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Judge removes mayor at council's request
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Jeff Northway is out as mayor of Springfield, following a judge's ruling filed Monday.
Judge William Woodrum, in a six-page order, sided with the city council members who filed a petition in November to have Northway removed. Four council members, represented by attorney Mickey Kicklighter, and Northway were in a three-day proceeding from July 6-8.
"We were surprised by the decision," said Charles Herman of Bignault and Carter, Northway's lead counsel in the matter.
Herman said Northway plans to appeal the decision.
"He's very disappointed," Herman said of his client's reaction upon learning he was removed from office by the judge's order.
Woodrum wrote that "there is complete and substantial evidence on the record as a whole in support of the Petitioner's Petition for Removal." In his order, the judge said Northway's credibility was called into question by his inconsistent testimony.
He also said the record "reveals multiple instances of misconduct" by Northway and that the evidence supports a finding that Northway lacks "the administrative ability to perform his public duties."
The judge wrote that council allegations that the mayor had tried to benefit from his position were not supported. Also not supported was an allegation of sexual harassment for allowing a lap dance between city employees at a function on city property.
With the judge's decision, Jeff Ambrose, the mayor pro tem, will serve as mayor. Ambrose presided over the July 26 city council meeting, which would have been Northway's last as mayor.

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Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program announces grant
Funds earmarked for Share the Road initiatives
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Grant funding totaling $93,458 has been awarded to the Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program (GMSP) by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. The approved funding will be used to increase motorcycle safety awareness and outreach by encouraging all motorists and motorcyclists to Share the Road.

“The need for motorcycle safety programs is greater than ever, and this support from GOHS enables motorcycle safety programs and impaired riding initiatives to reach riders and non-riders alike” said Commissioner Spencer R. Moore. “Thank you GOHS for helping (the Department of Driver Services) and GMSP educate and encourage all Georgia drivers to ‘Share the Road.’”

The grant allows DDS to further develop the Motorcycle Safety Outreach Program by continuing to fund a position to promote state and national safety initiatives. The GMSP outreach coordinator researches, coordinates and helps maintain an adequate presence at industry events, local schools and colleges, regional meetings and festivals to increase awareness of motorcycles on the roadways and provide the most current information on motorcycle safety initiatives.

Visitors to a GMSP event display are also encouraged to sign up for regular newsletters which provide additional safety information, as well as review the motorcycle safety message on other social media platforms.

GMSP regulates motorcycle training for new riders, as well as seasoned riders, who want to learn how to ride a motorcycle legally and safely. The program is based on a continuum of learning and therefore offers three entry points to rider education.

Students participating in the Basic Riders Course do not need specialized motorcycle equipment, as the GMSP provides both a motorcycle and a helmet to class participants. Upon successful completion of the course, participants receive a 90-day license waiver card that exempts them from both the written and on-cycle skills tests needed to obtain a Class M license in the state of Georgia.

Please visit the DDS website at www.dds.georgia.gov for many online services including the convenience of enrolling in a GMSP training class and accessing many licensing services.

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