EAST METRO Top Stories for June 6th Publish Date: June 6th Commercial: From the Ingles Studio, Welcome to The Community Podcast. This Podcast brings you the top stories from the Rockdale-Newton Citizen and the Morgan Citizen. Today is Thursday, June 6th and Happy 79th birthday to Olympian Tommy Smith. ***06.06.24 – BIRTHDAY – TOMMY SMITH*** I’m Keith Ippolito and here are your top stories presented by Drake Realty AAA says 100 Deadliest Days for Teen Drivers Has BegunSparks Fly in Vote Over Rivian Road OwnershipGeorgia appellate court sets October hearing in Trump's bid to disqualify DA Willis Plus, Bruce Jenkins’ conversation with Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on strawberries. These stories and more are coming up in today’s edition of the Community Podcast for Rockdale, Newton, and Morgan Counties! Please like, follow, and subscribe. BREAK: DRAKE STORY 1: AAA: 100 Deadliest Days for Teen Drivers Has Begun The "100 Deadliest Days for Teen Drivers," from Memorial Day to Labor Day, see a spike in fatal crashes involving teens. AAA highlights increased risks due to inexperience and behaviors like speeding, distracted driving, and not wearing seat belts. Nearly half of teen driver-related deaths occur during this period, with 707 fatalities in 2022 alone. AAA advises parents to model safe driving, supervise practice, and teach defensive driving. They recommend creating a parent-teen driving agreement and considering professional training courses. AAA offers a 25-hour online driving course and resources through its Approved Driving School Network. STORY 2: Sparks Fly in Vote Over Rivian Road Ownership Morgan County Commissioner Blake McCormack opposed an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Joint Development Authority (JDA) of Jasper, Morgan, Newton, and Walton counties, concerning a frontage road for the delayed $5 billion Rivian project. Despite his objections, the IGA passed with a 2-1 vote. McCormack argued the road should be used as leverage to renegotiate a revenue-sharing agreement for Stanton Springs North, where Morgan County holds a 14.25% stake. Commissioner Ben Riden, while doubtful of Rivian’s arrival, supported the IGA, emphasizing it relieved the county of maintenance costs. Tensions rose during the meeting, leading to heated exchanges between McCormack and County Attorney Christian Henry. McCormack pledged to continue pursuing a renegotiation. STORY 3: Georgia appellate court sets October hearing in Trump's bid to disqualify DA Willis The Georgia Court of Appeals will not hear former President Donald Trump’s appeal regarding the Georgia election interference case until October. This delay ensures the trial won't occur until after the November 5 election. Trump is appealing Fulton County DA Fani Willis' involvement due to her past romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, who was leading the prosecution. Despite this, Willis remains on the case after Wade stepped down. Trump, indicted along with 18 others for conspiring to overturn Georgia's 2020 election results, also faces federal charges related to the January 6 Capitol attack and retaining classified documents. Recently, he was convicted in New York for falsifying business records, with sentencing set for July 11. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.799.6810 for more info. We’ll be right back Break: WHEELER FUNERAL HOME STORY 4: Georgia Safari Conservation Park Launches with a Soft Opening The Georgia Safari Conservation Park (GSCP) officially opened on June 1 after a decade of planning, welcoming 208 visitors to its luxury accommodations and wildlife tours. The 530-acre park near Madison features over 60 species, including giraffes, white rhinos, and zebras. GSCP offers various tours, from a $39 guided safari to a $2,500 VIP experience. Overnight stays start at $590 per night, with the Giraffe Suite opening in July. The park aims to become an international destination and encourages local support. For more information, visit www.georgiasafari.com. STORY 5: Rockdale County Considers Program to Aid with Student Loan Forgiveness Rockdale County employees with student loans may soon receive help navigating the loan forgiveness process. The Board of Commissioners will vote on June 11 on a contract with Savi Solutions PBC, which helps employees understand their debt, optimize repayment options, and enroll in forgiveness programs. About 30% of county employees have student loan debt. The program costs $70 per employee annually and aims to make the county more competitive with the private sector by offering this incentive. BOC Chairman Oz Nesbitt Sr. highlighted the importance of such benefits for employee retention and recruitment. We’ll be back in a moment Break: INGLES 10 And now here is Bruce Jenkins’ conversation with Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on strawberries. ***LEAH...
