PACE 6A
THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 201 3
Pruning fruit trees improves harvest
Home fruit orchards are often
neglected when it comes to the
annual training and prun
ing of the fruit plants.
Without training and
pruning, however, fruits
will not develop proper
shape and form. Properly
trained and pruned
plants will yield high
quality fruit much earlier
in their lives and live sig
nificantly longer.
A primary objective of
training and pruning is to
develop a strong frame
work that will support fruit produc
tion. Another goal of annual train
ing and pruning is to remove dead,
diseased, or broken limbs. Proper
pruning and training also
opens up the tree or plant
canopy to maximize light
penetration. The follow
ing information describes
the pruning process for
blueberries and figs.
Once your blueberry
plants are established or
if you have some older,
overgrown plants, you will
not need to prune them
much until they reach
six to eight feet in height.
You will then want to begin a cane
renewal program. You need to start
by pruning out one to three of the
largest canes each winter and cut
them at anywhere from zero to
twenty four inches from the ground
level. Prune back any tall canes
that can be cut back to six to eight
feet tall.
After repeating this process for
about five years, the bush should
be totally renewed. The results
will provide new, more productive
canes that will sprout from the old
canes and will sprout below the
ground level. The best pruning time
for blueberries is in the late winter
to early spring (February-March).
Begin training your fig plants to
grow in the bush form at the time
of planting by cutting off one-third
of the young plant. This forces
shoots to grow from the base of
the plant. Let these shoots grow
through the first season. Then,
late during the winter after the
first growing season, select three
to eight vigorous, widely spaced
shoots to serve as leaders. Remove
all other shoots. Be sure the lead
ers you select are far enough apart
to grow to be 3 to 4 inches in diam
eter without crowding each other.
If more branching is desired,
head back the bush each spring
beginning the second year after
planting, after danger of frost is
past but before growth has started.
Do this by removing about one-
third to one-half the length of the
last year’s growth. Also, prune all
dead wood and remove branches
that interfere with the leaders’
growth.
Cut off low-growing lateral
branches and all sucker growth
that is not needed to replace bro
ken leaders.
If you would like more informa
tion on caring for fruits, stop by,
email, or call the Banks County
Extension Office - 413 Evans St.;
bwaldorf@uga.edu; (706-677-6230).
Bob Waldorf is the Banks County
extension agent.
Take part in survey of
housing opportunities
During the week of Jan.
29-Feb. 4, Ninth District
Opportunity, in partnership
with the U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban
Development and the Georgia
Department of Community
Affairs, will be asking people
in your community about their
housing situation and various
factors that affect people’s abil
ity to obtain housing.
A simple survey asking ques
tions about your housing status
on the night of Jan. 28 will be
used to help legislators and ser
vice providers determine the
number of homeless and unsta
bly-housed families in commu
nities across the state and pro
vide justification for financial
assistance to these areas. Your
participation in this project is
cmcial to the people of your
community leaders state.
For more information, con
tact Banks County Community
Resource Center, 110 Shortest
St., RO. Box 144, Homer, GA
30547, 706-677-3921 or by email
at banks@ndocsbg.org.
The survey will be available
at your local Ninth District
Opportunity, Inc. office, as
well as partnering organization
sites throughout the county.
No names will be recorded
and the survey will only take a
moment to complete.
Reading dub, free movie
at Maysville Public Library
Events coming up this month at the Maysville
Public Library includes the following:
•Thursday, January 10, 11 a.m., “Bookends”
Reading Club.
• Saturday, January 12,11 a.m., free movie, “Secret
of the Wings.”
•Tuesday, January 15, 22 and 29, 10:30 a.m., pre
school storytime.
•Tuesday, January 22, 5 p.m., “Mad-Hatter’s”
Knitting Club.
•Saturday, January 26, 11 a.m. “Spa Theme Day.”
All the programs are free and open to the public.
For more information, visit the Facebook page or
contact the library at 706-652-2323 or maysville@
prlib.org.
Piedmont Library
Board meets on
Jan. 17 in Homer
The Piedmont Regional Library Board
of Trustees will meet Thursday, Jan. 17
at 5 p.m. at the Banks County Public
Library. The library is located at 226
Highway 51 South, Homer.
Public meetings you can attend
The following local govern
ment agencies hold regular
meetings which are open to
the public:
•The Homer Garden Club
meets on the first Saturday of
each month from 10-11 a.m. at
Historic Homer Highway and
Athens Street, across from the
park.
• Maysville City Council,
7 p.m., first Monday of each
month at the Maysville Public
Library.
• Maysville Planning and
Zoning Commission, 7 p.m.,
last Monday of each month,
Maysville library.
• Banks County Planning
Commission, 7 p.m., first
Tuesday of each month at the
courthouse.
•Gillsville City Council, 7
p.m., first Tuesday of each
month at city hall. A work
session is held at 7 p.m. on
the third Thursday of the
month.
• Banks County Board
of Education, 7 p.m., third
Monday of each month at the
BOE office. The work session
is held on the Thursday prior
to the regular meeting.
• Baldwin City Council,
7 p.m., second and fourth
Monday of each month at city
hall. A work session is held at
6:30 p.m. on the Thursday pre
ceding each regular meeting.
•Homer City Council, 6
p.m., second Tuesday of each
month at city hall.
•Banks County Board of
Commissioners 6:30 p.m. sec
ond Tuesday of each month at
the county annex. A work ses
sion is held at 6:30 p.m. on the
fourth Tuesday of the month at
the county annex.
•Alto City Council, 7 p.m.,
second Tuesday of each
month at city hall.
•Lula City Council, 7 p.m.,
third Monday of each month
at city hall. A work session
is held at 6:30 p.m. on the
second Monday of the month.
•Banks County Middle
School Booster Club, 6:30
p.m., third Monday of each
month at the Banks County
Middle School lunchroom.
•The Banks County High
School All Sports Booster Club
meets monthly on the first
Monday of each month at 6:30
p.m. in the media center at the
high school.
Volunteer opportunities available
To be listed in the volunteer column, send information
toAngieEditor@aol.com or mail it to: Angela Gary, The
Banks County News, P.O. Box 920, Homer, Ga. 30547.
The following are volunteer
opportunities in Banks County
and the surrounding area:
• Banks County CERT is seek
ing volunteer participants. For
more information, check out
the website at www.bankscert.
org or call the Banks County
EMA Office at 706-677-3401.
• The Banks County Literacy
Council needs volunteers to
work on projects, help dis
tribute books and materials,
help with clerical work, and
other similar work. If you are
interested, call Mellisa Dalton
at 706-677-3693, or see Stacy
Krumnow at the Banks County
Public Library.”
• Piedmont CASA volunteers
speak for children who are in
foster care. For more informa
tion, call the CASA office at
706-387-6375.
•The Banks County Adult
Literacy Center is seeking
volunteer teachers. They
especially need math tutors,
including the areas of intro
ductory algebra, geometry and
Algebra I. Tutors are needed
on Tuesdays and Thursdays
from 6-8 p.m. For more infor
mation, call 706-677-4302.
•Civil Air Patrol: cadets,
ages sixth grade through 18
years old, participate in search
and rescue missions and learn
how to fly airplanes. Senior
members teach cadets and
students at middle and high
schools and can also work
with emergency services.
Contact Luther McCoy, 706-
677-1490.
•Adult learning center at
Lanier Technical College satel
lite campus 706-335-1931.
• Hope Resource Center: cri
sis pregnancy support center,
706-367-5304.
•Action: help package and
distribute food to low-income
families and the elderly, 706-
367-9599.
•Christian Outreach Food
Bank: work in warehouse, 335-
6084.
•Girl Scouts: needs troop
leaders, assistant leaders,
trainers and recruiters. Call
Terri Bear, 706-548-7297.
Maysville business donates
$27K to Wounded Warriors
Annual Model 'A! Ford raffle nets charity thousands
BY KATIE COFER
A patrotic story comes from Maysville this
week, where a family-owned business recently
raffled off a restorable Model A in support of
a non-profit organization that provides aid to
American veterans who have been injured in
foreign combat. This year’s raffle raised a total
of $27,650 for the Wounded Warrior Project.
Business-owner Mike Butcher and his family
have operated the Model A car parts company
in Banks County since 2004. This is the second
year the business has raffled off an antique
restorable in support of Wounded Warriors.
“I think it’s a very patriotic thing for us,” said
Butcher. “There’s such a lot of it on TV these
days.”
The drawing for the 2012 raffle took place
Dec. 31. The lucky winner of the 1928 Closed
Cab pickup went to ticket no. 669 556 — a Mr.
G. Adkins of Zephyr Hills, Fla. — he picked up
his cab last Saturday, said Butcher.
“Our support is 100 percent behind our
brave men and women in uniform and we
will continue to support the Wounded Warrior
Project,” Butcher’s website boasts. “This being
our third Raffle, our hopes were to by pass
last year’s $18,450. With three weeks to go we
MAN WINS CAR
Mr. G Adkins of Zephyr Hills, Fla., is
pictured next to a 1928 Closed Cab
Ford pickup he recently won in a raf
fle in Banks County. Maysville busi
ness owner Mike Butcher raffled off the
antique car in support of the Wounded
Warriors project. The fundraiser col
lected $27,650 this year.
had our doubts, then suddenly the floodgates
opened. Our total that we raised for 2012 is
$27,650 — This is far beyond our expectations!”
Butcher said he will likely continue raising
funds for the Wounded Warrior Project.
“It was so successful,” he said.
Northeast Ga. Tea Party to meet Jan. 22
The Tea Party of Northeast
Georgia will hold its monthly
meeting on Tuesday, January
22, at 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn
Express at Banks Crossing.
Newly elected and re-elect
ed sheriffs from several local
counties will be the guests.
There will be time of a ques
tions and answers to talk
about each of their plans for
their counties.
For more information,
call 706-654-8292 (call instead
of text).
FOR ONLY $5 PER MONTH,
YOU CAN LIST YOUR GROUP'S MEETINGS!
Let your members know when your group is meeting!
Call (706) 367-5233 to advertise your meeting time, place and date in...
• The Jackson Herald • The Commerce News
• The Braselton News • The Banks County News
• The Madison County Journal
% HUMANE SOCIETY
OF JACKSON CO.
Retail Thrift Store
Tues. - Sat. • 10:00 a.m. - 5 p.m.
96 College Street
706-367-1111 • www.hsjc.com
JEFFERSON ROTARY CLUB
Meets Tuesdays
Jefferson City Clubhouse
12:30 p.m. *(706) 367-0958
Mark Bradley, President
J 547
A ROCKWELL l>J - 2
W LODGE F& A.M.
' ™ ' No. 191, Hoschton, GA
2nd Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. • Dinner at 6:30 p.m.
www.rockwelllodge191.com
Two blocks behind Larry’s Garage
West Broad at Hall Street
BANKS COUNTY
Igjj AMERICAN LEGION
Post 215
Meets each 3rd Thursday, 7 p.m.
In Homer, GA at the
American Legion Building on
Historic Highway 441 Pd.os
BANKS COUNTY
MM AMERICAN LEGION
™ AUXILIARY-Post 215
Meets each 3rd Thursday, 7 p.m.
In the American Legion Building
at 1350 Historic Homer Hwy.,
Homer, GA pa. 2
JEFFERSON LIONS CLUB
Meets 2nd & 4th Monday
Jefferson City Clubhouse
6:30 p.m. *(706) 367-9349
Jimmy Mock, President 54 ,
PARKINSON DISEASE
SUPPORT GROUP
1 st and 3rd Thursday • 11 a.m.
St. Paul’s Methodist Church
Academy Street, Gainesville, GA.
Contact: Deane & David Poole
7706-967-0161 Pd 10
HOME BIBLE STUDIES
LIVING HOPE PENTECOSTAL
2nd & 4th Thursdays each month 7:00 p.m.
306 McKinney Rd. • Jefferson, GA
Rev. Charles R. Gay, Jr.
706.202.4920 • 706.207.0182
We look forward to you joining us.
Pd. 12 Acts 2:38
JACKSON COUNTY Pd 10
REPUBLICAN PARTY
Meets 2nd Sat. of each month
Doors open at 7:30 a.m.
Meeting starts promptly at 8:00 a.m.
Jefferson Clubhouse, 302 Longview
Drive, Jefferson ~ Everyone
welcome! www.JacksonGOP.org
Pilot Club of Jefferson
Meets 3rd Tuesday of
each month, 6:30pm
Jefferson City Club House
706-367-9313 or
706-693-4715 m
BANKS COUNTY
HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.
meets first Monday each month
7:00 p.m. in the Banks Co. Historial
Courthouse at 105 U.S. Hwy. 441
North in Homer pd.os
Tri-County
» Shrine Club
4 ,h Mon. of each month • 6:30 p.m.
For more info contact
Jesse 770-403-0078
or Lonnie 770-503-5949 pu. 12
ATHENS AMERICAN
A LEGION
'HP p ° st 20
Meets each 4th Tues., 6:30 p.m.
George Therriault, Post Commander
Home (706)613-8534
gtherriault35@gmail.com pd. 12
A UNITY LODGE
F & A.M.
No. 36, Jefferson, GA
1st Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m.
Tom Hays *678-316-7492
Borders St. behind Tabo’s 260
9562 JEFFERSON AREA
BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
www.jaba-ga.org
Meets 3rdThurs. • 11:45 a.m.
Community Bank & Trust Bldg.
71 Memorial Drive
DISABLED AMERICAN
VETERANS & AUXILIARY
Joe Brown Conally, Chapter 2
meets 2nd Tuesday of each month
at 7:00 p.m.
1001 Winterville Rd. • Athens, GA
Watter Butler, Commander 12
Pd. 01
Madison County
Democratic Party
Conolus Scott Jr. ~ Committee Chairman
706-789-3336
Call for monthly meeting information
www.madisoncountydemocrats.linkpc.net
St. Catherine Laboure
Catholic Mission
Mass Schedule: Fri. 9 a.m., Sat. 4:00 p.m.,
Sun. 11:00 a.m., Thurs. 12:10 p.m.
First Friday Adoration 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Website: www.stcatherinelabourega.org
706-367-7220 Pil2
|f% JEFFERSON 10
HI AMERICAN LEGION
Post 56 • Each 3rd Tues., 6:30 p.m.
Gene Bennett, Commander
Phone (706) 757-2288
www.albertgordonpost56.org
THE MADISON COUNTY RETIRED
EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION
meets September - June on the second Tuesday
of the month at 11 a.m. at the Ila Restaurant in
Ila. There is no local meeting in July and August.
Troyce Ann Pawlowski, President
706-548-7996 r„.6
Pd “ MADISON COUNTY
/^AMERICAN LEGION
Aj§r Post 39
Meets last Thursday, 7 p.m.
JANUARY - OCTOBER
American Legion Building
Crawford W. Long Street
