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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2008 THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS PACE 5A The Banks County News marks its 40th birthday — Some history of the Banks County newspapers — The News was first launched Dec. 4,1968 THE NEWS OFFICE IN HOMER The Banks County News was launched Dec. 4, 1968, by The Jackson Herald Inc., owned by the Herman Buffington family. Mrs. Nancy Chambers, a former Banks County ordinary (probate judge), become The News’ first editor. In 1978, she wrote this about the founding of The Banks County News: “For a hundred years or more. Banks County had become accustomed to a weekly news paper. When we suddenly were without this enterprise, we were at a great loss to know which way to turn for a legal organ. We met Herman Buffington, publisher of The Jackson Herald, “On learning his personality and approving his great paper. Clerk of Banks County Robert Payne, Sheriff M.L. Harrison and I, as ordinary, decided after much discussion, to use his paper for our legal organ. We had to go to court as there was some opposition.” “After we accomplished this, we were still hungry for our own paper so we soon start ed talking to Herman about a Banks County paper. We finally convinced him of our needs and desires so he started printing a little Banks County news free. He continued this practice until in December 1968 when he launched on a new career and so did I, as I was retiring from the ordinary’s office. When he needed help, I was available. Jan. 1, 1969, I found myself editor and advertising manager of The Banks County News.” As Mrs. Chambers indicated, even before starting The Banks County News, The Jackson Herald had carried some news of Banks County within its own pages. During the first six months of The News' existence, it was a four-page tabloid size (11”X17”) newspaper run off of The Herald’s job press. It was distributed under a third-class permit as a free newspaper. The newspaper then become a “broadsheet” (large) size, albeit only a two-page one. The small sized newspaper had offended some Banks Countians who felt they should have a “big” news paper and so Buffington pro duced a two-sided broadsheet. By September of 1969, The Banks County News had obtained a second-class mail ing permit, the usual class for newspapers which have paid circulation. It was in 1970 that The Banks County News and The Jackson Herald joined hands to become essentially the same newspaper but with each retaining its own front page and its own mailing list. News from both counties was put in both newspapers. This combination continued for some 17 years until The News became a completely sep arate publication in July 1987. At this time, The Herald pur chased The Commerce News, which had published the older Banks County Journal. The Journal’s name was tied up by other ownership and so the decision was made to merge the two papers under the name of The Banks County News. At first, The News had no “home” other than the down town Homer residence of Mrs. Chambers. That was remedied in April 1970 when The News opened an office in the old bank building which Mrs. Chambers owned on Hwy. 441 in Homer. The former Ralph Bridges bar ber shop building was purchased by The Herald and remodeled to serve the publication. Mrs. Chambers continued as editor/advertising director until her untimely death on Oct. 13, 1985, at the age of 82. The beloved editor was killed while crossing the highway near her home. Brenda Williams, a Herald employee who lived in Banks County and who had been assisting Mrs. Chambers, con tinued as news editor. When Mrs. Williams left the firm in 1992, Sherry Lewis of Maysville became news editor. Angela Gary was named editor in 1996. Numerous other people have worked in various capacities over the years in helping pres ent the news of Banks County. Among those in the early years were: Mrs. Lizzie Griffin, who wrote “Here ‘N There,” a social column about Banks Countians; Mrs. Avery Arnold, mother of Mary Arnold who also served as a Maysville correspondent, wrote the Maysville socials; and Mrs. O.L. Bruce, who wrote “Looking Out From Moccasin Gap.” The News was fortunate to obtain the services of the long time Banks County Journal editor, Deedie Turner, in 1987 when The Journal publication was folded into The News. She served as The News' part-time receptionist for several years. How the Journal got started A notice from April 23,1897 “Dr. W.B. Hardmen, edi tor of Harmony Grove Echo- Gazette, has developed quite a fondness for newspapers, or else he thinks they are quite a remunerative investment, for he now owns two news papers. Some time ago, Dr. Hardman bought the Banks County Gazette and consol idated it with the Echo at Harmony Grove. The Gazette was published at Homer and had the legal advertisements of Banks County. So the legal ads went along with the sale of the Gazette, provided no other paper was established in Banks County. Hardly had the Gazette changed hands before a little paper over at Baldwin moved into Banks and claimed the legal ads. Now in order not to lose the county work, Dr. Hardman has established a newspaper at Homer called the Banks County Journal with M.C. Sanders as editor and the Journal has the legal ads. The Journal is a well-printed, clean paper and Milton S. will make it hum. “Occasionally, a fellow will come in and want you to give him a ‘puff and if you don't do it, he will swear he will stop the paper but don’t feel discouraged. Again, another will come in and want to give you a licking for some offense you have given, but just keep your old British bulldog near by and you won’t get hurt.” From The Jackson Herald April 23. 1897 — The faces behind The News — Publishers: Mike and Scott Buffington are the publishers of The Banks County News. The Buffington family started The Banks County News 40 years ago. They now own six newspapers in North Georgia. lA Mike and Scott Buffington I Gary Editor: Angela Gary has been employed with MainStreet Newspapers for 23 years. She has held several positions with the company and now serves as editor of The Banks County News and associate editor of The Jackson Herald. She can be contacted at AngieEditor@aol.com. Reporters: Sharon Hogan has been employed with MainStreet Newspapers for 23 years. She is a reporter for The Banks County News and covers several beats, including education, crime and city government. She can be contacted at sha- ron@mainstreetnews.com. Justin Poole has been employed with MainStreet Newspapers since February and is a graduate of Banks County High School, as well as Piedmont College. He is sports editor for The Banks County News, and covers several news beats. He can be reached at justin@mainstreetnews. com. Poole Chambers Receptionist: Anelia Chambers is a life-time resident of Banks County. She and her husband, Alex Chambers, are involved in many community efforts, including the historical society. She has served as receptionist for The Banks County News for 10 years. Church News: Suzanne Reed handles church news for The Banks County News, including writing the articles and page production. She has been employed with MainStreet Newspapers for almost one year. Her husband, Brandon Reed, is sports edi tor for The Jackson Herald. She can be reached at suzanne@ mainstreetnews.com. Legals/Obits: Betty Small handles all of the legal notices and obituaries for The Banks County News. She has been employed with MainStreet Newspapers for almost five years. She can be contacted at betty@mainstreetnews.com. Small Page layout: Jana Adams Mitcham has been employed with MainStreet Newspapers for 13 years and has held numerous positions. Among her current duties is page production for The Banks County News. She is in charge of layout of the front page, as well as other pages. Kristine Chambers, a high school student, assists with page production for The Banks County News. Mitcham Chambers Ad design: Ginger Chappell and Vickie West handle ad design for The Banks County News. They have both been employed with the company for eight years each. They can be reached at ginger@mainstreetnews.com or vickie@main- streetnews.com Proofreader: Belinda Miller has been employed with MainStreet Newspapers for three years. She is the proofreader for The Banks County News. Chappell West Remembering 'Miss Nanny' BY BRENDA WILLIAMS (Editor’s Note: This article was first printed in The Banks County News on Oct. 16,1985, following the death of Nancy Chambers. 'Miss Nanny' was an integral part of The News until her death. She led the effort to bring the paper to Banks County and served as its editor until her death. She was featured in many state and national publications includ ing an article, “Telling tales of Homer: One woman runs lively newspaper,” in a 1984 issue of The Atlanta Journal). It didn’t happen in her famil iar 1955 green pickup that was pretty much known as her “trademark.” But the tragedy did occur in a familiar path that she had traveled so many times before. “Miss Nanny” was carrying her flower arrangement to the church early Saturday night. This was her ritual. It had been her pleasure for many years to supply a floral arrange ment for Sunday morning church service at the Homer Presbyterian Church, located across Hwy. 441 from her home. Sometimes she would set her clock for 6 a.m. Sunday to fix the arrangement or some times she would get it together on Saturday night. But always she would have a live arrange ment of her flowers or maybe a neighbor’s flowers to inspire the services. She left the keys in her house, thinking she would be returning in a matter of min utes. With flower vase in hand, she started across the road to the church. But she never got there. While attempting to cross the highway, the 82-year- old legend of Banks County ‘MISS NANNY’ was struck by a vehicle and died a few hours later. She died in an act of serving her church. “Miss Nanny” was loyal to her church but perhaps no more loyal to it than she was to all of the other church es in Banks County. There is probably not a church in Banks County that she had not attended either for singing services, funerals or on other occasions. She could list all the churches in the county and it was her belief that the churches were the backbone of the county to which she was so strongly dedicated. As a co-worker of hers for the past eight years, I have been inspired so many times by her and by her knowl edge of the rich history of the county. I am sorry now that I didn’t pay closer attention. It was such an honor to work so closely with her in the “news paper world” which had been a part of her life since 1968. She loved her church, her fam ily, her county, her friends and her newspaper. The Banks County News is known as “Miss Nanny’s paper.” If someone wasn’t familiar with the official name of the paper, he knew what you were talking about when you said “Miss Nanny’s paper.” She would travel many miles just to take a picture for her paper. If it was important to the person or group who asked for the picture to be made, it was important to her. Mrs. Chambers was a mem ber of almost every civic orga nization in the county, but the Banks County Chamber of Commerce, which she helped organize, was her pet. Through the Chamber of Commerce, she was the mother of the annual Holiday Festival in Homer. It was an event she looked for ward to and planned for just about every day of the year. If any visitors came by the office who were not from the county, she would remind them of the festival during the Labor Day weekend and of the Sunday School Celebration held each year. She has been the inspira tion of the Celebration which otherwise might have gone under in past years. She was never one to claim glory for anything she helped make a success. She was satis fied to merely sit back and be content that it was a success and be ready to move on. The happiness and well being of the youth was very important to this lady. She was raised as an orphan and has never taken for granted a care free life. In anything she pur sued, the happiness of children and a better life for them was at its core. She was never bitter about anything, however, and just knew that whatever came her way, she could handle. There will definitely be an empty space at The News office that can never be filled, but “Miss Nanny’s” dedication and inspiration to the newspa per and her community will always remain. Miller Mitchell Ginn Advertising: Ginger Mitchell is the advertising representa tive for The Banks County News. She has been employed with the company for four years. She can be reached at gingerm@mainstreet- news.com Jeremy Ginn has been employed with MainStreet Newspapers for six years. He serves as the marketing direc tor for the company and his duties include overseeing advertising for the website. He can be reached at jeremy@mainstreetnews.com. Classifieds: Kathy Wilson has been employed with MainStreet Newspapers for five and a half years. She oversees classi fied advertising for the company, as well as accounts receiv able. She can be reached at kathy@mainstreetnews.com. Wilson Subscriptions: Debbie Castellaw has been employed with MainStreet Newspapers for nine years. She is in charge of circulation, which includes subscriptions, as well as accounts receiv able. Castellaw ,i ~ — 1 U'- , Bridges Columnists: Columnists for The Banks County News include Chris Bridges, who has won state and national awards for his columns. He previously served as the sports editor for The Banks County News, as well as covering news beats. He is now editor of The Barrow Journal. He can be reached at chris@mainstreetnews.com. www.BanksNewsTODAY.com The Charmaine Show Charmaine Augustin, the work life balance expert will join the airwaves at WJJC Radio each morning, five days a week at 8:30 am starting November 3. Charmaine is a Life Coach, freelance writer, author and motivational speaker. She believes in family values and education. WJJC welcomes The Charmaine Show to our community. Monday thru Friday 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. WJJC Radio - 1270 AM www.WJJC.net 706-335-1270