Newspaper Page Text
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ERALD
VOL. 144 NO. 2
32 PACES 3 SECTIONS PLUS INSERTS
Merged in 2017 with
The Commerce News
A PUBLICATION OF MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
JEFFERSON, JACKSON COUNTY GEORGIA 30549
75c COPY
BOE race challenged
Incumbent Jackson County Board of Education mem
ber Steve Bryant is challenging the recent election
results after being defeated by challenger Don Clerici.
Clerici handily defeated Bryant in the May 22 elec
tion, 64-percent to 36-percent.
Bryant, who represents District 5 and serves as the
Jackson County BOE chairman, filed a challenge in the
Superior Court of Jackson County on May 29. Bryant
said the names of the candidates were listed incorrectly
on the ballot for the May 22 election, since Clerici’s
name was listed before his.
“Names should be listed in alphabetic order or the
incumbent’s name should be listed first,” according to
Bryant's challenge. “In both cases, my name should
have been listed first on the ballot.”
Bryant added the Georgia Secretary of State’s office
and Jackson County Board of Elections were notified
May 17.
He listed both Clerici and the Jackson County Board
of Elections as defendants.
Elections supervisor Jennifer Logan said the board
of elections has until June 14 to “answer the petition,”
which she described as a “formal response” to Bryant’s
petition.
A court hearing hasn’t yet been set on the challenge.
There are apparently no court precedents in the state
for having names on a ballot in the wrong order.
Commerce
school general
budget up to
$15.4 million
By Ron Bridgeman
The tentative 2019 school
budget for the general fund of
the Commerce City Schools
will use about $244,000 in
reserve funds and projects
spending about $1.7 million
more than the current budget.
The Commerce Board of
Education heard the budget
numbers at Monday’s meet
ing. The budget is not expect
ed to be approved until July
9.
The board plans two public
hearings on the budget. The
first will be at 10 a.m. June
25 and the second will be at
5:30 p.m. July 9, just before
the board meets at 6 p.m.
The fiscal year 2019 bud
get, which starts July 1, is
projected to receive $15.2
million in revenue and spend
$15.4 million.
If the budget is accurate,
the district expects to have
continued on page 3A
Herald wins 8
state awards
The Jackson Herald won
eight state awards presented
recently by the Georgia Press
Association.
Sports editor Ben Munro
won first place for best sports
feature story. Munro also won
two photo awards, a third
place for best sports photo
and third place for best sports
feature photo.
Photographer Wesleigh
Sagon won third place for
best news photo.
Angela Gary won second
place for best lifestyle cov
erage.
Alex Pace won third place
for best page one and along
with Mike Buffington, won
third place for best editorial
page.
A home for Roxy
ROXY
Shown is Roxy, a pit-lab mix partnered with local man, Robby Justin
McDaniel, through the Operation Second Chance Program at the Gwinnett
County Detention Center. McDaniel hopes to find an adoptive family for Roxy.
Photos by Alex Pace
Local man in Gwinnett Detention
Center wants to get jail dog adopted
By Alex Pace
When Robby Justin McDaniel is “hav
ing a moment,” his dog Roxy knows how
to comfort him. McDaniel, a Jefferson
native currently incarcerated at the Gwin
nett County Detention Center, was part
nered with Roxy in the Gwinnett County
Operation Second Chance program.
“...she crawls into our 2.5-foot wide
bed and throws her head on my chest,”
McDaniel said. “Then she just stares at
me. She knows every time I’m having a
moment. She gets close to me so that I can
feel her heartbeat.”
Roxy, a yellow lab and red nose mix,
has been a part of Operation Second
Chance for several years. Through the
program, selected inmates are partnered
with dogs from the Gwinnett County Ani
mal Shelter that may have otherwise been
euthanized.
But it’s not just the animals that benefit.
“They get a home and the inmates are
rehabilitated, too.” said McDaniel.
Cody Walker, who coordinates the pro
gram, said it gives the inmates responsi
bility and a sense of ownership. Inmates
must care for the animals 24/7, training
and preparing them to be adopted.
McDaniel said the program, and Roxy’s
companionship, have helped him change
for the better.
“The program has definitely helped me
mentally and emotionally,” McDaniel said.
“Having a dog and having a responsibility
that the program gives.”
But now it’s time for Roxy to have a
home outside of jail, McDaniel said. He
recently wrote to The Jackson Herald in
hopes of finding an adoptive family for
Roxy.
“I need her to have a life outside these
walls, the life this beauty deserves, and for
SHOWING OFF TRICKS
Roxy shows off tricks with the help of
her partner Robby Justin McDaniel.
an individual or family to soak up all her
love,” he said.
McDaniel said in the perfect world,
he and Roxy would both walk out of the
Gwinnett County Detention Center togeth
er, but McDaniel faces additional charges
in Jackson County after he leaves Gwin
nett. He said he’s grateful for his time with
Roxy, but he wants more for her.
“She has done her job here,” McDaniel
said.
MORE ABOUT ROXY
According to the Operation Second
Chance website, Roxy is a 6-year-old lab-
pit mix.
“I love stuffed animal toys, long walks,
playing tug, and being loved on,” the
continued on page 2A
Hands-free law
in effect July 1
By Alex Pace
Hold the phone. Or better yet.
don’t.
Georgia’s new hands-free driv
ing law goes into effect next
month and local law enforcement
officials are trying to get the pub
lic prepared for the new rules. Sev
eral area agencies are distributing
a flier that describes the new law.
As of July 1, it’s illegal for a
driver to operate, hold or support
a cell phone with any part of the
body while driving.
According to the flier being dis
tributed, drivers cannot:
•hold/support a phone or com
puter with any part of the body
(excluding earpieces, headphones
and smart watches).
•write, send or read text messag
es (excluding voice-to-text).
•access GPS unless parked.
“The screen may be viewed while
the vehicle is in motion, but may
not be held or supported by any
part of the driver’s body,” the flier
reads.
•watch video (excluding naviga
tion devices).
•record video (excluding contin
uous recording/broadcasting).
Additional rules apply to school
bus and commercial drivers.
Some exceptions to the law
include: reporting emergencies
or accidents; utility employees
during work-related emergency:
first responders during work-re
lated incidents; and when in a
lawfully parked vehicle.
MUSIC STREAMING
The Governor’s Office of High
way Safety has apparently received
inquiries about music streaming
via phone. Drivers can still lis
ten to music from the phone, but
cannot initiate the music app or
change songs while driving.
“Drivers can listen to music
through streaming apps on their
phone, but they cannot activate
their apps or change music through
their phone while driving,” accord
ing to the GOHS. “Music stream
ing apps programmed and con
trolled through the vehicle’s radio
system are allowed.”
For more information about the
new law, visit www.headsupgeor-
gia.com.
IMPACT IN COUNTY
Jackson County Sheriff Janis
Mangum said the department
plans “concentrated patrol” to get
locals prepared.
“We are planning a concentrated
patrol on distracted driving before
July 1 to remind people of this
new law,” she said. “Warnings
will be given but no warnings after
July 1.”
Mangum added distracted driv
ing is a problem, in Jackson Coun
ty and elsewhere.
JCSO deputies were recently
called for a crash on Brockton Rd.
in Jefferson, finding a vehicle on
its roof in a ditch.
“(The driver), stated she was
looking at her phone for a song to
play, when she ran off the roadway
into the ditch, causing the vehicle
to flip end-to-end, coming to a rest
on its roof,” the report reads.
Mangum said distracted driving
can take a variety of forms — put
ting on makeup or reading a book
— but cell phones are the most
prevalent source.