Newspaper Page Text
Region Roundup
County To Hold
Pair Of New
Year's Programs
Two New Year’s Day
programs are planned in
Jackson County Jan. 1.
The 82nd annual New
Year’s Day Program will be
held at 9 a.m. Jan. 1 at the
Historic Jackson County
Courthouse. This tradition
al program was started in
1927 “to give thanks to God
for all the blessings of the
past year and to ask for
divine guidance throughout
the coming New Year.’’
As has been the case for
several years, the event is
sponsored by Teen Pact,
a non-profit organization
committed to turning stu
dents into statesmen. Those
who attend are asked to
dress warmly because the
heat in the historic court
house may not be turned
on. Coffee, hot chocolate
and donuts will be served.
Because 2008 was an elec
tion year, a second New
Year’s Day program will be
held at 10 a.m. Jan. 1 at
the new Jackson County
Courthouse to swear in new
ly-elected officials. Probate
Judge Margaret Deadwyler
will preside at the second
program and will adminis
ter the oath of office to
newly-elected officials.
Jobless Rate
Continues Its
Upward Trend
The Georgia Department
of Labor says that the
unemployment rate in the
Northeast Georgia area
rose to a preliminary unad
justed rate of 7.3 percent in
November, up 3.2 percent
age points over the year
from November of 2007.
The jobless rate in the
Northeast Georgia area rose
one-tenth of one percentage
point from a revised 7.2 per
cent in October.
Meanwhile, the state’s
seasonally adjusted unem
ployment rate rose to 7.5
percent in November, the
highest rate since July 1983
when it was also 7.5 per
cent.
The jobless rate was up 3.0
percentage points from 4.5
percent at this same time
last year. The November
unemployment rate was up
six-tenths of one percent
age point from a revised 6.9
percent in October.
The state rate remained
above the national rate of 6.7
percent for the 10th straight
month. At present, 365,244
unemployed Georgians are
looking for work.
“My Christmas wish
is that all Georgians will
embrace the true meaning
of this holiday season,’’ said
State Labor Commissioner
Michael Thurmond in a
statement issued before
Christmas.
“During this unprece-
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706-614-0440
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706-207-7614
General Liability &
Workers’ Comp. Ins.
Cutting The Ribbon
Shown at the ribbon cutting last week at Jackson Electric Membership
Corporation were, left to right, Don Stewart, Matt Millard, Pat Bell, Steve
Gustin, Randall Pugh, Jim Joiner and Bob Bailey.
dented economic crisis, we
should remember to give the
gift of love and encourage
ment to unemployed fam
ily members and friends.
It is also important to reas
sure those facing economic
uncertainty that expensive
gifts they can ill-afford to
purchase are not expected
or needed,’’ he continued.
Thurmond encouraged
job seekers to remain posi
tive and take advantage of
the employment services
offered by the Georgia
Department of Labor. The
department’s Website, www.
dol.state.ga.us, includes
accessible listings of cur
rent job openings, as well
as information about job
search, career planning,
and education and training
opportunities. A complete
listing of all 53 career cen
ters is also provided.
Over the last year, the
number of payroll jobs in
Georgia decreased 94,400 or
2.3 percent. Manufacturing,
construction, and trade,
along with administrative
and support services, includ
ing temporary employment
agencies, were the hardest
hit industries.
No ID Yet On
Man Killed By
Train Dec. 22
A man was run over by
a train around 9:30 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 22, in Alto in
the area of Garland White
Road near Lee Arrendale
State Prison. The man has
not been identified.
Rick Salemi, Habersham
County Sheriff’s Office
Chief Investigator, said it is
unclear if the man was lying
on the tracks at the time of
the accident or walking on
the tracks. The man was hit
by the train and dragged
for some distance, Salemi
said.
Founder’s
Corner
by
Buhl Cummings
2009...”Forgetting those
things which are behind, and
reaching forth unto those
things which are before.” This is
the hope of the new year with
the Lord. We are exhorted to
bury heartaches, failures, and
sin in the “sea of forgetfulness,”
as we launch out into
uncharted waters with Christ as
our pilot and guide. Though
the waters may sometimes be
stormy and rough, the Lord
can calm the storm.
If your child is battling a
storm on the sea of education,
ACS invites you to enjoy
smooth sailing on the calm
waters of quality education in a
Christian atmosphere.
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“Affordable Quality Education Since 1970”
K3-12TH CALL (706) 549-7586
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The body has been sent
to the Georgia Bureau of
Investigations Crime Lab
in Decatur, Salemi said,
for an autopsy. Hopefully
this will help to determine
the man’s identity, Salemi
added.
The case is being inves
tigated by the HCSO and
the GBI.
lie libraries; at Genuine
Jefferson across from
Jefferson High School on
Washington Street; at the
Joy Shoppe in Commerce;
at Crawford W. Long
Pharmacy in Jefferson;
and at the Burns-Telford
House in Maysville.
Call Tina for special
orders or deliveries, 706-
207-6889.
Historical
Society's Book
Now Available
Jackson County
Historical Society’s book
“Portraits of a Southern
Place’’ has been reprinted.
A collector’s item for
anyone interested in
Jackson County history
and early photography,
the book contains 257
early Jackson County pho
tographs and includes an
index, organized by sur
names, to benefit geneal
ogy researchers.
This is a reprint in
paperback of the 2007
hardback publication
and is individually shrink
wrapped. The price of $25
includes tax. There will be
a quantity discount of five
books or more for $20
each. Checks and money
orders can be made to
The Jackson County
Historical Society.
The books will be avail
able in Jackson County at
the Commerce, Jefferson,
Talmo and Braselton pub-
Humane Society
Web Site Now
Up & Running
The Humane Society
of Jackson County has
announced that its web site
is now up and running.
The address is www.hscj.
com.
“I would love to get your
feedback and comments,’’
said society president
Angela Gosnell. “We want
the site to be the best of the
best.’’
Hoschton To
Set Fire To
5,441 Scarecrows
The Hoschton Fall Festival
Committee will host a cele
bration bonfire to honor the
city’s world record attempt
for “The Most Scarecrows
in One Location.’’
A bonfire of the scare
crows will be held Saturday,
Jan. 3, at 5 p.m. at the Kinerly
farm on Hwy. 53.
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Those with scarecrows
in Hoschton are asked to
bring them to the bonfire.
Hot chocolate and marsh
mallows will be provided.
Hoschton said it had 5,441
scarecrows in September,
but last week it was notified
by the Guinness Book of
World Records that it would
not be awarded the coveted
world record.
Jackson Sales
Tax Collections
Fall In Recession
Sales tax collections in
Jackson County are down 8
percent year to date through
October. If the current trend
continues, county officials
expect sales tax revenue to
fall $430,600 below budget
for the year.
Sales tax revenue was
off 11.5 percent in October
over the same month the
year before. That continues
a trend that has dominated
local sales tax collection
throughout the year.
Year to date through
October, Jackson County
has collected $4.8 million
in local option sales taxes.
In 2007, the county had col
lected $5.3 million through
the same period.
Michael Rudio
Completes Army
ROTC Course
Michael C. Rudio has grad
uated from the Army ROTC
(Reserve Officer Training
Corps) LeaderDevelopment
and Assessment Course,
also known as “Operation
Warrior Forge,’’ at Fort
Lewis, Tacoma, WA. Rudio is
the son of John R and Chris
M. Rudio of Maysville.
The 32-day program pro
vides the best possible
professional training and
evaluation for all cadets in
the aspects of military life,
administration and logisti
cal support. Although con
tinued military training and
leadership development is
included in the curriculum,
the primary focus of the
course is to develop and
evaluate each cadet’s offi
cer potential as a leader by
exercising the cadet’s intel
ligence, common sense,
ingenuity and physical
stamina. The cadet com
mand assesses each cadet’s
performance and progress
in officer traits, qualities
and professionalism while
attending the course.
Cadets in their junior and
senior year of college must
complete the leadership
development course. Upon
successful completion of
the course, the ROTC pro
gram, and graduation from
college, cadets are com
missioned as second lieu
tenants in the U.S. Army,
National Guard or Reserve.
CERT Unit
To Offer
CPR Courses
The Jackson County CERT
(Community Emergency
Response Team) will offer
a CPR class for residents,
civic clubs and businesses.
The cost is $25 per stu
dent with all proceeds ben
efiting the Jackson County
CERT program.
Instructors will come
to the location requested
by interested groups. The
classes are available during
an on-going basis.
For more information, con
tact Dwayne Keith, Jackson
County CERT coordinator,
at 706-654-2500, dkeith@
westjacksonfd.com or visit
www.jacksoncert.org.
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706-367-5233
Banks-Jackson Risk Reduction
DUI SCHOOL
706-336-6777
DEFENSIVE DRIVING
1728 North Broad Street, Commerce, State Certified 5010 and 2007
Next DUI Class begins on January 10,2009
Next Defensive Driving Class will be held on January 3,2009
City of Commerce
INVITATION TO BID
The City of Commerce Planning and
Zoning Department will accept sealed bids
for the demolition and proper debris
removal on the following parcel located in
the City of Commerce jurisdiction:
172 Scott Street
Contractors must bid on the demolition
and removal of buildings, building
materials, junk, rubbish, and debris on the
above referenced parcel. All disturbed soil
must be seeded and covered with straw
upon completion. Soil erosion Best
Management Practices (BMP’s) shall also
be installed as needed on each site.
Deadline for bid acceptance will be January
2, 2009.
Send sealed bids to:
City of Commerce
Code Enforcement Center
P. 0. Box 348
Commerce, GA 30529
Or hand deliver to:
City of Commerce
Code of Enforcement Officer
Planning and Utility Building
545 Cedar Drive
Commerce, GA 30529