Newspaper Page Text
Region Roundup
Help With
Heating Bills
Is Available
The Heating Energy
Assistance Team (H.E.AT.)
Inc. — an Atlanta-based
nonprofit organization that
provides energy assistance
statewide to low-income
Georgians — is providing
$1.02 million to the Georgia
Department of Human
Resources (DHR) to assist
qualified families who are
unable to pay their heating
bills.
HEAT, funds are distrib
uted by DHR through local
community action agencies.
Qualified families apply for
assistance at the agency
that serves their county.
Households must meet
established guidelines that
include income eligibility.
Private citizens and
natural gas companies
made the financial con
tributions to H.EAT. that
resulted in the $1.02 mil
lion distribution. Georgia
Natural Gas, SCANA
Energy AGL Resources,
Gas South, MXenergy,
Stream Energy, Infinite
Energy and Blossman Gas
all participated. In addition,
some of the funds were
provided to H.EAT. by
the Georgia Public Service
Commission.
For more information
about H.EAT., or to donate
online, visit www.heatga.
org.
Jefferson Man
Killed By
Falling Tree
A Jefferson man died Jan.
14 after a tree fell on him on
the Brockton Road.
Charles Daniels, 77,
Jefferson, was cutting trees
when the wind blew one of
the trees on top of him. He
was able to cut the tree off
of him and run to the road
for help.
Daniels was transported
to an Athens hospital where
he died later that day.
Participants
Sought For
Bird Count
Bird watchers throughout
North America are invited
to join tens of thousands of
bird watchers for the 12th
annual Great Backyard Bird
Count (GBBC) Feb. 13-16.
A joint project of the
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
and the National Audubon
Society, the free event is
an opportunity for fami
lies, students, and people
of all ages to discover the
varieties of songbirds in
backyards, schoolyards,
and local parks, and, at the
same time, make an impor
tant contribution to conser
vation.
Anyone who can iden
tify even a few species can
contribute to the body of
knowledge that is used to
inform conservation efforts
to protect birds and bio
diversity” said Audubon
Education vice-president,
Judy Braus.
Volunteers take part by
counting birds for at least
15 minutes on one or more
days of the event and report
ing their sightings online
at www.birdcount.org.
The data help researchers
understand bird population
trends across the continent,
information that is critical
for effective conservation.
In 2008, participants sub
mitted more than 85,000
checklists, a new record.
Participants submit thou
sands of digital images for
the GBBC photo contest
each year. Last year’s win
ners are now posted on the
web site. Participants are
also invited to upload their
bird videos to YouTube
tagged “GBBC.” Some of
7 G's Farm
WINTER SALE
Ley land Cypress Trees
1 -gal. containers 3-4 ft. tall $5.00
3-gal. containers 4-5 ft. tall $9.00
7-gal. containers 6-7 ft. tall $21.00
7 G's Farm • 2331 Old Kings Bridge Rd. • Nicholson, Georgia
Phone: (706) 757-2526 • www.7gsfarm.com • Open Daily 10-6
J
real estate auctions
Selling January 28st - 30th
Nominal Opening Bid: $100,000
BRASELTON, GA
• 5789 Chickasaw Ln
3BR 3.5BA Brick ranch style home built in 2006.
Open house: 1-4pm Sun Jan 18th. 25th and 2 hours
before sale.
Sells: 10:45am, Thu. Jan 29th
Nominal Opening Bid: $100,000
CUMMING. GA
• 2870 Cambria Ct
4BR 4.5BA and 3,994+/- sf.
_ _ _ _ . .. . Nominal Opening Bid: $50,000
Many More Atlanta Area buford, GA
Auctions Available! * 1225 whis P er Cove Dr
Above properties sell: 2:15pm, Wed, Jan 28th at
5% Buyer's Premium May Apply 2870 Cambria Court, Cumming, GA
williamsauction.com
800.801.8003
GA RE L>C 159223 DEAN C WILLIAMS BROKER. W&W RE LIC WILLIAMS & WILLIAMS
NM IH <CVd-16048. AUC UC AUNR002789 MONTE W LOWDERMAN . , . ,
e u* ISJauctioneer worldwide real estate auction
Georgia Properties
Dine with friends in a warm environment at
Sarah’s, a family-operated restaurant featuring
delicious home-cooked meals & daily specials!
6 Homer St. 706-652-0070
On the Jackson/Banks County line in Maysville
I-85N exit 147, Commerce/Maysville exit, left onto 98,
4 miles into Maysville, right over railroad tracks.
Mon.-Fri. 6am - 2pm
Sat. Lunch 6am-12 noon
Fri. & Sat. 6 - 9pm
Sun. 11am-3pm
them will also be featured
on the GBBC web site. All
participants will be entered
in a drawing to win dozens
of birding items, including
stuffed birds, clocks, books,
feeders and more.
Businesses, schools,
nature clubs, Scout troops,
and other community orga
nizations interested in the
GBBC can contact the
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
at 800-843-2473 or Audubon
at citizenscience@audubon.
org or 215-355-9588, ext. 16.
Jobless
Claims Are
On The Rise
In Jackson County, 696
people applied for unem
ployment for the first time
in December, a 107 percent
increase over November
and a huge 309 percent
jump over December 2007.
In Madison County, 405
people made first time fil
ings, a jump of 85 percent
from November and a
161 percent increase from
December 2007.
Barrow County had 763
make first time unemploy
ment claims in December,
an increase of 67 percent
from December and 120
percent from the year
before.
Banks County had 213
people file in December, up
72 percent from November
and 204 percent from
December 2007.
Spending And
Hiring Freezes
Are Implemented
HOMER - The declining
economy has hit Banks
County government with
commissioners approv
ing a hiring and purchas
ing freeze that is effective
immediately.
Commissioner Rickey
Cain made the motion
for the freeze because of
declining county revenue.
Joe Barefoot agreed and
the motion passed unani
mously.
The BOC also agreed
to ask department heads
to cut their proposed fis
cal year 2010 budget by 10
percent. The commission
ers will begin meeting with
department heads in March
to discuss next year’s bud
get.
“Given the fact that the
revenues are showing a
decline, instruct the depart
ment heads as they prepare
their budgets for fiscal year
2010 to bring the proposals
in 10 percent less than the
current budget to anticipate
these shortfalls if revenue
does not improve,” Barefoot
said. “... If they can’t bring
a budget back with those
numbers, don’t bring one,”
Barefoot said. “We’ll do it
for you.”
Cain added, “It is going to
hurt ... but a lot of people
don’t have a job.”
So far this fiscal year, rev
enue for the county is down
$1.1 million. However, it was
pointed out that all of the
property tax revenue has
not come in yet.
Rejection Of
Nominees
Is Questioned
HOMER -- Two mem
bers of the BJC Hospital
Authority appeared before
the Banks County Board of
Commissioners Monday to
defend their denial of three
nominees to fill a vacant
seat on the board.
The Banks County BOC
had recommended Kenneth
Flint, Danny Maxwell and
Michael Williams to fill the
vacant seat on the hospital
Stop by my new office for a free insurance
quote during my grand opening celebration.
(706) 335-2600
JONATHAN C MILFORD
1237 SOUTH ELM STREET
COMMERCE
JMilford@Allstate.com
Allstate.
You're in good hands.
Insurance subject to availability and qualifications. The Cupped Hands logo is a registered service mark of Allstate
Insurance CompanyAllstate Insurance Company and Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company. Northbrook.
Illinois © 2007 Allstate Insurance Company.
FOR ONLY $5 PER MONTH,
YOU CAN LIST YOUR
GROUP'S MEETINGS!
Let your members know
when your group is meeting!
Call (706) 367-5233 lo advertise your meeting time, place and date in,,,
• The Jackson Herald • The Commerce News • The Braselton News
• The Banks County News • The Madison County Journal
Georgia Real Estate Investors
Association, Inc. - Athens
Meets the third Thursday each month
6:30 pm at the UGA Conferen ce Center
1197 South Lumpkin Street,
Athens, GA 30601
Tom Hewlett - Chapter President
thewlettl@charter.net pj 12/09
BANKS COUNTY
HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.
meets first Monday each month
7:00 p.m. in the Banks Co. Historial
Courthouse at 105 U.S. Hwy. 441
North in Homer pd.-07/09
Citizens Organized for
Pipeline Safety
investigating the health risks to citizens from
underground pipelines and booster stations in
Madison Co. Meetings 6:30 p.m. at the Colbert
Grove Baptist Church the 2nd Thurs. of each
month. 706-783-4702. Pd.04/09
JEFFERSON
Ip AMERICAN LEGION
Albert Gordon Post 56
Each 3rd Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.
Harvie Lance, Commander
Phone (706) 654-1274 aio
White Plains Baptist Church Pd 02/09
Faith Bible Class meets every Sunday morning
at 10:00 a.m. It is a place where strangers
become friends and friends become family.
706-367-5650
White Plains Baptist Church
3650 Hwy. 124 West, Jefferson, GA 30549
The Jackson Co. Republican Party
Would like you to meet us for
breakfast the second Sat. of each
month, 8:00 at The Jefferson
House. For more information, call
706-652-2967 or email
fishyglass@yahoo.com Pd.ii/os
BANKS COUNTY
fgf AMERICAN LEGION
Post 215
Meets each 3rd Thursday, 7 p.m.
In Homer, GA at the
American Legion Building on
Historic Highway 441 pd,06/09
VETERANS OF
9 FOREIGN WARS
Post 4872, Hurricane Shoals Convention Ctr.
Each 4th Tuesdasy, 7:00 p.m.
Lamar Langston, Commander
Phone 706-652-2627 263
JEFFERSON EIONS CEUB
Meets 2nd & 4th Monday
Jefferson City Clubhouse
6:30 p.m. *(706) 387-1156
Mack Cates, President
542
Jh UNITY LODGE
W( F&A.M.
No. 36, Jefferson, GA
1st Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m.
Dwayne Potts • 706-367-4449
Borders St. behind Tabo’s 260
JEFFERSON ROTARY CLUB
Meets Tuesdays
Jefferson City Clubhouse
12:30 p.m. -(706) 367-7696
Gina Mitsdarffer, President
547
authority. The BJC board
rejected all three nominees
and asked the BOC to send
three more names. This con
cerned the commissioners
who believe they should be
allowed to nominate whom
ever they want since they
allocate tax money to the
hospital.
BJC Authority chairman
Charles Blair and Banks
County representative
Jimmy Hooper attended the
meeting Monday. While an
explanation was given as to
why Flint wasn’t selected,
the two did not state what
problem the board had with
Maxwell and Williams.
“One person recom
mended ... is a doctor of
chiropractic (Flint),” Blair
said. “We try to stay away
from having a doctor on
the board. It was not a
slam or a feeling that
something was wrong with
any of them. We try not to
be political. We are not try
ing to send a message. In
my 22 years on the author
ity, this is the second time
we rejected a slate. It is not
something done lightly.”
Blair asked for three more
nominees and said the
board would pick one of
them.
Hooper spoke on the
recent layoffs and the eco
nomic problems at the hos
pital.
“Unless we get some out
side funding, it’s not if we
close, it’s when we close,”
he said. “Our survival is
going to be an acquisition
from someone.”
Schools To Try
To Communicate
More Effectively
DANIELSVILLE - A new
notification system will pro
vide parents up-to-the min
ute information regarding
school events.
Madison County Schools,
starting Feb. 2, will be a
pilot system for this pro
gram, which uses emails
and text messages.
“It really has an unlimited
potential,” Madison County
Schools superintendent
Mitch McGhee said.
The technology will pro
vide updates for anything
from emergency school
closings to a team bus
delay.
Of course, the program
won’t be fully utilized when
it comes online. It will take
time for administrators,
teachers, coaches and par
ents to get into the habit of
using the system, McGhee
said.
But once the system is
established, it will offer
plenty of options.
“For example, we can
send out football scores —
to everyone that signs up —
at the end of each quarter,”
McGhee said. “If you have a
booster club member that’s
in charge of that you can
send out running scores of
a football game or a basket
ball game.”
The board of education,
principals and administra
tive staff will be adminis
tered a tutorial over usage
of the system.
FOR INFORMATION
ABOUT
CANCER,
INFORMATION ON
SERVICES AND
PROGRAMS, CALL THE
AMERICAN
CANCER
SOCIETY
24 HOURS A DAY 7
DAYS A WEEK
1-800-227-2345
OR ON THE INTERNET AT
WWW.CANCER.ORG
Dr. Neelagaru, M.D. (Dr. Neel)
N. Neelagaru, M.D. (Dr. Neel) is
now associated with Northeast
Georgia Medical Center,
Gainesville, Georgia and will do all
Invasive Cardiology Procedures at
this facility.
Commerce Cardiology Clinic
Call 335-2000 for appointment
Tallulah Falls School
<'/<'/rrr/r /try 100 cl/ea-Ki if.>ve//e/tce
r?. dbk
Admissions Open I louse
Saturday, January 24, 2009
10:00 a.m.
• Fully accredited college prep program
• Music, arts, drama and sports
• 5 and 7-dav boarding programs
• National leader in providing
need-based financial aid
• Growing day program witli
morning and afternoon bus
service in surrounding counties
• Class of 2008 - 100%
college acceptance
Faculty anil student representatives will he on
hand to conduct campus tours and answer any
questions concerning academics, athletics,
admissions and financial aid. Refreshments will
be available. Please RSVPhy January 21.
Day program grades 6-12
Boarding program grades 7-12
www. tallulakf alls. org
Office of Admissions • (706) 754-0400
Tallulah Falls School is an equal opportunity institution and admits
students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin.