A Mid-South family is grieving after a soldier from Memphis is killed in Iraq on Christmas day. Twenty-nine year-old Army Captain Hayes Clayton, Jr. was born in Memphis. He died Monday, December 25, 2006 when a roadside bomb exploded under his HUM-V.

Hayes Clayton, Jr. was a husband and a new father. His son, Hayes Clayton III was just three weeks old when his father was ordered to Iraq back in September. Clayton’s wife learned about her husband’s death on Christmas night.

Vera Cooper also got the call about her grandson’s death on Christmas night. She said, “It just was like everything sort of stopped at that moment. I think we kept hoping, and certainly praying, that it would never happen, even though it had happened to a thousand others, but you think maybe by chance he would make it home, he would be one of those that will come home.”

Cooper said her grandson knew the risks going in, but was prepared to face them. She told us, “When he got ready to go to Iraq, he didn’t complain about that. It was an acceptance. It was part of who he was. It was part of his job to do what he was supposed to do.”

But Cooper said Junior’s courage doesn’t make his death any less painful, “Some hours are better than others, and some it will become overwhelming when I think about the finale of the whole thing, and then I think about how his son won’t really know who he is.”

Hayes Clayton III is not yet six months old. His dad made him a video before he left for the war. But Cooper said it can never replace the time this little boy has lost with his father. She said, “He was a good son, he was a good son, a good grandson. The only thing that I regret was that it came soon.”

Cooper said Clayton joined the army because he hoped to one day run for office. He was a political science major in college, and he told his grandma he wanted to actually know what it was like to be in the service if he was ever going to be in a position to send troops into battle.

The funeral for Hayes Clayton, Jr. will be held January 6th in Marietta, GA. His family moved to Georgia from Memphis when he was still young.

The city of Marietta is offering free Christmas tree pick up to city residents January 2-5 and January 10. City residents must have their tree — free of decorations, lights, stands, tinsel and nails — curbside by 7 a.m. to ensure pick up.

Free mulch available
Trees that are picked up will be recycled into mulch and available for city residents at the Marietta Power and Water Complex at 675 North Marietta Parkway.

For more information, call 770-794-5581.

Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition activists will honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s commitment to peace on the occasion of his Jan. 15 birthday with the Week of Georgia Statewide Anti-war Action scheduled for Jan. 19-26, leading up to the national march in Washington on Saturday, Jan. 27. For general information go to www.georgiapeace.org.

From noon to 1 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 19, there will be an anniversary of the Marietta Square vigil organized by Citizens for Peace, Cobb County. 32 Waddell St., Marietta, in front of the courthouse. For information, contact cobbpeace@comcast.net.

MARIETTA, GA — Marietta City Council unanimously approved Daniel W. Flynn today as Marietta’s next police chief. Flynn retired as chief of the Savannah-Chatham, Ga., Metropolitan Police Department, where he worked from 2000-06. He worked for the Miami-Dade, Fla., Police Department from 1973-2000 and attained the rank of major. He is currently a homeland security consultant and recently assisted MARTA with disaster planning and training exercises.

Flynn will fill the vacancy created when Police Chief Bobby Moody retired in July. Marietta Deputy Police Chief David Beam did not apply for the position, but has led the department as its interim chief.

“Marietta has one of the best police departments in Georgia because of the leadership of Bobby Moody and David Beam,” City Manager Bill Bruton said. “We’re excited to welcome Dan Flynn to the Marietta team. His vast experience and education will help take our department to the next level and continue the great reputation we have.”

After a national search, interviews and a screening process determined 56 applicants were qualified for the police chief position. A panel — made of Bruton, the city’s personnel director, the assistant to the city manager, three Georgia police chiefs and a major — recently interviewed eight finalists.

“We were impressed with the quality of all the applicants,” Bruton said. “This pool of finalists was one of the most qualified we’ve had for any city position, and we appreciate the assistance the interview panel provided the city.”

While Flynn led the Savannah-Chatham police, the countywide municipal department reduced violent crime by half and produced the lowest crime rate in 27 years. Flynn commanded operations for the international Group of Eight (G-8) Summit, an annual meeting of the leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. He also created a high-risk offender reentry program that is a model for other communities.

“Dan’s success in reducing crime in Savannah and encouraging continuing education for police officers will work well for Marietta,” Bruton said. “His ideas and experience implementing an initiative similar to our M-STAR crime-fighting program will add to our great programs and expand our effectiveness.”

During his tenure with the Miami-Dade, Fla., Police Department, Flynn commanded the SWAT team as well as the aviation, marine, mounted, motorcycle, canine, DUI and hit and run patrols. He also commanded the department’s internal affairs function and led the narcotics bureau. Flynn directed public safety planning and operations for the 1999 Super Bowl and 1997 World Series as well as the response during and after Hurricane Andrew.

“It is an honor and privilege to be selected to lead the men and women of the Marietta Police Department,” Flynn said. “My first order of business will be to get to know the community and let them know me.”

In Savannah, Flynn was involved in the community and helped plan the Martin Luther King Jr. festival and organize an annual breakfast for community and business members during the week.

“I believe in being engaged in all facets of the community,” Flynn said. “My most important priorities, which are the most fundamental, are to reduce crime and use the police department to enhance the quality of life in Marietta.”

Flynn graduated from the FBI National Academy and Senior Management Institute for Police. He earned a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Saint Thomas University in Florida and a master’s degree in public administration from Florida International University.

Flynn is a member of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, International Association of Chiefs of Police and Rotary International.

The Marietta Police Department employs 137 sworn officers and 32 civilians.

Under Moody’s leadership, the department implemented the M-STAR crime-fighting program that contributed to a 22 percent decline in crime and was an integral part of Marietta receiving the All-America City award in June as one of the 10 best communities in the nation. Marietta is the first Georgia city in 30 years to win the award.

The department won the 2006 Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police Curtis McClung Award of Excellence for its efforts in the community with the M-STAR program.

###

By SHANNON McCAFFREY Associated Press Writer

MARIETTA, Ga. — With both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve falling on a Sunday this year, revelers in many states will have to stock up a day early if they want to celebrate at home by raising a glass of champagne or some well-aged scotch.

Many states still have Sunday “blue laws” that restrict the sale of alcohol on the Sabbath at liquor stores and supermarkets.

Georgia, Connecticut and Indiana ban the Sunday sale of any alcohol for off-premises consumption. Other states, such as Minnesota, Oklahoma and Utah, permit the sale of only weaker, low-alcohol beer on Sundays. Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Kansas and South Carolina are among the states that allow local communities to make their own Sunday rules.

“It’s a total pain,” said 54-year-old Kent Brooks of Alpharetta, in suburban Atlanta. “I hate being told what I can and can’t do by the government. They should keep their nose out of my happy-hour habits.”

In most places around the country, restaurants and bars can serve alcohol on Sundays, though some are required by local ordinances to close up at midnight.

In recent weeks some local governments, such as the Atlanta suburb of Suwanee, have passed one-time exemptions so that bars and restaurants will not have to hustle customers out the door before the closing strains of “Auld Lang Syne.”

Beer, wine and liquor store owners complain that Sunday restrictions are hurting sales on what is typically their busiest day of the year, New Year’s Eve. Christmas Eve is often a close second.

In Minnesota, which permits the sale of only low-alcohol beer on Sundays, a spokesman for Gov. Tim Pawlenty downplayed the inconvenience. Party hosts will simply have to buy their alcohol ahead of time _ “just like every Super Bowl Sunday,” Brian McClung said.

In some places, the Sunday liquor laws have been loosened for the holidays. In Omaha, Neb., the City Council voted to allow stores to begin selling beer and wine as early as 6 a.m. on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Normally, the stores there do not open until noon.

Some say it is hypocritical to allow a restaurant or bar to serve a glass of wine when a liquor store nearby cannot sell a bottle of it. They also argue that someone drinking in a bar is more apt to drive drunk then someone having a cocktail at home. Mothers Against Drunk Driving takes no position on Sunday sales legislation.

Blue laws date to the colonial era and supposedly got their name from the blue paper they were printed on. Many states have scaled back or eliminated the laws. The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States said that in the past three years alone, 12 states have loosened their laws to permit the Sunday sale of liquor.

Georgia is one of the few holdouts in the Bible Belt. Each Sunday, grocery store beer coolers remain dark, and liquor stores stay shut.

For the fifth time in a month, bold thieves have committed a smash and grab-styled heist of an ATM at a Walgreens store in the Metro Atlanta area. The latest smash and grab took place at the Walgreens store on Canton Road near Marietta Sunday night. Walgreens stores in Cobb, Gwinnett, and DeKalb have been hit in the past few weeks.

In the latest case, officials were not sure if the thieves were able to get any money out of the ATM, which they dragged from the store with a stolen pickup truck that was driven straight through the front door. The thieves were able to break into the machine, but Walgreens had started to pull money out of all 88 of its ATMs in the Metro Atlanta area as a precaution after a smash and grab crime last week, a store spokeswoman told 11Alive News.

Police said the thieves apparently fled, leaving the stolen pickup truck behind, after breaking into the ATM. Police are processing the truck for fingerprints and have a surveillance video of the crime. However, it appeared as though the crooks were using something to hide their faces so the video may not help them identify suspects.

Cobb County police are working with police in other jurisdictions, including DeKalb County, to try and find new clues in the cases as Walgreens tries to figure out why its stores are being targeted.

The city of Marietta and Cobb County agreed December 13 to continue sending fire personnel from the closest station to emergency calls within predefined areas regardless of jurisdiction.

Marietta and Cobb fire departments will send their closest resources to emergencies, fires and medical calls, even if the call for help is not in the department’s jurisdiction. Marietta firefighters will answer emergency calls in defined areas of Cobb County when a Marietta fire station is closer than a Cobb fire station. In addition, Cobb firefighters will answer calls inside the Marietta city limits when a Cobb fire station is closer than a Marietta station, especially near the outskirts of the city limits.

“This agreement will continue to provide Marietta and Cobb residents with the best fire services,” Marietta Fire Chief Jackie Gibbs said. “The agreement helps ensure dispatchers send the closest help when the public calls 9-1-1 with an emergency.”

The automatic aid agreement, effective January 1, 2007, sets boundaries the city will respond to in the county and balances the requests for service based on geography. The agreement is an amended version of the prior agreement and adjusts response areas to make the response volume between the city and county equitable.

“The response areas were amended to better balance the frequency that Marietta fire personnel respond into the county,” City Manager Bill Bruton said. “This will allow Marietta’s equipment and firefighters to spend more time on city issues while continuing the great service delivery provided by both departments.”

The automatic aid agreement supplements mutual aid both departments would give each other during complex events, such as hazardous materials calls, technical rescues and large fires.

###

Associated Press

MARIETTA, Ga. - Police have arrested a man who they accuse of killing his wife and running her over in the front yard of their home.

William Hughes, 32, was taken to the Cobb County Jail on Tuesday, the same day the body of Jacqueline Kay Hughes, 42, was found in front of their home.

Authorities say William Hughes killed his wife by striking her with a pipe. He is also accused of using their 1982 Chevrolet Caprice Classic station wagon to run her over.

Jacqueline Hughes’ body was found Tuesday morning when a school bus driver noticed her lying in the driveway.

Three elementary school students were aboard the bus at the time. But Marietta City Schools spokesman Thomas Algarin said he did not think the students saw the body.

Hughes has been charged with felony murder, aggravated assault and cocaine possession.
Information from: Marietta Daily Journal, http://mdjonline.com/

Marietta Wine Market has some great gift ideas for the holidays. More wine tote bags should be in this week. We have a great selection of decanters and will have a class on decanting wine and another Riedel Tasting in January.

Let us help you put together a gift basket, select wine for your holiday parties or find that special gift for a loved one. Still don’t know what to get?? GIFT CERTIFICATES are available in all denominations. They can be used for wine, merchandise or special events.

Marietta Horizon Home is beginning Diva Days every Tuesday (7pm-9pm) and Saturday (10am-12noon) Each week Horizon Home will host a series of workshops and special events spotlighting local Marietta Merchants. This Saturday there is a Jewelry Show from 1-4pm. Details Below. Mark your calendar for Bunko Night . Tuesday, January 23rd 7-9pm.

DECEMBER EVENTS:

WEDNESDAY, December 13 th (5:00pm- 7:00pm) Open to the Public
Wine Tasting on the Square “Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!” -COST: $ Charity Donation
Austrailia produces an incredible selection of award winning Shiraz and Chardonnays wines that we will offer for our Wednesday tasting. These wines are always well received and offer an incredible value for the money.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8 th Marietta Square Open House. All shops open til 8pm
Candlelight Shopping on the Square. Stop in to taste wines featured for the Holidays

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15 th (7:00 9:00pm) Top Shelf Tastig $25pp-
This Friday we will taste some of the best wines in our shop. The list will include Georges La Tour 2002 Private Reserve Cab, Caymus 2004 Napa Valley Cabernet, Tebavio 2001 Barolo, 95pts Wine Report. Miner Oakville Cab,92 pts.Wine Report, Emilio Moro 2003 Ribera del Duero 92. pts Wine Spectator and Paradigm 2002 Napa Valley Cabernet, Wine Spectator chosen as one of Napa’s top 50 wines since 1990.A selection of meats and cheeses will also be served. The seating will be limited to 20 people. Call us at 770-919-1574 to reserve your spot. Additional wines will be available for purchase.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16 th (1:00pm- 4:00pm) Open to the Public
Exquisite Jewelry Show at Marietta Horizon - Find that special gift for yourself or someone else. Come meet various jewelry designers and shop for unique pieces. Cost: $$ FREE . No reservation required. Light refreshments will be served. For more details or if you would like to participate as a vendor Contact: Charlotte 770-801-9912 or Marlene 770-421-9378

Marietta Horizon Home is OPEN 7 DAYS Mon- Sat 10am-7pm & Sundays 1pm-6pm.
This 3000 sq ft showroom is across the street from the Marietta Wine Market. It features: beds, sofas, chairs, chaises, dining, sectionals, leather, upholstery, wicker and solid wood furnishings. This wide variety of furniture adds the perfect blend of elegance and comfort to any home.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16 th (2:00pm- 4:00pm) Open to the Public
Wine Tasting on the Square “Napa Valley Wines ” -COST: $ Charity Donation
A selections of wines featuring one of each of the six big grapes will be offered for tasting. A Chardonnay,Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon will be chosen from some of my favorite wineries in Napa. Take a break from shopping and try out some great wines,see you on Saturday.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16th (6:00-8pm) Private Wine Tasting Store Open to Public

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19th (6:30-8pm) Private Wine Tasting Store Open to Public

WEDNESDAY, December 20 th (5:00pm- 7:00pm) Open to the Public
Wine Tasting on the Square “Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!” -COST: $ Charity Donation

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22 nd (6:30-8:30pm) Private Wine Tasting Store Open to Public

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23 rd (2:00pm- 4:00pm) Open to the Public
Wine Tasting on the Square “TBA ” -COST: $ Charity Donation

MONDAY, DECEMBER 25th STORE CLOSED
Merry Christmas from Randall, Karen & Bentley

WEDNESDAY, December 27 th (5:00pm- 7:00pm) Open to the Public
Wine Tasting on the Square “TBA” -COST: $ Charity Donation

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30th (2:00pm- 4:00pm) Open to the Public
Wine Tasting on the Square “TBA ” -COST: $ Charity Donation

Marietta Wine Market has Wine Tastings every Wednesday 5pm-7pm and Saturday 2pm-4pm. Each week we sponsor a different local charity and serve complimentary hors d’oeuvres. A $5-$10 donation is suggested. Call 770-919-1574 or Visit our web site at www.mariettawinemarket.com for more details about upcoming events. (We are located in Historic Marietta next to Marietta Pizza on the Square). Thanks Randall, Karen & Bentley

Fridays until 8pm from Nov. 17th-Dec. 22 The merchants of Marietta Square, in conjunction with the Marietta Business Association, announce the return of Friday “Candlelight Shopping” throughout the holiday season. On Fridays, from November 17th until December 22nd, participating merchants will extend their hours until 8pm. From the 19th century homes and dynamic heritage & cultural museums to the thriving retail and antique shops, Marietta Square is worlds away from the mass-merchandised hustle and bustle. Friday “Candlelight Shopping” on Historic Marietta Square is a holiday tradition with a rich Southern history. Check out the MBA website at www.mariettabusinessassociation.com.