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Magenta cyan i pi 1 ■••••-• I f-«(!MJiAA j The Lee County Ledger Volume XXIV - Number 31 your Hometown Source of Cocal flews Leesburg, Georgia -- March 14,2002 Hometown Newspaper of Thomas and Connie Nance Fifty Cents SON Three Veteran School Administrators Not Listed For 2002-2003 Assignments Commissioners Approve Resolution To Expand Role Of Probate Judge “Little Shop of Horrors” continues at Lee County High School. See page 6A for the story, more pictures and show times. Pictured are Laura Ruckel, Kim Perez, and Elizabeth Walters as the narrating trio of Skid Row urchins in the high school production of “Little Shop of Horrors”. During their business meeting Monday night, March 11, the members of the Lee County Board of Education approved adminis trative assignments for Fiscal Year 2003. Keith Lee, Principal of Lee County Middle School, Henry Crain, Assistant Principal at Lee County High School, and Gene Miles, Assistant Principal at Lee County Elementary School were not included on the list submitted to the board by Dr. Bill Lewis, Superintendent. According to Dr. Mike Davis, Assistant Superintendent of Per sonnel, the three administrators have submitted letters stating their intent not to to return to the Lee County School System next school term. However, a con firmed source stated that at least one of the administrators was given the option, by the superin tendent, to resign and receive let ters of recommendations or be ter minated. According to state guidelines, school administrators do not have tenure and can be terminated with out a reason being given. Henry Crain has been an admin istrator in the Lee County School System for several years. He was an assistant principal at Lee County Middle School for several years before being transferred to Lee County Primary School. Crain was transferred to the high school this school term where he served as an assistant principal. Gene Miles came to the Lee County School System from Dougherty County. Mr. Miles was an assistant principal at Lee County High School for several years before being transferred this school term to Lee County El ementary School. Keith Lee came to the Lee County School System from Americus. He has been the prin cipal at Lee County Middle School for several years. The board members heard an update on the roof problem at the high school. The roof has been damaged for several months. The wide gap in the roof extends sev eral feet and will cost approxi mately $16,000 to be repaired. The company that installed the roof has declared bankruptcy; therefore the school system will have to bear the cost of the re pairs. The board members recognized several groups of middle school students. Presented by Keith Lee, LCMS Principal, the group in cluded Georgia Music Educators’ District II Honor Band partici pants, semi-finalists for the GMEA All-State Band, All State Chorus, State Runner-Up Quiz Bowl members, district Spelling Bee winner and a Book Sharp participant. Chris Warren, middle school and high school track coach, told the board of needed supplies and equipment for the track teams. Warren asked the board to speed up the process to get things needed by the children. Dr. Lewis, superintendent, told Coach War ren that he had not received any requests for track during the past four years. Lewis continued that Lee County has been needing a strong track program since he has been in Lee County. Coach War ren was told to prepare a list of supplies and equipment needed and submit it to the principal. SPLOST committee members Tim McLean, Ralph Moore, Wendy Holloman, Emily Kitchens and James Sizemore met Monday to discuss final citizen encouragement. SPLOST Vote March 19 The Friends of Lee County Committee held its last meeting on March 12, 2002, in prepara tion for the final push to encour age citizens to vote on March 19. Lee County voters will decide on March 19 whether or not to con tinue the Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST). Two refer- endums, one for education fund ing and one for county expendi tures, will appear on the March 19 ballot. Members of the Friends of Lee County Committee emphasize that the referendums seek ap Doherty Duggan wHouse Insurors Home • Auto • Business • Life/Health P.O.Box 71628 (229)888-2040 Albany, GA 31708-1628 800-628-2040 2301 Dawson Road (31707) Fax (229) 435-3036 www.ddrins.com Lee County Board of Commissioners will meet March 18 at 6:00 p.m. in the Administration Building proval of the existing tax. "No new taxes are proposed under the referendums," emphasizes James Sizemore, Treasurer of the com mittee. "The referendum simply seeks to continue the existing sales tax." SPLOST provides substantial funding for countywide projects such as road paving and recre ation expenditures and capital improvements of the Board of Education. "These referendums will ensure that the Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education have over thirty mil lion dollars to complete necessary projects." comments Wendy Hol loman, President of the commit tee. "These projects will either be funded by SPLOST or Lee County citizens will have to pay for these projects with additional property taxes. The money has to come from somewhere." It was emphasized at the meet ing that citizens should be aware that most every other county sur rounding Lee County has a Spe cial Local Option Sales Tax to fund its projects. Much of the money generated by SPLOST comes from money spent in Lee County by people outside of the county. In the view of the com mittee members, the sales tax is the most equitable form of taxa tion. The SPLOST referendums are the only issues on the March 19 ballot. Turn out is critical and the Friends of Lee County Commit tee encourages all of the citizens to vote on March 19,2002. "The March 19 election is criti cal to the future of Lee County." says former Board of Education Chairman and Red Bone resident Ralph Moore, "We expect SPLOST to fund the building of schools, libraries, and recreation facilities. It will also fund road pavings. This is a no lose vote for Lee County.” The Lee County Board of Com missioners approved a motion March 7 to introduce local legis lation during the 2002 session of the Georgia General Assembly relating to the jurisdiction of the Probate Court of Lee County. The motion was approved with Com missioner Eddie Hinman voting against the motion. Magistrate Judge Jim Thurman spoke against the commissioners approving the motion. Judge Thurman stressed the spirit of open government but indicated that this request was drawn up behind closed doors. Thurman said the Constitution of Georgia spells out the duties of the mag istrate court. He said that this motion would change the system without consultation with the dis trict attorney or clerk of court. Thurman went on to say that it was premature to make this change without giving adequate time for input. Chairman Billy Mathis said that he did not see the confusion that Judge Thurman was talking Express Lane in Leesburg was named the Best Store of the District and Store of the Year recently. In receiving the Store of the District, the Express Lane in Leesburg located on Highway 19 South was selected the best of the ten stores in the district. In receiving the Store of the Year Award, the Leesburg store came in first of 40 stores in the three districts. Gina Brown, store manager, said the award is based on sales, merchandising, customer relationship, organization and cleanliness. Ms. Brown said that she and her staff appreciate the support of their customers. Lee County Commission Chairman Billy Mathis was presented with a plaque by Pamela Harris in appreciation for his support of the thirteen and under All-star Basketball team. The thirteen and under basketball team won the Region in Tifton by one point and lost in the State Tournament by one point. about. Probate Judge John Wheaton explained that the reso lution, which is applicable only to Lee County, provides that the Probate Court of Lee County would have jurisdiction to try and dispose of misdemeanor cases, which are not county ordinances violations, where the person charged with the misdemeanor violation waives jury trial and agrees to enter a plea of guilty. According to the resolution, it is the intent of the board of com missioners that the disposition of such misdemeanor cases in the Probate Court of Lee County will lessen the burden of the Lee County Superior Court which presently has jurisdiction of such cases. The commissioners approved a resolution to introduce local leg islation which would conform the salaries of the chairman and the members of the board of commis sioners to current practices as re quired by Georgia law in con forming such compensation to current law. Any changes in com pensation will be occur after the next election. BUFFALO ROCK Lee County Retired Educators will meet Monday March 18 at 10:00 a.m. Fellowship Hall at Leesburg United Methodist Church