About Dawson County news. (Dawsonville, Georgia) 2015-current | View Entire Issue (June 5, 2024)
8A I DAWSON COUNTY NEWS I dawsonnews.com Wednesday, June 5,2024 Photos courtesy of Susan Roberts As part of applying for the contest, Roberts submitted photos of herself and of dishes that she’s made. Dawson County resident Susan Roberts is competing for $25,000 and a cover fea ture in Taste of Home magazine. Longtime Dawson County resident Susan Roberts has always loved cooking. Her mom was a master chef and caterer, and growing up Roberts learned from her, adding to her knowledge until her cooking skills surpassed even that of her mother. Now, Roberts is in the midst of a new and excit ing adventure: competing in the “Favorite Chef Challenge” for a chance to win a $25,000 prize and a feature story in the Taste of Home magazine. Roberts said that her dream for years has been to open a restaurant in downtown Dawsonville, serving breakfast and lunch but mainly focusing on providing delicious, prepared meals for local families to take home and eat. She had her eye on a location in the downtown area, but because it wasn’t yet available and she didn’t yet have the funds for it she was waiting for one or the other to happen when she suddenly learned about the “Favorite Chef’ challenge. “The location I was looking at has not become available yet, but God was telling me ‘just wait’ and all of a sudden I found this food challenge so I thought why not try it,” Roberts said. “I look at it as God was just saying hold on and be patient, because other things are coming, so that’s where I’m sitting with it.” Roberts filled out an application and was select ed to take part in the chal lenge, in which she is one of 64 people from all over the world to have a chance to win the prize. Through an online vot ing system, Roberts and her competitors will try to win the “People’s Choice Award”, which includes the grand prize package. As they advance through the challenge, the top com petitors will also have a chance to win the “Carla’s Pick Prize”, whose winner will be selected by Chef Carla Hall to receive a “Foodie Trip” to New York City. The challenge officially kicked off on May 20, and the pool of competitors was cut down to the Top 20 on Thursday, May 30. In second place at the time of the first cut, Roberts easily advanced to the top 20. Next, the competitors will be cut down to the Top 15 on June 6, Top 10 on June 13 and Top 5 on June 20 before the final rounds will kick off. So far in the challenge, Roberts has managed to stay in first, second or third place in her group, which is no small feat and is something she said she’s incredibly grateful for. “I’ve got friends that are voting for me from all over; even Belgium, Thailand, the Philippines,” Roberts said. “They’ve come out of the woodwork — even people that I never thought would support me.” The challenge is one that she said she was ner vous to enter in the first place, but the response fro those voting for her has been overwhelmingly pos itive. “This is out of my com fort zone; I may have faith and confidence in myself but not to step out there with a well-known maga zine like this,” Roberts said. “It is outstanding, it is overwhelming, it is just so heartwarming — just what did I do to deserve all this.” If she should win the challenge, Roberts said, her dream is to put the prize money toward her restaurant in downtown Dawsonville. But even if she doesn’t win the chal lenge, she still plans to pursue that goal one way or another. “It’s going to be in God’s timing,” Roberts said. “I am one that if I want something I’ll put ownership on it — I don’t want this, I am going to have this. I, with God’s help, will make this hap pen.” But in the meantime, Roberts said, she would love it if her community could support her in the Favorite Chef Challenge by voting for her online and by praying for her. “I’m so excited; this is a once in a lifetime opportu nity; and it’s also one of those things that just fell into my lap at the most perfect time,” Roberts said. “I’m praying for my dream to come true, and I’ve just got so many peo ple that are supporting me.” Dawson chef competes for $25 K, magazine feature By Erica Jones ejones@dawsonnews.com City to hold “Food Truck Friday” event this coming week By Erica Jones ejones@dawsonnews.com This Friday, the City of Dawsonville will hold its monthly “Food Truck Friday” event for the commu nity to enjoy. Here’s what to know about the upcoming event. The June food truck event is scheduled for Friday, June 7 and will take place at the city’s farm ers market pavilion, located at 86 Allen Street, from 5 to 8 p.m. The event is scheduled to happen rain or shine. The event will feature a wide range of food trucks to purchase food from, as well as live music, an inflatable obstacle course for children and a toddler bounce house for younger kids. Currently, the food trucks scheduled to be at this week’s event include Bebo’s Grill (BBQ), Chuy’s Tacos, Brookton Catfish School, Old Dad’s Wings, Pattykakes, IGY6 Coffee and Best Ice Cream on Wheels. For more information about this week’s Food Truck Friday event, as well as future city events, follow the City of Dawsonville on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cityofdawsonville/. Propterty assessment breakdown Assessed value: 40% of a property's fair market value. Millage rate: A one-mill tax rate means a tax lia bility of $1 per $1,000 of a property's assessed value. With an overall millage rate of 16.434 mills for county and school taxes, that would equate to a tax liability of $16.43 for every $1,000 of a prop erty's assessed property value. The millage rate is multiplied by the assessed value, and that amount is then divided by 1,000 to get the total tax liability for a particular mill- age rate. FROM 1A i now offering SURGERY IN LUMPKIN Assessments The new Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Lumpkin campus is now open and offering surgical services —giving you and your loved ones access to expert surgical care, close to home. 16.434 mills for county and school system taxes combined. That rate could change before property owners get their actual tax bills later in 2024. Notices are available for most properties on the tax assessor’s land records system. People can file appeals by using the new “appeal” option listed online, according to a Friday post from the Dawson County government. People with more questions can learn more at the Tax Assessors’ website, https://dawsonassessors. com/, or call the office (706) 344-3590. Last year’s property assessment notices spurred concerns from residents and the push toward pro posed homestead exemptions that will be on the ballot for voters this fall. Conveniently located along Georgia 400, NGMC Lumpkin offers: Emergency Services I Gynecologic Surgery I Imaging I Lab and Pharmacy Support Minimally Invasive Surgery Options I Orthopedic Surgery nghs.com/surgery-lumpkin I 495 GA 400 Dahlonega, GA 30533 Northeast Georgia Medical Center LUMPKIN
