Newspaper Page Text
THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS, WEDNESDAY. APRIL 30, 2008 - PAGE 3A
Chas Hardy To Run
For County Commission
One surprise among
those qualifying for of
fice this week was Chas
Hardy who qualified as
a Republican to chal
lenge incumbent District
2 Commissioner Jody
Thompson.
Hardy, 40, is the son
of Commerce Mayor
Charles L. “Buzzie” Har
dy Jr. and Paula Hardy.
He works at Commerce Printing,
a family-owned business.
“I just felt like there’s a lot of
things we need to do to prepare
for the future,” said Hardy. “I’m
excited. We’re the tenth fastest
growing county in the nation,
and I want to be able to do my
part to protect the county and
let it grow the way we want it to
grow and not have it dictated to
us.”
Hardy is Commerce High
School graduate, a graduate of
West Georgia College
and is a member of the
Jackson County Indus
trial Development Au
thority. He’s a director of
the Boys and Girls Club
of Jackson County, a cap
tain of the Commerce
Fire Department, a mem
ber and past president of
the Commerce Kiwanis
Club, a member of the
Commerce Athletic Booster Club,
the Commerce Area Business As
sociation and the Jackson County
Area Chamber of Commerce. He
is a graduate of Leadership Jack-
son County and serves on the
Economic Development Commit
tee of the Commerce Downtown
Development Authority.
Hardy and his wife, Sabrina, a
teacher at Commerce Elementary
School, have two children, Anna
Caroline, 9, and Lambdin, 5. They
live in Commerce.
Chas Hardy
—Hands Of f Jackson Water
Cont. from Page 1A
conditions result in the reservoir
level falling.
Last fall, when the drought
caused the reservoir level to drop
rapidly, Jackson officials real
ized their worst fear. Because
Jackson County used much less
water daily than the other three
members, it never came close
to getting its 25 percent entitle
ment share. Officials worry that
in a repeat of the drought, by
the time Jackson County most
needs its water, Athens-Clarke
and the other two counties will
have drained the reservoir.
Local officials have long argued
to no avail that the authority’s
system for allocating costs are
skewed against Jackson County,
that Oconee County has been
using Jackson County’s water
and/or water treatment capacity
without paying for it and that in
times of drought the county does
not get the water to which it is
entitled. Bowers’ letter is the fruit
of months of discussion about
how to protect Jackson’s invest
ment in the reservoir and the
water treatment plant.
Through Bowers, Jackson
County argues that the cost meth
odology system that was updated
last year is “in direct conflict” with
the intergovernmental agreement
if other member counties exceed
their entitlement shares.
Under the current operating
protocol, member counties are
allowed to exceed their entitle
ment share as long as the water is
available — which Bowers argues
is not permissible.
“Without an amendment to the
agreement, there is no other way
to reallocate entitlement share
resources without the agreement
of the member county,” Bowers
wrote. “As stated above, Jackson
County has not and will not con
sent to such a sale.”
The letter concludes with a
veiled threat to “consider taking
(legal) action under Section 605
of the agreement” if the regional
authority fails to “comply with
its obligation to make Jackson
County’s entitlement share avail
able to Jackson County each
month.”
Community Calendar
To place events on the Community Calendar, call 706-387-5406 or e-mail mark@mainstreetnews.com
Thursday, May 1
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Monday, May 5
Commerce Council meets:
6:00 p.m., City Hall. This "work
session" prepares the city coun
cil for its regular meeting the
following Monday.
Nicholson Council meets:
7:00 p.m., City Hall.
Maysville Council meets:
7:00 p.m., City Hall.
Tuesday, May 6
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, May 7
Chamber breakfast: 7:30
a.m., Jefferson Civic Center. All
members of the Jackson County
Area Chamber of Commerce
are invited.
Thursday, May 8
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
School board meets: 7:00
p.m., Commerce Elementary
School media center. This "work
session" of the Commerce
Board of Education is used to
prepare for the regular meeting
the following Monday night at
the same time.
Friday, May 9
Concert in the Park: 6:00
p.m. Spencer Park, downtown
Commerce.Free concert by
Boss Laura and Jimmy T, a
classic Southern rock group.
Concessions available. Part of
the Fridays After 5 series.
Monday, May 12
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, May 13
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.
Thursday, May 15
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 1:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
Monday, May 19
Hospital authority meets:
1:30 p.m., conference room,
BJC Hospital. The BJC Medical
Center Authority manages BJC
Hospital and Nursing Home.
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 patients
and their families.
Tuesday, May 20
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Pilot Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
First United Methodist Church
of Commerce. The Pilot Club of
Commerce meets on the third
Thursday of each month.
Thursday, May 22
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Friday, May 23
Concert in the Part: 6:00
p.m. Spencer Park, downtown
Commerce. Free concert by
Curly Maple, a bluegrass
group. Concessions available.
Part of the Fridays After 5 se
ries sponsored by the DDA.
Cola Sassy Quilters: 6:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
Monday, May 26
Memorial Day holiday: All
overnment offices and some
usinesses closed.
Tuesday, May 27
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.
Thursday, May 29
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Monday, June 2
Commerce Council meets:
6:00 p.m., City Hall. This "work
session" prepares the city coun
cil for its regular meeting the
following Monday.
Nicholson Council meets:
7:00 p.m., City Hall.
Maysville Council meets:
7:00 p.m., City Hall.
Tuesday, June 3
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, June 4
Chamber breakfast: 7:30
a.m., location TBA. All mem
bers of the Jackson County
Area Chamber of Commerce
are invited.
Thursday, June 5
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
School board meets: 7:00
p.m., Commerce Middle School
media center. This work session
prepares the board for its regu
lar meeting the following Mon
day night in the media center of
Commerce High School.
Friday, June 6
Movie in the Park: dusk, at
Spencer Park, downtown Com
merce. Free. The last Fridays
After 5 movie will be "Surf's
Up," rated "G." Concessions
will be available.
Monday, June 9
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, June 10
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.
Thursday, June 12
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 1:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
Monday, June 16
Hospital authority meets:
1:30 p.m., conference room,
BJC Hospital. The BJC Medical
Center Authority manages BJC
Hospital and Nursing Home.
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 patients
and their families.
Tuesday, June 17
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, June 19
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Pilot Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
First United Methodist Church
of Commerce. The Pilot Club of
Commerce meets on the third
Thursday of each month.
Monday, June 23
City planning meeting:
7:00 p.m., Peach Room,
Commerce Civic Center. The
Commerce Planning Commis
sion makes recommendations
on zoning requests and land
use matters.
Tuesday, June 24
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.
Thursday, June 26
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 6:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
— Qualifying Is Under Way
Cont. from Page 1A
•Dan Venable, incumbent sur
veyor.
•Camie Thomas, incumbent
clerk of courts.
•Don Moore, incumbent solici
tor general.
•Margaret Deadwyler, incum
bent probate judge.
• Billy Chandler, incumbent
magistrate judge.
• Keith Whitfield, incumbent
coroner.
Other seats on the ballot
include:
•Jackson County Board
of Education, post 1 (Michael
Cronic, incumbent).
• State Court judge (Jerry Gray,
incumbent).
•County Surveyor (Dan
Venable, incumbent).
• Magistrate Judge (Billy
Chandler, incumbent).
•Coroner (Keith Whitfield,
incumbent).
•Tax Commissioner (Don
Elrod, incumbent).
•Jackson County BOC, district
1 (Tom Crow, incumbent).
State Races
In the two state races impact
ing the county, incumbent Lee
Hawkins, a Gainesville dentist,
is the only candidate so far to
qualify for State Senate District
49. Incumbent Tommy Benton,
a retired teacher from Jefferson,
is the only candidate so far to
qualify for the District 31 state
representative seat.
In the District 10 United States
Representative race, three peo
ple have qualified so far: incum
bent Paul Broun, Athens, and
Barry Fleming, Augusta, both
Republicans; and Bobby Saxon,
Nicholson, a Democrat.
Qualifying ends Friday, May
2, at noon. Those running for
an elected office must qualify
at the headquarters of either the
Republican or Democratic parties
during that time. Republicans are
asked to qualify at Premier Realty,
located at 1383 Washington Street
in Jefferson. Democrats are asked
to qualify at the office of attorney
Walter Harvey at 122 Washington
Street in Jefferson.
The primary election will be
held Tuesday, July 15. Voters must
choose either a Republican or a
Democratic party ballot.
A runoff election after the
primary, if needed, will be held
Tuesday, Aug. 5.
The general election will be held
Tuesday, Nov. 4. Non-partisan
races in Jackson County will be
on the general election ballot in
November. The three Superior
Court judge seats will be on this
ballot. The qualifying will be June
23-27. Superior Court judges
Robert Adamson, Joe Booth and
David Motes have not announced
whether they plan to seek re-elec
tion or not. Currie Mingledorff
has announced that he plans to
seek Adamson’s seat.
Feeding The Thousands
Members of the Commerce Fire Department
watch over the last of 2,500 chicken halves in
last Saturday’s annual Chickenque. Their day
started early, at 2:00 that morning.
Maysville To
Take Comments
On Comprehensive
Plan Thursday
The City of Maysville will hold
a public information meeting to
take comment on the comprehen
sive plan for the city Thursday,
May 1, at 7 p.m. at the Maysville
Public Library.
CLASSIFIED ADS
S10 PER WEEK
706-335-2927 • 706-367-5233
MasterCard • VISA
Save $3
by placing ads online at
classified@mainstreetnews.com
NEED PRINTING?
CALL
706-367-5233
pg mm itiffr me
Christian Outreach
Thrift St
ore
bjew awd nS£D FuetJirue.e,
viarre.£55£5,
uousguold eoovs, Ere...
Hoah's Ark
335-6084
2183 N. Elm St Commerce, GA
Your patronage helps provide for those in need.
RE.b<?URCE. CE.NlTC.12.
Lj Youth Homes serving Jackson, Barrow and Banks Counties _
0ar >quet © (Silent Auction
Jefferson Civic Center May 24th
Tickets available call 706-757-2161or 706-335-6084