Wildlife groups seeking to stop ‘Coyote Challenge’
ATLANTA (AP) — A coalition of more than 25 wildlife and animal protection organizations are objecting to the upcoming “Georgia Coyote Challenge” that involves killing the animals.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the Humane Society of the United States and other groups recently sent letters urging Gov. Nathan Deal to cancel the event.
During the six-month period from March to August, the challenge offers Georgia residents the chance to win a lifetime hunting license.
Residents enter to win the license by providing photo evidence of having killed a coyote. Individuals are allowed to submit up to 10 entries, each representing one coyote killed.
This is the second year that the challenge has been offered.
Councilman asks for restraining order against fellow councilman
MARIETTA — A judge has dismissed Marietta Councilman Reggie Copeland’s request for a restraining order against fellow Councilman Andy Morris.
Based on information Copeland presented in court, he “could not have been in reasonable fear for his safety,” so he is not entitled to the temporary protective order he asked for, Cobb Superior Court Senior Judge Grant Brantley wrote in his order dismissing the case, which he wrote and signed Monday.
Copeland filed the request after a contentious June 11 council meeting that saw Copeland and Morris get into a heated discussion after the meeting had adjourned.
In his written request for the restraining order filed June 12, Copeland alleged that Morris “came into (Copeland’s) space” and wouldn’t back away. Morris only backed up after Copeland called for a police officer in the room to intervene, according to court documents.
Copeland came to Brantley’s courtroom on June 12 to ask for the restraining order on stalking grounds, and while Brantley denied the request, he set a hearing on the matter for June 26. After thinking about it over the weekend, Brantley said Thursday, he decided to dismiss the case and filed his order doing so on Monday. The order also cancels the June 26 hearing.
Copeland did not return messages seeking comment on Thursday afternoon. Ross Williams and Ricky Leroux, Marietta Daily Journal
Polk BOE approves creation of school district police department
CEDARTOWN — When local resident Shemetrice Matthews came before the Polk County Board of Education during their June meeting, she had nothing but praise for how the district is handling security.
She’s glad to see new locks being installed on doors, and extra security measures being taken on campuses around the county. Then last week before the meeting, she saw something that brought her joy.
“I had to pull over at Cedartown High School to admire the new Polk School District police cars,” she said.
Her praise also extended to new officers who were happy to give her a minute to admire a new addition to the district that was given a final stamp of approval by board members: campus police.
“I would like to personally thank this board for the steps they are making and continue to make for the safety and security of our children,” Matthews said.
It started earlier in the year as a committee on school security, and expanded into a full-blown police department in the past months as additional school resource officers are being hired on, and if needed, given additional training to ensure they meet requirements by the state’s Peace Officer Standards and Training Council.
“We’re fortunate enough to have one in every school,” Polk Assistant Superintendent Greg Teems said. “When it is all said and done we’ll have 13 police officers — including the two from Cedartown and Rockmart — nine employed by the Polk School District, that are protecting all of our schools.”