Newspaper Page Text
Page A2
Lake Oconee News
Friday, January 1, 2016
Top 10 stories of 2015
File Photo
The Howard parents lost their lives in a devastating car
accident on Halloween Night.
Halloween
Continued from A1
Arrangements were made for the children to move to
Florida with their grandmother. The family wanted to
take their parents back to Florida for burial but found out
it would be $7,000 so Bradley stepped in again, setting up
a GoFundMe account for the four orphaned children.
More than $464,000 was raised for the four children,
Trayvion, 6, Damien, 8, Amiah, 10, and Justin, 13.
Information gathered from the Nov. 6, Nov. 13 and Nov.
20 editions.
- Leila Scoggins
2 Supreme Court
rules against
county, LOA
After a 4-1 ruling from the Georgia Supreme Court
Greene County government - the county commission and
the development authority - learned it was unable to issue
bonds for the expansion of Lake Oconee Academy.
Greene County Board of Commissioners and the Greene
County Development Authority agreed with LOA on a
procedure to issue bonds for the expansion of the charter
Bridal Registry
Lucy Richardson
& Thomas Brown
March 5,2016
Megan Hanson
& Ray
Higginbotham
June 4,2016
115 S Main St.
Madison, GA
706.342.3311
BBandGHome.com
school, but a group of seven residents sued the three
entities over the decision. The original intergovernmental
agreement was approved in February 2014 by both boards.
The residents sued and won in Superior Court. Judge
Hugh Wingfield ruled in the residents’ favor.
The case was argued in the Supreme Court in October
2014.
After the decision was made, disagreements regarding
the legal fees from the county’s legal representation - King
& Spalding - went on for month.
King & Spalding sent a letter to GCDA Attorney Dick
Schmidt claiming the county owes $143,000 and LOA had
already paid $73,000.
In the end, the GCDA voted to pay more than $40,000
- from a check that was authorized by BOC Chairman
Ed Bullard for “budgeted economic development” in
December 2014 - and signed an agreement that no more
legal fees would be sought from the authority.
Information gathered from the March 20 and May 15
editions.
- Jackie Gutknecht
Trey Rhodes wins
House seat
Trey Rhodes, former
Greensboro City Council
man, was elected to rep
resent District 120 in the
Georgia House of Repre
sentatives.
In the special election
Jan. 6, five candidates
tossed their name in the
hat for the seat vacated by
long-time Representative
Mickey Channell. Channell
announced he had suffered
from a heart condition for a
year before taking doctor’s
advise and stepping down. He held the position for 22
years.
Rhodes topped the Jan. 6 race, with 29.47 percent of the
vote, but needed a runoff with Putnam County attorney
Jesse Copelan. With Greene County residents casting more
than 48 percent of the total votes in the runoff, Rhodes
took the title with 342 more votes than Copelan.
Rhodes is a native of Union Point and a graduate of
the University of Georgia. He is a financial planner with
Piedmont Financial Partners in Greensboro.
He has been a youth coach for 16 years and was a
member of the Greensboro Downtown Development Au
thority. His wife, Summer Moore Rhodes, is a teacher at
Union Point STEAM Academy. Together they have three
children, Olivia, Hallie Beth and Lane.
Information gathered from the Feb. 6 edition.
- Jackie Gutknecht
county.
The process to establish the CCA in Morgan County
began in January when a steering committee was formed
to provide recommendations of what the community
hoped to see in the new institution. In June, eight areas
of study were decided upon reflecting the economy of the
county. The writing of the CCA grant application began in
the early summer and it was officially submitted in early
September.
In late November, a group from TCSG visited Morgan
County to review its application, giving exact scores for
each portion of the grant and on Dec. 1 the Morgan County
group was able to go present on the areas that needed im
provement.
Information gathered from the March 29, June 12, Sept.
25, Oct. 9, Nov. 13 and Dec. 11 editions.
- Leila Scoggins
Greensboro sees
growth with
brewery, mill projects
Business is brewing in
Downtown Greensboro,
as developers for Lake
Country Brewing are
looking to open up shop.
Developers John and
Nathan McGarity, a
father-son team, have
partnered with Master
Brewer Taylor Lamm
to bring Lake Country’s own brew to town in the former
Chero Cola building on West Street near the city’s old train
depot. The building’s unique history spurred the idea for a
modern production brewery.
The 11,000 square foot building was built around 1900
and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The brewery received partial funding through a Rede
velopment Fund Grant from the Georgia Department of
Community Affairs in June of this year. The Lake Country
Brewing project will bring a total investment of more than
$2 million to downtown Greensboro.
In addition to functioning as a production facility, Lake
Country Brewing will feature a tasting room, brewery
tours and an outdoor patio space for small events.
Along with the brewery, work has continued to progress
on the long-awaited Mary-Leila Mill project, a neighboring
property to the brewery. The old cotton mill is receiving an
upgrade to with an affordable housing twist. The historic
upgrade will provide housing within walking distance to
downtown.
Information gathered from the June 19, June 26 and
Sept. 25 editions.
- Jackie Gutknecht
4 Morgan gets $3.3
Million grant to
open GCA
On Dec. 3 some of Morgan County’s biggest voices in
education traveled to the Technical College System of
Georgia for their state board meeting where they were one
of three recipients of a College and Career Academy Grant.
The Morgan County Charter School System was
awarded a grant for $3.3 million to establish a CCA in the
A SMOKIN’ DEAL FOR FALL!
218 S. MAIN ST., MADISON • 706.342.4141. • THRIFTYMACDRUG.COM
6
Ivanditti pleads
guilty on nightclub
Lydia Ivanditti, owner of the nightclub, Cashmere Lake
Oconee, near the county’s eastern shore, pled guilty March
10 in Putnam County Superior Court to eight misdemean
or counts of gambling.
Her plea came in a bargained deal to drop two felony
charges and a separate misdemeanor charge for marijua
na possession. Ivanditti was charged Aug. 15, 2014 after a
months-long Putnam County Sheriffs Office investigation
into illegal gambling activity at her nightclub.
Sheriffs deputies confiscated two video gambling
machines during a raid of the night spot. Gambling
charges arose from the club’s pay out in cash or alcohol
for winnings at the video machines. A first offender, Ivan
ditti was expected to complete her probation sentence 36
months after her plea in court. Other workers at the night
club also faced charges.
Information gathered from the March 27 edition.
- Jeff Warren
SEE STORIES » A3
» ROTARY
bSuper
RAFFLE
ROTARY#
Club of Greene and Putnam Counties
Rotary Club is Happy
to Announce the
December 24 th Winner
December 17 th Winner
' Corey Crouse '
Chris Gee
#013
a 42" Television donated by
Wells Fargo Advisors
r December 31 st PRIZE ^
Two 6 month Memberships, Three Personal Training
Date: Item - Retailer (Value): Date: Item - Retailer (Value): Date: Item - Retailer (Value):
1-Jan
Infrared Grill - Pike's Nursery ($750)
7-May
Pro Shop Water Toy - Crowe Marine ($300)
3-Sep
Countertop Appliance - Askew Appliances ($300)
8-Jan
00 & BV Pairing once month for 12 Months - Plantation Olive Oil ($325)
14-May
Costa Del Mar Gift Package - The Clothing Depot ($320)
10-Sep
Round of Golf for Four - Harbor Club ($550)
15-Jan
Round of Golf for Four and $100 Gift Certificate for any Cuscowilla restaurant - Cuscowilla ($700)
21-May
Gift Certificate - Greensboro Tire ($400)
17-Sep
Gift Card - Art Work or Picture Frame - Frames on Main ($300)
22-Jan
Catered Party for up to 30 People - GA Butts/Tim Cadiere Band ($1,000)
28-May
Rover 5 String Banjo with Carry Bag - Milledgeville Music Man ($450)
24-Sep
Round of Golf for Four and $100 Gift Certificate for any Cuscowilla restaurant - Cuscowilla ($700)
29-Jan
Shampoo, Cut and Style monthly for 12 months - PJ Kinchen at Salon Essentials ($420)
4-Jun
Tokyo-Obrien Stand-up Paddle Board - Singleton Marine Group ($1,295)
1-Oct
Blue Tooth Speaker & Headphones - Lakeside Comp/Radio Shack ($300)
5-Feb
Shopping Spree - Greensboro Jewelers ($300)
11-Jun
Gift Certificate - Bone Island Grillhouse ($300)
8-0ct
iPad - Micki Tanner/Susan Couch ($300)
12-Feb
Full Teeth Whitening System - Dr. Scott Roberts ($350)
18-Jun
Gift Certificate - Oconee Fast Lube ($300)
15-0ct
Ruger 10/22 Rifle with Scope and One Estate Planning Consultation - Frier and Oulsnam ($500)
19-Feb
5' X 7'10" New Zealand Rug - Dalton Carpet One ($599)
25-Jun
Kayak - Pathway to Healing ($300)
22-Oct
Gift Certificate - Jimmy Britt Chevrolet ($300)
26-Feb
Shopping Spree - Maggie Lane ($300)
2-Jul
Shopping Spree - Lights of Oconee ($300)
29-Oct
Services (Hair Color) - Zapiens ($300)
5-Mar
Round Trip ATL Airport for Two - Lakeside Travel & Limo ($324)
9-Jul
Round of Golf for Four and $100 Gift Certificate for any Cuscowilla restaurant - Cuscowilla ($700)
5-Nov
Shopping Spree - Classic Wines ($300)
12-Mar
Shampoo, Cut and Style monthly for 12 months - Cindy Griffeth at Salon Essentials ($420)
16-Jul
Eye exam 4- $ 200 towards frame - Eyewear Gallery ($329)
12-Nov
Seafood/ Meat - Pounders Market ($300)
19-Mar
Yeti Cooler - Jay Dell ($300)
23-Jul
TaylorMade Driver-The Kingdom at Reynolds Plantation ($500)
19-Nov
Gift Certificate or Piece of Art - Genuine Georgia ($300)
26-Mar
Melody Soundcast Bluetooth Wireless Speaker- RF Designs ($400)
30-Jul
Artwork - Main Street Furniture ($300)
26-Nov
Bose Quiet Comfort 25 Headphones - Advanced Audiology & Hearing Care($300)
2-Apr
Gift Certificate - Da Corrado's ($300)
6-Aug
Golf for Four (Choice of Course) Reynolds Plantation ($980)
3-Dec
Shopping Spree - Greensboro Jewelers ($300)
9-Apr
Round of Golf for Four and $100 Gift Certificate for any Cuscowilla restaurant - Cuscowilla ($700)
13-Aug
iPad - Mindy Chandler, On Q Financial ($450)
10-Dec
Gift Card - The Oconee Cellar ($300)
16-Apr
Services or Products at Sinclair Marina - Sinclair Marina ($300)
20-Aug
Tailgate Green Egg w/stand and 10 lb. Charcoal - Spa & Patio Center ($550)
17-Dec
Two 50 min Massages and Lunch at Gaby's - Ritz Carlton ($400)
23-Apr
Yeti Cooler - Allstate ($300)
27-Aug
Queen Mattress Set - The Furniture Outlet ($499)
24-Dec
42" Television - Wells Fargo Advisors ($350)
30-Apr
Handmade Silver Bracelet - Aurum Jeweler ($300)
31-Dec
Two 6 mo. Memberships, Three Personal Training Sessions, & One Year Tanning - Max Fitness ($300)
