Where is the outrage?

Walter Geiger

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Tuesday, March 20. 2012

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An opinion piece by Walter Geiger

Fourteen days ago in this space I penned these words:

We learned there is no shortage of thugs out there willing to kill you for your valuables. They are up all hours of the night doing drugs, communicating by text message and looking for their next target.

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#1 kathy bright on 03/20/12 at 12:52 PM

Walter, I was just telling my husband the same thing this weekend! Something has to change in Barnesville, we see the same names in the paper week after week for smaller crimes that in turn; end up front page news!

#2 Yeu Kno Hu on 03/20/12 at 01:10 PM

Right there with you, Walter. But I'd like to ask an additional question: Where are the city and county officials on this? None have said one quoted word in the passed few weeks. What are their plans? Do they even have a plan? Do they even care? We hire a new coach for our football team and pay them more that twice what the median income is in Lamar County, yet not one word from the school or school board about initiatives in school to address these issues?

Law abiding citizens will stand up, but it is a cooperative effort between people and the government. We need to know they have our backs and will pitch in as well.

#3 M. C. on 03/20/12 at 01:57 PM

i'v been saying this for years.get ready Walter you "WILL" be called a "RACIST"!!!
no matter what the truth is.the FACTS are what they are.balck people dont want to face the fact that they have a problem.
now, heres the kicker.it will never change!!
you have to want to change to change.they do not want to change,they want the rest of the world to change to suit their wants.
look at every city that goes majority black,what happens?crime goes thru the roof.Atlanta,Jonesboro,Eastpoint,College Park,Deklab County Ect.. the list goes on and on Columbus,Macon,Stockbridge.its spreads like a plague.never has there been a city the went majority black that prospered.
its here in Barnesville people.you can deny it all you want but the truth is the truth.

#4 Diana Ross on 03/20/12 at 02:41 PM

Please don't add another responsibility to the schools. These boys have been thugs a long time. I don't have a good answer for Walter except that they haven't touched my family yet. I am outraged with the brutality. This has been tolerated by the community for a long time and excuses have been made. Parents, grandparents, churches, and community members knew these boys were bad news and have repeatedly excused them.

#5 Randy Vining on 03/20/12 at 02:46 PM

Depending on ANYBODY else for your protection is a mistake. It is time everybody purchase your own protection. Get some training in using it and excercise youre Second Ammendment Rights to protect yourselves. Law enforcement can't be all places all the time. Normally they arrive 20-30 minutes after you need them. An armed society is a safer society!

#6 Cats on 03/20/12 at 03:40 PM

I don't know if this applies here or not, but in Denver the rule was this: If you shoot them, make sure they fall inside your door so you, the homeowner trying to protect himself, is not charged with assault or murder.
Correct me if I'm wrong.

#7 Cassaundra Gordon on 03/20/12 at 03:46 PM

I agree hold heartily Walter. I was born in Barnesville raised here til around 10-11. My mother joined the armed forces, glory to God for that. But I do not have one memory of this time of behavior as a child here.

#8 MARY HERNDON on 03/20/12 at 03:53 PM

Walter who are you kidding? The officials in this town can't fight the drugs and crime it would cut out their kickbacks and payoffs. You may say thats not the case ,but if its not you explain to me why most of the crack and weed sold in this town happens right on the doorsteps of our police dept. I am not pointing fingers Mr. Chief but are you blind or paid off? As far as the race issue there are whites, and blacks here who are lifelong dealers and criminals, but you can't put all the blame on them a majority of it falls on the parents who buy the way alot of them party with the kids and purchase their alcohol. What this town needs is a good swift case of people not playing church ,but actually living it so our children will have role models. To many are sitting in church on sunday and at the bars and clubs the rest of the week.I for one am for the calling of the state authorities to come in here and clean out the good ole boys who dominate this city and lets get some real honest to goodness christian men with morals to fill those vacant seats From the top down.

#9 Kathy Keadle on 03/20/12 at 05:55 PM

Ms. Herndon we do have christian men and women on the police department You can't just arrest people just because someone thinks they are selling or doing drugs. If you have information about certain people why don't you have the nerve to report that person or persons to law enforcement. After I read your comment I called "Mr. Chief" and he stated that you have never offered any information concerning the criminal activity on the streets or anything else. I suggest you get your facts right before posting anything on this blog. You are only showing your ignorance. I've lived in Barnesville all my life and raised my children here and they have never been in any kind of trouble. So put the blame on the parents and not on the police department. I want to applaud both the police department and the sheriff department for the good job they do with such limited budgets and man power.

#10 Randy Vining on 03/20/12 at 06:06 PM

You are wrong. But it must be self defense. You must be defending your life or the life of another.

#11 MARLA MORRIS on 03/20/12 at 06:47 PM

Very well stated.

#12 Julia Heidbrink on 03/20/12 at 07:55 PM

Why don't the schools do more? Why don't the police do more? Why don't city and/or county officials do more?

More what??????? Raising children to grow up to be responsible working citizens is not the job of any of our officials. It is the job of parents and families and in too many cases it is not being done.

Stop coddling the lawbreakers. Stop excusing those who take advantage of others and wind up in court. Sorry for getting caught is not the sorry we want to hear.

Stop asking someone else to be responsible. It is up to every one of us to take the responsibility we must take as citizens of this county and help the authorities by doing what must be done to make our community safe again.

I, for one, appreciate the article by Mr. Geiger. These actions of the lawbreakers are terrible, outrageous!

#13 s jones on 03/20/12 at 08:21 PM

It is the responsibility of the parents until they get 18 to teach their children morals,correct behavior, manners, and discipline. The schools teach academics, character education, sports/sportsmanship. When they reach the age 18 and choose to break the law, well hello law enforcers - time to accept your punishment for breaking the law. Too much time is given on second chances. It is time for stiffer punishments for the individuals who want to choose this lifestyle. Enough is enough.

#14 M. C. on 03/20/12 at 08:25 PM

A very good post Randy.get ready people IT IS comming to your front door!!sooner or later you WILL face the savages,when it happens be ready.

" The Color of Crime" look it up folks.read it.its straight from the FBI's crime stat's.nothing but the truth plain and simple.

#15 Lynda Frost on 03/20/12 at 09:36 PM

Good article, Walter.I agree with you..

#16 Yeu Kno Hu on 03/20/12 at 10:08 PM

In Georgia, the law is simple: You are not required to retreat. If you feel your life, well-being or the life and well-being of others is threatened, you are allowed to use whatever force you deem is appropriate. For instance, if you are in your house and someone is beating on your door to get in (and they have not identified themselves as law enforcement, you may fire through the door.

NOTE: Before anyone says I am wrong I have researched law myself, discussed the case with law enforcement and have three family members in law enforcement in Georgia (one is now with the GBI).

You are not allowed to hunt someone down and if someone is clearly retreating and leaving the area, you should not fire on them (unless you believe this to be a ruse to get the advantage on you).

And, yes, I am well armed and my family know how to use fire arms. If some one comes after me or mine, they will get a load of lead for their troubles.

#17 Yeu Kno Hu on 03/20/12 at 10:19 PM

Who said anyone was asking anyone to be responsible? What I am asking for is our elected and appointed leadership to stand up on this issue and work with the community. Have you heard them say one thing about all of this? I haven't. Yes, they have made arrest, but a nice statement and some help in organizing/training the local community in working to make Barnesville/Lamar County better would be nice.

I agree with you about not coddling lawbreakers and thugs. I don't read where anyone was saying that. I don't think looking for the local government to support and cooperate in citizen efforts to make things better is coddling.

And, yes, I do expect schools, law enforcement and city/county officials to do more when we are having these sort of problems. That is what I pay taxes for. I don't expect them to be silent or just throw up their hands and say "it's to big for us". I don't expect private citizens to just sit and wait for the government to do it. It is a both sides working together. What I don't want is people trying to make things better and suddenly having law enforcement, schools and government suddenly undermining those efforts or harassing people for trying to improve things. You think that won't happen? Go out and just start patrolling neighborhoods and see had you get for your efforts.

Seriously: I don't get what is so hard about this concept.

#18 MARLA MORRIS on 03/20/12 at 10:27 PM

They certainly don't need training until they are 18. That is actually just a number. You can go to prison for your wrongdoing at a much younger age.

Walter is very correct in the entirety of this article. Barnesville/Lamar County is turning into a thug nation similar to Macon and we need to put an end to this.

#19 Scott Cone on 03/21/12 at 06:02 AM

Walter, As they say down under, “Good on ya mate”. Finally, we get an editorial that’s worth my time to read it. Unfortunately, we are seeing the effects of a problem where the cause runs much deeper than anyone could ever imagine. I read your paper every week and am always taken back by the sheer volume of arrest, foreclosures and tax defaults. What I see is a large number of our citizens who have at one time screwed up in their life and have long ago given up any hope of ever climbing out of their situation. For some time Jobs have been tuff to find, especially in this community, and for those who have their troubled past following them around no matter where they go, it’s almost impossible to move beyond destitution.

#20 Kelles Fleming on 03/21/12 at 01:24 PM

Walter’s commentary about the rash of violence in our little community should make the citizens, who have not already realized the lack of communication, question our elected officials where their priorities stand with regard to preventing further incidents.

We can look at our Mayor and City Council members to seek guidance and assurance that all is being done to prevent similar acts of violence. But, they will have to look at the people in the offices designated to protect the lives and property of Barnesville and Lamar County.

Let’s start with the Police Chief, Chuck Keadle,. Has he made any statement of what he plans to do to assure the citizens of their safety? With Mr. Dixon’s body being found in the county, why was Chuck on the news commenting on the case when that is the job of Larry Waller? I understand that the Barnesville Police Department has a strict budget and it must be difficult to manage, but it doesn’t cost one penny to communicate to the citizens what actions must take place to bring peace and tranquility back to our town.

Now let’s discuss Sherriff Waller. Like many people who run for elected office, Larry has made promises to get votes but rarely delivers on those promises. He owes it to the citizens who elected him to his position to share the steps he plans to implement to curb further crime in our county, mainly violent crime. Conducting traffic patrol on the 3 mile stretch of I-75 that is within the counties limits to stop the amount of drug activity in the county and Barnesville is senseless. Couldn’t the resources be more efficiently used in other parts of the county? We see Larry willing to talk to folks on the street, press the flesh in the local establishments, but he falls short when it comes to being willing to step forward and talk with the Lamar county residence to describe his plan for ridding our county of such vile crime. Communication does not cost the Sheriff’s office one dollar in budgeted funds.

What about our District Attorney, who leaves absolutely nothing for the citizens of Lamar County to look up to. Richard Milam has not addressed the town’s people and has not, as of this writing, even talked to the Dixon family about this awful crime. As it was mentioned in other postings, Richard is not an advocate for the victim. His goal is to clear his caseload one way or another expending the least amount of energy and funds possible. It is possible he does this by dictating to the Grand Jury what he wants them to True Bill or No Bill? Or, for the very few cases he is brave enough to take to trial, is he more than willing to allow the criminal to plea bargain? Both are possible. Do your job Richard and let the people deside if there is enough evidence to prosecute. If you do not wish to lead as a DA, step aside and let justice prevail. It is up to Richard to support the citizens, victims, and law enforcement officers to his best ability and prosecute according to the law and not by his desires. He should reach out and seek assistance from outside agencies to help prove a case and not dispute those with specialty training in criminal investigation and forensics that far exceed his knowledge, such as the Vidocq Society. Will

This is the team of crime prevention “specialist” we have to rely on to preserve our safety. Are we getting what we expect and deserve? From the recent incidents and from what history has shown, I would have to say no. Comments have been made about bringing in outside agencies to clean house to eliminate the “Good Ole Boy” network that time, history, and greed can establish easily. Whether this is true or not, we have to act now and not wait for someone else.
Let your voice be heard and make our elected officials do for us what they are paid and elected to do.

Mayor Peter Banks (770) 358-0211 peterbanks@bellsouth.net

Chief of Police Chuck S Keadle (770) 358-1234

Sheriff Larry Waller (770) 358-5159 lwaller@lamarcountysheriff.com

District Attorney Richard Milam (770) 504-2407 rmilam@pacga.org

#21 Randy Vining on 03/22/12 at 11:55 AM

Now somehow it is these leader's fault that these people have no good up bringing or have ignored any good upbringing and made some bad decisions. This crime can't be solved by a few leaders. It will take a whole community and as of yet the community does not seem to care.

#22 Yeu Kno Hu on 03/22/12 at 01:42 PM

I disagree. You are reading and hearing all manner of comments on the community and business concerning the crime issue, but nothing from the leadership--those elected and appointed to server the interest of the community. I believe the community at large cares deeply about these problems. However, I am shocked and how little involvement the elected leadership has had in the discourse...I am surprised you aren't.

#23 Kelles Fleming on 03/22/12 at 08:50 PM

Silence equals apathy.

#24 dustin meadows on 03/23/12 at 10:48 AM

Well written Walter. Its true.

#25 Pamela Banks on 03/24/12 at 02:15 PM

NOT all black people wait on checks, I am a working black female and married. I teach my sons and daughter right from wrong,so Walter Geiger you can't say that all black people don't have morals and values. I don't allow my sons to use the "N"...word At All.Yes, I do agree we do have a problem but with our young black men and boys, alot of black women do need to take time out and talk to our kids, but don't say all blacks don't want anything in life. You have start when your children are little teaching them that having pride and self esteem is the best thing to have in your life. My son is has never seen the inside of a courtroom, that you work for what you want.I hate to say I do agree with some of the things you say, but please once again do not include all black people. The crime rate is so high because alot of parents make excuses for their children, instead if facing the problem.WE need to go back to old school days where you discipline your kids and when the neighbor see you doing wrong they did the same.

#26 Yeu Kno Hu on 03/25/12 at 01:27 PM

I mean this sincerely, Pamela: Thank you for doing all you can to raise your children well and teach them good values. We need more parents, no matter what ethnic or social background, to make the same effort. I personally appreciate you committing your like to making a difference in your children's lives!

#27 Jacquelyn Wells on 03/26/12 at 09:34 AM

Well said, Pamela. It's ridiculous to judge a persons values & morals based on their skin color or ethnicity. More people, black & white, need to concentrate on raising their children to know right from wrong and we definitely do need to get back to the old school days. We're in a time where teachers are not allowed to use discipline and parents seem to be afraid to use discipline in the home. (In case anyone is wondering, I am white).

#28 Randy Vining on 03/26/12 at 10:08 AM

He did not say anything in the article about "all blacks". Funny how we read things into things that aren't written.

#29 Herman Coffey on 03/28/12 at 03:12 PM

ck out on fb the 5 blacks who totured and killed the young couple who just happened to be white

#30 Cats on 03/28/12 at 03:43 PM

Here is what my Navy daughter who is stationed in Norfolk tells me.
Up there, if someone is breaking in on you, you have to retreat behind a 2nd locked door in your home and make it quite clear that you're armed and will shoot if they attempt to come thru the 2nd door.
I guess this means you cower behind a locked door while the thugs pull the moving van up and leisurely remove every freakin' thing you've worked for.

#31 Julia Heidbrink on 03/28/12 at 03:49 PM

We need to get away from color and just prosecute crime seriously! If _________ (you fill in the blank) were prosecuted seriously maybe some folks would take the law seriously too.

#32 Jenifer Smith on 03/29/12 at 12:47 PM

Where is the outrage? The outrage has been redirected to Florida - into the abyss of a racially divided nation. People don't give a damn about justice. No one cares about black on black or white on white crimes. Let them all kill each other, right? One less, right?
Wake up America! I know you're tired and weary, but if YOU don't buy the product, there's no one left to sell it to.

#33 Herman Coffey on 04/05/12 at 07:14 AM

I think Ronnie thompson was correct back in the 70's when macon was so rough . If i remember correctly he gave orders to law enforce that anyone caught breaking in , robbery, rape,drug dealing . did he not say leave them where you find them and call the undertaker for two(2)weeks no crimes were commited in macon . that is till naacp got involved and called it race related made them change it ...BUT look at the results NO CRIME for 2 weeks and noone was killed. just an option . Just saying

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