news – Page 26699

Sheriff Babb issues scam warning

Fayette County residents should be aware of a phone scam intended to extort money from unsuspecting victims, Fayette County Sheriff Barry Babb said Tuesday.

Babb said his office has recently received complaints about a scam to extort money by using the fictitious name of a sheriff’s office employee.

Babb said his office last week was made aware of three incidents, all involving victims with the last name “White” that were contacted by a man claiming to be Lt. Darrell Jenkins of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office.

via The Citizen http://www.thecitizen.com/articles/11-13-2013/sheriff-babb-issues-scam-warning

You choose: Start school on Aug. 4 or a week later

Do you have a child in one of Fayette County’s public schools? Or are you an employee of the school system? If so, and if you have an opinion on the 2014-2015 school calendar, the Fayette County Board of Education would like to hear your ideas on the two calendars up for consideration.

School system spokesperson Melinda Berry-Dreisbach said key features of the calendars include no furlough days for employees, a fall break in October, end of first semester by the holiday break and school attendance days within the state assessment window.

via The Citizen http://www.thecitizen.com/articles/11-13-2013/you-choose-start-school-aug-4-or-week-later

Free flights offered to kids Saturday at Falcon Field in Peachtree City

Aircraft Spruce and Peachtree City’s Atlanta Regional Airport-Falcon Field will be hosting local Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) members who will provide school-age children with an opportunity to experience flight in a general aviation airplane Saturday, Nov. 16 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The EAA Young Eagles program is designed to give children between the ages of 8 and 17 an opportunity to experience flight in a general aviation airplane while educating them about aviation. Launched in 1992, the program has flown more than 1.5 million children in 90 countries.

via The Citizen http://www.thecitizen.com/articles/11-13-2013/free-flights-offered-kids-saturday-falcon-field-peachtree-city

The afterlife of a ‘closed’ Fayette Middle School

Fayette Middle School (FMS) was one of four schools closed by the Fayette County Board of Education at the end of June. But the school today is being used for three school system programs and other uses. For the time being, based on information provided by the school system, there does not appear to be any additional expense by having FMS operational.

via The Citizen http://www.thecitizen.com/articles/11-13-2013/afterlife-%E2%80%98closed%E2%80%99-fayette-middle-school

Scouts salute veterans and the flag

Cub Scouts from Pack 279 in Peachtree City led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance at Saturday’s annual Veterans Day ceremony hosted by the Dixie Wing of the Commemorative Air Force at Falcon Field. It was noted the scouts should be appreciated and recognized as America’s future leaders. Photo/John Munford.

via The Citizen http://www.thecitizen.com/articles/11-13-2013/scouts-salute-veterans-and-flag

Something Is Very Wrong With This Picture

Just because very few actually understood the severity of the Cisco earnings guidance, in which the company forecast an 8-10% drop (let’s call it 9%) in quarterly revenues when Wall Street was expecting a 4% increase, we have compiled and presented in chart form the historical and projected quarterly revenue data for CSCO to show today’s preannouncement in all its gruesome context.

A few points:

The current quarter, in which revenues missed expectations of $12.4 billion by $300 million, while bad, was still a year-over-year increase of 1.8%.
It is the next quarter that is a true stunner because while Goldman Sachs (which has the company at a Conviction Buy rating with a $30 price target) was expecting a print of $12.9 billion, taking the midline of CSCO’s guide-down, Cisco now expects to make a paltry $11 billion, the lowest amount since early 2011, which would make the next quarter, ending January 2014, the biggest miss to expectations in company history.
In sequential terms, the drop in revenue next quarter would amount to just over $1 billion, a topline crash second only to the $1.2 billion sequential collapse in the quarter when Lehman filed and the modern financial system as we know it nearly ended.
There is simply no way that the company will be able to grow into its current projected revenue growth range as this quarter will mean a dramatic change to the topline trendline

And while another massive buyback is just what the adjusted EPS doctor ordered, should CSCO experience just one more quarter such as the forecast, things will get very ugly not just for revenue, which it is quite obvious is no longer growing anywhere, but for the bottom line.

In short: while the markets may not represent it, because the markets stopped reflecting reality some time in 2009, something is suddenly seriously broken not only with the global demand picture, but the entire world economy as well.

via Zero Hedge http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/zerohedge/feed/~3/fzzYYcLwfNc/story01.htm Tyler Durden

Fayetteville dedicates veterans memorial

It was a solemn occasion Nov. 9 as more than 300 people gathered at Patriot Park in Fayetteville for the dedication of the Fayette County Veterans Memorial. The memorial of polished black granite is a tribute to the soldiers from all wars who were born and raised in Fayette County, and who gave their lives on countless battlefields in service to their country.

via The Citizen http://www.thecitizen.com/articles/11-13-2013/fayetteville-dedicates-veterans-memorial

Voters settle sales tax question; PTC mayor to be decided Dec. 3

While Peachtree City voters filled three city council seats in last week’s election, the mayor’s race has yet to be settled since none of the five candidates won more than 50 percent of the vote.

That sets up the Dec. 3 runoff election between current Councilwoman Vanessa Fleisch and former Mayor Harold Logsdon.

via The Citizen http://www.thecitizen.com/articles/11-13-2013/voters-settle-sales-tax-question-ptc-mayor-be-decided-dec-3

Fayette to spend $338K on water system review

CH2M Hill also to address remaining drinking water rule violations, sanitary survey deficiencies

An exhaustive review of the county’s water treatment plants and their treatment processes will cost Fayette County water customers $338,000 in an effort expected to be approved Thursday night by the county commission.

via The Citizen http://www.thecitizen.com/articles/11-13-2013/fayette-spend-338k-water-system-review

Prosecutor Asks That She Not Be Called 'the Government' Because the Term Is 'Derogatory'

Last month a Tennessee judge overseeing a burglary case
rejected a pretrial motion in which the prosecution requested
that it not be referred to as “the Government” because that term is
“derogatory.” In the May 22 motion,
Assistant District Attorney General Tammy J. Rettig noted with
alarm that “it has become commonplace during trials for attorneys
for defendants, and especially Mr. [Drew] Justice [the defendant’s
lawyer], to refer to State’s attorneys as ‘the Government’
repeatedly during trial.” Rettig worried that “such a reference is
used in a derogatory way and is meant to make the State’s attorneys
seem oppressive and to inflame the jury.” She added that “attempts
to make the jury dislike the State’s attorney have no place in the
courtroom.” She therefore urged Williamson County Circuit Court
Judge Michael Binkley to bar Justice from using the
g-word during the trial and instead refer to her as
“General Rettig, the Assit District Attorney General, Mrs. Rettig,
or simply the State of Tennessee.”

In his response,
Justice argued that such an order would violate the First
Amendment. Should Judge Binkley nevertheless see fit to comply with
Rettig’s request, Justice said, he also should consider a few other
speech limits in the interest of neutral terminology:

First, the Defendant no longer wants to be called “the
Defendant.” This rather archaic term of art, obviously has a fairly
negative connotation. It unfairly demeans, and dehumanizes Mr.
Donald Powell. The word “defendant” should be banned. At trial, Mr.
Powell hereby demands be addressed only by his full name, preceded
by the title “Mister.” Alternatively, he may be called simply “the
Citizen Accused.” This latter title sounds more respectable than
the criminal “Defendant.” The designation “That innocent man” would
also be acceptable.

Moreover, defense counsel does not wish to be referred to as a
“lawyer,” or a “defense attorney.” Those terms are substantially
more prejudicial than probative….Rather, counsel for the Citizen
Accused should be referred to primarily as the “Defender of the
Innocent.” This title seems particularly appropriate, because every
Citizen Accused is presumed innocent. Alternatively, counsel would
also accept the designation “Guardian of the Realm.” Further, the
Citizen Accused humbly requests an appropriate military title for
his own representative, to match that of the opposing counsel.
Whenever addressed by name, the name “Captain Justice” will be
appropriate. While less impressive than “General,” still, the more
humble term seems suitable. After all, the Captain represents only
a Citizen Accused, whereas the General represents an entire
State.

Along these same lines, even the term “defense” does not sound
very likeable. The whole idea of being defensive, comes across to
most people as suspicious. So to prevent the jury from being
unfairly misled by this ancient English terminology, the opposition
to the Plaintiff hereby names itself “the Resistance.” Obviously,
this terminology need only extend throughout the duration of the
trial—not to any pre-trial motions. During its heroic struggle
against the State, the Resistance goes on the attack, not just the
defense.

The good news is not only that Justice triumphed but that even
the Government concedes that “the Government” has a negative
connotation.

[Thanks to Allen St. Pierre for the tip.]

from Hit & Run http://reason.com/blog/2013/11/13/prosecutor-asks-that-she-not-be-called-t
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