Protections for human-trafficking victims pass Georgia Senate
The Georgia Senate passed two bills Thursday, Feb. 11, aimed at protecting victims of human trafficking, advancing a key plank of Gov. Brian Kemp’s legislative agenda.
One bill sponsored by state Sen. Clint Dixon, R-buford, would allow human-trafficking victims to sue their traffickers in civil court for monetary damages.
The other bill, also sponsored by Dixon, would shield human-trafficking victims from public scrutiny if they seek to legally change their names by keeping name-change petitions under seal.
Dixon, a freshman who is one of the governor’s floor leaders in the Senate, said the governor-backed bills aim to protect some of the state’s most vulnerable community members.
“This is an issue that’s crucial to my county and yours ... and will help victims of human trafficking,” Dixon said.
Both bills passed unanimously and now head to the House for more voting. Kemp will likely sign them into law should they pass the General Assembly.
The governor has made fighting human trafficking a priority since taking office in 2019, charging the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to crack down harder on traffickers through a multi-agency task force. He also tasked his wife, First Lady Marty Kemp, to lead the trafficking-focused GRACE Commission.
Dixon’s bills follow legislation passed last year that toughened penalties for commercial drivers with human-trafficking criminal convictions and allowed victims to clear their court records of any offenses stemming from activities while they were being trafficked.
Kemp’s agenda this year also includes legislation requiring anyone who seeks a new or renewed commercial driver’s license in Georgia to complete a human-trafficking awareness course.
State officials created a new hotline last September for Georgians to alert law enforcement officers of sexual or labor exploitation and to receive help for victims. Thousands of state government employees have also taken a trafficking-awareness course during the past year on how to spot abuse.
The number for the state’s human-trafficking hotline is 1-866-ENDHTGA.
The Catoosa County Spelling Bee was held Feb. 2 as a virtual event. Twenty-two contestants, representing 10 schools, participated. The three students who won will represent Catoosa County in the Regional Spelling Bee will be held virtually on Saturday, March 13, at 1 p.m. Schools Superintendent Denia Reese said, “I am so proud of all the students who participate in their school’s spelling bee. They must dedicate a lot of time to studying to learn to spell very challenging words. Winning our county spelling bee is a great accomplishment, and I know these students will do a great job in the regional spelling bee.”
ATLANTA – Savannah may soon have a major film studio complex to boost its growing film and TV production industry.
The Georgia Film Academy is working with Georgia Tech to redevelop the Atlanta-based university’s Savannah campus at Jimmy Deloach Parkway and Interstate 95 into a film production studio, Sandra Neuse, the University System of Georgia’s vice chancellor for real estate and facilities told members of the system’s Board of Regents Tuesday, Feb. 9.
The professional education courses now offered at Tech’s Savannah satellite campus would be moved to a more central location in the city.
Film and TV production has evolved into an important component of Savannah’s economy in recent years. In 2019, 129 projects – including eight feature films – filmed in Savannah generated $125.6 million in direct spending and $266.3 million in total economic impact, according to the Savannah Economic Development Authority.
But Neuse said the area lacks sufficient purpose-built soundstages and production facilities. A feasibility study showed the 54-acre Georgia Tech Savannah campus would be a good location to build a studio, she said.
Georgia Tech owns an 18,000-squarefoot building on the site that would be repurposed for the studio complex. The project also would include two other adjacent buildings totaling 97,000 square feet.
Under the proposal Neuse presented Tuesday, Feb. 9, Georgia Advanced Technology Ventures (GATV) – a nonprofit affiliated with Georgia Tech – would lead a request for proposals to select a developer for the project.
GATV also would guide the relocation of Tech’s professional education program.
The project and various lease and sublease agreements needed to redevelop the property will be subject to the board’s approval.
When Jeremiah Turner was carrying the ball for the Chattanooga Valley Middle School Eagles, Ridgeland head coach Kip Klein knew the potential was there for Turner to be a standout, but not necessarily in the backfield.
“When he was in the eighth grade, I told him he was going to be a defensive end one day,” Klein recalled to the crowd gathered at Ridgeland High School on Thursday. “He didn’t believe me, but look at where we are today.”
Moments later, the Panther defensive end signed on to continue his football career at NCAA Division II Shorter University.”
He just had the body type with the long arms...he’s long and lean,” Klein explained. “He had never thought about playing defensive end back then, but I think they’ll be able to use him there or even at an outside linebacker spot.”
While Turner’s eventual college football position will ultimately be determined, the highly-regarded and well-liked senior was all smiles as he signed his letter of intent
in front of teammates, coaches, teachers and administrators, while seated next to his family.
“It means a lot,” he said. “Not a lot of people get to sign nowadays or to even go to college anymore, but seeing my mom and dad so happy means a lot to me. It means I’m improving and that I’m doing something right.”
He said he chose nearby Shorter, located an hour away in Rome, because it “just seemed right” to him.
“It just seems like the perfect place where I can fit in and it’s felt like home ever since I first (visited),” he added.
As a sophomore and first-year starter, Turner recorded 54 tackles, including six for loss, while also recovering three fumbles to earn an All-region first team selection. The following season, he helped Ridgeland to a region title with 55 tackles, five for loss, a sack and an interception. He was rewarded with another AllRegion first team nod and Walker County Defensive Player of the Year honors.
This past season, Turner shined on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Another outstanding defensive year saw him earn a third straight first team All-region award and All-state honorable mention status by Recruit Georgia after 45 tackles, six for loss and one interception.
He was also a hard-running back on offense this past fall, amassing 446 yards and five rushing TD’S. That included a three-touchdown performance at Pickens and a big night in a home win over Heritage that saw him break off two long scoring runs and collect a career-high 220 yards on just 12 carries. He also sealed the victory over the Generals with an interception with just over two minutes to play.
“There’s not a whole lot left to be said,” Klein continued. “Before Jeremiah went on his visit, I had a chance to talk to (Shorter head coach Zach) Morrison in depth and I told him what all he was going to see and about the type of kid (Jeremiah) was. After the visit, Coach Morrison called me back and told me that what I had said didn’t even do Jeremiah justice.
“He’s phenomenal. He’s a true leader and works hard. He’s a quiet guy who just goes on about his business, like a lot of guys I’ve had the chance to coach. He doesn’t put on any airs and doesn’t care who gets the credit. He just enjoys playing and enjoys life in general.”
Turner who plans to study business and eventually architecture at Shorter, said he wants to be a leader with the Hawks.
“I just want to be someone they can depend on and be there when they need me,” he added. “(I just want to) be that leader and be that role model.”