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6A I DAWSON COUNTY NEWS I dawsonnews.com
Wednesday, December 21,2022
Knights of Columbus raises money for coats for kids
Erica Jones Dawson County News
Members of Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church's Knights of Columbus
council stand with Kilough Elementary School administrators and students
behind some of the dozens of coats that the council donated to local children.
By Erica Jones
ejones@dawsonnews.com
This week, members of
Christ the Redeemer
Catholic Church’s
Knights of Columbus
council donated four
dozen coats to children in
the local school system in
need of a warm winter
coat.
The “Coats for Kids”
program is one that
Knights of Columbus
councils worldwide par
ticipate in, and according
to Christ the Redeemer’s
Deputy Grand Knight
Larry Suarez the Dawson
County church’s council
has been participating in
it for several years.
Through the program,
members of the Knights
of Columbus raise money
through fundraisers
throughout the year to
purchase coats, which
they then distribute to
children in need in the
community with the help
of the school system.
“No child should ever
be cold and we don’t ever
want a child to be cold,”
Suarez said. “We always
go to the schools and ask
them to take charge of
who should get the coats
because they’re in the
best position to help us
execute the program.”
Each year, the Knights
of Columbus works with
administration from
Kilough Elementary
School, which is located
right next to Christ the
Redeemer Catholic
Church. This year, the
council gave 24 coats to
Kilough and another 24
to the school system’s
family services coordina
tor, Niki Mincey, to dis
tribute to children in
other schools in the coun
ty.
“We’ve always worked
with Kilough Elementary
because they’re right next
door, but we do like to
include others if possible
so Niki from Dawson
County Family Services
has a list of her own,”
Suarez said. “We’re very
happy that we’re able to
do this, we’re happy that
we’re able to do it now
while it’s cold and we’re
just very very glad that
everything has come
together.”
Kilough Elementary
School Principal Teresa
Conowal said that, for her
students that will receive
the coats, having a brand
new coat for the cold
winter months can make
all the difference. Now
that the coats have been
delivered, she added, sev
eral of her students will
get the extra joy of help
ing wrap them and deliver
them to their classmates.
“These amazing coats
are going to be given to
students who are just so
desperately in need and
we are just so grateful for
that,” Conowal said.
“This partnership means
so much because they’re
always so willing to fill
any need that we have.”
Western precinct residents eligible to vote in special election
By Julia Hansen
jhansen@dawsonnews.com
After experiencing record turn
out earlier this year, Dawson
County has seen the polar oppo
site with advance voting so far in
the Jan. 3 special election to fill
the seat of late Georgia House
District 7 Rep. David Ralston.
As of Dec. 13, only four people
voted early in the election for the
state house district, Board of
Elections and Registration
Director Glenda Ferguson con
firmed to DCN.
Ga. District 7 includes all of
Fannin and Gilmer counties and
Dawson County’s western pre
cinct area. People living in the
central and eastern precincts are a
part of Ga. District 9, which is
represented by incumbent Will
Wade.
Although it’s well known that
voter participation can decrease
in off-cycle elections, the notable
lack of turnout has people
involved in local elections dou
bling down on awareness efforts.
In addition to standard social
media and newspaper advertis
ing, local elections officials and
political party members are now
posting extra flyers and making
phone calls to get the word out,
Ferguson said.
“I understand Gilmer and
Fannin both are lighter than what
you [would] expect also, with
about 120 votes or so each,”
Ferguson added.
Advance voting
• When: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday through Friday
Dec. 12 through Dec. 30
• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday,
Dec. 17
• Where: Central Precinct/
Board of Elections office,
located at 96 Academy
Avenue in Dawsonville
Election day
• When: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Jan. 3
• Where: Western precinct-
Fire Station no. 6 at 2142
Hubbard Road
Key dates
• Closed for the holidays:
Dec. 23-26 and Jan. 2
• Fast day for western pre
cinct voters to request an
absentee ballot: Dec. 27
• Runoff, as necessary: Jan.
31
If you are unsure whether you
live in Dawson’s western pre
cinct, you can check the
Secretary’s of State’s “My Voting
Page” at https://mvp.sos.ga.gOv/s/
or call the local elections office at
(706) 344-3640.
Qualified candidates
The qualified candidates for the
Ga. House District 7 election are:
• Johnny Chastain
• Justin Heitman
• Brian K. Pritchard
• Sheree Ralston
• Richie Stone
Sheree Ralston, the widow of
the state representative, has quali
fied for the seat. She lives in the
Blue Ridge area and is the Fannin
County Development Authority’s
Executive Director.
Brian K. Pritchard of Cherry
Fog in Gilmer County has quali
fied. Pritchard works as a conser
vative radio talk show host and is
CEO of media company
FetchYourNews.
He currently faces accusations
of voter fraud by the State
Elections Board for which he has
not been charged.
Banker Johnny Chastain, who
also serves on the Fannin County
Development Authority, is run
ning for the District 7 seat.
U.S. Navy veteran and Gilmer
County airport manager Justin
Heitman has qualified, as has
Gilmer County filmmaker Richie
Stone.
Outgoing county commissioners bid board farewell
Photos by Julia Hansen Dawson County News
Sharon Fausett reads the late Carol Taylor's "To
You, Dawson County" to summarize her feelings
about serving on the Board of Commissioners'
District 1 seat.
During his farewell comments to the board, outgo
ing District 3 county commissioner Tim Satterfield
challenges county citizens to find ways to serve in
local government.
By Julia Hansen
jhansen@dawsonnews.com
Instead of casting stones,
outgoing District 3
Commissioner Tim
Satterfield encouraged
those with lingering
qualms about Dawson
County’s government to
get involved with it.
“We’ve got so many
committees. Get involved
and see how the county
works,” Satterfield said
Dec. 15 during his final
comments as a member of
the Board of
Commissioners.
Satterfield’s history of
public service spans 46
years between Clayton and
Dawson counties and the
cities of McDonoughand
Clearwater, FI., where he
previously worked. He
served with Dawson
County’s Fire and
Emergency Services for 13
years, advancing to become
the organization’s EMS
Chief before he retired.
Satterfield took office as
the District 3 commissioner
in 2019 and spent much of
his time, particularly his
comments during public
meetings, advocating for
county employees.
Satterfield thanked his
fellow board members for
taking care of employees
and encouraged the future
board to do the same
through measures like rais
es and necessary staffing
increases.
He also thanked the
county’s attorneys for
FROM 1A
Feed
Christmas Day, call event
organizer Scotty Seay at
770-866-2005.
Heading up to the event,
organizers are in need of
monetary and food dona
tions, as well as volunteers
to help serve and deliver
the meals. According to
updates provided by Seay,
the food donations he is
still most in need of are
green beans, mashed pota
toes, desserts and cases of
“keeping us in line” and the
finance department, led by
interim county manager
and Chief Financial Officer
Vickie Neikirk, for “taking
care of our money.”
Satterfield relished his
time on the board and
added that being a commis
sioner is “not about getting
rich.”
“I just want to let them
know that I’ve looked
under every table in this
department on the second
floor, and I haven’t found
the money yet,” he
quipped.
Fausett s farewell
Sharon Fausett, a
Dawson County native,
previously worked as a
teacher and director for the
county’s Department of
Family and Children
Services. Fausett and her
family also run the popular
Fausett Farms agritourism
spot.
She assumed the District
1 Commissioner spot in
bottled waters.
Hot foods like green
beans and mashed pota
toes need to be brought to
the Pool Room cooked
and ready to go on
Christmas Day, and des
serts and bottled waters
can either be dropped off a
day or two in advance or
on the day of the event.
Those interested in
more information about
volunteering or helping
with the event can call
Seay at the number listed
above or reach out to him
via email at seay69@msn.
com.
2015. During her two terms
on the board, Fausett estab
lished herself as an avid
protector of the rural envi
ronment, like in her district,
as well as a fervent sup
porter of Fire and
Emergency Services.
While it wasn’t always
easy being a commissioner
in what BOC Chairman
Billy Thurmond called
going “out of the frying
pan and into the fire,”
Fausett considered the
departure “bittersweet.”
Fausett, who’s also been
involved with the Dawson
County Historical Society,
read a poem written by late
local resident Carol Taylor
titled “To You, Dawson
County.”
The poem paid homage
to Dawson County’s grand
hills, pure and rippling
streams and the “ageless
and towering trees” and the
warm personal connections
between many area resi
dents.
“That’s how I feel, and
that’s why I chose to do
this,” Fausett said.
While she bid her board
colleagues adieu, she also
did not rule out showing up
in the future.
District 4 Commissioner
Emory Dooley thanked
Fausett and Satterfield, say
ing he’s learned a lot from
them and has seen their
hearts for the county.
“Even though we haven’t
always agreed, we could
always have a conversa
tion,” Dooley said. “Y’all
have never refused to have
a conversation about any
thing. You’ve always been
open to me, and that speaks
a lot about who both of you
are as people.”
Thurmond thanked
Fausett and Satterfield for
“all of the hard work and
dedication y’all have put
toward the board” and the
two were each given gifts,
a bouquet and engraved
decanter, in recognition of
their service.
“You’ve been involved,
and we’ll know you’ll stay
involved,” Thurmond said.
The chairman voiced his
pride in what the current
board has accomplished
and said that throughout
the process of governing,
it’s been about “doing
things for the right reasons
and what’s in our minds
and hearts best for the
county.”
“That’s all you can do. I
tell people all the time...
when you go home at night
and you can sleep with the
decision you’ve made, then
you’ve done the right
thing,” Thurmond said. “It
may not be what every
body else agrees to, but it’s
still the right thing because
you’re at peace with it.”
Dawson County Humane Society
a no kill shelter
Doggie Spotlight
Meet Peck! He is timid, sweet, playful boy who is looking
for a place to call his own. Peck loves playing outside with
his kennel mates. He came in from a hoarding situation
that brought in many unsocialized dogs. As a result of his
upbringing he is timid upon first meeting him but with the
right family and patience he will become a loyal companion.
Come schedule a meet and greet to see if Peck is the perfect
fit for your family!
706-265-9160
Peck
For more information contact the 706-265-9160 | 633 Martin Rd, Dawsonville
Dawson County Humane Society Adjacent to the Rock Creek Sports Complex
Visit our RESALE SHOP & BOUTIQUE
Wed. - Sat. 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. | 54 S. Lumpkin Campground Rd.
All proceeds benefits
the Humane Society
Bradley M. Maple
CPA, PC
706-216-2362
2390 Thompson Rd • Ste 100
Dawsonville
ANH Collision
Specialists
706-216-0992
103 Industrial Park Road,
Dawsonville
Dawsonville
Veterinary
Hospital
706-265-8381