Newspaper Page Text
frzTr Region Roundup
Barrow Leads
Area In
Unemployment
Barrow County had the
highest unemployment rate
in the heart of Northeast
Georgia in October with a
rate of 7.4 percent. That was
higher than the state aver
age of 7 percent and higher
than all of the Northeastern
Georgia area which was at
7.3 percent.
In addition, Barrow saw its
unemployment insurance
claims jump in October
from 230 in 2007 to 526 in
October 2008, a 129 per
cent increase.
Jackson County was
also hard hit in October’s
employment rates with an
unemployment rate of 7
percent compared to 4.1
percent the year before.
While lower in raw num
bers, Jackson’s initial unem
ployment insurance claims
rose faster than Barrow’s in
October with a 131 percent
climb over October 2007.
Banks County had the
lowest unemployment in
the area at 5.1 percent,
although that was higher
than the county’s 3 percent
in October 2007.
Madison County was a
little higher at 5.9 percent
compared to 3.7 percent the
year before.
Commission
Fills Vacancies
On Agencies
The Jackson County
Board of Commissioners
made appointments to sev
eral boards Monday night,
while others were post
poned .
Those named were:
•Jean Collins, Robert
Schwalbe and Larry
Marchinton reappointed
to the dangerous dog com
mittee for one-year terms.
Chuck Herrington was
appointed to replace Tony
Kelly as the District 3 rep
resentative on the commit
tee.
•Jeff Perry, Tim
Cornelison and John
Gaissert reappointed to the
Jackson County Planning
Commission for one-year
terms. A1 Venable was
appointed to replace Dave
Ehrhardt as the District 3
representative on the plan
ning commission.
•Mark Palmer reappoint
ed to the Jackson County
Board of Adjustment for a
three-year term.
•Jimmy Peck and Helen
Gunnels reappointed to
the Jackson County Parks
and Recreation Advisory
Committee for one-year
terms.
•Scott Martin reappoint
ed to the Jackson County
Industrial Development
Authority for a five-year
term. Commissioner Jody
Thompson voted against
this appointment because
Card of Thanks
Luther Frank Rucker
(Buck)
Nov. 11, 2008
Thank you sincerely for sharing
our sorrow. Your kindness is
deeply appreciated and will
always he remembered.
The family of
Luther Frank Rucker
he claimed Martin “involved
himself in campaigning’’ in
the recent election.
Over Jackson
Co. Objection
Budget Passes
ATHENS - The Upper
Oconee Basin Water
Authority approved a $7
million budget Wednesday,
Nov. 26, with the two
Jackson County repre
sentatives voting against
it. Representatives from
Clarke, Barrow and Oconee
County all voted in favor of
the budget, which reflects a
9.5 percent increase from
the year before.
Jackson County Board of
Commission chairman Pat
Bell and Jackson County
Water and Sewerage
Authority manager Eric
Klerk voted against the bud
get.
Bell spoke on the $250,000
added to the budget to cover
legal expenses because of
a lawsuit filed by Jackson
County against the authori
ty. She said the extra money
would not have been neces
sary if the other authority
members had agreed for an
outside firm to study the
reservoir capacity. Jackson
County and the author
ity have disagreed over the
available capacity.
“This could all be settled
if this body would agree to
bring in a third party to take
a look at our opinion — the
findings of our expert com
pared to the findings of the
JJ&G expert,’’ Bell said after
the meeting.
The $7 million budget is
up over the current $6.4
million budget. The bud
get includes $4 million for
operating expenses and $2
million for bond interest
expense.
Amanda House
Is Beneficiary
Of Homes Tour
The doors of six houses
in Traditions of Braselton
will be open for tour guests
this weekend — and hom
eowners hope the effort will
raise funds for a local youth
home.
Traditions of Braselton
will hold its inaugural tour
of homes Saturday, Dec. 6,
from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and
Sunday, Dec. 7, from 1-6
p.m. Last tours begin at 4
p.m.
The golf community is the
largest residential neighbor
hood in Jackson County.
Homes featured on the tour
will be decorated for the
holiday season.
Tickets are $25 on the day
of the tour. Advance tickets
are $20, and are available
at the Braselton Antique
Mall and both Hometown
Community Bank loca
tions.
Proceeds from the tour
will benefit the Amanda
House, a residential youth
house in Nicholson that
serves girls that are primar
ily ages 10-18, who are in
need of emergency place
ment or can’t be placed in a
regular foster home.
The Amanda House will
serve children in Jackson,
Banks and Barrow counties.
Groups Raise
$1,500 For FFA
Scholarships
Commerce Chrysler
Jeep Dodge and the Banks
County FFA raised more
than $1,500 in scholar
ship and operational funds
though the Hometown
Scholarship Program, which
was administered in Banks
County.
Through the program,
Banks County FFA mem
bers accepted suggested
donations of $5 from Banks
County community mem
bers. The donors were then
invited to visit the dealership
for a T-shirt as well a chance
to win a new 2009 Dodge
Ram truck. The donated
funds are earmarked for
FFA scholarships and the
FFA’s treasury for opera
tional needs.
The Hometown
Scholarship Program is
a national program con
ducted through local high
school organizations that
are matched with their local
dealership.
“Not only did Commerce
Chrysler Jeep Dodge pro
vide this opportunity for
our FFA, but also support
ed, promoted and elevated
the Hometown Scholarship
Program beyond our expec
tations,’’ said Ryan Ayers,
Banks County FFA instruc
tor.
Christmas
Events On
Tap This Week
Santa will make his
first appearance in this
area Friday night at the
Nicholson library and also
at the Pendergrass depot.
He’s scheduled to visit
with children and to have
his photo taken by parents
from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the
Harold S. Swindle Library
off Hwy. 441 next to Benton
Elementary School.
Santa will also be in town
Saturday evening at the
Nicholson Christmas tree
lighting planned for 6:30
p.m. at the amphitheater
located behind city hall. The
evening will include music
and hot chocolate will be
served.
Pendergrass will host a
photo session with Santa at
the town depot 6 to 8 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 5.
Families, children and
pets are welcome. There is
no sitting fee, and each par
ticipant will receive one free
photo.
Jefferson
Jefferson will host its
Christmas parade Saturday
at 3 p.m.
Local musician Corey
Smith will serve as grand
marshal and will hold a
concert at 8 p.m. at the
Jefferson High School per
forming arts center with
proceeds to benefit JHS,
the Jefferson police depart
ment and Better Hometown
Jefferson. Tickets are $20
for reserved seating and
can be bought at the Coffee
Philter from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
through Friday, and from 8
a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
The annual Better
Hometown Tour of Homes
will be held on historic
Martin Street Sunday after
noon. Call 706-367-5714.
Maysville
The Maysville Community
Club will hold Christmas in
the Park Saturday evening
at dusk, with Santa on hand
for photos from 4 to 8 p.m.
The annual event includes
booths, entertainment,
Santa on his sleigh, a hay-
ride and refreshments. Keith
Davis will play Christmas
carols on his Native
American flute.
AChristmasTour of Homes
will be held in Maysville
from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday,
Dec. 13. Organizers hope
the tour will again include
six or seven homes. The
tour will start at the public
library, and $15 tickets will
be available there the day of
the tour, as well as at local
businesses in advance.
Ranked Highest
in Customer Satisfaction
by J.D. Power and Associates
According to a study by J.D. Power and Associates, Jackson EMC ranks
"Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Midsize Utilities in the South,"
as well as utilities in the nation, regardless of size.
ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP/CORPORATION 51
jacksonemc.com
Jackson EMC received the highest numerical score among midsize utilities in the South region in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study ’!
Study based on 35.588 responses ranking the 27 largest providers in the South (AL. AK. FL, GA. LA. MS. OK. NC. SC. TX). Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of
consumers surveyed in March-May 2008. Your experiences may vary. Visit idpower.com