The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
BILL TO CURB STREET RACING WOULD REGULATE SUPER CARS
Proposed bill also looks to regulate ‘highperformance vehicles.’
A Dekalb County senator is backing a proposed statewide law aimed at illegal street races that have become a problem in metro Atlanta over the past year.
Sen. Emanuel Jones, D-decatur, discussed the legislative bill during a Thursday night panel on laying drag, which highlighted the deadly consequences of these illegal competitions.
The proposed legislation is similar to laws passed by Atlanta, Brookhaven and Doraville, which penalize those taking part in the dangerous events, but it goes further by creating a special registration for the powerful cars often participating in street events.
Bobbie Sanford said her stepdaughter, Jaye Sanford, was killed in November as a result of an illegal street race in Dekalb. Jaye Sanford, 52, and her 16-year-old daughter were driving near Memorial Drive and Columbia Drive about 5:45 p.m. Nov. 21 when they were struck by a speeding vehicle, according to a Dekalb police incident report. Witnesses told police that the at-fault vehicle was racing a second vehicle before the crash.
“My son got the call that there was an accident, and of course realizing that it was on Colum
located in Forsyth County is aligned with President Joe Biden’s goal to vaccinate 100 million people in the first 100 days of his new administration.
Belmont Village founder and CEO Patricia Will said 97% of residents at all their properties have opted to take the vaccine. Belmont has 30 locations across the U.S., including two in metro Atlanta, as well as one in Mexico.
Georgia’s 1.5 million seniors over age 65 have had difficulty registering for vaccinations. The state is running behind on its vaccination numbers.
Only 591,438 doses have been administered to Georgians while the state has received nearly double the amount, according to state data.
Belmont Village Executive Director Jan Boatright said only three residents have tested positive for COVID19 at the Forsyth County village during the pandemic. They were asymptomatic and
there have been no deaths from the disease, she said.
The seniors have shown characteristic resilience in the face of the pandemic, Boatright said.
“This is the generation that has lived through other wars, pandemics and other crises,” she said. “The attitude that they are willing to go through this in the face of not being able to go to church or synagogue or hug family
is amazing. Those are all of the things that when you live to your 90s are important to you.”
Easton Wall, a retired school district superintendent, said that he’s been keeping track of the number of new cases of COVID-19 and was surprised a vaccine has been produced so quickly. Understanding the present need for remote learning, he said, “As a former school administrator, I’m disappointed the schools have had to stay closed this long.”
Lila Wall, 92, is also a retired educator. The two met at their alma mater now called West Texas A&M University. They barely knew each other when Easton was among a small group of students who hopped in a car driven by Lila, their daughter said.
“She got stopped for speeding,” Lynn said. “Mom was known for her lead foot.” Lynn said her father, who was in the passenger seat, quickly changed places with Lila, scooting to the driver’s side to be ticketed in her place.
The couple moved to metro Atlanta eight years ago to be closer to Lynn and have lived at Belmont Village since 2016. Despite living nearby, Lynn says the lack of physical contact with her parents has been difficult.
“Not being able to hug them just tears you apart,” Lynn said. “I just feel like there’s this emptiness. There is such a physical void. My mother in particular gives the best hugs in the world. She is a hugger and a hand holder.”