Newspaper Page Text
Vol. 139
No. 47
20 Pages
2 Sections
The
Commerce New
Wednesday
DECEMBER 30, 2015
www.CommerceNewsTODAY.com
50 Cents COVERING THE COMMERCE AREA SINCE 1875
Video of
Christmas
parade is
on website
Anyone who missed the
Dec. 6 Commerce Christmas
Parade — or who would just
like to see it again—can watch
a video of it online at the city
of Commerce’s website.
The audio video class
at Commerce High School
filmed the entire parade. To
see it, go to www.commerce-
ga.org and click on the ban
ner at the top of the page.
Jackson Co.
jobless rate
dips to
4.1 percent
Figures released by the
Georgia Department of Labor
(DOL) indicate that Jackson
County’s unemployment rate
for November dipped to 4.1
percent. That’s down from 4.6
percent in October and from
5.8 percent in November 2014.
Meanwhile, the state’s
“seasonally adjusted” jobless
rate fell to 5.6 percent, down
from 5.7 percent in October
and down from 6.7 percent
in November 2014.
Other area counties and
their unemployment rates for
November include:
•Banks County, 4.6 per
cent, down from 5.3
•Barrow County, 4.5 per
cent down from 4.9
•Hall, 4.2 percent, down
from 4.7
• Gwinnett County, 4.6 per
cent, down from 5.0
• Athens-Clarke County, 5.1
percent, down from 5.6
• Madison County, 4.5 per
cent, down from 5.1
Oconee County, with a
jobless rate of 3.7 percent,
was lowest in the state for
November. Hancock County,
at 10 percent had the state’s
highest unemployment rate.
The Department of Labor
noted that Northeast Geor
gia’s jobless rate of 4.9 per
cent is the lowest since April
2008, when it was also 4.9
percent.
INDEX
Church News .... 11A
Classified Ads 5B
Public safety 68A
Obituaries 11A
Opinion 4A
School 4B
Sports 1-3B
Social News 9A
MAILING LABEL BELOW
Photo highlights
Goodbye to 2015
Ice storm in February
A winter ice storm knocked out
power for thousands and blocked
roads during February, a storm
some called the worst in memory.
For a recap of the year’s top sto
ries, see Page 8B.
Nicholson mayor arrested
Nicholson Mayor Ronnie Maxwell, second from
right, leaves the county jail after his arrest on theft
by taking charges related to his use of SPLOST
money to pave a driveway on family property.
Ground broken for Boys and Girls Club
The city of Commerce and the Boys and Girls Club of house. The clubhouse will open in early 2016 and will enable
Jackson County broke ground on a new Commerce club- the club to serve more children.
Fire destroys
five businesses
An early morning fire
destroyed five busi
nesses and a church in
a strip shopping area
along the Maysville
Road in August. A
reward is being offered
for information lead
ing to the arrest of the
person or persons who
started the fire.
Commerce elected officials sworn in
The Commerce government got some housekeeping duties
taken care of Monday night in preparation for 2016.
Magistrate and city court judge Billy Chandler administered
the oath of office.
Chandler installed Clark Hill for another four-year term in
office. Hill defeated Perry Fiason in the Nov. 3 elections.
Also taking the oath of office were Mark Fitzpatrick, re-elected
from Ward 3; Bobby Redmon, elected without opposition in
Ward 4; and Johnny Eubanks, re-elected (without opposition)
in Ward 5.
“It’s an important night for us elected officials for the city of
Commerce,” advised Hill. “We will do two things tonight — wel
come the new councilman Bobby Redmon from Ward 4 and
reaffirm our commitment as a mayor and council to the city
tonight.
“For myself, I’ve had a great four years in the city. I feel like
we accomplished a lot. ...I hope what you see a year from now
as we look back is a cleaner Commerce, a Commerce that is
offering more services to the city as we try to be more efficient.”
Chandler installed each official separately with family mem
bers standing behind. After taking the oath of office during
which they swore to defend not just the laws of the city, but also
the Constitution and the laws of the United States and Georgia.
Redmond thanked his family for his support and advised the
audience that “I’m a phone call away from any of you guys at
any time.”
Eubanks also thanked his family, quipping that “If you didn’t
have your family (with) some of the decisions we make, you
wouldn’t have anybody to talk to.”
The other council members also spoke. Mayor pro tern Keith
Burchett said Redmon “will do a good job and will fit in good.”
Ward 1 councilman Archie Chaney noting that last year at this
time he was having heart surgery, said, “I’m just glad to be here.”
Ward 2 councilman Donald Wilson said he is “excited” about
what happened in the past term and reminded the audience
that anyone — not just people in his ward — can call him if they
need assistance.
Hill sworn in
Mayor Clark Hill takes the oath of
office from Judge Billy Chandler as
daughters Maggie and Callie, wife
Dorine and daughter Emily look on.
Redmon installed
Ward 4 councilman Bobby Redmon
takes the oath of office as his wife
Angie looks on.
Fitzpatrick installed
Ward 3 councilman Mark Fitzpatrick
takes the oath of office as his daugh
ter Abby and wife Robin look on.
Eubanks installed
Ward 5 city councilman Johnny
Eubanks takes the oath of office as
his wife, Judy, watches.
