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CAFTA COULD MEAN MORE BAD
ECONOMIC NEWS FOR STEPHENS COUNTY Stephens County has already lost one major textile plant when NAFTA forced Coats American to cut back its operations and close its Rose Lane facility. Now “CAFTA” the Central American Trade Agreement could have a similar effect on Milliken. That’s according to Milliken spokesman Richard Dillard. Dillard says the company can only go by what happened to the U.S. textile industry after NAFTA. “We can’t predict the future, but we can go by what happened in the past when NAFTA was passed twelve years ago. Since then, over 800,000 jobs in the textile industry have been lost,” Dillard, said. “I do want to thank U.S. Congressman Charlie Norwood, however, for his efforts in fighting for textile jobs and voting against CAFTA,” he said. The House passed CAFTA early Thursday morning in a 217-215 vote after persistent lobbying by the White House. The Senate approved CAFTA last month 54 - 45. Dillard says they’re basically telling their workers to hang in there. CAFTA now goes to the President for his signature. However, Dillard says there’s still a lot to be negotiated with side agreements called “fixes” that will be a part of ongoing talks. According to Dillard, those fixes were supposed to be in this version of the bill but were not. TOCCOA MAN BLAMES TOCCOA
POLICE FOR NOT RECOVERING STOLEN BIKES A Toccoa man who offered a reward for two mini-choppers stolen from his home July 4th now has them back – in pieces. A Stephens County Sheriff’s deputy discovered the stolen bikes under a tarp early Thursday morning. Sheriff Gene Sorrells says the deputy was on routine patrol when he noticed the tarp in a garbage area off Industrial Boulevard. The deputy checked under the tarp and discovered the choppers. Meantime, Ronald Batson says after WNEG reported the story, he got a call from a woman who spotted the bikes in a trailer park behind the AutoZone two days after they were stolen. She then called Toccoa Police. Batson says police did nothing to get his bikes back. “A woman called me two days after I reported them missing and told me exactly where they were,” Batson said. “She said they had “for sale” signs on them and were in a trailer park across from her house behind the Auto Zone. The lady called Toccoa Police and told them where the bikes were but they didn’t do nothing,” he said. WNEG contacted Captain Butch Newkirk at the Toccoa Police Department and he said he was not aware the bikes had been found. He then referred me to Detective Westbrook who claims a detective did investigate. “We had a detective go out there and we did investigate and that’s all I’m going to say about that,” he said. Batson says the mini-choppers, which were worth about $2,000 new, were completely destroyed and he will likely have to take a loss. Sheriff Sorrells says they have no suspects in the theft and they will continue to investigate. STORES EXPECT BIG SALES
DURING THIS WEEKEND’S TAX HOLIDAY Stephens County shoppers will likely be out in force this weekend taking advantage of the year’s sales tax holiday. The sales tax holiday began at midnight Thursday and runs through midnight Sunday. School supplies bought for classroom use or classroom related activities are exempt from sales tax if they cost $20 or less per item. Those items can include pens, pencils, notebooks, paper, book bags, calculators, and any books on the approved reading list for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Clothing and footwear up to $100 per item will also be exempt from sales tax with no limit on how many pairs of shoes and clothing items a person can buy. And purchases of personal computers and accessories are exempt up to $1,500 per transaction. Also personal digital assistants will be exempt from sales tax and computer accessories. WHO WANTS A WATER
SAMPLER? No one is quite sure why someone would want a water sampler. The sampler was taken sometime this past month from a creek off Currahee Lane in Stephens County. Stephens County Sheriff Gene Sorrells says the unit belongs to the University of Georgia and has no other purpose other to take samples of the water for their research. Anyone with any information on the water sampler is asked to call the Sheriff’s office 886-2525. NO BIKE TRAILS ALONG
HIGHWAY 17 The widening of Highway 17 from I-85 to Brookhaven Circle will allow for more traffic into and out of Stephens County but it will not have one thing many such roads have – bike trails. City Commissioner Bob Troup asked State Department of Transportation officials recently about the possibility of bike trails along 17 but was told they are not part of this project. The DOT likes to put in bike and walking trails between communities and along major thoroughfares, Troup was told, and that could be something the City will look at in the future as part of its ongoing downtown renovation project. Money for bike and walking trails typically is funded through the U.S. Department of Transportation. Troup says if there is money available for those projects he wants Toccoa to get some of it. LIBERTY BANK AND TRUST
NOW HABERSHAM BANCORP You may have noticed a change at Liberty Bank and Trust. The bank recently merged and this week officially became Habersham Bancorp. Branch vice president Kip Herring says the merger gives customers more products and options. Herring says the expansion has been well received by existing customers and Habersham Bancorp customers who used to travel outside Stephens County are happy to now have two branches here. With the expansion into Stephens County, Habersham Bancorp now has branches in Habersham, White, Gwinnett, Cherokee and Warren counties. FORMER POLICE OFFICER IN
TROUBLE WITH THE LAW A former law enforcement officer is out on bond after leading a state trooper on high-speed chase this week. Post seven of the Georgia State Patrol says a trooper spotted Rusty Fulbright speeding down Highway 17 about 8:15 Wednesday morning and tried to stop him, but Fulbright refused to pull over. The short chase ended at the Ed Murdock Ford dealership where troopers say Fulbright ditched his bike and ran inside. He was arrested and charged with eluding an officer, speeding, reckless driving and unregistered vehicle. Fulbright had been a Stephens County Sheriff’s deputy in the mid-1990s and had recently worked part-time as a Lavonia Police officer. He was taken to Stephens County jail and later released on bond. TOCCOA AND STEPHENS
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEET County and City Commissioners have given themselves until August 15th to form a Consolidation Study Committee. At an informal inter-government meeting Monday night, both sides agreed to appoint four citizens to serve on the study committee. The committee will look at the benefits of consolidating the two governments or at least various services within each. Both groups also voted to hire an outside firm to conduct research into the consolidation idea. That company would be paid with the $15,000 grant money from the Department of Community Affairs the county received back in 1997. In other discussions Monday night, the city again brought up the running of the animal control shelter. At the city’s request, the county has agreed to pay for 70% of the shelter operations with the city kicking in 30%. However, the county has still not said whether it will pay for a new or newer used animal control truck, according to City Manager Billy Morse. Both trucks have over 200,000 miles on them. County Commissioners said Monday they will look at the issue again later in the fiscal year. TOCCOA TRAIN DEPOT
RENOVATION ON TRACK
According to City Planning
Director Connie Tabor, work is on budget and on schedule. The city had budgeted
just $450,000 for the entire renovation and construction and ran into a snag
late last year when bids came in for twice that much. However, the city was able
to negotiate with contractor Bowen & Watson and the architect to cut some costs.
One of the unique features of the depot, which was built in 1915, is its new vibrant color. Tabor says the yellow with burnt umber trim is historic. According to Tabor feedback on the restored color has been positive. The city plans to have the depot and historic society museum open in time for the Camp Toccoa reunion in October. HIGH TEMPERATURES BRING
RECORD POWER USAGE The scorching heat we’ve experienced this week in Georgia has produced record power usage. According to Keith Brown with Hart E-M-C, they broke a record for power consumption on Tuesday when temperatures neared 100 in northeast Georgia. Carol Boatwright with Georgia Power said they also broke usage records this week and looking to see if that was an all-time high. Both Hart E-M-C and Georgia Power serve Stephens County and while both report record usage neither is worried about being able to provide enough energy. Brown says only a minor problem might result in a power outage. Georgia power is also confident their customers will not be experiencing any “brown outs” during the heat wave, according to Boatwright. Temperatures should be a little cooler today with highs expected in the upper 80s and we have a better chance of rain this afternoon. ROSE LANE TO REMAIN TWO
LANE FOR THE NEAR FUTURE Developers are talking with the City of Toccoa about building new subdivisions along Rose Lane. City manager Billy Morse says he has been approached over the past year by two developers interested in buying up some of the large tracts of land along the two-lane road that connects Hwy 145 with Big A Road. Last month, City Commissioner Bob Troup met with state D-O-T officials during an open house in Gainesville and asked them about their plans to widen Rose Lane. Troup says he was surprised to learn the state has no immediate plans to address the road. Morse says as growth takes place along Rose Lane, something will have to be done. The D-O-T told Troup they feel the road is sufficient for its current needs, but Morse says Rose Lane is not big enough to handle the traffic problems that exist now, much less in the future. County Commissioners will be meeting Monday afternoon with D-O-T officials from Gainesville to discuss detours and road closings along Highway 17 as that road is widened. The county assured city commissioners they will address the Rose Lane issue. BRASELTON POLICE
OFFICER'S FUNERAL TO BE HELD FRIDAY Funeral services for Braselton Police Officer Todd Helcher, who was killed in a wreck earlier this week, will be held tomorrow in Blairsville. The service will be held at 2 p.m. at the Mountain View Funeral Home in Blairsville with visitation tonight beginning at 6 p.m. The accident happened a half-mile inside Hall County on highway 365. The 34-year officer was on his way home from work Monday evening when the police truck he was driving was hit by another truck at an intersection. Helcher’s truck rolled and he was ejected from the vehicle. He died later at Northeast Georgia Medical Center. The driver of the other vehicle was crossing 365 when the accident happened. Helcher had only been with the Braselton police department since March, before that he had worked at the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office. ONLY ONE FAN DONATED TO
HELP SENIOR CITIZENS Only one fan has come in to Azuza Street Mission in their drive to help senior citizens and the infirm weather the 90-degree temperatures. Pastor Lenny Cannon began taking donations of working fans earlier this week and was hoping to be able to hand out dozens along with their weekly grocery give away this afternoon. Azuza Street Mission is located on 939 East Currahee Street on Highway 123 going towards Westminster. Fans may be dropped off any time today. Cannon says if you drive by their ministry offices and it doesn’t look like anyone is there, you can call him on his cell at 491-8964 to set up a time to drop off your fan. Meantime, a local church is also helping seniors and the infirm get out of the heat today. Friendship Baptist Church on Sage Street is opening up its fellowship hall this morning for any senior who needs to get relief from soaring temperatures. The church is located at 500 Sage Streets. Doors to the fellowship hall opened at 10 a.m. this morning. SENATOR SCHAEFER AGAINST
I-3 COMING THROUGH NORTHEAST GEORGIA State Senator Nancy Schaefer says she does not support a plan to build a new interstate from Savannah to Knoxville, Tennessee. The proposed I-3 freeway would run through Stephens County and the northeast Georgia mountains and connect with I-75 and I-40 in Knoxville. Spearheading the effort in Washington, DC are U.S. Congressman Charlie Norwood and Senator Saxby Chambliss. A study by the U.S. Department of Transportation is currently underway. Despite the fact that a new interstate would help boost the economy of northeast Georgia, Schaefer says many people living in Rabun, White and other mountain counties are against the plan. “There are those from Stephens County south that really want I-3 and are counting on it to come through and to help with the economy,” Schaefer noted. “But from Stephens County on up to Habersham and Rabun and Townes no one wants to see an interstate come through these mountains. And I don’t want to see it come in and over the mountains. If you’ve driven up through 441 lately, the way it’s going through Rabun County, you can see already what it looks like when it takes out part of the mountains and goes over the tops. And they have a lot to deal with this road (441) right now. Townes County has a lot to deal with a new road that’s being widened going over towards them and I think that is sufficient,” She said. Schaefer says she is having some success on the effort to reroute I-3 but did not say if her plan to reroute the freeway means it will bypass Stephens County as I-85 did. “I think we can keep I-3 away from our mountains and let it bypass us and take another route to go on up to Knoxville, Tennessee,” Schaefer explained. “I think we’re making progress in this area. There was a period when I-3 was going to originate in Savannah, go through Augusta and then they had all these counties just named right over it. Now they’ve backed up a little bit and now it’s Savannah to Augusta and now ‘we’ll work it out.’ So I think we’re making some progress there and hopefully this will work out so we don’t see interstate 3 come straight through our mountains. I don’t think anyone wants that,” she concluded. SCHOOL
BOARD, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS REACH PROPERTY
AGREEMENT It’s a done deal.
After about an hour of discussion, both sides agreed the County would purchase 7.64 acres of the middle school property, which will include the library building, music building, the main classroom building and the old gymnasium. They will also buy an extra acre along Virginia Drive to erect a communications tower. Under an intergovernmental
agreement, the County will maintain the gym and the The County also agreed to allow the school system access to the gym on an as-needed basis, but an entrance from the gym to the main classroom building will be closed off. WNEG asked Commission Chairman Steve Chitwood if he thought this was a good agreement and he refused to give a straight answer other than to say he had no problem with it.
After both boards voted to
accept the new contract, Smith told the School Board he will draw up the new
contract. However, instead of sending it to their attorney in Marietta, Smith
said he would deliver it to the School Board first for their approval.
CITY COMMISSIONERS SAYS MOST BUSINESSES IN FAVOR
OF CANOPY REMOVAL City Commissioner Bob Troup says most downtown property owners are in favor of taking down the canopies and re-opening Doyle Street. At this week’s meeting, Troup said he took his own informal survey by personally contacting every business and property owner and asked them if they were for or against the plan to remove the mall and canopies. Troup said of the people he spoke to 23 were in favor of re-opening downtown and taking down the canopies, three were not in favor, and five had other ideas or no opinion. Last month, Commissioners discussed hiring an outside impartial firm or individual to conduct the same sort of survey, but mayor Ken Davis said such an impartial survey has already been done by Angela Steadly who is working on the application to have downtown Toccoa designated a historic district. Davis said the survey was required as part of the application. SCARBOROUGH’S MEN'S STORE
TO CLOSE After 23 years, downtown men’s clothier “Scarborough’s Men’s Store is going out of business. Owner Dean Scarborough had looked at selling the building and moving his store to Big A Road, but recently decided to close his doors for good. Scarborough cites personal reasons for his decision. “I’ve been in the retail business in Toccoa for 23 years and for four years before that,” Scarborough explained. “So after 27 years I just feel like it’s time to move on and do other things. I want to thank those in Stephens County and surrounding counties who have supported me and our store over the years,” he said Scarborough has not given a definite date for the closing. He is holding a “Going Out of Business” sale beginning Thursday morning. His building on the corner of the mall and Pond Street is also up for sale. POLICE REPORT Toccoa Police were looking for a van that has been reported stolen from Tabor Motor Company. An initial call indicated that someone had climbed over the fence located behind the body shop and attempted to steal a 1986 Chevy truck. The steering column and the ignition system had been damaged. While investigating that call, a salesman reported that a 2005 Nissan quest van was unaccounted for. A lookout has been posted on the missing gray Nissan van, valued at about $18,000. A burglary was reported at a residence on Brady Street. Omar Levit told officers that when he came home, he noticed the back door had been kicked in. Three jerseys and a pair of shoes were the only items discovered missing. Another Brady Street resident told the Stephens County Sheriff’s office that someone had broken into his house. Tom Meeks said that a filing cabinet filled with personal papers was removed from the house. LOCAL MINISTRY COLLECTING
FANS FOR SENIORS & INFIRMED Another day of scorching temperatures in Stephens County. The national weather service has issued a heat advisory for today again. With highs expected to reach 100 today, the heat index will make it feel more like 110. Many people in Toccoa and Stephens County are without air conditioning and Azuza Street Ministries is asking for donations of fans to distribute to the elderly and poor. Pastor Lenny Cannon says they’ll be taking donations beginning today. “People can drop them off at our ministry located at 939 E. Currahee Street today and tomorrow until 3 p.m.,” Cannon said. Cannon said they would be handing out the donated fans on Wednesday during their food distribution. The fans can be any kind of working fan you care to donate, but it must be a working fan. Cannon says if you drive by their ministry offices and it doesn’t look like anyone is there, you can call him on his cell at 491-8964 to set up a time to drop off your fan. SCORCHING TEMPERATURES
HARD ON ELDERLY AND SICK When the temperatures soar, it’s the elderly and infirm who are most affected – especially if they don’t have air conditioning or somewhere they can go to get out of the heat. Dr. Dennis Duke with the Stephens County Hospital Emergency Room says the elderly are less able to adjust to the high temperatures. “Senior citizens and people with chronic illness, heart disease and chronic lung problems struggle with the heat,” Dr. Duke explained. “They don’t cool as well. By and large all of their body systems fail a lot easier with the heat. When they start getting in trouble, everything falls apart – renal shutdown, pulmonary problems, they just have an awful time; much quicker than a younger person would,” he concluded. Often times the elderly don’t drink enough water on hot summer days or simply forget. Duke says it’s important to keep tabs on your elderly loved ones and neighbors on days like today. “If you have a senior citizen in your family or a neighbor or friend, check on them several times a day,” Duke exhorted. “Make sure their fans are working, that their air conditioning has not stopped working. Make sure they have access to fluids, especially water because senior citizens sometimes forget to drink enough water. It would be just as important to check on them in the heat as if we were in a blizzard,” he said. So far, Stephens County Hospital’s ER has only seen a few heat-related cases. “We have had some heat-related cases in the ER at Stephens County Hospital,” Duke noted. “Mostly so far in individuals who make a living working outside like road workers, farmers – those who cannot avoid being out in it. Most of those have said they are having trouble trying to stay hydrated. Duke asks people to watch for the following warning signs to know if someone is suffering from heat exhaustion or heat stroke. They include, nausea, light-headedness, headache and a feeling of being disoriented. If you see any of these signs you need to get the person out of the heat and to their doctor immediately. CITY WILL NOT SELL
ALEWINE PARK The city will not be selling Alewine Park to a non-profit group. Recently, the non-profit group, “Toccoa Challenge” offered to buy the property from the city for what they suggested would be a quote, “charitable price.” On Monday, city commissioners decided not to sell, but are open to other options, according to Mayor Ken Davis. “We will, however, discuss the potential usage of Alewine Park on a short-term lease basis.” Davis commented. “And if it seems that will satisfy the private agency’s needs in a fashion that works for both parties, then we will consider entering into an agreement,” he said. The group operates a 12-month resident program for men recovering from addiction. They are in the process of purchasing the grace fellowship property and want to use Alewine Park for activities for their residents. LIGHTENING LIKELY CAUSE
OF BROOKHAVEN HOUSE FIRE Lightening may have been the cause of a house fire on Brookhaven Circle last Friday. Firefighters from Eastanollee, Big Smith, and Carnes Creek said the blaze started in an upstairs bedroom and may have been electrical. However, Dean Scarborough, who owns the house, says an insurance inspector walked through the home yesterday and said it is unlikely the fire was from bad wiring. The inspector found that while there was a window air conditioner in the room, it was not on, nor were any lights. She also found neither light socket appeared to have any flash burns. Scarborough said another inspector would be coming back out this week to do a detailed inspection. Early last Friday morning, two people spotted flames coming from the roof of old farmhouse. They were able to get a couple and their two grandchildren out safely by honking their horns and banging on the door. AUGUSTA MAN RAISING MONEY
FOR PAUL ANDERSON PARK
Small, a former professional football player knew Paul Anderson personally and traveled with him promoting his youth projects. Small said in a time of widespread drug use, Paul’s message of hope and hard work is timeless. The idea for the Paul Anderson Park came from Toccoa Elementary School students seven years ago. Those students, now in high school, were present last night and were honored for their idea and the help it will provide disadvantaged youth. Small says he plans to return to Toccoa to speak to businesses about supporting both projects. CITY-COUNTY DISCUSS
CONSOLIDATION City and County Commissioners met last night to discuss the consolidation of some services. At their regular monthly meeting, City Commissioners had planned to appoint four to five Toccoa citizens to a consolidation study committee. However, Commissioner Ferrell Morgan said he would like to interview the candidates first. “I want to make sure that we not necessarily have someone in favor or against consolidation,” Morgan said. “But someone who wants to pursue the whole facts and get them as to what would benefit the total community. I want someone to look at the whole picture,” he concluded. Commissioners agreed with Morgan and voted to make nominations and then conduct interviews before making any selections to the committee. TEEN CITED FOR PUBLIC
INTOXICATION Five teens were cited over the weekend for drinking and driving. Toccoa police pulled over two vehicles Saturday night in the parking lot in front of the Family Dollar Store on Big A Road. All five were cited for public intoxication and underage drinking. They included 19-year old Jeremy Fulgram of Cornelia, 18-yr old William Arnold of Toccoa, 17-yr old Joshua Anderson of Carnesville, 18-yr old William Coker of Martin, and 19-yr old Jonathon Smith of Carnesville. All five were charged with one count of public intoxication and released on $800 property bond and $420 cash. A sixth person with the teens, 33-yr old Kathy Jo Wells of Athens, was charged with driving on a suspended license and was released on a $2,000 property bond. POLICE NEWS Several traffic stops in the Toccoa area have resulted in arrests on various charges. One traffic stop revealed the driver of a white Saturn to be only 16 years old and did not have a license. A vehicle check indicated that car had been stolen from Cobb County. The juvenile said that a man staying at the Taj Motel was letting him use the car. When police went to the motel, they arrested Michael Scott Beal. Beal was charged with theft by receiving stolen property. The juvenile was turned over to his guardian. Another traffic stop on the Big A Rd at Fernside Drive resulted in a drug arrest. Nineteen year old Jerry Wayne Dickson for possession of marijuana. The arresting officer reportedly found several containers of marijuana, and a butterfly knife in the vehicle. A Toccoa woman was arrested following a traffic stop and was charged with driving on a suspended license and having a defective tail light. She was identified as 20 year old Brittany Renee Shirley. She was taken to the Toccoa Police Department and was later released on bond. CHECK FORGERY The Stephens County Sheriff’s office investigated a case of check forgery. A resident of W. Currahee Street told officers that a man ,identified as Jody James Carter of Tallulah Falls, had written several bad checks. A further investigation revealed that the car the suspect was driving had been reported stolen from Lavonia. STOLEN VEHICLES Toccoa Police have recovered one stolen car and are looking for another one. A Ford Tempo, reportedly stolen from Lavonia, was located by a Toccoa Police officer parked on Franklin Street behind the Toccoa Motel. The vehicle was towed. Police arrested 34 year old Jody Carter of Lavonia in connection with the theft. Meanwhile police were looking for a 1992 Buick Century that was taken while it was parked on Ruby Street. A 1981 Ford truck was vandalized while it was parked on Stancil Drive. Kim York said that several items were taken from the truck while her son had parked it on Stancil Drive. An officer noted that a Pioneer stereo system with two 12-inch speakers and one audio amplifier. The total value of the stone items was estimated to be about $900. RECOVERY GROUP MAKES
OFFER FOR ALEWINE PARK A non-profit group in Toccoa is hoping to purchase Alewine Park. The group is called, “Toccoa Challenge” and is a faith-based 12-month residential program for men with addictions. WNEG has learned Toccoa Challenge director John Walsch recently wrote a letter to City Commissioners offering to buy the park from the City for a quote, “charitable” amount. In the letter, Walsch says they want to use the property to build a recreation center, garden and have other activities for their residents. The group is also hoping to buy the Grace Fellowship property across the street. City Commissioners plan to take up the issue at a work session meeting this afternoon, however WNEG has learned that by law, the City cannot sell property for less than its appraised value. CITY COMMISSION LOOKS AT
SEVERAL MEETINGS TONIGHT Toccoa City Commissioners have several meetings to attend tonight. First on the list is a called meeting with the group hoping to buy Alewine Park. They will also be meeting with an unidentified individual who plans a significant contribution to the Paul Anderson Park fund. The park will be located on the corner of Big A Road and Tugalo. At their regular monthly meeting afterward, the Commissioners will appoint members to their City/County Consolidation Study Committee and recognize the Northeast Georgia Chapter of the Hoopsters National Championship. Afterwards, City and County Commissioners will meet for an informal dinner meeting at Quincy’s. Commissioners plan to discuss further the County/City consolidation of some services. County Commissioners had recently planned to return some $15,000 in grant money for the project to the state. However, State Representative
Jeanette Jamieson warned them that returning the FIRE DEPARTMENT RAISES
MONEY FOR “JERRY’S KIDS” Members of the Eastanollee Volunteer Fire Department were out in force Saturday to help stamp out a crippling disease. The firefighters held a boot drive Saturday in front of the Wal-mart on Big A Road for muscular dystrophy. Eastanollee Volunteer Fire chief Jamie Geddis says they hope to raise over a thousand dollars for Jerry’s Kids. “We’re hoping to raise at least $1,200,” he said. The firefighters also raise money during the year for the Georgia Burn Foundation and to purchase items for their fire station. PHOTOGRAPHER JOSEPH MOGUL
HOLDS WEEKEND SHOW Local photographer Joseph Mogul inspired viewers this
weekend at his one-man STATE BEGINS SPEED
CRACKDOWN IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA Local law enforcement is working with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to crack down on speeders. It’s called “Not-So-Sweet-16” and on Friday, the State instituted the first crackdown on Highway 365/441 in Habersham County. The effort is part of the State’s 100 Days of Summer Heat program. According to spokesman Jim Shuler, speed is involved in more deaths on Georgia roadways than alcohol. “The State has identified 16 roadways in Georgia where speeding is a problem and the accidents that happen on them result in fatalities more often than on any other roads,” Shuler explained. Shuler says another of the highways that will be part of the Not-So-Sweet-16 program includes Highway 17 in Franklin and Stephens counties. UNEMPLOYMENT RATE JUMPS
IN JUNE The Georgia unemployment rate in June rose to 5.6% - an increase of six-tenths of a percent over may. The comparable national rate for June was 5.2% According to the State Labor Department, the principal reason for the rise in unemployment in Georgia was an increase in the number of job seekers to 30,404. In June, 21,951 new job seekers, many recent high school and college graduates joined the labor force. Also in June, 34,450 laid off workers filed for first-time unemployment benefits. The local unemployment rate for Stephens and other counties will be out later this week. LOCAL MAN HONORED WITH
HIGHWAY A Toccoa man whose kindness and generosity
has been known for years, was honored by the State Department of Transportation
by naming a portion of Highw Russell McMurray, with the Department of transportation Office in Gainesville, said that the department was honored to make such a designation. State Senator Nancy Schaefer was one of the authors of the legislation that made the event possible. She was extremely excited about the opportunity to get the legislation passed to honor Roger Caudell. The 81 year old Roger Caudell said that his grandfather had operated a lumber business in Banks County, but he had no experience in lumber, so he thought about the grocery business. Caudell told his audience that he didn’t feel he deserved the honored that was being bestowed upon him, but he was very appreciative of the DOT’s action. DOT Spokesman Terri Pope said that the new signs were unveiled on the section of Highway 365 as the ceremony was taking place at Travelers Rest. The ceremony was attended by family, friends and city and county officials.
SCHOOL BOARD PASSES FY2006 BUDGET This week, the school board passed their $31.2-million dollar FY2006 budget, which is up from $29.4 last year. Much of that increase is to cover the state-mandated raises teachers are getting this year. Assistant School Superintendent Ed Whitworth says, though it is too soon to tell whether the millage will go up. “87% of the budget goes towards teacher and staff salaries so when the state mandates a 2% pay raise, naturally you can expect the budget to be higher than last year,” Whitworth explained. “However, it is still to soon to determine whether the millage will go up. We won’t know that until September when the County sets the digest,” he said. At this week’s meeting, a group of senior citizens petitioned the board not to raise the millage and to exempt them from having to pay school taxes altogether. Board members told them they were not able to do either, that those issues are determined in the state legislature and by the County. The school system is expecting just over $18.6 million from the state, which is up from last year’s $17.8 million.
TEACHERS TO GET INCENTIVE BONUS Teachers and school bus drivers with perfect attendance will get a bonus this school year. School board members approved the incentive program at their regular meeting this week. School Superintendent Gary Steppe said perfect attendance means just that. He said that means leaving early for doctor’s appointments or other things would count as a sick day. The one-year pilot program is designed to curb the rising absentee rate among teachers and bus drivers. It is hoped the incentive bonus at the end of the year will cost the school system less than what they currently have to pay to hire teacher substitutes during the school year.
EMS HOPING FOR NEW RESCUE TRUCK The Stephens County Emergency Medical Service is hoping to secure a new rescue truck in the near future. According to E-M-S Director Ray Willis the truck they have now is 1978 Chevy pickup with 78,000 miles on it. While the mileage may not be problem, as the county grows E-M-S is encountering logistical problems. “We have a lot of visitors to Currahee Mountain from Atlanta to come here to go rappelling,” Willis said. “The problem is when one of them gets stuck we’re up there with our one truck and then we get a call for another rescue in the County and we have no other truck to send,” he said. The new truck will be a Ford F-250, according to Willis. He said another problem is that the current truck is not big enough to hold larger rescue equipment. Willis says they will keep the old truck and put the heavier equipment on the new vehicle. “What we will do is keep this vehicle as the light rescue truck for mountain climbers and such,” He said. “Then we will put the heavy equipment, such as the jaws of life on the bigger truck,” Willis said. E-M-S is expecting another new ambulance in September and recently opened their new E-M-S building on the Stephens County Hospital campus.
SALES TAX HOLIDAY SET FOR NEXT WEEKEND For the fourth consecutive year, Stephens County shoppers will join other Georgia consumers to take advantage of the sales tax holiday coming up next weekend. School supplies bought for classroom use or classroom related activities are also exempt from sales tax if they cost $20 or less per item. Those items can include pens, pencils, notebooks, paper, bookbags, calculators, and any books on the approved reading list for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Clothing and footwear up to $100 per item will also be exempt from sales tax with no limit on how many pairs of shoes and clothing items a person can buy. And purchases of personal computers and accessories are exempt up to $1,500 per transaction. Also personal digital assistants will be exempt from sales tax and computer accessories. The sales tax holiday will begin at midnight Thursday, July 28 and end at midnight Sunday, July 31st.
STEPHENS COUNTY 4-H’ER TAKES TOP HONORS IN
ATLANTA A Stephens County 4-H’er took home top honors this week at the state 4-H Congress in Atlanta. Jessie Moore of Toccoa won first place in the food fare project. As part of her competition, Jessie had to prepare a dish, plus keep a portfolio for the past 12 months. She also had to pass a rigorous interview by a panel of 4-H judges. Moore beat out hundreds of other competitors from other 4-H chapters in Georgia. Moore is a rising senior at Stephens County High School and has been a member of the 4-H for the past seven years. The 2005 4-H State Congress concludes today with a final ceremony.
OKLAHOMA! DEBUTS THIS WEEKEND AT SCHAEFER CENTER The Toccoa-Stephens County Community Theatre is reprising its production of Oklahoma! beginning this weekend. Director Kim Garmon tells WNEG the musical was chosen for their summer production because it has long been a favorite in our community. Performances are tonight through Monday evening at 8 p.m. at the Schaefer Center and again July 29 through the 30th. Matinees will be at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are available at the Chamber of Commerce office and are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and students and $10 for groups of 20 or more.
TOCCOA TEEN FOUND LYING IN DITCH A Toccoa teenager was charged with public drunkenness and possession of alcohol by a minor after police found him passed out in a ditch. Officers discovered 19-year old Chaz Taylor lying in the gutter on Kyte Street Wednesday night. Next to him were several empty beer cans. The officer was not able to awaken Taylor and called for paramedics. It took paramedics several minutes waving ammonia capsules under Taylor’s nose to revive him. Taylor refused further treatment and he was transported to the police department.
COUNTY APPROVES FY2006 BUDGET
Those changes include putting 50-thousand dollars back into the road department budget for the purchase of at least one dump truck, and putting back $11-thousand dollars back into the senior center budget for the purchase of a van. Probably the biggest sticking point in the new budget was the amount of a proposed salary increase over and above a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment. Under the proposed revision, the salary increases over the cost of living adjustment were slashed to a total of $71,891 from the original $290,000. County administrator Darrell Hampton explained yesterday that employees have not gotten any significant salary increases in a number of years. But commissioners were still not satisfied with that answer and commissioner ken Peeples noted some employees were receiving annual salary increases of $3,000 to $6,000. Peeples said the county couldn’t afford that and suggested putting a cap on the salary increases. “I think we should cap the salary increases to no more than $100 a month or $1,200 a year this year and look at the issue again next year,” Peeples said. “That’s all we can afford to do at this time until things improve,” he said. After the budget is advertised in the paper, two public hearings will be held. Hampton told commissioners that while there was no penalty from the state for going past the June 30th deadline, there could be a penalty if the county does not set the tax digest and millage rate on time. Hampton said with the property re-assessment, the millage will likely go down and could go back to the rate it was three years ago.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS REACH OUT TO SCHOOL BOARD County commissioners say they plan to meet personally with Stephens’s county board members to discuss the purchase of the old middle school property. The move comes after school board member James Thomas said the board had never been approached by the commissioners to negotiate the deal. All of the negotiations have been conducted between the county and school board attorneys. After going into executive session to discuss the matter yesterday, commissioners directed county administrator Darrell Hampton to contact the school board. “The staff will be setting up a time and place where the commissioners and members of the school board can get together to discuss the purchase of the old middle school property and hopefully reach an agreement that is satisfactory to both,” he said. Commission chairman Steve Chitwood said he has no problem with going back to the original agreement, which includes just the music building and the library building. No date for the commission-school board meeting has yet been announced.
CARNES CREEK TO GET OLD FIRE TRUCK BACK The Carnes creek fire department will be getting their old fire truck back. Commissioners voted to have the 20-year old vehicle repaired, rather than buy a new one. Last week, problems arose when some volunteers from Carnes creek went to the county maintenance yard and removed all of the fire equipment. At the time, volunteers believed the truck would not be repaired and volunteer fire chief spokesman Vernon Wilkinson junior said the men were just trying to save the equipment from being stolen or damaged by the weather. Yesterday, commissioners said once the truck was repaired it would be returned to the Carnes creek station and the volunteers could re-install the equipment themselves. According to the maintenance yard supervisor Marion Dodd, the vehicle needs a new motor and a new transmission. Sources tell WNEG news this is the second motor the truck has had in two years. Last year, the previous commission voted to replace the truck, but that move was overturned earlier this year by the current commission.
ROGER CAUDELL HONORED BY STATE A local man will be honored today week for his contribution to Stephens County by having a stretch of state route 365 named after him. The Georgia department of transportation will rename part of the highway the “roger Caudell highway.” A special dedication ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. At the traveler’s rest hotel in TOCCOA on falls road. Local and state officials, including state senator Nancy Schaefer will be on hand, along with state representative Alan Powell. Roger Caudell was long known in this community for his generosity. Caudell owned a general grocery and supply store on 365 for many years and was instrumental in bringing the poultry industry to Stephens County.
COUNTY TO HIRE PART-TIMERS, CUT HOURS AT CONVENIENCE SITES The county will take over the running of the five convenience sites on September first, but it won’t be like it was before. At yesterday’s called meeting, commission chairman Steve Chitwood said one of the changes will be a cutback in the hours of operation that citizens will have to get used to. “I go to the grocery store when it’s open, I go to the bank when it’s open,” Chitwood commented. “People are going to have to get used to scheduling when to throw out their garbage around the hours we set, and I think they will be willing to do that,” he said. The County plans to cut the hours of operation at the convenience sites to no more than 40 hours a week. Meantime, Chitwood said a number of former employees had contacted him recently asking for their old jobs back, but he said former convenience site employees would have to re-apply for those jobs just like everyone else. Also, the county will hire only part-time employees to staff the sites and will not be paying them any benefits. “Most of the people I’ve talked to about working at the convenience sites are not interested in benefits,” Chitwood explained. “They just want to make a little extra money. So they just want a part time job where they can earn some extra money. So I don’t think we’ll have any problem finding people to work at the sites part-time,” he concluded. Commissioners will meet again with the county staff to come up with exact hours of operation and work out other details for running the convenience sites.
SENIORS PETITION SCHOOL BOARD FOR TAX EXEMPTION A group of senior citizens in Stephens County took their complaint about higher millage rates to the school board last night. Last week the same group asked the county commissioners to exempt seniors 65 and over from having to pay school taxes. Barbara Osborne said the county told them it’s not their job. “When Ken Peeples heard that he like to have fell out,” Osborne said. “‘No, we don’t take care of that, no way. That’s the school board’s job, not ours,’ that’s what he told us. So I want you to tell me where in the Sam hill are we supposed to go to get some relief?” she asked. Larry Vinson also spoke to commissioners last week. Last night, he asked the school board to take the burden of school taxes off seniors and to find another way. Board member Elaine DeFoor explained that such changes have to be made by the state legislature. in the mid 90s, the state gave counties the option of using a 1% sales tax for education to offset property taxes, but only a few counties did that. School superintendent Gary Steppe explained that even with the state-mandated 2% pay raise, Stephens County teachers are still the lowest paid in northeast Georgia. “We have to pay our teachers what the State tells us to pay them based on their certification, we don’t have an option on that,” Steppe explained. “But even with that, our teachers in Stephens County are the lowest paid in this 14-county region – the bottom of the barrel. I’m putting things in perspective. The reality is, some systems pay a supplement and all systems pay a higher supplement than what Stephens County pays,” he said. According to the Stephens County School system, the average school teacher makes in the mid-to upper $30’s, specialized teachers make between $40,000 and $60,000 a year. Assistant principals earn in the mid-to-high $70s in Stephens County, and principals here make over $100,000 a year. The group says they will now go back to their state representatives to seek relief and vowed to continue their fight.
COUNTY STILL IN RUNNING FOR NEW MANUFACTURER Stephens County may still be in the running for a new industry to locate here. Last week, the Stephens County Development Authority played host to a delegation from the undisclosed manufacturer that is looking at a specific piece of property here. New Development Authority Director Mitch Griggs says the group did everything they could have done to sell the representatives on the benefits of locating here. “Our team did a fantastic job last week and I think we did everything we could to sell them on the benefits of doing business here,” Griggs said. “I think we have a good chance of making it to the next round,” he said. The manufacturer is looking at six other communities in Georgia and in several other southern states. No word on when they will be making a decision. Meantime, the County continues to work on developing its infrastructure in order to attract more businesses to Stephens County. Griggs says the Development Authority’s Sewer Committee is currently working on setting up a meeting with the State Environmental Protection Division to look at permitting issues. Recently, the County refused an offer to buy the Coats American wastewater treatment plant on Rose Lane for $4-million dollars. However, a Sewer Committee study found that the County would have to have an additional treatment plant within the next ten years in order to accommodate future growth.
BARROW COUNTY AGREES TO TAKE DOWN TEN
COMMANDMENTS Barrow County is taking down its ten commandments from its County Courthouse. Yesterday, the County lost its fight to keep the Ten Commandments after U.S. District Court Judge William O’Kelley signed a consent order, which was proposed jointly by Barrow County and the ACLU of Georgia. The order required Barrow County to immediately remove the Ten Commandments display from the Courthouse. A staff attorney for the ACLU said now all citizens of Barrow County, regardless of their religious beliefs could feel welcome in their own community. When their fight began over a year ago, a group in Stephens County petitioned Commissioners here to take up the fight to allow a Ten Commandments display in our Courthouse. However, Commissioners rejected the idea, saying they had no wish go against the law and the County could not afford an expensive legal battle with the ACLU. In addition to taking down the Ten Commandments, Barrow County will have to pay $150,000 in legal fees and fines to the person who initially sued to have them removed.
STUDY FINDS DARK CHOCOLATE GOOD FOR THE
HEART….BUT WE KNEW THAT Next time you drive up to the Russell Stover’s store in Anderson to buy some sweeties, pick the dark chocolate. A recent study by the American Heart Association found that dark chocolate could actually lower high blood pressure. The study, published by the American Heart Association, joins a growing body of research that show compounds found in dark chocolate called “flavonoids” can help the blood vessels work more smoothly, perhaps reducing the risk of heart disease. Previous studies have found that flavonoid-rich foods might offer cardiovascular benefits, but this is the first clinical trial that specifically looked at the effects and benefits of dark chocolate. Other foods that can offer the same kinds of heart benefits include fruits, vegetables, tea, and red wine.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO TACKLE KEY ISSUES IN
CALLED SESSION County Commissioners have a number of serious issues on their agenda for tomorrow morning’s called session. At the top of the list, Commissioners will once again discuss the revised proposed fiscal 2006 budget. Commissioners have had problems with a proposal to award County employees a significant salary hike over and above a proposed 2.8% cost-of-living raise, which averages out to about a $3,600 salary hike per employee. In the revised budget proposal, the cost of living raise would stay the same, but the proposed pay-plan raise would be cut to just under a thousand dollars per employee. Commission chairman Steve Chitwood also recommended about $350,000 in cuts to the $19.6 million dollar budget. That included slashing some $200,000 from the $543,000 e-911 budget, and cutting another $100,000 out of the General Fund to replace road equipment. However, commissioner Rex Anderson says some money should be budgeted for at least one new dump truck for the road department. And as we’ve been telling you, Commissioners will discuss the School Superintendent’s rejection of the latest contract proposal for the old middle school property. That contract called for the County to purchase just over 32 acres of the 37-acre site for the same $100,000 as the original offer. The offer was rejected last week by Gary Steppe, and County Commission chairman Steve Chitwood agreed to return to the original offer of just two buildings. Meantime, School Board member James Thomas says the County has had enough time to make a decision. “We started this process with the County months and months ago,” Thomas said. “It’s time for them to make a decision,” he concluded. Other topics on tomorrow’s County Commission agenda include the solid waste convenience sites. In May, the County received a written notice from Carter’s Royal Disposal owner John Carter terminating his agreement to run the convenience sites. The County must take them over on September 1, but because they were not expecting to run them, no money was budgeted for Fiscal 2006. County administrator Darrell Hampton says the County will likely not be hiring full-time workers to staff the sites, but will look at hiring part-time workers and plans to limit the number of hours the sites are open to no more than 40 hours a week. Wednesday’s called session begins at 10 a.m. In the courthouse annex meeting room.
UPGRADES PLANNED AT HOSPITAL The Stephens County Hospital Authority has agreed to replace some original sewer lines. Hospital Administrator Ed Gambrell said that the lines are 40 years old. The hospital has been at the same location since the late 1960s . The project will cost about $150,000. Nearly grounded by disabled transportation at the Wilkinson and Clary Center, Director Karen Barnes came before the authority Monday with a request of two vehicles, which would temporarily relieve the situation. Ms. Barnes said one car is totally undependable and the lift on the bus doesn’t work. Gambrell said there are a lot of residents at both the Clary Center and the Wilkinson Center who depend on these vehicles to transport them around the community. Ms Barnes said that even with just one car, some of the staff have to transport residents in their personal cars. The authority will purchase two new cars and take a look at a bus at a later date. Each week, the center makes between 60 and 100 trips for residents of the two facilities.. The authority also approved the purchase of a new birthing bed for the New Impressions Unit. The new purchase replaces a 1980s bed and has a price tag of just over $12,000.
COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD TO GET AYP REPORT TONIGHT The Stephens County School Board has a lot of items to address tonight preparation for the new school year, which is set to begin in just two weeks. Among other things, Board members will discuss and are expected to pass their Fiscal 2006 tentative budget They are also expected to approve a resolution authorizing the release of QZAB funds from the state. Under his monthly report, School Superintendent Gary Steppe will discuss how students faired under the state’s annual yearly progress report and it should be some good news. According to the state report, all six Stephens County elementary schools met test participation and academic performance requirements for 2004-2005 school year at 100%. The minimum requirement to pass is 95%. Under the CRCT math test, 89% of all elementary school students met or exceeded the state standard, or 1,636 students. In the CRCT language arts test, 92% met and exceeded the state standard. Tonight’s meeting begins with public participation at 5:00 p.m. In the administrative offices on Mize Road.
COUNTY EMS AWAITING ANOTHER NEW AMBULANCE The Stephens County Emergency Medical Service is awaiting the arrival of its next new ambulance. This latest vehicle will be larger, designed for longer, over-the-road trips to hospitals and facilities outside the County, such as to Atlanta, Gainesville, or Athens. EMS Director Ray Willis says the new truck should be here in September. This will be the last ambulance that will require a new refurbished box, according to Willis and that should save the County money in the future. “We saved a lot of money by refurbishing our boxes instead of buying new ones,” Willis explained. “That will give us enough money to buy one more new truck, but that will not likely be until around 2007. However, I need a new rescue vehicle in the worst kind of way,” he said. MARTIN CELL TOWER ON THE
HORIZON After abandoning the original cell tower site, the City of Martin is on the verge of getting approval for a new cell tower. Mayor Don Foster said that the tower will have a vital role in helping out the county. The city has access on the tower from 100-125 feet. In talking with the county, the City of Martin has greed to install a relay which will help the County Emergency Management System enhance their communications. The City of Martin had tried unsuccessfully to erect a tower on the property of Diane Cole which was located behind the First Baptist Church in Martin. The State Historical Society would not give its approval so the city decided to move the location of the tower. The new tower is located on State Park Road about 3 miles from Avalon.
FUNERAL SERVICES FOR REV. BO TURNER PLANNED FOR
WEDNESDAY Funeral services are set for Wednesday at 3 p.m. For the Reverend Charles “Bo” Turner. Turner died Saturday at his home after a sudden illness. Long known in Northeast Georgia for his social activism, Turner was instrumental in founding the Northeast Georgia chapter of Habitat for Humanity. In 1994, Turner, an avid motorcycle enthusiast, rode his bike from Virginia to Oregon to raise money for the charity. Turner
also worked as a drug counselor and counselor to parolees. In addition, Turner
served on the Clarkesville City Council and as its mayor. Turner was the pastor
of Tallulah Falls Baptist Church, where he recently celebrated his 25-year
anniversary with the congregation in March.
FORSYTH COUNTY BUSINESSMAN TO RUN FOR AGRICULTURE
COMMISSIONER Another candidate has thrown his hat into the ring for the job of State Agriculture Commissioner. Republican Bob Greer announced recently his intention to run for the office now occupied by Habersham County resident Tommy Irvin. Greer, who is from Cumming, ran once before for the post during the 1998 elections and lost. He left politics and returned to his career as a successful businessman and entrepreneur. In making his announcement, Greer said Georgia’s agribusiness accounts for billions of dollars in revenue and he is committed to working for the citizens of Georgia. Greer joins another Republican candidate, Gary Black, who is from Commerce. POLICE REPORT Toccoa Police have issued a warrant for a Toccoa man in connection with an incident in which he allegedly took his four year old from his wife’s car parked at Prather Park Apartments. An officer spotted a silver Dodge Neon and chased it for several blocks before losing it. A warrant has been issued for Danny Randall Perry. He is charged with fleeing and attempting to elude and cruelty to children. Police investigated an attempted break in at the Mountain Mart Shell Station at 904 E. Currahee Street. When officers arrived, they found a forced entry of the back door, but nothing was determined missing from inside the store. Police have confiscated the video surveillance tape in an attempt to determine who might have tried to break into the door. There was only minimal damage done to the back door. Police arrested a woman for shoplifting for a second time at the Toccoa Wal-mart Store on the Big A Rd. Officers arrested 39 year old Teresa Gail Gotts and charged her with shoplifting an anklet and ring snuggers, and with criminal trespass since she had been barred from the store earlier this year. CONFUSION AND MORE DELAYS
OVER E-911 LAND DEAL The situation with the purchase of the old middle school property by the County to house the new e-911 system appears to be getting more complicated by the day. Last week, we told you the County had agreed to a new contract on the land to include some 32 acres with the Stephens County School Board retaining just over four acres. By the end of last week, all of that apparently changed, and without the knowledge or consent of either the School Board or two of the County Commissioners. School Superintendent Gary Steppe says he received the new contract and was surprised to see the offer for more land at the same purchase price. “We had been working through our attorneys and thought the deal was for the two original buildings,” Steppe said. “Then I received this new offer last week that our attorney had forwarded to me and it’s completely different. Our attorney assumed we agreed to this new contract, but we had never even seen this before,” he concluded. Steppe met last Wednesday with County Commission chairman Steve Chitwood and told him if the County wants more land, they have to pay more. Chitwood then agreed to go back to the original offer of two buildings. “We got out the plat and I drew a line down it and that’s what we agreed to,” Chitwood said. “I can’t speak for the other Commissioners, I can only speak for myself, but I have no problem with going back to the original offer, which includes the music building and the classroom building with the old gym,” he said. Meantime, with talks going on mainly between the two attorneys, no one on the School Board has apparently been involved in the negotiations. School Board member James Thomas says it’s time for the County to make a decision. He says communication between the two groups is practically non-existent. “We have not been privy to negotiations or even proposals until we hear it from you guys,” Thomas complained. “What I would like to see is the County kind of handle this thing in a professional manner and talk to us. It’s very frustrating when I hear that deals are made and things are going on where I hear about it through the press. Very frustrating. I wish our County Commissioners would conduct themselves in a professional manner and handle this as it ought to be handled” he said. Steppe said the School Board would likely not take up the issue at their regular meeting tomorrow night. “It’s in the County’s hands now,” he said. County commissioners will meet Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. in a called session to discuss this and other issues. CANCER PATIENTS GET
ANSWERS AT FREE SESSION Cancer patients, survivors or those who just have questions will have an opportunity next month to get answers at a special seminar in Gainesville. The cancer center at northeast Georgia medical center is sponsoring a “cancer open mike” night Thursday, august 4th. Hospital spokeswoman Cathy bowers tells WNEG a panel of physician specialists will be available to answer questions on all types of cancer. There is no charge for the seminar. The northeast Georgia medical center is located on Spring Street in Gainesville. DOT TO NAME 365 “ROGER
CAUDELL HIGHWAY” A local man will be honored this week for his contribution to Stephens County by having a stretch of state route 365 named after him. The Georgia department of transportation will rename part of the highway the “Roger Caudell highway.” A special dedication ceremony will take place Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Traveler’s Rest Hotel in Toccoa on Falls Road. Local and state officials, including State Senator Nancy Schaefer will be on hand, along with State Representative Alan Powell. Roger Caudell was long known in this community for his generosity. Caudell owned a general grocery and supply store on Highway 365 for many years and was instrumental in bringing the poultry industry to Stephens County. CELL PHONES FOR SOLDIERS
GROUP TO HOLD COOKOUT It started in Texas and is slowly making its way across the country. It’s called, “Cell Phones for Soldiers.” Started by a teenager as an effort to help soldiers overseas call home to their loved ones, a Toccoa man is now taking up the cause. Keith Kilby, along with Big A Signs and Tees are collecting phones and raising money for phone cards here in Toccoa. Next month, the group will hold what they’re calling a “Back to School Blowout” on Saturday, August 6th. It will be an old fashioned cook out at the recreation center on rose lane to raise more money and collect more cell phones. “We’ll have games and food and it will just be a good family time,” Kilby explained. “We will be collecting an eight dollar entrance fee, but then after that all the games and all the food is free,” he said. The cookout will also feature live entertainment and Kilby is currently seeking bands and entertainers interested in being a part of the day’s fun. Volunteer Christine Elrod says it’s one way to do something to help our servicemen overseas. “We tend to forget about our soldiers overseas unless we see something on the news,” Elrod noted. “But this brings it home to our community and is something that we can do to help our soldiers. This is as American as it gets,” she said. You can drop off your old cell phone or make a donation at Big A Signs and Tees Monday through Friday. The store is located on Big A Road next to Bev’s Quick Stop. GOVERNOR PERDUE TO LEAD
DELEGATION TO JAPAN Governor Sonny Perdue will be leading a delegation of business leaders to Japan in October to attend the 29th annual Southeast U.S.-Japan Joint Meeting in Tokyo. The annual meeting is held to foster the development of business ties between seven southeastern states and Japan. The seven-member states include Georgia, Alabama, Florida, the Carolinas, Tennessee and Virginia. Japan is Georgia’s number one international investor and is the second largest market for Georgia exports. In 2004, Toyo Tire announced plans for a tire manufacturing plant and 900 new jobs in Bartow County; Honda Motor Company announced plans for an automotive transmission plant in Haralson County, and Kubota Manufacturing announced plans for a loader and backhoe manufacturing plant and 100 jobs in Jackson County. TOCCOA FALLS COLLEGE
PLANS FOR CENTENNIAL Stephens County is not the only one planning a centennial celebration. Toccoa Falls College turns one hundred in 2007, and they are planning an entire year of celebrations. The committee is inviting people in the community to send their photos, recordings, memorabilia, or stories of the college to share. According to committee chair, Sharon Crosby, the items will be displayed during the centennial year. You can contact Crosby by calling the college. POLICE REPORT Toccoa Police were looking for two suspects in connection with an armed robbery and aggravated assault that took place on Poplar Street Extension. The victim told police that she heard a knock at the door. When she answered the door, two white males forced their way into the residence and took some jewelry. The items included a gold wedding band, a gold print love ring, a silver chain and over $350 in cash. The woman’s husband said that he tried to come to the aid of his wife and was hit in the head with a gun. No-one was apparently seriously injured and the couple told police they knew who had robbed them. The investigation is continuing. Police also were investigating the theft of a silver flip phone with a blue casing. The phone was allegedly taken from the stock room at the Dollar General Store and was valued at around $100. COUNTY CENTENNIAL
COMMITTEE PLANS FRIDAY NIGHT BLOCK PARTY Plans are being nailed down for the big Stephens County Centennial event coming up next month. There are three committees working the event, the Centennial Committee made up of citizen volunteers, the County Centennial Committee which consists of county employee volunteers, and the Stephens County Courthouse Restoration Authority. County volunteers Haley Knight and Joe Gailey have been working on a block party to take place Friday night, august 19th at the senior center and recreation center. According to Haley knight, it’s going to be a huge family event. “It will be a block party and we’ll have lots of food and entertainment on several stages,” Knight said. “We’ll also have a special surprise and it’s just going to be a real good time for folks,” she said. County Recreation Director Joe Gailey has all kinds of activities planned for children at the block party – something for every age. “We’ll have games for children ages pre-school to 14,” Gailey explained. “There will be a rock wall the kids can climb and then slide down, a 3-in-1 slide, a moonwalk, and for the eight and under we’ll have a duck pond and an animal bean bag toss. Those will all be in front of the Community Center, next to the Senior Center building,” he said. The Centennial celebration will cover four days – from Thursday, August 18th through Sunday, August 21st. FRANKLIN DEMOCRATS HOLD
BBQ FOR CANDIDATES AND PUBLIC Democratic candidates for statewide office will address the Northeast Georgia Democratic Party tomorrow afternoon in Royston at a special BBQ. Among the candidates attending include Cathy Cox who is running for governor and Sacha Taylor, the wife of current Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor who is also running for governor. Also attending will be State Representatives Jeanette Jamieson and Alan Powell. But that’s not all, according to Franklin County Democratic Chairperson Patty Payne. “Other candidates include Carol Jackson who is running for Lieutenant Governor and State Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin,” Payne said. The BBQ is designed for the public to hear the candidate’s ideas and provide input and feedback. Payne says it is not just for Democrats but also for anyone who wants to come out, meet the candidates and their State Representatives and candidates regardless of their political party. “A lot of people don’t even know who these people are,” Payne noted. “This is a chance for the people in Franklin County to meet their candidates in person and hear from them live,” she said. The BBQ begins at 5 p.m. at Harmony Hill Arena on Hale Crossing Road outside of Royston. HAZARD MITIGATION
COMMITTEE WRITES PLAN Ever since hurricane Ivan blew through Stephens County, members of the County Hazard Mitigation Committee have working to implement policies and procedures to better protect the public in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. The group is now in the process of writing the first chapter of their plan. Committee chairwoman Becky Wahl with the Stephens County Emergency Management Agency says the main weather hazard they’ve identified so far is flooding. “Flash flooding seems to be the biggest weather problem we have here in Stephens County,” Wahl said. “But we are also looking at other problems we have here such as fires, and other problems. We want to know if there are particular problems that affect particular areas so we can find a way to address them,” she said. Wahl says they hope to have the entire hazard mitigation plan done by November. It will then be submitted to the Georgia Mountains Regional Development Center for approval. PUBLIC INVITED TO EMS
OPEN HOUSE ON SUNDAY This Sunday, the public will be able to get a first-hand look at the new Emergency Medical Services building on the Stephens County Hospital campus. An open house will be held from 2 until 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon. It is a massive structure that according to EMS Director Ray Willis does not only house ambulances, but also serves as a home away from home for EMT’s. “We have it set up like a home,” Willis explained. Downstairs there’s a living room and full kitchen and dining area. Upstairs are small bedrooms, and a private office for my assistant and myself. There is also bathrooms and a full laundry room. And we have a training room. We don’t have chairs for it yet, but that will come a little later,” he said. All the new ambulances will be housed downstairs in the garage area, which is big enough for all five. “We have a five-bay garage for all of the ambulances that’s not air-conditioned but is heated in the winter,” Willis explained. “There’s also an inside wash and hose service so we can wash the ambulances in the winter without having to go out into the cold. It’s really something to see,” he concluded. The Hospital Auxiliary, which Willis said also helped raise money for the new building, will provide refreshments. MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION
RENAMES DOWNTOWN TOCCOA Toccoa’s new Merchants Association is working on ways to attract more business to the downtown mall. Recently, the group came up with the idea of renaming downtown Toccoa to “Old Town Toccoa,” according to member Diane Lawson. “What we’re trying to do is market the downtown area in such a way that it attracts more people here,” Lawson said. “We came up with Old Town Toccoa as a way to identify the downtown as a unique shopping area, and hopefully people will come back to “Old Town,” she said. The City is currently working on removing the canopies and mall and re-opening Doyle Street, and the Downtown Development Authority is working on applying for historic district status for Doyle Street, but Lawson says the Merchants Association is not getting involved in the canopy controversy. “We’re not involved in the issue of canopy removal,” Lawson said. “The purpose of the Merchants Association is to come together to find ways to promote our businesses,” she said. Among the marketing strategies they are working on is combining advertising and holding special events on the mall. REBEL CLOSES, CHANGES
HANDS A downtown institution may be closing for a short time before it re-opens under new management. After eight years, today is the last day Rebel Café owner Susan Hughes will be serving breakfast and lunch. “I’ve been here eight years and I’ve enjoyed having the Rebel and all the people I’ve met, but it’s just time to move on,” explained owner Susan Hughes. Hughes sold the Rebel to Atlanta developers Alan Nix and Sean Harrington, who plan to close on the property Monday. Initially, Harrington says they want to keep the Rebel open and continue the tradition started 47 years ago by Shready Hallford. Nix and Harrington also bought the storefront next to the Rebel and hope to eventually expand the restaurant and its services. CITY HIRES LITHONIA FIRM
FOR GAS LINE MOVE Only one bid came in to the City of Toccoa to move a stretch of the Toccoa Natural Gas line in Franklin County. With the widening of the Highway 17, a portion of the gas line that runs alongside of the state road must be moved. The City is now in the last step of that plan before construction starts and had solicited several contractors to participate. At this week’s meeting, City attorney John Dickerson opened the one sealed bid they have received from Dodd Construction, Inc. from Lithonia, Georgia. Commissioners questioned whether the job should be re-advertised to see if more bids come in, but City Manager Billy Morse said bid requests had been personally delivered to local contractors and none were returned. Under the contract terms, Dodd will install over 21,000 feet of 6-inch steel gas main, and provide erosion control, grassing and restoration of driveways. The City will provide the 6-inch steel pipe, trenching, cap to existing main, and complete all new service connections and road bores. The total bid price was $211,088, which the commissioners accepted. CIRCLE OF HOPE TO RECEIVE
EXTRA FUNDING The Circle of Hope will get a little more than first thought from the victims assistance fund. Earlier this year, the group asked for 50% of the money the County collects from court fees and fines. In April, commissioners voted to award 50% of the funds to the District Attorney’s office, 25% to Circle of Hope or about $2,500 and 25% to Powerhouse for Kids. But County Finance Director Phyllis Ayers told commissioners Powerhouse only became certified in June, leaving about $4,300 in funds to be distributed. Commissioners then voted to award the entire extra amount to Circle of Hope. CALIFORNIA WOMAN DIES IN
LOCAL MOTEL A California woman was found dead Wednesday at the Days Inn on Big A Road. Authorities say an employee discovered 62-year old Corina Perry of Colton, California lying near the motel’s pool about 3 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. EMT’s on the scene conducted CPR and transported Perry to Stephens County Hospital where she was pronounced dead. The doctor on duty said it appeared Ms. Perry died of natural causes. Perry was in Toccoa on vacation visiting her son. VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS
RISK ARREST TO SAVE EQUIPMENT A case of miscommunication almost got some volunteer firefighters arrested. According volunteer fire spokesman Vernon Wilkinson, Jr. It started about two weeks ago when the Carnes Creek Volunteer Fire Department took one of their fire trucks to the County maintenance yard for repairs. “At the time, they spoke to Marian Dodd at the shop and told him they were going to come back later in get the equipment off the truck, since everybody agreed the truck could not be repaired,” Wilkinson explained. “On Monday night, they got the equipment and then today I get a call that deputies were writing up arrest warrants yesterday,” he said. County Administrator Darrell Hampton says that’s because Dodd called him Tuesday morning to report the missing equipment and Hampton told Dodd to call the Sheriff’s office. Hampton denies any firefighters were going to be arrested. Yesterday, he spoke to the Carnes Creek Chief Brian Bennett to get everything straightened out. “I talked with Vernon Wilkinson and then with Bennett and told them that I had no knowledge of the conversation they had originally had with Dodd. Dodd had called me Tuesday and said the equipment was missing and I directed him to contact the Sheriff’s office, which he did. Now the deputies were not directed by me to arrest anyone. “I’ve heard the same thing that the firefighters were going to be arrested but that is not the case,” he said. Stephens County Sheriff Gene Sorrells confirmed there are no arrests planned and all of the equipment was found stored at the Carnes Creek Fire Station. The volunteer fire departments are currently in negotiations with the County to form a Stephens’s County Fire Department. Wilkinson says this miscommunication doesn’t help matters. “Our good volunteers, went out on their own to get the hoses out of the rain and sun to keep them from deteriorating in the weather. The County paid over $5,000 for that equipment with grant money State Representative Jeanette Jamieson helped us get and this is what happens,” Wilkinson said. “I don’t’ know what the County is up to, but we don’t need this right now,” he said. The firefighters met again Wednesday night with Hampton and County Attorney Rusty Smith to discuss the County Fire Department issue, but no decision was made. COUNTY BEGINS LANDFILL
COLLECTIONS If you owe money to the County for dumping at the landfill, you may soon find yourself in court. Commissioners this week authorized attorney Rusty Smith to begin collection proceedings. Smith recommended filing all notices at the same time for all of the overdue accounts rather than tackling them one by one. The County will file suit in magistrate court against any account that is more than 60 days late. County finance director Phyllis Ayers says the county is owed about $30,000 in overdue dumping fees. COUNTY APPROVES INDIGENT
DEFENSE FUND Taxpayers in Stephens County will be a bit paying more to supply public defenders to those who need them. Commissioners this week agreed to authorize their new share of the tri-county contract, which supplies the indigent defense fund for the Mountain Judicial District. Under the new agreement, Stephens County will kick in 33%; Habersham will fund 47% and Rabun County just 20%. The percentages are based on the population figures from the 2000 census. Stephens County’s amount comes to approximately $120,000. Several citizens at this week’s meeting questioned the amount, but County Attorney Rusty Smith says the amounts are set by a state association of public defenders and there is little room for negotiation. FRANKLIN COUNTY SEEKS RED
CROSS VOLUNTEERS There is one Red Cross volunteer in Franklin County and one is not nearly enough. That’s why the Red Cross regional office in Athens is beginning a six-week training course tonight in Lavonia for anyone in Franklin county interested in becoming a Red Cross volunteer. Currently, volunteers must come from neighboring counties to help victims of house fires or other disasters in Franklin County. But Red Cross spokesman Ryan Logan says local volunteers can do more good. The course is called “Disaster Action Team Training,” and will be held Thursdays at the Lavonia Welcome Center from 6:30 to 9:30 p-m. Logan says they need people who stay committed to helping others in emergencies. There is no limit on the number of people who can volunteer, but you need to call the Red Cross at 706-353-1645 to register for the classes. COUNTY CONSIDERS ADULT
ENTERTAINMENT ORDINANCE The County is looking at instituting an adult entertainment ordinance. At last nights’ meeting, commissioners discussed the need to have some sort of ordinance in place in order to avoid problems like the kind Franklin County had when an adult club set up shop in Lavonia. County attorney Rusty Smith told commissioners they can write up an ordinance, but it would likely be weak because of a couple of issues. “The problem that Stephens County has as opposed to most counties is that we do not have a land-use ordinance,” Smith explained. “Which means that we can’t have zones. Most other counties regulate adult entertainment by prohibiting it from certain zones throughout that county. Some counties use business licensing and they require that the adult entertainment establishments have to be licensed and that their employees have to be licensed, and they have to have criminal background checks. We don’t have any business license ordinance here in Stephens County, so that’s another form of regulation that’s not available to us,” he said. Commission chairman Steve Chitwood said he has been researching other county land use ordinances to get an idea of what Stephens County can and should do, but that writing such an ordinance would likely take several years. Commissioner Ken Peeples said the county needs some sort of ordinance addressing adult entertainment now. Smith said there are some things they can do now. “What we can do is we can limit their proximity to schools and churches,” Smith noted. “They can limit proximity to each other to prevent a ‘red light’ district from being created. We can I think, through our alcoholic beverage ordinance prohibit the sale of beer and wine in any establishment where there’s nude dancing or something like that, so there are some alternatives, but they’re just more limited because we don’t have either a land-use plan or a business license ordinance,” he concluded. Commissioners took no action on the issue last night and Smith said he would begin working on an ordinance with the County staff. MUNICIPAL
ELECTIONS Municipal elections in Toccoa this November will be using the new computerized voting machines. The County has agreed to rent the City of Toccoa as many machines as they think they’ll need for the elections, according county registrar Theresa Kelley. “The City will pay $3,000 to the County for staff, and machine rental,” Kelley said. City commissioners this week agreed to have the City handle the candidate qualifications, move the machines to city hall and seek justice department approval. However, Kelley’s office will handle the early and advance voting. “Advance and early voting will be done in our office just as it has always been done for previous elections,” she said. If there should be a run-off election, the City will pay the County an extra $2,500 to handle that, according to city manager Billy Morse. NO STRAW VOTES ON
NOVEMBER BALLOT City commissioners will not be putting a straw ballot on the ticket in November. Commissioners wanted the ballot to get the public’s input on two issues, City-County consolidation and term limits for city commissioners. But at Monday’s meeting, City attorney John Dickerson said he checked with the Justice Department and found out that by law, the City cannot have straw votes to determine issues that are otherwise authorized by law for determination. “The only way we could have a straw vote is if we first get local legislation passed authorizing a straw vote, but that has to go through the General Assembly for approval,” Dickerson explained. “And since the General Assembly does not meet until January, 2006 we cannot put anything on the ballot in November 2005 election,” he said. Commissioner Ferrell Morgan asked Dickerson if they could still take action on term limits without a straw vote. Dickerson said it could be done. “But it has to be done by of local legislation and a charter amendment,” Dickerson noted. “And again, they won’t be able to consider an amendment until the General Assembly is back in session in January 2006. All of those items have to be approved by the Justice Department,” he said. Dickerson says the City will have to find another way to get input from citizens on those issues. PROPERTY TAXES The City of Toccoa is entering the next phase of trying to collect some $80,000 in back property taxes. City finance director Emory Stephens says title searches have begun this month. Property taxes were due by December 31, 2004, but owners had until April first to make arrangements for payment. This year, City commissioners asked Stephens to wait an extra month to give citizens time to come in and work out a payment plan. In previous years, over 50 property owners made such arrangements, but this year Stephens said only seven people contacted his office. Stephens says it was an unnecessary extra step. “It really was an unnecessary step because this year we only had seven people come into the office asking for a payment plan,” Stephens said. “In past years, we’ve had 50 to 60 people. So this year, most people have almost a full year to pay their taxes between the due date and the all the steps we have to go through to legally advertise their property for auction. So this was really an unnecessary extra step,” he concluded. Once the searches are done, the County will send out registered letters and then advertise their intent to sell property at auction. The auction will be held in December and Stephens says owners have until then to settle their taxes with the City. COUNTY APPROVES CONTRACT
FOR OLD MIDDLE SCHOOL PROPERTY The County approved the contract to purchase most of the old middle school property in Eastanollee to house the e-911 dispatch center. Under the contract, the county will buy 32 acres for $100,000. The school board will retain possession of just over four acres, which contains the cannery, the old library and the old gym. A citizen attending the meeting asked why the County was buying property it already technically owns. Commission chairman Steve Chitwood said it was because that is what the County offered and school board agreed. The authorization to execute the purchase agreement passed 2 to 1. Commissioner Rex Anderson said he had to stand by his reasons for not approving the purchase and voted no. Anderson has long supported the commission’s original plan to purchase the old Hilltop Training Center. SENIORS COMPLAIN OF HIGH
PROPERTY TAXES About two dozen concerned citizens, mostly senior citizens turned out to last night’s County Commission meeting to protest the property tax re-evaluation. Larry Vinson is a business and property owner in the county. He, along with most of those at the meeting, said one of the big problems is the high school millage rate. Bobbi Osborne was born and raised in Stephens County, but has lived in Forest Park until she retired 10 years ago. Osborne told Commissioners it isn’t fair that seniors have to pay for the schools in Stephens County. She said the County is not doing enough to help seniors, many of which cannot afford the basic necessities of life, much less pay a higher property tax. Commissioner Ken Peeples said the County has no control over the education budget, but they are working to lower expenses. Osborne and others at the meeting suggested the county look at lowering the age when seniors no longer have to pay the education millage. Commissioners said that issue needed to be addressed with state representative Jeanette Jamieson and the Board of Education. BETTYE HENDERSON HONORED
BY CITY City commissioners last night honored a local woman who has contributed much over the years to her community. Bettye Henderson was honored with a plaque for her years of service to the people of Toccoa. Afterwards, Henderson said she came from two generations of Toccoa, but she never planned to stay here. “I didn’t want to stay in Toccoa because all my family was here and they were always in my business,” Henderson joked. “But I did stay and I have never regretted it. I am thankful that I was allowed to do all the things I’ve done and I am grateful for this,” she said. Among her contributions, Henderson has served on the Alcohol Beverage Control board, Family Connections, the Senior Sector of the Chamber of Commerce, and Ninth District Opportunity. She is an active member at Trinity CME church, a member of the Toccoa-Elberton Missions Society, and sings in the Elberton-Toccoa choir. TOCCOA MAN OFFERS REWARD
FOR KIDS BIKES A local man is offering a reward for the return of his children’s mini-choppers. Last week we told you about a theft of the choppers from a home on Fowlertown and Mize road. This week, Ronald Batson issued a flyer offering money for information on his children’s bikes. Batson says the bikes were gifts to his kids after their home burned down and they lost everything. “The Red Cross put us up for awhile and we bought the choppers for our kids after we lost everything in the fire,” Batson explained. “I’ve lived in Toccoa since 1961 and everyone knows me and my family. They know I’m disabled. I am appalled that someone would steal from children. I can’t offer a big reward, but if someone would just tell me where the bikes are, it would be a blessing to me,” Batson said. Batson says this is not the first time he’s been robbed. He says after the house fire, thieves cleaned out his yard equipment and tools including a riding lawn mower. The last straw came Sunday night when thieves came back again. “We bought our kids two CCO Special Edition bikes with some of the insurance money,” Batson said. “And I think the same people who took the motorcycles came back last night and tried to take the bicycles, but my neighbor and I scared them off,” he said. “When my pastor heard about it, it broke his heart,” he concluded. Anyone with information on his son’s mini-choppers is asked to contact him at 297-7715 or 244-1029. CITY COMMISSIONERS
CONTINUE WITH CANOPY REMOVAL DESPITE SOME OPPOSITION City commissioners plan to move ahead with the removal of downtown canopies and re-opening of Doyle street to traffic – despite objections from a local business owner who claims most of the downtown business and property owners object to the idea. At last night’s regular meeting, Buddy Lawson said the downtown development authority still has not adequately addressed several key issues with regard to the canopy removal. “Over the past week, Connie Tabor has made comments in the news media that the DDA has a plan for downtown,” Lawson said. “The only plan that she has or that has been presented to the community is an artists drawing of what downtown could look like if the canopies were removed, which is not received well by downtown property or business owners. ….I haven’t seen a plan of how you’re going to prevent large vehicles from parking in front of storefronts. I have not seen a plan or what your plan is for when businesses are interrupted. Are you going to supplement the lost income? And if so, where are you going to get the money. There has been no effort by the DDA or the city to find out what the downtown merchants would like to see happen to downtown,” he said. Lawson refuted city planning director Connie Tabor’s claims she mailed out artist renderings and information to business and property owners of what downtown Toccoa will look like. “Saturday I checked with a few people and the following didn’t receive anything from Connie or the DDA. Martha McCurley, myself, Diane Lawson, Susan Hughes, Mark Marsteller, Frank Stewart,” he said. “I can safely tell you that the DDA does not know the pulse of downtown merchants and property owners. A few weeks ago I submitted a list of people to you who had signed a simple survey stating that they do not want the canopies to come down until a plan is in place and 80% of the downtown property and business owners agree to it and agree to renovate the buildings. When I submitted that there were 13 property owners and 20 business owners downtown and that list is expanded now to 14 property owners and 21business owners,” he said. Toccoa mayor Ken Davis responded that the city gave downtown business owners ample opportunity to make their concerns known through several public hearings and meetings, which Lawson did not attend. “Have you talked to James Vanderwoude?” Davis asked, “He owns a quarter of the downtown area and he’s for the canopy removal. Have you talked to Mr. Harrington and Mr. Nix? They own three buildings downtown and they’re for canopy removal. You mentioned Susan Hughes. Did you know she no longer owns any business downtown?” he asked. “I wasn’t aware of that,” Lawson replied. “And I don’t know who Mr. Harrington is,” he said. “Well you should know if you talked to all the business owners downtown,” Davis replied. “Harrington owns the Frank Anthony building on Sage Street,” he said. Sean Harrington and his partner Alan Nix also recently bought the Rebel restaurant and the building next to it and plan to t |
If you have not stopped by the
train depot lately you need to take a look. Construction and renovation is
expected to be completed ahead of schedule. At this week’s City Commission
meeting, City Manager Billy Morse said that so far, construction costs have been
right on budget.
Members
of the Stephens County School Board met face-to-face Tuesday night with Stephens
County Commissioners, County attorney Rusty Smith and County administrator
Darrell Hampton to hash out exactly how much of the old middle school property
the County will be purchasing. 
School Board will maintain the septic system for the next six years. However,
the Board could sell the land containing the septic system at any time and the
County has asked for first option if that happens. County attorney Rusty Smith
said details of the septic system issue could be worked out. “I think that the
only issue that is going to take a little bit of massaging to work out is the
issue of the septic system,” Smith noted. “The School Board has indicated that
they’re interested in and intend to sell the balance of the property that they
don’t convey to the County Commissioners so that does raise a question as to
where we’re going or what we’re going to do with our waste that is created by
the e-911 Center if they did sell the property to someone who wasn’t going to
maintain the septic system. That may be a non-issue because the cannery
utilizes the septic system also. I am going to come up with some proposed
language that will attempt to address that issue as best I can, but I suspect
that that’s sort of a minor issue in the context of this whole thing,” he
concluded.
Meantime,
Board Member James Thomas said it helped to meet personally with the
Commissioners. “It’s amazing what happens when the two boards get together for
one purpose and that is for the betterment of the citizens of Stephens County
and that’s what has happened today. We’ve made an agreement in principle, the
attorneys have to draw it up and then, yes, I consider it a done deal,” Thomas
said. 
An
Augusta man is pledging to raise a million dollars to fund two Paul Anderson
Parks – one in Toccoa and one in Vidalia – the location of the Paul Anderson
Home for Troubled Youth. John Small spoke to City Commissioners last night about
his plan to hold a $100 a plate dinner fundraiser in Augusta in November and to
sell pavers to raise money for both projects. In his speech, Small invited each
Commissioner personally and solicited their help. 
ay
365 in his honor. A large crowd turned out at the Traveler’s Rest Inn to honor
Roger Caudell and to have a sign unveiled in his honor. 
It
looks like Stephens County might have a Fiscal 2006 budget. Yesterday, County
Commissioners agreed to a few minor changes in the proposed budget, which will
now be advertised in the TOCCOA record beginning Friday.