The Braselton news. (Jefferson, Ga) 2006-current, January 28, 2016, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextO O Your only locally-owned community newspaper Serving Braselton, Hoschton, Chateau Elan, Traditions, West Jackson and Barrow County GJA£ Member of the Georgia Press Association 500 copy Vol. 10 No. 42 Thursday, January 28, 2016 A publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. www.BraseltonNewsTODAY.com 12 pages Inside Buffington: ‘My protest marijuana plant is growing’ See 3 GED passing score drops five points See 2 Hardy to seek re-election See 2 General assembly to consider gambling, education funding See 2 Buzzards busted Bizarre cow mutilations attributed to scavenger birds By Katie Cofer An investigation by the University of Georgia and the Georgia Department of Agriculture into suspicious activity involving a cow at a Braselton farm points to buzzards as the cause, according to Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum. An Ednaville Road, Braselton, man requested the sheriff’s office on Jan. 6 to report that he found one of his Black Angus cows deceased with what appeared to be a complete circle cut out around its anal area few weeks prior. This was the second report of a deceased Black Angus cow on the man's farm, he said. On the day of the report, he said he had dis covered yet another deceased cow, which he thought to be in good health, with a half circle cut around its anal area. University of Georgia and agricul ture officials determined buzzards were the source of recent cow mutilations. Congressman visits Rep. Doug Collins, R-Gainesville, spoke to students at Jackson County Comprehensive High School last week. Rep. Collins took to social media to thank the school, adding that he enjoyed the oppor tunity to meet with students and was even more impressed by the thoughtful questions they asked. Shooting: Woman’s injury deemed self inflicted during warrant execution Authorities believe a woman that had a warrant out for her arrest may have shot herself Thursday afternoon as deputies were trying to serve a war rant at a residence off Hwy. 211 east of Braselton. The Barrow County Sheriff’s Office announced via Facebook that it sent deputies to assist the Hall County Sheriff’s Office at 2089 Hwy. 211 Northeast near Dooley Town Road to serve a fel ony warrant to a woman at that address, the post states. As the Hall County deputies knocked on the front door they heard a loud bang and realized quickly the loud bang was a gunshot. When they entered the home, they found a female on the couch with a gunshot to the head area that was possibly self-inflicted. An ambulance and fire unit arrived on scene and the female, who was still alert and not deceased, was taken to an area hospital, the post states. The Barrow County Sheriff’s Office notified the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for an indepen dent investigation. Pay the debt or look ahead? News 1-3 Crime 4 Opinion 5 School 10 Obituaries 11 Church 12 Contact Us • News: news@mainstreetnews. com, call 706-367-5986 or fax to 706-387-5421 •Ads: ads@mainstreetnews.com or call 706-367-5233 • Editor: editor@mainstreetnews. com. Online B Follow us on Facebook by becoming a fan of The Braselton News www.BraseltonNewsTODAY.com Sales tax expenses discussed at Saturday town hall meeting Crow Discusses SPLOST Jackson County Board of Commissioners chairman Tom Crow speaks with citizens Catherine Daniel and Pat Garrison at a town hall meeting on Saturday. Photo by Alex Pace “It has to be paid or we go bankrupt. ” Jackson County Board of Commissioners chairman Tom Crow on county debt By Alex Pace The county could reduce its debt and fund future expenses if the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax is renewed. Jackson County Board of Commissioners chairman Tom Crow spoke about possible uses for SPLOST revenues at a town hall meeting Saturday morning. Citizens will vote on the renewal of SPLOST in a March 1 vote. Based on current revenues, Crow anticipates the county would receive $55.5 mil lion in revenue over six years if SPLOST contin ues. The county would receive $38.85 million and the remainder would be split between the cit ies. Crow said determin ing SPLOST expenses is a “balancing act’’ as the county decides how much to spend on debt reduction and how much to use for future projects. The county plans to use $21 million to pay off debt for the courthouse, jail and fire training facil ity. The county still owes $113 million on those projects. The county also plans debt payments to the airport. Bear Creek Reservoir and Industrial Development Authority. Crow said if the SPLOST vote fails, the county will have to pay off the debt from another source. “It has to be paid or we go bankrupt,” said Crow. What is left over in the county’s SPLOST reve nues is split between its departments: •water and sewer - $9.04 million •public safety - $2.25 million •roads, streets and side walks - $3 million •historic courthouse (renovate second floor) - $800,000 •parks and recreation - $2.5 million •animal shelter $250,000 Citizens spoke at the meeting, saying they disagree with the BOC’s budgeting. Jefferson res ident Rock Feeman said he would rather put all $55 million toward debt reduction. “Pay off the debt...get continued on page 2

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The Braselton news. (Jefferson, Ga) 2006-current, January 28, 2016, Image 1