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July 18 Election Results
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OPINION
Shar Porier
Remember this?
I happened across this poem I wrote back in March 1996. I thought
I'd share it with you, remembering rainy days of the past.
Phillip Sartain
Tricks of the trade
These are modern times we're living in. And that means men shouldn't
be ashamed to admit they have taken on new roles. So I'm here
to announce that I intend to fly my new banner high.
SPORTS
SEE THIS WEEK'S PIGSKIN PICKERS!
BCHS seniors take the field one last time Friday night
The big hill, the American flag, the bright lights and the cheering
crowd.
That's what Banks County senior lineman Scott Garner will miss
most about Leopard football when he plays his final game Friday
night.
Neighborhood News...
JACKSON COUNTY
Bell tops Tolbert by 54
What a finish! After eight long hours of
ballot counting which saw the lead change hands several times,
challenger Pat Bell has apparently defeated incumbent Scott Tolbert
for the House District 25 seat with a razor thin margin of just
54 votes. Nearly 13,000 votes were cast in that race.
Rec staff sacked
Gambling, porno sites found on county
computer; no charges expected
Allegations of gambling at the Jackson County recreation department
has led to three employees resigning this week.
News from
MADISON COUNTY
Incumbent Patton toppled
In the Madison County school board District 5 race, Republican
challenger Ric Power defeated incumbent Democrat Patton with
56.5 percent of the vote (803 to 617).
Comer mayor calls for change in how council vacancies are
filled
Future vacancies in Comer's mayor and council posts will be filled
by special elections, if new mayor Chris NeSmith has his way.
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'FRIDAY'S
GONE, GONE WITH THE WIND'
Banks County High School's senior football players
will play in their final game Friday night at Bobbie Morris Field.
Pictured are: (L-R) Bray Maxwell, Scott Garner, Hank Jones, Chris
Ivey, Drew Gowder, Steven Caudell, Jason White and Tim Williamson.
Chris Keyros, who is out due to a knee injury, is not pictured.
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Brady edges out incumbent
Dumas; Chapman to stay
Beginning in January 2001, the Banks County Board of Commissioners
will be under new leadership.
Political newcomer Kenneth Brady narrowly defeated incumbent
BOC chairman James Dumas by just over 300 votes.
"I got nervous towards the end," Brady said after votes
were tallied. "I'm ready to go to work. That's all I got
to say."
Brady, who will be taking public office for the first time, said
he would work well with the existing two commissioners.
Dumas appeared disappointed but said he had enjoyed his time
in office.
"I was really glad to honor and serve the citizens of Banks
County," he said. "We accomplished a lot. We protected
Banks Crossing and improved our water system. We relocated many
new businesses to the county. It's unfortunate that that's not
the direction in this election that the people want to take."
Dumas added that he would work with Brady to make the transition
into office smooth.
SHERIFF'S RACE
Banks County Sheriff Charles Chapman will remain in office for
two more years. Chapman defeated Republican challenger Mike Boyle,
taking 59 percent of the vote.
"I feel good-I feel real good," Chapman said at his
headquarters at the sheriff's department. "I appreciate
the confidence the citizens have showed in me. We'll continue
to give it our best. I feel good about this victory."
Chapman carried all but two precincts, Anderson and Poplar Springs.
"I'm really overwhelmed-I really am," the sheriff said.
"I carried most of the precincts with a good margin. I only
lost in two of the precincts. I appreciate the support."
Chapman pledged to continue to work for Banks County as he has
for the past four years.
"I've always done what I believe to be right and honest
and I'll keep doing that," he said. "I'll keep working
with the same dedication and do the hard work I've been doing."
MAGISTRATE RACE
In the magistrate race, incumbent judge Henry David Banks handily
defeated write-in candidate Ray Seabolt 3,303 to 53.
HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION
Voters overwhelmingly approved a local referendum to increase
the homestead exemption for those over 65 and the disabled from
$12,000 to $16,000. The measure passed 88 percent of the vote.
STATE REP. DISTRICT 22
Incumbent democratic representative Jeanette Jamieson defeated
challenger Bill Grant by over 1,000 votes. Jamieson also picked
up enough votes in Stephens and Franklin counties to be re-elected.
In Stephens County, Jamieson had 5,227 votes, while Grant had
2,921. The district also includes one precinct in Franklin County,
where Jamieson had 414 votes and Grant had 343.
"I am delighted with the results of the election,"
she said Wednesday morning. "The numbers we have say it's
2,836 to 1,753. That is certainly a wonderful margin of support.
I cannot say enough for those people who have put up signs, who
have helped in our campaign...The toughest part of a campaign
is doing the job while you're running for the job. Banks County
has been extremely kind to us. We have represented Banks County
in the manner that they expected...I can assure them that we
look forward to continuing that service and are as committeed
to them as always."
VOTER TURNOUT
Voters in Banks County followed state and national trends, turning
out in record numbers.
Sixty-nine percent, or 4,773 of the county's 6,936 registered
voters, cast a ballot Tuesday. Turnout was the highest it has
been in years.
Election officials predicted a high turnout Monday afternoon
because of the unusually high number of absentee ballots that
were cast.
Veterans Day event
set Fri. at BCHS
Banks County High School will be hosting a Veteran's Day program
at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 10.
Henry David Banks, a veteran of World War II, will be the guest
speaker. All Banks County veterans and their families are invited
to attend, according to school leaders.
The observance of Veteran's Day can be traced back to 1921 when
an unknown American solider was buried in Arlington National
Cemetery in Virginia. Similar ceremonies occurred earlier in
France and England with an "unknown soldier" being
buried in each nation's highest place of honor. In England, it
was Westminster Abbey and, in France, it was the Arc de Triomphe.
These memorial gestures all took place on Nov. 11, giving universal
recognition to the celebrated ending of World War I hostilities
at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918. The day became known as Armistice
Day.
Armistice Day officially received its name in America in 1926
through a Congressional resolution. It became a national holiday
12 years later by similar Congressional action.
Shortly after the holiday was proclaimed, World War II broke
out in Europe and ended the Armistice Day observance. In 1947,
the holiday was again observed when Raymond Weeks of Birmingham,
Ala., organized a Veterans Day parade to honor all American veterans
for their service. Later, U.S. Rep. Edward H. Rees of Kansas
proposed legislation changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day to
honor all those who have served America in wars.
In 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower signed the bill proclaiming
Nov. 11 as Veterans Day and called upon Americans everywhere
to rededicate themselves to the cause of peace. He issued a presidential
order directing the head of the Veterans Administration, now
the Department of Veterans Affairs, to form a Veterans Day National
Committee to organize and oversee the national observance of
Veterans Day.
In 1968, Congress moved Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in
October. However, it became apparent that the Nov. 11 date was
a matter of historic and patriotic significance to a great many
Americans. As a result, Congress formally returned the observance
of Veterans Day to its traditional date in 1978.
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Council member
concerned about hazards at pumping station
At a recent visit to the pumping station along the Chattahoochee
River, Baldwin council member Mitchell Gailey was dismayed at
Demorest's failure to provide safety measures at the plant's
site.
Baldwin officials are preparing to take control of the water
plant following a recent ruling giving the city control of the
plant which had been operated by the city of Demorest.
Fifteen feet above the river, rotting steps lead out to the old
pumping platform, which has apparently been neglected. In the
floor of the platform are two gaping yawns above a pair of three-foot-diameter
holes left from the old pumps going deep into the river bed.
There is nothing to prevent anyone from falling through the holes,
Gailey worried.
The pumping station in use now lies open with no door. For the
past year, a removed pump left a vacated hole, uncovered. It
has a 15-foot fall to the shallows below.
The fact that there is nothing to prevent anyone from entering
the plant area is and has been a cause of worry for the Baldwin
city council for some time. Baldwin and Demorest had agreed to
jointly pay for the area to be fenced over a year ago. At last
week's visit, Gailey asked the operator, Jim Holloway, what he
knows about the fencing and why it had not been erected. When
the final dimensions had been figured, Holloway said he noticed
that there would not be enough room to maneuver trucks and equipment
on the small lot. He stopped the project. Gailey was surprised
that no explanation had been given about Holloway's decision.
Holloway has been working on a proposal for Baldwin and Demorest
to purchase a lot adjacent to the plant. The one-acre lot would
allow plenty of room for maneuvering trucks and equipment and
permit the area to be fenced, he said. He presented his idea
to Gailey during Gailey's visit.
Gailey said he sees the council approving some safety measures
that could be implemented quickly. His plan is to cover the holes
and concrete over them; to disassemble the pumping platform;
and put a door up to keep people away from the pumps.
He spoke to the council about the safety issues at last Thursday
night's special called meeting and gave them Holloway's proposal
of the land purchase. The council agreed to begin immediate actions
to resolve the problems.
Water pump essential
to Baldwin grant
The Baldwin City Council is still waiting for an explanation
on the current status of a water pump that has been out of service
for the past year.
The pump is necessary in order to move ahead into Phase II of
the water project. Also hinging on it is Baldwin's $300,000 grant
from the Appalachian Regional Commission for the project.
Over the past few weeks, the council has received varying answers
from different people on the status of the water pump. Answers
have ranged from "waiting on parts" to "it's installed
and running," officials said.
This past Monday, the representatives from the company doing
the repair told city clerk Stacey Jacobs that they are waiting
on parts to finish repairing the water pump. At Thursday night's
special called meeting, city engineer Fred Hawkins said that
he was told the repair was complete, that the pump had been re-wired
and re-installed, and that it was running.
City attorney David Syfan recommended getting Demorest to affirm
in writing that the pump is running functionally. He said he
wants something to show Jack Stanick, of the Rural Development
Council, to prove that the city is moving ahead with Phase II
of the water project so the city doesn't lose its grant. "We
need some kind of verification," he said.
Council members Mitchell Gailey and Ray Holcomb decided to go
out to the plant and see for themselves if the pump has indeed
been repaired, installed and is working in series with two other
pumps. Hawkins told them that once they verified the pump's status,
he would send a letter to Stanick informing him of the progress
of Phase II.
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