10 LC
94 3029
Senate
Resolution 1399
By:
Senator Douglas of the 17th
A
RESOLUTION
Recognizing
and commending Dawn and Marshall Atha; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
Dawn and Marshall Atha made a commitment to obtaining bullet proof vests for
each officer of the Newton County Sheriff's Office after their son, Deputy
Wesley Atha, was shot; and
WHEREAS,
Deputy Atha's life was spared because he was wearing a bullet-proof vest, but
Mrs. Atha learned that the vest he was wearing did not have the stopping power
recommended to adequately protect today's officers; and
WHEREAS,
with their creation of the Vest Fund, the Athas collected over $90,000 in
donations from members of the Newton County community; and
WHEREAS,
in addition to the incredible generosity of the Newton County community, the
Newton County Sheriff's Office obtained a grant from the United States
Department of Justice's Bulletproof Vest Partnership; and
WHEREAS,
numerous local businesses and residents contributed over $1,000 each to the Vest
Fund, including Ginn Chevrolet; Ginn Chrystler-Jeep-Dodge; Newton Federal;
Marshall and Dawn Atha; the Arnold Fund; John and Diane Bowers; Newton County
Community Partnership; Robert R. Fowler III; Newton Baptist Church; Covington
Elks Lodge 1806 and Elkadettes; Newton County Republican Party; Ed, Charley, and
Rachael Needham; Beaver Manufacturing; Mary Jane Dixon; Bethlehem Baptist
Church; Lisa Hayes; First Presbyterian Church; Chick-fil-A; the Rotary Club of
Covington Foundation; SRG Global; Bobby and Jean Thomas; Caldwell & Cowan
Funeral Home and Lawnwood Memorial Park; and Chase Cain Memorial Scholarship
Fund; and
WHEREAS,
to date, 99 new vests have been ordered with 57 more slated to be ordered in the
near future, giving 156 officers assurance and peace of mind that the vests they
are wearing will provide the best protection available; and
WHEREAS,
what was once a tragic and frightening event has turned into a community-wide
effort to ensure that those hired to protect and serve the people of Newton
County are safer if they find themselves in harm's way.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize
Dawn and Marshall Atha for their commitment to ensuring the safety of officers
in the Newton County Sheriff's Office and commend their initiative and
determination to make a difference in their community.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to Dawn and Marshall Atha.