About The Monroe County reporter. (Forsyth, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (March 5, 2008)
Inside Seniors stay active thanks to center See story, photos on page 12A C team soccer opens season with two wins See MP soccer Page B1 Weekend Move clocks up Sat. nite <D 5 ^ & <C O co CD O Q_ S5 « 3 I a s 5 « o ^ ^ 2 > o m co W !t « CM M co o 2 </* </* Two announce bids for tax chief Miller retirement invites candidacies from Democrat Andrews and Republican Baswell BY WILL DAVIS Qualifying is still eight weeks away, but two women are already throwing their hats in the ring to be the next county tax commis sioner. Monroe County finance officer Barbara Baswell has announced she’ll run for tax commissioner as a Republican. And it appears she’ll face off in November against Lori Andrews, who announced she’s running for the post as a Democrat. Andrews, 32, has worked in the tax commis sioner’s office for the past eight years. Baswell, 57, said it’s the right time for her to run because long time tax commissioner Patsy Miller is not seeking re-election. “I want to carry on Patsy’s lega cy,” said Baswell. “She does an excellent job. My biggest goal is to see to it that it’s managed as well.” A new tax commissioner would make $56,423 if coun ty commission ers task the new one to con tinue serving as chief registrar as well. The salary is set by the state and depends on popula tion size and experience. Before going to work for the county, Baswell had 30 years of experience in private accounting practice at the now defunct firm of Gibson and Conger in Forsyth. A Forsyth native, she was appoint ed county clerk in 2006 and served for one year before being named chief finance officer. See BASWELL page 7A ANDREWS BASWELL FORSYTHIA FORECAST Friday High: 56° Low: 31° Partly cloudy Saturday High: 49° Low: 27 Partly cloudy Sunday High: 60° Low: 32° Mostly sunny All clear for festival But bring a jacket to avoid a Forsythia frost You may need to bring a jacket if you’re headed to the square for the Forsythia Festival this weekend. After three years of warm weather, forecasters are calling for a cooler Festival in 2008. After an overnight low of 31, the high for Saturday is expected to only be around 50 degrees with a mix of sun and clouds. Sunday, expect more sun and a little more warmth. The high for Sunday will be around 60 degrees. The chance of rain is only about 20 percent all weekend. The Forsythia Festival will be able to go later into the night though, with the clock springing forward early. Daylight Savings time begins early this year, at 2 a.m. Sunday morning. See Forsythia schedule, horseshoe pairings, page 6-7B Pickin’ and grinnin’ First Baptist youth choir heads to Kornfield Kounty: Pop. 43. Sa-lute! Window dressing for Above, David Cavalier and Keith Curtis wait inside the half-circle opening on the second floor of the courthouse as Terry Gotcha raises the radius window up to its new home. The men are part of the crew from L.S. Installa tion of Atlanta and have been busy trying to get all 62 new windows installed in the courthouse just as the streets around the square are filled with visitors this weekend for the Forsythia Festival. Company owner Len Sievers says the windows should be completed by the middle of the week. The old windows were installed in the early 1970s and since they didn’t fit the space, parts of the openings were boarded up. The new windows are closer to the original style and are part of an ongoing restoration of the court house that includes a new copper roof. Improvements on the inside will include pulling up the old carpet and refinishing the hardwood floors beneath. The jury room is also being remodeled. Even tually the entire courthouse is to be renovated and restored to much of its former beauty. The court house was built in 1896. (Photos/Gina Herring) State, surveyor in spat over cost of BY WILL DAVIS What will it cost Monroe County to have the Monroe-Bibb county line re drawn? It’s a question in hot dispute right now. The Warner Robins surveyor appointed to settle the impasse, Terry M. Scarborough, estimated his work would cost $465,000. That would mean Monroe County would pay half, about $232,500. county line But the secretary of state’s office now says Scarborough should be able to do the first phase for less than $89,000. A second phase of marking the county line on the ground would be less than that. But in a Feb. 25 certified letter, Scarborough adamantly rejected the sec retary of state’s fee proposal. He said the See SPAT page 6A BY GINA HERRING The First Baptist Youth Choir treated dinner guests to a good old fashioned time last week. The group put on its own version of the popular 1970s variety show, “Hee Haw” for its annual dinner theater Feb. 23, and raised $5,700 from ticket sales, donations, tips and the infamous cake auction. The money will be used for the group’s annual choir tour this June. Every year, STEALING THE SHOW: Jon Smallwood was an in- the spration with his performance of the Brooks and Dunn youth song “I Believe.” (Photo/Gina Herring) choir travels near and far, spreading God’s love in song and fellowship. Their adventures have taken them to the Grand Canyon, California, Philadelphia, Key West and a lot of places in between. This year, the choir will take on the Big Apple. Plans are still being finalized, but the choir expects to perform at churches, retirement homes, hospitals and homeless shelters on its trip. See HEE HAW page 7A
