On Friday, The Valdosta Daily Times was informed that the records requested under an Open Records request from the Georgia Department of Corrections were being diligently researched, pulled from warehouses, etc. On Monday, The Times was told those records don’t exist. They were destroyed.
The Times wasn’t asking for records from decades ago. It’s been little more than four years. The Times wasn’t asking for an obscure piece of paper. The newspaper was seeking information about an incident in which a guard was beaten by inmates. According to the DOC, no records of the investigation, report or any paperwork related to the incident still exist, so the department is unable to comply with the request.
In a second Open Records request, regarding an incident involving a severe injury to a guard which left him blind in one eye and unable to return to work, The Times has been told by the DOC legal department that the documents exist but they can’t share them because they have been deemed “state secrets.”
The DOC legal department thinks The Times has treated them harshly in news stories and editorials. The Times thinks the DOC has a lot of explaining to do and continues to fail to do so. And no one is holding them accountable. Does Gov. Sonny Perdue pay attention to anything happening in Georgia?
It would be nice to think that perhaps members of our local legislative delegation might take up the cause and request action at the state level, but until then, The Times will continue to press officials for answers. At issue is the safety of inmates and employees in our community. A prison should be one of the safest places for someone to work.
Guards should not have to tolerate working conditions that leave them open to severe injury.
The Times will continue to file Open Records requests until we have satisfied the questions concerning these victims and the current climate which is allowing the attacks to continue.
What We Think
What We Think: Prison officials too guarded
- What We Think
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Grading policy: A second chance?
In clarifying the Lowndes County Schools’ controversial grading policy, Superintendent Dr. Steve Smith spoke of second chances.
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Be up to any weather challenge
Georgia’s Severe Weather Awareness Week starts today and runs through Friday. The idea behind the week is to prepare Georgians for weather emergencies and how to keep these situations from becoming tragedies.
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Parents and schools
There is a lot of talk lately about school systems and grading policies, and how all of a child's problems come back to a lack of parenting. But is it really that simple? Can it be a case where the school systems are so focused on the problem few that the majority of students are ignored?
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Thumbs up, thumbs down
THUMBS UP: To Brooks County High School engineering and technology teacher Don Morgan and his students. They recently received national attention for their work with biodiesel fuel. They collect used cooking oil from area fast-food restaurants then process this oil into biodiesel. Morgan hopes to next interest the Brooks County school buses into running on the fuel created in his class. This classroom not only prepares students for the future but may prepare all of us for an alternative energy source.
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Take me out to the ball park
The Valdosta State baseball season begins today. The Blazers host Lindenwood at 2:30 p.m. Nothing beats quality baseball played in warm weather with a great venue like Billy Grant Field.
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What We Think: Signing Day
Wednesday was National Signing Day, the day when high school athletes across the country make official announcements about what school they’ve chosen to sign with.
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School policy fails expectations
Lowndes County Schools recently implemented new grading guidelines for students. These guidelines have left many parents upset ...
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Just the facts, please
The Times has taken some hits this weekend following the reporting of the Rev. Floyd Rose’ rally on Saturday concerning the car which drove into a home, killing an infant on New Year’s, and an incident at Pinevale Learning Center. Some police officers think the VDT is not being fair, and Rose accused the VDT of not printing the facts, but the facts are as follows:
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Fathers teaching daughters
It began as a small gathering for fathers and daughters. It has become one of Valdosta’s most popular social events of the year.
Several years ago, Jeff Stewart co-founded the event with his wife, Becky, as a way for him to give a special night to his two daughters. Other fathers of First Presbyterian Church liked the idea and the Father-Daughter Valentine Dance was born. -
Sports tourneys: They will come
More than 20 years after its release, “Field of Dreams’” mantra, “If you build it, they will come,” has possibly become one of the most overused lines from any movie. Yet, it seems all too fitting for what’s been happening lately within the Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority.
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Grading policy: A second chance?
