About Dawson County news. (Dawsonville, Georgia) 2015-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 6, 2021)
DCMS girls cross country team win Mountain League Championship sports, ib A NOTE TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS: You may receive two copies of the Oct. 6 edition of the Dawson County News in the mail. Due to a production problem, the edition mailed earlier omitted a page of public notice advertising that was scheduled to run. This edition corrects that error and includes the full public notice section. We apologize and thank you for your continued support of your hometown newspaper. DawsonCountyNews WEDNESDAY I OCTOBER 6, 2021 DaWSOflNeWS ^com DAWSONVULE, GEORGIA $1.00 MEET YOUR CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES By Erica Jones ejones@dawsonnews.com Two Dawsonville City Council seats are up for election this fall, with early voting beginning in just a few short weeks. As the election draws closer, it’s important to get to know the candidates you’re voting for to fill the council Post 2 and Post 4 seats. DCN sat down with all four candidates to ask them a couple questions about themselves and their goals if they should be elected. MARK FRENCH Post 4 incumbent French is 51 years Republican. He holds degree in Finance from North Georgia College and State University and cur rently works as an office manager for a local manufacturing company. Previously, he worked for just under 20 years in the finance department for the Lumpkin County government. He has lived in the city for 12 years and is involved in many groups and organiza tions in the community, including attending Dahlonega United Methodist Church and the First Baptist Dawsonville. He has served on the city council since he was elected into the role in 2017 and is running against Jamie McCracken for the Post 4 City Council seat. Q: Why are you running for city council? A: “I feel that my experience that I See French 13A JAMIE MCCRACKEN McCracken is 45 years old and is a conservative. He holds an associ ate degree in air conditioning and mechanical systems from Gwinnett College and went to MTI from 2000 through 2003 to study mechanical systems. He currently works as the general manager for Joe Powell and Associates. He has lived in the city limits for four years and is a 25-year resident of Dawson County and has been involved in many groups and organizations in the community, including serving as the vice president on the Gold Creek Homeowners Association board, leading small groups and Sunday school classes at local churches. He is an alumnus of Leadership Forsyth and has served on the Dawsonville DDA for about two years. He is currently running for See McCracken | 5A WILL ILLG Post 2 incumbent Illg is 35 years old and is conserva tive in his political affiliation. He holds an associates degree from Gainesville State College and a Bachelors of Arts from Brenau University, and he currently works full time as an invest ment advisor and also as an associate pastor with Echo Ministries. He moved to Dawsonville in 2017, moved out of the city in 2019 and moved back in 2020. He is involved in many groups and organizations in the community, including taking his son to football games, attending First Baptist Church of Dawsonville, serv ing on the Dawsonville DDA, and accomplishing a lot of volunteer and service work in different local minis tries. He has served on the city council since May 2021, when he was appointed by fellow council members See Illg 14A MIKE SOSEBEE Sosebee is 79 years old and is con servative. He is a high school gradu ate, a U.S. Army veteran and a retired sales manager. He has lived in the city for 50 years and is involved in the community he lives in, including being a member of the American Legion and attending church in the city. He has previously served on the city council for several years, from 1980-2004 and again from 2012-2017. He is currently run ning for Post 2 City Council seat against William Illg. Q: Why are you running for city council? A: “I want to use my love and knowledge of Dawsonville as a member of the city council. I have a servant’s heart, family, church and community. More than 30 years ser vice on the city council gives me institutional insight and a vision for our future.” See Sosebee 13A old and is a a Bachelor’s French McCracken Sosebee Riverview Elementary named 2021 National Blue Ribbon school Erica Jones Dawson County News Riverview Elementary School was one of nine schools in Georgia to be named a 2021 National Blue Ribbon school by the United States Department of Education. Jacob Smith jsmith@dawsonnews.com Riverview Elementary School was one of nine schools in Georgia to be named a 2021 National Blue Ribbon school by the United States Department of Education. According to the U.S. DOE, “affirms the hard work of educators and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content.” This is the 39th year that the award has been given to over 9,000 schools across the coun try. “This year’s cohort of honorees demonstrates what is possible when committed educators and school leaders create vibrant, welcoming, and affirming school cultures where rich teaching and learning can flourish,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said. According to the National Blue Ribbon Schools website, their SPARK program stuck out during the decision making process. Riverview is a Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports school and the development of this “created an environment where students are reward ed for perseverance, acknowledged for accom plishments, and encour aged to do their best.” The energy that comes from this process is what Riverview began referring to as SPARK, or Service, Pride, Attitude, Respect and Kindness. “One emphasis of our SPARK program is respect and consideration for individual differences,” the release on the National Blue Ribbon website said. “Seeing our students learn to love and respect those different from them and grow into advocates for others is one of the most rewarding parts of work ing at Riverview.” “We believe that our SPARK will grow brighter and brighter as our stu dents and staff continue to commit themselves to develop empathy and pro mote acceptance.” Riverview principal Adam Maroney said in a phone interview he believes the school han dles their PBIS initiative with “such fidelity that it makes it unique for our school.” “I’m very excited about being named a National Blue Ribbon School for 2021,” Maroney said. “I think it’s a fantastic honor for our students, staff and community as a whole to be recognized on the national stage. It’s really a testament to the work we do here at Riverview.” 0 9 0 9 9 4 Inside Volume 7, Number 36 © 2021, Dawson County News Dawsonville, Georgia Church Events 2B Classifieds 7B Dear Abby 6B Deaths 2A Legals 8B Opinion 9A Sports 1B 4A Dawson Chorale puts on Beatles concert Teen honored at ‘Community of Courage event > FROM ROUTINE CARE TO COMPLEX PROCEDURES OUR EXPERT TEAM IS HERE FOR YOUR HEART At Northside Hospital Heart Institute, you're at the heart of everything we do. Our team of 75 board-certified physicians are focused on providing you exceptional care above all else. With the support of the Northside network, including the latest technology and the leading facilities, our experts are ready to treat any cardiac condition. From preventative care and blood pressure management all the way to advanced surgeries—we provide Excellence at Heart. Find a provider near you with over 50 locations across Metro Atlanta. Visit northside.com/excellence for more.
