About The Banks County news. (Homer, Banks County, Ga.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 25, 2023)
$1.00 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
