News from BanksNewsTODAY

The Downtown Development Authority held a garden club interest meeting in Homer on the first Saturday in May. The next meeting is planned for this coming Saturday. “The meeting was a huge success,” Janice Tennent, DDA chair said. “We were expecting five maybe ten people who might have an interested but much to our delight twenty-one men ... [Full Story »] 

The annual Town of Alto Spring Fling Parade and Festival is planned for Saturday, June 2. The event kicks off with a parade at 11 a.m. and activities will continue until 4 p.m. at city hall. Live entertainment will feature the bluegrass gospel group the Lord’s Messengers, southern gospel performer Eddie Allen and the Steve Bryson Country ... [Full Story »] 

When qualifying ended at noon on Friday, no surprise candidates had thrown their hats into the race but one candidate who announced earlier that he would be on the ballot changed his mind. Current board of commissioners chairman Milton Dalton had announced earlier that he would run for the District 2 seat on the commission but he did not ... [Full Story »] 

Qualifying for the Banks County Primary/Non Partisan Election began at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 23, and will end at noon, on Friday, May 25. Those who have qualified so far are: •Clint McCoy and Rick Darby, sheriff. •Ernest Rogers, Jimmy Hooper and Jerry Loftice, BOC chairman. •Charles Turk, BOC district 4. •David Duckett, BOC district ... [Full Story »] 

A group of Banks County parents and students turned out at Monday’s monthly Banks County Board of Education meeting to show support for former Banks County High School head baseball and softball coach Dean Goodwin. The group wore white T-shirts with “I support Coach Goodwin” printed on the front and “Do right BOE” on the back. ... [Full Story »] 

An armed robber held up the clerk at the Express Mart Valero Convenience Store at Banks Crossing Sunday night. Sheriff Charles Chapman said a call came in to the Banks County E-911 dispatch at 10:05 p.m. of an armed robbery at the Express Mart Valero Convenience Store, 30581 Highway 441 South. “The clerk on duty stated that a black male ... [Full Story »] 

Banks County High School Principal Art Wheaton announced on Thursday his plans to retire at the end of the 2011-12 school year. Wheaton has been principal at BCHS for nine years. Banks County Schools Superintendent Chris Erwin said, “Mr. Wheaton was one of the first employees I hired when I came to Banks County. I think I hired him about two ... [Full Story »] 

Banks County officials will meet with representatives from towns in the county on Monday to discuss the negotiations for the local option sales tax (LOST). The meeting will be held at 3 p.m. at the courthouse annex board room. County leaders will be meeting with representatives from the cities of Alto, Baldwin, Gillsville, Homer, Lula and ... [Full Story »] 

Banks County officials were no-shows at the called meeting of the cities of Baldwin, Lula, Gillsville, Maysville and Alto on Tuesday night to negotiate the allocation of Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) revenue. The town leaders had asked for the meeting but Banks County officials asked for additional information before a negotiating meeting be ... [Full Story »]