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Move-In Date Set for New SCHS 02/03/2012 Stephens County school officials are planning to completely move into the new Stephens County High School next month.
In a called meeting Thursday, the Stephens County Board of Education voted unanimously to set Friday, March 2 as the move-in date for the new high school.
Stephens County School Superintendent Sherrie Whiten said there is a lot to do in the next month to make that happen.
“We will have to move phone systems over, technology (over), make sure the wireless works,” said Whiten. “We actually have a lot of software programs that we use and when the kids come in on that next Monday, we want to make sure that everything is working, so we will start making our plans for getting into the building by March 2. We are really excited. We have got 27 classrooms right now in mobiles and we are just real anxious to get those kids out of the mobiles and into this beautiful new facility.”
Whiten went on to say that Friday, March 2 will be a moving day with teachers and students involved.
“The kids will actually help us on that Friday to walk over and move belongings over into the new building,” she explained. “That will give them an excellent opportunity to figure out where their classes are, know where all of their rooms are, so when they come in on Monday morning, they will be ready to go.”
Whiten said that would make Monday, March 5 the first day of classes in the new school.
Stephens County Board of Education Chairman Jerry Steele said it is an exciting time.
“We have been looking forward to this day for a long time and it is getting to the point where we are so close to it,” said Steele. “Bowen and Watson has promised us that they can have all systems checked and everything and we can get in.”
A number of board members asked if all of the systems would be checked and ready before moving in, citing a plumbing problem found in recent days.
Board of Education member Scott Morgan said that system check needs to be finished before moving in.
“The system checks by the engineers, like plumbing, mechanical, and HVAC, needs to be done before we move in,” said Morgan.
Whiten said it would be and school officials note that if an unexpected problem arises, the move-in schedule can be adjusted.
Before voting on the move-in date, the Board of Education dealt with two floor-related issues.
The first issue dealt with the science floors, where the Board of Education voted 5-2, with Scott Morgan and David Fricks opposing, to remove Siltanium up to the lab tables in the science rooms and replace with two coats of finish. Officials said color fading appeared more on the floors where Siltanium was used. The Siltanium is used to protect the polished concrete floor in the lab areas.
The second issue dealt with the warranty on the floor. The company that did the floors, SubFloor, offered a second year on the warranty if a second coat of finish was purchased for the floors. SubFloor offered to pay for half of that second coat, with the school system paying the other half. Board of Education members said they wanted a two-year warranty on the floors after concerns about some colors already fading in the floors.
The Board voted 5-2 to accept that option, with Fricks and Morgan opposing. They said, and other board members agreed, that the architect and contractor on the school should have to share in that cost as well. The board instructed Whiten to ask the contractor and architect to share in the school system’s half of the cost, which is $50,000. According to Whiten, this extra cost will come out of contingency funds on the project and will not change the maximum price of the project.
With a move-in date set, Whiten said the school system will get out information to parents about what to expect with the move.
Also, school officials said they will plan an open house for the community to see the new school.
Three Arrests After Martin Drug Bust 02/03/2012  Three individuals face charges after authorities said they made a drug bust at a Stephens County home.
According to Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley, his deputies and the Mountain Judicial Circuit NCIS Team discovered an indoor marijuana grow during the execution of a search warrant recently at a Martin residence.
Shirley said that agents seized approximately one pound of what he termed high quality marijuana, as well as 26 marijuana plants and $900 in cash. In addition, he says two small children were found at the residence.
The sheriff said that 20-year-old Rebecca Hill, 24-year-old Michael Williams, and 25-year-old Brittany Adams, all of Gumlog Road in Martin, were all arrested.
Hill is charged with two counts of cruelty to children and possession of marijuana. Williams is charged with manufacturing marijuana. Adams is charged with possession of marijuana.
The sheriff said that the Department of Family and Children’s Services was called in to the scene because of the exposure to the illegal drug, as well as the living conditions. He went on to say that the children were turned over to grandparents.
According to the sheriff, the indoor grow operation had the potential to produce high-grade marijuana.
Voter Registration Deadline Monday for Presidential Primary 02/03/2012 Georgia’s presidential preference primary is just over a month away.
Stephens County Registrar Theresa Kelley said that means if you have not yet registered to vote in the March 6 presidential preference primary, time is running out to do so.
“If they are not registered, they have until 5 p.m. on Monday to get registered to vote in the presidential preference primary,” said Kelley. “They need to come to the office, bring me proof of citizenship, a driver’s license (or) something like that and go ahead and get registered. There are other ways to get registered, but to make sure I have it in my hands in time for the March 6th election, you need to come to the office and get that done.”
Kelley also said that any voters who have moved or changed their address should also check with her office to ensure that they are in the correct precinct.
The Stephens County Registrar’s Office is located downstairs in the Stephens County Government Building in downtown Toccoa.
The Registrar’s Office can be reached by phone at 706-886-8954. Belk Building Historic Plaque Unveiled 02/03/2012  The city of Toccoa unveils another plaque in its historic downtown district.
On Thursday, the city unveiled its fourth historic plaque at the Belk-Gallant Building, located on the corner of Doyle and Sage streets in downtown Toccoa.
Toccoa Main Street Director Connie Tabor said that the Belk-Gallant Building is one of the oldest and most historic buildings in the downtown area.
“Belk came to the downtown back in 1937,” said Tabor. “Before that, it had been the Mechanics and Farmers Bank, originally constructed in 1910. Belk moved in 1937 and remained in downtown until 1995. I think one of the interesting facts about the Belk building being located downtown is that it was the 10th store in the nation when they leased this particular part of the building to locate in Toccoa. We were the 10th city to house a Belk.”
Once Belk moved out in 1995, the company donated the building to the city, which retained ownership until 2004 and established an antique market and restaurant.
James VanderWoude now owns the building, which still houses an antique market along with two restaurants.
City officials said that plans are to unveil ten plaques, with a new plaque going up each month.
Eventually, officials said the city plans to create a walking tour and podcast to highlight the historic buildings.
A+ Tutoring Holds Ribbon Cutting 02/03/2012  A tutoring business introduces itself to the community.
The Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday for A+ Tutoring.
Kirk Abbott runs A+ Tutoring.
He said his business provides private, in-home, one-on-one tutoring.
“Our specialty is math and science, which involves physics, chemistry, and things of that nature,” said Abbott. “We do SAT and ACT prep. We help people obtain their GED and we help with end-of-course testing. I found a need after working with Sylvan Learning Center in Gainesville for 12 years and driving an hour to get to my client base that several of were from this area. There was a need for this type of service in Toccoa and Stephens County.”
For more information on A+ Tutoring, call Abbott at his office, 706-779-7854, or on his cell phone at 678-640-0661. Everyone Okay After Thursday Accident on Hwy. 106 02/03/2012 Reports indicate that a school bus and truck were both damaged in an accident Thursday morning.
The intersection occurred during the 6 a.m. hour at the intersection of Highway 106 and Old Mize Road.
School officials report that no students were on the bus at the time of the incident.
Reports indicate that everyone is doing okay after the accident. Toccoa Sears to Close 02/02/2012 The Sears store in Toccoa will be closing.
A Sears Hometown Stores spokesman confirmed that information Wednesday.
The statement from the spokesman said that “Sears Hometown Stores periodically opens and closes stores based on market performance. We appreciate the community support during our time in the Toccoa, Ga. area and look forward to serving customers through March 27, 2012."
The Sears store in Toccoa is located on Big A Road. IRS Looking Out for ID Theft 02/02/2012 As people begin to file this year’s tax returns, the Internal Revenue Service says it is watching closely for tax scams and identity fraud.
IRS Spokesman Mark Green said that the agency is seeing a number of scams again this year.
According to Green, one of the main scams the IRS deals with yearly is the filing of duplicate tax returns.
“This is due to identity theft, where individuals are using other individuals’ social security numbers, whether it was stolen or sold to them,” said Green. “In some cases, taxpayers actually are selling their dependants’ social security numbers for a small gain in order to allow another taxpayer to increase his or her refund. That’s a no-no.”
Green said the IRS is taking a number of steps this year to prevent identity theft and detect refund fraud before it occurs.
Those steps include designing new identity theft screening filters that will improve the IRS’s ability to spot false returns before they are processed, as well as expanded efforts to place identity theft indicators on taxpayer accounts to track and manage identity theft incidents.
Green said taxpayers can help by taking a few steps of their own.
“The most important thing is that if you are going to choose a paid preparer to prepare your return, make sure it is someone you can trust,” said Green. “Guard your personal information, your social security numbers, checking and savings account information. Never give that information out via e-mail to anyone who purports to be from the IRS promising large credits or any other type of scams out there.”
Green also said taxpayers do have the option of filing their own taxes, cutting out any third parties.
To help taxpayers, the IRS also created a new, special section on www.irs.gov dedicated to identity theft matters, including YouTube videos, tips for taxpayers, and a special guide for assistance.
Green did say the IRS is also stepping up enforcement efforts.
The IRS and Justice Department conducted operations in 23 states last month, cracking down on suspected identity theft perpetrators.
Green said those efforts will continue.
“We will be conducting undercover visits throughout the state of Georgia just to verify that each tax preparer, each check cashing agency, those type of affiliates, are in full compliance and are treating taxpayers fair and honest,” said Green.
Green said a taxpayer who believes he or she is a victim of identity theft with tax-related information should contact their local law enforcement agency and then call the IRS at 1-800-908-4490 to report the matter so the agency can take action to secure that individual’s tax account. Registration Continues for Leap for Literacy 02/02/2012  Organizers of the 6th annual Leap for Literacy in Stephens County are still looking for business sponsors and leapers.
The leap is set for Saturday, February 18 at the Georgia Baptist Conference Center in Toccoa, where leapers will make the plunge into the waters of Lake Louise.
Toni Childress is the director of Stephens County Family Connections and Communities in Schools, formerly known as Stephens County Partners for Success, and is one of the Leap’s organizers.
She said they are still looking for businesses and individuals to get involved.
“We want to encourage our businesses to contact us and sign up for a business sponsorship,” said Childress. “That gets your name on the back of the commemorative T-shirt and gets you listed in the program and all of our advertisements. We are also looking for individuals to donate $100 or more and leap in the lake as well.”
The deadline to register for a business sponsorship and get on the Leap T-shirt is tomorrow, Feburary 3.
Leapers can sign up though all the way up to and including the time of the leap on February 18.
Money raised in the Leap for Literacy benefits two different programs.
One is the Stephens County Read-At-Home Program, which is run through Stephens County Family Connections and Communities in Schools.
Childress said this event provides a lot of funding to help cover the program’s cost.
“We send the Dolly Parton Imaginations Library books to registered children,” said Childress. “We currently have over 600 children registered. They receive a book a month, along with a newsletter and information encouraging parents to read to their children every day.”
The other program that benefits from the Leap for Literacy is the Stephens Education Literacy Foundation.
SELF Executive Director Lisa Prickett said that money goes into the operating fund to help with programs for children like the “My Dreams, My Future” essay contest that is coming up, as well as to help SELF serve as a resource and referral agency.
Prickett said SELF also uses its funds to help with adult education programs and funding the GED.
“Those students who have a financial need can receive a scholarship if they meet certain requirements,” said Prickett. “The cost of the exam is $19 per part and there are five parts, but the cost of that is going to go up. That is a real hardship for families trying to complete this program.”
For more information on the Leap for Litearacy or to sign up, contact Prickett at 706-886-6909 or Toni Childress at 706-886-2880, extension 2010.
USFS Reaches Decision on Upper Chattooga 02/02/2012
The U.S. Forest Service is putting some new rules in place regarding recreation on the upper segment of the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River Corridor.
According to the Forest Service, the decisions include new opportunities for boating in the winter and early spring between Green Creek in North Carolina and Lick Log Creek in South Carolina. Current management, or not boating, will be maintained year round between Lick Log Creek and Highway 28, an area that includes the popular Delayed Harvest, a highly valued trout fishery.
One Forest Service official said the decisions protect a variety of existing, high-quality recreation experiences, offer new whitewater boating opportunities and use season, reach and flow restrictions to minimize potential conflict between the two, adding that boaters will be able to float in the winter and early spring in areas and at a time when high flows are most available and predictable, and when traditional use is low.
Officials did say they have more work to do before boaters can float the upper river like printing boater permits, installing permit boxes, and finalizing supervisors’ orders, with that expected to be done no later than early to mid-March.
Toccoa ABC Board Meets On Underage Alcohol Sales Citations 02/01/2012 The Toccoa Alcohol Beverage Control board is recommending that four stores cited by authorities for selling alcohol to a minor face fines and suspensions.
The ABC board met Monday at Toccoa City Hall to discuss the allegations.
Last month, Toccoa Police conducted an undercover operation with a police officer from another agency who was under 21 years of age. In that operation, Toccoa Police Chief Jackie Whitmire says the officer attempted to buy some alcohol from eight stores in Toccoa and the clerk at four stores sold to the officer who was under 21.
Whitmire says those four stores are Zebo’s on South Pond Street, the Quick Mart on Mize Road, Royal Foods on East Currahee Street, and the Quick Stop and Shop at Broad and Currahee Street.
During Monday’s meeting of the ABC board, representatives from all four stores were there.
None of the stores denied the allegations. Some of the stores say the officer pressured the clerk even after the clerk initially would say “no” to the sale and the clerks gave in. Those stores did acknowledge, however, that it was their mistake.
After deliberation, the ABC board voted to recommend to the city commission that as first violators under the rules set by the ordinance, Zebo’s, the Quick Mart, and Royal Foods, face a $500 fine and mandatory 30-day suspension of their ABC license.
City officials state that under the rules of the ordinance, this is the second violation for the Quick Stop and Shop, and a result, the ABC board voted to recommend to the city commission that it receive a $1000 fine and 30-day license suspension.
The final decision on the penalties rests with the Toccoa City Commission.
City commissioners are expected to address the issue at their next meeting on February 13. Toccoa Approves Additional Water Treatment Plant Repairs 02/01/2012 The city of Toccoa makes some additional repairs at its water treatment plant.
Monday, Toccoa City Manager Mike Jackson told commissioners that while meeting with engineers a couple of weeks ago regarding the status of previously approved repairs at the water treatment plant, engineers pointed out a couple of other problems.
Jackson said one of the problems dealt with the equipment involved with providing water to Habersham County.
“It has to do with the surge line that impacts our ability to pump water to Habersham County,” said Jackson. “The surge line is vibrating and you can see the wear on the exterior of the line and I was informed by the engineers that if should fail, it would be a catastrophic failure and something needed to be done. They needed to anchor that surge line.”
Jackson said that the engineers also suggested putting a cut-off valve on that surge line, so that if there ever was a problem with the line, the water through the surge line could be cut off.
According to Jackson, anchoring the surge line and installing a cut-off valve came to a total cost of just over $19,000.
Jackson said that the city had just under $15,000 remaining in the more than $700,000 allocated for water treatment plant repairs approved last year by the commission. Those repairs include installation of an air scour system for three filters at the water treatment plant, along with various other improvements.
After spending that extra money, about $5,100 more was needed to cover the cost of the surge line anchor and cut-off valve, which Jackson said is just over the limit of $5,000 that he is allowed to spend without commission approval.
However, Jackson said he considered this an emergency and approved the $5,100 expenditure.
“I considered this to be an emergency because if this failed, that is a bad day, so I went on ahead at that time and gave the go-ahead to get this work done,” said Jackson. “We will have a change order of $5,143 to that contract.”
City commissioners ratified Jackson’s decision to spend the money unanimously.
Commissioner Ron Seib said the city may also want to discuss the matter with Habersham County.
“I am reminded of the initial expenditures that took place when we did the pump to sell water to Habersham and I think we had an agreement in place that we shared in that cost,” said Seib. “It would seem to me that this would be an opportunity to ask them to share in that cost consistent with what we originally did.”
Jackson said he would look into that and report back to the commission. Local Editorial Writer Responds to City Commissioner 02/01/2012 A local citizen responds to a statement made last month by a Toccoa City Commissioner.
Bobby Clardy attended Monday’s meeting of the Toccoa City Commission to respond to comments made at the January 9 Toccoa City Commission meeting by Commissioner Andy Pavliscsak.
On January 9, Pavliscsak asked the clerk to see if Clardy was in attendance, which he was not.
Pavliscsak said he wanted to see if Clardy was there after reading some of his letters printed in the Toccoa Record.
“I do not know who Bobby (Clardy) is, where he lives, but I would sure like for you (Clardy) to come a commission meeting and give us your thoughts on some of this,” said Pavliscsak on Jan. 9 at the city commission meeting. “I have never seen (Clardy) up here, yet based on some the letters I have read that you (Clardy) have written in the past, you do not hesitate to state your opinion. I would appreciate you (Clardy) coming before the commission and dealing with us on some of these items.”
Clardy spoke during the public comment portion of Monday’s meeting in response to Pavliscsak.
He said he wanted to make a couple of points.
“I do not know Mr. Pavliscsak,” said Clardy. “I have never met him. The only time I talked to him is when I called him about this article and he hung up on me. He has been described to me as a bully. In my opinion, I believe that any elected official that would single out a private citizen because he does not approve of what this citizen writes in the newspaper is not merely a bully. He is a fool. He is a politician with too much time on his hands.”
Clardy also said that he thinks it is bizarre that a city commissioner would take time at a meeting to discuss what he wrote in the newspaper.
Pavliscsak said he thanks Clardy for attending the meeting.
“As I told you, I felt like that I thought you would be better informed if you attended the meeting before you expressed your written opinion to the newspaper and I appreciate you coming to the meeting this morning and I hope that you will gain some insight into what we do,” said Pavliscsak to Clardy.
Clardy said that he writes his opinion and whether Commissioner Pavliscsak feels he is informed or not is immaterial to him. Ty Cobb Healthcare Holding Photo Contest for New Hospital 02/01/2012 By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia
Amateur and hobbyist photographers could have their photos grace the walls of the new Ty Cobb Regional Medical Center.
Ty Cobb Healthcare is asking the public to submit photos for a contest that’s running through February 28.
The submitted images should evoke a sense of comfort and calm to provide a positive
distraction for patients and their families. They can include anything from local landscapes, trees, and flowers to insects and wildlife.
Also being accepted are photos of familiar regional and local landscapes, such as the Lavonia Train Depot or local historic churches or the county courthouse.
Ty Cobb Healthcare is also looking for images of newborn babies for the mother/baby center. Each selected image will have the photographer’s name inscribed in a title box under the photo. The winning photos will be displayed throughout the new hospital for the enjoyment of the community.
First place winner will receive $500, second place will receive $300, and third place will receive $200. There will also be a $500 People’s Choice award.
To get more information on how to submit your photo, contact Ty Cobb Healthcare at 706-245-1855 or go to the Ty Cobb Healthcare Web site at http://www.tycobbhealthcare.org/.
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