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Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Barrow Journal
WWW.bdrrOWjOUmdl.com Rarmw’ c Dn/i/ Awarrl-Winninn Cl PA hlawcnanar
Bdrrow’s Only Awdrd-Winning GPA Newspdper
VOL. 8 NO. 28 20 PACES 2 SECTIONS, PLUS INSERTS A PUBLICATION OF MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. WINDER, BARROW COUNTY GEORGIA 30680 50« COPY
Round two: Candidates make their case
Barrow GOP forum held as in-person advance voting begins
By Chris Bridges
Journal Editor
With the official start of early
voting getting underway earlier
in the day, candidates in contested
races in the May 24 primary once
again offered their qualifications
during a forum Monday night.
This event, sponsored by the
Barrow County Republican Party,
was the second forum for the
primary, which features several
contested races this year, includ
ing ones for sheriff, county com
mission chairman and seats on
the board of commissioners and
board of education.
One of the more lively match
ups at the two political forums this
year has been between Barrow
County Board of Commissioners
District 1 incumbent Kenny
Shook and challenger Bill Brown,
a former two-term BOC member.
After Shook went on the offen
sive in the first forum, Brown
responded in kind Monday night
saying the incumbent voted to dip
into the county’s reserves.
“I will fight to keep three
months reserves at all times,”
Brown said. “Talk is cheap.
Action is priceless.”
May 24 primary
Shook, who was then given
his three allotted minutes, said
Brown’s talk was to be viewed as
“nothing further from the truth.”
He continued to call Brown to task
for being part of a former group
of commissioners who put the
county in a mountain of debt say
ing his primary opponent voted to
buy the most expensive pasture
in the state of Georgia which was
viewed as more important than
new patrol cars.
See Forum on Page 3A
KENNY SHOOK
^ T JJL>J
BILL BROWN
Barrow
Briefs
City of Statham plans
annual Spring Fest
The City of Statham will
host its third annual Spring
Fest on Saturday, May 7,
from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
For those interested in
being a vendor at the event,
applications can be picked
up at City Hall.
Food vendor spaces are
$55 or $65 with electricity.
Craft vendor spaces for
this year’s Spring Fest are
available for $30 or $40
with electricity.
For more information
on reserving vendor space
or about this year’s City
of Statham Spring Fest,
contact Randy Gordon by
emailing randygordon@
cityofstatham.com.
Inside:
Index:
Candidate Profiles
2A
Church News
12A
Classifieds
4-5B
Legals
6-7B
Obituaries
10-11A
Op-Ed
5A
Opinions
4A
Public Safety
6-7A
Sports 1
-3B,8B
Contact Info:
Phone: 770-867-6397
Mail: 77 E. May Street,
Winder, Ga. 30680
Fax: 706-621-4115
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POLITICAL HEAVYWEIGHT HELPS ENGLAND CAMPAIGN
Terry England, who represents Barrow County in the State House
of Representatives, faces primary opposition this year and is
leaving no stone unturned in his quest for re-election. England
is following the old political adage of “always run like you are 20
points behind.” While most political observers believe England
will easily win re-election, he held a campaign event last week at
the Winder Community Center where a large turnout of support
ers were joined by Governor Nathan Deal and his wife, Sandra.
This marks the first time since serving that England has had
opposition. Deal called England a “personal friend” and “was glad
to offer his support.” Gov. Deal praised England for his work ethic
as a state representative and for his personal character.
Photos by Jessica Brown
BOE plans
2% bonus
By Al ex Pace
Journal Reporter
Barrow County School System
employees may get a bonus next year.
The final budget won’t be approved
until June, but the Barrow County
School System’s tentative general fund
budget shows a one-time, 2 percent
salary bonus for employees under the
assistant principal and director posi
tions. The Board of Education unani
mously approved the tentative budget
May 3.
The state plans to give local school
districts additional funding to elimi
nate furlough days or implement teach
er raises. BCSS expects to receive $3.1
million more from the state than last
year, but that is less of an increase than
it received last year. The bonus would
cost the district over $1.4 million, forc
ing it to use reserves. Reserves would
be $8 million if the pay bonus goes
through.
BOE member Rolando Alvarez
questioned whether that’s enough of
a cushion in case of another economic
downturn.
He noted $8 million is less than one
month’s operating expenses.
See BOE on Page 3A
Advancing to
the next round...
The WBHS
Diamond Doggs
swept their
first-round state
playoff series.
See today’s
sports section for
coverage.
Mailing
Label Below
Gone to the animals: Pup & Cat
Co. holds 9th annual fundraiser
By Wesleig'h Sag'on
Photographer
Pup and Cat Company held its 9th
annual fundraiser at The Carl House
where live and silent auctions, along
with adoptable dogs, were on dis
play.
This year’s theme was “Canine-
ival Daze” where the event offered
gourmet carnival food, along with
fundraising carnival games.
All proceeds from this year’s
event, held April 24, go to Pup and
Cat Company, a no-kill humane soci
ety which has benefited animals for
many years.
“We do not euthanize animals for
lack of space or for financial reasons,
so we ensure that every adoptable
animal finds a permanent home,”
said Ursula Miller, founder of Pup
and Cat Co. “We rescue animals
from a variety of sources, including
shelters, people who give up their
pets or off the streets where they
have been abandoned.”
See Pup & Cat on Page 8A
FOUR-LEGGED BENEFIT
Kimberly Yoak, marketing director, BB Webb, found
er of Carl House and Ursula Miller, Pup and Cat
Company founder, are shown at the recent Canine-
ival Daze fundraiser. The annual event raises funds
for Pup and Cat Co. Photo by Wesleigh Sagon
Meet the Candidates: Election 2016
The Barrow Journal continues to profile candidates in contested races for the May 24 primary. See
information about Barrow County Sheriff candidates on page 2A in today's edition.
