Childs Presents Motion
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The FranklinEstablished 1886 Pre## Volume 130, Number 88 Wednesday, November 5, 2014 www.thefranklinpress.com Franklin, North Carolina 28734 $1.00 Childs presents motion; Cochran case delayed Ryan Hanchett on Monday during the Macon County Superior why he no longer wanted the counsel of “We respectfully oppose the motion to [email protected] Court session, where things got off to a conten- appointed attorney Brad Tisdale. continue this matter,” prosecutor Jason Arnold tious start. Powell asked Childs to step to the “Well, I asked Mr. Tisdale to help me get said. “Mr. Childs has been in custody for One day before his trial was scheduled to defendant’s table to present the motion, but medical attention for my eyes which were dam- almost a year and if we continue the matter begin, Robert Childs requested a pro se hear- before Childs walked through the courtroom aged when I was arrested and I never actually further the next Superior Court session isn’t ing in order to fire his court-appointed attorney gate he asked if his constitutional rights would got to see a doctor until several months after until February 2015. The victims … cannot get and represent himself or hire his own attorney. be protected by the judge. my arrest,” Childs said. “I also asked (Tisdale) closure until the matter is settled.” Childs’ charges stem from an incident in “I can assure you that no matter where you to contact a friend of mine that worked for the Powell ruled against the continuance and November 2013 when he allegedly broke into stand in this courtroom your rights will be CIA and keep in touch with him about certain scheduled jury selection to begin on Tuesday. a home in Oak Grove occupied by his former honored,” Powell answered. legal matters and those consultations never Powell then asked Childs if he was going to wife and children. Authorities say Childs bar- The judge asked Childs why he decided to happened.” represent himself, a move that Childs con- ricaded himself in a homemade bunker and file the motion on Oct. 30, just four days before Tisdale told the court that a doctor did firmed. ignited an 18-hour standoff with law enforce- his trial is scheduled to start. Childs replied see Childs while he was in jail and that he “If you decide to represent yourself, you ment. He was ultimately captured in the bun- that his father had sent him some money so explained to his client that Childs did not have will be expected to follow the same rules of ker. Several weapons and thousands of rounds that he could hire an attorney of his choosing. his choice of doctor while incarcerated. As part evidence as an attorney,” Powell instructed. of ammunition were seized following Childs’ “I do not have good faith in my current of his pro se motion, Childs asked for a trial “I am not a lawyer and I don’t know those arrest. appointed attorney,” Childs said. continuance so that he could either hire a new Judge Mark Powell heard the pro se motion Powell asked Childs for specific reasons attorney or decide to take on his own case. See Court on page 3A Businesses could face fines for dumping grease down drains Ryan Hanchett primary concern.” Fats, oils and grease recently [email protected] Price explained that polar cost the city of Charlotte $6 substances that get washed million.” The Town of Franklin down the drain end up in Price suggested that Board of Aldermen took grease traps and ultimately Franklin take a pro-active steps to ensure the town’s decrease the pipe capac- approach to FOG-related infrastructure will contin- ity until the pipe must be issues and begin by sending ue to function properly on replaced or the grease trap out fliers to local businesses. Monday night. breaks. Replacing pipes often The town also may begin The board passed a FOG means tearing up roadways hosting a class about how to ordinance dealing with the to reach the problem, causing properly dispose of fats, oils amount of fats, oils and further issues and costs to the and grease on an as-needed grease that are dumped down town infrastructure. basis. local drains and ultimately Those clogs and pipe “A lot of towns take steps end up in the wastewater capacity issues lead to back- like this and hold similar treatment plant. Violators of ups in the system, which can classes,” Price said. “Another the ordinance will receive a affect both businesses and component of this ordinance written notice and then be homeowners. Polar fats, oils is being able to fine busi- given a period of 30 days to and grease that are washed nesses to recoup the cost fix the problem. If the prob- down a drain with hot water of cleanup associated with lem persists, the town can still cause problems because clogged pipes, broken grease issue a fine for violating the as the water cools the FOG traps and system backups.” FOG ordinance. congeals in grease traps or Alderman Farrell Wayne Price and Bill wastewater holding tanks. Jamison supported the ordi- Deal, who operate the Another unfortunate side nance and asked if there were Franklin wastewater treat- effect of grease being washed ways that the town could ment facility, outlined the down drains is the possibil- better monitor the problem problem in a presentation to ity of it passing through the of FOG pass-through at the the board. wastewater plant and ulti- treatment plant. Price replied “Fats, oils and greases mately ending up in the Little that there is equipment that break down into two catego- Tennessee River. can be purchased to measure ries: polar and non-polar,” “The state has a set limit the amount of discharge if Price said. “Non-polar sub- of 100 milligrams per liter that is something the board stances are petroleum based for fats, oils and grease,” would like to consider in the while polar substances are Deal said. “If we exceed future. vegetable or animal fat based. that amount, the town can be The FOG ordinance The polar substances are our fined for excessive discharge. passed unanimously. MCS tied up over lingering Cullasaja School septic issue Ryan Hanchett/Press photo M.A. Lewis Though Cullasaja School tive to a buyer. Meanwhile, Johnny Lee and his wife, Tracy, vote on Tuesday at the Macon County Public Library. [email protected] was shut down in 2011, one the district must spend about thing was not shut down $12,000 per year to pay a Macon County Board of — the school’s on-site waste- licensed technician to main- Election wraps up; see Education members recent- water treatment system. The tain the treatment plant at the ly got some bad and costly treatment plant no longer vacant building. news regarding upgrading conforms to state code, but Last year, before former results online Wednesday the septic system at Cullasaja as long as it stays online it maintenance director David School. can remain permitted. If it Curtis’ retirement, there was Ryan Hanchett Martin (Lib.). The District Carolina State Sen. Jim It’s not possible. were ever shut down, it could discussion that a convention- [email protected] 1 board of commissioner’s Davis (Rep.) was challenged “I was led to believe there never be re-permitted. al leach field system could post was decided between for his 50th district office had been an approval for a Board members have replace the treatment plant at Macon County voters incumbent Jim Tate (Rep.) by Jane Hipps (Dem.). The system in front of the build- been trying to sell the build- a cost of about $10,000. But took to the polls to decide and challenger Michael most high-profile statewide ing,” Tracy Tallent, district ing since it closed, but there Tallent said, after conferring the direction of the county, Rogers (Dem.). race was contested between maintenance director, said at have been no takers. Without with experts, that the cost as well as the region, on Incumbent Tommy incumbent U.S. Sen. Kay the board’s Oct. 27 meet- a viable septic treatment would be high and would Tuesday during the 2014 Cabe and challengers Fred Hagan (Dem.) and Thom ing. But the situation is much system, the building would midterm general election. Goldsmith, Bill Taylor and Tillis (Rep.). more complicated. likely be even less attrac- See MCS on page 7A “We had a very strong Carroll Poindexter each A total of 5,332 voters turnout in one-stop early sought election to the Macon cast their ballot during one- voting and we expect that to County Schools Board of stop early voting in the coun- continue on Election Day,” Education. Cabe’s post in ty. A total of 2,238 republi- Macon County Board of District 2 and the seat that cans, 1,762 democrats, 1,326 Elections Director Debbie Shields vacated in District 4 unaffiliated and six libertar- George said on Monday. were both contested. ian voters made up the early “Our staff and our poll The Register of Deeds voting group. Women were workers are ready and we office was on the bal- more prevalent at the polls hope everything will go lot with incumbent Todd than men in early voting smoothly.” Raby (Dem.) facing chal- with 2,790 females casting There were three seats at lenger Jaime Cochran (Rep.). a ballot compared to 2,529 the county board of commis- Macon County Sheriff males and 13 undisclosed. sioners’ table up for grabs. Robert Holland and Clerk of For complete election Incumbents Ronnie Beale Court Vic Perry were unop- results, visit thefranklin- (Dem.) and Ron Haven posed in 2014.