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™, N r ? egion Roundup
4 'Prospects' For
Hull City Council
Attend Meeting
No one committed themselves,
but four Hull residents showed
up at the town’s city council
meeting Monday night, each of
them to consider whether they
might be interested in filling one
of the city’s two vacant council
seats.
Until at least one of the coun
cil seats is filled, the council is
limited in what business it can
conduct.
The council discussed the city
limits, requirements for serving
on the council, revenue, annexa
tion and other matters with those
present. One audience member,
Wayne Melton Jr., suggested hav
ing a “get to know your mayor
and council day’’ to help gener
ate interest in the town.
In other business, the coun
cil discussed whether or not to
attend the annual GMA conven
tion in Savannah, but made no
decision.
The council asked the clerk
to invite city building inspector
Jim Baird to the March council
meeting to discuss the option
of keeping him on as building
inspector, or of entering into
an intergovernmental agreement
with the county.
New city clerk Sandra Pou
reported that the D.O.T. has fin
ished its work on Old Elberton
Road and that she had contacted
county chairman Wesley Nash to
tell him that the road is ready for
the county to finish the building
and shaping of the shoulders, as
required by the state.
She also reported that approxi
mately $6,000 in insurance pre
miums for the city and the fire
department are due. The council
instructed her to go ahead with
payment of the premiums.
Valentine's Day
Dmg Raid
Nets 8 Arrests
DANIELSVILLE - Eight people
were arrested in a Valentine’s Day
drug bust in northern Madison
County last week.
Madison County deputies
went to a home at 34 Vaughn
Circle off Reed Brawner
Road Thursday afternoon
to execute a search warrant.
Once inside the home, deputies
found John Edward Manning, 42,
of 911 Park Place in Loganville,
with a handgun drawn.
After disarming Manning, they
searched him, finding a second
handgun and methamphetamine,
according to the report.
A search of the home found
more methamphetamine, mari
juana and an undisclosed amount
of cash.
Manning was charged with two
counts of possession of arms
by convicted felons with first
offender probation, two counts
of possession of firearm or knife
while trying to commit crimes,
possession, manufacture, dis
tribution, etc. VGCSA posses
sion of methamphetamine with
intent to distribute, carrying a
concealed weapon, possession
of marijuana less than an ounce
and possession of tools for the
commission of a crime.
The homeowner, Sharon Tonya
Roberts, 38, was arrested and
charged with possession, manu
facture, distribution, etc. VGCSA
methamphetamine with intent to
distribute, possession of mari
juana less than an ounce and
possession of tools for the com
mission of a crime.
Also arrested during the raid
were:
• Kenneth Lee Manning, 22 514
Emory Lane, Logan ville, posses
sion of tools for the commission
of a crime and possession, manu
facture, distribution, etc. VGCSA
methamphetamine with intent to
distribute.
• David Wayne Bryant, 34,2270
Hughes Road, Elberton, posses
sion, manufacture, distribution,
etc. VGCSA methaphetamine
with intent to distribute and pos
session of tools for the commis
sion of a crime.
•Holly Lynn Harris, 18, 220
Gumlog Grove Road, Lavonia,
possession of tools for the com
mission of a crime and posses
sion manufacture, distribution,
etc. VGCSA methamphetamine
with intent to distribute.
•Thomas Max Hubbard, Jr„ 19,
2200 Rehobeth Road, Bowman,
possession manufacture, distri
bution, etc. VGCSA possession
of methamphetamine with intent
to distribute and possession of
tools for the commission of a
crime.
• Jonathan Crossland Grasman,
20, 2695 Wildcat Bridge Road,
Royston, possession of tools of
the commission of a crime, pro
bation violation (original charge:
theft by taking) and possession,
manufacture, distribution, etc.
VGCSA methamphetamine with
intent to distribute).
•Denise Lane Williams, 37, no
address listed, Royston, posses
sion of tools for the commis
sion of a crime and possession,
manufacture, distribution, etc.
VGCSA.
Action Inc.
Seeks Jackson
Board Member
The Action Inc. board of direc
tors is seeking an individual from
Jackson County to represent low-
income households.
The individual chosen by the
election must live in the coun
ty he/she is representing and
while not required to be low-
income, must have an under
standing of the root problems
of poverty and be sensitive to
the needs of low-income house
holds.
To nominate an individual to
represent the low-income popu
lation of Jackson County on the
Action Inc. board of directors,
submit the name, address, coun
ty of residence, daytime phone
numbers and a brief descrip
tion as to why you or this per
son should be elected to serve
to Action Inc., RO. Box 1072,
Athens, GA 30603-1072 to the
attention of board secretary Ava
Ivery.
Nominations must be received
no later than March 11, 2008
to be on the ballot. All names
received by specified date will
be placed on the election ballot.
The statements submitted with
the nominations will be available
for voters to read on the day of
election.
The election will be held March
20 from 8 a.m. to noon dur
ing the USDA commodity dis
tribution at the Jackson County
Community Services Office, 29
South Avenue, Jefferson. All vot
ers must be at least 18 years
of age and Action Inc. program
recipients.
Those individuals who are
elected will receive the largest
number of the votes cast and will
be informed as to the outcome
by the agency’s executive direc
tor or board chair prior to the
next regularly scheduled board
meeting and will be seated at this
same meeting.
For questions, call
706-546-8293.
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706-335-7458 706-367-5095
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Man Dies In
Fall From Roof
In Braselton
A man working on a new dis
tribution center in Braselton fell
40 feet to his death Thursday,
according to police.
Alfredo Gutierrez-de la Fuente
was working on a deck on the
roof of a 632,500 square-foot
building on Jesse Cronic Road
when he fell.
The coroner determined that
Gutierrez-de la Fuente died of
blunt force trauma to the head,
according to Braselton assistant
police chief Lou Solis. He broke
his neck when he fell from the
building, Solis added.
Gutierrez-de la Fuente had just
unhooked a safety harness when
he began walking to an area
across the building for a break
period. He stopped to check on
a deck, when he slipped and fell,
Solis said.
The Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA)
began its investigation into the
incident this week, Solis said.
The building is being developed
by Duke Realty Corporation, as
part of its “Park 85 at Braselton’’
project in Jackson County. Solis
said the company stopped con
struction on the site last week
after Gutierrez-de la Fuente’s
death.
Gutierrez-de la Fuente was
a subcontractor with JB Steel
Erectors, according to Solis.
He was from San Luis, Mexico,
but lived in Austell. Gutierrez-de
la Fuente was single, although
he had an uncle who lived in
Austell and worked at the same
construction site, Solis said.
At the time of the incident,
there were an estimated 15 work
ers on the site, Solis said.
Qualifying Dates
Set For Local
Primary Elections
Qualifying for elected positions
on this year’s ballot in Jackson
County will begin Monday, April
28, at 9 a.m., and end Friday, May
2, at noon.
Those running for an elect
ed office must qualify at the
local headquarters of either the
Republican or Democratic pari
ties during that time.
The primary election in Jackson
County will be held Tuesday, July
15. Voters must choose either a
Republican or Democratic ballot
for that election.
A run-off election after the pri
mary, if needed, will be held
Tuesday, Aug. 5.
The general election will be
held Tuesday, Nov. 4. A run-off
election, if needed, is planned for
Tuesday, Dec. 2.
Non-partisan races in Jackson
County will be on the general
election ballot in November.
ON THE BALLOT
The following offices in Jackson
County will be on the ballot for
the 2008 election:
•Jackson County Board
of Education, post 1 (Michael
Cronic, incumbent).
•Jackson County BOE, post 4
(Lynne Massey Wheeler, incum
bent).
• State Court judge (Jerry Gray,
incumbent).
• Solicitor General (Donald
Moore, incumbent).
• County Surveyor (Dan
Venable, incumbent).
• Magistrate Judge (Billy
Chandler, incumbent).
•Coroner (Keith Whitfield,
incumbent).
•Sheriff (Stan Evans, incum
bent).
• Probate Judge (Margaret
Deadwyler, incumbent).
•Tax Commissioner (Don
Elrod, incumbent).
•Jackson County Board of
Commissioners chairperson (Pat
Bell, incumbent).
•Jackson County BOC, district
2 (Jody Thompson, incumbent).
•Jackson County BOC, district
1 (Tom Crow, incumbent).
•Clerk of Superior Court
(Camie Thomas, incumbent).
•District Attorney for the
Piedmont Judicial Circuit (Rick
Bridgeman, incumbent).
State Has New
System For
Obtaining Records
The Georgia Department of
Human Resources, Division of
Public Health, Office of Vital
Records has implemented a new
system that will significantly
reduce the length of time it takes
Georgians to obtain official cop
ies of birth and death certifi
cates.
The Vital Events Information
System (VEIS) is an electron
ic registration system of vital
records that now allows constitu
ents to receive copies of their
vital events within a few days —
compared to weeks with the old
paper-based system. The system
also improves the quality and
accuracy of vital events data.
“The new system allows us to
provide quality and timely cus
tomer service to Georgians who
need to obtain official copies
of their vital records,’’ said Dr.
Stuart Brown, director of the
Division of Public Health. “The
Vital Events Information System
not only decreases constituent
wait time but it also allows for
increased accuracy and com
pleteness.’’
The Vital Events Information
System (VEIS) began as a pilot
project in April 2007. It was
rolled out statewide in August
of 2007, with an initial focus on
birth registration.
The pilot stage for death regis
tration began in November and
will be rolled out statewide in
February.
Prior to VEIS, it took as long
as six to eight weeks for births to
be registered in the system and
made available to customers.
With the new system, these vital
records are registered and pro
duced per a customer’s request
within an average of 13 days.
The new electronic system not
only focuses on reducing the
time vital records are available
to customers, but it provides
more reliable data as well. Vital
records data is often used by key
partners such as the Division of
Family and Children Services
and parents to help make pub
lic health decisions for at-risk
children. Accurate information is
also imperative for families who
have suffered a loss and need
to obtain death certificates for
insurance purposes.
With VEIS, the Office of Vital
Records is now able to retrieve
accurate data from vital records
clerks in hospitals and other
sources. If an error occurs either
on a birth or death certificate, it
can now be corrected within the
system eliminating the need to
issue custodial copies to local
offices.
Other features of the Vital
Events Information System
include:
• Certified copies of vital events
now available in all Georgia coun
ties.
• Local custodians can issue
certified copies of vital records.
• Registration of paternity
acknowledgments at hospitals
without delay.
For more information about
the Office of Vital Records, visit:
http://health.state.ga.us/pro
grams/ vitalrecords/ index.asp.
Olive Trees Seen
As Possibility
For Georgia
Could Georgia go from being
“the peach state’’ to “the olive
state?’’ Former Georgia state
Senator Mary Squires and
University of Georgia Associate
Professor Kathryn Taylor think
so. Research conducted by the
two women in 2007 indicates
that Georgia is just right for an
olive production industry.
“Climate change has presented
Georgia with the opportunity
to enter this multi-billion dollar
international food and biofuel
market,’’ says Squires. “Olive
growing isn’t new to Georgia.
Qlives were successfully grown
in Savannah in the 1730’s. Now
more of the state is favorable for
growing this crop and Americans
clearly have a taste for table
olives, olive oil, and a need for
additional biofuel sources.’’
In the fall of 2007, at Squires’
request, Dr. Taylor prepared
a research document entitled,
Table Olives, Virgin Olive Oil, and
Biodiesel for Georgia Farmers: A
proposal for assessing the suit
ability of olives as an alterna
tive crop for South Georgia. The
research was profound. As a
result two crop test sites will be
established in southwest Georgia:
one at the Attapulgus Research
Station in Decatur County and
a second at the Coastal Plains
Experiment Station in Tifton. A
third test site will be hosted by
private growers outside Alma in
the east. “I am excited about the
prospect of bringing an econom
ically powerful agricultural prod
uct to Georgia,’’ says Squires.
“Right now I am focusing my
efforts on directing funding to
the University of Georgia’s olive
research. Farmers must be armed
with solid data, experienced
assistance, and a ready market
for their product. I plan on mak
ing sure that happens.’’
For more information on the
plan to bring olives to Georgia,
please call Mary Squires at (404)
518-7222.
Magazine Selects
Banks County
As 'Place To Live'
Banks County was recognized
as one of the top 20 coun
ties to live in the southeast by
Progressive Farmer magazine.
The magazine released the list
of the “Best Places to Live in
Rural America.’’ Banks County
was listed as the number 16 place
to live in the southeast. Number
one was Kent County, Maryland.
Other counties in Georgia that
made the top 20 list were Gilmer
County, six; Camden County,
nine; Hart County, 15; and Bryan
County, 18.
To see the list, go to www.
Grant Funds
Available To
Local Farmers
The Georgia Soil and Water
Conservation Commission
(GSWCC) has announced that
a Clean Water Act water quality
improvement cost share program
is available for landowners in the
Upper Broad River Watershed.
The project area includes
Banks County, as well as Jackson
County, north of Ga. Hwy. 98,
and Madison County, north of
Hwy. 98 and Hwy. 174.
GSWCC will work with local
agricultural producers over the
next three years to implement
the program. Participating pro
ducers will receive cost share
funding for the purpose of
installing best management prac
tices (BMPs) in the Upper Broad
River Watershed. The manage
ment practices will be available
to landowners at a base cost
share of 60 percent. Landowners
will have one year to complete
practices under contract.
Eligible BMPs include, but
are not limited to Stackhous
es, winter feeders, composting
facilities, watering ramps, stream
crossings, incinerators, heavy
use areas, buffer fencing and
crossing fencing. Buffer fenc
ing is paid at 60 percent for
15-foot buffers, 80 percent for
30-foot buffers and 100 percent
for 60-foot buffers.
The local soil and water
conservation districts assist
ing in the project include the
Broad River Soil and Water
Conservation District, and the
Stephens County Soil and Water
Conservation District.
The federally-funded project is
made possible by Section 319(h)
of the Clean Water Act with
the primary purpose of reduc
ing pollutant loadings from non
point sources of pollution within
the watershed.
Interested agricultural produc
ers may apply to take part in the
program Feb. 18 through March
21.
For more information, or to
sign up, contact project coor
dinator Loren Hebert at the
GSWCC office in Athens at
706-542-9233.
DID YOU KNOW?
By Preacher Clint
DID YOU KNOW THAT GOD
JUDGES THE SECRETS OF MEN
BY THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST?
(Rom. 2:16) Nothing you do or
think can escape an all knowing GOD
and you will be judged by your
acceptance or rejection of the gospel
of CHRIST. If you accept the gospel it
is “The power of GOD unto salvation,”
If you reject the gospel (The death,
burial and resurrection of CHRIST)
you will face eternal separation from
the presence of GOD. Heaven or Hell
that is the choice. (Matt. 25:46)
Life is all about choice. You can
choose to live for yourself and
die in your sins or accept GOD S
way and live forever. WILL YOU
ACCEPT CHRIST AS YOUR
SAVIOR?
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
Clinton Sexton
116 Ashland Drive
Commerce, GA 30529
We Pay Top Dollar
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Knows Coins!
706-548-1632
2830 Lexington Rd.
706-548-1632
www.thorntonsdirect.com
buyers of-Precions Metals & Collectibles for Over 30 Years in the Athens Area
Dr. Neelagaru, M.D. (Dr. Neel)
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Georgia Medical Center,
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Commerce Cardiology Clinic
Call 335-2000 for appointment