Newspaper Page Text
O
O
THE
ACKSON
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H Wednesday, May 4, 2011
ERALD
www.JacksonHeraldTODAY.com
VOL. 136 NO. 47 36 PACES 3 SECTIONS PLUS INSERTS A PUBLICATION OF MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. JEFFERSON, JACKSON COUNTY GEORGIA 30549 75« COPY
— Inside —
Area news:
•JHS prom night
page 10B
Ethics group: Watkins should repay funds
Recommendation on mileage money to go before Nicholson City Council
BY ANGELA GARY
FOUR OF THE five members of an ethics committee
looking into a complaint against Nicholson councilman
Lamar Watkins agreed Tuesday night that he should pay
back money he took for travel expenses to a convention
in Savannah.
The five-member ethics committee did not officially
vote on the issue, but each member spoke out on how
they believe the issue should be handled. Their findings
will be given to the city council.
Former Nicholson council member Faye Seagraves
filed the ethics complaint against Watkins in a letter to
the ethics board dated January 8,2011.
“/ don’t know why
this got started. This
is the way it has
always been done. ”
— Lamar Watkins, on use of
city funds for travel expenses
Seagraves alleges that during her time in office, 2006-
2009, the mayor and council received travel expenses for
taking their personal vehicles to the Georgia Municipal
Association (GMA) Convention in Savannah.
Seagraves said Watkins signed that he was driving and
he took travel expenses even though he actually rode
with council member Howard Wilbanks to the conven
tion.
The council members were each given two checks in
advance of the convention to cover travel expenses. One
check, for $210, was for mileage, while the other check,
for $300, was for meals. No receipts were required and
there was no written policy or guidelines. The council did
not have to show any proof that the money was actually
continued on page 10A
WATKINS
•Rabies clinics set
page 2A
• Nicholson Daisy
Festival page 9A
Op/Ed:
•'Just more of the
same: dally, dawdle,
dither, deny'. . page 4A
Sports:
•Jefferson celebrates
40th Georgia Olympics
page 1B
Features:
•Southside BackPack
Kids page 1C
Other News:
•Public Safety
pages 6-7A
•Legals
pages 7-9C
•Church News
page 5C
•Obituaries
page 6C
•School News
pages 6-11B
Hands-on agriculture
MEETING GINGER
Savannah McDonald, Adam Richey and Sara Brock of East Jackson Elementary School
meet Ginger during Ag Day held Tuesday at East Jackson Comprehensive High School.
Some 500 fifth graders attended, with area high school FFA members presenting informa
tion at the hands-on learning stations. Some 100 volunteers participated in the annual event
sponsored by Farm Bureau. See page 12A for more photos. Photo by Jana Mitcham
Chamber now taking
Leadership Jackson
2012 nominations
Deadline set for May 20
UNTIL FRIDAY, May 20, the Jackson County
Area Chamber of Commerce is accepting nomina
tions for the Leadership Jackson Class of 2012.
Participants must live or work in Jackson County,
demonstrate leadership ability and possess a strong
commitment to serve the community, according
to a chamber release. An advisory committee
will review application materials, which will be
due June 3, and select the class participants. Self-
nominations are accepted.
For more information, contact Linda Foster at
706-387-0300.
■ Schedule for Class of 2012
•Overnight retreat, July 28-29
• Education session, Sept. 1
• Economic development session, Oct. 6
•Government session, Nov. 10
• Review/preview social, 4-7 p.m. Jan. 12
• Family session, Feb. 9
• Growth session, March 8
• Health session, April 12
•Public safety session, May 10
•Tourism session, June 14
•Graduation, July 26
‘World’s Largest Dessert
Party’ planned May 12
Tanger Factory Outlet centers
to celebrate 30th anniversary
TANGER FACTORY Outlet Centers, Inc. announced
that to officially mark the company’s 30th year of busi
ness, it will celebrate the occasion throughout the month
of May and will highlight the anniversary at a number of
national events.
On Thursday, May 12, as Tanger Outlet Centers cele
brates the 30th anniversary of the company, an attempt will
be made to set
the Guinness
Book of World
Records for
the World's
Largest Dessert
Party. Guinness
Book of World
Records’ audi
tors will count
the number of
the company’s
party guests on
the floor of the
NYSE, at the
company’s headquarters in Greensboro, N.C., and at each
of the Tanger Outlet Centers’ 34 outlet shopping centers in
22 states across the country.
In Commerce, the dessert party will be held from 2:30
to 4 p.m. at 800 Steven B. Tanger Blvd. Local desserts
will be served.
Tanger Outlet Centers will begin celebrating its Pearl
Anniversary with promotions and specials to reward
its shoppers during the entire month of May. The com
pany has announced a Register to Win — $30,000 Tanger
Shopping Sprees in 30 Days, which will take place from
May 2 through May 31. Eligible shoppers may register to
win at the Tanger Outlet Center of their choice, via text
message to Tanger 30 at 74700, or mailed entries.
Three shoppers will receive $10,000 each in Tanger
gift cards. The first prize winner will be selected, via
random draw, on May 12 from the floor of the New York
continued on page 5A
LENDING A HELPING HAND
The West Jackson Fire Department sent an engine company to Catoosa County as
part of a Georgia Mutual Aid Group deployment to assist with search and rescue in
Ringgold and the county. Shown are: (L-R) Damon Lockridge, FAO Kevin Pittman,
FAO Bryan Bullock and fire chief Ben Stephens.
Helping out in Catoosa County
WJ Fire Dept,
assists with
storm damage
SEVERAL MEMBERS the
West Jackson Fire Department
went to Catoosa County late last
week to assist with storm damage
that caused extensive damage.
The West Jackson firefighters
went to Catoosa County as part
of a Georgia Mutual Aid Group
deployment to assist with search
and rescue in Ringgold and the
surrounding area.
“We sent four on an engine
on Thursday morning about 2
-
DEVASTATION IN CATOOSA COUNTY
Members of the West Jackson Fire Department went
to Catoosa County to assist with storm damage in the
area. This is some of the devastation they encountered
during their search and rescue effort.
a.m.,’’ West Jackson fire chief of us went up on Saturday in our
Ben Stephens said. “We came
back that evening. Then, three continued on page 5A