About StarNews. (Carrollton, GA) 20??-current | View Entire Issue (May 14, 2023)
StarNews CARROLL COUNTY, GEORGIA'S ONLY LOCALLY OWNED / LOCALLY OPERATED NEWSPAPER - Villa Rica Main Street’s “Rise-N-Shine” hosts legislative recap by State Senator Mike Dugan and State Representative J Collins - see page 9 - Where are you eating this week? See Carroll County restaurant inspections - see page 13 | NEWS REPORTING / NEWS RECAP / NEWS ANALYSIS StarNews monthly traditional print publication / StarNews Online daily local news \ MAY 14, 2023 • VOLUME 29 NUMBERS www.starnewsgaonline.com Mayors of Carroll County’s three largest cities share their post-pandemic good news on growth Carrollton Mayor Betty Cason, Villa Rica Mayor Gil McDougal, and Temple Mayor Michael Johnson spoke during a breakfast panel discussion hosted by the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce Commission proposes FY2023-2024 budget of S73.23M, increase of S6.19M Cost to operate county per month has climbed from $4.44M per month 2019-20 to $6.10M per month with 58 full time vacant positions in new proposed budget notice to the board that the Proposed Budget for FY2023-2024 will be pub lished in the legal organ of the county on 5/3/23 and will run until a Public Hearing See COMMISSION BUDGET page 6 story by Janice Daniels On Tuesday, May 2, 2023, the Carroll County Board of Commissioners met for a regular meeting, with all commissioners present. Chair Michelle Morgan gave Left to right: City of Villa Rica Mayor Gil McDougal, City of Temple Mayor Michael Johnson, and City of Carrollton Mayor Betty Cason spoke to an audience of approximately 150+ during a breakfast panel hosted by the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, Tuesday, April 25, 2023. Moderator invited questions, but none were asked. story by Wayne J. Reynolds On April 25, 2023 the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce held their Membership Breakfast featuring three of the seven mayors of the cities of Carroll County: Mayor Betty Cason of Carrollton, Mayor Michael Johnson of Temple, and Mayor Gil McGougal of Villa Rica. These three shared details of their municipality’s growth. Approximately 150 were in attendance. Cason was elected mayor in 2019 and opened Governor visits WGTC to sign bills designed to support the education necessary to fill current high demand jobs from press release Governor Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp were hosted by West Georgia Technical College (WGTC), Coweta Campus, Newnan, April 27, 2023, for a bill signing ceremony. Gov. Kemp signed six bills - House bills 163, 155, and 607, and Senate bills 246, 3, and 86 - that will See GOVERNOR at WGTC page 15 the panel presentation, “I am always excited to talk about the City of Carrollton. I think we are a bright star in Carroll County. We are financially sound and provide many services to our residents. We See MAYORS TALK page 5 State Agriculture Commissioner speaks to full house at Carroll EMC’s bi-annual seminar “Agriculture is national security” and “not rely on someone else” for food production from press release Georgia’s 17th Commissioner of Agriculture, Tyler Harper, attracted a full room of area farmers, agriculture students, business leaders and elected officials as guest speaker at Carroll Electric Membership Cooperative’s (EMC) agribusiness seminar held Thursday, April 13, 2023. The agribusiness seminar is a bi-annual event hosted by Carroll EMC each spring Harper City of Villa Rica tackles major cleanup of homeless encampments: 20 tons of waste, 150 shopping carts, and dogs Nine of the homeless had outstanding warrants and were arrested Police Chief Michael Mansour stated there were no minors in the camps police department was then involved due to violations of these ordinances, and See HOMELESS SITES page 4 New Chief Magistrate Judge Nathaniel Smith began work April 1st Smith was a U.S. Navy Intelligence Specialist; Drug Enforcement Agency Tactical Debriefer; served with Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS); and has been a local attorney 23 years story by Wayne J. Reynolds Local attorney Nathaniel Smith was appointed by Governor Brian Kemp as Chief Magistrate Judge for Carroll County. Smith’s first day on the job was April 1, 2023. Smith replaced Michael Hubbard who had been appointed by the governor May 2022 to fill the unexpired term of longtime Chief Magistrate Judge Alton Parker Johnson who died March 26, 2022. (Parker had been appointed in 1998 to fill the unexpired term of Richard Smith who retired. He then ran success- See JUDGE SMITH page 11 story by Janice Daniels Mayor and City Council of the City of Villa Rica met for their monthly work session Tuesday, April 11, 2023. Councilmember Shirley Marchman was absent. Police Chief Michael Mansour gave an update on the cleanup of the numerous homeless encampments that had been brought to council’s attention during recent meetings. City council had recently passed the Urban Camping Ordinance and Shopping Cart Ordinance in response to these rap idly multiplying homeless sites. The city’s and fall. Designed to bring people together from all sectors of the agriculture community, the meeting offers a time of fellowship and networking followed by a presentation from a keynote speaker. Commissioner Harper, now entering his fourth month in office, addressed this year’s crowd with a plea to keep remind ing the common citizen of how critical agri culture is. “Agriculture impacts every Georgian, every single day,” said Commissioner Harper. “It is vital we tell that story and remind consumers of the role the industry and this department See STATE AG COMMISSIONER page 15 Smith This issue is also posted on over 110 Facebook community pages, Twitter, Linkedln, & starnewsgaonline.com Call 770-722-7227 suehorn.starnews @gmail.com waynereynolds.starnews @gmail.com CAU US TODAY! 404-735-8440 Leaky Root? k JL WE HANDLE ALL TYPES OF RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL JOBS, including: Tear offs & Re-roofs Storm and Hail Damage Roof Leaks & Chimney Repairs Gutter Replacement & Repairs Fascia and Soffit Replacement & Repairs Metal & Flat Roof Chimney Caps We can stojiWtype of leak! (Okay, most any) n _~,i 1 Over 35 years of Experience! 24-Hour Emergency Service! 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