CONYERS — The city of Conyers has approved more than $463,000 in contracts for ongoing monitoring and corrective action at the closed Miller Bottom Landfill.
The city estimates it will spend $8,800 for semi-annual groundwater reporting under a contract with Bunnell-Lammons Engineering. The company will also provide consulting on corrective measures at an estimated $40,000.
Under a separate contract, Bunnell-Lammons will provide construction quality assurance monitoring, testing and reporting for repairs to the landfill cap at a cost of $57,000. The actual cap repairs will be done by EnviroTrac Ltd. at a cost of $357,000.
Seventy percent of the costs will be paid by Rockdale County, and the remaining 30% paid by the city. Some of the costs will be reimbursable from the Environmental Protection Division’s Hazardous Waste Trust Fund.
The city entered into a memorandum of understanding with Rockdale County in September 2022 for methane remediation work at the landfill after it was discovered that methane releases at some monitoring wells exceeded allowable limits.
Brian Frix, director of Public Works and Transportation for the city, told the council at that time that the releases were due to problems with the landfill cap.
“Essentially, the cap of the landfill has settled,” said Frix. “The trash below has started to decompose and settle, so the cap has started to settle.”
When that happens, said Frix, it allows water to infiltrate the cap, which causes spikes in the methane levels.
The city has already acquired and stored soil at the Georgia International Horse Park that will be trucked to the landfill and used to restore the cap.
The 117-acre Miller Bottom Landfill began operations in the 1970s and was closed in 1994 due to concerns about groundwater contamination. Landfills in Georgia are required to be monitoried for 30 years post-closure.
Conyers Mayor Vince Evans poses with a young constituent who is
ready to try out the new play structure at East View Park.
Photo by Joy Powers
New play structures have been installed at four pocket parks in
Conyers.
Photo by Joy Powers
Kona Ice was on hand at the May 7 celebration at East View Park,
providing free sweet treats to residents.
Photo by Joy Powers
A youngster tries out the new fitness equipment at East View
Park.
Photo by Joy Powers
CONYERS — Area residents and city of Conyers officials gathered Sunday, May 7, to celebrate the reopening of four city parks that received upgrades over the past few months. Mayor Vince Evans, accompanied by those who will enjoy the updated park, cut the ribbon signifying the reopening of East View Park.
The City Council approved a $920,959 contract with Gametime last August for upgrades to four city “pocket” parks: Bonner Park on Rowland Road, East View Park on East View Road, Veal Street Park and Pleasant Circle Park. The agreement also includes funding to create a dog park, the first in the city limits, adjacent to East View Park. The projects were funded through Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax and American Rescue Plan Acting funding.
The parks feature new play systems with shade structures, and other upgrades. Basketball goals and posts have been installed at Pleasant Circle Park and Veal Street Park.
In addition, a dog park designed for small dogs under 30 pounds was constructed adjacent to East View Park and East View Cemetery. The park includes a structure for dog agility, a pet waste station, dog water fountains, bench seating and fencing.
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Battle of the Bulge veteran Bob Ingle honored for his service
World War II veteran Bob Ingle, who fought at the Battle of the
Bulge, is shown here with his two sons, Kent Ingle, right, and Rick
Ingle.
Photo by Alice Queen
A representative of Longleaf Hospice and Palliative Care
presents a Veterans Pin to World War II veteran Bob Ingle during a
recent ceremony recognizing his service to the American people.
Photo by Alice Queen
CONYERS — It has been more than 75 years, but veteran Bob Ingle clearly remembers the role he played in the Battle of the Bulge, the largest and bloodiest battle fought by U.S. forces in World War II.
Ingle, a native of Akron, Ohio, who enlisted in the Army at the age of 18, was recently honored for his service at Magnolia House, where he now lives.
As part of the ceremony honoring Ingle, Longleaf Hospice Community Outreach and Volunteer coordinator Loy Turner read the 91st Psalm, which has come to be known as “The Soldier’s Prayer.” Ingle said that particular passage from the Bible was ingrained in him and the other men in his squad as they fought their way through Germany.
“I claimed that psalm, I really did,” he said. “Our whole squadron recited it.”
Ingle, who was part of the 4th Infantry Division, got his basic training at Ft. Bragg and then shipped out to Marseille, France. From there they flew to Nancy before embarking for Germany. He turned 19 while in Germany.
The Battle of the Bulge waged for six weeks. Due to the number of casualties, Ingle was quickly promoted from private to staff sergeant, despite his young age. When new soldiers arrived, they were generally younger than he was.
“Our squad was the best squad, and we always ended up on the front,” he said.
Ingle said he discovered that one of his young squad members had been taught to speak German by his grandmother, which gave Ingle an idea.
“So I said, why kill these people? Let’s talk them out of it.”
Ingle said his German-speaking soldier shouted at a group of German soldiers, ordering them to stop, which allowed the American soldiers to capture them.
Shortly afterward, Ingle’s squad came across a German machine gun nest where four German soldiers were sitting with the gun “facing the wrong way.”
Ingle said he and his men waited for the German soldiers’ relief personnel to arrive and then captured them all.
“They were so happy to surrender,” he recalled.
Ingle said his squad was being prepared for the invasion of Japan when the war ended.
“I’m proud to have served in the service and proud of what we accomplished,” he said.
As part of the ceremony honoring Ingle for his service, he was presented with a Veterans Blanket made by the members of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 32 in Covington. He also received a Veterans Pin and Certificate from Longleaf Hospice and Palliative Care.
COVINGTON — The Newton County Sheriff’s Office has arrested three suspects in connection with the stabbing death of a Newborn man.
According to the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, Randell Whitley, 39, was fatally stabbed when he and three other suspects went to a home on Ga. Highway 162 Connector to confront the ex-partner of Margie Lynette Love, 35, who was also allegedly involved in the home invasion.
The four allegedly entered the home without permission, and in an ensuing fight with the resident, Whitley was stabbed. He drove himself to a local hospital where he died of his injuries.
Charged in the incident in addition to Love are Anthony McDonald, 18, of Covington, and Garrett Blackwell, 21, of Monticello.
Love was arrested May 9 and charged with aggravated assault, home invasion and murder. McDonald, 18, was arrested May 6 and also charged with aggravated assault, home invasion and murder. Blackwell turned himself in to authorities Thursday and faces the same charges.
According to reports from the Sheriff’s Office, the incident took place Thursday, May 4 at about 8:20 p.m. The incident report indicated that a deputy was called to a home on Ga. Highway 162 Connector in response to a burglary in progress. While en route the deputy was informed that a person had been stabbed and was being taken to the hospital.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to collect donations for Whitley’s final expenses.
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