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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2023
Homer, Banks County, GA 30547 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. • 12 Pages, 1 Section Plus Supplements
Vol.57 No. 45
GiUsviUe
awaiting grant
approval for
downtown park
By SHERRY LEWIS
The Gillsville City Coun
cil is awaiting approval for
a grant to construct a new
downtown city park.
The newly-established
park, “Stonethrow Park,”
will have a pavilion, bath
room, walking trails, and
new playground equipment.
Leaders say they should
know more in the next
month or so.
In the meantime, the
council continues to make
improvements in the city.
In a recent meeting, the
council noted that the Com
munity Park Building was
painted dining a work day,
and they will discuss bids
for ceiling and lighting.
The flooring at the Frankum
Building is almost finished
and the handicapped ramp
is complete. The council
approved Nathaniel Hewell
and Russell Jimerson to
head a committee for the
remaining lighting in the
building.
In other business at the
meeting, the council dis
cussed:
•the annual city council
Christmas dinner that will
be held at their meeting on
Tuesday, December 5.
•plans for the city attor
ney to attend the November
council meeting to discuss
any legal changes for 2024.
•the Christmas Holiday
Festival schedule. It will be
on Saturday, December 2,
and Sunday, December 3,
from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. each
evening.
Early voting
underway
Early voting is underway
for the town elections on
the Nov. 7 ballot. Absentee
ballot requests may be sub
mitted until Oct. 27.
In Maysville, incumbent
mayor Richard Presley will
face challenger William S.
McLeish Jr. One council
seat in Maysville will also
be on the ballot. In Ward 4,
Brodriche D. Jackson and
Roy Dean will face off.
In Baldwin, Stephanie
Almagno and Tom Whit
ney are seeking the mayor’s
seat.
In Lula, incumbent Gar
nett Smith and Roy Henry
Jr. qualified for District 4.
In District 5, which is va
cant, Juliette Leone Talley,
Joseph Michael Headrick
and Debbie Parker-Presley
qualified.
MAILING LABEL
Photo by Angela Gary
This Pumpkin Wagon declaring “Shine God’s Light” was the third place winner in the Homer
Pumpkin Festival Parade. See more photos from the event on page 3.
Scarecows and pumpkins
fill downtown for Homer
Pumpkin Festival Saturday
By ANGELA GARY
Scarecrows lined the
downtown square, while
kids in small electronic cars,
scooters and bikes lined up
for the parade.
The Pumpkin Festival
in Homer also included
pumpkin painting, Hallow
een-themed games, hot dogs
and inflatables.
The winning scarecrow
award went to Mrs. Landers’
and Beasley’s class at Banks
County Primary School.
“Thank you for partici
pating,” Kellie Jones of the
Homer DDA states. “We are
wanting to get the schools
more involved and what
a great way to start! Pizza
party for y’all on the way
soon! Congratulations! ”
The Banks County Sher
iff’s Office S.T.E.P. Unit led
the Homer Pumpkin Festi
val’s costume parade.
“Thanks to those who
hosted and attended today’s
festivities,” Jones said.
The parade had sever
al great entries making it
tough for the judge to pick
the top winners.
“What an awesome pa
rade yesterday at the Homer
Pumpkin Festival,” Jones
said. “All the kids were
adorable and I think they
had a lot of fun! The win
ners were very, very hard to
pick because everyone was
adorable.”
PARADE WINNERS
The winners were:
First place: Chicken Coop
Golf Cart.
Second place: Tie be
tween Fire Truck and Dino
in a Cage.
Third place: Pumpkin
Wagon: Shine God’s Light.
Fourth place: ScoobyDoo
Mystery Wagon.
AGRICULTURE
I & NATURAL
resources
tImh'" 6
Photo by Angela Gary
Banks County Extension Coordinator Susie Burton Medina provided information on 4-H and
agriculture. See more photos on Page 12.
Health Fair held in Homer
Special Olympics
athletes recognized
by Banks BOE
By HANNAH CAUDELL
The Banks County Board of Education members rec
ognized the Special Olympics athletes from the primary,
middle, and high schools on Thursday during the regular
ly scheduled meeting. After the recognition ceremony, the
members heard from three school principals about devel
opments and improvements in teaching and learning.
Public Relations Director Angie Bowen took to the po
dium to introduce each of the athletes present during the
recognition ceremony.
Among those recognized from the primary school were
Deacon Ehrlich, Serenity Heu, and Grayson Martin.
From the elementary school, students who were recog
nized are as follows: Jason Banks, Tyler Beatty, Emberly
Bell, Brady Bridges, Brooklyn Hicks, Ethan Jones, Hayden
Moore, Tripp Oliver, Colt Poffenberger, and Nathan Wood.
From the high school, students who were recognized
include: Taylor Cheek, Ronin Cochran, Lauren Kate Ed
wards, Katie Fields, Mauricio Garcia-Ortega, Joel Good-
son, Alyssa Hill, Gracin Myers, Carter Pollard, Jacob
Poole, Gustavo Ramirez, Seth Schmitt, Eli Simmons, and
Nickey Weber.
Those who were present for the ceremony received a cer
tificate of participation for their contribution to the Special
Olympics during the 2022 event.
PRINCIPAL REPORTS
After the recognition ceremony, the principals from the
primary, elementary, and middle schools presented teach
ing and learning developments before the board, as well
as any special events that are planned for the upcoming
months.
Dr. Michael Boyl, principal of the primary school, in
formed the board that new instructional material for the
teachers are in, including new decodable books that are
currently being distributed among them.
Mrs. Angie Wheatley’s second grade class was the first
this year to receive five points for each student on Ac
celerated Reader. The students appeared on the morning
show and were given a pizza party for their work with the
program. Dr. Boyle said that other classes with five points
for each student on Accelerated Reader will also receive a
pizza party.
Thanksgiving lunches are scheduled at the primary
school between the grade levels. For Kindergarten, they
will be having Thanksgiving lunch on Tuesday, Nov. 14.
The first graders will have theirs on Wednesday, Nov. 15,
and the second graders will have theirs on Thursday, Nov.
16.
The council also heard from Dr. Leigh Ann Perry, the
principal at the elementary school. Dr. Perry began with
introducing a new phonics awareness program for the stu
dents. Professional learning for the program was conduct
ed this past week, and Dr. Perry plans to expand the pro
gram to third and fourth grade students at the tier one level.
During the month of November, the fourth graders will
be traveling to Brenau University to watch the Gainesville
Ballet Company perform the Nutcracker.
Parents will also be invited to join their children for
Thanksgiving lunch.
Mrs. Lisa Saxon, the principal of the middle school, also
presented to the board the benefits of IXL, iReady, and
Write Score.
Last week, the English language arts department partici
pated in professional learning for Write Score. Along with
this, teachers are continuing to use teacher clarity and vis
ible learning strategies in their tier one daily instruction.
Mrs. Saxon also said that perfect attendance at the school
was just celebrated in September for students and teachers.
Students were rewarded with a pizza party, while teachers
participated in a gift card drawing.
After the principal reports, Joy Edwards, the assistant
superintendent, gave her report. The board approved three
project requests during the meeting.
The Banks County High School Interact Club will be
hosting a pet food drive from Monday, Oct. 16, to Tuesday,
Oct. 31.
The Banks County Varsity Basketball and Competition
Cheer programs will be sponsoring the Calendar Day Sale
from Wednesday, Nov. 1, to Thursday, Nov. 30.
The Banks County Middle and High Schools Interact
Clubs will be sponsoring the Hebron Historical Society
yard and graveyard cleanup on Saturday, Nov. 4.
The board also approved three new hires and two resigna
tions. The board approved three new bus drivers, including
Christina Kelley, Tony Osborne, and Victoria Waugaman.
April Cox and Jon Congdon were two teachers approved
for resignation. Cox is a paraprofessional, and Congdon is
a high school teacher and the director of the Banks County
High School Marching Leopards.
8 *0 4 8 7 9 1 4 1 4 3 3
By ANGELA GARY
The Health Fair/Fall Fes
tival held Saturday at the
Banks County Recreation
Department featured medial
information, free games and
food for kids and live enter
tainment.
The event was hosted by a
partnership between Banks
County Family Connection,
Georgia Department of Be
havioral Health and Devel
opmental Disabilities, and
The Council on Alcohol and
Drugs as the joined together
as Partners in Prevention for
this effort.
There were 34 service
providers on hand sharing
resources, a massage ther
apist giving chair massag
es, flu shots, blood pres
sure checks, sugar checks,
at home COVID test and
more, all free. Red Cross
was on hand for anyone
wanting to give blood.
There were 14 outside
games and bouncy hous
es, cotton candy, popcorn,
Kona Ice and hotdogs all
free. Aband played through
out the event.
A free door prize was giv
en away every 15 minutes
as well as the grand prize
of a handmade blanket and
$100 Walmart gift card.
Photo by Hannah Caudell
The Special Olympics Athletes are honored at the Banks
County Board of Education meeting on Thursday for their
participation during the 2022-2023 school year.
o
