Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2008
THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS
PACE 3A
Lula post office named in honor of solider
Hart responds to official's concern
over Commerce water reservoir
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POST OFFICE TRIBUTE
Lula postmaster, Jimmy Turk, unveils a mockup of the plaque
that hangs in the post office.
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Summer hours, activities set for BCHS
The chairman of the Banks
County Board of Commissioners
has assured the city of Commerce
that an egg production plant near
Gillsville will not adversely affect
the city reservoir.
At Monday night's Commerce
City Council work session, Mayor
Charles L. Hardy Jr. read a letter
from Gene Hart responding to a
letter the city sent Hart in June. At
that time, water and sewer man
ager Bryan Harbin reported that the
Country Charm Egg Distributors
plant under construction posed a
threat to the reservoir. Harbin report
ed that the contractor grading the
site had violated the required stream
buffer and that the Environmental
Protection Division “had turned its
head” on enforcement of soil ero
sion and sedimentation regulations.
Not so, responded Hart.
The Banks County chairman
reported that the 100-foot buffer
on both sides of a tributary to the
Grove River (which feeds the city
reservoir) are intact, that no imper
vious surface will be closer than
150 feet of the tributary, and that
no septic tanks or septic tank drain
fields are in the setback area along
the tributary.
Hart also pointed out that the com
pany's development plan calls for
no poultry houses within 2,400 feet
of the Grove River and that a large
sedimentation basin will drain run
off and trap sediment during con
struction.
“We continue to discuss and moni
tor this operation in cooperation
with the Georgia Environmental
Protection Division, the Georgia Soil
and Water Conservation Commission
and the president of Country Charm,
Mr. Brent Booker,” the letter con
cluded. “All entities are working
together to ensure that this facility
meets state and local requirements.
By coordinating with all applicable
agencies and entities, we feel there
is no threat to the quality of water in
the Grove River Reservoir.”
The project will comprise 12 poul
try houses, each holding 96,000 lay
ers. Back at the June city council
work session, Harbin had expressed
concern not about poultry wastes,
but about the residue from washing
the eggs.
There was no discussion of the
matter after Hardy read Hart’s let
ter.
Family Connnections continues to
accept applications for school supplies
Banks County Family Connection
is accepting applications for those
families needing assistance for
school supplies.
Families will need to apply at
the Family Connection office on
Evans Street located next to DFCS.
Families must be in the income
brackets listed below in order to
receive the free supplies. Proof of
income and address must be pre
sented.
Family size Income
2 1,484
3 1,861
4 2,238
5 2,615
6 2,992
Applications must be received by
July 10 in order for students to
receive school supplies and a book
bag (Kindergarten through 6th will
receive a book bag).
Applications received after July
10 will receive school items that are
available.
The annual event will be held from
5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, July
17, in the park downtown Homer.
School supplies will be provided to
students who are enrolled in Banks
County schools.
In addition to providing school
supplies, there will also be free hot
dogs and drinks. A variety of games
and entertainment has been planned
for the families.
“Help is needed in collecting
school supply items or monetary
donations,” Trotter said. “If you are
interested in helping, contact the
office for a list of supplies.”
For more information, contact
Robin Trotter at 706-677-1303, or
if you would like to mail your dona
tion, sent to Banks County Family
Connection, P.O. Box 452, Homer,
Ga., 30547.
AN AMERICAN HERO
Members of the Patriot Guard Riders held flags during the
ceremony. Approximately 2000 people were present for the
ceremony honoring Johnathon Millican.
of Commerce
BY JUSTIN POOLE
A pproximately 200 peo
ple were present for a
ceremony Thursday in
Lula for the unveiling of the Pfc.
Johnathon Millican Lula Post Office
and posthumous presentation of the
Silver Star to Millican’s mother,
Mary Lykens, and sisters.
Millican was killed in combat in
Karbala, Iraq, January 2007.
Lula Mayor Milton Turner wel
comed the crowd and thanked those
in attendance for showing their sup
port for the family.
"He was a warrior to us,” said
Turner. “We are so proud that we
can honor him today here at the post
office.”
Millican’s elementary school
teacher, Sara Justice, also spoke
fondly remembering the character
of the young boy she taught, and the
man he grew into.
"He was a hometown boy,” said
Justice. “He had a huge heart. He
was a natural leader ... and would
assist in any way.”
Justice continued to say that after
Millican joined the army he spoke to
her with enthusiasm about serving
the country. Because the post office
is a federal building, Congress has
to approve a bill to be signed by
the president into law to change the
name.
Congressman Nathan Deal spon
sored the re-designation bill, and
spoke a few words at the ceremony.
Deal said that the life of Millican
was a culmination of efforts of
all the people and that Millican
was someone who probably never
thought he would be regarded as a
hero.
“He did what he thought was
expected of him at his place in the
history of this great country,” said
Deal. “I hope that as people go into
the Lula post office, they will be
reminded that heroes walk among
us every day.”
Lula Postmaster Jimmy Turk took
the podium to unveil the post office
IN REMEMBRANCE
Sara Justice spoke about the character and the type of per
son Johnathon Millican was. Justice was Millican's fifth grade
teacher.
Summer hours at Banks County
High School are from 8 a.m. to 4
p.m. weekdays.
A counselor is available July 14-18,
July 21-25 and July 28-Aug. 1.
The records’ clerk is available July
8-9, 15, 25 and 28 and Aug. 1.
New student registration will be
July 14-18 from 1-3:30 p.m.; July
21-25 from 8-11:30 a.m. and July
28-31 from 8 a.m.- 2 p.m.
In order to complete the registra
tion process, the following items are
necessary:
•proof of Banks county residence
(only power bills, water bills, land
line phones or rental/lease agree
ments are accepted).
•a copy of the student’s social
security card.
•a copy of the student’s birth cer
tificate.
•photo identification of the legal
guardian.
•official withdrawal form from
previous school.
•discipline record from previous
school.
•immunization record.
•hearing, vision and dental form.
•attendance record from previous
school.
•all records for new students must
be in an envelope sealed by the
previous school or faxed to Banks
County High School from the pre
vious high school to be considered
official.
IN HONOR OF SERVICE
The newly renamed Pfc. Johnathon Millican Lula Post office. A dedication ceremony was held last
week. Photos by Justin Poole
signs and a mockup of the plaque
that hangs inside the building.
Following the re-designation cer
emony, a medal presentation was
conducted presenting the Silver Star
to Lykens. The Silver Star is award
ed for gallantry in action against
an enemy of the United States and
is the third highest military award
given for valor in the face of the
enemy.
Bobby Burns of the Georgia
Chapter of the Patriot Guard Riders
presented the family with a plaque
in honor of Millican’s service and
sacrifice.
After the presentations, Sylina
Buehne, Millican’s aunt, spoke
on behalf of the family thanking
everyone who contributed and was
involved in the process of having
the post office named.
“We have been brought togeth
er today, by Private First Class
Johnathon Millican’s actions of
bravery and heroism,” said Buehne.
Last week’s post office dedica
tion ceremony concluded with a
three-volley salute and the playing
of Taps by the Hall County Honor
Guard.
PORTRAIT OF A HERO
Private first class Johnathon Millican was killed in action Jan.
20, 2007 in Karbala, Iraq.
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