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THE JACKSON HERALD
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2017
Three charged in double shooting
By Alex Pace
Three Braselton residents were charged after a dou
ble shooting over the weekend.
Sharon Tyler. 54, 43 Piedmont Avenue, faces charges
of aggravated assault. Sidney Lee, 57, 41 Piedmont
Avenue, faces charges of aggravated assault, posses
sion of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of
methamphetamine, possession of marijuana with intent
to distribute and possession of a firearm during the
commission of a crime.
Braselton Police Department officers and the West
Jackson Fire Department were called to Piedmont Ave
nue Sunday evening on reports of a gunshot wound.
According to the initial investigation, Tyler pulled
a gun and shot Lee after she confronted him about $5
he owed her. Lee then shot Tyler twice (possibly in the
leg).
Lee’s girlfriend, Nerissa Biyaga. 45, reportedly hid
Lee’s gun and drugs. She’s charged with reckless con
duct, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
and tampering with evidence.
According to the BPD, Lee had over an ounce of
marijuana that was packaged in individual baggies.
Tyler and Lee were both transported to the hospital
to be treated for their injuries.
They were released shortly after and were booked
into the Jackson County Jail along with Biyaga.
Additional charges could be filed pending the Dis
trict Attorney’s review, acccording to Braselton police
chief Terry Esco.
Potter’s House site of recovery for 50 years
By Alex Pace
Fifty years ago. a crowd of 300 gathered on a large
Jefferson farm for the dedication of The Potter’s House.
Since its dedication, thousands of men have taken refuge
at the site and completed its intensive recovery program.
The Potter’s House, one of four sites of Atlanta Mis
sion, provides housing at its Jefferson center while partic
ipants complete the months-long program.
Atlanta Mission’s Michele Rasmussen noted partic
ipants have a variety of backgrounds. Some are unem
ployed; some don’t have a high school degree; others need
anger management, counseling or “spiritual healing.’’
“They come from all walks of life,’’ Rasmussen said.
The men have a variety of counseling and education
options at The Potter’s House. Those offerings have likely
expanded since the center was first opened in 1967.
“The quarter of a million dollar center will serve both
the alcoholic who desire rehabilitation and aged men. It
is primarily a farm and plans call for raising cattle, hogs,
chickens, grazing areas and a garden,” read the front
page article in the Sept. 20, 1967 issue of The Jackson
Herald.
Classrooms and computer labs are now offered. Lanier
Technical College visits regularly to host GED classes for
those without a high school degree.
Participants learn about computer literacy, resumes and
applying for jobs.
In many cases, Rasmussen said the men have fractured
relationships with people in their lives. Counseling is
offered in conflict management, parenting and more.
“They can start on a new pathway.” Rasmussen said.
Atlanta Mission — a Christian organization — also
offers spiritual counseling.
Rasmussen added one of The Potter’s House goals is
to teach men to take pride in themselves, in others and in
the community.
Some participants opt into the New Start program,
which is housed in a different building from the other
men. They pay $100 a week to stay in New Start to help
them prepare for the transition when they leave The Pot
ter’s House.
Some Potter’s House participants work in vocational
jobs.
Others volunteer at Breaking Bread, a soup kitchen in
Athens, which Rasmussen said is rewarding for them.
“I know where they’ve been,” several men have report
edly said after they returned from the soup kitchen.
MEN UNITED IN GOALS
Oliver Grant came to The Potter’s House last year.
He had worked various jobs, trying to keep up with
his child support payments. At one point, he lived in his
truck. He drank alcohol to keep him warm and help him
temporarily forget about his stresses.
Grant got a factory job and a residence at a hotel in
Georgia. He lost his job when the company closed its
second shift and he lost his truck after failing to make
insurance payments.
“I really hit the bottom,” he said.
It was during this time that he met his “angel.”
Grant was sitting in the rain when he was approached
by two men. They took him to breakfast and told him
about The Potter’s House.
Grant said he later realized he had “nothing to lose”
and “needed the help.” He filled out an application and
one of the men took him to Jefferson.
“That one day changed my life,” Grant said.
He admitted the first few weeks at The Potter’s House
weren’t easy. Grant joked it was like “boot camp,” and
was focused on getting clean, scripture lessons and
recovery information.
He said that time really tested his patience, but after he
got a job in the area, he’s been “more at peace.”
Since coming to The Potter’s House, Grant has
enrolled in recovery meetings, saved up money and
taken vocational classes. He hopes to continue his edu
cation and one day go to dental school.
Grant noted all the men at The Potter’s House have
different backgrounds and different plans for the future.
But he said they all have one common goal: To get their
lives together and not have to come back to The Potter’s
House.
MORE INFORMATION
In addition to the Atlanta Mission housing sites, the
group also runs multiple thrift stores including one in
downtown Commerce.
For more information about Atlanta mission including
donations, volunteering or enrolling in the program, visit
atlantamission.org.
Commerce DDA brings
in $ IK from concerts
By Kyle Funderburk
Downtown Commerce brought in $1,184 with its last
two concerts on July 22 and August 4, according to the
Commerce Downtown Development Authority.
The July concert featured the Grains of Sand Band
which cost the DDA $1,750. The August band was
Second Time Around and they cost the town $600.
Sound cost was $300, while tent and table rental was
$616.
Other events this past month included the State
Street Bicycles Dirt Demo and Tigers on the Town.
The DDA stated that people from the town and many
from outside of Commerce attended the dirty demo,
which included electric bikes that people could ride
down a trail.
PUBLIC HEARING
"The Jackson County Planning Commission will
hold a public hearing at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday,
September 28, 2017 at the Jackson County Ad
ministration Building Auditorium, 67 Athens
Street, Jefferson, Georgia 30549, to consider the
following matters:
New Business
1. SU-17-07 - Christopher Anderson Huskey,
1379 Savage Road, Bogart, GA; 3.373 acres;
Special Use for a dog boarding facility. (Map
059/Parcel 010L)
2. RZ-17-15 - Melanie & Kenneth Barnes, 7649
Pendergrass Road, Hoschton, GA; 3.59 acres;
rezone from A-2 to M-H in order to split the
property into two tracts. (Map 113/Parcel 003)
3. RZ-17-16 - Andrew Marlowe, 4402 Brockton
Rd., Jefferson, GA; 15.95 acres; rezone from
A-3 to A-2. (Map 038/Parcel 036)
4. MA-17-07 - Polly B. Wellborn Estate, Creek Na
tion Rd., Jefferson, GA; 84.385 acres; Change
Character Area Map from "Agricultural &
Conservation" to "Suburban & Conservation",
Change Future Land Use Map from "Agricul
tural & Conservation" to "Residential & Con
servation". Map 094/Parcel 010).
Ordinance changes proposed in Commerce
By Kyle Funderburk
Changes to some ordi
nances in the city of Com
merce are on the way.
Police chief Zack Ardis
was at the Commerce
City Council meeting last
week to outline his plans
for changes to the city’s
animal control, noise, nui
sance and litter ordinances.
Changes were also
proposed for the judicial
charter amendment, fine
amounts for abandoned or
dismantled vehicles, and
amending the cities bond
schedule.
Most of the discussion
from the council was the
noise ordinance, several
councilmen question Ardis
on what the city should
deem as too loud, as well
as areas where the ordi
nance would be more
strictly enforced.
GOP forum
is Thursday
Jackson County’s
Republican Party plans a
forum for Jefferson may-
oral candidates Roy Plott
and Steve Quinn.
The event is set for
Thursday, Sept. 14, at
6:30 p.m. at the Jefferson
Clubhouse.
Incumbent Ward 4
councilman Mark Mobley
and his opponent, David
Wortham, have also been
invited.
Those with questions
for the candidates can
email them to wjjc@
windstream.net or write
them down on index cards
provided at the event.
The forum will be lives-
treamed, according to an
email release.
STREET REPAVING
WITH LMIG
The council approved
using the Local Mainte
nance and Improvement
Grant to repave streets in
the town.
The streets in each
ward up for repaving are:
Cherry Street in Ward 1;
Cotton Street in Ward 2;
Barber Street in Ward 3;
Dogwood Trail in Ward
4; and Chantilee Street in
Ward 5.
REZONING
FOR CAR
RECYCLING STATION
In old business, David
Zellner of planning and
development recommend
ed the city vote to rezone
13 acres of Allen Road
from M-l to C-2 to be
used as a car recycling
station.
The biggest concerns
of the council were how
much was visible from
the road as well as if
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Zellner and the repre
sentatives for the busi
ness said that vehicles
and most of the recycling
station would not be seen
from the road and would
be indoors. Zellner said
he would check with the
county to see if there was
a drainage plan for that
area from before the land
was annexed into the city.
The Jackson County Board of Commissioners
will address the recommendations of the Plan
ning Commission Board at a public hearing on
Monday, October 16, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. at the Jack-
son County Courthouse, 5000 Jackson Parkway,
Jefferson, GA 30549 in the Jury Assembly Room.
Complete applications, plats, texts, maps, and
public hearing procedures are available for re
view in the Planning Division Office, of the De
partment of Public Development during regular
office hours Monday thru Friday from 8:30 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m. or online at www.jacksoncountygov.
com. All interested persons are invited to attend.
Attention Local Business Owners
And Managers:
JAB A meets on the third Thursday of every month at
11:45 am at Jefferson Clubhouse, 320 Longview
Drive. Visit our website or email
stapler.stephanie@gmail.com for more information.
Come join the networking and learn about the
Jefferson area as well as other beneficial topics.
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Jackson Herald
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