SUNDAY

December 23, 2012

year in review

Voters backed Sunday alcohol

EDItOrS NOtE: This is the second installment of a 10part series on the top stories of 2012.

police deaths on rise

Staff Writers

By Mike Wynn
Staff Writer

Shootings, not roads, to blame

By Bianca Cain Johnson and Walter C. Jones
The fatal shootings of two area police officers in 2011, followed by a third in January, reflect a nationwide trend. According to the FBIs Officers Killed and Assaulted Report, 72 police officers were killed in the line of duty in 2011, with more dying from gunshots than traffic accidents for the first time. (The report) clearly demonstrates what we already know despite the dangers of law enforcement, the profession continues to attract brave men and women willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect their fellow citizens, an FBI statement said. Richmond County sheriffs Deputy J.D. Paugh and Aiken Public Safety officers Scotty Richardson and Sandy Rogers died in the line of duty within a three-month span starting in October 2011. We live in a violent society, said former Richmond County Sheriff Ronnie Strength. My hats off to anyone who gets into law enforcement. Its a much more dangerous game than it was when I got into it. In Georgia, officers were fired on 82 times in 2011, according to figures obtained from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Paugh was gunned down on Bobby Jones Expressway on Oct. 23, 2011. Investigators said the popular motorcycle deputy didnt even put down the kickstand of
See OFFICErS on PAGE 3B Jack Chandler, 11, makes Nativity sets from sticks, tree bark and other materials he finds. He has sold about 10, with about a dozen more orders that will be completed after Christmas.
SARA CALDWELL/STAFF

Blue laws took a beating this year as more area municipalities joined the growing number allowing Sunday alcohol sales. On Super Tuesday in March, Augusta voters approved a referendum that made Augusta-Richmond County the largest jurisdiction in the area to allow Sunday packaged alcohol sales. The vote wasnt close; about 58 percent voted to approve the measure. Similar scenarios played out in Blythe, Harlem, the unincorporated areas of Columbia County, North Augusta and Burke County. It wasnt without some controversy, as some officials bemoaned the change. I hate to see people leaving the church on Sunday and their first stop is the liquor store, said Augusta Commission member Bill Lockett, who voted against the licensing required to allow Sunday packaged alcohol sales to begin April 1 with no additional fee for retailers. After the dominoes began to fall, many municipalities had to keep pace so they wouldnt lose revenue to their neighbors. Grovetown voters had gotten the ball rolling in late 2011 when they OKd Sunday sales. Aiken passed a Sunday alcohol sales ordinance for retail beer and wine the same year. The Aiken Hospitality
See ALCOHOL on PAGE 2B

A craftsman is born
By Lisa Kaylor
Staff Writer

Boys Nativity sets made of found items

Jack Chandlers art supplies have taken over his familys dining room table. It is cluttered with bowls filled with wine corks, raw cotton, bottle caps and bullet casings; bins that contain wood scraps, tree bark and sticks; and a rotary tool for sawing and drilling that he bought himself. After about four hours in Jacks hands, the bark becomes a stable, corks become wise men, pecans become the heads of Mary and Joseph, and cotton becomes sheep. Jack, 11, has sold about 10 of his handmade Nativity sets and has orders for about a dozen more to be completed after Christmas. His parents have pitched in assembly-line-style to help fill orders on time. He said he is surprised his hobby has become a seasonal business. Its kind of overwhelming, said Jack, who attends Episcopal Day School. It started last year when his mother said. The earnings gave Jack spending money for the familys trip to New York last week. Now he wants to save for a trampoline to share with his brother and sister. Ever since he was small, Jack has liked to build things. His mother said that when he was very young he would strap on his Bob the Builder tool belt and go into the backyard to fix it. He has his own shop space in the back of the garage. Ill come out with sticks and stuff tied together, Jack said. I made a bow and arrow out of string and two pieces of bamboo. It shoots about 60 feet. Of the Nativity sets, Jack said the people are his least favorite to build. The figures are made out of small sticks that are draped with cloth. Pieces of Popsicle sticks create a stand to support them. I like to build the cradles and the shelters, he said. Those are easier to me.
Reach Lisa Kaylor at (706) 828-3884 or lisa.kaylor@augustachronicle.com.

William Chandler, 5, watches as his brother, Jack, cuts bark to use in a Nativity. Jack made his first set last year.

mother, Kristen Chandler, needed a centerpiece for a Christmas party. Jack, who long has liked to build and fix things, already had made a structure out of Popsicle sticks. He offered to make Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus to turn it into a Nativity scene. Friends who saw the set offered to pay Jack to make them one. More orders came in after he entered one in an art show. Each set is unique. Some have large stables with pitched roofs. Some have small stables with flat roofs. Some of the clothing is traditional, and some is a little more funky. It depends on what the buyer wants, his

rEAD MOrE on officers J.D. Paugh, from left, Scotty Richardson and Sandy Rogers at augustachronicle.com.

empty stocking fund donors

Previously acknowledged .$79,842.57 In honor of Mad Dog and Crazy Joey ..............................$25 In honor of our beautiful daughter, Lauren Brooke Lowe, Merry Christmas .....................................$100 Love one another as you would love yourself .........................................$500 Dr. Geri Harmon..................................$50 Merry Christmas Ryan Casey Creech! We Love you and miss you so very much, Daddy, Tracy, Nanny, and Granny B. ................................ $11 In loving memory of Anthony W. Leggio .......................$200 In honor of the La-Las........................$50 T.K. and Helen Egan.........................$100 In honor of my beautiful niece, Claudia Isabelle Craft ....................$30 In memory of Grady, Lillian, Ellen, Paul Betty and Baby Jeremy the Jewelers Bench .....................$500 In memory of Robert, forever my love. Connie Wendt ..............................$200 In memory of Mattie P Williams .......$100 . In memory of Robert E. Williams .....$100 James and Kelley OQuinn ..............$100 In loving memory of Lewis and Kendall McCall, your family misses you both .............................$25 In memory of Andy and Stewart Capers ..............................$50 Merry Christmas! In honor of the owners of W.A. Bragg & Co., from the employees. ....................$316 Philippe and Lauren Erramuzpe .......$75 Jimmy and Gertrude ..........................$30 In loving memory of my parents, Dea. Albert Lee & Louise R. Bivines; A friend who was like a father to me, Mr. Walter S. Williams by Emily Ann Bivines ........................$100 In memory of Tran T Tu.......................$25 In memory of John and Lois St John $25 In loving memory of Jessica, Aunt Gert, Fran, Raymond and Bruno from M & M .........................$50 The Sidley Family .............................$100 In memory of Biba and Pink, Charlie & Reba ..............................$50 Happy Holidays!................................$200 In loving memory of Doris Paul, Eugenia Lyles, Martha Stanfield and Stephania Szocinski............$100 From the employees at Gold Mech in the name of Tom Dozier ..........$500 In honor of Vickie Goetz by Jane and Doug Flanders ........................$25 In honor of Phillip and Karen Morgan .......................$150 Total today ................................... $3,887 Total this year .......................$83,729.57

Fill in your own last-minute Christmas letter

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world. Norman Vincent Peale

f youre like me, you were distressed to find some Christmas card stragglers in the mailbox yesterday. You know, cards from people you didnt expect to send one. Well, its too late to respond in kind before Tuesday, so let me help. I have composed an updated 2012 Family Christmas newsletter for you to e-mail back to them. Ive even given you suggestions to fill in the blanks. Just copy and fill in the appropriate response. Im just glad I could make your holiday easier.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS from the (your family name here). Well, if you havent heard, (husbands name) has been (A. elected B. indicted C. released on his own recognizance). None of us were surprised. He is, after all, known for making (A. promises B. excuses C. alibis), as most of you know. Perhaps you have

DONAtE online using Visa, Mastercard or American Express at augustachronicle.com/emptystocking.

seen him on (A. TV commercials B. The Peoples Court C. the post office bulletin board). As you might guess, (sons name) can be found at the computer, where he enjoys (A. playing games B. changing his grades C. stealing identities). We think he shows a real future in (A. engineering B. sales C. crime). All his teachers say he is a (A. class act B. class clown C. clown). Our outgoing (daughters name) has been involved in a number of school and civic projects. Anyone can tell you that shell usually be found asking (A. her teachers for more work B. her parents for more money C. strangers for rides). We think shes leaning toward (A.

early graduation B. early matrimony C. early probation). Remember Snuggles, our pet (A. dog B. cat C. monkey)? Last month, she gave us (A. puppies B. kittens C. a call from the zoo). If you havent visited in a while, youll be glad to know we finally got our (A. home B. trailer C. lake house) fixed up, so it now features (A. electricity B. plumbing C. a roof). Youve got to see it before (A. the holidays end B. rent comes due C. the weather turns cold). Despite her own busy schedule, (wifes name) has found time to make (A. fruitcake B. sense of it all C. a run for the border). In fact, she barely had a chance to mail this Christmas newsletter before (A. her volunteer shift at the hospital B. falling asleep on the couch C. entering the witness protection program). Still, she couldnt let this season pass before wishing you all Happy (A. holidays! B. trails! C. hour!).
Reach Bill Kirby at (706) 823-3344 or bill.kirby@augustachronicle.com.