Newspaper Page Text
40 Pages 3 Sections, Plus Preprints A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. Winder, Barrow County Georgia 50c Copy Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Candidate forum scheduled Oct. 6
Local candidates to be at
Colleen 0. Williams Theater
By Scott Thompson
News-Journal Reporter
Debate season is in full swing ahead of
the Nov. 8 general election, and Barrow
County residents will also get a chance to
hear from candidates in locally-contested
races next week.
The Barrow County Chamber of
Commerce will host a candidates" forum
for the Board of Commissioners Districts
2 and 3 races, as well as the Board of
Education District 6 race, at 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 6 at the Colleen O. Williams Theater.
105 East Athens St., Winder.
Questions have been submitted to each
candidate and the candidates will also
have the opportunity to ask a question of
their choosing to their opponent, chamber
Inside Today:
•Barrow Democrats field three candidates.
— Page11A
president Tommy Jennings said.
The District 2 commission race fea
tures Republican former commissioner
Bill Brown and Democrat Dwight Acey,
who also chairs the county party. Brown
upended commissioner Kenny Shook in
the May 24 Republican primary.
In District 3. Republican incumbent
commissioner Roger Wehunt faces
Democrat Michael Pope. Wehunt fended
off a primary challenge from Jeff Hatcher.
And in the Barrow school board race,
Republican incumbent member Rickey
Bailey will face Democrat Brittany
Mayweather.
See Forum on Page 6A
Barrow
Briefs
Music at the Park
planned for Oct. 7
Enjoy the start of the fall
season at Fort Yargo State Park
in Winder on Friday, Oct. 7,
with 3 Bucks Shy in concert
beginning at 7:30 p.m..
The group will perform blue-
grass favorites as well as its
own orginal material. The con
cert will be held at the beach
pavilion and refreshments
will be sold. Those attending
should bring their own chair.
Space is limited. All ages are
welcome. Parking is $5. Call
770-867-3489 for more infor
mation
‘Tales from the Past’
planned Oct. 14-15
The Fort Yargo Living
History Society and The
Friends of Fort Yargo State
Park will present “Tales from
the Past’’ trail walk on Oct. 14
and Oct. 15 from 4-9 p.m.
Starting at the beach pavil
ion, visitors can go on the
hayride to the beginning of the
trail walk and then hear sto
ries from the past while sitting
around the campfire on the
way to the old fort. Hot choc
olate, marshmallow roasting,
apple cider and coffee will be
available. After listening to the
stories, you can catch a hayride
back to the beach area.
For those who choose not to
do the trail walk, you can stay
on the hayride and go directly
to the fort. This will not be a
scary event and is suitable for
all ages, organizers said. Cost
is $5 (kids 6-and-under free)
plus $5 for parking.
Inside
Today
Church News
14A
Classifieds
4-5C
Legals
6-11C
Obituaries
15A
Pets of the Week
3C
Public Safety
7-10A
Sports
1-12B
Mailing
Label Below
Homecoming Queens
CROWING ACHIEVEMENT
Bethlehem Christian Academy’s Mary Grace Gaddy (top) and Apalachee
High School’s Katy Costley (below) were selected homecoming queens
for their respective schools last week. Gaddy was escorted by her father,
Steven Gaddy. Costley was escorted by her mother, Lane Costley, and her
grandmother, Judy Skinner. See more BCA and AHS homecoming coverage
inside today’s edition. On the football field, both the BCA Knights and AHS
Wildcats were victorious in their home contests.
Photos by Steve Brown and Jessica Brown
OSD amendment
BOE members,
legislators at
odds on state
school takeover
By Al ex Pace
News-Journal Reporter
Some Barrow County Board
of Education members will have
to “agree to disagree” with leg
islators supporting the proposed
Opportunity School Districts. The
BOE heard from two of those sup
porters, State Sen. Butch Miller and
State Rep. Terry England, at its
Sept. 27 meeting.
Voters will decide Nov. 8 on the
proposed state constitution amend
ment which would allow the state
to take over “failing” schools. The
Barrow County BOE has already
formally joined the opposition to the
amendment.
Sen. Miller said the state isn’t
trying to take over, rather it’s try
ing to intervene in “perpetually
failing” schools. Both legislators
said the state is looking to improve
the futures of Georgia children by
improving the schools.
But BOE member Dr. Garey Huff
said there’s more to it.
“Learning is so much more com
plex than just what is taught in the
school,” said Huff. “There are a lot
of things the schools and teachers
are blamed for that have nothing to
do with the school.”
Sen. Miller agreed the amend
ment isn’t a “silver bullet” and noted
there are other contributing factors
(poverty, hunger and family life).
See OSD on Page 2A
Tailgate Barrow
set Fri. afternoon
The Tailgate Barrow celebration
Friday afternoon will count down to
kickoff of the Winder-Barrow High
School-Apalachee High School
football game that evening.
AHS is hosting this year’s game
and the Tailgate Barrow event, which
is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. Bands
and cheerleaders for both schools
will perform as in past years.
There will be booths featuring
various school clubs and activities.
The football game will begin at
7:30 p.m.
Bethlehem Elementary’s Ellington
honored as top pre-K teacher
For the first time in the 24-year
history of Georgia’s Pre-K Program,
DECAL and the Naserian Foundation
named two educators as Georgia’s
Pre-K Program Teachers of the Year
for 2016-2017.
First Lady Sandra Deal, Naserian
Foundation CEO Stephanie Blank
and Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs
joined together to announce that
Bethlehem Elementary School teach
er Connie Ellington was named as a
Georgia Pre-K Teacher of the Year.
In honoring Ellington,
Commissioner Jacobs said the BES
teacher has, “demonstrated an excel
lence in teaching and a passion for
early learning. You have laid a solid
foundation for the students you have
taught.”
Ellington said: Our Georgia Pre-K
program has recently been applaud
ed for its effectiveness among all
learners. The Georgia Pre-K Program
has been researched, developed, and
implemented by Bright From The
Start and Georgia State University,
and is a perfect example of how to
improve education comprehensive
ly. It covers all aspects of a child’s
development including literacy skills,
mathematical thinking, personal and
social development, scientific think
ing, social studies, physical develop
ment and the arts.”
See Teacher on Page 2A
CONNIE ELLINGTON