Barrow journal (Winder, Ga.) 2008-2016, December 16, 2015, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextBarrow County’s Only Mid-Week Newspaper B * Wednesday, December 16, 2015 arrow It Journal \a/\a/\a/ harrn\A/im irnal mm Rarrn\A/’c Dnh/ A\A/arrt.\A/inninn P.PA l\la\A/cnanar www.barrowjournal. com Barrow’s Only Award-Winning GPA Newspaper VOL. 8 NO. 8 20 PACES 2 SECTIONS, PLUS INSERTS A PUBLICATION OF MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. WINDER, BARROW COUNTY GEORGIA 30680 50« COPY Barrow Briefs Animal Shelter teams with Toys for Tots Continuing through Dec. 20, the Barrow County Animal Control Shelter is offering pet adoptions at a reduced rate of $25 for dogs and $15 for cats for those who bring in a new and unwrapped toy for the Toys for Tots campaign. For more information, contact the Barrow County Animal Control Shelter at 770-867-3012. Leisure Services to host Jingle Jog Barrow County Leisure Services will host its third annual Jingle Jog 5K and Fun Run on Saturday, Dec. 19. The event will begin with the Fun Run at 9 a.m. fol lowed by the 5K race at 9:30 a.m. Registration is available online at www.active.com or in person at the Barrow County Leisure Services at 175 2nd Street in Winder. Registrations with pay ment may be mailed to the Leisure Services Department. Registration forms are avail able for pickup or can be requested by email at Scall@ barrowga.org. The Jingle Jog will start and finish at the Leisure Services Center. Race day registration will begin at 8 a.m. with a cost of $30 for the 5K and $20 for the Fun Run. All proceeds will benefit the Leisure Services athletic and recreation programs, includ ing youth sports scholarships. Inside: Index: Church News 10A Classifieds 4-5B Obituaries 11A Opinion 4A Op-Ed 5A Pets of the Week 10A Public Safety 6-7A,12A School News 9A Sports 1B Contact Info: Phone: 770-867-6397 Mail: 77 E. May Street, Winder, Ga. 30680 Fax: 706-621-4115 ‘Like us’ on Facebook www.barrowjournal.com Mailing Label Below RoboClovers: Read the lastest on this Barrow County 4-H group and how they fared in competition. — Page 8A Marching through downtown Winder The annual Winder Christmas parade was held Saturday and despite warm er than normal tempera tures for December, those in attendance didn’t seem to mind. Numerous groups and organizations took part in this year’s event. See more coverage on page 2A inside today’s edition. Photos by Jessica Brown County ponders calendar change Fiscal year would begin July 1 rather than Oct. 1 By Chris Bridges Journal Editor County officials are looking at the possibility of starting the fis cal year calendar on July 1. Members of the Board of Commissioners voted to begin the process of making the change which would put Barrow's fiscal calendar in line with the state as well as the Barrow County School System. The change, if eventually approved, would not go into effect until the fiscal year for 2017. That would mean the BOC would vote on a millage rate and budget by June 30. Barrow County chief tax appraiser Don Elrod, tax com missioner Melinda Williams and Barrow County Superintendent of Schools Chris McMichael were each in favor of the change and had no issues with it being imple mented. Elrod said most counties are on a fiscal calendar which begins July 1 and the Barrow BOE is already following that setup. Commissioner Ben Hendrix asked if there were any possible drawbacks to the change. “For us, everything would just be done earlier." Williams said. “Tax bills would be in the mail by Sept. 14. The normal due date for taxes is Nov. 15, but it has not been that since 1993. There is a benefit to being on the same calendar as our BOE and the state. I know there is a concern about doing the budget earlier but every thing will move so the figures will be available sooner.” See BOC on Page 3A Statham approves lower millage rate By Chris Bridges Journal Editor City of Statham officials now have a millage rate, but at a lower than expected figure. Council members voted 3-2 to set the 2015 rate at 5.018 with Gayle Steed, Betty Lyle and Hattie Thrasher in favor and Perry Barton and David Huth opposed. Initially Barton and Huth voted for the rate to be at 5.777. but the other council members voted against that number. Statham officials held a final public hearing during Tuesday night’s meeting but no citizens spoke. The 5.018 rate represents the full rollback amount. Also at Tuesday night’s meeting, the council authorized mayor Robert Bridges to execute a con tract with a new city auditor. Council members also voted to surplus various vehicles and post them on the Govdeals website. ALL ABOARD The City of Statham hosted its annual Christmas celebration Saturday with vendors and various rides and events for young and old alike. The unusual spring-like temperatures made for a comfortable day outside for the event. See more coverage on page 3A in today’s edition. Photo by Jessica Brown

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Barrow journal (Winder, Ga.) 2008-2016, December 16, 2015, Image 1