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About Jackson herald. (Jefferson, Jackson County, Ga.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 15, 2023)
PAGE 2A THE JACKSON HERALD WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2023 Hoschton to discuss moratorium, planning commission The Hoschton City Coun cil will discuss what could be two major items relating to rezoning and development within the city. According to the agen da posted for the council's Thursday (Nov. 16, 6 p.m.) work session, the council will discuss both a moratori um on residential rezonings and a planning and zoning board. Both items are desig nated as “discussion only.” Rezonings for large resi dential developments have been a point of contention for residents attending re cent Hoschton City Council meetings. Between Septem ber and October, the coun cil approved rezonings for developments totaling over 2,100 homes. As for the planning and zoning board, the city abol ished that board in April 2021. A planning and zon ing board holds no approval power but makes recom mendations to the mayor and council regarding rezoning applications. NEW ELECTED OFFICIALS Thursday’s meeting will be the first for new May or Debbie Martin and new councilmember David Brown. Both are taking of fice immediately because they won special elections last week for their respective seats. Martin and Brown, who will be sworn in Thurs day, dominated those races. Martin won by a 558-vote margin, while Brown won by 710 votes. Three other new council members — Tina Brown, Scott Courter and J.J. Jack- son — will take office in January after winning stan dard elections last week. CORRIDOR MAP, BUDGET Also on Thursday’s agen da is discussion of resolu tions for a proposed corridor map that would designate ar eas for potential new roads, bikeways, sidewalks, and multi-use trails in the city. City planner Jerry Weitz said in September that he held an open house to dis cuss the map, noting that the map generated more nega tive responses than positive. Some residents have since spoken against the map during city council public hearings. The city council will also take public input on its pro posed $4,745 million budget on Thursday. The proposed budget is down 1.6% from the 2023 budget. Pendergrass continued from iA The proposed layout of a new downtown for the City of Pendergrass. ty firm, and the city which is a co-applicant. Together, the two proposed projects would mean a $50 million invest ment in the community. The proposed projects are not related to another massive development cur rently taking place in the downtown on the other side of Gainesville Hwy. where multi-family residential units are being built around a town center that will have close to 40,000 sq. ft. of re tail space. THIRD PROJECT In addition to those two intertwined projects, a third project for 70 townhomes on Hwy. 332 is also in the works. That project would be done by TDon Development, the developer the Town Square on Glenn (Gainesville Hwy. development) and of The Preserve at Mountain Creek, a single-family home sub division. City manager Rob Russell is the owner of the property for the townhome project. Pendergrass Mayor Nick Geiman said that Pender grass is seeking to have mixed housing types in all the projects. “We want to hit everything to have a housing balance,” he said. At the same time, Gei man said the city doesn’t want to overload the school system. He said the city is looking to attract DINKs (double-income, no kids) and empty-nesters. He also noted that limiting the number of bedrooms in apartment developments helps limit the number of students brought into the county. “We’re not building ame nities in these projects to accommodate children,” he said. “We don’t want to overcrowd the schools.” While not directly linked by the same developer, Geiman said all the devel opments work together as a basis for the town to grow. “They kinda work in tandem with each other; you’ve got to have rooftops to support retail,” he said. The town now has al most no retail storefronts and would go to a total of 70,000+ sq. ft. of commer cial space when all the cur rent and proposed projects are completed. When built out, the proj ects will push the city’s population to 5,000-6,000 people said city manager Russell. One of the attractions for the city in the proposal, in addition to the sizeable in crease in retail space, is that the move would pay off the city’s current debt for its city hall and put around $300,000 extra in the city’s bank account. Developers have agreed to move exist ing city hall infrastructure to the new location. Shooting continued from iA the victim’s injury was lo cated. A brass shell casing was found on the floor board next to the right rear door. Officers also found a spent projectile in the front passenger floor board. No firearm was found in the vehicle. A Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputy later found the gun on the side of the road. The victim was taken to Northeast Georgia Medi cal Center Gainesville. Landise and two passen gers, including a 14-year- old juvenile, were ques tioned. Gun continued from iA being armed and he was de tained and searched. Officers located a loaded .45 caliber pistol concealed on the student. He has been charged through the juvenile court system and was detained. An investigation into how the student came to be in possession of the firearm is ongoing. “The Commerce Police Department is working closely with the administra tion of the Commerce City Schools to ensure all of the details of the incident are understood,” according to the CPD report. “The Com merce Police Department is thankful for our strong part nership with the Commerce City Schools.” SK continued from iA part of our efforts to opti mize line operations and workforce management with flexibility as the EV industry is adjusting its pace of growth. “We understand this presents enormous chal lenges for our employees and their families. SK Battery America remains committed to the Georgia site and optimistic about the long-term growth of the U.S. EV market. We believe our Georgia site will play a leading role for years to come in mak ing batteries for Ameri can-built EVs.” Holloway continued from iA learning facilitator for Northeast Georgia RESA. Prior to joining the organi zation, Holloway spent 10 years inside Jefferson City Schools, holding various employment titles that in cluded assistant principal. Holloway had 13 years of teaching experience with Gwinnett County Public Schools prior to moving to Jefferson. “Mrs. Holloway’s expe rience in public education showed throughout the se lection process, and we are excited that she will be the leader of our team at He roes Elementary School,” superintendent Brown said. “Mrs. Holloway is committed to building a culture of excellence in side Heroes Elementary School, and I look forward to working with her, the staff, students and families to ensure HES is a school that our community will be proud of for years to come.” Holloway is from Buffa lo, New York, and attend ed State University of New York College at Buffalo where she earned a Bach elor’s of Science in Educa tion. She earned a Master’s of Science in Reading and Literacy from Walden Uni versity in 2005 and her Ed ucational Administration and Supervision Special ist’s Degree from Lincoln Memorial University in 2008. Holloway is married to Chip Holloway, an edu cator. The couple has two children, Douglas, 23, and Tess, 19. dyafRidiipK Darnell % designs Ask abouf Notice rf Davraliiwn Devringment Authority Meeting iVlEMORIALS J g/ftZm * An MED Enterprises Co. pUTChCSB. Serving this community since 1962. Office located at 220 Hwy. 441 S. AijiLLntyM a fiS aaa Udpn Etnt, in Commerce, GA. 706-335-4066 ICitipw & Ik>PaiHE ibU1d Ad. Hours: Monday - Friday 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Saturday By appointment only • Closed Sunday **We accept M/C, Visa and offer a lay-a-way plan. Superintendent search begins in Commerce By Alex Buffington alex@mainstreetnews.com Commerce school leaders have begun the search to hire the next superintendent to lead the school system. The Commerce Board of Education met in closed ses sion on Monday, Nov. 13, with Cooper, King and Asso ciates, the firm hired to do a search for a new superin tendent. Current Superintendent Joy Tolbert officially an nounced her retirement last month. Tolbert’s retirement will go into effect June 30, 2024. Tolbert has served as Commerce City Schools Superintendent since 2013. OTHER BUSINESS Both the BOE’s work session and regular voting meet ings were quick and quiet this month. Aside from approving monthly financial reports and tabling a new policy on handling financial reports (a policy required by the auditors), the board approved a number of personnel moves including: • the retirement of Rich Friedman, the district nutrition director (at the end of the school year) •the following hires: Brenda Petty and Marietta Mar tin, substitute teachers; and Whitney Pethel, full-time bus driver • a leave of absence for Carla Dawson •the following resignations: Whitney Pritchett, Com merce Primary School paraprofessional; Alicia Gonza lez, Commerce Middle School cafeteria staff; and Tam my East, bus monitor Christmas events kick off this weekend Christmas is a little over a month away and local groups are getting ready to celebrate the holiday season. Below are details about upcoming holiday events: ‘CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS IN BRASELTON’ SET FOR NOV. 18 The annual Celebrate the Holidays Braselton event is set for Saturday, Nov. 18, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Festivities are planned throughout the day and include the popular parade through his toric downtown and the annual lighting of the tree. For more information, visit www.ExploreBraselton.com. KIDS’ VICTORIAN “CRACKER!” WORKSHOP PLANNED AT MUSEUM A Kids’ Victorian “Cracker!” Workshop will be held at the Crawford W. Long Museum on Nov. 30 from 4-6 p.m. “Bring in Christmas with a ‘BANG!’ Come make your own Christmas Cracker at the Crawford Long Museum,” organizers said. The cost is $5 per child. Refreshments will be provided. Call 706-367-5307 to reserve your spot. COMMERCE BY CANDLELIGHT PLANNED NOV 30 Commerce by Candlelight will be held Nov. 30 from 5-8 p.m. in downtown. This evening will feature pop-up shops and other downtown retailers, who will stay open late. There will be mu sic, visits from Santa Claus and a tree-lighting at 7 p.m. COMMERCE TO HOST NIGHT-TIME CHRISTMAS PARADE The Commerce Christmas parade will be held Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. in downtown. “This year we are doing a night time parade. A Night of Lights,” city leaders said. “Come and enjoy the parade all lit up! If you want to be in the parade just email mainstreet@com- mercega.gov for an application.” CHRISTMAS IN JEFFERSON PLANNED Christmas in Jefferson will be held on multiple dates. Shop downtown by candlelight on Dec. 1 from 5-9 p.m. Downtown merchants and pop-up vendors will be set up. There will also be music, horse-drawn carriage rides, a live nativity, petting zoo and more. The town’s “A Fairy Tale Christmas” celebration will be held on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 10 a.m. A parade starts at 11 a.m. There will also be stores and music on the square, train rides for kids, and photos with Santa at the Crawford W. Long Museum. The Jefferson Community Theatre will present The 12 Days of Christmas Variety Show on Friday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m., Satur day, Dec. 2, at 2 p.m., and on Sunday, Dec. 3, at 2 p.m. Performances will be held at the Historic Courthouse at 85 Washington St., Jefferson. Tickets are $10 and include a hot chocolate bar'. The town will also host a special pop-up farmers market on Friday, Dec. 15, from 1-6 p.m. in the CWL Museum parking lot. NICHOLSON CHRISTMAS EVENT SET DEC. 5 Santa and Mrs. Claus will be visiting the Nicholson library on Tuesday, Dec. 5. The City of Nicholson will have its tree lightning, music and refreshments. HOSCHTON JINGLE MINGLE SET FOR DEC. 8 The City of Hoschton’s Jingle Mingle, coordinated by the Hoschton Downtown Development Authority, is scheduled for Dec. 8 from 6-9 p.m. The event includes a downtown business walk and a Christmas tree lighting. COMMERCE SCHOOL OF DANCE CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR The Commerce School of Dance Christmas Spectacular' will be held Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and on Dec. 17 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $17 and are available for purchase at Commerce School of Dance Monday-Thursday from 4:30-8:30 p.m., at 1736 N. Broad St., Commerce. The Christmas Spectacular' will be held at the Commerce Cultural Center. PUBLIC HEARING Hie Gly MayrvtDe hmJjy aunnnic- b that a Hdc Hearing will be luM cm Itansday Novmiia: 30 T 2023, fiiOO pm. mA Monday, Ebcemha: 4 T fi:45 pjn. to mxivG pride canmEnts mfteptpned 3004 budget All pride camnaA will be welcomed. Tbetmdget will be voted tn in He Comal Meeting following (be bearing m Monday, Dnxniier 4,3023. Gaps of He penned bodga ee avriUNe at oty lull, 4 Hans 5t_,May*viDe,GA_
