Back to work Spring football -1B THE DAILY CITIZEN Tuesday,May 12, 2009 •Dalton, Georgia • www.daltondailycitizen.com • 50 Cents THINGS Student arrested for battery TO CHECK Highway 2 in Tunnel Hill, was charged by the Chastain continued to run and “made physical OUT Parents: Prank Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office with simple contact with McAbee,”the report says, causing battery. He was released on a $1,000 bond both to fall. McAbee is quoted in the report as ON THE incident overblown Monday afternoon. saying Chastain was “swing(ing) his arms trying 3 INSIDE Chastain’s mother,Angela, said the charge is to get by him to open the doors for other stu- “not justifiable” and is “blown out of propor- dents” after they both fell. BY MARK MILLICAN tion.” “It appeared to be some type of prank gone [email protected] Jeremy Chastain was participating in what an awry,” said Maj. John Gibson with the sheriff’s A U.S. soldier turned a incident report referred to as “senior field day.” office. weapon on his fellow GIs TUNNEL HILL — A Northwest Whitfield The report said he ran through the school after Chastain’s father,Monte, said principal on Sunday, killing five High School senior was arrested on Monday being told not to come in the building when the Americans. after making “physical contact” with a teacher event was over. Teacher Tracy McAbee told on Friday at the school. Chastain to stop running in the building. ➣ Please see STUDENT, 2A See page 3A Matthew Jeremy Chastain, 17, of 926 Ga. President Obama is learning quickly that deci- sions that seem easy to a Follow Through Perdue to candidate are much tougher when you are actually in office. axe cuts See Mona Charen on page 4A Spring football kicks off at ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Gov. Sonny three local schools. Perdue said Monday that he would veto a sweeping proposal that would slash the See page 1B state’s capital gains tax in half over two years and give tax breaks to those who hire the unemployed because it was “unattainable” FROM TODAY’S amid the recession. The announcement FORUM came hours before state officials reported that “Teachers are not paid to Georgia’s tax collections show respect. Respect has in the month of April to be taught in the home. If plummeted 20.6 percent that was done, there would from the same month the be less violence in the year before — or $362.1 schools.” million. Still, Perdue signed a Perdue “Why don’t they consol- separate proposal to pro- idate the Dalton Police vide a tax credit of up to $1,800 on homes Department and Whitfield purchased during the next six months. Perdue Sheriff’s Department and said he found that measure more palatable eliminate the Whitfield because it was a “strategic investment that sheriff position? That would strikes at the root of this economic down- save $102,000 a year.” turn.” The measure Perdue vetoed would have See page 2A doled out a $2,400 income tax credit to any business that hires someone who has been WEATHER unemployed for at least four weeks. It also would have created a one-year “new business Forecast: Sunny tax holiday” that waives the $100 filing fee Today’s High: 75 for new business. Tonight’s Low: 55 Supporters said the efforts were aimed at Details, Page 8A putting Georgians back to work as the state grapples with a high unemployment rate, which was 9.2 percent in March. Republican NSIDE I Rep. Tom Graves, one of the proposal’s spon- Classified..............6B sors, called it Georgia’s response to the $787 Comics..................5B billion federal stimulus package. Crossword..............4B MISTY WATSON/THE DAILY CITIZEN But critics said the capital gains cuts would rip an even greater hole in the state’s Dear Abby..................5B Scott Lowrie,right, of Ringgold, watches as his teammate Jack Fiest, of Dalton, tees budget — and would benefit only the wealth- Horoscope.............4B off on the 14th hole during the Roman Open at the Dalton Golf and Country Club on iest Georgians. And budget analysts said Lottery..................2A Monday. More coverage on page 1-B. Georgia would be hard-pressed to handle Movies................4B deeper cuts to the tax base amid a multibillion dollar deficit. Obituaries............6A Perdue, for his part, said many of the mea- Opinion................4A sure’s provisions would stimulate job growth. Sports......................1-3B Dalton plans new school But he said “it has to be affordable or it’s not possible.” “At this point in time, I think it’s unattain- able to bridge from where we are to get to ly at 77.4 percent, and help students learn. BY RACHEL BROWN where they think the stimulation will kick in,” “It’s almost like we’ve been putting on Band- [email protected] he said. Aids, but this could really go much deeper,” said Freeman. The decision drew instant condemnation 7 69847 00001 6 Dalton school officials have applied to the from Republican leaders. Secretary of State state to open a new school this fall — an acade- There are about 450 students in this fall’s incoming freshmaN class, but there are 700 in Karen Handel, a Republican who is running my designed just for students who need to make in a crowded field to succeed Perdue, quickly up course work or who want a nontraditional ninth grade this year,said Don Amonett, assistant superintendent of teaching and learning. About issued a statement saying she would have option. signed the proposal. Superintendent Jim Hawkins said the school 30 Dalton students attend Phoenix High School, a “Now is the time for us to cut taxes in will be in one of the school system’s existing Whitfield County school where students who order to help grow jobs and ignite our econo- facilities — which one will be decided at a May have fallen behind can make up credits. Dalton my,” she said. 26 meeting — and officials hope most of the officials pay for students to enroll, but Phoenix is expenses will be paid for with state dollars and at capacity and isn’t open to students younger But Perdue said he had little choice federal stimulus funding. than 16. Amonett said there’s a need to provide because of the deteriorating economy. Dalton High School principal Debbie Freeman options for students who can’t attend Phoenix. Falling revenues have already forced state told Board of Education members at their “I think it is awesome to have the courage to legislators to shed about $1 billion from Monday meeting that there are plans to allow up try to do something a little different,”said board Georgia’s spending plan, and the latest num- to 300 students, mostly freshmen, to volunteer to member Danny Crutchfield. bers offer little encouragement. attend the school. Students will rely heavily on With school board members Tulley Johnson “It puts us in a category where we have to NovaNet, a computer-based program that allows and Rick Fromm absent, the board approved hir- be very careful going forward,”he said. Checkitout at students to work at their owN pace. Dalton High Despite the bleak figures, Perdue still educators have worked for two years on address- signed the home buyers tax credit because he daltondailycitizen.com said it would give the state economy a much- ing a way to improve the graduation rate, current- ➣ Please see SCHOOl, 8A needed jolt. Serving Dalton for Over 19 years Oil Change Get there® up to 5quarts of oil Turbo Tire Inc. Check Brakes &Rotate Tires $ 401 South HamiltonStreet Only 34.95 706-278-1820 NowAccepting Good Year Credit Card Expires 5-31-09 lOTTERY WINNING NUMBERS – FOR MAY 11 ATYOUR Georgia: Midday Cash 3: 0-2-6, Cash 4: 1-9-7-0, Evening Cash 3: 8-7-0, Cash PAGE 2 4: 3-3-6-8, Fantasy 5: 9-11-15-26-36 SERVICE Tennessee: Midday Cash 3: 2-6-8, Lucky Sum: 16; Cash 4: 4-4-3-1, Lucky Sum: 12; Evening Cash 3: 8-9-5, L-Sum: 22, Cash 4: 3-0-7-5, Lucky Sum: 15 Our mailing address: 2A Tuesday, May 12, 2009 P.O. Box 1167 Dalton, Ga. 30722-1167 Our shipping address: TODAY’S FORUM Judge TODAY’S CITIZEN 308 S. Thornton Ave. Dalton, Ga. 30720 Editor’s note: Please Washington? What a joke.” keep your comments as looks at NAME: EllisoN Beard Our Web site: brief as possible. Longer “The QUEST program at AGE: 14 www.daltondailycitizen.com comments should be sub- Covenant College is not HOME:DaltoN To visit us: mitted as letters to the edi- ‘less-than-stellar.’Iwould water tor. If you include a name of FAMILY:Dad, Carl; have been happy to get my mom, Dawn;brother, Our offices are located on the a person or business, please degree the old-fashioned west side of the intersection of spell it. Call 706-272-7748 way on campus, but was not dispute CoNNor Thornton Avenue and Morris to reach Today’s Forum. able to do that. I commend SCHOOL:New Hope Street in downtowN Dalton. the QUEST program.” Middle School We’re open 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. “Why don’t they consoli- JACKSONVILLE, Fla. PLAY:Track and Monday through Friday. date the Dalton Police “Who in their right mind (AP) — A federal judge on Department and Whitfield would name their child Monday complained that a World of Warcraft How to call us: Sheriff’s Department and Barack?” protracted battle over three HE SAID:“It takes a MaiN number: 706-217- eliminate the Whitfield sher- states’ claim to water flowing lot of faith to trust an NEWS iff position? That would save “Everyone needs to go out from a reservoir near Atlanta enemy turned friend, $102,000 a year.” (That’s 706-217-6397) and buy John Rich’s new has been taking place in but even more faith WheN you’re not sure with whom song ‘Shutting Detroit “never-never land.” Editor: The position of to trust a friend you need to speak, our operator Down.’” U.S.