The Commerce news. (Commerce, Ga.) 1???-current, November 16, 2016, Image 1

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The Commerce news., November 16, 2016, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextVol. 140 No. 39 24 Pages 2 Sections rpl WED l \\£ NOVEME Commerce News Wednesday NOVEMBER 16,2016 www.CommerceNewsTODAY.com 50 Cents COVERING THE COMMERCE AREA SINCE 1875 Newspaper deadlines moved up Because of the Thanks giving holiday, the deadlines for next week’s issue of The Commerce News have been moved up to Friday at noon for the Nov. 23 edition, so subscribers can get their newspapers the day before Thanksgiving. All copy for news items, classified ads, display ads and all photos must be received by noon on Friday, Nov. 18, for publication in the Nov. 23 issue. The same deadlines apply to all other MainStreet Newspapers pub lications. The Commerce News will be printed a day early and should arrive in local subscribers’ mailboxes in Wednesday’s mail. Cop ies will be available at local stores the evening of Tues day Nov. 22. Firefighters help battle Rabun fire Jackson County sent four teen firefighters to Rabun County to assist with fighting wildfires that are covering much of Georgia with smoke. Jackson County EMS direc tor Steve Nichols reports that a request from Georgia Emergency Management was received on Sunday for assis tance and local fire depart ments responded. Personnel from Jefferson, North Jackson, Harrisburg, Nicholson, West Jackson and South Jackson fire depart ments went to Rabun County to assist with fire suppression. “We ask you to keep them in your prayers,” Nichols said. Contact Us •News: news@mainstreet- news.com, call 706-621-7238 Online B Follow us on Facebook by liking The Commerce News www.CommerceNewsTODAY.com INDEX Church News 7B Classified Ads... 9-1 OB Crime News 6-8A Opinion 4A Obituaries 8B School 9-1OA Sports 1-5B Social News. 11-12A Tigers getting ready for 1st playoff round — Page IB ‘Aerofest’ draws crowd to airport — Page 2A Paying tribute to veterans Benton Elementary School children present flags during a patriotic salute to veterans in Nicholson on Sunday afternoon at the community’s annual Veterans Day program, for more photos, see Page 3A. Photo by Angela Gary Commerce BOE considers 2017-18 calendar options The Commerce Board of Education will post two potential calendars for the 2017-18 school year to see which one teachers favor. The board will offer two scenarios. The first would start the next school year with pre-planning for teachers in the last week of July, with students starting on Friday, Aug. 4. There would be no fall break, two weeks off in December, a spring break in April, with graduation on May 18. “Very similar to this year’s calendar,” noted superintendent Joy Tolbert during the board’s Nov. 10 “work session” meeting. The other option would start similarly but would include a fall break, the two weeks off in December, a winter break in February, a spring break the first week in April, with classes ending on May 25. As for the fall break in the second version, Tolbert told the board, “People say that it’s a long stretch from Labor Day to Thanksgiv ing. She also told the board that when there is no fall break, the kids get tired and disci pline suffers. When they get that week off, she said, “They come back with a renewed spirit and ready to go.” She added that the addition of the fall break is the reason that graduation is a week later in version two. The system’s principals have seen the calendars, but not the teachers. “Let the teachers look at them and see what they want,” member Bill Davis advised. The calendars will be posted on the sys tem’s website and its Facebook page. The board will make a decision at its December meeting. Other Business At its regular meeting on Monday night, the board also: See “School” on Page 3A School board approves bass fishing team for CHS duo Two-member team gets board nod; could start as early as Friday Commerce High School will have a bass fishing team come spring — and maybe this week. The Commerce Board of Education agreed at its Thursday night “work ses sion” meeting to approve a request that originated with two students to allow the two-person team to com pete in future bass tourna ment events. “Trust me, it’ll grow,” predicted principal Don nie Drew, who explained the request to the school board. Part of the appeal — from the board’s perspective — is that fielding a team is not expected to cost much. Drew said one of the stu dents’ parents is offering use of a bass boat, includ ing driving it in tourna ments, and other costs are minimal. “It doesn’t appear it would be that costly,” he told the board on Thurs day. “The membership fee for the team is $60. Two members is all I’ve been able to determine that has to be on the team.” Drew said he expected the boys’ parents to pay the $30 per tournament entry fee, and the boys will provide their own equip ment. “If we endorse it and it turns out to be a good thing, we may get further involved,” said Drew, refer ring to the cost. “Is it under the Georgia High School Association?” asked BOE member Bill Davis. “No sir, it is not,” Drew responded. “Do you have to have an administrator or teacher at each tournament?” Davis asked. “No sir,” Drew answered. Drew pointed out that Jefferson High School has fielded a bass fishing team in the past, but said he had not been able to reach the Jefferson “coach” as of last Thursday’s work session. “All I can say is it looks like to me we ought to endorse it, look into it and try it,” he said. The last tournament of the year is Friday. Action resumes in March. Drew said that it is not yet clear whether the team will com pete in the tournament this Friday. Drew said agriculture teacher Cameron Shirley has agreed to be the con tact person for the CHS bass team. Drew said two of her students, Colby Mason and Colby Rogers, requested the creation of the team. “They’re pretty good buddies. They’re both young and enthusiastic,” Drew said. Participation does not require a physical exam, Drew pointed out. The only requirement is that the stu dents have valid fishing licenses (if 16 or older). Drew said participants’ parents will sign a liability waiver. Tournament bass fish ing is big business, with anglers’ receiving signifi cant cash prizes and being sponsored by equipment and apparel manufactur ers. A number of colleges and universities — includ ing the University of Geor gia — field teams that com pete at reservoirs all across the country. MAILING LABEL BELOW Light agenda ahead for Commerce council Monday The Commerce City Council will have a light agenda when it meets on Monday, Nov. 21, at 6 p.m. in the Commerce Room of the Commerce Civic Center. The following items are on the agenda: •consideration of a contract with Wal drop Tree Service for tree trimming at $85 per hour. Waldrop submitted the lowest of four bids, and the city budgets $50,000 a year for right of way maintenance and other tree removal needs. •the rezoning and annexation of 8.8 acres on Hazel Street requested by Erin and Kyle Moore, as recommended by the Com merce Planning Commission. The Moores want the property rezoned to R-2 so they can divide the property into four lots, build a home on one and sell the others. • approval of an update to its zoning map, which was put off from a prior meeting due to a pending annexation. • a request from city manager James Wascher to honor 14 city employees for service anniversaries in five-year increments from five years of service to 25. • approval for the Commerce High School basketball team to hold a 5K “Home town Holiday Hustle” race on Saturday, Dec. 3, in conjunction with the Downtown Development Authority’s Hometown Holi days event. • the appointment of Jeff Rogers to a five-year term on the Commerce Housing Authority to replace Geneva Johnson, who is retiring. The council will also get a financial update from accounting manager Christy Case based on Oct. 31 numbers. 'Best Christmas Pageant Ever' begins Thursday Cold Sassy Players, Commerce’s little theater group, will present “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” based on the children’s novel by Barbara Robinson, in six performances starting Thursday night at the Commerce Cultural Center. In this Christmas tale, a couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids — probably the most inventively awful kids in history — resulting in mayhem and fun when the Herdman kids collide with the Christmas story. Performances are set for: • Thursday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m. • Saturday, Nov. 19, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. • Thursday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m. • Saturday, Dec. 3, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults, $3 for kids 6-12 and free for kids under age 6. Tickets will be sold at the door. The cultural center is located at 232 Cherry Street, across from the Commerce Civic Center.