Courtesy Appen Newspapers
Box office Tickets for the Dave Matthews Band concerts will go on sale Saturday, Jan. 24 at Noon. Tickets will be available at all Ticketmaster outlets, on-line at www.ticketmaster.com, and charge by phone 1-800-745-3000, and the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park Box Office. The AMEX pre-sale begins on Tuesday, January 20 at 10:00 a.m. (EST) through Friday, January 23 at 10:00 p.m. (EST). Visit: www.davematthewsband.com or www.VZWAMP.com
January 16, 2009Dave Matthews Band will perform live at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park, located just off Ga. 400 in Alpharetta for two nights on Tuesday, April 28 and Wednesday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m., along with special guests The Avett Brothers.2009 season sponsors include: Verizon Wireless, Bud Light, AirTran Airways, Georgia Natural Gas, and Belvedere.The band's yet-to-be-titled album is being produced by Rob Cavallo (Green Day, My Chemical Romance) and will be released by RCA Records. The record is the follow-up to 2005's Stand Up, the fourth consecutive Dave Matthews Band studio album to enter The Billboard 200 at No. 1.Formed in Virginia in the early 1990's, Dave Matthews Band has sold a collective 35 million units (CD and DVD combined). With more than 15 million tickets sold, the group has been named the top-drawing American band in the world by Billboard."Their set delivered the goods at Rothbury, and few would argue they didn't make the festival their own," said The Detroit News of Dave Matthews Band's headlining performance at last summer's first-ever Rothbury festival. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette praised the group's show there as "nothing short of inspired and inspiring" while The Oklahoman said: "this is a band that stretches out and thrives in the open air and under the stars." "Mr. Matthews' trade is to stir up a mélange of approaches – from rock and folksy pop to bluegrass and smooth jazz – to make doubt positive, make loss again, and make depression a celebration," observed The Dallas Morning News.Dave Matthews Band is Carter Beauford (drums), Stefan Lessard (bass), Dave Matthews (vocals, guitar) and Boyd Tinsley (violin). Saxophonist LeRoi Moore, the fifth original founding member, passed away during the band's summer 2008 tour. Joining the group on the road this spring will be Tim Reynolds on guitar, Rashawn Ross on trumpet and Jeff Coffin on saxophone. They are also featured on the new album.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Alpharetta Company Charged in $25M Ponzi Scheme
By PAUL DONSKY
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thursday, January 15, 2009
An Alpharetta-based financial firm has been charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission with operating a Ponzi scheme worth at least $25 million.
According to the SEC, CRE Capital and its president, James G. Ossie, 48, wooed investors to a currency trading program last year by guaranteeing returns of 10 percent every 30 days, or a 120 percent annual rate. Some clients were promised 20 percent monthly gains, the SEC said. The Associated Press reported that Ossie lives in Dawsonville.
The SEC said Thursday that the company’s trading has lost $12 million and that returns were paid with funds taken from later investors.
The SEC has obtained an emergency federal court order freezing the program’s assets and appointing a receiver to take over control of the company. The SEC’s investigation is ongoing.
“The SEC’s emergency action in this case will protect investors from further harm,” said Katherine S. Addleman, director of the SEC’s Atlanta regional office. “We also want to remind investors to be skeptical of promoters promising exorbitant returns. Such claims should be red flags to investors.”
The scope pales in comparison to the massive, $50 billion Ponzi scheme allegedly orchestrated by New York money manager Bernard Madoff.
Bill Leonard, an attorney for CRE and Ossie, said that Ossie “maintains that he acted with good faith at all times and intended to act with integrity for his clients.” He said that Ossie and CRE have been “cooperating fully” with the SEC, opening all records for review.
The SEC said at least 120 investors signed up for the program. The agency did not name the investors, though it did say that CRE Capital and Ossie required that investors be business entities, not individuals.
CRE and Ossie told investors the trading program carried little risk because the company had created a large “defensive” reserve fund that would be able to cover the monthly returns.
The SEC also has charged CRE and Ossie with falsely claiming that the program was audited by an outside accounting firm. The agency also says that CRE and Ossie told investors that the company planned on making a $100 million stock offering this year.
According to the Georgia secretary of state, CRE Capital registered with the state in March 2007 and has offices on Mansell Road in Alpharetta.
A news release issued last October announced that CRE had selected a California company to provide its customer relationship management software. The news release described CRE as a “distinctive, high-end private investment company offering a progressive and low-risk, high-yield opportunities to investors.”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thursday, January 15, 2009
An Alpharetta-based financial firm has been charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission with operating a Ponzi scheme worth at least $25 million.
According to the SEC, CRE Capital and its president, James G. Ossie, 48, wooed investors to a currency trading program last year by guaranteeing returns of 10 percent every 30 days, or a 120 percent annual rate. Some clients were promised 20 percent monthly gains, the SEC said. The Associated Press reported that Ossie lives in Dawsonville.
The SEC said Thursday that the company’s trading has lost $12 million and that returns were paid with funds taken from later investors.
The SEC has obtained an emergency federal court order freezing the program’s assets and appointing a receiver to take over control of the company. The SEC’s investigation is ongoing.
“The SEC’s emergency action in this case will protect investors from further harm,” said Katherine S. Addleman, director of the SEC’s Atlanta regional office. “We also want to remind investors to be skeptical of promoters promising exorbitant returns. Such claims should be red flags to investors.”
The scope pales in comparison to the massive, $50 billion Ponzi scheme allegedly orchestrated by New York money manager Bernard Madoff.
Bill Leonard, an attorney for CRE and Ossie, said that Ossie “maintains that he acted with good faith at all times and intended to act with integrity for his clients.” He said that Ossie and CRE have been “cooperating fully” with the SEC, opening all records for review.
The SEC said at least 120 investors signed up for the program. The agency did not name the investors, though it did say that CRE Capital and Ossie required that investors be business entities, not individuals.
CRE and Ossie told investors the trading program carried little risk because the company had created a large “defensive” reserve fund that would be able to cover the monthly returns.
The SEC also has charged CRE and Ossie with falsely claiming that the program was audited by an outside accounting firm. The agency also says that CRE and Ossie told investors that the company planned on making a $100 million stock offering this year.
According to the Georgia secretary of state, CRE Capital registered with the state in March 2007 and has offices on Mansell Road in Alpharetta.
A news release issued last October announced that CRE had selected a California company to provide its customer relationship management software. The news release described CRE as a “distinctive, high-end private investment company offering a progressive and low-risk, high-yield opportunities to investors.”
Police ID Teen Killed In Alpharetta Chase
By DOUG NURSE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Danielle Brown said the two older-looking teenagers stood over her Wednesday night, yelling and demanding money, when she saw the young-looking teen standing beside the dark Toyota.
He was watching, not speaking.
One teen ran to her car, where her 1- and 3-year-old sons sat wide-eyed, and grabbed her purse, Brown said. The three teens climbed into the Toyota and sped off. The silent one looked out the back window, a strange look on his face.
Minutes later, after a brief chase by Alpharetta police, the driver lost control of the car and crashed, injuring two of the youths.
The watcher was killed. He was identified late Thursday as 19-year-old Marcus Mahomes of Stone Mountain.
“Wow,” Brown said Thursday. “We made eye contact. I’m sad. If they hadn’t been out doing this, this wouldn’t be the outcome, but I hate that he got killed.”
Mahomes died of head injuries, according to the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The other two, Montreal Devon Gray, 19, and Jaree Devon Beatles, 17, both of Decatur, are refusing to cooperate, police said. They are under guard at North Fulton Regional Hospital in Roswell, awaiting charges of armed robbery as well as charges related to the death.
About 10 p.m. Wednesday, Brown had just arrived at the Rosemont apartments in Roswell after picking up her boys from day care. She went to the mailbox when someone hit her from behind, knocking her down.
Two men yelled at her, demanding money, and one had his hand in his pocket as if he had gun, she said.
Minutes later, Roswell officers received a call saying two men jumped and robbed a man at nearby Eagle Crest Village apartments. They fled in a dark Toyota Camry.
An undercover officer, in the neighborhood as a part of an effort to reduce crime there, spotted the vehicle and started tailing it. Alpharetta police joined the chase. While speeding up North Point Parkway near Preston Ridge Road, the driver lost control of the car on a curve and rolled it.
The car was stolen June 9 from a Decatur man who left the car running as he went back inside his home for something. Alpharetta and Roswell police would not disclose whether they believe the men are suspects in other crimes, nor would they disclose what was recovered in the car.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Danielle Brown said the two older-looking teenagers stood over her Wednesday night, yelling and demanding money, when she saw the young-looking teen standing beside the dark Toyota.
He was watching, not speaking.
One teen ran to her car, where her 1- and 3-year-old sons sat wide-eyed, and grabbed her purse, Brown said. The three teens climbed into the Toyota and sped off. The silent one looked out the back window, a strange look on his face.
Minutes later, after a brief chase by Alpharetta police, the driver lost control of the car and crashed, injuring two of the youths.
The watcher was killed. He was identified late Thursday as 19-year-old Marcus Mahomes of Stone Mountain.
“Wow,” Brown said Thursday. “We made eye contact. I’m sad. If they hadn’t been out doing this, this wouldn’t be the outcome, but I hate that he got killed.”
Mahomes died of head injuries, according to the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The other two, Montreal Devon Gray, 19, and Jaree Devon Beatles, 17, both of Decatur, are refusing to cooperate, police said. They are under guard at North Fulton Regional Hospital in Roswell, awaiting charges of armed robbery as well as charges related to the death.
About 10 p.m. Wednesday, Brown had just arrived at the Rosemont apartments in Roswell after picking up her boys from day care. She went to the mailbox when someone hit her from behind, knocking her down.
Two men yelled at her, demanding money, and one had his hand in his pocket as if he had gun, she said.
Minutes later, Roswell officers received a call saying two men jumped and robbed a man at nearby Eagle Crest Village apartments. They fled in a dark Toyota Camry.
An undercover officer, in the neighborhood as a part of an effort to reduce crime there, spotted the vehicle and started tailing it. Alpharetta police joined the chase. While speeding up North Point Parkway near Preston Ridge Road, the driver lost control of the car on a curve and rolled it.
The car was stolen June 9 from a Decatur man who left the car running as he went back inside his home for something. Alpharetta and Roswell police would not disclose whether they believe the men are suspects in other crimes, nor would they disclose what was recovered in the car.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Police Chase With Suspects Ends With Boy's Death
Courtesy Fort Mills Times.
(Published January 15, 2009)
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A juvenile passenger has died after a car in which robbery suspects were being chased by Alpharetta police overturned.
Alpharetta police spokesman George Gordon says an undercover Roswell detective spottted the suspects' car just before 10:30 p.m. Wednesday and began following it.
He says the suspects saw the detective following them and fled. He says Alpharetta police continued the pursuit with marked police cars.
Gordon says the driver of the fleeing car lost control and overturned. A boy in the back seat was killed in the crash.
The driver and a second passenger were injured and were taken into custody. The Fulton County Medical Examiner's office has not identified the boy.
(Published January 15, 2009)
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A juvenile passenger has died after a car in which robbery suspects were being chased by Alpharetta police overturned.
Alpharetta police spokesman George Gordon says an undercover Roswell detective spottted the suspects' car just before 10:30 p.m. Wednesday and began following it.
He says the suspects saw the detective following them and fled. He says Alpharetta police continued the pursuit with marked police cars.
Gordon says the driver of the fleeing car lost control and overturned. A boy in the back seat was killed in the crash.
The driver and a second passenger were injured and were taken into custody. The Fulton County Medical Examiner's office has not identified the boy.
Alpharetta First To File For Green Recognition
by Bob Pepalis / Appen Newspapers
January 14, 2009ALPHARETTA – The city put down its green roots years ago and plans to become even greener in the future.Alpharetta Community Development Director Diana Wheeler said it was the first city to submit an application for the Atlanta Regional Commission's Green Communities program.Alpharetta Mayor Arthur Letchas put making Alpharetta a "greener" city his top goal for his final term as mayor.
"We are doing fine the way we are now, but the future is in question," he said. "I think to protect our environment for the future generations, we need to protect and do all we can for the environment."
Wheeler said she and her staff, who prepared the ARC application, feel Alpharetta is "more than qualified to be a green city."Some of the criteria used in determining a city's status as a Green Community include energy efficiency, water use and conservation, trees and greenspace efforts."We have addressed every one of their items with the programs and the policies that we already either have in place or have adopted as a result of this effort," Wheeler said.
Alpharetta has one of the strongest tree ordinances in the state, Letchas said, and will strive to keep it that way.This year the Public Safety Department took delivery on its first hybrid cars for administrative-type positions and positions not likely to be involved in high-speed chases.
Letchas said the 34-plus miles per gallon make the hybrids obviously greener than other vehicles."It's proving out to be a good decision," he said.Recycling is a goal for the city and something that is pushed for residents."It's doing what we can for the environment as far as taking less to the landfill. I encourage people to get the bigger recycling containers so they can recycle more and dump less," Letchas said.Alpharetta's waste hauler offers a 35-gallon recycling container that can replace the standard 18-gallon container by calling 678-407-6216 to schedule the exchange of bins. The larger bins have lids, wheels and handles to make them easier to use.
The city encourages developers to be part of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design [LEED] program for energy efficiency, encouraging green roof designs that help with heating and cooling, and water runoff. Developers can be rewarded for energy efficiency.In an idea brought by a code enforcement officer, if a developer agrees to install a timer to shut off a commercial development's sign, Alpharetta will allow that sign to be up to 20 percent larger.The city is making plans to save energy in its buildings wherever it can."And we've got some ordinances that we passed on the first reading that encourage [going] green," Letchas said.
January 14, 2009ALPHARETTA – The city put down its green roots years ago and plans to become even greener in the future.Alpharetta Community Development Director Diana Wheeler said it was the first city to submit an application for the Atlanta Regional Commission's Green Communities program.Alpharetta Mayor Arthur Letchas put making Alpharetta a "greener" city his top goal for his final term as mayor.
"We are doing fine the way we are now, but the future is in question," he said. "I think to protect our environment for the future generations, we need to protect and do all we can for the environment."
Wheeler said she and her staff, who prepared the ARC application, feel Alpharetta is "more than qualified to be a green city."Some of the criteria used in determining a city's status as a Green Community include energy efficiency, water use and conservation, trees and greenspace efforts."We have addressed every one of their items with the programs and the policies that we already either have in place or have adopted as a result of this effort," Wheeler said.
Alpharetta has one of the strongest tree ordinances in the state, Letchas said, and will strive to keep it that way.This year the Public Safety Department took delivery on its first hybrid cars for administrative-type positions and positions not likely to be involved in high-speed chases.
Letchas said the 34-plus miles per gallon make the hybrids obviously greener than other vehicles."It's proving out to be a good decision," he said.Recycling is a goal for the city and something that is pushed for residents."It's doing what we can for the environment as far as taking less to the landfill. I encourage people to get the bigger recycling containers so they can recycle more and dump less," Letchas said.Alpharetta's waste hauler offers a 35-gallon recycling container that can replace the standard 18-gallon container by calling 678-407-6216 to schedule the exchange of bins. The larger bins have lids, wheels and handles to make them easier to use.
The city encourages developers to be part of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design [LEED] program for energy efficiency, encouraging green roof designs that help with heating and cooling, and water runoff. Developers can be rewarded for energy efficiency.In an idea brought by a code enforcement officer, if a developer agrees to install a timer to shut off a commercial development's sign, Alpharetta will allow that sign to be up to 20 percent larger.The city is making plans to save energy in its buildings wherever it can."And we've got some ordinances that we passed on the first reading that encourage [going] green," Letchas said.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Bathroom Humor No Laughing Matter In Alpharetta
Courtesy Appen Newspapers
January 13, 2009 ALPHARETTA - Alpharetta police arrested a 28-year-old Marietta man Jan. 1 and charged him with disorderly conduct after he pulled a little bathroom prank that backfired. His big mistake was doing it in the presence of an off-duty police officer at the Windward Parkway Wild Wing Cafe on New Year's Eve.What's worse, he then confronted the officer - who clearly didn't approve of the joke but hadn't told anyone - and allegedly began harassing him until the uniformed officer who was on New Year's duty stepped in.
According to the incident report, the off-duty officer and suspect were waiting in line for the bathroom when the suspect allegedly tired of waiting and began urinating in the sink while laughing.The off-duty officer told him what he was doing was "nasty" and informed him people need to wash their hands in the sink.
"Other men in the rest room were visibly disturbed, as they too articulated how unsanitary [the suspect's] act was," wrote the officer.Once out of the bathroom, the suspect allegedly began chest bumping the off-duty officer, telling him he didn't "want any static."
This warranted the attention of the uniformed officer on duty. As that cop walked up, the suspect reportedly told the off-duty officer - who had not mentioned he was a law enforcement officer - that he "better not speak up about his public indecency manner in the rest room."
Of course the two officers spoke, at which point the suspect accused them of lying. As a final act of stupidity, as he walked away, the suspect made sure to bump his shoulder into the off-duty officer to show his disapproval."I then informed [the on-duty officer] I would handle the paperwork if he would arrest him for disorderly conduct," wrote the off-duty cop.
January 13, 2009 ALPHARETTA - Alpharetta police arrested a 28-year-old Marietta man Jan. 1 and charged him with disorderly conduct after he pulled a little bathroom prank that backfired. His big mistake was doing it in the presence of an off-duty police officer at the Windward Parkway Wild Wing Cafe on New Year's Eve.What's worse, he then confronted the officer - who clearly didn't approve of the joke but hadn't told anyone - and allegedly began harassing him until the uniformed officer who was on New Year's duty stepped in.
According to the incident report, the off-duty officer and suspect were waiting in line for the bathroom when the suspect allegedly tired of waiting and began urinating in the sink while laughing.The off-duty officer told him what he was doing was "nasty" and informed him people need to wash their hands in the sink.
"Other men in the rest room were visibly disturbed, as they too articulated how unsanitary [the suspect's] act was," wrote the officer.Once out of the bathroom, the suspect allegedly began chest bumping the off-duty officer, telling him he didn't "want any static."
This warranted the attention of the uniformed officer on duty. As that cop walked up, the suspect reportedly told the off-duty officer - who had not mentioned he was a law enforcement officer - that he "better not speak up about his public indecency manner in the rest room."
Of course the two officers spoke, at which point the suspect accused them of lying. As a final act of stupidity, as he walked away, the suspect made sure to bump his shoulder into the off-duty officer to show his disapproval."I then informed [the on-duty officer] I would handle the paperwork if he would arrest him for disorderly conduct," wrote the off-duty cop.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Raymond James Eyes Alpharetta Office
Atlanta Business Chronicle
Raymond James & Associates plans to grow its metro Atlanta presence with the possible addition of an office in Alpharetta.
In a news release, the financial planner said it has “plans for expansion in the Atlanta area in the existing Buckhead and Galleria offices as well as, potentially, a new office in Alpharetta.” The company claims “investor and advisor satisfaction at the firm is at an all time high,” citing favorable rankings in J.D. Power and Associates.
Raymond James Associates is a unit of St. Petersburg, Fla.-based Raymond James Financial Inc. (NYSE: RJF).
Raymond James & Associates plans to grow its metro Atlanta presence with the possible addition of an office in Alpharetta.
In a news release, the financial planner said it has “plans for expansion in the Atlanta area in the existing Buckhead and Galleria offices as well as, potentially, a new office in Alpharetta.” The company claims “investor and advisor satisfaction at the firm is at an all time high,” citing favorable rankings in J.D. Power and Associates.
Raymond James Associates is a unit of St. Petersburg, Fla.-based Raymond James Financial Inc. (NYSE: RJF).
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