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BANKS COUNTY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2023
Former BCHS band director arrested
Letter to Editor:
Former Banks County High School band director, Jon
Congdon, who resigned last week, has been arrested on
charges related to a juvenile.
Congdon, 54, was charged by the Banks County Sher
iff’s Office with criminal attempt to entice a minor for in
decent purposes.
The arrest was the result on an investigation requested by
the Banks County School System on Oct. 14 regarding an
inappropriate relationship between an educator and a stu
dent. The sheriff’s office found it to be an isolated incident
involving one student.
The incident remains under investigation and additional
charges may be forthcoming.
Congdon had worked as an educator for almost 30 years.
CONGDON
32 arrests reported by sheriffs office
The Banks County Sher
iff’s Office charged 22 peo
ple recently, including:
•Roger Gutierrez, 31,
8509 Parkland Circle, Char
lotte, N.C., driving without
a valid license.
•Dewayne Lee Kelly, 33,
6560 Highway 191, Comer,
failure to appear.
•Brandy Lynn Tittle, 33,
483 Greasy Creek, Homer,
failure to appear and ob
struction of a law enforce
ment officer.
•Christopher David Guth
rie, 24, 857 Knollwood
Drive, Winder, giving false
information to a law en
forcement officer.
•Todd Joe Hill, 37, 279
Barefoot Circle, Lula, vio
lating family violence order.
•Wendy Roberts, 43, 253
Hidden Valley Drive, Alto,
possession of a weapon
during the commission of
a crime and possession of
methamphetamine.
•Tina Louise Stiles, 43,
217 Whoopies Drive, Gills-
ville, identity theft fraud
and exploitation of an elder
ly person.
•Jamol Jones, 47, New
York, identity fraud, con
cealing identity of vehicle,
failure to maintain lane, fail
ure to use turn signal, brake
light violation and driving
without a valid license.
•Anthony Lee Moody, 33,
456 Hembree Road, Mays-
ville, probation violation.
•Ralph Travone Cox, 51,
539 North 44th Street, Lou
isville, Ky., driving while li
cense suspended or revoked
and holding a phone while
driving.
•Edwin Gonzalez, 51,
theft by taking and fleeing
or attempting to elude a law
enforcement officer.
•Krystle May Holgate, 34,
136 Sandcastle Court, Daw-
sonville, giving false infor
mation to a law enforcement
officer and impersonating a
public officer or employee.
•Jonathan Keith Moore,
39, 526 Boxer Lane, Toc-
coa, probation violation.
•Alicia Carrie Pratt, 45,
980 Walther Boulevard,
Lawrenceville, probation
violation.
•Larry David Roberts Jr.,
49, 659 Ridge Lane, Lula,
probation violation.
•John Allen Dessecker,
60, Lula, headlight violation
and driving while license
suspended or revoked.
•Kimberly Ann Edwards,
53, 1002 Browns Bridge
Road, Commerce, theft by
shoplifting.
•Luis Merino Ortiz, 48,
PO. Box 243, Gillsville,
theft by shoplifting.
•Sherry Leigh Ortiz, 50,
116 Highway 323, Mays-
ville, theft by shoplifting.
•Nolan Harold Belue, 58,
110F Family Circle, Pied
mont, S.C., driving under
the influence of intoxicants
(DUI), failure to maintain
lane, driving too fast for
conditions and open con
tainer violation.
•William Collman Myers,
23, 10201 Highway 87, Ju
liette, DUI, open contain
er violation and failure to
maintain lane.
•Megan Marie Slack, 30,
1225 Fort Lamar Road,
Commerce, theft by shop
lifting.
•Dustin Harkins, 32, 352
Heritage Avenue, Jefferson,
probation violation.
•Amber Nicole Britt, 31,
15 Pine Street, Danielsville,
animal cruelty.
•Yaqub Miller, 35, 135
Medina Road, Commerce,
driving while license sus
pended or revoked, theft by
receiving stolen property
and no tail lights.
•Diego Contreras, 22, 355
McDaniel Street, Alto, pro
bation violation.
•Michael Garcia, 55, 840
S. Grand Highway, Clar-
mont, Fla., public intoxi
cation, public indecency,
disorderly conduct and ob
struction of a law enforce
ment officer.
•Bryant McCullough, 27,
9121 Bouchier Place, Char
lotte, N.C., failure to main
tain lane, no insurance and
driving while license sus
pended or revoked.
•Timothy Horace Vamer,
42, 669 Moss Mill Road,
Baldwin, contempt of court.
•Jessie Wayne Gee, 39,
211 McClure Road, Gills
ville, probation violation.
•Diana Marie Dyer, 40,
1246 Historic Homer High
way, Homer, failure to yield,
no insurance and driving
while license suspended or
revoked.
•Yunior Lopez Ramirez,
32, 333 Daniel Street, Alto,
probation violation.
Incidents reported to sheriffs office
Incidents reported re
cently to the Banks County
Sheriff’s Office include the
following:
•driving without a license
at an 1-85 location.
•dispute at a Stevens
Road, Commerce, address.
•giving false information
to a law enforcement officer
at a Historic Homer High
way, Homer, location.
•possession of metham
phetamine and marijuana at
a West County Line Road,
Alto, address.
•identity fraud at a Hwy.
441 South, Commerce.
•theft at a Highway 441,
Commerce, business.
•driving without a license
and giving false information
to a law enforcement offi
cer at a West County Line
Road, Alto, location.
•criminal trespass and
simple battery at a Mt. Sinai
Road, Lula, address.
•theft of a vehicle from
a Banks Crossing Drive,
Commerce, location.
•obstructing an officer,
disorderly conduct and pub
lic indecency at a Banks
Crossing restaurant.
•theft by receiving stolen
property at an Eisenhower
Drive, Commerce, location.
•dispute at a Highway 51
North address.
BCES plans Veterans Day Celebration
Banks County Elementa
ry School will hold a Vet
erans Day Celebration at
6 p.m. on TInirsday. Nov. 9,
at BCES Leopard’s Den.
Parents and veterans are
invited to attend. “Join us
in saluting our brave veter
ans,” organizers state.
A veterans-only program
will be held at 9 a.m. on
Friday, Nov. 10, at BCES
Leopard’s Den.
Veterans planning to at
tend are asked to confirm
with Clarissa Duncan at cla-
rissa.duncan@banks.kl2.
ga.us. Families are encour
aged to submit pictures of
their veteran family mem
bers for the slideshow.
Contact clarissa.duncan@
banks.kl2.ga.us for more
information.
BOC seeks applications for health, tax board
The Banks County Board
of Commissioners is taking
applications for several pub
lic service opportunities.
This includes: three six-
year terms on the board of
health and one six-year term
on the board of tax asses
sors.
Those who would like to
apply are asked to call 706-
677-6800 or go to www.
bankscountyga.org/bc.
The application may also
be downloaded and submit
ted to the commissioner’s
office at 150 Hudson Ridge,
Suite 1, Homer, by noon on
Thursday. Dec. 7.
The completed applica
tion may also be emailed to
county clerk Jenni Gailey at
the following address, jgai-
ley@co.banks.ga.us.
Encourages newly-elected
officials to work together
for the benefit of everyone
As election time approaches, what are the qualities we
expect from our newly-elected officials, and indeed, from
all the leadership in Lula? What are the important things all
of us should remember? What should be is that everyone
can prosper and have happy productive lives enjoying a
hometown where folks can raise wonderful families and
smart capable children who are trained to create, by the
grace of Almighty God, a better future for all?
What we need are men and women who will not quite
under pressure or listen to people with bad advice who long
for personal gain, influence, and control. Whoever the peo
ple elect, s/he must be determined to overcome negative
attitudes and naysayers. We at Lula don’t need a whole lot
of leaders, we just need strong leaders who listen to the
people and make decisions based on the needs of the many,
not the wants of a powerful few.
To those who will be elected and to those also who are in
office, don’t quit. Have faith and devote yourselves to the
service of the people and your work will be rewarded. If
you sow sparingly, so shall you reap sparingly. Lack luster
effort led by greed and self-aggrandizement will never reap
a hefty harvest of good for all. Study your options and their
effects on this town and stand for the right, even if you
stand alone.
Last Sunday morning, I had a fire that started in my kitch
en due to electric wiring issues. A young friend of mine that
lived in Knoxville, Tennessee, came to visit me for a few
days arriving at 9 a.m. just as the fire started. By the grace
of God and His mercy, the friend called the Hall County
Fire Department just in the nick of time. They helped me
tremendously and Thank the Lord, I am living today.
I want to thank Mr. Jim Grier and others in Lula who
made sure I was safe in my home. At 98, you need some
extra TLC, and here in Lula with my Lula family, I can
count on that. Even the phone operator, when she heard
I was in distress, helped tremendously. Praise God for
good neighbors. Ever since my home was damaged by fire,
everyone came from near and far to assist giving me the
chance to remain in the home that I love. That’s what com
munities like Lula do.
Whenever any of us are able to give and help others to
improve their lives that enables us all to live in peace and
safety. This kind of living negates attitudes of criticism and
anger. Look for ways to help others and your own life will
be blessed. This is how we should live, teach, and raise our
children, the next generation of leaders who are watching
and taking their cues from how we lead now.
I am happy to reflect on the years my wife and I had the
dream to assist young people no one else wanted to help.
We could have found and instilled bitterness in them, but
we encouraged them to believe in themselves and so many
of them went on to live productive lives. That is also what
happens when a city council, a town, a government looks
for and implements policies for the good of the people.
All the citizens of Lula are hoping and praying that new
ly elected officials will work together for the benefit of all.
Set aside anger, frustration, strife, and confusion and seek
to find ways to work together for a better environment for
the people of Lula. The attitude of service works and will
serve you well. May God’s will be done in this election,
and may Lula be blessed because of it!
Sincerely,
Mordecai Wilson
Lula
Beef cattle workshop
to be held on Nov. 16
Banks County Extension and the Banks County Cattle
men’s Association will be hosting a hands-on workshop
looking at utilizing blood-based pregnancy testing in beef
cattle herds.
Dr. Pedro Fontes, UGA beef reproductive specialist, will
lead this workshop and demonstrate chute-side pregnancy
testing, as well as sample collection for mailing samples.
“Pregnancy testing through blood samples has increased
in popularity in recent years and is an affordable choice for
commercial producers to be able to verify bred heifers and
cows as early as 30 days post breeding,” county extension
agent Zach McCann stated. “This can be a valuable tool
for identifying open cows sooner, and help shorten calving
seasons.”
He added, “To learn more about how to use these tools in
your beef herd, please join us on November 16 at 5:30 p.m.
at 157 Silver Creek Farm Drive, Lula.”
This program is free of charge. RSVP by calling the
Banks County Extension Office at 706-677-6230.
Republican Women to meet Nov. 7
The Republican Women Homer Highway, Homer. A Jody Parks, a member of
of Banks County will meet social gathering will begin the Banks County Planning
on Nov. 7 at Homer City at 6:30 p.m., with the meet- Commission, will be the
Hall, located at 943 Historic ing to start at 7 p.m. guest speaker.
PORTRAYS HISTORICAL CHARACTER
Jim Betz was one of the Banks County Historical society’s “Haunted Tour “ characters.
Mr. Betz is also an author and the media specialist at Banks CountyPrimarySchool. He is
picture with two former students and one current student, Riley, Mr. Betz, Parker and Ashton
Grogan.
PUBLIC MEETINGS... FOR ONLY $5 PER MONTH
you can list your groups meetings!
Banks County News • Jackson Herald
Madison County Journal • Braselton News
Call 706-367-5233 to list your meetings!
COMMERCE
AMERICAN LEGION
Post 93 • Meets 2nd Thurs., 7:00 p.m.
Wayne Brown, Commander
Phone (404) 310-7177
Commerce Civic Center, Commerce, GA
12971
MADISON COUNTY
DEMOCRATS
Meet Monthly
For Time, Date & Location:
Facebook:
MadisonC ountyGaDemocrats
Or mcgaclemocrats.wixsite.com/mcclp
JEFFERSON ROTARY CLUB
Meets Tuesdays 12:00 Noon
Jackson County
Historic Courthouse
85 Washington St., Jefferson
Traci Bledsoe, President
678-227-8417 ,2626
4660
St. Catherine Laboure
Catholic Church
Mass Schedule: Sat 4:00 p.m, Sun. 10:00 a.m, Tues. 12:10 p.m.
Mon,, Wed, Thurs. & Fri. 10:00 a.m, Spanish Sun. 1:00 a.m.
Website: www.stcatherinelabourega.org
706-367-7220
BANKS COUNTY ' 3 “
HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.
Meets first Monday each month
7:00 p.m. in the Banks County
Historical Courthouse at
105 U.S. Hwy 441 North in
Homer, GA
csl 12972
JL, ROCKWELL
rwK LODGE F& AM
No. 191, Hoschton, GA
2nd Tues. at 7:30 p.m. • Dinner at 6:30 p.m.
www.rockwelllodgel91.com
Two blocks behind Larry's Garage
West Broad at Hall Street
12969 . ^
Tri-County
t Shrine Club
3rd Thurs. of each month
7:30 p.m.
Rockwell Lodge 191
12619
gSk JEFFERSON
IjP AMERICAN LEGION
Post 56 • Meets 3rd Tues., 6:30 p.m.
Joe Ruttar, Commander
Phone (860) 949-4037
309 Lee St., Jefferson, GA
KIWANIS
OFJEFFERSON
Meetings every 2 nd & 4 th
Monday at Noon
Cream & Shuga
Contact Darryl Gumz at
770-605-6656 for more info.
Pilot Club of Jefferson
Meets 3rd Tuesday of
each month, 6:30 p.m.
Jefferson City Clubhouse
706-367-9313 or
706-693-4715 ,2625
