Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2008
BARROW JOURNAL
PAGE 3A
Barrow’s black leaders celebrate Obama win
BOE continued from 1A
BY SUSAN NORMAN
Although Barrow County
leaned heavily Republican in
Tuesday’s election, Barrow
County’s African-American
leaders are celebrating the
historic election of Democrat
Barack Obama as the nation’s
first black President.
“I am just thrilled; it’s some
thing I have been praying for,
that the day would come,” the
Rev. Alfred Hazel said in an
interview Wednesday morn
ing. “I grew up in the Civil
Rights Movement and went
into the Labor Movement in
1970, where I worked for 38
years. One of the things we
were working for was to get
people registered to vote so
we could make a difference.
“Last night was the fruition
of all of my hopes and dreams,
that America would look at
Barack Obama and see him
as an American and not an
African-American. We are a
nation of people and not just
ethnic backgrounds.”
Hazel said he received phone
calls until early Wednesday
morning from friends around
the United States.
“I got phone calls until
about 2 a.m. this morning from
all over the country - from
Chicago, Louisiana, Florida,
even from New York,” he said.
“People are excited all over.
I’m so excited about his being
elected to the presidency of
the United States of America.
I’m no longer looking for
my promised 40 acres and a
mule.”
Obama’s election is going
to bring racial healing to the
nation, Hazel said.
“I think it’s bridged that
great divide that had this
country divided by political
affiliations and racial and eth
nic differences,” he said.
Kenny Lumpkin, a local
businessman and president of
the Brotherhood Club, Inc.,
a predominantly African-
American civic group that
continued on page 5A
Election continued from 1A
Lagging by only about 400 votes cast on
Tuesday, Healan hoped the numbers from the
county’s 45 days of early voting would swing
the race his way.
They did not. The early vote totals were
close, but Republican challenger Steve Worley
bested the incumbent by 182 votes when all
was said and done.
“I always knew it was going to be a tight
race,” said an obviously happy Worley. “Bill
has been holding the seat for one year and
has done a good job. We actually see a lot of
things eye to eye. Of course, I couldn’t say that
before the election.”
Worley said he has been campaigning hard
since he lost his first bid for the seat during a
2007 special election primary. Healan said he
was unable to campaign aggressively because
of a series of serious family health crises.
Healan was gracious in defeat. He said
Worley’s lengthy experience as Monroe’s pub
lic works director will be an asset to the
county.
“He has a wealth of experience that I don’t
have,” Healan said.
Davis praised her supporters, some of whom
sat in the counting room throughout the night.
“My supporters supported me. They believed
in me,” Davis said. “Everyone who runs for
office goes out knowing they could win or
lose. But most of them want to do a good job
for the citizens.”
Lawsuit continued from 1A
The Twiss have also con
tacted the Barrow County
Sheriff’s Department with
complaints about what they
say has been harassment by
the Posts. Jacquelin Twiss
said her vehicle has been fol
lowed several times.
The Posts deny the harass
ment and say Jacquelin
Twiss made a false complaint
because “she is a sore loser.”
But the Twiss see the situa
tion differently.
“The Posts saw our facilities
before they purchased a dou
blewide next to us,” Jacquelin
Twiss said. “They talked to
our clients. They even offered
one client the opportunity
to hand graze her horse on
their property. We purchased
this property in 2004. We’ve
not had any issues with any
one except the poachers until
Karen and Kenny moved in
during March 2007. The Posts
gave (commissioner) Jerry
Lampp the cover to not rezone
the land back to AG.”
She also said the Post’s
attorney, John Stell, told “lie
after lie” during the planning
commission meeting when he
cited alleged ordinance viola
tions and environmental haz
ards.
“We had the U.S. Forestry
Service and the Oconee Water
Shed come out and walk
the land before we’ve ever
cleared any land,” she said.
“We wanted to insure the land
wasn’t a wetland. We didn’t
just start clearing the land.
We hired a company to come
in and mulch the trees so as
not to disturb the soil. If one
looks at the area we did in the
summer of 2007, they will see
what the property we did this
summer will look like.”
Kristi Reed contributed to
this article.
The BOE had previously scheduled a work
session for Thursday and could discuss the
issue again at that time. A work session is also
scheduled for later in the month to prepare for
the December meeting.
Saunders told BOE members action needed
to be taken by the end of the month or the price
would increase to $769,000 for the expansion
of the program in the elementary and middle
schools.
“They are headquartered in Duluth and they
are expanding nationwide,” Saunders said.
“They want to use our school system as a place
to bring potential clients. That is why they are
offering us this discount. However, it goes
away after this month.”
Saunders and assistant superintendent for
facilities Jake Grant detailed how cutting down
on the number of times per year the campuses
had the grass cut could save approximately
$100,000.
That amount would go toward the cost of
expanding the Classworks program. In addi
tion, Saunders said there were additional funds
in the budget to meet the remaining costs.
NO CONSENSUS
Despite administrative support, there was
no clear consensus on the BOE about the pro
posal. Board member Mark Still said he had
some concerns about approving the plan. He
said he had issues with the timeframe it would
take for teachers to adjust to the program and
about the costs.
“Another concern I have is cost, especially in
this down time in the economy,” Still said. “I
think this could be a good program, but I don’t
know if we have the money.”
Board member Connie Wehunt said she
agreed with the money concerns.
“Also, our schools still don’t have their com
puters running the way they should have and it
is now November,” Wehunt said. “It is hard to
implement another program when we can’t get
our computers to run right now.”
But BOE member Lynn Stevens said she
didn’t know how the board could not approve
the Classworks program.
“It has its own support system,” Stevens said.
“The teachers have said it is the most respon
sive group they have worked with. I don’t
know if we can afford not to do this.”
Mitch Churchhill agreed with many ol
Stevens’ remarks.
“This is a tool which has been proven can
help our students,” he said. “We have to look
at what we can do different to meet the test
requirements. Our teachers and administra
tions are for it.”
Wehunt said she was still not prepared to
take action Tuesday night.
Board member Rickey Bailey asked il
Classwork officials could look at the school
system’s computers and see if they could
meet the needs of the system. Churchhill said
the computers in the elementary school were
already doing that and no problems had been
reported by the staff at those schools.
BOE chairman Bill Bramlett said the soft
ware would benefit students.
“We are always going to have concerns about
computers and funding for them,” Bramlett
said. “It is also always going to take some time
to get used to a new program. It’s the same
way when you get a new program on youi
own computer. It takes using it several times
before you are comfortable with it. I believe
this program is something which will benefit
our students.”
In other business at Tuesday’s meeting, the
BOE:
•voted to table action on a proposed Mariachi
class at Apalachee High School until December.
The motion passed 8-1 with Stevens voting in
opposition.
The class has been discussed at several meet
ings. Apalachee teacher Kerry Bryant has pro
posed the class and has secured grants to pay
for the purchase of 20 instruments.
March of Dimes event scheduled Nov. 12
The kickoff of preparations
for Barrow County’s annual
March for Babies is at 11:30
a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12,
at Barrow County Leisure
Services at 175 2nd St. Please
join local March of Dimes
volunteers as they choose
teams and learn how to get
ready for the 2009 walk.
The kickoff is on National
Prematurity Awareness Day,
also known as “Blue Jeans
for Babies” day. To purchase
a T-shirt for $10, please con- The Peoples Bank by calling
tact Stephanie Sorrells at 678-425-6746.
JW AUTO REPAIR
Major and Minor Engine Work
Computer Diagnostic Testing
Auto - Trucks - Heavy Equipment
Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
671 Kilcrease Ftd. • Auburn (just off Hwy. 316)
■ 770-867-7376 B
Coleaan Barker. Printing Inc.
Since
1967
csaBooks
oa Newsletters
os Envelopes
oa Flyers
oa Notepads
oa Postcards
csiiangTags
oa business Cards
Services
ca Thank you Cards
ca Brochures
ca Labels
ca Catalogs
caCoriEs-
CaBLMTL
ca& color
ca Calendar
letterhead
oafiDE Eor/aat
caTENT Cards
cacusTO/A Projects
(OtfOSTERS
ca Invoices 2.3.4 part
caPACMNG Sues
Gg Order Loras
15 CENT COLOR COPIES
770-666-6954
www.colemanbarker.com
W
developing
leaders of
COMPETENCE
CONSCIENCE
COMPASSION
CONFIDENCE
and COURAGE
Monsignor Donovan
CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
FALL TOURS
Nov. 5th & 19th
Drop-in from 11:00am - 1:00pm
590 Lavender Road • Athens, GA
706.433.0223 • www.mdchs.org
Monsignor Donovan Catholic High School shall admit students of any race, color, sex. national and ethnic origin to all the nghts. privileges, programs, and activities generally
accorded or made available to students. Monsignor Donovan Catholic High School shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, nationality and ethnic origin in the administration
of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other school-administered programs. Monsignor Donov an Catholic High School is an
independent Catholic school sen ing the families of northeast Georgia. MDCHS is not affiliated with the Archdiocese of Atlanta.
ft ^ ,, ^l
m
CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH
would like to invite you to our new church
facility at 1975 Hwy. 82 in Statham
(corner of Hwy. 82 and 330)
Dedication Service
November 9 • 2:30 p.m.
fSWg’lease join us
Pastor Dr. E. R. Healan
For more information
call 770-725-5164.
Need Holiday Cash?
Come See
Santa’s Best Helper!
• v/
Drop by one of these convenient locations...
1048 Washington St 138 West Athens St
Jefferson
706-367-9828
Winder
770-867-2141
NEW LOCATION AT
5857 Spout Springs Rd - Flowery Branch
770-967-7047
St
Franklin
Financial
Let us show you how
WE CAN HELP
get rid of your
Serving Our Neighbors Since 1941 money nightmares!
*All loans subject to our liberal credit policy and limitations, if any.