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APRIL 7, 2004 |
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mainstreetnews Home 1998 Building Permits Go to Banks County
OPINIONS
SPORTS Surging Dragons win for fifth time in a row Not too shabby
News from Annual Easter egg hunt set for Sunday News from MADISON COUNTY State to investigate tax assessor’s office Meanwhile, conflict between two county offices runs deep A conflict between the county commission chairman’s office and the county tax assessor’s department is now a mighty tangled web. Colbert, Danielsville postpone decision on IDA water proposal
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New snafu: 30% of courthouse not in Jefferson As if the location, financing and cost of the new Jackson County Courthouse weren’t enough for citizens to think about, now there’s a new issue to confront — not all of the $25 million, 124,000 sq. ft. facility is inside the city limits of Jefferson. While working on some plans for new sewerage lines to the area, Jefferson officials discovered that part of the courthouse sat on a tract of land that had not been annexed into the city limits. City officials brought the matter to the attention of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners, who then discovered that 30 percent of the building, which is still under construction on Darnell Road east of Jefferson, sat on unincorporated land. State law mandates that courthouses be within the city limits of a county seat, but it is unclear if that means all of the building, or just part of it. The part of the courthouse not in the city limits is a triangle shaped wedge on the back of the building where the corner of one unincorporated tract falls. After discovering the snafu last month, county manager Al Crace filed an annexation request with the City of Jefferson for the 4.37 ac. tract on behalf of the BOC. That request is currently pending before the Jefferson City Council, which determines all annexations into the town. When the BOC decided to build a new courthouse outside of downtown Jefferson, it purchased 160 acres two miles east of town for the site. That move brought intense criticism from many in the public, in part because the deal had been done in virtual secrecy and without public input. The courthouse controversy then grew louder when the BOC decided to bypass voters and fund the facility with a lease-purchase plan. That move was challenged in court by a group of citizens who say voters should have been given the chance to be heard on such a large capital debt. That legal issue is currently awaiting a final decision by the Georgia Supreme Court. So how did the BOC, in the midst of all this controversy, manage to put the building on a part of 160 acres that hadn’t been annexed into the city? According to Crace, the BOC just didn’t know. “Annexation records aren’t kept at the county clerk of court’s office,” he said. “One couldn’t determine all that. They are kept at the municipal level.” As for the annexation, Crace said Jefferson Mayor Jim Joiner had indicated it would be a routine matter. “We think it will be a routine matter,” Crace said. “That is what the mayor has indicated. It was discovered and brought to our attention three weeks ago.” Crace said that the property needs to be annexed so that it won’t create a conflict for the fire districts. “If it isn’t annexed, then the back of the courthouse is in the Harrisburg fire district and the other three sides are in the Jefferson fire district,” he said. “Also, for franchise fees for the municipality, five percent electricity, three percent gas and those things, that depends on where the meter for the location sits. One could make a dispute about that. This should clear up all that revenue.” Easter activities listed by local churches The following local churches have announced their special events for Easter, including services and egg hunts. New Liberty United Methodist Church, Braselton: An Easter egg hunt and other games will be held Saturday, April 10, at 11 a.m. Food will be provided and prizes will be given. Easter celebration services will be held Sunday, April 11, at 8:30 and 11 a.m. The choir will perform an Easter musical and the drama team will participate in the 11 a.m. service. The church is located at the intersection of New Liberty Church, Ednaville and Jesse Cronic roads. Jamey Prickett is pastor. For more information, call (706) 654-2406. Life Spring Church, Commerce: The Easter service will be held Sunday, April 11, at 10:30 a.m. The church is located at 41 State Street. Thyatira Presbyterian Church, Jefferson: An Easter sunrise service will be held at the church on Sunday, April 11, at 7 a.m. Michael Jarrett, pastor of Jefferson Presbyterian Church, will speak at the joint service. The church is located at 2616 Commerce Road. Unity Christian Church, Maysville: An Easter “Eggstravaganza” will be held Saturday, April 10, at 11 a.m. for children ages two through fifth grade. A sunrise service will be held on Easter Sunday, April 11, at 7 a.m. with breakfast to follow. The church’s choir will present the cantata “Our God Reigns,” arranged by Tom Fettke, during the morning hours. The church is located at 70 Unity Church Circle. Bethany United Methodist Church, Jefferson: A special Holy Thursday Communion service will be held April 8, at 7 p.m. The Good Friday presentation of the “Living Cross” will be held April 9, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. An Easter egg hunt will be held Saturday, April 10, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. An Easter sunrise service begins April 11, at 7 a.m. and breakfast will be served at 7:45 a.m. The church is located at 4659 Brockton Road. For more information, call (706) 367-8042. Warren Chapel United Methodist Church, Commerce: An Easter sunrise service will be held Sunday, April 11, at 6 a.m. The Rev. Frank Earls, pastor of New Faith Methodist Church of Commerce, will speak. Breakfast will be served after the service. The church is located at 468 Homer Road. The Rev. Linwood Burns is pastor. For more information, call (706) 335-5597. River of Life Church, Nicholson: The Easter drama, “Behold the Lamb,” will be presented on Saturday, April 10, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 11, at 10:50 a.m. The church is located at 4971 U.S. Hwy. 441 South. The Rev. Howard Rhodes is pastor. Antioch United Methodist, Nicholson: Maundy Thursday service will be held April 8, at 7 p.m. An Easter sunrise service on the church lawn adjacent to the cemetery will be held Sunday, April 11, at 7 a.m. The Rev. Don Hazelgrove of Bowman United Methodist Church will conduct the service. The Easter worship service begins at 11 a.m. The AJ’s (Antioch Juniors) will sponsor an egg hunt for children on the church lawn on Saturday, April 10, at 2 p.m. The church is located at 885 Antioch Church Road. Richard J. Cathy is pastor. For more information, call (706) 757-2210. White Plains Baptist Church, Jefferson: An Easter egg hunt will be held Saturday, April 10, at 10 a.m., at the church. All children are invited. After the egg hunt, hot dogs, chips, cookies and drinks will be served in the family life center. An Easter sunrise service will be held Sunday, April 11, at 7 a.m. Breakfast, prepared by the men of the church, will be served in the family life center after the service. The church’s choir will present special Easter music at 10:30 a.m. with the Rev. Jack Lawson, pastor, bringing the message. There is no Sunday school and no evening services. The church is located at 3650 Hwy. 124. Lighthouse Congregational Holiness Church, Commerce: An Easter egg hunt and cook-out on will be held Saturday, April 10, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The church is located on Hwy. 98, between Maysville and Commerce. For more information, contact Sherry Lewis at 652-3285. Calvary Baptist Church, Commerce: A Good Friday service will be held April 9, at 11 a.m. The Rev. Jerry Smith will speak and Communion will be served. The church is located on Hospital Road. The Rev. Donald L. Wilson is pastor. Little Country Church, Commerce: An Easter sunrise service will be held Sunday, April 11, at 7 a.m. Sunday school begins at 10 a.m. and the worship service starts at 11 a.m. Sunday evening worship service is set at 6 p.m. The church is located at 1151 Old Airport Road. For more information, call (706) 367-7019. Hoschton First Baptist Church, Hoschton: The church’s choir will present the musical, “Because He Lives,” on Sunday, April 11. Sunday school begins at 9:45 a.m. and the worship service starts at 11 a.m. The church is located on East Jefferson Street, off Hwy. 53. Steve Parr is the interim pastor. Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Commerce: The church’s choir will present the Easter musical, “Written in Red,” on Sunday, April 11, from 10:45 a.m. to noon. The church is located at 190 Mt. Olive Church Road. Eric Tyson is pastor. For more information, call (706) 335-4405. Cabin Creek Baptist Church, Nicholson: An Easter sunrise service will be held Sunday, April 11, at 7 a.m. Breakfast will be served in the fellowship hall following the service. The church is located on Cabin Creek Road, between Nicholson and Commerce. The Rev. Rex Long is pastor. Holly Springs United Methodist Church, Pendergrass: An Easter sunrise service will be held Sunday, April 11, at 7 a.m. Breakfast will be provided by the U.M. Men’s Club after the service. An Easter cantata, “Who Do You Say I Am?,” will be presented by the church’s choir, under the direction of Glenda Langford, at 11 a.m. There will be no Sunday school classes. The church is located at 7441 Holly Springs Road. The Rev. Tom Fish is pastor. Combined services, Commerce: The congregations of three Commerce churches will hold combined Holy Week services Thursday, Friday and Sunday. The First Baptist Church of Commerce, located at 1345 South Elm Street, will host the Maundy Thursday service Thursday at 7 p.m., which will commemorate the events of Jesus’ life on the eve of the Last Supper. The First United Methodist Church, located at 54 Cherry Street, will host the Good Friday service Friday at 7 p.m., recounting the crucifixion of Jesus. Then, at 8 a.m. Sunday, Commerce Presbyterian Church, located at 89 Lakeview Drive, will hold an Easter morning service celebrating the resurrection and empty tomb. Each of the three churches will also hold separate Easter celebrations during their morning worship services Sunday. Joint services, Jefferson: Jefferson Presbyterian Church, First Baptist Church of Jefferson and First United Methodist Church of Jefferson will hold joint services this week. First Baptist Church will host the Maundy Thursday service, at 7 p.m. on April 8. The Rev. John Moore, pastor of First UMC, will be delivering the homily. Communion will be offered. Good Friday service will be held at 7 p.m. on April 9, at First UMC. The Rev. Michael Jarrett, pastor of Jefferson Presbyterian, will deliver the sermon. First Baptist is located at 246 Washington Street, First UMC is located at 188 Martin Street and Jefferson Presbyterian is located at 243 Washington Street. Center Baptist Church, Center: An Easter sunrise service will be held April 11, at 6:30 a.m., Sunday school begins at 10 a.m. and the worship service starts at 11 a.m. The church is located on U.S. Hwy. 441. Gary Prater is the pastor. For more information, call (706) 757-3083. St. Catherine Laboure Catholic Mission, Commerce: Holy Thursday Mass will be held April 8, at 5:30 p.m. A Good Friday service, April 9, will start at 3 p.m. with the Stations of the Cross and a “Celebration of the Lord’s Passion” at 7 p.m. The Easter Sunday celebration of Holy Mass will be held April 11, at 11:30 a.m. St. Catherine’s is located at 708 State Street. Father Darragh W. Griffith is pastor. For more information, call Father Griffith, at (706) 886-2819 or John Burke Jr., deacon, at (706) 335-3988. Dry Pond United Methodist Church, Jefferson: The annual chickenque will be held Saturday, April 10, at 11 a.m. Plates are $5 and eat-in and take-out are available. A hand-made quilt will be raffled, a bake sale will be held and games will also be featured. Kids activities start at 10:30 a.m. and the egg hunt starts at 11:45 a.m. An Easter sunrise service will be held Sunday, April 11, at Hurricane Shoals Park, at 7 a.m. Regular worship service with special Easter choir music will be held at 11 a.m. at the church. The church is located at 10 Plainview Road. For more information, call (706) 367-2822. Berea Baptist Church, Commerce: An Easter sunrise service will be held on Sunday, April 11, at 7 a.m., at the Berea Community Center on Hwy. 334. Breakfast will be served after the service by the “Berea Men.” An Easter play will be presented on Sunday, at 11 a.m. The church is located on Berea Church Road. For more information, call the Rev. Terry James, pastor, at (706) 788-2925. Maysville United Methodist Church, Maysville: A community Easter celebration will be held at Maysville’s Veteran Park on Saturday, April 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 6,000 eggs will be hidden and prizes will be given in various categories. There will also be a 20 foot slide, moon walk, clowns, balloons, snow-cones and cotton candy. All events are free for everyone. Also, a chickenque will be held Saturday, April 10, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the church. Plates are $6 each with extra plates are available without prior ticket purchase. An Easter sunrise service will be held Sunday, April 11, at 7 a.m., at Strickland Hall, located at 8584 Maysville Road. The men’s club of the church will prepare breakfast. An extended traditional service starts at 10:30 a.m., at the church. There will be no Sunday school classes. The church is located at 16 N. Main Street, Maysville. For more information, call (706) 652-2978, (706) 367-8388 or (706) 336-8019. Galilee Christian Church, Jefferson: Maundy Thursday service will be held April 8, at 7 p.m. An Easter egg hunt will be held Saturday, April 10, at 9:30 and 10:15 a.m. Easter worship service will be held Sunday, April 11, at 10:30 a.m. and will feature the adult choir with some brass and string accompaniment. There will be no evening services. The church is located at 2191 Galilee Church Road. For more information, call (706) 367-8072. Jefferson Presbyterian Church, Jefferson: Morning prayers will be held in the sanctuary during Holy Week, Monday, April 5 through Friday, April 9, at 9 a.m. A Good Friday service of psalms and prayers will be held from noon to 3 p.m. A joint Easter sunrise service will be held at Thyatira Presbyterian Church at 7 a.m. on April 11. The church is located at 243 Washington Street, Jefferson. For more information, call (706) 367-5577. First Baptist Church, Jefferson: An Easter sunrise service will be held Sunday, April 11, at 7 a.m., in front of the cross on the church lawn. Following the service, breakfast will be served in the fellowship hall. Easter worship services will be held at 8:30 a.m. and 10:50 a.m. The church is also participating in joint Holy Week services with First United Methodist Church of Jefferson and Jefferson Presbyterian Church (see related announcement). The church is located at 246 Washington Street. For more information, call (706) 367-8332. Maranatha Baptist Church, Jefferson: An “Easter Celebration” will be held on Saturday, April 10, from noon to 2 p.m. The event will include an egg hunt, cookout, message and games. An Easter sunrise service will be held Sunday, April 11, with a time to be determined. There will be no Sunday school on Easter and the worship service begins at 11 a.m. The church is located at 65 Ebenezer Church Road. Kevin Page is pastor. For more information, call (706) 367-2825. Zion Baptist Church, Braselton: The annual Easter egg hunt will be held on Saturday, April 10, at 10 a.m. The egg hunt will be held at the church’s property outside of Braselton. The property is located at 8195 Hwy. 124, Hoschton. All children ages pre-school through fourth grade are welcomed to participate. Games, puppets, prizes and refreshments will be featured. Easter communion service will be held on Sunday, April 11, at 8 a.m., followed by a church-wide breakfast. Sunday school begins at 9:45 a.m. and Easter service will be held at 11 a.m. The church is located at 401 Zion Church Road. For more information, call (706) 654-3205. Center United Methodist Church, Hoschton: The annual Easter egg hunt will be held on Saturday, April 10, at 1 p.m. Each child is encouraged to bring a dozen eggs to be hidden. The Easter drama will be presented on Saturday, April 10, at 6:30 p.m. “Many events in Jesus Christ’s life will be re-enacted, including His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, the Lord’s supper and the resurrection,” organizers stated. A sunrise service will be held Easter Sunday, April 11, at 7:15 a.m. Breakfast will be served after the service. Easter worship service begins at 11 a.m. The church is located at 7641 Jackson Trail Road. Greg Dillard is pastor. For more information, call (706) 654-4862. Mountain Creek Baptist Church, Pendergrass: An Easter egg hunt will be held on Saturday, April 10, at 2 p.m.”Bring your baskets and one dozen individually wrapped or hard-boiled eggs,” organizers stated. On Easter Sunday, the adult choir will present the musical God’s Holy Lamb” with narratives by the youth of the church. The Rev. Tommy Fountain, director of missions of the Mulberry Association, will present the Easter message. The worship service starts at 11 a.m. The church is located at 1116 Mountain Creek Road. For more information, call Jeff Langley, pastor, at (770) 867-7937. Arcade Community Church, Arcade: An Easter sunrise service will be held on Sunday, April 11, at 6 a.m. Members of the church will present the re-enactment of “At the Tomb” in Biblical clothing. Following the service, breakfast will be served in the fellowship hall. The church is located on Hwy. 82 South, off Hwy. 129. For more information, call Palmer Pace, pastor, call (706) 367-4740 or Gwen Sims, pastor’s assistant, at (770) 287-0158. Center Grove Baptist Church, Pendergrass: The “celebration of the resurrection of our Savior Jesus” will be held on Saturday, April 10, starting at 11 a.m. Activities will include a picnic, egg hunt, “chalk zone,” horseshoes, volleyball, moon walk and food. Easter sunrise service will be held Sunday, April 11, at 6:30 a.m. The church is located at 5154 Pond Fork Road. For more information, or transportation, call (706) 654-0260 or (706) 654-0416. Walnut Fork Baptist Church, Hoschton: A children’s Easter celebration will be held on Saturday, April 10, at 11 a.m. The event will feature an egg hunt, Easter story and snacks. An Easter drama will be held Friday, April 9 through Sunday, April 11, at 7 p.m. Admission is free and visitors are welcomed. An Easter sunrise service will be held Sunday, April 11, at 7 a.m. Coffee and doughnuts will be served in the fellowship hall after the service. The church is located on Hwy. 60. For more information, call (706) 654-3904. Sharon Baptist Church, Hoschton: The annual Easter egg hunt will be held on Saturday, April 10, from 1-2:30 p.m. The egg hunt is for all ages, from newborns to children 10-years-old. “Those who are 11-years-old and older can come and assist in hiding Easter eggs for the youngsters to find,” organizers stated. The church is located at the intersection of Hwy. 124 and Hwy. 211. The Rev. Marion Prather is pastor. For more information, call (770) 867-1107. Ebenezer United Methodist Church, Jefferson: An Easter sunrise service will be held April 11, at 7 a.m. with a biscuit breakfast to follow. Sunday school for all ages begins at 10 a.m. An Easter celebration service starts at 11 a.m. The church is located at 1394 Ebenezer Church Road. Tilly Welborn is pastor. For more information, call (706) 658-6200. Arbor Pointe United Methodist Church, Hoschton: An Easter sunrise service will be held on Sunday, April 11, at 6:15 a.m., at Sells Mill Park on Jackson Trail Road, Hoschton. “Bring a blanket or folding chair as we gather on the hillside for the message of Jesus’ resurrection,” organizers stated. For more information, contact Joe McKechnie, pastor, at (706) 367-8294 or visit www.arborpointe.org. |
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