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About Jackson herald. (Jefferson, Jackson County, Ga.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (May 3, 2023)
WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 2023 THE JACKSON HERALD PAGE 3A Braselton leaders to revisit charter school proposal for old WJPS campus By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews. com A national charter school organization seeking to open a location at the old West Jackson Primary School campus is slated to go before the Braselton Town Council again this week. Town Manager Jennifer Scott confirmed on Fri day (April 28) that Na tional Heritage Academies (NHA) requested to be in cluded on the town's May 4 (4:30 p.m.) work session agenda. Scott said she's re ceived a letter of intent from the organization regarding the old school property. National Heritage Acad emies representatives went before the council in Feb ruary proposing to remodel, use and maintain the aging Hwy. 53 building for a K-8 charter school, paying the town an annual lease of ap proximately $100,000. The Michigan-based organiza tion — which has partnered with 100 charter schools in nine states — seeks a lease of at least 40 years. Repre sentatives told the council that NHA seeks to open the campus as a K-5 school in August 2024 before shifting to K-8. A local, non-profit board (New Schools Georgia) would oversee the proposed Braselton school, serving an estimated 772 students. According to discussion during the February council meeting, the charter school would receive state funding as a public school but would not pull any property-tax dollars from local county schools. The Town of Braselton acquired the West Jackson Primary School building in 2021 for approximate ly $1 million and has been considering how to use the space. Sales taxes down in March Sales taxes in Jack- The county took in 2023, the county has re- son County were down in $1,099 million in March, ceived $3.05 million in March over March 2022, down from $1.19 million a sales tax dollars. The bud- the first year-over-year year earlier. get for the year is $12.5 drop since July 2021. For the first quarter of million. Pictured at the Jefferson City Council meeting are: Council members Cody Cain, Steve Kinney and Dawn Maddox; Paul Deldeo with Six Star Construc tion; HPC members Len Sturkie, Tracie Bledsoe, chairperson; Mayor Jon S. Howell; and council members Mark Mobley, Clint Roberts. Jefferson recognizes citizens for historic preservation work Jefferson will observe the month of May as Historic Preservation Month. The National Trust for Historic Preservation ob serves Historic Preservation Month in May. At the Jef ferson City Council’s recent meeting, Jefferson Mayor Jon S. Howell proclaimed May as Historic Preserva tion month in the City of Jefferson. The National theme for 2023 is “People Saving Places,” a fitting theme for the Jefferson Historic Preservation Commission's (HPC) latest project. “Jefferson’s Calaboose (the old jail) on College street has finally received the love and care and refur bishing that it needed.” city leaders said. “After years of discussion, HPC, with the guidance of Len Sturk ie, worked with the City of Jefferson to save the Cala boose. “Paul Deldeo, with Six Star Construction, designed and built a roof structure that would protect the in tegrity of the walls of the building and stop continued deterioration. Priscilla Mur phy. city manager, Sturkie, and Deldeo decided to go further with the project to make the building a usable space.” Deldeo and Sturkie were acknowledged by the coun cil for their dedication and hard work in preserving the building. Sturkie’s mission to save the Calaboose began over 30 years ago, and his vision has finally come to fruition. Graduations coming up later this month Seniors across Jackson County will turn their tassels and get their di plomas during gradua tion ceremonies later this month. Commerce High School will host graduation on May 24 at 8 p.m. at Ray Lamb Stadium. East Jackson Compre hensive High School will host graduation on Satur day, May 20, at 10 a.m. at Eagle Stadium. Jackson County High School will host gradua tion on Friday, May 19, at 7:30 p.m. at Panther Sta dium. Jefferson High School will host graduation on Friday, May 19, at 8 p.m. at Memorial Stadium. State Street sees progress, new businesses coming By Alex Buffington alex@mainstreetnews. com The State Street corridor of Commerce continues to take shape and a few new businesses are coming to the area. Mainstreet and Downtown Director Na talie Thomas updated the Commerce Downtown de velopment authority on the area at its April meeting. Thomas said three new businesses are planning to locate on State Street in the next several months, including a comics store, coffee shop and a bakery. Additionally. Thomas said progress continues on the 1818 Brewing Company building. The project has seen several delays, but improvements continue both inside and outside the building. Thomas said the owners are hoping to open the brewery this summer. There've also been some city-led improve ments in the area, includ ing the pedestrian alleys and renovated parking lot across from the civic cen ter. A major renovation to the town’s civic center — which will convert the historic building into a multi-use city hall and civ ic center — will also shape the character of that corri dor of town. DOG PARK WORK STARTING Thomas also updated the DDA on the dog park com ing to Willoughby Park. Equipment has been deliv ered and fence construc tion is set to begin soon. Thomas said they hope to have an “official” open ing in mid-May. OTHER BUSINESS Also at its April meet ing, the DDA: •got an update on the city’s spring beautification day. Despite the rain pre dictions, a handful of vol unteers showed up to help with the cleanup and city staff are working to finish the work. •discussed the Cruisin' Commerce event set for May 13 from 4-8 p.m. on State Street. Thomas is expecting a little over 200 car participants. •got an update on a pro posed mural ordinance. Thomas plans to send the ordinance to the city man ager and city attorney for their review. •learned that appli cations for CHIP grant funding will open soon. The city has a little over $250,000 that can be used to assist homeowners with home rehabilitation proj ects. Annual law enforcement memorial coming up The Jefferson Police De- Speakers include Pastor The event will take place partment will host its an- Nick Dalton, Police Chief at The Jefferson Church, nual law enforcement me- Joe Wirthman and coun- located at 267 Mahaffey morial on Tuesday, May 9. cil member the Rev. Mark St., Jefferson, at 6 p.m. Mobley. State Board of Education member Stan DeJarnett to hold 10th district public hearing State Board of Educa tion member Stan De Jarnett will hold a public hearing for citizens in the 10th Congressional Dis trict on Monday, May 8. 2023, from 7 to 8 p.m. at Clarke County Schools. 595 Prince Ave., Athens. The purpose of the hear ing is to hear comments from interested citizens and educators within the congressional district re garding K-12 public ed ucation. Those wishing to speak should sign in upon arrival. For more in formation. please contact SBOEadmin@doe.kl2. ga.us. The Georgia Depart ment of Education does not discriminate on the ba sis of disability in admis sion to, access to. or op erations of its programs, services, or activities. Individuals who need as sistance or auxiliary aids for participation in this public forum are invited to make their needs known to SBOEadmin@doe. kl2.ga.us no later than 72 hours before the sched uled event. The 10th Congressio nal District includes Bar- row, Butts, Clarke. El bert, Greene. Hancock, Jackson, Jasper, Madi son, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Putnam, Tali aferro and Walton coun ties, along with portions of Henry, Newton and Wilkes counties. Trade Bledsoe, HPC chairperson, is shown with Len Sturkie, HPC, and Mayor Jon S. Howell. City of Commerce 50' & 60's music with DJ Sean! Food Trucks & Beer Garden May 13 2023 4-8pm State Street Pictured is the Calaboose during roof construction. for more info or to register your car contact Natalie Thomas at 706.335.6417 or mainstreet@commercega.gov
