JAILHOUSE HEALTH CARE As a Way to Better Provide for His Family
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2015 Business Card and Resource Directory JODMVEFEJOUIJTJTTVF Tallulah Gorge Skywalk Celebration continues SEE INSIDE The Clayton Tribune n THURSDAY, June 25, 2015 theclaytontribune.com Vol. 118, No. 26 $1.00 RABUN MAN FACES FEDERAL CHARGES By Klark Byrd Communications, and the News Editor information traced back to International child porn investigation Welcher’s address. The com- A 35-year-old Rabun County plaint states Welcher began man faces federal child por- his account with Windstream nography charges after his in September 2013 and he Friday arrest at his Clarkes- leads FBI, GBI to Clarkesville man used the name Auralextc with ville home by agents of the FBI internationally through the downloaded 15 images, two of Agent Mark Sewell states the his Windstream and Gmail and Georgia Bureau of Investi- Internet using file-sharing which the FBI suspected were New Zealand downloads came accounts. gations. network Gigatribe. An investi- pornographic photos of under- from the Gigatribe account The federal court document Christopher Michael gation into his online activities age females, a federal court “Auralextc.” An investigations also contains excerpts from Welcher of 64 Buckhorn Circle, began in July after an un- document states. unit in New Zealand subpoe- an online chat between Aura- Clarkesville, is accused of dercover New Zealand police A complaint filed in U.S. naed the account’s Internet trading child pornography officer accessed 10 folders and District Court by FBI Special service provider, Windstream Please see MAN, A11 Bleckley closes county career after 24 years By Mat Payne Staff Writer He might not be the tallest man in the courthouse, but for the last 24 years County Admin- istrator Jim Bleckley has cast the longest shadow in county Commission bids fond farewell government. When he retires at By Klark Byrd the end of the workday Tuesday, News Editor he will leave behind a big pair It was a heartfelt, tearful farewell the of cowboy boots to fill. Rabun County Board of Commissioners bid Since 1991, Bleckley has been retiring County Administrator Jim Bleckley the county’s top dog and the on Tuesday as he attended his last monthly only person in its history to meeting as the county’s top executive. hold the title of administrator. Board Chairman Greg James presented “It’s a wonderful county,” Bleckley with a plaque that read: “For 24 and Megan Studdard/The Clayton Tribune Bleckley said. “I’ve been lucky a half years of outstanding and dedicated Jail nurse Toni Shook takes a break from prepping medications Monday afternoon at Rabun Detention Center. to be here.” service, your commitment to excellence has Shook is employed by Southern Health Partners, the company responsible for inmate health care at the local jail. A graduate of Rabun County left a lasting mark on each of us. Thank you High School and the University for touching our lives in such a positive and of Georgia, Bleckley made the meaningful way. You will be missed. Have move from the private sector, fun and enjoy the years ahead.” where he worked as a real estate agent, to the public sector Please see FOND, A11 JAILHOUSE HEALTH CARE as a way to better provide for his family. By Megan Studdard “Those were days when it was feast or famine,” Bleckley said. Staff Writer t’s 2 o’clock in “We’re kind of a mental Health Partners, a Chatta- Please see YEARS, A11 health facility,” she said. nooga, Tennessee-based the afternoon Shook said 14 of the 17 inmate health care compa- and nurse inmates on medication ny, to handle all medical that day were taking some- issues at the jail. Southern Toni Shook thing for mental health Health Partners stafs a is counting problems. doctor and Shook, the pills. Elizabeth Norvell has nurse, in Rabun. None of I experienced the repercus- the health care workers are Her patients are sions of her mental illness county employees. frsthand. The Clayton Jail Administrator Maj. inmates locked woman sufers from Huck Ramey said the de- behind bars in- bipolar disorder and was partment budgets $150,000 recently arrested for DUI. per year for inmate health stead of tucked services through Southern She was sentenced to serve into hospital beds. Health Partners. 30 days in jail on week- Rabun is one of many And, at Rabun ends. During those times, small counties that con- County Detention the nurse station has been tracts its health services to empty. outside companies. Center, she admin- Shook said Monday she isters more psychi- was working about six Handling jail hours a day on weekdays, atric medication but was on call 24/7. Ramey health care Klark Byrd/The Clayton Tribune said that will soon change. than any other Rabun County sub- County Administrator Jim Bleckley, right, accepts a plaque honoring his 24-year kind. contracts with Southern Please see CARE, A11 career with the county from County Commission Chairman Greg James on Tuesday in the Rabun County Courthouse. 3 sections, 28 pages INDEX WEATHER Calendar .................................B7 Obituaries ..............................A6 High 77-94 Church ....................................B4 Police Blotter ..........................A9 Low 58-70 Classifeds ..............................C5 Sports ....................................C1 Medical Directory ...................B3 Your Pet ..................................B5 Chance of storms. NASCAR ..................................C3 Weather ...............................A10 See page A10. Specials of FRESH / FAMILY PACK the Week $ 99 NEW SALE DATES: WEDNESDAY-TUESDAY...EVERY WEEK!!! GROUND BEEF 2 lb. For the BEST PRICES in town, see our FRESH (NEVER FROZEN) / FRYER (10 LB. BAG) ¢ LEG QUARTERS lb. ADVERTISING CIRCULAR 39 in today’s edition 062415-152924 QUALITY FOODS SHOPPING CENTER, CORNELIA WWW.SHOPQUALITYFOODS.COM A2 June 25, 2015 The Clayton Tribune RABUN COUNTY CONTACT US Main Line: 706-782-3312 Wallenda visits for Skywalk Celebration Fax: 706-782-4230 Mail: 120 North Main St., P.O. Box 425, By Mat Payne Niagra Falls. Clayton, GA 30525 Staff Writer “Timewise, it really depends Email: thetribune@theclayton Nik Wallenda has a healthy on when things fall into place,” tribune.com dose of respect for danger, Wallenda said. “There are a lot Website: www.theclaytontribune.com admiration for the members of things that have to happen to of his family that made the art make that happen.” ADMINISTRATION of wire walking famous, and Having lost family members to accidents involving wire walk- a commitment to recreate his Publisher ing, including his great-grandfa- great-grandfather’s walk across Michael Leonard ther whom he credits as paving Tallulah Gorge. [email protected] the way for his career, Wallenda After more than a year of said he and his team had an planning, the Tallulah Gorge intense focus on safety and Accounting Skywalk Celebration began Fri- preparation for an event. Heidi Cook day morning with Nik Wallenda The technical aspect of each [email protected] making his first public appear- walk is designed by a three- ance in Rabun County on the tiered engineering team and Customer Service campus of Rabun Gap-Nacooch- five layers of safety protocol are ee School. He fielded questions Jeri McCall followed. [email protected] and took pictures with fans. He added he uses a specially During a press conference made cable for each event. ADVERTISING prior to the general public meet But all of that would be for and greet, Wallenda said walk- nothing if he did not possess the Megan Studdard/The Clayton Tribune ing the wire across Tallulah Rabun County Commissioner Stephen Arbitter and his sons Allen and Wyatt Arbitter Sales Associate talent to put one foot in front of Debbie Martin Gorge would be a dream come the other on a wire smaller than meet with Nik Wallenda on Saturday at Rabun County Public Library. [email protected] true. 1 inch in diameter. can remember,” Wallenda said. two hotels. “I have every intent of doing The physical training for the “I’ve had different emotions A sense of family history and this walk. It’s a dream of mine, walk begins about six weeks Sales Associate it’s on my bucket list,” Wallenda beforehand. Wallenda said he behind it, you know? Do I want legacy are prime motivators for Becky Berliner said. “It’s something I confident- runs through every scenario this to be my last professional Wallenda, and with that the love [email protected] ly believe that I will do.” and conditions that could occur walk of my career?” for walking the wire naturally Interest in the walk is high. during the walk to which he Henry Johnson, theater pro- formed. Wallenda began his n To place a display or However, Wallenda said there might have to adapt. fessor at Piedmont College, was wire training as a 2-year-old, classifed advertisement, is a series of hurdles he and his Karl’s walk over the gorge one of the people present at the playing on a wire in his back- call 782-3312. team would have to get over be- is arguably his most famous meet and greet. He said he was yard. fore he could take his first step performance, garnering an excited about the possibility of Since then, Wallenda has gone Graphic Design out over the gorge — namely audience of more than 30,000 Wallenda walking the wire and on to set nine world records for [email protected] sponsorship to support it. people lining the gorge to catch that he hoped to be involved in his aerial acts. He performs all A Wallenda walk does not a glimpse of the feat. the walk in some capacity. over the globe. NEWSROOM come cheap. He estimated the “He was a huge inspiration to Johnson worked as a crew “My great-grandfather said it cost of walking Tallulah Gorge me and to be able to recreate his member for Karl’s July 18, 1970, best, ‘Life is on the wire,’” Wal- News Editor at about $500,000, adding it cost greatest walk is something that walk across the gorge and again lenda said.