About The Banks County news. (Homer, Banks County, Ga.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (July 19, 2017)
Homer seeks grant for new well BY CINDY R. EDGE The Homer City Council is moving forward with a grant application to help fund development of a new well. According to an update given by Mayor Doug Cheek at a meeting held July 11, a preliminary application has been approved. If approved, the funds will be used to develop a second well site on Evans Street on 28 acres of land recently pur chased by the council. The city has been noti fied, since federal funds are being used for this project, an appraisal of the property is required. “The only two choices we really have is to continue with getting this application in and get an appraisal and present it to them when we get it, or we cancel that one out and wait until the Octo ber funding period,” Cheek said. Drilling could begin in two or three weeks and erosion control measures are in place. “Everything is pretty much lined up and we should know something within 60 days,” Cheek said. The council agreed to move forward with the initial grant application and submit the appraisal once it is com pleted. Also at the meeting, the council accepted a final plat for Phase III A of the Chimney Oak development. Bianca Torres, representing the developer, reported on changes between the prelim inary and the final plats. Torres said the size of a few lots was increased and four lots have been removed. When asked by Council man David Dunson how sales were going, Torres reported five pre-sales have been approved and plans call for a model home in this phase as well as one in Phase I A of the develop ment. “Builders are making modifications to houses to get sales rolling,” Torres said. The council approved the final plat for Phase III A contingent upon verification of street names by the 9-1-1 center. OTHER BUSINESS In other business at the meeting, the council: •approved the operating budgets for 2017-2018 fiscal year. The general fund bud get was set at $477,600 and the water fund budget was set at $204,800. •approved an agreement to permit Banks County to conduct the November gen eral election on November 2. •approved an agreement to purchase water from Banks County. The agree ment requires the city to pay $3 per thousand gallons of water for the first year of the agreement. Afterwards, the purchase price will be nego tiated between the city and Banks County. • re-appointed James Dumas and Mose Chandler to serve on the city planning board for three-year terms. • heard that the 140th Annual Sunday School Cele bration is scheduled for July 29. Cheek said this is the old est such event in the nation, and at one time over 4,000 people were in attendance. COOLING OFF Luke McEntire is shown cooling off on a hot summer day at the park in downtown Lula. 'Striding for a Better Banks' set ZUMBA TIME Kale Montgomery, Charli Grace Crabbe and Isabella Diaz dance during the Zumba kids camp at the Banks County Parks and Recreation Department. The camp introduced kids to Zumba fitness. Photo by Charles Phelps o County leaders are plan ning an event to provide information on community services and agencies avail able to citizens. The event, “Striding for a Better Banks,” will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Sat urday, July 29, at the Banks County Parks and Recreation Department Gymnasium. The free event will include displays and give-aways from the participants. The organizations in atten dance will include: Air Life Helicopter, Banks County Adult Literacy, Banks Coun ty Chamber of Commerce, Banks County private emer gency services, Banks Coun ty Clean and Beautiful, Banks County Board of Commis sioners, Banks County Public Library, Banks County Rec reation Department, Banks County School System, Fam ily Connections, Red Cross, Sparky the Fire Dog, UGA Extension Service. There will also be repre sentatives at the event from state and federal agencies and clubs, including the department of family and children services, GEMA, Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Forestry, National Weather Services, Boy Scouts, Saddle Club, Rotary Club, Interact, Family Connections and Community Resource Asso ciation. PROVIDING INFORMATION Jeff Bohannon and Josh White with the Banks County Sheriff’s Office provided information to students participating in the Junior Deputy Training Program this week. They are shown speaking with Kolten Jones. See more photos on page 8A. Photos by Angela Gary BCES students complete junior deputy training BY ANGELA GARY Two men get into a fight. A law enforcement officer is called to the scene to find out what happens. Should an arrest be made? Should both men be charged? Two officers are called to a residence where a couple got into a fight over money. The officers separate the couple and get their story of what happened. Should an arrest be made? These are the scenar ios Banks County Ele mentary School students participating in the Junior Deputy Training Program are facing this week. After training Monday morning from staff of the Banks County Sheriff’s Office, students handled situations such as the ones listed above. Volun teer high school students portrayed the people involved in the fight and the domestic dispute. The afternoon on Mon day was spent with sev eral field trips, including tours of the Banks Coun ty Sheriff’s Office and the Banks County Court house. At the BCSO, Sheriff Carlton Speed spoke with the students and swore them in as “junior dep uties.” At the courthouse, Superior Court Judge Currie Mingledorff spoke with the students. A representative of the Georgia Department of Corrections brought a boat to the school and spoke to the students. The students will grad uate from the program at 4 p.m. Thursday of this week. Students will receive a certificate for completing the training, reports Jeff Bohannon, Banks Coun ty Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officer. TRAINING Officer Josh White with the Banks County Sheriff’s Office presents information to fifth grad ers Hunter Boyer and Zuleydi Walker as part of the Junior Deputy Training Program. Banks County News www.BanksNewsTODAY.com d Banks County’s Legal Organ WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2017 50<t • Homer, Banks County, GA 30547 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. • 16 Pages, 2 Sections Plus Supplements • Vol. 49 No. 33
