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DawsonCountyNews
WEDNESDAY I MARCH 9, 2022 DaWSOflNeWS ^COITI DAWSONVILLE, GEORGIA $1.00
Board approves contested cell tower
Residents say structure would be too close to road, impede views, impact property values
Julia Fechter Dawson County News
County attorney Jeffrey Strickland listens as Commissioner
Chris Gaines asks if the board could deny a special-use per
mit for the cell tower based on its planned appearance.
From left, Strickland, Commissioner Sharon Fausett, Gaines
and BOC Chairman Billy Thurmond.
By Julia Fechter
jfechter@dawsonnews.com
After a vote was tabled twice,
the Dawson County Board of
Commissioners reluctantly
approved a special-use permit
for a Verizon Wireless cell tower
near Ga. 52 and Wesley Chapel
Road in northeastern Dawson
County.
The March 3 vote was 3-1,
with District 3 Commissioner
Tim Satterfield voting ‘no’ and
Chairman Billy Thurmond
abstaining since there was a
majority.
Multiple neighbors to the site
voiced their concerns during
public hearings at the Nov. 16
Planning Commission and Dec.
16 BOC meetings.
Residents have complained
the structure would be too close
to the road, impede their moun
tain views and negatively impact
their property values.
“I understand [the problem of]
obstructing views.. .but really all
the i’s have been dotted and the
t’s have been crossed,” said
District 1 Commissioner Sharon
Fausett, whose district contains
the future tower site. “I really
would like to deny it...[and] I
wish it would be different, but
I’m going to have to make a
motion that it be approved.”
Location
The BOC first tabled a deci
sion from its Dec. 16 voting ses
sion to allow for a second bal
loon test with the commissioners
present.
Earlier that same meeting,
Verizon lawyer David Kirk
announced the company’s deci
sion to locate the structure an
additional 300 feet back on the
property. Previous plans for the
tower’s precise spot had it posi
tioned slightly less than the
required three miles from an
existing tower to the south.
The new location will still
See Tower 16A
‘It just feels like a party’
Erica Jones Dawson County News
On Friday March 4, the Dawson County location of Crumbl Cookies officially opened for business with a grand
opening celebration.
Crumbl Cookies officially opens for business in Dawson County
By Erica Jones
ejones@dawsonnews.com
On Friday March 4, dozens of excit
ed people lined up outside of the new
est location of Crumbl Cookies in
Dawson County. Balloons decorated
the front of the store, and music blast
ed from the speakers set up out front
as the DJ called customers up to spin
the pink wheel and claim their free
prizes. Families sat on the outside
patio, smiling and laughing as they
enjoyed giant cookies made fresh that
day at the store.
The Dawson location of Crumbl
Cookies, known for its giant cookies,
unique flavors and rotating menu that
gives customers new options each
week, officially opened for business
last week with a grand opening cele
bration on March 4.
The cookie shop, located at 12
Dawson Market Way Suite 200, had
been in the works for over a year and
is the third location opened by co
owners Fance Jeffreys and James
Griffin, who opened the Cumming
location in 2020 and the Alpharetta
location in 2021.
The store’s grand opening week
kicked off with a ribbon cutting by the
Dawson County Chamber of
Commerce on Wednesday March 2. In
a ceremony preceding the ribbon cut
ting, Dawson County Chamber of
Commerce President and CEO Mandy
Power welcomed Jeffreys and Griffin
to the community, expressing her
excitement for the store to open.
“We are here to celebrate Crumbl
Cookies, we are so glad that y’all
came out to celebrate with us; it’s
been a long time coming for these two
gentlemen coming in,” Power said.
“And now I don’t have to drive all the
way to exit 13 to get Crumbl cook
ies!”
Before cutting the ribbon, Jeffreys
and Griffin also addressed the assem
bled Chamber of Commerce mem
bers, store employees and community
members.
“We are so excited to be in
Dawsonville; as James calls it
‘Awesome-ville’,” Jeffreys said. “It’s
such a warm, awesome community,
and like I said we really love it up
See Crumbl 15A
K9 Pelle
retires after
long career
By Julia Fechter
jfechter@dawsonnews.com
After four-and-a-half
busy years employed with
the Dawson County
Sheriff’s Office, K9 Pelle
will trade his title of
“canine deputy” for that of
“pet” and return to the care
of his original handler,
Chad Mobley.
During their March 3
voting session, the Board of
Commissioners approved a request from
See K916A
Majority of
car-break in
suspects ID «d
By Julia Fechter
jfechter@dawsonnews.com
Authorities have identified four, possibly
five, of the suspects involved in multiple
alleged vehicle crimes that occurred during a
January snowstorm in Dawson County.
Warrants have been taken out on the adult
suspects, and the Dawson County Sheriff’s
Office has completed charges for a male juve
nile from Clarkston, Georgia.
He was charged with one count each of
entering an auto, theft by taking and fleeing
and attempting to elude. Charges are pending
for another juvenile.
Three of four stolen vehicles have been
recovered after 27 car break-ins on Jan. 17.
Early that morning, deputies responded to
Shoal Creek Court after receiving reports of
See Vehicles 12A
Pelle
0
9 0 9 9 4
Inside
Volume 8, Number 10
© 2021, Dawson County News
Dawsonville, Georgia
Events
2B
Classifieds
6B
Dear Abby
4B
Deaths
2A
Legals
7B
Opinion
7A
Sports
1B
Local church
fundraises for
members
medical
needs.
4A Ascent Church
Dawson wel
comes worship
pers at new
venue.
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