Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 2A PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 8. 2022
Jasper man pleads guilty to voluntary Tom Fowler announces departure
manslaughter in Canton Icehouse killing, a§ g ent Tree General Manager
sentenced to prison °
Book-in photo/Cherokee
County Sheriff’s Office
Gary Matthew Allen
Press Release
Office of the District Attor
ney for the Blue Ridge Ju
dicial Circuit
District Attorney Shannon
Wallace announces that Gary
Matthew Allen, 34, of Jasper,
pled guilty on August 19,
2022, to voluntary
manslaughter and was sen
tenced to 20 years, with the
first 15 years to serve in
prison.
Charges stem from an as
sault at the Canton Icehouse
on July 28, 2019, in which
Allen punched Leon Paul
Danzis, 48, ofWinder, Ga., in
the face causing Danzis to
fall onto the concrete floor,
where Allen punched him in
the face a second time.
Danzis died shortly after ar
riving at the hospital from
blunt force trauma to the
head.
During the plea hearing,
Deputy Chief Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Randall Ivey
reviewed the facts of the case
as determined by witness in
terviews and surveillance
cameras inside the establish
ment. On the date of the as
sault, Allen and another man
were playing pool with two
other individuals at the Can
ton Icehouse. Danzis, his son,
and a co-worker arrived
about 45 minutes later and sat
near where Allen was playing
pool. Allen interacted with
Danzis and his companions
multiple times during the
evening.
The surveillance video
shows that just prior to the
assault, Danzis and Allen
spoke alone in the doorway
to the poolroom, several feet
away from the others in the
room. Moments later, Allen
punched Danzis in the face
while Danzis was looking in
the other direction. The blow
caused Danzis to fall onto the
concrete floor, and as he lay
unconscious Allen punched
him a second time. Danzis’
companions intervened, and
a brief fight broke out.
An autopsy performed by
the GBI determined the cause
of death was blunt force
trauma to the head resulting
from the physical assault.
Toxicology of Allen hours
after his arrest showed he had
a blood alcohol level of .123,
well above the legal defini
tion of intoxicated.
“Determining the ‘why’ of
Mr. Allen’s actions that night
is virtually impossible when
you consider the level of his
intoxication at the time of the
assault. While the defen
dant’s memory of the event
appears to be foggy, surveil
lance video provides a clearer
picture of what actually oc
curred, showing the defen
dant blindsiding Mr. Danzis,
striking him twice in the face,
leading to a tragic and need
less loss of life,” said Deputy
Chief ADA Ivey, who prose
cuted the case on behalf of
the State.
During the plea hearing,
Danzis’ sister provided a vic
tim impact statement, de
scribing her brother Leon as
her hero. She said he had
tremendous charm, was very
caring, and had friends
everywhere he went.
Superior Court Chief
Judge Ellen McElyea
thanked the victim’s sister
and the whole family, ac
knowledging their loss and
pain. She added that she un
derstands the defendant’s ac
tions have also caused his
own family to suffer as well.
She then sentenced the defen
dant as negotiated to 20
years, with the first 15 years
to serve in prison. During
probation, Allen must com
plete 200 hours of commu
nity service and may have no
alcohol, drugs, or firearms.
He must submit to a sub
stance abuse assessment and
follow all recommended
treatment. He is also forbid
den to have contact with the
victim’s family.
“Just over three years ago,
an evening of fun at a local
establishment turned deadly
when this intoxicated defen
dant lost his temper and at
tacked another man, leaving
him fatally wounded on the
bar’s concrete floor,” said
District Attorney Shannon
Wallace. “While the defen
dant’s consumption of alco
hol likely played a role in the
death of Leon Danzis, the
real blame rests solely on the
shoulders of Gary Allen who
made the decision to drink
excessively and attack an in
nocent man. Our hearts go
out to the family of the vic
tim, and we hope that this
sentence provides a measure
of closure for them.”
This case was investigated
by the Canton Police Depart
ment and prosecuted by
Deputy Chief Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Randall Ivey,
Office of the District Attor
ney, Blue Ridge Judicial Cir
cuit.
Tom Fowler
Submitted by
Christopher Feldt
Bent Tree employee and
resident
Pickens County native,
Tom Fowler, General Man
ager of Bent Tree since 2017
has decided that September
9th, 2022, will be his last day
serving the community. He
has done an amazing job of
stewarding the Bent Tree
community by protecting its
environment, guiding its im
provements, and leading its
employees.
Under his leadership,
massive improvements have
been made to our infrastruc
ture, amenities, departments,
and more.
The following lists some
of the improvements made
under his tenure:
• New Waste and Recy
cling Center
• ADA improvements at
the Tavern at the 19th Hole,
Administration Building and
Pool
• Remodeling and renova
tions at Club Tamarack and
the Tavern
• Communications: A
fully functional and useful
website, Zoom recordings of
Board Meetings, community
wide texts, Weekly newslet
ters (Friday News)
• Gatehouse access soft
ware
• Remote cameras at the
mail center, back gate, and
boat ramp areas
• Improvements to several
bunkers at the gold course
• Improvements at Public
Safety: Speed enforcement,
safety, and communications
• ISO rating of 2 for Bent
Tree Fire Department
• Improvements in Com
pliance
• Improvements in collec
tions of past due assessments
Even more important than
the improvements listed
above, was the great relation
ship shared between Tom, the
community, and the employ
ees. And while we are sad
that he has decided to leave
us, we wish him the very best
in his endeavors. May he and
his family find good fortune
with whatever they choose to
do.
Before Tom left, he made
a vision card for the Bent
Tree employees. It stated that
“Bent Tree is at its best when
the community, the General
Manager and the Board of
Directors are all working to
gether toward a shared goal”.
That statement was, is,
and will continue to be true in
the future.
We can only hope to find
a leader of Tom’s caliber, in
tegrity, trustworthiness, and
heart, to unify us all.
Jasper Farmers Market report
PICKENS COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
for Pickens County Airport (JZP) - Jasper, GA
Subject: Regular meeting of the Airport Authority
Date/Time: 09/13/22, 7 p.m. Pickens County Administration Building
1266 E. Church St. Jasper, GA 30143
TENTATIVE AGENDA
1. Call to order
2. Adoption of the meeting agenda
3. Approval of previous meeting minutes
4. Public input
5. Committee & Authority member reports
6. Treasurer’s report
7. Airport manager’s report
8. Airport engineer’s report
9. Commissioner’s remarks
10. Old business
11. New business
12. Adjournment
Cookie made by vendor
Jamie Gray.
By Heather Giambra
Lee Newton Park and
both parking lots were frill of
Jeepers camping, so the
Jasper Farmers Market
moved across the road to the
Mountain Ed campus parking
lot. Although fewer tents and
vendors were on hand the
market was steady. The
weather was ideal for any ac
tivity that day, so the market
was well attended.
Corn, peppers, potatoes,
black eye peas, and okra,
green and purple, were avail
able along with delicious
blueberry muffins. Dog
lovers have found a good
source of natural ingredient
treats along with canine ac
cessories with Nicolette
Tucker, Bo’s Biscuits & Ban
danas. She has been a steady
vendor for a few years now.
Now if you need some
greenery for your porch and
house, go see Dean & Mary
Ann of the Plant Adoption
Center. They have quite a va
riety of plants, for in the
ground, around a pond, on
the porch and in your house
like Mother of Millions, and
papyrus.They even have
plenty of water lilies for your
pond to shade your koi and
goldfish.
The Pickens County Mas
ter Gardeners will hold their
last plant sale next Saturday.
Stop by their tent for some
great garden plants home
grown by the MGs them
selves. The PCMGs sponsor
the Jasper Farmers Market
and would like to thank
everyone who stopped by for
advice, information, and of
course to buy plants! The
plant sales support the MGs
activities and the 4H pro
gram. The JFM is normally
located at Lee Newton Park
in the Park N Ride parking
lot across from the Veterans
Memorial, Saturday’s from
7:30-12.
FYI, although we have
two weeks of Summer left,
the market will be closed Oc
tober 1st for the Marble Fes
tival activities held in the
park. Then the market hours
will change October 8th
opening at 9am and close at
lpm to accommodate the
change in weather and day
light. Be sure to check out the
cozy blankets, scarves, hats
and hand warmers!
PICKENS COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
CALLED MEETING
FRIDAY - SEPTEMBER 9, 2022
CONFERENCE ROOM - STE. 168
The Pickens County Board of Commissioners
will have a Called Meeting for the purpose de
scribed below at 11:00 am on Friday, September
9, 2022 in Suite 168 of the Administrative Office
Building located at 1266 East Church Street.
AGENDA
I. Call to Order
II. To Approve the 2022 Millage Rate
III. Adjourn
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NOTICE
The Jasper City Council does hereby announce that the millage rate will be set at the September 12, 2022 Regular
Council Meeting to be held at Jasper City Hall in Council Chambers at 200 Burnt Mountain Road, Jasper, Georgia
30143 pursuant to the requirements of O.C.G.A. Section 48-5-32 do hereby publish the following presentation of the
current year’s tax digest and levy, along with the history of the tax digest and levy for the past live years.
CURRENT 2022 TAX DIGEST AND 5 YEAR HISTORY OF LEVY
Jasper City
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Fteal & Personal
223,919,082
244,651,166
251,734,957
264,689,466
279,140,712
322,879,320
Motor Vehicles
2,395,630
1,885,650
1,631,220
1,359,700
1,138,270
1,048,370
Mobile Homes
17,686
17,686
17,686
17,686
16,404
16,404
Timber - 100%
-
0
0
0
0
0
Heavy Duty Equipment
-
0
0
0
0
0
Gross Digest
226,332,398
246,554,502
253,383,863
266,066,852
280,295,386
323.944,094
Less MS. O Exemptions
5,733,741
8,168,810
6,170,559
6,061,617
6,507,224
7,610,548
Net M&O Digest
220,598,657
238,385,692
247,213,304
260,005,235
273,788,162
316,333,546
State Forest Land Assistance Grant Value
Adjusted Net M&O Digest
220,598,657
238,385,692
247,213,304
260,005,235
273,788,162
316,333,546
Gross M&O Milage
9.482
9.497
9.811
11.049
11.437
11.364
Less Rolbacks (LOST)
4.827
4.842
5.156
5.394
5.879
5.897
Net M&O Milage
4.655
4.655
4.655
5.655
5.558
5.467
Total Qty Taxes Levied
51,026,887
$1,109,685
$1,150,778
$1,470,330
$1,521,715
$1,729,395
Net Taxes $ Increase
14,530
$82,799
$41,093
$319,552
$51,385
$207,681
Net Taxes % hcrease
1.44%
8.06%
3.70%
27.77%
3.49%
13.65%