“The Gold of the News” Volume 126, No. 1 Dahlonega, Ga. 30533 June 24, 2015 thedahloneganugget.com $1.00 DOWNTOWN Pound ROWDY RIDIN’ FATALITY of weed RODEO RETURNS FOR 26TH YEAR Pedestrian leads to killed on arrest East Main By John Bynum Street The Nugget More than one pound of marijuana packaged for distribution was reported- By Matt Aiken ly found in a residence off Dawsonville The Nugget Highway last week. A Lumpkin Christopher Cullars died in down- County deputy town Dahlonega last Thursday evening went to the when he was struck by a pickup truck residence on on East Main Street, according to of- Tuesday, June ficials from 16 to follow up the Lumpkin on a 911 call County Sher- The driver reporting reck- iff’s Office. of the less driving The 35- through a DOT year-old pickup is work zone in Lumpkin Lumpkin County resi- most likely County and dent appeared smelled mari- Grimes to be attempt- not at fault, juana before ing to cross he entered the residence, according to Photo by Greg Finan, Jr./The Nugget the street at according Lt. Wesley Burnett, Lumpkin County Mechanic Sheriff’s Office spokesperson. The Mountain Top Rodeo brought back plenty of Street just be- to Sheriff The discovery of more than a pound fore 10 p.m. of marijuana, along with scales and high-flying action for fans in Dahlonega to enjoy. said Sheriff Jarrard two firearms led to the arrest of Alton Cowboys and cowgirls competed in eight different Stacy Jar- Lamar Grimes, 65, according to infor- rard. mation from the Appalachian Regional competitions during the two-day rodeo. Pictured: “There was a witness on the scene Drug Enforcement Office. PCA cowboy Casey Cason holds on tight during the who saw Mr. Cullars as he was walk- “Once the officer was there and ing toward town,” he said. “He ap- spoke with Grimes he observed things bareback bronc riding event. Check out the sports peared to be stumbling some and he at the residence,” Burnett said. section on Page 1B for all the details. actually tripped on the curb and fell See Pound of weed Page 8A See Pedestrian Page 3A u BULGING BICEPS BLOGGER Frogtown fire station not ‘Swolski’ site smashes stereotypes up for discussion By Greg Finan, Jr. vided by the company The Nugget By Sharon Hall who gave the lowest bid The Nugget for commissioners to For 19-year-old University of County be able to make an in- North Georgia student Chase When Lumpkin formed decision. Lawson, inspiration and perspi- County Commissioner taking its “I just felt it was be- ration go hand-in-hand. Steve Shaw made a mo- time on ing pushed too fast. It wasn’t that long ago that the 19-year-old tion to accept the recom- We’re just trying to be teen was bullied, ridiculed and UNG student mendation of the Build- accepting good stewards of the tax embarrassed due to his tall and Chase Lawson ing Committee regard- payers dollars,” he said. skinny physique. But, a drive is flexing his ing construction of the bid The county received inside of Lawson transformed writing skills Frogtown satellite fire four bids that met the re- those negative experiences into on his blog station, it apparently quirements of the RFP an inspirational story of hard Swolski Talk fell on deaf ears. Shaw’s (Request for Proposal).. work and achievement. to help others motion died for lack of a The bids ranged from a “I’ve always been into physi- learn that they second. “Apparently, no one high bid of $699,000 to a cal fitness,” said Lawson. “Go- can achieve “There was no in- was comfortable with low bid of $568,500. ing into my 10th grade year, my anything that formation available to making a second,”—in- “We knew we couldn’t buddy invited me to go with him they believe. the commissioners be- cluding himself, said spend that much. It to the gym. The last thing our Photo by Greg Finan, Jr./The Nugget fore the meeting. Noth- Board Chairman Chris would cost $450,000 to trainer did was to tell us to do 10 ing was in the meeting Dockery. replace one of the other pushups. I thought, I can do 10 everyone was looking at me, and The embarrassment that Law- notebooks, but it was on Dockery, who is also a (satellite) fire stations,” pushups easy. But, when I got to it embarrassed me. From then on son felt on that fateful day started the agenda,” Shaw said. member of the Building Dockery said, “and we five I couldn’t do anymore. Our I decided I was tired of being the a fire that fueled him with a drive “My intention was to get Committee, said there need to stay consistent.” trainer started to yell at me to do little guy. I wanted to be the big it out in the open for a was not enough details one more, but I couldn’t. I felt like guy.” See Student Page 3A discussion.” in the information pro- See County Page 8A READERS SPEAK OUT 10 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR THIS WEEK! Letter writer: Opinions: Theater: Online Writer should Subscribers get Matt Aiken: Production by the same great not promote content online Saying ‘hey’ Chapman will in the E-edition. homophobic views Log on using .com to Theo be performed the username and password under the guise of James in Dahlonega on your mailing Christianity label. u Page 4A u Page 9A u Page 7A Subscribe today by calling 706-864-3613. 52 weeks: $27 local, $37 out of county, $47 out of state. | thedahloneganugget.com Page 2A Dahlonega, Ga., June 24, 2015 Hours/Location CRIME Open Monday through Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. June 14 – June 20 Address: 1074 Morrison Moore Pkwy. Contacting us Weekly Arrest Reports Phone: 706-864-3613 FAX: 706-864-4360 Mail: P.O. Box 36 Crimebeat ■ Alton Grimes, 65, of Winder was arrested and Dahlonega, GA The following arrests Dawsonville Highway was ar- charged with a probation vio- 30533 The following incidents were reported to the were released by the rested and charged with pos- lation. _______________ session of marijuana, posses- ■ Taylor Hammond, 17, Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office during the Lumpkin County sion of marijuana with intent of Dawsonville was arrested SUBSCRIPTIONS time period of May 30 and June 18 Sheriff’s Office. to distribute, and possession and charged with underage of a firearm during the com- consumption. 706-864-3613 mission of a felony ■ Kristy Martin, 19, of stabbed the tires on a Chev- The Nugget is ■ Lamarco Lewis, 24, of Gainesville was arrested and rolet Blazer. The suspect said June 14 delivered to mail May 30 Dahlonega was arrested and charged with underage con- they asked him to move out ■ Miquel Mosqueda- boxes via U.S. mail ■ A woman said when she charged with theft by taking sumption. so he “had an anger fit and Romero, 48, of Gainesville was leaving the residence at and two counts of probation ■ Austin Clark, 19, of on Wednesdays sliced 4 tires.” He told the dep- was arrested and charged 6:45 a.m. she noticed a silver violation. Gainesville was arrested and in Lumpkin and uty he knew it was wrong and with DUI, open container car with a male sleeping in charged with underage con- surrounding counties. shouldn’t have done it. violation, failure to main- the driver seat with the vehi- June 17 sumption. See Page 4A for tain a lane and driving with cle idling at the intersection. ■ Robert Smith, 59, was ar- information on rates. June 13 license revoked. She said he seemed very con- rested and charged with DUI. June 20 _______________ ■ An employee at a conve- ■ Rachelle Wallace, 39, of fused and stated that he was ■ Daniel Davidson, 33, of ■ Christine Regal, 52, of nience store said a man driv- Dahlonega was arrested and tired from staying up too late. Covington was arrested and Jensen Beach, Fla. was ar- Advertising ing a Jeep pumped $42.75 in charged with DUI, speeding He then put the vehicle in gear charged with a probation vio- rested and charged with DUI The cost to gas and then left without pay- and failure to maintain a and drove down the road. lation. and failure to maintain a place a classified ing. lane. ■ Vickie Housley, 58, of lane. ■ Michael Hawkins, 52, advertisement is $9 June 1 Dawsonville was arrested ■ Wesley Willis. 21, of Pine June 17 of Dahlonega was arrested for the first 10 words, ■ A man claimed that he and charged with a probation Mountain was arrested and ■ A man said he was at a and charged with habitual then 25 cents per and a partner agreed to trade violation. charged with DUI and failure local restaurant playing cards offense. word after that. These items for half ownership in a ■ Michael Hood, 27, of to maintain a lane. when someone hit his vehicle, ads must be pre-paid. Western Star semi-truck. The Dahlonega was arrested and leaving a dent and white paint June 15 The Dahlonega man purchased eight 11R22.5 charged with a probation vio- transfer. The driver then left. ■ Aaron Weaver, 26, of Nugget accepts Boto BT556 CSD tires (at a cost lation. American Express, of $1,835) and dropped them Ellijay was arrested and June 18 charged with terroristic Discover, Mastercard off at the partner’s house. The June 18 In ■ A man said his nephew threats/intimidation. and Visa. owner of the semi-truck then ■ Robin Burns, 31, of Daw- Dahlonega was bitten on the face by his ■ Shirley Brown, 47, of Classified ads may backed out of the deal.