Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 2A
THE JACKSON HERALD
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2023
Jackson County
Pastor Vaughn Howington, Jr. says a prayer during Jackson County’s annual New Year’s program held
at the Historic Courthouse. Sheriff Janis Mangum is in the background at the podium.
Jackson holds annual New Year’s program
A small number of Jackson County
officials gathered for the 96th annual
New Year’s Program held at the Histor
ic Courthouse on Jan. 2.
The program began in 1927 under
the leadership of Judge W.W. Dickson.
At that time, county officials didn’t take
a holiday on New Year’s and gathered
on the first day of the new year to has
for divine guidance in the coming year.
Other presiding officers of the event
since Dickson have been: Col. H.W.
Davis, Judge R.H. Griffeth, Clerk of
Court Billy Elder, Probate Judge J.T.
Wilkes, Clerk of Court Reba Parks,
Judge David Motes and Solicitor Don
Moore. Sheriff Janis Mangum has pre
sided since 2019.
The guest speaker for 2023 was
Vaugh Howington, Jr. who spoke about
the need for more love between people
in the new year.
Howington is pastor at Erastus
Christian Church and co-owner of
Trademark Medical Transport in
Commerce.
Former Jackson County solic
itor Don Moore speaks during
the Jackson County New Year’s
event. Moore has been a long
time official at the annual service.
Commerce continued from 1A
He expects the owner may remove the
request from the council's Jan. 17 agenda
and revise the plans.
ROAD PAVING
Also at its Jan. 3 meeting, the council
discussed roads proposed for 2023 Lo
cal Maintenance and Improvement Grant
(LMIG) funds. Almost 2 miles on 11 streets
are being proposed for paving including:
•Skyview Drive, 0.27 miles (from end of
cul-de-sac to end of cul-de-sac)
•Elizabeth Street, 0.2 miles (South Broad
Street to Victoria Street)
•Bill Anderson Boulevard, 0.19 miles
(Jefferson Road to Georgia Avenue)
•Hood Place, 0.17 miles (Lathan Road to
Wilson Drive)
•Harper Street, 0.11 miles (Homer Road
to Ridgeway Drive)
•Hazel Street, 0.05 miles (at Roosevelt
Street)
•Hillcrest Drive, 0.11 miles (Bolton
Drive to Chanticleer Road)
•Hospital Road, 0.32 miles (Heritage
Court to Tara Place)
•Katie Lane, 0.18 miles (State Street to
Land Way)
•Highland Estates, 0.23 miles (State
Street to Heather Lane)
•B. Wilson Drive, 0.11 miles (at West-
wood Drive)
The cost is estimated to total $300,000.
LMIG will fund a portion of the cost. The
remainder will be funded through special
purpose local option sales tax revenues.
OTHER BUSINESS
Other items discussed Tuesday (Jan. 3)
that are slated for a vote Jan. 17 include:
•a budget amendment to use $600,000
from reserves to be split for capital purchas
es ($350,000) and merit-based increases
($250,000). The city is considering pur
chasing a street sweeper as part of the cap
ital purchases.
•a number of items to be declared sur
plus.
•reappointing Marie Blencowe to the
Commerce Downtown Development Au
thority. The term runs for three years.
•seats and qualifying fees for the Nov.
7 Municipal election. Offices up for elec
tion include: Mayor, councilman Ward
III, councilman Ward IV and councilman
Ward V. The qualifying fee for mayor is
$ 126 and qualifying fee for the three coun
cil seats is $81. Commerce Board of Edu
cation seats on the ballot include: District
IK, District IV and District V. The qualify
ing fee for school board seats is $72.
•event dates for 2023 including: April
15, Easter parade and spring fling; June
30, summer in the city music and fire
works; Aug. 12, Cruisin’ Commerce; Oct.
28, fall festival; and Dec, 1-2, Commerce
by Candlelight and Commerce Christmas
parade (the city is researching a possi
ble nighttime parade, so the date may
change). Other events may also be set at
a later date.
Quality Professional Craftsmanship
Southern,
Painting
770-513-4470
www.southernpaintingandrepairs.com
; *200 OFF Complete Int./Ext.
[ or 10% OFF Any Painting Job
We now offer southern pressure washing.
Free Estimates • Licensed & Insured
SOCIAL SECURITY
DISABILITY
Applications & Appeals
We Do All The Hard Work!
Hynes & Associates LLC
Disability Advocates
Call 678-935-3923 • SSIHelp.org
17 Years Experience • No Fee Unless Approved
January Board Meeting
The Jackson County Board of Elections and
Registration will hold the monthly Board
meeting on Friday, January 13th at 9:00AM at
the Ponchie Beck Election Center, located at
441 Gordon St, Jefferson GA 30549. Meeting
is open to the public. For more information
706-367-6377.
February Board Meeting
& Provisional Hearing
The Jackson County Board of Elections and
Registration will hold the Provisional Hearing
and Certification Board meeting on Friday,
February 3rd at 5:00PM at the Ponchie Beck
Election Center, located at 441 Gordon St,
Jefferson GA 30549. Meeting is open to the
public. For more information 706-367-6377.
Notice of Council Meeting
Location Change
Please note that The City of Hoschton
Council meeting location has been changed
to the following for January 2023 Work
Session: Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 5:30
p.m. and Regular Voting Session: Monday,
January 16, 2023 at 5:30 p.m.
Should you have any questions, please
contact Hoschton City Hall at 706-654-3034.
Location of meetings:
Hoschton City Hall
79 City Square, Hoschton
PUBLIC NOTICE
Pursuant to O.C.G.A. 21-2-386(a)(3),
this is to notify the citizens of Jackson
County that the Jackson County Board of
Elections and Registration will begin the
early tabulation of absentee ballots cast in
the January 31st, 2023 Special Election for
House District 119 at 5:00 P.M. on January
31st at the Ponchie Beck Election Center
located at 441 Gordon Street, Jefferson,
Georgia 30549. All ballots accepted will
be opened and scanned and early voting
equipment will be closed out. Open to the
Public.
Jackson County Board of Elections
and Registration
441 Gordon St
Jefferson, Georgia 30549
706-367-6377
State of Georgia
Jackson County
Pendergrass cont. from 1A
(defines its perimeters) where open carry of alcohol in
approved containers is allowed — as long as the bever
age was purchased from a location in the entertainment
district and the beverage has a sticker on it indicating it
is legal. Limits these purchases to one per person at a
time, size per cup and areas allowed.
• adding work permit requirements for all retail em
ployees who handle the sale or distribution of all al
coholic beverages in the city — to include background
checks and fingerprint checks and approval from the
police department after such checks.
• adding training requirements for all alcohol work
permit holders.
• adding mandated security cameras for all establish
ments that sell alcohol.
RETIREMENT PLAN
The Pendergrass City Council also approved creating
a retirement plan for city employees. It is the first time
the city has offered a retirement plan for its staff.
The cost will be around 8% of the city's payroll.
Election continued from 1A
week on: Tuesday, Jan. 3, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednes
day, Jan. 4, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Thursday, Jan. 5,
from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Qualifying will be held at the Georgia Secretary of
State’s Office at 2 MLK Jr. Drive, Suite 802. Floyd West
Tower, Atlanta.
The qualifying fee is $400.
EARLY VOTING
Early voting hours in Jackson County are slated for:
•Jan. 9-14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
•Jan. 17-21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
•Jan. 23-27 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Jackson County residents voting in the House District
119 race may vote early at the Ponchie Beck Election Cen
ter. located at 441 Gordon St., Jefferson.
Satellite polling locations will not be available in Jack-
son County for the special election.
ABSENTEE BALLOTS
Absentee ballot applications may be submitted until Jan.
20.
A drop box will be available for absentee ballots at the
Ponchie Beck Election Center (located inside) only during
all early voting hours. The drop box will close on January
27 at 5 p.m.
Ballots may be dropped off on Election Day, Jan. 31, un
til 7 p.m. to the election staff located at 441 Gordon Street
in Jefferson. Absentee ballots will not be received at the
polling location on Election Day.
RAMPEY ARREST
Rampey was arrested Dec. 15 and charged with burglar
izing a residence at Magnolia Estates of Winder Assisted
Living Center where he is a manager.
According to Barrow County Sheriff’s Office, Rampey,
67, of Statham, broke into the residence and took a quanti
ty of a controlled substance from the unit.
Rampey was charged with unauthorized distribution
or possession of a controlled substance, burglary and ex
ploitation and intimidation of disable adults, elderly per
sons and residents.
BCSO was made aware of suspicious activity involving
missing medications in December and initiated an inves
tigation into the allegations. Surveillance operations were
used to assist in the collection of evidence of stolen medi
cations. The residence was not occupied by the resident at
the time of Rampey’s arrest and no one was injured during
the burglary.
NOTICE OF
PUBLIC HEARING
The Jackson County Board of
Commissioners will hold a public hearing
at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, January 23,
2023, at the Jackson County Courthouse
at 5000 Jackson Parkway, Jefferson,
Georgia, to inform the public and take
comments on the abandonment of
a portion of Bill Wright Road. The
application/attachments are available
for viewing at the Jackson County Public
Development office.
All interested parties are encouraged to
attend. For more information, please
contact Jamie Dove at 706-367-5908.
NOTICE TO PUBLIC
Public Notice for Computation and Canvassing
of Returns January 31st Special Election for
house District 119
Pursuant to O.C.G.A § 21-2-492 notice is hereby
given that the computation and canvassing of the
returns of votes cast in the January 31st, 2023
Special Election for House District 119 will take
place in the Election Office located at the 441
Gordon Street, Jefferson, Georgia 30549.
Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 21-2-493 notice is hereby
given that the computation and canvassing of the
returns of votes cast in the January 31st, 2023
Special Election for House District 119 will
take place in the Election Office located at the
441 Gordon Street, Jefferson, Georgia 30549,
beginning on Tuesday, January 31st 2023,
beginning after 7:00 p.m. until continue until
completion.
Jennifer Logan
Election and Voter Registration Director
Jackson County
