Poorest Poor Hits Record

Reuben Foster is dynamic linebacker for Troup High Tigers. Page 9 LaGrange Daily News THURSDAY 50 cents Nov. 3, 2011 lagrangenews.com The Poorest weather It’s not tomorrow High 63 ‘Obama poor hits Low 38 phone’ record Sunny Firms push WASHINGTON (AP) – The ranks of America’s poorest poor have subsidized climbed to a record high – one in 15 people spread widely across metro- cell phones politan areas as the housing bust for needy pushed many inner-city poor into Today’s artist: Christo- By Sherri Brown suburbs and other outlying places pher Sukdolak first Staff writer and shriveled jobs and income. grade, Franklin Forest New census data paint a stark There is no “Obama Elementary School portrait of the nation’s haves and phone,” but if you want have-nots at a time when unem- to name the govern- ployment remains persistently Blood ment-subsidized free high. It comes a week before the drive is cell phones after the government releases first-ever eco- responsible president, nomic data that will show more Saturday call it a “Reagan Hispanics, elderly and working- phone.” age poor have fallen into poverty. New Community Kiosks have popped In all, the numbers underscore up around Troup Coun- Church hosts a POOR blood drive from ty advertising free cell SEE , PAGE 2 8 to 11 a.m. Sat- phones and wireless urday at the minutes for people who qualify for food stamps, Gun goes church at 1200 Medicaid, Supplemen- S. Davis Road in tal Security Income, LaGrange. To federal public housing off; two shot make an assistance and even the appointment, call national free school accidentally Bobbie Harring- lunch program. ton at the church It’s not a new pro- By Matt Chambers at (706) 882- gram, though. It comes Staff writer 9270, Ext. 317. from an assistance pro- A driver accidentally shot him- gram that began in the self and passenger while trying to State 1980s to help all Amer- hide a gun in a vehicle Wednesday icans have telephone night. service, but the funding Jajuan Roberson, 18, of does not come from tax Greenville Street was pulled over revenue. on Wallace Street about 7 p.m. after Carol Patterson has Sherri Brown / Daily News a report of a man pointing a gun at one of the free phones, Free cell phone kiosks such as this one at Piggly Wiggly on South people at the Budget Inn at 100 Hill often referred to as St. “Obama phones.” She Greenwood Street are popping up around Troup County. The free cell Roberson tried to hide a gun in got the information phones are often referred to as ‘Obama phones,’ but the government the 1997 Nissan Maxima while from a flier at the program that provides the funding for them began in the 1980s. being pulled over by police, caus- A group of Department of Family are no such limits on phone service to low- month. ing it to fire, Capt. Dale Strickland women who and Children Services. the phone. The phone income households was Link Up provides a said. The bullet hit Roberson in the know how to knit Patterson, who receives service and minutes are started in 1984 during one-time discount up to abdomen, then hit a passenger. and crochet get Medicaid and a month- available to use as the the Reagan administra- $30 off the initial instal- Donald McCumbie, 50, of Main together as a ly disability check, lives caller chooses. tion. lation fee for one land- Street was hit in the arm by the bul- way to get out of at the homeless shelter Patterson spends The Telecommunica- line or the activation fee let. their houses and of Emmaus Women’s about $40 a month on tions Act of 1996 fur- for one wireless tele- Strickland said only one bullet serve the com- Shelter. extra minutes. ther boosted the pro- phone. Only one Link was fired. munity. “I called (the wireless Reachout Wireless is gram, saying that “con- Up discount is allowed The men were airlifted from PAGE 4 phone company) and the provider that Pat- sumers in all regions of – either a landline or a LaGrange Mall to Grady Health in used the shelter as my terson uses, but there the nation, including wireless phone, but not Atlanta, which does not release Nation address, and they sent are others, as well. The low-income consumers both. condition reports. it to me. I get 250 min- wireless phone compa- … should have access The FCC allowed the Police said Roberson previously A small test pro- utes a month,” Patter- nies provide the cell to telecommunications first wireless company went to a room at the Budget Inn gram that pre- son said. “That’s not phones while a fund and information servic- to offer service in 2008, and confronted people staying screens some enough, though. I through the Federal es.” said Mark Wigfield, there, then left after pointing a gun travelers who always buy more min- Communications Com- Two programs are spokesman for the at the people during an argument. volunteer extra utes.” mission pays for the subsidized by the Uni- FCC. TracFone was the Shortly after he left the motel, information While the staff at free monthly minutes. versal Service Fund: first wireless company police put out a lookout for his about them- Emmaus Women’s The minutes are Lifeline and Link Up. to offer the service. vehicle, which was spotted on selves in Shelter strongly rec- funded by the federal Lifeline provides dis- Other wireless compa- Greenville Street. Strickland said charges are pend- exchange for ommended that Patter- Universal Service Fund, counts on one basic nies followed and the ing against Roberson, and police swifter trips son and others reserve which is administered monthly telephone service is growing. were investigating today. through airport the phone to make by the Federal Commu- (landline or wireless) “It’s a popular way to security is emergency calls, med- nications Commission. for qualified sub- use Lifeline. It’s grow- The first FCC program scribers. The discount Matt Chambers can be reached termed success- ical calls and arrange to provide discounted can be up to $10 per PHONES at [email protected] ful so far. transportation, there SEE , PAGE 2 PAGE 5 or (706) 884-7311, Ext. 228. Opinion Six vie for seats on West Point City Council Columnist West Point voters will elect three people Tuesday to open seats on City Council. Incumbents Donald Gilliam and Sandra Thornton face chal- Rebecca lengers Benjamin F. Wilcox, Gerald Ledbetter and Gloria Ramsey Marshall. A third seat is open because Councilwoman Ann Wallace chose MacArthur isn’t not to run again. The seats are filled at large, with the top three vote-getters taking office. Marshall did not respond to phone calls from the waiting for the Daily News. American dream, but I Donald Gilliam I Gerald Ledbetter I Sandra Thornton I Benjamin F. Wilcox would appreci- 70, Avenue J 42, East 9th Street 54, Sunset Drive 44, Highland Drive ate some Ameri- Gilliam has lived in Ledbetter has a wife and Thornton moved back to West Point 30 years Wilcox’s family moved to West can hope or bet- West Point all his life. three sons and has lived in ago. She has a bachelor’s degree in business Point in 1976. He has a degree in ter, some Ameri- He’s married with two West Point six years. He is a from Faulkner University, an English from the University of can certainty. c h i l d r e n lifelong resident MBA from Troy State and stud- Georgia and a law PAGE 6 and four of Troup and ied law for two years at Jones degree from the John grandchil- Chambers (Ala.) University in Montgomery, Ala. Marshall Law School INDEX dren. He counties. He’s a She has two sons and a daughter in Atlanta. He is sin- has served graduate of and is finishing her second term gle, and this is his Calendar ...........3 four terms LaGrange Col- on City Council. first foray into politi- Classifieds .12-14 on City lege and Ersk- Why are you running? cal office. Comics ..............7 Council, the ine Theological “I’ve always tried to be a voice Why are you run- Community ..... 3 last three Seminary. This for the community and I feel like ning? Thornton Crossword .......7 c o n s e c u - Gilliam is his first time Ledbetter I can be a voice for all the people. “I was approached Wilcox International .... 5 tively. running for political office. There are so many important projects that have by people about a Local ............... 2 Why are you running? Why are you running? been started, I want to see them go through.” year ago in the community asking National ....... 5, 8 “I am for things hap- “I want to make a positive What is the biggest issue West Point is fac- me to run.” Obituaries ....... 2 pening right now. There impact on city government. ing? What is the biggest issue facing Opinion ............ 6 have been things prom- We need to change the tone. “Housing. We need people to live here. It will West Point? Sports .. 9-11, 14 ised that are not happen- It’s costing us.” increase our chances of getting a middle school “This is a great place to live and State .................4 ing. There is nothing on What is the biggest issue and a high school and more recreation will raise a family, but we need more TV Listings ....... 4 the east side of town.” facing West Point? keep our children here.

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