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DawsonCountyNews
WEDNESDAY I DECEMBER 21,2022 DaWSOflNeWS ^COITI DAWSONVILLE, GEORGIA $1.00
Industrial park plan passes in split vote
By Julia Hansen
jhansen@dawsonnews.com
Area residents opposed to a
proposed rezoning near their
rural land did not leave the
Dawson County Board of
Commissioners’ most recent
meeting happy.
“We have to vote them out,”
one woman said as the board
made a decision at their Dec. 15
voting session.
In a split 3-1 vote, the BOC
approved Deer Run Partners
LLC and Crownway Properties
LLC’s requested rezoning of
32.1 acres for a 319,100-square-
foot industrial park along
Stowers Road West and Ga. 400.
District 3 and 4 commissioners
Tim Satterfield and Emory
Dooley voted in favor of the
rezoning, while District 1 com
missioner Sharon Fausett
opposed the request. Chris
Gaines, who represents District
2, was not able to attend the
meeting.
Because Gaines could not
attend and the vote would have
otherwise been a tie, BOC
Chairman Billy Thurmond voted
in favor of the rezoning.
The board’s decision follows
the Dawson County Planning
Commission’s recommendation
of denial last month.
Fausett, who is departing the
board along with Satterfield,
voiced her concerns about peo
ple’s health and wellbeing con
cerns with the incoming develop
ment’s potential impact on water
and air quality and public access
to recreational land.
“I can’t go with it. This is my
swan song,” Fausett said. “I have
to say how I feel about this, and
it will make no difference in this
vote-but we do have to worry
about the quality of life.”
She added that economic
aspects won’t matter when great
environmental harm has been
done.
“If you can’t breathe be you
don’t have air quality... it’s not
going to matter if you have a job
or not,” she said.
Developer consultant Jim King
See Industrial 13A
Julia Hansen Dawson County News
Developer consultant Jim King and DADC board member
Dr. Carroll Turner listen to District 1 commissioner Sharon
Fausett as she pleads against a proposed rezoning for an
industrial park off of Stowers Road West and Ga. 400.
‘Hope for the Holidays’
Photos by Rio White Dawson County News
The Pathfinders Family embarked on a toy run at the Dawsonville Walmart to help provide holiday cheer to
local kids in financially disadvantaged situations.
Pathfinders helping spread holiday cheer with toy shopping spree
By Rio White
riowhite@dawsonnews.com
With the holiday shopping
season in full swing, local
nonprofit Pathfinders is
using its annual fundraising
totals to help spread
Christmas cheer by purchas
ing gifts for local youths as
part of its “Hope for the
Holidays” initiative.
The group, which regular
ly helps out local families in
need, came out in full force
to the Dawsonville Walmart
Thursday, Dec. 15, spending
around $6,000 toward help
ing bring smiles to the faces
of young kids in financially
disadvantaged situations.
“Seeing those smiling
faces — there’s nothing bet
ter,” organizer Deborah
Anderson said. “We are
totally committed.”
While Pathfinders can be
found at its physical location
on 1132 Hwy 53, the shop
ping event gave the group an
opportunity to meet families
where they are at.
Each Pathfinder was
assigned a family and
received a wish list, proceed
ing to embark on a journey
through the endless aisles of
toys at Walmart to fulfill
See Pathfinders 15A
At the conclusion of the toy run, the carts full of gifts
were lined up.
Annual event
to feed hungry
on Christmas
By Erica Jones
ejones@dawsonnews.com
This year will mark the eighth annual
“Dawson Feed the Hungry” event,
designed to serve hot meals to those in
need of one on Christmas Day.
The event will take place on Christmas
Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., or until the
food is gone, at the Dawsonville Pool
Room. Volunteers will serve a hot meal to
those who come to the restaurant, and
other volunteers will deliver meals to those
who pre-order them ahead of time.
This year’s menu will include grilled
boneless chicken breast, green beans, mac
and cheese, mashed potatoes, rolls, assort
ed desserts and bottled water. Anyone in
the community in need of a hot meal is
encouraged to come out to the restaurant or
pre-order a meal for delivery.
To pre-order a meal for delivery on
See Feed 16A
Officials sworn in
at BOC meeting
By Julia Hansen
jhansen@dawsonnews.com
During a Dec. 15 ceremony, two newly-
elected public officials pledged to serve local
citizens for the next four years on Dawson
County’s Board of Commissioners.
County commissioners-elect Seth Stowers
and Alexa Bruce were sworn in to office at
the Dawson County Government Center
Thursday afternoon. Both Stowers and Bruce
will begin their terms on Jan. 1, 2023.
Probate Judge Jennifer Burt presided over
the swearing-in ceremony.
Dawson native Seth Stowers will serve his
first term in the District 1 seat after running
unopposed, replacing two-term commissioner
and community stalwart Sharon Fausett on
the board.
See Officials 14A
0
9 0 9 9 4
Inside
Volume 8, Number 46
© 2022, Dawson County News
Dawsonville, Georgia
Events
2B
Classifieds
1D
Dear Abby
4D
Deaths
2A
Legals
2D
Opinion
7A
Sports
1B
4A Kids, adults
revel in holiday
cheer at annual
Christmas
party.
6A Knights of
Columbus
raises money
for coats for
kids.
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