About The Banks County news. (Homer, Banks County, Ga.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 2, 2012)
PACE 4A THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 201 3 THE BEST STORIES: Newsmakers of 2012 Crime ■ POLITICAL STORY OF THE YEAR BUSH OPENS MEETING Maysville council member Kathleen Bush (standing at right), who pushed for another local option sales tax (LOST) negotiation meeting of the Banks County Board of Commissioners and representatives of the cities of Alto, Baldwin, Gillsville, Lula and Maysville, opened the meeting. Bush, who proposed a meeting without the attorneys present, asked everyone to keep an open mind and work toward an agreement that every one could live with. Seated at the table are (from left) Gillsville Mayor Larry Poole, Alto Mayor Audrey Turner, Baldwin Mayor Jerry Neace, Lula Mayor Milton Turner and Maysville Mayor Richard Presley. Photos by Sharon Hogan County, cities clash over sales tax distribution BY ANGELA GARY Banks County and city lead ers clashed throughout 2012 on how the local option sales tax would be distributed for the next 10 years. Several meetings were held with the two groups going back and forth on the percentage breakdown with it appearing as if the issue would have to go to court to be settled. Later in the year, after another three hours of negotiations, the two groups finally agreed on how the money would be divided up without having to go to court. This group with pitted city and county officials against each other has been named the “Political Story of the Year.” It was Lula Mayor Milton Turner who first attempted to organize various city leaders in Banks County to discuss the county’s proposal for Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) dis bursals. He said the county’s proposed breakdown would result in a loss of projected revenue to the cities and a sig nificant increase to the county amounting to nearly $2 mil lion. Additionally, the move could force cities to collect more property taxes in order to maintain current revenue amounts, he said. Next, Baldwin, Lula, Gillsville, Maysville and Alto leaders asked for a joint meet ing with the Banks County Board of Commissioners to discuss renegotiating the allo cation of sale tax to the cities. County leaders have asked for additional information from the cities and agreed to hold a joint meeting, while maintain ing that the proposal is fair to all. “The county thinks the pro posals offered the cities were fair and equitable and in the best interest of all citizens of Banks County,” BOC chairman Milton Dalton wrote in a letter to Baldwin Mayor Jerry Neace and Lula Mayor Milton Turner. In May, all of the groups finally got together for a joint meeting. In the proposal that was sent to the cities from Banks County, the county used “modified population” figures and the commercial digest to determine the allocation of the revenue collected from the tax over a 10-year period. In the proposal submitted by Banks County, the cities in the county would collectively loose $1.2 million over the 10-year period. Lula City manager Dennis Bergin made the presentation to the BOC on behalf of the cities. Bergin discussed legisla tion that was passed in 1994 which requires cities and coun ties to periodically renegoti ate their revenue distribution arrangements. “There have been some changes in the components determining LOST,” Bergin said. “Collectively, this group wants to work with Banks County and they want to see Banks County prosper.” Ten years ago, the LOST was negotiated solely based on population by 90 percent of cities and counties and the cit ies want the same for the 2012 revenue. LOST was originally approved in order for cities and counties to be able to roll back millage rates. “In the past, population has been used for distribution,” Bergin said. “But now there is eight criteria than can be used. You are not to be criticized for what you did.” The biggest problem the cit ies have with the allocation is the fact that it was not based on population, since the cities saw an increase in their population in the 2010 census numbers. The allocation presented by Banks County proposed the county getting 86 percent of the revenue. If the allocation was based solely on popula tion, Banks County would get around 81 percent. The cities held an earlier meeting and came up with a counter-proposal for the coun ty that included a 50-percent option that would reduce each city’s loss by approximately half. The commissioners didn’t show any interest in the coun ter-proposal. It was in September when the matter was finally resolved. After negotiat ing for approximately three hours on a Thursday evening, the Banks County Board of Commissioners and the mayors of the cities of Alto, Baldwin, Gillsville, Lula and Maysville came to an agree ment on how the local option sales tax (LOST) revenue would be distributed. The meeting, held at the request of Maysville City Council member Kathleen Bush, opened with the BOC proposing to receive 85 per cent of the revenues and the cities splitting the remaining 15 percent. The cities opened with an offer of 80.5 percent for the county. By the time the meeting was finished, the county agreed to 83.25 percent with the cit ies, including Homer, splitting 16.75 percent. At that meeting, the group didn’t discuss dollar figures, just percentages. Bush said at the start of the meeting that by everyone gath ering that it showed that they all wanted to work together and settle this issue before it went before a judge for him to settle it. Deputies respond to 13 accidents The Banks County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of 13 accidents in the county during the period of Saturday, Dec. 22, through Friday, Dec. 28. The accidents included: • two-vehicle accident on Highway 15/441 north bound at Highway 51 North, where the driver of a 2001 Ford F-650 reportedly eased off the road way and struck the driver of a 2010 Chevrolet Silverado wait ing to enter Highway 15/441. The driver of the Ford also struck two Georgia Department of Transportation signs before coming to a stop. •one-vehicle accident on Hembree Road, where the driver of a 1990 Toyota Tacoma reported he swerved to miss some deer and his truck went off a bank and overturned. • two-vehicle accident at 145 Hamby Mountain Drive, where the driver of a 2007 Toyota 4-Runner reported her vehicle was struck by another vehicle that left the scene. •two-vehicle accident on Highway 15/441 at the entrance ramp to Interstate 85 north bound, where the driver of a 2002 Ford Ranger report edly turned into the path of the driver of a 1999 Honda Odyssey. •three-vehicle accident on Interstate 85 south bound, where the driver of a 2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette report edly rear-ended the driver of a 2004 Chevrolet Colorado caus ing that driver to rear-end the driver of a 2003 Subaru Legacy. • three-vehicle accident on Highway 15/441, where the driver of a 2005 Mercury Mariner reportedly rear-ended the driver of a 2007 Suzuki Forenza knocking that car into the driver of a 2009 Honda Accord. •vehicle accident on Highway 63, Homer. • vehicle related accident on Steven B. Tanger Boulevard, Commerce. •vehicle accident on Highway 63 at Highway 184. • vehicle related accident on Highway 441, Commerce. •vehicle accident on Highway 323 at Hickory Flat Road, Gillsville. •vehicle-related accient on Highway 63 at Highway 198. •vehicle accident at Krystal’s, Highway 441, Commerce. Burglaries and thefts reported Baldwin PD makes 6 arrests During the period of Dec. 17 through Dec. 23, the Baldwin Police Department made six arrests and responded to a number of incidents. Those arrested and their charges include: •Saturnino Rivera Rivera, 53, no driver’s license. • Steven James Johnson, 26, driving with a suspended or revoked driver’s license, no motor vehicle insurance and operation of unregistered vehicle or vehicle without a current license plate, revalidation decal or county decal. •Marvin Dennis King, 31, aggravated assault on a peace officer and obstruction/ hindering a law enforcement officer. • Bill Ronald Blackmon Jr., 51, tire require ments and driving with a suspended or revoked driver’s license. •Karesa Louise Carter, 33, speeding, tire requirements and possession of marijuana. •William Kyle David, 25, bench warrant. INCIDENTS The following incidents were reported: •no driver’s license on Airport Road at Dilmus Court, Baldwin, during a safety check. • runaway/missing person at a Willow Tree Avenue, Baldwin, residence. The father and older brother of a juvenile missing out of Loganville advised that the juveniles and the owner of the Baldwin residence had met at an Auto Zone, at which the owner of the residence worked, and the juveniles had often visited him at his home in Baldwin, as he supposedly ran a youth outreach program. The responding officer reported he knocked on the door of the residence, but no one answered. The officer reported 911 dispatch pinged the cell phone number provided by the older brother of the missing juveniles and found their last location to be in Atlanta. The officer reported he spoke with several neighbors of the Baldwin resi dence and they stated they had seen three juveniles matching the description given earlier that day. •driving with a suspended or revoked driver’s license, no motor vehicle insurance and operation of unregistered vehicle or vehicle without a current license plate, revali dation decal or county decal at the BP Gas Station on State Route 365, Baldwin, during a traffic stop. •domestic dispute at a Sappling Place, Baldwin, residence, where a verbal argument between a mother and her son was reported. The responding officer reported there was no physical altercation and the situation was handled through mediation. • harassment at a King Street, Baldwin, res idence. The complainant reported that her 18-year-old daughter was being harassed on the school bus by a 13-year-old juvenile. The complainant stated the juvenile was poking her daughter and calling her racial slurs. The complainant stated she was afraid her daugh ter would end up in a fight with the juvenile and get herself in trouble. The complainant stated she had made contact with the bus driver, but had not received any relief. The responding officer reported he advised the complainant and her daughter to contact the school in reference to the matter. •theft at a City Park Drive, Baldwin, resi dence. The complainant reported he was watching the residence for his friend, who was incarcerated, and someone had taken $3,100 in tools. •agency assist, aggravated assault on a peace officer and obstruction/hindering a law enforcement officer on Smokey Road at the Mt. Zion Connector, Alto, during a felony traffic stop and vehicle chase. • tire requirements and driving with a sus pended or revoked driver’s license at Apple Tree Farms, State Route 365, Baldwin, during a traffic stop. •speeding, tire requirements and posses sion of marijuana on State Route 365 at Duncan Bridge Road, Baldwin, during a traf fics top. • bench warrant on Willingham Avenue at Little Poplar Drive, Baldwin, during a traffic stop. •harassment at a Perry Manor, Baldwin, residence. Maysville man dies in accident Banks County Sheriff's Office reports 6 arrests in past week A Maysville man died in a Dec. 22 accident when he stopped to work on his truck that had broken down. Barry Lane Forrester, 53, was was working underneath his vehicle that was partially in the travel lane of Georgia 323 at mile marker 4. The truck had broken down and he was under the vehicle performing repairs when a Chevrolet Silverado driven by Jerry Truman Blackwell, 64, of Ellijay, hit the disabled truck, pinning Forrester underneath. During the period of Dec. 22 through Dec. 28, the Banks County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of six people. Those arrested and their charges include: • Jessie Wade Allen, 29, 1175 Hale Crossing Road, Royston, probation viola tion. • Shaynitra Lashun Browner, 29,150 Hickman, Apt. 5, Athens, probation violation. •Adam Scott Highfield, 23, 168 Crestwood Circle, Commerce, public drunk enness. •William Ronald Humphries, 38, 1009 Mount Sinai Road, Lula, failure to appear and bondsman off bond. •Timeca Lananetta Toney, 21, 434 Sweet Gum Drive, Monroe, probation violation. •Amanda Lynn Whitlock, 41, 782 Queen Road, Gillsville, probation violation. The following burglaries and thefts were reported to the Banks County Sheriff’s Office during the period of Saturday, Dec. 22, through Friday, Dec. 28. •burglar alarm at a Cargill Road, Gillsville, location. The responding deputy reported he checked the perimeter of the building and found no signs of suspicious activity. •alarm call at Grove Level Baptist Church, Grove Level Road, Maysville. The respond ing officer reported he checked the outside of the building and found an unsecure door. The officer reported he then cleared the building and re-secured the door and all appeared O.K. • burglar alarm at a Highway 51, Homer, residence. •theft by shoplifting at Walmart, Highway 441 South, Commerce. • burglar alarm at a Damascus Road, Baldwin, residence. The responding deputy reported he spoke with the homeowner who advised it was accidentally set off and all was O.K. •burglary at a Ridgeland Court, Maysville, residence, where the complainant report ed the residence was unlawfully entered and items were stolen. • alarm at Chick-fil-A, Highway 441, Commerce. •alarm at Dollar General, Evans Street, Homer. The responding officer reported he checked all the doors and all was secure. •burglar alarm at Wendy’s, Highway 441, Commerce. The responding deputy reported he checked the perimeter of the building, but didn’t find any unsecured doors. •burglar alarm at Shooter’s, Banks Crossing Drive, Commerce. The responding officer reported he met the owner who stated he set the alarm off accidentally. • burglar alarm at The Home Depot, Steven B. Tanger Boulevard, Commerce. The responding deputy reported he checked the perimeter of the building, but didn’t find any unsecured point of entry. •theft by taking at a Ward Road, Commerce, residence. ■ CRIME STORY OF THE YEAR Armed robbery suspect nabbed BY ANGELA GARY Thefts and burglaries fill the crime page each week but it was the armed robbery of a Banks County business and the quick apprehension of the suspect that has been named the “Crime Story of the Year.” An armed robber held up the clerk at the Express Mart Valero Convenience Store at Banks Crossing in May. Sheriff Charles Chapman said a call came in to the Banks County E-911 dispatch at 10:05 p.m. of an armed robbery at the Express Mart Valero Convenience Store, 30581 Highway 441 South. “The clerk on duty stated that a black male wearing a ski mask, a dark colored or black shirt, and blue jeans entered the store, came behind the counter and robbed her at gun point,” Chapman said. A search was made of the area for the person whom the clerk stated left the store on foot, Chapman added. “The clerk at the Best Western told offi cers that a white SUV had pulled into the parking lot at the motel, but no one came in and, in about 10 minutes, the vehicle left,” Chapman said. Believing this could be the vehicle used by the robber, a lookout was given out on the vehicle with a description of the robber. “Several minutes later, a Braselton police officer stopped a vehicle on Interstate 85 fitting the description of the vehicle and the person,” Chapman said. A Banks County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to the 126-mile marker on 1-85 and met with Braselton police officers and took Jumarkes Lee Miller, 30,2843 McDuffie Street, Anderson, S.C., into custody. “Items in the vehicle were recovered, along with the ski mask, that Miller wore during the armed robbery,” Chapman said. Miller was transported to the Banks County Jail where he was on charged with armed robbery.
