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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2008 THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS PAGE 7A Year in review ... continued from page 1A JEFF BOHANNON HONORED Baldwin City Council members honored council member Jeff Bohannon (third from right) for 12 years of service to the city at its council meeting on Thursday night, Dec. 27. Baldwin Mayor Mark Reed presented J. Bohannon with a plaque from the city. Shown (L to R) are: council members Beverly Holcomb and Ray Holcomb, Reed, J. Bohannon, Betty Bohannon , J. Bohannon's mother, and council member Robert Bohannon. Photo by Sharon Hogan Baldwin hearing postponed •Banks County High School’s SAT scores averaged second among the region following only Dawson County High School. The average verbal score for Banks County students was 493 and 503 for math. The most recent writing scores averaged at 484. The composite total of 1480 was shy of last year’s high mark of 1,528 but above the 2007 state average of 1,427. •With an on-going effort to stay ahead of projected student enrollment growth, Banks County superintendent Chris Erwin invited representatives from Georgia Power to speak to the board of education. John Hayes and Brent Edwards spoke to BOE officials during their work session about where pro jected growth would be in the county in future years. The Georgia Power offi cials predicted growth during the next five years would be in areas around Hwy. 441. The data was based on the number of electrical requests from new homes as well as other factors. •The Banks County Board of Education recognized three students for achieving perfect scores on the CRCT math test. Banks County Middle School students Hannah Garrison, Joseph Denton and Logan Walterhouse were each recognized by the BOE and superintendent Chris Erwin. •The Lula City Council approved a resolution last week that allocates 30,000 gallons per day of wastewa ter capacity for Flat Creek Associates, LLP. The resolution states Flat Creek Associates, LLP has filed a request to reserve 30,000 gpd of sewer treatment capacity for utilization in a proposed mixed use commercial project located on the properties. The property consist of 300-plus acres. •The Georgia Department of Education recently released state-wide comparison scores of last spring’s Criterion Referenced Competency Test (CRCT). When comparing systems within the local RESA area, Banks County School System took first place in the three areas of seventh grade sci ence, seventh grade math and eighth grade math. Leading the pack of schools within the Pioneer RESA area was BCMS in many subjects. •A lawsuit filed against Banks County officials and local builder Bobby Caudell over a subdivision in the area of Hwy. 164 and Harden Bridge Road has been dismissed. Judge David Motes heard the case on Aug. 30 and ruled in favor of the county and Caudell. The lawsuit had been filed by Willis and Bettie Harden and Homeplace Garden Nursery on the premise the 98-home subdivision would negatively impact their business, primarily in the area of runoff in nearby creeks and water systems. •Banks County Development Authority members unanimous ly agreed at a meeting last week to spend up to $400 to help with the Entrepreneurial Friendly initiative in Banks County. This is a project of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs being led in Banks County by Susan Brown. •The Homer City Council voted 4 to 1 to approve plans for a new fire station. Council member Sandra Garrsion cast the opposing vote. The new lire station will be located on Sycamore Street. OCTOBER •The robber of the Banks Crossing branch of Regions Bank last month may be involved in the holdup of sev eral other banks, local law enforce ment officials said. The Regions Banks office at Banks Crossing was robbed on Sept. 10 by a suspect described as a white male, 6-1 with short, sandy- blond hair, perhaps dyed. Since this robbery occurred, a bank in Oakwood in Hall County has also been robbed along with banks in Greenville, South Carolina, and law enforcement officers say the cases may be related. •The Banks County Board of Education set a tentative millage of 11.744, which was a slight roll back from the current rate of 11.75. •The Banks County Convention and Visitors Bureau unanimously approved a new slate of officers and direc tors. Mark Valentine will continue to serve as CVB chairman with Deyon Corey being elected vice-chairman. Five members were elected as direc tors, including Jodi Kephart, Sherrard White, Johnny Solesbee, Joe Cook and Butch Hansen. •A manager at the Banks Crossing KFC has been arrested and charged with felony theft by taking at the res taurant. Michael Talmedge Hyde, 33, Cornelia, was arrested by the Banks County Sheriff’s Office following an investigation into a robbery at the establishment during the early morning hours of Sept. 17. From early on in the investigation, BCSO officials suspected the robbery was an inside job. •Two people were arrested in connec tion with the murder of Randy Lynn Rylee, including the victim’s sister. Banks County sheriff Charles Chapman said that the investigation, which has been ongoing for the past month, led to the arrest of William Thomas Mason, 52, and Kathy Elaine Rylee, 49, both of Maysville. Kathy Elaine Rylee, the vic tim’s sister, was the one who reported finding her brother’s body on Aug. 26 in a small trailer he lived on near her residence on Carson-Segars Road. •Former Piedmont Judicial Circuit district attorney Tim Madison pled not guilty Thursday to charges related to alleged financial misconduct during his time in office. Madison’s attorney, Ed Tolley, entered the plea at the Banks County courthouse during the arraign ment. Madison’s wife, Linn Jones Madison, and former assistant district attorney, Brett Williams, also entered not guilty pleas. All three were present for the plea day but did not speak. •For the third consecutive year, the Banks County Board of Commissioners has rolled back the millage rate.The BOC set the 2007 millage rate at 8.229, a light decrease from the previous year’s rate of 8.223. The rate was 8.243 in 2005 and 9.75 in 2004. •Alto City Council members voted unanimously to keep the same millage rate for 2008 as the previous year. That rate stands at 5.9 mills. •Five Banks County Middle School students were honored for earning a perfect score on the reading portion of the CRCT. •The Lula City Council agreed to strictly enforce violations of the level four drought restrictions. •William Mason, 52, and Kathy Rylee, 49, the two suspects in the mur der of Randy Rylee were denied bond. •New district attorney Rick Bridgeman spoke to the chamber of commerce. •The City of Baldwin received a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant for the Park Avenue project. The town has also received a $234,797 Employment Incentive Program check from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for water system improvements. •David Casciano was named Teacher of the Year for the Banks County School system. •A man wanted in Missouri for ques tioning in an unsolved murder was arrested in Banks County. •The BOC placed seven businesses on probation for recent underage sale of alcohol to customers under the age of 21. •More than 80 members of the Banks County High School ROTC traveled to Athens to take part in a flight. It is the first year for the program at BCHS. •Rock Springs Baptist Children’s Church was damaged in an electrical fire. •While the water situation has been making headlines and newscasts for weeks, the effect of the ongoing drought is now directly felt in the coun ty. Local officials were informed by the Environmental Protection Division and the State Department of Natural Resources that the amount of treated water usage must be reduced by 10 percent. The BOC set fines for those found violating the water bans. NOVEMBER •In an effort to get a better grasp on the ongoing water crisis, the Banks County BOC held a meeting with local school, public safety and county municipality officials. The City of Homer and the BOC both announced plans to reduce water use. •In the Baldwin election, the winners were: Beverly Holcomb, Post 1; Jeffery Scott Murray, Post 2; and Rodney King, Post 3. •In the Maysville election, the win ners were: Jerry Baker, mayor; Clay Dorsey, Ward 1; Lynn Villyard, Ward 2; Rebecca McNeeley, Ward 3; and Stephan Lewis, Ward 4. •The Pottery closed after 23 years in business at Banks Crossing. Owner Joe Craven said he planned to open another store on the site as part of a new development. •A veterans program was held at Banks County Middle School with a large number of county veterans being recognized. •Alto council members continued to work on the adoption of an animal control ordinance for the city. No action was taken but a public hearing was held for the council to receive input. •Baldwin Police Cpl. James Savage was recognized as “Officer of the Year” by the Northeastern Traffic Enforcement Network. •Banks County school leaders report ed that work on the athletic complex is almost complete. •Baldwin resident Theron Ayers filed a suit against the City of Baldwin requesting a new election be held for council post 1. According to the vote count on Nov. 6, Ayers lost this race by three votes to incumbent Beverly Holcomb. •A variance request from the devel oper of a subdivision on Barefoot Road was met with opposition from some area residents. The variance was with drawn when there was not enough of the council voting in favor of the request. •The Maysville Police Department arrested three fugitives, including one wanted by United States marshals for bank robbery. •The Homer City Council approved a rezoning on Turk Street for offices to be located. •The Lula City Council discussed implementing impact fees. No action was taken but the matter will be dis cussed further at future meetings. DECEMBER •An 18-year-old woman was struck by an oncoming vehicle as she was attempting to cross the road near Wal- Mart at Banks Crossing. •The BOC agreed to seek a grant for water upgrades on Hwy. 105. •Officials from Banks County, Maysville and Homer, along with con cerned citizens, attended a public hear ing concerning the beginning stages of updating the county’s solid waste management plan. •MainStreet Newspapers announced that the website is now averaging over one million hits per month. •After months of delays, the Town of Maysville and the fire department signed a new lease concerning the fire station on Hwy. 52. •A dedication ceremony was held at Hyder Covered Bridge, a project of the Banks County FBLA. •It was standing room only at the Banks County Planning Commission meeting as citizens voiced opposition to a proposal for a chicken plant opera tion in the area of Brown Bridge Road and Duncan Road. •A North Carolina woman was killed in a Hwy. 15/441 accident. The victim was attempting to help her husband back his 18-wheeler onto Hwy. 15/ Hwy. 441. •The Baldwin City Council approved a contract with a private firm, Woodard & Curran of Portland, Maine, to handle the day-to-day operations of the water treatment plant. •A ground breaking ceremony was held at the site of the new fire depart ment in Homer. •Commissioner Joe Barefoot said he wants the BOC to seek legislation on changing the form of government to five members instead of three. •The City of Alto received a $11,377 grant for the police department to pur chase a patrol vehicle. •The Homer City Council approved a hotel-motel tax for the city. •Some $100,000 in equipment was stolen from the county water depart ment. •Ron Gardiner was named as the board of education chairman. •The Banks County Development Authority approved a resolution that will clear up the ownership of the county water authority. The resolu tion clarifies that the county owns the water system and that the development authority has no control over it. •The countdown to the opening of the new Banks County courthouse annex is underway. An official groundbreaking ceremony was scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 10, at 11:30 a.m. at the site near Eagles Nest Drive, off Thompson Street. Compiled by Angela Gary BY SHARON HOGAN The hearing scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 27, in the Habersham County Courthouse to hear the suit filed against the City of Baldwin by Baldwin resident Theron Ayers was postponed until 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5. Judge Hugh W. Stone is sched uled to hear the case filed by Ayers against the city and City of Baldwin Election Superintendent Brandy Kyle. Ayers alleges in the suit that Kyle went out to homes in the city and brought back absentee ballots. Ayers ran against incumbent council member Beverly Holcomb for the Post 1 council seat. The count after the Nov. 6 city election showed Holcomb beating Ayers by three votes. Ayers’ suit states that, according to the two voting machines, Ayers won the election by one vote. With the 18 absentee ballots in ques tion, Ayers lost by three votes. Ayers states the following reasons for filing the suit: not knowing the conditions that the election superintendent required to be eli gible for her to come out to their homes, the inconsistency of her answers as to how many homes she actually went to; his winning on the voting machines; and the closeness of the vote after count ing the absentee ballots. Ayers also questioned the training of Kyle to hold this position. Poultry ... continued from page 1A objections to the plant. The Jan. 3 meeting will be held at the Banks County High School auditorium to better handle the anticipated large crowd. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. The operation would not be completely constructed until approximately 2014 with development scheduled to begin in 2008. The Banks County Board of Commissioners will have final say on the Country Charms Egg Company Request at its meeting scheduled for Jan. 8 at 6:30 p.m. That meeting has also been moved to the BCHS auditorium. Political... continued from page 1A had been handling some funds in the three-county judicial circuit. There were at least six secret bank accounts being managed by Madison; some had been funded by victims’ assistance court fees and others by the sale of seized vehicles and cash from drug cases. From those funds, Madison had paid for some questionable trips for himself and his wife and was paying some DA staff members “off the books” wages and bonuses. In addition, Madison had put his wife on the DA’s payroll in two counties simultaneously; had an assistant DA being paid by both the state and the Banks County government; and had mandated that some staff members pay him “liquidated damages” if they left employment in the DA’s office within a short period of time. MainStreet Newspapers began publishing a series of investigative newspa per articles in March 2007 about its findings. After the second story was pub lished, Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker launched an investigation into Madison’s financial dealings in the DA’s office. In early May, Madison’s wife resigned from the DA’s office and later in the month, Madison also resigned. Local judges and other area court officials were stunned by his resignation. In August, Madison, his wife and a former ADA were indicted in Banks County on theft charges related to some of the financial transactions. All three later pled not guilt and are awaiting trial in Banks County. 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