THURSDAY May 2, 2019 BARTOW COUNTY’S ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER 75 cents MPO gives updates on Cass-White, LakePoint projects BY JAMES SWIFT trying to have that [agreement] Peter Olson. “They’re getting it into segments, that we have the [email protected] done by the beginning of next ready for future vertical build- most accurate estimates.” week.” out.” On the subject of the A Cartersville-Bartow Metro- Sills also gave a brief update Charles Robinson, a represen- Rome-Cartersville Development politan Planning Organization on the state of Cass-White Phase tative from the Georgia Depart- Corridor (RCDC), Sills said dis- (MPO) Policy Committee meet- II developments. ment of Transportation (GDOT), cussions are still ongoing re- ing Wednesday afternoon in- “We’ve basically completed briefl y spoke about plans for the garding the estimated $155 mil- cluded several updates on trans- all of the elements necessary for Old Alabama Road improve- lion project’s termination point. portation projects throughout the concept plan to be done,” he ment project, which the Coun- “We’ve had a meeting with the county, including some news said, “and we’ll shortly be get- ty is looking to pursue in three Beaufl or about the potential use on recent Cass-White Road ting a task order to look at get- phases. of that property, for tying into Phase I development. ting the next step of that project However, Robinson said that, Cass-White,” he said. “They “That’s the one that ties into — the right of way acquisition at this point, there are no up- have since indicated a prefer- Cass-White Road, east from and preliminary engineering — dates on potential cost estimates ence that we not go through their the high school down to U.S. going.” for that project, which Sills has property with that roadway, so 411, with a new entrance on 411 On the south end of the coun- projected to be north of $70 mil- GDOT’s working on a revised on the railroad crossing,” said ty, Sills said the LakePoint Park- lion. alignment for that project.” Bartow County Transportation way Extension project is on pace “I think it was mentioned that Wherever the RCDC termi- Planner Tom Sills. “We have an for completion in July. one of them had been submit- nates, Olson said he hopes the JAMES SWIFT/THE DAILY TRIBUNE NEWS agreement, moving forward, to “Rimrock’s putting money ted, the fi rst segment,” Robinson project maintains access on the From left, Bartow County Transportation Planner Tom Sills and Bartow County Administrator Peter Olson at Wednesday eve- get a roundabout installed there in for a change order for more said. “From our standpoint, we east side of Interstate 75. ning’s Cartersville Bartow Metropolitan Planning Organization from Cass High School onto grading at the north end,” said just want to make sure that when meeting. Colonel Way. So we’re really Bartow County Administrator we program it and break it up SEE MPO, PAGE 5A Reduction in bond denied for alleged PLAYING IT SAFE Cartersville child molester BY JAMES SWIFT [email protected] Cherokee Judicial Circuit Judge D. Scott Smith rejected a motion to lower bond for a Cartersville man accused of committing several sex crimes against a minor in Bartow Superior Court Tuesday. SPECIAL According to Bartow County On March 22, Peg Steele made Sheriff’s Offi ce records, 22-year- an appearance at the Paulding old Cristian Adoni Gomez is Public Safety Rodeo. In Febru- charged with four counts of child ary 2020, the Taylorsville resi- molestation stemming from of- dent will begin her 2,300-mile fenses alleged to have occurred on horseback ride across the Southeast to raise awareness May 26, 2018. about equine-assisted thera- Cherokee Judicial Circuit As- py for PTSD. sistant District Attorney Jana W. Allen said the alleged victim is between the ages of 11-13 and is Planning believed to be the younger sister of the defendant’s brother-in-law. “His case has been indicted and underway for he has been in custody, it looks like, since June 1, 2018,” said public de- Trek 2020 — fender LeAnna Wade. “We are asking the court to consider reduc- ing his bond — his bond is current- Searching for ly set in the amount of $30,000.” Wade said the defendant’s im- RANDY PARKER/THE DAILY TRIBUNE NEWS Our Heroes mediate family resides in Bartow Fire Marshal Mark Hathaway of the Cartersville Fire Department prepares to take Mrs. Butterworth’s kindergarten class at the Cartersville Primary School through the CFD’s mobile Fire House, where they will learn how to respond to fi re alarms County and is “of limited means.” and escape from smoke-fi lled rooms. The Fire House has been at CPS all week, allowing each student throughout the BY MARIE NESMITH She also said that Gomez has one school the opportunity to experience it. [email protected] previous conviction for driving without a valid license, which While her 2,300-mile horse- BSCO records indicate occurred back ride is more than nine on Aug. 19, 2017. months away, Margaret “Peg” “I believe one of the previous CTC, GHC make list of best online Steele is busy laying the ground- conditions we had added was that work for Trek 2020 — Searching he would agree to waive extradi- for Our Heroes. tion if he violates any conditions of associate degree programs in state Kicking off Feb. 15, 2020, his bond, as well as no contact with the 59-year-old Taylorsville res- any minors,” Wade said. BY DONNA HARRIS degree or certifi cate entirely online, and online Associate of Applied Science de- ident’s journey will span four She also said the defendant has [email protected] all schools but one – top-ranked Georgia gree programs: applied technical manage- months across the Southeast. a United States Immigration and Military College – have annual tuitions ment, accounting, business management, During the trip, she will extend Customs Enforcement (ICE) hold. Both colleges in Bartow County have less than $3,000 a year. business technology, health care manage- thanks to veterans and fi rst re- “He understands that he would been recognized for their online associate CTC, the largest school in the Technical ment, interdisciplinary studies and logis- sponders while raising aware- have to be processed through im- degree programs. College System of Georgia, was ranked tics and supply chain management. ness for equine-assisted therapy migration and go through their Chattahoochee Technical College and No. 11, with annual tuition listed at $2,670. and psychotherapy. bonding process in order to actu- Georgia Highlands College were named The eight-campus college offers seven SEE COLLEGE, PAGE 5A “I suffered from PTSD ally be released from custody,” she two of the 14 best online two-year degree [post-traumatic stress disorder] said. programs in Georgia by SR Education just by witnessing the [twin] tow- Judge Smith cited the severi- Group, an education research publisher ers fall when I knew my friend ty of the charges, as well as the that recently released its fi rst-ever online was at the scene as a fi refi ghter ICE hold, as reasons for denying rankings categorized by state on its web- with the NYFD,” Steele said, Wade’s motion to halve Gomez’s site, guidetoonlineschools.com. referring to the 9/11 terrorist at- bond to $15,000. Colleges highlighted on the Georgia list tack in New York City. “It took “If it wasn’t a situation where he were ranked according to scores that were years and years before I realized had an immigration hold on him, calculated using an internal formula that that the changes in me were from given the length of time he’s been incorporated retention rate (or graduation that single event. I didn’t become rate, if retention rate wasn’t reported), on- incapacitated by it, but I changed SEE BOND, PAGE 5A line enrollment percentage and the num- completely and found myself ber of online associate degrees offered. ‘running.’ “Community colleges offer some of the “I ran away from New Jersey most affordable degrees in the country,” because it was too close, and the SR Education Group CEO Sung Rhee news coverage contained nonstop said in a press release. “With a growing replays of the 9/11 events. And af- number of these degrees becoming avail- ter I settled in Georgia, I contin- able online, we wanted to let prospective ued to run but in the form of non- students know about these great, accessi- stop provider, organizer, single ble options near them. By providing these mom, overanalyzing, list-making resources, we hope to help more people — [a] detail-oriented, obsessive reach their educational and professional person who couldn’t come off the goals.” SPECIAL hamster’s wheel.” Georgia’s 14 ranked community col- Georgia Highlands College was recognized for having one of the best online as- Gomez leges allow students to earn a two-year sociate degree programs in the state. SEE TREK, PAGE 5A INSIDE TODAY Mostly VOLUME 72, NO. 308 Obituaries ............................. 2A Blotter ................................... 5A sunny U.S. & World .........................3A Weather ................................ 6A High 85 www.daily-tribune.com Stocks ................................... 3A Sports ................................... 1B Entertainment ...................... 4A Classifieds............................ 3B Low 64 2A Thursday, May 2, 2019 • www.daily-tribune.com Local The Daily Tribune News ContactUs OBITUARIES The Daily Tribune News the family asks that donations hearts growing up down the at Mabel White Baptist Church in in that while we were yet sinners, Address: Charles Dean be made to Mabel White Baptist street from each other and start- Macon where he served as a Dea- Christ died for us” Romans 5:8.