About The Banks County news. (Homer, Banks County, Ga.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 4, 2012)
PACE 4A THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2012 Editor: Angela Gary Phone: 706-367-2490 E-mail: AngieEditor@aol.com Website: www.banksnewsTODAY.com Opinion “Where the press is free and every tnan able to read, all is safe.” — Thomas Jefferson Start the new year giving thanks for our blessings For 85 years, Jackson County leaders have been gathering on the first day of the year to give thanks for their blessings and ask for guidance for the new year. It's wonderful that our early leaders put an emphasis on their faith and asking for guidance and it's even more wonderful that a handful of county officials continue to keep this tradition alive. For more than 20 years I have kicked off the new year at the annual program and I have many memories over the years of the unique program, that is likely one of the few or even only events of its kind. Many local pastors and religious leaders have served as the guest speaker over the years and given great advice as a new year gets underway. In 2005, Doug Duke, youth minister at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, told those gathered at the courthouse: “I want to encour age you, as we begin 2005, to realize that God has a purpose in our life. We have to get up every morning and do what God is calling us to.” In 2006, Tim Echols, founder of TeenPact Youth Leadership School, reminded those attend ing to focus on three things during the new year: their reputation, loving favor from others and choosing priorities. “We have the ability to determine what our name means,” said Echols. He said we must work to make our name stand for whatever we want it to mean. In 2007, the Rev. Fred Wilson, a Jefferson police officer and Homer pastor, was the guest speaker. He encouraged those present to “wake up” and face the growth and challenges that are coming to Jefferson and Jackson County. “The new year has a lot to offer,” he said. "... Today is a challenge. We have many challenges in Jackson County and Jefferson.” This year, Pastor Jeff Williams of the Church at Southside spoke on the strong faith-based community in Jackson County and encouraged residents to “put your trust in Jesus.” He said to “choose to walk in His ways; choose to keep His commands” and “choose to love God.” I also have memories of the people who are no longer with us who made the program a part of their lives each year. Jack Davidson was a regu lar at the event. He attended more than 50 of the New Year’s programs during his lifetime and was always a joy to see as he greeted everyone and wished them well in the new year. The New Year’s program is a great tradition and it’s wonderful that some of our county offi cials are keeping it alive. It’s a reminder to us all to start the new year off by giving thanks for our blessings and seek guidance for the new year. Angelo Gary is associate editor of The Jackson Herald and editor of The Banks County News. She can be reached a AngieEditor@aol.com. angela gary The Banks County News Founded 1968 The official legcd organ of Banks County, Ga. Mike Buffington Scott Buffington Angela Gary Randy Crump Sharon Hogan Anelia Chambers Co-Publisher Co-Publisher Editor Sports Editor Reporter Receptionist Phones (all 706 area code): Angela Gary Phone 367-2490 Angela Gary Fax 367-9355 Homer Office Phone 677-3491 Homer Office Fax 677-3263 (SCED 547160) Published weekly by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc., P.O. Box 908, Jefferson, Ga. 30549 Subscription in county $19.75 Subscription in state $38.85 Subscription out of state $44.20 Military with APO address $42.20 Senior citizens get a $2 discount Periodicals postage paid at Homer, Ga. 30547 Postmaster, send address changes to: Subscriptions, The Banks County News, P.O. Box 920,935 Historic Homer Highway Homer, Ga. 30547 Member: Georgia Press Association Georgia Sports Writers Association National Newspaper Association In Georgia, big winners make the big money It’s a tradition for political columnists to close out the year by picking their list of winners and losers for the 12-month period that just ended. These winners and losers are typically defined by what they did to gain or lose political power. I modified that concept to decide who would be on my list: in Georgia poli tics, winning and losing usually depends on who ends up with the money. One of the biggest groups of winners in 2011 was Gov. Nathan Deal, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, and the state’s business leaders who were lobbying to expand the Georgia ports facilities by dredg ing the Savannah River. This group still hasn’t figured out how to get the federal government to pay for most of the $600 million project, although I’m sure they will be successful at some point. They were able, however, to overcome a major regulatory obstacle pre sented by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (known as DHEC for short). DHEC in September denied an important environmental permit that was needed for the river dredging project to move forward. In late October, a fundrais er was held in Atlanta for South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley by Eric Tanenblatt, a Republican activist who’s been a major supporter of such politi cal figures as George W. Bush and Mitt Romney. Haley, who cleared $15,000 from that Atlanta event, appoints and controls DHEC’s governing board. Less than two weeks after the fundraiser was held, the DHEC board reversed the agency’s earlier denial and voted to issue the environmental permit. It was a nice haul for Haley, but an even bigger win for the Georgia officials who support the $600 million harbor expansion. Officials of the Georgia Power Co. also had a big year before the Public Service Commission, which at one point was consid ering a proposal to require Georgia Power to pay a financial penalty if there were major cost overruns on the two nuclear reactors being built at Plant Vogtle. The PSC had good reason to think about a risk-sharing proposal. The first time Georgia Power built nuclear generators at Plant Vogtle, the cost ballooned from initial estimates of $660 million to more than $8 billion. Georgia Power officials, however, said they would not agree to share the financial risks of the latest nuclear project, and they kept saying “no” until the PSC finally gave up and scrapped the plan. If there are any cost overruns on the $14 billion Vogtle project, the expense will be borne by Georgia Power’s cus tomers and not by its executives or shareholders. The utility giant was a giant winner in this regula tory game. Two Georgia politicians who took themselves off the hook for some major financial obligations in 2011 were Congressman Tom Graves of Gordon County and state Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers of Woodstock. Graves and Rogers borrowed $2.2 million from the Bartow County Bank several years ago to buy and renovate a hotel in Calhoun. In 2010, the bank sued Graves and Rogers for defaulting on the loan. In the midst of the legal wrangling, the Bartow County Bank was shut down by regulators. The bank’s former chairman later told a reporter that the loan to Graves and Rogers “was one of the larger loans, and it contributed signifi cantly (to the bank’s failure).” The financial insti tution that acquired Bartow County Bank continued the efforts to collect on the loan, but finally reached a settle ment with the two law makers in August. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but I would bet the amount involved was much less than the original $2.2 million loan. Graves and Rogers were the winners. The Bartow County Bank was the ultimate loser. Another group of winners is the 236 men and women who make up the member ship of the Georgia Senate and House of Representatives. The General Assembly once again declined to pass any bills that would limit the amount of money lobbyists can spend to entertain lawmakers. That suits the leadership just fine. “Let the people be the judge about what’s acceptable and what’s not acceptable,” said House Speaker David Ralston, who once took his family to Europe on a trip paid for by a lobbyist. “I trust their judgment.” Tom Crawford is editor of The Georgia Report, an internet news service at gareport. com that reports on government and politics in Georgia. He can be reached at tcraw- ford @ gareport. com. Importance is in eye of beholder It’s now official. We are in a presidential election year. For political junkies, CSPAN nerds and those who follow such happenings (count me among those), the presiden tial race has been going on for months. With 2012 officially here, however, we are now just 11 months from the general election. We are even closer than that to voting in the Presidential Preference Primary in our state in March. The first official con test of this race was held Tuesday among the frozen fields and towns of Iowa. I’ve never truly understood why this state is allowed such an important role in decid ing for the rest of the nation who remains in the presidential field, but that’s another matter for another time. As a long time political fan (my other passion in addition to sports) I count down the weeks and months until elections whether at the local, statewide or national level. This presidential race is no excep tion. Yet I don’t kid myself into thinking everyone shares my passion. While most probably could tell you there is a presiden tial election in 2012, how many can rattle off the seven major Republican candidates currently competing. While some can tell you one or two, it’s always interesting to hear people try to answer the question of who is running. In recent weeks, I’ve done my own unof ficial poll among some people in my circle to see just how well the candidates are known to those who aren’t quite as die hard as myself. Some answered correctly. One named several candidates. Some, well, let’s just say they probably have spent more time watching something else. Some of the answers I received: •“I didn’t know it was time to vote for president.” • “Is George Bush running again?” • “My husband does the voting in our family.” • “Herman Cain.” (Note, this was after Cain has officially exited the race.) • “I don’t care about politics.” • “I haven’t voted since Nixon betrayed me.” These were interesting, even amusing, responses but I think it shows the overall attitude a lot of people still have. So many people complain about our current presi dent, yet few seem interested enough to vote for an alternative. Voting, to me at least, has always been as American as the fourth of July or base ball on a summer afternoon or, well you get it. Unfortunately, it’s something most people don’t take seriously or even think about at all. With two months until we are able to vote in Georgia, I wonder what the statewide turnout will be. For a while it seemed Newt Gingrich had captured the approval of Georgians in the polls, but the ethically challenged former Speaker of the House is fading fast across the country. Herman Cain has long since left the building so it appears Georgia may be up for grabs. Mitt Romney could emerge as a favorite despite the fact a majority of Republicans still don’t really like him. Well, at least I’ll be at my voting pre cinct March 6 and will know beforehand the names of the candidates on the ballot. It’s one of the benefits of being a CSPAN junkie (my brother used to make fun of me for watching the channel by mak ing snoring sounds as he walked into the room.) At least I know George Bush is not run ning for president this time around. Chris Bridges is editor of the Barrow Journal, a sister publication of The Banks County News, You can reach him at cbridges @ barrow journal, com. One of the biggest groups of winners in 2011 was Gov. Nathan Deal, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, and the state’s business leaders who were lobbying to expand the Georgia ports facilities by dredging the Savannah River. chris bridges POLICY ON LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The policy for letters to the editor submitted to The Banks County News is as follows: • an original copy of all letters must be submitted for publication. Members of our staff will not type out or hand-write letters for people who stop by the office and ask them to do so. • letters must be signed with the address and phone number of the person who wrote them. • e-mailed letters will be accepted but we must have a phone number and address. • letters that are libelous will also not be printed. Letters may also be edited to meet space requirements. Anyone with questions on the policy is asked to contact editor Angela Gary atAngieEditor@aol.com or 706-367-2490.
