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5(K • Homer, Banks County, GA 30547 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. • 26 Pages, 3 Sections Plus Supplements • Vol. 40 No. 3
Baldwin's dilemma: Higher taxes or cut expenses?
City's financial
crisis worsens
Baldwin’s financial condition con
tinues to be precarious as town leaders
consider whether to raise taxes, cut
services or both.
“The big thing to notice is it’s real
ly important for these folks (council
members) to make decisions about
what services are important to the City
of Baldwin and what services are we
going to have to think about cutting
out,” said Beth Grimes, a financial con
sultant with Bates Carter & Company.
Grimes went over the town’s prelim
inary financial numbers last Thursday
night for the 2008 fiscal year, which
just ended. The numbers show that
Baldwin will again post deficits in both
its general fund and water fund.
GRIMES DISCUSSES BALDWIN FINANCES
Baldwin Financial Consultant Beth Grimes (far right) speaks to the council and citizens on
Monday night about the financial status of the water and sewer funds. Also shown are: (L to R)
council members Beverly Holcomb, Jeff Murray, Robert Bohannon, Rodney King, Interim Mayor
Ray Holcomb and clerk Brandy Kyle. Photo by Sharon Hogan
GENERAL FUND RED INK red for the last four years and only once less than it took in revenue. In effect,
Baldwin’s reserves have been in the in the last five years did the town spend Baldwin has no reserve funds and had
a negative fund balance of $114,000 at
the end of its fiscal year in June.
“Either the millage rate is going to
have to go up more, or you’re going to
have to look at service and ask what’s
important for Baldwin and what will
we have to do away with,” Grimes
said.
Baldwin’s 2009 tentative budget
calls for a one mill tax hike, but Grimes
said that even doing that wouldn’t help
rebuild the town’s reserves.
“You’re probably going to have to
do a combination of raising the millage
rate along with cutting services or cut
ting back,” Grimes said.
Former Baldwin Mayor Mark Reed
said the town would have to make
some tough decisions. Reed pointed
out that an item on the agenda for the
continued on page 3A
BIG PLAY
Banks County High School fast-pitch softball coach Josh Lord congratulates
Lady Leopard Laura Rose Pickens on a play during last week’s win over rival
Commerce. The game was the first varsity contest played at the new BCHS soft-
ball complex, located on campus. See today’s sports section for an update on
the BCHS Lady Leopards. Photo by Lyn Sengupta
Man threatens suicide on 1-85 bridge
A man threatening suicide last week on 1-85
temporarily caused a traffic delay while the
situation was dealt with by law enforcement
officials.
On Aug. 18 at approximately 2:45 p.m., a
man yelling “get away from me, I’ll jump” was
standing on an 1-85 bridge with one leg hang
ing off at the overpass at Hwy. 15. The Banks
County Sheriff’s Office was contacted via 911
dispatch and immediately responded.
The man had already cut his left fore
arm and was bleeding. He was hold
ing a broken beer bottle in his right hand.
After being talked down off the bridge, the man
was restrained until a medical unit could arrive.
He was transported to BJC.
Small tornado reported
in Banks but no damage
Banks units assist in Commerce
News -2-3A
Historic courthouse
in use again — page 2A
•‘What makes home
such a special place?’
— page 4A
Other news
• Social News — 10A
• School News — 11A
• Public Safety — 6A
• Legals — 9A
• Church — 6A
•Obituaries — 7A
A small tornado reportedly
touched down in Banks County
Tuesday during the after
noon storm that swept north
Georgia.
There was no damage or
injuries and no other reports of
a tornado. Tornado warnings,
heavy rain and power outages
were reported across Banks
County.
Banks County Sheriff’s
Office personnel, as well as
firefighters and emergency res
cue officers assisted in nearby
Commerce where heavy storm
damage was reported.
A tornado spawned by the
remnants of Tropical Storm Fay
destroyed one mobile home in
Commerce and damaged sev
eral residences at about 4:30
Tuesday afternoon in the Cedar
Drive area of Commerce.
No one was hurt by the twist
er, which approached from the
southwest over Washington
Street, then dipped to the
ground for mere seconds before
receding back into the clouds.
A mobile home on Cedar
Drive owned by Renae Bonds
was hardest hit. The wind
snatched it off its foundation,
blew it nearly 100 feet and
smashed it to the ground near
a Georgia Power right of way.
Fortunately, Bonds was not
home at the time. A tall utility
pole was blown over the major
Georgia Power transmission
continued on page 3A
Sen. Chambliss visits county
Speaks on effort to
lower gas prices
BY ANGELA GARY
United States Senator Saxby
Chambliss visited Banks
County Saturday to give citi
zens a legislative update.
Chambliss has been traveling
across the state during August
to meet with citizens in his
district. He was at the Holiday
Inn Express at Banks Crossing
Saturday afternoon.
“This is the part of my job
I enjoy,” he said. “With us in
Washington, D.C., on such a
constant schedule, I don’t get
the opportunity to get around
to all 159 counties like I would
like to.”
The senator said the “num
ber one issue” he hears about
across the state is the rising
gas and oil prices. Chambliss,
CHAMBLISS IN HOMER
Sen. Saxby Chambliss (left) met with Banks County
citizens Saturday afternoon in Homer to discuss their
concerns. He is shown with Fred Wendt (center) and
Clyde McArthur (right). Photo by Angela Gary
along with nine other senators,
have been meeting to discuss
ways to bring prices down.
The 10 senators — five
Republicans and five Democrats
— are proposing more offshore
drilling, more energy conserva
tion, the use nuclear power and
continued on page 3A
Holiday Festival
The 36th annual Banks County Holiday Festival
will be held Friday-Sunday, Aug. 29-31, in down
town 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.
Booths will be open all Saturday. A parade will
be held at 10 a.m. Former board of commission
chairman Milton Patterson, who served from
1986-1997, will be the grand marshal.
Entertainment on Saturday 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.; Apple City Cloggers,
3:30 p.m.; cakewalk, 4 p.m.; Marcus Dobbs, 5
p.m. and Peggie Hoskins and Vertigo, 7:30 p.m.
A special feature will be ‘Tubby,” a snow
tubing activity for all ages. This will be the first
time the activity has been offered at a festival in
the United States.
On Sunday, Aug. 31, gospel music will be pro
vided by The Browns, Georgia and The Reggie
Saddler Family.
set for weekend
Schedule of events:
FRIDAY, AUG. 29
• Booths open at various times on Friday
•7:30 p.m. - The Holman Autry Band
SATURDAY, AUG. 30
• Booths open all day.
• 10 a.m. - Parade
• 11 a.m. - Banks County Band and
Majorettes
• 11:30 a.m. - Banks County Twirlers
• 12 p.m. - The Maxwells
• 1 p.m. - Team Squares
•1:30 p.m. - Redemption Outreach Dance
Team
•2:30 p.m. - Commerce School of Dance
• 3 p.m. - Glory Baptist puppets
• 3:30 p.m. - Apple City Cloggers
•3:30 p.m. - Karaoke, hula-hoop, limbo and
more.
•4 p.m. - Cakewalk
• 5 p.m. - Marcus Dobbs
•7:30 p.m. - Peggie Hoskins and Vertigo
SUNDAY, AUG. 3I
•1-4 p.m. - Featuring: The Browns, Georgia
and The Reggie Saddler Family.
Murder suspect eludes capture
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
A South Carolina man want
ed for murder was in the Banks
Crossing area Friday although
the amount of time he was
here remains in question.
Banks County sheriff
Charles Chapman said his
office received word from
South Carolina authorities that
Derrick Ruff, who is wanted in
connection for murder in South
Carolina, was reportedly at the
Best Western motel, room 117
Friday evening around 7 p.m.
The information was given
to South Carolina authorities
by Ruff’s girlfriend, Chapman
said. Ruff is wanted for alleg
edly taking part in a home
invasion in which a person was
robbed and killed.
Once the BCSO received
word Ruff was in the area an
undercover officer was sent
to the motel to try and make
sure he did not leave. Ruff was
never seen leaving the room he
supposedly was in.
The GBI was called in and a
team was assembled to arrest
continued on page 3A
