Gov. Deal Signs SB 136 at Lanier’s Holiday Marina

Tuesday, 23 April 2013 23:03 Written by Robert Sutherland 0 Comments

GA Governor Nathan Deal Signs SB 136 into Law ~~ Photograph by Robert Sutherland

Georgia’s Governor Nathan Deal signed into law Senate Bill 136 lowering the legal blood-alcohol limit for boaters and hunters from the former level of .10 to .08.

The new law also increases penalties for those caught boating while intoxicated. Other provisions in the law will educate the public on boater safety guidelines.

The signing ceremony took place at Holiday Marina at Lake Lanier on a day more fitting for a photo shoot than enacting somber legislation that was named after youths killed on Lake Lanier in boating accidents.

Governor Deal said, “Far too many tragedies have occurred as a result of boating under the influence and inadequate boater education. Last June, I vowed to work with the General Assembly to pass legislation in honor of Jake and Griffin Prince, who lost their lives last summer in a tragic accident. As I have said, if you are too drunk to drive an automobile, you are too drunk to drive a boat.”

The Jake and Griffin Prince Boating Under the Influence (BUI) Law is the portion of the bill that lowers the blood-alcohol content limit to the same level as for Georgia’s automobile drivers. Previously, Georgia was one of only eight states that allowed a higher blood alcohol limit for boating than for driving.

The portion of the legislation known as the Kile Glover Boat Education Law honors the child who died after he was struck and killed by a jet watercraft last summer on Lanier. The new statute requires a boater safety education course for all motorized vessel operators born on or after January 1, 1998. Now, the law requires all youths 13 years old and under to wear life jackets on a moving boat.

“To Tameka Raymond, Kile Glover’s mother, and the members of the Prince family, I want to thank you for your support of these important laws,” added Deal. “I also want to express my gratitude to Sen. Butch Miller and the other legislators involved in drafting and sponsoring this bill, as well as DNR Commissioner Mark Williams, his staff, law enforcement officials, and anyone else who played a role in ensuring that this bill became law. I sign this bill for all the Kiles, all the Jakes and all the Griffins in our state. And, ultimately, I sign this bill for a safer Georgia.”

We express our most heartfelt and sincere condolences to those whose families were so tragically impacted by these accidents. We pray this new legislation will help save many lives in the years ahead.

Kile Glover’s Funeral Arrangements

Wednesday, 25 July 2012 23:32 Written by Robert Sutherland 1 Comment

The Associated Press and AJC.com are reporting that funeral arrangements have been made for the funeral of Kile Glover, who passed away on Saturday, July 22, 2012.

Eleven-year-old Kile was critically wounded in a boating accident on July 6th on Lake Lanier.

The funeral arrangements are being made by Willie A. Watkins Funeral Home in Atlanta. They confirmed that Wieuca Road Baptist Church in Atlanta will hold a service in Kile’s honor on Friday, July 27th at 11 AM.

Kile was the son of Ryan Glover and Tameka Foster. Tameka Foster was previously married to R&B performer Usher Raymond.

We extend our condolences to Kile’s family.

Click Here for the AJC.com Story

Click Here for Wieuca Road Baptist Church

Click Here for Willie Watkins Funeral Home

Kile Glover, RIP

Monday, 23 July 2012 17:50 Written by Robert Sutherland 1 Comment

Kile Glover with his stepfather Usher Raymond

Two weeks after a tragic boating accident on Lake Lanier, Kile Glover, 11, has passed away.

Kile’s mother is Tameka Foster, who was formerly married to R&B star Usher Raymond — who helped raise Kile for a number of years. Tameka Foster is currently married to Ryan Glover, a television executive in Atlanta.

We regret the unimaginable pain this family has endured since the accident on July 6th, when Kile and an unnamed friend were riding an inner-tube being drawn by a pontoon boat on Lake Lanier. A friend of the family riding a Jet Ski struck Kile, causing the fatal blow.

In breaking the official news on Saturday, July 21st, Georgia DNR Public Affairs Coordinator Melissa Cummings expressed what we are all feeling:

“The Georgia DNR, Wildlife Resources Division is saddened to report that sources have confirmed that the 11 year old victim of the incident on Lake Lanier of July 6, 2012 has passed away. Our thoughts are with the family at this time. The investigation into the incident continues.”

According to AJC.com, Willie A. Watkins funeral home in Atlanta confirmed Saturday it was handling funeral arrangements for 11-year-old Kile Glover. We refer you to them for funeral arrangements.

Once again, our hearts and prayers go out to Kile’s family.

Click Here for Previous News of the Fatal Crash

Click Here for the Willie A. Watkins Funeral Home

An Open Letter to Tameka, Ryan & Usher

Thursday, 19 July 2012 15:53 Written by Robert Sutherland 1 Comment

Dear Tameka Foster, Ryan Glover and “Usher” Raymond:

We want you to know that we are sorry for what you are going through. People everywhere feel your pain.

We have kids of our own or children we know and love.

To go to Lake Lanier for a day of fun and joy — and to have such a tragic accident instead — must cause you life-numbing pain.

To have Kile Glover rushed to the hospital … and for his unnamed friend to be hurt … is every parent’s nightmare.

For injuries so severe … and how your lives changed in an instant … we want you to know we are sorry for your loss.

You asked us to pray for Kile. We have prayed and we will continue to do so.

Your pain must be multiplied by daily news reports about “pulling the plug” on your beloved child, and expiring insurance benefits, and “sources” who are quoted who pretend to express your most innermost thoughts. We are so sorry for their recklessness.

If only we could pull the plug on the media circus haunting your family in this time of crisis.

Most of us know this is a story about a wounded little boy and his wounded family. We grieve with you, but we have not lost hope for your family.

We’re praying. We’re hoping for the best and we’re sorry that your private pain has been insulted by the media.

We simply want to let you know that we care.

God bless you.

Click Here for Bogus Reporting on Kile Glover’s Medical Bills

Click Here for the Media Circus Story

Bogus Reporting on Kile Glover’s Medical Bills

Monday, 16 July 2012 18:53 Written by Robert Sutherland 5 Comments

The Media Circus covering Kile Glover’s tragic accident while tubing on Lake Lanier on July 6th has been filled with distortions.

One website starts a rumor and a thousand others quote it as the truth, without attributing the “facts” to a verifiable source.

That’s not news reporting, it’s rumor mongering.

Today, July 16th, the rumor mill is abuzz about how the boy’s mother, Tameka Foster, might be “forced to pull the plug” on her son because she cannot afford the enormous cost of keeping him alive.

One unnamed “source” says insurance will run out in a month, one source says it will run out “in a matter of months,” and another says the insurance coverage is for “a finite amount of time.”

Does LakeLanier.com know how long the child’s insurance will last? No.

Do we believe other sources know how long it will last? No.

Take, for example, this quote from NewYorkDailyNews.com:

“At present, sources tell TMZ that though Foster’s insurance company hasn’t specified when they’ll stop covering Glover’s medical bills, the outlook is bleak – they will likely shell out coverage for a few more months at most. If Foster is unable to continue paying for Glover’s life support, then she will be forced to pull the plug.”

What They Are Saying

Unidentified “sources” are quoted. The source could be your crazy Uncle Bubba, for all we know.
The insurance company has not specified the limits of the coverage.
This “source” is guessing that coverage will last “a few more months at most.”
If the parents cannot pay, they will be “forced to pull the plug.”

Are these facts? Is this the truth? Or is this blowing things out of proportion?

What We Know to Be True

Kile Glover is being treated at Children’s Hospital in Atlanta
Click Here for Children’s Hospital’s Policy Statement that children are never turned away because a family cannot pay for coverage.
I called the hospital personally (404-785-4483).
I was told that no child will be turned away or asked to leave the hospital solely due to the family’s ability to pay for healthcare.
To suggest that Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is forcing Usher’s former wife to consider pulling the plug on her son because of any possible lack of insurance coverage is bogus.

The Media Circus

I am a professional writer. I am paid to conceive, research, write, edit and post stories on the Internet. If I don’t post stories, I don’t get paid.

Some writers who are paid to write are willing to reprint, exaggerate or create any statement that might be believed to be factual in order to file a story.

If you think that “they couldn’t put it on the Internet if it weren’t true,” I have a bridge I’d like to sell you. I’ll even name the bridge after you, for an additional cost.

Don’t Believe Everything You Read or Hear

When you read items, such as the quote from NYDailyNews.com, look for what it says … and look for what it doesn’t say.

Don’t let the Media Circus fool you into believing what they say might be “possible” is a fact. Don’t be mislead by their distortions and innuendo.

Your guesses are as good as theirs. Probably better.

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