I'll begin out, kind of dive right in for the safe time, by sharing a little bit of what I do. My field is addiction recovery. I work in the field of addiction recovery. And in particular, I provide addiction recovery support with specialization in trauma-informed care and with criminal justice involved individually. My work in the field of addiction recovery is also on account of the experience. I am what has been politically deemed as a returning citizen, having served two decades of my life in the criminal justice system. In 1995, during my senior year of high school and stuck going to West Georgia College to become a physical therapist, I ended up at a very different destination. There weren't those traditional precursors such as a troubled child signed an indication that this was going to happen and that this is something that wasn't lost in our government. In the same year, 1995, the CDC and Kaiser Permanente initiated a study to find out why so many of our children were ended up in the criminal justice system. This study was conducted between 1995 and 1997, and when they posted the returns of the results in 1998, I myself was surprised. What they realized on the count of this study was that children that experienced two or more traumatic events in their lives, two or more traumatic events that were not addressed, were more likely to end up early from miscarriage at a daughter that was on the way at age 13. When girls, my parents' addiction to crack cocaine warped my own addiction to marijuana and alcohol. Criminal justice involved it. I think I checked that box pretty squarely. And most horrifying for me was the life expectancy of children that experienced just two or more traumatic events that are undressed had 25 year less life expectancy. What the government found by studying children like myself, this is something that I knew intuitively. I can remember being in the after-score county jail when the epiphany hit me. I was laying in my bunk one night trying to figure out why I was not somewhere probably getting ready to pledge. And one event came back to my mind over and over again that I didn't want to embrace it for what it was because it centered around my parents. And this event was a night that I walked in or saw my parents doing a drug of crack cocaine. I was about 11 or 12 years old and I didn't realize then, of course, but this event shifted me. See, until that point I did well in school, were involved in social activities, were leaders in my Cubs, Scouts, and well as Boy Scout crew. I loaned for my dad's approval. He came to all of my football games. I loaned for my mother's embrace, but in that moment it destroyed my confidence and belief in everything that established. Everything that was told to be was good was now questioned. I didn't realize it. This traumatic experience will follow by other traumatic experiences. You see, when you have the initial, so being turned down by this cute girl at the age of 14 had a greater impact on me than it otherwise would have. I remember clearly. Or being told that you're going to find yourself in a situation that you can't get out of at some point instead of being given that help. It was traumatic impact. I remember this statement clearly. And was the government true in that conclusion? Yes, drugs, sex, criminal behavior became the form of self-medication. During my 10th year of prison, I created a mentor program called Principles of Passion. And what I realized is that children like myself that had gone through these things, we were always compelled by passion, hurt, trying to get away, trying to change the way that we feel. And I recognized that God had favored me with some insight that in spite of what you feel, you have to have a set of standards that you live by. This took me back to my Christian upbringing. This took me back to my parent's post-drug use age when my dad always said, son, you have to be the best man that you can be. So I was able to return. Principles of Passion became successful in the prison system because I realized that I came from a space that majority of the people that in prison did come from, that was a space that at least had a father in the hall. I did have good members prior to it. And this program developed to the point that it became implemented in three different prisons throughout Georgia. What it did do for me meanwhile were ultimately three different prison boards in petition to parole board for my early release and I returned home in 2016 after a certain 20 years on the census of life, plus 15 years. So I came here understanding that often society gets it wrong in addressing delinquency because it looked at the behavior as being the disease versus symptoms of something that was much deeper. And I also found out that many parts of society didn't want to look deeper because then it made place to blame for what's going on squarely at our feet and we didn't want that. My association with the Athens Park County Sheriff's Office I approached the previous administration and said, hey, I've facilitated this program in prison. It works. You live the experience, the evidence-based practices as I had gotten to education and training since being home at work. And I was told, yeah, we believe it. We see what you're doing. But hold on. So I held on to continue to work in the field of addiction recovery. That administration passed. The administration of the Sheriff's Office came in. I knew them previously. I'm always, I'm the type that I never try to use my relationship as leverage to further my agenda so I never approach Sheriff Williams about this. One evening I got a call from Chief Wood. He said, hey Shane, he said, Sheriff wanted me to call you. He said, we have a problem. I won't tell you what I thought. And he said, what's happening is that we have a lot of services and programs at the jail. Awesome services and programs, which I know. He said, however, the guys that are in the shoe and the lockdown nearly, they can't come out to these programs. He said, they've been locked down 23 hours a day. And he said, man, they're carrying stuff up like that. And one of the things that the Chief said that really resonated with me, he said, the way the Sheriff and I feel that it was us back there, we'd be tearing things up too. So he understood that it wasn't about personality. It was something deeper. And Chief said, Sheriff wanted me to extend to you the opportunity to come out to implement your program. That I don't think we need to know what you need, what type of support. We got to get these guys in help. And I came in and immediately they began to work on staff and administration. It's kind of difficult when staff has to accept an ex-convict coming in to teach them how to deal with ex-convicts. And there wasn't a lot of buy-in in the first month or so. But after a while, when they began to see the results, it was like, whoa. And so I conclude by saying, the old adage that the cures and the pores in this truth, God never leaves us in a space where we can't figure out how to make our way back. Kaiser Permanente CDC concluded that at the heart of most juvenile offenses, criminal offenses is a wounded child that was never healed. It's traumatic experience that was never addressed. And since trauma is the poison, then we have to look at trauma for the cure. And helping people to address traumatic experiences is the key to getting out of the space that we're in. And this share, this administration gets it. And while I direct an unprofit that's publicly funded and cannot publicly say, hey, go do this, if it was me, I would vote for you. That's not the case. And may God bless this organization, may God bless this share, may God bless this share of office. Yes, sir. What's the name of your organization? Principal, which one here? Principal for passions is my consultancy. I direct people living in recovery. That's probably one C-30 non-profit here in Athens. Yes, sir. Okay. Thank you all for your time. Thank you, sir. All right. Y'all are going to hear from me soon enough. Y'all get tired of my mouth. But one of the mouths that poured into my soul and spirit growing up, anybody here have a big sister? Enough said. My amazing sister is going to come and share a few words with y'all. I can't tell you how much I love her. She's going to raise me. My mom is next to her. But I wanted her to come and talk because sometimes when you have a sibling relationship, they're going to tell the truth. But not so much truth that it hurts. But my sister, Saretha Williams, professor, doctor, Saretha Williams, we call her Denise. But she's going to come to the table and she'll introduce the video after that. I used to live in Athens some years ago, so I'll just start by saying, go dogs. So my brother is a man of principles. And no, I didn't know, but that was the name of your organization. But this was the inspiration that I had as I was asked to say something today. He has strong beliefs and convictions. Believe me. He has opinions. And he is not afraid to make his opinions an out. Mane should not be used on hamburgers or anything else. Jay's potato chips from back home are the best. Byverson is the most underrated NBA player. Dogs and cats can be friends. And my macaroni and cheese is the best. The best. John does not make such assertions without doing his research. He is not a snap judgment kind of guy. Instead, he reads, asks for feedback from others, thinks about all of the evidence before drawing the conclusion that he was right all along. That's the joke. Thank you. I told you to give me a script. Really, Sheriff Williams is a man of principles. He is a stand-up guy. He can make the tough decisions when needed. He can be the voice of reason in moments of chaos. He does the right thing.  My ex-husband, the father of my three children, died unexpectedly in Athens. Q went into action, handling business on behalf of his nieces and nephew until we could make it to Athens. We appreciated that he was a person acting on our behalf. We trusted that he would do the right thing because that's just who he is. This anecdote is one of many anecdotes of care, compassion, and judgment I could share. You probably have your own stories of how Sheriff Williams has helped you or stood by you in difficult times. In a leader, compassion and judgment are important characteristics. Sheriff Williams cares about his community. He is invested in the welfare of Clark County, his adopted home. Community outreach, programming, and advocacy for better conditions and better pay are examples of the care Sheriff Williams shows for Clark County. People first is a model Q and I share. We were raised to prioritize family, friends, and community. We were raised to help others and as Sheriff, Q, my brother, has found a calling, a purpose. He has a plan, but he needs your support. And today I ask you to listen carefully to Sheriff Williams as he shows you his heart and tells you what he believes in and fights for. And we'll go ahead and play the video. Thank you very much. I'm John Q. Williams. Since being elected in 2020, I have delivered on the promise I made to you to be a sheriff for the people. In a short time, my team has achieved so much. Here's a snapshot. We started a new community reentry program to help break the cycle of incarceration. I made the decision to triple the amount of mental health care resources available to jail residents. The pandemic created more hard times in a town where many of our neighbors already struggled to get by. My team responded with mobile food pantries, back-to-school giveaway events, and other social programs that my team is committed to carry forward. I strive constantly to revitalize the sheriff's office by improving training standards, reducing vacancies, and establishing a new standard of positivity and respect. I hope you'll give me the chance to continue serving our community. I'm Sheriff John Q. Williams, and I humbly ask for your vote in 2024. Speaker, but I just want to give some quick acknowledgment here because just like in that video, I used to learn a lot, but sometimes I need to go deeper in saying what that means. Clearly, my mom is here, my sister is here, my wife is going to come up and speak in just a moment here, but I also want to point out we talk about relationships and partnerships. These are just some of the folks that we go to regularly, and sponsors, other things. So Coca-Cola helps us out, AT&T, Peetmont Hospital. There's a lot of folks that help us out when we need funding for some of the events I'm going to talk about later, but also I want to say, Cornerstone Church, Divas Who Win, Phillips Grove Baptist Church, Ebenezer West, People Living in Recovery, the Salvation Army, Mount Pleasant Church, Athens Alliance Coalition, who's represented here. These are all folks that we partner with to try to get things done in this community, and I would be remiss not to talk about my amnesia. So we got a lot of those members here, Chief Frank Woods is here, I know I saw Tony Howard, Jimmy Carter, I want to be the one breaking, but he's up for a chief position. I need him with me, but if he gets a chief spot, I'm going to hold him up there because, hey, it's fruits of the same tree. So when everybody else does good, we all do good. Major Swift, and again, I see some commissioners come in. Former Commissioner of Winterville, Amanda, thanks for coming out. Brian Freese is here. He's probably, this is for me and a campaign organizer, but outside of that, but the Sheriff's Office, this is the man that's trying to get our money flowing away. It needs to be, did I say Eric Swift? This is a Dapper of Gentlemen in the corner. This is how you know how we're doing good things. We get somebody, don't hold it against them, but they're trying to get us going. He spent a lot of time in college. I'm not going to say slow, but he's here, and he's helping us out with some different ideas because we need those. We can't just say, hey, Athens problems be solved by Athens folks. We need varying ideas, so we want to focus on that. And with that said, I'm going to bring this team member up because she has to see me working from home or from on the computer the end of a hard day. She sees what it's like being shared and she feels what it's like being the wife of a share. Miss Chandra, come on. Good afternoon everyone. It is an honor and a privilege to have all of you here today. I am Miss Chandra Williams, wife of Sheriff John Q. Williams. What can I say about John Q. Williams as the current Sheriff of Athens-Clarke County? First, I want to talk about the role of the Sheriff in general. I don't think everyone understands how important the Sheriff's Office is. The Sheriff is the Chief Law Enforcement Officer in the county. The Sheriff is an elected official that runs the jail and courthouse at a local level. Since the Sheriff is the highest ranking law enforcement in the county, he should be a man that works for you and protects you. And he does. The goal of the Sheriff's Office is service, dignity, respect and professionalism. The platform of John's first election was built on the bricks of dignity and respect. On treating people with humanity, on building community partnerships and fighting for criminal justice reform and additional programs for violent offenders. He stands on those same bricks now with the promises kept. For example, the eight week number one state program in partnership with Action Inc was created and implemented to enable the residents to learn ways to strengthen, build established or re-established relationships with their children and families on the outside. The program, REQS or reentry quality support is designed to identify potential obstacles residents may face. Sorry. Upon their release from jail. The program works to provide them with resources, education and training in order to successfully transition back into the community. A REQS intake form was created as soon as the individual is processed into the Athens Clark County jail to assist staff in determining what resources will be needed upon release. The REQS team will then begin working with various community resources to support the specific needs of the resident. The goal of this program is to reduce recidivism. John also partners with Divas who win for several women's programs that teach first aid and self-defense classes. Let's not forget about the implementation of Principles Overpassion taught by Shane Sims that you heard earlier today. In this program the residents meet with Shane three times per week to discuss their innermost feelings, feels, fears and failures but also their dreams. At the end of the eight weeks they even get to help each other select students for their beautiful graduation ceremony. Now, what can I say about John Q. Williams on a personal level with a little bit of sheriffiness still thrown in? In addition to being the Athens Clark County Sheriff, John is a devoted father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, friend and all around the person. But I have the honor and pleasure of calling him husband. Even with all that goes on we still try to do date night each week. We also enjoy taking trips all over and going to the movies. Sometimes it's to see a movie and sometimes it's USC or boxing which we love to see on the big screen.  I have to say I couldn't be sure what he is and how much he enjoys caring for our community. I was proud of him for running the Sheriff's Race the first time and doing so with grace and without mud slinging. Of course, I was extremely proud when he won. One of the proudest moments since winning was the first free back to school event in August of 2021. I still remember sitting outside like it was a dream reflecting on everything and everyone around me. I still remember the buzzing sounds of the clippers, how it felt outside, the smell of hot dogs and popcorn and so many kids running around or watching cartoons waiting for their turn. I remember trying to tell John during that event how proud I was of him but my emotions got the best of me and words would never do with justice. I actually don't remember if I was able to ever verbally share how I felt because I was so choked up but I'm sure that was probably a better indicator anyway. So we need to ensure this position continues to be held by John Q. Williams, someone who will hold himself and his staff accountable to the people that they serve regardless of race, ethnicity or citizenship. Being children of is John's ministry, his calling and his labor of love. Although John loves what he does this career is not always easy for him or for the people that he surrounds himself with. This excerpt comes from one Patrick Weaver. Your calling will come with words and sifting that are necessary for your mantle to be authentic, humble and powerful. Your crushing won't be easy because your assignment is not easy. Your oil is not cheap. So I urge you to vote again for John Q. Williams during the May primary and again in November. He is truly a sheriff of the people who has kept his promises and now I present to you what's been your sheriff, John Q. Williams. Talking about being choked up is never easy. I think the folks who know me know it was hard for me to get in the situation that I had to talk myself up. I've always been one to kind of like to let my actions speak for themselves. I've accepted that as sheriff and I'm this thing that they call a politician now. It doesn't have to be a dirty word when you do it right. But with no further ado I'm going to go ahead and get into my speech the reason that y'all are all out here and I got it so I can keep myself on track. I'm going to probably venture off a little bit because I do speak from the heart of life but this is getting me back going. Good afternoon. First and foremost thank you all for coming out. Many of you may remember from my campaigning in 2019 and 2020 I campaigned on many promises. To me probably not the least of which and maybe the most significant was that a vote for John Q. Williams is a vote for Athens. All of Athens. That remains true and I'm humbly asking for your continued support for another term. Being sheriff has been a welcome learning experience. I focus on the work that needs to be done. Some others even other sheriffs like to focus on the perks and benefits that can come with being a sheriff. There are some that can be found. The prime example is my sister pointed out so astutely when you're the sheriff of the county that is home to the two time defendant, national champion, Georgia Bulldogs whoo didn't reach the mountaintop this year but we'll be back next year. But I get calls from sheriffs and everybody throughout the state of Georgia and some other states say hey sheriff can you give me tickets. The folks can't believe that I haven't been on the sidelines for these games that they played in California. They just really won't believe that I don't just soak up all that power. The truth is I never even looked into it. I was and am focused on the work that still needs to be done. Now I do assure you I love those Bulldogs but I love being sheriff even more. So I'm going to tell you some things that I need to see instead of just purpose and benefits. I need to remain sheriff so I can see the new judicial center built. This project is critical in providing safety for judges, citizens attorneys my staff and the accused. I need to help see that our schools are safe for our children and their teachers. I need to do my part to bring about safer streets. I need to see an involved informed and safer community. I need to see a unified government that unifies its public safety professionals and not devise them. That would be a government that listens to the will and voice of the people all of the people not just the loudest voices or the ones with the deepest pockets. We have a good pool of lifelong community leaders. We need to work with them and not target or vilify those who are the people and that the people of Athens have looked up to for years, decades. Instead of calling out pastors, let's work with them. They're not perfect but you can't tell me that our county won't get better by taking some steps back towards God. So it's not rocket science. The more we care the more we unify. The more we believe the more we can achieve. I'm reminded of a quote I don't know where it originated but it stands out to me. I've even heard it on a couple wrap-outs. Imagine peace on this earth when there is no grief. Then imagine grief on this earth when there is no peace. So back to this Herbs and Benefits thing. I got three words for you. These are words that stay in my heart. Peace Love Safety So I'm not some short, barely five foot comedian that started off 2024 as they say choosing violence. I never choose violence. Make no mistake. I am capable of it. I am prepared for it but I don't lead with it.  Sheriff changed my assignment at work. Sheriff drives too nice a car. Sheriff kept me locked up too long. Sheriff didn't keep this person locked up long enough. And it doesn't matter what the truth is to many people they make up their minds and just run with the narrative. So let me take a few moments to go on the record about what I have done as sheriff and what Clark County Sheriff's Office has accomplished under my leadership. One of the first things that I knew had to happen because in the Pilean Principles Robert Peale states that the police are the public and the public are the police. When I took office there was no community outreach unit. That changed the moment I took to see the sheriff. We created an outreach unit we allocated deputies and supervisors to that unit and that unit in these three years have had several successes meaning that you heard about today. The back to school haircut event. We did that first in 2021 we had about 40 kids come out and get their haircut. We served them hot dogs. We knew people appreciated that so we thought we ought to do it again. So the next year we did it and we had about 60 kids but we added doing braids.  So we did haircuts hair braiding we also did face painting we served hot dogs we had games and activities. What I'm describing is community outreach but it's also providing needs and one of the things that people need the most is safety and security. Most of these events I'm going to tell you about takes place in the training area of the Clark County jail.  So when you come out to the Clark County jail you're not going to have that element that's going to challenge authority. You're going to have folks who are going to act right because if they don't act right they know we're going to deal with it. That's what we do. Next up the fall festival I don't know if anybody here has been to it but if you haven't look online and that was my moment. My wife said that she was brought to tears at the back of the school here and it was great and we had a diverse crowd we had kids of all backgrounds but this fall festival y'all we had an idea that we wanted to provide a safe space and we'd always participated in drunker treat we were like how can we take it to that next level. So we said hey let's do a full fall festival let's invite different areas of the government and all our community partners that I've already talked about today to have tents to dress up and do a judging but not only that we've got an area of the jail that has not really been used in the last several years since we did the new construction so we said you know what we could do put a haunted house in there and we did and it was scary but it was fun but people loved it and while we were thinking hey you know maybe get a few hundred people out on a Friday night and have some fun the first year we did it probably close to if not over 2,000 people came through on that Friday so we knew we had to do it again this year numbers were closer or maybe over 3,000 and this is like a first cross section of the community that's gathered and there's no problem so far we plan to keep doing it but it also lets people know that there's a place they can go and that their government cares for them many of our commissioners some day they're here today came out and they saw what we're doing the other folks came so it was hot dogs and hamburgers and popcorn and cotton candy and bones and just good old fashioned fun and a hay ride community outreach each year we participate in Flatham Blue it's one of the longest running and nationwide events that you have you try to introduce members of the clergy faith-based leaders partnering with law enforcement to show what community outreach and involvement is and we participated in that it's a great success we have discussions all the time we've also largely due to COVID there's a lot of people facing food insecurities and we started out by partnering with Northeast Georgia regional food bank to help them out volunteering providing security and helping hand out foods at their events but when we saw how many people were coming down we said well dang if people are this hungry every month what can we do and they said it's not really hard so we reached out to those partners that we had the Georgia Powers folks of that nature some of our companies who are in specifically dealing with jails our food service provider Legacy Commissary they all donate so we can get food to host our own events and we try to do that at least quarterly ourselves and definitely around the holidays before the holidays hit and through those efforts in these three years we've been able to provide additional food to people with insecurities hundreds of families we sponsored basketball events my first year in office I actually played basketball in the tournament I'm glad there's like not a lot of video of that the legs don't lift and get back up the way they used to so if we get back to it again I might get out there but I might be like my dad my dad's a Hall of Famer in Indiana basketball and football and once he ceased to play basketball regularly he was I don't know if you know these old movies but there's a movie and they had a main character they called him set shot well that's my dad he's a gunner all he does mom am I right that's it he got the hiatus kept me I'm not sure but he's 6'5 both of my sons are taller than me I'm okay with that cause you always want your kids to be better at you however it gets that way alright so movies on the lawn with the sheriff I'll hit that briefly we did that for the first time this fall it was rainy much like this it cleared up just in time for movie time we had folks out behind the jail on the lawn with a big blow up screen it was so great we had people all for the next time we do it hey we got screens bigger screens for y'all to use you don't have to pay it we'll just do it when they see that effort there's people in this community whether they live here or just work here or just got money they will help out when you're trying to do the right thing you show Mario Bros and I dressed up as Mario when y'all see these pictures up here every Halloween I dress up I do something you know lastly what I want to talk about about our accomplishments the neighborhood cleanups we partnered with Keep Athens Beautiful Solid Place and many others and we've done probably in these three years at least six neighborhood cleanups where we go out to these neighborhoods whether it's appliances, old chairs tires that are left by the road and we help the community work with them, not supervise them we get out there, get our elbows deep and put things in dumpsters to be picked up and carded off to make the community safer and healthier we also partnered with 30 by 30 initiative just want to throw that out there there's a move nationwide to make sure that the number of women in law enforcement gets to be 30% by the year 2030 I'll have y'all know that the Clark County Sheriff's Office is way above that we're probably close to 60% so always accepting women but we need some guys too one of the campaign promises I made we needed to get a hold of the finances I created a position to mainly, almost solely focus on grants and other alternative funding sources so we don't always have to go to the mayor and the commission and say we need this because we know there's not enough county funds to do everything that the county needs so if we can find other things we'll get it just one such thing we got we got a transport now proud of this we were able to secure funds to get a nice expedition that's unmarked that we can use when we have a mental health and somebody's not under arrest but they might not be comfortable being transported which is one of the duties of the sheriff in a marked vehicle so we use that in those situations and one such instance again, I can't disclose everything but we had a gentleman in jail who'd been in and out frequently he had mental health issues he also had some serious medical issues and we're talking back and forth with the judges because jail is not the place for but we can't just let him go so we were able to negotiate his release under condition that we found some place for him to go first his parents lived in Texas elderly parents not mobile they can't drive and get on the met his mental health and medical health are such that he can't get a driver's license so he can't get on the plane his mental state and medical state is such that we didn't believe that if we put him on a bus that he was going to make it to Texas thanks largely to my chief who runs the jail we were able to get some deputies to take that vehicle and drive that gentleman to Texas that little bit of extra effort is what it takes we talked about the number one dad the number one dad's principal's overpassion I'm most proud of that part of principal's overpassion because when it was brought back to me ideas that hey let us know what you need but some of the stuff that came back it was like we want to give them soups Abany's of west had gone to their closet and they had done a giveaway of soups and they didn't give them all out we talked about what we were doing they said well we'd like to give you the soups that are left over and from that day we've gotten donations from throughout the county nice clothing not just for the men but for the women but if you've seen those pictures of those gentlemen first time some of them have ever had a soup and or tie if you can see that if you can hear them talk some of the other guys wrote a song and I'm going to tell you as a sheriff I'm standing in jail watching their graduation and I'm like hey when your album coming out because it wasn't it wasn't a good happy song but it's one of those songs that you feel to your core I see a couple of people hurt it's like it touched me to my soul we've had folks who've done poetry and the speeches they give the program that Shane does when they talk about the effects our mayor came out and spoke at one of these graduations I've never had an occasion to have a mayor come out and speak not just to me but with me to have a mayor care to have a sheriff care and that's what we want to keep moving forward we'll take this moment to just kind of talk about a few special events that we have planned in the near future we've secured a grant to bring more AEDs to the courthouse and also a place one in each of our vehicles that was a firehouse subs grant those we've got the last two that should be coming in this week so we'll have more at the courthouse and there's also a plan in place that we can renew those we had a situation we don't get them used often so you don't think about it we had a lady that had a medical event at the courthouse and we're going through all four levels of the courthouse trying to find one of the AEDs that's functioning we shouldn't have that problem but we no longer do so we'll be soon putting in the service a new body scanner at the jail that will greatly reduce the amount of contraband that finds its way into the jail jails and prisons in the world have issues with contraband whether it's drugs, weapons, or other things just some things, sometimes maybe you can use this barb that will be in place within the next few weeks pay attention we're going to invite many of you out we have that press release because it's a really big deal the smallest amount of fentanyl that gets through can have life changing effects and this machine will serve to reduce the likeness we can't say eliminate entirety because there's always going to be a way but it's one step in that direction and just so you know your jail I'm not going to say it doesn't have a problem but it never happens but comparatively to other jails and prisons in the state of Georgia we don't have the same issues but we're still taking this proactive effort to reduce even below the levels that we have now we'll be hosting a classic city prays fest as a fundraiser for the georgia shares youth homes keeping an eye out for that come April I'm quite excited about that provide something to kids throughout the state and also celebrate anybody here don't like hear a little gospel music a little toe tapping we'll get it going so I have one thing this is a prize announcement I'll talk quickly and briefly to the manager about this so commissioners I'm glad y'all are here so y'all can hear what we got coming I had asked Mr. Fry to be here he couldn't be here this morning the reason he's not here is because we've partnered with Spencer on several things but most recently between him and Habitat for Humanity we've developed a plan to provide training at the jail Spencer this morning is working at the jail what about eight women residents who are incarcerated persons teaching them to build modules for tiny homes working on what we're going to do with that pressure from y'all not even pressure, commissioners y'all know it's coming but the concept of possible tiny house villages when we talk about rezoning in those efforts hopefully we can figure out a way to make this work because the vision would be that some of our unhoused population might be able to utilize these tiny homes when they are built on site at the Clark County Jail assembled elsewhere and maybe that's temporary housing for homeless who knows how big it can be the one thing we talked about when we talked about our REX our re-entry program there's never been one like that focused on re-entry returning citizens a lot of times when you're in jail in the jail you're usually not there for years and years usually it's like we eat for months maybe a couple years top so you're getting out but if you don't have somebody focused on taking care of business you lose your job you lose your house you might lose your car where do you go when you get out because if you only lose while you're in jail what resources do you have when you get out so that's why we're doing this job training but we also hope that maybe this tiny house thing can work so that if you don't have a place to go when you get out of jail you can stay in one of these tiny houses while you get back on your feet there's always going to be rules and restrictions there's going to be a thorough process to figure out how we can work this out I've got the vision I'm going to be going to the mayor and commission and all of my team and all of y'all to see how we can make this a reality I'm coming to the end I'll try not to get off top off track so for those of you that have followed me in campaigning in 2019 and 2020 all the way until the start of this my fourth year as your sheriff I thank you for your support and I humbly ask for your support as we continue to work making Athens and all of Clark County even better as I said earlier I'm focused on the work that still needs to be done I need your help getting fair pay for the deputies in your Clark County Sheriff's Office we need collaboration from all law enforcement and public safety entities within the county in order to improve safety of our community we all have to work together with the community as a whole to provide positive outlets for our youth I have worked with my team to build relationships with key community members are critical in solving the many issues that are facing us I have lived and been a part of the Clark County community for more than half my life nobody asks how old are you I have family friends and extended family here Athens is my home and no one cares more about making Athens safe and prosperous than I do Clark County will benefit from having a sheriff that has knowledge and experience beyond the jurisdiction of lines of Athens Clark County Clark County needs a sheriff that has trained and gained experience throughout the country and from experienced leaders and trainers from around the world than I have Clark County needs a sheriff that knows the law and how to apply Clark County needs a sheriff that leads by example Clark County needs a sheriff that is approachable and accountable Clark County needs a sheriff that cares I'm John Key Williams and I am the sheriff Clark County needs and the sheriff that you have had for the last three years I need your help at the polls to make sure that we don't lose any of the progress that we have made vote for me as sheriff in 2024 and together we can continue leading the charge for criminal justice reform John Key Williams thank you all the people thank you


There are many really cool things to study in earth science. For example, you can study ice in the cryosphere, you can study the oceans, you can study land, you can also study vegetation, trees, things like this, photosynthesis. There are just a host of really cool physically-based things to study about the coupled atmosphere, surface of the earth on the continents and the oceans and how they interact. And a really good background in physics and math, perhaps biology, perhaps a marine biology, whatever some specialties are, atmospheric science, you can use those skills then to study in a quantitative way how different aspects of the earth interact and vary over time.


CHAPTER X. THE DOOM. PART II Christmas Day went by quietly. In the morning we all attended service in the little church, and at night some guests arrived for the usual festivities. We passed a merry evening, but now and then I glanced with a certain apprehension at Miss Sherwood. She was in white, with holly berries in her belt and dark hair. She was certainly a very pretty girl, but the uneasiness plainly manifested in her watchful eyes and trembling lips marred her beauty. There was a want of quiet about her too, which infected me uncomfortably. Suddenly I determined to ask for her confidence. What had the mysterious gypsy said to her? This was the night when, according to old tradition, the ghost of the herb woman appeared. If Miss Sherwood could relieve her mind before retiring to rest, it would be all the better for her. We were standing near each other, and as she stooped to pick up a bunch of berries which had fallen from her belt, I bent towards her. You are troubled about something, I said. Oh, I am a very silly girl, she replied. Will you not tell me about it? I continued. I will respect your confidence and give you my sympathy. I ought not to encourage my nervous fears, she replied. By the way, did Father tell you about the legend connected with this house? He did. This is the night when the herb woman appears. My dear child, you don't suppose that a spirit from the other world really comes back in that fashion? Dismiss it from your mind. There is nothing in it. So you say, she answered, but you never saw.  I feel a ghostly influence in the air, she said. I know that something dreadful will happen to night. You think that because the fortune teller frightened you yesterday. She gave me a startled and wide awake glance. What do you mean? I judge from your face and manner. If you will take courage and unburden your mind, I may doubtless be able to dispel your fears. But she told me what she did under the promise of secrecy. Dare I break my word? Under the circumstances, yes, I answered quickly. Very well I will tell you. I don't feel as if I could keep it to myself another moment, but you on your part must faithfully promise that it shall go no farther. I will make the promise," I said. She looked me full in the face. Coming to the conservatory, she said, she took my hand and led me out of the long, low drawing-room into a great conservatory at the farther end. It was lit with many Chinese lanterns, which gave a dim and yet bright effect. We went and stood under a large lemon tree, and Miss Sherwood took one of my hands in both her own. I shall never forget that scene yesterday, she said. I could scarcely see the face of the gypsy, but her great, brilliant eyes pierced the gloom, and the feel of her hand thrilled me when it touched mine. She asked me to kneel by her, and her voice was very full and deep and of great power. And it was not like that of an uneducated woman. She spoke very slowly, with a pause between each word. I pity you, for you are close to death, she began. I felt myself quite incapable of replying, and she continued, Not your own death, nor even that of your father, but all the same you are very close to death. Death will soon touch you, and it will be cold and mysterious and awful. And try as you may, you cannot guard against it, for it will come from a very unlooked-for source, and be instant and swift in its work. Now ask me no more, go. But what about the fortunes of the two gentlemen who are waiting outside? I said. I have told you the fortunes of those men. She answered, go. She waved me away with her hand, and I went out. That is all, Mr. Head. I do not know what it means, but you can understand that to a nervous girl like me it has come as a shock. I can, truly, I replied. And now you must make up your mind, not to think of it any more. The gypsy saw that you were nervous, and she thought she would heighten the impression by words of awful portent, which doubtless mean nothing at all. Rosalie tried to smile, and I think my words comforted her. She little guessed the battle I was having with my own heart. The unaccountable depression which had assailed me of late, now gathered thick like a pall. Late that evening I went to Defraer's room. I had promised Miss Sherwood that I would not betray her confidence, but the words of the gypsy in the herb woman's hut kept returning to me again and again.  You cannot guard against it, for it will come from an unlooked-for source and be instant and swift in its work. What is the matter? said Defraer, glancing into my face. I am depressed, I replied. The ghostly legend belonging to this house is affecting me. He smiled. And by the way, I added, you are sleeping in the room where the murder was committed. He smiled again, and gave me a glance of amused commiseration. Really, head! he cried. This sort of thing is unlike you. Surely old wives, fables, ought not to give you a moment's serious thought. The fact that an unfortunate lad was murdered in this room cannot affect my nerves some twenty years afterwards. Do go to bed, my dear fellow. You need a long sleep. He bade me good night. I had no excuse to linger, and I left him. Just as I reached the door he called after me. Good night, old man. Sleep well. I turned and looked at him. He was standing by the window. His face was towards me, and he still wore that inscrutable smile which was one of his special characteristics. I left him. I little guessed. I retired to my room. My brain was on fire. It was impossible for me to rest. What was yesterday but a vague suspicion was now assuming the form of a certainty. Only one person could have uttered the words which Miss Sherwood had heard. Beyond doubt Madam Kaluchi had known of our proposed visit to Rokesby. Beyond doubt she, in company with some gypsies, had joined our train, and when we arrived at Rokesby she alighted there also. With her knowledge of the gypsies an acquaintanceship with Mother Harriet would be easily made. To take refuge in her hut would be a likely contingency. Why had she done so? What mischief could she do to us from such a vantage point? Suddenly, like a vivid flash, the memory of the secret passage, which none of the inmates of the house could discover, returned to me. In all probability this passage was well known to Mother Harriet, for had not her mother committed the murder which had taken place in this very house, and did not the legend say that she had entered the house and quitted it again through the secret passage? I quickly made up my mind. I must act and act at once. I would go straight to the hut. I would confront Madam. I would meet her alone. In open combat I had nothing to fear. Anything was better than this wearing and agonizing suspense. I waited in my room until the steps of the old rector retiring for the night were heard, and then went swiftly downstairs. I took the key of the hall door from its hook on the wall, opened it, locked it behind me, went to the stables, secured a lantern, and then began my ascent of gray tour. The night was clear and starlit. The moon had not yet risen, but the stars made sufficient light for me to see my way. After a little over an hour's hard walking I reached the herb woman's hut. I thundered on the door with my stick, and in a minute the dame appeared. Suddenly I remembered that she was dumb, but she could hear. I spoke to her. I have a word to say to the stranger who was here yesterday. I began. If she was in, I must see her at once. The herb woman shook her head. I do not believe you, I said. Stand aside. I must search the hut. She stood aside and I entered. There was no one else present. The hut was small. A glance showed me every corner. The herb woman's guest had departed. Without even apologizing for my abrupt intrusion I quickly ran down the mountain, and as I did so the queer rhyme which contained the key to the secret passage occurred to my memory. I had my memorandum book with me. I opened it now, and read the words. When the you and star combine, draw it twenty cubits line, wait until the saintly lips, shall the belfry spire eclipse. Cubits ate across the first. There shall lie the tomb accursed. Gibberish doubtless, and yet gibberish with a possible meaning. I pondered over the enigmatic words. There is a U-tree in the churchyard, I said to myself, but the rest seems unfathomable. There was a shortcut home through the churchyard. I resolved to take it. I went there and walked straight to the U-tree. When the you and star combine, I said, speaking aloud, surely there is only one star which remains immovable, the pole or north star. I looked up at the sky. The pole star was shining down upon me. I became excited and much interested. Moving about, I presently got the trunk of the old U-tree and the star in a line. Then I again examined my key. Draw it twenty cubits line. Twenty cubits meant thirty feet. I walked on in a straight line that distance, and then perceived in the moonlight for the moon had now risen. That standing here, and looking at the church spire, the lips of the stone carving of a saint just covered the spire itself from view. Surely the meaning of the second couplet was plain. Wait until the saintly lips, shall the belfry spire eclipse. The third and last couplet ran as follows. Cubits eight across the first. There shall lie the tomb accursed. My heart beating hard I quickly measured eight cubits, namely twelve feet, and then started back with a cry of horror. For I had come to a large vault which stood open. The entrance stone had been moved aside. Without an instant hesitation I ran down some steps. The tomb was a large one, and was quite empty. Never coffin of man had lain here, but a passage wound away to the left, a torturous passage, down which I quickly walked. My lantern threw light on the ghastly place, and the air was sufficiently good to prevent the candle going out. Why was the tomb open? What was happening? Fear itself seemed to walk by my side. Never before had I so felt its ghastly presence. I hurried my steps, and soon perceived a dim light at the farther end. The next instant I had entered the hall of the old house. I had done so through a panel which had been slipped aside. Had anyone gone in before me? If so, who? Who had opened the tomb? Who had traversed the passage? Who had gone into the house by this fearful and long-closed door? I was just about to rush upstairs. When a piercing scream fell on my ears, it came from just above me.  I bent over it. It was rosely. Her features were twitching in a horrible manner, and her dilated eyes stared at me without any recognition. Her lips were murmuring. Catch her! Catch her! The next moment the rector appeared, hurrying down the passage in his dressing-gown. What is wrong, he cried! What has happened? The girl clung to my arm, and now sent a scream after scream. The entire house was aroused, and the servants with scared faces came running to the spot. Rosely's terror now found vent in fresh words. The herb-woman, she saw, the ghost of the herb-woman! I heard a noise, and ran on to the landing. I met her. She was coming from Mr. Dufrayer's room. She was making straight for yours, Mr. Head. Suddenly she saw me. Utter to cry and flew downstairs.  The ghost! The ghost! Did you say the woman was coming from Dufrayer's room? I asked. A sudden maddening fear clutched at my heart. Where was Dufrayer? Surely he must have heard this uproar. I went to his room, opened the door, and dashed in. Inside, all was darkness. Wake up, I said to him. Something dreadful has happened. Did you not hear Rosely's scream? Wake up! There was no answer. I returned to the landing to fetch a light. The rector now accompanied me into the room. We both went up to the silent figure in the bed. I bent over him and shook him by the shoulder. Still, he did not stir. I bent lower, and observed on his neck, just behind the ear, a slight mark, the mark which a hypodermic syringe would make. Good God! What had happened? You are close to death. You cannot guard against it, try as you may, for it will come from an unlooked foresource and be instant and swift in its work. The words echoed mockingly in my ears. I flung down the bed-clothes, and in an excess of agony laid my hand on the heart of the men I loved best on earth. He was dead. I staggered back, faint and giddy, against the bed-post. See, I said to the old clergyman, her work, the fiend, she has been in this house. She has entered by the secret passage. Come at once, there is not an instant to lose. As there is a God in heaven, she shall pay the price for this crime. Sherwood gazed at me, as if he thought me bereft of my senses. He could not believe that Defrayer was really dead. I pointed to the small wound, and asked him to feel where the heart no longer beat. But who has done it, he said. What fiend do you allude to? Madame Colucci. Let us follow her. I rushed from the room and downstairs. The panel in the wall had been slammed too, but my memory could not play me false. I knew its position. I found what had been so long searched for in vain, touched a spring and opened it. Sherwood and I hurried down the winding passage. Just at the entrance to the tomb we came upon a gypsy woman's bonnet and cloak. They had been dropped there, doubtless, by Madame, when she had flown after committing her deadly work. We entered the empty tomb. On the floor lay a small hypodermic syringe. I picked it up. It was broken. To its sides clung a whitish-gray substance. I guessed what it afterwards proved to be Trinitrin or Nitroglycerin in strong solution. The effect of such a terrible poison would be instantaneous. Sherwood and I returned to the house. The place was in an uproar of excitement. The local police were called in. I told my strange tale and my strong suspicions, to which they listened with breathless interest. Rosalie was very ill, going from one strong hysterical fit into another. The doctor was summoned to attend her. The fact of Defrayer's death was carefully kept from the sick girl. Her father was so distracted about her that he could give no attention to anyone else. Meanwhile I was alone, utterly alone, with my anguish and horror. The friend of my life had fallen by the hand of Madame Calucci.  Never was a man more pursued with a deadly thirst for vengeance. The thought that Madame was moment by moment, putting a greater distance between herself and me, drove me mad. Towards morning I could stand in action no longer, and determined to walk to the station. When I got there I learned that no train left before nine o'clock. This was more than I could bear. My restlessness increased. The junction which connected with the main line was a distance of fifteen miles off. There was no carriage to be obtained. Nevertheless I resolved to walk the distance. I had overestimated my own strength. I was already faint and giddy. The shock had told on me more than I dared to own.  My eyes grew dim. The earth seemed to reel away from me. I staggered forward a few steps, and then all was lost in darkness. I must have stumbled and fallen by the wayside, and my fit of unconsciousness must have been long. For when I came to myself, the sun was high in the heavens. A rough-looking man dressed as a workman was bending over me. You have been real bad, he said, the moment my eyes met his. The lady said to throw cold water on you and you'd be better. The man's words roused me as no ordinary restorative could do. I sat up, and the next moment had tottered to my feet. The lady, I said, did you mention a lady? What lady? A tall lady, was the reply, a stranger in these parts. She was bending over you when I come along. She had black eyes, and I thought she was giving you something to bring you round. When she saw me, she said, you'd dash cold water over him and he'll come too. But where is the lady now? I gasped. There, by yonder hill, just going over the brow, don't you see? I do, and I know who she is. I must overtake her. Goodbye, my man. I am all right. So I was. The sudden stimulus had renewed my faltering strength. I recognized that figure. With that grace, inimitable and perfect, which never at any moment deserted it, it was moving from my view. Yes, I knew it. Madam Kaluchi had doubtless found me by the wayside, and had meant to complete the work which she had begun last night. Had she still possessed her syringe, I should now have been a dead man. Where was she going? Doubtless to catch the very train to which I was hurrying. If so, we should meet almost immediately. I hurried forward. Once again I caught sight of the figure in the far distance. I could not get up to it, and suddenly I felt that I did not want to. I should meet her in London to-night. That was my thought of thoughts. As I approached the great junction, I heard the whistle of a coming train. It was the express. It dashed into the station just as I reached it. I was barely in time. Without waiting for a ticket, I stumbled almost in a fainting condition into the first carriage I could reach. The train moved on. I felt a sudden sense of satisfaction. Madam Kaluchi was also on board. How that awful journey was passed is difficult for me to remember. Beyond the thought of thoughts that Madam and I were rushing to London by the same train, that we should beyond doubt meet soon, I had little feeling of any sort. Her hour was close at hand. My hour of vengeance was nigh. At the first junction I handed two telegrams to a porter and desired him to send them off immediately. They were to Tyler and Ford. When between eight and nine o'clock that night we reached Houston, the detectives were waiting for me. Madam Kaluchi is in the train, I said to them. You can apprehend her if you are quick. There is not an instant to lose. The men in wild excitement began to search along the platform. I followed them. Surely Madam could not have already escaped. She had not the faintest idea that I was in the train. She would take things leisurely when she reached Houston. So I had hoped, but my hopes were falsified. Nowhere could we get even a glimpse of the face for which we sought. Never mind, said Ford, I also have news and I believe that our success is near. We will go straight to her house. I learned not an hour ago that a fresh staff of servants had been secured and the house is brightly lit up. Our detectives who surround the place are under the impression that she will be in her old quarters tonight. I have a carriage in waiting. We will start immediately. Without a word I entered it and we drove off. We made no plans beyond the intention in each man's breast that Madam should be taken either alive or dead. As the carriage drew up at the house I noticed that the hall was brilliantly lighted. The moment Ford touched the bell a flunky through the door open as if he were waiting for us. My mistress is in her laboratory, was his reply to our inquiries. She has just returned after a journey. I think she expects you, gentlemen. We will go to her there. You know the way. We rapidly crossed the hall and began to descend the stone steps. As we did so, the muffled hum of machinery in rapid motion fell on our ears. Just as we reached the laboratory door, Ford, who had been leading the way, stopped and turned around. His face was very pale, but he spoke firmly and quietly. There is not the least doubt, he said in a semi-whisper, that we are going into great danger. Madam would not receive us like this if she had not made a plan for our destruction, which only she could devise. It is impossible to tell what may happen, that it will be a terrible encounter and that it will need all our strength and presence of mind is certain, for we are now about to enter the very sanctuary of her fiendish arts and appliances. I will go first. The moment I see her I shall cover her, and if she stirs we'll shoot her dead on the spot. He turned the handle of the door and we slipped silently into the laboratory. It was like entering a furnace. The heat was stifling. A single incandescent burner shed a subdued light over the place, revealing the outline of the stone roof and dim recesses in the walls. At the farther end stood Madam. As we entered she turned slowly and faced us.  Hands up or I fire! rang up from Ford, who stepped forward and immediately covered her with his revolver. She instantly obeyed, raising both her arms. Her eyes now met mine, and the faintest of smiles played round her lips. The next instant as if wrenched from his grasp by some unseen power the weapon leapt from Ford's hands and dashed itself with terrific force against the poles of an enormous electromagnet beside him. Every loose piece of iron started and sprang towards it with a deafening crash. Madam must have made the current by pressing a key in the floor with her foot. For a moment we stood rooted to the spot, thunderstruck by the sudden and unforeseen method by which we had been disarmed. Madam Kaluchi still continued to gaze at us, but now her smile grew broader, and soon it rang out in a scornful laugh. It is my turn to dictate terms, she said in a steady, even voice. Advance one step towards me, and we die together. Norman Head, this is your supposed hour of victory, but know that you will never take me either alive or dead. As she spoke her hand moved to a small lever on the bench beside her. She drew herself up to her full majestic height, and stood rigid as a figure carved in marble. I glanced at Ford. His lips were firmly compressed, drops of sweat gleamed upon his face. He began to breathe quickly through distended nostrils. Then with a sudden spring he bounded forward and simultaneously there leapt up, straight before our eyes, what seemed like one huge sheet of white flame. So fearfully bright and dazzling was it that it struck us like a blow, and Tyler and I fell. We were blinded by a heat that seemed to sear our very eyeballs. The next moment all was darkness. When I came to myself a cool draft of air was blowing upon my face, and Tyler's voice sounded in my ears. I rose, staggering. Before my eyes there still seemed to dance a thousand sparks and whirling wheels of fire. The servants were running about wildly, and one of the men had brought a lamp from the hall. It lit up the wild and haggard face of my companion. We dare not go back, he whispered, pointing to the laboratory door, trembling and almost gibbering as he did so. But what has happened, I said. I made a rush towards the laboratory. Two of the men held me back forcibly. It is not safe, sir. One of them said, The room within is a furnace.  By main force I was kept from rushing to my own destruction. It was an hour later when we entered. Even then the heat was almost past bearing. Slowly and cautiously Tyler and I approached the spot where we had last seen Madame Calucci. Upon the stone flags lay the body of the detective, so terribly burnt as to be almost unrecognizable, and a few yards farther was the mouth of a big hole, from which still radiated a fierce heat. By degrees it cooled sufficiently to allow us to examine it. It was about eight feet deep and circular in shape. From its walls jutted innumerable jets. Their use was evident to me at once, for upon the floor beside us stood an enormous iron cylinder, such as are used for compressed gases. These had presumably been used before to create by means of the jets one vast oxyhydrogen flame to give the intensest heat known, a heat computed by scientists, at the enormous temperature of 2,400 degrees centigrade. It was evident what had happened. As Ford sprang forward, Madame must have released the iron trap and descended through a column of this fearful flame, not only causing instantaneous death, but simultaneously also an absolute annihilation. At the bottom of the well lay a small heap of smoldering ashes. These were all the earthly remains of the brain that had conceived and the body that had executed some of the most malignant designs against mankind that the history of the world has ever shown.