About The Banks County news. (Homer, Banks County, Ga.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (June 25, 2008)
Sports: IB Scenes from baseball camp Community: I2A North Georgia pottery on display June 25,2008 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. 46 — Meet the candidates 2008: General Primary Election - Banks County Board of Commissioners chairman - office and asked those in atten dance at a forum last Thursday to allow him the oppor tunity to serve another term. Challenger Milton Dalton expressed to those in attendance at the forum sponsored by the Banks County Chamber of Commerce that he has the ability to lead the county for the next four years. “Being the chairman of a growing county is a challenge,” Hart said. “The individual must possess the education, training, temperament and patience for the job. Regardless of how this election comes out, I will work as hard as I pos sibly can the next six months to make the county improve.” Hart said if re-elected he would con tinue on that path for the next four Banks County chairman Gene Hart highlighted several accomplishments of his first term in Candidates stress qualifications BY CHRIS BRIDGES CHAIRMAN CANDIDATES Gene Hart (left) and Milton Dalton are running for Banks County Board of Commissioners chairman in the upcoming July 15 Republican primary. The winner will serve in the position for the next four years. The two addressed voters at a Banks County Chamber of Commerce sponsored forum last Thursday night at Banks County High School. years as well. During his first term in office, Hart said three budgets have been approved with no tax increase on citizens. In addition property tax assessments are now being sent out on time, the fire department and EMS have been expanded and new industry is being courted to the county. In addition, the water system has been expanded and a $5 million grant has been secured for the county for future water projects. Hart said if re-elected he would con tinue to control spending and work with the growth of the county. Challenger Dalton said he is a native of Banks County and has been a busi ness owner for two decades and has experience working for the sheriff’s department. Dalton was probate judge for more than 20 years. “I have worked with budgets,” Dalton said. If elected, the challenger said he would stress that all elected officials and department heads work together. “I would want to keep the budget as low as possible,” Dalton said. Water is also a key issue for the future of the county, the challenger said. In addition, the Martin Bridge area should remain for industry. Lula council moves ahead with plans for Veterans Park BY SHARON HOGAN The Lula City Council is moving forward with plans for a town park. The council agreed unanimously at its June 16 meeting to spend $37,500 to pre-order a fountain to be installed in the city’s Veterans Park. The total purchase price of the fountain is $74,900. The balance of $37,400 will be due in one year. City Manager Dennis Bergin said the company will charge $18,000 for the electrical components and a re-stocking fee of 25 percent. “The price of $74,900 is for the fountain only,” Bergin said. “This does not cover the cost of installation.” The city will be responsible for the installation of the foun tain, Bergin said. Mayor Milton Turner said the fountain will not be installed during Phase 1 of the project. The city will be spending $200,000 on the first phase to cover site preparation and brick work. continued on page 3A LULA’S PROPOSED VETERANS PARK Lula council members reviewed the plans for the proposed Veterans Park at a recent council meeting. The proposed park will have a centrally-located fountain. The coun cil planned the park to attract people to the downtown area. Photo by Sharon Hogan Ongoing investigation leads to seven arrests The Banks County Sheriff’s Office charged seven people with selling drugs on Monday following an ongoing investigation in which undercover officers made buys from all of the suspects. Sheriff Charles Chapman reports that those arrested Monday and booked into the Banks County Jail on drug charges were: •Charles Edward Bryant, 63, Commerce, two counts of sale of cocaine and two counts of sale of marijuana. •Alexander Andy Bryant, 17, Commerce, two counts of sale of cocaine and two counts of sale of marijuana. •Sheronica Barrette, 29, Commerce, two counts of sale of cocaine and two counts of sale of marijuana. •Larry James Barrett, 41, Homer, sale of methamphetamine. •Tony Thomas Hill, 32, Commerce, sale of methadone. •Kathy Shavonne McDuffie, 38, for drug sales Commerce, sale of cocaine. •Cedric Lamar Cheeks, 38, Homer, two counts of sale of cocaine and two counts of sale of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school. Chapman also reports that war rants have been taken for another person for the sale of methamphet- amine. coming up July 15 — - Banks County Sheriff - RUNNING FOR SHERIFF Carlton Speed (left) and Charles Chapman will square off in the Republican primary for sheriff July 15. With no Democratic chal lenger, the winner of the Republican primary will serve Banks County the next four years as sheriff. Speed and Chapman addressed voters at a forum last Thursday. Sheriff candidates map out plans for county's future safety BY CHRIS BRIDGES The incumbent sheriff and his primary challenger addressed a group of Banks County voters dur ing a forum last Thursday night emphasizing the need to stay ahead of crime as the county continues to grow. Incumbent Charles Chapman, who has served as sheriff since 1996, said he first sought the job to do a fair and honest job for the citizens. “I have spent half my life in this county,” Chapman said. “The office of sheriff is different in the way it operates. It is a 24-7 job which goes on 365 days a year.” Chapman noted the growth Banks County has seen since he took office in 1996. He noted he makes sure his officers keep informed on any new changes in the law. “I would like to see the depart ment develop as it has in recent years,” Chapman said. “We work with other local law enforcement agencies and other state agencies. Our website is up and running. The main challenge we face is contin ued growth and the demand that comes with it.” Challenger Carlton Speed is on a leave of absence from the Hall County Sheriff’s Department while he campaigns for Banks County Sheriff. He has 15 years of law More candidates: - see page 2A for more from the forum •Piedmont Judicial Circuit District Attorney •Banks County Tax Commisisoner •State and U.S. posts enforcement experience and admit ted it would be an “eye-opening experience” if he were elected sheriff. If elected, he said he would immediately do an audit of the entire department and see what areas need to be addressed. Speed said he would see which areas of the county have the highest call rates. Speed said an increased visibility of the sheriff’s office in the com munity would be a focus. “I would like for the sheriff’s department to be proactive rather than reactive,” Speed said. The challenger is a Banks County resident with four children in the local school system. Speed noted he has a vested interest in the safety and future of the county. Speed also said he would seek state grants to obtain additional funds for the sheriff’s department. News - 2-3A •BJC surgeon resigns — page 3A •Family Connection seeks school supplies — page 3A Op/Ed • ‘Would trade curls for straight hair’ — page 4A Other news •Social News — pages 6-8B •School News — pages 10-11A •Public Safety — page 7A •Legals — pages 4-5B • Church — page 9A • Obituaries — page 8A — Alto — Mayor urges citizens of Alto to continue to conserve water BY SHARON HOGAN Alto Mayor Audrey Turner expressed her concern over water use in the city at the monthly council meeting on Tuesday, June 10. Turner said all of the city’s wells are on at this time and citizens have stopped conserving water. “Please back off on water use,” she said. The city is currently under the state water use guidelines. The current out door watering schedule is the odd even system. Odd numbered addresses may water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Even numbered addresses are allowed to water on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Watering is only allowed from midnight until 10 a.m. for 25 minute time-limits. This is hand-watering only - no sprinklers or soaker hoses are allowed. Turner said it will be up to the citizens to report illegal outdoor water use. continued on page 3A Homer fireworks planned July 4 The annual fireworks display in Homer will be held on Friday, July 4, at dark (approximately 9:30 p.m.). The Homer Fire Department is the event sponsor. The new location for the fireworks will be at Banks County High School, located at 1486-A Historic Homer Highway in Homer. BANKS COUNTY CHAMBER MEMBERS TAKE TO THE TRACK Several members of the Banks County Chamber of Commerce tried out the go-carts at the grand opening celebration of Funopolis Family Fun Center on Friday. Shown (L to R) are: Tara Fulcher, chamber director, Beau Sheppard and Blaine Jones. Photo by Sharon Hogan
