By Patrick Yost
editor

A 22-year-old Madison woman has been hospitalized and her infant son and a male friend were killed following a Friday, May 10 wreck on Interstate 20 in Rockdale County.
According to Georgia State Patrol reports, Kyrie Alassen Anderson was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital following the 12:21 a.m. wreck. Seven-month-old Hunter Anderson and 19-year-old Edi Rodriquez, Covington, both died in the wreck.
Despite earlier media reports surrounding the fatal crash, the Georgia State Patrol as of Tuesday has not determined the driver of the 1994 Honda Accord that, reports state, lost control while traveling westbound on Interstate 20 near mile marker 84, struck a guardrail and then was struck in the driver's side door by a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado.
The driver of the Silverado, Jody Shane Richardson, 34 and a passenger, Terry Lee Chane, 48, Carrollton, were both injured in the accident and transported to Atlanta Medical Center.
Reports list Anderson and Rodriquez as passengers in the Honda. Reports also state that  it is unknown if safety restraints were in place with any of the occupants of the Honda. Seat belts were in use for Richardson and Chane, reports state.
According to GSP officials, no charges have been filed in the accident. Investigation of the accident has been turned over to the GSP's Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team (SCRT).

Printed in the May 16, 2013 edition.

By Stephanie Johns
staff writer

Members of the Bostwick City Council approved a request from Andy Himani of the Citgo to put a referendum regarding Sunday package sales back on the ballot this year.
“This affects my business and the city’s revenue,” he said.
Mayor John Bostwick said that this referendum was defeated 52 to 51 during the last election.
Councilmember Angie Howard said she believes the citizens should decide whether or not they want Sunday alcohol sales.
She added that constituents have told her they find the drug paraphernalia offensive and asked that Himani remove it from the store.
Himani said he would do that as soon as he got to the store following the meeting.
Councilman Troy Dobbs asked that alcohol be placed in a bag. Himani agreed to this request as well.
The council then voted to have the referendum added to the November ballot.
Next up for discussion and a vote: Bostwick told the council that the Secretary of State needs a resolution on file pertaining to the city’s polling place.
He explained that the city moved its polling place from the old school house to the fire house in 2004 but the state could not find a resolution reflecting this change.
Council members made the move official with a unanimous vote.
Councilman Ken Johnson then shared that a washout by the Spears drive on Apalachee Road is getting bigger and bigger.
“Is it a county or a city road,” he asked.
Bostwick said he would talk to the county regarding the matter.
In other news:
- The cemetery in town has been resurveyed and every lot has been pinned, according to Bostwick.
- The city’s radar speed detection sign has arrived and will first be placed on Apalachee Road, then on Echols Road, Bostwick said.

Five furlough days will save $5M

By Kathryn Schiliro
managing editor

The Morgan County Board of Education (BOE) Monday unanimously approved a modified 2013-2014 school calendar that includes five furlough days from Thursday, Aug. 1 to Wednesday, Aug. 7.
With this change, school will begin for students on Thursday, Aug. 8.
This move to cut student days by the BOE will save the school system about $5 million, according to Superintendent Dr. Ralph Bennett.
This cut drops the number of instructional days from 180 to 175. The current school calendar, 2012-2013, includes 178 instructional days.
The original 2013-2014 calendar, approved by the BOE in March, was developed earlier this year by a 20-person Calendar Task Force comprised of parents, teachers, administrators and community members. Other than this five-day cut in instructional days, the task force's calendar remains intact.
The modifed calendar approved Monday night calls for teachers to be back at school for three days of pre-planning Aug. 5-7 and students returning Aug. 8. Students will be off for Labor Day Sept. 2; fall break, Oct. 7-11; Thanksgiving, Nov. 25-29; and winter holiday, Dec. 23-Jan. 3, 2014. The second semester will begin Jan. 6 and will include a Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday Jan. 20; Presidents' Day break, Feb. 17-21; spring holiday, April 21-25; and the last day of school is set for May 23. Following a Memorial Day holiday May 26, teachers will have two days of post-planning May 27 and 28.

Madisonian and former Madison City Councilman Barry Lurey (right) is pictured with his late wife, Marcia. photo special

By Patrick Yost
editor

Even in death, Barry Lurey still thought about his beloved Madison.
The former Madison City Council member, business leader and historic preservation advocate died Monday, May 6 from complications from brain cancer. He was 74-years-old.

In lieu of flowers, Lurey had requested that donations be made to the Barry and Marcia Lurey Memorial Fund for the Beautification of Madison.
Of course he did.

Lurey was a consummate public servant for the city in which he was born and raised. He served 37 years as a Madison City Council member and started most of his mornings visiting city hall to discuss the day's affairs.
Even in the end, Madison Mayor Bruce Gilbert said, Lurey was still peppering him with questions and opinions on the city of Madison. "When we get together all he wanted to talk about was the city," Gilbert said.
Gilbert served with Lurey for 31 years both on the city council and as Madison's Mayor. Lurey worked with Gilbert, former Madison Mayor Luke Allgood and former Madison Mayor Tom DuPree.

In a written statement Gilbert said, "Madison has lost one of its most dedicated citizens. He served the city of Madison with distinction for 37 years as a city councilman. We can thank Barry Lurey for many improvements that we have in town today. His major contribution was his interest in the thriving of downtown Madison retail business, which he remained interested even while he was sick. Madison was fortunate to have such dedication and commitment from an individual. We have lost a dear friend to each citizen."