The Jefferson girls track team bested Commerce and Banks County Tuesday to win their season opener, scoring 102 points to Commerce’s 33 and Banks County’s 28.

Erin Knight took top honors in the 800 meter and in the 1,600 meters.

Kasey McDonald won the shot put and the discus.

Daniella Watson won ...

JEFFERSON - Aubrey Thomas Nolan, 13, died on Thursday, March 11, 2010.

The son of Jennifer Nolan and Ray Faircloth Jr., he was a student at Kings Bridge Middle School where he played trombone in the school band. He loved music and had the ability to play many instruments. Aubrey had an inventive mind; dreaming of one day being ...

The Commerce diamond Tigers hope the first five games of the season are not indicative of the rest of the baseball season.

Five games into the 2010 baseball season Commerce is still scratching for a win as Jefferson blanked the team on Saturday, 4-0 on the back of a two-run loss to Franklin last Wednesday, 13-11.

...

The first few weeks of the season has had its ups and downs for the Jackson County Lady Panthers tennis teams.

Last week, despite losing to Stephens, Jackson County’s number three player, Rachel Glenfield, recorded her first set win in JCCHS tennis history.

This week, the Lady Panthers followed with a strong showing ...

County road maintenance remains an issue as bad weather persists.

With one deluge followed by another in recent months, Madison County’s 120 miles of dirt roads have taken their hits. Roads are frequently closed due to the nasty conditions.

Residents of two dirt roads, Waggoner’s Grove Church Road and Davids ...

WINDER - Miriam Wallace, 84, died Thursday, March 11, 2010.

A lifelong resident of Barrow County, she was the daughter of the late Lloyd and Ruth Hardigree Lyle. A member of the Bethlehem First United Methodist Church, she was a retiree of Superior Garment Manufacturing Company. She was preceded in death by her husband, G.W. ...

Like many men, I’ve never been a pageant lover. But I drove over to North Oconee High School Feb. 27 for the “Big Hearts Pageant for Special People of Northeast Georgia.” And it was a worthwhile trip.

Fifty-one area students with developmental disabilities, including eight from Madison County, took the stage.

I ...

MAYSVILLE – Raymond Odell Langston, 56, died Thursday, March 11, 2010, at Athens Regional Medical Center in Athens.

Born in Commerce, he was the son of son of Obe and Laura Belle Langston. Mr. Langston was preceded in death by a brother, Thomas Langston.

Survivors in addition to his parents include his wife, Connie ...

An undercover investigation at a massage parlor in the Mall of Georgia led to three people being arrested, according to Gwinnett police.


Following an anonymous tip that there were acts of prostitution at the “Lucky Good Hands Massage” parlor inside the mall, undercover investigators entered the business approximately two ...

Back in 1999, Rep. John Linder made headlines with his FairTax proposal. Intrigued by his talking points, I did some research, made my calculations and figured out that his so-called “fair” tax would cost me more than what I was already paying in Federal income taxes.


I took the time to write Rep. Linder and expressed my ...

Former Barrow County resident Phillip Dunn remains jailed on murder charges after a Gwinnett County Magistrate Court judge found probable cause to refer the charges to Superior Court for indictment.

Dunn, 28, is accused of fatally stabbing his estranged wife, Shelley Dyan Dunn, in the parking lot of a Gwinnett County Wal-Mart on ...

Police were dispatched to Turtle Creek subdivision after a resident reported seeing an occupied silver Isuzu Rodeo parked in the new section of the neighborhood.

The responding officer arrived as the vehicle was leaving the neighborhood and conducted a traffic stop.

The driver, Austin Charles Sales, 19, 429 Foxdale ...

Like a lot of small town governments, the City of Winder has gotten into some bad habits. Chief among those is an insiders-club atmosphere where public business is discussed mostly in private, with only perfunctory public discussions.

All of that changed last week, however, when new councilman Bob Dixon began to ask questions ...

The Barrow County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday night to hire the county’s internal candidate as the new elections supervisor.

Katie Ferm has served as the interim supervisor since the December 2009 resignation of Kristi Royston, who left for a position in Gwinnett County, and has been an elections assistant in ...

A Hull man was arrested recently for family violence against his mother.

Julio Cesar Flores, 27, 9574 Hwy. 72 West, Lot 44, was charged with one count of battery under the Family Violence Act.

According to the incident report, deputies first made contact with Flores, who said his brother beat him up. Flores had a ...

There’s an on-going debate in education over what truly affects student learning. Is it the family demographics and stability of home life; or is it the quality of teachers and instruction that most affects performance?

This debate has gotten new life in the last year as financial cuts have put increasing stress on public ...

Diamond Raiders enter region play riding three-game winning streak


Call it a well-timed three-game winning streak.

Following an atypical 0-3 start, the Madison County High School baseball team has rallied for three consecutive victories as region play begins this week.

Few players on ...

The Madison County boys’ tennis team (5-1, 3-0) made quick work of Habersham Central Tuesday, winning four of five positions in straight sets in a 5-0 victory to remain unbeaten in subregion play.


No. 2 singles player Jeffrey Branson won a three-set match, drawing praise from coach Keith Strickland.
“Jeffrey ...

The Madison County High School girls’ tennis team had to rely on its depth to keep its undefeated season alive.


Missing three starters due to illness and injury, the Lady Raiders beat Habersham Central 3-2 at home Tuesday to move to 6-0 on the season and 3-0 in subregion play.

“Having some depth on the team ...

LULA – Thomas C. Giles III, formerly of Oakridge, Tenn., died Tuesday, March 9, 2010.

He was a graduate of the Georgia Tech Class of 1973 and a tireless, dedicated engineer traveling around the world. He loved doing anything outdoors from hunting and fishing with his sons to gardening on the family farm. He was a loving husband, ...

The East Jackson Lady Eagles golf team hopes to rebound from a loss last week to Banks County, 57-70.

Makimsey Morris shot a 23 on the match, as did Daphne Melton, while Caroline Hicks shot a 24 on the three-hole outing.

Up next for the Lady Eagles is a match at Double Oaks against the Lady Tigers of Dawson County ...

In a strong showing last weekend, the Commerce Lady Tigers’ track team beat out host East Jackson as well as local competition Jackson and Banks counties at the Eagle Invitational.

The girls brought home the fourth-place trophy with 40 points, just ahead of host East Jackson’s 38 points. Dawson County took the meet championship ...

JEFFERSON – Minnie Beatrice “Bea” Kelley Baird, 101, died Wednesday, March 10, 2010.

Born on August 13, 1908, in Greene County, Tenn., she grew up in Chucky and Greenville. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ancil R. Baird Sr.; parents, Homer Albert Kelley and Leila Ellen Frazier; brothers, John Earl Kelley, Aubrey ...

Good things came in threes for Madison County’s Kyle Carr last Wednesday.


The Madison County boys soccer team (1-4) earned its first victory March 3, beating Franklin County 4-1 behind Carr’s first career hat trick.

Madison County — which dropped its next two games after beating the Lions — led Franklin ...

The Madison County girls’ soccer team scored its first goals of the season and broke a three-game losing skid last Wednesday (March 3) by tying Franklin County, but dropped its next two games.


The Lady Raiders (0-4-1) return to action today (Thursday) at home against Elbert County, followed by home games against Hart County ...

For the Apalachee High School weightlifting team, winning area titles is becoming a hard habit to break.

AHS won its fourth area crown in as many years Saturday with 107 team points, easily outdistancing second-place Monroe Area, who compiled 38. For coach Shane Davis, the hard work put in by his athletes in the weight room ...

The start of the 2010 tennis season has been favorable for the Lady Leopards.

Banks County’s girls added another feather to their win caps as the girls defeated East Jackson last Thursday 4-1.

The win over East Jackson comes on the back of the team’s opening win over Dawson County 5-0.


...

WINDER – Mary Lee Buchanan, 89, died Wednesday, March 10, 2010.

Born in Auburn, she was the daughter of the late Lee Roy and Ruby L. Sharpton Herndon. She was a member of the Pentecost Methodist Church and was a homemaker. Mrs. Buchanan was preceded in death by her husband, John T. Buchanan; and a daughter, Carol Smith.

MainStreetNewsOBITS 2010-03-11T16:13:02Z 2010-03-11T16:13:02Z http://www.mainstreetnews.com/wfwcomment.php?cid=11424 0 http://www.mainstreetnews.com/rss.php?version=atom1.0&type=comments&cid=11424 http://www.mainstreetnews.com/archives/11424-guid.html

COMMERCE – Gladys Louise McCain, 88, died Monday, March 8, 2010, at her residence.

She was born in Mayo, Fla., on March 2, 1922.

Survivors include daughters, Glenda Hunt, Darthy Buckhalter and Zyra Hetherman; grandchildren, Richard, Eileen, Johnny Ann, Wendy, Brian and Billy; 17 great-grandchildren; and five ...

MainStreetNewsOBITS 2010-03-11T16:11:57Z 2010-03-11T16:11:57Z http://www.mainstreetnews.com/wfwcomment.php?cid=11425 0 http://www.mainstreetnews.com/rss.php?version=atom1.0&type=comments&cid=11425 http://www.mainstreetnews.com/archives/11425-guid.html

MONTICELLO – Judy Whitlock Hall, 58, died Thursday, March 11, 2010.

Born in Jefferson, she was the daughter of the late Guy Whitlock Jr. and Willene Knight Whitlock. She worked as a computer programmer with Baldor Automation in Athens. Mrs. Hall was preceded in death by her husband, Boyce William Hall; brothers, Billy and Ricky ...

MainStreetNewsSPORTS 2010-03-11T16:07:00Z 2010-03-11T16:07:00Z http://www.mainstreetnews.com/wfwcomment.php?cid=11423 0 http://www.mainstreetnews.com/rss.php?version=atom1.0&type=comments&cid=11423 http://www.mainstreetnews.com/archives/11423-guid.html

The Jefferson Lady Dragons lost one and won won with their last two matches, falling to Oconee County before defeating Lakeview.

North Oconee defeated Jefferson 4-1, with Jefferson’s only victory coming at number one singles, where Bell Blankenship won in sets of 6-3, 6-2.

On Tuesday, the Lady Dragons improved to 4-1 ...

MainStreetNewsSPORTS 2010-03-11T15:21:00Z 2010-03-11T15:21:00Z http://www.mainstreetnews.com/wfwcomment.php?cid=11422 0 http://www.mainstreetnews.com/rss.php?version=atom1.0&type=comments&cid=11422 http://www.mainstreetnews.com/archives/11422-guid.html

The Jackson County Panthers golf team picked up two wins last week to go 2-0 on the season, defeating Jefferson and Clark Central.

The Panthers scored 185, while Jefferson got 196 and Clark Central shot 214.

Individually, Rodney Price shot a 44. Jared Scott shot a 46. Ben Waldrip shot a 47. Brent VanFleet shot a 48. ...

BraseltonNewsTODAY 2010-03-11T15:00:00Z 2010-03-11T15:00:00Z http://www.mainstreetnews.com/wfwcomment.php?cid=11421 0 http://www.mainstreetnews.com/rss.php?version=atom1.0&type=comments&cid=11421 http://www.mainstreetnews.com/archives/11421-guid.html

Starting next school year, seventh graders in the Jackson County School System will be given standards-based report cards.


Unlike traditional report cards that give students a letter grade — such as A, B, C or F — to designate their success in the classroom, standards-based report cards outline students’ academic progress ...

MainStreetNewsOBITS 2010-03-11T13:59:21Z 2010-03-11T13:59:21Z http://www.mainstreetnews.com/wfwcomment.php?cid=11420 0 http://www.mainstreetnews.com/rss.php?version=atom1.0&type=comments&cid=11420 http://www.mainstreetnews.com/archives/11420-guid.html

COMMERCE – Bonnie Mae Carpenter Powell, 90, died Wednesday, Marc 10, 2010, at her residence.

Born in Habersham County, she was the daughter of the late William Stanhope and Lillie Mae Turpin Carpenter. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Commerce and the Harmony Grove Garden Club. She was a retired elementary school ...

BarrowJournal 2010-03-11T11:00:00Z 2010-03-11T11:00:00Z http://www.mainstreetnews.com/wfwcomment.php?cid=11416 0 http://www.mainstreetnews.com/rss.php?version=atom1.0&type=comments&cid=11416 http://www.mainstreetnews.com/archives/11416-guid.html

A Winder man was arrested after two deputies clocked his vehicle traveling in excess of 100 mph on Highway 316.

Christopher Phetviexay, 20, of 498 Tucker Road in Winder, was traveling eastbound on Hwy. 316 between Carl Bethlehem Road and Patrick Mill Road when both deputies obtained radar readings indicating Phetviexay’s speed ...

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A Mar. 5 fire on Loganville Highway resulted in only minor damage after firefighters quickly responded to an alarm call.

At approximately 1:15 a.m., communications officers received a call from an alarm company regarding a possible fire in a commercial building located in the 900 block of Loganville Highway.

...

BarrowJournal 2010-03-11T11:00:00Z 2010-03-11T11:00:00Z http://www.mainstreetnews.com/wfwcomment.php?cid=11418 0 http://www.mainstreetnews.com/rss.php?version=atom1.0&type=comments&cid=11418 http://www.mainstreetnews.com/archives/11418-guid.html

The final Livable Cities Initiative plan for central Winder that was presented Tuesday night to the city council will cost more than $50 million in public funding and will take more than 25 years to fully implement.

That begs the question: Can the improvements be made quickly enough to save downtown?

The chairman of ...

BarrowJournal 2010-03-11T11:00:00Z 2010-03-11T11:00:00Z http://www.mainstreetnews.com/wfwcomment.php?cid=11419 0 http://www.mainstreetnews.com/rss.php?version=atom1.0&type=comments&cid=11419 http://www.mainstreetnews.com/archives/11419-guid.html

“I pledge my Head to clearer thinking,g my Heart to greater loyalty, my Hands to larger service and my Health to better living, for my club, my community, my country and my world.”
— 4-H motto

Tough economic times continue to haunt our state as well as its university system.

In a shortsighted ...

MainStreetNewsSPORTS 2010-03-11T01:05:00Z 2010-03-11T01:05:00Z http://www.mainstreetnews.com/wfwcomment.php?cid=11413 0 http://www.mainstreetnews.com/rss.php?version=atom1.0&type=comments&cid=11413 http://www.mainstreetnews.com/archives/11413-guid.html

If the pre-entry list is any indication, Saturday’s Champion Racing Association (CRA) Super Series Super Late Model event is going to produce plenty of thrills for fans attending the season-opening race at Gresham Motorsports Park in Jefferson this Saturday.

A total of 27 Super Late Model teams and drivers have already entered the ...

MainStreetNewsSPORTS 2010-03-11T01:01:00Z 2010-03-11T01:01:00Z http://www.mainstreetnews.com/wfwcomment.php?cid=11414 0 http://www.mainstreetnews.com/rss.php?version=atom1.0&type=comments&cid=11414 http://www.mainstreetnews.com/archives/11414-guid.html

The strong start to the season continues for the Jackson County Panthers, as they go 7-0 overall after picking up four victories last week, including one over East Jackson.

Up next for the Panthers is a Thursday home stand that is also a rematch over their most recent victims, the Spartans of West Hall.

First pitch is ...

MainStreetNewsSPORTS 2010-03-11T01:01:00Z 2010-03-11T01:01:00Z http://www.mainstreetnews.com/wfwcomment.php?cid=11415 0 http://www.mainstreetnews.com/rss.php?version=atom1.0&type=comments&cid=11415 http://www.mainstreetnews.com/archives/11415-guid.html

It was a split week for the Banks County diamond Leopards as the baseball team avenged an earlier loss over Elbert, but fell behind to West Hall. Banks’ record is now 4-2 with only region games remaining scheduled for the season.

Depending on the weather, the Leopards are set to head to East Jackson on Friday. The region game is ...

MainStreetNewsSPORTS 2010-03-11T01:00:00Z 2010-03-11T01:00:00Z http://www.mainstreetnews.com/wfwcomment.php?cid=11412 0 http://www.mainstreetnews.com/rss.php?version=atom1.0&type=comments&cid=11412 http://www.mainstreetnews.com/archives/11412-guid.html

After nine years and 110 victories, Jackson County girls head basketball coach Chad Pittman has decided it’s time to move away from the JCCHS basketball program.

Pittman resigned as coach the morning of February 22, but waited until this week’s basketball banquet to make the official announcement.

“I just feel like ...