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News from CommerceNewsTODAY - Topics from July, 2008

Blood is thicker than anything

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Wednesday, July 16. 2008

By Susan Harper Twenty years ago I was reading an issue of Poets & Writers Magazine when I came across a review of a book of poetry by Leonard Trawick. I sat down and wrote him a letter saying that my grandmother, Mera Trawick, had told her grandchildren that we did not come from a large family. “If you meet folks whose last name is ... [Full Story »]

Benton backs challenge to House Speaker Glenn Richardson

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CommerceNewsTODAY

Wednesday, July 16. 2008

Rep. Tommy Benton is backing an effort to oust Rep. Glenn Richardson as speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives. Benton, (R-Jefferson) is among a handful of disgruntled legislators who were scheduled today (Wednesday) to announce support for Rep. David Ralston, Blue Ridge, in challenging Richardson, who is best known as the author of ... [Full Story »]

New reservoir to require tough decisions

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CommerceNewsTODAY

Wednesday, July 16. 2008

Two hundred ninety-four thousand dollars is a lot of money, particularly when it isn’t budgeted, but the decision of the Jackson County Industrial Development Authority, Jackson County Water and Sewerage Authority and Jackson County Board of Commissioners to spend that sum is well warranted. The money will fund the second phase of a county ... [Full Story »]

No need to grant Walgreens' sign variance

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CommerceNewsTODAY

Wednesday, July 16. 2008

Give Walgreens credit. It is relentless in seeking to have a lot more signage at its new store than the city allows under its sign ordinance. The Commerce City Council will rule on the company’s request for a variance on the sign next Monday night. This is the third version of signage the company has presented, and all were well above what ... [Full Story »]

Of broken mirrors and bad luck

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CommerceNewsTODAY

Wednesday, July 16. 2008

By Claire Gaus Expecting seven years’ bad luck after breaking a mirror can be thought of as a superstitious myth, but after breaking a full-length mirror three weeks ago, I’m giving some credence to the validity of the myth. If breaking a small pocket mirror is supposedly a jinx, think of how much more bad luck one might have from breaking ... [Full Story »]

City Council to increase tax rate by .44 mills

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CommerceNewsTODAY

Wednesday, July 16. 2008

The city of Commerce plans to increase property taxes by 49 percent — .44 mills — this year. On a $100,000 piece of property, that increase will cost you $13 more than you paid last year, according to finance director Steve McKown. The 2008-09 budget calls for a tax rate of 1.5 mills, compared to 1.06 mills last year and 1.66 mills for 2005 ... [Full Story »]

City school board to keep tax rate at 17.75 mills

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CommerceNewsTODAY

Wednesday, July 16. 2008

Keeping the tax rate at 17.75 mills, the Commerce Board of Education is expected to approve a 5.9 percent increase in property taxes next month. According to finance director Ann Stokey, the tax digest increased by about 5.9 percent from last year. Stokey said that after formulation, a millage rate rollback of 1.3 percent would be required to ... [Full Story »]

ELECTION RESULTS: Bicknell, Johnson in runoff; Sikes, Smith in DA runoff; Evans romps; Hardy outs Thompson

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CommerceNewsTODAY

Tuesday, July 15. 2008

As of 10:47 p.m., UNOFFICIAL RESULTS with all Jackson County precincts reporting. Official results will be posted as soon as they become available. (For DA circuit totals, see www.mainstreetnews.com) Jackson County BOC Chairman Votes Tony Beatty 1,602 Hunter Bicknell 2,393 Ron Johnson 1,757 Jackson County BOC District 1 Votes Tom Crow 1,002 ... [Full Story »]

Finally, a fruit men can get excited about

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CommerceNewsTODAY

Thursday, July 10. 2008

It’s something off the front page of The Onion, the spoof newspaper, or out of a situation comedy — except it’s true — allegedly. You heard about the Texas study? The one that says watermelon has the same effect on men as Viagra? It was on Page 1E of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution last Thursday. File it under truth is stranger than ... [Full Story »]

Banks County refutes charge that egg plant threatens reservoir

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CommerceNewsTODAY

Thursday, July 10. 2008

The chairman of the Banks County Board of Commissioners has assured the city of Commerce that an egg production plant near Gillsville will not adversely affect the city reservoir. At Monday night’s Commerce City Council work session, Mayor Charles L. Hardy Jr. read a letter from Gene Hart responding to a letter the city sent Hart in June. At ... [Full Story »]

Entries from July 2008