Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 2A
BANKS COUNTY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2023
Lula City Council approves
water and sewer rate increase
By SHERRY LEWIS
Lula residents will see
a three percent increase in
water rates and a five per
cent increase in sewer rates
over the next five years.
Customers will pay a set
fee for each service then
they are charged according
to the amount of water used
and sewage treated.
City Manager Dennis
Bergin said the average bill
ing is estimated at $83.77.
This rate is lower than all
the similar cities that were
surveyed before approving
the increase.
The increase will begin in
2024.
OTHER
BUSINESS
In other business the
council:
•awarded a bid of
$110,362 by Dale Construc
tion Company to complete
the Belton Bridge Road wa
terline construction.
•approved an eight per
cent increase in health in
surance for employees.
•discussed revisions to
the Hwy 365/Belton Bridge
Road. Developers submitted
a new plan to decrease the
size of the project from 23
to 16 acres. The proposed
zoning request is from Hwy
Business to Heavy Indus
trial. There will be public
hearing to further discuss
the changes.
•approved a policy to in
vest funds into CDs. The
council will revisit the issue
once a decision is made on
the amount of money and
the specific time.
•heard that the annual
pre-audit should begin this
week and the report should
be ready in December.
•heard from Bergin who
reported that the bidding is
underway for the Chatta
hoochee and Carter Street
culvert replacement project.
•heard from Bergin who
also said the paving project
bids will open on October
19.
•voted to waive the DE
POT rental fee for the Lula
Ladies who plan to host a
community meal and Vet
eran’s Day recognition. The
event will be held on Sun
day, November 12.
•discussed the Historical
Society meeting to be held
on Monday, September 25
at the Depot at 7p.m.
•heard from Bergin who
said the tennis court/pickle
ball resurfacing project is
nearing completion.
•discussed a communi
ty picnic that will coincide
with the movie in the park
on Friday, October 6. The
city is hosting the event free
of charge, and it will include
a hot dog, chips, and drink
that will be served from
5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
and the movie, “The Ad
ams Family,” will begin at
6:30 p.m.
•held a closed session to
discuss land acquisition. No
action was taken.
Robin Rhodes retiring from Georgia
Press Association leadership role
BY DAVE WILLIAMS
Capitol Beat News Service
Thirty years ago, the
newspaper industry was
just beginning to feel the
first ripples of what would
become a massive wave of
change brought on by the
internet.
That same year - 1993 -
Robin Rhodes was stepping
up from a staff position at
the Georgia Press Associa
tion (GPA) to take the orga
nization’s helm as executive
director.
Thanks to her leader
ship, newspaper execu
tives across the state made
the transition to the digital
world smoothly instead of
fighting it.
“The internet has made a
huge difference in the way
newspapers are produced,”
said Rhodes, who will re
tire as the GPA’s full-time
leader this fall. “We’ve had
to move the legal [notices]
online. That was a huge ac
complishment.
“The members realized
that had to be done or they
would lose that business.
We were probably one of
the first states to have 100%
participation.”
Rhodes was a natural
fit for the GPA when she
joined the association in
1986. She had been working
for a company that hosted
trade shows, including the
Atlanta Home Show, where
she sold booths to real-es
tate vendors.
Rhodes got a phone call
from then-GPA Executive
Director Kathy Berry ask
ing if she’d be interested
in handling arrangements
for the association’s annual
convention.
“Going to the GPA in
volved pretty much the
same thing,” Rhodes said.
When Berry left the asso
ciation in 1993, Rhodes ap
plied for and landed the job
as her successor.
Along with adapting to
the internet era, Rhodes
said a major challenge of
her tenure in office has been
coping with large corpora
tions buying up local news
papers.
“They’re from out of
state. They don’t care about
the community,” she said.
“It’s not the same presence
as local ownership.”
One of the executive di
rector’s key roles is repre
senting the newspaper in
dustry’s interests with state
government leaders.
That involves wearing out
a lot of shoe leather in the
hallways of the Gold Dome
dining annual General As
sembly sessions.
“Robin Rhodes has more
connections than Georgia
has pine trees,” said Alan
NeSmith, regional publisher
of The Northeast Georgian
in Cornelia and past pres
ident of the GPA. “Her re
lationships with influential
leaders and hardworking
newspaper people across
the state has been the bed
rock of our beloved associ
ation.”
Rhodes said Atlan
ta-based Troutman Peppers
Strategies and its principal,
Ragen Marsh, have been
highly effective represent
ing the GPA at the state
Capitol.
She also gave a shout-out
to the various executives at
member newspapers.
“Their relationships with
local legislators has been
tremendous,” she said.
GPA’s strong working
relationship with Georgia
decision makers paid off
this year when the General
Assembly passed and Gov.
Brian Kemp signed legis
lation allowing newspapers
to raise their rates for legal
notices. House Bill 254
cleared the legislature with
just one “no” vote.
“[Newspapers] hadn’t
had an increase in 27 years,”
Rhodes said. “It was time.”
Kemp had parting words
of praise for Rhodes in con
gratulating her on her retire
ment.
“For decades, her lead
ership has helped bring
awareness of important
developments to commu
nities all across our state,”
the governor said. “She has
played an essential role in
informing Georgians of
what’s going on, both local
ly and statewide.”
Rhodes credited Capitol
Beat News Service, which
the GPA launched nearly
four years ago, with con
tributing to that mission of
informing Georgians about
the latest happenings in
state government.
“The small newspapers
don’t have the opportuni
ty to have somebody at the
Capitol,” she said.
She added, “That was a
void across our state. You
ask any newspaper out
there, and it has a lifeline to
the Capitol.”
Rhodes isn’t stepping
away from the GPA com
pletely. She plans to spend
the next two years in a part-
time capacity,
“I’ll be giving up the day
to day and working with
Ragen and the [GPA] board,
which is a great opportunity
for me,” she said. “It keeps
me involved.”
Letter to Editor:
Former councilman speaks on current issues
Dear Editor:
In times like these we
need to ask ourselves, what
characteristics do we want
to see in the leaders we
elect? What are some traits
of leadership we can all
agree on?
We can all agree that we
need leadership to make the
tough decisions that will
take us into a brighter fu
ture.
We need to hold our lead
ers accountable asking them
what barriers exist that keep
us from moving forward to
achieve prosperity and con
trolled growth.
We must ask ourselves,
who are our leaders listen
ing to, the people, or po
litical cronies who have
self-interest at heart.
As we approach the elec
tions at hand, there is broad
discontent regarding many
of the decisions or lack
thereof of this council.
Many citizens hope that
this election will bring op
portunities for progress and
agreement on the goals for
our future. I have had the
privilege of traveling wide
ly compliments of Uncle
Sam.
I served in the South Pa
cific in World War II and I
saw firsthand the devastat
ing effects on the people
when their leaders were
only interested in enlarging
their personal power. I
n my travels to the Holy
Land, I saw the challenges
they faced with great cour
age and determination to
prosper and move forward
in a spirit of purpose. I trav
eled to Haiti to help in the
children’s hospital, and in
spite of horrific conditions,
people worked together to
save lives. And I had the
privilege of attending the
march at the Lincoln Me
morial when Dr. King gave
his world renowned “I Have
a Dream” speech when peo
ple of all nationalities came
together for the benefit of
everyone.
After seeing all of this
around the world, I am mes
merized at why the citizens
and the city council here in
Lula can’t come together to
pursue the goals that will
make our city a better place
for our children and future
generations.
I want to be sure that the
voice of every citizen is
heard, that every concern
is carefully considered. We
citizens feel that if we have
closed doors in this city,
we will find a way to open
them.
It is further discouraging
when we read in the paper
about squabbles or heated
disagreements among our
council members and/or the
public. A wise man once
said, “Honest people dif
fer, but all people can learn
from each other and commit
to patience and understand
ing in all communication.
Christ Himself said a house
divided cannot stand. A
council divided won’t do so
well either.
After surveying many
Lula residents, most want
a council who can work to
gether as a team to hear their
needs and meet those needs
in the best possible way to
benefit all. I can only hope
and pray that truth, cooper
ation, and freedom of ideas
prevail.
I am 98 years old and my
values and beliefs are set in
stone, I can only hope that
we will carefully consid
er our actions and behav
iors as they are shaping the
thoughts and behaviors of
the children who hear and
see our actions and words.
Sincerely,
Mordecai Wilson
For printing, call
MainStreet Newspapers Inc., 706-367-5233
Rabies
...Continued from Page 1
The rabies pre-exposure vaccine regimen is recom
mended for persons such as rabies research and laboratory
workers, spelunkers, veterinarians, veterinary technicians,
veterinary students, kennel workers, animal control and
wildlife personnel, and taxidermists.
People traveling to parts of the world where canine ra
bies is endemic should also consider the vaccine.
WHAT TO DO AFTER BITE
What should be done when a potentially rabid animal
bites someone?
Thoroughly clean the wound immediately with soap and
water to reduce the likelihood of rabies transmission. Call
your doctor as soon as possible for advice. Your doctor can
consult with the Georgia Poison Center (404-616-9000 in
Atlanta, or 800-282-5846 statewide) to decide whether
postexposure human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) and
vaccine are recommended for this bite. Your doctor can
also tell you if you need a tetanus booster or antibiotics.
Provide your doctor with the following information:
Type of animal involved (pet or wild animal); provoked
(teased, startled, run past, etc.) or unprovoked attack; type
of exposure (cut, scratch, licking of an open wound), part
of the body, number of exposures; animal’s vaccination
status (does not apply to wild animals); sick or well ani
mal, type of symptoms; and animal available/not available
for testing or quarantine
Under certain circumstances, a domestic animal may be
placed under quarantine and observed to see if it develops
symptoms of rabies. Cats, dogs, and ferrets will become ill
and expire within days of shedding the rabies virus in their
saliva (the time of the bite).
The Georgia Poison Center is available for rabies consul
tation 24 hours a day, seven days a week: Atlanta 404-616-
9000, statewide 800-282-5846
Information can also be obtained from local health de
partments and animal rabies control officers. The Division
of Public Health, Epidemiology Branch, provides assis
tance in difficult or emergency cases (404-657-2588).
For more information on rabies, see the website, https://
dph.georgia.gov/environmental-health/rabies.
‘Legends and Lore’
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. Tours will
depart nightly from 5965 Main Street, Lula.
Guests will discover why Lula was once known as a
“bawdy little town reminiscent of the old west.”
“Boasting tales of gunfights, moonshiners, side show
performers, train wrecks and prison escapes, Lula has a
boisterous and, at times, dangerous past,” organizers state.
“Join lantern-lit walking ghost tours then linger in the cen
tury-old building with gadgets and cameras and recording
devices rolling.”
Sally Toole, paranormal historian, is the producer of the
event. She is an author, guide, investigator and YouTube
creator. Toole first found herself immersed in the spirit
realm in 2009 when she was asked to offer true historic
tales for an emerging Norcross Ghost Tour. Lula Mercan
tile and Vintage Shop is sponsoring the event.
Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation
postal service w (All Periodicals Publications Except Requester Publications)
UNITED STATES
1. Publication Title
2. Publication Number
3. Filing Date
Banks County News
5 4 7 1 1 l-l 6 °EC
9/29/23
4. Issue Frequency
5. Number of Issues Published Annually
6. Annual Subscription Price
Weekly
52
45.00
7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication (Not printer) (Street, city, county, state, and ZIP+4®)
MainStreet Newspapers, P.O. 908, Jefferson, GA 30549
Contact Person
Debbie Castellaw
Telephone (Include area code)
706-621-7198
8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher (Not printer)
MainStreet Newspapers, P.O. Box 908, Jefferson, GA 30549
Scott & Mike Buffington, P.O. Box 908, Jefferson, GA 30549
Editor (Name and complete mailing address)
Angela Gary, P.O. Box 908, Jefferson, GA 30549
Managing Editor (Name and complete mailing address)
Angela Gary, P.O. Box 908, Jefferson, GA 30549
10. Owner (Do not leave blank. If the publication is owned by a corporation, give the name and address of the corporation immediately followed by the
names and addresses of all stockholders owning or holding 1 percent or more of the total amount of stock. If not owned by a corporation, give the
each individual owner. If the publication is published by a nonprofit organization, give its name and address.)
Full Name
Complete Mailing Address
MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
P.O. Box 908, Jefferson, GA 30549
Scott Buffington, President
P.O. Box 908, Jefferson, GA 30549
Mike Buffingtion, Vice President
P.O. Box 908, Jefferson, GA 30549
11. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or
Full Name
Complete Mailing Address
12. Tax Status (For completion by nonprofit organizations
The purpose, function, and nonprofit status of this org
Kl Has Not Changed During Preceding 12 Months
□ Has Changed During Preceding 12 Months (Publis
13. Publication Title
The Banks County News
15. Extent and Nature of Circulation
Average No. Copies
No. Copies of single
Preceding 12 Months
Nearest to Filing Date
a. Total Number of Copies (Net press run)
1360
1369
(1)
Mailed Outside-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541 (Include paid
186
175
Circulation
(By Mail
(2)
Mailed In-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541 (Include paid
710
687
(3)
Paid Distribution Outside the Mails Including Sales Through Dealers and Carriers,
272
255
(4)
Paid Distribution by Other Classes of Mail Through the USPS
(e.g., First-Class Mail®)
c. Total Paid
stn
ution (Sum of 15b (1), (2), (3). and (4)] y
1168
1117
d ’ Nominal
(1)
Free or Nominal Rate Outside-County Copies included on PS Form 3541
4
3
Distribution
(By Mail
(2)
Free or Nominal Rate In-County Copies Included on PS Form 3541
8
8
Outside
(3)
Free or Nominal Rate Copies Mailed at Other Classes Through the USPS
(4)
Free or Nominal Rate Distribution Outside the Mail (Came* or other means)
34
30
e. Total Free o
Nominal Rate Distribution (Sum of15d (1), (2), (3) and (4»
46
41
f. Total Dis.ribu.io
(Sum of 15c and 15e) ^
1214
1158
g. Copies no. Distn
buted (See Instructions to Publishers #4 (page #3)) ^
72
56
h. Total (Sum of 15f and g)
1286
1214
i. Percent Paid i
(15c divided by 15f times 100) r
96%
96%
ie Date for Circulation Data Below
8/30/23
16. Electronic Copy Circulation
Average No. Copies
Preceding 12 Months
No. Copies of Single
a. Paid Electronic Copies
►
11
17
b. Total Paid Print Copies (L
ne 15c) * Paid Electronic Copies (Line 16a)
►
1179
1134
c. Total Print Distribution (L
ne 150 *■ Raid Electronic Copies (Line 16a)
►
1225
1175
d. Percent Paid (Both Print
Electronic Copies) (16b divided by 16c x 100)
►
96%
96%
[] I certify that 50% of all my distributed copies (electronic and print) are paid above a nominal price.
10/4/23
printed Q Public
18. Signature and Title of Editor, Publisher. Business Manager, or Owner
tion requested on the form