Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 2A
THE JACKSON HERALD
WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2010
EJES wins
state ag award
EAST JACKSON Elementary
School has won the sixth annual
Agricultural Awareness Week
Observance Award, Gov. Sonny
Perdue’s office announced last
week.
It is the second year in a row
that the school has won the
award.
“Georgia farmers continue
to make our state one of the
most vital and diversified farm
economies in the nation,” Perdue
said in a statement. “Agriculture
Awareness Week gives our stu
dents the opportunity to learn
the importance of this evolving
industry to all Georgians.”
During National Agriculture
Week of March 14-20. fifth
grade classes across the state
were encouraged to participate
in events and activities to help
students learn about agriculture,
Georgia’s oldest and largest
industry.
By using agriculture as a
teaching tool for science, math,
language arts and social studies,
the students learned the origin
of food and fiber, the economic
and environmental contributions
of agriculture and the impact of
agriculture on society.
The East Jackson Elementary
class was judged as best in the
state for using innovative teach
ing techniques.
During the week, the students
learned about the impact of farm
ing on the economy, the impact
of farming in their own lives, the
kinds of products produced in
Georgia and how Georgia ranks
nationally in the production of
various agricultural products.
The East Jackson students,
led by teachers Dawn Brock and
Charlotte Gilman, learned about
Georgia agriculture through sev
eral creative avenues.
Students participated in the
Aggie Club, an adopt-a-chick
program and a school garden
ing program, as well as learning
about equipment safety, forestry
programs and biotechnology.
RABIES CLINIC HELD
The Jefferson Animal Hospital and Commerce
Veterinary Hospital staff and the Jackson County 4-H
Club hosted their annual rabies vaccination clinics
on May 5-8. There were 19 clinics held at 15 locations
around Jackson County. On Thursday at the clinic held
at Jefferson Animal Hospital Lizzy, a Cocker Spaniel,
gets her vaccine from Jefferson Animal Hospital staff
Clark Williams and Cynthia Martin. Also shown is
Lizzy’s owner Carine Griffeth, Jefferson, and veterinar
ian Jason Phillips. Photo by Sharon Hogan
Community planning workshop
coming up Thurs. in Nicholson
NICHOLSON residents are invited to a community plan
ning workshop to provide input on the city’s comprehensive
plan. The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday,
May 13, at the Nicholson Community Center, Nicholson.
“We value your input planning the future of the city of
Nicholson,” leaders state. “Your input will help determine
the issues and opportunities that the comprehensive plan will
address and guide the next 20 years of growth and develop
ment in the city.”
For more information, contact Jerry Weitz, consulting
planner, 770-751-1203 or jweitz@bellsouth.net or Wendy
Carter, city clerk. 706-757-3408.
Arsonist destroys building on historic farm
BY KERRI TESTEMENT
AN ALMOST-CENTURY
old building under renovation
at the Shields-Ethridge Heritage
Farm has been destroyed by
arson, according to a family
member.
Bobby Chaisson said the
three-room wooden building
at his family’s historic farm in
Jefferson was burned by arson
on April 26.
The building was constructed
in 1915 and was being restored
as a visitor’s and interpretation
center at the Shields-Ethridge
Heritage Farm, Chaisson said.
“It was a tenant house through
the years until about 15 years
ago,” he said.
A passerby noticed flames
coming from the unoccupied
building on Johnson Mill Road,
located off Ethridge Road, and
told a family member, Chaisson
said. A fire department was
already en route by that point.
“It was burned so bad (an
investigator) could tell it burned
from the back of the house, on
the inside of the house,” Chaisson
said.
The state fire marshal’s office
is offering a $10,000 reward for
information leading to the arrest
and conviction of those involved
in burning the building, Chaisson
said. The arson hotline telephone
number is 1-800-282-5804.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s
Office is also investigating the
arson, he added.
MULE DAY AHEAD
Despite the loss of one of
15-20 buildings on the histor
ic farm, the Shields-Ethridge
Heritage Farm plans to continue
with its Mule Day celebration on
Saturday, May 15, from 10 a.m.
to 3 p.m.
“It’ll bring more awareness
to historic preservation and how
important it is to care for these
buildings, and try to keep them
safe and preserved.” Chaisson
said.
The Shields-Ethridge Farm,
which was settled in 1799, is
listed on the National Register of
Historic Places. It includes a cot
ton gin, grist mill, general store,
blacksmith shop, schoolhouse,
teacher’s house and a residence
dating to 1866.
For its annual Mule Day cel
ebration, the farm will feature
a variety of demonstrations
— such as soap making and
quilting — wagon rides, re
enactors of history, and bluegrass
and gospel music. Several of the
buildings will also be open for
visitors.
The Shields-Ethridge Heritage
Farm Foundation hasn’t decided
what it will do for a potential
visitor’s center since the building
was destroyed, Chaisson said.
A historic preservation orga
nization at the University of
Georgia has detailed drawings
of the building, should the foun
dation decide to rebuild it, he
added. However, as a nonprofit
group, the foundation would
need grants or donations for such
a project.
JES FIELD DAY
Jefferson Elementary School kindergarten students are shown above during the
school’s Field Day on Monday. The students had a variety of events to attempt and
parents were also invited to attend. Photo by Katie Huston
County and cities continue HB489 meetings on shared services
BY SHARON HOGAN
ANIMAL CONTROL, jail services
roads and libraries continue to be among
the topics being discussed by the coun
ty’s government committee on shared
services, the so-called HB489 require
ments.
Although no major changes are
currently on the table for discussion,
Commerce City Manager Clarence
Bryant questioned the contract for jail
services coming directly from Jackson
County Sheriff Stan Evans.
Jackson County manager Darrell
Hampton reported the county doesn’t
have a problem with the plan.
“It’s for the benefit of the respec
tive municipalities; the sheriffs office
forwards to our finance department rev
enues raised through this agreement,”
Hampton said.
Jefferson Mayor Jim Joiner advised the
contract doesn’t have an ending date.
“Shouldn’t they all be uniform?”
Joiner asked.
Hampton recommended a two-year
contract.
“If you all do two years, that will carry
you through the current term of Sheriff
Evans,” Hampton said.
County BOC chairman Hunter
Bicknell said he would talk with Sheriff
Evans about the contract terms.
FIRE PROTECTION
There were also some questions about
fire districts.
‘There was a question asked at an ear
lier meeting about what was the impact
of an annexation on a fire district,”
Hampton said.
He said there is a statement in the
service delivery strategy document that
applies to those cities that have a levy
(Commerce and Jefferson).
“If you annex an area in another dis
trict your line would be modified and
the revenues or assessment of that would
come to you: we got a legal opinion from
the county attorney that says exactly
that,” he said.
LIBRARY
The group also discussed funding for
local libraries.
“The county board of commissioners
approve a certain amount for the librar
ies and the library board determines
how much each library in the county
receives,” said Braselton Town Manager
Jennifer Dees.
Dees invited anyone in the room to
sit on the library board and see how that
is done.
ANIMAL CONTROL
“We don’t have any facility plans
at this time and how the agreement
has changes is really just designating
that Commerce, Jefferson and currently
Pendergrass do their own animal control,’ ’
Jackson County Public Development
Director Gina Mitsdarffer said.
The document allows for any munici
pality to be able to ask for a change in
service.
“Right now, there are two county-wide
officers: we have no additional pens to be
offered,” she said.
The county doesn’t have any plans to
extend this service right now.
“If the pens are full we can return
phone calls, that is about all,” Mitsdarffer
said.
ROADS AND BRIDGES
Jefferson City Manager John Ward
asked county officials, “Is there any
beginning and end location other than
just road names?”
Hampton said the county has not gone
out and found a beginning and end point
for these roads.
“We can,” he said.
Dees asked county staff if the cities
had to make a formal request if there is a
pothole in a road.
Hampton said, “Just make a phone
call or send an email will be sufficient.”
Dees reported the way the strategy is
written the only thing it says the county
is going to do is mow the grass.
“I believe the SDS (service delivery
strategy) should say what services you
will provide,” Dees said.
Bicknell questioned how the county
got city streets on the county road list.
Dees reported it was an exchange, she
thought back in 1999, in an original ser
vice delivery strategy that every city in
the county had to sign off that they were
not expending any taxes on roads.
“At that point in time the county was
collecting taxes for roads,” Dees said.
“The road list was made between county
and cities,” she added.
Bicknell said, “We could have word
ing in here that indicates what the county
will do.”
WATER/SEWER
Joel Logan, Jackson County GIS
Manager, presented new water and
sewer service area maps for the cities
to review.
“What we’re trying to do today is
show the final agreements, since 2004,
and changes/additions from different
agencies,” Logan said,
Logan has been working with the
Jackson County Water and Sewerage
Authority and the cities’ water depart
ments on these maps.
“Seven water systems in this county
is quite complicated,” he said. Logan
reported he has not received any informa
tion from the Nicholson Water Authority
on Nicholson lines.
“We have worked a lot with the fire
departments.”
Logan and his staff have been work
ing to get all of the fire hydrants in the
county mapped.
“I hope by the end of this year I can
say we’ve for 99 percent of the hydrants
mapped,” he said.
Hampton advised the municipalities
to get with Logan within the next two
weeks to go over their maps.
“We need to make sure we find an
agreeable service area for all parties,”
Hampton said.
Logan said, “Getting the hydrants in
the 911 system is my main concern. I
want those dispatchers to be able to see
every hydrant out there.”
The next HB489 service delivery
strategy meeting is set for 3 to 5 p.m.
on Thursday, May 20, at the Jackson
County Fire Training Facility.
Y
RELAY
FOR LIFE
Are you a Cancer Survivor?
or do you know someone who is? If so...
We Need You!!
On June 4, 2010, at 7:00 p.m
Relay For Life Survivor Activities will Kick Off!!!
The Jackson County Relay For Life presented by Wayne and Heather Abbs, Wavne-Neal Chevrolet will be
held on June 4 & 5 at East Jackson County High School. Opening ceremonies will begin at 7:00 p.m. and the
Survivor’s lap shortly thereafter. Please meet at the track between 5:30-6:30 p.m. to receive your free T-shirt
and survivor packet. The survivor’s lap and survivor activities are sponsored by The Pendergrass Flea
Market. After your lap, you are invited back to the hospitality tent to visit with other survivors and to enjoy the
relay in comfort. Your participation costs nothing...we are there to honor you! Help us show our community
that people do survive Cancer. You can make a difference. Your presence as a survivor will give others hope.
Please join us and let us honor your courage, strength and victory. Invite your family and friends. The Relay
is open to the public.
Please complete the form and return to the address below so that we can have your correct T-shirt size.
Look forward to seeing you on Victory Lap. For more information, call Denise @ 706-654-7934.
YES, I would like to participate in the survivor's reception and survivor’s lap at the Relay For Life.
This is the name of a cancer survivor. (Please contact)
Name T-shirt size (please circle)-. Y S M L XL XXL XXXL
Address Telephone
City, State, Zip
Please complete and mail to:
Denise Doss, Relay For Life, 74 Eagle View Dr., Jefferson, GA 30549
Survivor Lap and survivor activities sponsored by The Pendergrass Flea Market
ACE is Your STIHL Headquarters!
0 FS 55 TRIMMER
• Easy-to-use, well-balanced trimmer for
^ homeowner use
/ • Lightweight, reliable and fast starting
Can use
nylon line
or STIHL
PolyCut™
head
$
199
00
• MrfNIM 'V of " Ooap
features of our professional models
T
The KombiSystem From STIHL 1 Motor - Endless Possibilities!
MS 170 CHAIN SAW
Power Head
STIHL
NOW FILLING PROPANE TANKS AND SELLING PINE STRAW!
ACE
s*s
Hardware
& Mower
uwtmtmumwuumuwtuuUi
3740 Village Way • Braselton
(Hwy. 211 At Liberty Church Across From Chateau Elan)
770-867-2340
www.ssacehardware.com
, . Big
oreen
World**Remt Smokcrandfirill!
Mon. - Fri. 7:30am - 7:30pm • Sat. 8:00am - 6:00pm • Sun. 10:00am - 5:00pm
OPEN WEEKENDS FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE