PAGE 2A
BARROW JOURNAL
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016
McNeal continued from 1A
A new middle school
is being constructed at an
intersection of McNeal
Road, which brought about
the need for left turn lanes
and the need to replace the
water main.
“The school project
made the need for side
walks become a necessity,”
the mayor said. “When fin
ished, the work will con
nect the sidewalks on Ath
ens Street to the new school
and from the new school
to Winder-Barrow High
School. The new sidewalks
on McNeal Road and Can
dler Street made needed
improvements to our storm
water system a necessity.”
As with any undertak
ing of this nature, those
who travel McNeal Road
frequently, whether for
business or residential pur
poses, have had to deal
with a length of the road
closed for several weeks.
Equipment in the area has
also caused some blockage
of line of sight when turn
ing off Apperson Drive on
McNeal Road.
A major water line was
also cut at one point during
a recent Saturday, flooding
an area of the road and
cutting off service to res
idents and businesses in
the area for a few hours.
While initially the fore
man for the crew denied
anyone lost water service,
he later apologized for the
break and for homes and
businesses being without
water.
Barrow County Super
intendent of Schools Chris
McMichael said he has
not heard any complaints
about the work. However,
some business owners have
contacted this paper and
posted on social outlets
about various issues.
Ken Brown, owner of
Kleen Korner Dry Clean
ers on McNeal Road, said
Easter is typically his
busiest time of the year.
However, this Easter sea
son, Brown estimated his
revenue dipped as much as
50 percent.
“Part of the road has
been closed for almost a
month,” Brown said. “My
biggest concern is I have
not heard from one city
official or official from the
Board of Education.”
Brown said county com
missioner Ben Hendrix has
talked to him about the sit
uation, expressing concern,
but the business owner said
he told the District 6 rep
resentative that “he was a
customer and didn’t have
anything to do with the
problem.”
“It’s getting to the point
where I feel like I need to
talk to a lawyer,” Brown
said. “I don’t know what
good it would do, but it's
to the point now I don't
know if we are going to
make it. Easter week nor
mally keeps us ahead and
prepared for the summer
when things slow down.”
Brown said putting side
walks on both sides of the
road is not necessary. The
gas line for his business
was broken as Brown says
the city did not mark it.
“When I went to talk to
them about it they tried
to act like it was my fault
and that aggravated me,”
Brown said.
In addition. Brown is
disputing how much of his
driveway the city is trying
England continued from 1A
“My address is public record for anyone
to find. What is disturbing on the flyer,
however, is the intent to provoke some
one to come and willfully trespass on our
property theoretically in a confrontational
manner. It troubles me not for myself, but
for my parents that live with us and are not
in good health.”
The distribution of the flyers began
while England was staying in Atlanta
during the week for the 2016 legislative
session.
“This was while my wife was here (at
home) with my folks at night by them
selves.” England aid. “The good thing
about that is that she is a better shot than
me. But I do not ever want her to be in that
position of having to.”
As far as the issues brought up on the
flyers, England says they are not true.
Even the information on the loan is false.
The loan in question was for his Homeport
business and that was paid off more than
150 months in advance.
England has already contacted the Geor
gia State Patrol about the issue and repre
sentatives visited Newton, who called their
visit “political intimidation” in various
media accounts.
England said the refugee issue is actual
ly settled at the federal level.
“At this point though, I think to do
anything else just gives him the attention
he desires and seems to thrive on,” the
state representative said. “ For now, unless
something changes I am of the mind just
to let him keep on and see if he will just go
away when the attention to him goes away.
It drives me nuts to say that, however. He
has been opening peoples’ cars to force the
flyers on them and I hope if the attention
goes away he will just leave everyone
alone. There have been at least two police
reports filed I am told where he opened
car doors to force the flyers on folks. One
of my favorite sayings is, ‘he’s as crazy
as a sprayed roach.’ I think that fits here.
I have met with him in the past to explain
that we, as a state, have few options related
to the program he is fighting since it is a
federal program, but he cannot understand
that the issue is a federal one not state.”
Meanwhile England and Hughes will
face off in a May 24 primary. The winner,
who does not have Democratic opposition,
will win the race.
One political observer said England
would likely get 80 percent of the vote.
“Since at this point we have refuted the
points in the flyer, I think if he continues
to distribute them, it just further proves our
point and helps us in the end,” England
said. “Folks in Barrow County do not take
well to folks coming in and trying to ruin
the name of fellow Barrow County folks
that have tried their best to help every
body. I'm not saying I have always gotten
everything right, because I know I have
not, but I have always tried.”
MISSION RUN
APRIL 24, 2016
SCAN HERE
TO REGISTER
" A
Date &Time
Saturday, April 24, 2016.
Run starts at 4:00 PM.
5K starts at 4:30 PM.
'
Location
We're located on Galilee
Church Road, one mile
west of US Hwy 129 in
Jefferson.
For your GPS, enter:
Galilee Christian Church
2191 Galilee Church Rd
Jefferson, GA 30549
\
Awards
Overall and Masters
Male/Female winners,
as well as top three fin
ishers in each age
group, will receive
custom-made wooden
trophies crafted by a
local artist.
CLASSIC
RACE
SERVICES
Registration Fees
• $20 through April 10
• $25 after April 11
and through Race Day.
MJN-& ft EE
GEORGIA
Since 19X9
Register
Online, by
Mail, or Drop
off Today!
Paper entries can be
mailed/dropped off
with check payable to:
Galilee Mission Run
2191 Galilee Church Rd.
Jefferson, GA 30549
Families can register for $70
(max of 4 walkers/runners).
Online registration is also
available on active.com or
scan the QR code above.
Proceeds
All proceeds go to Hope
Resource Center of
Jefferson. Hope Resource
Center is a non-profit that
exists to meet the physical,
emotional and spiritual
needs of women and fami
lies.
Runner Attractions
Timed miles, great course for
ALL skill levels, goodie bags
complete with race shirts for
all pre-registrants and, as
available on race day, post
race drinks, snacks and
award presentation in the
Galilee Family Life Center.
BUSINESS AFFECTED
Kleen Korner Dry Cleaners owner Ken Brown said his business during
Easter, normally his busiest time of the year, was down by approximately
50 percent due to the ongoing road, water line and drainage line work on
McNeal Road. Photo by Jessica Brown
to claim.
“I have a drive-in and
some customers park and
come into the business,” he
said. “It’s going to cause a
wreck in my driveway.”
Brown said he has been
able to retain a few addi
tional feet for his driveway
but still does not feel like it
is adequate. While agree
ing the area may visual
ly look better eventually,
Brown said it does not
appear the work is being
handled correctly.
“The area up by Hill’s
(Ace Hardware) looks nice,
but it was done wrong,”
Brown said. “There have
been so many things that
make me scratch my head.”
Brown’s family began
operating the dry cleaners
in 1979.
“It concerns me the City
of Winder seems like they
don’t care,” he said. “All
they care about is ‘new’
Winder. You look at all the
poor businesses in down
town that went away when
they were working up
there. It’s a real shame.”
Another area business
owner, who requested his
name not be used, agreed
with Brown’s sentiments.
“Lost revenue is lost
revenue,” the owner said.
“I don’t think the city is
going to reimburse me for
the money I’ve lost while
doing this road work.
When the people come in
to do work of this nature it
seems like they try to see
how long it can take them
to get done. They don’t
care one bit about the peo
ple who live there or peo
ple who run a business.”
Added one homeown
er in the area of McNeal
Road: “It was not an ideal
place for a new school to
be constructed. From the
traffic issues alone, it is
going to be a constant
nightmare in the area.”
“In the end, I think the
improvements will make
McNeal Road and Candler
Street more functional for
vehicle and pedestrian trav
el as well as to make them
more attractive aesthetical
ly,” Winder’s mayor said.
“I hope the businesses and
residents in the area will
see a benefit from all the
work being done.”
Work in the area is
scheduled to be “96 per
cent complete by July 16
and 100 percent complete
by Sept. 16,” the mayor
said.
For some businesses,
Sept. 16 seems light years
away. And some worry
they may not still be in
operation when that date
on the calendar arrives.
_ TerryI*
England
for Georgia
“Representing the
values and interests of
Barrow County has been a
tremendous honor.
I ask for your vote and
your trust to continue
working for Our Future”
^ Working Hard
For Barrow County
★ Trusted To Serve
With Integrity
www.TerryEnglandForCeorgia.com
PAID FOR BY THE COMMITTEE TO ELECT TERRY ENGLAND
