News from BarrowJournal

News from BarrowJournal - Topics from April, 2012

Synthetic marijuana forum sparks community discussion

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Thursday, April 26. 2012

Winder Police on Tuesday night hosted a community awareness forum on synthetic marijuana –– a chemically treated substance that was only recently banned from being sold legally in local markets in Georgia. The event took place at Winder Barrow High School and involved several speakers from the law enforcement and medical fields. A community ... [Full Story »]

Survey results say Barrow Schools lead in technology

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BarrowJournal

Wednesday, April 25. 2012

The Barrow County School System beat out 16 other school districts nationwide in a recent technology competition, according to results in a 2011 Digital School Districts Survey. The results, which were recently announced at a National School Board Association Conference in Boston, indicate that the Barrow County School System leads other ... [Full Story »]

Auburn again ends year in the red

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BarrowJournal

Wednesday, April 25. 2012

For the fourth year in a row, Auburn’s city government has finished its fiscal year in the red. The city spent $553,000 more in its general fund than it took in during FY2011 and $445,000 more from its SPLOST account than it took in. The SPLOST account was left with a negative reserve balance of $116,400. Last year, the city was in the red ... [Full Story »]

Old courthouse renovation to begin

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BarrowJournal

Wednesday, April 25. 2012

Barrow County’s renovation of the historic courthouse complex in downtown Winder could begin as early as May. A committee on Tuesday interviewed the two bidders. Representatives of John W. Spratlin & Son LLC, which has renovated historic courthouses in three other Georgia counties, said they could start work in May or June. That company ... [Full Story »]

School board considers hosting award program for student volunteering

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BarrowJournal

Wednesday, April 25. 2012

Barrow County students could soon earn more than just a better grade for colleges to look at or to pad resumes for volunteering. A national program designed to chart a student’s volunteer hours could earn them awards and recognition. At a Tuesday night BOE meeting, the Barrow County Board of Education discussed becoming a certifying ... [Full Story »]

County, Winder to split costs on moving line

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BarrowJournal

Wednesday, April 25. 2012

Following some private mediation by Commissioner Steve Worley, the governing bodies of Winder and Barrow County on Tuesday agreed to split the cost of moving a city water line in the way of a road improvement project on Highway 81. Worley said he stepped in at the request of the Georgia Department of Transportation and met with Winder Mayor ... [Full Story »]

Winder may move to ‘smarter’ utility billing system

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BarrowJournal

Wednesday, April 25. 2012

In budget talks this week, Winder officials will consider purchasing new meter reading technology that, over time, would take the human element totally out of the meter reading process. The Winder City Council’s Utility & Stormwater Committee discussed the new technology April 19, which was about a month after a major utility billing ... [Full Story »]

Winder to seek Yargo water

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BarrowJournal

Wednesday, April 25. 2012

Winder officials have set their sights on the untapped potential of Fort Yargo State Park’s 260-acre lake for more drinking water. Roger Wilhelm, the city’s water distribution director, told a council committee April 19 that it is “vitally important” that Winder seek a state permit to be able to pull another 1-2 million gallons of water ... [Full Story »]

Barrow sheriff appointed to state sex offender review board

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BarrowJournal

Monday, April 23. 2012

Gov. Nathan Deal has appointed Barrow County sheriff Jud Smith to the State of Georgia Sexual Offender Registration Review Board, according to a sheriff's office press release. The announcement was made April 20 by Gov. Deal’s office. The SORRB Board consists of five Regional Boards with three members in each region with a total of 15 members ... [Full Story »]

Appeals board to hear request for gas station sign

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BarrowJournal

Monday, April 23. 2012

The Braselton Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Thursday, April 26, at 7 p.m. on a request to allow a gas station to place a new sign at the intersection of Ga. Hwy. 124 and Ga. Hwy. 211. Acree Oil Company, Toccoa, is seeking a variance related to the proposed sign’s size and its internal illumination. The company has a ... [Full Story »]

Entries from April 2012