects,” she said. “What you have in diversity, it brings upon perspective and empathy and those are the two biggest things that come out of diversity.”
The councilwoman described herself as analytical, concise and a researcher before voicing her opinion. As a black councilwoman, Daniel said she doesn’t take her unique role in the male-dominated council casually.
“I don’t take that lightly because I know that that brings a different energy to the room and it’s not negative,” she said. “Right now is where the different personalities and how we want to push Kennesaw forward is going to be very evident, I will say.”
MEANT TO BE HERE
With everything she does, Daniel said, the goal is to inspire others as she feels God put her here for a reason. Six years ago, doctors discovered a tumor in Daniel’s body.
“They set me up for a follow up appointment the next week and it had doubled in size. Went back the next week and it had tripled,” she said. “That was my retirement out of the military. We were actually planning for my funeral.”
After undergoing surgery, the cancer did not return.
With her family and community support, Daniel set forward to tackle her goals and ultimately ousted Councilman Tim Killingsworth in the November election by a vote of 936 to 895.
Kennesaw resident Jacqlyn Charles serves as Daniel’s community liaison and considers Daniel to be her personal First Lady Michelle Obama.
“She’s a phenomenal woman,” Charles said. “In her position, she’s opened up a lot of doors.”
Charles said Daniel has helped her with her own challenges as well as the endeavors of others in the community.
“It’s so important to reach back and help others to reach that level.”
In running for council, Daniel said she had just one sign, 500 business cards and what she calls “fumes and faith.”
“It was just me, my kids, and we went out and did it,” Daniel said. “I think this sent shock waves to people to let them know their voice does matter.”
Daniel said she hopes to stand as an example to others, saying, “… to be honest with you, it doesn’t matter what color you are. It doesn’t matter what race, what gender, what nationality you are. We have common things. We all want some of the same things.”
During her first term in office, Daniel said she hopes to encourage community engagement, bring business to Kennesaw and strengthen the partnership between the city, Kennesaw State University and the Cobb County School District.
Read more: The Marietta Daily Journal - Believe belong and become Kennesaw councilwoman ready to bring new perspective to the job
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Agusta Chronicle Newspaper / Milestones
Most promising
*Tressala
Latrice Allen, Lewis Anthony Brown, *William Robert Chambers, Joshua Brandon
Hicks and Justin Avery Koon, Augusta; and
Yvette Michelle Ann Daniel and *Latasha Wana Sneed, Hephzibah.
*
Had straight A's
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Originally created 03/29/99
Officer works to 'weed out' criminals
Officer works to 'weed out' criminals
As a little girl, Yvette Daniel grew up in Barton Village -- a neighborhood she describes as "thuggish," where the drug dealers made it unsafe for kids to play in their front yards.
Today, she's Richmond County sheriff's Deputy Yvette Daniel and her job is to target Barton Village and weed out the criminals.
"I feel like I can help make a difference," Deputy Daniel, 25, said. "With the drug selling, you couldn't even drive through this neighborhood. It wasn't a safe environment for anybody -- in the house or outside. You couldn't walk through the neighborhood. You'd get jumped on, robbed or whatever."
Deputy Daniel is part of Augusta's Weed and Seed program, a nationwide, federally financed effort to target neighborhoods overrun by crime. Weed and Seed gives neighborhood residents the opportunity to help rid their streets of crime.
Residents must work with city organizations -- such as the Family Y and the sheriff's department -- to apply for a Weed and Seed grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. For neighborhood residents, becoming eligible for a grant means the government recognizes their problem with crime and their efforts to solve the problem.
"The ultimate goal is to weed out the criminal element and reseed to gain control and create community development," said Sandy Mercer, co-director of Augusta's Weed and Seed and a director of the Family Y. "The really important part is changing the mindset of the community. We're very pleased where Augusta and the Barton Chapel community have gotten themselves. It just brings people together working toward a common goal."
Barton Village is Augusta's only neighborhood recognized as a Weed and Seed community. However, other neighborhood associations are interested in the program because of Barton Village's successes, local directors said.
"It's harder to get recognized as a Weed and Seed site than to get the funds," said Lillian-Katharine Blanos, co-director for Augusta's Weed and Seed. "We're hoping to expand. We want to bring the strategy into other neighborhoods."
Barton Village received a $225,000 grant in October. The grant is available for three years, but directors must reapply each year to receive the money. The application for 1999 dollars is due Wednesday, although there is no guarantee the government will award the same amount of money.
Weed and Seed is divided into two parts.The weed side of the program is the police. The Richmond County Sheriff's Department assigned six deputies to Barton Village patrol duty. Three deputies are on the streets working 12-hour shifts daily. They switch the times around so residents won't know when to expect them.
Since the increased police patrols began in January, deputies have served 19 warrants and made 25 arrests, according to the last monthly police report. Many of those have been for traffic violations, and between 2 to 3 arrests have been for disorderly conduct.
Since 1996, police have targeted Barton Village for crime sweeps, said Captain Jim Griffin. Police sweeps are when a large number of patrol cars target and saturate an area to investigate any suspicious person -- by stopping and questioning them, running warrant and vehicle license plate checks, and sometimes setting up roadblocks, police said.
The crime suppression team and the narcotics division frequently sweeped Barton Village on weekends, sometimes working with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Agency, probation officers and parole officers.
The sweeps were initiated partially because of numerous complaints from the residents about the amount of drug trafficking in their neighborhood, Captain Griffin said. Because of those sweeps, a number of arrests were made and warrants executed that involved street level drug activity.
The deputies now assigned to Barton Village volunteered for that beat. Deputy Daniel asked for the duty because she knows the violence firsthand and because she has family in the neighborhood.
"Our goal is to restore the peace," Deputy Daniel said. "By peace, I mean to get the neighborhood back to all the basics they've gotten away from -- getting rid of the loud music, getting rid of all the drugs we can. I'm working to put this community back together."
Her partners are sheriff's Deputies Troy A. Moses and Howard Hartung. Deputy Moses also grew up in Barton Village. Deputy Hartung lived in the neighborhood when he was in the Army, and his house was broken into three times.
The neighborhood they patrol isn't large. On almost every street, children ride their bikes or play basketball pick-up games. Streets are named for faraway exotic locales -- Rome, Madrid, Lisbon, Berlin, Amsterdam, London. The houses are mostly one-story homes -- some with flowers decorating their yards, others with old mattresses and abandoned cars.
Many houses are next to patches of woods, where deputies say drug dealers sell their illegal wares and use flashlights to warn each other if they see police coming.
But now, the police step in and after 11 p.m. residents are encouraged to stay indoors. Residents are questioned if they are found wandering the streets or hanging out in large groups in driveways.
"In the daytime, we push the PR (public relations). At night, we take on a different aspect," Deputy Daniel said. "We ride as a group -- car-to-car, back-to-back. They get the message. We're out here."
The daytime aspect is called community policing.
"The concept ranges from officers living in the community to being out there during the patrol -- knocking on doors, getting to know the people on their beat," Ms. Mercer said. "There's a statement being said: `We're all in this together. We're not going be taken hostage by you criminals.' "
Each deputy carries a bag of lollipops in his patrol car for children they meet while patrolling. When they run across a game of kick ball, they get out and play. They hang out with kids at bus stops and chat with them about their schoolwork.
"Some of these kids have never shook a policeman's hand before," Deputy Moses said. "Their older brothers tell them police are bad. We give them a different idea. It motivates them."
But residents are expected to help themselves. The officers are trying to help them start a neighborhood watch program.
"We're trying to get the community involved with their own neighborhood," Deputy Daniel said. "Once the police department is gone, they still need to function on their own. We don't want to come in and take over. We want them to run their own neighborhood."
Residents said they have noticed the police presence.
"It's made a big impact," said Tomikia Mack, 20, who is the mother of two boys. "It used to be drug dealers standing on the corners. A lot of killing. You can walk down the street now. When the cops come around, everybody disappears."
Michael Luke Jr., 11, said he's glad police are around and he's only scared "half the time."
"All you'd hear is gunfire and gun smoke," Michael said. "Parents are scared to let their kids come out. I've seen people running through the yards with guns."
Rene Williams, 13, and her sister Ericka, 15, said their mother won't let them play in their front yard sometimes because of neighborhood crime.
"Sometimes you feel scared," Ericka said. "You never know if a group of guys or a group of girls are going to rape you or mug you or shoot you."
The seed side of Weed and Seed is the community effort to curb crime. Barton Village's neighborhood association has joined with organizations like the Family Y and Clean and Beautiful to design a variety of programs.
The programs include sexual abstinence classes for teens, finding jobs for adults, high-school equivalency classes, day-care and tutoring for teen mothers, and after-school programs in schools -- with art, drama and field trips -- so kids don't come home to empty houses.
"The community has to take the concept and make it happen," Ms. Mercer said. "We have a high level of community support and participation."
The Richmond County Housing Authority donated a home on London Street to be used as a central office for Weed and Seed. The location will be called Safe Haven -- a place residents can go if they need any type of help. Another Safe Haven was set up at Barton Chapel Elementary School, where many of the after-school programs and classes are held.
Coordinators have also begun a drug hotline, to report any type of drug activity in the Barton Village neighborhood. Callers are asked to give exact descriptions of the perpetrators and the calls are completely anonymous. Police will then be dispatched to the scene.
"There is no fear of retaliation -- we want to stress that," Ms. Blanos said.
The hotline phone number is (706) 828-3784.
Those involved with Weed and Seed are determined to make a difference.
"We made some promises when we first came out and now we have to prove it," Deputy Daniel said. "Everybody just sells them a bunch of dreams. Once we've given them something they can touch and feel, it's more real to them. They're ready to see something. It's been a long time coming. Now they're ready for results.
