Newspaper Page Text
Community: 3A
Sports: IB
Leopards to make
2008 home debut
County holds
Holiday Festival
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5(K • Homer, Banks County, GA 30547 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. • 16 Pages, 3 Sections Plus Supplements • Vol. 40 No. 4
Banks SAT
scores drop
Officials seek
recalculation
Banks County High School’s
2008 SAT scores dropped from
the previous year by 70 points,
but school system officials are
asking for a recalculation on the
basis of what they believe to be
errors in how the average was
compiled.
The composite total of 1,410
was short of the previous year’s
mark of 1,480. Like the entire
nation, Georgia has seen a drop
in its SAT scores for the past two
years. Georgia’s average com
posite score for public school
students is 1,453.
The Banks County School
System’s average verbal score is
476, math 472, and writing 462.
The school system has report
ed to the College Board and
the Georgia Department of
Education that the 2008 Banks
County School System SAT data
has errors and should be recal
culated. The system awaits new
results from the governing board.
Superintendent Chris Erwin indi
cated that students who are not in
the system were reported in the
district’s data.
“The recalculation of the data
should dramatically increase the
category and composite average
scores,’’ Erwin said. “Regardless,
our goal is always to better pre
pare students for college entrance
exams and raise average SAT
scores by continuing to focus on
improving student achievement
in core areas.’’
This is the third year that the
SAT featured the rigorous writ
ing section, the superintendent
said. Previously, the highest score
yielded on the test was 1,600 with
800 possible points in each of the
two areas (verbal and mathemat
ics). The writing component
added another 800 total points
to the test for a possible 2,400
high score.
“The SAT is a prerequisite for
college entrance,’’ said BCHS
principal Art Wheaton. “Our
students can only benefit from
having more opportunities to
attend college and receive schol
arships. The staff and students of
Banks County School System
are working hard to increase the
college and post secondary learn
ing rate.’’
Banks officials said it is expect
ed that the results on the SAT and
all tests will improve as the state
continues the implementation of
its more rigorous curriculum and
new graduation requirements
The new graduation require
ment calls for all students to take
four years of mathematics and
science, while providing enough
flexibility for students to pursue
their different areas of interest.
News -2-3A
•School technology a
chamber topic —page 2A
• ‘McCain keeps mav
erick status’ — page 4A
Other news
• Social News — 5A
• School News — 8A
• Public Safety — 7A
• Legals — 9A
• Church — 6A
•Obituaries — 9A
How much for development job?
Development authority, Hart debate pay for position
BY SHARON HOGAN
A broad group of Banks
County leaders agree that the
county needs an economic
development professional.
But how to pay for the posi
tion and how much should be
paid in salary remain a point
of contention between mem
bers of the Banks County Development
Authority and board of commissioners.
The matter is scheduled to be on the
BOC agenda again this month.
At a recent development authority
meeting, the authority members along
with county commission chairman Gene
Hart and administrative officer Angela
Sheppard, discussed the economic devel
opment position contained in a proposed
deal between the authority and BOC.
Hart said the position should be paid
from county general funds and not from
money collected from a one-mill eco
nomic development tax as proposed by
the authority. Hart was also reluctant to
announce a salary of $75,000 to $80,000
for the position.
“As far as the money part, I don’t have
a problem with that because I know
what we are trying to do here,’’ Hart said.
“(But).. .if we put it out there that we are
paying someone $75-$80,000, it would
be disastrous.’’
At one point, the authority
had wanted $200,000 allo
cated for the position, includ
ing overhead costs. But that
met with strong resistance by
some county leaders.
“The county has moved
forward in the last four years
with everyone working together.’’ Hart
said. “Two years ago, we looked at hir
ing someone for economic development
and I wonder where we would be right
now if we had done this.’’
Hart said the salary for an economic
development position should come from
the same place the salary for the com
missioners comes from, which is the
county’s general fund. The one mill
of property tax that goes to economic
development in the county should be
used to purchase land for economic
development.
“This agreement would tie up that
money for a salary and it could be used
to purchase land,’’ he said.
Authority chairman Wayne Abernathy
presented a proposal to the BOC at a
meeting in July that called for an eco
nomic development position to be paid
for out of the development fund.
Sheppard is currently doing the eco
nomic development work part-time and
her salary is being paid out of the gen
eral fund. Hart said.
“A lot of economic development ties
into my job naturally,’’ Sheppard said.
DA member Jack Banks said, “I don’t
have a problem with where the salary
comes from, but I would like to see this
all tied down by the end of the year.’’
DA member Scott Ledford said, “We
need to treat this as an emergency.. .We
need to get something in play to attract
businesses because people need jobs in
Banks County.’’
DA member Stan Stewart said, “When
the county hires the right person for this
job, this person will be most important
— right under the chairman. We need
to be prudent and good stewards for the
county. We need to let people know that
we are here to support the commission
ers in economic development for the
county.’’
Ledford said he believes the county
should set aside the red tape and elimi
nate the delays. “When the county is
sitting on a million dollars to bring
businesses to the county, they need to do
that to help those that are out of a job,’’
Ledford said. “I don’t want anyone to
think this comment is against anyone on
the BOC or anyone on this authority, but
we need to step it up a notch now.’’
Abernathy said, “My thought is if this
had been done 20 years ago in Banks
County, this county would be thriving.
If we wait 20 more years, just think how
the county will be. People have to drive
out of the county to work now.’’
But Sheppard said just hiring some
one wouldn’t guarantee economic devel
opment success.
“We need to realize that this person
will not be a miracle worker,’’ she said.
Sheppard said she has been working
in economic development for the county
for a while and lot of that work has been
in building relationships.
“You can’t do anything in Banks
County until you have your water and
your sewer in,’’ she said. “Pattillo has
stated that they would be glad to build
in Banks County, but the county has no
land, no sewer and they need to know
there is adequate water available.’’
Carol Ciriacks, Department of
Community Affairs, said, “Hart,
Stephens and Franklin counties are con
stantly looked at because of the land
they have. Everyone is looking for water
and sewer.’’
Stewart said, “You have got to have
the infrastructure before you have any
businesses.’’
HART
FIRST MEETING IN NEW BUILDING
The Banks County Board of Commissioners held the first meeting in the new annex
building last week. An open house at the new facility will be held on Sept. 28.
Photo by Angela Gary
Another Superior Court
judgeship recommended
The Judicial Council of Georgia has recommended that the
Piedmont Judicial Circuit get another superior court judgeship.
The council recently reviewed caseload data for request
ing circuits and named the Piedmont Judicial Circuit with the
highest priority among 10 circuits for a new superior court
judgeship.
The Piedmont Judicial Circuit serves Jackson, Banks and
Barrow counties.
The recommendations will be sent to Gov. Sonny Perdue and
the General Assembly to be considered for legislative action in
2009.
New judgeships are created by the General Assembly.
Designated judges of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals,
superior courts and the limited jurisdiction trial courts serve on
the Judicial Council.
Baldwin election ahead
Four candidates qualified to seek the mayor’s seat in the
City of Baldwin.
Baldwin residents Mike Kelley, Jerry Neace, Thomas
Loudermilk and Mark Reed qualified for the special election
to be held on September 16.
The special election will be held at the Baldwin City Hall
located at 130 Airport Road, Baldwin.
Banks County Transit services offered to citizens
BY SHARON HOGAN
On weekdays. Banks
County transit vehicles can
be seen transporting resi
dents around the county. The
transit vehicles also make
many trips outside Banks
County carrying residents
to doctor’s appointments,
grocery shopping and other
destinations.
Many people think the
transit service is only avail
able to senior citizens of
the county. However, the
Banks County Transit ser
vice is available to all Banks
County residents.
Banks County Transit
Coordinator Carol Wood
encourages everyone to use
the service.
There are two full-time
and one back-up driver
TRANSIT AVAILABLE TO ALL COUNTY RESIDENTS
Banks County Transit drivers Bruce Rogers (L) and Phillip Hardman are available
to transport Banks County residents. The county transit system is available to all
Banks County residents, not just senior citizens. Photo by Sharon Hogan
available to transport the time and Marcia Sims is the
residents. Bruce Rogers and back-up driver.
Phillip Hardman drive full- Banks County Transit
on an advanced reservation
basis.
To schedule a trip, you
must call 24 hours prior
to your requested trip.
Wheelchair accessible ser
vice is available. When you
call to schedule your trip,
you should let the transit
service know of any assis
tance that might be needed
in boarding or disembarking
from the vehicle.
There is a set fee for a
certain amount of time.
Additional time is charged
an additional fee and addi
tional stops are also charged
$1 per stop.
To schedule a trip or
receive a complete list of
operates from 8 a.m. to 4 transit prices, rules and
p.m. Mondays through regulations, call Wood at
Fridays. The transit operates 706-677-1835.