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Community: 9B Sports: IB BCHS faces must-win game ‘Miss Autumn Leaf crowned — www.BanksNewsTODAY.com — 5(K • Homer, Banks County, GA 30547 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. • 24 Pages, 2 Sections Plus Supplements • Vol. 40 No. 10 Election update 'Meet and greet' set The Banks County Chamber of Commerce will hold a “meet and greet” with the candidates in the District 28 House of Representatives race at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 27, at the historic courthouse in Homer. Incumbent Jeanette Jamieson (D) and Michael Harden (R) have both been invited to attend. The election will be held on Nov. 4. Early voting underway Early voting continues each day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Voters Registration office through October 31. The voter registration office is located in the new Banks County Courthouse Annex, 150 Hudson Ridge, Suite 2, Homer. Take Thompson Street to Hudson Valley Drive (across from the Senior Center) turn right onto Hudson Ridge and the new annex building is at the end of the street. New MSN publication launched Chris Bridges to serve as editor Mainstreet Newspapers Inc., Jefferson, is launching a new community newspaper in Barrow County. The Barrow Journal will begin publication Oct. 29. It will be a traditional weekly broadsheet newspaper with a focus on local Barrow County news. Chris Bridges, who has been with The Banks County News for three years, will be editor of The Barrow Journal. continued on page 5A News -2-3A •DFACS spending up slightly — page 2A •Development Authority, BOC look at development funds — page 3A • ‘Could our state possibly be contested?’ — page 4A Other news • Social News — 8&12A • School News — 4-5B • Public Safety — 6A • Legals — 9-10A •Church — 11B •Obituaries — 7A Five-member BOC on ballot Banks to decide whether to change form of government Banks Countians will decide on Nov. 4 whether the three-member board of commission will be expanded to five members. The proposed changes to local govern ment would result in the following: •The current board of three commis sioners would be expanded to five com missioners, all serving, as do the current commissioners, four-year terms. •One commissioner would hold a full time position as chairman. The other four would serve as part-time commissioners. •Banks County would be divided into four commission districts. Each of these districts must be represented by one of the four part-time commissioners, who must also reside in their respective district. •The chairman may reside in any dis trict, representing the county as a whole. •All of the commissioners would be elected by a county-wide vote of all eli gible voters. •The two new part-time commission ers would be elected in a special election held early next year, probably in March. Thereafter, these two new commissioners and the chairman would be elected every four years together in the same year and the other two would be elected every four years in the same two year off-cycle that is currently used. CHEER FOR THE LEOPARDS Banks County High School sophomore cheerleader Taylor Ramsey and her fellow squad members are preparing for the final regular season home game this Friday against Fannin County. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Photo by Randy Crump Armed robbery reported at T/ A Truck Stop Banks County Sheriff's Office investigators are investi gating an armed robbery early Monday morning at the T/A Truck Stop on Highway 441. Sheriff Charles Chapman said BCSO deputies responded to the fuel desk at the track stop and upon arrival spoke with the female victim. The woman told deputies that a male entered the store around 1:50 a.m. The clerk observed the man walk around the coun ter with his head and face cov ered with a black “hoodie.” The complainant stated she could not determine the man's race. But she said he was wearing a green and black jacket, possibly a camouflage jacket. The store clerk said the man then came behind the counter with a knife in his hand and demanded all the money from the cash register. The thief then shoved the woman into the office behind the counter and tied her up. The victim stated the man then left with an undetermined amount of money. The complainant said she was able to untie herself and call for help shortly after the man left, Chapman said. The complainant stated that the previous night (Saturday), she had noticed a white car with dark tinted windows circling the building. Another T/A Track Stop employee told investigators that he had observed a white Pontiac Grand Am or Grand Prix leave the parking lot just before the BCSO deputies arrived on the scene early Monday morning. The employee stated the white car had dark tinted windows. “We do not know at this time if this vehicle has any involve ment or not in the robbery,” Chapman said. The BCSO is asking any one with any information that might assist in this investi gation to contact the BCSO Criminal Investigation Division at 706-677-3133^ Lula council sets date for ground breaking BY JUSTIN POOLE The City of Lula has a date set for ground breaking of the Veterans Park. Following a unanimous vote at Monday’s meeting, the ground breaking is scheduled for November 11 at 11 a.m. The council had previously discussed holding the ceremo ny on Veteran’s Day. Mayor Milton Turner said that the park project is out to bid and should be awarded to a company in the next two months. Also during Monday's meet ing, the city council: •approved spending $700 to promote the December Yard of the Month. Also for December, residents are encouraged to decorate with a Christmas theme for Yard of the Month. A similar award will be given to a business with decorations. •approved the purchase of 12 Christmas banners for $1,306. •approved covering 50 percent of health insurance for city employees. Rates increased by 12 percent so the city will absorb six percent of the increase and the employee absorbs the other six percent. •approved a zoning ordi nance amendment which reaf firms fees. •approved an exclusive pro vider ordinance, which allows BOE split on budget BY SHARON HOGAN In a 3-2 split vote Monday night, the Banks County Board of Education tabled approval of the fiscal year 2009 pro posed budget. Financial officer Mike Beasley presented the pro posed budget which shows a total of $23 million in revenues and $22.9 million in expendi tures. Beasley said expenses are up 6.3 percent over the $21.6 million for 2008. Salaries make up $20.09 million of the total expendi tures, or 87.4 percent, Beasley added. Board member Bo Garrison made the motion to table the approval of the proposed budget. Board members Ben Ramsey and Neal Brown voted in favor of tabling the matter. BOE chairman Ron Gardiner and board member John Williams voted in opposi tion to the motion. Garrison did not comment on why he made the motion to table the budget. None of the other BOE members com mented on the issue either. OTHER BUSINESS In other business: •several students and teach ers were recognized by the board. They were: Angie Wheatley, Banks County Primary School second grade teacher, Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year winner; Scott Wheatley, Banks County High School FFA Advisor, State Award for Chapter of the Year; Ryan Ayers, Banks County Middle School FFA Advisor, State Award for continued on page 5A APPROVES SOLID WASTE ORDINANCE Members of Lula City Council voted Monday night to approve an exclusive provider ordinance for solid waste collection. Photo by Justin Poole the city to enter into a contract with a private firm for solid waste collection. Advanced Disposal was awarded a five- year contract for garbage col lection. •set dates for public hear ing on the 2009 millage rate. There will be three hearings - one in the morning and one in the afternoon on November 10; and the third before the November 17 council meet ing. Times were not set, but will be advertised. •approved a cell phone com pensation plan that reimburses four city employees $20 per month after providing proof of a bill. The reimbursement is retroactive back to September, •discussed solid waste con tract and services and answered questions from citizens. •discussed utility policy and procedure including if the city should spend money to clean up vacant or foreclosed prop erty. •tabled discussion on water line replacement and the right of way issue for water and sewer.