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rj oooom “ The Lee County Ledger Volume XXIII - Number 50 your Hometown Source of Cocal flews Leesburg, Georgia -- August 2, 2001 Hometown Newspaper of Mr. and Mrs. Milly Mullis Fifty Cents County Receives Reimbursement For Flood-prone Property Acquisition Project The Georgia Emergency Man agement Agency (GEMA) pre sented County officials with two reimbursement checks today through its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Disaster Recovery Initia tive. Each pro gram contributed reimbursement funds toward the expenses associ ated with the buyout of flood- prone properties located within the 100 year flood- plain. These prop erties were dam aged during the 1994 and 1998 floods. Georgia Emer gency Manage ment Agency rep- resentative Bill Blackwell, acting on behalf of Governor Roy E. Barnes and GEMA Director Gary W. McConnell, presented the checks totaling $378,081.02 to Lee County Administrator Randy Dowling The purpose of GEMA's Haz ard Mitigation Grant Program is Georgia (GEMA) Emergency Management Agency representative Bill Blackwell presented two checks totaling $378,081.02 to Lee County Commission Chairman Billy Mathis.The check reimburses the County for expenses related to the flood-prone property buyout. Pictured are Lee County Administrator Randy Dowling, Bill Blackwell and Billy Mathis. to provide funds to state agencies and local governments for projects that reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from the effects of natural hazards by breaking the repetitive cycle of destruction and reconstruction. According to pro gram guidelines, after a repetitive loss home has been purchased, it is demolished and the land is re turned to open space. "In situations where repetitive flooding occurs, mitigation just makes good sense." says McConnell. "It has been proven time and time again that the im pact of natural hazards can be minimized and avoided altogether if action is taken before a hazardous event takes place." For additional information, con tact GEMA toll- free at 1-800-TRY-GEMA or visit the GEMA Web site at www.gema.state.ga.us. Leesburg Police Files Weekly Report Leesburg Police Chief Charles Moore reports that officers work several cases during the past week including cases that in volved vandalism, burglary, lar ceny and wanted person. Assistant Chief George McDonald worked a case of van dalism July 30 on Park Street. The complainant told McDonald that an unknown person broke the bot tom door lock on the double doors. In this case of criminal trespass, it appeared the unknown person(s) had used some type of object to pry in an upward mo tion to break the door. The com plainant said as far as she could tell there was nothing missing. It was not known if anyone entered the building. Assistant Chief McDonald worked another case of vandal ism July 30 on Morgan Farm Drive. In this case of criminal trespass, the complainant stated an unknown person(s) broke two windows that cost $150.00 each on a house that is still under con struction. McDonald worked a burglary case at the high school July 29. The two victims told McDonald that someone took several items from the high school gym while they were at football practice. Items stolen included an orange colored canvas bag. clothes, a watch and a back pack. Doherty Duggan arRouse Insurors Home • Auto • Business • Life/Health P.O.Box 71628 (912) 888-2040 Albany, GA 31708-1628 800-628-2040 2301 Dawson Road (31707) Fax (912) 435-3036 www.ddrins.com Lee County Commission Will Meet Monday, August 6 at 7:00 p.m. Sales Tax Referendum The Lee County Board of Com mission, Leesburg City Council and Smithville Mayor Jack Smith met Monday night to negotiate the percentage distribution of the Special Local Option Sales Tax (SLOST) proceeds the Depart ment of Revenue allocates on a monthly basis. The referendum for the current local option sales tax was approved by the voters in November of 1998. The refer endum covered a five year period and was designed to collect six million dollars in sales tax. Due to increased sales taxes in the county with the opening of Wal- Mart and other retail establish ments, it is anticipated the six million dollar figure will be reached in August of 2002. To extend the sales tax, the gov ernment leaders plan to place a referendum on the ballot March 19, 2002. This referendum will allow the voters to determine if they want to continue the SPLOST for another five years. If the voters approve the SPLOST in March 2002, revenue from the sales tax can be used for SPLOST, Page 2B and 4:00 p.m. Sophomores will be able to pur chase parking permits between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Thurs day, August 9. The parking permits will be sold Blood Drive To Be Held Next Thursday American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held Thursday, Au gust 9 from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Century Fire - EMS Sta tion. The blood drive is sponsored by the Lee County Emergency Ser vices. Free Health Screening Saturday, August 11 9:00 - 3:00 Albany Civic Center Lee County Commission Chairman Billy Mathis, Leesburg Mayor Bob Boney and Smithville Mayor Jack Smith met with government leaders from the City of Albany and Dougherty County to discuss items of common interest including economic development and the possible closure of the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany. Officer Craig Steele worked a larceny case July 28 on Linden Road. Officer Steele responded to a burglary that was called in by a neighbor. Upon Steele's ar rival, he was told by the owner of the house that someone had ripped an air conditioning unit out of one of the windows in the back of the house. Captain Monterey Moody re sponded to a reported burglary at Twin Oaks Elementary School July 27. The subject(s) gained entry into the building by un known means. Subject(s) broke glass on candy machine in teach ers’ lounge, also poured what ap peared to be liquid soap into cof fee machine, turned power off to the building at the main breaker and rode bikes in the hall. A vandalism case was worked by Captain Tim Murphy at a con venience store on Main Street on July 26. Unknown person(s) threw a brick through the front glass of the store. There was no entry made into the store. Captain Murphy worked a bur glary case at Twin Oaks Elemen tary School July 25. Unknown person! s) entered the building by breaking a bathroom window and unlocking the window. Suspect(s) then broke two locked doors by apparently kicking the doors. Several rooms were ransacked. Nothing was reported missing. Captain Murphy called the Al bany Police Department on July 25 and asked them to check at 2208 12th Avenue for Jusue Sali nas in reference to a contempt warrant. Albany Police called back with Salinas standing by. Captain Murphy took Salinas in custody. He was transported to the Lee County Jail and the war rant was removed from GCIC by Sgt. Brott of the sheriff's depart ment. Lee County Superior Court Judge John Harper signed an exparte order July 25 that ordered A & R Investments, Ralph Paustian, Anne Paustian and George McIntosh to be restrained from making or having others make any form of modification, reconstruction, building or improvements on the flood house located on Winstead Drive in Hickory Grove Subdivision. They were restrained from moving any other prefabricated homes, flood homes or any type of home not in compliance with the protective convenant into Hickory Grove Subdivision. The Hickory Grove Subdivision Homeowners Association is represented by Craig Mathis and Ramon Fajardo. The injunction is effective until a hearing is held on August 16, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Harper. LCHS Parking Permits To Be Sold Next Week Lee County High School stu dents will be able to purchase parking permits next week. Park ing permits will be sold Monday through Thursday. Seniors will be able to purchase their parking permits Monday, August 6 and Tuesday, August 7. Parking permits will be sold from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Juniors will be able to purchase their parking permits on Wednes day, August 8. Parking permits will be sold between 8:00 a.m. in the main lobby at the high school at the concession stand. Students must bring their driver's license, proof of insurance, tag receipt or title to the vehicle to purchase the parking permits. The price of the permits is $15.00. BUFFALO ROCK Local Leaders Discuss