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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2023
Homer, Banks County, GA 30547 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. • 12 Pages, 1 Section Plus Supplements
Vol. 58 No. 2
Qualifying
fees set
for county
races
The Banks County Board
of Commissioners set three
percent of the base salary as
the qualifying fee for each
county race on the ballot in
2024.
The fees are as fol
lows: $1927.65, sheriff;
$1,660.32, tax commis
sioner; $1,660.32, clerk of
superior court; $1,660.32,
probate judge; $1,693.53,
magistrate judge; $313.93,
coroner; $1,800, commis
sion chairman; $450 each
for BOC District 2 and
District 4; $50, county sur
vey lor; $49.50, Board of
Education Post 1 and Post
2; and $34.50, Board of Ed
ucation Post 4.
Qualifying will be held
from 9 a.m. Monday, March
4, through noon on Friday,
March 8.
Homer
approves
rezoning
Jaemor founder dies at 87
The Jaemor Farms Fami
ly announced the passing of
the founder, namesake and
patriarch of the Echols fam
ily. Jimmmy Echols, 87 of
Alto, died Friday, Dec. 22.
Mr. Echols was bom on
December 18, 1936, in Hall
County, to the late George
Duncan and Vemie Smith
Echols. In addition to his
parents, he was preceded in
death by his loving wife of
nearly 65 years, Valvoreth
Morrison Echols.
Mr. Echols was a very
active member and Deacon
of Enon Baptist Church for
over 65 years. He along
with his wife, Valvoreth,
founded Jaemor Farms in
1981, where he was very
passionate about serving the
community day in and day
out for over 40 years.
Jimmy was proud of his
family, his farm and his
faith in Jesus and will be re
membered as a loving hus
band, father, grandfather,
and great-grandfather and
was known as “Pop” to his
grandchildren.
“Jim was a loving hus
band, father to five, and
‘Pop’ to 20 grandchildren
and 39 great-grandchil
dren,” family leaders state.
“He was proud of his family,
his farm and his faith in Je
MR. AND MRS. ECHOLS
sus. One of his passions was
serving our customers day
in and day out! While we al
ready miss him so much, we
know the streets of Heaven
are rejoicing at his arrival.
Please be in prayer for our
family in the coming days.”
Survivors include his
daughter and son-in-law,
Teresa and Brace Jackson,
of Alto; son, Tim Echols,
of Alto; sons and daugh-
ters-in-law, Jarl and Beth
Echols, of Alto; Judah and
Kelly Echols, of Alto; Jon
athan and Denise Echols, of
Gillsville; sister and broth
er-in-law, Janice Echols
Dale and Bob, of Alto; sis
ter, JoAnn Echols Brock, of
Lula; twenty grandchildren,
thirty-nine great- grand
children with the fortieth
great-grandchild on the
way, and numerous nieces
and nephews.
Funeral Services will be
held at 11 a.m., Wednes
day, December 27, 2023 at
Enon Baptist Church with
Rev. Leon Miller and Rev.
Jeff Worley officiating. In
terment will follow in the
church cemetery with Rev.
Ricky Elrod officiating.
BOC chairman Turk
gives review of 2023
Banks County Board of Commission chairman Charles
Turk gave a review of actions during 2023 at the last meet
ing of the year.
The wrap-up for 2023 included the following:
•556 business licenses issued
•70 new business licenses
•24 alcohol license
•2 new alcohol license
•58 new homes
•58 new mobile homes
•12 new commercial developments
•3,402 fire/EMS calls
•32,568 sheriff’s calls
•1,358 deeds assigned
•63 division of parcels
•78 new parcels
•17 parcels combined
•13 private roads
•$638,787 spent on equipment (funded through roads
and bridges sales tax), including two motor graders, two
side arm mower max, two Kubota tractors and 2 batwing
cutters.
•Received $485,635 local maintenance improvement
grant.
•9.89 miles paved at a cost of $3.3 million for gravel,
hauling, bridges and culverts. Roads receiving improve
ments were Brady Creek Road, Hembree Road, Marsh-
bum Road, Moss Farm Road, Emory Chambers Road, Yo-
nah-Homer Road, Sweetwater Way, Morris Gardiner Road,
Cash Road, Dink McCoy Road, Garrison Road and David
Hill Road.
•special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) used
for improvements at the sheriff’s office, $1.1 million;
E-911, $1,668; Fire/EMS, $838,690; water/wastewater,
$652,394; and recreation, $145,302. These funds were
spent to purchase 10 sheriff’s patrol vehicles, one public
utilities track; one recreation track; one public utilities
ATV; and one fire engine.
By HANNAH CAUDELL
The Homer City Council
approved at its December
meeting the rezoning 125
Waco Drive after hearing
from Doug Allen concern
ing his business, Scale’s
Garage.
Mr. Allen was present
at the meeting, where he
presented his case for why
the property should be re
zoned. After some debate,
the council approved the
rezoning with the condition
that Allen would provide a
buffer in the form of fence
or foliage, he would not col
lect salvage or junk, and he
would limit the amount of
campers on the property to
30 for 60 days at a time.
City attorney David Syfan
explained that the zoning
ordinance for the property
would need to be changed to
accommodate the rezoning.
Afterwards, the council
approved a comprehensive
plan for the city that con
cerns where the city council
members would like to see
improvements and develop
ment.
The council also approved
the appointment of Betty
Borders to the Northeast
Georgia Housing Authority
Commission.
MAILING LABEL
LADY LEOPARDS NAMED CHAMPIONS
The Banks County Lady Leopards win the Jaemor Jingle Jam Tournament for the second year after their successes against the West-Oak Lady Warriors and
the Chattahoochee Lady Cougars. See page 4 for more photos and article.
Lula City Council to hold second interview
with potential assistant manager candidates
By SHERRY LEWIS
After a closed session
at last week’s meeting, the
Lula City Council voted to
move forward with a sec
ond interview for poten
tial candidates for assistant
city manager. Mayor Joe
Thomas said the interviews
should take place within the
next week.
The search was scraped
earlier this year due to con
flicts within the council af
ter councilman Gene Bram-
lett was accused of leaking
information about the issue
from a closed session.
Also during the meet
ing, newly-elected coun-
cilmember Juliette Talley
was sworn into office while
councilmen Tony Cornett
and Garnett were sworn in
for another term.
OTHER
BUSINESS
In other business the town
council:
•discussed infrastructure
improvements. The city
has identified lour potential
well spots. The sites are be
ing reviewed for a test well.
The stormwater plan and a
design/bid process are un
derway for Chattahoochee
and Carter Streets. It will
be advertised and further
discussed in January. The
council also noted city lead
ers are working on a road
paving project.
•approved a request by
the Lula/Belton Historical
Society to use the depot on
the fourth Monday of the
month during 2024.
•noted that water bills will
go up three percent starting
January 1.
•agreed to hold a special
called meeting to decide on
workman’s compensation
insurance
•noted there are five appli
cations for four positions on
the Development Authority.
A decision will be made at a
later date.
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