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Editorial
The Banks County News
January 5, 2000
A vision for Banks
County
The arrival of 2000 brings a time of reflection
on past successes and goal-setting for the new year. Many countians
have already set their personal goals and resolutions for the
new year. These serve as a guide and reminder of what they hope
to accomplish in the coming year.
With that in mind, we offer the following as our list of goals
for Banks County in 2000:
·Our state leaders should proceed with legislation prohibiting
annexation across county lines without a county's permission.
This will finally settle any worries about Commerce or Jackson
County annexing Banks Crossing and harming our county tax base.
Annexation and consolidation have been long been discussed as
methods of accomplishing this but both scenarios are plagued
with problems. Legislation would be the best method to finally
put this worry to rest.
·Homer needs to finalize its zoning ordinance. Town leaders,
along with a volunteer citizen's committee, have worked long
hours to get this ordinance ready and it is time to approve it.
Zoning must be in place to protect Homer as growth continues
to head this way.
·The Banks County Board of Education should move swiftly
in naming a new superintendent. A strong leader is needed to
guide our school system into the next century.
·A new fire chief also needs to be named soon for our
county. This is a crucial position and it should also be filled
with a strong leader who can oversee this department.
·In this election year, voters will be going to the polls
to elect many important county, state and national leaders. Voters
need to elect qualified individuals who have the best interest
of this county at heart.
·Economic growth continues to be important to Banks County.
Our county leaders should continue their efforts toward this
in order to be ready for the growth that is coming our way.
Letters
The Banks County News
January 5, 2000
Thanks
for help with youth hunt
Dear Editor:
The first-ever youth hunt on county property in Banks County
was an outstanding success. Twenty-seven kids were selected and
25 hunted. Seventeen kids harvested a deer and several harvested
more than one. Many of the kids experienced their first hunt
and harvested a deer. Everyone saw deer.
While we did not harvest any record-breaking bucks, everyone,
adult and youth alike, had a very fine experience.
Many people put a lot of work and time into this event and I
wish to express my most sincere thanks to them all. Especially
the members of Grove Level Christian Sportman Fellowship: Trent
Wilson, Jeff Butler, Allen Coggins, Andy Barnett, Tim Garner
and Tim Boyer.
Also, our most sincere thanks go to Phillip Cronic of the recreation
department, Ben Whisinant of the commissioner's officer, John
Mitchell, county extension agent, all the BSA members, and the
county commission members, James Dumas, Pat Westmoreland and
Ernest Rogers.
A special thanks goes to Don Wofford and his sons, who field-dressed
and aged all the deer. Don and his sons provided us with a good
look at the age range of the deer herd.
Also, thanks goes to David Carlock for evaluating the herd for
us. Also, thanks to all the surrounding landowners for their
assistance and understanding. This event will always be remembered
by those young people and adults that participated.
If I have left anyone out it is not intentional. So many people
did so much in a short period of time for a group of our fine
young people. Again, thanks.
Sincerely,
W.L. Popphan, DNR Ranger
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Column
By Sherry
Lewis
The Banks County News
January 5, 2000
 Holiday plans change
I had big plans for the Christmas holidays.
They were not elaborate plans, but I wanted to spend some quality
time with my children. I had a few days off and we planned to
go to the mall, see a couple of movies, go shopping and whatever
else we decided to do.
In a matter of moments, that all changed. I ended up spending
a part of last week in a different place - the visiting room
at the intensive care unit.
As I sat in that room, all of our other plans seemed insignificant.
It all started last Wednesday. I was going to the courthouse
and out to lunch when I got a page. My mother-in-law, Doris King,
had been admitted to Habersham County Medical Center on Tuesday
after an asthma attack. Wednesday, she had a breathing treatment
and quit breathing sometime later. The page from my sister-in-law
was "Something's happened to mother. They told us to get
to the hospital."
Those were words I'd never expected to hear that day but nonetheless,
prepared or not, I did. My husband, Chris, went to the hospital
and I stayed home with my children and my nephew, Douglas, who
was visiting from Florida.
I must admit those were some tense hours waiting by the phone,
waiting for some news of her condition. Finally, I got a call
that Doris was about the same.
On Thursday, again Chris went to the hospital and I kept the
children, which I learned later was the easier of the two jobs.
I found out that a second grader can be entertained quite nicely
going shopping for toys and eating pizza.
It was Friday when I made my first trip to the hospital. Doris
was well taken care of before my arrival and would have done
just fine, but I wanted to see firsthand what was going on. I
went back to her room in the ICU and could hardly believe my
eyes. There she was lifeless, with tubes in her body and on a
breathing machine. Doris has been a fighter for years, but weighing
her past lung problems, I had my doubts.
It was upsetting to me. I hurt for my children at the thoughts
of losing a grandmother. I hurt for my husband at the thought
of losing a mother.
The news got better by Saturday. When we arrived at the hospital,
she was sitting up in bed. Granted, she was still very disoriented,
but she was moving. By Sunday, she had been moved to a regular
room.
My observations during the time were that Doris has a family
who really loves her. Her children kept tabs on her condition
and said to heck with everything else. This was their mother
and they, much like their mother, were not willing to give up.
Not only did this trial bring the family closer together, but
it helped them to develop a kinship with a neighboring family
whose son and brother were in the next room. Each day, I too,
would check the condition of Doris, then check the condition
of the other man. When we left the ICU room on Sunday, I was
happy but also sad to leave this family behind. Their news has
not been as good as ours. This patient was later transferred
to another hospital due to his worsening condition.
While I celebrate my family's good fortune, my thoughts have
been with this family. I know the family would appreciate your
adding their son and brother to your prayer list.
While my week didn't turn out the way I'd planned, I am thankful
for the outcome.
Sherry Lewis is news editor of The Banks County News.
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