About The Braselton news. (Jefferson, Ga) 2006-current | View Entire Issue (March 22, 2023)
Serving Braselton, Hoschton, Chateau Elan, Traditions, Reunion, Deaton Creek and West Jackson $1.00 copy Wednesday, March 22, 2023 Vol. 16 No. 15 A publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. www.BraseltonNewsTODAY.com 12 pages Special moment Members of the Jackson County baseball team made a friend for life through an act of kindness PAGE 8A Dance performance The Jaxco Dancers held a show last week at the Jackson County High School auditorium PAGE12A Commercial development New Hoschton Publix expected in summer of 2024 By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews.com Hoschton-area residents could be shopping in a new Publix by the summer of 2024 as work on a new store begins along Hwy. 53. Clearing for the project began last week. The 49,000-square-foot supermarket will be built adjacent to the large Twin Lakes-Cresswind develop ment on the south end of town. The commercial proj ect will total over 61.000 See Publix, page 3A Clearing has started for a new Publix in Hoschton along Hwy. 53 near the Twin Lakes-Cresswind de velopment. Hoschton Hoschton council pauses decision on bullet-proof window at new city hall By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews. com Hoschton leaders post poned a decision that would add a bullet-proof window at the new city hall building under con struction. The city council vot ed unanimously Monday (March 20) to table the matter until next month to consider the addition further. The bullet-proof win dow would be installed at the customer service desk if approved. Coun- cilmember Tracy Car- swell supported the safe- See Hoschton, page 3A INSIDE i . i EXTRA: See the March edition of BraseltonTODAY News... 1-3A Opinion ... 4A Public safety ... 5A Social ... 6A School ... 7A Sports... 8A Obituaries... 9A Classifieds... 11A MAILING LABEL Live art Photo by Ben Munro Atlanta-area artist Julio Ceballos provided a live-painting event during Thursday’s (March 16) “La Peinture” hosted by the Braselton Arts Council at the Braselton Civic Center. Fire and rescue West Jackson Fire Department acquires two new fire engines Submitted Shown are the two new West Jackson Fire Department engine trucks the agency acquired last week. By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews. com The West Jackson Fire Department is now two fire engines stronger. Last week, the agency acquired two 2022 model fire engine trucks that cost a combined $1.3 million. The identical vehicles, which carry 750 gallons of water each, include fire pumps, extrication equip ment and life-support equipment to assist emer gency medical services. “Basically, a lot of equipment on these two new trucks to better help serve our growing com munity.’' West Jackson Fire Chief Ben Stephens said. The trucks will replace high-mileage 2004 and 2009 models that require several thousands of dol lars annually in mainte nance. Stephens noted that fire engines have an average lifespan of 12-20 years. The department will now use the older vehicles in backup roles. The purchases round out a 2017 fleet improve ment plan that added sev eral vehicles to service the fast-growing west side of the county. Those addi tions included: •a Kawasaki Mule in 2017 for hydrant testing, off-road needs and medi cal emergencies. •a utility truck in 2017 to transport equipment and handle more minor calls. •an SUV in 2019, in partnership with the Town See Engines, page 3A O South Hall Planning commission recommends partial approval of South Hall church variance request Leaders of a South Hall church seeking a variance to allow a metal structure to serve as its sanctuary received an endorsement from the Hall County Planning Commission — with a major stipulation. On Monday (March 20), Hall County planners unani mously approved a variance for the 38-foot tall prefabri cated metal for Bethel Faith Baptist Church on nine acres at 3331 Friendship Church Rd. But the board also approved the recommendation of nine conditions for the project in cluding the requirement of ma sonry siding on three sides of the metal building, excluding the rear. The applicant, Eugene Kim, requested relief from Gateway Corridor Overlay District ar chitectural standards, saying the metal structure would he 515 feet from the overlay dis trict center fine and would sit behind a 47-foot mound, as well as behind two existing structures on the property. Joel Kuk, a church member who represented Kim at Mon day’s planning commission meeting, said the congregation opted for a metal building for a more sturdy structure. He said adding facades to the building would burden the small church financially. But planning commission member Chris Braswell said the planning board could not consider economic constraints as criteria for a variance. He also contended that the build ing, despite its distance from Friendship Rd., would still be visible from the roadway. Bras well said the gateway code also See Church, page 2A
