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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2023
Homer, Banks County, GA 30547 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. • 12 Pages, 1 Section Plus Supplements
Vol.57 No. 40
Homer boy featured in national
report on new device to detect autism
I *2
Jh,
Renee and Dawson Britt were featured in national reports on
a new autism detecting device.
High speed
chase turned
foot chase ends
in two arrests
A high speed chase turned
into foot chase and ended in
two arrests and recovery of
stolen vehicle by the Banks
County Sheriff’s Office.
On Friday, September 15,
a Banks County deputy re
ceived a flock camera alert
for a stolen vehicle entering
the county.
Deputies located the vehi
cle in the area of Yonah-Ho-
mer Road at Rock Springs
Road and initiated a traffic
stop. The driver failed to
yield and fled at a high rate
of speed.
The driver lost control
of the vehicle while travel
ling on Peyton Road, and
crashed into a ditch near
the area of Sample Scales
Road. The driver and pas
senger fled on foot in oppo
site directions.
Deputies quickly appre
hended the driver, Justin
Sailors, 26, of Commerce.
The K9 team was deployed
and located the passenger,
Alisha Buice of Maysville.
Both were placed under
arrest and face charges for
theft by receiving stolen
property, fleeing and elud
ing, obstruction of justice,
and possession of marijua
na.
BY ANGELA GARY
A Homer boy who par
ticipated in a trial for a new
tracking device for detect
ing autism sooner in young
children has been featured
in several national televi
sion programs now that the
device has been approved
by the FDA.
Renee Britt shares that
when her 12-year-old son,
Dawson, was 3 she signed
up to participate in a trial
of the “EarliPoint” device,
which was approved recent
ly by the FDA.
Dawson was featured in
a Good Morning America
segment on the new track
ing device that could be
a possible medical break
through for detecting autism
sooner in young children.
Renee and Britt were also
featured in an article by
NBC.
“It truly is about getting
your child what they need to
be successful,” Renee said
in the GMA broadcast.
After Britt signed on for
the trial Dawson was diag
nosed with autism at age 3
and started therapy. Britt
learned strategies to im
prove Dawson’s tolerance
for shopping.
They began with very
short visits to the store,
and the Dawson would get
a small toy when the shop
ping was done.
His mom shares that he
started to associate shop
ping with a pleasant out
come, and the family was
able to make longer and
longer trips to the store. Re
nee also learned to watch
for subtle signs that would
come before a meltdown.
“When he was younger,
there would be zero conver
sation,” she said. “He would
just start screaming and try
ing to run.”
The link to the GMA
segment is: https://www.
goodmomingamerica.
com/wellness/video/
fda-approved-eye-track-
ing-device-diagnose-au-
tism-103051350
ADDISON HOARD CROWNED
Addison Hoard was crowned Homecoming Queen at Banks
County High School Friday night. See more photos on Page 3.
Homer
planners to
hear Chimney
Oaks request
The Homer Planning
Commission will hold a
public meeting on the ap
plication by Banks County
Golf, LLC to amend the
Planned Community Devel
opment (PCD) District for
Chimney Oaks Subdivision
to increase the number of
allowed residences to 367,
being an additional 97 units
above the current allowed
270. The public meeting for
the planning commission
will be held at the Homer
Town Hall, 943 Historic
Homer Highway, Homer, at
6 p.m. on September 27.
The Homer Town Coun
cil will also hold a public
hearing on the proposed
rezoning ordinance and
subsequently take action on
the proposed rezoning ordi
nance at the public meeting
to be held at Homer Town
Hall, 943 Historic Homer
Highway, at 6 p.m. on Octo
ber 17 immediately follow
ing the public hearing.
MAILING LABEL
Ciitizens air concerns
at BOE budget hearing
Banks County Board of Education member. Dr. Mark Stroud,
speaks with citizens who attended a budget hearing on Thurs
day.
By ANGELA GARY
The Banks County Board
of Education heard from
concerned citizens Thurs
day night about the pro
posed $60.5 million budget
for the 2023-2024 school
year.
Nine citizens attended the
budget hearing. Among the
issues they addressed were
the cost of school facilities,
including the $6.5 million
wellness center; the amount
of school taxes paid by se
nior citizens; and recent re
ports of low test scores.
Finance director Daniel
Oldham reviewed the bud
get and pointed out that 90
percent of the budget goes
toward staff salaries and
benefits.
He said the cost of in
surance increased, as did
teacher salaries, due to state
requirements for a $2,000
increase.
Oldham also spoke on
state cuts and the need to
keep a fund balance at a cer
tain percentage.
BOE chairman Shane
Roberts addressed the issue
of the low test scores, which
several citizens mentioned.
“Test scores were down
last year,” Roberts said.
“We’re not happy about
that either. We are making
some changes. I have kids
in school too. I want them to
be challenged. I want them
to go on to college.”
He added, “Of course
there are ways to improve.
This is always something
we are working on.”
BOE member Mark
Stroud said, “Our goal is to
help them be the best.”
‘PHANTOM OF THE OPERA THEME
Photo by Hannah Caudell
Shelby McIntyre (left), playing the Phantom, gives Kylie Tench (right) a rose to conclude the
Leopard Band’s performance of the Phantom of the Opera show.
BOC lifts hiring freeze; to hire
assistant road superintendent
By ANGELA GARY
The Banks County Board of Commissioners agreed at its
meeting last week to lift the hiring freeze so that an assis
tant road superintendent can be hired.
The majority of the meeting, over one hour, was held in
closed session to discuss possible litigation and personnel.
No action was taken on these items when the meeting was
opened to the public.
In other business at the meeting, the BOC:
•recognized National Voter Registration Day on Sept.
19.
•heard from Derrick Williams about conditions on Grant
Mill Road to Yonah-Homer Road where the DNR has gat
ed one end of the road so it is now “one-way in and one
way out.” He asked that this be declared a county road.
•approved a wastewater treatment facility contract with
Wilcorp Inc. after hearing from public utilities director
Horace Gee.
•heard chairman Charles Truk report that Dale Cash has
been hired as the new code enforcement officer.
•approved a GDOT FY2024 grant to help fund transpor
tation at the senior center.
GOP to hold fundraiser in
Gillsville for indicted Trump
associates legal expenses
The Banks County Republican Party is hosting a fund
raiser in a bid to raise cash to help several of the defendants
charged in the Trump RICO case with their legal expenses.
The Banks GOP’s event will be Nov. 2 in Gillsville with
tables starting at $400 up to $1,600.
The event will feature several activist GOP members,
including failed gubernatorial candidate Kandiss Taylor;
Sen. Colton Moore who has tried to rally legislative sup
port to investigate the Fulton County District Attorney who
indicted Trump and others from 2020 efforts to overturn
the state’s election results; and Lt. Gov. Brut Jones who has
been leading the state’s right-wing of the Republican Party.
Reports indicate that many of the defendants in the con
troversial Fulton County case are having trouble paying
their legal expenses and have tinned to online fundraising
efforts in a bid to raise funds. The state GOP party is also
reportedly raising funds to help defendants pay legal ex
penses.
Lula Fall Festival set
The Lula Fall Festival will be held on Saturday, Sept. 30,
at Rafe Banks Park/Lula Ballpark at 5831 Athens Street,
Lula. The festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The event will will include artisans and crafters, food
and children’s activities. There will also be live entertain
ment and music.
The fall festival is sponsored by the Historical Society
of Lula Bellton.