About Dawson County news. (Dawsonville, Georgia) 2015-current | View Entire Issue (May 29, 2024)
Track team celebrates success with postseason awards, sports, -ib About 14% of local voters turn out for primary election, inside, 4a WEDNESDAY I may 29,2024 Dawson News ► com dawsonville, GEORGIA $2.00 Locals say ‘yes’ By Julia Hansen juliahansen@dawsonnews.com Road projects in Dawson County will now get a major funding boost after voters rubber stamped a one-percent transpor tation sales tax. The Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST) referendum was on the ballot for voters as a special election item during the general primary election, which con cluded on May 21. “Dawson County will contin ue to focus on safe and quality roads for our community,"’ County Manager Joey Leverette said in a statement to DCN. “The favorable TSPLOST vote and funding will allow Dawson County to expedite a compre hensive list of over 60 county [and] city projects within the next five years.” to TSPLOST referendum Just over 63% of participating Dawson County voters, or 2,034 people, approved the TSPLOST referendum. Roughly 37% or 1,174 people voted against it, according to a Dawson County Board of Elections and Registration summary report. A total of 3,208 people voted on the TSPLOST referendum See TSPLOST 12A THIS ROAD IS A TheTSPLOSTtax will help fund road projects like a lane addition at and widening of the Dawson Forest-Lumpkin Campground Road roundabout in southern Dawson County. Julia Hansen Dawson County News Play is ‘the biggest thing’ I J UH Wl a®l" 1 - - ; 1 Photos by Will Jones For Dawson County News Matthew Payne and his family celebrate his new playhouse with a “ribbon-cutting” ceremony. Local boy gifted playhouse by Make-A-Wish Foundation By Erica Jones ejones@dawsonnews.com A Dawson County four-year-old now has a brand new, customized playhouse, thanks to a wish that he recently had granted by the Make- A-Wish Foundation. Matthew Payne had his first heart surgery at five months old, and this past February the four-year-old had to have a second heart surgery. His mom Christy Payne said that she’d heard of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a national nonprofit aimed at granting wishes for chil dren with critical illnesses, and decided to apply for a “wish” for her son. “I had heard about Make-A-Wish and put in an application through their website and he was approved; we had a couple interviews with them and then we just had to wait to find somebody who had time to come and do it,” Payne said. “He loves being outside, so I thought a playhouse would be perfect for him.” Brian Pound Playsets, a company that partners with Make-A-Wish, was able to take the wish on, and Payne said that Brian Pound and his business partner were able to come out to the Paynes’ house and build the playhouse for Matthew. “I kind of told them what we wanted, like I wanted the mud kitch en and the swing and I liked the climbing wall, and then Brian Pound came up with the design, drew it out See Wish 13A Death penalty off the table in T9 murder case By Julia Hansen juliahansen@dawsonnews.com In a surprising turn of events, the Dawson County man charged with shooting and killing his wife five years ago will no longer face the death penalty when he goes to trial, according to court documents filed May 21. Jeremy Wade Gibson’s case will now be heard as a bench trial, so Superior Court Judge Clint Bearden will become the sole fact finder and per son to render a verdict in the case. Gibson’s attorneys and the prosecution signed off on an agreement to waive his jury trial in exchange See Gibson 12A DCN file photo Superior Court Judge Clint Bearden will preside over the bench trial for Jeremy Gibson’s Dawson County murder case. Pizza spot set for summer debut in Dawson County By Julia Hansen juliahansen@dawsonnews.com A popular pizza restaurant will soon be serving slices to customers in Dawson County. Mellow Mushroom is set to open its Dawson County location in July, according to Claire McMillan with the Blue Hominy Public Relations firm. See Pizza 13A Inside Volume 10, Number 22 © 2024, Dawson County News Dawsonville, Georgia Events Classifieds Dear Abby Deaths Legals Opinion Sports 2A 7B 5B 2A 7B 7A IB 90994 04002 Congratulations, Class of 2024! 7^ Q)amonville Q)istinetm Q)entigtry B. Manzur, D.M.D 754 Hwy 53 West Dawsonville, GA 706-265-2505
