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The Commerce News Page 2A • December 12, 2007 Region Roundup DA Seeks Death Penalty In WJ Murder-Arson JEFFERSON -- Piedmont Judicial Circuit District Attorney Rick Bridgeman has announced that he will seek the death pen alty against Henry Lee Stringer — who is accused of killing four people in a murder-arson case in Hoschton. The bodies of Stringer’s girl friend Marvelette, their chil dren J’Majuan and J’Lasia and Marvelette’s mother, Evelyn, were discovered May 30, 2006, inside their burning home on Pendergrass Road in Hoschton. Stringer was arrested June 1, 2007, after a year-long investiga tion by authorities. Stringer was indicted by a Jackson County grand jury Dec. 3 with 16 counts related to the deaths of Evelyn Strickland, 68; Marvelette Strickland, 29; J’Majuan Stringer, 4; and J’Lasia Stringer, 2. The indictment charges Stringer with four counts of malice mur der; six counts of felony murder; two counts of aggravated assault; one count of aggravated battery; two counts of cruelty to children in the first degree; and one count of arson in the first degree. Earlier, authorities claimed Stringer stabbed the two adults to death before setting fire to their Pendergrass Road (Ga. Hwy. 332) house, leaving the two children to die. Stringer, 34, later pled not guilty to the charges. Hoschton police chief Dave Hill said in a statement Tuesday that his department presented evi dence of the crime to the Jackson County grand jury. The presen tation included evidence from the year-long investigation, and included work from Hoschton police, the Athens office of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office, the state Fire Marshal’s Office and other law enforcement agencies. “The Hoschton Police Department fully supports the decision of Piedmont Judicial Circuit District Attorney Richard K. Bridgeman to seek the death penalty in this case and appreci ates the partnership his office has provided,” Hill’s statement read. District attorney Bridgeman filed the notice to seek the death penalty against Stringer with the clerk of superior court of Jackson County Monday, according to court records. The case will now progress according to the unified appeals procedures that governs pretrial and trial proceedings for death penalty cases in Georgia. The next court appearance for Stringer will be a first proceeding hearing, which has not been scheduled by the superior court. Couple Irrigates Landscape With Trucked-In Water BRASELTON - The total out door watering ban in Jackson County has prompted one couple to resort to a unique water conser vation method. Larry and Jean Beck were recent ly putting the finishing touches on their new home in Traditions of Braselton when the outdoor watering ban nearly stopped the residential project. Jackson County currently doesn’t allow new landscapes to be watered — but the Becks didn’t want to leave their 10,000 square- foot house without a yard. “It was almost done, but it was sitting there with no landscaping and just dirt,” said Jean Beck, who designed the house. “It was just sad.” Instead, the couple opted to find a unique way to water their new landscape without violating watering restrictions. The Becks are using their unfin ished pool to store water trucked in from another county that doesn’t have an outdoor watering ban. The water is then pumped from the pool to the landscaping. And just so neighbors don’t wonder how the new landscap ing is surviving the drought, the Becks placed a sign in the yard that states, “Watering Done From Pool with Trucked in Water.” The idea to use their pool as a holding pond for landscaping water first came to Jean Beck as a dream. She admits the method is one that came out of “despera tion” after other ideas failed. The couple asked officials in Jackson County and the subdivi sion about drilling a well on their property on Traditions Way. Both authorities rejected that plan. Later, Jean Beck asked her land scaper about using pool water for the new sod. That idea worked, but the pool remains unfinished while it serves as a reservoir for landscaping. Larry and Jean Beck, who are both local real estate agents, hope to finish their house in two weeks. Commissioners Deny Plan For Golf Development DANIELSVILLE -- The planned golf course overhaul with an age- restricted residential development around it — well, that’s a no-go. County commissioners voted 5-0 Monday to deny Sunrise Golf Course owner John Byram’s request to create a senior com munity around his struggling golf course. The Madison County Journal left Byram a voice message Tuesday to inquire about his plans for the course after Monday’s denial, but he had not responded as of press time. Though the denial came quickly, the BOC seemed poised to post pone a decision on the matter again Monday. In October, the group requested a Development of Regional Impact (DRI) study by the Northeast Georgia Regional Development Center in Athens. That study has been completed, but commissioners voiced annoy ance Monday that they didn’t have a copy of that report, though Byram and his representative did. No county planning and zoning staff members were on hand Monday to speak on the matter or to provide any findings from the DRI study. “It’s hard to move on because we’re in about the same shape as the first night we heard it (Byram’s request),” said commissioner Stanley Thomas. Byram said the DRI report was unambiguous, establishing that the proposed development is good for the area. “The report stated that the find ings were positive, that it’s good for the region and good for the state,” said Byram. “That was a very succinct statement. ... It was very unequivocally a positive response on the findings.” Thomas said the board should have been provided with the DRI report. “That’s not my problem,” coun tered Byram. “That’s on the plan ning and zoning department in conjunction with you guys. I mean, I did what I was supposed to do.” Commissioner Bruce Scogin then made a motion to deny the request. “We won’t argue about it,” said Scogin. “I make a motion we deny the request.” Commissioner John Pethel quick ly seconded the motion. And the board voted 5-0 in favor of the denial. There was no discussion of the matter, no explanation of the denial offered by the commis sioners. Moments earlier, Scogin read a letter from the Colbert Volunteer Fire Department that outlined numerous concerns about the proposed development that could include up to 158 houses and 60 townhouses. Scogin acknowledged that he is a member of the Colbert VFD and that he typed the letter for the department, which met to discuss the matter. “I did in no way insert my opin ion in here,” he said. In the letter, the VFD voiced con cerns “about the continuing severe drought and Madison County’s persistent dependency on wells for its water supply.” The fire department noted that increased residential development in the area is putting more bur den on the department’s resources. They said the density of the pro posed development, with homes potentially situated within a few feet of each other, was a fire safety concern. The potential for traffic problems was also noted. The department also requested that conditions be placed on the development. For instance, they wanted all homes to have sprinkler systems; they requested that all units be brick, stone or hardiplank, that all cul de sacs be wide enough for emergency vehicles, that Charles Hart Road and Colbert Danielsville Road be resurfaced and widened. They also asked that the BOC increase its annual allotment to the county’s 11 fire departments from one mill to 1.5 mills “in order for department’s to meet the growing demands of residential growth.” One citizen, Charles Hart, spoke on the proposal Monday, urging the board to turn down the request. He posed several questions to the commissioners. “Is the county ready for it?” asked Hart. “Will it cost its residents more in the form of taxes? Can you come back 20 years from now and be proud of it? And did it benefit the county? How does it affect the neighboring land owners and sur rounding community?” Hart suggested Monday that the golf course will close even if Byram’s request is approved. In recent meetings, Byram told county leaders that he is losing roughly $10,000 a month operating the county’s lone golf course. He said the proposed residential devel opment, which would be restricted to residents 55 and older, was the only way to save the course, which would be significantly shortened, with a number of par fours and par fives made into par threes. Blood, Marrow Donor Program Set For Youth A blood and national marrow donor program drive in honor of Jackson Austin will be held Thursday, Dec. 13, from 3-8 p.m. in Athens. Austin is a Jackson County boy who has cancer. The drive will be held at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education, Hill Atrium, on the campus of the University of Georgia. Donors are encouraged to give blood and/or register for the National Marrow Donor Program. Since Clarke County has a grant, all testing for the National Bone Marrow Registry is free and only involves a cheek swab. All blood donors are strongly encouraged to eat a full meal or snacks, and drink lots of caf feine-free liquids before donating blood. To make an appointment for the event, contact Danielle Austin at daaustin@alltel.net or Janet Jarrett at jarrettja@usa.redcross.org. For more information about donating blood, visit www.give- bloodredcross.org. For more information about the National Marrow Donor Program, visit www.marrow.org. The Georgia Center for Continuing Education is located at the corner of Lumpkin and Carlton streets, near the UGA track. Playhouse Being Given Away In Habitat Fund-Raiser The Jackson County Habitat for Humanity is selling tickets on a one-of-kind children’s play house to raise funds for the con struction of the county’s eighth Habitat house. The 10 by 8 playhouse fea tures a front porch with carriage lights, and dormer windows with window boxes filled with pan sies. Construction of the house was supervised by Stan Beeco, owner of Beeco Construction and a Jackson County Habitat board member. “Each house we build, even tak ing into account donated materi als and volunteer labor, requires about $45,000. We felt that the playhouse would be a great way for us to use our Habitat building experience to make something that children would enjoy and their families would be proud of, and in doing so help build a real house that will provide a family in need with a decent place to live,” said Jackson County Habitat president Gordon Wilson. The house is on display in front of the Jefferson offices of Jackson EMC on the Commerce- Jefferson Road. Tickets for the house are $10 and can be purchased at the fol lowing locations: in Jefferson at Jackson EMC, Mattox Feed and Seed, Trinity Tire, Jefferson Tire, Sugar & Spice, Bright Beginnings, Verizon Wireless, Living Jackson magazine and Doggie Style’n Professional Pet Grooming; in Commerce at Northeast Georgia Bank, Athens First Bank and Trust and McDonald Ace Hardware; in Braselton at Hometown Community Bank and Trust and Northeast Georgia Bank; and in Talmo at CAM Realty Group, or by calling or emailing Bonnie Jones at 706-367-6114 or bjones@ jacksonemc.com. The drawing will be held Dec. 15, in time for the playhouse to be delivered for Christmas. Bank Invites Public To Fund Christmas Angels First Commerce Bank, the Partner in Education with Commerce Primary, Commerce Elementary and East Jackson Elementary schools, is trying to help 20 students there have a bet ter Christmas. An “angel tree” in the bank’s lobby at its 1731 North Elm Street office contains the names of 20 children, and customers are invited to sponsor a child or make a donation of clothing or g ifts . To sponsor a child or make a donation, call Kelsey Blalock at 706-335-8225. RECYCLE THIS PAPER J & J FLEA MARKET 11661 HWY. 441 N. • ATHENS, GA 30607 706-613-2410 www.jandjfleamarket.com Thanks for making us Georgia's Biggest REAL Flea Market!