Newspaper Page Text
July 9, 2008
^Reporter
PAGE 3A
Local News
Have local news to report? Call 994-2358 or email news@mymcr.net.
Blues complex gets nod
Singer Chick Willis says trying to get county commissioners’
cooperation made him ‘think he’s at a Ku Klux Klan rally’
TIRED OF WAITING IN LINES?
st
Franklin
Financial
Serving Our Neighbors Since 1941
Come See Us For
The FAST CASH
You Need!
BY WENDELL RAMAGE
Monroe County blues
singer Chick Willis secured
the rezoning of his Hwy. 42
property last Tuesday, clear
ing the way for him to build
a restaurant, a blues music
school and museum and fes
tival grounds. But he said
trying to get the cooperation
from the commissioners
made him “think I’m at a Ku
Klux Klan rally.”
Commissioners approved
Willis’s request to rezone his
property at 6418 Hwy. 42
from agricultural to commer
cial. But that only after they
resumed a public hearing
from last month on the mat
ter. Commissioners had post
poned he hearing at their
June meeting. Commission
chairman Harold Carlisle
had said he wanted to talk
to area residents before
making a decision.
Willis and his son, Robert
Jr., said they wanted the
change in zoning so that
they can form a Chick Willis
Foundation which will
include a blues music school
and museum as well as
music festivals. Willis
already hosts the annual
Chick Willis Blues Festival
in Culloden each August.
But on the rezoning mat
ter, Willis emphatically stat
ed he had been getting the
“run around” from the com
mission. ‘We ask questions,
but we don’t get any
answers,” he said. “It can’t
be that you don’t want it.
That’s not the law,” he con
tinued.
Prior to coming before the
commission Tuesday night,
Willis’s request had been to
the Planning and Zoning
Commission twice, where it
was approved. Initially,
Willis’s request was for a
conditional use permit,
which could have been
approved without a zoning
change. Willis withdrew
that request and replaced it
with the zoning change. A
reason for his change was
that a restaurant was also a
part of his plans, and the
restaurant would require a
change in zoning.
As the commission dis
cussed several possible
approaches to Willis’s zoning
request, Willis angrily said
that trying to work with the
commission made me “think
I’m at a Ku Klux Klan rally.”
Swiftly and loudly, acting
chairman Jim Peters
slammed his gavel on the
table and warned Willis,
“We’re not going to have any
of that.”
“That’s how I feel,” Willis
retorted. “That’s how I feel.”
Commissioner Larry
Evans made a motion to
approve the change but with
restrictions on the restau
rant. Commissioner Jim
Ham seconded on the condi
tion that Willis put in writ
ing that the music school,
museum and festivals would
take place during “day light
hours.” The motion carried
3-1 with Commissioner Jim
Peters voting against.
Carlisle was not in atten
dance due to his mother’s
passing.
WAL-MART SHOPPING CTR.^ FORSYTH
478-994-9911
*All loans subject to our liberal credit policy and limitations, if any.
Monroe County Opinion Poll
Last week’s poll question:
What is the most important issue facing Monroe County voters right now?
1. Getting water to whole county.
2. Lowering taxes.
3. Improving emergency services.
4. Attracting industry.
5. Other
17 Votes, 9%
72 Votes, 38%
38 Votes, 20%
49 Votes, 26%
12 Votes, 6%
This week: Which political race are you most interested in
for the July 15 primary? Cast your vote at www.mymcr.net.
To Whom It May Concern:
I am no longer affiliate cl with Home
Repair Station., However, I am still in the
heating and air business in Forsyth & sur
rounding counties. I appreciate your
business in the past and look forward to
serving your needs in the future.
Feel free to contact
me anytime at
(478)494-7304
Thank you in advance,
George H. Williamson. Jr.
.Illl
lllllMill!
..Ill)
nun
www.mymcr.net
Make Us Your Homepage
Monroe County’s homepage
on the World Wide Web.
The Closest You'll Get To Home
Pn The Web!
Stay At Home On The Web.
Integrity matters...
and George Hartwig
Has Integrity!
Investigative Reporter Amy Oshier of TV
station WBBH, Ft. Myers, FL., on Hartwig’s 2002
service as Captain of a troubled Narcotics Unit
in Charlotte County: “That’s why they brought
George in. They needed someone from the
outside to clean things up...George’s integrity
was never called into question with us.” Monroe
County Reporter; July 2, 2008, Will Davis,
Publisher.
The Police Benevolent Association of Georgia, Inc.,
Towaliga Chapter, has endorsed George Hartwig for
District Attorney of Lamar, Monroe and Butts Counties.
July 15th Republican Primary
Vote
[^George Hartwig
for District Attorney
www.hartwigforda.com
Paid for by Hartwig for DA P.O. Box 503, Bolingbroke, GA 31004
When It's Time For
Construction Layout
Call Coleman.
r
| Golem aN
it ^.associatf.s, INC1
■rbrniyth, Oa.
1 l ■ r^r d » T- h~V ■' <:* »r, wT
478-992-9900
38 E. Johnston St. • Forsyth, GA
Joy Phillips
I pledge to bring experience, integrity, and maturity to the office.
Tax Commissioner
“Friendly and helpful taxpayer service will be my
Number One Priority.”