50<t • Homer, Banks County, GA 30547 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. • 16 Pages, 2 Sections Plus Supplements • Vol. 46 No. 40
Sports
Leopards rout East
Jackson 43-0
IB
Features
Exploring Lexington,
N.C.’s uptown stores
3B
School
Flag dedication
ceremony held
Index
•Crime
•Obituaries
•Classifieds
• Legals
•Sports
— 4A
— 7A
— 6B-7B
— 8B
- IB-2B
IN BRIEF
Recreation
plans moving
forward
BY ANGELA GARY
The Banks County Board
of Commissioners agreed at
its September meeting to hire
Hayes, James & Associates
to design a proposed sports
complex for the county.
Jason Hensley and Rob
Mabry appeared before the
BOC at the Sept. 9 meeting
to report on the work of the
citizen’s committee that has
been looking at architects for
the project. Mabry said that
Hayes, James & Associates
created the recreation mas
ter plan for the county and
“understands the needs” for
the sports complex. He said
that the company would be
able to do the civil engineer
ing and environmental work,
as well as the architecture
plans.
Commissioner David
Duckett asked that the plans
include accommodations for
handicap children to use the
facility.
Homer
Planning
Commission
to meet
The Town of Homer
Planning Commission will
hold a public hearing at town
hall on Thursday Sept. 25,
at 7 p.m. to receive public
comments on the application
of Seth Cape for a proposed
amendment to the zoning
ordinance for property locat
ed at 1074 Historic Homer
Hwy.
The request is to change
the zoning from (HB)
Highway Business to
Restricted Industrial (M). A
copy of the application is
available for public inspection
at the Homer Town Hall.
The public hearing of
Homer Town Council on the
request will be on Tuesday
October 14, at 6 p.m. at city
hall. The town council will
consider adoption of the
zoning request at the regular
meeting immediately follow
ing the public hearing.
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PROPERTY TAXES
Countians to see slight decrease in millage rate
BY ANGELA GARY
The Banks County Board of
Commissioners approved an 8.98
millage rate for 2014 last week, which
is down 1.16 percent over the current
rate.
BOC chairman Jimmy Hooper
pointed out that the commissioners
were able to approve a pay raise
for employees, while decreasing the
millage rate.
“For the taxpayers of Banks County,
they are getting a bang for their buck,”
he said.
SPEEDING ZONES
In other business at the meet
ing, the BOC approved the speed
zone ordinance as recommend
ed by the Georgia Department of
Transportation.
Commissioner Danny Maxwell
said that speed limits are too high at
Banks Crossing and asked that this be
addressed.
“We need to do what we can to get
those speed limits lowered,” Maxwell
said.
Hooper said that the issue would
be a topic of discussion at a meeting
he has coming up with public safety
officials.
“We have to think about public
safety,” Hooper said.
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business, the BOC:
• approved the inmate medical sav
ings program group adoption agree
ment.
•agreed to fund a part-time posi
tion for the human resources depart
ment.
•agreed to leave the moratori
um on adult entertainment in place
through the end of the year.
Winning streak
TWO LEOPARDS LEAPING
Banks County wide receivers Zezmon Steeple (#1) and Malcolm Mitchell (#2) celebrate
Steeple’s touchdown reception with a midair chest bump during the Leopards’ 43-0 routing
of East Jackson last Friday night. Banks County has won two in a row.
Photo by Cameron Whitlock
LEOPARD SPIRIT CHALLENGE CONTINUES
Businesses in Homer are continuing to get into the spirit of football season for the Banks
County High School Leopards with a “spirit challenge.” On Friday, Cuttin’ Up Salon &
Co. accepted the challenge from Honeysuckle Gifts and Tangles Salon and dressed in
spirit wear and decorated the business. Shown are: (L-R) Christy Ayers, Vickie Wiggins,
Onessia Free, Holley Mullis and Alyssa Hunt. Not pictured: Angie Campbell. Cuttin’ Up
Salon & Co., located at 1251 Historic Homer Hwy., Homer, has now challenged David &
Katie’s Amish Store to keep the spirit going for the Leopards this season.
SCALES CREEK
Homer looks to
purchasing road
in golf course
BY ALEX PACE
The Town of Homer may soon adopt the
road in the former Scales Creek Country Club.
Brad Day requested the town council consid
er the adoption at its September meeting.
Day said the course is estimated to bring in
between $20,000 to $30,000 in sales tax annu
ally. It is the second biggest tourist attraction
in the county.
The country club has been purchased by
Tony Adams and Jim Pritchard. The two hope
to begin construction and building soon.
Because of this, Day requested the council
adopt the road and pledge between $9,000 to
$12,000 in next year’s budget for the improve
ment of the road. The town’s contribution
could be joined with potential federal funding,
such as LMIG.
Day also requested the town patch the
holes at the front entrance immediately.
Estimated costs for repairing the road would
total at $38,000.
While the developers say the goal is to
construct 200 houses on the site, mayor Doug
Cheek said he doesn’t want to purchase the
road if construction doesn’t begin.
“I don’t want to pave a road and nothing
happen,” said Cheek.
The city attorney told the council they
could conditionally accept the adoption to
ensure progress is made.
Council member, Sandra Garrison, said the
adoption may lead to requests for other road
adoptions.
“We’ve already had two previous people
looking to have their streets adopted and we
told them they had to bring it up to standards,”
said Garrison. “[This] may be opening the
door for all others to come in who want us to
adopt their roads.”
The council decided to complete testing on
the road and will take action on the matter at
its next meeting.
OTHER BUSINESS
Also at its meeting, the council:
• discussed building inspection costs. Carol
Ayers, town clerk, recommended looking at
the electrical, plumbing and HVAC inspection.
Each have a minimum cost of $100.
• approved a zero millage rate.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Commissioner's Day planned Oct. 5 in Banks County
Elected officials who have served as
members of the Banks County Board
of Commissioners will be recognized
at a special tribute at 3 p.m. on Sunday
Oct. 5, at the Courthouse Annex with
the unveiling of a plaque in their honor
planned.
A “Wall of Service” plaque will be
unveiled for permanent display in the
Courthouse Annex. The name and
dates of service for each commission
er and chairman will be listed. Past
county clerks will also be recognized
on a “County Clerk Wall of Service.”
There will be a program of remem
brance and recognition followed by
refreshments.
“Since 1917, many men have held
the job of Banks County commission
er,” county officials state. “Every com
missioner and every commission as a
whole left their mark on the formation
and development of Banks County.”
CHAIRMAN
Those who have served as chair
man include: R.C. Moss (1917-1924);
D. P. Wright (1925-1928); Logan Perkins
(1929-1930); M.O. Scoggins (1931-
1944); Tom Martin (1945-1948); Guy
Wilbanks (1949-1950); Pope Turner
(1950-1951); Oscar Rucker (1951-1952);
E. A. Welborn (1954-1955); Shelton
Gailey (1955-1964); Lester Kennedy
(1965-1968); Broughton Coffee (1969
1974); Thomas Wilson (1974-1976),
Emory Sullivan (1977-1980); Harold
Watkins (1981-1985); Milton Patterson
(1986-1996); James Dumas (1997-
2000); Kenneth Brady (2001-2004);
Gene Hart (2005-2008); Milton Dalton
(2009-2012); Jimmy Hooper (2013-pres-
ent).
COMMISSIONER
Those who have served as com
missioner include: J.M. Garrison (1917-
1924 and 1931-1934); L.T. Wright (1917-
1924); Alonzo Thompson (1921); R.C.
Moss (1925-1928); J.T. Jones (1925-1928
and 19291930); M.O. Scoggins (1945-
1948); R.J. Dunson (19291936); D.S.
Chambers (1935-1944); W.M. Thomas
(1937-1940); E.E. Samples (1941-1944);
H.F. Segars (1945-1948); Pope Turner
(19491952); Oscar Rucker (19591955);
E.A. Welborn (1953-1964); Shelton
Gailey (1953-1955); F.E. Brewer (1957-
1960: Jack Irvin (1957-1964); George
Crane (1961-1964); Henry James (1965-
1967); Lester Kennedy (1967-1972);
Hoke Caudell Jr. (1973-1976); Bobby
Westmoreland (1973-1976); David
Ducket (1977-1980 and 2013present);
Edward Parson (1977-1980); Donald
Wilson (1981-1985); Jimmy Morrison
(1981-1985); Randy Wilson (1986-1988);
Billy Poole (1986-1988); Keith Gardiner
(1989-1994); Harold Brown (1989-1994);
Gary Freeman (1995-1998); Danny
Maxwell (1995-1998 and 2011-present);
Ernest Rogers (1999-2002 and 2019
2012); Pat Westmoreland (19992006);
Rickey Cain (2003-2010); Joe Barefoot
(2007-2010); Charles Turk (2019pres-
ent); and Sammy Reece (2011-present).
COUNTY CLERK
Those who have served as coun
ty clerk include: W.M. Thomas
(1917-1928); R.L. Sullivan (19291944);
V.E. Chambers (1945-1952); Nancy
Chambers (1953-1968); Linda Caudell
(1968-1969); Teresa Way (1969); Jewel
Poole (19691976); Winnie Osborn
(19791978); Avis Lewallen (1978-2001);
and Regina Gailey (2002-present).
