About The Banks County news. (Homer, Banks County, Ga.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (June 11, 2008)
Sports: IB Summer play continues Community: 6B Veterans' items displayed June 11,2008 The Banks County News 504^ Homer, Banks County, Georgia 30547 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. • mainstreetnews.com • 22 Pages, 3 Sections Plus Supplements • Vol. 39 No. 44 +1 *■ *■ + * if * * *■ * * #■ * Candidates to be at events Candidates in the July 15 elec tion have been invited to two area events. The Banks County Chamber of Commerce will hold a political forum from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 19, at the Banks County High School auditorium. A “meet and greet” with the candi dates will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 21, at Hebron Presbyterian Church and Schoolhouse. This event is sponsored by the church and the historical society. Hebron is located between Sims Bridge Road and Bold Springs Road on Hebron Church Road. Candidates on the ballot July 15 include the following: BOC CHAIRMAN •Gene Hart, incumbent, Republican. •Milton Dalton, Republican. SHERIFF •Charles Chapman, incumbent, Republican. •Carlton Speed, Republican. BOE, POST 4 •John Williams, incumbent, Republican. •David W. Martin, Republican. STATE SENATE DIST. 50 •Nancy Schaefer, incumbent, Republican. •Jim Butterworth, Republican. •Terry Rogers, Republican. U.S. CONGRESS DIST. 10 •Paul Broun, incumbent, Republican. •Barry Fleming, Republican. The Republican winner will face Democrat, Bobby Saxon, in the November election. NOVEMBER ELECTION Candidates who will be on the ballot in November include the following: TAX COMMISISIONER •Margaret H. Ausburn, incumbent, Democrat. •Becky Taylor, Republican. BOE, POST 1 •Neal Brown, incumbent, Republican. •John (David) Kennedy, Democrat. STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 28 •Jeanette Jamieson, incumbent, Democrat. •Michael Harden, Republican. continued on page 3A News - 2-3A •Poole enters not guilty to vehicular homicide — page 2A •Gillsville awards septic system bid — page 2A Op/Ed • ‘Presidential election proving to be puzzling’ — page 4A Other news •Social News — pages 6-8B •School News — page 9A •Public Safety — page 6A •Legals — page 4-5B • Church — page 8A • Obituaries — page 7A Banks chairman examining reservoir concerns Hart says county may not be able to stop Country Charms construction BY CHRIS BRIDGES City of Commerce officials have sent Banks County chairman Gene Hart a letter requesting he assist in enforcing the watershed protection plan which was approved in 1998. This plan protects the Commerce watershed lake and Banks County’s Mountain Creek Reservoir. Commerce officials fear the construction of an industrial plant in Gillsville could cause damage down the road. Hart said Tuesday, however, he is not sure the county has the power to stop Country Charms from constructing its large-scale poul try operation in Gillsville across Hwy. 52 near the Joe Craven Farm, which caused the request to be made. Commerce officials, in the letter, say the impact the operation would have on the city’s reservoir, located on the Grove River off Grove Level Church Road in Banks County, could be negative. Bryan Harbin, Commerce’s direc tor of water and sewer operations, told the Commerce City Council recently that contractors working on the Country Charm egg distribu tors’ plant had violated the state’s stream buffer ordinance and “plowed through a tributary” to the Grove River. In a story in the June 4 issue of The Commerce News, Harbin was reported as telling the city council that the EPD had “‘turned its head’ on enforcement of state ero sion and sedimentation laws.” Hart said he had received the letter from Commerce officials but has not responded. “There are several questions we need to iron out before I can respond,” Hart said. Country Charms has attempted to construct a processing plant on several locations, includ ing one in Madison County. Previously, it wanted to build a location off Hwy. 326 near Duncan Road in Banks County but heavy citizen opposition caused officials to withdraw their application. Country Charm officials bought the land near the Craven property in 2005, Hart said, and already had a permit for the operation which remains valid in 2008. “They are in compliance right now,” Hart said. “We couldn’t close them down if we wanted to.” Hart said he plans to work with the EPD officials when the final soil and erosion inspections are done. Banks County regula tions require these inspections be done locally but Hart said he will request that EPD offi cials work with county zoning official Keith Covington on the matter. “It is a complicated issue,” Hart said. “Right now we have to make sure what our options are before I respond to Commerce’s request.” Under the watershed protection plan, Harbin said such operations are prohibited within seven miles of the reservoir. Parts of this proj ect, which will include 10 chicken houses and later a processing plant, are within that range, Commerce officials contend. While the chicken manure from the facility would be self-contained, Commerce officials’ main concern is the washing of the eggs as there is no sewer in the area. In part the letter to Hart reads: “The poten tial contamination from this facility above the Grove River poses a direct threat to the city’s drinking water reservoir. It is in the best inter est of public health that we continue to provide a safe and reliable drinking water system to both your citizens as well as our customers.” HART Reward offered in stolen Corvette case Classic 1965 car stolen while owner in Banks area for Super Chevy Show BY CHRIS BRIDGES Paul Smith and his family sim ply want his antique 1965 model Corvette back and they are putting up a reward to see if any information can be obtained. The Florida man arrived in Banks County recently with the prized antique Corvette, but someone decid ed to help themselves to the classic car valued at more than $100,000. Banks County sheriff Charles Chapman said his office received a call early May 31 from a guest at the Hampton Inn who went outside at approximately 7 a.m. and noticed his truck and the trailer which contained the Corvette gone. Smith was driving a 1983 Chevrolet truck and pulled an enclosed trailer with the Corvette inside. Everything together was valued at $121,000 although the Corvette accounted for the bulk of that amount. Smith was able to give the license plate numbers and identi fication numbers for the missing vehicles. Alerts were put out immediately for the missing truck, trailer and Corvette, Chapman said, although nothing has materialized. How much did the car mean to Smith? His daughter said this week family and friends have long joked that he would one day be buried in it. Smith also considered the theft of the truck he used to transport the Corvette a big loss as he had owned it since it was new in 1983. Other personal items and tools were also taken during the theft. Anyone with information concern ing this theft is asked to contact the BCSO at 706-677-2248. CORVETTE STOLEN This 1965 Corvette, belonging to Paul Smith of Florida, was stolen while Smith was in Banks County recently for the Chevy Super Show. A reward is being offered for its recovery. The car is valued at more than $100,000. Summer programs begin MAGICIAN KICKS OFF READING PROGRAM The Banks County summer reading program recently kicked off its season with magician Tommy Johns at the Banks County Park and Rec Gym. More than 300 participants enjoyed the “Catch the Reading Bug” theme. More activities are planned throughout the summer. For more program information, call 706-677-3164 or visit the library. Alto man dies in one-vehicle accident BY CHRIS BRIDGES An Alto man died as a result of inju ries suffered in a one-vehicle accident which occurred Saturday morning on Yonah-Homer Road. According to Banks County sheriff Charles Chapman, deputies responded to a call of an accident Saturday on Yonah-Homer Road, near Wynn Lake Road. Upon arriv al, deputies found a Ford Ranger had left the roadway and over turned. Emergency personnel also respond ed to the scene and the Georgia State Patrol office in Gainesville was con- tacted to handle the investigation. Brian Kennedy, 34, was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency officials. Chapman said Kennedy’s truck, a 1993 model, appeared to have left the road and after it overturned ejected the driver. The truck also struck several trees near the roadway. Banks County News wins four state awards The Banks County News won four awards in the Georgia Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest, including a first place for sports section. “Banks County wins because of the local column on the front of the sports page,” the judge wrote about the sports section. “Effective coverage of a range of sports.” Chris Bridges is the sports editor. Bridges won second place in the sports photo section for a photograph from the Banks County High School summer baseball camps. “Photo immediately draws your attention,” the judge wrote. “Good photo of a unique event.” Bridges also won a second place award for education coverage for articles on a new athletic complex at BCHS, a feature on the beginning of the 2007-08 school year and a news article on the school system making 100 percent AYP. The Banks County News also won a third place award for religion coverage. Copper wiring stolen from house under construction The Banks County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the theft of several hundred dollars worth of copper wire from a house under construction in the Lula area. Banks County sheriff Charles Chapman said Monday his office received a call last Thursday to the construction location where approximately $1,400 worth of copper wiring had been stolen from electrical boxes. The sheriff said an unknown person or persons had entered the home sometime late in the previous afternoon. Copper pipe was also taken. “Witnesses saw a red colored pickup truck at the house continued on page 3A
