Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 10A - THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS, WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 21. 2011
County Residents Argue Against
Beer, Wine License For Store
Jackson Narrows
Manager Search
To 3 Applicants
By Angela Gary
Two residents of the Holly
Springs community spoke
out Monday night at the
Jackson County Board of
Commissioners meeting
about a request for an alco
hol license for Our Store.
Action on the request for
the license for Our Store,
located at 5241 Holly
Springs Road, Pendergrass,
was tabled until the Oct.
10 meeting. The applicant
asked that it be postponed
until the full BOC was pres
ent. At Monday’s meeting,
Bruce Yates was absent.
With only four commission
ers, there was the possibility
of a tie vote. County attor
ney Jane Range pointed out
that a tie would be the same
as a denial.
Sonny Cheatham com
plained that allowing the
sale of beer and wine at
the store would change the
community.
“We need a convenience
store in our community,’’
Cheatham said. “We would
welcome the new owners.
What we have trouble with
While it awaits the begin
ning of a major expansion
project, the Commerce
Public Library continues to
focus on programs, direc
tor Miguel Vicente told the
Commerce Library Board
Monday night.
For example, Vicente
said, the Spanish classes
he teaches drew a lot more
interest than expected.
“The first class we had 25
participants, and I was only
prepared for 10 people,’’
he explained. “The second
class we had 24.’’
The program is open
to people of all ages,
which produces a differ
ent dynamic, according to
Vicente.
“You can have children
and adults together taking
class,’’ he said. “For me, this
was very interesting. When
you have 12-year-olds and
70-year-olds talking ... I am
very happy about this.’’
is the selling of package
beer and wine in our com
munity. If beer and wine
were permitted in our area,
it would take our communi
ty in a whole new direction.
We need to think about
our youth. Where spirits
are sold, youth congregate.
Mischief seems to follow
places that sell this. We
need to look out for com
munity. There are a whole
lot of us who think this
doesn’t belong in our com
munity.’’
Cheatham presented a list
of names of over 200 peo
ple opposed to the alcohol
license being approved.
Charles Lowe, who lives
on Holly Springs Road, also
spoke in opposition to the
application.
“My biggest opposition to
the sale of beer and wine
is that, every week, on our
road frontage, I pick up
an average of a 35-gallon
trash can full of trash,’’ he
said. “Of that, the biggest
majority of it is beer cans
and bottles and some wine
bottles. I’m just tired of
picking up other people’s
The library is also get
ting a boost from the
Future Business Leaders
of America (FBLA)
chapter at East Jackson
Comprehensive High
School, Vicente reported.
They and their advisor,
Renee Chandler, are work
ing with library staff to
organize a basic computer
service for senior citizens.
“Most of the time, it’s
the first time they’ve sat
in front of a computer,’’
Vicente said of the elderly.
The curriculum is being
planned and will tap sourc
es found on the Internet
that are designed specifi
cally for senior citizens.
“It is good for the stu
dents too, to have the expe
rience teaching,’’ Vicente
observed.
Staff members are also
planning a “Facebook
party’’ as part of its social
media outreach.
trash.’’
Other Action
In other business, the
BOC approved:
• an application from
Emily Frances Rees to locate
a 1,640-square-foot guest
house at 501 Curk Roberts
Road. Rees plans to place
a guesthouse in front of the
main house along the exist
ing driveway. The current
code calls for a guesthouse
to be placed in the rear of
the main house.
• an intergovernmental
agreement with Maysville
to patch several city streets.
The city will be responsi
ble for all associated costs,
which are projected at
$729.
•an agreement with the
Northeast Georgia Regional
Commission for the trans
portation of senior citizens.
The county’s cost is $3,634.
The remaining costs of the
program will be paid by the
regional commission.
• a contract with the
Northeast Georgia Regional
Commission to provide
aging services at the senior
citizen’s center. The total
Another upcoming pro
gram is a health seminar
for teens, which will be
conducted by the Jackson
County Health Department
on Oct. 6.
Vicente pointed out that
the library uses e-mail,
Facebook, Twitter and its
weekly news release in The
Commerce News to pro
mote the library, but he
asked board members to
help him.
“Any place you are, any
conversation, talk a little
bit about the library,’’ he
urged, explaining that he
wants to get the message
about library services out to
people not currently using
the facility. “Any place you
go, talk three or four min
utes about the programs we
have here. Sometimes they
don’t know about them.’’
In other business, Vicente
reported that the Friends
of the Library — represent-
amount to be provided by
the county is $12,539.
•declaring several pieces
of heavy equipment as sur
plus and approving a buy
back option with Yancey
Brothers. Yancey Brothers
has offered the full buy-back
price on the equipment,
plus an appraisal add-on for
a total of $1.85 million.
•seeking prices for
replacing the failing asphalt
entrance to the solid waste
scale house with a concrete
entrance way at a cost not
to exceed $64,886.
•a lease-purchase agree
ment for 26 fleet replace
ment vehicles, including
patrol cars, with Sun Trust
Bank. These vehicles were
approved as part of the 2011
capital budget at a cost of
$823,156.
Also at the meeting, a
wellness incentive program
presentation was given. No
action was taken on imple
menting the program.
The BOC also held a
closed session to discuss
personnel and pending
litigation. No action was
taken.
ed at the meeting by new
president Kellie Ross —
donated three “circulation
printers’’ valued at $800 to
the library. The machines
print the receipts patrons
get when they check
out a book, using much
less paper than the older
machines.
Vicente also reported
about a Friday auto mishap
where an elderly patron, hit
ting the gas pedal instead of
the brake pedal, jumped the
curb by the handicapped
parking space and crashed
into the large planted bed
by the main entrance.
That bed will be removed
with the renovation project,
so chairman Ann Rhoads
recommended that the
library take any insurance
proceeds and hold them
for some other future use.
Bids for the estimated $2
million project are due in
by Friday.
Jackson County may
soon have a new county
manager. The top three
candidates for the position
were announced last week
by the Jackson County
Board of Commissioners.
The BOC interviewed
the top three candidates in
called meetings last week.
They are Kevin Poe, county
manager of Floyd County;
Bob Thomas; county gov
ernment administrator for
Elbert County; and Roy
Eckert, city manager of
Powder Springs.
The BOC will select the
new manager within the
next two weeks.
KEVIN POE
Poe has served as county
manager of Floyd County
since 1995. Prior to that,
he was assistant city man
ager of LaGrange, public
works director for Floyd
County and project man
ager/engineer with Evans
Construction Company
in Silver Creek. He has
a bachelor’s degree in
civil engineering from the
University of Alabama
and a master’s of pub
lic administration from
the University of West
Georgia.
BOB THOMAS
Thomas has served as
county government admin
istrator in Elbert County
since 2006. His experi
ence also includes serv
ing on the Elbert County
Board of Education, work
ing as planning director
for the Southeast Georgia
Regional Commission and
serving a director of plan
ning for cities and coun
ties of Henderson, KY,
Daytona Beach, FL, and
Albany. He has a bach
elor’s degree in political
science from Georgia
Southwestern College and
a master’s degree in city
planning from Georgia
Tech.
ROY ECKERT
Eckert has been city man
ager of Powder Springs
since June 2010. Prior to
that, he worked for CH2M
Hill Engineering Company,
where he directed and
wrote the city governance
structure for a new city
that was being construct
ed in the Middle East. He
has also served as county
manager in Ketchikan,
Alaska, and city manager
in Orange Beach, AL. He
has a bachelor of science
degree in urban geogra
phy from Missouri State
University, a bachelor of
arts degree in public rela
tions and speech from
Ambassador College in
Texas and a master of arts
degree in political geogra
phy from the University of
Missouri.
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 VISIT ONLINE
WWW.CANCER.ORG
Commerce Library Focuses On Programs
Republicans To Meet
The Jackson County
Republican Party will meet
on Thursday, Sept. 22, at
7:30 p.m., at the Jefferson
Clubhouse.
Shane Short, president
and CEO of the Jackson
County Area Chamber of
Commerce, and Courtney
Bernardi, director of eco
nomic development for the
chamber, will be the guest
speakers.
Next month, Doug
Collins, a state represen
tative and candidate for
the new 9th Congressional
district, will be featured at
the Jackson County GOP
meeting.
For more information,
visit JacksonGOP.org
or www.facebook.com/
J acksonRepublicans.
CLASSIFIED ADS
FIVE NEWSPAPERS
36,000 CIRCULATION
sw
WEEK
706-367-5233
SAVE S3
ONLINE AT
mainstreetnews.com
ACUVUE
MYORACLEAR PLUS
UVllKON
Go to askforacuvue.com for your
FREE* TRIAL PAIR CERTIFICATE.
‘Professional exam and fitting fees not included. Valid only while supplies last.
1937 Homer Rd
Commerce, GA 30529
706.335.7335
www.CommerceVisionCenter.com
Call Our Office Today To
Schedule Your Next
Appointment
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Wednesday
9:00am - 3:00pm
Saturday
9:00am - 1:00pm
Important information for contact lens wearers: ACUVUE' Brand Contact Lenses are available by prescription only for vision correction. An eye care
professional will determine whether contact lenses are right tor you. Although rare, serious eye problems can develop while wearing contact lenses. To help
avoid these problems, follow the wear and replacement schedule and the lens care instructions provided by your eye doctor. Do not wear contact lenses
if you have an eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. It one of these conditions
occurs, contact your eye doctor immediately. For more information on proper wear, care and safety, talk to your eye care professional and ask for a Patient
Instruction Guide, call 1-800-843-2020 or visit Acuvue.com,
ACUVUE*, ACUVUE* 0ASYS*. HYDRMXEAR*. FRESH IS BETTER' and SEE WHAT COULD BE" are trademarks ot Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. CUohraon S Johnson VIsior
Care, he. 2011.
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 to 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
HUMANE SOCIETY OF JACKSON CO.
2011 Meeting dates: August 9 & November 8 at 7
p.m. • August meeting to be held at Funopolis, Route
441 in Commerce. Program: Working dogs, K9 Spike
from Jefferson PD and Dottie, therapy dog from
Jefferson Elementary School Light refreshments
served. No Charge. 706-367-1111 * www.hsjc.com
BANKS COUNTY
15* AMERICAN LEGION
Post 215
Meets each 3rd Thursday, 7 p.m.
In Homer, GA at the
American Legion Building on
Historic Highway 441 Pd.07
Pilot Club of Jefferson
Meets 3rd Tuesday of
each month, 6:30pm
Jefferson City Club House
706-367-9313 or
706-693-4715 m
ATHENS AMERICAN
© LEGION
Post 20
Meets each 4th Tues., 6:30 p.m.
Coy Gibson, Post Commander
Home (706) 742-7975
pecogib@windstream.net pj jj
JEFFERSON
^AMERICAN LEGION
Albert Gordon Post 56
Each 3rd Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.
Harvie Lance, Commander
Phone (706) 654-1274 no
BANKS COUNTY
AMERICAN LEGION
Riders Post 215
Meets each 2nd Thursday, 7 p.m.
In Homer, GA at the
American Legion Building on
Historic Highway 441 PJ12
JEFFERSON ROTARY CLUB
Meets Tuesdays
Jefferson City Clubhouse
12:30 p.m, *(706) 367-0718
Ron King, President
BANKS COUNTY
t, j AMERICAN LEGION
AUXILIARY-Post 215
Meets each 3rd Thursday, 7 p.m.
In the American Legion Building
at 1350 Historic Homer Hwy.,
Homer, GA Pd. 2
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 pj. 07
JACKSON COUNTY
REPUBLICAN PARTY
Meets 4th Thurs. of each month
7:30 p.m., Jefferson Clubhouse
302 Longview Drive. Jefferson
Everyone welcome!
www.JacksonGOP.org pd 1:
MADISON COUNTY
MM AMERICAN LEGION
Post 39
Meets last Thursday, 7 p.m.
JANUARY - OCTOBER
American Legion Building
Crawford W. Long Street
THE MADISON COUNTY RETIRED
EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION
meets September - June on the second Tuesday
of the month at 11 a.m. at the Ila Restaurant in
Ila. There is no local meeting in July and August.
Troyce Ann Pawlowski, President
706-548-7996 pd.s
ROCKWELL
LODGE F& A.M.
No. 191, Hoschton, GA
2nd Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. • Dinner at 6:30 p.m.
www.rockwelllodgel 91 .com
Two blocks behind Larry’s Garage
West Broad at Hall Street Pd. 2
UNITY LODGE
F & A.M.
No. 36, Jefferson, GA
1st Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m.
Tom Hays *678-316-7492
Borders St. behind Tabo’s mo
JEFFERSON LIONS CLUB
Meets 2nd & 4th Monday
Jefferson City Clubhouse
6:30 p.m. *(706) 367-9349
Jimmy Mock, President 542
19562 JEFFERSON AREA
BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
www.jaba-ga.org
Meets 3rd Thurs. • 11:45 a.m.
Community Bank & Trust Bldg.
71 Memorial Drive
DISABLED AMERICAN
VETERANS & AUXILIARY
Joe Brown Conally, Chapter 2
meets 2nd Tuesday of each month
at 7:00 p.m.
1001 Winterville Rd. • Athens, GA
Watter Butler, Commander u
St. Catherine Laboure
Catholic Mission
Mass Schedule: Fri. 9 a.m., Sat. 4:00 p.m.,
Sun. 11:00 a.m., Thurs. 12:10 p.m.
First Friday Adoration 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Website: www.stcatherinelabourega.org
706-367-7220 Pd
BUSINESS NETWORKING
at Boutier Winery
4506 Hudson River Church Road, Danielsville, GA
THURSDAY, SEPT. 22 • 6 p.m.
FREE to all business professionals
706-789-0059 D , 0