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Our Time and Place:
A History of
Jackson County, Ga
A complete history of Jackson County, Georgia
from 1796 to the present. Written in narrative style for easy
reading. Includes material not found in other books about Jackson
County.
Order this book online
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OPINIONS
Jackson County opinion page
Angie Gary
Phil Vassar show
full of fun and energy
He runs and slides across the stage and then
jumps on top of his piano. He makes several more laps across
the stage without missing a beat before jumping into the middle
of the audience. He runs into the crowd, going up and down several
aisles and stopping to serenade a few fans.
Rochelle Beckstine
Swimming in October?
For the second time in my life I found myself
in a pond because of Ole’ Agnes Scott.
Frank Gillespie
Flag bit Barnes, will Perdue do better?
It was amazing to watch. Soon to be former
governor Roy Barnes spent $20 million on a campaign for governor.
He lost to a $10 scrap of cloth!
Zach Mitcham
The ‘ESPN-ization’ of sports
I will not spike the ball. (So 80s).
I will not flap my arms like a chicken or other dirty bird. (So
1998).
SPORTS
Tenacious Tigers
After being sent to the canvas by Athens
Academy three and a half weeks ago, the Commerce football team
has since rebounded with some knockout punches of its own.
David versus Goliath matchup to end season for Jackson
Co.
Despite starting the season with a bit of
a snag, there’s no doubt that the top team in Region 8-AAAA
has lived up to the hype that surrounded them prior to the season.
Dragons all that stand between Spartans and Region 8-A
sweep
When the schedules were drawn up for Region
8-A this year, all indications were that this weekend’s
regular season finale between Athens Academy and Jefferson would
possibly be for all the marbles. Instead, the game will feature
two teams on the opposite side of the momentum spectrum, not
to mention two schools that know exactly where they will be come
playoff time, regardless of Friday’s outcome.
Neighboorhood News ..
MADISON COUNTY
Local veteran honored Sat.
World War II veteran Merritt Segers was awarded
a Bronze Star Medal for his valor in the line of duty in a brief
ceremony at Danielsville United Methodist Church Saturday morning.
County leaders look to slow down motorists
County leaders want motorists to slow down
in Oakbend and Windsor Heights subdivisions.
Grace restored
The Frank Anthony homeplace in northern Madison
County was a showcase home when it was built circa 1918, and
thanks to the handiwork of Ferrell and Betty James, it’s
a show place once again.
Neighborhood News...
BANKS COUNTY
Loss of chief appraiser delays county’s tax digest
The county’s tax digest will come a
little late this year.
After a six-month stint without a chief tax appraiser, the tax
assessor and tax commissioner’s offices are working to play
catch-up on getting the digest ready.
Clark accepts Baldwin police chief position
The Baldwin City Council approved the permanent
appointment of interim police chief Lamar Clark at Monday’s
meeting.
White resigns as superintendent
Banks County School System superintendent
Deborah White announced Monday that she would be leaving the
system after 28 years when her current contract expires in June.
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The Jackson Herald
Jefferson, Georgia
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VETERANS HONORED AT JHS
Local veterans were honored at a special program at Jefferson
High School on Monday. Shown are: (L-R) Charles Vernon, T.O.
Hall, Vernon Carter, Claudius Thurmond and Tom Meade.
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Sheriff
points to need for new jail during BOC tour
Sheriff Stan Evans led members of the
Jackson County Board of Commissioners through the cramped jail
Friday morning pointing out the need for a new facility.
The sheriff said the working conditions for the county employees
are cramped and rainy days bring more challenges as leaks are
reported throughout the facility. The number of inmates at the
jail is also at the maximum on most days and the county is looking
at taking the overflow to a jail in Alma, at a cost of $40 per
day, per prisoner.
“I want to reiterate the bad need for a new facility that
is workable,” the sheriff said after a one-hour tour of
the jail. “It’s been a nightmare to work this jail.
I’ve taken criticism and been investigated because of this
jail and this will continue as long as you have this jail. It’s
an unmanageable problem. I’m tired of taking the heat for
it.”
The current jail, which was built in 1947, holds 125, and the
sheriff said a new jail should be built for 400. The jail was
first used as a correction center with the sheriff’s department
moving in in the 1980s. A renovation was completed in 1954 and
there hasn’t been any major improvements since then, county
leaders said. A “pod” or unit was added in the 1960s
and it houses the female prisoners.
Commissioner Emil Beshara suggested putting the jail issue before
voters on a 2004 special purpose local option sales tax.
Evans said the county needs to build a new jail before federal
authorities come in and mandate it.
Those going on the jail tour were BOC chairman Harold Fletcher,
commissioners Sammy Thomason, Stacey Britt and Emil Beshara,
county manager Al Crace, assistant county manager Andy Newton,
courthouse consultant Wayne Wilbanks, correctional institute
deputy warden Stephen Jones and sheriff’s department chief
investigator David Cochran.
The group also toured the Jackson County Correctional Institute,
which is located adjacent to the county jail. State inmates are
housed at the JCCI.
BOC approves
2003 $30 million budget
Tax rates to hold steady
For the first time ever, the total Jackson County government
budget will top $30 million next year. But tax rates will remain
basically the same, owing in large part to a growing tax digest
that will reap $1 million in additional revenue for the county.
The tax bills are expected to be sent out by November 18, according
to tax commissioner Don Elrod. Taxes will be due Jan. 20.
The tax rates will be 8.75 mills for unincorporated areas and
9.76 mills for incorporated areas. The unincorporated and incorporated
areas have two separate tax digests and don’t grow at the
same rates with insurance premium rollbacks determined through
the towns for the incorporated areas.
Final action on the budget and tax rates was taken Friday morning
by the Jackson County Board of Commissioners.
But despite the budget growth for 2003, few county employees
will be getting a pay raise. In light of that, commissioner Stacey
Britt asked that the county look at raises for hourly employees
early next year since they are not included in this budget. He
said that the funds could come from money left over from the
current year.
Commissioner Emil Beshara added that the budget approved for
next year is not an indication of the work being done by the
county employees.
“We have a fine staff and they do their job well, “
he said. “This (the lack of raises) is no way a sign of
dissatisfaction with their performance.”
In other business at the brief meeting Friday morning, Dean Stringer
of the South Jackson Fire Department and David Murphy of the
North Jackson Fire Department spoke on the millage rate increases
proposed by the two departments.
Stringer said the South Jackson budget calls for a .30 millage
rate increase from 1.13 to 1.43. A portion of the money will
be used for equipment and engine upgrades in the department’s
effort to get a lower ISO rating. The remainder of the money
will go toward the purchase of an additional truck, Stringer
said.
The North Jackson budget calls for an increase of .64 mills to
one mill, which is approximately $109,000. Murphy said the department
has purchased a new fire engine. The new truck led to the districts
ISO rating dropping from a class nine to a class six. This leads
to a decrease in the amount of homeowners insurance a property
owner has to pay.
County leaders said that all of the fire department budgets and
millage rate proposals were turned in to the county in time for
the budget work. He added that things have been running smoothly
since the county started handling the financial work for the
fire departments.
Jackson County Budget
Income Sources
Property taxes $12.7 million
Sales taxes* $8.4 million
Other taxes $1.3 million
Licenses/Permits $700,500
Intergovernmental $1.7 million
Service Charges $2.3 million
Fines $534,000
Other $158,000
Transfers In $2.8 million
Total Income $30.8 million
Expenses
General Government $3.3 million
Public Safety $10.7 million
Court System $1.9 million
Public Works $4.4 million
Health/Welfare $1.1 million
Recreation/Parks $781,000
Other $1 million
Debt Service $500,000
Transfers Out $2.8 million
*Includes sales taxes collected to distribute to various other
governmental units in Jackson County for water, fire and recreation.
Deal Near
On Building For Lanier Tech
City, Jackson County, BJC Medical Center
Hope To Get Old Wal-Mart Building
The city of Commerce, Jackson County and BJC Medical Center appear
to be close to reaching an agreement with Wal-Mart to lease its
former Commerce store for a satellite campus of Lanier Technical
Institute.
Officials of those groups held a closed-to-the-public meeting
Monday night after the Commerce City Council meeting to discuss
acquiring the property.
"We had offered them (Wal-Mart) $1.10 a square foot, but
they wanted us to pay all the taxes, insurance and all the add-ons,"
said Mayor Charles L. Hardy Jr. "We negotiated them back
to $1.10 per square foot."
Monday night's meeting resulted in a consensus that staff from
the three groups will work out an agreement on who pays what,
Hardy said.
There is also a possibility that Athens Regional Medical Center,
which, like BJC Medical Center, has a constant need for nurses,
will become a partner in the venture, Hardy said.
"Pat Bell told me Athens Regional wanted to participate.
David Lawrence (administrator of BJC Medical Center) is going
to follow up with that," the mayor stated.
Lanier Tech has already committed to opening a campus in Commerce
if the space can be arranged, and Hardy said the technical college's
facilities staff has sent a proposal for utilizing the space
in the old Wal-Mart building. That document has been turned over
to Don Donaudy, the city's architect, to get an estimate of the
cost.
The interior renovations would be done by the construction crew
from the Jackson County Correctional Institute, Hardy said, and
Lanier Tech would be responsible for furnishing and equipping
it. The lease with Wal-Mart will last for five years, after which
time it is hoped that the state will finance the construction
of a permanent Lanier Tech facility.
"We're trying our best to make it take place, us, the county
and BJC Medical Center," Hardy stated.
Development
project hits another snag at Braselton
Property located on Highway 211 and New
Liberty Church Road in Braselton that has encountered several
controversies recently has hit another snag with the town council.
On Monday, the Braselton Town Council voted unanimously to table
a concept plan for the residential property for 30 days, following
concerns with the initial plans. The property lines the Mulberry
River, which borders Jackson County.
Once referred to as the Strickland River Farms development, the
project is now called the New Liberty Church Tract until a permanent
name for the subdivision is decided. The current owners were
hoping to close on the property on Tuesday, town clerk Jennifer
Scott said.
Nearly a year ago, Barrow County filed a lawsuit against the
town and the developers for the residential project that called
for more than 500 homes and no commercial development. Barrow
County officials claimed the expansive project would be a strain
on county resources.
Later, the lawsuit was settled out of court with the developers
agreeing to build nearly 16 acres of commercial development on
the property, along with donating one acre for a Barrow County
fire station. The number of homes was also reduced to 399.
Since the property is zoned Planned Unit Development (PUD), the
concept plan and final plats must be approved by the Braselton
Town Council.
Braselton Mayor Pat Graham offered to table the New Liberty Church
Tract after preliminary concerns were presented in a letter by
town planner Kevin Keller.
One item pointed out at the meeting was the fact that part of
the proposed fire department was drawn on a flood plain.
A letter from Kenneth Harwell, who represents the project, said
the developers can change the location of the fire department
on the construction plans.
The concept plan also indicated several residential lots going
through sewage line easements. Graham added that by tabling the
plan, town officials could study issues about the nearby pump
station.
Graham also said she wanted the developers to consider saving
the few remaining trees on the property, since the land is largely
pastures.
Harwell’s letter stated the development company will try
to preserve trees, but the grading and existing topography of
the land would make some of that effort difficult.
MULBERRY WALK SHOPPING CENTER
Located adjacent to the New Liberty Church Tract is the Mulberry
Walk Shopping Center, which received final plat approval from
the Braselton Town Council.
The shopping center is located on Hwy. 211, with a main roadway
feeding from Thompson Mill Road.
In September, the town council approved a residential phase for
the development for 83 homes. Eventually, the project will include
626 homes and 122 townhomes, although those final plats haven’t
been approved by the town council yet.
Town planner Keller approved the project’s landscaping plans
and town officials also permitted the project to include arcade
canopies over walkways to connect stores.
According to plans submitted to the town council, Mulberry Walk
will include 31,000 square feet of retail space among three main
buildings. Plans call for two restaurants, a nail salon, cleaners
and seven stores.
The town council also learned that a water line extension project
from Thompson Mill Road to the project is nearly complete.
Council member Elise Cotter wasn’t present for the meeting.
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business, the Braselton Town Council:
• approved an amendment to the architectural and design
standards ordinance that no longer requires residential club-type
structures, such as subdivision amenity centers, to be constructed
of brick, stone or stucco. Instead, the amendment allows those
structures to follow the design of the residential homes.
• approved an amendment to the architectural and design
standards ordinance to allow canopies and arcades.
• adopted a resolution for the comprehensive plan short
term work program, which was approved by the Georgia Department
of Community Affairs.
• adopted a stormwater management ordinance.
• received a draft of financial polices for the town from
Mayor Pat Graham, who asked the council members to consider the
plan before adopting.
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See
Galilee Preschool Flyer
Kids’
Christmas photos taken through Dec. 2
The annual children’s Christmas section
will be published in The Jackson Herald, The Commerce News and
The Banks County News on Wednesday, December 18. The newspapers
will be accepting photographs of children age 8 years and younger
through 5 p.m. Monday, December 2, to be published in the section.
GUIDELINES
Photos of children older than 8 years old will not be published.
Also, the child must live in Jackson or Banks county; photos
of grandchildren will be accepted and published only if the child
resides with the grandparents or guardians in one of those counties.
Please submit the following information along with the child’s
photo: The first and last name and age of the child, as well
as the parents’ names, their city of residence and phone
number. Photos that do not include the requested information
will not be published.
Black and white or color photos can be used, but no Polaroids
or photographs printed out from a computer onto laser paper will
be accepted, as they do not reprint well.
The photos may be dropped off at or mailed to any of the newspaper
offices. They may also be emailed to news@mainstreetnews.com
as a .jpeg or .tiff file.
The above information about the child should also be included
with the email.
Local Artist’s
Work Proposed
As ‘Official’ Commerce Song
The Commerce City Council is considering
the adoption of an "official city song."
Ricky Fitzpatrick performed "America in Harmony" at
Monday night's meeting, a song he wrote relating to his childhood
in Commerce. He'd performed it at a Downtown Development Authority
meeting and the DDA recommended to the city council that it be
adopted.
Fitzpatrick, who works at Heyward Allen Toyota in Athens, told
the council he was inspired by his deep family connections to
Commerce, which was chartered as Harmony Grove.
The point, he said, is that Commerce is “an example of diversity
in America."
"It paints Commerce in an all-together positive light,"
he added.
The copyrighted country-music-style lyrics are as follows:
Small town life...small town place,
Small town Sunday afternoon at a small town pace.
That's my house, across the street
From Frederick Williams' store where the old men meet.
And as I drive around downtown, I realize
That we're a sample of America,
Regardless of our size...and I see...
(Chorus)
America in Harmony,
Railroad tracks and pecan trees,
And football games on Friday night,
And Dairy Queen and City Lights.
You could say I've seen it all
And I guess I'd have to agree.
'Cause I've seen America in harmony.
A perfect world, well, it don't exist.
But we're about as close as it'll ever get.
So I'm right here, where I belong,
Playing my guitar and singing songs.
People say I'm missing out; there's a world to see.
But I'm content just to settle down,
'Cause lately I believe...that I see...
(Chorus)
America in Harmony,
Railroad tracks and pecan trees,
And football games on Friday night,
And Dairy Queen and City Lights.
You could say I've seen it all
And I guess I'd have to agree.
'Cause I've seen America in harmony.
City Clerk Shirley Willis has a copy of the song on a CD. Councilman
Bob Sosebee, who made the presentation to the city council, asked
members to go by City Hall and listen to the song.
"If nobody has any objections, at the next meeting we might
want to make it our official song," he said.
Sosebee did not indicate at what occasions he envisioned the
song being sung.
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