News from JacksonHeraldTODAY

News from JacksonHeraldTODAY - Topics from February, 2009

COLUMN: Be grateful for those who pay your salary

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Friday, February 27. 2009

Last week, a school teacher posted the following comments to one of the blogs on our JacksonHeraldTODAY.com website: “For everyone else who cares about the future of education, cutting teaching positions is a huge problem. There’s not a perfect solution to the budget issue, but making lots of small changes, like trimming administrative ... [Full Story »]

EDITORIAL: Relationship with consultant needs a clear line

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JacksonHeraldTODAY

Thursday, February 26. 2009

There’s something malodorous going on in the Jackson County government. The firing of several people from the county’s planning staff two weeks ago was not unexpected. With little building activity and few rezoning requests, that department has been underworked for months. During this time of fiscal austerity, the county should be cutting ... [Full Story »]

Sales tax revenues fall

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JacksonHeraldTODAY

Wednesday, February 25. 2009

Sales tax collections in Jackson County for 2008 were down nine percent over the year before. According to county officials, Jackson finished the year with $5.7 million in Local Option Sales Tax collections compared to $6.3 the year before. The difference was $568,000 on the year. The largest single month decline was in November when sales ... [Full Story »]

Sikes trial headed to jury; deliberations begin Wed.

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JacksonHeraldTODAY

Wednesday, February 25. 2009

Former Arcade Mayor Joe Sikes is standing trial this week in Jackson County Superior Court in a hearing that brought together some of Jackson County’s most controversial figures from the past few years. At mid-day Wednesday, the trial was winding down, but the jury had not begun deliberations as of early Wednesday afternoon. Sikes faces ... [Full Story »]

Sikes jury still out at midday Thurs.

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JacksonHeraldTODAY

Wednesday, February 25. 2009

The jury was still out Thursday at midday after 5 1/2 hours of deliberations in the trial of former Arcade Mayor Joe Sikes on charges that he made terroristic threats against Arcade officials in 2005. The hearing this week in Jackson County Superior Court brought together some of Jackson County’s most controversial figures from the past few ... [Full Story »]

Sikes jury still out late Thursday

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JacksonHeraldTODAY

Wednesday, February 25. 2009

After deliberating for more than eight hours Wednesday and Thursday, a Jackson County jury came in Thursday afternoon and said they couldn't come to a unanimous decision in the Joe Sikes trial. The judge sent the jury back to deliberate further. Former Arcade Mayor Joe Sikes is on trial on charges that he made terroristic threats against Arcade ... [Full Story »]

Mistrial declared in Sikes trial; case to be retried March 23

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JacksonHeraldTODAY

Wednesday, February 25. 2009

A mistrial was declared Thursday in the trial of former Arcade Mayor Joe Sikes after a jury deliberated for approximately 10 hours. Sikes was on trial on charges that he made terroristic threats against Arcade officials in 2005. The hearing this week in Jackson County Superior Court brought together some of Jackson County’s most controversial ... [Full Story »]

Wreck kills EJCHS student on Hwy. 129 in Redstone

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JacksonHeraldTODAY

Wednesday, February 25. 2009

A student from East Jackson Comprehensive High School was killed and two other people, including another teen, were injured Tuesday afternoon when a truck hit a car broadside on Hwy. 129 in the South Jackson community of Redstone. The wreck happened at the intersection of Hwy. 129 and New Kings Bridge Road around 4:20 p.m. The driver of the car ... [Full Story »]

No charges to be filed against JPD officer

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JacksonHeraldTODAY

Monday, February 23. 2009

There was no criminal wrong-doing in a Jefferson police officer’s relationship with a 17-year-old at the school where he worked as a resource officer, said Piedmont Judicial Circuit District Attorney Brad Smith. But an internal investigation is continuing into whether he will be fired from the Jefferson Police Department for having violated ... [Full Story »]

COLUMN: Government pay rates deserve a look

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JacksonHeraldTODAY

Thursday, February 19. 2009

I knew when we published the listings of local government employees and salaries we’d take some flak. Although “accountability” is a popular buzzword in government circles, nobody in government wants accountability when it involves their own paychecks being put under the magnifying glass. Funny how government thinks nothing of intruding ... [Full Story »]

Entries from February 2009