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OPINION
Parents need to make sure their children don't miss too
much school
It's good that the Banks County Board of
Education is targeting the high absenteeism rate among students.
Neighborhood News...
JACKSON COUNTY
Duke-Weeks ready to develop in Braselton
A huge Gwinnett County real estate firm will break ground this
month on its first industrial project on a 500-acre tract it
plans to develop in Braselton.
3rd Time's A Charm With Grant
Third Attempt Nets Commerce $500,000 State Grant
The third time was indeed a charm for the city of Commerce, though
having a city councilman on the board making the decisions didn't
hurt a bit.
County Survey:
Teens Shouldn't Have Sex, But Should Use Birth Control If They
Do
Only nine percent of Jackson County residents
surveyed by the Northeast Georgia Health District believe it
is OK for unmarried teens to be sexually active, but 85 percent
think those who are should use birth control.
News from
MADISON COUNTY
Local Christian school considers move to Madison County
About 20 county residents showed up on a
chilly and windy day last Saturday to express their interest
in a private Christian-based school that is considering the possibility
of opening in the county.
15-year-old charged with arson of home
A Madison County family has suffered its
second tragedy in just a few months.
SPORTS
Diamond Leopards can reach playoffs by winning last three
After dropping its last three meetings with
the leading teams in the subregion, the Banks County baseball
team still enjoys the comfort of control.
Setting the new table
Region 8-AA prepares for '00-'01 year
After all the initial furor over the realignment
in the Georgia High School Association, things have almost returned
to normal.
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The Banks County News
Homer, Georgia
Telephone: (706) 367-5233
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I LOVE A PARADE
Members of the Banks Country Recreation Department
5-6-year-old tee ball team join the parade procession to celebrate
the opening day ceremonies for baseball and softball Saturday
morning.
Photo by Adam Fouche
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Residents against
mobile home park
BOC strengthens ordinance
BY SHERRY LEWIS
Just the thought of a 90-acre mobile home park on Hwy. 59 was
enough for area residents to speak out against it and in favor
of strengthening the mobile/manufactured home regulations in
Banks County.
For months, the county commissioners and planning commission
have worked on a new ordinance which was recommended by planners
and approved by the BOC in a meeting Tuesday night.
BOC chairman James Dumas offered a few solutions to planners
last week and he took some time during the meeting to explain
his reasoning.
Before Tuesday night, the minimum lot size requirement was 9,000
square feet. Dumas had recommended 10,200 square feet because
it is consistent with four multi-family units per acre. Planners
recommended a requirement of 14,000 square feet, and that was
the minimum approved as a part of the ordinance on Tuesday.
Dumas had also recommended a 30-foot setback between mobile homes,
but the setback approved was 60 feet, as suggested by the planning
commission. Dumas expressed concern about parking old cars and
storage between mobile homes with the increased setback.
The planning commission did go with the chairman's suggestion
to make the road requirements 20 feet with two feet of rolled
gutter on each side.
Dumas also expressed his concern for the clause which states
a mobile home park must be located in an area with public water
and sewer, which are scarce in the county.
"My concern is, is that reasonable," he said. "I'm
in favor of passing it with the water and sewer requirement,
but you've got to realize we could have to defend that issue."
The rumors of the mobile home park came about after Hall County
developers Tim Whitmire and Keith Brown brought a preliminary
plat to the BOC to talk about the "concept" of locating
the park in that area.
During the commission meeting on Tuesday, Dumas said that it
was only an idea and a formal application has not been filed.
"No mobile home park has been presented," he said.
"It must first be rezoned before the park would even be
considered."
He told the group that the developers had approached him about
the proposed ordinance and he asked them to put their plans on
paper.
"They told me it could cost $5 to $6 million to put that
development in there under the new regulations," said Dumas.
Several citizens spoke out about the potential effects of the
mobile home park on the county. Herman Sparks pointed out the
consequences of the park on the school system.
Tim Gilstrap agreed: "I'm in the contracting business and
I see it every day. Have you thought about the impact of doubling
the children in school that day? There's a lot to this."
Again, Dumas reiterated that there has been "no application
and nothing has been done."
School leaders to combat high absenteeism
rate
BY SHERRY LEWIS
Forty-three percent of Banks County
students have missed more than 10 days of school this year, which
has led administrators to come up with a plan they hope will
reduce that number.
In a work session with the board of education on Thursday, superintendent
Deborah White told of immediate plans to combat this problem.
Students who have more than 10 excused absences will have a note
sent home to their parents, she explained.
"Some of these are for legitimate absences, but we are sending
a letter to parents," she said. "We want them to be
aware that their children are missing their education. We will
ask them to make an extra effort to send their child to school."
In the case of 10 or more unexcused absences, school social worker
Bobby Whitlock will set up a conference with the parents with
a follow-up at a later date, White continued.
On Thursday, the BOE also went into a closed session that lasted
one hour and 10 minutes to discuss personnel issues with high
school principal Jan Bertrang and middle school principal Kay
Rogers. No action was taken.
In other business, the BOE:
·approved the school calendar for the 2000-2001 school
year.
·approved a field trip to Pigeon Forge, Tenn., for Lori
Howard's fifth grade class.
·approved a request by the middle school cheerleaders
for a "spirit link" sale to buy new uniforms.
·approved a request by parents of Howard's class for a
"common threads" fund-raiser to sponsor the end-of-year
field trip.
·approved a request by the Future Farmers of America for
a chicken-cue to raise funds for the FFA banquet.
·approved a request by the high school cheerleaders to
sell products from Great America to buy uniforms and to cover
camp expenses.
·approved a request by the middle school coaches to conduct
a basketball camp and to open the gym to provide training and
proceeds for the program.
·approved a request by Terri Ross' class to sell postcards
for a field trip and a fund for Coach Steve Casper.
·approved coaching and extracurricular positions.
·gave Roy Broome the go-ahead to contact the Georgia Department
of Transportation about a driveway extension next to the new
high school.
·agreed to hold a work session at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April
25.
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Baldwin mayor's
DUI case to be heard in Habersham
BY BETH CHESTER
Baldwin Mayor Mark Reed will appear in Habersham County State
Court, not City of Baldwin court, to answers charges that he
operated his vehicle while intoxicated March 30.
Although a Baldwin police officer charged Reed with Driving Under
the Influence of Intoxicants (DUI) and failure to maintain a
lane inside the city limits, police chief Frank W. Andrews said
the case was transferred outside the city's jurisdiction to avoid
the appearance of impropriety.
Chief Andrews said he acted alone in seeking permission to transfer
the case but said the transfer was made "with the blessing
of the city council."
According to the Baldwin Police Department incident report, Mayor
Reed "tested positive over the legal limit for alcohol"
when a roadside breath test was conducted at the time of arrest.
Later, Reed twice declined to take a more scientifically reliable
intoximeter test, the results of which could have been used in
court.
According to reports, two individuals phoned dispatchers reporting
that Reed would be leaving the Beef Baron restaurant and might
be driving under the influence.
Andrews reviewed the videotaped recording of Reed's arrest and
said Reed was cooperative and did not seek to intimidate the
arresting officer. Chief Andrews said Mayor Reed "has apologized"
to the police department for placing officers in a difficult
situation.
Mayor Reed could not be reached for comment.
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