? egion Roundup
EPD Admits Goof
In Saying Jackson
Missed 10% Cut
Either the Environmental
Protection Division does not read
the reports it requests or its math
skills are limited.
After the Jackson County Water
and Sewerage Authority present
ed documentation detailing a 29.6
percent reduction in water usage,
the EPD sent it a letter chiding the
authority for failing to reach Gov.
Sonny Perdue’s demand for a 10
percent reduction.
“They didn’t read the report we
sent in,’’ said manager Eric Klerk.
That figures. The EPD still lists
Jerry Waddell as the authority’s
manager. Waddell’s been gone for
two years, and repeated attempts
to have the EPD change its
records to reflect that have been
unsuccessful.
“All we did was point out all the
numbers (on water usage) and
how we arrived at them on a
spreadsheet, but they didn’t read
it,’’ said Klerk. “We’re close to 30
percent, not 10 percent.’’
What may have confused the
EPD is the amount of water
Jackson County bought from
Commerce and the Bear Creek
Reservoir and then sold to
Jefferson.
“If you take that number out, we
beat that 10 percent (reduction)
into the dirt,’’ said Klerk.
The EPD has admitted its error,
Klerk said.
Perdue had ordered the reduc
tions based on last winter’s usage
as a response to the drought, and
the EPD threatened significant
penalties against water providers
who failed to meet the goal.
New Commander
Named For Local
Civil Air Patrol Unit
The Georgia Wing of the Civil Air
Patrol has announced a change of
command at the Jackson County
Composite Squadron.
Taking position as squadron
commander is Lt. Col. Richard
Smith.
Col. Smith comes to the squad
ron with 17 years of experience
with the Civil Air Patrol (CAP).
He has completed all five levels of
training in the senior program and
has been awarded the Meritorius
Service Award.
“In all my 17 years of working
in CAP, I have never been in
command of a finer squadron
than Jackson Thunderbirds,’’ Col.
Smith said. “They are a good
group of cadets with an excellent
senior staff.’’
Col. Smith replaces the squad
ron’s long-time commander, Maj.
Michael Howington.
Col. Smith served with the 82nd
Airborne Division for two years,
and 18 years with the Green
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Berets. He is a master parachut
ist, a U.S. Army Pathfinder and a
Desert Storm veteran.
Smith has named his staff as
follows: Capt. Paul Kyst, deputy
commander of seniors; Lt. Mj.
Bridges, deputy commander of
cadets and public relations offi
cer; and Lt. Luther McCory, moral
leadership/safety and testing offi
cer.
The Jackson County Composite
Squadron meets each Monday at
the modular unit at the Jackson
County Airport. Meeting times
are 6:30-8:30 p.m. Membership
for cadets is open for males and
females who are in the sixth grade
and up. Senior members must be
18 and over.
Those wanting more information
may visit the squadron meeting or
contact Lt. Col. Smith at 770-894-
4629 or e-mail ltcrwsmith@yahoo.
com.
Republicans To
Meet Saturday
In Jefferson
The Jackson County Republican
Party will have the monthly break
fast meeting Saturday, Jan. 12,
at 8 a.m. at the Jefferson House
Restaurant. The public is invited.
Additionally, this meeting will
include a seminar for candidates
to assist them in beginning a cam
paign for public office.
Help Available
For Those With
New Telescopes
Need help with a new telescope?
The North Georgia Astronomers
group will offer free assistance
two weekends in January to area
stargazers.
According to Robert Webb, pres
ident of NGA, the group will host
a session Jan. 12 in Dahlonega
and Jan. 19 in Gainesville.
Webb said that Mars is up in
the night sky for the best viewing
in several years. Stargazers may
even get to see Mars hit by an
asteroid Jan. 30.
To attend one of the stargaz
ing sessions, you can register by
e-mailing: telehelp2008@gmail.
com
Details of the two stargazing
sessions are:
Session 1: Saturday, Jan. 12,3:30-
6:30 p.m.
Coleman Planetarium in Health
and Natural Sciences Building
North Georgia College,
Dahlonega
Added bonus at this session:
“MARS: Exploration with Pictures,
Words and Music’’ at 3:45.
Session 2: Saturday, Jan. 19, 4:00
- 6:30 p.m.
Science, Engineering &
Technology Building
Gainesville State College,
Oakwood
For additional information, con
tact Webb at 770-535-7181.
School Children
Can Get Dental
Care At Schools
Forms that enable children to
receive care at schools in Jackson
County will be delivered to chil
dren this week. Parents of all
patients, even existing ones, must
fill out and sign a new form and
return it to HCS as soon as possi
ble in order for children to receive
dental care.
Help A Child Smile is a mobile
dental program that offers com
prehensive dentistry from state
licensed dentists to children that
have limited or no access to oral
health care. Of new patients, over
50 percent have never been treated
by a dentist. Help A Child Smile
accepts most insurance, includ
ing Amerigroup, Peachstate,
Wellcare, PeachCare for Kids and
Medicaid.
Founded by Dr. Mark Shurett
and his associates in 1993 after 14
years of family practice, Help A
Child Smile, unlike many mobile
dental programs, provides com
prehensive dental care including
X-rays, fluoride treatment, seal
ants, comprehensive exams and
cavity treatment using compos
ite materials. Children are never
restrained or given sedatives in
order to be treated.
The mobile offices that will
visit Jackson County schools are
equipped identically to the offices
of Dr. Shurett’s family practice in
Conyers. Each full service dental
office is staffed with one licensed
dentist, one registered hygienist,
two assistants, one mobile man
ager and one X-ray technician.
For more information, call 1-800-
770-0388
Democrats To
Get Up To Speed
On New Tax Plan
DANIELSVILLE - House speak
er Glenn Richardson backed out
of a December speaking engage
ment with the Madison County
Democratic Party, but local
Democrats will host an event Jan.
16 at the county library to learn
more about Richardson’s propos
al to eliminate property taxes in
Georgia.
Richardson is not expected
to attend, but Dean Thomas P.
Lauth, who is Dean of the School
of Public and International Affairs
at the University of Georgia and a
nationally recognized tax expert,
will address the audience.
“This is our rescheduled event
to explore the pros and cons of
Richardson’s ‘GREAT’ tax plan
for Georgia, which Richardson
plans to introduce into the 2008
Legislative session (which begins
Jan. 14),’’ organizers said. “We do
not anticipate Richardson being
with us for this event, as when he
canceled he specifically said he
wanted to wait and see how the
bill did in committee. But this may
be an even better, more informa
tive event, as we’ve worked very
hard to find an academic to give
us the true 'no spin’ on this bill.’’
Madison County Democrats
will also meet at 9 a.m., Saturday,
Jan. 12, at the county library. Tenth
District Congressional candidate
Bobby Saxon will attend, along
with Rep. Alan Powell, who will
preview the upcoming legislative
session.
Third Time Not
A Charm For
Colbert Grant Hope
The third time wasn’t the charm
for Colbert. If anything, it added
to the frustration.
The city has again been denied
a Department of Transportation
grant to help it renovate its centu
ry-old depot building, according
to mayor John Waggoner.
Waggoner didn’t hide his dis
pleasure in breaking the news
Monday night at the city’s month
ly council meeting.
“It’s another one of those things
that there’s no rhyme or reason
as to what they’re doing,’’ he said.
“It’s because of politics.’’
The city had sought close to
$400,000 in grant money to
restore the building’s exterior to
its original appearance and help
fix up an old caboose adjacent to
city hall.
Adding to the mayor’s frustra
tion were some of the projects that
did get the OK. Waggoner pointed
specifically to Union Point being
awarded DOT funds to restore an
old service station for use as a
city welcome center. The mayor
added that there were a couple
more “just as dumb as the service
station’’ that also received funds.
Waggoner felt Colbert’s depot
was plenty deserving.
“This building has been here for
about 110 years and is in bad need
of preserving, but they didn’t see
fit to do it,’’ Waggoner said.
DID YOU KNOW?
By Preacher Clint
DID YOU KNOW THAT IN
ORDER TO GO TO HEAVEN,
“YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN?”
When you were bom into your
human family, you were born with a sin
nature that was opposed to GOD.
(PSA.51:5) we all inherited a sin nature
from our Father Adam. (Rom. 5:12)
When GOD created Adam and placed
him in the garden of Eden, He Provided
for Adam everything that was needed
for a happy and healthy life even
fellowship with GOD. There was only
one commandment. (Gen.2:l6-17)
Adam disobeyed and his Spirit died that
day. Therefore in order to have
fellowship with GOD, man must “BE
BORN AGAIN.”
Send comments to
Clinton Sexton
116 Ashland Drive
Commerce, GA 30529
K~
YOU’RE INVITED TO
A DROP-IN
Sunday, January 13, 2008
2:00 - 4:00 P.M.
First Baptist Church Commerce, GA
1345 S. Elm St.
Please join us for a drop-in to see our
newly renovated facilities.
Refreshments will be served.
E
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COMMERCE FIRE DEPT. TO BEGIN
NEW TRAINING CLASS FEB. 21
The Commerce Fire Department will begin a new Training Class on
Thursday, February 21, 2008. Interested parties should pick up an
application form at City Hall and return it before cut-off date of January
31, 2008. Training class will last approximately one year and at that
time there will be a LIMITED number of positions filled in the
department. Completion of training does NOT GUARANTEE placement
on the department. All applications may not be accepted. Those
interested must meet the following requirements:
• Willing to spend a minimum of 120 hours training per year
• Be able and available to attend at least 50% of all fire calls
• Must be 18 years of age or older
• High School graduate or equivalent
• Complete Module I Firefighters Course with passing grade
• Be able to pass rigorous physical fitness activities
• Be willing to serve the community protecting lives and property
• Be a “team player” and work well with the CFD family.
COMMERCE FIRE DEPT. IS A VOLUNTEER DEPARTMENT
Colbert’s depot building stood
as a vital cog of the city’s com
mercial center for years, where
goods would come and go from
town, and still serves as a remind
er of the town’s railroad heritage.
The depot eventually closed in
the 1970’s, but the building gained
a second life as Colbert’s City
Hall complex.
The mayor has requested that
state senator Ralph Hudgens ask
the representative responsible for
awarding these funds to write a
letter to the city explaining why
the depot restoration project was
passed over.
Waggoner said he’s received
nothing so far.
Being turned down this time
was particularly frustrating con
sidering the strength of the appli
cation, the mayor said.
“I called and talked to the
folks at the RDC (Regional
Development Center) again and
they said they did not know why
(it was rejected), because it was
one of the best-qualified applica
tions they’d put turned in for a
T-grant,’’ Waggoner said.
Country Charm
Drops Plans For
Egg Operation
A large crowd attended a hear
ing Thursday night about a pro
posed poultry plant locating in
Banks County only to learn that
the application had been with
drawn.
The Banks County Planning
Commission was to hear a request
from McEver Family Heirs
Partnership LP to rezone 199.5
acres on Duncan Road from ARR,
(Agricultural, Rural-Residential)
to CAD (Consolidated
Agricultural District, Intensive).
Country Charms Egg Company
Gainesville, had planned to locate
a large-scale egg laying plant on
the property.
Representatives of the poul
try company appeared before
the Banks County Planning
Commission in early December
requesting approval for a new
operation in the area of Brown
Bridge Road and Duncan Road.
After listening to an hour of dis
cussion from company officials
and concerned citizens at that
meeting last month, the planning
commission tabled the request
until its next meeting to have time
Card of
Thanks
I would like to thank my
family and friends for
everything they did
especially all the prayers
during my recent hospital
stay.
A special thanks to Dr.
Keith Ash for his good
care.
I will always be grateful.
Sincerely,
Jerry Smallwood
to go over additional submitted
information.
When it was announced at last
week’s meeting that the request
had been withdrawn, the more
than 50 people in the audience
cheered and applauded.
Banks Fireman
Arrested Over
Theft Allegations
A Banks County volunteer fire
arm was forced to turn in his
axe after it was discovered he had
been allegedly filling his personal
vehicle with gas for approximately
a year on county funds.
Howard Lee Kitchens, 30, of
1485 Hwy. 441, Baldwin, has been
relieved of his duties as a firearm
and faces charges of theft by tak
ing after an investigation revealed
he allegedly took approximately
$7,000 worth of gas using a depart
ment credit card issued by the
county.
The end of Kitchens’ free gas
ride came when a citizen reported
him filling his personal vehicle and
using a county credit card to pay
for it. The citizen contacted the
Baldwin Police Department who in
turn informed the Banks County
Sheriff’s Department.
An investigation began immedi
ately and gas records were pulled
for the card, which was slated to
have already been destroyed, for
the past year. Initially the card was
to be used to purchase diesel fuel,
but Kitchens was using it for regu
lar gas for his personal vehicle.
Banks County sheriff Charles
Chapman said Monday Kitchens
confessed to using the credit card
for personal gain.
Kitchens has been released on
bond and is awaiting an appear
ance in Banks County Superior
Court. There is no word on how
the card was continued to be used
for a year after it was slated to be
destroyed.
Kitchens has turned in all of his
equipment related to his fireman
duties.
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