The Georgia post. (Knoxville, Crawford County, Ga.) 19??-current, March 10, 2022, Image 1

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The Georgia post., March 10, 2022, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextDAYLIGH SAVING TIME SPIING FORWARD THe Georgia Post is 101 this year! Thank you! WE STAND "fAMILY-COUNTBsa Issue 10 Thursday, MARCH 10, 2022 The Voice of Crawford County Since 1921 also serving Byron and Peach County 1 Section 10 Pages, 3 Inserts One Dollar Daughter charged with murder of her father A daughter has been charged with the mur der of her father at his residence. On March 2, 2022 at approximately 2:59 p.m., the Crawford County Sheriffs Office received a call in refer ence to a welfare check at 281 Bobbie Circle By ron, Georgia. Upon the deputy’s arrival he found inside the resident, Johnny Leland John son, 76, of this address unresponsive with a gunshot wound lying on the floor. Johnson was later pronounced dead on the scene by Coroner Sheldon Mattox. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was requested to investi gate the incident. Tara Upchurch, 48, of this ad dress has been charged with the murder of her father Johnny Leland Johnson. Upchurch was in cus tody awaiting her first appearance hearing, which was held on Fri day, March 4th before Associate Magistrate Judge Robin Dunaway. No bond was set. This is still an ongoing investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Inves tigation and the Craw ford County Sheriffs Office to determine the cause of this incident. Tara Upchurch The body of Johnny Le land Johnson was sent to the GBI Crime Lab to determine the cause of death. This is still an ongo ing investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Crawford County Sher iffs Office. Further information will be provided later. County approves variance, tables lighting decision BY CASEY MOORE - The Georgia Post Barbara Cook requested a variance for a minimum lot size of one and 1/2 acres to allow for a subdivision of the parcel C117 088. Currently the parcel has two manufactured homes located on it. If the variance is granted the applicant would be allowed to sell the two homes individ ually. On February 17,2022 regular scheduled planning and zoning meeting, the board members present were Darren Suggs, Richard Joyner, Michele Highsmith, Barbara Kelly, Joseph Romeo, Wincel Thaxton, and Wayne McDaniel. Jake Watson. P&Z Direction, presented the application. McDaniel motioned to recommend approval and it was second by Thaxton and they approved this to happen on a 7-0 vote. Back in 2003 the second plat was draft ed the same day as the first but somehow was not recorded. There are two septic tallies but only one well on the property. Both parties are aware they are sharing the same well and have had an agree ment of usage and maintenance fees. The plats and houses predated the zoning regulations. It was recommended the plat being re corded have notes on it being a non-con forming lot. Variance was unanimously approved subject to the final filing of the plat, “If either system fails there is no adequate space on the property to es tablish a repair system” will also need to be included with the plat, and a written agreement between the two parties in county records. Recreation Director Doug Kelley, had a budget estimate from Musco Lighting. Kelley and the regional commission worked on a grant through Major League Baseball Foundation. They now need to see what the county is willing to match. The total estimate is $485,000 com pared to the $340,000 it was the last time it was applied for a grant. Musco is willing to knock off $60,000 in the price of material since it is a Major League Baseball Grant so it will come in at $425,000. Kelley and County Manager Fabian Hollis talked and he recommend ed to present a 30% match which will be the county matching at $127,500. In order to get this done they do need the county to come in with the 30% match. All the lights are custom made to each field, aluminum poles, and with a 25 year warranty. Commissioners asked to wait two weeks before a decision is made. Mo tion was made to table it to next meeting. The new skid steer came in last week that was ordered last October, Hollis noted. It was also noted work has begun on Rump Road. One person applied for the Tax asses sors board appointment. Applications did not come in on time but was accepted anyway. You can waive that or redo the process, said Hollis. If any application is not timely it is normally not accepted. Motion was made to rerun the process. Commissioners Jackie McGowen and Omar Dickey will be attending the ACCG Breakfast in Atlanta on March 9th 2022. It will be in the Freight Room at the Georgia Railroad Freight Depot. Jackie is setting up meetings with Robert Dickey and John F. Kennedy, Representative and State Senator, for issues within the county for possible help from the state. Jackie mentioned Candace Scott with the state is excited about the develop ment authority board members and hoping to get some things started to help the county. The commissioners came up with a list for Jackie and Omar to refer to when talking with Dickey and Kennedy: 1. Roads, specifically 80 and 341 2. State offices/job development assis tance 3. Water assistance specifically low/ moderate income issue 4. Broadband 5. Development Authority legislation. The list was agreed upon and motioned to have written up into talking points to be discussed with legislators. Moncrief named ambassador Katie Moncrief of Crawford County was announced as a 2022 GNFA JR. Livestock Ambassador team member. She will serve a one year term showcasing the livestock and equine industry. This is a pres tigious assignment. RCCCOC awards presented Joey Barrett, present Roberta Crawford County Chamber of Commerce president, right, presents Brent Lowe with the gavel for his service as president. Because of Covid, the presentation was not made last year. Far right, Pastor Samuel Chester was chosen as the Unsung Hero. The volunteers for the Chester Food Bank were selected as the group of the year. The government entity Clerk of the Superior Court office was selected as Busi ness of the Year from among the four selected as businesses of the quarter: Crawford County Farm Bureau, Champion’s Restaurant, Georgia Post and Clerk’s office. The Chamber of Com merce annual meeting and awards presenta tion was held Thursday, March 3 at the confer ence center on Hwy. 128 with the theme of Stron ger Together, Our Citizens are Rooted in Communi ty. Dinner was catered by Tommy’s. The Jazz Band provided music and the CC R0TC Color Guard presented the colors followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The Keynote speaker was Superin tendent of Schools Brent Lowe, who talked about the new school and presented slides on the school, along with a vid eo presentation from the school’s film production department. The group of the year was the Crawford County Base ball team and Desmond Foster, principal at CCHS accepted the award on their behalf. President Joey Barrett gave a short state of the chamber update. Above, Sydney Conley presented the Individ ual of the Year award to Rachel Popham, a teacher at the high school. At right, The Crawford County High School STAR student and teacher were recognized. Emma Hodges chose Bruce Fisher as her STAR teacher. Patricia Bassett made the presentation. Sgt. Tom O’Brian with the Jr. R0TC at the high school, presented youth of the year Major Keeley Worley her award.