Newspaper Page Text
Area Death Notices Commerce News
SEPTEMBER 10, 2008 • PAGE 9A
Larry Cotton
Larry Cotton, 66, of
Danielsville,
died Saturday,
Sept. 6, 2008,
following an
extended ill
ness.
Survivors
include sons,
John Cochran,
Jefferson, and Kevin
Cochran, Commerce.
Funeral services were
held Monday, Sept. 8,
at Redeemed Baptist
Church.
The Commerce News, September 10, 2008.
Virginia Denton
Virginia Nellie Denton,
77, of Commerce, died
Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008, at
her residence.
She was born in Banks
County, the daughter of the
late James Alexander and
Nellie Watson Blackburn.
She was preceded in death
by her husband, Clyde
Denton, and was a member
of Line Baptist Church.
Survivors include daugh
ters, Gail Toney and
Wanda Williams, both of
Commerce, Dianne Carey,
Royston, Rita Barber,
Jefferson, and Melissa
Rowland, Hoschton; a
sister, Winnie McGill,
Commerce; six grand
children; and seven great
grandchildren.
Funeral were held Sunday,
Sept. 7, in the chapel of Little-
Ward Funeral Home with
the Rev. Vaughn Howington
officiating. Burial was Line
Baptist Church Cemetery.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, was in charge
of arrangements.
The Commerce News, September 10, 2008.
Hoyt Duncan
Hoyt W. Duncan, 104, of
Commerce, died Monday
Sept. 8, 2008, at BJC
Nursing Home.
He was born Sept. 8,
1904, the son of the late
Alvin and Harriett Bray
Duncan. He was a member
of Webbs Creek Baptist
Church and was a retired
farmer. He was known
around north Georgia
as the “Water Witch.’' He
used a homemade con
traption to help home-
owners and well drillers
find water. Many of Mr.
Duncan’s “finds’’ are still
in use today.
Mr. Duncan was preced
ed in death by his wife,
Marie Wilson Duncan;
and daughter, Bernice
Rylee.
He is survived by a son,
Paul Duncan, Commerce;
five grandchildren, nine
great-grandchildren; and
seven great-great-grand
children.
Funeral services were
held Tuesday, Sept. 9,
at Webbs Creek Baptist
Church with the Revs.
Robert Hill, Wade Lott and
Mr. James Cantrell officiat
ing. Burial was in the church
cemetery.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce was in charge of
arrangements.
The Commerce News, September 10, 2008
Junior
Martin
Junior C.
Martin, 77, of
Commerce,
died Wed
nesday, Aug.
20, 2008. The funeral was
held Friday, Aug. 22, at
Ivie Funeral Home, with
interment at Grey Hill
Cemetery.
Mr. Martin was a son
of the late J.C. and Lois
Haynes Martin and was
preceded in death by a
brother, Paul Martin.
He was retired after 50
years in the roofing busi
ness.
Mr. Martin was of the
Baptist faith and was
a member of Baptist
Tabernacle, Commerce.
He is survived by his
wife, Alice Crocker
Martin; son and daughter-
in-law, Dennis and Shirley
Martin, Commerce; a
brother, Bobby Martin,
Commerce; sisters,
Barbara Snipes and Linda
Parson, both of Maysville;
and Martha Ginn,
Commerce; grandsons,
Greg Martin (Jeanan),
Jason Martin (Janet)
and Keith Martin (Beth);
and great-granddaugh
ters, Kaylee Martin and
Marietta Martin.
The Commerce News Sept. 10, 2008.
Faith Smith
Faith Dixon Smith, 88, of
Commerce, died Sunday,
Sept. 7, 2008, at Athens
Regional Medical Center.
She was born in Jackson
County, the daughter of
the late Milton and Callie
Wilson Dixon. She was a
homemaker and a mem
ber of the Berea Baptist
Church. She was preceded
in death by her husband,
James Rogers Smith.
Survivors include
a son, Ronnie Smith,
Commerce.
Funeral services were
held Tuesday, Sept. 9, in
the chapel of Little-Ward
Funeral Home with the Rev.
Verlin Reece, Terry James
and Jeff Seymour officiat
ing. Burial was in Jackson
Memorial Gardens.
Memorial contributions
may be made to Gideons
International or Berea
Baptist Church.
Little-Ward Funeral
Home, Commerce, was in
charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, September 10, 2008.
On The March At Halftime
Chris Lewis, left, playing the tuba, and Will Campbell, saxophone, perform
during the halftime of the Commerce-Jefferson football game. They’re mem
bers of the Commerce High School Marching Tiger Band under the direction
of Kara Taylor. The halftime show features a “spy” theme.
Photo by Brandon Reed
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School Costs Weighing More
Heavily On Local Taxpayers
By Kerri Testement
The burden on local tax
payers for funding educa
tion amid state budget cuts
is growing, according to fig
ures presented Thursday.
The Jackson County Board
of Education is set to adopt
a budget of $90.4 million at
its October meeting.
On Thursday, the board
agreed to keep the mainte
nance and operations mill-
age rate at 18.90, while the
millage rate for bond retire
ment stayed at 3.10.
Local school officials say
there’s a growing trend of
more local taxes funding
education and fewer dollars
coming from the state.
The county school system
is expected to contribute
$7.2 million of its 2009 bud
get to a fund that all school
systems are required to
support in order to receive
QBE funding. Last year, the
school system paid $6.0 mil
lion into the fund, called
local fair share — the equiva
lent of five mills of taxes.
The school system is also
losing $403,642 through
state austerity cuts.
Between austerity cuts
and the local fair share con
tribution, the county school
system doesn’t get to use
8.4 percent of its overall
budget.
The system anticipates
that state revenue from the
QBE grant will fund 53 per
cent of its budget, with local
taxes paying for 47 percent.
Seven years ago, the state
provided 59 percent and
local taxes paid for 41 per
cent.
Superintendent Shannon
Adams said when the QBE
formula was adopted in the
1980s, the intent was to have
the state fund 80 percent of
education and local taxes
contribute 20 percent.
In 2001, the state funded
40 percent of transporta
tion costs. For the proposed
2009 budget, the state will
fund 28 percent.
The system nixed a plan
to buy seven new school
buses at an estimated cost
of $700,000. Now, the dis
trict is budgeting $197,798
for bus replacement.
Adams said the county
school system may consid
er revamping its transporta
tion system that dates to
1990.
Other budget challenges
for the district include using
$585,475 in reserve funds,
which leaves little money
for unexpected costs during
the year; increasing main
tenance and utility costs at
the new, large schools; no
sales tax funds available to
buy land for future schools;
and a growing student
population that will require
more teachers to meet state-
mandated classroom sizes.
HISTORIC DOWNTOWN
COMMERCE
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SIDEWALK SALE
Particinatine Stores:
Q - Our Town Antiques
© - Jay’s Department
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e - Sanders Furniture
Q - Commerce Drug
0 - Cherished Treasures
0 - State Street
Boutique
Q - Common Road
Bakery
Q - Peyton’s Place
Q - StonewalPs BBQ
(^) - Giftworks at the Joy
Shoppe
0 - Vaughn’s Wing
Slingers Grill
0 - Carol Streetman
Photography
0 - Little Italy Pizzeria
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