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PAGE 2A THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2008 Residents encourage 'targeted growth' BY SHARON HOGAN T he majority of the Banks County residents attend ing the framework work shop last week on the comprehen sive plan update were in favor of targeted growth in the county. Marty Sewell and Marla Bexley- Brown, MACTEC Engineering and Consulting, Inc., presented the results of a survey completed by county residents dealing with growth and issues and opportuni ties in Banks County over the next 10 years. Sewell said the survey shows residents want to encourage growth in targeted areas, grow the school-age population/provide more activities for children, work to attract jobs that will help retain Banks County’s graduates and the younger population, expand commercial and industrial base in targeted areas to lighten the residential tax burden on the citi zens, promote tourism, build a multi-purpose facility, raise the overall education attainment and encourage small businesses in the county. Most citizens were in agreement that the landfill on Bennett Road should not be expanded. Sewell also said, the survey shows that residents want new growth to be focused in the Martin Bridge Road area. Residents also believe the Old Highway 441 area would be a nice place for mobile home parks and residential growth. However, the majority agreed that people should be encouraged to get into good affordable housing (stick built), as opposed to mobile homes. A Banks County resident said on Tuesday night that she moved from Gwinnett County to get away from the traffic and she wants the area to remain rural. She said the county needs to encourage own ers of farm land to continue to use their property as farm land. Sewell said some housing issues discussed were the need to have affordable housing to help keep young people in the county and the need to offer a wide range of house prices. The residents want to avoid high density housing in certain areas, Sewell said. Residents see the need for a multi-purpose enclosed arena/ facility for hosting large-scale events, conferences and conven tions, Sewell said. Local residents also appreciate the county’s histo ry and want to see local historical sites marked, the survey showed. Sewell said residents polled also wanted to see green space corri dors along the Hudson River and Grove River/ Creek. On the issue of community facilities, the group agreed that sewer expansion could provide infrastructure that would facilitate targeted industrial, commercial and residential growth. The coun ty’s recycling program could be expanded to reduce the amount of solid waste going into the landfill was an item the residents agreed on. On the transportation issue, the 240 miles of unpaved roads in the county are considered a problem to the residents. Board of com mission chairman Gene Hart told those in attendance that the county has eight people on the county road crew and they try to get around to all the dirt roads at least twice a year to scrape them and clean out the ditches. The residents were in agreement that the county board of com mission and the county board of education need to continue their coordination. This is an important issue, Sewell said. County resident Leslie George asked on Tuesday if the county can require any new construction to have underground utilities. At issue is the Banks Crossing area with all of the overhead utilities. The group also agreed that the signage in the Banks Crossing area needs to be addressed. Sewell said the community vision statement for Banks County is to create a community that protects open space and to create a com munity that values its public edu cation and has devoted sufficient resources to bring the county’s students in line with state and national averages for educational attainment. The county has tentatively set the open house for the comprehensive plan for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 10, at the senior center, Thompson Street, Homer. Schaefer decides to seek re-election to 50th District BY CHRIS BRIDGES State Senator Nancy Schaefer announced last week she will seek a third-term to represent the 50th district. Previously, Schaefer had announced she was going to chal lenge U.S. Congressman Paul Broun in the upcoming Republican primary for the 10th district. However, Schaefer said fam ily commitments would prevent her from doing so. The state senator said her husband, Bruce, was having health problems and she could not consider undertaking a campaign at the time. However, last week Schaefer announced she would seek re-elec tion to her state senator seat. “Bruce and I have been blessed by constituents across the 50th District running for the 50th District Senate Seat again. We have experienced much prayer from so many of you in the last few weeks and we are most grateful. We are at peace with our decision and look forward to greeting the great folks in the 50th District this summer.” Official candidate qualifying began Monday and will continue through Friday. Bridgeman Piedmont Judicial Circuit District Attorney Rick Bridgeman has announced that he will seek election to the office of District Attorney, a position that he has held since his appointment by Gov. Sonny Perdue on Sept. 6, 2007. “It has been my privilege to serve the citizens of Banks, Barrow and Jackson counties as their district attorney these past seven months,” Bridgeman said. “Since 1995, I have built a record as a tough yet fair prosecutor, dedicated to protecting Georgians and holding offenders accountable. I am com mitted to bringing a culture of excellence to the office of district attorney and remaining a faithful and trustworthy steward of that important public office.” “I have a new vision for a district attorney’s office that focuses on serving the public, working with our criminal justice partners to vindicate the rights of victims and law abiding citizens and seeking justice on each and every case,” he continued. “I am honored to serve with a group of outstanding men and women and am proud of the great strides that together we have made in just a few short months,” Bridgeman said. “I hope that I Maysville to host meeting The City of Maysville will hold a public information meeting to take comment on the comprehensive plan for the city on Thursday, May 1, at 7 p.m., at the Maysville Public Library. Read, then recycle this newspaper! NANCY SCHAEFER urging me not to give up my Senate seat,” Schaefer said. “Bruce still faces surgery, but after tests, con sultants and a plan, we now have a balance with Bruce’s health and my Break-in reported at Maysville Elementary BY SHARON HOGAN The Maysville Police Department is investigating a break-in on Sunday at Maysville Elementary School. Maysville Police Chief Clarence Sullens said 14 classrooms were entered by breaking windows in the outside doors. “They never entered the hall ways where the alarms are located,” Sullen said. A custodian at the school discov ered the break-in on Sunday after- noon. Sullens said based on the time that the custodian had entered the school earlier in the day on Sunday and the time she returned, the break- in is believed to have happened sometime Sunday afternoon. Two laptop computers and a digi tal camera have been reported miss ing so far. Sullens said this is an on-going investigation and his department is working with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office on this. Bearded Irises Note in Full Bloom GVBLL 15 U VAIOBTIBS Every customer will receive a FREE Iris with purchase! SHUMAKE’S DAYLILY GARDEN 1190 Academy Ch. Rd. • Jefferson, GA 30549 Approx. 3.5 mi. north of Jefferson - Hwy 129 Follow The Signs To The Garden Mon.- Sat. 9-6 • Sun. 1-6 Let us know your story ideas Have an interesting story to share? Do you have a unique hobby? If so, we would like to know. Contact Angie Gary, editor of The Banks County News, at 706-367-2490 or e-mail information to her at AngieEditor@aol.com. Exclusive, One-of-a-kind Gifts for MOTHER’S DAY at DonByramArt featuring Handcrafted Pottery, Limited Edition Art Work, Dazzling Handblown Glass Pieces real quality from your Local Northeast Georgia Artists! Get that special portrait framed perfectly for Mom! 249 Pottery Factory Drive - Commerce Behind Zaxby’s 706-336-8080 FOR ONLY $5 PER MONTH, YOU CAN LIST YOUR GROUP'S MEETINGS! Let your members know when your group is meeting! Call (706) 367-5233 to advertise your meeting time, place and date in... • The Jackson Herald • The Commerce News • The Braselton News • The Banks County News • The Madison County Journal The Jackson Co. Republican Party Would like you to meet us for breakfast the second Sat. of each month, 8:00 at The Jefferson House. For more information, call 706-652-2967 or email fishyglass@yahoo.com Pd.05/08 BANKS COUNTY AMERICAN LEGION Post 215 Meets each 3rd Thursday, 7 p.m. In Homer, GA at the American Legion Building on Historic Highway 441 Pd.06/08 glfi VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS Post 4872, Hurricane Shoals Convention Ctr. Each 4th Monday, 7:00 p.m. Mike Buffington, Commander Phone 706-335-6532 263 JEFFERSON LIONS CLUB Meets 2nd & 4th Monday Jefferson City Clubhouse 6:30 p.m. • (706) 367-1400 Mark Bradley, President UNITY LODGE F & A.M. No. 36, Jefferson, GA 1st Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m. Dwight Wier • 706-367-5882 Borders St. behind Tabo's 260 JEFFERSON ROTARY CLUB Meets Tuesdays Jefferson City Clubhouse 12:30 p.m. • (706) 654-2237 Clay Eubanks, President COMMERCE AMERICAN LEGION Commerce Rec. Dept. Post 93 Carson Street - 1st Mon. night Each Month, 7:30 p.m. 335-6400 BANKS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC. meets first Monday each month 7:00 p.m. in the Banks Co. Historial Courthouse at 105 U.S. Hwy. 441 North in Homer Pd.-2/2008 JEFFERSON AMERICAN LEGION Albert Gordon Post 56 Each 3rd Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. Harvie Lance, Commander Phone (706) 654-1274 310 White Plains Baptist Church ' Faith Bible Class meets every Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. It is a place where strangers become friends and friends become family. 706-367-5650 White Plains Baptist Church 3650 Hwy. 124 West, Jefferson, GA 30549 to seek election as DA RICK BRIDGEMAN have earned the opportunity to continue to serve the citizens of the Piedmont Judicial Circuit as their district attorney and I appre ciate their continued support and confidence.” Bridgeman, a resident of Hoschton, previously served as an assistant district attorney in the Piedmont, Northern and Mountain Judicial Circuits. Prior to completing law school, Bridgeman served as an inves tigator in the DeKalb County Solicitor’s Office. Bridgeman obtained his B.A. degree in criminology from the University of Maryland and his law degree from Georgia State University College of Law. He is admitted to the Georgia Court of Appeals, the Georgia Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court and is a member of the Georgia District Attorneys’ Association and the National Association of District Attorneys. Bridgeman serves as the co-chair of the Piedmont Judicial Circuit Family Violence Task Force, as an ex-officio member of the board of directors of the Tree House Child Advocacy Center, and a member of the Piedmont Circuit Child Abuse Task Force. He is also the chair person of the local Child Fatality Review Committee and a mem ber of the Jackson County Police Chief’s Association. Bridgeman and his wife, Genoria, have been married for 17 years. They previously served as foster parents for Jackson and Banks counties and now have three children, Joshua, Jasmine and Matthew. Bridgeman and his family are active members of Zion Baptist Church, Braselton. He is also a Gideon. For more information about Rick Bridgeman and the Office of District Attorney, visit www. piedmontda.com. Now Open In Maysville Old Maysville Fish House 706-652-0070 Hours: Mon. through Fri. 6:00 - 2:00 • Sat. 6:30 - 12:00 • Sun. 11:30 - 2:30 Brunch Serving Daily Specials with a full Breakfast and Lunch Menu including a Children’s Menu! Be sure to check out our Friday catfish or trout! Open Friday and Saturday Nights Starting Mother’s Day Weekend!