Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016
THE COMMERCE NEWS • THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS
PAGE 5A
BOC chairman gives updates on county projects
BY ANGELA GARY
Banks County Board
of Commission chairman
Jimmy Hooper gave an
update on county proj
ects, including the sports
complex, at the Chamber
CVB breakfast meeting on
Thursday.
Hooper said the recre
ation/sports complex is
being funded with special
purpose local option sales
tax and will provide “first
class facilities” to the resi
dents of the county.
“It will offer something
for every age,” he said.
Hooper also spoke on
accomplishments of the
BOC during the past few
years, including road and
bridge improvements, 109
acres being opened for
industrial development at
Banks Crossing and raises
for county employees.
As for needs for the
area, among those Hoop
er mentioned were jobs
for the citizens of the coun
ty, quality homes being
built, a grocery store in
the county, better Internet
service and natural gas
offered.
In other business at the
breakfast meeting:
•Jaemor Farms
(March) and Georgia
Homes Purpose Realty
(April) were recognized as
the recent “Businesses of
the Month.”
• upcoming events were
announced, including the
Chamber CVB spring golf
tourney planned May 26
at Chimney Oaks Golf
Course.
• Tricia Massey with
Northridge Medical Center,
sponsor of the breakfast,
spoke. She gave details on
the Willow Brook Senior
Wellness program offered
for senior citizens.
Hooper Speaks
Banks County Board of Commission chairman Jimmy Hooper spoke at the
April meeting of the Chamber CVB.
BOE approves
personnel items
BY ANGELA GARY
The Banks County Board
of Education approved sev
eral employment issues
after meeting in closed ses
sion at its April 14 meeting
for personnel.
This included the follow
ing:
•hiring Alisha Roberts,
instructional lead teach
er, effective the 2016-2017
school year.
•hiring Debbie Marlow
as a teacher effective March
7.
•accepting the resigna
tions of Jerry King and Nick
Sikes, both teachers, and
both effective at the end of
the 2015-2016 school year.
• accepting the retire
ment of Terri Wiley as a
paraprofessional, effective
June 1.
Also at the April 14 meet
ing, the BOE:
•heard a presentation
from Mitch McGee and
Troy Miller with Etrenzik on
replacing light bulbs with
LED lighting.
•approved the school
calendar for 2016-2017.
Tea Party hosting
monthly meeting
The Tea Party of Northeast Georgia will hold its monthly
meeting on Tuesday April 26, at 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn
Express at Banks Crossing.
Local candidates who are running for state offices have
been invited. Dan Gasaway, Tommy Benton, John Wilkin
son and Roy Benifield have confirmed that they will attend.
For more information, call 706-654-8292 (call instead of
text).
Rotary Club sponsors
Food 2 Kids Program
The Banks County Rotary Club is sponsoring the Food 2
Kids Program in the county school system.
Food 2 Kids is a program that helps bridge that gap for
some of the community’s neediest kids. Sacks of kid-friend
ly food-enough for at least six meals-are handed out every
week to children identified by school teachers, counselors
and officials as being most in need. The disposable sacks
will have approximately seven to 10 pounds of food-enough
for two days of meals. The food is in easy-toopen packaging
and doesn’t require any cooking.
To donate or for more information, contact Sallie Hensley
at 706-7134)730.
James Maxwell Road project
finished in Nicholson
By CAMERON WHITLOCK
The Nicholson Water Authority voted to release a
“retainage” payment of $6,124 to contractors following
the completion of the James Maxwell Road project.
Engineer Mike Bledsoe reported at the April meet
ing that the project was completed in March and all
parties were satisfied with the results.
All meters were reported functional and service
able. The project was completed at a total cost of
$61,442.50, which was $7,006.53 under the amount
budgeted.
The board adopted a motion to release the “retain
age” payment, which was held to make sure all bills
were paid and construction was finalized.
In other business, the water authority met behind
closed doors for 30 minutes to discuss sub-contractor
issues. No action was taken.
Relay for Life car
show planned in
Baldwin, May 1
The City of Baldwin’s annual Relay for Life Car Show
is set for May 1.
The car show will he held from 2-5 p.m. at the new
Baldwin City Hall (formerly South State Bank) on High
way 441, next to the Baldwin Dairy Queen.
Rockin RayThe DJ will provide entertainment. Awards
will be presented to the top 15 and a Mayor’s Choice.
Door prizes will also be given.
The entry fee is $20. All proceeds will benefit the
Relay for Life.
The rain date for the event is 5-8 p.m. on Friday May 6.
For more information on the car show, call Larry
Lewallen at 706-776-3194 or Clarence Lewallen at 706-
499-7362.
Lula Railroad Days
Festival set for May 14
The City of Lula’s 40th Annual Railroad Days Festi
val is planned for May 14.
The day-long festival will be held at the Railroad
Park.
The event will include a parade, entertainment,
food and crafts.
Booth space is available for $30 per 12x12 booth or
$45 for a booth with electricity, if paid before May 1.
After May 1, the fee is $35 and $50. All booths must
be reserved and paid for in advance.
For additional information, call Lula City Hall at
770-869-3801.
BOE recognizes students
School system has four district writing winners
BY ANGELA GARY
The Banks County Board
of Education meeting room
was filled Monday night
with the largest crowd ever
attending in the new meet
ing space, in the former Cer-
tus Bank building.
The bank building is
being renovated for use by
the school system but BOE
meetings have already been
moved to the upstairs space.
Monday night, more than
50 people attended the meet
ing for student recognitions.
One surprise came when a
representative of Piedmont
RESA announced that the
Banks County School Sys
tem has four district win
ners in the Young Georgia
Authors writing competition.
There are 15 schools in the
district and Banks County
had more winners than any
other system.
The district winners
are: Zuleydi Walker, fourth
grade; Lydia Cosper, ninth
grade; Camryn Parker, 10th
grade; and Hunter Payne,
11th grade.
Other school winners
recognized were: Essie
Cantrell, kindergarten; Can
yon Boswell, first grade;
Chance Carver, second
grade; Aimee Howington,
third grade; Abby Irvin,
fifth grade; Buck Ledford,
sixth grade; Ella Whitfield,
seventh grade; Grayson Bell,
eighth grade; and Zac Orr
12th grade.
The BOE also recog
nized the middle school
Distinguished Leopards for
the third nine weeks: Abby
Fuller, Bryson Clark, Gen
try Smith, Logan Bolton,
Makayla Benfield and Parker
Hobson.
In other business at the
meeting Monday night, the
BOE:
• approved the purchase
of buses with reserve
funds.
• approved the salary
schedule.
• approved a request
for the Banks County Girls
YBOA team to use the gym
for basketball practice.
•agreed for the Banks
County Travel Basketball
team to use the middle
Students recognized
The Banks County Board of Education recognized the following students Monday night: (front row,
L-R) Makayla Benfield, Chance Carver, Essie Cantrell, Abby Irvin, Zuleydi Walker and Canyon Boswell;
and (back row, L-R) Camryn Parker, Logan Bolton, Buck Ledford, Bryson Clark, Grayson Bell and Lydia
Cosper.
school gym for practice. camp at in Clinton, S.C., • agreed for the Touch- during the graduation cer-
• approved a middle June 26 through June 28. down Club to sell water emony.
school field trip request for
students to attend the FFA
summer leadership camp
June 27 through July 1.
•approved a field trip
request for the boys bas
ketball team to attend a
PUBLIC NOTICE
Banks County is receiving applications for the following public service opportunities. If
you feel you may be qualified and are willing to serve in this position, please call
(706)677-6800 to request an application and a description of the position or go to
www.bankscountvga.org/volunteer and download the application. Please return the
completed form to the Commissioners' office located at 150 Hudson Ridge, Suite 1,
Homer, GA by May 5, 2016 or you may email the completed application to
jgailev@co.banks.ga.us.
Board Term/vears
Development Authority
4
Community Services Board
3
Planning Commission
4
Recreation Board
3
Elect FREDDIE DALTON
for County Commissioner District 2
• Conservation with ethical standards, an open
mind, and dedicated to providing honest
leadership for the citizens of Banks County
• Cattle and poultry farmer
• Retired Ethicon, Inc.
• Board of Directors, Ethicon Credit Union
• Board of Directors, Banks County
Farm Bureau
• Banks County FFA Alumni
• Banks County Cattlemen’s Association
• Active deacon, Nails Creek Baptist Church