Ellijay Police Officers receive Lifesaving Award

GILMER, Ga. — Two members of the Ellijay Police Department received awards during Ellijay City Council’s latest meeting. The council also took action to address prior complaints concerning the city website.

Police Chief Edward Lacey presented three awards to two Ellijay officers at the council meeting. Officer Austin McArthur received the Service Award and the Lifesaving Award. McArthur received the Service Award, “The highest award which can be bestowed upon an individual affiliated with the agency, who suffers a wound from a weapon or serious injury in the performance of his duty,” after an encounter with an armed man that left him suffering from an ankle injury that required reconstructive surgery. He also received the Lifesaving Award for performing CPR on a man who collapsed in the parking lot of the East Ellijay Walmart. Officer Trevor McClure received the Lifesaving Award for his action in administering two doses of NARCAN to prevent a drug overdose after responding to a call.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In response to several citizen complaints, especially at the council’s February meeting, Mayor Pro-Tem Sandy Ott presented both the council and those in attendance with a potential solution. She explained the city website would go under a complete overhaul in an attempt to address concerns raised about accessibility and transparency. The cost, Ott said, would be $1,500 a month for an initial three months followed by a monthly cost of $166. She also said the council’s goal is for the website to be “user-friendly, informative, and up to date,” and should be ready for use by July 1, 2022. The council approved the proposal unanimously.

The council also voted to put two projects, a crosswalk on North Main Street and a stop sign at North Avenue and North Main Street, out for bid. Chief Lacey spoke on the proposed crosswalk and expressed his support saying, “In the last six months, and in the last year really, we’ve had an 18% increase in pedestrian accidents in the United States.” Noting that pedestrian accidents are at an all time high, Lacey also suggested that the council consider jaywalking ordinances to enable proper use of the new crosswalk. The council also voted to authorize necessary steps to create an all way stop at the intersection of North Main Street, North Avenue, and College Street.