The Banks County news. (Homer, Banks County, Ga.) 1968-current, August 02, 2017, Image 1

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The Banks County news., August 02, 2017, Image 1

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Newspaper Page Text504* Homer, Banks County, GA 30547 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. • 16 Pages, 2 Sections Plus Supplements • Vol. 49 No. 35 Index •Crime —8A •Obituaries —7A • Classifieds — 4B-5B •Legals — 7B •Sports — IB-2B It's back to school time Banks schools resume on Friday BY ANGELA GARY Banks County schools will get under way for the new school year on Friday morn ing with 2,880 students, which is up slightly over last year’s opening enrollment of 2,850. The school system has 21 new teachers, as follows: five at the primary school, six at the elementary school, five at the middle school and five at the high school. There have been no major renovations over the summer and no new programs are planned on being implement ed. The system does have plans to allow for students to see the solar eclipse on Aug. 21. The schools will delay the release of students on that day until 3:30 p.m. so that “students can fully and safely experience the eclipse.” The system is purchasing safety glasses for all students and staff. Woman charged with vehicular homicide A Jefferson woman has been arrested in connection with a fatality Friday in Banks County. Shanda Ervin McClure, 35, 1502 Maley Road, Jefferson, was charged by the Banks County Sheriffs Office with vehicular homicide and weav ing over the road. The Banks County Fire/ EMS responded to the wreck on Hwy. 63 and Wilson Bridge Road, Commerce on reported vehicle accident with injuries. Upon arrival, they found two vehicles involved, a motorcy cle and a passenger car. The victim, Dean Graham, 55, Camesville, was the occu pant on the motorcycle. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The motorcycle was on fire at the time of arrival and extinguished by fire personnel. The cause of the accident is under investigation by the Georgia State Patrol, Banks County Sheriffs Office, and the Banks County Coroner’s Office. 1 ^4 -n m Series on Hoard murder begins A 5-part series about the assassination of solicitor general Floyd “Fuzzy” Hoard 50 years ago begins this week starting on Page 4A. Part 1: Bootleggers, car thieves dominated the 1960s SUNDAY CELEBRATION Traditional covered dish dinner Banks County celebrated 140 years of its annual Sunday School Celebration at Veterans Memorial Park Saturday. Each year visitors come to hear area church choirs sing and enjoy a traditional cov ered dish lunch during the fellowship. See more photos from the event on page 8A. Photo by Wesleigh Sagon Land at Chimney Oaks gets OK for apartments Property across road from golf course; 'high-end' units planned BY RON BRIDGEMAN A new apartment complex, across from the Chimney Oaks golf club and subdivision could be coming to Banks County. The first step occurred Thursday when the Homer Planning Commission voted unanimously to rezone a 10-plus acre tract of land for multi-family resi dential. The commission voted to rezone the land from R-l single family residential to R-2 multi-family residential. The Homer City Council will con sider the request at its Tuesday, Aug. 8, meeting. Sarah Pritchard, chief operating offi cer and attorney for Banks County Golf, told the commission the firm believes a market exists for apartments that are “affordable but high-end apartments.” She said she expects a more detailed site plan would be available before the council meeting. She said the company plans to con struct 36-54 apartments, in buildings of 12 apartments. She said preliminary plans are for rent in the $900 to $1,200 range and 900 to 1,000 square feet. Pritchard said the change would make the housing density less than was pro posed when the Hammer’s Glen Golf & Country Club master plan was approved. She said the proposal now includes 275 single-family homes, compared to 359 houses in the master plan. She also said the “aesthetic” of the apartments would follow that for the new clubhouse and pool house at the Chimney Oaks development. Part of the condition of the rezoning calls for construction to begin within 24 months. Pritchard said the company expects to start building within a year or less. Ron Christopher, a homeowner at Chimney Oaks, said he did not know there were plans for housing across the street from the course. He asked about rental prices, square-footage and the market for the units. Pritchard repeatedly said the apart ments will be aimed at the “higher end rental property.” She specifically cited teachers in the area. She said Banks County Golf has implemented the septic system that was first approved and it would be adequate for apartments. Planning commission members, Christopher and Phil Scales, the adja cent property owner and original devel oper of the golf course, asked about the septic system and how that would accommodate the apartments. Pritchard assured them “that won’t be affected.” The property had been planned for overflow parking from the golf course, she said. That likely is not needed with the plans the new company has for the clubhouse and parking area. Banks County Golf, bought the prop erty in 2014 and has started work on the project. Jim Pritchard, Sarah’s father, and Tony Adams bought the property. The development has more than 330 acres in it. It is on Scales Creek Road just north of Historic Homer Highway which runs through the middle of Homer and intersects with U.S. Highway 441. The course has been in Banks County since the late 1990s and has had multiple owners. Scales, who said he owns all but “a horseshoe” of property around the apartment complex, asked about the details of the proposal, saying he now lives in Florida. Homer teen killed in 1-85 crash last week A Homer teenager was killed in a crash in Jackson County last week. Tommy Gilbert, 19, died in the two-vehicle wreck on the 1-85 North entrance ramp off SR 82 on July 26. Gilbert reportedly attempted to turn left onto the entrance ramp in front of a tractor-trailer driven by Paul Clevenger, 28, of Maryville, Tenn. Clevenger’s vehicle struck Gilbert’s Chevy Impala on the passenger’s side of the vehicle in the intersection. Gilbert died on the scene. He was not wearing a seatbelt, according to the Georgia State Patrol. Clevenger didn’t request medical treatment. No charges are expected. Baldwin man dies in accident A Baldwin man died July 25 in an electrocution acci dent. Banks County Sheriffs Office deputies responded to a privately-owned workshop located at the intersection of Highway 105 and Andrews Road in Baldwin just before 8 p.m. in reference to an accidental electrocution. Wit nesses on scene advised deputies that the victim was working on a project in the building when he somehow was electrocuted by the materials he was working on. The victim, Stacy Groover, 43, of Baldwin, was transport ed to Habersham Medical Center where he later died. Land use plan update coming up What will Banks County look like in 2028? Do you want more chicken houses, a recreational swimming pool, more homes, more paved roads, more jobs...? Banks County citizens, the Banks County Board of Com missioners and the 2018 Banks County Comprehensive Land Use Plan Advisory Group will decide over the next year how the community will look mov ing forward. In a series of public meet ings, the advisory group will address elements of communi ty development. This process is required by Georgia state law every 10 years. The Comprehensive Land Use Plan addresses issues such as public safety educa tion, housing, zoning and city-county cooperation. The advisory group will be assisted by a technical group consist ing of subject matter experts from county staff. The advisory group will also be assisted by Adam Hazell from the Georgia Mountains Regional Commis sion. A blueprint for the future of Banks County is the goal. There will be a public hear ing on Monday August 14, at 6:30 at the Banks County Court house Annex, located at 150 Hudson Ridge, Homer. Resi dents are invited to “come out and share what is important to you for the future of our com munity.” Recommendations will be accepted in writing as well. The 2018 Comprehensive Land Use Plan Advisory Group members include: Todd Hub bard - Co-Chairman, Scott Led ford - Co-Chairman, Vicki Bol ing, CJ Farmer, Jodie Goodroe, Bill Griffin, Julie Jackson, Brad McCook, Carissa M. McFaddin, Bobby Miller, Krysta Morrison, Jud Trapnell, Russell G. Wil liams, Carol Williams, A.D. Smith and Ben Ramsey. The schedule of meetings are as follows: • Future Vision of the Coun ty Monday, August 14, 7 to 9 p.m., Banks County Court house Annex. A public hearing at 6:30 pm will be conducted to allow the public’s comments and introduce the process. •Needs and Issues of the County, Monday, September 18, 7 to 9 p.m., Banks County Courthouse Annex. • Meeting (meet only if need ed) Monday October 16, 7 to 9 p.m., Banks County Court house Annex. • Priorities and Solutions, Monday January 8, 7 to 9 p.m., Banks County Courthouse Annex. • Development Strategy, Monday February 12, 7 to 9 p.m., Banks County Court house Annex. • Implementation/Draft Review, Monday March 12, 7 to 9 p.m., Banks County Court house Annex. A public hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. to receive any public comments on the draft plan. Contact Code Enforcement Officer Paul Ruark at 706-677- 4272 for additional information.