By Hasco Craver

In case you forgot to upgrade your TV to a digital format, stopped reading newspapers and magazines, surfing the web and simply locked yourself in a closet for the past week, Michael Jackson passed away June 25. I don’t care what your personal feelings are surrounding MJ’s crazy personal life and while I do not condone any of his peculiar actions, you can not deny that he truly transformed music, dance, fashion and so much more.



I still know almost all the words to all of his songs. As a child in the Jackson 5, Michael’s ability to deliver adult-caliber performances and recordings left the Jacksons in a world of their own. Quick trivia — Which band knocked the Beatles’ Let it Be out of Billboard’s number one spot in 1970? Need a hint?

Do you remember hearing Michael step out on his own? A couple of albums that still sounded adolescent and covered topics about pet rodents, a funky twist on “The Wizard of Oz” and a duet with Paul McCartney that had them working as carnival peddlers prepared him for his true commercial coming out party: Off The Wall. While I’m not a huge fan of disco, Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough and Rock With You are amazing songs and will stand the test of time. This album was also the first time that Michael Jackson started working in music videos — remember when MTV actually played music videos instead of nowadays’ ridiculous reality garbage?

Next was Thriller. What else can I say? Unless you lived on another planet in the early 80’s you were mesmerized by the sounds and dances that charged into popular culture. To this day, Michael Jackson’s Thriller album is the most successful selling album of all time — 109 million copies worldwide and his music video for the album’s title track is more like a short-length movie than any music video I can remember. And who can forget the night he unveiled his trademarked moonwalk? I can’t imagine how the live audience felt when he literally transformed current popular culture in front of their eyes.

His next album was my favorite: Bad. One word. One feeling. So many sounds. It’s probably my favorite because I was then old enough to start honing my own personal relationship with recording artists and lost myself playing and replaying all of my favorite tunes while I should’ve been sleeping or studying. From the multi-pocketed leather jackets and rhinestone glove, this album propelled Jackson into the stratosphere. He met the president, had a star placed on Hollywood Boulevard, sold out arenas around the world and dated Madonna and Brooke Shields.

With his next two albums, Dangerous and HIStory, which still brought us great tunes like White and Black and Scream, MJ started feeling the pressures of unprecedented stardom. Similar to Elvis, Britney Spears and host of others, MJ got lost in fame, seclusion, and very atypical behavior. It was also around this time that he married Lisa Marie Presley. I can’t believe that didn’t last. Blood On The Dance Floor, Invincible, Number Ones and a compilation record named Thriller 25 followed and not one brought him the commercial or critical acclaim he seemingly starved for. From the early-to-mid 90’s though today, we heard more about Wacko Jacko, baby dangling, nose jobs and skin dying, amounting debt, surrogate mothers and criminal cases than we did about his musical legacy.

MJ was not the poster child for normality, and his personal actions will always be debated right along with his recording prowess, but I’m one guy that hopes that those with an ear for music will realize how depressing his celebrity spectacle got and remember how those old records will forever remain full of life. And I can’t wait to sing ABC to our expected child.

Hasco Craver is executive director of the Commerce Downtown Development Authority. He lives in Commerce.

All Madison County property owners will receive a property tax assessment notice this year. And those notices could come late this week or early next week.



“We’re hoping for Thursday,” said Madison County chief appraiser Robin Baker.

Madison County’s board of assessors agreed to mail notices to all property owners, even though members voiced concern about setting the tax digest behind schedule if everyone receives a notice.

In recent years, only property owners whose values had changed received a notice. But assessors agreed that every property owner should have the opportunity to review their property values annually.

Property owners have 45 days to appeal their values. If more than three percent of Madison County’s 15,995 parcels are under appeal, the county cannot submit its digest to the state.

A 15-year-old girl is Barrow County's first reported case of the newly declared pandemic virus – novel influenza A (H1N1), popularly known as "swine flu."

“The District Health Office has confirmed a case of H1N1 flu in Barrow County,” states a July 3 e-mail announcement from Forsyth County EMA Director Jimmy Terrell.

“The victim is a 15-year old female who has practically recovered. The sample was drawn June 23rd and confirmed yesterday.”

Terrell said there is no cause for widespread concern at this time, though caution is warranted.

“We do need to remain alert and to monitor our personal health, that of our family, our workforce and our friends,” the e-mail states.

Terrell has scheduled a meeting of the Barrow County Pandemic Flu Committee for 9 a.m. July 16th in the training room of the county administrative annex at 233 East Broad St.

“Unlike a seasonal flu, the H1N1 seems to be hanging around, and Public Health's big concern is the fall,” Terrell wrote. “We could see the same virus we are combating now or a mutation.”


Barrow County Commission Chairman Danny Yearwood received the news Thursday in a text message on his cell phone while meeting with the county's elected officials to discuss finances.

Immediately after the meeting, Yearwood spoke by phone with Terrell, who had good news about the teen's condition.

"She's better and up and running around and doing well," Yearwood said to a reporter after that phone call.

According to the web site of the federal Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, the state of Georgia as of July 2 had 118 "confirmed and probable" cases of the new flu.


Continue reading "Swine flu reported in Barrow County"

While taking intense political heat for many of his decisions regarding the day-to-day operation of the county government, Barrow County Commission Chairman Danny Yearwood is managing to score some behind-the-scenes victories in other arenas.

In an interview last week, the embattled chairman said – and other parties have confirmed – Barrow County is poised to receive $2.5 million in state and federal funding for transportation projects and $500,000 in grant funding for a sewer project to serve a $50 million facility a German company plans to build in the town of Carl by the fall of 2010.

In addition, Yearwood said U.S. Rep. John Linder in May made an appropriations request on the county’s behalf in the U.S. House of Representatives for $17 million in federal funding to build the first phase of the long-sought-after West Winder Bypass. The funding would pay for the design and construction of a bridge over Hwy. 8 and the CSX railroad. Future appropriations would be required to complete the project.

To shore up support for the appropriations request, Yearwood last Thursday met privately with representatives of senators Saxby Chambliss, Johnny Isakson, and Linder, plus state representative Terry England, the district engineer for GDOT, and the district representative on the State Transportation Board.

He declined a request by the Barrow Journal to attend the meeting, saying the parties had agreed that no media would be involved.

But in a statement Tuesday to the newspaper, Linder confirmed that he made the appropriations request.

“When Barrow County became part of the 7th Congressional District in 2006, I made it a priority to visit with all of the county, city and community leaders,” he said in an e-mail. “In each visit, the same urgent need was discussed: there must be a bypass built around Winder.”

The congressman said while the needs for the bypass are evident, “there is not one more convincing for me than the safety hazard the current situation creates.”

He said he has been working with the project in some shape or form since 2007, and “the Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009 presented an excellent opportunity to kick start the project, and I decided it would be prudent to make the request.”

Linder’s Duluth spokesman said Linder made the request in May.

Spokesmen for the Georgia Department of Transportation and the Atlanta Regional Commission also confirmed the new funding for other projects.

Teri Pope, a spokesperson for GDOT’s District 1 office, said her agency now has the Ed Hogan intersection project in the state Transportation Improvement Program.

“We have money set up in fiscal year 2010, which starts July 1,” she said. “Sometime in the fiscal year, the preliminary engineering and design of the intersection improvement will begin. DOT has $90,000 put aside for review and supervision of those plans.”

After the county purchases the right-of-way for the intersection, GDOT in 2012 will provide $767,550 for construction of the intersection, Pope said.

Yearwood said negotiations with property owners and CSX Railroad have been under way for some time.

Mayor George “Chip” Thompson III said this week that the new railroad crossing at Ed Hogan Road is at the top of the city’s list of priority transportation projects because of the traffic relief it would provide for downtown Winder.

The crossing would provide a path for trucks and other vehicles to travel from Ga. 316 to Hwy. 211, and then onto Interstate 85 while completely bypassing the city.

City administrator Bob Beck said the city plans to extend sewer service to the area impacted by the transportation improvement. He said that will open up for future economic development the area all of the way to the new Barrow County Criminal Justice Center.

Jim Jaquish, senior communications coordinator for the ARC, said the funding for the new railroad crossing at Ed Hogan Road is from the $1 million in funds earmarked by his regional planning agency for Barrow County since 2005.

In addition, the ARC has designated $1.5 million in federal stimulus funds for other Barrow County transportation improvements.

Jaquish said the new funding is from the final $27 million in stimulus funds that his agency is disbursing.

Yearwood took a huge amount of political heat a couple of months ago, when as a member of an ARC transportation committee, he voted with the rest of the members to allow $25 million in stimulus funds for the region to be awarded to MARTA for operations.

Local critics said the money should not have been given to MARTA, because Barrow County needed all of the transportation funding it could get.

Jaquish said MARTA since has given $25 million of other capital funds to the jurisdictions in its service area – Fulton, Atlanta and DeKalb – and the transit agency’s reciprocal action freed up the remaining $27 million in stimulus funds for disbursement to other jurisdictions.

The only other nearby county designated to receive any of the money from the ARC’s final pool of stimulus funds is Walton County, whose chairman, Kevin Little, also voted to give MARTA the earlier funding.

Yearwood said the county already has submitted information on transportation projects that could be improved with the additional $1.5 million from the ARC. The list includes road surfacing and bridge repair and maintenance.

In addition to the new transportation funding, Yearwood said the county this month was notified that it will receive a $500,000 state grant for construction of a sewer project to serve a new facility that the German-based Schutz Container Systems plans to build and operate in the town of Carl.

“That means the world to Barrow County,” Yearwood said. “It’s jobs for the future.”

He said he had met with the owner of the company and last talked to him a month ago.

“He told me that he’s got all the engineering people in place, and they’ve got a plan on the table and they want to be in that plant by the end of September 2010,” Yearwood said.

“He’s hoping in five years they can double the capacity of that place. We’re talking about 500 jobs in five years.”

A 24-year-old Gwinnett County Police Department recruit was arrested Thursday after allegedly committing a residential burglary less than 200 yards from the Auburn Police Department.



Sean Lee Filyaw was wearing his cadet uniform when at just after 4 p.m. he allegedly climbed onto a rear porch roof of an apartment building, removed a second-story window screen, and entered the apartment of a former neighbor to retrieve a Sony Playstation game system that he later told Auburn officers was his, according to an incident report.

The resident of the apartment arrived home while Filyaw was still inside the apartment. The recruit climbed halfway out of the window and decided to come back inside, walking downstairs toward the resident and then leaving through the front door, the report states.

When three Auburn officers arrived on the scene, the resident was pointing at a maroon Dodge Durango that was leaving with Filyaw at the wheel. Filyaw then pulled the vehicle back into the driveway of the apartment.

Officers found several items in his vehicle that belong to the Gwinnett Police Department. The items were given to a Gwinnett sergeant who came to the Auburn PD.

Filyaw was taken to the Barrow County Detention Center. A warrant for burglary was to be served today.

A spokesman for the Gwinnett Police Department confirmed today that Filyaw is an employee but is not a police officer.

An Athens landmark went up in flames last week. The old Georgia Theatre on Lumpkin Street in downtown Athens was heavily damaged by fire of an unknown origin. There was an immediate call for efforts to rebuild the old theatre. People were quick to point out the building’s historic value.


It is true that it is a historic building. It has been witness to dramatic changes in Athens and northeast Georgia over the past century. Some of the area’s history was admirable. But there were other parts of the area’s history that many people would prefer to forget.

There are quite a few of us old enough to remember the era of racial segregation. Within our memory, law and custom kept the black and white races strictly separate. Public water fountains and restrooms were clearly labeled, which were for whites and which were for “colored.” The schools were segregated. Athens had two high schools, Athens High was the white school. Burney-Harris was the colored school.

Athens even had separate business districts. The colored business district was centered on the recently restored Morton Theatre. A second theatre, just for movies, was located at the foot of Broad Street near Burney-Harris High School.

The Georgia Theatre contains an architectural reminder of that age. Around the corner, out of site of the main entry and ticket office, is a small set of circular steps. At the top of the steps is a secondary entrance and a small ticket window. Inside that door is a stair well leading to the balcony. This side door was the “colored entrance.” Colored seating was limited to the balcony.

It was not just Athens of course. When Madison County consolidated its schools in 1955, they built two high schools. Madison County High School in Danielsville, and Southside High School on Hwy 72 between Comer and Colbert. Madison County High School was for white students and Southside High for blacks. That was in the transitional “separate but equal” period. The schools were still segregated, but facilities from building to class books were supposedly made equal at each school. As a 1958 graduate of Madison County High School, I was a product of the separate but equal system.
Two years after the schools were opened, the Board of Education decided that modern gyms were needed. So they designed an new gym and built two of them: one at each high school. The two buildings were identical. Subsequent supreme court rulings put an end to the separate but equal plan, and the two school were eventually merged.

Southside High’s campus is still there. It was sold to a private company and is now used as a manufacturing facility. The gym there is now a warehouse and shipping center.

We have come a long way in Georgia in the past half century. Georgians of all colors now work side by side in a friendly manner. It is not unusual to see colored supervisors with whites working under their direction. No one is surprised to see mixed race couples shopping together in local stores. The “white” and “colored” signs are gone. But here and there, signs of that age remain. If you look closely, you can still find them. Georgia Theatre’s side entrance is one of them.

Perhaps it is good that a few clues of that age remain. Those occasional reminders will help us remember the shame of racism and help us to complete the task of ending racism for good.

Frank Gillispie is founder of The Madison County Journal. His e-mail address is frankgillispie671@msn.com. His website can be accessed at http://frankgillispie.tripod.com/

On paper, Paul Kelley’s night at Lanier National Speedway looked like a walk in the park. The Pendergrass racer started from the pole, led the most laps and won the ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour 100 on Saturday.

But despite the nice stat line, Kelley had his hands full in taking his second win of the season.

After battling the heat and Casey Roderick for the first half of the event, Kelley spent the rest of the 100-lap race fighting Dacula’s Russell Fleeman for the victory.

“It wasn’t easy,” said Kelley, who opened the season with a win at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla. “It was so hot out there and then I had pressure from Casey and Russell all night.”

After leading all but one of the first 40 laps, Kelley briefly heeded to Fleeman’s pressure, losing the lead on a double-file restart.

“That happens a lot on double-file restarts,” said Kelley. “He had the outside, which is the preferred line at Lanier. He got around me, but I started to pressure him back. I wasn’t trying to pass him; I’d dive to the inside to let him know I was there. Then I saw him starting to slip a little. I think he burnt his rear tires off.”

The slip was the first sign of weakness shown by Fleeman all night.

Fleeman, who started 11th in the 30-car field, methodically worked his way through the pack before taking the lead away from Kelley just before the halfway mark.

“Our car was good,” said Fleeman, who led the next 40 laps. “We qualified 11th, which wasn’t where we thought we’d qualify. But once the race started, I knew we had a good car. I was able to get by Paul on that restart, but my car started to get free when I’d get on the gas late in the race.”

Knowing there was still time to take back the top spot, Kelley didn’t force the issue.

“I thought there’d be another caution, so I was just saving my stuff,” said Kelley. “If there wasn’t another caution, I would’ve had to lean on him a bit.”

Kelley didn’t have to use the chrome horn after a caution reset the field for the final double-file restart with 20 laps remaining. This time, Kelley had the preferred, outside line. And he made the most of it.

“We just lined up and got back around him,” said Kelley. “It was a special win because I consider Lanier to be my home track. We have a big following and it’s always fun to talk to them after the races, especially when you win.”

For more on this story, see Wednesday's edition of The Jackson Herald or The Braselton News.

It was a hot day for the Commerce Tiger Sharks last Saturday at the NGSL Invitational, with temperatures in the upper 90s, and several young swimmers giving standout performances.

The invitational is particularly important to the younger swimmers, according to swimming coach Pam Minish. The Invitational is oriented more towards novice swimmers while the Pentathlon is for more advanced swimmers who can perform all the strokes.

Two standout performances from the weekend came from McKenzie McRee and Kate Massey, Minish said. Both of the swimmers made good lap times in their races.

“We have a lot of kids that are doing really well,” said Minish. “Our new swimmers are doing real well. What has happened to our team was that when we started we had a large group of older kids who have since graduated and left and now we don’t have many older kids. So, we have just had to rebuild our team.”

The Tiger Sharks are about halfway through this summer’s swim season, with the District meet a little over a week away on July 11.
Minish added that the swimmers are “practicing hard and heavy” for the meet, which will decide which swimmers will compete in the state meet in Tifton later in the month.

During the Invitational last Saturday in Dacula, Commerce had 32 swimmers compete, mostly in the novice division.

The invitational allows the younger swimmers to work on improving their times and face a lot of other swimmers from across northeast Georgia.

Lewis Grizzard wrote a lot about funny stuff. From his views on his beloved Georgia Bulldogs to his four wives, the former newspaper columnist was a master at finding the little things in life funny — even insightful.

But the only one of his 25 books that I have read cover-to-cover — and even re-read — was his last published work, “I Took A Lickin’ and Kept on Tickin’ (and Now I Believe in Miracles).”

The book was penned after his three open-heart surgeries, which are detailed in the book. Grizzard nearly died after one of those surgeries — but once his body allowed him, he continued to keep his sharp-witted humor alive until he lost his life after a fourth heart surgery.

Grizzard was in his 30s when he underwent his first heart surgery to replace a faulty valve. My daughter, Katie, was seven days old when she endured her first heart surgery.

That’s why I picked up Grizzard’s book. For all of the pain, stress and uncertainty that extensive medical conditions can bring to patients and their families, there are some humorous moments.

And if there’s one thing I’ve learned about doctors — or, at least those people in white lab coats — is that really smart folks can say really stupid things.

Like, the doctor who couldn’t explain why my daughter was experiencing certain symptoms. I asked the doctor if those symptoms could be tied to another problem — which sounded like something Katie could have.

“Well, that can happen,” he said, while carefully selecting his words. “But, you just don’t see that in this country.”

In this country? What does that mean?

How did this discussion turn into me questioning the doctor’s geography skills and not his diagnosis? (We later figured out that particular problem, and it had nothing to do with geography in this country or any other country.)

And then, there was the recent hospital admission when I teased Katie, who is now two, about who would be coming to visit her.

It was that time in the afternoon when my husband would be arriving at the hospital to see his little girl after a long day at work. Other than the unpredictable nature of traffic on I-85, he typically arrived at the same time every evening.

“Katie, guess who’s coming?” I said with an uplifting tone in my voice. “They are going to be so excited to see you!”

And Katie — not one to overlook the obvious — said, “Nurses.”

That answer stumped me.

“Well . . .umm . . . yes, honey,” I stumbled on my words — both surprised and humored by her blunt response. “The nurses will come to see you, but your daddy is coming, too.”

Answers are the tough part of any hospital stay — some of them you like; others, you don’t. When things are going wrong and those people in the white lab coats can’t give you answers, you get frustrated.

If there are a few phrases that doctors become experts at saying, they are: “We’ll just have to wait and see,” “We’re just following her pace” and “This all depends on her.” There are variations, of course, but they say the same thing — “We just don’t know.” But, no doctor ever says it like that — “We just don’t know.”

I propose that for Katie’s next hospital admission I wear a T-shirt with one side that says, “Wait and see” and “On her own time” on the other side. Those shirts could be sold in the gift shop. Believe me, a lot of families hear those words.

That way, when a doctor starts to say those words, I can point to the shirt and remind him that I know that he doesn’t know.

But, the truth is, those words are tough to hear — especially when they are about your child. If I let my daughter see the pain and worry in my face, how would that help her? Finding humor in the little things in life — even during those tough times spent in a hospital — makes it easier.

Lewis Grizzard managed do it from his hospital bed after his heart surgeries. Katie’s third heart surgery — and a very big one at that — is next week.

I’ll do what Lewis Grizzard did – find the humor and simple pleasures in life, and ask for your prayers, too.

Kerri Testement is news editor of The Braselton News. Her e-mail address is kerri@mainstreetnews.com.

A 15-year-old girl is Barrow County's first reported case of the newly declared pandemic virus – novel influenza A (H1N1), popularly known as "swine flu."

“The District Health Office has confirmed a case of H1N1 flu in Barrow County,” states a July 3 e-mail announcement from Barrow County EMA Director Jimmy Terrell.

“The victim is a 15-year old female who has practically recovered. The sample was drawn June 23rd and confirmed yesterday.”

Terrell said there is no cause for widespread concern at this time, though caution is warranted.

“We do need to remain alert and to monitor our personal health, that of our family, our workforce and our friends,” the e-mail states.

Terrell has scheduled a meeting of the Barrow County Pandemic Flu Committee for 9 a.m. July 16th in the training room of the county administrative annex at 233 East Broad St.

“Unlike a seasonal flu, the H1N1 seems to be hanging around, and Public Health's big concern is the fall,” Terrell wrote. “We could see the same virus we are combating now or a mutation.”


Barrow County Commission Chairman Danny Yearwood received the news Thursday in a text message on his cell phone while meeting with the county's elected officials to discuss finances.

Immediately after the meeting, Yearwood spoke by phone with Terrell, who had good news about the teen's condition.

"She's better and up and running around and doing well," Yearwood said to a reporter after that phone call.

According to the web site of the federal Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, the state of Georgia as of July 2 had 118 "confirmed and probable" cases of the new flu.

The United States and its territories have had 33,902 cases with 170 deaths. Five of those who died were in Florida and two were in North Carolina. There have been no reported deaths in Georgia.

The virus emerged in the spring of this year in Mexico and the United States, and on June 11, the World Health Organization declared a worldwide pandemic.

In the United States, most people sickened by the virus have required no medical treatment, but the CDC believes there will be more hospitalizations and deaths in the coming days and weeks.

The virus also could cause more serious illness during the U.S. influenza season in the fall and winter, the web site states.

ADVICE FROM WWW.CDC.GOV:
• Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
• Take everyday actions to stay healthy.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
• Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
• Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
• Call 1-800-CDC-INFO for more information.

Saturday will be July 4th, a day of celebration and American Independence. But whether or not this nation will continue to celebrate its heritage of rugged individualism is now in question.

On July 4th, we sometimes romanticize our nation’s heritage. We weren’t always great. We forget from whence we came.

The history of the United States can roughly be divided into four broad epochs: The founding through the Civil War, an era during which the nation was born in flames and through which it slowly overcame its darkest sins — the genocide of Native Americans and the bloody civil war over slavery.

The second era, from the Civil War to WWII, the U.S., in fits and starts, began to take shape as a people and to build the foundations of its economic might. This era, with its Manifest Destiny in the West of the 1870s-1890s, defined the individualism and free spirit that dominated the U.S. in the 20th Century.

The third era, WWII to the early 1970s, marked the high-water mark in American economic, military and diplomatic power. The nation’s achievement of putting men on the moon has come to symbolize that epoch and was the ultimate expression of American frontier individualism.

The fourth era, from the mid-1970s to today, has seen the waning of that influence and economic strength. More importantly, however, we have seen the dilution of our heritage of independent freedoms.

Some blame President Obama for this, but it began long before he ever entered politics. It began when Americans stopped looking to themselves for their own destiny and began to depend more and more on the government. Individualism became a nasty word.

What began as “safety nets” or equality evolved into entitlements. That further moved into corporate welfare where once proud businesses ceded their freedom for government handouts, the expression of which has now hit a new high point with Washington’s control over the banking and automotive industries.

But the worst expression of the nation’s move further away from July 4th has been the fear-mongering reaction to the threat of terrorism. Americans have become all too ready to cede personal freedoms for the illusion of security of collective safety under additional government control of individual lives.

In 1776, July 4th was just a vague idea of freedom. Most of those living in the Colonies at the time didn’t support separating from England. As in today’s time, many in 1776 preferred the security of England’s umbrella to the unknown future of building a new nation under local control.

One has to wonder if given the choice today, how many people would be willing to celebrate the death of July 4th and its rallying cry of individual freedom, in exchange for the veneer of security under a more powerful, more intrusive and less free government?

The Braselton Visitors Bureau Authority approved its FYE 2010 budget for $290,750 during a brief called meeting on Wednesday, June 24.

The authority’s budget is a four percent increase from last fiscal year’s budget of $279,000. The 2010 fiscal year starts today (July 1, 2009) and ends on June 30, 2010.

The appointed authority is responsible for a two percent hotel/motel tax in Braselton — the largest, single source of income for the agency.

Braselton also has a three percent hotel/motel tax, which is handled in the town’s general fund budget.

Town officials are expecting a rise in hotel/motel taxes next fiscal year since Country Inn and Suites is opening a new hotel on Ga. Hwy. 124 in Barrow County. That would leave Braselton with four hotels in its town limits.

Other hotels have been planned for the town, but none have been issued a building permit.

The authority largely funds public relations and special events in Braselton, along with marketing the town in advertisements. Other expenses include transportation improvements at the interstate exit on Ga. Hwy. 211, and park maintenance and repairs.

No one from the public was present for a recent hearing on the proposed budget or its adoption last week.

A man congratulated a Braselton officer for finding a well-hidden gun during a traffic stop in which methamphetamine was also found.

Braselton police were helping a Hoschton officer during a traffic stop on Ga. Hwy. 53, when the Winder Police Department was asked to bring a K-9 unit to possibly find drugs in the suspect’s vehicle.

The dog alerted police of a positive “hit” on the vehicle and the officers began searching the suspect’s vehicle.

Methamphetamine was found in a bag inside an address book in the vehicle, police said.

While looking at the vehicle’s radio, a Braselton officer said its installment seemed suspicious.

The officer removed a panel near the radio and found a hidden handgun. The weapon was given to a Hoschton officer.

The suspect later asked the Braselton officer how he found the weapon, according to an incident report. The officer said he had been trained to find hidden compartments in vehicles.

The suspect “gave me a big smile and looked away,” the officer wrote. The suspect also said, “Good job, good job, d**n it.”

Hoschton police charged Randall T. Brown, 30, 3670 Lavilla Drive, Powder Springs, with possession of methamphetamine, possession of firearms by a convicted felon, possession of firearms during a crime, speeding and license restriction violation.

Hoschton police said they also found night vision goggles, gloves and an extremely large number of cell phones in his vehicle. All of the items are possible indicators of thefts or burglaries, police said.

Graffiti suspects mark another building

Another Braselton building was spray painted with graffiti, according to police.

The former Mitsubishi building — located on Cherry Drive — was targeted by graffiti suspects on June 22. The building is located next to Zion Baptist Church, which was spray painted with pro-marijuana and anti-war messages earlier in June.

This time, the messages included obscene language aimed at police, the United States, Jesus and God. There was also numerous smiling faces, skulls with cross bones, “666” and other unknown symbols painted on the building, according to an incident report.

Police responded to the building after a burglar alarm sounded. A doorknob was broken off one of the building’s rear entrances.

An officer said when he was driving to the building, he noticed a gold or tan Chrysler Sebring convertible with a headlight out leaving Jesse Cronic Road and turning onto Ga. Hwy. 124. The building has a rear entrance to Jesse Cronic Road.

Braselton Incidents
The following incidents were reported to the Braselton Police Department last week:

•dispute at a Spirit Falls Court address, where a man said he believes that his neighbor went onto his property and dumped grass clippings in a gully behind his house.

•entering a motor vehicle with intent to commit a theft at Haverty’s, Broadway Avenue, where a woman said someone stole her purse from her vehicle when it was parked in the distribution center’s parking lot. The woman left her windows rolled down because of the extreme heat. The grounds crew at Haverty’s found the woman’s purse behind a building. The wallet, along with two credit cards, a debit card, a store credit card, driver’s license, Social Security card and checkbook were missing.

•theft by taking at a Mossy Oak Landing address, where a woman said someone stole her son’s bicycle, valued at $600.

•damage to property at a Loowit Falls Court address, where a woman said a concrete truck damaged her yard and sidewalk during a project. The woman had not given permission for the truck to be on her property. A contractor fixed the sidewalk, but not the yard to her satisfaction. The contractor contacted other contractors to repair the yard, but they never arrived at her house. The contractor called the woman several times asking to finish the job so he could get the remainder of his money. The woman said once the repairs are done, she would give him his money. The woman thought the contractor was hiding in a nearby vacant house.

•financial transaction card theft at CVS, Spout Springs Road, where a woman said her credit card had been “cloned.” The woman said someone tried to charge $117 at the store. She also noticed several other unknown transactions on her credit card for the past two months.

•theft by taking at the Chateau Elan Legends Clubhouse, where a woman said she left her purse on a golf cart and went inside the clubhouse. When she returned, it was missing. The woman said $200 in cash and a $488 check from Chateau Elan were inside of the purse.

•stolen vehicle recovered on Ga. Hwy. 53, where a man said during a traffic stop that his vehicle was initially reported stolen in Gwinnett County several weeks ago. The man said once his girlfriend returned the vehicle, he called Gwinnett County police to report that the vehicle wasn’t missing. The vehicle was still registered as a missing vehicle, according to emergency dispatchers.

•domestic dispute at a Piedmont Avenue address, where a mother and daughter hit and bit each other during a dispute. The daughter stayed at a friend’s house for the evening.

•damage to property on I-85, where a man driving on the interstate said his tire came off his vehicle and hit a guardrail. The tire bounced back and hit another vehicle, which was damaged.

Braselton Arrest
The Braselton Police Department made the following arrest last week:

•Richard Lynn Landers, 64, 7056 Saratoga Drive, Flowery Branch, failure to maintain lane, driving without license on person and DUI.

Madison County appraiser Stacey Rubio placed a stack of conservation use applications on the board of assessors’ table June 18, offering recommendations on what should qualify and what shouldn’t.

While the group discussed specific tracts, the talk also touched on the BOA’s overall perspective on conservation exemptions, with opinions varying on how stringent the group should be on the tax break.

There are 2,000 parcels and 76,855 acres in Madison County that have conservation use status, meaning the owners of those properties pay substantially less in taxes than others.

The conservation exemption was established by the state government, allowing farmers to maintain big tracts of land for agricultural purposes without being crippled by property taxes.

However, many complain that the conservation use exemption is abused by property owners who simply seek a tax break and have no intention of doing anything productive with their land.

Madison County commissioners addressed the abuse of the exemption in December, setting a 10-acre minimum for conservation use tax breaks in the county. Under the new guidelines, property owners seeking first-time conservation use status must have at least 10 acres of land to be considered. However, the 10-acre minimum won’t affect property owners with less than 10 acres, who currently enjoy the exemption, until 2012.

On June 18, Rubio made recommendations of approval or denial on a thick stack of conservation use applications. She informed the board that she had traveled to the properties in question and that the stack of papers represented about two days of work.

The BOA approved most of Rubio’s recommendations, but agreed to further discussion of three applications. Among those was a request for conservation status on a tract greater than 10 acres, where the property owner had no fencing, livestock, timber plan or hay or crop production.

Rubio said the applicant admitted that he is basically “growing kudzu” on the property. She recommended denial of the conservation application.

However, BOA member Larry Stewart pointed out that denying the request would not be in line with how conservation applications have been evaluated in recent years. He recalled the approval of a conservation application for a property owner who had 20 acres of pasture covered up with thistle weed, an invasive plant incompatible with cattle production.

“We have not used this criteria in the past,” said Stewart, regarding the proposed rejection of the kudzu-covered property.
New chief appraiser Robin Baker responded that “two wrongs don’t make a right.”

“Well, if you haven’t you need to start now,” he said.

Stewart and Jim Escoe voted in favor of the conservation use application, while Samantha Garland and David Ragland voted against it. With the 2-2 split, the board agreed to discuss the application at its next meeting. Another conservation use application also received a split vote and will be considered later, while a third application discussed Thursday, in which a small portion of a 10-acre tract is used for hay production, was approved by a 3-1 vote, despite Rubio’s recommended denial. Garland provided the lone vote in support of Rubio’s recommendation.

When I’m troubled, a good drive alone can help. It combines seclusion and roaming free. The road is a comfort at times, even though it holds dangers.

I have no desire for a motorcycle. There are too many bad things that can happen. I’ve hit three deer in my life, with one slamming into my windshield. And I shudder to think of that collision on a two-wheeler. But I can understand the attraction of cruising the countryside, lost in thought with just the wind and asphalt.

As the pastures pass, I think of what I should have said, or reflect on things long gone, like actually sliding into a base. I can drive for many miles not really noticing the details of the land around me. I’m too wrapped up in 1986 to count how many chicken houses I just passed.

But other times I make a point of looking at the world. And it’s sort of a mental exercise to me, riding the road, considering all the ways different people view the same things.

I know the golfer sees that bend in the trees as a dogleg suited for his slice. He imagines the pond as a formidable par-3 water hazard. The fisherman sees that same pond and can feel that familiar tug on the line, while performing a mental checklist of what’s in his tackle box. He thinks of his own spots to cast the line.

The real estate man passes that empty house, thinking of the market, what it is and what it was. The utility men look at the power lines, noticing where the trees need to be cut back, remembering the aches of the snowstorm. The engineer thinks of how the road wasn’t properly graded, leaving a dangerous blind spot. The lawnmower man looks for that shaggy yard. The vandal looks for the sign he can shoot. His eyes dart for the law.

The new parents ride with their baby through the intersection on their way home from the hospital, believing they should be allowed a personal siren to clear everyone out of the way, just this once.

The good-hearted sort notices a pained expression on a stranger by the road. The eye contact sparks that need to do something for someone. The person who lacks something inside sees that same pained face and laughs, the inner voice repeating, “better you than me, buddy.”

Some consider the land before their time, how they occupy just a brief sneeze in its long history. They consider how it looked when there were no roads, how long it might take to turn to rubble after people quit driving them.

But we do keep driving them. We’re in our own little bubbles, our own little universes, passing each other along the way, maybe throwing up a finger wave if we feel it.

Zach Mitcham is editor of The Madison County Journal.

Banks County will be sending a team to Canton to compete in the state tournament.

Banks’ recreation 9-10 year old team will begin their bid for state championship Saturday, July 4, in Canton. The first competition for the boys will be against Sandy Springs with the winner advancing to play on Sunday at noon.

The loser will play again on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

The 9-10 year old team finished third in the Dizzy Dean District tournament after defeating Union County’s team and the Hall County Mudcats.

In the third game of the district tournament, Fannin County bumped Banks into the loser bracket where the team battled back against the Hall County Heat to secure third place.

The 9-10 year old girls will also be heading to state after being crowned the GRPA District 7 champions.

State play will begin for the girls July 10 in Jefferson.

The girls will take on the district 6 champions at 6 p.m. then will play again at 8 p.m. win or lose.

WINDER - Rita Carmen Arrieta, 54, died Wednesday, July 1, 2009.

Born in Lima, Peru, she was the daughter of Felipe M. Elias and Julia E. Elias of Deerfield Beach, Fla. She was a member of St. Matthews Catholic Church.

Survivors in addition to her parents include her husband, Ignacio Arrieta, daughters, Rita E. Krasner and Yessenia E. Schotte, both of Winder; grandchildren, Alexander J. Krasner, Izabella B. Schotte and Adryna J. Krasner; and sisters, Maritza E. Elias, Deerfield, Fla. and Rosana Berrospi, New York, NY.

A memorial service was held Thursday, July 2, from St. Matthews Catholic Church, with the Rev. Jaime Barona officiating.
Smith Funeral Home, Winder, was in charge of arrangements.

Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.

CORNELIA – James Allen Morris, 95, died Wednesday, July 1, 2009.

Born in Toccoa on January 14, 1914, he was the son of the late Amos Allen and Mollie Ruth Jackson. A veteran of the United States Navy, he had been in business in Habersham County since 1955. He was the owner of Baldwin Produce, Cornelia Produce and Grocery, the Panorama Restaurant, and a pillow factory. Mr. Morris was preceded in death by his wife, Thelma Fay Wood Morris; and brothers, CY “Tubby” Morris and Bill Morris.

Survivors include a daughter, Arnetta M. Goss, Cornelia; son and daughter-in-law, Mack and Janice Morris, Lula; granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Cathy and Eddie Pruitt; grandson, Jamie Goss; great-grandchildren, Jason Dodson, John Dodson, Conner Allen Goss and Blake Pruitt; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 4, at 11 a.m., at Whitfield Funeral Home with the Rev. Darvin Slaton officiating. Burial will be in the Yonah Memorial Gardens with full military honors provided by the Rabun County DAV Chapter #15, American Legion Post #84, and the Grant Reeves VFW Post #7720. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Thursday, July 2, from 7 to 9 p.m., and again on Friday, July 3, from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

Whitfield Funeral Home, South Chapel, Baldwin, is in charge of arrangements.

JEFFERSON – Lois Ann Clark, 69, died Tuesday, June 30, 2009.

Born in Dodge County, Neb., she was the daughter of the late Woodrow and Edna Freeberg Arp. She was a member of the Arms of Grace Lutheran Church.

Survivors include her husband, Newel Clark, Jefferson; a son, Jimmy Clark, Jefferson daughters and son-in-law, Terri and Richard Garcia and Kay Crabb, all of Jefferson; five grandchildren; brothers, Woodrow R. Arp, Austin, Texas, and Lee Arp, Tempe, Ariz.; and a sister, Linda Arp, Jefferson.

Funeral services will be held Monday, July 6, at 11 a.m., at the Arms of Grace Lutheran Church with Pastor Thomas Artelt. The family will receive friends after the service at the church. The body will be cremated.

Memorials may be made to the Arms of Grace Lutheran Church Building Fund, 22 Williams St., Winder, GA 30680.

Smith Funeral Home, Winder, is in charge of arrangements.

MCHS must replace 7 seniors in 2010



Madison County’s summer season ended with a smash, even if the games don’t really count.
The Raiders rallied from a 9-0 deficit last weekend in their summer ball season finale to beat Greenbrier, 12-10, finishing the exhibition season at 8-6.

The victory over Greenbrier came in the fourth and final game of the Brookwood tournament. Madison County went 3-1 in the event.

“A lot of guys got better, and played better defense,” Raider coach Charlie Griffeth said, who noted that his team might participate in a fall league.

The Raiders, who went 21-7 this past spring, run-ruled Apalachee and Gainesville in their other two victories.

Madison County’s only loss came to Dacula, 5-4, in the second game.

The Raiders entered the tournament with a 5-5 summer record, beating Franklin County four times, losing to Winder-Barrow three times, falling twice to Brookwood twice and beating Elbert County once.

This was an important summer in terms of transition.

The Raiders must rebuild their pitching staff and offensive lineup after the graduation of seven seniors. The summer schedule provided those younger players leaping from junior varsity to varsity with much-needed experience.

“They just kept getting reps and figuring out the speed of the game … They got better and better.”
That said, Griffeth said there’s much work left to do on the mound.

“It’s still got a long way to go — throwing more strikes and having command of more than one pitch … We’ve still got a ways to go on the hill,” Griffeth said.

Offensively, Griffeth noted that Bracken Turner — who will take over at catcher next year — carried a hot bat during the summer season, hitting “four or five” homeruns.

“Bracken had a great summer,” Griffeth said.

Hayden Martin, Kyle Dean and J. Ben Hardman also hit the ball well.

Madison County also fielded a second-tier summer ball team that consisted of younger players.
Griffeth said that team played well, and some of its players could push for varsity playing time come spring.

“It’s wide open,” he said. “You never know who might put on 20 lbs. (of muscle).

Even though summer ball is over, some Raiders aren’t taking summer off.

Griffeth noted four to five guys hitting in cages two days after summer ball ended.
“They’re hungry,” he said.

Just when you thought things couldn’t get any more muddled in Barrow County politics, it does.

The conclusion of hearings last week at which county CFO Beth Horacek challenged an April suspension by board of commissioners chairman Danny Yearwood for allegedly being “untruthful” left everyone scratching their heads.

The county’s personnel review board ruled that the suspension be upheld, but also that it didn’t believe Horacek had been “untruthful.”

The board apparently wanted to split some fine hairs in its ruling — on the one hand upholding the county, while on the other hand trying to repair Horacek’s reputation by saying she wasn’t a dishonest financial officer.

Making matters worse, one review board member subsequently resigned, alleging the board had improper contact with some county officials.

To say the least, the entire affair was a muddled mess. Barrow County is in the middle of a financial crisis, yet its leaders are fighting with their own CFO, the one person whom they need to lean on for information from which to make critical decisions.

The truth here is that Horacek may have been selective in some of her explanations about last year’s budget process, which was the key issue that led to her April suspension. But given the turmoil of the last six months, it’s also likely that county leaders also only heard what they wanted to hear and concluded only what they wanted to conclude. There was a lot of miscommunication all around; Horacek was not totally to blame for that.

One of the ironies of this hearing is that “untruthful” comments appear to be going viral in Barrow County. Yearwood handed down Horacek’s suspension for lying, but while he was on the stand at the hearing, he was “untruthful” himself when he said this newspaper had misquoted him in an April news article about the suspension.
This newspaper didn’t misquote Mr. Yearwood and he knows it — he later apologized to a Barrow Journal reporter for his lack of fortitude on the stand in having said he’d been misquoted when he hadn’t. (It’s an occupational hazard; the messenger often gets blamed when politicians want to duck for quick cover.)

Whatever the final outcome of the Horacek matter, there is a serious lack of truthfulness coming from Barrow leaders that is undermining the county’s credibility.
One of Barrow’s slogans has been “Believe in Barrow.”

The question is, who should you believe?

The Madison County softball team rolled through its summer schedule, losing just twice while addressing its needs for next year.




The Raiders, 24-11 last year, wrapped-up their summer exhibition slate this past Thursday.

“We got to look at several different girls and hopefully answer some questions here in the summer so when we get (preseason practice) started Aug. 1,” 12th-year coach Doug Kesler said.

Madison County lost just once in the summer league schedule, which included games against North Oconee, Walnut Grove, Oglethorpe, Franklin, Stephens and Prince Avenue.

Madison County also played in a tournament in Greenbrier, going 5-1. Among the highlights were victories over Parkview, Cherokee County and Lakeside-Evans.

One area Madison County addressed this summer is shortstop. The team lost last year’s starter, Taylor Morgan, to graduation.

“We got to look at some different girls at that position, so we felt pretty good with what we got accomplished this summer,” Kesler said.

As far as pitching, Kesler said Erin Gibson enjoyed a strong summer.

“I thought Erin Gibson threw the ball well … I think she’s improved from last year,” Kesler said.

Summer work wasn’t limited to just the softball diamond.

Madison County got stronger as a team, literally, putting in time at the weight room.

“So hopefully, they got a little bit stronger, hopefully they gained a little confidence through that.”
Preseason practice starts Aug. 1, but Madison County will host a series of exhibition games the final week in July. North Oconee is the only confirmed opponent.

A Watkinsville man is suspected of trying to shoplift beer and pretzels from Ingles Grocery in Hull last week.



A store employee told Deputy Jeff Strickland that he observed a man pushing a shopping cart with four 36-packs of Bud Light beer and a pack of Snyder’s pretzels toward the exit of the store without paying for them. Store manager Jerry Drake followed the suspect out the door where he confronted him. The man left the buggy, ran across the parking lot with a store employee in pursuit and drove away in a white 1995 Chevrolet C-1500 truck with tag number 513 AGH.

Deputy Strickland was unable to locate the suspect, who has been identified, at the time of the report. The truck he was driving was reported stolen from Oconee County on June 24 and a store video of the incident was placed into evidence.

In another incident, a woman on Wrigley Court in Hull reported that someone broke into her home while she was gone on the afternoon of June 23. Approximately $6,650 in jewelry, electronics, household goods, firearms and clothing were reportedly taken during the break in.

Other incidents on file at the sheriff’s office this week included:

•A woman on Norwood Road reported that she received a call from a woman she knows stating she was “coming to her house to kick her a….” The woman did come to her home and had an altercation with the victim. The victim stated that the offender and those with her were known to her and to witnesses.

•A burglary was reported on Della Slayton Road.

•Theft by taking was reported on Dove Circle.

•A public drunk was reported on North Fourth Street in Colbert.

•A burglary was reported on Hwy. 72 East in Carlton.

•Criminal trespass was reported on Hannah Heights in Hull.

•Theft by taking was reported on Fernwood Drive in Hull.

•An abandoned vehicle was reported on Hwy. 98 West at Frank Bird Road.

•Criminal trespass was reported on Spratlin Mill Drive.

•A burglary was reported on Wrigley Court in Hull.

•A burglary was reported on Adams Road in Hull.

•Aggressive driving was reported on Hwy. 29 South in Hull.

•Terroristic threats and acts were reported on Hwy. 29 South.

•A lost cell phone was reported on Hwy. 29.

•VGCSA was reported on General Daniel Avenue.

•Simple battery was reported on Irvin Kirk Road.

•Theft by taking was reported on Garnett Ward Road.

•Battery was reported on Grady Drive in Hull.
•An abandoned vehicle was reported on Poca Road.

•A stolen vehicle was reportedly recovered on Irvin Kirk Road.

•Simple battery was reported on Carrie Lane in Hull.

•FVA violation of domestic orders was reported on Bedford Drive in Hull.

•Simple assault was reported on Hwy. 29 South in Hull.

•Theft by shoplifting was reported on South Main Street in Ila.

•A burglary was reported on Hwy. 106 South near Hull.

•Simple battery was reported on Blacks Creek Church Road.

Commerce High School’s summer baseball season closed Saturday with the Tigers falling 9-8 to Elbert County in the Jackson County Shootout.

This summer both the junior varsity and varsity teams have worked to prepare themselves for next spring. Coach Steve Cotrell seemed pleased with the results.

“We had a great summer,” said Cotrell. “We improved in most of the areas that we needed to, but there are still some that we have got to get better before spring. The kids have worked hard and they have done everything that I have asked them to do.”


Commerce faced many tough opponents from larger schools, against whom Cotrell said the Tigers were competitive for the most part.

“We played against some tough competition this summer and most of the teams that we have competed against have been in the Elite Eight or final four year in and year out in their classifications,” said Cotrell. “We have stepped out on the field and played with them for the most part. I look forward to next spring and the future with our young kids.”

For more on Tiger summer baseball see this week's The Commerce News.

This year’s Night of Fire at the Atlanta Dragway in Commerce showcased fast cars and featured an all Jefferson showdown in one category.

Cole Wood, age 11, and Salina Shanks, age 12, both of Jefferson, raced in the 8-12 Junior Dragster final. Shanks wrapped up the run with a -.011 foul, while Wood cut a .020 green light. Shanks made the run bittersweet with a dead-on finish in 8.98 seconds at 72.55 mph, as Wood finished with an 8.89 ET on an 8.92 dial-in, at 74.37 mph.

Wood, a seasoned junior racer in a self-proclaimed slump, found his way back to the top tonight in an all-or-nothing fashion.

“I’ve gone out every first round this year,” Wood said after claiming his first Night of Fire win. Wood thanked his family following the event.

In the Super Pro final Don Brown, Sr. of Buford lined up against former junior racer Jeremy Hancock of Commerce. Both men were dialed at 4.95, keeping the race old school with a promise of some tight competition. Brown hit the tree hard with a .007 green, Hancock following closely with a .020 reaction time. Hancock ran dead-on the dial at 137.58 mph, but Brown’s reaction time took the win after crossing the line in 4.96 seconds at 139.73 mph, with a .004 margin-of-victory.

After winning the last two points races, Chad Brewer was fired up to stay on a roll as he faced Randall Roop in the Pro finals. Both boys out of Canton meant business at the starting line, Brewer launching first (dialed at 7.29) with a .040 light, but Roop (dialed at 6.46) pulled a .007 green, making the chase neck-and-neck. Brewer finished in 7.30 seconds at 94.69, but Roop won with a .008 margin-of-victory, crossing the finish in 6.49 seconds at 104.11.

Josh Richardson of Canton and Mickey Morris of Ellenwood faced off in the Sportsman final. Richardson was dialed-in at 16.45 seconds, while Morris predicted a 13.01 second run for his car. Richardson left first with the handicapped tree, with a respectable .051 green light; Morris couldn’t take the anticipation and jumped the amber too soon with a -.024 foul, running way under his dial in 12.14 seconds at 112.46 mph. Richardson cruised the track a winner, finishing with a 16.34 ET at 84.72 mph.

The Motorcycle category pulled an impressive 33-bike count, giving regulars plenty of competition to flaunt their skills. Points leader Jay “Bird” Rhyne of Athens made it to the final round against Jeff Hackney of Ranger. Rhyne had the handicap on the tree, leaving first on his 12.41 dial-in with a .040 reaction time. Hackney left the starting line too soon, fouling with a -.024 red on his 13.01 dial-in. Hackney ran it out, finishing in 11.02 seconds at 121.58 mph, while Rhyne sailed to the finish with a 12.37 ET at 103.30 mph.

The girls dominated the 13-17 Junior Dragster category, with Bailey Denton age 15 of McDonough, and Valerie Clements, age 16 of Central, S.C. in the final round. The two dragsters were dialed closely together, Denton with a 7.91, Clements with a 7.97, making the launch difference nearly indistinguishable. Denton left the line with a .059 green light, slightly better than Clements’ .076 reaction time. Their finish was just as close – Clements ran 7.98 seconds on her 7.97 prediction at 82.38 mph, while Denton closed in with a 7.93 second run at 82.36 mph. Denton took the win with her sharp reaction skills, maintaining her top position in points with her third Summit ET win of the 2009 season, and sixth win overall this year.

For more on this story, see Wednesday's edition of The Jackson Herald, The Commerce News or The Banks County News.

The Leopards closed out the summer baseball season by participating in the inaugural Jackson County Shootout.

Jackson County’s Summer Shootout hosted 20 teams at four venues last Thursday through Saturday. Banks County’s ballpark played host to 10 games out of the 40 game series.

Opening up the Shootout for the Leopards was a Thursday match up against Oconee County. Banks County suffered a 10-0 loss to the hard hitting Oconee Warriors.

“We were overmatched,” coach Joe Lord said. “They could really hit the ball well.”

Eli Autry pitched for the Leopards and according to Lord had a positive outing on the mound, but missed up too much.

“You can't do that against a good hitting team, so it was a good lesson for him and for us,” said Lord.

For more on this story see this week's edition of The Banks County News.

With about two weeks left, everything is now in full swing to prepare for the upcoming 11-year-old Dizzy Dean World Series, which will be hosted by Jackson County Parks and Recreation July 17-21.

Officials estimate 30-40 teams from around the southeast will take part in the event. Already confirmed are teams from Georgia, Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi and Virginia.

That includes two Jackson County teams and one from Jefferson.

The tournament is for Dizzy Dean 11-year-old league teams from 13 states. The league is named in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Jay Hanna “Dizzy” Dean, who went on to become a broadcaster after his playing career.

The main venues for the World Series will be the fields at Lamar Murphy Park and East Jackson Park.

Jackson County Park and Recreation director Ricky Sanders says he and his staff have been preparing for the event since last fall.

For more on this story see the July 1 edition of The Commerce News.

Need a patriotic “staycation” this Saturday for Fourth of July?

Then consider Braselton’s annual festival highlighting not only the town, but honoring those in the military, as well.

And, there’s a large fireworks display scheduled for dusk on Saturday night, at Chateau Elan.

The “Celebrate Braselton” festival starts on Saturday, at 9 a.m. — when vendor booths open in the Braselton Park, located off Ga. Hwy. 53, near Countryside Antiques.

A parade through downtown Braselton starts at 10 a.m.

The first of three bands — “Blue Billy Grit” — takes the stage at the park, from 10 a.m. to noon. “Dirt” will perform from 1-3 p.m., and “Saddle Creek” will be featured from 5-7 p.m.

Braselton’s Fourth of July festival started in 2004, after a citizens committee recommended an annual event to help revitalize downtown.

“Festivals are a way to bring people to your downtown who may not have been there before,” said town manager Jennifer Dees.

And for a town spanning four counties — Jackson, Barrow, Gwinnett and Hall — the festival also unites residents in downtown, she added.

The highlight of the festival will be the fireworks display at Chateau Elan, which is considered one of the largest fireworks shows in the area. The fireworks will be launched in a former vineyard behind Publix, located off Ga. Hwy. 211.

Braselton officials estimate that 30,000 people will view the fireworks display.

Braselton police, along with the Jackson County CERT, will direct traffic in the area, Dees said.

Back in the park, town officials are expecting more vendors than previous festivals.

And with a tough economy keeping more families closer to home for “staycations,” they’re also expecting more visitors, too.

“We’ve seen a much higher attendance at all of our events,” Dees said.

For more information, visit www.braselton.net or call town hall at 706-654-3915.

A Comer man was arrested recently after a deputy found him lying in the middle of Hwy. 72.

Spencer Levar Howard, 31, 2346 Sims Kidd Road, was charged with one count of pedestrian under the influence.

According to the sheriff’s office, Deputy Alan Stratton responded to the report of someone lying in the road, with callers stating that he appeared to have been hit.

When Deputy Stratton arrived he observed a black male lying in the road on his back with arms outstretched. When he called to the subject (Howard) he received no response so he attempted to locate a pulse. At that time Howard became responsive and when Stratton asked him how he was Howard reportedly leaned up and said he was fine and that he drank too much. Howard was assisted out of the road, arrested, and taken to the Madison County Jail.

In another arrest, Manuel Ricardo Nunez, 38, of 160 Mill Street, Royston, was charged with obstruction of an officer after deputies found him hiding in his girlfriend’s attic.

According to the incident report, a woman on Hwy. 98 East called to report that her boyfriend, Nunez, for whom she had taken a restraining order against last year, was at her residence and she wanted him removed.

Deputies located him in the attic and transported him to jail.

Others arrested by law enforcement in the county recently included:

•Walter Randy Shelnutt, 42, 2275 Waggoners Grove Church Road, Colbert.

•Alton Conrad Allen, 40, 333 Alberta Drive, Colbert, order to incarcerate for child support.

•Timothy Lee Collins, 38, 3023 Kesler Road, Carnesville, probation violation (original charge: driving without license suspended).

•Robbie Lee Gunter, 28, 175 Dennis Drive, Athens, parole violation.

•Clinton Jerome Mason, 40, 7079 Hales Crossing Road, Royston, probation violation (original charge: possession of methamphetamine).

•Jeffrey Jay Green, 18, 1142 Lavender Road, Athens, probation violation and failure to appear.

•Toby Shane Reese Kennedy, 21, 880 Horace Reed Road, Ila, probation violation (original charge: driving on suspended license).

•Kenneth Wayne Coley, 53, 820 Shiloh Ft. Lamar Road, Danielsville, public drunkenness. (Comer PD)

•Quillard T. Collins, 55, 951 WL Williams Road, Commerce, failure to appear.

•Anthony Wayne Martin, 30, 11 Long Branch Lane, Colbert, housed for Oglethorpe County.

•Terry Michael Haggard, 47, 25 Sammy Haggard Road, Danielsville, probation violation.

•Jillian Carol Phillips, 28, 175 Spring Court, Athens, probation violation (original charge: deposit account fraud x 4) and theft by shoplifting.

•Phillip Scott Moon, 32, 140 Moon Guest Road, Carlton, DUI, failure to drive within a single lane and drugs to be kept in original container.

•Anthony Ray Hardman, 44, 292 Bellew Drake Road, Carlton, probation violation.

•Ronald Glynn Rice, 44, 265 Kings Road, Athens, speeding, DUI/alcohol, possession of marijuana less than an ounce, drugs to be kept in original container and driving while tag is suspended.

•Paul Nathan Greene Sr., 72, 478 Helican Springs Road, Athens, harassing phone calls.

•Richard Lee Doster, 46, 1651 Phillips Road Lithonia, failure to appear (original charge: shoplifting).

•Charlotte Evette Morrison, 40, 1160 Cemetery Road, Union Point, bench warrant.

•Angela Leigh Young, 27, 82 Homestead Road, Danielsville, hold for Hall County.

•Richard Ashley McGaha, 34, 1870 McNutt Creek Road, Bogart, failure to appear.

•Jason Star Smith, 21, 3080 Hardman Morris Road, Colbert, probation violation.

•Joseph Raleigh Flanagan, 24, 117 Charlie Bolton Road, Hull, pedestrian under the influence.

•Leroy Allen, 59, 1887 Spring Circle, Comer, obstruction of an officer.

•Jeffery Scott Goss, 44, 940 Fred Goss Road, Danielsville, bench warrant (original charges: suspended license, no insurance, expired tag).

•Joshua Adam Bryant, 20, 2516 Rogers Church Road, Commerce, possession of arms by convicted felon.

•Steven Wayne Bales, 28, 605 Rogers Mill Road, Danielsville, hold for Clarke County.

•Joy Charlene Childs, 32, 3252 Brown Road, Martin, failure to appear and probation violation.

•Carlos Antonio West, 28, 20 Smokey Trail, Crawford, robbery.

•Willie James Faust, 54, 776 Childers Road, Colbert, violation of the window tint law and driving while license withdrawn.

•Patricia Ann Bates, 45, 1337 Brown Brother Road, Elberton, DUI, failure to drive within a single lane, possession, manufacture, distribution, etc. VGCS and drugs to be kept in original container.

•Tyler Dillon Braswell, 18, 730 Hwy. 198, Carnesville, consumption of alcohol by a minor and failure to dim headlights.

•Kenneth Marcus Teasley, 19, 11031 Hwy. 59, Lavonia, possession of alcohol by a minor.

•Louchan Chavette Whitehead, 33, 105 Oak Hill Drive, Athens, deposit account fraud.

•Michael Shane Ellison, 38, 385 Robert Reed Road, Royston, hold for Habersham and White counties.

•Luke Oliver Sasser, 31, 200 River Grove Parkway, Athens, failure to drive within a single lane, DUI/alcohol and open container in vehicle.

•Natalie Ann Pritchard, 40, 245 Homer Road, Commerce, DUI/alcohol and possession of marijuana.

It was a good weekend of summer baseball for the Jackson County Panthers, as they hosted the Summer Shootout tournament for several area teams.

The Panthers’ red team went 3-0-1, with pitching performances from Ken Miller, Austin Robinson, Larry Evans and Jon Florentine.

Evans threw eight innings on the weekend without giving up a hit.

The Panthers’ black team wasn’t as successful, picking up just one win in the tournament.

“We were able to get a bunch of guys their first ever experience against varsity teams and still get them one win with the black team,” said coach Tommy Fountain. “Ryan Shekey really surprised us on the mound in relief for the black team.”

Fountain said the JV team allowed them to have five upcoming eighth graders, three incoming ninth graders and four riding tenth graders get more experience than they have had all summer.

“We have got to get more consistent with those guys but they had moments where they looked okay,” Fountain said. “Offensively, they produced runs, but they kind of ran out of pitching because of the nature of having three teams.”

For more on this story, see Wednesday's edition of The Jackson Herald and The Braselton News.

It’s hard to tell what was worse about the audit report from BJC Medical Center, the year-end figures for 2008 or the criticisms of the facility’s financial reporting.

The audit, which is several months overdue, determined that the medical center — which is seeking a buyer because of its financial condition — ended the year $2.9 million in the red.



What makes that figure stand out is that shortly after the fiscal year ended, then chief financial officer Bill Williams projected a much smaller loss for the year of $190,000.

The difference, according to current CFO Ray Leadbetter, was an overenthusiastic estimation of how much of the medical center’s accounts receivables would actually be received.

The chairman of the finance committee thinks some of the 2008 losses should have been attributed to prior years.

“We were a little disappointed that some of the adjustments could not go to previous years,” noted Rick Massey, who pointed out that the problems began before 2008.

In fact, an additional $888,000 did get moved to a prior year.

The auditors concluded that the financial statements for 2007 contained an error of that amount - again in the projection of collectible accounts receivable. When the auditors shifted that amount back to 2007, what had been reported as a $126,000 profit became a $756,000 loss.

In all, over the two years, the auditors made $3.8 million in “adjustments” to the medical center’s statements of revenues.

“These restatements indicate that the authority’s system of internal control over financial reporting did not prevent the errors from being made or detect them prior to the issuance of the financial statements, indicating a material weakness in the authority’s financial reporting process.”
Additionally, “We concluded there is a material weakness in the authority’s control policies and procedures required to be reported under professional standards,” the auditors wrote.

The process of reviewing accounts “that require significant management judgments and significant estimates ... does not have adequate internal controls,” the audit concludes. “Each of these estimates can be adjusted by the chief financial officer without any further review by management and without any supporting documentation ... We feel that the lack of oversight in this area constitutes a material weakness in internal control.”

Nicholson leaders plan the town’s biggest July 4 celebration Saturday. Fireworks, food and entertainment are set for 3 p.m. at the amphitheater in Nicholson.

“This is going to be our biggest festival July Fourth event so far,” said Mayor Ronnie Maxwell.


A number of groups are set to perform beginning at 3 p.m., with Aaron Hollis followed by The Maxwells at 4 p.m., Mark Garrison at 5 p.m. and the GTOs beginning at 7 p.m. until the fireworks start.

Fireworks are set for 9 p.m. The Bobby Compton Band will perform following the fireworks show.

“A Mello Yello chug-off contest will take place for contestants of all ages,” Maxwell said, and a large array of food and beverages will be available.

“We have barbecue, nachos, hot wings, meatballs, kettle corn, ice cream, peanuts, pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, funnel cakes, bloomin’ onions, watermelon, lemonade, water and soft drinks,” he said.

There will be inflatables, train rides and pony rides for the children, Maxwell said.

A member of the Maysville Rescue Squad could face charges for the false report of a crime.



According to a Commerce Police Department incident report, an officer was dispatched to a King Road address by 911 due to a report of underage drinking. The property was actually not in the city, so a Jackson County deputy was dispatched.

When the officers found no evidence, the Commerce officer called 911 and asked who had made the report. He was told that the caller did not identify himself, and the officer did not recognize the voice.

However, according to the incident report, officials were able to trace the call to a member of the Maysville Rescue Squad.

The officer noted that other false calls have come in from the same person in the past, including one May 27 and another July 11, 2008.

The report said the officer requested a recording of the latest call, but there was no indication of whether the officer intended to pursue the matter.

I’ll take my hamburger well-done July 4, but I think the celebration of Independence Day should involve less of fireworks, parades and flag-waving and more thought about what we’re celebrating and of our obligations as citizens.



We should give equal weight to marking the 233rd anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and to recommitting ourselves to the principles established in that document and in the Constitution. It’s a day to recall what the founding fathers stood for and what we stand for today.

The signers of the Declaration of Independence set the stage for war with the most powerful nation in the world over fundamental principles. They put everything at risk. The patriots who took on the British Empire fought for freedom; today, the principles are less noble.

Today’s “patriot” is more concerned about his tax bill than the Bill of Rights, about his “right” to federal benefits or to carry a pistol into a bar than his right to free speech. What we call “patriotism” is often an expression of nationalistic fervor, a kick-ass mentality that sees America as morally, culturally and politically superior to the rest of the world.

When America went to war in Iraq, a nationalistic fervor overwhelmed the reasonable voices of caution that should have been heard and heeded. We used to sneer as the Ayatollah Khomeini invoked the “Great Satan” (the United States) to rally Iranian masses to his side, but we are similarly summoned by the call to “protect our freedom” by invading a third-world country whose leader we despise and whose oil we covet.

We can be patriotic and be misguided, which is understandable in these confusing times. Sometimes we can learn from the most improbable sources, like the thousands who protested a rigged election in Iran. Those people also love their country, but they stood up for the principle of free elections to a corrupt power structure. We are not alone in loving freedom, but we’ve enjoyed so much for so long we forget what it’s like to not have it.

We’re spoiled. We haven’t had to defend our freedom since the Cold War ended. The biggest threat to our American freedom comes not from abroad, but from those within who would trade away the very rights for which our forefathers fought in exchange for a false sense of security or to vindicate their political passions.

The signers of the Declaration of Independence stood for bigger things. Because they put their families and lives at risk and prevailed, America stands today as the most powerful nation in the world.

It is appropriate to note that we’re today where Great Britain was in 1776. Times do change.

Mark Beardsley is editor of The Commerce News. He lives in Commerce.

NICHOLSON – Hazel Echols Minish, 79, died Tuesday, June 30, 2009, at her residence.

Born in Jackson County, she was the daughter of the late Claude and Hassie McElreath Echols. She was a homemaker and was preceded in death by her husband, T.G. Minish.

Survivors include children, Pam Ramsey, Steve Minish, and Clyde Minish, all of Commerce, and Bobby Minish, Hull; sisters, Helen Cole and Sarah Baird, both of Commerce; 14 grandchildren; and 31 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Friday, July 3, at 1 p.m., in the chapel of Ivie Funeral Home. Burial will be in Jackson Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Thursday, July 2, from 6 to 9 p.m., and at other times at the home of Pam Ramsey, 1343 Yarbrough-Ridgeway Rd., Maysville.

Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce, is in charge of arrangements.

JEFFERSON – Marie Bonner Pattillo Lindsey, 90, died Wednesday, July 1, 2009.

Born in Alexander City, Ala., she was a homemaker and a member of the Jefferson First United Methodist Church. She was formerly from West Point and Rainbow City, Ala. She was very civic minded belonging to the Gadsden First United Methodist Church, the Pilot Club, Garden Club, Historical Society, and Beautification Board of Rainbow City. Mrs. Lindsey was preceded in death by her first husband, Luman Pattillo; and her second husband, Lavell Lindsey.

Survivors include sons and daughter-in-law, John Wayne Pattillo, Buford, Tommy and Gloria Lindsey, Gadsden, Ala.; daughter and son-in-law, Amarylis “Amy” and James Lamb, Jefferson; sisters, Emma Sue Midgely, Mozelle Burmeister, Mobile, and Nancy Morris, Panama City; grandchildren, Russell and Donna Lamb, Rowland Lamb and Debra Schiro, Shari Pattillo, Kelly Pattillo, Brandon and Holly Lindsey, Karen and Brian Kimbril, and Matthew and Heather Lindsey; nine great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 3, at 10 a.m., in the Jefferson First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Carey Gibson officiating. Mrs. Lindsey’s grandchildren will serve as pallbearers and member of the Stan Escoe Sunday School Class will be honorary pallbearers. Burial will follow in the West Point City Cemetery in West Point at 3 p.m. on Friday. Visitation will be held Thursday, July 2, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to your favorite charity.

Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson, is in charge of arrangements.

Even before dirt starts moving on a proposed commercial site in Braselton, the project’s developers are looking for potential tenants.

John C. Buchanan and John Doug Buchanan, both of Hoschton, plan to develop 30.01 acres on Ga. Hwy. 53 for a project that will include fast food restaurants, family dining, retail space, offices and hotels.
“We want an upscale development there,” John C. Buchanan said.

The Braselton Planning Commission on Monday recommended approval of the request to rezone the property from industrial in Jackson County to general commercial in Braselton. The applicant is also seeking annexation into the town.

The Braselton Town Council will hold a public hearing on the planning commission’s recommendation on Thursday, July 9, at 4 p.m. The council is expected to vote on the proposal on Monday, July 13, at 7 p.m.

The property is currently zoned for industrial use, but is vacant. The father and son own the land.

John C. Buchanan explained that the site — located between Cycle Nation and RPM Truck and Trailer Sales — is ideal for hotels, family-style diners and fast food restaurants.

“We felt it would be a much better commercial tract than industrial tract,” he said.

Buchanan said the site is being marketed for potential tenants and some have shown an interest in the development.

But developers won’t start construction until at least one of those tenants commits to the project, he said.

“We’re excited about doing this project, even with the economy the way it is,” Buchanan said.

The proposed development is located along Ga. Hwy. 53 — which the Georgia Department of Transportation’s long-term plan calls for the state highway to be widened.

The developers have been working with the DOT for the past four months to get approval on entrances to the project, Buchanan said.

“They are very happy with the design the way it is for use now and for use in the future,” Buchanan said.

But one nearby homeowner said she’d prefer that Braselton officials consider the needs of existing residents before approving the project and similar ones.

Linda Martin — who moved from Gwinnett County to The Vineyard subdivision in Braselton nine years ago — said she wanted town officials to better plan new developments.

She also encouraged town officials to seek “something different” and more unique for the property — such as a bed and breakfast, instead of a hotel.

Buchanan said the developers believed that the mixed-use project will be the “highest and best use” for the property.

“Conveniences follow the rooftops,” he said. “People don’t want to have to go to Hamilton Mill for a drug store or (to) go have a nice meal.”

In recommending approval for the request, the planning commission said the project should be included in the town’s Ga. Hwy. 53 overlay district — which has stricter regulations for new developments.

The planning commission also said that all parking space and buildings in the development should be 60 feet from the existing right-of-way on the state highway, to provide room when Ga. Hwy. 53 is widened.

Plans for the property call for two fast food restaurants, a diner restaurant, a family-style restaurant and two hotels. The concept plans also show 12,450 square feet of office space among several buildings and 26,750 square feet of retail space.

Overall, the project will total 150,000 square feet, according to plans.

The first phase of the mixed-use development is expected to be completed by January 2010. The complete project will be built by 2020 with an estimated value of $30 million, according to documents submitted to Braselton.

Sometimes fate plays a big hand in our day-to-day lives.



As someone who works in the news gathering business on a daily basis, I don’t always watch the news when I get home from a long day’s work. The mind simply wants a break, so often I watch a favorite movie or an old ballgame from years gone by when the work day is complete.

Last Thursday was different, however. For whatever reason, I happened to tune my television to the news late that afternoon. Admittedly, I was in the process of moving it to something along the lines of TV Land when I noticed the big news about the death of music icon Michael Jackson. As I watched I admit to being stunned by the unfolding news, which quickly became the lead as well as only story on the cable news networks and my mind drifted back to my formative years when the King of Pop reigned the music world.

Let me now say there will never be another pop music star on the same level as Jackson. While I respect and enjoy the music of Kelly Clarkson and the talent of Carrie Underwood has allowed her to have several songs receive airtime, you can take every American Idol winner and combine them and they will never come close to scratching the surface of what Jackson was in his prime.

I know in later years Jackson had been sort of a recluse, a strange character even to his fans, but there was a time when he was pop music. In an era of numerous million-plus record sellers, Jackson moonwalked past them all. His “Thriller” album, more than 25 years after it was released, is still the best selling release of all time. I still wonder just how many millions “Thriller” has actually sold because at the time of its release, technology was not what it is today in terms of tracking album sales.

If you have watched any of the numerous tributes to Jackson in the past week you no doubt have noticed how he was a trendsetter in so many areas, musical and otherwise. He helped break the barrier for black artists on MTV, something I admit to not being aware of.

Jackson, through the power of his music, helped erase a great deal of racism in this country. His crossover appeal to fans of all color, around the globe, is what made him the icon he was and always will be.

In 1985, Jackson wrote “We Are The World” that helped to raise American awareness of the blight of hungry around the world. Jackson, who also had a lead singing role in the song, showed that stardom can be used for something good rather than just for personal gain.

Jackson’s music videos are the standard-bearer for all that have followed. His videos are in a league of their own. Many are truly mini-movies, complete with big name directors and enough rehearsing to match any big screen production.

The mega-success Jackson enjoyed also played a role in his unusual approach to life in recent years, I’ve always believed. Having untold riches does detach one from reality and I’ve always felt Jackson lived in his own world where reality often didn’t reach. Even taking all that into consideration, Jackson’s role in the music world will never be equaled. He surpassed them all. His death is equal, if not greater than, that of Elvis or John Lennon. Not to diminish any of their passings, but in terms of music history, Jackson likely surpassed both, which probably says as much about the man as anything can.

Chris Bridges is an editor with Mainstreet Newspapers. E-mail comments about this column to chris@mainstreetnews.com.

Sometimes fate plays a big hand in our day-to-day lives.



As someone who works in the news gathering business on a daily basis, I don’t always watch the news when I get home from a long day’s work. The mind simply wants a break, so often I watch a favorite movie or an old ballgame from years gone by when the work day is complete.

Last Thursday was different, however. For whatever reason, I happened to tune my television to the news late that afternoon. Admittedly, I was in the process of moving it to something along the lines of TV Land when I noticed the big news about the death of music icon Michael Jackson. As I watched I admit to being stunned by the unfolding news, which quickly became the lead as well as only story on the cable news networks and my mind drifted back to my formative years when the King of Pop reigned the music world.

Let me now say there will never be another pop music star on the same level as Jackson. While I respect and enjoy the music of Kelly Clarkson and the talent of Carrie Underwood has allowed her to have several songs receive airtime, you can take every American Idol winner and combine them and they will never come close to scratching the surface of what Jackson was in his prime.

I know in later years Jackson had been sort of a recluse, a strange character even to his fans, but there was a time when he was pop music. In an era of numerous million-plus record sellers, Jackson moonwalked past them all. His “Thriller” album, more than 25 years after it was released, is still the best selling release of all time. I still wonder just how many millions “Thriller” has actually sold because at the time of its release, technology was not what it is today in terms of tracking album sales.

If you have watched any of the numerous tributes to Jackson in the past week you no doubt have noticed how he was a trendsetter in so many areas, musical and otherwise. He helped break the barrier for black artists on MTV, something I admit to not being aware of.

Jackson, through the power of his music, helped erase a great deal of racism in this country. His crossover appeal to fans of all color, around the globe, is what made him the icon he was and always will be.

In 1985, Jackson wrote “We Are The World” that helped to raise American awareness of the blight of hunger around the world. Jackson, who also had a lead singing role in the song, showed that stardom can be used for something good rather than just for personal gain.

Jackson’s music videos are the standard-bearer for all that have followed. His videos are in a league of their own. Many are truly mini-movies, complete with big name directors and enough rehearsing to match any big screen production.

The mega-success Jackson enjoyed also played a role in his unusual approach to life in recent years, I’ve always believed. Having untold riches does detach one from reality and I’ve always felt Jackson lived in his own world where reality often didn’t reach. Even taking all that into consideration, Jackson’s role in the music world will never be equaled. He surpassed them all. His death is equal, if not greater than, that of Elvis or John Lennon. Not to diminish any of their passings, but in terms of music history, Jackson likely surpassed both, which probably says as much about the man as anything can.

Chris Bridges is an editor with Mainstreet Newspapers. E-mail comments about this column to chris@mainstreetnews.com.

The countdown to a new football season may seem long for fans. However, Winder-Barrow High School football coach Ben Corley said Sunday it is also that way for those in his profession.

“The coaches are getting a little antsy for fall practice and the new season to get here,” said Corley, who is entering his second season as head coach of the WBHS Bulldoggs.

Preparation for a new season has become a year around event, even at the high school level.

“We’ve had a steady turnout for weight lifting and our passing league,” Corley said. “We have had a good core group.”

Some players have been involved with other committments such as basketball and baseball, but Corley said the numbers should climb as summer work for those sports conclude.

“I expect everyone to be here in July,” the coach said. “We want to be prepared for preseason practice.”

This week is the official Georgia High School Association “dead week” where players cannot take part in any form of offseason workouts or conditioning.
The first official day for fall practice can be Aug. 1 although Corley said WBHS will begin Aug. 3, the first day of the new school year.

The Bulldoggs will host an on-campus camp Aug. 7-9. Corley said the coaches and players will use that time as a way to build team chemistry for the upcoming season.

Weight training will continue on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8-11:30 a.m. The summer passing league, which had been held at Jefferson High School, will now move to Jackson County High School on Tuesday evenings.

Braselton’s municipal court clerk has been arrested for allegedly stealing $15,000 in cash bond funds over a 10-month period, according to town officials.


Becky L. Skelton, 46, was terminated last Tuesday and turned herself into the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday. She later posted a $31,000 bond.

Skelton — an 11-year-year employee for the town — is accused of embezzling cash bond funds from Braselton’s municipal court, which handles fines stemming from the police department.

She is facing 14 counts of theft by taking and one count of violation of oath by a public officer.

For additional crime and court news, see the July 1 issue of The Jackson Herald.

The Auburn Police Department reported the following arrests and incidents last week:

•Joshua Paul Carlin, 21, of 320 Clover Dr., Auburn, possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, possession of a schedule IV drug, possession of a schedule II drug, and drugs to be kept in original container.

•Brian Keith Fellows, 23, of 3555 Ontario Ct., Buford, possession of a schedule III drug with the intent to distribute, possession of a schedule III drug, and drugs to be kept in original container.

•Lauren Leigh McCombs, 24, of 105 Augustine Cir., Auburn, theft by deception.

•Andre J. Sample, 44, of 114 Quail Valley Road, Auburn, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to maintain lane, and driving while license is suspended or revoked.

•Sandy Marie Ward, 23, of 186 Parks Mill Road, Auburn, deposit account fraud.

For complete crime coverage, see the July 1 issue of the Barrow Journal.

Two North Georgia banks that operate divisions in Jackson and Barrow counties are reportedly under “cease and desist orders” from the Federal Deposit and Insurance Corp. (FDIC).

The FDIC released a 29-page “cease and desist” order last Friday against Community Bank and Trust that was dated May 11. CB&T is headquartered in Cornelia and operates multiple divisions in Northeast Georgia, including Barrow and Jackson counties.

On Monday, Habersham Bancorp, based in Clarkesville, announced it had signed a “cease and desist” order with the FDIC, according to Reuters, but no details were available. Habersham Bank operates a branch in Braselton, among other North Georgia locations.

The CB&T order released last week slammed the bank’s board of directors and management, saying “the Bank had engaged in unsafe or unsound banking practices and had committed violations of law and/or regulations.”

Some sources from CB&T said that the problems are a result of lax loan practices primarily in Barrow County where the bank has offices in Winder, Bethlehem and Auburn.

But Barrow division president Randy Sims said the issues the bank faces are larger than just Barrow County.

“We’ve addressed all the issues here and company wide and feel good about where we’re headed,” he said. “We’re moving in the right direction.”

For the full story, see the July 1 issue of the Barrow Journal.

Two North Georgia banks that operate divisions in Jackson and Barrow counties are reportedly under “cease and desist orders” from banking regulators.

The FDIC released a 29-page “cease and desist” order last Friday against Community Bank and Trust that was dated May 11. CB&T is headquartered in Cornelia and operates multiple divisions in Northeast Georgia, including Barrow and Jackson counties.

On Monday, Habersham Bancorp, based in Clarkesville, announced it had signed a less severe “cease and desist” order with the Georgia Department of Banking, according to Reuters. Habersham Bank operates a branch in Braselton, among other North Georgia locations. (Earlier reports misidentified the Habersham order as being with the FDIC rather than the state.) Habersham Bancorp president David Stovall said the bank is healthy and well-capitalized.

The CB&T order released last week slammed the bank’s board of directors and management, saying “the Bank had engaged in unsafe or unsound banking practices and had committed violations of law and/or regulations.”

Some sources from CB&T said that the problems are a result of lax loan practices primarily in Barrow County where the bank has offices in Winder, Bethlehem and Auburn.

But Barrow division president Randy Sims said the issues the bank faces are larger than just Barrow County.

“We’ve addressed all the issues here and company wide and feel good about where we’re headed,” he said. “We’re moving in the right direction.”

For the full story, see the July 1 issue of the Barrow Journal.

During the boom years, Jackson County’s tax digest grew massively as new construction and property values soared. Even in 2008, the county’s digest — that is the value of all taxable property in the county — grew by nearly eight percent.

But this year, a preliminary county report indicates the digest may grow by only one percent — and that may be a high estimate given the large number of assessment appeals being filed.

The deadline for assessment appeals is July 13. So far, 512 appeals have been filed.


If those appeals prove to be successful, the county’s net taxable digest could shrink further, perhaps even into negative numbers.

Although records are incomplete, the last time the county’s tax digest is known to have moved into negative numbers was during the depression of the 1930s.

While some areas of the county’s gross digest actually grew in the preliminary digest estimates, a decline in agriculture values and a growth in exemptions offset much of the growth.

A worry for county leaders now is that while this year’s digest may stay more or less even, the lack of construction in 2009 could undermine the digest next year even more.

Two North Georgia banks that operate divisions in Jackson and Barrow counties are reportedly under “cease and desist orders” from the Federal Deposit and Insurance Corp. (FDIC).

The FDIC released a 29-page “cease and desist” order last Friday against Community Bank and Trust that was dated May 11. CB&T is headquartered in Cornelia and operates multiple divisions in Northeast Georgia, including Barrow and Jackson counties.

On Monday, Habersham Bancorp, based in Clarkesville, announced it had signed a “cease and desist” order with the FDIC, according to Reuters, but no details were available. Habersham Bank operates a branch in Braselton, among other North Georgia locations.

The CB&T order released last week slammed the bank’s board of directors and management, saying “the Bank had engaged in unsafe or unsound banking practices and had committed violations of law and/or regulations.”

Some sources from CB&T said that the problems are a result of lax loan practices primarily in Barrow County where the bank has offices in Winder, Bethlehem and Auburn.

But Barrow division president Randy Sims said the issues the bank faces are larger than just Barrow County.

For the full story, see the July 1 issue of The Jackson Herald.

Two North Georgia banks that operate divisions in Jackson and Barrow counties are reportedly under “cease and desist orders” from banking regulators.

The FDIC released a 29-page “cease and desist” order last Friday against Community Bank and Trust that was dated May 11. CB&T is headquartered in Cornelia and operates multiple divisions in Northeast Georgia, including Barrow and Jackson counties.

On Monday, Habersham Bancorp, based in Clarkesville, announced it had signed a less severe “cease and desist” order with the Georgia Department of Banking, according to Reuters. Habersham Bank operates a branch in Braselton, among other North Georgia locations. (Earlier reports misidentified the Habersham order as being with the FDIC rather than the state.) Habersham Bancorp president David Stovall said the bank is healthy and well-capitalized.

The CB&T order released last week slammed the bank’s board of directors and management, saying “the Bank had engaged in unsafe or unsound banking practices and had committed violations of law and/or regulations.”

Some sources from CB&T said that the problems are a result of lax loan practices primarily in Barrow County where the bank has offices in Winder, Bethlehem and Auburn.

But Barrow division president Randy Sims said the issues the bank faces are larger than just Barrow County.

For the full story, see the July 1 issue of The Jackson Herald.

Two North Georgia banks that operate divisions in Jackson, Barrow and Banks counties are reportedly under “cease and desist orders” from banking regulators.

The FDIC released a 29-page “cease and desist” order last Friday against Community Bank and Trust that was dated May 11. CB&T is headquartered in Cornelia and operates multiple divisions in Northeast Georgia, including Barrow and Jackson counties.

On Monday, Habersham Bancorp, based in Clarkesville, announced it had signed a less severe “cease and desist” order with the Georgia Department of Banking, according to Reuters. Habersham Bank operates a branch in Braselton, among other North Georgia locations. (Earlier reports misidentified the Habersham order as being with the FDIC rather than the state.) Habersham Bancorp president David Stovall said the bank is healthy and well-capitalized.
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