Euharlee Police Chief Offi Cially Sworn In
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THURSDAY June 20, 2019 BARTOW COUNTY’S ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER 75 cents Euharlee police chief offi cially sworn in BY JAMES SWIFT Euharlee Mayor Steve Worth- “We had a total of 19 appli- interview. “He really stuck out [email protected] ington ceremoniously pinned a cants, we narrowed that down as the right man for the City of badge on Matthews’ uniform af- to fi ve for in-person interviews,” Euharlee, that will fi t into our It was standing room only ter administering the oath. he said. “When we met him in lifestyle here,” he said. “He’s an at Euharlee City Hall Tuesday “We look forward to a long person he was very comfortable outgoing man, he’ll be out in the night, as 41-year-old Donald working relationship with him,” with himself — confi dent, but city visiting the people and cit- Joseph Matthews, Jr. — better Worthington said. “It will be not cocky. He was like a servant, izens.” known as Jody Matthews — was Jody’s second home for a while he came across to me and the Matthews said the “slower offi cially sworn in as the munic- — for a long while, we hope.” council that he would lead by pace” of Euharlee certainly ap- ipality’s new chief of police. Matthews previously served as serving.” pealed to him. While the meeting technically an offi cer in the Powder Springs Stephens said he also expects “That’s what I was looking constituted a work session for the Police Department for 17 years. Matthews to effectively com- for, a smaller community,” he Euharlee City Council, the event Euharlee City Manager James plement Euharlee Deputy Chief said. “I felt like I could make certainly had more of a celebra- Stephens said Matthews’ expe- of Police William Yee and help the biggest impact on a smaller tory atmosphere, complete with rience — as well as his educa- take the department “in a new community and a small depart- JAMES SWIFT/THE DAILY TRIBUNE NEWS an indoor picnic across the hall tional background and attitude direction.” ment.” From left, Euharlee Mayor Steve Worthington swears in Jody from the council chambers once — made him a perfect fi t for the Worthington said he was like- Matthews as the City’s new police chief at Tuesday evening’s the meeting was adjourned. position. wise impressed by Matthews’ SEE EUHARLEE, PAGE 5A work session. Juneteenth Bartow sex festivities BUBBLY PERSONALITIES traffi cking underway trial set for BY MARIE NESMITH late August [email protected] BY JAMES SWIFT The Summer Hill Heritage [email protected] Group and its partnering organi- zations are in the midst of pre- Cherokee Judicial Circuit senting Juneteenth 2019 — A Judge D. Scott Smith said a trial Celebration of Freedom. Open to involving a Cartersville moth- the public, the offering consists of er accused of prostituting her fi ve days of activities, including a own child will begin the week historic walking tour, town hall of Aug. 26 in Bartow Superior discussion and movie. Court — even if that means the “Juneteenth is the annual cele- defendant has to represent her- bration of African American free- self in front of a jury. dom from slavery in the United A status conference hearing States,” said Alexis Carter-Calla- was held for Jennifer Lea Short, han, a volunteer for the Summer 37, Tuesday morning. A Bartow Hill Heritage Group. “This event Superior Court grand jury in- is important to remember on an dicted the Cartersville resident annual basis because it provides on one count of traffi cking of the framework [for] many of the persons for sexual servitude, historic African American com- one count of child molestation munities located in Cartersville. and one count of rape in the “The Summer Hill community November 2018 term, although was a direct manifestation of the Bartow County Sheriff’s Offi ce newly acquired freedom of the records indicate the defendant black people in this area. Other is currently charged with one communities in Bartow, including count of traffi cking of persons the Noble Hill and Euharlee com- for labor or sexual servitude and munities along with many others, one count of pandering a person were also assisting with creating under the age of 18. RANDY PARKER/THE DAILY TRIBUNE NEWS the new structure of life for Afri- Dozens of children were on hand Tuesday on the lawn of the Cartersville li- Bartow Superior Court re- can Americans in the South. This brary for the Giant Bubbles with Sweetpea show. Left, 4-year-old Ellie Smith cords indicate co-defendant enjoys the show. Javier Murrieta, 43, was indict- SEE JUNETEENTH, PAGE 6A ed by a grand jury on the same offenses, while co-defendant Rogelio Cabello Gallegos, 58, was indicted on three counts of rape and three counts of child molestation. WHS’s Willoughby nominated for Music Educator Award According to an arrest war- rant signed by Denise Barry of BY DONNA HARRIS up to 10 fi nalists and recommend one of the Cartersville Police Depart- [email protected] them as the winner. The board of trustees ment, Short is accused of selling of the Recording Academy will approve her then 11-year-old daughter The musical reputation of one of Bar- those selections. to Murrieta for $100 in January tow County’s high school band directors The seventh annual honoree will re- 2013, although a bill of indict- is being recognized on the national level. ceive a custom award, a $10,000 honorar- ment lists the date of the alleged Woodland High Director of Bands ium and a trip to Los Angeles to attend offense between Aug. 11, 2012, Eric Willoughby is one of 189 music the 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards and Aug. 10, 2013. teachers from 179 cities across the coun- next year and participate in several Arrest warrants signed by the try to be named a quarterfi nalist for the GRAMMY Week activities. same offi cer accuse Gallegos of 2020 Music Educator Award, presented The nine other fi nalists will receive a raping the same victim some- by the Recording Academy and GRAM- $1,000 honorarium while the semifi nal- time between Jan. 1, 2011, and MY Museum. ists will get a $500 honorarium. Nov. 3, 2012, when said victim The award was established to rec- The schools of all fi nalists and semifi - would have been between the ognize current full-time kindergarten nalists will be awarded matching grants ages of 9 and 11. A bill of indict- through college educators in public and from the Ford Motor Co. Fund. ment, however, lists the dates private schools who have made a mea- Winning the award would be a thrill of the alleged offenses between surable difference in their students’ lives, for Willoughby, whose Woodland bands Aug. 11, 2013, and Aug. 10, 2014. have made a signifi cant and lasting con- consistently win grand championships at Cherokee Judicial Circuit As- tribution to the music education fi eld, marching competitions, have received the sistant District Attorney Jana W. are examples of the best in their profes- National Band Association Blue Ribbon Allen said that while her co-de- sion, have demonstrated a commitment Award and have performed in the Hol- fendants have obtained legal to maintaining music education in the lywood Christmas Parade and Macy’s representation, as of Tuesday schools and have made a meaningful im- Thanksgiving Day Parade. morning there was still no coun- pact on their school and community, ac- “I would be very excited to be honored sel of record for Short. cording to the award program’s website. in such a special way,” he said. “Music Music teachers can be nominated education is such an important part of the SEE TRIAL, PAGE 6A by anyone from students, parents and total school environment, and I’m very friends to colleagues, community mem- grateful that the GRAMMY Museum bers, school deans and administrators. RANDY PARKER/THE DAILY TRIBUNE NEWS, FILE honors music educators.” Willoughby, 47, was one of more than Woodland High School Director of Bands Eric Willoughby is one of 189 music The Euharlee resident also said he is 3,300 initial nominations submitted for teachers from across the country to be named a quarterfi nalist for the 2020 “so thankful for Bartow County Schools Music Educator Award, presented by the Recording Academy and GRAMMY the award, and he was notifi ed by email Museum. and the many leaders at Woodland High in early March that he was still a con- School that have supported the band pro- tender. back.” supplemental materials such as videos, gram.” “I was a bit shocked,” he said, noting Willoughby, who became the band di- written essays and testimonials, and after Willoughby, who will mark his 25th he was nominated by WHS alumnus rector at Woodland in 2008, said he had those submissions go through a series of year in public education next school year, Kyle Green, an up-and-coming compos- to include a biography and answers to screening committee reviews, 15 semifi - said his “greatest joy” as a music educa- er who’s had several band compositions “many survey questions regarding music nalists will be chosen in September, ac- tor is “inspiring young students to see published. “When I completed the initial education” in the initial application. cording to the website. application, I really didn’t expect to hear Quarterfi nalists were asked to submit A blue-ribbon committee will select SEE WILLOUGHGBY, PAGE 5A Short INSIDE TODAY Partly VOLUME 73, NO. 39 Obituaries ............................. 2A Blotter ................................... 5A sunny U.S.