Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

Region Roundup Search For Chief Appraiser Still Ongoing DANIELSVILLE - The search for a new head of county appraisals contin ues. Madison County com missioners voted 4-1 to turn down a proposal by the county board of asses sors (BOA) to name Stacey Rubio as the county’s new chief appraiser. Bruce Scogin provided the lone vote against the rejection. Rubio has served as inter im chief appraiser since the BOA declined renewal of a contract with former lead appraiser James Flynt. Board members didn’t voice any problems with Rubio’s performance. However, they said they wanted someone with more appraisal experience, some one with a proven ability to get an accurate digest out on time. IDA Seeking Stimulus Funds For Water Work DANIELSVILLE - With talk of federal funds flow ing to states, local gov ernments are making their pitch for why they should get a piece of the stimulus pie. Industrial authority executive director Marvin White told commissioners Monday that the IDA is submitting paperwork for a variety of water projects that could be launched quickly if federal funds are approved. “I know many cities and counties have applied for funding,” said White in his monthly report to the BOC. “We may not be suc cessful. However, if you don’t ask, you will not be on the receiving list.” White said the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA) asked for “ready projects” that could be initiated with an influx of federal funds. “We submitted a $2,300,000 water mains and interconnection to Royston and Franklin County, along with $13,000,000 water mains, tank, interconnection to Commerce and Elbert County,” said White. “We could proceed within 60 days after funding approv al on both these projects.” IDA members have expressed the long-term goal of having an inter connected, countywide water system, which loops together small water sys tems in various parts of the county, while also con necting to systems in sur rounding counties. Sheriffs Cars Being Converted To Propane Gas JEFFERSON - The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is the first agency in the county to have a fleet of hybrid vehicles rolling on county roads. Nine patrol cars have been outfitted to run on propane gas and plans are to add 16 more. A propane tank is already in place at the fueling station at the sheriff’s office complex. Sheriff Stan Evans, who began looking at the use of propane gas to save money and protect the environment last year, unveiled the new program last week. “It’s better for the envi ronment,” the sheriff said. “The engines last longer. We’re hoping we’ll get more miles out of our vehicles.” It cost $3,500 to con vert each patrol car to use propane gas. The funds came from money seized in drug cases. Jackson County Board of Commissioners Chairman Hunter Bicknell was also present for the unveiling. “The current economic conditions had not set in when Sheriff Evans start ed looking into this,” he said. “He was still trying to find ways to save tax payer’s money. I want to thank him and his staff for that. We are very apprecia tive of it.” The patrol cars also still can run on gasoline and automatically switch over to gas if the propane runs out. Evans said safety issues were a concern of some of his staff. He pointed out that the cars are actually safer because the propane vapor would dissipate if a crash occurred. CASAblanca Set March 7 At Civic Center PiedmontCourtAppointed Special Advocates for chil dren (CASA) will again host CASAblanca, its annual fund-raiser, at 7 p.m. March 7 at the Commerce Civic Center. A gala buffet, beer and wine and play money are included in the ticket pur chase for an evening at the casino tables. Many prizes and one grand prize will be given away at the end of the eve ning. All proceeds help to pro vide advocates for children in foster care. Tickets can be purchased at www.pied- montcasa.org or by calling the office at 706-387-6375. Training Scheduled CASA will hold a Jackson County training class begin ning Thursday, March 12, at 6 p.m. at Bentley Assisted Living in Jefferson. Training continues every Thursday through April 29. For more information and to register, call Annette at 706-387-6375. Landscaping Series Starts On Thursday JEFFERSON - The Jackson County Extension Service and Three County Master Gardeners will sponsor a free series on landscaping over the next few months, with the first program set for 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, in the community room of the First Georgia Banking Company, Old Swimming Pool Road, Jefferson. The program will continue at that time and location every Thursday through March 26. Topic will include: •Feb. 26: Principles of landscape design, presented by Shirley Turner, president of Three County Master Gardeners, and Susan Russell, certified arborist and manager of Pinebush Nursery, Hull. • March 5: Landscape ideas and guidelines, pre sented by Britt West, Barrow County extension coordinator. • March 12: Drawing and landscape plans, pre sented by Ed Novak, vice president of Three County Master Gardeners and State Botanical Gardens tour guide, and Carol Tinapple, Three County Master Gardeners member and teacher. • March 19: Developing a water-wise landscape, pre sented by Harry Hauck, past president of Three County Master Gardeners. • March 26: Designing and developing hardscapes, pre sented by Heather Pittman, certified landscape design er. For more information and to sign up for the program, call the Jackson County Cooperative Extension Office at 706-367-6344. JCCHS Band Winter Concert Is Monday Night JEFFERSON-The J ackson County Comprehensive High School band pro gram will present its Winter Concert Monday, March 2, at 7:30 p.m. in the J.L. McMullan Auditorium at JCCHS. The Concert Band, Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble will per form a variety of marches, symphonic overtures and other standard band litera ture. All three bands will perform their programs in preparation for District Performance Evaluation to be held March 10-11 at the University of Georgia. A highlight of the concert will be senior Chad Lance performing as a trombone soloist with the JCCHS Wind Ensemble. Admission to the concert is free. Tanger Donates $30,000 To Fight Cancer Tanger Outlet Centers expanded its annual Breast Cancer Awareness last year campaign to raise money to fight not only breast cancer, 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 - Sat. Lunch 6am - * Fri. & Sat. 6 - S, sun. 'll am- spm Happy 90 th Birthday ARLINE HICKMAN The family of Arline Hickman invites you to join us for her 90 th Birthday Celebration Sunday March 1, 2009 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Activities Room at Bentley Assisted Living 50 Sumner Way Jefferson, Ga. & M but also many other top cancers. Through the sale of the Tanger Cure Card, Tanger is now donating $30,000 to support the American Lung Association, the Colorectal Cancer Coalition and the Prostate Cancer Foundation. The Tanger Cure Card was available March through December 2008. The cards were redeemable at 2,200 brand name outlet stores at 33 Tanger centers nation wide. Tanger donated 10 percent of the value of all Tanger Cure Cards to the AmericanLungAssociation, the Colorectal Cancer Coalition and the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Each received a $10,000 donation from Tanger. Jackson Sales Tax Revenue Down 9 Percent JEFFERSON - Sales tax collections in Jackson County for 2008 were down nine percent over the year before. According to county offi cials, Jackson finished the year with $5.7 million in Local Option Sales Tax col lections compared to $6.3 the year before. The differ ence was $568,000 on the year. The largest single month decline was in November when sales taxes fell 28 per cent from the year before. But sales tax revenues bounced back somewhat in December with only a two percent decline from 2007. Braselton To Fete Businesses At Banquet Braselton’s Mayor and Town Council will host its 10th annual “Salute to Business” Thursday, Feb. 26, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The new Braselton-Stover House Banquet Hall is the site for this year’s business appreciation reception. The 6,000-square-foot hall opened in November with a large banquet serving area, prep kitchen, bridal rooms, formal reception foyers and entertainment venue. Reception To Fete Harper On Retirement A reception honoring Susan Harper’s 14 years as director of the Commerce library will be held in the library meeting room Sunday, March 1, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. “We are all happy for Susan but also sad dened by her leaving. She has been the driv ing force behind the growth and development of our library,” said Erika Jantzen, president of the Friends of the Library. Guests are requested to bring a dessert. “This is a pot luck dessert event. I hope everyone takes advantage of this oppor tunity to express their thanks and appreciation to Susan. She certainly deserves it,” Jantzen said. In Loving Memory of LAURA ONEDA SMALLWOOD 1926'2009 The Smallwood Family would like to say thank you to everyone that helped us in our time of need. We appreciate all the cards, food, flowers, prayers and just thinking of us. Thank you, The Smallwood Family City of Commerce NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC The City of Commerce has the below listed surplus property. The items may be viewed at the Public Works Department, 390 Waterworks Road. You may call 706- 335-9262 to contact Mr. Rick Lewis, Public Works Director. The property will be sold to the highest bidder. Crown Vic V1N#2FAFP71W15X123015 Wrecked - Sell for Parts Crown Vic V1N#2FAFP71W8YX205523 Wrecked - Sell for Parts S-10 VlN#lGCCS14ZOMO 167387 S-10 V1N#1GCCS142XM0167879 F-350 V1N#1FDJF37GXMNA33728 Sign Truck 97 Crown Vic V1N#2FALP71WOVX207801 98 Crown Vic V1N#2FAEP71W4WX148833 98 Crown Vic V1N#2FAFP71WXWX126867 45 - Window Panes from City Hall Upright Piano Ingersoll Rand 175 Air Compressor (SN: 136091U83953) 54HP Diesel Engine Power Stinger Boring Machine Model BSBD (SN: 1290) 18HP Briggs & Stratton Motor Simplex 100 Time Clock Lathem 1000E Time Clock Simplex Consecutive Time Clock You may submit a sealed bid to Shirley Willis, City Clerk, City of Commerce, P. O. Box 348, Commerce, Georgia 30529. Please mark your envelope as a “Surplus Property Bid”. The bids will be opened on Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at 2:00 P.M. in the City Hall Conference Room, 27 Sycamore Street.