By Patrick Yost
Editor

A 19-year-old Bishop man was arrested and charged with aggravated child molestation on Sunday, Dec. 23.
According to Lt. Mark Williams, Morgan County Sheriff's Office  Investigative Division, Stephen Matthew Porter turned himself into authorities at the urging of family members. Porter is charged with the molestation of a 12-year-old boy.
Reports allege that Porter molested the child while the two watched pornographic movies. Reports also allege that Porter came to the Morgan County Detention Center after he was confronted by a family member regarding the alleged activity. Reports state that Porter told the family member that he had molested the child and that “he wanted to turn himself in.”
Porter remained incarcerated at the Morgan County Detention Center on Friday, Dec. 28.
Porter told investigators, reports state, that the alleged molestation took place approximately two weeks ago.

Printed in the January 3, 2013 edition

Judge Mike Bracewell swore in local governmental officers on Thursday, Dec. 27 at the Morgan County Courthouse. Here, Bracewell (right) swears in new county Board of Education member Erica Veasley (left to right) along with incumbent members Nelson Hale and Keith Howard. More photos of these ceremonies on Page 3A. photo by jesse walker

Printed in the January 3, 2013 edition

By Patrick Yost
Editor

A former Morgan County Middle School teacher on Wednesday in Morgan County Superior Court pled guilty to several child molestation charges based on interaction with four 14-year-old students.
Laura Hall Dyar, 29, Watkinsville, a former eighth grade teacher, was sentenced to a total of 30 years, with 10 years to serve and the remainder to be served on probation, after pleading guilty to one count child molestation, one count enticing a child for indecent purposes, one count criminal attempt to commit enticing a child for indecent purposes and two counts sexual exploitation of children.
Along with incarceration and probation, Dyar was also sentenced to pay a $2,000 fine, ordered to have no contact with the victims or their families, must abide by all sex offender conditions, was banished from Morgan County and “shall not be employed in the education field in any way whatsoever…”

Dyar was released from the Morgan County Courthouse and ordered to turn herself in to authorities on Dec. 31 to begin serving her sentence.

She was arrested on March 14, 2011 after an initial warrant alleged that she engaged in sexual conduct with a 14-year-old male student in a department store parking lot in Madison.
Days before her arrest, Dyar resigned from her position with the school after a meeting with administrators.

In June 2011, Dyar was indicted on 10 counts of charges ranging from aggravated child molestation to sexual exploitation of children. Alison Burleson, assistant district attorney, Ocmulgee Judicial District, said Dyar was sentenced for activities that involved four separates students, ranging from engaging in sexual conduct with the students to sexual exploitation after investigators located sexually explicit images of the some of the students on her cell phone.

Santa Claus made one last pit stop at the PreK class at Morgan County Primary School on Dec. 19, just to make sure his list was right. Here, Brayden Lowery is amazed that The Big Man would take the time so close to Christmas to hold one last audience. photo by jesse walker

Printed in the December 27, 2012 edition

By Stephanie Johns
Staff Writer

Members of the Madison City Council talked about the pros and cons of joining the city’s police force with the county’s sheriff’s office during their mid-December work session.
Councilman Michael Naples said while attending a recent conference, he had heard about how the City of Hinesville had done just that.
“That would be an immediate savings,” he said. “Is that even feasible for us?”
He explained that Hinesville is the only municipality in its county and that the county has a single commissioner.
“I’m not here advocating,” he said, noting that only the positive aspects of consolidation were shared at the conference. “I just want to hear the other side.”
Councilman Joe DiLetto said it would not be feasible.
“I was in Athens-Clarke County when consolidation occurred,” he said. “It cost about $120,000 more to operate the two police departments (when consolidation occurred).”
The reason behind that increase: the city paid its officers more than the county paid its deputies. When the two consolidated, the deputies’ salaries were brought up to the same level as the officers’ salaries, he said. 
“It wasn’t a great thing,” he said. “We’ve got a good city department and a good county department. Leave it where it is.”
Councilman Fred Perriman agreed.
“We’re really fortunate they can collaborate with each other,” he said.
City Manager David Nunn said that years ago the city asked the county about consolidating animal control services. After crunching some numbers they determined that it would cost the city more and they would receive less service.

By Stephanie Johns
Staff Writer

More than $18,000 could be saved during a presidential election year if a proposed precinct consolidation takes place.

Members of the Morgan County Board of Elections and Registration discussed details of going from 11 precincts to five at their December meeting.

Elections Supervisor Bobby Howington noted that the change could save more than $18,000 in personnel costs during a presidential election year. Added benefits include an estimated $910 reduction in costs associated with printing ballots.

During mid-term election years, they could experience a possible savings of $13,194, he said.
Board Member David Moore added that the costs associated with delivering, picking up and paying mileage to have voting machines at 11 precincts would be reduced.

Costs associated with the changes would include about $3,956.16 in postage to mail out new voter cards, $200 for two public hearings and $91 for two newspaper ads.

Howington said the price for postage will increase by a penny at the end of January so if they wait until after then, it would cost a bit more in postage.
He noted that 2013 would be the year to make these changes.

Deputy Registrar Sue DoorenBos later explained that because 2013 is neither a presidential election year nor a state election year, it would be better to make any changes during 2013 than in 2014, which would be a state election year.

“Odd-numbered years, when the cities hold their elections, are the best time to make changes to precinct boundaries,” she said.

Howington said that eight other counties – Butts, Dawson, Habersham, Lumpkin, Muscogee, Polk, Rabun, and Stephens – already have reduced or are in the process of reducing the number of precincts in their counties.