About The Banks County news. (Homer, Banks County, Ga.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (April 23, 2014)
50<t • Homer, Banks County, GA 30547 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. • 24 Pages, 2 Sections Plus Supplements • Vol. 46 No. 21 Sports BCHS qualifies five athletes for sectionals Schools BCHS students travel to Europe 9A Prom BCHS holds prom in Athens 4B Rabies clinic planned May 3 Dog and cat owners in Banks County will be able to get their pets protected against rabies at six different locations around the county on Saturday, May 3. The annual rabies clin ics are conducted by Commerce Veterinary Hospital in conjunction with the Banks County Health Department. Georgia law requires that all dogs and cats ages 3 months or older be vaccinat ed annually against rabies. The shots will cost $11 apiece. All other yearly vac cinations and testing will be available during the clinics at an additional charge. The times and locations are: •New Salem United Methodist Church, 1:00-l :30 • Boling Farm Supply, 2:00-2:40 •Irvin’s Store, Hollingsworth, 3:00-3:30 •Homer Hardware, 3:45- 4:15 •Mt. Carmel Church, 4:30-5:15 •Lula City Hall, 5:30-6:00 Inoculation of pets is viewed as the most effec tive way of preventing the spread of rabies to humans, in whom once rabies is con tracted, is fatal. Over the past year, five animals in Banks County were found to be pos itive for rabies. Neighboring Jackson County experi enced nine positive cases and had to euthanize 49 ani mals because of exposure to rabid animals. Three people exposed to rabid animals had to undergo post-ex posure treatment, and 59 animals were quarantined because of possible expo sure to rabid animals. For more information, call the Banks County Health Department at 706-677-5009 or Commerce Veterinary Hospital, 706-335-5111. Inside •Tennis teams reach state — page 1B •Baldwin approves contract for consul tants — page 2A Other news • Crime — 6A • Church — 6B • Obituaries — 11A •Classifieds — 7B-9B • Legals — 10B-11B •Sports — 1B-3B ELECTION PREPARATION UNDER WAY Preparation for the upcoming elections is under way. Secretary of state Brian Kemp is shown with Banks County registrar Andra Phagan. VOTING Advance voting begins Mon. Advance voting for the May 20 election in Banks County is set for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, April 28-May 16, at the Banks County Registrars Office, 226 Candler Street, Homer. Saturday voting will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 10. The race for the District 1 seat on the Banks County Board of Commissioners, between incumbent Danny Maxwell and Gary Clark, will be voted on county wide. The candidate running for the District 1 seat is required to live in that district but the vote is open to all citizens in the county. Absentee ballots by mail are already being mailed out. For an application for a ADVANCE VOTING •Monday-Friday; April 28-May 16, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Banks County Registrars Office, 226 Candler Street, Homer •Saturday voting, May 10, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Banks County Registrars Office ballot, call the registrar’s office at 706-677- 6260. Absentee ballots are also available by going to the website, www.sos.ga.gov. Click on the elections link, where you can request an absentee ballot, check your voter registration status, get a sample ballot and directions to your precinct for election day voting. ARTS EXHIBIT FERGUSONS Stanley and Jamie Ferguson are sixth and seventh generation potters. They will sell many of their pieces at the Festival of Arts. Photos by Alex Pace Local artists to attend Festival of Arts BY ALEX PACE On Saturday April 26, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., local artists and vendors will exhibit and sell pieces including fine and folk art, pottery, photography and jewelry. Approximately 30 artists will par ticipate in this year’s Festival of Arts at the Courthouse Square in down town Homer. Southern Highlands, from Clayton, will perform. Stacey Hall is a silver sponsor of the event. Some of the artists include: JANICE ADAMS Janice Adams took a couple of classes in painting then dropped the craft for over 30 years. Two years ago, she picked up the brush again. Adams says that when she feels inspired, she takes a picture and gets it enlarged. “I just wait for something to really hit me,” said Adams. “Then I take a quick picture of it, get it enlarged them start to paint.” While she finds her inspiration everywhere, she admits it’s often challenging to begin developing the painting. “The last thing I painted was at the beginning of this year,” said Adams. “When I paint, I gotta wait until that feeling strikes me where I know just what I want to put on the canvas.” Adams plans to have 12 or 13 paintings available, along with cards. SCOTT PEPPERS Scott Peppers has been creating art for 20 years. This self-taught artist’s journey began one morning when he woke up and decided he wanted to paint. Now he continues to paint and also weaves and makes chairs. Peppers also works with recycled goods like plywood, tin and bottle caps. “You should never throw any thing away,” said Peppers. Peppers works out of his home art studio, which used to be his grandfather’s shop. Inside the shop, Peppers houses his pieces ranging from paintings on barrel tops to gui tars embellished with bottle caps. He says he draws his inspiration from everything he sees but decid ing what to make can time. “I’ve sat and looked at piece of tin for a couple months before it tells me what to make,” said Peppers. Peppers will sell a variety of his artwork at the festival. STANLEY AND JAMIE FERGUSON Stanley Ferguson and his daugh ter, Jamie, come from a long line of pottery-makers. Stanley learned pottery when he was 14 and began to seriously focus on the craft in 1996. He, alongside his mother and daughter, creates face jugs, roosters, pigs and other pieces of pottery. Jamie learned about pottery when she was 11-years-old and has been a potter ever since. She likes to create pieces in tribute to the people she admires and tries to put a unique spin on her pieces. “I try to put my personality into everything I make,” said Jamie. Her father also hopes to express his personal creativity through his pieces and admits one can often tell his mood by looking at his creations. “You can really tell how I’m feeling when you look at what I make,” said Stanley. “If I just make plain stuff, it’s because I don’t feel good. But when I feel good, the stuff gets more creative.” The Fergusons will have various face jugs and pottery for sale at the festival. EASTER CELEBRATION Egg hunt held on lawn of historic courthouse BY WESLEIGH SAGON Over 200 visitors gathered on the Historic Homer Courthouse Saturday afternoon to hunt Easter eggs, as well as enjoy other festivities. Families gathered under the pavil ion for story time with Penny Praise. Praise is the author of the book, “Hoppin’ John Celebrates Easter,” which teaches the true meaning of Easter. This is the first in Ms. Penny’s Celebrate! series. Illustrator Lauren Patrick began working with Penny’s ministry at the age of fourteen, learning leadership skills in the preschool classroom. She also plans to pursue art education as a career after college. Her twin sister, Meaghan, assisted as her computer graphics technician. Hot dogs and chips were provided by County Commerce Cafe, Becky Taylor donated homemade lemon ade and treats and Wildlife Wonders brought along a petting zoo. Another highlight of this year’s event was the Banks Crossing Saddle Club which offered pony rides and the Homer Fire and Police Department letting chil dren explore the inside of a fire truck. Faith Today Ministry had a puppet show, along with prizes and games. Others who made the second annual Easter in the Park possible included Janice Tennent, Redemption Outreach, Downtown Development, Greg Lanier from the Road Department who closed off roads and set up the sound system, Commissioner Sammy Reece who set up tents, and the Homer Garden Club members who threw out Easter eggs for the children to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. Victoria Kelley said this event was a great way to give something back to the community and stated “it’s not about the eggs or rabbits, it’s about the reason for the season.” LOOKING FOR EGGS Two and a half year old McKenzie Blevins enjoyed hunting Easter eggs on the courthouse lawn Saturday afternoon. Photo by Wesleigh Sagon
