Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2009
THE JACKSON HERALD
PAGE 3A
Grand jury indicts woman in teen’s death
Student found dead in Hoschton house Dec. 27
BY KERRI TESTEMENT
A JACKSON County grand
jury has indicted a woman in
the drug overdose death of a
Hoschton teenager.
Donna Jean McDonald,
37, was indicted last week
on eight counts in the Dec.
27 death of Brittane Nichole
Brown — a 14-year-old
student at Jackson County
Comprehensive High School.
McDonald was indicted
on two counts of involuntary
manslaughter, four counts of
contributing to the delinquen
cy of a minor and two counts
of reckless conduct.
McDonald was arrested on
March 11 and her next step in
the legal process is an arraign
ment hearing on Monday, July
13 — when she will enter a
plea of guilty or not guilty.
Another suspect in the inci
dent — Mark Lee Ingram,
40 — is facing misdemeanor
McDonald
charges in the case,
including disorderly
house, possession of
marijuana and pos
session of drug-relat
ed objects, according
to Hoschton police
chief Jeremy Howell.
Ingram's pending
misdemeanor charg
es will be handled by
state court, Howell
said.
Two juveniles
who live in the area
were also arrested in
March. One of the
juveniles — who BROWN
is 15 — has been
adjudicated, while a 16-year-
old juvenile still awaits trial,
Howell said.
After a four-month inves
tigation into Brown’s death,
the Georgia Bureau of
Investigation said toxicology
reports showed lethal amounts
of two narcotics in
her body.
The report showed
that Brown had taken
Oxycodone — which
is used to treat severe
pain — and alprazo
lam, which is known
as Xanax, a drug used
to treat anxiety disor
ders, panic disorders
and anxiety.
The GBI has said an
autopsy didn't show
any signs of foul play
or other physical indi
cations of death.
Brown had been
at the Hoschton resi
dence over an evening before
her death in December. Three
people were with Brown
when she was found dead
in a bed at the house. She
was unresponsive when emer
gency personnel arrived at her
friend’s house.
Georgia emerges from three-year drought
Outdoor water restrictions eased
BY DAVID STOOKSBURY
THANKS TO one of the wet
test springs in Georgia’s history,
the drought that has gripped the
state for three years has ended.
March through May was the
second wettest spring out of the
past 115 in Georgia. The vast
majority of the state has been
climatological drought-free
since March. The exception has
been the Lake Lanier and Lake
Hartwell basins. Conditions in
these basins have continued
to improve over the past few
months.
Proper drought management
requires a period of recharge
of the hydrologic systems after
the end of the climatological
drought.
Soil moisture and stream
flows across the state are normal
to much above normal for the
middle of June.
With the end of the drought,
the entire state has returned to the
non-drought outdoor watering
schedule. This means that odd
number addresses can use out
door water on Sunday, Tuesday
and Thursday. Even number
addresses may use outdoor
water on Monday, Wednesday
and Saturday.
There are no restrictions on
the time of outdoor water use.
However, watering of plants
between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. is
discouraged since much of the
water evaporates before enter
ing the soil and thus has limited
effectiveness.
Proper water use can enhance
a landscape. However, improper
watering can cause a host of
problems. Most lawns will thrive
on one inch of water per week.
This water can come from either
rain or irrigation. Best results are
usually obtained if the watering
is done once per week.
Additional information on
proper watering and care of
landscapes is available through
your local University of Georgia
GOVERNOR Sonny Perdue has announced that due to significant
rainfall and improved water supplies the Georgia Environmental
Protection Division (EPD) has issued a non-drought schedule for
outdoor water use for the first time since June 2006.
Under a non-drought schedule, outdoor water use is allowed
three days a week on assigned days using odd and even-numbered
addresses.
Odd-numbered addresses can water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Sundays.
Even-numbered and unnumbered addresses are allowed to water
on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Water use may occur at any time of the day on the assigned days,
however landscape watering is discouraged between 10 a.m. and 4
p.m because of its limited effectiveness.
The change in the state’s drought response was announced at a
meeting of the State Drought Response Committee. It is the first
change since May 2008, when 55 north Georgia counties were under
a level four drought response, which prohibits most types of outdoor
water use.
“We have just lived through one of the worst droughts in Georgia
history, and citizens should be applauded for the great job they have
done conserving water,” said Carol A. Couch, EPD director, in a
statement. “The decision to ease outdoor watering restrictions should
not be seen as a license to waste water, but as a vote of confidence in
Georgians ability to conserve and use water efficiently.’'
Large water systems and local governments producing more than
100,000 gallons of water per day in the former level four drought
response area must continue to file monthly water use reports.
Should water supplies drop and drought conditions reappear, steps
will be taken quickly to toughen water use schedules again.
Overall, north Georgians averaged monthly water savings of about
15 percent since November 2007. These reductions come from citi
zens and Georgia businesses implementing a variety of conservation
measures, including waterSmart landscape principles and selecting
more efficient indoor fixtures and devices. Georgia’s collective
vision for water efficiency is presented in the recently released Water
Conservation Implementation Plan (WCIP). For more information
on waterSmart landscape principles and the Georgia WCIP, visit
www.conservewatergeorgia.net.
Cooperative Extension office.
Water conservation informa
tion is available from Watersmart:
Save Water, Save Time, Save
Money! at www.watersmart.net
and Conserve Water Georgia at
www.conservewatergeorgia.net.
Additional moisture condi
tions information and updates
can be found at www.geor-
giadrought.org. Automated
weather data is at www.geor-
giaweather.net. Daily rainfall
data is at www.cocorahs.org.
U.S. Geological Survey data is
at ga.water.usgs.gov.
David Stooksbury is the state
climatologist, a professor of
engineering and graduate coor
dinator for atmospheric scienc
es in the University of Georgia
College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences.
TREES DOWN AT HERITAGE FARM
Several huge oak trees fell at the Shields-Ethridge Heritage Farm after a severe
storm passed through the area near Arcade last Thursday. Trees fell on a log barn
and a two-story mule barn. A tenant house on the historic farm sustained damage
from another downed oak tree. Here, a fallen tree stretched across and between
some of the farm’s outbuildings. Photo by Justin Poole
Two fires reported; 16 trees down on roads
Severe storm
slams county
HIGH WINDS, heavy rain,
massive fighting and dime-size
hail hit areas of Jackson County
around 1 a.m. Thursday, June 18.
The storm downed some large
trees, knocked out power for sev
eral hours and caused two fires.
One of the hardest hit areas
with wind damage appeared to be
along Lyle Field Road between
Jefferson and Commerce where
a number of trees, some over
100-years-old, were blown over.
Whether the damage was from
straight fine winds or a tornado
wasn't clear.
Shields-Ethridge Heritage
Farm near Arcade also had a
number of old trees downed,
with some large oak trees top
pling on top of the farm’s historic
outbuildings.
OLD TREES TOPPLED
Old trees at this home on the Commerce-Jefferson
road near Lyle Field Road toppled in last Thursday’s
storm. It is not known whether damage was from a
tornado or straight line winds.
According to Steve Nichols,
director of Jackson County
Department of Emergency
Services, 16 trees were reported
down across county roads.
In addition, an old chicken
house caught fire on B. Wilson
Road in Commerce during the
storm and a bam on Birch Street
in Nicholson also caught fire. No
injuries were reported.
Jackson EMC reported 15,000
customers out of power during
the night, but only 64 remained
without power as of 9 a.m.
Georgia Power reported 215
customers without power early
Thursday morning.
DOT trims back on mowing schedule
BUDGET CUTS are forc
ing the Georgia Department
of Transportation to trim back
mowing on the state right-of-
ways.
The change will take effect
immediately and during the next
fiscal year, which begins on July
1.
Crews are performing only
those mowing operations need
ed to maintain the safety of
state roadways until full mow
ing operations begin and will
reduce their normal mowing
cycle operations throughout FY
2010.
With limited mowing the
department will save approxi
mately $10.95 million next year.
“We would like to engage in
a full mowing schedule which is
normally mowing twice within
a growing season, but the funds
are just not there,” said acting
director of operations Bryant
Poole. “We understand that one
of the most visible maintenance
concerns to our traveling public
is the height of grass on the
rights-of-way, but be assured
that we will continue to do
safety mowing on an as needed
basis.”
The approach to delivering
the maintenance and operational
services begins and ends with
the overriding principle and goal
of ensuring motorists’ safety,
according to the DOT.
Maintenance activities intend
ed primarily for roadway aes
thetics and enhancements that
do not relate to the preservation
of the road or to preventing spe
cific safety hazards are being
severely reduced.
As part of safety mowing, the
department will clear vegetation
as needed to ensure that critical
roadway signage remains visible
and will also continue its veg
etation management program by
applying growth retardant on
vegetation, where necessary.
With the beginning of the new
fiscal year, the department will
begin mowing again across the
state.
The goal is to mow the sec
ondary routes once this calendar
year instead of the two mowing
cycles from previous years. To
help in the reduced effort, there
are a few local municipalities
and private corporations that
have entered into maintenance
agreements with the department
that allow them to maintain
some areas on our interstates
and secondary highway system.
The Georgia DOT under
stands that the condition and
aesthetics of roadways is a
key component of our state's
image — well-maintained roads
speak volumes about the com
munity's civic pride, the agency
announced in a press release.
During this time of fiscal
constraint, the department is
encouraging local governments
and civic or community organi
zations to participate in efforts
that support local beautification,
such as the Adopt-A-Highway
and the Keep Georgia Beautiful
programs, which encourage
organizations to assist in regu
larly scheduled fitter pick-up.
The department will contin
ue working to find other solu
tions to address keeping road
ways aesthetically pleasing to
Georgians and those traveling
through the state.
In Memory of
SHAWN SMITH
1977 - 2007
Your life was cut short however you managed to touch many lives.
You will always remain in mommy’s heart and everyone else that
knew you. You were born an angel and now 1 have an angel looking
over us. We love you and miss you more than words can say. We
hold on to the thought that we will be together again.
We love you!
Mommy, Gwenda and Tony
• At Home Veterinarian Care
(JFetch-A-VetT;)
• Small Animal Practice
• By Appointment Only
1 For online prescriptions, visit I
1 www.fetch-a-vet.com 1
Dr. Jeff Gilliland
Veterinarian/Owner
Serving Clarke, Oconee, Madison,
706-614-5266
Jackson and Oglethorpe Comities
fetch-a-vet@att.net
LANDSCAPING & HORSE ARENAS
• RIVER SAND
• TOP SOIL
• RIVER ROCK
• WHITE SAND
• FILL DIRT
•PEA GRAVEL
WILLIAMS SAND
770-967-6501 OR 706-789-3779
Danielsville, GA • www.williamstransportco.com
Highway 106 to Jot-em Down Rd. to Young Harris Road to Serenity Lane
li
We offer personal loans
from $150.00 to $500.00.*
Telephone Applications Welcome.
Call or Come Visit Us Today!
Kg! 1816 N. Broad Street
SECURITY Commerce, GA 30529
roNNCE (706)335-3551
'More if you qualify. All loans are subject to our
liberal credit policy and credit limitations, if any.
JEFFERSON TIRE
& BATTERY
367-9210
Has Complete Car Care
• Oil Change • Tune-ups
• Brake Work • A/C Service Repair
• Complete Tire Service
• Replace CV Joints
• Front-end Alignment
HOURS:
Mon.-Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sat. & Sun. Closed
50% OFF
all plants in our retail area
Sale ENDS July 3
NO CREDIT CARDS • NO CREDIT CARDS
Huge selection of TREES still available
EXAMPLES OF SALE PRICES (WHILE SUPPLIES LAST)
Autumn Blaze red maple 10 gallon (8 ft) $40.50. 7 gallon (6-8 fl) $22.50, 5 gal-
Ion (6-8 ft) $17.50 • Autumn Brilliance serviceberry 15 gallon (10-12 ft) $45. 7
gallon (7-8 ft) $2250 • Commemoration sugar maple 15 gallon (10-12 ft) $50.
10 gallon (10 ft) S37.50. 3 gallon (6-8 ft) S17.50 • Cryptomeria 1 gallon $2.50 •
Dogwood B&B 6-8 ft $50-6250 • Dura-Heat river birch 15 gallon $37.50, multi
stem 10 gallon (8 ft) $49.50. 5 gallon $22.50. I gallon $6.00 • Franklinia 3 gallon
(5-6 ft) $25 • Green Giant arborvitae I gallon $2.50 • Japanese maple. Bloodgixxl
25 galloa (4 \ 6) $125. 6 ft B&B $ 150, 5 gallon <4 ft) $4250 • Japanese maple,
Crimson Prince 20 gallon (7 ft x 5 fl) $200 • Japanese maple, green weeping 6 ft
$225 • Japanese maple. Tamukeyama red weeping 7 gallon (5-6 ft) $8750 • Japa
nese maples, several varieties. I gallon $7.50 • Leyland cypress 7 gallon (5-6 ft)
$1750. I gallon $2.50 • October Glory red maple 5 gallon (6-8 ft) $17.50. 3 gal
lon (6-8 ft) $12.50 • Presidential Gold ginkgo 2 gallon $2250 • Royal Raindrops
cntbapple 10 gallon $50 • Scarlet oak 15 gallon (6-8 ft) $45 • Snowgoose flower
ing cherry 7 gallon $3750 • Valley Forge American elm 7 gallon (6-8 ft) $22.50
CHECK WEBSITE FOR MORE COMPREHENSIVE LIST of TREES
Also still have large numbers of hydrangeas, camellias, hostas, azaleas,
nandina, wisteria, deutzia, loropetalum (fringeflower). aucuba
Watch for Our Grand Reopening September, 2009
www.PinebushNursery.com
3332 Hwy. 106 between Neese & lla • Madison County
Check our Web site for directions & hours • 706-789-2344
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