May 3, 2000

Madison County
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OPINIONS
A workforce dilemma
Two conflicting stories crossed my desk this week that have a direct bearing on Madison County's future economic development.

Neighborhood News...
BANKS COUNTY
Sheriff faces seven challengers
Six seek probate judge post
After the dust settled Friday, eight candidates had qualified in the sheriff's race and six for the probate judge seat.

Peachy Clean Day has big turnout In Baldwin
For the past three years, the citizens of Baldwin have committed one Saturday as "Peachy Clean Day" to clean up the city as part of the Great American Clean-up.

BOC mulling budget requests
More budget hearings slated for Friday
An increase in salaries is expected to make the biggest difference in next year's county budget.

It's Daisy Festival Time In Nicholson
NICHOLSON -- The annual Nicholson Daisy Festival will be held Friday and Saturday.

Benton Traffic Plan Worries Nicholson Officials
NICHOLSON -- City officials here expressed concern Monday night about plans to divert traffic flow around Benton Elementary School.

SPORTS
Into the 'Elite 8'
Girls' tennis team knocked from state quarterfinals by Marist
Marist allowed no silver slippers on the feet of the Madison County girls' tennis squad Monday, but the Lady Raider team launched itself into the state's "elite 8" earlier in the week with a first round win over North Springs in the Class AAA tournament.

Madison County track teams participate in region tourneys
Madison County's 2000 track season ended with some solid individual performances but no state qualifiers on either boys' or girls' squads.

mainstreetnews.com The Madison County Journal Danielsville, Georgia Telephone: (706) 367-5233 Fax: (706) 367-8056 NEWS / ADVERTISING / PRINTING ® Copyright 2000 MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. All rights reserved. Copyright / Terms / Privacy

FIRST GRADE VISITS SENIOR CENTER Senior Center volunteer John Verostko gives Comer Elementary first grader Tyler Herring a marigold in the center's greenhouse last week. The first grade classes of Comer Elementary visited both the Senior Center and Madison County Library last week. While at the center, the children toured the greenhouse and each received a marigold plant. Photo by Margie Richards

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Four to seek commission chairman's seat
Qualifying ends with four of five BOC district posts contested
BY ZACH MITCHAM
Three Madison County Democrats seeking the county commission's chairman's post will face each other in a July primary, with the winner taking on Republican incumbent Wesley Nash in November.
Qualifying for county offices ended at noon Friday with Democrats E. Nelson Nash, Lamar H. "L.H." Akin and Gary Tillman Adams tossing their hats in the ring for the chairman's post.
But the chairman's seat won't be the only hot election in the county this year.
Four of five commissioners' seats will be contested, the only exception being District 4, where incumbent Democrat Melvin Drake is unchallenged.
In District 1, incumbent Democrat Bill Taylor will be challenged by Republican John Brueshaber. Meanwhile, four people are seeking the District 2 commissioner's seat: Democrats Jim Brown, Johnny Wilburn Fitzpatrick and Conolus Scott, Jr. Republican Larry Stewart is also seeking that post.
In District 3, Danny E. Andrews, a Republican, will face Michael E. Youngblood, a Democrat. Patsy Pierce is not seeking re-election for that seat.
Also, District 5 commissioner Bruce Scogin, a Republican, will meet Democrat Edwin Marion Baker in the November election.
In the Probate Judge's race, incumbent Hugh Donald "Hoppy" Royston, a Democrat, will be challenged by Republican Donna "Lynn" Smith.
Meanwhile, Clerk of Court Michelle H. Strickland, a Democrat, will face opposition from Republican Michael Conrad Sales.
Only one seat on the county school board will be contested. BOE chairman Jimmy Patton, a Democrat, will be challenged by Richard Henry "Ric" Power, a Republican, in District 5. District 3 school board member, John Mason, and District 4 representative, Jim Patton, are unopposed.
Neither the county's sheriff, Clayton Lowe, nor tax commissioner, Louise Watson, will be opposed for re-election. Likewise, surveyor James Smith is unchallenged.
But four people are seeking the county's coroner position: Democrat Michelle Cleveland and Republicans Phyliss M. Dickinson, John S. Scarborough and Frankie Crane.
Both of Madison County's state legislators will face opposition this year. State representative Ralph Hudgens, a Republican incumbent, will be challenged by Democrat Douglas McKillip. And incumbent state senator Eddie Madden, a Democrat, will face Mike Beatty, a Republican.
In the Northern Judicial Circuit, which includes Madison County, neither the District Attorney, Robert Lavender, nor the three Superior Court Judges - John H. Bailey, Thomas Lumpkin Hodges and Lyndsay A. Tise - will be opposed for re-election.

Danielsville approves contract for sidewalk project
BY ZACH MITCHAM
The Danielsville City Council approved an $80,000 contract for the installation of sidewalks this summer down portions of Hwy. 29 north, Crawford W. Long Street and Madison Street.
Riley and Ephriam Construction was awarded the $79,980 contract by the council. The bid from the Stone Mountain company includes all materials, labor, equipment, grading and insurance for the project. The sidewalks will include handicapped accessible ramps.
The original bid from Riley and Ephriam was for $78,480, but that did not include installation of a necessary culvert on Madison Street, which will cost $1,500.
The state promised the city a grant of approximately $29,000 in 1998 for the project. But the council is hoping that number may increase.
City officials have also discussed seeking help from the county school board on covering the $24,000 cost of installing a sidewalk from the creek on Madison Street to a point across from the middle school.
In other matters, the council approved a contract for $1,850 for the cleaning of the city's water tank. The group also approved $200 to improve handicap accessibility at the Danielsville Medical Center.

 
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Relay for Life 2000 set for this weekend
Madison County's Relay for Life is scheduled for May 5 and 6 at the Recreation Department track. The event is intended to raise funds and public awareness in the fight against cancer.
Organizers say the public is invited and that there will be hamburgers, hot dogs and barbecue sandwiches.
Schedule of events:
·11 a.m. - Track opens to begin setting up campsites.
·5:30 p.m. - Hospitality tent opens for cancer survivors. Luminaria sales begin, survivor registration begins, Relay Store opens. Children's Corral performs
·6:30 p.m. - Opening ceremonies, Survivor Lap, Caregiver Lap (family members and friends walk with survivor), Team Lap (team banners and costumes, if desired)
·7:30 p.m. - Relay for Life begins, one member/team takes to the track. Entertainment during this time will be Bill Ashley - Bluegrass Ramblers.
·8:30 p.m. - Seniors Lap. Entertainment by the Hess Family and Victory Singers.
·9:30 p.m. - LUMINARIA SERVICE.
·10 p.m. - "Couples lap," entertainment by the Ricky Miller Band. (This is the time for team captains to vote on "bests.")
·11:15 - Musical chairs, potato golf game. Entertainment will be provided by a DJ.
·11:30 p.m. - "Miss Relay" contest.
·12 a.m. - Crowning of Miss Relay 2000. Entertainment will be provided by the Ricky Miller Band. Midnight pizza buffet. Pizza box games (stack, Frisbee). Best Friend lap.
·1:15 a.m. - Toga lap, Crazy Hat contest and SHOUT!
·2 a.m. - Beach music, Shag contest, Twister contest, Marble trap and Limbo.
·3 a.m. - Swing music
·3:30 a.m. - Latin music, the Macarena
·4:30 a.m. - Blues Brothers (dress up), Football throw, Lap Poker, 50's Jitterbug contest, bubble gum blowing, "squirt the butt" and Hoola Hoop.
·6 a.m. - Country music, line dancing, tater relay and karaoke. New Friend and Scavenger Hunt begins.
·7 a.m. - Luminaria Lap and breakfast, Newspaper fashion show, "Reduce Your Risk" skit, Saturday A.M. disco.
·8 a.m. - Really Rowdy Relay Olympics Egg Toss, Slip/Slap/Slop relay, Fill the Bottle relay, Life-saver Relay, cross country skiing, water balloon toss, and cheese puff toss.
·9:45 a.m. - 10 a.m. - Closing ceremonies, announcement of money raised Team and Individual awards. Final lap by everyone. (Organizers ask that participants commit to being at the relay and not tearing down campsites until the relay ends at 10 a.m.)
·10 - noon - Clean up.