About The Banks County news. (Homer, Banks County, Ga.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (April 17, 2013)
50<t • Homer, Banks County, GA 30547 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. • 24 Pages, 2 Sections Plus Supplements • Vol. 45 No. 9 Sports Tennis seniors recognized 3B News BCHS seniors tour France Community Maysville Yard of Month named _ _ 5A Homer hosts Festival of Arts on April 27 POTTERY TO BE AT FESTIVAL Folk jugs, roosters and other creative pottery designed by Steve Turpin will be available at the Festival of Arts in Banks County on April 27. SCENIC LANDCAPES Cheryl Williams, who specializes in HDR photography, will present some of her work at the Festival of Arts featuring Banks County landscapes. Artwork to be featured to include photography; pottery; folk art and jewelry BY ANGELA GARY Scenic Banks County landscapes created by Cheryl Williams in HDR photography, which depicts photos with such gorgeous detail and clarity that it looks like a painting. Scott Peppers’ folk art filled with unique scenes and the trademark bright polk-a-dots, as well as his funky guitars and other original artwork. Folk jugs, roosters and other creative pottery designed by Steve Turpin, a long-time potter who is well-known across North Georgia. Phyllis McClure’s handmade unique designs with silverplate flatware, including bracelets and other items made from spoons. These are just a few of the artists who will be in Banks County for the first-ever Festival of Arts celebration being planned. The Holiday Festival Committee is planning the event, which will become an annual festival, to be held on Saturday, April 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in down town Homer on the historic courthouse square. “I am so excited about this new art event here in Homer,” committee member Tracey continued on page 3A FOLK ART Scott Peppers will bring folk art filled with unique scenes and his trademark bright polk-a-dots, as well as his funky guitars and other original artwork. BANKS BOC Budget hearings coming up The Banks County Board of Commissioners has set the budget work sessions. The schedule is as follows: • 10:30 a.m. on Monday, April 22. • 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 24. • 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 1. • 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 2. • 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 3. The budget will also be discussed at the next regularly scheduled meet ing of the Banks County BOC, which will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23. Alto resident upset about proposed park plans BY SHARON HOGAN Alto citizen John Closs addressed the Alto City Council during the monthly meeting on April 9 about the plans for a proposed park at 165 South Grant Street. The park is proposed on property that joins Closs’ property and plans for the park include a walking trail. The city’s current park/playground is locat ed across the street from Closs’ residence. “A few issues have not been properly addressed,” Closs said. “Security, sound and privacy for the neighbors. That’s not just me, but it’s the ones behind me. Security is the big one. What’s proposed in the plan is a six-foot pine slatted fence. It’s the cheap est fence on the market. A little kid can just kick it down. It’s only six-foot tall. With the proposed sketch, the walking trail walks right down the side of my property.” continued on page 3A Inside Parson selected as new BCHS head football coach •ROTC students rec ognized — page 4B Op/Ed • Should we even talk about guns? page 4A Other news • Social — 8A • Church — 6B • Obituaries - 11A • Public Safety - 6A-7A • Legals -9B-11B • Sports - 1B-3B • School — 4B BY SHARON HOGAN Biff Lee Parson, Milner, was select ed as the new head football coach for Banks County High School. At Monday’s monthly board meet ing, following a 30-minute closed ses sion to discuss personnel, the Banks County Board of Education approved Parson as a teacher and head football coach for the 2013-14 school year. BOE member Mike Boyle abstained from the vote to hire Parson. Boyle said the reason he abstained was because his wife is related to Parson. Parson comes to BCHS from Mary Persons High School in Forsyth where he is an offensive coordinator for the football program and a health and physical education teacher. Parson’s father, Ronald Parson, coached at Banks County High School. B. Parson attended school in Banks County through his eighth grade year. He graduated from Franklin County High School. Before Parson went to Mary Persons, he was at Lamar County High School. BCHS principal Jody Goodroe said, “We are excited to have Coach Parson join out team at Banks County High School. We believe his character and leadership will continue to develop our young men on the field and in life.” B. Parson said his coaching skills are the result of his father. “Coach Parson had excelled in coaching on the offensive and defen sive sides of the game,” Goodroe said. “His passion to return and to contribute to the Banks County family where he began his development as a young boy revealed the leopard pride in his heart.” Parson said his move to BCHS would be like coming home. “Again, we are excited about the future of Banks County football with Coach Parson leading the way and we are working hard to help him get started as spring football is a short few weeks away,” Goodroe said. Superintendent Chris Erwin said, “I am very excited about him and his past and what he can do for our young men.” PARSON SELECTED AS HEAD FOOTBALL COACH On Monday night, Biff Lee Parson (C), Milner, was selected as the head football coach for Banks County High School. Parson is shown at the Banks County Board of Education meeting with (L-R) BOE mem bers Mike Boyle and Shane Roberts, BCHS principal Jody Goodroe, and board members Atha Dalton,
