Caption Gov. Purdue and Ashley Smith (former hostage)

Yahoo News ^ | March 24,2005

[AmericanMade1776]

Ashley Smith (R), who was held hostage by Atlanta courthouse murder suspect Brian Nichols, smiles while receiving her reward money from Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue (L) and other agencies which totalled $72,000 dollars at the Georgia State capitol in Atlanta, Georgia March 24, 2005. Smith lived in the Bridgewater apartments and talked Nichols into releasing her which led to his surrender in Duluth, Georgia on March 12, 2005. Nichols is a suspect in the Fulton county courthouse killings of a judge, a sheriff's deputy and a court clerk and a possible murder of a customs agent. REUTERS/Tami Chappell

[AmericanMade1776]

Two Miracles in Georgia... One a Republican Governor, the other ...Ashley Smith , armed only with her faith , unarms a wanted murderer.

[bubbleb]

While I don't believe in "prosperity theology", it sure is nice to see Christian's rewarded here on earth, too.

[holly go-rightly]

Isn't she wonderful? Thanks for the photo!

[Tax-chick]

"Put it in the bank, young lady, and then get an education and a good job. And have a great life!"

[My2Cents]

Good point.

[Blue Screen of Death]

Nice. Very nice.

[WakeUpAndVote]

I hope this is free of state, local and federal tax........

[knarf]

I heard a sound byte on the radio last night of Michael Savage villifying Ashley Smith.
Does anyone know why??

[A Citizen Reporter]

Fantastic! Look at this.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I hope this is free of state, local and federal tax........

Surely, you jest.

[Howlin]

I read on another thread that the family has hired somebody to "advise" her on handling the money.

[WakeUpAndVote]

Yeah, she did. Then she left her husband, no one to tell her what to do now!

[Howlin]

If every anybody deserved it, it is this woman. I keep her in my prayers. She must be overwhelmed.

[And I see she still hasn't gotten her roots "done." ;-) ]

[Howlin]

Her husband is dead; he died in her arms four years ago.

[Howlin]

Because he villifies everybody? Just a guess.

[Tax-chick]

Good idea! I hope they advise her to put it in a low-risk, monitored-access investment account, with the aim of using most of it for education. There's probably even a good option with tax-exempt interest accumulation (I confess I'm way behind on all the details, these days.)

She seems like a very good-hearted girl, and this well-deserved reward could be the boost she needs to build a solid future ... or it could be a disaster.

[JennysCool]

Ha! And a good guess it was!

[Howlin]

She seems like a very good-hearted girl, and this well-deserved reward could be the boost she needs to build a solid future ...

I agree one hundred percent.

or it could be a disaster.

But, hey, aren't we all just one bad move from that?

[Tax-chick]

But, hey, aren't we all just one bad move from that?

That is true. I have an occasional nightmare about what my husband might be doing with our money ... but my father owns land, so I have a fall-back position :-).

[CyberAnt]

Yes, and then put the rest away for her daughter's education.