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The Banks County News
504^ Homer, Banks County, Georgia 30547 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. • mainstreetnews.com • 24 Pages, 3 Sections Plus Supplements • Vol. 39 No. 39
Candidates
line up to
seek office
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
Qualifying for candidates in Banks
County concluded Friday at noon and
several races were set. Some incum
bents, including county board of com
mission chairman Gene Hart and sheriff
Charles Chapman, have drawn challeng
ers in the July primary.
Other incumbents will face opposition
in the November general election when a
large turnout is predicted because of the
2008 presidential election.
Those qualifying locally during last
week’s qualifying period included:
BOC CHAIRMAN
•Gene Hart, incumbent, Republican.
•Milton Dalton, Republican.
SHERIFF
•Charles Chapman, incumbent,
Republican.
•Carlton Speed, sheriff, Republican.
TAX COMMISSIONER
•Margaret H. Ausburn, incumbent,
Democrat.
•Becky Taylor, Republican.
BOE, POST 1
•Neal Brown, incumbent, Republican.
•John (David) Kennedy, Democrat.
BOE, POST 4
•John Williams, incumbent,
Republican.
•David W. Martin, Republican.
NO OPPOSITION
Those candidates to qualify with no
opposition include the following:
BOE, POST 2
•Ron Gardiner, incumbent, Democrat.
CLERK OF COURTS
•Tim Harper, clerk of courts,
Democrat.
CORONER
•Henry Galloway, Republican.
SURVEYOR
•Tim Lewallen, Republican.
STATE, NATIONAL OFFICES
Qualifying to represent Banks County
at the state and national level include:
U.S. CONGRESS, DIST. 10:
•Paul Broun, incumbent, Republican.
•Barry Fleming, Republican.
•Bobby Saxon, Democrat.
STATE SENATE, DIST. 50:
•Nancy Schaefer, incumbent,
Republican.
•Jim Butterworth, Republican.
•Terry Rogers, Republican.
STATE REP., DIST. 28:
•Jeanette Jamieson, incumbent,
Democrat.
•Michael Harden, Republican.
News - 2-3A
•I-85 cable barriers
planned — page 3A
• ‘Political fever can cer
tainly be contagious thing’
— page 4A
Other news
•Social News — page 9A
•School News — page 7B
•Public Safety — page 6A
•Legals — page 5B
• Church — page 8A
• Obituaries — page 7A
Three die in Banks County accident
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
Three people died as a result of injuries
sustained in a two-vehicle accident Monday
morning just inside Banks County at the
intersection of Hwys. 51 and 63.
A 1997 Dodge Neon, driven by Michael
Benefield, 50, of Carnesville, was involved
in the accident when it collided with a
10-wheel garbage truck belonging to Waste
Management. According to a report from the
Georgia State Patrol office in Gainesville,
Benefield did not stop at the intersection as
he was traveling on Hwy. 63. Banks County
sheriff Charles Chapman said traffic on Hwy.
51 does not have to stop at the crossing.
Benefield, along with his wife, Sherry
Benefield, 44, and another passenger, Robin
Ayers, 39, were all killed as a result of the
accident. Michael Benefield was lifeflighted
from the scene but later died, Chapman
said.
The driver of the Waste Management
truck, identified as Edward Harris, was not
injured.
The GSP handled the accident scene.
BCSO deputies helped assist with re-routing
of traffic for approximately two hours fol
lowing the accident.
New county building taking shape
ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING IN THE WORKS
Above, the new Banks County administrative building, off Thompson Road, is beginning to take form. Project superintendent Gib White,
who gave The Banks County News a walk-through tour Monday morning, said the project remains on schedule for a late summer
completion. White said the project, financed by Special Local Option Sales Tax funds, has been delayed only slightly because of rain.
Below left, an inside view is shown, and a side view is shown below right. Photos by Chris Bridges
Bank offers
reward for
robber's i.d.
The Georgia Bureau of
Investigation and the Banks
County Sheriff’s Office are seek
ing the public’s help in identifying
a man who held up the Northeast
Georgia Bank at Banks Crossing
on Highway 441 South Thursday,
April 24, at 12:54 p.m.
Northeast Georgia Bank is offer
ing a $1,000 reward for information
leading to the arrest and conviction
of the person responsible.
The suspect is described as a black
male, approximately 5’9”-6’0” tall,
wearing a white, pin-striped New
York Yankees baseball cap; a black,
long-sleeved, pullover shirt with
the drawing of what appears to be a
person’s head with a crown; black
pants and black shoes.
Contact the GBI tip line at
1-800-597-TIPS (8477) or the sher
iff’s office at 706-677-3133. Calls
will be kept confidential.
Commissioners
set two budget
work sessions
The Banks County Board of
Commissioners will hold budget
hearings next week.
Budget workshops will be held at
3:30 pm. Wednesday, May 14, and
at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, May 15, in
the conference room of the county
courthouse.
— In the Community —
16th annual art show planned at library
Memorial Day salute set
for May 29 at BCHS
Armed Forces concert part of festivities
A Memorial Day salute to
the Armed Forces program
and concert will be present
ed in the Banks County High
School auditorium at 8 p.m. on
Thursday, May 29.
Northwinds Adult
Community Band of
Gainesville will present a trib
ute to all veterans.
“Come hear this profes
sional band play music from
the different wars and famil
iar American tunes,” said Jon
Congdon, BCHS band direc
tor. “There will also be special
pictures from the wars and
from local veterans. It will
certainly be a moving experi
ence.”
For more details, contact
Congdon at 706-677-4740.
The 16th annual Art Show and
Sale will be held at the Banks
County Public Library in Homer
May 5- 18 during normal library
hours.
Many local and regional art
ists will have work on display
and for sale to the public. This
event has expanded with well
over 50 local artists expected to
participate.
These contributing artists will
have three to five of their origi
nal works on display. It also
offers visitors a chance to see
the talent available in this area.
Awards will be presented to
the first, second and third place
work in each category, such as
pottery, woodcarving, painting,
sculpture etc. and there will be a
Best of Show award, a People’s
Choice award and a Children’s
Choice award.
The People’s Choice will be
voted on by library patrons dur
ing the exhibit and the Children’s
Choice will be voted on by the
children who visit, including the
classrooms who will visit as a
field trip from the Banks County
Primary School.
This event culminates with a
tea for the artists and guests on
Sunday May 18, from 2-4 p.m.
The public is urged to come
out to meet the artists, see their
work and learn what inspires
them. Information on future
library events will also be avail
able.
For library hours, directions
or more information, contact the
library at 706-677-3164 or by
email at skrumnow@prlib.org.
32nd annual Lula Railroad Days coming up
The 32nd annual Lula Railroad Days festival will
be held Saturday, May 17.
The festival begins with the parade down Main
Street at 10 a.m. and continues throughout the day
with entertainment, rides, crafts, food and drinks at
the historic Railroad Park.
There is no admission charge and parking is free
for the event.
For more information, contact city hall at
770-869-3801.