About The Banks County news. (Homer, Banks County, Ga.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 21, 2008)
Sports: IB BCHS shows promise in scrimmage game Features: 6B A visit to Jacksonville, Fla. 2008 50<t • Homer, Banks County, GA 30547 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. • 20 Pages, 3 Sections Plus Supplements • Vol. 40 No. 2 BCHS sees slight drop in ACT scores 2008 ACT scores for area schools High School Count English Math Reading Science Composite Change Banks County 37 17.8 18.1 19.4 18.7 18.6 -1.1 Commerce City 16 20.5 19.9 19.6 18.8 19.8 0.8 JCCHS 35 21.9 21.6 22.7 21.6 22.1 2.8 Jefferson City 36 18.7 20.3 19.8 19.7 19.8 -0.8 Madison County 33 18.1 17.5 19.7 17.9 18.5 -1.1 Apalachee 82 18.2 19.6 19.8 19.5 19.4 0.6 Winder-Barrow 55 17.5 19.5 18.4 19.4 18.9 -1 Mill Creek 247 21.5 23 22.1 22 22.3 -0.5 BY JANA A. MITCHAM With 37 students tested in 2008, Banks County High School saw a slight drop in ACT scores. With a composite score of 18.6 on a scale of zero to a high score of 26, BCHS saw a decrease of 1.1 points over last year. The ACT is a curriculum-based achievement test used to measure “college readiness and preparation.” The test includes English, reading, math and science exams for a com posite score, as well as an optional writing segment. STATE IMPROVEMENT Overall, high schools in Georgia saw improved ACT scores in 2008, even as the national average decreased, according to a report from the Georgia Department of Education. Georgia’s composite score was 20.6 in 2008, up from 20.3 in 2007. The national score was 21.1 in 2008, down by .1. Georgia students saw improvements in all testing areas, and the state now ranks 41st. State school superintendent Kathy Cox attributes the state's overall improved scores to new state curricu lum, particularly in math. See the accompanying chart for a comparison of area schools. — Making a move COURTS MOVE OUT OF COURTHOUSE All of the court offices located in the Banks County courthouse moved out of that facility Friday. All of the court offices, including Superior Court, clerk of court, Magistrate Court, Probate Court and the District Attorney’s office, re-located their offices to the old county elementary school, located at 335 Evans Street, Homer, beginning Aug. 19. Here, Banks County resident Ricky Dodd (L) helps Banks County Clerk of Courts Tim Harper clean off shelves in his office to get ready for the move. Photo by Sharon Hogan MOVING CEREMONY A dedication was held prior to last week’s scrimmage at Banks County High School in memory and in honor of Cody Gowder, who died earlier this month in an automobile accident. Leopard head coach Blair Armstrong presented Gowder’s jersey to his father Keith and sister Ashley. BCHS principal Art Wheaton was also at midfield for the ceremony.The Leopards have dedicated the season in Gowder’s memory. Photo by Lyn Sengupta Banks County Holiday Festival planned The 36th annual Banks County Holiday Festival will be held Friday-Sunday, Aug. 29-31, in downtown Homer. The theme of the festival will be “Celebrating Banks County's 150 years.” Booths will open at various times on Friday, Aug. 29. The Holman Autry Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, booths will be open all day. A parade will be held at 10 a.m. Former board of commis sion chairman Milton Patterson, who served from 1986-1997, will be the grand marshal. Entertainment on Saturday afternoon will be provided by the Banks County Band and Majorettes, 11 a.m.; the Banks County Twirlers, noon; doggers, 1 p.m.; square dancers, 1:30 p.m., Redemption Outreach Dance Team, 2 p.m.; karaoke, hula hoop, limbo and other activities, 3 p.m.; cakewalk, 4 p.m.; Marcus Dobbs, 5 p.m. and Peggie Hoskins and Vertigo, 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, Aug. 31, gospel music will be provided by The Browns, Georgia and The Reggie Saddler Family. 2008 ? Banks County Holiday Festival Friday Night. August 2a. 2008 IT S FUN TIMF AGATN IN PQWNTIJWN HOME FT. GAT! ! FESTIVAL GETS STARTED AT 5:00PM ON FRIDAY Live Music by the Holman Aui fyy Band Begins at 7:30PM ■ Join us in all the run!l <7Q-uiTUff. HOLMAN AUTRY BAND TO PERFORM AT FESTIVAL The Holman Autry Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, for the 36th annual Banks County Holiday Festival in downtown Homer. The lineup of entertainment will continue all weekend, celebrating the county’s 150 years. •Holiday Festival pag eant held — pages 8A & 8B Op/Ed — 4A • ‘Voters rightfully send fanatical Schaefer pack ing” — page 4A Other news • Social News — page 5A • School News — page 7 A • Public Safety — page 6A • Legals — page 7B • Church — page 4B •Obituaries — page 5B Lula continues work on zoning ordinances BY SHARON HOGAN The Fula City Council is continuing to work on updating its zoning ordinance. At a work session on Aug. 13, city manager Dennis Bergin said the council needs to “to paint a picture that is very clear.” “When you pass an ordinance, you have to under stand the cause and effect because when you establish code enforcement, you will have some cost to incur,” he said. Lula Mayor Milton Turner added: “We have some districts that don’t apply to some areas. One of those is the Central Business District. It is good for the down town area but not for the Hwy. 365 area.” City leaders are reluctant to be specific for fear of being too restrictive, Bergin said, and one example of this is the Overlay District for Hwy. 365. "Be specific and get what you want,” Bergin said. “We are trying to attract development. “The vision for re-development of the downtown needs to be specific. This will assure the right elements are conducive to attracting investment and develop ment that compliments each other. No one is going to spend their money for re-investment in downtown unless the city’s vision of what they want is clear and precise. Thus assuring that the next investment follows the same guidelines or tools that he/she did.” This is just true for new development, Bergin added. During Bergin’s presentation he asked, “Why do you think developments, as a rule, are growing larger in scope and size?” He said it is so that they are less like to be adversely affected by surrounding land uses as they develop. Bergin said there are two things a zoning ordinance should include, and that is where you want the town to go as it develops and how to get there. “Don’t generalize, be specific,” Bergin said. Bergin urged the council to think of the ordinance as a road map giving precise directions. “Cost is the big issue,” Bergin said. “The reality is the cost we are actually talking about is the cost it will be to the city if we don’t establish these goals and directions.” Bergin urged the council to consider their visions for the city as they continue to work on the zoning ordi nances and to be specific about the requirements. The council has two work session meetings on the ordinances set for 8 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9, and 8 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 10, at city hall. Homer mayor charged with DUI Homer Mayor Doug Cheek was charged with DUI Wednesday, Aug. 13, in Franklin County. Cheek, who was charged by the Georgia State Patrol, was also cited for headlight violation. He was booked into the Franklin County Jail. Senior trooper Larry Schnall said Cheek had a 0.8 alcohol level, which is just above the legal limit of 0.7. Cheek was pulled over around 9 p.m. on Hwy. 8, near Hwy. 327, in Franklin County for having a side headlight out. Sen. Chambliss to be in county Sat. The Banks County Chamber of Commerce will sponsor a legislative meet and greet with Sen. Saxby Chambliss at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Holiday Inn Express, located at Banks Crossing. BJC seeking new general surgeon BJC Medical Center is using a multi prong approach to finding a new general surgeon. Administrator Jim Yarborough reported to the medical center’s govern ing authority Monday afternoon that the medical center has engaged several firms to assist in the search. “We’re getting (resumes), but there is not a candidate at this time we feel we want to interview,” he said. The hospital hopes to replace Dr. Keith Ash, who resigned in June. Yarborough also told the authority that Dr. Fareha Rahim is working on getting an associate, a doctor now in Pakistan who has worked in the United States.
