Newspaper Page Text
THE
ACKSON
tflt jw.
H Wednesday, July 7, 2010
ERALD
www.JacksonHeraldTODAY.com
VOL. 136 NO. 4 48 PACES 4 SECTIONS PLUS INSERTS A PUBLICATION OF MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. JEFFERSON, JACKSON COUNTY GEORGIA 30549 75c COPY
— Inside —
Area news:
• Former Braselton
clerk pleads not guilty
page 3 A
Op/Ed:
•'Finances strong
now, but future uncer
tain' page 4 A
Sports:
•July 18 triathlon to ben
efit Alzheimer's research
page 1B
Features:
•Center UMC to mark
centennial... page 1C
Jefferson girl hosts
camp for other girls
page 1C
Other News:
•Public Safety
pages 6-7A
•Legals
pages 7-23C
•Church News
page 5B
•Obituaries
pages 6-7B
•School News
page 8A
O -S
Try Out New E-Edition Free at JacksonHeraldToday.com/eedition
Teacher loses appeal for job
Long-time educator was included in county system’s layoff plan
BY KERRI TESTEMENT
A VETERAN educator of the
Jackson County School System has
lost his appeal to keep a job for
another year with the district.
Rex Wallace — who has been
teaching for 31 years — was the
district's lone student achievement
technology specialist when he was
laid off in April.
Wallace’s job was one of 44
teaching and non-teaching posi
tions that the Jackson County
Board of Education approved in
April for its Reduction in Force
(RIF) plan for the 2010-2011
school year.
Wallace’s position had been
created when the school system
received federal stimulus money through
WALLACE
the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act (ARRA) of 2009.
He previously taught social studies
and computer science at Jackson County
Comprehensive High School, where he
had worked since 1993.
But when the district learned it wouldn’t
be receiving federal stimulus money for
the 2010-2011 school year, the board cut
Wallace’s position and didn’t renew his
annual contract, according to officials.
He, in turn, requested a personnel hear
ing with the board over his non-renewed
contract. That public hearing was held on
Wednesday, June 30.
Wallace’s attorney, Michael C. Daniel,
argued that his client lost his job with the
school system because of age discrimina
tion.
continued on page 5A
Russell’s
salary cut in
Pendergrass
Furlough days
approved by city
BY SHARON HOGAN
IN AN effort to cut costs, the
City of Pendergrass agreed in
a meeting last week to imple
ment furlough days for city
employees and to cut the city
administrator’s salary.
The issues were discussed
in a 15-minute closed session
but city attorney Walter Harvey
announced after the meeting
was opened to the public that
the matters should not have
been handled in a closed ses
sion.
Harvey reported that dur
ing the closed session Mayor
Monk Tolbert read a prepared
statement on the furlough days
and salary cut.
“We need to begin furlough
days for all employees in July,’’
Tolbert read. “This is a cost
saving measure. Most other cit
ies are doing this now and we
need to implement furloughs,
also. Each and every employee
will be furloughed at least one
day a month.’’
Tolbert then outline the sal
ary cut for city administrator
Rob Russell.
“I have cut another $10,000
from the city administrator’s
salary as a cost cutting mea
sure,’’ Tolbert read in the state
ment. “Rob is working as the
evening shift police officer and
weekend officer, also. He still
maintains his city administrator
responsibilities.’’
continued on page 5A
ENJOYING THE FIREWORKS IN NICHOLSON
Thousands of people turned out Sunday evening in Nicholson for the annual July 4
celebration. Activities for the children, entertainment from The Dalton Gang and The
GTOs and food concessions were offered with a fireworks show presented by the
city being featured at dark. See additional photos from the celebration on page 10B.
Photo by Blake Smith
Federal judge hears motions in Pendergrass case
BY SHARON HOGAN
JUDGE WITH AM O’Kelley heard
motions on Wednesday. June 30, in the
federal courthouse in Gainesville on the
Pendergrass whistleblowers' case against
the City of Pendergrass.
Judge O’Kelley granted a motion by
the defendants to dismiss the suit against
Mayor Monk Tolbert, council members
Judy Stowe, Hilda Gee, John Pethel and
Thomas Marlow and Pendergrass City
Administrator Rob Russell in their official
capacity for the city. The suit against each
one individually still remains.
Judge O’Kelley denied a motion by the
plaintiff’s lawyers to compel responses for
financial information from the defendants
saying it was too soon in the case for this.
“Most of that material is quite lengthy,”
O'Kelley said.
When seeking punitive damages, the
finances of the defendants will be looked at.
“After it is determined who is going to
trial, this may be looked at,” O’Kelley said.
As for liability insurance, O’Kelley said
that the plaintiffs have a right to know this
at an early stage.
“It is important in negotiations,” he said.
But it won’t require a disclosure of home
owner’s personal insurance. O’Kelley added
Ernest H. DeLong. attorney for the defen
dants, asked, “Can we wait until the court
rules before individual homeowner’s insur
ance is released?”
The judge said: “The plaintiff is entitled to
financial information when punitive damages
are being asked for.”
O’ Kelley said he would make a ruling later
continued on page 5A
Two voting precincts change
EFFECTIVE FOR the July 20 General
Primary, two voting precincts in Jackson
County have changed locations.
Voters in the Newtown Precinct will
now vote at the Nicholson Community
Center, located at 129 Lakeview Drive in
Nicholson. Previously, voting for Newtown was held at the
Harold S. Swindle Public Library.
Voters in the North Jefferson Precinct will now vote at
the Jefferson Parks and Recreation Department, located
at 2495 Old Pendergrass Road, Jefferson. Previously, vot
ing for North Jefferson was held at the Jefferson Fire
Department II.
ipTeetion
update
Systemax Inc. to bring jobs to area
BYANGELA GARY
THE JEFFERSON Development
Authority approved a $15 mil
lion bond inducement resolution
in a called meeting Thursday for
Systemax Inc., which plans to locate
a large distribution center in the city.
The business will be located at
235 Hog Mountain Road and plans
are to initially hire 400 people, with
as many as 600 to 700 eventually
to be hired. In addition to the dis
tribution center, there will also be
a 40,000 square foot retail center
on the site. The company projects
an estimated $20 million annually
in sales.
Systemax Inc. is the parent com
pany for TigerDirect.com. Comp
USA and Circuit City, and is a
retailer of personal computers, note
book computers, consumer electron
ics. computer-related accessories,
technology supplies and industrial
products.
continued on page 5A
GLENN
Glenn’s case
heard by state’s
Supreme Court
BYANGELA GARY
THE GEORGIA Supreme
Court heard arguments Tuesday
morning in the
case filed by
former Jeff
erson police
chief Darren
Glenn against
the City of
Jefferson.
The court
will determine
whether Glenn can proceed
with his lawsuit against the city.
In December, a Superior Court
judge in Jackson County ruled
that Glenn could proceed with
the case. The City of Jefferson
appealed this ruling.
Glenn was fired by the city in
June 2006 after the city received
threats of a lawsuit from one
of Glenn’s employees who had
been demoted in 2005. Glenn
sued individual Jefferson lead
ers in 2008, saying he was not
allowed to clear his name after
the officials made “false and
stigmatizing statements” about
his firing.
Glenn won a first round legal
fight with Jefferson shortly after
he was fired when an unem
ployment compensation office
ruled in Glenn’s favor. Glenn
also survived a lengthy GBI
probe after a grand jury decided
not to indict him.
HAGAN
Former BOC
member Hagan
dies at age 83
FORMER Jackson County
Board of Commissioner Forrest
Hagan, who served 1990 to 1996,
died Monday, July 5.
Hagan was
appointed to the
BOC in 1990 by
the grand jury to
fill an unexpired
term. He served
two years and
then ran for the
office and was
elected to a four-year term.
Hagan was a business owner
and a United States Navy vet
eran. He was a member of the
First United Methodist Church
of Commerce, BJC Hospital
Authority and a former member
of the Kiwanis Club. Mr. Hagan
was preceded in death by his
wife, Marthella Hagan.
Survivors include his son and
daughter-in-law, Lee and Gina
Hagan, Maysville; daughter, K.
Ellen Hagan, Commerce; a niece
and several nephews.
Funeral services will be at 2
p.m., Thursday, July 8, from the
First United Methodist Church
of Commerce with David Bowen
officiating. Burial will be at
Jackson Memorial Gardens. The
family will receive friends at the
funeral home Wednesday, July 7,
from 5 to 8 p.m.