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The Commerce News Page2A • MARCH 26,2008 Murder-Arson Suspect Has First Hearing JEFFERSON - Henry Fee Stringer — the Auburn man accused of killing four people and setting their Hoschton home on fire in 2006 — spoke few words during his first public court hear ing Tuesday. Stringer is facing the death pen alty for allegedly killing his girl friend, Marvelette Strickland, 29, their children, J’Majuan Stringer, 4, and J’Fasia Stringer, 2, and Marvelette’s mother, Evelyn Strickland, 68. Their bodies were found inside their burning Pendergrass Road (Ga. Hwy. 332) house in Jackson County May 30, 2006. Stringer was arrested in Barrow County a year after the murder- arson. A Jackson County grand jury indicted him in December 2007 on 16 counts related to the case. Stringer has pled not guilty to the charges. For Tuesday’s brief hearing, Stringer was brought into the courtroom in an orange and white prison jump suit. He spoke to his attorneys before the proceed ings started, and waved to several loved ones in the courtroom at the end of the hearing. Tuesday’s hearing was the first in what could potentially be many court appearances before his trial. The first hearing was held in accordance with the unified appeal procedures that governs pretrial and trial proceedings for death penalty cases in Georgia, according to district attorney Rick Bridgeman. Stringer’s court-appointed attor neys are Christian G. Famar and Joseph W. Vigneri, both of the Office of the Georgia Capital Defenders. The office serves as a trial resource center for attorneys handing death penalty cases in the state. During the hearing, Superior Court Judge Joe Booth questioned the qualifications of Famar and Vigneri. Famar, who will serve as lead counsel for the Stringer case, said he has been a defense attorney for 14 years. His experience includes serving as lead counsel on 10-20 capital felony trials. Famar has been a member of the State Bar of Georgia since 1993. Vigneri, who will serve as co counsel, graduated from law school in 1983 and later prac ticed law in Illinois. He started working with the Georgia Capital Defenders in June 2007, where he has worked on 130 criminal felo ny trials, including 13 homicides and one death penalty case. Judge Booth set an arraignment date for Stringer Thursday, April 17, at 1 p.m. During the arraignment, the formal charges against Stringer will be presented, Famar said. Following the arraignment, the judge will determine the motions filing schedule, he added. Former Assistant DA Pleads To Misdemeanor HOMER - The assistant district attorney pulled into a scheme to take money from Banks County pled guilty Tuesday to misde meanor charges of being party to a crime. Former ADA Brett Williams was fined $500 and given 12 months probation and ordered to complete 50 hours of commu nity service on a misdemeanor charge. The action stems from the theft case made against former Piedmont Judicial Circuit District Attorney Tim Madison. Williams was originally arrested on felony charges of theft in connection with the case against Madison. On Tuesday, the felony charges against Williams were dismissed. Meanwhile, a hearing with Madison’s wife, Finn Jones, on related theft charges has been rescheduled to April 18. Jones Region Roundup worked in the DA’s office as well and faces charges related to hav ing falsified payroll documents. She was on both the Banks County and Jackson County payrolls. WILLIAMS The scheme with Madison and Williams involved having Banks County pay a full-time salary for Williams, who was already being paid a full-time salary as ADA by the state. The Banks County salary was paid to Williams, who then passed a portion of it on to Madison. Madison put the money into a per sonal checking account and used it for a variety of things, including purchasing a $7,000 motorcycle. At Tuesday’s hearing, David McLaughlin of the Georgia Attorney General’s Office spoke on Williams’ role in the case. "If Mr. Williams didn't know a deception was being perpetuated on Banks County, he surely should have known," he said. Williams’ attorney, Nick Litito, said his client was not working with Madison to steal the funds. "There was no conspiracy between Brett and Madison," he said. “They were not buddies ... Brett Williams was deceived by Mr. Madison." Williams is no longer working as an attorney, but Litito said he hopes his client can practice law again in the future. This will be up to the Georgia State Bar Association. Williams also offered brief remarks Tuesday and offered an apology to Banks County, to the district attorney's office and to his family. He said he had learned a "profound and unforgettable les son.” "I am sorry for enabling this arrangement to occur by following a directive by my head boss, the district attorney,” he said. "... I will never be involved in anything like this again.” During his sentencing, judge Robert Mallis said Williams was a victim. "I am convinced that you were not aware of what Mr. Madison was doing when he set up this arrangement with Banks County," the judge said. "I genuinely believe that you genuinely believed him. For a large extent, you were a vic tim too. However, at some point, you should have known. But I can understand being in that position." The theft scandal surrounding the DA’s office was uncovered by The Jackson Herald newspaper in early 2007. A series of investigative sto ries were published in March 2007 questioning Madison’s handling of DA funds and his role in the Williams financial transactions. Madison subsequently resigned as DA. 5-Member Board Legislation May Be On Fall Ballot HOMER - If approval is received at the state level, Banks County voters will have the opportunity to change the form of county gov ernment when they go to the polls this November. State senator Nancy Schaefer is introducing legislation to the Senate which would give Banks County voters the choice of going from a three-member board of commissioners to a five-member board. If approved in the Senate, the bill would then need to be approved by the House before being placed on the ballot. Once approved at the state level, the binding referendum will be on the November ballot, Banks County chairman Gene Hart said Monday. The BOC would not have to approve it. The proposal is for four com missioners to be elected from dis tricts but to be voted on at large by all citizens of Banks County. The chairman would be elected at-large and also voted on by all citizens. Candidates seeking office from one of the four districts must live in the district they run for. Candidates for the chairman’s position can live anywhere in the county. The issue of possibly changing from a three-member commission to a five-member commission has been discussed for almost a year. First-term commissioner Joe Barefoot has been pushing to allow citizens the opportunity to vote on the issue. 'Faery Fest' To Be Held in Comer May 3 The first-ever Faery Fest is set for May 3 in downtown Comer. The event is sponsored by the City of Comer, The Comer Downtown Development Authority, Faeryland Emporium and Blue Bell Gallery. Additional sponsors are welcome to partici pate. “We are so excited and thrilled to announce the arrival of Faery Fest 2008: The Official Faery Festival in the Southeast,” orga nizers say. “This outdoor extrava ganza is all set to fill the streets of downtown Comer with fun, flavors and delightful merriment all fit for even the finest faery kingdom.” The event will run from 9 a.m to 8 p.m. The event’s official website www.FaeryFest.org will soon be available, while those interested can check faerybright@yahoo. com or call (706) 372-8726 for more information. The event will include outdoor artists, vendors, crafts, activities, live music, entertainment perfor mances, food, beverages, an exot ic petting zoo, an animal inter- action-education station, bounc ing and climbing play activities, games and adventure centers. Organizers ask those wanting to participate in Faery Fest can do so by either fill out and submit vendor and applications, becom ing a sponsor or simply helping spread the word New Mobile Homes Must Be On Solid Foundations DANIELSVILLE - If you want to put a new mobile home in Madison County - or move an old one to a new locale in the county — you'll now have to pay for a permanent foundation. County commissioners unani mously approved an amendment to the county zoning ordinance Monday that will require new mobile homes to have concrete or brick underpinnings at least four inches in width. Mobile homes already in the county won't be affected unless they are moved to a new location. County planner Alec Young said that the requirement will help increase the life of the home, improve its appearance and make it more secure. “I have driven around the coun ty and from what I noticed those mobile home with permanent foun dations, they look better and they are better maintained rather than those vinyl underpinnings," said Young. "If this doesn’t go through, I don’t think I will be touching the mobile home issue for quite a long time.” Chairman Wesley Nash asked about the cost of the permanent underpinnings and Young said they will run approximately $3,000. Planning commission chairman Wayne Douglas said block under pinnings can be purchased for roughly $750. Nash said the cost is too great of a burden to place on young hom eowners. "Three thousand dollars is a lot to ask from kids starting out who are already strapped for cash,” said Nash. "It seems like an awful bur den.” Commissioners noted that mort gage companies typically require permanent underpinnings. Commissioner Bruce Scogin said permanent underpinnings usually run about $1,800 to $3,600. "But I think it’s a good invest ment," said Scogin. Wreck Kills Two Saturday Morning In Morgan County Two Madison County residents died in a head-on collision in Morgan County Saturday morning. Ruby Brown, 72, and David Kloes, 10, were killed after a 2004 Chevy Suburban, driven by Jacob Steen, 26, Camden, SC, crossed the centerline and struck their 1991 Mercury Grand Marquis. Another passenger in the car, Robert Kloes, 6, was also injured in the accident, according to a spokesperson with the Madison post of the Georgia State Patrol. The accident happened around 8:30 a.m. Saturday .6 miles south of Seven Islands Road on Hwy. 441 south of the city of Madison. Misty Kirby, 30, Royston, the driv er of the Grand Marquis suffered visible injuries, the spokesperson said. Steen was not injured in the accident. The wreck occurred when Steen, who was traveling north on Hwy. 441, crossed the center- line and struck the southbound vehicle head-on. Charges are pending against Steen. 'Folktales & Song' To Be Presented In Jefferson On Sat. “Words and Music: Stories through Folktales and Song" will be presented by the Crawford W. Long Museum March 29 at the Jefferson clubhouse. Programs are scheduled for 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. The afternoon program is suit able for all ages, but is geared toward families with children under age 12. Featured artists are storyteller Donna Butler of Jackson County and Athens musi cian Susan Staley. Butler and the Solstice Sisters, including Staley, Maggie Hunter and Anna Durden, will perform at the 7 p.m. show. The artists will also speak about their respective crafts, placing them within an appropriate con text in the cultural history of this region. The purpose of the program is to showcase the arts of storytelling and folk music as both entertain ment and history lessons in the small towns and rural areas of the Georgia Piedmont. V. Congratulations To All Of The Winners At Our Easter Celebration! Winners of the “best decorated bicycle” at the Community Bank & Trust Easter Parade Saturday were, left to right, Jeffrey Straub, first; Bailey Jones, second; and Elena Pierre, third. Winners of the “best decorated battery-powered car” in the Community Bank & Trust Easter Parade Saturday were, left to right, Landry Kate Martin, first; Austin Phillips, second; and Eve Fischer /Ensley Evans, third. Winners of the “best decorated wagon” in the Community Bank & Trust Easter Parade Saturday were, left to right, Maren Henson, first; Channing Martin, second; and Laken Redmond / Chloe & Cylene Whitfield, third. Thanhs to the Commerce Main Street Office, The Commerce Area Business Association, businesses which provided prizes and the Commerce Police Department for making this another successful Easter event! Community Bank & Trust Member FDIC