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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Don't hire him' Customers out thousands after contractor leaves jobs unfinished
ATHENS, Tenn. (WATE) — More complaints have been filed in Monroe County against a home improvement contractor from Meigs County. Records show Jerry Gardner was taken to court last year, lost the case, but never paid up. Two women in Monroe County found out about him because he places ads on and responds to social media sites for those looking for a contractor. Libby Robinson hired Gardner to install flooring one year ago. The agreed-upon cost was $8,000, although Robinson paid more. 'All total, I have paid $9,572. But the bad thing is I didn't have the three bedrooms and the two baths done. They were included in that $8,400,' said Robinson, who questions Gardner's workmanship. 'Oh, it just squeaks when you walk on it. You can hear it. He didn't put it down. You can hear the sounds. I think he just wedged it in there, beat it down, and left it.' NCAA responds to Zakai Zeigler lawsuit seeking to play another season on Rocky Top Gardner was supposed to install jacks under the home to add support, but visual evidence shows no jacks or any type of support were added. Robinson said Gardner told her the job would take two weeks. Katharyn Ahart hired Gardner two years ago. 'He was supposed to do a complete remodel, new floor, new cabinets,' said Ahart. Gardner quit before finishing the kitchen and never painted the walls inside her home. Hardwood flooring was laid, but the workmanship is questionable. 'He put in the floors and they're uneven. I can feel stuff underneath the floor. It kind of ripples,' said Ahart. Her initial contract was $23,000, but costs kept on adding up. 'I had to pay more money for tile. I had to pay more money for the flooring, my own countertop,' said Ahart. 'He ghosted me when I told him I was not going to pay him another dime until he was done.' She paid him a total of $39,500. 'What I'm left with [is] a house I could not live in,' said Ahart. Sweetwater Police: Bear spotted near North Main Steet Because Gardner left so many things undone in the home when he quit, Ahart recently moved back into her home after living with her mother for quite a while. 'Three months shy of two years… long time. A long time to pay my mortgage without being able to live in my own house,' said Ahart. Ahart sent a four-page demand letter to Gardner, but it went unanswered. Robinson became so frustrated with Gardner, she filed a civil lawsuit charging him with breach of contract and won the case. But Robinson hasn't collected a dime. We tried to reach Gardner at the number he gave to his customers, but received the following message: 'We're sorry the number you dialed has calling restrictions that prevent the completion of your call.' Athens couple out $9,000 after contractor never finishes job Amy Guillot and her husband were the first to tell us about Gardner early last month. 'We just wanted someone to come in to put some flooring in for us and have the job done,' said Johnny Guillot. 'We paid him everything upfront,' Amy Guillot added. The contract with the couple was signed in February. They paid Gardner more than $9,000 for work left undone. 'Don't hire him. Do not hire him,' said Ahart. $5 million in funding available for Tennessee senior centers: What to know The people we talked with had to hire a second contractor to complete the work that Gardner never finished. There is a law in Tennessee that says contractors may be charged with a felony when they start work, quit, don't respond to a demand letter, and if law enforcement believes there is enough evidence to press a theft charge. The people we've met with in Athens, Sweetwater, and Tellico Plains said they are considering filing theft charges. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
At what age can I leave my child home alone in California? Tips for parents during summer
With summer right around the corner and the school year ending, parents will be scrambling for childcare, begging the question: How old do kids need to be to be left alone? California has no set age for when children can be left alone, but the state penal code on child neglect has laws in place regarding child safety, said Theresa Mier, a spokesperson for the California Department of Social Services. There is no minimum age for babysitters, however, the department of social services states, "an occasional short-term babysitter may be under 18 years of age, but shall have the maturity, experience, and ability necessary to provide adequate care and supervision to a 'child.'" Here's what to know about leaving your child home alone in California. The California Department of Education has provided a checklist to help parents decide if their kids are ready to be left home alone. Checklist or questions for parents to ask: Would your child rather stay home than go to a child care or after-school program? Is he easily frightened? Is she responsible? Can he creatively solve problems? Would she spend her time responsibly? Does your child become bored easily? Does he always tell you where he is going and when he will return? Would she be at home with an older brother or sister? Do siblings get along? Would the older sibling resent caring for the younger one? Would caring for the younger sibling restrict the older child's activities? Do you live in an isolated area without close neighbors? Is your neighborhood safe? Will you or another adult always be available to your child in case of an emergency? Is a neighbor home to help if needed? How would your child handle: Strangers on the telephone or at the door?; Being locked out of the house? Fire?; Arguments with a sister or brother?; An insect bite or a skinned knee? Along with a checklist the education department recommends writing out concrete house rules and leaving them in an easily accessible place, including: which friends are allowed to come over, what television programs they are allowed to watch, approved foods, using the stove, telephone, computer, appliances or tools, how to reach you and what to do if/when they leave the house. The CDSS has outlined a couple of ways to find childcare locally. Parents or guardians can look for child care providers and resources in their area using the Child Care Resource and Referral Program, Mier said. The online search tool on is also a good way to search for local childcare, she added. With summer vacation comes summer heat and trips to the local public pool, or even the pool at home. Keeping children safe and supervised is a priority with increased pool time. According to as of 2022 California is the state with the second most residential pools in the country with 1,343,000. Florida holds the top spot with 1,590,000. is an online site for homeowners to find contractors for home improvement projects, originally called Angie's List. The CDSS has helped outline tips for pool safety. Keep children in direct sight at all times, as children in or near water can drown immediately and silently. Never leave a young child alone in or around a pool, spa, or wading pool, even for a few seconds. Assign someone a 'Water Watcher' to keep them in direct sight, and relieve the watcher every 20 minutes. Keep doors and gates leading to water closed, even when using the pool or spa. Assign a set pool time for toddlers. Always look first in the pool or spa if a child is missing. Keep rescue equipment, like a safety ring and a phone, next to the pool or spa. CPR training Teach children how to dial 9-1-1. Restrict access to the pool or spa when it cannot be adequately supervised. Doors and gates should be closed and locked. Keep things children can climb on, like chairs, away from pool fences and gates. Have a professional regularly inspect your pool or spa for entrapment or entanglement hazards. Teach children how to swim when they are old enough. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting at 4 years old. Safety barriers are recommended to help prevent or slow a child from getting to the water. According to the department, a four-sided isolation fence is the best barrier as it surrounds the pool or spa. Additional safety precautions include: California law-approved safety covers, self-latching fences and ladders, exit alarms, swimming pool alarms that detect movement, and pet doors. Ernesto Centeno Araujo covers breaking news for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at ecentenoaraujo@ This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Tips for parents leaving their child home alone over the summer
