Schools honored for improving test scores
Twelve local schools were honored by the Governor's Office of Student Achievement and the Georgia Department of Education on Wednesday.
The schools were recognized under Georgia's Single Statewide Accountability System, which awards schools based on their performance on state curriculum exams and their adequate yearly progress status.
In the greatest gains category, Lake Forest Hills Elementary School earned platinum and Greenbrier Middle School earned gold.
A.R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet High School and John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School earned the only platinum awards for the area in the highest performance category.
In the same category, Stevens Creek Elementary School, River Ridge Elementary and Greenbrier High School received gold; C.T. Walker Traditional Magnet School and Greenbrier Elementary School received silver; and Westmont Elementary School, Blue Ridge Elementary School and North Columbia Elementary School received bronze.
New principal named for Grovetown Middle
Tom Smallwood was named principal of Grovetown Middle School during a called meeting Wednesday of the Columbia County Board of Education.
After a nearly two-hour, closed-door session in which trustees discussed personnel and student disciplinary issues, the board unanimously approved Mr. Smallwood as the permanent replacement for Carolyn Fries, who retired abruptly in September.
Ms. Fries had been replaced in the interim by Penny Jackson, who has been named principal of Grovetown High School, which is under construction.
Mrs. Jackson will remain at Grovetown Middle for a brief period and then move to the central office to coordinate the completion of Grovetown High, said Deputy Superintendent Sandra Carraway.
Mr. Smallwood is now assistant principal at the new Stallings Island Middle School. The search for his replacement will begin immediately, school officials said.
Fort Gordon's burning ongoing until March
The Fort Gordon Forestry Department has begun controlled burns on post and expects to continue them until March, according to a news release.
The fires help maintain the longleaf pine forests by removing plants that compete with the pines. They also enrich the soil with nutrients.
In the past, the smoke from the fires has drifted across parts of Augusta.
For more information, contact (706) 791-9928.
After items found, man arrested for burglary
A 19-year-old Augusta man was arrested Wednesday morning on a felony charge of burglary after police recovered some items behind Glenn Hills High School.
Jonathan Adriane Brown, of the 3500 block of Kindling Drive, was arrested shortly after 10 a.m., according to jail records. The burglary was reported Monday morning at a home at the 3100 block of Hampton Drive in Augusta, according to a sheriff's office report. The homeowner reported that a door had been broken into and a laptop, rifle, diamond watch, necklace and binoculars had been taken. The computer and binoculars were recovered behind the school.
Man arrested in armed robbery of restaurant
Aiken County sheriff's deputies arrested a man Wednesday in the Nov. 11 armed robbery of a Waffle House restaurant.
Deputies found Timothy L. Lakes hiding in the bedroom of a girlfriend's mobile home, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.
According to police reports, a man walked into the Waffle House at 105 Frontage Road, near the Interstate 20-U.S. Highway 25 interchange, about 3:30 a.m. The man is accused of grabbing a steak knife from a table, jumping over the counter and demanding money.
After getting money from the cash register, he reportedly left the restaurant, dropping the knife on the way out.
Woman reports she was abducted, raped
A Martinez woman told police she was raped Tuesday night by a man who abducted her at gunpoint while her vehicle was stopped at a Martinez intersection. The 21-year-old was responding to a text message on her phone at the midsection of Stevens Creek and Evans to Locks roads about 8 p.m. when a man wearing a ski mask pointed a gun at her and demanded she unlock the car door, according to a police incident report.
The man moved to the backseat of the car and told the woman to drive to a dead end on Stevens Creek Road, where he took her credit cards and ordered her out of the car, police said. He then pushed her into some nearby woods and raped her, according to the report.
The assailant is described as white, 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing about 230 pounds. He was wearing black gloves and blue jeans.
Murder trial continues in 2006 shooting case
Testimony continues today in the murder trial of an Augusta man accused in a 2006 fatal shooting.
Terrell A. Green, 21, has pleaded not guilty in Richmond County Superior Court. He faces murder and other charges in the July 24, 2006, slaying of John D. Grimes III, 27.
The victim was shot to death as he walked with a friend along Martin Luther King Boulevard.
Two other men have pleaded guilty to aggravated assault charges in the case. Bryant Collier and Alvin L. Scott are each serving 10-year prison sentences.
88-year-old woman escapes house fire
An elderly woman escaped a house fire with second-degree burns Wednesday afternoon, according to the Merriwether Fire Department.
Department Chief Faye Fulmer said the fire began about 2:30 p.m. and destroyed half of the house located at 1450 W. Martintown Road. The homeowner, whose name wasn't released was taken to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center for treatment.
Comments
I'm with you juantez....that intersection's fairly busy that time of night and in that area, anyone in a ski mask would raise suspicion. While I can't be 100% sure of my feelings, if I was in a locked car and there was no traffice around (as that is a 4 way stop), I'd be more inclined to hit the gas than unlock my door...gun or not. Also, texting does not belong while driving...keep your eyes on your surroundings.
Why doesn't pass your test? Cause the assailant was
described as "white"?
What possible advantage would this woman have to report being raped, submitting to a forensic rape test, and undergo this humiliation. Its because of people like you that over half of all rapes aren't reported. If someone is out raping women at gunpoint, I hope they catch the b-----d!
No one in their right mind is going to open a locked car...just hit the gas...come on d.i.r.m. you race baiting this morning.??...
I agree with GuyIncognito. This is a 21 year old woman, at 8pm it's dark and she was probably scared out of her mind. I'm sure she wasn't thinking this guy is going to rape me, she was probably in shock and maybe she thought he just wanted the car. Even if she had hit the gas, the guy had a gun and could have shot her..probably wouldn't have but she didn't know that. And I do believe the article said she was stopped when responding to a text. I agree, phone activity needs to wait until you get to your destination but at least she was trying to drive and text at the same time.:)
lets see the 3 of the 4 schools recognized by the state are the only magnet schools in the county...hmmmm to normal rational thinking people and taxpayers, would ten to ask if all of the magnet schools are recognized to superior achievement then when not use them as models for all other schools in the county??? oh yeah that's right it would then translate into a severe decline in student enrollment due to the disruptive, disrespectful and children who don't want to learn or who are going to schools for something other than an education WILL FLUNK OUT AND HAVE TO BE SENT HOME TO THEIR SORRY AND TRIFLING PARENTS TO RAISE. also this will cuase the county to lose money so for the sake of venus cain and her SCHREECHING "FOR THE CHILDREN" and the other spineless BOE members they will resist doing whats in the best interest of the children who want to learn and the dedicated teacher which is to develop and environment conducive to learning and let things remain as they are and continue to reward the sorry schools that graduate less than 40% of its senior class with football stadiums and b-ball gyms even at the expense of the poor property owners and the students who want to learn
I am not passing judgement here, but to all people out there. Never, never, never go with anyone with or without a gun. It is better to run and take your chances on being shot than to go with a criminal. This has been documented by leading security experts. Your chances of survival are much better if you don't go with them. Make a decision of how to react to such a situation so that it will become a reflex action in the event it should happen. Always be aware of what is going on around you.
I have told my teenage daughters to not let anyone in there car. If something like this happens to hit the gas and call 911... I also have told them if someone does get in the car even if they do have a gun theres a chance they are going to kill you anyway so drive like a bat out of hell and scare the crap out of this person I don't think they will kill you when you are driving because they could get hurt if you have an accident...
gosh - that's good advice. Most criminals don't think a victim is going to be crazier than they are. It can be quite a shock on them. Also, I don't advise this but it is easier to take a gun from someone than most people think if the person is at close range.
I agree InChirstLove, it is easy to think rational until in a situation, no one can really say how they will react when confronted with something like this. We know in our mind what we would do but when scared all rational probably evades people. I think that people should withhold nasty remarks about this woman unless something different comes out.
If you train yourself mentally on how to react to a situation such as this you revert back to the training. That is why law enforcement and miltary personnel are constantly in training. It ingrains a reflex action into your mind that takes over in the event of an emergency.
The abduction story doesn't sound right to me either. I hope the Chronicle continues to follow this case to let us know the full details. We need to know if this is a credible story and what is being done to keep citizens safe.
Mr prayers go out to the victim who was raped, she is young and was probably scared, confused and shocked. It's easy to pass judgement when you are on the outside looking in but we will never know what we would do when faced with different situations. This is an event that she will live with for the rest of her life and that's the worst of this horrible act. It may take only a few minutes but leaves the impact for the rest of her life. This young woman may never be the same and i pray that God continue to bless her and release this thought from her heart and mind.
It is odd. Intersection is in the best part of town, very near West Lake, completely suburban, not where you would expect anyone of any color to be hanging around in a ski mask. Also, 21-year-olds don't stop to text. Also, not a lot of dead end streets off Stevens Creek Road where you could pull over a car then rape someone. The story just does not sound right, but we really don't know the facts. If she made it up, the truth will out (see Susan Smith).
This girl is a smoker and had her window partially rolled down. She was stopped at the intersection (texting) when the scumbag stuck a gun to her head. She was also roughed up (scratches & bruises) in the struggle. She very recently moved back to this area with intention of going to school. Some people kill me with their snap judgements.
I guess rapes don't occur in Evans, since it's considered the "best part of town" by some. No assualts, robberies, domestic abuse, etc.. Anything can happen to anyone, anywhere. Just be on guard. I hope this girl isn't reading the posts, you have no idea what this type of trash talk can do to a rape victim of any age.
Congratulations to ALL the schools! Since I'm partial to Davidson, I have to say, especially to Davidson. Grin. The students in these schools never cease to amaze me and make me hopeful for Augusta's future. Hopefully some will come back to help Augusta make progress after they earn their higher education.
Just noting some suspicious circumstances, not pre-judging her. If she is a genuine victim, of course she has my support and sympathy.
Just read the story about the rape. Please young people et al, save the phone use for emergencies when on the road. You MUST be aware of your surroundings in this day and time.
Let's throw a parade for adequate yearly progress
well its offical -- smoking is bad for your health!!
It is refreshing to see so many schools being written about in a positive light here. With all of the bad publicity some schools get, it is nice to know there are still high performing schools with teachers and students who work hard throughout the year to keep making progress toward AYP. It is a difficult task since each year, the state raises the bar for meeting this goal. Keep up the good work!
I personally get tired of all of the hoopla of the great success of magnet schools. Magnet schools are state sponsored private schools where their students are hand chosen. Of course they are are great. Their results should not be reported against true public schools. Yes, their successes should be recognized; but apples are not being compared to apples here. When results of magnet schools are reported, they should be compared to other magnet schools only. Otherwise, lets lump in the private schools too and see how everyone is comparing.
Also, I love how Lakeside High School was completely left out of the article. Lakeside was also recognized by the state and was the region winner for region 3 in Georgia. The regional Governor's Cup awards are given to the school that has the greatest average gain in the most recent total SAT score over the previous three years. Lakeside received a $1000 award. Great reporting Augusta Chronicle!
I agree with your comment, lifelongCC. We all know the magnet schools are high performing schools. We hear it all the time. That is not to say they don't deserve credit where credit is due. But the scores of magnet schools cannot be compared to the other public schools on the same level simply because those students must apply and try out in order to be admitted. They must have a certain GPA, although they do not have to be straight A students. They must have a talent and audition before they can be accepted. This is a good thing for students who are willing to actually put forth effort and learn in addition to being able to study subjects they enjoy and in which they excel. I think the magnet schools should have a category all to themselves. That way we can compare the same types of "fruit".
well its offical -- smoking is bad for your health!!
Posted by dale88fan on Thu Nov 20, 2008 3:45 PM
It's also official that being an "88" fan is rough on the gray matter.
lifelongBB or CC or whatever, you're the one comparing apples and oranges, these awards are for a different competition than Lakeside won. A/C did just fine. Lakeside's award was reported on October 17, 2008 in a perfectly fine article. Look it up in the search engine, it's easy enough to find. Gee. Sour grapes everywhere and not even warranted. And if magnet schools are not apples to apples with other public schools, how did this happen: "...in the highest performance category.
In the same category Stevens Creek Elementary School, River Ridge Elementary and Greenbrier High School received gold; C.T. Walker Traditional Magnet School and Greenbrier Elementary School received silver; and Westmont Elementary School, Blue Ridge Elementary School and North Columbia Elementary School received bronze." Seems to me SEVERAL "truly public" schools performed higher than C.T.Walker MAGNET school, so what's your point? If those are apples and oranges, I'm just fine with that fruit basket!
Might be wise not to be comparing students at some of those under-performing schools to "fruit", some of the jocks especially might get a bit testy. I know the jocks at Davidson would.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012. All Rights Reserved.
