Detectives search for man accused of scamming the elderly
RINGGOLD — Authorities are looking for a man who has allegedly stolen thousands of dollars from elderly residents through an insurance scam tied to a local funeral home, police say.
On Friday afternoon, Aug. 9, Catoosa County Sheriff Gary Sisk called a news conference to fill the media and public in on the investigation involving insurance agent Kevin Miles.
According to Sisk, the 41-year-old Miles is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from multiple victims over the past couple of years.
“We are currently seeking Kevin Miles, a locally contracted insurance agent, for felony warrants of theft by deception and financial exploitation of an elderly person,” Sisk said. “We have four confirmed victims and approximately
EDWARDS, Chelsey Kristina
28 more victims we are still investigating at this time with an estimated value over $75,000.”
Sisk said Miles has been an independent contractor with Atlantic Coast Insurance Co. working out of Wilson Funeral Home to sell funeral pre-arrangements through Atlantic Coast Life, which is based in Charleston, S.C. Sisk said the pre-arrangement agreements went on from June 2017 to July 2019.
Wilson Funeral Home has chapels in Fort Oglethorpe, Ringgold, Chickamauga, and LaFayette, all in Georgia.
Sisk says Miles would receive payment in full for the policies, but would keep the money for his own use and send the insurance company a policy for monthly payments with his address.
MCLEMORE, Jeanette Tanner
Here’s a look at what’s happening in other parts of North Georgia:
Mrs. Jeanette Tanner McLemore, age 82, of Rome, GA, passed away Friday, August 9, 2019, in Hazelhurst, GA.
Mrs. McLemore was born in Rome, GA on May 19, 1937, daughter of the late Gordon Lee “Grover” Tanner and the late Alma McWhorter Tanner. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Bobby E. McLemore, and by a brother, James Tanner. Mrs. McLemore was employed with Pet Bakery for several years. She was a member of East Rome Baptist Church.
Survivors include a daughter, Pam McLemore Durham (Don), Summerville; a son, David E. McLemore (Doris), Calhoun; 5 grandchildren, T. J. Evans (Summer), Lafayette, Todd Evans (Veronica), Summerville, Ashley Henry (David), Trion, Lacey McLemore (Zach Fowler), Alpharetta, and Melissa Tuberville (Greg), Loxley, AL; 9 great grandchildren; a sister, Brenda Pelfrey, San Antonio, TX; 2 brothers, Johnny Tanner (Peggy) and Sonny Tanner, both of Rome; nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 12, 2019, at 1 pm in the Chapel at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, South Chapel, with 'U /DUU\ 'DYLV RI¿FLDWLQJ Private interment will follow later in East View Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, South Chapel, on Monday from 11 am until the funeral hour.
Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, South Chapel, has charge of the funeral arrangements.
“Evidence shows he possibly made some payments but stopped and the accounts are delinquent,” Sisk said.
In addition to Miles now being a wanted fugitive, Sisk said, detectives are still trying to determine how many other potential victims may be out in the community.
Cedartown cigar store ordinance coming soon
CEDARTOWN — Cedartown commissioners got to provide input on a new ordinance coming soon to the city’s code book that will allow for the potential for a business to sell cigars and more.
The goal is to regulate retail cigar stores that also allow for sales of alcohol by the drink, with the language of the proposed ordinance set to go before the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission later this month before city commissioners will get a chance to vote on it themselves.
A public hearing in the Planning and Zoning Commission’s forthcoming Aug. 26 meeting at 10 a.m. is the next step after city officials have drafted the ordinance based on those from surrounding areas.
Assistant City Manager Edward Guzman said the ordinance was sought after an investor inquired about opening a cigar store in Cedartown and through a specific request made by Commissioner Jessica Payton.
“After doing some research from surrounding cities, we’re basically calling this the ‘Old Havana’ ordinance, because it basically follows the same requirements that the City of Rome has on Old Havana. Same for the City of Cartersville too,” Guzman said. “This ordinance is written out where they don’t have to sell food like our restaurants to sell alcohol, but the requirement is through cigar sales.”
The new ordinance will require a 51 to 49% split between tobacco and alcohol sales, with the larger share going toward tobacco sales. That includes hand-rolled cigars, pipe tobacco, pipes, cigar cutters and other accessories in the sales — but not cigarettes.