May 17, 2000

Madison County
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OPINIONS
Zach Mitcham
Recreation dept. offers fields of dreams
I'm not sentimental about much. But it doesn't take a lot to make me feel sappy at a ballpark.

SPORTS
Lumberjacks, Pirates pick up last at-bat wins
Both the Armor Plumbing and
Well Lumberjacks and the
Bread Basket Pirates...

Neighborhood News...
BANKS COUNTY
Baldwin advances toward stricter animal control laws
Dog owners must now register their pets with the City of Baldwin.
The first reading of the new animal control ordinance was read at last Monday's meeting of the Baldwin City Council.

Homer makes move to regulate cell towers
The Homer Town Council has made a move to regulate the location of cell towers in the city.

Homer ready to move forward on new city hall facility
It's time to get serious about a new town hall for citizens and officials of Homer, council members agreed May 9.

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

A VERY SPECIAL DELIVERY

Several county Emergency Medical Service employees took part in the birth of a Franklin County couple's first child.

'One good call'
BY MARGIE RICHARDS
When Wendy Rice went into labor one night a few weeks ago, she and husband Brian knew they were probably not going to make it to St. Mary's Hospital in Athens for the birth.
The baby wasn't due for over another two weeks, but things were progressing rapidly - too rapidly - by the time they gathered a few things together and left their home on the Madison/Franklin County line heading for Athens.
Wendy's mom, Polly Walker, accompanied them and called ahead to the Madison County 911 center to request a sheriff's patrol escort to the hospital.
Deputy Tom Lutz responded to the call and contacted an Emergency Medical Service ambulance as it was returning to EMS station one in Danielsville.
When the Rice's car arrived at the courthouse, Wendy was transferred to the ambulance for transport to the hospital.
In the meantime, Paramedic Millie Tankersley was contacted by the 911 center at her home to request her assistance. Tankersley, who was off duty and getting ready for bed, said she heard Danielsville Police Chief Joe Merk knocking on her door at the same time she got the call.
"I threw some clothes on and they (EMS ambulance crew) picked me up in my front yard," Tankersley said.
EMT Jeremy Williams drove while paramedic Loretta Spearing and Tankersley, along with Mrs. Walker, rode in back with Wendy, while Brian followed in their car.
Somewhere along the Athens by-pass Wendy gave birth to a seven-pound, one-ounce baby boy.
Tankersley, who delivered the baby, said this was a first-time experience for all of them.
"It was really great," Tankersley said of helping with the birth. "We see so many bad things. The next week we had a (wreck) fatality."
"This one good call makes up for all the bad ones," Spearing agreed.
"It was a really happy day for us - they just did a wonderful job," Deputy Lutz said of the event.
EMS director Dwayne Patton said that although all EMS workers are trained to assist with a birth, it is not a common event. "Most of the time they (EMS) are able to make it to the hospital, but not this time," Patton said. "We congratulate the family and commend Loretta, Jimmy and Millie for a job well done!"

EDUCATION

County students above
national average on ITBS
BY ZACH MITCHAM
The 2000 Madison County ITBS report card closely resembles the 1999 results, with county students generally above the national average in basic skills.
County fifth and eighth graders showed a slight improvement on the test this year, with the fifth grade improving its composite or overall score from 63 to 64 and the eighth grade increasing at Madison County Middle School from 52 to 53. Madison County's third graders dropped slightly in their composite score from 58 to 55.
ITBS scores are measured by comparing how well a child does against all other students taking the test at his grade level. A score of 60 means a student did better than 60 percent of all test takers nationwide in that grade. The numbers do not reflect what percentage of the questions are answered correctly.
Among the county's four elementary schools, Comer Elementary posted the highest composite score in the third grade, scoring an overall 60, up from last year's 52. Ila Elementary had the second highest overall score in third grade with a 57, down from last year's 71. Danielsville Elementary had a composite total of 53, down from last year's 61. And Colbert Elementary had a 50 overall score, up from 48 in 1999.
In the fifth grade, Ila Elementary posted the best composite score with a 70, up from 65 in 1999. Comer Elementary fell from 63 last year to 59 in 2000. And Colbert and Danielsville Elementary fifth grade figures remained the same, with overall scores of 63 and 62.

 
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DOT debacle
BY MARGIE RICHARDS
Harold Gaulding says he believes in standing up for what he believes is right - even if it means being arrested.
And that's exactly what happened to this Madison County resident and real estate developer last week when he decided to park his vehicle in the path of a road crew working for the Georgia Department of Transportation on the widening of Hwy. 72. Gaulding said he refused to move, holding up the work for more than an hour before being arrested by Madison County Sheriff's deputies on a criminal trespassing charge.
"I thought: I have had enough. Somebody's got to hear what I'm saying," Gaulding said of his reason for the action.
He and his wife Linda say the DOT isn't playing fair with them and with others whose land is being taken by the widening of Hwy. 72.
"We don't want to rob the government - all we want is what's fair and just," he said. "...we are not against the four-lane highway. Growth is coming whether we like it or not."
For the full story, see the 5-17-00 edition of The Madison County Journal.