Henry County District Attorney's Office

Board Approves Soliciting Proposals for New Court Complex ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Commissioners approved a reso...lution authorizing staff to proceed with requests for proposals (RFPs) for all judicial functions to be relocated to 143 Henry Parkway from the McDonough Square. County Manager Cheri Hobson-Matthews made the presentation detailing current space conditions within the Henry County Court System and pointed to the fact that Henry County will have a fourth judge joining the county in January, increasing the court’s caseload and requiring more staff and space. She said there have been several conversations about the best way to address the growing needs of the courts. Hobson-Matthews detailed the court space and the consideration of parking and said that the better use of all of the county’s judicial functions would be to relocate on Henry Parkway at the current Red Hawk Park. The location allows for ease of access, expansion capabilities and one complex for all court functions, including the District Attorney and the Solicitor General’s offices. I want to make sure I put away any false information in terms of the courthouse being physically moved from the Square and relocated or the courthouse sitting as a dormant building in the event that the court functions are relocated, said Hobson-Matthews. My intentions and staff’s intentions are to continue to ensure that the McDonough Square continues to be vibrant and that the residents frequent the Square as a result of doing business with the county. She said the Red Hawk site consists of 19.5 acres of pre-graded property, and offers ease of access to Hwy 20/81, space for future expansion, reduces the need for inmate transport and staging, and features an onsite retention pond. She added that the new complex would include a secured parking deck and separate parking for judges and staff. Solicitor General Pam Bettis also addressed the Board and listed concerns of the current situation explaining that more office space is needed. One of the biggest concerns we have at the courts is the growth. We are growing exponentially. The court has already gone through expansions, said Bettis. Facilities Maintenance Director Hutch Purvis presented preliminary plans for the new complex and how the current courthouse and judicial center would be utilized by other county departments, as well as offer much-needed storage. The current Administration Building across the street from the Redhawk Park will also be used for court purposes as needed. Hobson-Matthews said funding will come from a variety of sources and said that in addition to the Board of Commissioners authorizing capital funds, fund balance and some federal funding could also be utilized. Purvis gave a loose timeline and said that design and engineering could take up to a year to complete and that construction would likely take a minimum of two years.

Please see a press release below from the Georgia Department of Transportation. Two Interstate 75 Construction Projects to Install Multi-Lane Closures Through U...pcoming Weekends --------------------------------------------------------------------- Contractors with two major roadway construction projects on Interstate 75 in West Central Georgia will install double-lane closures in weekends through July, 2021. The closures can occur in either northbound or southbound lanes in order to ensure the safety and efficiency of the work zones. The details of the projects are: In southern Metro Atlanta: Webber Construction is rehabilitating the concrete roadway. The location of the double-lane closures will be from the Interstate 675 split (MP 227) to the Georgia 54 interchange (exit 233) in Morrow. The closure schedule will be: o Weekends from Mar. 26 - 29 through Apr. 16 - 18: overnight shifts only, from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. o Weekends from Apr. 23 - 26 through Jun. 4 - 7: continual (day and night) from Friday at 8:00 p.m. to the following Monday at 6:00 a.m. In Monroe County: C. W. Matthews is resurfacing the asphalt roadway. The location of the double-lane closures will be from the Interstate 475 junction (MP 177) to the Georgia 42 interchange (exit 188) in Forsyth. The closure schedule will be: o Weeknights from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. through July o Weekends continually (day and night) from Friday at 9:00 p.m. to the following Monday at 6:00 a.m., also through July, 2021 NOTE: all lane closures on I-75 will be suspended during Memorial Day Weekend, May 28 - 31, 2021. All drivers should anticipate back-ups at these locations during these scheduled closures. To avoid delays, they should: Use a favorite GPS app to automatically re-route them around the work zones Download the free 511Georgia app, which provides real-time information on all of Georgia's interstate traffic Give themselves extra time for their trips or travels The South Metro Atlanta slab rehabilitation project is expected to be completed by the end of May, and the Monroe County resurfacing project is expected to be completed by the end of July, 2021. The two projects are among several scheduled throughout the interstates and state routes of the West Central Georgia region over the next few years, planned to improve the roadways for projected increased and heavier traffic. Advisory: Motorists are advised to expect delays, exercise caution, and reduce their speed while traveling through work zones. Before heading out, get real-time information on work status and traffic conditions. Call 511, visit 511ga.org, or download the Georgia 511 app. Our maintenance team members who repair roads and bridges and our project teams who oversee construction projects are continuing their essential work, while following sanitary work practices prescribed by health agencies to protect themselves and the public from the coronavirus, as are most state DOTs in the U.S.

https://www.henryherald.com//article_4aa733a0-8c0c-11eb-83

Due to expected severe weather, the Henry County Superior courthouse will be closed until 1 p.m. tomorrow, Thursday, March 18. Please be safe.

Happy Safer Internet Day! Parents - check out these apps on your children’s phones.

https://www.ajc.com//chief-jus/WK3MOCJLFBCJTGF2T7DZTAWEKQ/

***BOLO*** On 02/05/2021, the suspect pictured in the surveillance photos is suspected of committing a sexual assault at the Heritage At McDonough Senior living... complex. The suspect was observed on video surveillance going door to door checking to see if a door was unlocked in order to make entry. The suspect did make entry into an apartment which was unlocked at which time he sexually assaulted the elderly female resident. After the sexual assault the suspect casually walked out of the apartment. These photos are from separate video surveillance systems within the complex. The suspect was wearing a Nike fanny pack style bag. Anyone with information on this investigation please contact the McDonough Police Department or call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS. See more

Update - Phillips Drive and Old Griffin Road has been reopened! PSA: Please stay away from the area of Phillips Drive and Old Griffin Road due to an issue with a boxcar on a train. The area will be shut down until further notice. We will provide an update when it's back open.

Thank you to all of our DA investigators and the men and women who serve our community.

All Georgians are urged to call 1-866-ENDHTGA if they have any information or suspicions of sex or labor trafficking of minors or adults. Trained law enforcement agents, advocates, and first responders will be available 24/7 to answer your call.

The Georgia Supreme Court signed an order today, extending the state's judicial emergency to Feb. 7. View the order here: https://www.gasupreme.us/wp-cont/uploads//01/10th-SJEO.pdf

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Henry County Police Department.

Sending prayers to the family of Deputy Howell and the sheriff’s department.