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The Braselton News Wednesday, November 21, 2007 Page 2A Area News Jackson County Board of Commissioners BOC approves zoning for shopping center BY ANGELA GARY A rezoning for a shopping cen ter in West Jackson was approved by the Jackson County Board of Commissioners Tuesday night. The BOC approved the request from Mike Malerba to rezone three acres on Skelton Road from A-2 to NRC to develop a strip commercial shopping center. In other action at Monday night’s two-hour meeting, the BOC: •postponed action on an agree ment with Dorfman Consulting for $12,500 to conduct a commu nity services study for the coun ty. There was some discussion as to whether this was put on the agenda in time for the commis sioners to review it and where the money would come from. •approved a contract with the Georgia Department of Transportation for the resurfacing of Ridgeway Church Road and Sanford Road and the base and paving of Mary Collier Road. •approved a contract with Emergency Billing Inc. for medi cal transportation services for Jackson County EMS. Emergency Billing will provide services for a percentage of 7.5 percent minus any refund amount of money col lected during the billing cycle. •approved a $69,301 contract with Ross & Associates to do a study of impact fees. •agreed to reduce the speed limit on Harold Phillips Road from 55 miles per hour to 35 miles per hour. Planning director Scott Carpenter said the road has 19 driveways, two hills and one steep curve. Before the change was approved, BOC chairman Pat Bell questioned why this mat ter was not discussed with road superintendent Larry Guthrie and public works director Don Clerici before it was presented to the BOC for action. “The pro cedure was not followed,” she said. “This board relies heavily on Mr. Clerici and Mr. Guthrie on roads.” •postponed a recommenda tion to abandon a portion of Bill Wright Road. This must be advertised and a public hearing held before any action is taken. •approved a request from Jane Murray to change the conditions on the zoning of her property on Skelton Road so that fences are no longer required along the development. •chairman Bell introduced newly-appointed county manager Darrell Hampton. “He was cho sen unanimously and that’s hard to do with this board,” Bell said. •Don Segraves spoke on his concerns about transfer of devel opment rights (TDR). The coun ty recently held an meeting about TDRs. Braselton Playhouse raffle to raise funds for Habitat The Jackson County Habitat for Humanity is raffling off a one-of- kind children’s playhouse to raise funds for the construction of the county’s eighth Habitat house. The 10x8 foot playhouse fea tures a front porch with carriage lights, and dormer windows with window boxes fdled with pan sies. Construction of the house was supervised by Stan Beeco, owner of Beeco Construction and a Jackson County Habitat board member. “Each house we build, even tak ing into account donated materi als and volunteer labor, requires about $45,000. We felt that the playhouse would be a great way for us to use our Habitat building experience to make something that children would enjoy and their families would be proud of, and in doing so help build a real house that will provide a family in need with a decent place to live,” said Jackson County Habitat pres ident Gordon Wilson. The house is on display in front of the Jefferson offices of Jackson EMC on Commerce Road. Raffle tickets for the house are $10 each and can be pur chased at the following locations: in Jefferson at Jackson EMC, Mattox Feed and Seed, Trinity Tire, Jefferson Tire, Sugar & Spice, Bright Beginnings, Verizon Wireles s, Living J ackson magazine and Doggie Style’n Professional Pet Grooming; in Commerce at Northeast Georgia Bank, Athens First Bank, and McDonald Ace Hardware; in Braselton at Hometown Community Bank and Northeast Georgia Bank; and in Talmo at CAM Realty Group, or by calling or emailing Bonnie Jones at 706-367-6114, bjones@ jacksonemc.com. The raffle drawing will be held on Dec. 15, in time for the playhouse to be delivered for Christmas. ‘Ms. Cured for Life’ pageant ahead Jackson Creative Community Resource Center will host a “Ms. Cured for Life” pageant at 7 p.m. Friday, February 8, at the Commerce Cultural Center. Proceeds will benefit the center’s Relay for Life team. Food ven dors will be at the event. Applications will be taken through December 30, and forms are available from 2 to 4 p.m. weekdays at Jackson Creative, 106 Industrial Parkway, Commerce. Contestants must be over 21, have a sponsor to pay the $25 entry fee and sell 10 tick ets to the pageant. Contestants need a formal gown, and make up artists will be available. Each contestant will receive a free guest ticket. A mandatory stage rehearsal will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1, at Jackson Creative. Tickets for audience members will be $7 in advance, $10 at the door and $30 for a family of five or more. For more information, call 706-335-5379. Run/walk held to benefit Red Cross The East Georgia chapter of the American Red Cross will hold its 22 nd annual Sleighbell 5K Run/ Walk on Saturday, Dec. 1. The event will be held at the pavilion at Pittard Park on N. Church Street, Winterville. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and the race starts at 8:30 a.m. Proceeds will benefit local disas ter services of the East Georgia chapter of the Red Cross. For more information, or to reg ister, visit www.sleighbell.org or call 706-353-1645. Need Printing? Call 706-367-5233 Recycle!! Jackson Countv School System ‘Mean girls’ new outlet for bullying at schools BY KERRI TESTEMENT “Mean Girls” isn’t just a popu lar movie about manipulative rela tionships between some teenagers — local school leaders say it’s a new trend of bullying among girls. “Mean girls,” also known as “rela tional aggression,” is behavior that is intended to harm someone by dam aging or manipulating relationships with others. Educators say these relationships can start as young as pre-school age. The Jackson County Safe and Drug Free Schools committee heard a presentation about “Mean Girls” during its meeting last week. The next committee meeting is scheduled for March 27. “Mean girls” will use exclusion, gossiping, insults, teasing, alliances and even “cyber bullying” to taunt their so-called friends. More than 160,000 kids nation wide miss school each day out of fear of being bullying, according to statistics presented to the commit tee. Jackson County educators also learned that “mean girls” have cer tain roles — including the “Queen,” who gets her friends to do what she wants, to the “Wannabee,” who loves to gossip and strives to have the “right” look. Other roles include the “Gossip,” “Sidekick,” “Floater,” “Bully,” “Bystander,” and “Target.” “Mean girls” are usually verbally abusive to other girls, and not physi cally violent, according to the pre sentation. Schools, however, can address “mean girl” bullies by teaching empathy, encouraging extracurricu lar activities and having small group discussions. Parents can encourage their chil dren to have relationships with adults and other children who appreciate them for what they are. Parents can also teach kindness and model that behavior; become computer savvy to address “cyber bullying” threats; be aware of their child’s online activi ties and not allow a computer in their child’s room. Parents are further encouraged to talk about both sides of an issue, as girls may talk about being a victim and not about being the aggressor. OTHER BUSINESS In other business, the Jackson County Safe and Drug Free Schools committee: •learned that its 2008 budget will be $27,759. •learned that the state needs assess ment survey that was conducted in October will serve as the baseline data for upcoming years. •heard from educators at various Jackson County schools on how they observed Red Ribbon Week. Activities included special speakers, special rallies and making posters. •learned that the Jackson County School System has 13 confirmed cases and two suspected cases of MRS A, or methicillin-resistent staph ylococcus aureus. MRSA comes in two forms — a rare, but potentially deadly form mostly acquired in hos pitals and another form in the com munity that responds to antibiotics and is seldom fatal. There have also been 34 cases of staph infections this school year. Anyone who looks like they may have an infection are being sent home. Special attention will be given during the wrestling season, when students are likely to have skin-to-skin contact with other wres tlers who may have an infection. County BOE approves new employees BY BRANDON REED The Jackson County Board of Education approved several new hires last week. Those hired were: •Martha Bart, food service assistant, EJMS. •Kathy Barnett, custodian, EJES. •Richard Friedman, school nutrition manager, EJES. •Catherine Cantrell, 5 th grade teacher, WJIS (effective 12/17/07) RESIGNATIONS The following resignations were approved: •Carol Gilham, special education teacher, EJMS. •Donna Wells, food service manager, EJMS •Sandy McGrath, paraprofessional, WJPS •Rebecca Stone, 5 th grade teacher, WJIS TRANSFERS The following transfers were approved: •Alisa Hanley, principal, WJIS to Gum Springs Elementary. •Lydia Anderson, special education teacher, EJES to EJMS. •James Pope, custodian, EJES to EJCHS. RETIREMENT The following retirements were approved: •Beth Bray, BES (effective 6/30/08) Barrow County Planning Commission Retail center plans get recommended approval BY KRISTI REED The Barrow County Planning Commission recommended at a meeting last week approving a request which would allow a retail center to be constructed at the comer of Midland Avenue and Hwy 8. The proposed project would include a convenience store and office space. Commissioners stipulated that the applicants must complete a traffic study and meet highway corridor overlay requirements. Attorney John Stell, speaking on behalf of applicant Shawn Ali, requested that the screening buf fer requirement be removed. Stell told commissioners the buffer would be replaced with a landscaped area to improve business visibility from both Midland Avenue and Highway 8. Stell explained that the site plan calls for the building to be placed at an angle facing the intersection. This placement would screen the rear of the business from view elimi nating the need for the buffer. In other business, the planning commission: •recommended approval for a request by Mary Ann Prater to rezone three acres out of a 10.049 acre tract from AG to AR for a single family residential home. The property is located at 1031 Clacktown Road in Winder. •recommended approval for a spe cial use permit requested by Allison Moravec of 674 Rivermill Road in Bethlehem. The permit would allow Moravec to operate a bar ber shop in her garage. District 5 Commissioner Howard Hawthorne and District 3 Commissioner Wayne Alexander voted against the request after voicing concerns that the pro posed business would not meet state licensure requirements. District 1 Commissioner Joe Goodman motioned for approval after express ing his view that the state licensure requirements were outside the pur view of the planning commission. Nancy Easterling (District 4) and Chet Holiday (At-large) also voted for approval. The Barrow County Board of Commissioners will vote on the zoning requests at the December 11 meeting. Don't Replace Your Tub,.. , - Ft^-Gt^^ Hi. .. $199,00 B'dd-AT'Bed Landscape Installations ■ Chips & ■ .-■Jll .in: 1 - U v. 1 . Ikitfc .'H.Tt- ■ I ifuirtlfiirr-ril' ^’T-r.I.vTP ■ [ijl:' Vi.t i :.w.v r-lftn ■ ArrylirTin l.i-i—i El™,., rS14&9 Bath Master Flowers * Shrubs • Trees • Edging • Fencing • Mulch • More Trevin Boucher 706-983-9688 REALTY LLC A New Direction Eddie Butler Owner/Broker Let me put my experience to work for you! 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