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About Jackson herald. (Jefferson, Jackson County, Ga.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (May 31, 2023)
THE ACKSON H Wednesday, May 31, 2023 ERALD VOL. 148 NO. 50 32 PACES 3 SECTIONS PLUS INSERTS Merged in 2017 with The Commerce News A PUBLICATION OF MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. JEFFERSON, JACKSON COUNTY GEORGIA 30549 $1.00 COPY Jackson BOC Results of tax study could impact senior tax exemptions By Mike Buffington mike@mainstreetnews. com Should Jackson County senior citizens get a larger break on paying their school property tax es? That issue has been hotly debate in recent years at various local government meetings and with online petitions. A number of citizens have called on local pub lic officials to raise the homestead exemption amounts for older citizens, or to eliminate school property taxes for seniors altogether. Sometimes, those debates have become heated, as it did at a recent town hall meeting about higher property assessments this year. But the results of a current study in the county could give new life to that debate, data that will either bolster efforts to raise exemptions or per haps dampen the idea altogether. UGA professor and state fiscal economist Jef fry Dorfman is leading a study of the financial impacts of various land uses and tax policies in Jackson County. Among the items being studied is “county budget alternative taxation of senior citi zens relative to school property taxes.” That anal ysis includes implementing larger exemptions, or completely abating school property taxes for seniors. THE ISSUE Property tax breaks for senior citizens are typ ically done through special homestead exemp tions. Those are based on age (typically 62 and/or 65) and the amount of household income. Currently, seniors in Jackson County can See Exemptions, page 2A County observes Memorial Day The American Legion Post 56 hosted a number of activities in observance of Memorial Day. The group posted colors at the Rotary Club meeting. There was also a patriotic concert featuring the Athens City Classic Band on May 28 in the Jef ferson High School auditorium. Legion members also hosted the annual Memorial Day program at the Albert Gordon American Legion Post in Jefferson on Monday, May 29. Pictured (ABOVE) Audience members salute the flag during the annual Memorial Day service hosted by Jefferson American Legion Post 56. Pictured (RIGHT) Jef ferson American Legion Post 56 vice-commander Mary Martin was the featured speaker during the group’s annual Memorial Day remembrance service held Monday. Commerce Celebration of life set Wednesday for Commerce shooting victim A Celebration of Life to remember Calvin Varnum will be held on Wednesday, May 31, at 1 p.m. at the Jefferson Civic Center. Varnum was shot and killed outside Hardee’s in Commerce on the morning of May 21. Visitation will be held prior to the Celebration of Life (May 31 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) also at the Jef ferson Civic Center. Interment will follow the services at Jackson Me morial Garden. Varnum. 72. of Commerce, was allegedly shot and killed by Xavier Clark, 23, of Commerce. Clark re mains in the Jackson County Jail and faces a slew of charges, including murder. Varnum was a well-known fixture in the City of Commerce and could often be seen outside Hard ee’s waving at passersby. He also frequented Huck’s Cafe and could often be seen walking down Homer Road. According to his obituary, he loved to walk and keep his blood pressure at a healthy level. See Varnum, page 2A MAILING LABEL Index Opinion 4A Public safety. 6A-7A School news 3B, 8B Social news JB Sports 1B-2B Classifieds 7B Obituaries 4B-5B Legals 8A-11A Graduation Commerce graduates get their diplomas Photo by Danielle Hunt Abbi Osborne celebrates getting her diploma at Commerce High School. CHS celebrates its Class of 2023 during graduation on May 24. See cov erage in the graduation section beginning on page 1C. 2023 GRADUATION SECTION INSIDE The 2023 graduation section featuring Com merce High School, East Jackson Compre hensive High School, Jackson County High School and Jefferson High School can be found inside beginning on page 1C. Congratulations, Class of Jefferson High School. - 10C-12C Pendergrass Special election set Sept. 19 in Pendergrass Pendergrass will hold a special election on Sept. 19 to fill the va cancy of the city council Post 4 seat. The seat will be vacated by Nick Gei- man, who will become the town’s next mayor. Qualifying for the special election will be held Wednesday, June 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Thursday, June 15, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and on Friday, June 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The qualifying fee is $35. Those wishing to qual ify may do so at Pend ergrass City Hall, locat ed at 65 Smith Bridges Street, Pendergrass. Pendergrass also has a special election on June 20 for the city council post 1 and post 6 seats. See details on early voting on page 2A. Read about the candi dates on page 5A. PEPSI Products (2 Liter) 99* Great Selection of IPH Beer! m
