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Kathy Jefcoats

Stories by Kathy

Council to hear comments on changes to tax ordinance

City Council is expected to vote tonight on changes to the ordinance governing the collection of the occupational business tax.

Voters return to polls Tuesday to elect sheriff

Clayton County voters return to the polls Tuesday to choose a sheriff — either the incumbent or his predecessor who is facing a 37-count felony criminal indictment and possibly years in prison.

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Car overturns on Tara Boulevard

A car overturns on Tara Boulevard, backing up traffic during Monday's rush hour.

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Officials prepare to occupy new Juvenile Justice Center

Changes in approach to students reducing case load

JONESBORO — As officials prepare to occupy the new Clayton County Juvenile Justice Center, authorities said changes in the way complaints are handled is helping to reduce the number of cases filtering through the system.

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Group recognizes efforts to Keep Forest Park Beautiful

Every day, each person living in Georgia generates 4.6 pounds of garbage, or 1,400 pounds every year, 80 percent of which is recyclable or reusable.

Suspected gang member indicted for murder

Trio faces charges in separate case

A suspected gang member who goes by the alias “Obama” has been indicted for murder in the death of a man killed during a drug deal gone wrong, according to court documents.

Woman charged with vehicular homicide, selling bootleg porn

An Atlanta woman is being held without bond in the Clayton County Jail after being charged with vehicular homicide in the traffic death of a Morrow cab driver.

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Police cancel Mattie’s Call for Riverdale man

Clayton County police cancelled a Mattie’s Call Thursday for a Riverdale man who walked away from his home Monday just after noon.

Man charged with murder in cellmate’s death

Officials call alleged murder a first for jail

A Locust Grove man has been charged with what is believed to be the first murder inside the Clayton County Jail, said authorities.

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Insults fly as Kimbrough, Hill face off in debate

Sheriff’s challenger under 37-count indictment

Clayton County Sheriff Kem Kimbrough and challenger Victor Hill faced off in a political debate Wednesday morning for the first time in four years, trading insults and focusing on Hill’s pending 37-count criminal indictment.

Former Morrow city manager back in court Thursday

Embattled former Morrow City Manager John Lampl is expected back in Superior Court Thursday afternoon to argue motions in his criminal case.

Attorney disputes evidence against former sheriff

The day after the Clayton News Daily revealed documents that seem to connect former Sheriff Victor Hill to the crimes for which he has been indicted, his defense attorney disputed the evidence and continued to proclaim Hill’s innocence.

Police nab two after call about burglary

Clayton County police arrested two teenagers Wednesday after getting a call from neighbors about a burglary in progress.

GBI performed autopsy on inmate found dead

An autopsy was performed Wednesday afternoon on a Clayton County inmate found dead inside his cell earlier that morning.

No charges yet in toddler’s death

Man charged in brother’s alleged assault

No charges have been filed in last month's death of a toddler but a Georgia Bureau of Investigation autopsy report seems to show the boy died from physical abuse.

Paper trail mounts in Victor Hill case

The state’s evidence against former Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill includes bank statements and other documents that seem to form a paper trail connecting Hill to allegations of illegal activities, the Clayton News Daily has learned.

Henry County felon indicted for taking rifle to Forest Park school

A McDonough man who served prison time for drug possession and burglary has been indicted in Clayton County in three separate cases, including one where police allege he brought a sawed-off rifle onto campus at Huie Elementary School.

Clayton police chief under investigation by GBI

Clayton County police Chief Gregory Porter has hired an attorney in response to a state-led investigation into alleged misappropriation of grant money.

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Police issue Mattie’s Call for missing Riverdale man

Clayton County police issued a Mattie’s Call for a Riverdale man who apparently walked away from his home Monday just after noon.

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Three Drug Court graduates recall long roads to recovery

Ebonecke Ford was one of three Drug Court graduates to stand tall in front of cheering family and friends Thursday night and share the story of her rocky path to recovery. Troy Patterson and Meshia Dozier also weathered the storm to finish the intensive program.

Forest Park agency gets community grant

Organization prepares to recognize volunteers

The county’s only Keep America Beautiful affiliate got an improvement grant and is gearing up to recognize the many volunteers that help the organization live up to its title.

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Bun gets life without parole plus 70 years

Following the recommendation for the maximum sentence from Daly's family and the District Attorney's Office, Johnathan Bun was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole plus 70 years.

Bun gets life without parole plus 70 years

Convicted cop killer Johnathan Bun was sentenced to the maximum allowed under the law Thursday morning after a scathing denunciation by Clayton County Superior Court Chief Judge Deborah Benefield.

Former MARTA cop makes first court appearance

Former MARTA police officer Willie Clarence Lee Jr. has been charged with having a long-term physical relationship with a child starting when she was 9 that included sex at his home more than 50 times in five years, said authorities.

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Two former sheriff’s candidates throw support behind Hill

A former Clayton County sheriff’s deputy fired on Victor Hill’s first day in office in 2005 is apparently endorsing his re-election, according to a press release issued Wednesday by Hill’s campaign.

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Woman tells judge she prefers prostitution rap to murder

An Atlanta woman sobbed Wednesday afternoon and told a Clayton County Magistrate Court judge she’d rather be charged with prostitution than murder.

Neighbors watching neighbors

Subdivision celebrates first anniversary in program

Residents of one of the county’s oldest subdivisions got together Monday night to celebrate a milestone — one year’s participation in a Neighborhood Watch program.

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Ailing Forest Park mayor on paid leave

The absence of Mayor Corine Deyton from recent Council meetings was addressed Monday night after a query into her status was made by a resident.

Woman charged with murder

Police say victim enticed in sex for money scheme

Clayton County sheriff’s deputies arrested an Atlanta woman Tuesday on a murder charge in the shooting death of a man police said she enticed with a sex for money scheme.

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Former MARTA cop charged in child sex case

Allegedly had 5-year ‘relationship’ with minor girl

An Ellenwood man who worked 12 years as a MARTA police officer has been charged with having a long-term physical relationship with a child that included sex at his home more than 50 times, said authorities.

Pair faces arson charges

A Riverdale man has been arrested for arson in connection with a July 25 blaze that forced a mom and her toddler to jump from a second-story window, said authorities.

Suspected shooter caught in Nashville

A convicted felon in and out of state prison since 1996 has been charged with murder in last week’s shooting of a man at a Stockbridge Taco Bell, said authorities.

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Convicted deputy killer faces life in prison

Bun expected to be sentenced Thursday

A Riverdale man is expected to be sentenced to life in prison Thursday for killing a Clayton County sheriff’s deputy more than a year ago.

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Hundreds turn out for free school supplies

Hundreds of people flocked to Battle Creek Library Friday afternoon to get free school supplies, in spite of temperatures in the 90s.

Old phones get new homes

First wireless drive benefits domestic violence victims

For the first time Clayton County Fire and Emergency Services is teaming with Clayton County Coalition against Domestic Violence to collect used cell phones.

Forest Park cops get cash boost

Forest Park City Council will vote Monday night on two items that will boost the budget of the police department, according to the agenda released Friday.

Former NFL player charged with abandoning son

A former NFL player bonded out of the Clayton County Jail after being arrested Tuesday on child-abandonment charges.

Indicted sheriff’s candidate in run-off with incumbent

JONESBORO — A sheriff’s candidate facing a 37-count felony indictment for alleged criminal activity related to his previous term in office has apparently garnered enough votes Tuesday to challenge the incumbent to a runoff.

Lawson returns to office

JONESBORO — Clayton County District Attorney Tracy Graham Lawson returned to office for another four years, according to unofficial preliminary returns Tuesday night.

Lovejoy cops looking for assailant

Woman says man hit her with iron skillet

Police are looking for a man suspected of choking and beating an acquaintance over the head with an iron skillet.

Lampl wants access to grand jury documents

Former Morrow City Manager John Lampl was in court Tuesday fighting to get access to documents connected to the special purpose grand jury that investigated him.

Mothers of teens killed in crash oppose lower bond for driver

The mother of one of three teenagers killed in an August crash grew emotional in court Tuesday morning as she faced the driver in person for the first time and asked for closure.

Authorities say kidnapping victim killed suspect

Clayton County sheriff's investigators are looking into the shooting death within the last hour of a suspected kidnapper and rapist.

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Mattie’s Call issued for Jonesboro man

Clayton County police have issued a Mattie’s Call for a Jonesboro man who apparently walked away from his home Wednesday about noon.

Ailing officer humbled by support

Fellow officers, and deputies at the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office, have been most supportive of Michael Hooks, who is battling stage three testicular cancer.

Driver in fatal crash won’t deny charges

Filings claim unknown medical condition

Filings in Clayton County Superior Court claim a Lithonia woman charged with an Aug. 25 crash that killed three teenagers suffers from an undiagnosed medical condition and that she has no memory of the incident.

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Hospice patient fulfills dream of hosting voter registration drive

LAKE CITY — William Thompson always wanted to run for public office but never got the chance. For some, that chance is still viable, a dream that could one day be attained but Thompson has reached the end of his shot at "one day."

Crash prevention 101: slow down

Clayton County police officers were out in full force last weekend, slowing down speeders to curb fatal crashes.

Man charged with running scam on illegal immigrants

A man still on probation for theft and burglary last year was arrested Wednesday for allegedly scamming illegal immigrants out of thousands of dollars.

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Prostitution investigation ongoing

Companion investigations into suspected drug activity and a thinly-veiled ad for prostitution services led Clayton County sheriff's deputies to a Stockbridge trailer and the discovery of a substance not commonly seized in raids — GHB.