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Editorial
The Banks County News
June 21, 2000
Time to take water
restrictions seriously
The serious drought all of Georgia is suffering from makes adhering
to the water restrictions implemented by the state crucial. Water
is a resource that everyone takes for granted, but they shouldn't
because shortages are possible.
Agriculture commissioner Tommy Irvin recently told a group of
Banks Countians that the drought conditions make this one of
the most trying times he has experienced in more than three decades
working with the state. He gave a heartfelt plea for those present
to pray for rain. It is advice that we should all take.
Many area cities have implemented tougher water restrictions
than those put in place by the state. Lula has even gone so far
as to put a $250 fine and threat of disconnection to those caught
repeatedly violating the restrictions. It's too bad that measures
such as these are needed, but they are, as many people will ignore
the restrictions and continue to take water for granted.
Water is a precious resource and we all need to work together
to make sure it doesn't run out.
Letter
The Banks County News
June 21, 2000
Concerned with
water service
Dear Editor:
I am writing this letter in the hope that it will draw attention
to a serious problem. This is an appeal to the mayor and city
council of the City of Baldwin and to the commissioners of Banks
County. I live on Hwy. 105 between Harmony Church Road and Spring
Road and we are desperately in need of a better water system.
There are six-inch water lines with fire hydrants all over the
city of Baldwin and much of Banks County, including areas that
have very few homes. It is my understanding that the water system
we have from the city of Baldwin is a four-inch line down Hwy.
105 toward Spring Road, which decreases to a two-inch line at
Crump Road before reaching my home and continuing on. If we had
a residential fire or a brush fire of any size, we would have
to stand by and just watch everything burn. We don't have enough
water output to save what we've worked hard to build. As more
families move into this affected area, the water supply will
only get worse. Currently there are over 100 families with this
problem.
For several years this little "gray" area of Banks
County has been the subject of debate between the city and county.
We're presently serviced by the Baldwin water system that, I
am told, is willing to sell service rights in this area to Banks
County. I've been assured by an official at the Apple Pie Ridge
water station that a line could be run from Spring Road along
Hwy. 105 to Harmony Church Road, then down Harmony Church Road
connecting at Hwy. 441, without any major problem.
The main problem is the dollar amount it would take for Banks
County to buy this section and put the line in. I'm making an
earnest appeal to both the city of Baldwin and Banks County to
please try to reach a compromise that will enable all of us to
have an ample supply of water. I'm sure each of you in the position
to make this decision ran for office with the promise to serve
the people. We're asking that you honor that promise and please
help rectify the problem. I urge any of you who live in the affected
area to please contact the city and county officials and let
them know that we would like to have fire hydrants and enough
water just like everyone else.
Sincerely, Gwen M. Carnes, Baldwin
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Column
By
Adam Fouche
The Banks County News
June 21, 2000
I'm my grandfather's
grandson
My grandfather likes to talk. In fact, my grandfather likes to
talk a whole lot, even more than I like to talk.
Usually, he's got something pretty good to say. Well, actually,
usually he doesn't, but I listen anyway, sometimes.
Just for fun, my cousin and I will often bring up a subject that
we know will cause him to go off on a four-and-a-half hour spiel,
usually ending in an argument with my grandmother over who married
the Smith girl that used to live over on the old Jones home place.
To me, one of the funniest things to ask him for are directions.
"Well, ole boy," he'll say (and he really does call
me "ole boy" sometimes), "go down the Old Carnesville
Highway out to about where J.D. Smith had the old store and turn
left. Then you go down to Five Forks straight on to the Harris
home place and go up by the old Plainview School on the upper
side of the county. After that, just go down that road where
that man that married Johnny Byran's sister used to live and
raise those rabbits for the carnivals, and then you should be
pretty close."
By this point, or actually way before then, I have become thoroughly
confused. I just have to walk off and hope I can find what I'm
looking for without any help.
My grandfather's favorite discussion is dealing with how people
are related. I think he loves to explain people's relations to
each other mainly because he made up some once and twice removed
system that only he understands. It gives him a feeling of superiority
because none of the rest of the family can figure out what he's
saying.
Monday, I asked him how I was related to a girl that is in a
picture with me when I was just a wee little fellow.
He sat down, looked at me across the table, adjusted his belt
a little and said, "Well, let's see.
"She would be your second cousin three times removed,"
he told me confidently. "Wait, wait. She's your daddy's
second cousin twice removed so that would make her your third
cousin once removed, or maybe she's your first cousin five times
removed. No, that can't be right. She's your..."
I think that I blanked out somewhere in the middle of the conversation.
But we finally settled on her being my third cousin to the second
power, minus eight, divided by three, six times removed, times
pie. Now I understand. The "times pie" thing cleared
it up for me.
My grandfather is a real intelligent man, don't get me wrong.
I don't mean to poke fun at him, just aggravate him, which I
do a lot. He deserves it, and he knows it.
He does have a pretty tough job though, being retired and sitting
at home all day. But he does have to put up with me a good bit
of the time. Everyone knows that takes a whole lot of patience
and nerve.
And it doesn't bother him a bit to tell me I'm difficult and
hard to deal with.
Well, Granddaddy, maybe you're right.
But don't forget, I am my grandfather's grandson.
Adam Fouche is a reporter for MainStreet Newspapers.
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