Rome High scholars earn top awards annual essay contest
Rome High School’s Ashlyn Earnest was named 2018 Rotary’s Laws of Life essay contest winner at today’s Seven Hills Rotary Club meeting at Coosa Country Club. Club president Lauren Adams said, “Students in our local English classes, grades nine through twelve, were asked to select a saying or a ‘Law of Life’ and write about how the particular quote applies in their everyday lives.”
Jace Clowdus and Mae Pierce were named honorable mention winners in the freshman class. Tatiana Clifton and Oscar Sequra received honorable mention in the sophomore class with Brandon Garner emerging as the grade level winner. Sophie Sebuh won in the junior class essay contest with Jasmine Ruano earning honorable mention. Winner in the senior class was Ashley Romo with seniors Jaaie Varshney and Candarious Jett earning honorable mentions.
Rome News-Tribune’s Hometown Headlines is looking for some good news. Send submissions to Managing Editor John Bailey at HometownHeadlines@RN-T. com or call 706-290-2282. The Associated Press
ATLANTA — Federal prosecutors investigating corruption in Atlanta’s city government are seeking records related to city-issued credit cards for former Mayor Kasim Reed and several others.
A subpoena dated April 6 asks the city to produce credit card statements and other information for Reed; his brother Tracy Reed, a former city employee; former director of human services and political consultant Mitzi Bickers; and current Deputy Chief of Staff Katrina Taylor Parks, a holdover from Reed’s administration.
Another subpoena, dated April 3, focuses on records related to Taylor Parks, including her financial disclosures, travel authorizations and reimbursements and communications between her and several companies.
The prosecutors who requested the subpoenas are conducting an ongoing investigation into corruption at City Hall. Five people have been indicted in relation to a pay-to-play scheme for city contracts, including the city’s former chief procurement officer who admitted accepting bribes and was sentenced to prison.
Bickers was indicted earlier this month and accused of soliciting and accepting payments to help steer lucrative city contracts to two construction contractors and their companies.
Reed, who was termlimited, left office in January when Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms was inaugurated.
The Atlanta JournalConstitution reported March 28 that Reed had charged nearly $300,000 on his city card during his last three years as mayor. That included bills for five-star hotels, business class air travel, car service and more than $21,000 at restaurants, the newspaper reported. He also charged a political contribution and classes needed to maintain his law license.