About Dawson County news. (Dawsonville, Georgia) 2015-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 22, 2018)
Food Truck night continues to grow LOCAL, 3A Tigers fight for win in football opener SPORTS, IB WEDNESDAY I AUGUST 22, 2018 DaWSOflNeWS ^COITI DAWSONVILLE, GEORGIA $1.00 Photos by Jessica Brown Dawson County News Members of Dawsonville Civitan Club, the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce and the Dawson County Schools Exceptional Children program gathered at Veterans Memorial Park for a ceremonial ribbon cutting for the new inclusive playground Aug. 14. Board sets millage rate; no rollback By Allie Dean adean@dawsonnews.com Some Dawson County residents will see a prop erty tax increase after the county commission voted 3-1 last week to set the millage rate at 8.138 mills. The millage rate is part of a formula used to cal culate property taxes, where one mill equals $1 for every $1,000 in assessed property value. The coun ty has maintained the same rate of 8.138 mills for at least a decade. New businesses and homes coming to the area as well as a recent countywide revaluation of all agri cultural and residential real property has resulted in an overall increase in the total tax digest, or value of all the properties in the county. Leaving the rate the same as last year will increase the amount of taxes the county will collect by about 12.8 percent, or $1.3 million, over 2017. A playground for everyone Civitan Club creates space for kids with disabilities to enjoy By Jessica Brown jbrown@dawsonnews.com Members of the Dawsonville Civitan Club, the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce and the Dawson County Schools Exceptional Children program gathered together last Tuesday to celebrate a milestone for inclusive ness in the community. Under the warm August sun, friendly faces assembled at Veterans Memorial Park August 14 for a special ribbon cutting dedica tion of a new inclusive playground. “We’re just so excited that we were able to do this,” said Civitan President Tiffany Muilenburg. “It means so much to us and to our community.” Through the fundraising efforts of the Civitan Club and the com munity, four pieces of inclusive playground equipment worth $15,000 was installed at the park across from the gymnasium. Included is a “cozy cocoon” where children with autism and sensory processing disorders can remove themselves from situations of sensory overload while still being accessible to their parents or caretakers, as well as swing seats that accommodate differently abled children. “One of the goals of not only our chamber but our community is to be as inclusive as possible so this is a great day to celebrate with every one,” said Chamber President Christie Moore. “Just to be here and be able to see our friends enjoying this playground equip ment is just a beautiful thing.” A sign was placed in the park in honor of longtime Civitan member Nancy Eason, Dawsonville Mayor Mike Eason’s late wife. “I want to thank God for putting The playground features inclu sive swing sets so that all chil dren can enjoy the park. Nancy in my life. She’s meant so much to me and my family and to See Playground 18A See Millage 16A County reinstates impact fees at maximum rate By Allie Dean adean@dawsonnews.com Dawson County could see a drastic decline in development over the coming years after the board of commissioners voted 3-1 last week to reinstate impact fees at the maximum possible rate. Impact fees are one-time fees collected on new developments during the building permit process that are intended to help offset the costs of capital improvements and services. The services that will benefit from the fees include libraries, parks and recreation, roads and public safety. All of the service categories will receive money from the fees collected on residential developments, but only roads and public safety will see fees from commercial buildings as well. See Impact 16A Dawson students arrested after Lumpkin home invasion Anderson McConnell McKinzie Sowell By Allie Dean adean@dawsonnews.com Four Dawson County teenag ers were accused of a midnight home invasion last week in Lumpkin County, according to authorities. According to Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Lt. Alan Roach, authorities received a call just after midnight Friday, Aug. 17, in which a resident stat ed someone was beating on the doors and windows of their house. When deputies responded to the scene, they found the person beating on the house was actually the victim of a home invasion, according to a news release. Several suspects ran from the scene when the deputies arrived, Roach reported. “There was one person there that went to their neighbor’s house after the home invasion occurred and asked them for help,” Roach said. Four suspects were arrested after a search of the area: Preston Andrew Anderson, 18; Quintin Chase McConnell, 18; Blake Mitchell McKinzie, 17; and Gavyne Anthony Sowell, 17. They were charged with home invasion, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. All are Dawson County resi dents and all are currently in cus tody in the Lumpkin County Detention Center, Roach said. The victim of the invasion was not injured. Dawson County Schools Superintendent Damon Gibbs confirmed that two of the teens arrested are a junior and a senior at DCHS, but did not confirm their identities. Gibbs said the students will be dealt with according to the stu dent code of conduct upon their release. According to the release, Sheriff Stacy Jarrard would like to “thank the citizens that helped with the information provided during this investigation” as well as “the hard work of the deputies and investigators for their quick response and actions that lead to locating all four suspects.” The investigation is ongoing. 90994 04002 Inside Volume 3, Number 47 © 2018, Dawson County News Dawsonville, Georgia Church Events Classifieds Dear Abby Deaths Legals Opinion Sports 3B 7B 6B 2A 8B 9A 1B 5A Couple joins inaugural hike for Make-A-Wish 7A Dawson Vision to host visiting Haitian choir for second time PROPANE AUGUST PROPANE SPECIAL Lowest price of the year...Guaranteed! Propane Order Hotline: 706-344-1 GAS (1427) your hometown propane company amicalolapropane.com 383 Highway 53 West, Dawsonville, GA -- ^ nil i
