Raven is an 80-pound, four-year-old black Labrador retriever. And he has but one toy in a sawn segment of fire hose covering a 6-inch long piece of quark. Afterall, he is a working detective. And although he doesn't bother with idle playfulness, according to his handler Ashely Marratt, "he's a cupcake." Marratt is owner of the Georgia-based franchise of Interquest Detection Canines, a nationally recognized contraband detection and drug dog services provider. Wednesday, Marratt put on a demonstration at the Clayton County Performing Arts Center, teaching students, parents, and faculty alike about the county's new Canine Detection Program. And Raven helped. [continues 302 words]
Clayton County Sheriff's deputies packed away and taped shut artifacts of over two dozen lives Friday as employees dismissed by Sheriff Victor Hill gathered outside his office to collect the personal effects they were forced to leave behind five days ago. The sensation of Hill's heightened security measures has diminished for many. What persists is the sentiment of those employees whose lives were transformed in the whirlwind of firings that took place Monday on Hill's first day at work. [continues 484 words]
The local chapter of Mothers Against Methamphetamine will hold its first meeting tonight at 7 p.m. in Stockbridge and the public is invited to attend. Rex mother and grandmother Marilyn Stephens became so concerned about increased use of the homemade drug that she formed a chapter open to Henry, Clayton and other metro counties. "If they just knew what they are up against," said Stephens. "It is just a horrible, horrible thing." Stephens said she got an outpouring of calls and e-mails after the publication of a July article detailing the forming of the chapter. [continues 394 words]
As the "Methamphetamine and Georgia: Seeking Solutions" summit came to an end, representatives from around the state were bringing home what they hoped were some new approaches to the problem. Gov. Sonny Perdue and the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse hosted the summit that kicked off on Tuesday at the Omni Hotel in Atlanta. The purpose of the summit, according to the Governor's Office, was to form a comprehensive strategy to address the problem on the state and local level. [continues 939 words]
