Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016
BARROW NEWS-JOURNAL
PAGE 5A
Statham Sunflower Festival
One of my favorite things about fall
would have to be all the small-town fes
tivals, where home folks stroll the streets,
visit with neighbors, and enjoy a day of
doing something different.
Around these parts, “fall” seems
to arrive a little later each year.
Though we think of September as
the beginning of autumn, it’s still
pretty hot when festival time starts,
but still it marks the unofficial
beginning of fall.
Downtown Statham will be bus
tling with activity all week long as
staging begins for our largest yearly
community event. 2016 marks the
18th annual Sunflower Festival, and
promises to be the best one yet!
Before the sun breaks over the
horizon on Saturday morning, tents
and booths will start popping up all
along Railroad Street.
The smells of hot coffee and biscuits
will entice early visitors to enjoy breakfast
on the street as the day gets under way.
The number of vendors seems to increase
with each passing year, offering a variety
of arts and crafts, and my goodness, the
FOOD!
If you're not hungry when you get there,
all the delicious aromas will make you
wish you were! We have an entire street
set aside for food vendors, where even
the pickiest of eaters will be sure to find
something to enjoy.
If you're not so much into festival-type
food, we have many restaurant choices
in town as well. This past Sunday I tried
out the new Fajita Mex Grille on Railroad
Street. All in the name of “research,”
you know. I wouldn’t want to make
a recommendation without up-close and
personal experience. I’m very happy to
report that the food was good, the place
was very clean and welcoming, and the
prices were comparable to other similar
establishments. The salsa had a kick, the
chips were warm and fresh, and my burrito
was a very generous portion. I’m a sucker
for good Mexican food, so I'm very happy
to have them here in Statham.
One thing is for sure: If you come to our
cathy
watkins
bennett
Sunflower Festival, and we hope you do,
you won’t lack for food choices.
In addition to the Fajita Mex Grille,
along with the festival vendors, there are
plenty of other food choices: Domino’s,
Taco’s Mexican, Pizza Hut, Sav
vy's Sweets (a new bakery/des
sert shop that I have yet to visit!),
The Old House. #1 China, Waf
fle House, Subway, Michael's
Pizza, Blazers, Kristi’s Country
Store and Cafe, and I hear the
Vintage Billiards place has a
lunch menu, but not sure if they
are open on Saturdays for lunch.
Like my daddy says, “If you
go home hungry, it's your own
fault.”
The car show will be held
again this year with both new
and returning entries with tro
phies being given in several dif
ferent categories. The owners love to
answer questions about their cars, and
enjoy having visitors come by and visit.
There will also be a 5K Run/Walk, as
well as a IK Fun Run, with t-shirts, food,
and water for all participants. If you hav
en't yet registered, you can do so online at
ACTIVE.COM. All the proceeds from the
race will be split between Leftover Pets
and Athens Canine Rescue. The fun run
begins at 5:30 p.m., and the 5K at 6 p.m.
Registration begins at 4 p.m. at SES.
We hope you will be able to join us as
we bid a fond farewell to Summer 2016,
and look forward to ushering in cooler
weather, the smell of burning leaves, and
frost on the pumpkins. We only ask that
you be mindful of personal property of
homeowners along the streets when park
ing.
The parking lots of Statham Baptist and
Statham Methodist, as well as Statham
Elementary School, will be open for your
convenience. Hope to see you there!
Cathy Watkins Bennett is a Bar-
row County native and a graduate of
Winder-Barrow High School. Send
comments about this column to
bencath@aol.com.
Blood drive scheduled for Sept. 19
The Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 12 to 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 19, in Hedg
es Hall at St. Matthew Catholic Church. The church is located at 25 Wilkins Road SW,
Winder.
To make an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor keywork stmattcc or
call 1-800-RED CROSS.
A photo identification is required. Everyone donating blood or platelets with the Amer
ican Red Cross during the month of September will receive a free haircut coupon from
Sport Clips.
Participants should prepare their body a few days before donating blood by eating iron
rich foods; green vegetables, red meat; cook in an iron skillet; drink plenty of water and
sleep well, organizers state.
Jungle Book’ is September movie
The 2016-released “Jun
gle Book” is the feature for
Braselton’s movie under the
stars set for Saturday, Sept.
10.
The award-nominated
movie features Neel Sethi
as Mowgli and the famil
iar voices of Bill Murray,
Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba
and Garry Shandling in sup
porting roles. It is a fami
ly-themed, adventure drama
and rated PG.
The movie is free to all
patrons. Attendees are
encouraged to bring chairs
or blankets to the Braselton
Park in its historic down
town. The movie begins at
dusk as the Braselton Visi
tors Bureau presents this and
other family-focused events
celebrating the town's cen
tennial year. For all events
or information, visit www.
downtownbraselton.com.
BOE continued from 1A
"And that is not true,” replied Lynn
Stevens.
The Barrow County School System does
not have any schools that would qualify
as a "failing” school under the proposed
amendment. But several BOE members
are concerned that the amendment would
allow the state to change what it defines as
"failing” in the future.
Others are concerned with the wording
of the preamble, which will introduce the
ballot item to voters.
"The preamble is faulty...it's basically
a lie,” said Garey Huff. "The preamble
says he’s doing this to increase community
involvement. It’s not going to do that. It’s
taking it away and forming a dictatorship to
eliminate community involvement.”
That “elimination” of community
involvement is concerning to Stevens, who
has been vocal in her opposition to the
amendment.
"All this does is take authority away
from, not just local school systems, but
from local taxpayers and parents,” she said.
Stevens said she is also concerned the
governor isn’t doing more to address the
real problem.
"Deal has said. We’ve got 60,000 chil
dren failing in this state,”' said Stevens.
"But he’s not talking about why they’re
failing and what to do about that.”
OTHER
BUSINESS
Also at its meeting, the BOE reviewed
its self-evaluation, board training plans
and the form used for the superintendent’s
annual evaluation.
BOC continued from 1A
The board's approval, which came at the
recommendation of the county planning
commission and staff, includes two condi
tions: All food services must be approved
through the state Environmental Health
office, and any additional parking to the site
would require a development permit prior
to construction.
The YMCA opened at the site in 2007 but
lost the property to foreclosure in 2010 as a
result of the national economic downturn.
FTH & SRT purchased the property and
several other surrounding properties from
Community & Southern Bank in 2012.
John Stell, an attorney for the owners,
said allowing the re-use of the property
would eliminate vacant property vandalism
and could also boost property values within
the subdivision.
“As it stands (without the change in per
mit conditions), the property no longer has
any economically viable use because it can
only be used as a YMCA,” Stell said, noting
the YMCA would be strongly unlikely to
return because the pool has since been filled
in. "There's not another entity out there that
could take this facility and run it. Allowing
a special-events venue would be a benefit to
the subdivision and the entire community.”
Stell said nearby residents have raised
concerns about the potential for nuisance
noise and alcohol use on the property,
but pointed out the venue would have to
comply with the county’s ordinances that
regulate alcohol consumption and late-night
noise.
Neighborhood resident Casey Duffield,
who spoke in opposition to the proposal
during Tuesday’s public hearing, said he
would like the county to consider allowing
the site to be used as an amenity center for
the residents in conjunction with the spe
cial-events facility.
“We are not necessarily opposed (to
the proposed use).” Duffield said. "We
understand there’s been an investment (in
the property) made, and we don’t want it
to be vacant, either, because that doesn't
help anybody. But we at least want to be
considered.”
But providing an amenity center for the
residents is not something the county is
authorized to do, Stell said, adding that
the neighborhood does not have an active
ly-functioning homeowners association.
Commissioner Joe Goodman said he
would like to see the subdivision create an
HOA and possibly work with the company
on ideas for the site.
The property falling into disrepair “was
a hard thing to watch,” Goodman said. “I’d
rather not continue to see it fall apart.”
OTHER BUSINESS
Also on Tuesday, the board approved the
purchase of the Longobart-Ross vehicle
and equipment replacement management
software program.
The county will pay a one-time purchase
fee of $8,000 and an annual $1,000 user fee.
County manager Mike Renshaw said the
new software will allow senior and elect
ed county officials to score vehicles and
equipment on a variety of factors, including
condition, mileage, maintenance costs, age
and type of service.
While Renshaw said he is encouraged
by progress the county has made in fleet
and equipment maintenance, the lack of
standardization and consistency across all
departments is a concern, something he said
the new system should address.
“Right now, one of the things missing
with our fleet maintenance program is
good, solid data on which to make decisions
for replacement,” board chairman Pat Gra
ham added. “This (software) allows us to
prioritize, based on many factors. ...I think
it’s something that would benefit us.”
Chamber continued from 2A
“Look, they’re kids,” Dowdle said of
the team. “They were favored to win by
50-something points. They spent all week
getting patted on the back and being told
how great they were. They thought Saturday
was going to be a cakewalk, and it wasn’t."
Whether it was a wake-up call or not,
Georgia has much-needed improvements to
make, Dowdle said.
“Georgia has an opportunity to have an
excellent season the way the schedule sets
up, if they continue to improve,” he said.
“We’ve got to get better, particularly on the
line of scrimmage.”
September 14, 2016 ~ Crossword Puzzle
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770-867-9026
www.maynardrealty.com
Headmaster’s
Corner
by
Steve Cummings
n
REMEMBERING 9/11 -
Most if us remember where we
were when 9/11 happened. I
was standing outside the White
House in Washington, DC when
planes slammed into the World
Trade Towers and the Pentagon.
As our group awaited a White
House briefing that morning,
policemen came out and told us
to move away from the White
House as quickly as possible.
Within 15 minutes, Wash
ington, DC was a parking lot.
Walking back to our hotel, I
remember seeing billows of
smoke coming from the Penta
gon.
It’s good to reflect on those
events, which changed the way
we look at the world. It’s good
to remember, and be thankful
for each day we have on this
earth.
ATHENS
CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
“Affordable Quality Education Since 1970”
K3-12TH CALL (706) 549-7586
www.athenschristian.com
Across
I. Devoted
7. “What are the ?”
II. Make sense, with “up”
14. Check payee, maybe
15. Butcher’s offering
16. “Malcolm X” director
17. Magician’s incantation
19. Absorbed, as a cost
20. Solar system’s central star
21. Connections
22. Remove band from around
objects
24. Barely gets, with “out”
26. Boor’s lack
28. Containing a high amount of
water vapor
29. Ready-to-eat food shops
31.2004 Academy Award nominee
33. Baby
34. Greek wines
38. “Comprende?”
39. Maintaining outdated attitudes
43. Formerly known as
44. Small denomination British coin
45. Balcony section
47. Costa del
48. Jack
52. Eyeball benders
54. Sort
57. “Go, !”
58. Japanese paper folding
60. Dadaism founder
62. Barbecue offering
63. John McCain, e.g.: Abbr.
64. A republic in West Africa (2 wds)
67. Charlotte-to-Raleigh dir.
68. “...or !”
69. Bottom of the ocean
70. “20,000 Leagues” harpooner
Land
71. Abbr. after many a general’s
name
72. Cafeteria-goers
Down
1. Degraded
2. Chastise
3. Ryegrass
4. Victorian, for one
5. Adam’s apple spot
6. Blue eyes or baldness, e.g.
7. Egg cells
8. Young woman presented to society
9. “Fudge!”
10. Not just trim
11. Chicken Little, for one
12. Person held in custody
13. Thoroughgoing (hyphenated)
18. lab (abbrev.)
23. “For shame!”
25. “Your majesty”
27. In a well-delineated manner
30. The Amish, e.g.
32. Ball material
35. Picks up a pickup, maybe
36. Extremely haughty
37. Use a straw
39. Free from confinement
40. Synthetic rubber used in
waterproof products
41. Recovered the use of
42. Copper
46. .0000001 joule
49. An organism requiring oxygen
to live
50. More conceited
51. Becomes fixed into a surrounding
mass
53. Electric dart shooter
55. When it’s broken, that’s good
56. Clear, as a disk
59.1/500 of the Indianapolis 500
61. “Guilty,” e.g.
65. Cabernet, e.g.
66. “Dig in!”
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