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Dedication planned: 2B Sports: IB Mat Leopards get needed break this weekend New BCHS baseball facility February 6, 2008 The Banks County News 504^ Homer, Banks County, Georgia 30547 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. • mainstreetnews.com • 20 Pages, 3 Sections Plus Supplements • Vol. 39 No. 26 — Piedmont Circuit — Smith to run for DA seat Former assistant district attor ney Brad Smith has announced his intention to seek the seat of District Attorney for the Piedmont Judicial Circuit in July’s elections. The position is currently held by Rick Bridgeman, who was appointed to the post following the resignation of former DA Tim Madison last summer. “This July’s primary presents a significant opportunity for the people of the Piedmont Circuit,” Smith said. “It will be the first time in over 20 years they have had a choice for district attor ney. I believe I present the best choice. Now more than ever the DA’s office needs experienced leadership — in both words and acts - in address ing the challenges of our criminal justice system.” Smith is a graduate of The Citadel and University of Virginia and began his legal career in the Piedmont Circuit in 1997. While serving as ADA, he was put in charge of the Jackson County office. Smith resigned the position last year and is currently working in the Western Judicial Circuit, which includes Athens-Clarke County. In addition to his legal career, Smith has also been the “voice of the Appalachee Wildcats” football team for the past seven years, is a supporter of the Peace Place battered women’s shelter and the Barrow County Relay for Life efforts. He is an active member of the Barrow County Republican Party and is the current secretary/treasurer of the Piedmont Bar Association. Smith and his wife, Christine, have been married for eleven years, and have two sons: Aiden, 5 and Jacob, 3. They reside in Hoschton and attend Sanctuary of the Holy Spirit Church in Winder. “I have raised my family in this community and committed virtu ally my entire career to serving this circuit,” Smith said. “I hope the citizens of the Piedmont Judicial Circuit will allow me the opportu nity to return to their service once again as their District Attorney.” BRAD SMITH NeWS - 2-3A •DA announces first quarterly public meeting — page 2A •Election fees set for 2008 county races — page 2A Op/Ed - 4-5A • ‘Amazed by technol ogy of today’s world’ — page 4A Other news •Public Safety — page 6A •Social News — page 7A • Legals — page 4B •Church — page 5B •Obituaries — page 6B Banks votes for Huckabee, Clinton County officials report 'heavy' turnout Tuesday BY CHRIS BRIDGES Banks County voters went to their respective polling places as part of Super Tuesday, following the state trend on the Republican side while going against it on the Democratic side. Banks County voting officials said 44.46 percent of registered voters cast ballots in this year’s presidential preference primary. There were no local items on the ballot so the 3,348 number of votes cast was high, officials said Tuesday night. On the Republican ballot, Mike Huckabee earned the most voters in Banks County with 1,152 or 47.76 percent. Huckabee scored an upset victory in Georgia with 34 percent of the vote. As of 9 a.m. Wednesday, Huckabee has compiled 318,860 votes statewide with 93 percent reporting. John McCain was second in Banks County with 684 (28.36 percent) while Mitt Romney was third with 516 (21.39). Ron Paul was fourth locally with 40 votes (1.66 percent). McCain, Romney and Paul also finished in that order statewide. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton won Banks County although Barack Obama won over all in the state. Clinton picked up 693 votes locally for 68.55 percent while Obama had 232 voters for 22.95 percent. That trend did not follow statewide as Obama carried 66.3 percent of the vote as com pared to 31.2 percent for Clinton. It took officials of the Banks County Probate Court office approximately 90 minutes to tabu late the local votes Tuesday night. Banks County voting officials said Tuesday afternoon that 196 citizens took advantage of early voting from Jan. 28-Feb. 1. An additional 134 voters requested absentee ballots which had to be back in the registrar’s office Tuesday by 5 p.m. Only 82 absen tee ballot were returned, however. VOTE HERE Ashley Hardin prepares to vote Tuesday afternoon at Homer City Hall. Poll workers Sandra Smith, Diane Cheek and Catherine Shubert assisted voters from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Photo by Sharon Hogan Volunteers of the Year VOLUNTEERS RECEIVE RECOGNITION Tara Fulcher, left, Banks County Chamber of Commerce director, is shown with Ray and Mildred Bellamy, who were recognized as volunteers of the year by the chamber last week. See more pictures from the chamber banquet on page 3A. Photo by Sharon Hogan — Town Governments — Maysville votes 'No' on policing Gillsville area BY CHRIS BRIDGES A request from the City of Gillsville for police protection from neighboring Maysville was turned down by the Maysville City Council. Maysville leaders discussed the request from Gillsville Monday night, but expressed numerous con cerns about it. Maysville attorney Gary Freeman said he had con cerns about the liability of extending police coverage to Gillsville. “It’s hard enough to take care of your own town,” Freeman said. “What does our town get for taking on this responsibility? Would we be covered if something goes wrong?” Maysville police chief Clarence Sullens said he has not researched the issue of extending coverage, but said in other instances where this has been tried it has not worked. Council member Stephan Lewis said he didn’t know if it was some thing he wanted to do. “We would have to buy another police car because you couldn’t leave Maysville without a full force,” Lewis said. “We had to bite the bullet and start our own police department. I think they have to find another way.” Council member Clay Dorsey made the motion to deny the request with Lewis seconding that motion. The motion passed unanimously. In other business at Monday’s 45-minute meeting, Maysville offi cials: •reappointed Freeman as city attorney and Sullens as police chief for another year. •heard a preliminary proposal from a representative of Freedom Bank in Commerce about placing an ATM machine in Maysville once the current Regions Bank location closes. The council voted to allow mayor Jerry Baker to begin looking to the process of negotiating with Southern Railroad for one possible location for placement of the ATM. •tabled an item concerning the paving of potholes. •appointed Sam Small as solici tor for municipal court at a cost of $1,800 per year. — Baldwin — Judge rules against new city election for Baldwin BY SHARON HOGAN Judge Hugh Stone ruled in the City of Baldwin’s favor at a hear ing held on Tuesday regarding the challenge to the November 6, 2007 city election. The day-long hearing was held in the Habersham County Courthouse in Clarkesville. Council Post 1 challenger Theron Ayers filed the suit against the city and Baldwin Election Superintendent Brandy Kyle. The final count in the election showed incumbent Post 1 council member Beverly Holcomb beating Ayers by three votes. The final count for the race was 99 to 96. When asked to make a com ment after Tuesday’s hearing to the newspaper Ayers replied, “No comment.” Baldwin city attorney David Syfan said after the hearing, “I’m happy we were able to answer Mr. Ayers questions in court.” Syfan also said, “Anytime anyone wants to look at how we do things, we try to do things right.” Baldwin mayor Mark Reed also declined to comment. Ayers’ suit alleges that Kyle went out to homes in the city and brought back absentee ballots. continued on page 2A LEOPARD CHEER The Banks County High School cheerleaders help keep the home fans motivated during a recent contest. See a basketball update in today’s sports section. Photo by Randy Crump