|
mainstreetnews Home
Search Site
Area Sports
Classifieds
Place A Classified Ad
Jackson Legal Page
Jackson Opinion Page
Jackson Obituary Page
Archives
Subscribe
Send A Letter
List Your Business
Jackson County Stats
Sex Offender Registry
1998 Building Permits
1999 Building Permits
1998 Property Transactions
1999 Property Transactions
Bear Creek Project
Go to Banks County
Go to Madison County
OPINIONS
Jackson County opinion page
SPORTS
SEE THIS WEEK'S PIGSKIN PICKERS!
Walhalla To Visit Tigers For Homecoming 2000
Commerce's 2000 homecoming opponent will be a state away from
home Friday night. The Tigers will welcome Walhalla (S.C.) to
Tiger Stadium for the first meeting between the two teams. Walhalla
is ranked in some South Carolina Class AA polls. The Razorbacks
finished 5-5 last season, losing in the first round of the South
Carolina playoffs.
Which Volley Cats will show up?
Jackson County's Volley Cats will travel to Hart County Thursday,
in a rematch of Tuesday's tri-match at Madison County. Also on
this week's agenda is a trip to Winder, to face the Bulldoggs
and Cedar Shoals.
Head coach Robin Potter said the Cats presented two strikingly
different teams to their opponents Tuesday in Danielsville.
JHS hopes to slow Red Raider roll
The Madison County Red Raiders have rolled
over each of the four opponents they've faced this year.
But if the Jefferson Dragons have a say in the matter, Madison
County's roll will stop Friday night. The Dragons are slated
to take on the Red Raiders Friday at 8 p.m. in Danielsville.
Neighborhood News...
MADISON COUNTY
Emergency workers rescue choking infant
Little Emerald Eveion Prather loves marshmallows.
And when the 9-month-old baby saw her sister's white soft drink
bottle top lying on a nightstand around 8 p.m. Aug. 16, she put
it in her mouth, perhaps expecting the familiar soft, sweet treat.
Instead, the bottle top moved down her windpipe and began to
choke her.
52nd Madison Co. Fair opens Tuesday
The 52nd annual Madison County Agricultural
Fair is set for Tuesday through Saturday, Sept. 26-30, at the
Comer fairgrounds. The fair will be open from 6 to 11 p.m. Tuesday
through Saturday and from 12 to 4 p.m. Saturday. The fairgrounds
will be closed from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday.
News from
BANKS COUNTY
Go-cart track owner gets approval to operate business
A Banks County man finally has approval to
run his go-cart track on Otis Brown Road. The board of commissioners
approved Mitchell Payne's request in a meeting Friday morning
to rezone seven acres from agriculture to C-2 (general commericial).
Dalton named temporary head of EMS
The Banks County Board of Commissioners has
named fire chief Perry Dalton to serve as the temporary head
of the emergency management services department.
The action was taken in a called meeting Friday morning after
the BOC met behind closed doors for 15 minutes to discuss "personnel."
|
mainstreetnews.com
The Jackson Herald
Jefferson, Georgia
Telephone: (706) 367-5233
Fax: (706) 367-8056
NEWS / ADVERTISING
PRINTING
® Copyright 2000
MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Copyright /
Terms / Privacy
|
|
LIGHTNING STRIKES
This 80-foot poplar tree in the Holly Springs community was
struck by lightning around 8 a.m. Thursday. Debris from the tree
was scattered in all directions over a 200-foot radius. "It
scared me to death," said Mary Nichols, in whose yard the
tree stands.
|
Kiwanis
Club Installs Officers
The Commerce Kiwanis Club installed new officers at its 75th
anniversary banquet last Thursday night. Left to right are Scott
Martin, immediate past
president; Chas Hardy, treasurer; Jeff Geisler, vice president;
Ronnie Silva, president; Gary Freeman, president elect; and Oscar
Weinmeister, secretary. Martin was also honored as "Kiwanian
of the year."
UPDATE:
Seven to
be on ballot in Nicholson mayor's race
Nicholson residents will have seven candidates to choose from
for the mayor's seat when they go to the poll on Nov. 7.
The candidates include: Stanley Fouche, Carl Bergeron, Ronnie
Maxwell, Billy Kitchens, Bobby Crawford, Ray Hancock and Clark
Kesler.
Fouche submit his resignation as a member of the city council
in order to run for mayor. Councilman Daniel Sailors also resigned
because he is a candidate for the Jackson County Board of Commissioners.
This will leave the council with only two members, Margaret Ward
and Thomas Gary, until a special called election is held in March.
County Preparing
Sewer Bond Issue
Money Would Fund Acquisition, Upgrade, Expansion Of
Sewer System
Seeking cash to expand its sewerage system,
the Jackson County Water and Sewer-age Authority expects to issue
$10-$11 million in bonds this fall.
At Thursday's meeting of the authority, board of commissioners
chairman Jerry Waddell instructed lawyers for the county and
the authority to "get a bond issue ready to go to market"
by Nov. 2.
Meanwhile, the county government has been issued a wastewater
discharge permit by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
The permit is an updated version of an industrial discharge permit
attached to the Texfi facility on Georgia 11 in Jefferson. The
permit was issued Tuesday and will be modified as the county
expands the sewage operations. Officials hope to eventually have
up to 2 million gallons per day capacity.
BONDS TO BE ISSUED
The exact amount of the bond levy hasn't been determined, but
it will go to repay the county's general fund for the $2.7 million
acquisition of the old Texfi sewage treatment plant and for the
plant's upgrade. It will also fund the purchase of 150 adjacent
acres at a cost of $1.07 million and the expansion of sewage
lines to Hwy. 124 for the Mulberry Plantation development.
Tuesday, county leaders met with Mulberry developer Doug Elam
to discuss the financial arrangements for the sewage project.
Because of its size, Mulberry is a key player in the financing
of the sewage plant. Before the bonds are issued, Elam will issue
$500,000 to the county and a letter of credit for additional
funding. Those committed dollars will help the county get a higher
bond rating, said officials.
PRAISE FOR ACTION
County attorney Lane Fitzpatrick praised the county for its acquisition
of the Texfi plant and the establishment of a sewerage system,
calling it the county's "crown jewel" and suggesting,
not in jest, that the plant be named for Waddell.
"It'd make both sides happy," Fitzpatrick said. "Both
his critics and his supporters."
Authority attorney Julius Hulsey praised both commissioner Pat
Bell and Waddell.
"Had not they stayed the course, we'd have never got this
settled," he said. "The other side knew it and that
gave us a little leverage."
Waddell said: "It would have been a tremendous loss if we'd
sat down and let a private company take over."
Fitzpatrick said the acquisition left the county "less than
an inch away from what I consider greatness. This is just the
crown jewel of Jackson County, getting a sewer service going.
...You've now got all the pieces in place to bring in the tax
base other counties would kill for. That (EPD) permit is absolutely
worth its weight in gold. What was accomplished was absolutely
great."
The authority's sewer engineer, Bob Sutton, said the county will
initially seek a 450,000-gallon-per-day permit.
Earlier in the meeting, the water authority and county commissioners
signed intergovernmental agreements concerning the sewerage plant,
essentially conveying the plant to the authority. The agreement
states that the authority will, "if funds become available,"
repay the money the county spent acquiring the facility.
The agreement treats other county sewerage matters as well, including
ownership of the pre-treatment plant Mayfield Dairies maintains
and rights to the capacity the city of Commerce gave the county
in its treatment plant. It also pledges the county's backing
on any future bond issues and gives the authority sole discretion
over when and where sewer lines are installed.
After the authority voted to approve the document, Waddell called
the board of commissioners into session and he and commissioner
Bell also ratified the agreement.
Both parties also signed off on an agreement making the authority
responsible for the sale of water coming from the Bear Creek
Reservoir, which is scheduled to be completed in July.
The document states that the authority has "sole authority"
as to when and where water lines are constructed.
Rest stop opponents
send 'loud and clear' message
More than 100 people gathered in the meeting
room of the Jefferson Public Library Tuesday night to oppose
a proposal to locate two rest areas along I-85 in Jackson County.
The North Jackson Neighborhood Watch, led by president Dennis
Coté, planned the meeting and four officials with the
Georgia Department of Transportation attended.
"The message is loud and clear," DOT project engineer
Larry Dent said after numerous people spoke out against the plans.
"We are certainly going to look. We can sit here and debate
this all night long. I'm not going to try and defend the location.
All I'm going to tell you is that we are going to look at all
of our options."
Dent said the DOT will look at other potential sites along I-85
in the coming weeks with a decision to be made in approximately
six months. The project will be completed in five years, state
officials say. Dent said this didn't mean that the proposed site
would be disregarded.
"This is not the final site," Dent said. "We are
going to look at other sites, but we can't discount this one."
The two proposed sites are located between Hwy. 332 and Hwy.
129 on I-85. Both sites would be 35 too50 acres and would have
200 parking spaces 100 for 18-wheeler trucks and 100 for
other vehicles. They would be open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and would
have two staff members on duty.
The proposed cost for both rest areas is $18.1 million, according
to DOT communications officer Teri Pope. A figure of $30 million
was given at the meeting, but Pope said Wednesday that the cost
would be closer to 18.1 million.
Dent said the site was selected because it has water and sewer
availability, which is one of the main requirements. He said
the Gwinnett County rest areas each use approximately 15,000
gallons of water per day.
Several of those at the meeting, who live near the site, said
they don't have county water or sewer. Dent said it is available
at Walnut Fork Industrial Park and the state could hook onto
it. Several people asked what the DOT would do if Jefferson and
the county both refuse to provide water and sewer. Dent said
the DOT has not contacted either governmental group because the
state is in the preliminary stages of the project.
Concerns about all of the additional truck traffic and the problems
it could bring, including crime, noise and air pollution, were
among those aired at the meeting. One person in the audience
said rest areas led to "gay communities taking over."
Another said prostitution is high in rest areas.
"A rest area is not a high crime area," Dent said.
He added that in 15 years, law enforcement officers had been
called to the Franklin County rest area only three times. A woman
in the office added that the Gwinnett County rest area has more
crime problems than that.
"That is what you are bringing to our county," she
said.
Other concerns include the potential of a decrease in property
values; run-off when it rains which would cause diesel fuel to
go into nearby rivers; and interference on televisions from CBs.
One man asked the DOT officials what benefit Jackson County would
receive from the rest areas locating in the county. He said the
location of a housing unit for law enforcement officers, which
could be used by the county sheriff's department or the state
patrol, would be one benefit.
Several people also questioned the rest area is needed and pointed
out that truck stop businesses are located in the county which
have spaces for truckers to park overnight.
Election season
on the horizon
Candidates are gearing up for the final
stretch to the November 7 elections. In a little less than seven
weeks, local voters will go to the polls to choose everything
from a new president to a new county commissioner.
Voters have until Oct. 10 to register to vote for the November
balloting if they are not already a registered voter.
Ten contests in Jackson County will be decided in the November
balloting. High on the list of interest are the four new district
board of commissioners seats. The chairman of that group will
be Harold Fletcher, who was elected during the Republican Primary
this summer. With no Democrat in that race, he is assured of
taking the position January 1, 2001.
All four district seats, however, have both a Republican and
Democratic candidate. In some areas of the county, interest in
those BOC seats is high.
Also high on the interest list are two races for local representation
in the state legislature. Republican Rep. Scott Tolbert is attempting
to hold on to his seat in a heated race with Democrat Pat Bell,
currently a Jackson County commissioner.
In the state senate, Democrat Sen. Eddie Madden is attempting
to hold onto his seat against Republican challenger Mike Beatty.
The candidates have already met several times - first at a Jackson
County forum before the primary, at a recent forum in Hoschton
and this week at a forum in Madison County. The candidates are
also scheduled to meet several other times in the large Senate
47 district for forums and debates. No key issue has developed
so far in that contest, but the Beatty campaign has it would
show the "real" Madden to district voters.
CITY ELECTIONS
City elections are set in Maysville, Pendergrass and Nicholson
for Nov. 7. Voters in these towns will have a separate ballot
for these races.
In Maysville, incumbent Mayor Richard Presley will face former
mayor Jerry Lewis.
The incumbent council members in Ward 1 and Ward 3 will also
face challengers in the election. In Ward 1, incumbent Jim Saville,
former councilman Andrew Strickland and Todd Dorsey qualified.
In Ward 3, incumbent Andy Martin, Richard Parr and Frank Chesonis
qualified.
In Ward 2, former mayor Marion Jarrett was the only one to qualify.
Ward 2 incumbent Scott Harper qualified for the Ward 4 seat because
he is moving to that district. Harper is the only candidate for
the Ward 4 council seat.
In Pendergrass, Rebecca Danner, Judy Carol Stowe and Joyce Cooper
qualified for the vacant Post 4 council seat.
A called election will be held in March to fill the mayor's seat
due to Mark Tolbert's recent resignation. Mayor Pro Tem Monk
Tolbert will lead the council until that election is held.
A city election will be held in Nicholson to fill the mayor's
seat following the resignation of Steve Wilbanks. Qualifying
is under way this week. Those who have qualified so far are:
Stanley Fouche, Carl Bergeron, Ronnie Maxwell, Billy Kitchens,
Bobby Crawford and Ray Hancock.
A special election will be called in March to fill Fouche's vacant
council seat.
|
Go to Jackson
Community Pages
Public Meeting Dates
Community Calendar
Jackson County
Business Listing
Appliances/Electronics
Auto
Dealers
Auto
Parts
Auto
Services
Churches
Clothing
Education/Child
Care
Financial
Institutions
Food
& Convenience Stores
Funeral
Homes/Services
Furniture
Garden
& Agriculture
Home
Service/Supplies
Industry
& Manufacturing
Insurance
Lodging
Medical
Personal
Care Items/Services
Pharmacies
Real
Estate
Recreation/Entertainment
Restaurants/Other
Eateries
Retail
Stores/Outlets
Service
Businesses
JCCI Warden, 3
Others Are Suspended
Four administrators with the Jackson County
Correctional Institute, including warden Joe Dalton, have been
put on administrative suspension by the Jackson County Board
of Commissioners.
The action comes after county officials uncovered what they said
was evidence that one prison employee had turned in falsified
payroll time cards. An investigation continues into the department,
which houses state prisoners.
Board of commissioners chairman Jerry Waddell said Friday that
state corrections officials have agreed to run the prison until
the county can sort out the matter.
In addition to Dalton, deputy warden Ken Ashley, Lt. Eddie Mullis
and Gus Morris were suspended.
Those suspended will continue to be paid until their cases are
resolved.
Hoschton's fall
festival ahead this weekend
Hoschton's annual fall festival will be
held on Friday through Sunday, September 22, 23 and 24, on the
city square.
The event will begin Friday when booths open at 8 a.m. Afternoon
music will be provided by Steve Stewart's Band and contemporary
gospel music by Hope Christian Worship Center. Arts, crafts,
food and games will be available.
The festival's annual talent contest will begin Friday at 7 p.m.
Festivities will continue Saturday with booths opening at 8 a.m.
The parade is scheduled for 11 a.m. WIMO radio station of Winder
will be on hand for live broadcasting with Verlon Deaton announcing.
Cakewalks, bingo and clogging will be held throughout the day.
The West Jackson Fire Department will have fire trucks and equipment
on display, along with Jackson County's DARE units and patrol
cars and Hoschton's patrol cars.
At 3 p.m., Rudy Sanders will call the steps for the Jug Tavern
Squares.
At 4 p.m., Jennifer Martin and the YMCA School of Performing
Arts will give examples of the early years of dance.
A street dance featuring Kelsey DiMarco from Hartwell will begin
Saturday at 7 p.m.
The festival will conclude Sunday after an afternoon of gospel
singing coordinated by Van Welchel.
For more information, call Hoschton City Hall at 654-3034.
Nicholson Residents
Get To Air Opinions About Zoning
More than 40 people crowded into the Nicholson
Public Library Thursday night to air their views on zoning.
The city has been working toward bringing zoning to the town
for two years and the public hearing was held to get citizen
input before the council votes on the matter. Some 15 people
spoke at the public hearing. Many of those who spoke didn't speak
for or against zoning, but told the council what they want their
property to be zoned.
City officials pointed out that all existing uses, including
commercial or agriculture, will be "grandfathered"
in and allowed to continue.
Howard Wilbanks, who lives on U.S. 441 South, said zoning is
"one of the best things" that could happen to the town.
"It will protect the people," he said. "... It
will stop a lot of this stuff that has been going on."
Tommy Palmer said zoning can control developers looking for a
"quick profit."
"Nicholson is not staying small," he said. "It
is going to grow ... I would like to see something we can all
be proud of, not something that makes us hang our head ..."
Scherry Jackson said that with Nicholson growing, the city needs
to have a way to regulate areas.
"Those people who chose to have a nice place ought to be
able to have one and the value stay good," she said. "If
you want to live in a mobile home, we have several areas that
are designated for mobile homes."
Several others spoke in opposition to zoning and asked that a
city-wide vote be held before it is implemented, including Chuck
Wheeler, who pointed out that the council is down to only three
members.
"Zoning will not get rid of trash next door to you,"
he said. "Zoning is the forerunner of segregation."
He said that zoning calls for putting some people in one section
of the town and others in another section of the town.
The ordinance divides Nicholson into five zoning classifications,
two residential, government, agriculture and commercial. The
Jackson County Planning Commission will handle public hearings
for the town and will make zoning recommendations to the city
council.
A proposed zoning map is at Nicholson City Hall and can be reviewed
by the public. Copies of the zoning ordinance are also at city
hall.
|
