Newspaper Page Text
Vol. 24 No. 11 • Publication No. 1074-987 • Danielsville, Madison County, Georgia 30633 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers Inc. • 28 Pages, 2 Sections Plus Supplements
COUNTY GOVT
BOC puts
more in pot for
chief appraiser
Commissioners hope to draw
qualified person to vital tax post
By Zach Mitcham
zach@mainstreetnews.com
Madison County com
missioners will sweeten the
salary of the chief apprais
er's position, hoping to draw
a qualified person to the
important vacant post.
The commissioners voted
4-1 Monday — with John
Pethel providing the lone
"no” — to amend the 2009
budget, which includes a
$55,000 line item for the
chief appraiser’s position.
The budget will now include
$75,000 for the post. The
increase will be covered
with county contingency
funds.
New BOC chairman
Anthony Dove supported
the action, saying Madison
County’s tax troubles have
gone on too long and that a
qualified chief appraiser is
needed to bring stability.
"We've got to get on the
ball and get this thing fixed,”
said Dove. "It has been one
of our biggest problems in
Madison County for eight
long years. It's time for us
to step up and fix this for
— See ‘Appraiser’ on 7A
DEATH
Inmate dies after
seizure at county jail
A Madison County inmate died Tuesday afternoon
after suffering a seizure Sunday night at the Madison
County Jail.
Walter Alan Pickles, Jr., 36, Hull, was transported to
Athens Regional Medical Center after suffering a sei
zure shortly before 10 p.m. Sunday. He was later trans
ported to the intensive care unit at Emory University
Hospital.
Pickles had a history of seizures and was on medica
tion for that condition, according to Madison County
Sheriff Kip Thomas.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Agent Jim Fullington
said the Madison County Sheriff’s Office requested
that the GBI investigate the incident.
“There is no indication of any foul play," said
Fullington Tuesday afternoon.
Pickles was being held in the county jail for proba
tion violation. His original charges were speeding and
driving while unlicensed.
LEGISLATION
Hudgens’ bill addresses
stem cell research in Ga.
By Zach Mitcham
zach@mainstreetnews.com
Madison County State
Senator Ralph Hudgens
recently introduced legis
lation to prevent an “octo-
mom” incident in Georgia,
but the proposed restric
tions on in vitro fertiliza
tion have been dropped
from the legislation, which
is now aimed at outlining
how Georgia will handle
stem cell research.
The Senate Health
and Human Services
Committee voted 7-6
Monday morning to
approve amendments to
the “Ethical Treatment of
Human Embryos Act.”
“My reason for intro
ducing that (SB 169) was
to eliminate the possibil
ity of what happened with
— See ‘Bill’ on 7A
INSIDE
Index:
News — 1-3A
Opinions— 4-5A
Crime— 6A
Socials — 8A, 14A
Churches— 9A
Obituaries— 10-11A
Schools— 16A
Sports— 1-3B
Legals — 7-12B
Contact:
Phone: 706-795-2567
Fax: 706-795-2765
Mail: PO. Box 658,
Danielsville, GA, 30633
Web:
MadisonJoumalTODAY.com
Next week:
Ag Week
•See the March 19
Madison County Journal
for a special section
devoted to agriculture in
Madison County.
•Visit the Madison
County Freshman
Academy (at the for
mer MCMS parking lot
and gym) Saturday,
March 21, for the
county's annual “Ag
Day Celebration.” The
event opens with tractor
parade at 9 a.m. and
concludes at 2 p.m.
WEATHER
The Storm’s
County copes with significant structural damage
14 poultry houses
destroyed in county
INSIDE:
•County residents can take storm debris
to transfer station, 2A
•County received 8.1 inches, 7A
•Biggest snow since 19-something, 4A
•Schools to make up one snow day
Friday, 3A
•County gov’t to calculate storm costs, 3A
•Chairman thanks those who helped dur
ing and after storm, 5A
By Margie Richards
margie@mainstreetnews.com
By Zach Mitcham
zach@mainstreetnews.com
W hen the chicken house roof began to
collapse on top of them, 18-year-old
Jimmy Wages and his friend Tyler
Smith, 16, ran for their lives.
The teens sprinted for the door at the opposite end
as the building collapsed behind them. They made it
to within 75 feet of the opposite end when it knocked
them down, burying them underneath the debris.
Jimmy’s father, Larry Wages, who was standing at
that end, opened the door and had his hat blown off by
the force of the collapse.
Fearing the worst, Mr. Wages ran quickly to cut off
the gas line.
“He just knew he was going to find them dead
inside that house," Mrs. Wages said.
But, miraculously, both boys escaped with only cuts
and bmises.
“I cried when I saw the chicken house - not for the
— See ‘Aftermath’ on 3A
The new Georgia Metal Finishing structure at Madico Park collapsed last
week under the weight of the heavy snow. Photos by Zach Mitcham/Staff
Dept, of Agriculture Report:
•Poultry farms in five counties (Oconee, Morgan, Hart, Franklin and Madison) col
lapsed March 1 due to the weight of the snow. Four poultry companies were involved,
including Harrison Poultry, Morris Hatchery Company, Pilgrim Pride and Fieldale Com
pany.
•Madison County suffered the most damage, with 14 poultry houses down on 11
poultry farms. These houses included a total of 190,000 birds (broilers, pullets, hens
and roosters):
•A total of 22 poultry houses were destroyed in the five counties and 287,000 birds
(broilers, pullets, hens, and roosters) were affected. Some birds were pickup by poultry
companies, moved to other poultry houses and some were euthanized by foaming.
Foaming was done by the Poultry Federation Laboratory Network.
City of Danielsville employees Daniel Turpin (L) and
Scott Anglin (R) load downed limbs into a woodchipper
Monday. The city provided residents with roadside limb
pickup Monday through Wednesday of this week.
The roof of this out-of-use, 41-year-old chicken house off
Commerce-Neese Road collapsed under the weight of last
week’s snow.
ART
The granite carvings of Mike Jones will be on
display from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and
Sunday during the third-annual Carlton Art
Group Show hosted by Jones and his wife at 65
Lexington Road, Carlton. Ben Munro/Staff
‘Rock’ On
Carlton artist carves granite monuments
By Ben Munro
ben@mainstreetnews.com
Mike Jones has worked on a shrimp
boat.
He’s worked as a private eye.
He repaired saxophones.
He even toured with a band called
“Donkey.”
But he's always been an artist at
heart.
A little over a year ago, Jones, 52,
pulled pieces of granite from a scrap
yard in Tiny Town and went to work
with the desire to create art from local
rock.
Jones’ handiwork with granite will be
ARTIST PROFILE
Who: Mike Jones
Age: 52
Home: Carlton
Medium: Granite sculpting
Originally from: Decatur
Contact info: victorianmonu-
ments@yahoo.com
on display this Saturday and Sunday
from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the third
annual Carlton Art Group show hosted
by him and his wife, Stephanie.
The works in his short sculpting career
include Jesus and the Virgin Mary.
— See “Rock’ on 7A