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±r Nws Region Roundup DA Candidates Trade Barbs Before Barrow GOP With the runoff just two weeks away, the candidates for District Attorney have become more aggressive in their attempts to cast doubt on their opponents’ qualifications. Candidates Brad Smith and Donna Sikes had just two minutes to address the Republican Party faithful at the Tuesday night meet ing of the Barrow County GOP. With an effort worthy of a high stakes closing argument, Sikes and Smith made their case for election as the next District Attorney of the Piedmont Judicial Circuit. Sikes fired the opening salvo in the night’s confrontation between the two attorneys. Sikes said she was better quali fied for District Attorney due to her seventeen years of experi ence and because of her ability to restore public trust in the office. 'The problem with my opponent is that everything that went wrong in that office was because of Tim Madison and everything that went right was because of him,” she said. “You can’t have it both ways. He either was involved in running the office or he wasn’t.” Sikes remained on the offensive arguing that Smith’s experience was worthless without good judg ment. Sikes also said Smith, as head of the Barrow County office, needed to take responsibility for excessive spending after Madison left office and for thousands of unprosecuted cases. “I’ve learned as an attorney that you can delegate authority, but not responsibility,” she said. Sikes vowed to prosecute cases aggres sively and restore public trust in the office. After thanking his supporters and all those who voted in the primary, Smith began his rebuttal of Sikes’ argument. “Throughout her campaign, my opponent has consistently used mudslinging and baseless personal attacks. Since the elec tion, there have been rumors and conspiracy theories running ram pant,” he said. “I am here to tell you now that these are not true. The things you have been reading about are not true.” Smith said the negative cam paigning was causing citizens to lose sight of the real issue in the campaign — who is better qualified to be the next District Attorney. Smith said police and sheriff’s deputies risk their lives every day to get dangerous criminals off the streets. “If the District Attorney is not qualified, these criminals will be back on the street,” he said. Smith spoke of a quadruple murder case currently pending in Hoschton. He reminded voters that whoever is elected as District Attorney will immediately be faced with prosecuting that case. “I am the only candidate with any experience in the compli cated world of death penalty liti gation,” he said. “My opponent is not death penalty qualified.” Smith said the defendants in death penalty cases are guaran teed representation by counsel that is death penalty qualified. If Sikes is elected, the defendant would have more qualified rep resentation than the citizens of Barrow County, he said. The race for District Attorney of the Piedmont Judicial Circuit will be decided in a three county run-off to be held Aug. 5. 4-W Farm Project Being Sold To Canadian Firm One of the largest proposed developments in Jackson County may soon be in the hands of a new owner. BROADWAY ARTS CENTER 122 Washington St. Jefferson 706 367-7589 www.BroadwavArtsCenter.com Now Enrolling v Fall Classes! N OPEN HOUSE Every Tues Thurs 4:30-6:30 j| Thru Aug 14 P Hip - Hop Theater jr Ballet I. [• Jazz i Tap Let me take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the citizens of Jackson County's District 2 for your support during the election. I appreciate the confidence you have placed in me and promise that I will serve you with honesty, integrity and a desire to make Jackson County the envy of all Northeast Georgia. I promise to be a strong voice for all of District 2 and a wise steward of your tax dollars. My family and I are proud to call Jackson County home and again thank you for your vote and support. Sincerely, Chas Hardy Chas Hardy lackson County Commission District 2 The owner of the 4-W Farms Development in Arcade — Brand Properties LLC — plans to sell the proposed 2,300-lot project to Walton International Group. Arcade Mayor Doug Haynie said after a called council meeting Monday that Walton International wants to stick with the plans for the mixed-use development locat ed on U.S. Hwy. 129 “They share the same vision,” Haynie said. “And they expressed that in many of our meetings.” Walton International is based in Alberta, Canada, with a U.S. hub in Phoenix, AZ. Haynie said the 4-W Farms development would mark the com pany’s first project in Georgia. The project is slated to include a public golf course centered around a man-made lake, retail development and 2,300 houses. Brand Properties, Atlanta, plans to divide the property into five parcels and close Aug. 11. City council action tied to a wastewa ter treatment plant for the project was needed prior to the closing date, Haynie said. Brand Properties was slated to construct a wastewater treatment plant for the project, with Arcade being the permit holder for the plant. Haynie said once the develop ment is built, the city will have the first option to buy the wastewater treatment plant and operate it. Arcade currently has no sewer system. Haynie said there is no time- frame to develop the 4-W Farms project, but the developers are likely to wait until real estate mar ket conditions improve. Jefferson Budget Projects 12 Percent Spending Increase The City of Jefferson is prepar ing its 2009 budget and as draft ed, proposes an increase in city spending of around 12 percent. No hike in the city’s millage rate is anticipated, but due to growth in the town’s digest, the city projects to collect nearly $300,000, or 11 percent, more in property taxes with the current rate. The budget and tax rate should be set by the end of August, according to the city’s timetable. The city’s general fund budget is currently set at $7.7 million. For the first time, the town’s debt service payments are expected to top $1 million in 2009, making it the town’s third largest expense. The town’s largest department is police at $1.9 million followed by recreation at $1.2 million. A majority of the town’s rev enues are expected to come from taxes. But due to the slow econ omy, the city is projecting only small growth in sales tax income over 2008, an amount that is even less than what was collected in 2007. Fine income is expected to go up in 2009, but the budget calls for that to also be less than what was collected in 2007. Recreation fees are expected to climb by over $100,000 in 2009, however to a total of $609,400. That is 72 percent more than what was collected in rec fees in 2007. GBI Awaits Audit Before Investigating Missing Money DANIELSVILLE - Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent Jim Fullington said Tuesday that his office is waiting for the Madison County government to complete an audit of the board of commis sioners’ office. Once the audit is finalized, the agency will conduct an investigation into reported missing funds in the BOC office. Stressed Out Over Finances? We offer personal loans from $150.00 to $500.00.* Telephone Applications Welcome. Call or Come Visit Us Today! rg| 1816 N. Broad Street security Commerce, GA 30529 ™ (706)335-3551 *More if you qualify. All loans are subject to our liberal credit policy and credit limitations, if any. Fullington said there is no esti mate yet on how much money is missing. “We don’t have an exact dollar amount,” he said. Fullington said he doesn’t expect the case to drag on for months, noting that the length of an inves tigation is often determined by the complexity of a money trail. “At this point, I don’t think that this is going to be a case that will be a long, drawn out thing over five or six months,” he said. “But that said, we really won’t know until we get into it.” The investigator said the GBI has questioned a couple of peo ple in the case but that the agency won’t necessarily interview every employee in the office. “It depends on what the audit shows,” said Fullington, adding that the GBI will look at when and where the money went missing and who had access to it. Fullington noted that the Athens GBI office has six agents working 11 counties. Those agents have conducted a number of govern ment investigations in recent months, including a previous probe of the Madison County BOC office after senior center funds were reported missing. That investigation led to the arrest of deputy clerk Melinda Spence, who was charged with the theft of approximately $1,700 in senior center funds. 'Turtle Trek' To Raise Funds For The Tree House The event, a major fund-raiser for The Tree House, will again feature a free Family Fun Festival and organizers are seeking activ ity and informational participa tion from non-profit and civic groups that help children and the community. “Fast year, we had very success ful participation from non-profits such as the Humane Society of Jackson County, Keep Jackson Beautiful!, the Moms Club of Jefferson/Braselton, the Jefferson Fions Club, numerous health and safety organizations and many other wonderful groups,” said Donna Butler, Family Fun Festival coordinator. “All hosted fun and informational outreach activities for children and adults, and every one had a great time. We hope to increase non-profit participation this year, as we expect an even greater turnout.” The Turbo Turtle Trek, around which the free Family Fun Festival is built, raises funds for the Tree House Inc., the children’s advo cacy center serving the Piedmont Judicial District. Funds raised through the 2007 Turbo Turtle Trek helped reduce the occur rence and impact of child abuse through counseling, nurturing, education and support of numer ous families. Organizations interested in participating in the Family Fun Festival may contact Butler at 706-559-4841 or via email at story- teller826@bellsouth.net For more information on the Turbo Turtle Trek or The Tree House Inc., con tact The Tree House at 770-868- 1900 or www.thetreehouseinc.org. Plans are underway for the third annual Turbo Turtle Trek and Family Fun Festival to be held Saturday, Aug. 9, at Crow’s Fake, Jefferson. NEED PRINTING? CALL 706-367-5233 City of Commerce NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC The City of Commerce Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 7:00 P.M. in the Commerce Civic Center Peach Room, 110 State Street. The purpose of the hearing is for 1) Tommy Smallwood, 128 Harris Street, rezoning from R-3 to R-5, Map C01 Parcel 029, Map 010 Parcel 022. 2) Keith Whitfield, 375 Highway 441, Conditional Use Permit, recycling station. The public is invited to attend. David Zellner City Planner 1!' La Fiesta Grill UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT! RIGO TINOCO Riao is back in business! 15 years of experience. I am ready to serve all my former customers. Stop by and try our daily specials. 30553 Highway 441 South • Commerce, GA 30529 706-335-2787 Spice Up Your Day With Mexican Flavor *5 OFF purchase of *20 or more. Sunday - Thursday Food & Soft Drinks Only. Alcohol Is Not Included.