Newspaper Page Text
THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS, WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 6, 2008 - PAGE 3A
Former Assistant DA
To Run For District Attorney
Hoschton resident
and former Piedmont
Circuit assistant district
attorney Brad Smith an
nounced Monday his
plans to run for the of
fice of district attorney.
Smith, 36, graduated
from The Citadel and
from the University of
Virginia School of Law.
He began his career
with the Piedmont Judi
cial Circuit as an ADA in January
1997, a position he held for a de
cade. Smith resigned as ADA to
run for district attorney and cur
rently prosecutes in the Western
Judicial Circuit.
During his tenure in the Pied
mont Circuit, Smith was placed
in charge of the Jackson County
office, served as acting chief as
sistant, was lead counsel on more
murder cases than any other ADA
during his tenure, has argued be
fore the Supreme Court of Geor
gia and has had experience with
multiple death penalty cases.
“I have served as a prosecu
tor my entire legal career, and
dedicated nearly all 11 years of
this career to serving the people
of Barrow, Banks and Jackson
counties,” Smith said. “During
that time, I earned the respect of
the legal community, judges and
county and community leaders
as a knowledgeable, skilled, hon
est and fair prosecutor — one who
does not just look at wins and
losses, but rather one who looks
at each case to see what
justice would require.”
Smith is past chair of
the Jackson County Child
Abuse Protocol Commit
tee and Child Fatality
Review Committee. He
created and chaired the
District Attorney’s Gang
Task Force, helped de
velop the criminal justice
curriculum for local high
schools, is a State Bar of
Georgia mentor for new ADAs
and has been admitted to prac
tice before the Supreme Court of
Georgia and the State Court of
Appeals. He is a member of the
board of directors of The Tree
House Advocacy Center, chairs
the Fatherhood Committee and
serves on the community out
reach, board development and
auction committees. He is an ac
tive supporter of Peace Place, the
shelter for battered women and
participates in the Relay for Life
with the Barrow County Govern
ment team. He is also the Voice of
the Apalachee Wildcats at home
football games. Smith is a member
of the Barrow County Republican
Party, past president of his neigh
borhood homeowners’ associa
tion and is secretary-treasurer of
the Piedmont Bar Association.
He and his wife, Christine, have
been married for 11 years. They
have two sons, Aiden, 5, and Ja
cob, 3, and attend Sanctuary of
the Holy Spirit Church in Winder.
Brad Smith
— Ron Johnson Seeks Chairmanship
Cont. from Page 1A
growth.”
Other issues Johnson stresses
include creating a “county master
plan.”
“In this plan, we must include
input from citizens, cities,
school boards and business part
ners,” he says. “With all groups
at stake having input, the final
plan is more likely to be suc
cessful. This master plan needs
to include a transportation and
roads plan, recreation areas,
future annexations, greenspace
and most of all water/sewer
resources. Water solutions are a
must and the solutions need to
be permanent.”
Johnson served as a council
member and mayor pro-tem in
Sugar Hill in Gwinnett County.
He also served as the chairman
of the Republican Veterans of
Georgia, and vice-chair of the
Sugar Hill Housing Authority.
A Vietnam veteran, Johnson is
a retired master sergeant, serving
both in the U.S. Marine Corps
and the Army reserve.
Johnson is a delegate for the
Jackson County Republican
Party, and was an executive mem
ber and delegate for the Gwinnett
County Republican Party.
Johnson received a master of
education degree from Cambridge
College, a bachelor of law
enforcement from Western New
England College, a Certificate
of Excellence in Municipal
Government from the University
of Georgia’s Carl Vinson
Institute, and completed the
Georgia Academy of Economic
Development Leadership course.
Volunteer work includes coach
ing with the Georgia Football
League, a Christian/Home School
League; Junior Achievement
Program for second and third
graders; Reader for Challenged
Children; and he was involved
with building two handicap play
grounds at local elementary
schools.
Johnson and his wife Judy
reside in unincorporated Jackson
County. Anyone interested in
contacting Johnson can reach
him at 770-310-4515 or e-mail him
at chairman@windstream.net.
Community Calendar
To place events on the Community Calendar, call 706-387-5406 or e-mail mark@mainstreetnews.com
Thursday, Feb. 7
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
School board meets: 7:00
p.m., location to be an
nounced. This "work session"
of the Commerce Board of
Education is used to prepare
for the regular meeting the fol
lowing Monday.
Monday, Feb. 11
Commerce Council meets:
6:30 p.m., Commerce Room,
Commerce Civic Center.
School board meets: 7:00
p.m., Commerce High School
media center. The Commerce
Board of Education operates
the city's school system.
Tuesday, Feb. 12
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Thursday, Feb. 14
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quitters: 1:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
Monday, Feb. 18
Library board meets: 5:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
The Commerce Library Board
oversees the city library.
Mended Hearts meets: 7:00
p.m., conference room, BJC
Hospital. Mended Hearts is a
support group for heart pa
tients ana their families.
Tuesday, Feb. 19
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Thursday, Feb. 21
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Pilot Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Parham's Restaurant. The Pilot
Club of Commerce meets on
the third Thursday of each
month.
Monday, Feb. 25
Hospital authority meets:
1:30 p.m., conference room,
BJC Medical Center. The BJC
Medical Center Authority man
ages BJC Hospital and Nursing
Home. It normally meets on the
third Monday of each month
but was moved back a week
due to the Presidents' Day
holiday.
City planning meeting: 7:00
p.m., Peach Room, Commerce
Civic Center. The Commerce
Planning Commission makes
recommendations on zoning
requests and land use matters.
Tuesday, Feb. 26
JCCO Meets: 6:30 p.m.,
conference room, BJC Medical
Center. Jackson County Com
munity Outreach is a grass
roots organization.
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Thursday, Feb. 28
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Monday, March 3
Commerce Council meets:
6:00 p.m., City Hall. This
"work session" prepares the
city council for its regular meet
ing the following Monday.
Nicholson Council meets:
7:00 p.m., City Hall.
Maysville Council meets:
7:00 p.m., City Hall.
Tuesday, March 4
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Lions Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Ryan's Steakhouse, Banks
Crossing.
Airport Authority meets:
5:30 p.m., Jackson County Ad
ministrative Building, Jefferson.
Wednesday, March 5
Chamber breakfast: 7:30
a.m., location TBA. Commerce
Civic Center. All members
of the Jackson County Area
Chamber of Commerce are
invited.
Thursday, March 6
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
School board meets: 7:00
p.m., location to be an
nounced. This "work session"
of the Commerce Board of
Education is used to prepare
for the regular meeting the fol
lowing Monday.
Monday, March 10
Commerce Council meets:
6:30 p.m., Commerce Room,
Commerce Civic Center.
School board meets: 7:00
p.m., Commerce High School
media center. The Commerce
Board of Education operates
the city's school system.
Tuesday, March 11
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Wednesday, March 12
CABA meeting: Noon, Com
merce Civic Center. All Com
merce Area Business Associa
tion members are invited.
Thursday, March 13
Kiwanis CIud meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 1:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
Monday, March 17
Hospital authority meets:
1:30 p.m., conference room,
BJC Medical Center. The BJC
Medical Center Authority man
ages BJC Hospital and Nursing
Home. It meets on the third
Monday of each month at the
same time and place.
Library board meets: 5:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
The Commerce Library Board
oversees the city library.
Mended Hearts meets: 7:00
p.m., conference room, BJC
Hospital. Mended Hearts is a
support group for heart pa
tients ana their families.
Tuesday, March 18
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Thursday, March 20
Kiwanis CIud meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Pilot Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Parham's Restaurant. The Pilot
Club of Commerce meets on the
third Thursday of each month.
Monday, March 24
City planning meeting: 7:00
p.m., Peach Room, Commerce
Civic Center. The Commerce
Planninq Commission makes
recommendations on zoning
requests and land use matters.
Tuesday, March 25
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Thursday, March 27
Kiwanis CIud meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
—Falling Short On Conservation - Plastic To Be Banned For Yard Wastes?
Cont. from Page 1A
Jackson County.
Virtually all outdoor water usage
has been stopped, but there’s only
so much that can be done to
reduce usage among commercial
or industrial customers, most of
which is actually domestic use.
The city school system is among
the largest water users. Harbin
says the city intends to ask the
school system’s maintenance peo
ple to look at the system’s urinals
and commodes to see how many
inefficient models exist.
“In the new high school, we
will review the design to make
sure there’s water conservation,”
Harbin said.
But in schools, business and
industry where most of the usage
is domestic, there’s not much that
can be done save for upgrad
ing to more efficient fixtures. If
Commerce is going to meet the
10 percent reduction mandate, it’s
going to need help from residen
tial customers.
Residents can get a printout
from City Hall of their water usage
for a year, to see how their usage
compares to this time last year.
They can also look at their most
recent bills to see how household
water use compares to the city
average, and be on the lookout
for water losses from dripping
faucets, toilets with faulty flapper
valves and inefficient uses of dish
washers and washing machines.
Cont. from Page 1A
Monday night — the council
will allow a three-month transi
tion period during which the city
hopes to “educate” citizens about
the change.
Biodegradable bags can be pur
chased at Home Depot; the city
hopes other local stores will begin
to stock them as well.
The ordinance will also prohibit
the dumping of yard wastes in
roadways, gutters, drainage ditch
es or on sidewalks. It will also limit
tree trimmings to wood of six-inch
diameter or less and require that
all limbs be removed. The ordi
nance will require tree removal
companies to remove all limbs
and debris, rather than stacking
it by the road for the city to
remove.
Demolition Ordinance
Also on the agenda is a “demoli
tion ordinance” covering the cen
tral business district administered
by the Downtown Development
Authority. The ordinance is
designed to protect against devel
opers replacing the city’s historic
buildings with modern structures
not in keeping with the down
town’s design. The ordinance
gives the city the ability to reject
the destruction of buildings based
on the “historic, scenic or architec
tural significance,” the detriment
of the demolition to surrounding
property, and whether the build
ing in question can be renovated.
$ 5 00 OFF
Ticket Of s 2CT° Or More. Valid with coupon Mon.-Thurs. only.
La Hacienda Commerce La Hacienda Jefferson
173 Steven B. Tanger Blvd. 605 Athens Street
706-335-7458 706-367-5095
| The Original Mexican Restaurant! Not affiliated with any other restaurant. |
KEEP AMERICA
BEAUTIFUL
GET A HAIRCUT
I
^ Wood's
1441 North
^ Hwy 98
t
lla Road
1-
a>
5.
4
th
ens
Commerce's Only
Barber Shop
Family Haircare
Bill Wood, Owner
Walk-Ins Welcome
Wood Barber Shop
581 lla Road, Lot#1, Commerce
(706) 335-5392 • Mon.-Fri. 8-6
We Pay Top Dollar
on all gold, silver, diamonds,
paper money and sports memorabilia.
Joe Knows Coins!
706-548-1632
2830 Lexington Rd.
(I 706-548-1632
www.thorntonsdirect.com
Collectibles for Over 30 Years in the Athens Area
Get ALL
Your Questions
About
LASIK
Answered!
Win
FREE
LASIK!
• Does LASIK Hurt? • Is It Safe? • Can I Really Get 20/20 Or Better?
• Can I Really Throw Away My Glasses & Contacts? • How Long
Would I Be Off Work? • Can I Afford LASIK? • What's The Best
Technology? • Are The Benefits Really Worth it? • And Much
MORE!
FREE LASIK SEMINAR
February 19
6:00 PM
651 Milledge Ave.
Athens, GA
B
LUE
LASER
Call NOW To Reserve Your Seat
1-888-237-2583
~\
CROUP
Join Us
And Be In
The Drawing
To Win Free LASIK!
bluelasergroup.com • Athens, GA • Gainesville, GA • Greensboro, GA • Franklin, NC
O!
ATTENTION!
HAVE YOU GOT CREDIT CONCERNS?
Do you need a 2nd chance with your vehicle financing?
Do you need dependable transportation?
LET YOUR JOB HISTORY AND YOUR
DOWN PAYMENT BE YOUR CREDIT!
CALL 866-636-4881
High % of approvals
WayneM
, sm y
os
K>
Hwy. 441 in Commerce
706-335-3196 • 800-798-7435
www.wayneneal.com
SERVICE HOURS:
M-F 7:30-6:00 • Sat. 8:00-4:00
K>
RECYCLE THIS PAPER IN KEEP JACKSON
COUNTY BEAUTIFUL RECYCLING BINS