By Charles ShiverThe Adel City Council

voted unanimously last weekto approve rezoning for a newdaycare center on South Mar-tin Luther King Jr. Drive.

During the Monday, May 2,meeting, Councilman Chan-dler Hill made a motion, fol-lowed by a second fromCouncilman Michael Purvis, toenter into a public hearing.

The hearing was to gaininput on the rezoning applica-tion filed by George Horne forproperty located at 404 S.MLK Jr. Drive, to change thezoning from R8M (Residen-tial) to GB (General Business).All members voted in favor toenter the public hearing.

The applicants intend tomove a modular classroom onthe lot and have a commercial

daycare. According to the plan-ning staff’s recommendation,the property is surrounded byresidential homes. There is noother commercial zoning in thearea. There is some propertynorth of this lot zoned neigh-borhood shopping, in which aperson could use their homefor business.

The planning staff’s opinionwas that the request was for

spot zoning, which has notbeen approved in the past.Based on past actions of theCouncil, the planning staff rec-ommended denial of the re-quest. The Greater CookPlanning Advisory Commis-sion voted 3-2 in favor to ap-prove the request. The boardalso included in their motionfor approval the restriction thatonly a daycare could be lo-

cated on the property.Christopher Horne spoke in

favor of the application. Hesaid “there is nothing positive”about the street, but added thatthe Council has the opportu-nity to change this by approvalof the daycare. His father ownsthree pieces of property in thisarea that he has remodeled andrebuilt. Andrel Durden alsoowns property up the street thathe is in the process of remod-eling, trying to beautify thisarea, Horne said. “I ask that wecan continue with this trend.”

Others who spoke in favorof the application included Jes-sica Wilson, Shateria Walton,Marion Jones, Chenelle Hawk,Cassandra Sims and AndrelDurden. They all described thepositive effect the daycare cen-ter would have on young chil-dren. Shamika Turner also senta letter of support.

In total, 24 people who were

in favor of the zoning changewere present at the meeting.There was no one present tospeak against the application,and the public hearing wasthen declared closed.

Ordinance #16-01, amend-ing the zoning map and rezon-ing property located at 404 S.MLK Jr. Drive from R8M toGB, was presented to theCouncil. City Attorney TimTanner read Section 12-2.8(2)of the zoning ordinance.

He said that although tradi-tionally the Council reads anordinance twice before a voteis taken, the zoning ordinanceallows a vote to be taken afterthe conclusion of the publichearing. Councilman Hillmade a motion to approve theordinance. Councilman Purvisseconded. All were in favorwith the exception of Council-man Greg Paige who ab-stained.

cluding heroin, with and fordefendant Shauntay Craig.

“…On or about Sept. 12,2013, defendants JeremiahCovington and MangwiroSadiki-Yisrael caused at leastone fraudulent transaction tooccur that resulted in excess of$19,000 being deposited into atleast one account controlled byCovington.”

“…On or about Sept. 10,

2014, defendant Jeremiah Cov-ington and two other GangsterDisciples members traveledwith two firearms from Val-dosta to Atlanta to protect aheroin transaction.”

The indictment does notconnect Covington with mur-ders, but does allege his in-volvement in drugtransactions. According to re-ports, federal authorities have

arrested Covington and he hasmade an appearance in federalcourt.

According to a news storyby WXIA in Atlanta, “investi-gators say accused gang mem-bers ran a violent operation inGeorgia while allegedly posingas charity groups,” while gangsuspects say the charity workwas legitimate.

DeKalb County District At-

torney Robert James said thegang had a division known as“Growth and Development”that put on charity events,WXIA states. “YouTube fea-tures several videos of thegroup doing communitycleanup projects and feedingthe homeless. But authoritiessay the good deeds were not asthey seemed; the deeds weredone to impress potentialyoung recruits and their par-ents.”

Horn said one recruit waskilled for refusing to attend acommunity clean-up. A groupthat calls itself “Growth andDevelopment” has been activein Cook, Berrien, and othercounties of the Alapaha Judi-cial Circuit.

Covington has faced priordrug trafficking, cocaine pos-session and related statecharges.

Page 2-A – Adel News Tribune – May 11, 2016

Fantastic Family Funin DOWNTOWN ADEL!

Vendors • Entertainers • Civic Groups • OrganizationsCall Adel-Cook Chamber at 229-896-2281

Daylily Street Stomp 8-10 PM

Adel Daylily Festival

THURSDAY, MAY 19TH - 12:30 PM

FRIDAY, MAY 20TH - 6-10 PM

SATURDAY, MAY 21ST - 8 AM

Fun, Food, and a LIVE DJ! Downtown Adel

Over 100 Vendors - 8 AM - 4 PMLIVE ENTERTAINMENT!!!KidsZone! International Food Court!

Live from the Adel Daylily FestivalWALB-TV News at NoonWALB-TV News at Noon

THURSDAY, JUNE 3RD & FRIDAY, JUNE 4TH - 7:30 PM

Carolyn Harris Performing Arts Center, Hwy 37 EastBrought to you by Cook County Council for the Arts & Adel Daylily Festival.

Daylily Theatre Presents: “Into The Woods”

Daylily City 5K Daylily City 5K Starts and ends at City Park located at 8th Street and Parrish Avenue

Daylily Show & Sale - Daylily Show & Sale - 9 AM - 2 PM9 AM - 2 PMLocated at the Cook County Historical Society, 115 E. 4th St., Adel

SATURDAY, MAY 14TH - 7 PM

Michelle’s Formal Wear, 229-896-2748Miss Adelily PagentMiss Adelily Pagent

2016 Adel Daylily Festivals Sponsors: CROWN Adel-Cook County Tourism Authority, BLOOMS Cook Medical Center, SOGA Graphics, LEAVES BASF Corporation, Cook County Sheriff's Office, Cook Community Bank, Adel Dental Associates, Quick Consulting & Business Services, Peripheral Mowers STEMS JM Eagle, Watson's Pools & Patios, Grimsley Properties, Rep.Penny Houston, Cook County Ford, Senator Ellis Black, 1st Franklin Financial, Horse Creek Winery, BULBS Credit Card Processing Queen, Cook County Farm Bureau, C&M Parking Lot Sweepers, Pike Creek Turf, Inc., Hardee's, The Citizens Bank, Renasant Bank, Pebblewood Development, State Farm Insurance, Retirement Consultants Network, All Day Sun, South GA Strong ROOTS Action Pawn, Boone Funeral Home, Cook High School, Adel Trading Company, Michelle's Formal Wear, Sister's Florist & Bakery, Adel Outfitters, Hilliard's Home Furniture, Adel Beverage Outlet, Purvis Funeral Home

“We Believe.” 1st Assembly ofGod Pastor Eric Gordon gavethe welcome.

Seven speakers then eachdiscussed devotional/prayertopics:

• “Military” by Ike Jef-ferson, pastor of FellowshipBaptist Church.

Jefferson thanked his father,a World War II veteran, andother military service membersfor protecting such essentialAmerican freedoms that wemay take for granted as beingable to read the Bible, and voteand elect good people to publicoffice.

“We need to lift them up inprayer daily,” Jefferson said. “Ithank my dad, who was myhero. More than that, I thankmy dad because he was a Chris-tian. That is what mattersmost.”

• “Business” by Em-manuel Brown, pastor of PineyGrove Missionary BaptistChurch.

Brown said there are threecharacteristics that distinguishChristian businesses: (1) In-tegrity; (2) Commitment to Ex-cellence; and (3) Committed toPeople.

“When businesses providespiritual-minded programs, theemployees feel more calm andrelaxed, and more productive,”Brown said.

While an employee’s dedi-cation to the job is important,

Brown said, the employers alsohave responsibilities to theirstaff, such as fair compensa-tion, recognition for good jobperformance, and providinggrowth opportunities.

• “Family” by BrianGay, pastor of Greggs BaptistChurch.

“God needs to be fixture inyour home,” Gay said, urginghusbands and fathers to be spir-itual leaders in their homes.“Your kids are going to be thesame Christians you are.”

He advised parents to followthe “E’s” in their homes: ExaltGod; Example Christ; Encour-age faithfulness; Educate fam-ily in the ways of the Lord; andEstablish God’s values.

• “Church” by JimVaughan, pastor of LivingWayBaptist Church.

Vaughan said offensive situ-ations are going on in theworld, like the recent Targetcontroversy, but it is up to Jesusto reach those people becausethey can’t change on their own.He urged church members totrust Christ to handle those mat-ters. “We don’t have to worryabout beating them in to Jesus,”he said.

He noted that he was 40years old when he was saved:“(Jesus) had to beat on me along time (to get me to thecross) because I’m a knuckle-head, and so are they.”

• “Media” by Chris Rivers,

assistant pastor at the First Bap-tist Church of Adel.

Rivers called on churchmembers to utilize interactivesocial media to spread theGospel. “Brothers and sisters,nobody has come to Jesus be-cause you won a Facebook de-bate,” he said. Instead, heexplained, “The media givespeople the opportunity tobroadcast the Gospel to a lostand dying world, to share whatwe are for. … It is a platformwhere we can share who God isand what He can do for ourlives.”

• “Education” by Eric Gor-don, pastor of Adel 1st Assem-bly of God.

Gordon recalled that whenhe was young child in school,prayer was offered every morn-ing. There has been a concertedeffort to take the Christian reli-gion out of the schools and re-place it completely with humanknowledge, in an attempt tobreak down the country’s moralfiber, Gordon said.

Christians need to pay moreattention to schools becausethey are “the biggest missionfield in the world,” he said. Hecalled on prayer for all theschools, the Board of Educa-tion, students, teachers, staff,and administrators.

• “Government” by GaryJames, pastor of Open DoorBaptist Church.

James said we need leadersin our country who are notafraid to stand for what is rightand who do not accept politicalcorrectness.

He spoke about the exampleof Daniel in the Bible. Danielteaches us that we should obeythe laws of the land as long theydon’t conflict with the com-mands of God, James said.“Daniel was safer in dens oflions than in the government.”The next President should ap-point a new Supreme Court jus-tice who will do what is rightand follow the will of God,James added.

The event concluded withthe First Assembly of GodPraise and Worship Team’ssong “Good Good Father.”Steve Meders then led the gath-ering with the song, “PledgeAllegiance to the Lamb.”

Organizers gave specialthanks for the event to SharonHarnage and the church mem-bers of 1st Assembly and PastorGordon.

Early Tabulation of Absentee Ballots

Pursuant to O.C.G.A 21-2-386(a)(3), this is to notify thecitizens of Cook County that the Cook County Board ofElections will begin the early tabulation of absentee ballotscast in the May 24, 2016 General Primary and NonpartisanElection at 6:30 PM on May 24, 2016 at the Cook CountyAdministration Building at 1200 S Hutchinson Ave, Adel,GA 31620.

Notice of Computation and Canvassing ofElection Returns

Pursuant to O.C.G.A 21-2-492, notice is hereby given thatthe computation and canvassing of the returns of votes castin the May 24, 2016 General Primary and NonpartisanElection will take place in the office of the Cook CountyBoard of Elections located at the Cook County Adminis-tration Building, at 1200 S Hutchinson Ave, Adel, GA31620, on May 25, 2016 beginning at 8:30 AM.

Dawn DavisCook County Supervisor of Elections & Registration

PRAYER From Front

CHARGES From Front

2007 Ford Crown Victoria, pur-chased from them for $750, andall the equipment they donatedto help get the constable up andrunning.

“The items donated by theCity saved us a lot of moneyand for that we are grateful,”Simmons said.

Judge Simmons also wanted

to thank the Board of Commis-sioners for all their support andthe Sheriff’s Office for allow-ing him to use Sgt. Joel Red-dick to serve his papers until hecould get the constable.

Lowndes, Tift, and BerrienCounties also have constablesserving their Magistrate Courts.

CONSTABLE From Front

Adel approves rezoning for daycare on South MLK