Newspaper Page Text
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.