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July 18 Election Results
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OPINION
Shar Porier
Heart to heart
Before heading for the Homer office last
Friday, I had to lay in some supplies for the long day. So, I
stopped at my Kangaroo on 365. I had a craving for a cheese danish
and they're the only place I have found that carries this one
brand that I cannot resist.
Drew Brantley
Morris good example for field's visitors
One time I was riding in the car with my
parents to the farm where my father grew up. In one of the main
fields leading up to house, rows and rows of corn were standing
waiting to be picked.
SPORTS
See this week's Pigskin
Picks!
Jefferson thwarts Banks County, 48-21
After missing out on the playoffs after an
overtime loss to Banks County last year, the Jefferson Dragons
had a 48-21 victory well in hand long before the end of regulation.
Neighborhood News...
JACKSON COUNTY
Water Wise trial set Mon.
The ongoing battle over the Water Wise issue
will move into a Jackson County courtroom next week after months
of controversy and several weeks of behind-the-scenes political
wrangling. The outcome of the courtroom showdown could have an
impact on local taxpayers and the future of county sewage treatment
projects.
Go ahead with county manager search, says Thomas
But Beshara says current BOC shouldn't be involved
One candidate for the District 3 post of the
Jackson County Board of Commissioners wants the search to start
right away for a county manager. But her opponent says the existing
board has no authority to do that and labeled the idea "destructive
and divisive."
News from
MADISON COUNTY
MCHS still among best in area SAT scores
No municipal elections to be held in county
While a slew of county posts are up for grabs
this year, no municipal elections will be held in 2000.
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The Banks County News
Homer, Georgia
Telephone: (706) 367-5233
Fax: (706) 367-8056
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PRACTICE RUN
Taking part in a training exercise, volunteers and
paid members of the Banks County Fire Department took turns going
into a blazing house last Thursday evening. The house had been
"donated" to the department for burning by the owners,
who have plans to build a new home on the site on Rock Springs
Road. Divided into teams, each group performed an excercise in
putting out the fire. One team was also selected to do a "rescue"
of another firefighter lost in the smoke-filled house.
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Banks County building
inspector resigns
Banks County building inspector Tony Vento
has resigned.
His last day on the job will be Friday, Sept. 8, according to
a letter of resignation submitted to the Banks County Board of
Commissioners.
"The hassle and harassment has gotten to the point where
he doesn't want to deal with it," BOC chairman James Dumas
said in a meeting Friday morning. "...I really regret it,
but I do understand it."
Commissioner Pat Westmoreland said: "He has done an excellent
job for us. He has worked well with us."
Dumas said the county must have a certified building inspector
to handle Vento's duties. The BOC agreed to advertise for someone
to fill the position. In the meantime, Dumas said that the county
could contract with a private firm or individual to handle the
work load.
In other business Friday, the BOC discussed how to utilize the
old health department in Homer. It was agreed that the county
extension offices would be moved to the building.
The BOC didn't agree as to which other offices would be moved
to the building, but did mention the planning and building office
and coroner's office.
OTHER MATTERS
In other business, the BOC:
·agreed that the final classification and compensation
plan, which outlines salaries and raises for county employees,
be used as a guideline by the county.
·learned that the county had received a letter requesting
that Hwy. 198 be renamed as Conrad Boling Memorial Highway. County
leaders said this decision would be made by the Georgia Department
of Transportation since it is a state road.
·agreed to review a list of nominees from the Banks County
Department of Family and Children Services to fill two vacancies
on the board and make a recommendation.
·briefly discussed the youth hunt tentatively set for
Dec. 26-27. It will first be limited to Banks County residents.
After that, if any spaces are available, out-of-county youth
may apply to hunt.
·agreed to come up with a list of three nominees to send
to the BJC Medical Center Authority. The hospital group will
select one of the nominees to serve on the board.
·agreed to consider several re-appointments to the Development
Authority of Banks County.
·agreed to review the policy on now allowing alcohol sales
on election day and take action at the September meeting.
·heard a request from Peace Place for a $5,000 donation
for the shelter.
Closed or not?
Purcell Road topic of debate at BOC meeting
Residents of Purcell Road who want their
road to be officially closed appeared before the Banks County
Board of Commissioners in a work session meeting Friday morning
to plead their case. But a man who owns property on the road
has asked that the county leave the road open and maintain it.
More than two hours of discussion, which was often disorderly,
with several people speaking at one time, was held on the matter,
but no action was taken by the BOC. County officials said that
in order for the road to be closed, it would have to be advertised
in the newspaper, letters would have to be sent to property owners,
a public hearing would have to be held and the BOC would then
vote on the matter.
Many of those living on Purcell Road who spoke pointed out that
the county has not maintained the road for years and they considered
it closed. But county leaders said the road has never been officially
closed or abandoned.
"Merely not working it is not abandoning it," BOC chairman
James Dumas said. "...I don't feel comfortable maintaining
both ends (of the road) and leaving that stretch in the center.
We're either going to maintain all of the road or close a portion
of it. We're not going to maintain one end and then go all the
way around with our equipment and scrape the other end."
Johnny Williams has already petitioned the county asking that
the road be maintained. Many of those who spoke said they are
afraid that his plans for his property on the road include a
subdivision. Williams said he has never said that his plans are
for a subdivision for the property.
"We didn't buy the property to cut it up to a mobile home
park," he said. "We bought it to conform to what is
already there."
Lucille Chambers, who has lived on Purcell Road, for many years,
said she doesn't want the "quietness" of the road to
be destroyed. She said that, in its present condition, the road
doesn't bar anyone access to their property.
"Historically, this little stretch of road has been both
difficult and expensive to maintain," she said. "...I
respectfully request that this short section of Purcell Road
remain impassable as it has been for over 20 years. No mail vehicle,
no school bus and no county vehicleseven scrapershave
passed over it past the Bolton (home) on the north and the Emory
(home) on the south in that period of time."
Another resident said the road would again become a "party
road" if it is maintained and used by the public. He pointed
out that this had been a problem in the past.
"We're trying to block traffic, partying and jack-lighting,"
said Alton Emory.
For the rest of this story, see this week's The Banks County
News.
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Banks County SAT
scores again below state average
Banks County's Scholastic Assessment Test
(SAT) scores are continuing on a downward slide.
The latest average SAT score for Banks County students is 859,
which is down from the 1999 figure of 889 and the 1998 figure
of 900. The average verbal score was 425 and the average math
score was 434. Banks County students also scored below both the
state and national average this year. The state average is 974
and the national average is 1,019.
Fifty-four students, or 60 percent of the graduating class, took
the SAT last spring. Superintendent Deborah White said the percentage
of local students taking the SAT is significantly higher than
the state or national average.
"Many students who are planning to enroll in a vocational
technical school take the SAT and are included in this average,"
White said. "These students did not follow a college preparatory
curriculum."
The average score for the top students was much higher than the
overall average, she added.
"For the students who were ranked in the top 10 of the class,
the average verbal score was 529 and the average math score was
504," she said.
Seabolt seeks
magistrate office as write-in candidate
A Banks County man has announced his intentions
to be a write-in candidate for magistrate judge of Banks County.
Ray Seabolt, who was unsuccessful in his recent bid for sheriff,
has filed the proper paperwork with the probate office to be
a write-in candidate. The only legal requirement is that his
intentions be published in the newspaper. Those who wish to vote
for Seabolt will have to write his name on the ballot.
Incumbent Henry David Banks was the winner of the recent non-partisan
election for magistrate judge.
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