The threat of river flooding in Jackson County appears to have diminished Sunday morning as the Middle Oconee River is now predicted not to exceed flood stage. The river was at 11.9 ft. Sunday morning and is predicted to drop during the day rather than rise into flood stage as earlier predicted.
Jackson County officials and agencies were out in force Saturday monitoring river levels for possible flooding following four days of rain. According to Jackson County EMA director Steve Nichols, "the Arcade Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Jackson County Road Department, North East Ga. Amateur Radio Club members, and Jackson County Sky Warn members were very helpful today keeping up with the storms and the river levels. Our partnership with all of these agencies continues to provide for the safety of our citizens."
A flood warning had been issued Saturday by the National Weather Service for the Middle Oconee River near Arcade affecting Jackson and Barrow counties and for the Broad River near Carlton affecting Madison and Oglethorpe counties.
Top Stories - Topics from March, 2009
Jackson County BOE axes positions, programs
The Jackson County Board of Education approved a sweeping set of financial cutbacks Wednesday morning, including the elimination of 38 teaching and non-teaching positions, closing the Regional Evening School program, furloughing 12-month employees for five days and the suspension or elimination of several other programs.
Included in the cuts is the elimination of an assistant superintendent’s position. Dr. Keith Everson, assistant superintendent for human resources and support services, is one of the 12 certified positions in the district that will be eliminated for the 2009-2010 school year.
The actions come after last week’s in-house BOE retreat, during which the board discussed the system’s finances in detail. While much of the district’s state-provided funds remains uncertain, the school system is clearly facing a drop in revenue for the 2009-2010 fiscal year budget.
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Included in the cuts is the elimination of an assistant superintendent’s position. Dr. Keith Everson, assistant superintendent for human resources and support services, is one of the 12 certified positions in the district that will be eliminated for the 2009-2010 school year.
The actions come after last week’s in-house BOE retreat, during which the board discussed the system’s finances in detail. While much of the district’s state-provided funds remains uncertain, the school system is clearly facing a drop in revenue for the 2009-2010 fiscal year budget.
[Full Story »]
Jackson BOE to announce layoff plans
The Jackson County Board of Education will announce the school system’s layoff plans on Wednesday morning. During its annual retreat on Thursday and Friday, the board discussed the district’s financial woes amid dwindling state revenue. The board held a 35-minute closed-door meeting on Friday afternoon to discuss personnel issues. ...
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BREAKING NEWS: Jefferson Caterpillar plant to close
The Jefferson Caterpillar plant will be closed in June due to the economic downturn. Officials announced Tuesday morning that the facility, which makes fuel systems, will begin laying off some 89 employees starting in May. The local facility’s work will be moved to plants in Thomasville, GA and Pontiac, IL. The company is also laying off 200 ...
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Heroin trafficker busted in Bethlehem
A Snellville man was arrested Friday night in a Bethlehem parking lot for allegedly trafficking heroin and other drugs. The arrest of Evan Richard Newby, 27, of 3815 Mink Livsey Road, followed his alleged sale of heroin and hydrocodone to a deputy during an undercover operation by the narcotics unit of the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office. ...
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Area under flood watch
A flood watch has been issued for the Barrow, Jackson, Banks and Madison County areas.
According to the National Weather Service:
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A
* FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL GEORGIA...EAST CENTRAL
GEORGIA...NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA...NORTHEAST GEORGIA...
NORTHWEST GEORGIA AND WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA.
* FROM MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY MORNING
* A SERIES OF UPPER-LEVEL DISTURBANCES WILL TRACK NORTHEAST ACROSS
THE AREA FROM AN UPPER LOW SLOWLY PROGRESSING EASTWARD FROM THE
SOUTH CENTRAL U.S. A SHALLOW LAYER OF COOL AIR AT THE SURFACE
ACROSS MOST OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA WILL PERSIST THROUGH
SUNDAY. THESE TWO FEATURES COMBINED WILL RESULT IN A FAVORABLE
ENVIRONMENT FOR WIDESPREAD RAINFALL ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH
MONDAY. RAINFALL AMOUNTS WILL AVERAGE TWO TO THREE INCHES
THROUGH EARLY MONDAY ACROSS MUCH OF THE FLOOD WATCH AREA...WITH
ISOLATED HIGHER TOTALS.
* THE GROUND ACROSS MUCH OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA REMAINS
MOIST FROM THREE TO FOUR INCH RAINS THAT FELL ON MARCH 1ST.
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL OF TWO TO THREE INCHES WILL LIKELY RESULT IN
AT LEAST MINOR FLOODING OF SOME CREEKS AND STREAMS INTO EARLY
NEXT WEEK. SEVERAL RIVERS AND STREAMS IN CENTRAL GEORGIA JUST
FELL BELOW FLOOD STAGE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS. SOME PERIODS
OF URBAN FLOODING WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE THROUGH EARLY MONDAY
WHERE HEAVIER SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS OCCUR.
A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR FLOODING
ESPECIALLY ALONG LARGER STREAMS AND RIVERS. IF YOU ARE IN THE
WATCH AREA...CHECK YOUR PREPAREDNESS REQUIREMENTS...ESPECIALLY IF
YOU HAVE INTERESTS ALONG AREA RIVERS. KEEP INFORMED...AND BE
READY FOR ACTION IF FLOODING IS OBSERVED OR IF A FLOOD WARNING IS
ISSUED.
According to the National Weather Service:
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A
* FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL GEORGIA...EAST CENTRAL
GEORGIA...NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA...NORTHEAST GEORGIA...
NORTHWEST GEORGIA AND WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA.
* FROM MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY MORNING
* A SERIES OF UPPER-LEVEL DISTURBANCES WILL TRACK NORTHEAST ACROSS
THE AREA FROM AN UPPER LOW SLOWLY PROGRESSING EASTWARD FROM THE
SOUTH CENTRAL U.S. A SHALLOW LAYER OF COOL AIR AT THE SURFACE
ACROSS MOST OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA WILL PERSIST THROUGH
SUNDAY. THESE TWO FEATURES COMBINED WILL RESULT IN A FAVORABLE
ENVIRONMENT FOR WIDESPREAD RAINFALL ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH
MONDAY. RAINFALL AMOUNTS WILL AVERAGE TWO TO THREE INCHES
THROUGH EARLY MONDAY ACROSS MUCH OF THE FLOOD WATCH AREA...WITH
ISOLATED HIGHER TOTALS.
* THE GROUND ACROSS MUCH OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA REMAINS
MOIST FROM THREE TO FOUR INCH RAINS THAT FELL ON MARCH 1ST.
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL OF TWO TO THREE INCHES WILL LIKELY RESULT IN
AT LEAST MINOR FLOODING OF SOME CREEKS AND STREAMS INTO EARLY
NEXT WEEK. SEVERAL RIVERS AND STREAMS IN CENTRAL GEORGIA JUST
FELL BELOW FLOOD STAGE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS. SOME PERIODS
OF URBAN FLOODING WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE THROUGH EARLY MONDAY
WHERE HEAVIER SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS OCCUR.
A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR FLOODING
ESPECIALLY ALONG LARGER STREAMS AND RIVERS. IF YOU ARE IN THE
WATCH AREA...CHECK YOUR PREPAREDNESS REQUIREMENTS...ESPECIALLY IF
YOU HAVE INTERESTS ALONG AREA RIVERS. KEEP INFORMED...AND BE
READY FOR ACTION IF FLOODING IS OBSERVED OR IF A FLOOD WARNING IS
ISSUED.
Full Spring Break back on for county school system
Spring Break will remain a full week for the Jackson County School System after all. Superintendent Shannon Adams announced Wednesday, March 11, that the district will no longer will use Monday, April 6, as a make-up for the recent snowstorm. That means students and staff in the county school system will have the entire week devoted to Spring ...
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Freedom Bank seized by FDIC; deposits acquired by Northeast Georgia Bank
Freedom Bank of Georgia based in Commerce became the 17th bank taken over so far in 2009 by the FDIC.
Freedom Bank was taken over Friday evening at 6 p.m. by state and federal banking officials. All deposits of the bank were acquired by Northeast Georgia Bank of Lavonia.
All branches of Freedom Bank, including those in Jefferson, Homer, Commerce and Winder, will reopen Monday morning as Northeast Georgia Bank, officials said.
“Depositors of Freedom Bank of Georgia will automatically become depositors of Northeast Georgia Bank,” said a news release about the closure. “Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship to retain their deposit insurance coverage. Customers of both banks should continue to use their existing branches until Northeast Georgia Bank can fully integrate the deposit records of Freedom Bank of Georgia.
“Over the weekend, depositors of Freedom Bank of Georgia can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual.”
Customers who have questions about Friday's transaction can call the FDIC toll-free at 1-866-782-1897. The phone number will be operational on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., EST; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., EDT; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., EDT.
Freedom Bank is the second bank in Georgia seized by the FDIC this year. It is the seventh — and smallest — taken over since August 2008 when bank failures begin to rise due to the economic downturn. It is the only bank seized in Jackson County so far in the wake of the housing bust, which has devastated the area’s real estate and construction market.
In December, Freedom Bank was issued a cease and desist order by regulators, which instructed the bank to take certain actions to shore up its financial standing. At the end of the third quarter in 2008, the bank had 11 percent of its loan portfolio, $12 million, in default according to the FDIC. The bank lost $8.5 million in 2008 according to FDIC reports.
According to the FDIC’s news release, the bank had total assets of around $173 million and deposits of $161 million as of March 4. Northeast Georgia Bank agreed to purchase $167 million in assets at a discount of $13.6 million.
The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund will be $36.2 million. Northeast Georgia Bank's acquisition of all the deposits was the "least costly" resolution for the FDIC's Deposit Insurance Fund compared to alternatives.
Freedom Bank was taken over Friday evening at 6 p.m. by state and federal banking officials. All deposits of the bank were acquired by Northeast Georgia Bank of Lavonia.
All branches of Freedom Bank, including those in Jefferson, Homer, Commerce and Winder, will reopen Monday morning as Northeast Georgia Bank, officials said.
“Depositors of Freedom Bank of Georgia will automatically become depositors of Northeast Georgia Bank,” said a news release about the closure. “Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship to retain their deposit insurance coverage. Customers of both banks should continue to use their existing branches until Northeast Georgia Bank can fully integrate the deposit records of Freedom Bank of Georgia.
“Over the weekend, depositors of Freedom Bank of Georgia can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual.”
Customers who have questions about Friday's transaction can call the FDIC toll-free at 1-866-782-1897. The phone number will be operational on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., EST; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., EDT; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., EDT.
Freedom Bank is the second bank in Georgia seized by the FDIC this year. It is the seventh — and smallest — taken over since August 2008 when bank failures begin to rise due to the economic downturn. It is the only bank seized in Jackson County so far in the wake of the housing bust, which has devastated the area’s real estate and construction market.
In December, Freedom Bank was issued a cease and desist order by regulators, which instructed the bank to take certain actions to shore up its financial standing. At the end of the third quarter in 2008, the bank had 11 percent of its loan portfolio, $12 million, in default according to the FDIC. The bank lost $8.5 million in 2008 according to FDIC reports.
According to the FDIC’s news release, the bank had total assets of around $173 million and deposits of $161 million as of March 4. Northeast Georgia Bank agreed to purchase $167 million in assets at a discount of $13.6 million.
The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund will be $36.2 million. Northeast Georgia Bank's acquisition of all the deposits was the "least costly" resolution for the FDIC's Deposit Insurance Fund compared to alternatives.
Jackson to make up snow days March 13 & April 6
The Jackson County School System will use two planned student holidays as make-up days for the recent snow days.
The district will use a teacher planning day — Friday, March 13 — and the first day of Spring Break — Monday, April 6 — as the snow make-up days.
The school system canceled classes on March 2-3, following a winter storm that dumped at least five inches of snow in parts of Jackson County.
The district will use a teacher planning day — Friday, March 13 — and the first day of Spring Break — Monday, April 6 — as the snow make-up days.
The school system canceled classes on March 2-3, following a winter storm that dumped at least five inches of snow in parts of Jackson County.
Madison school board reviews ‘reduction in force’ plan
If Madison County school leaders are forced to lay off employees, experience won’t necessarily save teachers’ jobs. Superintendent Mitch McGhee reviewed the system’s reduction in force (RIF) plan with the Madison County Board of Education last week, noting that there’s no “last hired, first fired,” clause. “Basically, what that ...
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