About The Braselton news. (Jefferson, Ga) 2006-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 28, 2022)
o o Serving Braselton, Hoschton, Chateau Elan, Traditions, Reunion, Deaton Creek and West Jackson $1.00 copy Wednesday, December 28, 2022 Vol. 16 No. 3 A publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. www.BraseltonNewsTODAY.com 12 pages Local agencies receive grants Jackson EMC grants have been awarded to multiple service agencies in the area PAGE 7A Four arrested on meth charges Four people were recently arrested on meth charges in West Jackson PAGE 6A Holiday helping hands Photo by Ben Munro Skippi Smith fills a plate for a guest during Hoschton’s community holiday dinner Friday (Dec. 23) at the Hoschton depot. LOOKING BACK AT Here’s a look back at the headlines from 2022 in the Braselton-Hoschton area: JANUARY •New councils sworn in: Both Braselton and Hoschton saw new officials take office in January. In Braselton, 60% of the council was new. Kurt Ward was sworn in as the town's mayor, while first- term councilmen Richard Harper and James Murphy were sworn into their posts in Districts 2 and 4, respec tively. Hoschton welcomed a new mayor as well as Lau ren O’Leary was sworn in. The city also added two council members — Fredria Carter Sterling and Scott Mims — as Hoschton grew from a five to sev en-member council. •Hoschton City Coun cil nixes planning board revival: The Hoschton City Council shot down an effort to revive the town’s plan ning commission during a Jan. 20 meeting. In a 4-2 vote, the council agreed to take a planned discussion about the plan ning board off its agenda. The move didn't sit well with some citizens who were critical of the lack of discussion about the plan ning board. The city abolished its planning commission in 2021 and created a down town development author ity. FEBRUARY •300-year-old Braselton tree taken down: A Bra selton tree estimated at 300 years old died in early 2022 and was taken down in February. The pecan tree, located at Mulberry Park, was a Braselton landmark and at one time designated as the largest pecan tree in the state. See 2022, page 3A The Jackson County wres tling team took second in a holiday tournament last week PAGE 6A INDEX News 1-3A Opinion 4A Public safety 5A Social news 7A Obituaries 8A-9A Classifieds 11A Hoschton New Hoschton City Hall slated for completion in April By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews. com Hoschton’s new city hall building is moving to ward a spring completion with city staff potentially occupying their new office spaces by summer. The $2.3 million facility is under construction on City Square on what was Hoschton’s city green. “They’re telling me that it should be done around April,” Interim City Man ager Jennifer Kidd-Har- rison said. “As far as us Photo by Ben Munro Construction of Hoschton’s new $2.3 million city hall complex on City Square should be complete in April. THE HIGH NOTES OF 2022 Brandon Mann, of the Hipshack Band, sings out a note during an April 1 performance as the much-awaited $6.28 million Braelton Civ ic Center opened. MAILING LABEL Braselton South Hall Flowery Branch man arrested on child pornography charges Public hearings ahead to discuss Braselton comp plan, water projects The Town of Braselton will hold a pair of public hearings on Jan. 5 to discuss water supply projects and proposed amendments to its comprehensive plan. Both public hearings will be held at the Braselton Po lice and Municipal Court Facility located at 5040 Hwy. 53. The comprehensive plan public hearing will inform the public about the amend ment proposals and allow for public comment. Copies of the proposed amendments can be viewed or download ed at www.braselton.net/ departments/planning/plan- ning_documents_and_ap- plications_.php. For more information about the proposed changes, contact Braselton Planning and Development Director Kevin Keller at 706-654- 5797 or via email at kd- keller@braselton.net. The hearing over water supply improvement proj ects — funded through the See Hearings, page 3A Investigators with the Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) and Georgia Inter net Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force began and culminated a child pornogra phy investigation this week, arresting a Flowery Branch man on Wednesday morning, Dec. 21, according to a press release from the HCSO. Investigators took the sus pect, Markus Tyler Skelton Stevens, 25, into custody following the execution of a search warrant at his residence in the 7000 block of Spout Springs Rd. He is charged with two counts of sexual ex ploitation of a minor, one each for possession and distribu tion of the pornography. According to the initial in vestigation, Stevens commit ted the crimes on Sept. 19 at his home when he uploaded at least one video of child sexual abuse material to his Snapchat account. Investigators do not believe the video depicted a local victim. Agents began the inquiry on Monday, Dec. 19, when they received a cybertip from the National Center for Miss ing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The case remains under investigation, and ad ditional charges are possible pending the forensic pro cessing of electronic devices seized from the home. ‘0 4 8 7 9 1 4 5 4 0
