The Braselton news. (Jefferson, Ga) 2006-current, March 15, 2023, Image 1
o O Serving Braselton, Hoschton, Chateau Elan, Traditions, Reunion, Deaton Creek and West Jackson $1.00 copy Wednesday, March 15, 2023 Vol. 16 No. 14 A publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. www.BraseltonNewsTODAY.com 2 sections, 16 pages JCHS notches soccer wins See photos of Jackson County High School's soccer victories on Friday over Shiloh in Region 8-AAAAAA play PAGE 3B, 6B Paddy’s Day photos See scenes from the Paddy's Day PathFest parade on March 11 along the Braselton LifePath PAGE1B-2B I'ailily% Day party Teresa Edwards strikes a pose before the start of the Paddy’s Day PathFest parade March 11 along the Braselton LifePath. Braselton Braselton fills DDA slots following postponements Panthers perfect in region play after beating Gainesville PAGE 5B INDEX News 1-3A Opinion 4A Public safety 5A Social/ School 6A State roundup 7A Features 1B-2B Sports 3B, 5B-6B Obituaries 4B Classifieds 7B By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews. com After much deliberation, Braselton has its two new downtown develop ment authority (DDA) members. The town council, albeit narrowly, approved the appointment of Susan Wyatt and Esteban de Leon to the open seats with a 3-2 vote on Monday (March 13) following postponement of a decision the past two months. Councilmembers Becky Richard son, Jim Joedecke and Richard Harp er voted in favor of the appointments. Mayor Kurt Ward and council member James Murphy voted in opposition. Prior to the decision. Ward motioned to table the vote again for more discus sion, with Joedecke continuing to lead those talks. But Joedecke declined, saying he’d “moved on from this.” “I’m not going to serve as liaison to the development authority,” he said. “I think we all need to be having those discussions.” Ward’s motion died for lack of a sec ond. Richardson then motioned to ap point Wyatt and de Leon to the DDA. The DDA submitted Wyatt and de Leon as its nominations in January, but the council tabled its vote to allow for discussion with each nominee. In February. Ward added his name to the list of candidates for the DDA, but the See Appointments, page 8A Hoschton Mims resigns from Hoschton City Council Scott Mims has announced his resignation from the Hoschton City Council. The first-term councilmem- ber, who took office in January 2022, notified City Manager Jennifer Kidd-Harrison of his decision on Wednesday, noting family and professional rea sons. ’My work and family life are both at their peak, and these things take precedence over my city council duties,” Mims wrote in an email. “I wish Hoschton the very best.” Mims is the second Hoschton councilmember to resign his post since the begin ning of February. Adam Led better stepped down from his Scott Mims position on Feb. 2. Ledbetter left to focus on medical care for his son, who is facing a double kidney transplant. Mims and Ledbetter's de partures leave the Hoschton council with five members (including the mayor). Mims’ unexpired term runs through 2026, while Ledbetter’s runs through 2024. Emergency care NGMC asking for community input regarding blood clotting drug study Bleeding out is the most common cause of preventable death after injury. Researchers at Northeast Georgia Medical Cen ter are seeking community input on whether they should partic ipate in an international study, according to a press release from the hospital. The study will determine if a blood-clotting drug, given soon after arrival in the emergency department, can improve survival. Kcentra (or 4-factor Pro- Community forum •Thursday, March 16 at 6 p.m., visit https://www.uab.edu/med- icine/cis/tap-trial-at-northeast- georgia/community-meetings thrombin Complex Concen trate) is a Food and Drug Ad ministration (FDA) approved drug and is currently used to reverse the effects of medications See Study, page 8A Arts Braselton Arts Council to hold ‘La Peinture’ fundraiser The Braselton Arts Coun- Tickets are $75. The fund- cil will hold a fundraiser “La raiser will include a live paint- Peinture” Thursday, March ing event. For more infor- 16, at 6 p.m. at the Braselton mation, email artscouncil@ Civic Center. braselton.net. MAILING LABEL Cycling event Bike Ride Across Georgia stopping in Braselton By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews. com Braselton will experience a different kind of traffic for three days in June. The annual Bike Ride Across Georgia (BRAG) will stop in town June 6-8. bringing thousands of cy clists to the downtown district. Estimates call for between 1.200 and 1.500 riders. Braselton tourism di rector Nikki Perry said the town is “thrilled” to be in cluded in the year’s event. “We’re really excited to host this many bike riders and bring the sport of cycling to Braselton,” she said. Perry noted the econom ic impact for downtown of being included in the route, with bikers camping the nights of June 6 and June 7 in Braselton. “This is going to be a shot in the arm for the local economy during the sum mertime,” she said. “It’s al ways busy during the spring and fall months, but in the summer, we tend to have a bit of a lull. This will be a welcomed change of pace for us.” Braselton is the lone two- night stop along the near 400-mile event, which runs from June 3-10. “I think we just kind of lucked out being right in the middle of their tour,” Perry said. The Braselton Civic Cen ter will serve as the indoor camping area for the cy clists. Braselton Park will likely serve as the outdoor camping location. Perry said the town will arrange for outdoor entertainment for the bikers. Other overnight stops are Clayton. Clarkesville, Gainesville, Madison and Thomson. The ride will fin ish in Augusta. Perry said the overnight stops along this year’s route are themed around water and cities near lakes — except for Braselton. “We just said, ‘Our lake is wine,”’ Perry joked. “We don’t have a body of wa ter other than Chateau Elan Winery.” Perry said it’s important for See BRAG, page 8A '0 4 8 7 9 1 4 5 4 0