Dawson County news. (Dawsonville, Georgia) 2015-current, January 02, 2019, Image 1

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Newspaper Page Text^DawsonCountyNews WEDNESDAY I JANUARY 2, 2019 DaWSOIlNeWS >COnri DAWSONVULE, GEORGIA $1.00 Chase Elliott among tops in 2018 Chemical spill at Gold Creek, loss of community icons also made headlines in Dawson County By Jessica Taylor jtaylor@dawsonnews.com It was a year like no other in Dawson County. A chemical spill at Gold Creek Foods contaminated local streams and killed 8,000 fish. Members of the Rainbow Family of Living Light made themselves at home at Chattahoochee National Forest for an annual gathering. Dawsonville began monthly Food Truck Fridays to bring the community together. Prayers before Dawson County High School football games became national news. A number of notable locals found their way into the head lines with heartwarming dis coveries in 2018. After search ing for 44 years, Tara Hardwick was reunited with her foster brother. After the loss of his airman son, Karl Porfirio published a children’s book honoring his son and teaching children to be proud of their military parents. After watching their friend Natalie Herndon battle cancer, Mia Phillips and Lili Almazan, fifth grade friends at Blacks Mill Elementary School, shaved their heads and donated their long locks to Wigs for Kids. And after 20 years behind the pulpit, First Baptist Church of Dawsonville’s longest serving pastor Jim Gaines retired. It was also a year that brought the loss of pillars in the community. In August, the community came together to remember Cecil Bennett, a longtime board of education member who served the children of Dawson County for 25 years. See 201814A Elected officials promise to serve Dawson County during swearing-in Photos by Allie Dean Dawson County News Probate Judge Jennifer Burt administers an oath to Board of Education District 3 member Karen Armstrong, Dawson County District 1 Commissioner Sharon Fausett and Dawson County District 3 Commissioner Tim Satterfield on Dec. 27. Oaths of office taken at Dec. 27 swearing-in ceremony By Allie Dean adean@dawsonnews.com Two returning elected officials and one new to the political arena were sworn in Thursday morn ing at the Dawson County Government Center. One by one the newly elected officials placed their hands on the Bible and swore an oath to faithfully serve the citi zens of Dawson County. Probate Judge Jennifer Burt presided over the swearing-in ceremony of Dawson County Board of Commission members Sharon Fausett and Tim Satterfield as well as Dawson County Board of See Oaths 18A Newly sworn-in District 3 Commissioner Tim Satterfield poses for a photo with members of Dawson County Emergency Services on Dec. 27. Satterfield retired from DCES in December 2017. Ex-candidate for governor turns self in to jail Dec. 26 By Megan Reed DCN Regional Staff Former gubernatorial candidate Michael Williams turned himself in to the Hall County Jail Dec. 26 on charges of insurance fraud and false report of a crime. Williams, a state senator from Cumming, was charged by a Hall County grand jury Dec. 18 after an investiga tion by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. A.J. Richman, Williams’ attorney, said Dec. 26 that Williams was maintaining his innocence and was waiting to see the See Williams 13A Williams Best of Dawson voting begins Jan. 7 From staff reports Nominations for the 2019 Best of Dawson Readers’ Choice Awards contest ended Dec. 31, which means voting is just around the cor ner. Voting will open Jan. 7 and all votes must be in before the cutoff date of Feb. 3 to be counted for this year’s awards. The contest gives readers an opportunity to vote for what they think is the best of everything in Dawson County, from the best pizza joint to the best sweet tea. But food isn’t the only thing on the ballot. Readers can vote for their favorite hair salon, teacher, dentist office or carpet cleaning com pany. All voting takes place online, and the ballot can be accessed at www.dawson- news.com and under the Best of Dawson tab, or at www.bestofdawson.com/Best-of- Dawson-2019/. Winners will be announced in a special publication magazine that will insert into the Dawson County News on March 27. For information on marketing opportuni ties in this year’s contest, contact Brenda Bohn, general manager, at (706) 2650-3384 or bbohn@dawsonnews.com. 0 9 0 9 9 Inside Volume 4, Number 15 © 2018, Dawson County News Dawsonville, Georgia Church Events 3B Classifieds 7B Dear Abby 6B Legals 7B Opinion 7A Sports 1B TV 5B 3A Gainesville train may be relocated after land deal 6A State legislators call for school safety improvement THE MOST IWERFUL CANCER FIGHTING NETWORK IN GEORGIA Taking on cancer requires an elite clinical team. That's why Northside Hospital Cancer Institute has the most board-certified medical oncologists in Georgia. We diagnose and treat more new cancer cases than any other hospital in the state—providing care at 48 cancer centers. Backed by expertise and experience, we're built to beat cancer. Learn more at builttobeatcancer.com ‘BUILT to BEAT CANCER NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL CANCER INSTITUTE

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Dawson County news. (Dawsonville, Georgia) 2015-current, January 02, 2019, Image 1