‘Person of interest’ is released after gun charge is recalled by Polk police

Here’s a look at what’s happening in other parts of Northwest Georgia:

Roe Dale Bowman was originally charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon or first offender.

CEDARTOWN — A Polk County man who was being held at the Polk County Jail on gun charges and remains a person of interest in an April murder was released on Tuesday evening after his charge was recalled, police said.

Roe Dale Bowman, 54, of a Hightower Road address, was originally charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon or first offender when he was jailed on May 12 by Polk County Police officers.

He was released after it came to light that Bowman had every right to own those firearms. Bowman, who received a pardon in 2013 on a 2001 conviction for an aggravated assault, had his gun rights restored and remains a legally registered gun permit holder in the state of Georgia. Louise McRae, Bowman’s sister, contacted the Standard Journal with information about his status as a gun permit holder on Tuesday afternoon. It was confirmed by officials at the state’s Pardons and Parole offices later in the day.

When asked about the pardon, Polk County Police Chief Kenny Dodd had been unaware of the March 11, 2013 issuance and later released a statement explaining what happened. It explained that Bowman’s criminal history had been checked during the investigation into the homicide of Tammy Wolfe, and that they discovered the aggravated assault conviction.

However, state officials explained because the pardon paperwork didn’t have any criminal charge in the Georgia Crime Information Center for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s data system, the pardon didn’t show up on a criminal background check.

“Mr. Bowman claimed that he was pardoned of the offense and had a legal right to carry a firearm,” the statement said.

“This information should have also been on his criminal history but was not.”

After being provided a copy of the pardon, Dodd said the department moved swiftly to recall the warrants and have Bowman released from jail.

Dodd later said Bowman remains a person of interest in the case, which continues after more than a month after Wolfe was found dead by staff at Polk Memory Gardens in early April. McRae said her family had hired local attorney Wright Gammon of Gammon, Anderson and McFall to represent Bowman in court proceedings. Gammon said Tuesday afternoon before his release that he was filing motions for a habeas corpus violation and emergency bail proceedings, and had called Bowman’s time in jail “illegal.”

Visit polkstandardjournal.com for more news.

Bioblitz at Little River Canyon this weekend

CENTRE, ALABAMA — Little River Canyon National Preserve staff is getting ready for the second Bioblitz this Friday through Sunday.

The event is an intense period of biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within a designated area.

Scientists, naturalists, volunteers and the public will conduct an intensive field study over a continuous period.

Lead your own expedition, or join teams exploring the park.

Staff, students and volunteers will kick off the event Friday at 9 a.m. with a school group.

On Saturday, there will be events all day.

No special knowledge is required to attend and participate. Activities will continue on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (CDT), with members of the public and specialists in groups exploring the park.

This free event includes evening programs searching for moths after dark. Most program events will begin at the Little River Canyon Center located on Alabama Highway 35.

“Last year’s event began as a dream come true,” said Ranger Larry Beane. “I wanted to do something like this for years.

“The Centennial of the National Park Service and the phone app, iNaturalist, gave us the tools and momentum at many parks.”

The preserve had 19 registered observers and over 45 participants during the twoday event. They made 783 observations with 349 species identified. This is a citizen science project. Visitors can download the free iNaturalist app on their smart phones to record and identify species.

For more information, or to register, call Beane at Little River Canyon National Preserve 1-256-845-9605.

Visit www.cherokeeherald.com for more news.