Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2023
BARROW NEWS-JOURNAL
PAGE1A
Barrow News-Journal
Barrow County News Est. 1893 • Barrow Journal Est. 2008
Merged August 2016
24 Pages, 2 Sections
A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. Winder, Barrow County, Georgia $1.00 Copy Wednesday, August 16, 2023
Winder woman stabbed
to death by boyfriend
By Morgan Ervin
Just before 11p.m. Fri
day, a stabbing was reported
to the Winder Police De
partment on Bush Chapel
Drive.
Upon arrival at the scene,
law enforcement officers
discovered a male and a fe
male with serious injuries
sustained from a physical
altercation involving anoth
er male.
Investigations unveiled
that Ralph Butler, 58, of
Winder, had journeyed to
the Bush Chapel location
to confront his girlfriend,
Yolanda Hammond, 50, of
Winder, about her stealing
items from him without his
permission.
As the confrontation es
calated, an additional male
at the scene attempted to
mediate, leading to a scuf
fle between him and Butler,
culminating in Butler strik
ing the male, causing head
injuries.
The altercation persisted,
with Butler continuing to
argue with Hammond. The
confrontation took a grim
turn when Butler resorted
to repeatedly stabbing Ham
mond.
Credit: WPD
Ralph Junior Butler
Hammond succumbed to
her injuries on-site shortly
after police arrived.
The intervening male was
transported to a nearby med
ical facility for treatment.
His injury was assessed as
non-life-threatening.
In the aftermath of the
assault, Butler fled the
scene. With assistance from
Barrow County Sheriff’s
Office, police located But
ler Saturday morning just
before noon at a residence
on Tanners Bridge Road in
Bethlehem. He was taken
into custody and is facing
charges of murder, aggra
vated battery and aggravat
ed assault.
County Commissioners alex
Ward and deborah Lynn make
FRIENDLY WAGER ON BATTLE OF
Barrow football game
High fives and fist humpsfrom Winder PD
Following a stressful first week of school for students at Winder Elementary (WES) and Russell Middle (RMS) schools,
who were briefly under lockddown due to an intrustion incident that occured at nearby Winder-Barrow High School,
deputies from the Winder Police Department greeted students as they arrived at WES with high fives and fist bumps,
providing much-needed encouragement while brightening the day and lifting spirits throughout the school.
Complaint filed against City of Winder’s
zoning decision on Robinson property
By Morgan Ervin
A 146-acre property on City Pond
Road lies at the center of a lawsuit filed
by property owners Margaret Robinson
Martin Trust and John W. Robinson III
Trust against the City of Winder.
The narrative began in September
2021 when the property owners en
tered into a Land Purchase Contract
with D.R. Horton for the sale of the
property, with subsequent contract
amendments made to extend the clos
ing deadline in light of zoning efforts.
These zoning endeavors led to an ap
plication being submitted by D.R. Hor
ton to Barrow County in April 2022.
The application requested to rezone the
property from agricultural (AG) to a
designation allowing for a single-fami
ly detached subdivision.
After undergoing a few revisions,
the rezoning application was ultimate
ly approved by the Barrow County
Board of Commissioners on July 26,
2022, with a set of eighteen conditions.
These conditions encompassed aspects
such as lot width, landscaping and the
maximum number of rental homes per
mitted.
With the county on board, D.R.
Horton initiated preparations for de
velopment, including applying for a
land disturbance permit. However, a
wrench was thrown into development
plans when a water connection from
the county proved unattainable.
This obstacle led D.R. Horton to re
quest water from the City of Winder.
Unfortunately, this request brought
forward a startling revelation when the
city indicated that access to water was
contingent on the property’s annex
ation into the city limits.
According to the propery owners’
complaint, Winder city administrator
Mandi Cody assured D.R. Horton that
annexation was a viable solution and
that the proposed development would
largely be approved. With the city’s
reassurance, the property owners pm-
sued annexation into the city, submit
ting an application in Oct. 2022. The
annexation application aligned closely
with the county-approved development
plan, calling for a Planned Unit Devel
opment (PUD) featuring the develop
ment of 340 single-family homes.
The proposed development exceed
ed the city’s requirements in several
areas including enhanced open space,
varied lot landscaping, additional ame
nities and traffic study reports demon
strating minimal impact on existing
infrastructure.
Contrary to D.R. Horton’s request,
city staff recommended the property
be downzoned to R-1A medium-den
sity single-family residential, saying
that “the proposed development can
be reasonably accommodated by oth
er available regulations of the zoning
ordinance.”
In the recently filed complaint to the
Superior Court of Barrow County, the
property owners argue that the city’s
decision regarding downzoning the
property violated their equal protection
rights, substantive due process rights
and is unlawful taking.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the
property owners are seeking a reso
lution that aligns with their original
development plans and the favorable
conditions provided by the county’s
rezoning approval.
More specifically, the property own
ers are seeking for the court to declare
the city’s zoning of the property un
lawful and either require the city to
zone the property PUD by the existing
County commissioners Alex Ward and Deborah
Lynn have made a friendly wager for the annual
Battle of Barrow football game this Friday as a show
of support for their respective teams. On one side
is Ward, who represents the county’s 4th district,
which includes Apalachee High School. On the oth
er side is Lynn, who represents the county’s 6th dis
trict, which includes Winder-Barrow High School.
Lynn also has a grandson that plays quarterback
for Winder- Barrow. The commissioner whose team
wins will get the honor of throwing a pie in the face
of the other commissioner at the winning team’s
next practice. A video of the pieing will be shared on
social media. Both Ward and Lynn want to encour
age everyone to come out and support their favor
ite team. Both commissioners recognize that great
communities need great schools and the reciprocal
importance of the community showing support for
their schools. The Battle of Barrow football game
will be played at Apalachee High School’s football
stadium Friday, Aug. 18 at 7:30 p.m. Apalachee
High School is located at 940 Haymon Morris Rd.
in Winder.
Scooter’s Coffee opens first location in
Winder, grand
Scooter’s Coffee, best known for
its speedy drive-thru, specialty cof
fee and baked-from-scratch pas
tries, added a new location at 141 E.
May St. in Winder. To celebrate, the
drive-thru location will be hosting a
grand opening on Friday, Aug. 25,
where customers can buy one drink to
get one free when they pay with the
Scooter’s Coffee mobile app.
With the app, customers earn three
“Smiles” for every dollar spent to
collect toward free drinks for their
loyalty. To scoot through faster, cus
tomers can also link a credit card to
the app and select “Pay/Eam Smiles”
from the home screen. Then, if they
choose to tip, customers can select a
custom amount or percentage prior to
opening event i
scanning their app.
To scoot through even faster, Mo
bile Order Ahead is also available.
Ordering ahead allows customers to
order their favorite drinks and food,
pay ahead, and pick up quickly at the
drive-thru window. The Scooter’s
Coffee app is available for download
on the App Store or Google Play.
The drive-thru location is owned
and operated by Jeffrey Bryce Can
non, John Roberts Sr, John Theusand
Reynolds McLean. “We are so thank
ful and excited to open up a Scooter’s
in Winder. Not only is it just miles
from our home but it combines two
of my life long passions... coffee
and teamwork. Scooters has amazing
drinks but if we are going to have the
for Aug. 25
Scooters is celebrating its newlocation
in Winder by hosting a grand opening
event on Aug. 25.
fastest drive-through in town, it’s go
ing to take some amazing teamwork,”
said Theus.
John Theus was a 4-year starter on
the University of Georgia Football
and went on to play several years in
the NFL. He and his wife and two
children now live in Barrow County.
MAILING LABEL
Roger Wilhelm bids farewell to Winder
after 17 years of distinguished service
“I cannot imagine a better municipality to
serve, or a better group of colleagues,” said
Winder’s Assistant City Administrator Roger
Wilhelm, who announced a few weeks ago
that he will be leaving his post effective Aug.
25.
Over the past 17 years, Wilhelm has provid
ed outstanding service to the City of Winder,
dedicating himself to his role with distinction.
As he embarks on a new career phase, offer
ing support to local governments in the private
sector, he leaves behind a legacy of dedication
to the city.
While the news of his departure is tinged
with sadness, city leaders express their
well-wishes for his future endeavors.
“I’ve had a front row seat to Roger’s devel
opment and his incredible leadership capacity.
“Winder has a very bright future. ”
-Roger Wilhelm
No doubt this is sad for us, but Roger will al
ways be a part of our family and we are excit
ed to see what he accomplishes in the future,”
said Mayor David Maynard.
Throughout his tenure at the City of Wind
er, Wilhelm played a pivotal role in various
capacities across the city, spearheading initia
tives and projects within the Utilities Depart
ment and the Development Services Depart
ment.
Wilhelm’s journey with Winder began in
2006 as the programs coordinator in the Utili
ties Department, where he oversaw regulatory
compliance programs and projects. Just over
two years later, he transitioned into the role of
Roger Wilhelm, Winder’s assistant city adminis
trator, announces departure from city, effective
Aug. 25.
utilities director.
“Leaving now is bittersweet; however, the
time is right as I am so very proud of how city
is running, and I am eager to see how the hard
work by our mayor, council and staff will take
See Wilhelm, page 2A
o
