Dorrie Toney, [email protected] ATLANTA — Yesterday the ACLU of Georgia sent a letter to the Villa Rica City Council calling on its members to rescind a new comment policy that violates residents’ rights to free speech council members threatened and removed citizens who spoke in opposition to a proposed road project The hostile reaction to the comments violates First Amendment protections and infringes on people’s rights to speak freely on an issue of public concern The newly adopted public comment policy requiring speakers to disclose their name and address and banning comments vaguely deemed “personal or profane,” is unconstitutional and creates a chilling effect on free expression “The ACLU of Georgia urges the City Council to uphold the First Amendment and allow residents to express their views freely without facing intimidation or unreasonable restrictions The council’s policy shuts down public participation which is essential for a healthy democracy,” said Cory Isaacson The ACLU of Georgia urges the Villa Rica City Council to withdraw the enacted public comment policy and foster an environment where community members can engage openly and safely in discussions that impact their lives Read the full letter here Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application the son of Crisanto Villarica and Lennie Estrella Villarica As a young boy growing up in the Philippines Randy often spent great amounts of time reading encyclopedias and books which made him knowledgeable about many different topics at a young age His week was not complete without a trip to their home where he enjoyed their love and a warm and making lifetime memories with his high school friends.  Randy traveled to America and decided to try his hand at the “American Dream” It was during this time that Randy learned the true value of hard work and persistence and they started a life together in the city of Villa Rica Randy became a devoted member of the First Baptist Church of Villa Rica and worked with the middle school ministry for fourteen years He was a mentor to countless members of the youth group Randy was always happy when he was entertaining and cooking for family and friends at their home.  Randy and his precious smile and good demeanor will never be forgotten  Randy Villarica is survived by his wife Crisanto Villarica and Lennie Estrella Villarica of the Philippines; and brother and sister-in-law Michael and Abby Villarica of the Philippines.  2024 from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Jones-Wynn Funeral Home Villa Rica Chapel Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday 2024at 11:00 AM at First Baptist Church Villa Rica He will lie in state from 10:00 AM until the funeral hour at 11:00 AM please make a donation to First Baptist Church youth ministry Messages of condolence may be sent to www.jones-wynn.com Jones-Wynn Funeral Home Inc and Cremation Services of Villa Rica is in charge of the arrangements Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors How to watch Georgia high school girls soccer: Villa Rica vs Loganville High School plays on the road against Villa Rica High School How to watch Loganville vs. Villa Rica girls soccerLoganville and Villa Rica will hit the field on Wednesday, April 30, at 5:30 p.m. ET. Don't miss out on any of the action with NFHS Network The NFHS Network gives you access to live high school sports around the country Follow your favorite team and never miss a game Want to track your alma mater, local team or family member's school throughout the playoffs? NFHS Network has high school girls soccer streaming live plus on-demand replays and highlights of all the action from thousands of schools across America Watch Villa Rica vs. Loganville on NFHS Network! All NFHS Network events are available to watch online at and through the NFHS Network Mobile Apps for iOS and Android and TV Apps for ROKU Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInATLANTA (Atlanta News First) - A man is behind bars after Villa Rica police say he tried to escape from a traffic stop early Wednesday morning faces several charges — including aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer obstructing or hindering law enforcement officers fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer for a felony offense driving under the influence of drugs and more an officer conducted a traffic stop on a car that lacked a working tag light Myers got out of the car and started arguing with the officer Myers ignored her requests to stay outside and tried to get back inside his car causing a “prolonged physical confrontation,” police said He allegedly started driving while the officer was halfway in and halfway out of the vehicle Myers eventually surrendered to the officer and was arrested Police said they also found ecstasy pills on him “Officer Hamilton kept her wits in a very dangerous situation,” the police department said in a statement “We are thankful that Officer Hamilton was able to take Mr Myers into custody during an unbelievably dangerous situation without being injured.” She was a remarkable woman whose vibrant spirit touched the lives of many Tangela was a devoted mother who cherished every moment she spent with her children In addition to her commitment to her family balancing her professional life while ensuring that her children had a loving and supportive home where she enjoyed the warmth of the sun and the sound of the waves Her heart was also drawn to the beauty of the lake where she often spent time creating memories with her family and friends Sports were another passion of Tangela's; she loved playing softball and was known for her determination on the field She is preceded in death by her grandparents Rileigh Faye Ziruolo and Kileigh Taylor Lancaster; brother Brantley Norman of Villa Rica; grandmother 2025 from 5:00 PM  until 8:00 PM at Jones-Wynn Funeral Home Villa Rica Funeral services will be conducted on Monday 2025 at 12:00 PM in the Villa Rica chapel of Jones-Wynn Interment will follow at Meadowbrook Memory Gardens Tangela’s legacy will live on through the lives she touched and the cherished memories she created with her loved ones She will be remembered not only for her dedication as a mother but also for the joy she brought to her friends and family Messages of condolence may be sent to www.jones-wynn.com and Cremation Services of Villa Rica is in charge of arrangements the daughter of Richard Todd Wilson (Marty) and Jan Bennett Fiquette (David) and her love for him shone brightly in every aspect of her life where her commitment to her work and her warm demeanor were evident to patients and colleagues alike She was also employed with Triple H Towing as an office administrator Kristin was known for her vibrant personality and zest for life going to the beach and hanging out by the pool She was a passionate fan of the University of Alabama Frankie and Earlene Bennett and Wilburn and Shirley Wilson Kandis Wilson of Dallas and Abbegail Womack (Michael) of Rockmart; brother Kendall (Chelsea) Palmer of Rockmart; step-brothers and Evan (Ashton) Fiquette; aunts and uncles Ronald Fiquette (Robin) of Villa Rica; nieces and nephews Gregory Richardson and Kerry Outen; special friends The family will receive friends on Thursday 2025 from 12:00 PM until 2:00 PM at Jones-Wynn Funeral Home Douglas Chapel Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 PM on Thursday 2025 at the Douglas Chapel of Jones-Wynn with Reverend Fred Blalock and Reverend Gregory Richardson officiating Messages of condolence may be sent to www.jones-wynn.com Jones-Wynn Funeral Home and Crematory of Douglasville is in charge of the arrangements the daughter of the late Carey Melton and the late Mable Nesmith Marie was a woman who was known to many for her unwavering dedication bringing warmth and joy to those around her She was a devoted family member and faithful servant She obtained her doctorate degree in Religious Education at Georgia Baptist Seminary Marie's life was a testament to her beliefs and values Marie sang in the church choir and devoted time to teaching Sunday School where she inspired countless people through her love of learning and spiritual growth skillfully creating ornaments and blankets that showcased her creativity and attention to detail Her love for homemaking extended into her passion for gardening preserving the fruits of her labors and sharing them with family and friends Tonya and Nesbitt Odom of Senoia and Jedidiah Smith of Villa Rica; grandchildren 2025 from 12:00 PM until 2:00 PM at Jones-Wynn Funeral Home Villa Rica Chapel Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 PM on Friday 2025 at the Jones-Wynn Villa Rica Chapel with Dr Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.jones-wynn.com Jones-Wynn Funeral Home Inc the son of Dianne Massey Jackson and the late Melvin Leroy Jackson David was a man of many passions and a heart full of warmth He was proud to be a graduate of Villa Rica High School where he also showcased his athleticism as a football player he was a huge fan of the University of Georgia forever cheering for the Bulldogs with unwavering loyalty David’s passion for life was displayed through his love of snowmobiling He embraced every moment spent wakeboarding relishing the thrill of being on the water particularly the classic 1955 Chevy and the iconic 1992 Mustang that he owned he also had a talent for working on trucks David’s kindness and compassion that he showed to others had a remarkable ability to connect with people and he made lifelong friendships along the way Whether through shared memories or simple moments of laughter he brightened the lives of his friends and family George and Catherine Massey; paternal grandparents he is survived by his brother and sister-in-law The family will receive friends on Saturday 2024 from 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM at Jones-Wynn Funeral Home Villa Rica Chapel Graveside services will be conducted at Meadowbrook Memory Gardens with Mr The family would like to honor him by wearing red and black on this day because he loved Georgia Bulldogs His vibrant spirit and love for life will be profoundly missed yet lovingly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers and as David would say “Love ya In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Battlefield Ministries, Inc. https://www.battlefieldministries.org/donate/  or mail to Battlefield Ministries  Battlefield Ministries was co-founded by David’s parents Battlefield is a biblically-based counseling ministry the daughter of the late Cecil Smith and the late Lucille Pitts Smith Jacqueline was the embodiment of beauty and resilience a woman whose spirit soared high above life’s challenges She expressed her creativity through the art of cake decorating Jacqueline was a nurturing shelter for her children and encouragement that helped guide their lives She embraced her role as a mother with every fiber of her being Jacqueline supported her husband in multiple Masonic activities Her accomplishments included Eastern Star and Worthy Matron She had an adventurous spirit that led her and her husband on travels across Europe These journeys not only enriched their lives but also exemplified their love and companionship they shared throughout the years She is survived by her loving husband of fifty-nine years Renee and Richard Jones of Temple; sons and daughters-in-law Ray and Emily McCall of Villa Rica; brother Terry Smith of Tucker; nine grandchildren eight great-grandchildren; numerous nieces 2025 from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM at Jones-Wynn Funeral Home Villa Rica Chapel Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 PM on Monday Jacqueline’s presence will be profoundly missed by all who knew her and resilience will continue to inspire those who loved her most the son of the late Harry Weyman Summerlin and Maggie Louise Pharr Summerlin David had a deep love for his family; they were his life David was a devoted member of Ephesus Baptist Church Karen Summerlin; daughters and sons-in-law and Stacy (Billy) Jordon of Bowdon; grandsons and Collin Stephens; fifteen great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews 2025 from 12:00 PM until 12:30 PM at Ephesus Baptist Church A celebration of life will follow at 12:30 PM with Dr and deep faith that will continue to inspire those who knew him By Ellie ParkerPublished: Mar 2025 at 9:34 PM EDTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInATLANTA (Atlanta News First) - A Villa Rica man has been sentenced to nine months in prison after pleading guilty to fraudulently collecting Social Security benefits Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia attorney said Timmy Stephens fraudulently collected for over 20 years Stephens collected disability benefits due to a cardiac condition He began working at a funeral home in 2003 but submitted false work reports to continue collecting benefits his earnings were reported to the IRS using a relative’s Social Security number attorney’s office said Stephens submitted false work reports to the Social Security Administration and lied to federal agents when confronted He reportedly earned more than $360,000 in disability benefits Stephens was sentenced to nine months in prison and three years of supervised release He was also ordered to pay a $5,500 fine and $126,560.50 in restitution A new data center campus is being proposed outside Atlanta Atlas Development last week filed a Development of Regional Impact application with the Georgia Department of State Affairs for a project known as Avemore The 428-acre technology and data park is set to be located in the Carroll County side of Villa Rica Further details on the number and scope of planned buildings were not shared The first phase of development is set to launch in 2028 and Villa Land C are listed as the site's property owners Avemore GA, LLC filed a rezoning request for 55 & 63 Goldworth Road (currently the Goldworth Farm Park) for data center use last year Site plans included in that request suggest seven 350,000 sq ft (32,515 sqm) single-story buildings and a total investment of $5-7 billion The Villa Rica city council previously approved plans in 2018 for a residential development on the site known as the Avemore project that would have seen some 500 residential units built on largely undeveloped land Little information is available about Atlas but the company is planning several campuses in Georgia Villa Rica is located some 30 miles west of Atlanta The city sits across Carroll and Douglas counties In March, East Village Dothan, LLC filed plans for a 700-acre data center campus simply known as the Hickman Property The project would see the development of 11 data center buildings totaling 6.2 million sq ft (576,000 sqm) as well as four warehouses totaling 66,000 sq ft (6,131 sqm) Atlanta is a major data center hub with operators including Microsoft Data Centre Dynamics Ltd (DCD), 32-38 Saffron Hill, London, EC1N 8FH Email. [email protected]DCD is a subsidiary of InfraXmedia the son of the late Lawrence Andrew Wright and the late Annie Lillian Everidge Wright Richard lived a life filled with love and he was a devoted family man who found joy in spending quality time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren He also held great pride in his Confederate heritage His presence will be sorely missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him and Becky and Randall Smith all of Villa Rica; brother and sister-in-law Gary and Shelia Wright of Douglasville; ten grandchildren Dylan Humphries and Trey Wright all of Villa Rica; eleven great-grandchildren Connor Humphries and Hayes Humphries; numerous nieces and nephews 2024 from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Jones-Wynn Funeral Home Villa Rica Chapel 2024 at 2:00 PM at Jones-Wynn Villa Rica Chapel the daughter of the late Henry Rufus Wade and the late Lera Inez Rutland Wade Ruth touched the lives of everyone who had the honor of knowing her Ruth was a devoted family member and a supporter of her church community particularly cherishing her involvement in the children’s ministry Midway recognized Ruth’s service by naming its children’s building in honor at her and her late husband Her affection for her family and church was evident in everything she did and she took great joy in nurturing relationships and sending heartfelt cards to those in need of love and support She had a fondness for watching classic films She was a member of Midway Church and she was deeply involved in the social outreach initiatives embodying the spirit of service and dedication to her community.  She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law Henry and Lynn Jackson of Villa Rica and Allan and Laurie Jackson of Fort Worth and Philip (Caitlin) Jackson of Fort Worth and Ellis Parker; numerous nieces and nephews The family will receive friends on Tuesday 2024 from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Jones-Wynn Funeral Home Villa Rica Chapel Jackson will lie in state from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM at Midway Church on Wednesday Funeral Services will follow at 2:00 PM on Wednesday The following will serve as pallbearers: Emory Attaway or donations can be made to the Midway Church Children's Ministry.  Messages of condolence may be sent to www.jones-wynn.com Jones-Wynn Funeral Home Inc and Cremation Services of Villa Rica of the arrangements Read Today’s Top Story: March’s interest-rate slide prompts jump in pending home sales The Cottages will feature Jim Chapman’s RanchCottagesForRent.com townhome product Courtesy of Jim Chapman Construction Group Jim Chapman Construction Group (JCCG) has broken ground on The Cottages at Villa Rica, a 192-home, build-to-rent community in Villa Rica.  The company signed a general contractor’s agreement with a publicly traded REIT to develop and build the project. JCCG has just started land development; vertical construction is expected to begin in summer 2025.  Located 300 yards east of North Van Wert Road and Highway 78, The Cottages will feature JCCG’s RanchCottagesForRent.com townhome product Richmond and Tulsa — will be available and offer 1,020 to 1,466 square feet with primary suites on the main floor “We are excited to start horizontal construction on this property and look forward to bringing another top-notch community out of the ground,” said Jim Chapman The site is bordered by mature tree lines and a heavily wooded area amidst creeks and wetlands yet it’s just two miles to I-20 and minutes to downtown Villa Rica and shopping.”  Sixty percent of the homes will be built with The Tulsa plan Community amenities will include a 4,000-square-foot clubhouse fitness center and 24-hour emergency maintenance a gated entrance and dog park are also included.  and website in this browser for the next time I comment Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.