Rockdale Citizen

“If you are a hunter or considering hunting, please make coyotes number one on your list. The population is increasing, unchecked, all over Georgia, and they are rapidly increasing in Rockdale, especially in the areas closest to Arabia Mountain. Residents can hear the yipping and howling at night, particularly between midnight and 3. Hunting coyotes year-round is legal by Georgia’s DNR, as they are a non-native species. I do not know why the state or counties are not actively culling these populations. They eat anything — trash, compost, roadkill, small animals, and even fawns, so they are destructive to our native species. If you hunt, please hunt them any chance you get. Use of a ‘lost fawn’ call will attract them. And if you live in wooded areas of Rockdale, especially near Arabia, please bring in your cats or small dogs at night, secure the construction on any rabbit or chicken cages you have, and don’t leave any kind of food outside, because it will attract coyotes and they can and will attack, kill and eat your pets.”

———

“Did the finance director ever succeed in getting her bachelor’s degree? Does anyone know?”

———

“I remember Judge Nation has banished some people from the county as part of their sentence. The particular case I remember was a repeat DUI, but I think that is an underutilized punishment. We need to start banishing people. The police can put it in the computer like a bench warrant. If you get pulled over for any reason and your name pops up, one year in jail, then back to banishment. Just think how quickly this town would clean out if we did this for criminals with two or more felonies. If they are mothers or fathers, they would have to move their whole family out of town. If they are criminals, their kids are probably being raised wrong too, so that would help the schools out. Something to think about.”

———

“I know that lately crime has been on the increase here in Conyers, but I want to thank the Conyers Police Department and the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office for their work. As I drive around the county I will pass several cars that are on patrol. Seeing them out there makes me feel safer in the community. With home invasions on the rise, seeing a Rockdale County Sheriff’s car go down my street helps me feel safer in my home. Don’t let me forget to also thank our fire department and paramedics. I really appreciate how quick you have responded when my father needed quick help this past year. Because of your quick help, I can enjoy my father being around a bit longer.”

———

“To ‘Johndoemo’... If you do not care for Darrell Huckaby’s columns ... don’t read them! I cannot understand how you could be so rude when he could use some compassion and love ... His book sales are most likely helping him pay for his radiation treatments ... But ... you know what!? Darrell has hundreds of friends to make up for what you are lacking … I am sorry that you are such an unhappy person that you feel the need to be so nasty ... We love you Darrell and you are in our prayers daily!”

———

“Brian Mahaffey … Our family misses you and we love you so much! You are not forgotten! I can only imagine the magnificent joy and love and beauty that you have been experiencing since you left us and forever will! Love, A D S & E”

———

“I certainly agree with the person suggesting a pothole line. I tried to voice my concern about what I consider a terrible road, not from potholes but no white or yellow lines. This road is in Rockdale and Newton county and it is Magnet Road. Magnet Road has much traffic and just as you turn onto this road from Ga. 20 South you have a bad curve, and I feel the marking would be very beneficial. Also, some sort of lighting should be there also because the road ditch is deep and at night it is almost impossible to see exactly where to turn in. I have seen many accidents at this very site from rear-end collisions to missing the turn. I feel we should at least have a named contact person as well. Thanks and I hope this does not again fall on deaf ears. Thanks!”

———

“This is a serious question and I would like to see several responses to this in upcoming polls. If you ask almost any white person in Rockdale, ‘How did the county’s black population balloon so fast?’ They will give you the following answer: ‘You can thank Oprah for that’. And the story goes that a few years back, Oprah made the statement that blacks should move to Rockdale, it’s a black Mecca or something. Now I have heard this over and over for years. I can’t actually find any information or evidence on whether she really made this statement. It appears it might not have happened. So readers, is it true? Is it just a myth? What was the context? I would like sources here. I am also very interested in hearing from blacks who have moved here. Did you move here because you heard this from Oprah? Have you ever even heard this story? Why did you move down here to Rockdale from up North or wherever you came from? I thank you in advance for your responses.”

———

“I’d like to know about the wellness coordinator job that the BOC has supposedly created. What is this job? How much is being paid for it? If it’s true that this position was just created, why are we doing this, when our county has no money?”

Editor’s note: The wellness coordinator is a contracted position to teach wellness classes at Johnson Park free to all Rockdale County residents. The person will be paid from fees generated by out-of-county residents who attend the class.

———

“When is the county office actually going to do something with the results of the ‘climate surveys’ they have teachers at Conyers Middle School do each year? If they believed the ‘climate’ at the school was what it should be, they would not have teachers doing them so often. We are watching, and we are waiting ...”

———

“Parents. Love your kids and treasure every moment. You will blink your eyes and they will be graduating and moving on. People used to tell me that but I didn’t really feel it till now. I miss my boy.”

———

“I really am tired of going to the library with my 3-year-old and having to see the little old ladies who work there frown when she talks loudly. I have talked with her about using her inside voice but hey, she’s 3! Sometimes she forgets! Please stop giving me ugly looks. We are in the juvenile section for crying out loud and the library is supposed to be family-oriented. Are there any other moms who have experienced this?”