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2A I DAWSON COUNTY NEWS I dawsonnews.com
Wednesday, November 16,2022
Riverview Elementary named Title I Distinguished School
By Erica Jones
ejones@dawsonnews.com
Riverview Elementary
School in Dawson County has
recently received the designa
tion as a Title I Distinguished
School by the Georgia
Department of Education, an
honor given to the top five per
cent of all Title I schools in the
state.
The Dawson County Board
of Education recognized staff
and administrators for the
achievement during the board’s
Nov. 8 meeting. Denise
Reynolds, director of federal
programs, assessment and
accountability, spoke about the
designation to the board.
“Riverview has been a Title I
Distinguished School every
year since the State of Georgia
established this status back in
the fall of 2018,” Reynolds said.
“They’re a model school for
what relentless commitment to
student learning looks like
every single day.”
The recognition of being
named as a Title I
Distinguished School is based
on College and Career Ready
Performance Index (CCRPI)
content mastery data. Schools
are named as a Title I
Distinguished School for hav
ing the highest overall student
performance in the state.
“They have a collaborative
approach to serving the students
and the families at Riverview,”
Reynolds said of Riverview.
“This is a great accomplish
ment, as this shows how collec
tive efficacy can support, over
coming the barriers faced dur
ing the pandemic while main
taining rigorous expectations to
increase student achievement.”
Because of the distinction,
Riverview is also eligible to
apply for recognition as a
National Title I Distinguished
School, an honor that has not
been announced yet at this time.
Reynolds presented
Riverview’s principal, Adam
Maroney, with a flag and certif
icate honoring his school’s
achievement, and she and the
members of the board congratu
lated him and his staff for their
hard work to once again receive
the distinction.
Erica Jones DCN file photo
Riverview Elementary School in Dawson County has recently received the designation as a
Title I Distinguished School by the Georgia Department of Education.
Man pleads guilty to heinous sexual crime in White County
By Julia Hansen
jhansen@dawsonnews.com
A Dawsonville man has
entered a negotiated plea of
guilty after he was arrested and
charged with incest last year in
White County.
Steven Williamson, 36,
pleaded guilty to one felony
count of incest and was sen
tenced to the maximum penalty
of 30 years.
Williamson must serve the
first 15 years of his sentence in
confinement before he can
complete the rest of the term on
probation.
White County is part of the
neighboring Enotah Judicial
Circuit, which also includes
Lumpkin, Union and Towns
counties.
Williamson was arrested by
the White County
Sheriff’s Office on Sept.
13, 2021, according to
an agency incident
report.
A WCSO deputy
responded to a
Cleveland residence at
6:24 a.m. on Sept. 13
after an adult other than
Williamson called in a dispute,
the WCSO report stated.
After arriving, offi
cers learned information
that compelled them to
start an investigation.
The charge
Williamson pleaded
guilty to was related to
alleged incest involving
one 16-year-old victim
on Sept. 13.
As part of his probation
terms, Williamson will have to
register as a sex offender and
follow requirements such as no
contact with minors and 240
hours of community service
under the supervision of his
probation officer.
The prosecution has decided
not to prosecute Williamson’s
two other counts of incest and
two counts of sexual exploita
tion of children, according to
his sentencing document.
Williamson
Obituaries
Annette Tardy
Dardaman
October 25, 2022
Annette Tardy Dardaman
went to be with her Lord
Jesus Christ on October
25, 2022, at 8:30 pm. She
was 83 years old. Annette
was born on August 18,
1 939, in Carrollton,
Mississippi to Thomas
Walter Tardy, Jr. and Lela
Holman. She grew up in
Winona, MS where she
and Chris became high
school sweethearts.
Annette was a majorette,
played the flute and was
the Drum Majorette at
Winona High School. She
enjoyed playing tennis and
basketball and remained
an avid college basketball
fan her entire life. Annette
went to Millsaps College in
Jackson, MS, where she
participated in Chi Omega
Sorority, Beta Alpha Psi,
Phi Kappa Phi and was a
majorette in the band.
After her Sophomore year
in 1959, she and Chris
were married after he grad
uated from Mississippi
State University. They
moved to Knoxville TN,
where she continued her
accounting education at
the University of
Tennessee and she passed
the CPA exam. She went
on to do graduate studies
and teach accounting at
the University of
Tennessee. After
Knoxville, Annette lived in
Florence, AL, Jackson, MS,
West Monroe, LA and then
moved to Grenada, MS to
be close to their families
who both still lived 22 min
utes away in Winona, MS.
She helped Chris start his
engineering firm, worked
for two local CPA firms and
eventually started her own
CPA practice. She enjoyed
helping students learn by
teaching accounting at
Holmes Community
College in Grenada, MS.
In addition to running her
own CPA practice, Annette
also did the accounting and
tax work for Chris’
Architecture and
Engineering Business for
decades. Annette
loved and taught her two
sons (Chris Jr. and Chip)
well and was a Cub Scout
Leader, winning a special
recognition award for her
tireless volunteer efforts.
Both her boys majored in
accounting and became
CPAs for a while until they
followed in their Mom and
Dad’s footsteps, becoming
8th generation entrepre
neurs (in finance and real
estate). She was a very
active member in her local
church, holding numerous
leadership positions at First
United Methodist of
Grenada, MS, as well as
serving on District and
State level committees and
as Treasurer for many
years. After they moved to
Georgia in 2002, she was
active at Gainesville First
United Methodist Church
and was President of the
Aldersgate Sunday School
Class. Serving her commu
nity through The National
Association of Junior
Auxiliaries, where she was
National Treasurer and
Finance Chairperson, was
important to Annette. She
was the Coordinator for the
Community Bible Study in
Grenada, MS and
Coordinator of the
Chestatee Community
Ladies Bible Study. She
loved studying God’s Word,
baking cakes and always
enjoyed hosting parties
and progressive dinners. In
2002 Annette and Chris
moved to Chestatee in
Dawsonville, GA to be clos
er to family and then to
Lanier Village in 2012. She
was quite active at LVE in a
number of activities includ
ing starting the LVE
Genealogy Club, organiz
ing the LVE Antiques Road
Show, participating in Bible
Studies and serving as a
marketing tour guide for
potential new residents.
She loved meeting new
people and had a double
dose of intellectual curiosi
ty, which she inherited from
her father. Annette
enjoyed taking classes on
a variety of topics for years
at the Brenau University
Learning & Leisure Institute
and was a consistent
champion at board games.
Annette is survived by her
loving husband of 63
years, Chris, her son Chris
Jr., her grandson Chase
Dardaman of Dallas, TX,
granddaughter Emily
Dardaman of Atlanta, GA,
grandsons Davis
Dardaman of Dallas, TX
and Daniel Dardaman of
Peachtree Corners, GA
along with many nieces,
nephews and other loved
family members. She was
predeceased by her young
est son Charles Thomas
“Chip” Dardaman of Ft.
Myers, FL, her middle
brother Tom Tardy of
Jackson, MS and her
youngest brother Dr.
Charles “Chuck” Tardy of
Hattiesburg, MS.
A Celebration of Life will be
on Friday November 18th
at 2:30 pm EST at Lanier
Village Estates Chapel in
Gainesville, GA.
Donations, in lieu of flow
ers, may be made to
Gainesville First United
Methodist Church, 2780
Thompson Bridge Rd.
Gainesville, GA 30506,
https://www.gfumc.com
Petty Officer First
Class Ryan Nix
November 4, 2022
Petty Officer First Class
Ryan Nix, 44, of Bedford,
Kentucky and formerly of
Dawsonville, Georgia
passed away suddenly on
Friday November 4, 2022.
Born August 1, 1978, Ryan
was a 1997 graduate of
Dawson County High
School. He served in the
U.S. Army in Iraq during
Operation Iraqi Freedom
where he earned numer
ous awards and medals,
specifically a Combat
Infantry Badge that he was
extremely proud of.
Following his service in the
U.S. Army, he enlisted in
the U.S. Coast Guard
where he was currently
serving and had also
earned many awards,
including the Cutterman
Pin and Sailor of the
Quarter. Ryan was a
devoted and loving hus
band and a hero to his son.
He never met a stranger
and lived every day to the
fullest with a laugh and a
smile. He was preceded in
death by his father, Walter
Lamar Nix; maternal grand
parents, Hon. James Cliff
Hughes and Frances
Jones Hughes; paternal
grandparents, Lucius Nix
and Claudine Robinson
Nix; grandfather-in-law,
Curtis Leonard Chappell.
Surviving are his devoted
wife of 16 years, Cara
Carlisle Nix; son, Ryan
Chayden Nix, age nine;
mother, Julie Hughes Nix
and John Simpson of
Dawsonville; brother and
sister-in-law, Wyatt
Anthony Nix and Stephanie
Nix of Dawsonville; father-
in-law and mother-in-law,
Billy Carlisle and Cathy
Carlisle of Dawsonville;
grandmothers-in-law, Leila
Chappell, Joyce Carlisle,
both of Dawsonville;
numerous aunts, uncles,
nieces, nephews and a
host of beloved friends and
military coworkers near
and far. Funeral services
will be held on Saturday,
November 12, 2022 at 3
p.m. at Lighthouse Baptist
Church in Dawsonville. Dr.
Charles Blackstock and
Rev. Chad Rogers will offi
ciate. The service will be
live-streamed at www.light-
house-baptist.com.
Interment will follow in
Harmony Baptist Church
Cemetery. The family will
receive friends at the funer
al home on Friday
November 11 from 2 p.m.
until 8 p.m. and on
Saturday from 12:30 p.m.
until 2 p.m. In lieu of flow
ers donations may be
made to Coast Guard
Mutual Assistance at www.
cgmahq.org. Condolences
may be expressed at www.
beardenfuneralhome.com.
Bearden Funeral Home,
Dawsonville, GA.
Cletis Castleberry
November 7, 2022
Cletis Castleberry, age 86,
of Dawsonville, Georgia,
passed away Monday,
November 7, 2022 at his
home. He was born March
19, 1936 to John and
Imogene Castleberry in
Cumming, Georgia.
Cletis is survived by his
wife, Veronica Castleberry
of Dawsonville; daughter
and son-in-law, Robin
Castleberry-Henley and
Brian Henley of
Dawsonville; son and
daughter-in-law, Joseph
and Christy Castleberry of
Dahlonega; step-daughter,
Diane Burt of Fort Payne,
Alabama; step-sons, Clyde
Burt of Alabama, Franklin
Burt of Alabama, and Billy
Burt of South Carolina;
twelve grandchildren; elev
en great-grandchildren;
several nieces and neph
ews and Princess and Little
Bit. The family will be
receiving friends at Roper
Funeral Home,
Wednesday, November 9,
2022 from 5:00 p.m. until
9:00 p.m. He will then be
cremated. In lieu of flow
ers, the family asks that
donations in honor of Mr.
Castleberry be made to the
American Lung
Association.
Arrangements are entrust
ed to the Staff of Roper
Funeral Home and
Crematory.
American Lung Association
- Mail to: American Lung
Association; National
Direct Response; PO Box
756; Osceola, Wl 54020-
0756 - Phone:
1 -800-LUNGUSA -
Internet: lung.org
Death Notices
Berma Brooks Tate
November 9, 2022
Berma Brooks Tate, 91, of
Cumming passed away
Wednesday, November 9.
Funeral services will be
held Monday, November
14, at 2:00 p.m. at the
Ingram Funeral Home
Chapel. Interment will fol
low at Sawnee View
Gardens. The family will
receive friends at the funer
al home Monday from
12:30 p.m. until the time of
the service
Ingram Funeral Home, 210
Ingram Ave, Cumming, GA
is in charge of arrange
ments.
Edna Louise
Homen
November 7, 2022
Edna Louise Homen, 66, of
Dawsonville, GA. passed
away on Monday,
November 7, 2022 at her
residence after a brief ill
ness. Bearden Funeral
Home, Dawsonville, GA
30534
Michele Diane
West
November 8, 2022
Michele Diane West, 52 of
Dawsonville, GA, passed
away peacefully after an
extended illness, on
Tuesday, November 8.
A Memorial Service will be
held on Saturday,
November 12, 2022, at
1:00 p.m. at the
Dawsonville Baptist Church
^ Daws o n C o u nty N e ws
A Metro Market Media Publication
Established in 2015 by the merger of Dawson Community News and Dawson News and Advertiser
30 Shoal Creek Road i PUBLISHER | Stephanie Woody
Dawsonville, GA 30534
PHONE (706) 265-3384 EDITOR | Erica Jones
FAX (706) 265-3276
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