Five people are facing animal cruelty charges after disturbing conditions were uncovered inside a home in Walker County. Authorities say prospective buyers flagged down an animal control officer after noticing signs of neglect at a property on Highway 151. When officials went inside, they found a dead ferret in a crate, a decomposing bunny, and two dead goats. The home, now condemned, also had urine-soaked carpets, rooms filled with caked feces, moldy food, and an insect infestation. In total, officers removed 9 dogs, 4 cats, 2 horses, 2 goats, 2 donkeys, a sheep, and a pony from the property. Currently, four of the animals are being held due to court orders, while the remaining dogs and cats are available for adoption at the Walker County Animal Shelter. The livestock have been sent to a rescue. The five suspects, aged 20 to 78, are all charged with 13 counts of animal cruelty each. They are James Delbert Fields Jr., Miriam Fields, Mario Lopez, Melodie Lopez, and Britni Fields.
A Ringgold woman has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after admitting to stealing from her elderly mother. Vickie Long pleaded guilty to exploitation, identity fraud, and theft in March. Long had convinced her mother to give her large sums of money for fictitious cancer treatments, but instead, she used the money to feed a drug addiction. When family members and Adult Protective Services intervened, Long resorted to using her mother’s personal information to steal even more money, taking nearly $200,000 and causing her to lose her home. After her guilty plea, a judge sentenced Long to 30 years in prison, half of which she must serve without the possibility of parole. District Attorney Clayton Fuller had strong words for Long, calling her the “cancer” in this case, despite claiming to have cancer herself.
We could see some bad weather today and tomorrow. According to the National Weather Service, scattered thunderstorms are possible. We could see some strong isolated storms this afternoon. More storms are expected tomorrow. These could bring gusty winds and hail. Stay tuned to Georgia 93-7, Patrick Core has the latest forecast every hour.
More on the education related bills signed by Govenor Brian Kemp on Monday. The bills addressed topics such as transgender athletes in school sports, quality of education, and school safety. Bill SB 1 impacts transgender athletes prohibiting males and females from competing on teams designated for the opposite gender. Bill HB 268 requires schools to have “up-to-date mapping and mobile panic alert systems.” It also requires local boards to offer an anonymous reporting program and create the offenses of “terroristic threat of a school” and “terroristic act upon a school”. Bill HB 235 will allow public school employees and postsecondary education employees to receive a leave of absence for donating bone marrow or organs.