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o o $1.00 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2023 Homer, Banks County, GA 30547 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. • 16 Pages, 2 Sections Plus Supplements Vol. 57 No. 41 BOC hires new firm to handle audit By ANGELA GARY The Banks County Board of Commissioners agreed Tuesday night to use Rush- ton and Company to do the annual audit. Finance director Randy Failyer reported that the company the county now uses, Duncan and Kitchens, is no longer handling audits. In other business at the meeting Tuesday, the BOC discussed a request from public utilities director Horace Gee to purchase a RTV for the use of installa tion of the sewer lines and then at the new sewage fa cility. Gee presented a bid and recommended that the equipment be purchased. After some discussion, a vote on the matter was postponed until the Oct. 10 meeting. Commissioner Bo Garrison questioned wheth er the company providing the work at the sewage company should be respon sible for the equipment. The BOC also met almost one hour in closed session to discuss personnel and litigation. No action was takne. ‘Legends and Lore’ event to be held Oct. 13-14 A “Lula Legends and Lore” special event is planned in Lula on Friday, Oct. 13, and Saturday. Oct. 14. Toms will depart night ly from 5965 Main Street, Lula. Guests will discover why Lula was once known as a “bawdy little town reminis cent of the old west.” “Boasting tales of gun- fights, moonshiners, side show performers, train wrecks and prison escapes, Lula has a boisterous and, at times, dangerous past,” organizers state. “Join lan tern-lit walking ghost toms then linger in the centu ry-old building with gadgets and cameras and recording devices rolling.” Sally Toole, paranormal historian, is the producer of the event. She is an au thor, guide, investigator and YouTube creator. Toole first found herself immersed in the spirit realm in 2009 when she was asked to of fer true historic tales for an emerging Norcross Ghost Tom. Lula Mercantile and Vintage Shop is sponsoring the event. MAILING LABEL nu i o n m tan 1 • D1.1 „ HOME rm guest n u ■ n ;> U ' vatI4SWW^ TWO REGION WINS Photo by Hannah Caudell Bryanna Hernandez touches the ball back over the net with her finger. Hernandez was a pow erhouse at the net on Thursday with one block solo and two block assists. The Lady Leopard volleyball team took two regions wins last week. See Page IB for more volleyball news. Spectrum moves forward on broadband expansion in Banks Spectrum has announced it is bringing gigabit high speed internet access to nearly 11,000 unserved homes and small businesses across Banks, Madison and Oglethorpe counties through the $33.8 million Georgia Capital Proj ects Fund Grant Program. Spectrum has committed to invest nearly $42 million on the expansion project, bringing total investment to more than $75 million. Spectrum’s construction teams are in the process of walking out the area to make sme all unserved locations are included in its broadband network design. Residents may see Spectrum crews in their community examining the terrain and vegetation in order to determine the best possible route for the new network. Once completed, the project team will obtain appropriate permits to attach to utility poles and construct the network. Once construction is complete, technicians will ensure connectivity is enabled and the right equipment is installed to bring service to residents in their homes and small busi nesses. “Gov. Kemp, his administration and the Georgia Legisla ture have shown tremendous leadership in embracing pub lic-private partnerships as a vital strategy for connecting unserved communities,” said Marva Johnson, Group Vice President of Government Affairs at Charter Communica tions, which operates the Spectrum brand of connectivity services. “These grants build upon Spectrum’s commit ments and capabilities to further close the digital divide.” Georgia Capital Projects Fund Grant Program grants further expand Spectrum’s rural construction initiative, the centerpiece of which is the company’s approximately $5 billion investment in unserved rural communities, which includes $1 billion won in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) auction. “Spectrum is bringing gigabit broadband to unserved communities across America ,” said Charlie Agius, Spec trum Regional Vice President. “Our investment is making it possible to deliver the high-value broadband, mobile, TV and voice services now available in area. We are providing local residents and small businesses superior connectivity at highly competitive prices, backed by a team of skilled local technicians and U.S.-based customer service.” Fall festival time: Events planned in Lula, Maysville, Gillsville It’s fall festival time across Northeast Georgia and special annual events are planned in Lula, Mays ville and Gillsville. LULA The Lula Fall Festival will be held on Saturday, Sept. 30, at Rafe Banks Park/Lula Ballpark at 5831 Athens Street, Lula, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The event will will in clude artisans and crafters, food, children’s activities and live entertainment and music. The festival is sponsored by the Historical Society of Lula Bellton. MAYSVILLE The 56th annual Mays ville Autumn Leaf Festival will be held Friday-Satur- day, Oct. 6-7, at Veterans Park in downtown. Homs on Friday will be 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. The festival will be open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Satur day. The schedule each day is as follows: FRIDAY 3 p.m. Festival opens with music 4- 5 p.m. Music 5- 6 p.m. MES Cake Walk 6:30-7:30 p.m. Garrett Lott 7:45-9 p.m. Richard Grif fith 9 p.m. Festival closes SATURDAY 9 a.m. Festival opens 10 a.m. Parade 11 a.m. Opening cere mony: Welcome by Mayor Richard Presley, National Anthem by Lee Hill and Prayer by Lee Hill Noon Commerce School of Dance 1:30-2:30 p.m. William Dodd 3-4 p.m. Dog contest 5-6 p.m. Rail Town 6:10 p.m. Raffle drawing 7:30-10 p.m. Dirt Road Revival 10 p.m. Festival closes For more information on the festival, email mays- ville.comclub@gmail.com or text Brittney at 706-499- 7565. GILLSVILLE The Historic Gillsville Fall Folk Pottery Show will be held on Saturday. Oct. 7. The event is hosted by the Craven-F erguson-Hewell families, who have a long history working in pottery in North Georgia.. The event will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Craven Pottery Inc., located at 6640 Highway 52, Gills ville. Photo by Wesleigh Sagon Wayne Hewell sold his face jugs at Gillsville’s 20th an nual pottery festival. Hewell is a fifth-generation potter. Baldwin looks at millage rate options; to vote Tuesday By KARLEE CALDWELL The Baldwin City Coun cil was presented with three options at its meeting Mon day night regarding the 2023 millage rate for both their Banks County and Habersham citizens. No action was taken but the matter will be on the agenda at the next meeting, set for Tuesday, Oct. 3. A decision must be made and submitted to the state by November 1. In 2022, Baldwin’s Habersham millage rate was 9.342 and Banks Coun ty was 3.465, leading to a net revenue of $809,967 for the city. One hundred percent of Habersham County’s local option sales tax (LOST) dollars go to its school sys tem, whereas Banks Coun ty’s LOST money goes back to the cities which helps reduce the millage rate for their citizens. Option one is for no roll back which would result in a Habersham millage rate of 9.342 and a Banks Coun ty rate of 3.549, resulting in $892,207 in net revenue for Baldwin. Option two is a full roll back, with Habersham’s rate at 8.400 and Banks’ rate at 1.687, totaling a net revenue of $760,880 and $131,327 LOST in revenue for the city. The third option would be a partial rollback, lead ing to a Habersham rate of 8.990 and a Banks rate of 2.633 for a total net revenue of $837,078 and $55,129 lost in revenue for the city. Councilwoman Stephaie Almagno stated, “I don’t know how we can advocate for no rollback. We have to do something in relief.” There was debate be tween a partial rollback, which would cover the budget, and a full rollback with the defense of new income streams coming to the city within the next year that would help make up some of the difference. OTHER BUSINESS In other business at Mon day’s meeting, council: •heard Police Chief Chris Jones give a report for Au gust of this year highlight ing several updates for the department. This includes the addi tion of a new full-time offi cer and the implementation of “concentrated patrol” twice a month along Hwy. 365 and Hwy. 441 to en sure safety and prevent ac cidents. •approved the resolution for an Entertainment Dis trict at the Baldwin Farm ers’ Market for this year’s Fall Festival for a licensed business to serve alcohol at the event. This must be ap proved for each event and location wanting to provide alcohol within Baldwin. •approved the first read ing of the Chitwood Devel opment Ordinance which calls for the approximate 270 acres of land be one cohesive development as opposed to the previous ordinance in place which only accounted for roughly 130 acres of the land. ANNOUNCEMENTS •Baldwin’s final 2023 Movie in the Market will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Octo ber 20. “Bring your chairs and blankets to the Baldwin Farmers’ Market for a free screening of Coco,”’ city leaders state. Light conces sions will be available with all proceeds going to the “Shop with a Hero” pro gram. •The City of Baldwin is accepting vendors for their sixth annual Fall Festival on October 21. Baldwin welcomes food trucks, crafters, and non-profits to sign up for a booth and to be a part of the yearly cele bration of Baldwin and the surrounding community. The vendor application is available online at www. cityofbaldwin.org or by emailing baldwinevents@ cityofbaldwin.org.