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About Jackson herald. (Jefferson, Jackson County, Ga.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (March 22, 2023)
o o THE ACKSON H Wednesday, March 22, 2023 ERALD VOL. 148 NO. 41 24 PACES 2 SECTIONS PLUS INSERTS Merged in 2017 with The Commerce News A PUBLICATION OF MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. JEFFERSON, JACKSON COUNTY GEORGIA S0549 $1.00 COPY Jefferson County planners Photos by Wesleigh Sagon Lyla Mann, 11, is shown at Holte Gardens during the 13th annual Spring Foliage Fest. The event was held at the Jefferson Clubhouse and Park on Saturday, March 18. The event presented by the Jefferson Tree Council works to educate the community on the importance of trees. The Red Oak Southern Strings band entertained during the 13th annual Spring Foliage Fest. Shown from (left to right) are Mike Harrison and Jeff Buck- ley. The band is based out of Athens. Lola Atkins with the Jefferson Middle School wild life habitat and outdoor classroom speaks to visi tors about a wooden frog noise maker during Jef ferson’s Spring Foliage Fest. V -Ipf i ■PC - * '1 The Jefferson Tree Council hosted its 13th annual Spring Foliage Fest on Saturday, March 18, at the Jefferson Clubhouse and Park. State Rep. Persinger sworn into office Index News 1A-3A, 5A Opinion 4A Public safety. 6A-7A School news 8A-9A Social news 4B-5B, 12B Sports 1B-3B Classifieds 6B Obituaries 11A legals 7B-11B MAILING LABEL State Representative Holt Persinger (R-Winder) was sworn into office as a mem ber of the Georgia House of Representatives on Monday, March 6, marking his first day of the 2023-24 legisla tive term. In addition to be ing officially sworn in. the Georgia House of Represen tatives’ Committee on As signments named Rep. Pers inger to the Budget & Fiscal Affairs Oversight. Economic Development & Tourism and Natural Resources & Environment committees. “It’s a privilege and an hon or to serve as a strong, honest voice for my constituents in House District 119.” said Rep. Persinger. “I look forward to spending our remaining weeks of session ensuring that sound, conservative bills re ceives final passage and make it across the finish line to Gov ernor Kemp’s desk.” Rep. Persinger was sworn- in on Legislative Day 28, also known as “Crossover Day.” The House Committee on Assignments, chaired by House Speaker Jon Bums (R-Newington), is charged with making all House com mittee assignments for the members of the Georgia House of Representatives. Representative Holt Pers inger represents the citizens of District 119, which includes portions of Barrow and Jack- son counties. He was elected to the House of Representa tives in 2023 and currently See Persinger, page 2A First hearings set on truck stop request The Jackson County Planning Commission is slated to hear a package of rezonings and special use requests at its March 23 meeting that would all for a track stop at Hol ly Springs Rd. and Bill Wright Rd. According to a develop ment of regional impact (DRI) submission, the project is planned on two parcels totaling approx imately 16 acres at the comer of Bill Wright and Holly Springs roads. The project includes construction of a 7-Eleven convenience store with 16 regular fueling locations and four diesel semi-truck See Hearings, page 2A Commerce More discussion planned before decision on Commerce rec dept, future By Alex Buffington alex@mainstreetnews. com Commerce leaders plan to have more discussions about the future of the city’s recreation depart ment. Mayor Clark Hill gave an update on the rec department issue during his annual State-of-the- City address on Monday (see next week’s paper for the full story about the ad dress). The decision comes down to two options: Turn over the city’s recreation department to the Jack- son County Recreation Department, or make smaller-scale facilities improvements and retain city ownership, a move that would require a tax increase. City leaders have been working over the past several years on plans to expand the city’s rec department. The depart ment has seen an increase in participation over the years and new sports of ferings have been added See Commerce, page 2A Jackson BOE JCSS announces district leadership changes The Jackson County School System has an nounced a trio of chang es to district leadership positions, following the March Board of Educa tion meeting. JCSS announced Lisa Ellis as the new Director of Elementary Education, while Jason Wester will serve as the Assistant Su perintendent of Student Services. The system also announced Taylor Blake as the new Director of School Nutrition. Ellis is in her second year as the principal of Gum Springs Elemen tary School. Wester has served as the principal of Jackson County High School since 2019. Ellis and Wester will begin their new positions on July 1. The search for new principal hires will begin immediately. “Mrs. Ellis and Mr. Wester have been huge assets to our school sys tem. serving in a multi tude of positions, most recently as principals of two of the largest schools within our county. I am looking forward to work ing with them in their new positions as they contin ue their work to benefit the students within our system,” Superintendent Philip Brown said. “We welcome Ms. Blake to Jackson County and look forward to relying on her expertise in school nutri tion to ensure we provide our students with a vari ety of choices for school breakfast and lunch.” Blake comes to the Jackson County School System after serving as the Assistant Director for School Nutrition for Forsyth County Schools. She previously served in Gwinnett County Schools as a Coordinator of Nutrition Support. She holds a degree from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts and bache lors and masters degrees from Georgia State Uni versity. Blake will begin her new position April 10. 4 8 7 9 1 4 1 4 0 2 piggly wiggly WE CASH CHECKS! INCOME TAXES PAYROLL INSURANCE SSI DEPARTMENT OF LABOR SETTLEMENT MONEY ORDERS
