About The Braselton news. (Jefferson, Ga) 2006-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 18, 2023)
Serving Braselton, Hoschton, Chateau Elan, Traditions, Reunion, Deaton Creek and West Jackson $1.00 copy Wednesday, January 18, 2023 Vol. 16 No. 6 A publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. www.BraseltonNewsTODAY.com 12 pages Swimming scholarship Standout JCHS swimmer Desi Quiles recently signed her letter of intent with Emmanuel PAGE10A : WJMS fundraiser : WJMS held its Nickels for NICUforthe • ninth year PAGE 6A Braselton DOT nearing start of Hwy. 211 widening project The Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) will soon begin clearing for a long-awaited widening proj ect of Hwy. 211 in Braselton. The DOT told Town of Bra selton officials last Wednes day ( Jan. 11) that work will start within two weeks. “I am very excited to see dirt move,” Braselton Town Manager Jennifer Scott said. This project will wid en Hwy. 211 from the 1-85 northbound ramp terminals to just north of Pinot Noir Dr. North of Tour de France Dr., the project will provide a four-lane urban section with a 20-foot-wide raised median and 10-foot-wide side path on the east side of Hwy. 211. The project will also add multi-lane roundabouts on Hwy. 211 at its intersection with the 1-85 southbound ramp and at Tour de France Dr./Braselton Parkway Ex tension. Additionally, the project will construct the first phase of the Braselton Parkway Extension. This first phase will run about halfway to the Mulberry River. This project will eventually connect Hwy. 211 to the existing Braselton Parkway at Jesse Cronic Road. Town leaders want See Widening, page 7A Braselton DDA Developer wants to build 250-plus residential units near downtown Braselton By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews. com An Alabama development company has pitched plans for a large residential project near downtown Braselton. LIV Development, out of Birmingham, wants to build a 252 to 260-unit development on 32.4 acres fronting Davis St. on the south and Lewis Braselton Blvd. on the north. The land is bordered by the Keys Crossing subdivision on the east and residences on Pinecrest Lane to the west. See Development, page 7A INDEX News 1-3A Opinion 4A Public safety 5A Social/School 6A State round-up 7A Classifieds 11A Obituaries 8A-9A Sports 10A Jackson Co. wrestling teams compete at sectionals PAGE10A MAILING LABEL O Community spotlight: Braselton K9 Photo by Ben Munro “Hulk,” and one-and-a-half-year-old Belgian Malinois, has joined the Braselton Police Department as its first police dog since 2007. Hulk is pictured with his handler, officer Holden Helcher. Law-Man^ best friend Braselton PD welcomes ‘Hulk,’ the agency’s first police dog since 2007 By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews.com he rookie on Bra- selton’s police force has had quite a busy first month. He’s helped make six drug busts, find a missing autistic juvenile in Barrow County and locate a suspect who attempted to steal items from a self-storage facility. His starting pay? A new chew toy. Meet Hulk, the depart ment’s K9, the first for the agency since 2007. “He’s just a big ol" puppy that loves to work and loves people,” said Hulk’s handler, officer Holden Helcher. “It’s go, go, go, go, go. He’s probably the best dog I could have ever asked for, and as far as a fitting dog for getting back into the K9 program — this agency as well as this community — Hulk is the perfect fit.” Hulk, a year-and-a-half- old, 65-pound Belgian Malinois, joined the force on Dec. 12. He’s a nationally certified narcotics detection canine trained to sniff out methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. Hulk also spe cializes in article detection and tracking (He is not a bite dog). “I just think it’s a great tool for the police depart ment in my opinion,” long time Braselton Police Chief Terry Esco said. Braselton police previous ly called in Barrow, Hall or Gwinnett county agencies when needing K9 services. Now, Hulk is just moments away. “I don’t even know if there’s words to describe it, how big of a vital resource having him already on duty, on scene is,” Helcher said. See Hulk, page 3A Photo by Ben Munro Jennifer Kidd-Harrison was sworn-in Monday night as Hoschton’s city manager. Kidd-Harrison had served as interim city manager since September. City government Kidd-Harrison sworn in as Hoschton city manager By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews. com The “interim” tag has been removed from Jennifer Kidd-Harrison's job title. Mayor Lauren O’Leary swore in Kidd-Harrison as Hoschton’s city manager at Monday’s (Jan. 16) city council meeting. Kidd-Harri- son had served as interim city manager since Sept. 1. "I am so grateful to have been promoted to city manag er for the City of Hoschton," Kidd-Harrison said. "It will be my honor and privilege to serve in this capacity. I look forward to working with Mayor O’Leary, city council, staff and our great citizens to make Hoschton a wonderful place to work, live and play.” Kidd-Harrison, aBraselton native, has been employed by tire City of Hoschton for a decade, first serving as an event coordinator before See Hoschton, page 3A South Hall Sosebee appointed to Hall County planning board Frank Sosebee will join the Hall County planning board in District 1 following the resignation of Trey Bell. District 1 covers the South Hall area. Bell resigned from the Hall County Planning Commission, effective Jan. 4. The Hall County Board of Commissioners (BOC) approved the appointment, made by District 1 represen tative Kathy Cooper, at its Jan. 12 meeting. Sosebee will fill the re mainder of Bell’s unexpired term, which runs until Jan. 31, and serve the new two- year term, which starts on Feb. 1 and runs until Jan. 31, 2025. The Hall County Planning Commission is an adviso ry board to the Hall County BOC. o
