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™,!r ? egion Roundup Benton Opposes Bill To Create Charter Schools State Rep. Tommy Benton said this week he is opposed to legis lation that would allow the estab lishment of charter schools. Benton, who represents parts of Jackson, Barrow and Hall counties, said he was opposed to the state legislation, but didn’t cast a vote on the measure. “A ‘no’ vote on House Bill 881 would not have done any good,” Benton said. He said he stepped out of the House chamber during the vote. The legislation, which passed in the Georgia House of Representatives by a 119-48 vote, would create a charter school commission that would serve independently of the Georgia Department of Education, but under the supervision of the state board and in collaboration of the DOE. The commission would have the power to authorize and serve as a sponsor commission of charter schools, including both approval and denial. Commission mem bers would be appointed by the governor, the Lt. Gov. and the Speaker of the House. Benton, a former educator, said he was opposed to HB 881 because it would allow groups to bypass local school systems’ boards of education to establish a charter school. But the legislation would also give money to the Northeast Georgia Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA), which serves Jackson County’s three school systems, Benton said. RESA, and the school systems it serves, is trying to fund a new facility for the Rutland Academy, a psycho-educational program in Athens. OTHER BILLS Two other key legislative items last week were bills related to identity theft and dogfighting, Benton said. He voted in favor of both items. HB 310, which prohibits own ing or training dogs to fight, was passed by the House by a 165-6 vote. The bill states that violating the law would be punished as a felony with a first offense pun ished by one to five years in jail and/or a $5,000 fine. A second offense would include one to 10 years in jail and/or a $15,000 fine. Attending a dogfight would also be a crime subject to punish ment, according to the bill. Another bill passed by the House last week was HB 130, which allows a consumer to request that a credit reporting agency not release their credit report information by placing a “security freeze” on it. Consumers may request to have the “security freeze” temporarily lifted. Credit agencies can charge 706-354-1539 • Epps Bridge Pkwy. (Across from Super WalMart) a consumer a maximum of $3 for each placement, temporary lift or removal of the “security freeze.” Benton was one of five legisla tors to sponsor HB 130. In the past, the state legislature was quick to approve measures that helped businesses, but not con sumers, he said. For more information, visit Benton’s website at www.tom- mybenton.com. Jefferson Gets Loan For Reservoir Work Jefferson has been approved for a Georgia Fund loan of $1 million to finance water system improvements. The money will be used to help finance improvements to the existing Curry Creek Reservoir in order to address current drought conditions. The city will pay 3.68 percent interest on the 20-year loan. The total project cost is $1.3 million, with the Department of Community Affairs proving a block grant of $100,000 and local funds totaling $200,000. New Hangars On Tap For County Airport The Jackson County Airport Authority has begun the process to build new hangars. The authority voted unani mously Wednesday, Jan. 30, to authorize Talbert and Bright, its consultants, to put together a proposal on the costs of design ing hangars on sites on the cur rent airport property. “There are three sites that we are looking at right now on the east side of the runway to build hangars,” said airport manager Bob Stapleton. “We’re talking about T-hangars, and individual hangars to accommodate aircraft that want to be inside a hangar.” The proposal is expected to be ready in a few weeks. The authority also authorized chairman Shannon Sell to discuss the current hangar lease with the current leaseholder principals. “There’s a 3.7 acre lease on the east side of the airport runway that’s been in existence for some time,” Stapleton said. “We’re try ing to find a way to update that lease, and bring it up into today’s standards, and make it more amenable to the folks here.” The authority also voted unani mously to ask for a proposal from a land acquisition company on the cost and procedures to begin the acquisition of 30 acres on the west side of the runway. Choral Director Heading To London In Mid-February Jackson County Comprehen sive High School chorus teach er Todd Chandler will travel to London to further his choral directing skills in mid-February. He will study conducting one-on- one with Patrick Russill, director of music at the London Oratory and head of choral conducting at the Royal Academy of Music, London. His passion for instructing young vocalists led him to his current position at JCCHS in Jefferson. He also directs choirs at First Baptist Church in Commerce. “Honestly, I wouldn’t be going to London if it weren’t for my students,” said Chandler. Chandler, along with many of his current and past choral stu dents, will travel to several music scenes in Germany in early April where they will perform with the Liszt School of Music Weimar instrumentalists. While orchestra students accompany the chorus, Chandler will direct. “They have worked so hard this year and I want to make sure I direct the Liszt School of Music Weimar instrumentalists with precision and accuracy so that my students have every oppor tunity to perform to the best of their ability,” he said. The group will be perform ing in Berlin, Leipzig, Bayreuth, Weimar, etc. In addition, the group is planning a performance at a nearby former Nazi deten tion camp. “It’s an exciting opportunity because rarely do high school choral groups get to travel outside the country,” said Haley Baggerly, a senior at JCCHS. “To be sing ing with such a great orchestra is a huge honor.” The Liszt School of Music Weimar is an internationally acclaimed 136-year-old music school in Weimar, Germany. The choral program is hold ing fund-raisers to generate mon ies to help offset the trip costs on students. Interested donors should contact Todd Chandler by e-mailing tchandler@jackson. kl2.ga.us. DA Schedules Meetings In Circuit's Counties District Attorney Rick Bridgeman will hold a series of first quarterly public meetings Saturday, Feb. 16. He will meet with Jackson County citizens from 8:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. at the Jefferson House Restaurant, 682 Athens Street in Jefferson. Bridgeman’s Barrow County meeting will be from 10:30 a.m. until 12 p.m. at the Winder Police Department training room, 94 N. Broad Street in Winder. Bridgeman will meet with Banks County citizens from 1 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the Historic Banks County Courthouse in Homer. Citizens are invited to come and ask questions about the oper ations in the Piedmont Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office. Pendergrass Council Votes To Annex 40 Acres The Pendergrass City Council recently approved the annexa tion of a 40-acre tract of land into the city. The request was made by Hamilton Homes LLC. The property backs up to the “Kinney property” next to a spray field. Administrator Rob Russell said that the applicant was not seeking a zoning change on the property. He had said at a previous meeting that they had no plans for the property. The council also voted unani mously to approve an ordinance appointing the Jackson County Public Development GIS depart ment as the official provider of mapping services for the city. Danielsville Donates Funds For Response Team Danielsville’s city council gave a $1,000 donation check to Sheriff Clayton Lowe Monday night to help purchase equip ment for the Special Response Team (SRT) recently implement ed by the sheriff’s office. Lowe thanked the council for their support and reported that approximately $20,000 has been donated by the community in the establishment of the SRT. Genealogical Group To Meet Tuesday At Winder Church The East Georgia Genealogical Society will meet Tuesday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Winder. J.H. Segars, a historical researcher and author, will present the program, “View of a Southern Solider in the Civil War.” He will provide research tips for the Civil War ancestor, including the African-American solider. He will also discuss how one can publish their family history. Segars will bring historical pub lications and offer them at a dis count to the membership. For more information on Segars, visit www.southernlion- books.com/ editor.htm. Now's The Time To Load Up On Girl Scout Cookies Girl Scout cookies are now on sale, and will be sold door-to-door until the end of February and then will be available for purchase at booth sales around the area. This year, the Girl Scouts have announced two new cookie fla vors — the Lemon Creme Chalet and a chocolate chip cookie that is sugar free. In addition, girls will also be selling Samoas, Trefoils, Tagalongs, Thin Mints, All- Abouts and Do-Si-Dos. Cookies are $3.50 a box and a portion of the sales benefit local troops. The Girl Scout Cookie Program — an integral part of Girl Scouting’s Business and Economic Literacy initiative for girls ages 6-17 — provides finance, marketing, and public speaking skills, along with expe riences that build girls’ self-con fidence and help them develop their own personal leadership style, according to the organiza tion. Through the Girl Scout Cookie Program, girls manage inventory, set goals, learn money manage ment and develop marketing skills. Essentially, the girls run their own business. The entire troop sets a goal and follows a plan leading toward that goal. Girl Scout troops use funds from the cookie activity to fund a ser vice project or to plan for a trip. To volunteer, join as a member, or make a donation, call Girl Scouts of Northeast Georgia at 706-548-7297 or 770-536-8656. Piedmont College Sets Open House At Athens Campus Students and their parents interested in learning about the Piedmont College Athens Campus are invited to an open house at the college from 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28. Located at 595 Prince Avenue, Piedmont’s Athens Campus now offers complete four-year degrees in a variety of career-ori ented subjects, as well as gradu ate degree programs in educa tion and business. The open house is an opportuni ty for undergraduate students to meet Piedmont faculty and learn about the new programs offered in Athens. Welcome and intro ductions will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Commons Hall, and tours will be given shortly after. The evening will end with a dessert reception in Rogers Hall. For more infor mation call Piedmont College Undergraduate Admissions at I- 800-277-7020, or visit www.pied- mont.edu. Red Cross Offers Babysitting Course For Teens The East Georgia Chapter of the American Red Cross is offer ing a babysitter’s training course Saturday, March 1, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the American Red Cross Blood Donor Center in Athens. The fee is $38 and is open to all II- to-15 year olds. Participants in the course will learn how to respond to emer gencies and illnesses with first aid and other appropriate care, make decisions under pressure, manage young children safely, identify common safety hazards and prevent injuries, and choose safe and age-appropriate games For more information, or to register, contact the East Georgia Chapter at 706-353-1645. CLASSIFIED ADS 26,500 READERS S10 PER WEEK 706-335-2927 • 706-367-5233 MasterCard • VISA Save $3 by placing ads online at classified@mainstreetnews.coin WOODYARD Accounting 18 South Public Square Jefferson, GA 30549 - (706) 693-4280 - Timely And Affordable Tax Returns Individuals And Businesses 35 Years Of Experience DID YOU KNOW? By Preacher Clint DID YOU KNOW THAT ALL MANKIND WILL BE JUDGED BY GOD ACCORDING TO THEIR DEEDS? (Rom. 2:5&6) This means that it does matter what you do, because GOD is going to hold you accountable for your actions. You may reject the gospel of Christ and refuse to accept GOD s plan of salvation, but the day will come when you will bow before him and be judged. (Rev. 20:11-15) Therefore it is important to live a good moral life because your punishment will be less severe. But how much better to stand before a loving father than a stern judge..I beg you to accept JESUS as your SAVIOR then GOD will be your FATHER.. Send comments to Clinton Sexton 116 Ashland Drive Commerce, GA 30529 Bray Construction, Inc. • New Homes • Remodeling • Vinyl Siding • Masonry Work • Concrete Finishing (706) 789-2313 FORTSON Well Drilling & Environmental Services, Inc. Residential & Commercial Services • 6” Drilled Wells • Water Filtration and Purification • Water Conditioning Systems • Irrigation Systems • Monitoring Wells • Remediation Wells Customer Satisfaction Is Important To Us. We Invite You To Check Us Out. PHONE 795-2717 FAX 795-3713 Located 5 Miles North Of Danielsville On Hwy. 281 Danielsville, Georgia § NOW ACCEPTING PATIENTS § b o /Leslie /H. J)Uts, D/HD ''pediatric Dentistrtf i . f I Hours: Thursday and Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. J i J J J I J J J I J j 706-335-7793 ! I J J J J J J J J J l 215 Mercer Place, P. O. Box 1241 Commerce, GA 30529 Website: drlpitts.com Email: drlpitts@drlpitts.com 321 Pottery Factory Drive, Commerce — across from 0UT3ACK 5TEAK House