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The Commerce News PAGE 2A • AUGUST 6,2008 Public Shows Little Interest In Budget Hearings HOMER - The Banks County Board of Commissioners held two hearings on the proposed $14.5 million county budget last week but there was little citizen input. The hearings were held at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Thursday. No citizens attended the morning hearing, and only one person attended the evening hearing. Several elected officials and county staff were at both meetings. The project budget is up almost six percent over the current bud get. Commissioners state “cost of living" expenses and rising insur ance costs are the main increases in the budget. Chairman Gene Hart added that there will be no millage rate increase. The board of commissioners is expected to adopt the bud get when it meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday Aug. 12. Turtle Trek Is Saturday At Crow's Lake Visitors should bring sunscreen and a lawn blanket or chair and plan to spend a fun-filled day of great food, free activities and entertainment when the Tree House hosts its Turbo Turtle Trek at Crow’s Lake, Jefferson, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9. The event, which is a fund-rais er for the Tree House, the chil dren’s advocacy center for the Piedmont Judicial District, raised tens of thousands of dollars at last year’s event. The free Family Fun Festival is an important part of the Turtle Trek, providing families with a great opportunity for a day of games, crafts, touchable animals, safety awareness and education. Food such as chicken barbe cue, hamburgers, hotdogs, cot ton candy, fresh seasonal fruit, ice cream and baked goods will be available for purchase, as a fund-raiser for a large number of Jackson and Barrow County non profits. In addition, non-profit, public safety, and medical organi zations will be on hand with lots of hands-on activities. Little visitors are invited to bring a teddy bear or other stuffed friend in need of repair to visit Barrow Medical Center’s Teddy Bear Surgery. Magoo the Tortoise, the Chelian Farms llamas and adoptable pets from the Jackson County Humane Society will be ready for touching, organizers say. Public safety organizations from all over the three-county area will provide opportunities to learn about safety in an exciting, but non-threatening way, with lots of memorable activities. Smokey the Bear and representatives of the U.S. Forestry Service will pay a visit, while representatives of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources will be on hand with free gunlocks and pointers on gun safety. “These are just a few of the great activities that will be hap pening Saturday," volunteer Donna Butler said. “We are espe cially excited this year about our — Election Cont. from Page 1A Tim Madison’s problems. She also produced a late direct-mail piece trying to tie Smith to the rape and murder of a Florida girl by a man who pled guilty to misdemeanor charges in the Piedmont Circuit. Smith carried Jackson County and Sikes won Banks County 637-490 but Smith put Sikes away with a strong showing in his home county, carrying Barrow 2,717-1,395. Smith wound up with 57 percent of the vote Tuesday night. Region Roundup Open New Elementary School Kathy Wilbanks, chairman of the Jackson County Board of Education, and Alisa Hanley, principal, cut the ribbon on the new Gum Springs Elementary School during a ceremony Sunday. Families, local officials and community leaders toured the facility after the ceremony. Photo by Kerri Testement entertainment. A local performer, Jonathan Jackson, will emcee and perform, allowing us to feature a number of local groups and talents. We’ll have a wide vari ety from gospel to kids music, from old time string to tiny danc ers. We encourage everyone to get there early and plan to stay from the beginning of the first performance to the end of the Turtle Race, V.I.T. (Very Important Turtle) Decorating Contest and race results. “And we know that it’s frequent ly very hot for the Turbo Turtle Trek, so this year, the City of Loganville has graciously loaned Tree House volunteers a large mister tent to keep our visitors cool. In addition, Stop and Ride of Jefferson will be there with large fans to help keep the breeze moving." Schedule 10 a.m. Commerce School of Dance 10:30 a.m. Performer & Emcee Jonathan Jackson 11:15 a.m. The Maxwells, (gos- pel) 11:45 a.m. Erin Ramsey, soloist 12:00 - 12:15 p.m. Jonathan Jackson 12:15 - 1 p.m. The Garnett River Gals Old Time String Band 1 p.m. Turbo Turtle Trek emceed by Jonathan Jackson 1:30 p.m. V.I.T. Turtle Beauty Contest (Decorated Turtles) emceed by Jonathan Jackson Governor's Offices Launches New ConsumerEd Site The Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs has launched a new web site, www.ConsumerEd. com, which targets young adults to become smarter consumers. The web site walks consumers through major purchasing and financial decisions, such as buy ing a car, purchasing a house, renting an apartment, making home improvements, dealing with credit and debt, managing money and avoiding foreclosure. The web site is divided into four main topic areas: Car, Home, Credit/Debt and Finances 101. The Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs is the consum er protection agency for the State of Georgia. The office is charged with protecting consumers from unfair and deceptive acts and practices in the context of con sumer transactions. Fatal Barrow Fire Under Investigation The Winder Fire Department is investigating a fatal house fire at 498 N. Fifth Avenue. Firefighters were dispatched to the scene shortly after 9:30 p.m. Sunday night. The structure was heavily involved when emergency personnel arrived. A body was located in a bed room in the front portion of the house after the fire was extin guished. Fire department officials are not currently releasing the name or gender of the victim. Winder Fire Chief Ray Mattson said investigators are awaiting results from the crime lab before releasing any further information about the deceased. “Right now, we are in the mid dle of our investigation," he said. “We’re still in the process of look ing at the fire and trying to deter mine the cause." Hoschton May Allow Alcohol Sales At Concerts Beer and wine may be served at two concerts set for the Hoschton Fall Festival in September. That’s if the city council approves the idea at its meeting next month. The Hoschton City Council is expected to consider an ordinance that would allow beer and wine to be sold at desig nated events and places, such as the fall festival. The ordinance would allow beer and wine to be sold in 16-ounce cups by a licensed establishment. Drinking beer and wine in a can, bottle or glass would be prohib ited. No outside alcohol could be brought to the events. The entertainment committee of the Hoschton Fall Festival asked the city council to consider the proposal. Last week, the council debated if it should approve the ordi nance. Council member Theresa Kenerly said the ordinance fol lows similar policies for concerts in Duluth and Norcross. But council member Richard Green said parents may not want their children to be around those drink ing at a concert. “I think the fall festival is a fam ily affair and I don’t think this is family friendly," Green said. “I think there any number of attend ees that might be offended by it — drinking in public — and who would question the city’s judg ment in permitting it." Council member Tom Walden said beer and wine would only be sold during the concerts. “It’s only for a very short time in a limited area," he said. Green said he isn’t opposed to alcohol, but doesn’t want to be around other people drinking alcohol in open containers. Monday, council member Jim Jester asked that the ordinance be placed on first read, which means the council would vote on the proposal during its September meeting. If approved, beer and wine could be sold during two concerts, from 7:30-10 p.m., at Hoschton Towne Center. R McClain’s and Anthony’s New York Pizza and Italian Grill, both located in the shopping center, would be allowed to serve drinks. Banks and Shane will perform Friday, Sept. 26, and Bill Gentry and The 35 Cent Rodeo will per form Saturday, Sept. 27. Hoschton Considers Regulation Of Golf Carts On Streets The Hoschton City Council is considering an ordinance that would regulate the driving of golf carts in the city limits. The council discussed the pro posal Monday, but opted to have the city’s public safety committee take a second look at the ordi nance. The ordinance would designate crossover spots for golf carts and other low-speed vehicles along Ga. Hwy. 53 and Peachtree Road. It would also require that residents pay $25 for a five-year permit to register their golf carts. Non residents would pay $50 each year. Council member Jim Jester ques tioned if Hoschton has enough golf carts to justify an ordinance regulating their use. “How do we arrive at a need?" he asked during Thursday’s work session. Mayor Bill Copenhaver said a number of citizens have asked about driving golf carts in the city limits. Council member Richard Shepherd said a growing popula tion that includes older citizens who may want to stay in the area, but travel to stores in golf carts. The purpose of the ordinance is to make it safer for such motor ized vehicles, he said. “Hoschton is laid out in a very accommodating way to do this," council member John Schulte said. Council member Tom Walden questioned why Hoschton needs to charge a registration fee for golf carts. Shepherd said the city could monitor golf carts. The proposed ordinance also follows a simi lar one used in Peachtree City, which charges a registration fee, he added. “Hoschton is not Peachtree City," Walden said. Monday, Shepherd said reg istering golf carts would allow the city to prioritize funding for recreational paths, based on the addresses of registered users. Copenhaver said the registration fees will fund the maintenance of designated golf cart paths. By Monday night’s meeting, council member Jim Jester said the ordinance had become too complicated and should be tossed out. His comments followed a debate about if and where chil dren ages 12-15 should be allowed to drive golf carts in the city. “We’ve turned what should be a simple issue into a 10-12 page very complicated ordinance that is going to be very difficult to enforce," Jester said. He also raised the concern that someone could get hurt while driv ing a golf cart along a Hoschton street. “This isn’t Peachtree City," Jester said. “Peachtree City was designed for this." Police chief Dave Hill said state law allows golf carts to be driven on streets, provided drivers fol low traffic laws. Shepherd said the goal is to follow the existing state law, but make it safer for drivers with designated crossover points on streets. Hill said the registration process also educates people about laws related to driving such vehicles. NEED PRINTING? CALL 706-367-5233 Heritage Heights Apartments 101 Heritage Avenue • Jefferson, Georgia 30549 706-367-9891 44 MODERN 1 AND 2 BEDROOM APARTMENTS 'Heritage Heights Apartments is financed through USDA/Rural Development. Certain income restrictions apply. MENDING TOUCH CLINIC Located behind the Mall at 485 Huntington Rd., Athens Did you reach the end of the road with your present treatment for FIBROMYALGIA? 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