Newspaper Page Text
52 Pages 3 Sections, Plus Preprints A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. Winder, Barrow County Georgia 50c Copy Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Officials eye 2017 SPLOST referendum
Citizens committee organizational meeting planned for Oct. 17
By Scott Thompson
News-Journal Reporter
After failing to do so this year. Barrow
County government officials are aiming
to include a 1-cent Special Purpose Local
Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) referendum
on voters’ ballots in November 2017.
If approved by voters, the tax, which
would be a continuation of the current
one already in place, would take effect
July 1, 2018. It would fund various cap
ital improvements across the county and
in each of its municipalities, including
upgrades to roadways, water and sewer
systems and other infrastructure, parks
and recreation projects and public safety
improvements.
A Citizens Project Selection Committee
is being formed to vet a list of proj
ects and make its recommendation to the
Barrow County Board of Commissioners
for which ones will appear on the ballot.
An organizational meeting has been
scheduled for Oct. 17 from 6:30-8 p.m.
in the Terry England Conference Room
Inside Today:
•Solar Farm vote postponed by BOC.
•No tax increase in final budget proposal.
— Page 2A
of Lanier Technical College, 965 Austin
Road, Winder, according to a county news
release. County residents interested in
serving on the committee are asked to
contact Danielle Austin, the Board of
Commissioners clerk, at 770-307-3005 or
daustin@barrowga.org.
The Board of Commissioners voted last
month not to include a SPLOST referen
dum on the general election ballot Nov. 8.
It would have been in effect for five
years through June 2023 and would have
raised an estimated $56.6 million. Of that
total, roughly $7.4 million - or 13 per
cent - would have gone toward a county
recreational complex project at Fort Yargo
State Park.
See SPLOST on Page 2A
Barrow
Briefs
Statham Library to
host upcoming events
The Statham Public Library
has the following programs
and events planned for the
upcoming months.
•Thursday, Aug. 25, at 5:30
p.m.: adult beginning comput
er skills class. For reservations,
call 770-725-4785.
•Thursday, Sept 1, at 11 a.m.:
homeschool parents organiza
tional meeting.
•Friday, Sept 9, at 1 p.m.:
knitting club starts back every
other Friday.
•Saturday, Sept 17, at 9 a.m,
book sale in front of library
during the Sunflower Festival.
•Thursday, Sept 22 at 5:30
p.m.: adult beginning comput
er skills class. For reservations,
call 770-725-4785.
•Saturday, Sept 24. at 11
a.m.: “The Book You’ve Been
Meaning to Write For Years”
Writing Class.
•Saturday, Oct 1, at 11
a.m.: “The Book You’ve Been
Meaning to Write For Years”
Writing Class.
Inside
Today
Church News 10A
Classifieds 14-15A
Legals 4-8B
Obituaries 13A
Pets of the Week 9A
Public Safety 7-8A, 12A
Sports 1-3B, 9-12B
Contact
Us
SCENIC BARROW
The water wheel in downtown Auburn made for a scene worth photo
graphing Sunday afternoon. Photo by Jessica Brown
V
Foul play not suspected
Phone: 770-867-6397
Mail: 77 E. May Street,
Winder, Ga. 30680
Fax: 706-621-4115
Mailing
Label Below
Woman’s body found in
Ft. Yargo State Park lake
The body of a 52-year-old Covington
woman was discovered in the lake at Fort
Yargo State Park Friday.
The body has been identified as Lynn
Anne Bowen. A fisherman discovered the
body near a designated beach area. Officials
with the Winder Police Department and
Winder Fire Department responded to the
scene at approximately 8:30 a.m. Friday.
A vehicle and other personal belong
ings were found near where the body was
discovered. The body was sent to the GBI
crime lab although foul play is not suspect
ed. WPD officials said.
Barrow GOP,
Democrats
set to host
political events
By Chris Bridges
News-Journal Editor
With the 2016 presidential cam
paign in high gear, both the Barrow
County Republican Party and
Barrow County Democrats will host
events this weekend.
The annual Barrow County GOP
BBQ will be Saturday, Aug. 27,
at 5 p.m. at the Winder Woman’s
Club at 354 E. Broad Street. Event
organizers said food, fun and door
prizes will be available and patriotic
music will be provided by the Yargo
Community Band.
U.S. Senator David Perdue, who
is not up for re-election in 2016,
will be the guest speaker. Georgia
Secretary of State Brian Kemp will
also attend along with GAGOP
first vice-chair, Michael McNeely.
Members of U.S. Senator Johnny
Isakson’s staff are also scheduled
to be at the event although Isakson
himelf will not be able to attend due
to scheduling conflicts.
Barrow County Republican Party
chairman Ken Young said various
Trump for President items will be
available, some free and others,
including oval stickers and buttons,
for sale at a small cost.
Tickets to eat are $15 for adults,
$7.50 for ages 6-12 and free for
ages 5-and-under. Take-out plates
will be available and tickets may be
purchased at the door on the day of
the event.
Reservations can also be made
by emailing chairman @barrowgop.
org or by calling 770-867-5748.
More information is available on
the Barrow GOP website at www.
barrowgop.org.
In addition, the Barrow County
Democrats will host a “Presentation
of Candidates” on Saturday at 2 p.m.
at the Winder YMCA.
Presenters will be City of Winder
council member Michael Healan and
state represenative Dewey McClain
(D-Gwinnett.) McClain is a former
Atlanta Falcon and president of
the Atlanta North Georgia Labor
Council AFL-CIO.
Barrow County Democratic Party
chairman Dwight Acey said every
one is welcome to attend the event
and there is no charge.
For more information, vist www.
barrowdems.com.
See Politics on Page 2A
World War II vet celebrates another milestone
Auburn resident Arthur J. Burns turns 95
BURNS WHILE
IN THE NAVY
Although Arthur J.
Burns was not born in
Georgia, he currrently
resides in Auburn, with
his daughter and son-
in-law, Susan and Larry
Ballard.
Burns was born and
raised in Tallahassee,
Fla., and to this day is
proud to tell you about
his heritage in that
Sunshine State city.
He will also be glad to
tell you all about com
ing up on “granddad-
dy's” farm. His grand
father sold his farm to
what now is the home of
Tallahassee Community
College. He lived in
Tallahassee for most of
his life, except approxi
mately seven years spent
in New York.
Give him the time and
he’ll tell you all about
that “adventure” also.
He enjoys telling about
his time in World War II,
serving in the U.S. Navy.
Unlike many vets who do
not have fond memories
and even very sad sto
ries and memories. Burns
was spared many of the
bad war sights that many
remember. He tells about
being a diesel mechanic
aboard the LCT landing
crafts.
See Veteran on Page 3A
BURNS
RECENTLY
TURNED 95