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HERITAGE DAY
FUN
Long before there were chain
saws, pioneers used a cross saw to cut wood. Above, Phillip Wright
gave Matthew Wilbanks a lesson in this old-fashioned technique
during "Heritage Day" at Banks County Middle School.
Students also had an opportunity to tan deer hides, have a lesson
in a one-room schoolhouse and learn about beekeeping, sheep shearing
and blacksmithing.
Photo by Sherry Lewis
Shoppers victims
of crime
Road rage, armed robbery reported
BY ANGELA GARY
Two out-of-town women with plans of shopping at Tanger Outlet
Center were the victims of crime within the last few days.
A Gwinnett County woman was the victim of road rage when a man
pointed a gun at her on I-85. In another incident, a Michigan
woman was robbed at gunpoint while walking through the parking
lot at Tanger II at Banks Crossing.
In the road rage incident, Tammie Phillips, 29, Buford, and her
family were headed to Banks Crossing for an afternoon of shopping
Saturday. She said a man pointed a gun at her after passing her.
Cory Watson, 30, Charlotte, N.C, was charged with reckless conduct
in the incident. Phillips called 911 after the gun was pointed
at her, according to Jackson County chief investigator David
Cochran. No shots were fired and no one was injured.
Phillips, her two children and her mother were traveling north
on I-85 to Tanger Outlet Center at Banks Crossing when the altercation
occurred. Her sister was following her in another vehicle. The
woman said she was traveling approximately 80 miles per hour
in the fast lane when a man pulled up very close behind her.
She didn't slow down and he then passed her in the right lane
and made a hand gesture at her, according to the incident report.
Phillips told law enforcement officers that she waved at him
as he passed.
The woman said the suspect then got in front of her and began
driving at a slow speed. She said he then got in the lane beside
her and pointed a silver handgun at her.
Phillips then sped ahead and called 911 to report the incident
and give a description of the car. She said she felt a bump then
and noticed that she had a flat right tire. It was initially
reported that her tire had been shot, but this was not the case,
officials say.
Cochran said a look out was given on the suspect's car and he
was later stopped by Banks County deputies. Phillips was transported
by a Banks County deputy to the suspect's vehicle where she identified
him as the man involved in the altercation, according to the
incident report. His wife and a child were also in the car when
the incident occurred.
Cochran said other charges may be pending following a discussion
with the district attorney.
ARMED ROBBERY
A Michigan woman and her son were walking next to the new Denny's
restaurant in Tanger II at approximately 8 p.m. Monday when they
were held up at gun- point. A dirty blue Ford car approached
the two and a black man in the passenger seat pointed a small
chrome-plated handgun at the woman, according to the incident
report.
The woman said the man demanded her shopping bag. While he went
through the bag, her son ran into the restaurant to get help.
The man then took her purse, which had $100 in cash and several
credit cards in it, and left.
The driver and the passenger are both described as black males
in their late 20s The passenger has a beard.
Maysville approves
eight percent salary increase
BY MARY ANN ROBINSON
The Maysville City Council, in a budget work session Monday night,
agreed to an eight percent salary increase for city employees.
Police Chief Ricky Armour had requested 10 percent increases
for the police department, but Mayor Presley and council members
Scott Harper, Jim Saville and Andy Martin agreed on eight percent
across-the- board raises for all employees.
The council discussed the need for a written personnel policy
and plans were made to begin this process sometime after the
new year. The policy would eliminate any questions regarding
salary increases, as it would set forth specific salary guidelines.
Per Chief Armour's request, city clerk Lois Harper reviewed the
proposed 2000 salary budget for the police department and explained
that the $73,825 was based on a 10 percent increase and also
includes the librarian's salary of $15,000.
Armour requested permission from the council to have a phone
line and electricity installed at the site for the new building,
which will be located near the water tower. A chain link fence
will be installed around this building and it was agreed that
the expense will come from the water and sewage budget. Armour
is to meet with department head Ralph Sailors regarding placement
of the building.
WATER AND SEWAGE
The council denied Sailors' request for a new truck. It was agreed
that the city has a used car that will be made available to the
water and sewage department.
The proposed office supply budget of $2,000 was increased to
$5,000 so that a new printer can be purchased. The printer is
needed in order to computerize the city's check-writing procedures,
officials reported. At present, all checks are handwritten.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Mayor Presley explained that the fire department is a new budget
item. Fire Chief James Lyles has requested $16,150. Previously,
Banks County paid $11,150 to the Maysville Area Fire Department
for service to customers living in the Banks County portion of
the Maysville city limits. The city of Maysville paid the remaining
$5,000.
It was reported that the Maysville City Council was informed
by Banks County Board of Commissioners chairman James Dumas that
Banks County will no longer pay for any fire and emergency services
provided by the city. Dumas reportedly indicated that residents
of Banks County living in the city limits of Maysville will be
served by the Banks County fire department.
Council members questioned the legality of this arrangement and
Presley said he had spoken with Dumas and city attorney Gary
Freeman. Mayor Presley indicated Dumas will stand firm regarding
this issue and Freeman had indicated there did not appear to
be any legal recourse. Council members indicated they would like
Freeman to review this matter again.
The council's next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, December
6, at 7 p.m.
Baldwin lowers millage rate
BY SHERRY LEWIS
The Baldwin Town Council set the new millage rate at 4.05, a
decrease of almost one mill compared to the five-mill tax rate
last year.
The decrease comes in part due to an agreement by council members
to tax Banks County residents. For the last 20 years, the sales
tax collected from Banks County has been paid in lieu of property
tax for Banks County citizens only. Citizens of Habersham County
who live in the city of Baldwin are already paying a property
tax. In a meeting two weeks ago, councilmen Mitchell Gailey,
Robert Bohannon and Jeff Bohannon approved this millage contingent
upon a ruling from the attorney general on the tax issue.
Up to this point, the Bohannons had been against taxing Banks
County residents, while Gailey and Mayor Mark Reed have advocated
the idea. John Thomas and Deloris Thomas were undecided on the
issue but were out of town when the matter was voted on.
City attorney David Syfan has given his opinion that all residents
should be taxed at the same rate. Syfan suggested the resolution
to this matter after a request by Banks County tax commissioner
Margaret Ausburn. She asked for action on setting the millage
because residents are allowed to purchase their car tags 30 days
before their birthday. Citizens with a January 1 birthday can
purchase their tags on December 1. The tax office needed to know
what rate to charge the residents.
If the attorney general rules that the town can have two tax
rates, the citizens can seek a rebate, Syfan explained.
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