Newspaper Page Text
THE
ACKSON
H Wednesday, April 12, 2023
ERALD
VOL. 148 NO. 44
28 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
Growth
Jackson, Banks and
Barrow among state’s
fastest growing since 2020
Jackson. Barrow and
Banks counties were among
the fastest growing counties
in Georgia between 2020-
2022.
A report in Axios this
week cited updated Census
Bureau data in its analysis
of estimated county growth
rates in the state.
Jackson was the
third-fastest growing in the
state at 9.4% growth behind
Long County (12.8%) and
Dawson County (11.4%).
Banks County grew 6.9%
and Barrow County 6.3%.
Neighboring Madison
County grew by 4% while
Hall County grew by 4.4%.
Both Jackson and Barrow
counties have long known
they are in the growth bull-
seye. Between 2010 and
2020, Jackson County grew
by 25% while Barrow shot
up by 20%. Interestingly,
Banks County lost popula
tion (-2%) during the same
period, which makes the
recent growth of over 4% a
new trend for that commu
nity.
Growth issues, from
See Growth, page 8A
Commerce
Commerce talks
backyard chicken rules
By Alex Buffington
alex@mainstreetnews. com
A handful of Commerce
residents are about to have
something to crow about.
The Commerce City Coun
cil is considering a number
of regulations on backyard
chickens and ducks as part
of its zoning ordinance
update. While some of the
proposals are standard (like
prohibiting roosters), oth
ers will likely ruffle some
feathers.
Chickens are not current
ly allowed in the city, but
the city isn't able to enforce
any regulations. The pro
posed changes would allow
the city to enforce rules on
backyard flocks.
The proposal would limit
chickens and ducks to res
idential properties. Roost
ers, crowing hens, peafowl,
emus/ostriches and turkeys
would not be allowed. The
proposal also limits the
number of birds to six per
household and requires that
they be confined in a fenced
area (not free ranging).
Coops would be required
to be located 25 feet from
any residential unit, includ
ing your home and your
neighbors’ home.
Additionally, the enclo
sure (which would need to
See Commerce, page 8A
Jefferson
Jefferson looks at rec
expansion, dog park
By Hannah Barron
hannah@mainstreetnews. com
The future of recreational
facilities was the highlight
of the Jefferson council’s
April 10 work session.
Fenton Morris, the Jeffer
son Parks and Recreation di
rector, presented a proposal
for the expansion of the Jim
Joiner Recreation Center as
participation has continued
to grow.
The department has been
working with engineering
MAILING LABEL
firm Hussey Gay Bell on
plans and drawings for the
expansion.
The expansion proposal
includes a duplicate gymna
sium at the back of the exist
ing building with additional
restrooms, parking and stor
age space.
The facility would be
used for the active older
adult fitness and gymnastics
program that doesn’t have
permanent facility space, as
well as the storage of related
equipment.
The recreation department
is also working on renovat
ing the old Dollar General
store at Jefferson Station to
house the program as a tem
porary short-term solution.
The renovations are expect
ed to be complete in May
See Jefferson, page 8A
Easter
Easter Egg Drop held at Chaney Park
Photos submitted and were taken by Jeffery Moon and Darius Harris
An Easter egg helicopter drop pulled a crowd to Chaney Park on Sunday. The Easter egg drop was
hosted by White Funeral Home.While many Saturday Easter events were cancelled or resched
uled due to rain, Easter Sunday turned out to be a pleasant day. Hoschton and Jefferson both
cancelled their Easter events on Saturday due to the weather, while Commerce rescheduled their
event to Wednesday, April 12, at 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Commerce.
Families participate in the Easter Sunday
egg helicopter drop in Chaney Park in Com
merce. The event was sponsored by White
Funeral Home.
An Easter Sunday egg drop was held in Chaney
Park in Commerce. The event was sponsored by
White Funeral Home.
Children have fun during the Easter Sunday Around 1,500 people attended the Easter Sunday
event. event at Chaney Park.
Religion
Local UMC churches join lawsuit
against North Georgia Conference
A number of North Geor
gia Methodist churches, in
cluding some from Jackson,
Barrow, Madison and Banks
counties, have filed a lawsuit
against the North Georgia
Annual Conference over a
dispute about the process of
disaffiliation.
In 2019. the worldwide
United Methodist Church
organization created a way
for individual churches to
disaffiliate from the UMC
organization and keep their
properties. Some UMC
churches are unhappy with
the UMC’s position on
LGBTQ issues, among oth
er items.
Last year, 70 UMC
churches in North Geor
gia. including several local
churches, voted to leave the
UMC organization.
But in December, the
North Georgia Conference
suspended the process, a
move over 180 churches
claim violates their right
to disaffiliate under UMC
rules. Churches have until
the end of 2023 to disaffili
ate under the organization’s
original rules.
“Churches in North Geor
gia that want to disaffiliate
using the previously ap
proved process are stuck.
These are churches that
have done all that has been
required; yet, at the last hour
were denied the opportunity
to proceed with what had
been promised to them,’’
said John Kenney, pastor of
The Quest Church in Grove-
town. Georgia. The Quest
was allowed to disaffiliate
in 2022.
Among the UMC church
es in the area that have
joined the lawsuit are: Col
bert, Commerce, Ebenezer
(Jefferson), Holly Springs
(Jackson County), Jones
Chapel (Madison County),
Mt. Bethel (Commerce),
New Prospect (South Jack-
son), Redstone (South Jack-
son County). Statham. Hick
ory Flat (Lula), Homer, Lula,
Zion (Alto), Winder and
New Salem (Commerce).
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