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Sports: I-5B Pigskin Preview for BCHS Band: 4B Marching band ready fi or season — www.BanksNewsTODAY.com — 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