• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

FRIDAY September 7, 2018 BARTOW COUNTY’S ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER 75 CENTS MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service transition takes effect Oct. 1 BY JAMES SWIFT [email protected] When MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service officially takes over emergency medical services in Bartow County next month, many of the faces will be famil- iar. “All Bartow [EMS] employees were offered a job, and about 75 percent of those that applied are coming over,” said MetroAtlanta Vice President of Adminis- tration Devan Seabaugh at Thursday morning’s Eggs and Issues event in Adairsville. “There are a number of part-time folks that work for Bartow that I was told really haven’t worked much anymore, and they didn’t apply.” Seabaugh announced at the Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce meeting that Oct. 1 will be the date MetroAtlanta officially replaces Bar- tow EMS as the county’s 911 ambulance service provider. The privatization announcement — which Bartow County Commissioner Steve Taylor described as “the most gut-wrenching” decision of his political career — was met with sharp criticism from many in the local community when it was first publicized in early July. Still, Taylor said it was a decision the county had to make. According to the county’s numbers, Bartow EMS operated at a loss of more than $2 million in the 2017 fiscal year, and over the last 10 years has lost RANDY PARKER/THE DAILY TRIBUNE NEWS about $13.5 million, considering the excess of ex- Opposite-direction traffic is no longer required to stop for school buses loading and unloading passengers when a center turn lane separates penses over billing revenue. the two directions of traffic. Bartow County Fire Chief Craig Millsap said MetroAtlanta was the best choice for a privatization partner. “I do not think we could’ve picked a better com- Change in law regarding school pany,” he said. “The citizens, the only thing they might be able to tell there’s a difference is the color of the truck that pulled up and what uniform the ambulance crew is wearing.” buses concerns local officials Over the last 18 years, Marietta-based MetroAtlanta has grown from a business with 10 employees and two BY DONNA HARRIS 978 was signed” about the exact defi- signals engaged.” “In my role as leader of the Georgia ambulances in 2001 to a company with a 50,000- [email protected] nition of a divided highway — He also asked drivers to remain vig- Department of Education, I maintain square-foot headquarters (with hub stations in five whether a turn lane could be viewed as ilant when it comes to road safety, par- my position that this change in law counties), a fleet of about 130 vehicles and more than A change in Georgia law regarding the same kind of median as a physical ticularly around schools. does not reflect best practices to ensure school buses that took effect in July barrier or a strip of grass — and Geor- “With school starting and Georgia student safety and could endanger 600 employees. has some school officials concerned gia Attorney General Chris Carr was law changing, it is important that we Georgia’s kids as they travel to and Their service area extends from Paulding to Gwin- for their students’ safety. asked for a clarification, which he is- remain focused on keeping Georgia’s from school,” he said. “In the upcom- nett, west-to-east, and from Bartow down to Henry, House Bill 978, signed into law by sued three weeks ago. children safe on and around school ing legislative session, I will urge our encompassing more than two dozen hospitals across Gov. Nathan Deal in May, includes a After considering several points re- buses,” he said in a press release. “We state lawmakers to reverse this change. eight health systems. section that says vehicles driving on a garding the definition in the original urge all motorists in Georgia to make We cannot put our students’ safety at The company has been working with Cartersville three-lane or five-lane road that’s di- statute and the amended one, the attor- good choices and proceed with the ex- risk.” Medical Center since 2008. vided by a center turn lane do not need ney general concluded that “Georgia treme caution when near school buses Woods also said the GaDOE will “Each hospital that we service has different needs,” to stop for buses that are loading or un- law does not require a vehicle travel- and stops as well as school safety “continue to emphasize safe loading Seabaugh said. “We take a lot of time understanding loading on the other side of the roadway. ing on a three- or five-lane road di- zones.” and unloading practices at school bus what those needs are and figuring out how we can pro- According to State School Superin- vided by a center turn lane to stop for Woods issued a statement express- stops” to its transportation personnel. vide the best solution to get their patients moved effi- tendent Richard Woods, there had a school bus that is stopped on the op- ing his concerns for the safety of the ciently, and most importantly, at the cheapest cost for been “a point of confusion since HB posite side of the road with its visual state’s bus riders. SEE BUSES, PAGE 2A both the hospital and the patient.” SEE AMBULANCE, PAGE 2A CLBW to address how to ‘stop the violence’ Sept. 15 BY MARIE NESMITH to end the violence. We must create a don’t know how to start the conversa- tow County about what they can do to [email protected] paradigm shift from domestic violence tion that will help a family, friend or stop the violence — to provide an un- is a women’s issue to domestic vio- colleagues, so this breakfast will dis- derstanding of what domestic violence Underscoring the message “domes- lence is everyone’s issue.” cuss how to intervene safely and break is beyond physical violence,” said tic violence is everyone’s issue,” Ongoing from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., the the silence.” Zanett Ellington, community relations Christian League for Battered Women complimentary gathering will take Now in its third location, Christian coordinator for Christian League for will present a Men’s Leadership place at Sam Jones Memorial United League for Battered Women was es- Battered Women. “Moving forward, Breakfast Sept. 15. Methodist Church’s banquet room in tablished in 1985. The nonprofit’s our hope is the men who attend this “Domestic violence is a difficult downtown Cartersville. Tranquility House shelter provides a breakfast will share with other men in topic to discuss and understand,” said “To start this conversation with place for women — and their children their lives and in their community to be Teresa Millsaps, executive director of men, Tranquility House staff and — to temporarily stay and work to- leaders and not bystanders when talking Christian League for Battered Women, board of directors decided to host a ward future goals, like securing hous- about violence and for nonabusive men which operates the Tranquility House Men’s Leadership Breakfast with the ing, education or a job, if needed. to safely challenge men who abuse. Domestic Violence Center. “It’s about theme, ‘As a man, what am I supposed While residing at the shelter, women “Our hope is attendees will gain in- power and control, which includes to do?’” Millsaps said. “The breakfast have access to a support group, legal sight into ways they can speak out physical, verbal, sexual, mental and fi- will have speakers and conversation advocacy and community resources. against violence; speak to individuals nancial abuse. It knows no boundaries that includes speaking out as a man Even though men, who are victims of who are abusing and model to the and affects anyone regardless of in- when you see or hear another being in- domestic violence, are unable to reside community what not being an abuser come, race, ethnicity, sexual orienta- appropriate, how to send the message at Tranquility House, they are pro- looks like; [and] … share with others RANDY PARKER/THE DAILY TRIBUNE NEWS MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service Vice President tion, gender identity or religion. domestic violence is not OK, the role vided with services and other shelter what healthy and productive relation- of Administration Devan Seabaugh spoke at “As a domestic violence program, of the legal system, what do spiritual options. ships look like.” Thursday’s Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber we asked ourselves how can we get beliefs have to do with it and hear a “The goal of this meeting is to start of Commerce event in Adairsville. men to join women in this movement witness share his story. Many people the conversation amongst men in Bar- SEE CLBW, PAGE 2A Booth, BHM plan events for home-schoolers, educators BY DONNA HARRIS a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Booth at 501 Museum for their lands, and the American Indians nity at such a high quality and with so museum’s mission. [email protected] Drive and at the history museum at 4 E. of the West. many great examples in our collections. “The Booth provides Home-School Fri- Church St. “You can’t talk about the history of Bar- Additionally, while there are so many in- days — small-group art lessons offered at Two Cartersville museums are teaming Both institutions will enable home- tow County without including the impor- teresting aspects to these parts of history, it Booth Art Academy on the first Friday of the up to offer home-schoolers a program on schoolers ages 5 and older to learn about tant contributions of the Creek and the also contains topics that parents may find month — and two large-group activities in- the people who are indigenous to the the history and arts of the Cherokee and Cherokee,” BHM Program Manager difficult to present, and we want to help clusive of home-school families each year,” United States.

Load more

  14

Copy Link