Newspaper Page Text
VOL. 132 NO. 29 42 PAGES 5 SECTIONS PLUS INSERTS A PUBLICATION OF MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. JEFFERSON, JACKSON COUNTY GEORGIA 30549 50« COPY
— Inside —
Area news:
•Nicholson council eyes
historic village in Tennessee
page 2A
Op/Ed:
•'Will pettiness dominate
school agenda?'
page 4A
JCCHS patrons claim inequity
School boosters plan to address BOE in January about concerns
BY ANGELA GARY
A GROUP OF parents concerned about what
they say are unfair conditions at Jackson County
Comprehensive High School plan to take the
matter before the Jackson County Board of
Education in January.
Steve Crawford, a JCCHS parent, said he had
been asked by several parents to represent the
group at the board of education work session
on Thursday, Jan. 10. Crawford said Friday that
the issues he plans to address include school
site selection and attendance zones.
“I appreciate the opportunity to identify and
discuss the inequitable and sensitive environ
ment that exists for Jackson County teachers,
parents, and most importantly, our students by
the current board of education and administra
tion,” Crawford said. “Several of the examples
of the state of affairs were offered to (The
Herald's) readership last week in the letter to
the editor.”
The crux of the issue revolves around this
year’s opening of East Jackson Comprehensive
High School, a facility which some JCCHS
patrons believe has gotten special treatment to
the exclusion of their school.
Crawford said the difference between JCCHS
and EJCHS is a “Tale of Two Cities,” with
JCCHS getting the short end of the deal.
“Classroom space shortages, busing teams
away to have a place to practice, leaking roofs,
rusted and collapsed stairs and no air condition
ing, Gordon Street classroom busing, intense
staff hostilities, and it’s subsequent effect on
parent, teacher and student morale are new to
us until recently,” he said. “We are truly glad
East Jackson has a facility to be proud of. Their
students and faculty will always be a part of the
Panthers we fought for, rooted for, and support
ed. It takes nothing away from that when we
say enough is enough regarding this inequity,
both in facilities and treatment. Who will take
responsibility and admit mistakes were made?
Who will offer solutions? Who will eradicate
specific administrative elements behind these
hostilities?”
Crawford said he was told by school officials
in 2004 that West Jackson Middle School boost
ers couldn’t build a restroom and concession
stand unless the East Jackson Middle School
boosters could do the same thing. Crawford
said he was told unequal facilities wouldn’t be
allowed in the school system.
Now, he says, inequality does exist and that
JCCHS facilities are being allowed to deterio
rate or are lacking.
Sports:
•JCCHS set to host holiday
hoops event page 1B
Features:
•Amanda House to offer
shelter to area girls
page 1C
Other News:
•School News
pages 6-8B
•Public Safety
page 7A
•Legals
pages 5-12C
•Church News
page 9A
•Obituaries
page 10A
Industrial park
plans to expand
BY KERRI TESTEMENT
An industrial park in Jefferson is
planning to expand its property near
1-85 along one of Jackson County’s
busiest areas for industrial growth.
ProLogis is planning to include a
second phase of its industrial park
on Toy Wright Road, near Valentine
Industrial Park, which includes
TACG.
The Jackson County Planning
Commission recommended approval
on Thursday of a request to rezone
the 198.075-acre property from the
A-2 to LI. Radio Foods, Inc. owns
the property.
The Jackson County Board of
Commissioners is slated to vote on
the planning commission’s recom
mendation on Jan. 21, at 6 p.m.
The first phase of the ProLogis
industrial park is being developed
in the city limits of Jefferson. The
second phase of the project calls for
five industrial buildings totaling more
than 2.5 million square feet.
ProLogis plans to expand Toy
Wright Road through most of the
property from Valentine Industrial
Parkway to Wayne Poultry Road.
A civil engineer representing the
applicant told the planning commis
sion that ProLogis is one of the largest
industrial development companies in
the world, which usually doesn’t sell
its buildings.
The Northeast Georgia Regional
Development Center recendy com
pleted a Development of Regional
Impact (DRI) for the project and
found it in the “best interest of the
state,” according to county planning
department staff.
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business, the Jackson
County Planning Commission rec
ommended:
•denial of a request by David
Archer to rezone 6.033 acres at 129
Harrison Johnson Way from A-2
to HRC for a proposed used car
dealership. Archer said when U.S.
Hwy. 129 was expanded, the Georgia
Department of Transportation took
a portion of his property. The prop
erty no longer includes access to the
federal highway. Hanison Johnson
Way has access to New Kings Bridge
Road. Archer had a grandfathered
business on the site that lost its busi
ness location with the widening proj
ect. He built a structure on the site
in 2006 using a building permit for
an agricultural building, according
to the county planning department
staff. The BOC denied a map amend
ment change related to the request in
March 2007, but later approved the
request in September 2007. Planning
commission member Don Segraves
initially offered to send no recom
mendation to the BOC, since the
board didn’t follow the previous rec
ommendation of the planning com
mission, he said. The county planning
department staff had recommended
denial of the request.
•approval of a request by the Day
continued on page 3A
A CART FULL
Pendergrass Police Department officers Ivan Spindola and Lt. Dan
Crumley help Victoria Wade select clothing and toys during the
annual Shop With A Cop event held Thursday at Wal-Mart. Each of
the 44 children chosen to participate in the program were given $200
to spend in the store, half on clothing and the rest for toys. Children
were recommended to participate in the program by area schools.
See page 3A for more photos. Photo by April Reese Sorrow
Stowe named as chamber’s new president
ROY STOWE, who chairs the Jackson County
Area Chamber of Commerce’s new economic devel
opment council, will serve as its
president as well.
Stowe, who works for Jackson
EMC, heads a slate of officers
elected by the chamber’s board
of directors. He succeeds Jim
Yarborough.
Normally, the chamber’s first
vice chairman would move up
to the chairman’s job, but Steve
Schingler of Haverty’s could not
take the job due to “employer
obligations,” Yarborough explained. For the same
reason, second vice chairman Jeff Blair declined
to move up, and treasurer Sam McDuffie opted to
remain in that position.
“Really, all of the excuses had been used up by the
time they got to me,” quipped Stowe.
Blair agreed to stay on as second vice chairman
and Gina Mitsdarffer will be the first vice chair
man.
For his part, Yarborough seemed all too happy to
relinquish the lead role in the chamber.
“It’s been a heck of a good year for us,” he told
the board. “There have been a lot of challenges and
opportunities.”
Among those were the resignation of President
Pepe Cummings and his ultimate replacement by
Shane Short: and the creation of the new position
of vice president for economic development, which
was just filled by Gerry Nechvatal.
Yarborough expressed appreciation for the work
done by the directors, staff “and all the volunteers
that stepped up during our different activities,” and
said “It’s been a pleasure working with you this last
year as chairman.”
Stowe’s first action as chairman was to praise his
predecessor.
“Jim, your leadership had been just right for us
this year.. .you’ve overseen a lot of change, and we
appreciate it.”
Otherwise, the December directors’ meeting was
very brief. Highlights included:
•ratification of the election of Bill Bums to the
board and the re-election of Keith Johnson.
•a report of the results of a survey of members of
the Leadership Jackson class indicating they would
be happy to have their graduation ceremony at an
event by itself instead of as part of the chamber’s
annual banquet. In addition to bringing more atten
tion to the class, the move will shorten the Jan. 31
banquet. continued on page 3A
STOWE
‘Bring One for the Chipper’ sites listed
Early deadlines set
THE DEADLINES For The Jackson Herald
have been moved for the New Year’s holiday.
The news and ad deadline for next week’s issue
will be at noon on Friday.
The newspaper office in Jefferson will be closed
Tuesday, Jan. 1, in observance of the New Year’s
holiday. The office will open as scheduled at 8:30
a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 2.
KEEP JACKSON County Beautiful will hold
its Bring One for the Chipper recycling event
Saturday, Jan. 5, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Trees will be recycled into mulch or used as
wildlife habitat.
Drop-off sites include the Lanier Technical
College parking lot on South Elm Street in
Commerce, the Jefferson Civic Center, the Jackson
County Transfer Station, and the First Baptist
Church of Hoschton.
Those participating will receive a free dogwood
seedling while supplies last.
For information, call Susan Trepaganier, execu
tive director of Keep Jackson County Beautiful at
706-708-7198 or visit online at www.keepjackson-
countybeautiful.com.
Rain improves
water situation
in Jefferson
Reservoir filling up
THE RECENT rain in Jefferson has
improved the town’s water situation
and led to the town having to buy less
water from other sources.
Following rain last week, the city
reservoir is now just four feet below
full pool. Jefferson is pumping an
average of one million gallons per day
from the reservoir.
“We have reduced our requirements
from (buying water from) the coun
ty... only purchasing approximately
500,000 gallons last month,” accord
ing to a release from city officials.
“Customers are observing the 10 per
cent reduction mandate. Current sea
sonal demand and weather conditions
are likely to be contributing to the
reduced water demand.”
City officials also continue to inves
tigate potential well sites. City staff
has also met with the Environmental
Protection Division to discuss the
installation of a reuse system to pump
treated discharge from the city’s
wastewater treatment facility to the
city reservoir.
New Year’s
program
ahead Jan. 1
THE 81ST annual New Year’s
Day program in Jackson County
will be held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday,
Jan. 1, at the historic courthouse in
Jefferson.
Dugar Strickland of Jefferson,
pastor of Maysville United
Methodist Church and singer/gui
tarist for Crystal River Bluegrass
Gospel Band, will speak. Mrs.
Mary Williamson of Jefferson will
sing “God Bless America.”
The New Year’s Day program
started in 1927 with the late Judge
W.W. Dickerson presiding. The
purpose of the program is “to
begin the new year with a ser
vice of thanks for the good things
of the past year and to dedicate
the beginning of a new year with
prayer for a continuation of these
blessings.”
Other presiding officers have
been: the late Col. H.W. Davis, a
local attorney; Judge R.H. “Bob”
Griffeth; Billy Elder, former clerk
of the Superior Court: and Superior
Court Judge David Motes. State
Court solicitor Don Moore is the
current presiding officer.
The event is sponsored by
TeenPact, a non-profit organiza
tion committed to turning students
into statesmen.
Coffee, hot chocolate and donuts
will be served. Those who attend
are asked to dress warmly because
the heat in the historic courthouse
may not be turned on.