Newspaper Page Text
Vol. 140
No. 38
24 Pages
2 Sections
rpl WED
l \\£ NOVEMI
Commerce News
Wednesday
NOVEMBER 9,2016
www.CommerceNewsTODAY.com
50 Cents COVERING THE COMMERCE AREA SINCE 1875
Election 2016
Mangum,
Trump
win big
in Jackson
Jackson County Sher
iff Janis Mangum has safely
secured her seat for the next
four years. Mangum defeated
challenger Randy Moore with
86.19 percent of the vote in the
November election.
Provisional ballots aren’t
included, but with all precincts
reporting, there were 27,437
votes cast in Jackson County.
That’s an estimated 81.37 per
cent voter turnout, one of the
highest on record.
The Freeport measure to
clarify tax exemption to fulfill
ment centers like Amazon was
defeated with 53.08 percent
of voters opposing the refer
endum.
PRESIDENT
In the presidential election,
Republican nominee Donald
J. Trump defeated Democratic
nominee Hillary Clinton and
will become the 45th Presi
dent of the United States.
Trump won Georgia and eas
ily won Jackson County with
almost 80 percent of the vote.
Jackson County votes for
the presidential race include:
• Donald J. Trump, 79.48%
• Hillary Clinton, 16.33%
• Gary Johnson, 3.05%
•Write-ins, 1.14%
STATE RACES
Jackson County citizens
also cast their ballots on sev
eral state races and amend
ments.
Incumbent U.S. Senator
Johnny Isakson received 80
percent of the Jackson Coun
ty vote and Public Service
Commissioner Tim Echols
received 84.65 percent. Both
earned re-election in the state
of Georgia.
The controversial Amend
ment 1, which would have
allowed the state to takeover
“failing” schools, was defeated
in the state of Georgia. The
other three amendments
(penalties for sexual exploita
tion; judicial qualifications
commission; and fireworks
taxes to be used for public
safety trauma care) passed.
INDEX
Church News 8B
Classified Ads... 9-10B
Crime News 6-8A
Obituaries 7 B
Opinion 4A
School 6B & 12B
Sports 1-5B
Social News. 10-11A
MAILING LABEL BELOW
Making it official
Lee Fox, co-owner of State Street Bicycles, cuts the ribbon to brother Todd, organized volunteers to build the five miles of
officially open the Smallwood Trails Bicycle Park in Commerce bike trails on the property. The park is located on Smallwood
last Saturday as city officials and others look on. Fox, and his Drive about a quarter mile east of Waterworks Road.
Commerce dedicates bike park
With little fanfare and lots of hot dogs and beverages, Commerce official
ly opened its Smallwood Trails Bicycle Park Saturday morning.
As bikers took to the trails, approximately 45 people gathered in the field
where the trails start for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
City manager James Wascher opened the event, thanking the volunteers
for their work, particularly those associated with State Street Bicycles “who
made it happen.”
Mayor pro tern Keith Burchett recalled that when the city acquired the
property it had other plans that “did not come together.”
“Then State Street Bicycles came into the picture,” he continued, point
ing out that Lee and Todd Fox marshaled the forces that built the trails.
Lee Fox also spoke briefly. He recalled that at the grand opening of
State Street Bicycles Mayor Clark Hill, who was unable to attend the event,
“invited us to do a bike trail,” and that shortly afterwards, bicyclist Travis
Thompson, who had just moved to town, got involved.
Fox also expressed appreciation for the support of Wascher.
“The first week that James took over (as city manager) changed every
thing,” Fox said, adding that the city provided all the support the volunteers
needed.
“A huge thanks to James for backing us and getting things done,” he
concluded.
City council members Donald Wilson and Johnny Eubanks also spoke,
thanking those who built the trails. Eubanks pointed out that the trails will
not impede future development of the park.
He also thanked the Foxes for locating their store in Commerce.
“I appreciate you coming to Commerce. You could have gone anywhere,
but you came to Commerce,” he said.
The park comprises about 50 acres, including a lake. It now has a one-
To feed the multitude
Commerce employees Sandra Haggard, David Zellner and
Natalie Thomas prepare hot dogs during the celebration
Saturday morning of the opening of the Smallwood Trails
Bicycle Park.
mile bike trail and a four-mile loop, both of which are open to bikers and
hikers.
Check out the chick
Payton Fountain, 7, Dylan Williams, 7, and Lucas Martin, 7, hold a two-day
old chicken from Mar-Jac Poultry of Gainsville, during Ag Day at Commerce
Primary School last Friday. See Page 12B for more photos.
Photo by Wesleigh Sagon
Commerce government
Council mulls tree
contract, annexation
The Commerce City Council signaled its intention to enter
a new tree-trimming contract, annex and rezone 8.8 acres
and update its zoning map during a brief “work session”
meeting Monday night.
The council will act on those items on Monday, Nov. 21,
at 6 p.m. in the Commerce Room of the Commerce Civic
Center.
Tree Trimming
After soliciting bids, city manager James Wascher — who
was out of town and did not attend the work session — rec
ommended that the city accept the low bid from Waldrop
Tree Service to trim rights of way and cut back or remove
other trees as needed at a rate of $85 an hour.
The city budgets $50,000 a year for such work and has
been using ESG, the company that manages its water treat
ment plant.
“It does a couple of things for us,” Mayor Clark Hill said.
“All of the people will be licensed and bonded and any
damage will be their responsibility. ...This gives us more flex
ibility. We can call them as needed month-to-month instead
of being restricted to certain months.”
See “Council ” on Page 3A
E. Jackson senior slain in Winder shooting
The East Jackson school
community is mourning the
death of an East Jackson
Comprehensive High School
senior killed in a shooting in
Winder on Friday night.
Jose Tovar, 18, of Athens,
was shot while attempting
to break up a fight. He was
taken to Athens Regional
Medical Center where he
died during surgery accord
ing to those familiar with the
incident.
Tovar had attended the
Jackson County School Sys
tem for many years, starting
as a student at South Jack-
son Elementary School. He
ran cross-country and played
soccer at EJCHS.
EJCHS principal Jamie
Dixon said both the soccer
and cross-country coaches
spoke highly of Tovar.
“They stated that he had
an infectious personality a
significant desire to compete,
and was a team leader,” said
Dixon. “...Jose’s academic
teachers all agree that he
was an intelligent young man
who enjoyed life.”
His fellow students are
also mourning the loss of
Tovar. Multiple prayer vigils
were held Monday outside of
the school. Students released
blue and white balloons into
the sky in his memory.
“Our school has endured
a difficult day, but we will per
severe,” said Dixon. “Know
ing Jose, I believe that is
exactly what he would have
us do. I’ve been touched by
the significant outpouring of
support from all around our
community. On behalf of
our school, I’d like to thank
everyone who has been
involved with the efforts to
help our student body today.
Jose’s spirit is alive and well
in the hearts of all the Eagle
Nation.”
JCSS superintendent April
Howard said the school
system is grieving the loss
of Tovar, who attended the
school system for most of
his life. The district is provid
ing increased counseling to
students.
“We are grieving the loss
of this precious life,” said
Howard. “Jose and his family
have been part of our school
family for many years, and
our hearts break for all who
have been part of this young
man’s life at South Jackson
Elementary, Kings Bridge
Middle and EJCHS. In addi
tion, we grieve the loss of
some sense of safety and
security for our students and
their parents. As the process
of the investigation unfolds,
we know those difficult con
versations will go on. Our
faculty, staff, guidance coun
selors and social workers
See “Slain” on 3A
