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The Commerce News Page 2A • November 7, 2007 Region Roundup Glenn To Testify Before Grand Jury On Dec. 4 Former Jefferson police chief Darren Glenn will be allowed to testify when a series of pro posed indictments against him is presented to the Jackson County Grand Jury Dec. 4. In October, Jackson County Superior Court judge Bob Adamson dismissed 30 indict ments handed down against Glenn in September. The indict ments were thrown out because prosecutors from the Georgia Prosecuting Council in Atlanta did not let Glenn make a state ment to the grand jury. Under Georgia law, law enforcement officers have the right to make a statement to the grand jury if they are facing indictment on charges related to their position. December’s hearing will be the third time state prosecutors have attempted to indict Glenn. In December 2006, prosecutors attempted to present similar indictments against Glenn and four other former JPD officers, but those indictments had to be withdrawn after Glenn’s attorney, former Georgia Attorney General Michael Bowers, pointed out that they cited a bogus state law code. Glenn was indicted in September this year for actions that revolved mostly around his having run car tag information for his private investigative service while a police officer. It was those indictments that Judge Adamson tossed out following an October court hearing. Former District Attorney Tim Madison began the probe in the early fall of 2005 by asking the state to investigate the JPD after having received two anonymous letters. Madison recused himself from leading the investigation and the Georgia Attorney General’s Office subsequently appointed PAC to oversee the case. Madison later resigned from office and is under indictment in Banks County on theft charges. Tire Roundup Planned Nov. 8-10 In Banks County HOMER - A free scrap tire round-up will be held in Banks County from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 8-10. Drop off locations will be at the grey two-story building at the county recreation fields and at 500 Thompson Street in Homer. The event is only for Banks County residents (documenta tion required). The limit is four tires per person. No rims will be accepted. A total of 2,000 tires will be accepted during the event. The Banks County commis sion office is sponsoring the event. It is funded by a grant from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division’s scrap tire management unit. Business Group To Focus On Member Issues The Jefferson Area Business Association (JABA) is refocusing its goals and efforts to provide more services to members. The organization’s overall objec tive will be to promote Jefferson area businesses. Bonnie Jones, of Jackson EMC, said at the monthly lunch meeting last week that the goal is to move JABA from event- focused to member-focused. The organization would like to offer more benefits to members and provide a business voice in the community. The main goal is to take advantage of resources and promote Jefferson business, she said. JABA will narrowly focus on pro-active business promotion, taking advantage of professional resources and local government relations including business sig nage, Streetscape and the water supply. The organization would like to pay special attention to down town Jefferson. Out of more than 20 businesses downtown, only four are members of JABA. Members in attendance at the meeting supported the new focus. Officers of JABA were adamant that they would not abandon vol unteer projects and events after refocusing. Hoschton To Keep Control Of Historic Depot The Hoschton City Council has decided to keep the management, promotion and marketing of the historic depot in city hands. In a 5-1 vote Monday, the city council favored an Oct. 15 recom mendation made by two council committees to reject two propos als for managing the depot and have the city handle the operation of the depot. The city will also develop an in-house system for promoting, managing and market ing the Hoschton Depot. Hoschton council members Richard Green, Jim Jester, Ronald Holcomb, Deborah Donaldson and James Keinard voted in favor of the proposal, while council member John Schulte voted in opposition to the move. Schulte said he believed the depot would be best managed by a foundation. “The depot needs to be free of individuals and city councils that can change,” he said, while adding that a foundation can work with the city to manage the depot. The Hoschton Historic Depot Preservation Foundation, a non profit organization, and Yesway Enterprises, a private business, were the two proposals the city r Love's Essential Flooring, Inc. Family Owned & Operated • Hardwood • Vinyl • Tile • Bound Rugs • Carpet • Laminate • Gifts/Home Decor (featuring local artists) FREE ESTIMATES 706-367-4884 College Street»Jefferson, GA 30549»www.lovesessentialflooring.comy You are invited to a brand new church! Banks Baptist Church (Independent) An exciting church with old-fashioned ways Temporarily meeting at Garrison Civic Center in Homer, Ga. (Turn onto Sycamore Street at Leopard Restaurant) Sunday School 10:00 A.M. • Worship 11:00 A.M. and 6 PM. • Wednesday at 7:00 PM. Pastor: Skipper Smith • Phone 706-677-1934 council looked at for managing the depot. The Hoschton Women’s Civic Club — which largely helped reno vate the depot more than five years ago — opposed the proposal by the council to privatize the operation of the depot. City coun cil members have said that the depot was being used rent-free by non-profit organizations, while the city has had to absorb rising expenses for the depot. Hoschton Budget: To Property Taxes Or Police Cuts Hoschton’s latest budget pro posal calls for no property taxes and no reductions in police offi cers — a drastic turnaround from what the city council was consid ering just three weeks ago. The Hoschton City Council will hold a budget hearing Monday, Nov. 26, at 7 p.m. at city hall. The council is expected to adopt the budget at its regular meeting Monday, Dec. 3. Three weeks ago, the city coun cil was looking at three proposed 2008 budgets — two of which included a potential property tax and one budget that outlined pos sible city job cuts. Those budgets ranged from a “needs-based” budget of $1.02 million that included proposed salary increases to $681,610 for a “low-revenue” budget that pro posed trimming some city jobs. City officials now say a bal anced budget is not only possible without a property tax, but job cuts are not proposed, either. The Hoschton City Council is proposing a 2008 general fund budget of $771,350, compared to 2007’s amended budget of $798,808. Decision Ahead For Owners Of Madison Co. Lake The owners of a popular lake in western Madison County must choose between paying an estimated $70,000 to drain it or spending over $200,000 to pay for the proper remedies to save a 50-acre family reservoir. The Seagraves family has until December to decide the fate of Seagraves Lake, according to John Seagraves, a descendant of Josiah Seagraves who purchased the reservoir in 1906. “We haven’t made any final decisions yet,” he said. The lake, which dates back to the 1800s, has served as a popular fishing destination in Madison County for years, but safety issues concerning the lake’s dam threaten the lake’s future. If problems with the dam can’t be resolved, the lake must go, according to the state. Did you know? By preacherclint DID YOU KNOW THAT JESUS SPOKE MORE ABOUT HELL THAN HE DID ABOUT HEAVEN? When GOD created man He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul, that soul will never die but will live throughout eternity. The question is where will that soul spend eternity? Heaven or hell? The choice is up to you. Heaven is the place where GOD is and the way to GOD is through his SON JESUS (Jn. 14:6) The choice is yours HEAVEN OR HELL... JESUS DIED FOR YOU, WILL YOU LIVE FOR HIM? Send email to www.preacherclint@ windstream.net “We’re doing everything we can to save it,” said District I commis sioner Stanley Thomas, who’s been a strong proponent of the lake . Especially since it’s a large water source. Thomas, who has had little luck in luring state money to help save Seagraves Lake, noted that the grand jury in its last session requested that Madison County leaders investigate possibilities for long-term water sources. Engineering studies of using either, or both, Brush Creek and Seagraves Lake for a water source have been conducted since the county is dependant on wells right now. Thomas said that draining a 50-acre lake in a level four drought just doesn’t make sense. “It would be a shame to lose that much water with a drought, probably the worst drought in 50, 60 years — somebody said 80 years,” said Thomas, who brought up the Seagraves Lake issue at last week’s commission ers’ meeting. “You hate to see doing away with a 50-acre lake ... That’s beyond me.” The lake’s dam has been labeled a Category I dam because flood waters once touched a house a mile away in 1966. A 2002 study revealed ripples were eroding the dam and that the emergency spillway was dete riorating and the Seagraves fam ily has been told by the DNR to make the proper repairs. The family recently hired an engineer of record to determine whether a siphoning system would handle the overflow drain age from the lake. A siphoning system could work, but the size of the lake would have to be reduced, Seagraves said. The family is looking at several different options right now, but Seagraves said that the best option would cost over $200,000. The county government might be able to lend a hand financially if Seagraves Lake ever became a county water source. Thomas said that the lake could provide up to a million gallons a day and said the county might be able to help Seagraves Lake out, perhaps with SPLOST money, if it ever took over the water rights. Thomas, who tried to secure state funding for the Seagraves’ engineering study since the lake serves as a dry hydrant for the Neese-Sanford Volunteer Fire Department, said he expects the idea of draining the lake won’t sit well with citizens once they real ize how serious this situation is. “I think once people realize that this is a real strong pos sibility, that this lake is going to be drained, then I think you’ll have more people kind of on the bandwagon to save the lake,” Thomas said. Gwinnett Ballet Sets 'Nutcracker' For Nov. 30-Dec. 16 Gwinnett Ballet Theatre will welcome in the Holiday Season with its 26th annual production of “The Nutcracker.” Held in the Gwinnett Performing Arts Center in Gwinnett Center, Duluth, GBT’s “Nutcracker” will be per formed on weekends from Nov. 30 through Dec. 16. This year, the Gwinnett Ballet Theatre Orchestra, under the baton of Predrag Gosta, also Music Director of Atlanta’s acclaimed “New Trinity Baroque Ensemble,” will provide live accompaniment to the dancers for at least six performances. The Gwinnett Ballet Theatre Orchestra is com posed of 30+ acclaimed profes sional musicians from around the Southeast, many of them nationally acclaimed profession als on their specific instruments. Mr. Gosta is himself a conductor of international renown, having conducted the St. Petersburg and Moscow Symphony Orchestras in Russia this past year. GBT’s “Nutcracker” will be held on Fridays, Nov. 30 and Dec. 7 and 14 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, Dec. 1, 8 and 15, at 2:30 and 7:30; and Sundays, Dec. 2, 9 and 16 at 2:30. The live orchestra accompa niment begins the second week end. Live music performances are $25 from adults and $20 for stu dents and seniors. Recorded music performances are $20 and $15.. Tickets can be purchased by visit ing Gwinnett Center Box Office through TicketMaster at 404-249 6400. For more information about GBT’s “The Nutcracker,” call 770 978-0188 or visit www.gwinnett- ballet.org. 5 Want To Fill Vacancy On Madison Co. BOE DANIELSVILLE -- Five candi dates have applied to fill the vacat ed school board seat of long-time member Robert Haggard with a successor being named as early as Tuesday. The five applicants — all of which are considered finalists for the job — are William E. Epps, C. Wayne Douglas, Maggie Callaway, Dr. Robert W. Hooper and Steve A. McDaniel. Haggard’s replace ment will very likely be appointed Tuesday at the board’s next regu lar meeting. “I think we’ve got a good slate of candidates there,” Madison County Schools Superintendent Dr. Mitch McGhee said. “We appreciate all the concern in the community and I think we’ve got five good candidates.” The school board will learn more about each candidate at the Nov. 13 meeting during a quasi-forum. The board will ask each candidate individual questions and likely make its decision that night. The candidates will draw numbers to determine which order they’ll answer questions. Candidates not answering ques tions will stand outside the meet ing room “so one person doesn’t have time to sit and think about an answer to a question they heard earlier,” McGhee explained. A judge will later swear in whomever the BOE selects so the Madison County School System has a complete board by December. The question and answer ses sion and probable selection of a new board member will culminate what figures to be a busy day for the school board Nov. 13. Earlier that day, the BOE will hold a reception at the high school library from 4-6 p.m. to honor Haggard, who served on the school board for 12 years, the last six as chairman. From 6-7 p.m. the school board will receive board training as the BOE makes the transition to electronic meet in gs. 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