THURSDAY July 11, 2019 BARTOW COUNTY’S ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER 75 cents CCBOE votes to roll back FY20 millage rate BY DONNA HARRIS mills. Finance Committee Chair- the Cartersville City School Sys- takes very seriously, Chason said. ple of things,” with the No. 1 prior- [email protected] man Tim Chason said the recom- tem. In 1997, the fi rst millage rate “This has not come lightly, as far ity being a quality education for the mendation is a “big recommenda- was 14.58 mills, set for this system as the rollback goes, and I’m going system’s students. There was good news for taxpay- tion for this school board and for by the school board at that time. to look to the principals and the “Like I’ve said many times, ers coming from the Cartersville the people who came before us.” Today, we have a recommendation people that you represent and the we’re not about how cheap we can City School Board meeting Mon- “We are charged, as a school from the school superintendent to administrators and the folks you get somebody out of high school,” day night. board, with a few items, and one the city of Cartersville to roll back represent,” he said. “All across the she said. “So we do always strive Board members voted 7-0 to rec- of those is to employ a superinten- our millage rate to 14.576 [mills] board, you’re the ones that have to give people what they need in a ommend to the city of Cartersville the dent, and another one is to set the from last year’s rate, which was helped do this and been good stew- quality education here, and I think rollback millage rate of 14.58 mills millage rate for the school system 15.67 [mills]. So we’re anticipating ards of the taxpayers’ dollars, and we are so happy that we can do that for fi scal year 2020, provided there and to be good stewards of the dol- rolling it back a mill plus a little bit, for that, I say thank you, and I know in what appears to be the lowest isn’t a signifi cant change to the pre- lars of this community,” he said. and that’s based on the preliminary I probably speak for the rest of this millage rate we’ve ever had since liminary tax digest of $1,058,075,133. “For many, many years, actually digest that has been provided to us.” board as well. Thank you for that.” we set millage.” The new rate is a decrease of 1.09 dating back to 1997, this school Setting the millage rate each year President Kelley Dial said board Chason mills from last year’s rate of 15.67 board has set the millage rate for is a responsibility the school board members “all try to balance a cou- SEE CCBOE, PAGE 2A Rockmart man sentenced HOME OF THE BRAVES to 8 years in WMS prison for fatal chorus hits a 2016 car crash BY JAMES SWIFT homer with [email protected] A 54-year-old Rockmart man performance at was sentenced to 30 years — with the fi rst eight to serve in prison — after pleading guilty Braves game to three counts of fi rst degree vehicular homicide in Bartow BY DONNA HARRIS Superior Court Tuesday morn- [email protected] ing. According to Rome Judicial For most Atlanta Braves fans, just sit- Circuit Judge Tami P. Colston, ting in the stands and watching a game who was fi lling in for Cherokee is enough to get their adrenalin pumping. Judicial Circuit Judge David K. But just imagine being a middle school Smith, Scottie Lee Worfford student, standing on the edge of the cen- faced a maximum sentence of ter-fi eld grass and singing the national 51 years in prison for charges anthem in front of thousands of baseball stemming from an accident fans in the “home of the Brave(s).” on Highway 411 on Sept. 16, That’s what 28 sixth-, seventh- and 2016, which claimed the lives of eighth-grade chorus students from Wood- 25-year-old Deneisha S. Wash- land Middle School got to do Saturday ington, of Dalton, and two of her afternoon before the Atlanta Braves-Mi- children — 2-year-old Iyan’na ami Marlins game at SunTrust Park. Bynum and 11-months-old Oc- “It was a surreal experience and such tavian Bynum. a fun and memorable way to fi nish out Shamya Washington, 8, also middle school,” said Abby Cates, who was injured in the collision and will be a freshman at Woodland High had to be airlifted for emergen- this fall. “It was so exciting to be able to cy medical treatment. do this with my friends and have my en- According to Cherokee Judi- tire family there to watch.” cial Circuit Assistant District Sydney Groves, also a rising freshman Attorney Jennifer Side, the 2004 at Woodland High, agreed. Jeep Grand Cherokee operat- “The experience was awesome,” the ed by Washington appeared to 14-year-old said. “It was so fun to go out have shut down inside the left on the fi eld in front of everyone with all eastbound lane of Highway 411 my friends.” close to Cowan Drive around Director of Choral Activities Mallory 11:30 p.m. Tafoya couldn’t have been happier about Side said crash scene inves- the way her fi rst group of students to ever tigators determined that the sing at a Braves game performed. switch to the vehicle was on, but “I am very proud of my students and of it remains unknown whether the their performance on Saturday,” she said. lights on the Jeep Grand Chero- “I think they put it all out there, and it kee were functional when it was RANDY PARKER/THE DAILY TRIBUNE NEWS really paid off.” The Woodland Middle School chorus performed the national anthem at SunTrust Park before the Atlanta Braves-Mi- struck from behind by a 2004 Tafoya and the chorus received an ami Marlins game Saturday afternoon. Dodge Ram pickup truck oper- email Dec. 7 inviting them to sing at ated by Worfford. a game after the director submitted I truly believe in my students’ skill and “Being invited to sing at the Braves kes and new WMS teacher Amber Steele, Investigators believe Worf- an application and a recording of the ability to perform well in any venue,” she game was a huge honor,” Abby said. Tafoya’s high school friend — headed ford was traveling between 85- group singing its arrangement of “The said. “Once we were accepted, we were When performance day rolled around, south to the Braves’ new home in Cobb 90 miles per hour when he hit Star-Spangled Banner.” given the schedule of available dates and a contingent of about 200 supporters — County. Washington’s vehicle. “I decided to submit our chorus to the asked to submit three that worked for our including Principal Michael Blanken- Braves for consideration to sing because group.” ship, instructional lead teacher Tia Wil- SEE CHORUS, PAGE 3A SEE SENTENCE, PAGE 5A Bartow County Championship Rodeo on tap for July 12-13 BY MARIE NESMITH Georgia, in 1982 with the help nings at this rodeo count toward the ladies get [to] show off their [email protected] of Bartow County Saddle Club their advancement to Profes- riding skills.” members Wayne Allen and Joel sional Cowboy Finals Rodeo in Along with providing “great Celebrating four decades in Boss,” said Phillips, who owns Biloxi, Mississippi, in January family entertainment,” Bartow the rodeo business, Phillips Ro- Phillips Rodeo Productions with 2020,” Phillips said, referring County Saddle Club Parliamen- deo Productions will present his wife, Bridgett. “Larry want- to the Professional Cowboy As- tarian Wayne Allen shared the the 38th annual Bartow Coun- ed to bring rodeo action [to] the sociation. “The Bartow County rodeo will serve as a fundraiser ty Championship Rodeo Friday Bartow County area to be able Championship Rodeo was also for the Bartow County Saddle and Saturday. As in past years, to share the Western lifestyle named Humanitarian Rodeo Club. Founded in 1961, the or- the event will take place at the with more children. He grew of the Year by the PCA for our ganization is the oldest saddle Bartow County Saddle Club’s up watching Western TV shows Tough Enough to Wear theme to club in the state. covered arena, 43 Saddle Club when he was young and wanted raise awareness of breast can- “The funds go toward several Drive. to pass his love for cowboys and cer and importance of getting a charities that we are involved Noting many rodeos fold be- horses to another generation.” yearly mammogram. in. We’ve built rooms at the old fore reaching their 38th year, Kicking off at 8 both nights, “The fan favorite each year Sam Howell hospital,” Allen Danny Phillips is “proud” to see the Bartow County Champion- is the bull riding. They love to said, also noting the group ad- the Bartow County Champion- ship Rodeo will feature many see the cowboys try to ride the ministers scholarships to high ship Rodeo continuing to enter- popular offerings, such as bull massive bulls for 8 seconds. The school seniors. “… It’s all vol- RANDY PARKER/THE DAILY TRIBUNE NEWS, FILE tain area residents. riding. next favorite event is the ladies unteers. The Diamond D Cowgirls, of Mansfi eld, performed during the “My late father Larry Phillips “This rodeo is one of the PCA barrel racing event.