Lifesavers, Top Cop Honored

Things got a little emotional at Thursday night's of the .

During the presentation of certificates of appreciation to Brandon Harris and DeWayne Cain, a few tears were shed by Harris and the woman he and Cain saved, Donna Hackney.

Cain said he was glad to have been riding his ATV in an illegal area because that allowed him to help save Hackney's life.

“Just be glad we didn't give you a ticket,” a police officer joked.

On Feb. 18 at 3:30 p.m., Hackney left home to go to the bank. She became disoriented and drove her car off the road at the end of Northside Drive, then wandered into the woods.

Her disappearance went unnoticed for two days until Harris, who works at CSX, notified police about the abandoned car.

While looking for Hackney in the woods, officers encountered Cain riding his ATV where he shouldn't have been. Cain used his knowledge of the area and his vehicle to assist in the search and found Hackey lying in the woods nearly 48 hours after she left her car.

She was taken to the hospital for treatment and attended Thursday's presentation.

Also during the meeting, Police Chief Michael Wilkie presented the 2010 Officer of the Year award to Sgt. Elizabeth Endicott. Endicott, who works in the Criminal Investigations Division, the attempts of a sex offender to interact with children in a park. The man has since been arrested and is awaiting deportation.

Also during the meeting at :

• A city proclamation was read declaring April Confederate History and Heritage Month. Calvin Johnson, the chairman of the Georgia Chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, was on hand with three colleagues to accept the proclamation.
• During a discussion on amending the fiscal 2011 budget to reflect actual costs incurred during eight months of work, Aldermen Bill Weatherford voiced concerns that money being held in the capital projects fund was not being used to cover budget shortfalls. The decision to amend the budget passed by a 4-1 margin, with Weatherford dissenting.
• The consent agenda passed as presented in the .
• Boy Scouts from Troop 353 led the proceedings with the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance.