About The Banks County news. (Homer, Banks County, Ga.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 3, 2024)
PAGE 2A BANKS COUNTY NEWS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2024 Year in Review Looking back at top headlines in 2023 Photo by XenaMarie Photography Among the headlines in 2023 was the announcement that former NFL player Terry Allen joined the staff at the Banks County School System. By ANGELA GARY JANUARY •The Alto mayor limits water use for commercial, industrial use due to a leak. •The Town of Lula issued a boil advisory due to a “cold blast.” •The Banks County Board of Commissioners (BOC) was split in an ap pointment to the Develop ment Authority. •World War II veteran Theron Ragsdale was rec ognized by the BOC on his 100th birthday. •Leaders with the Homer Downtown Development Authority announced plans to add community celebra tions, as well as adding new events. •The Maysville city au ditor recommended that the water rates be raised or city officials look at other op tions due to water fees not covering the operation of the department. •Andy Crawford an nounced that he will be seeking election as Superior Court judge for the Pied mont Circuit. •Author John Almarode spoke to Banks County ed ucators. •The State Route 59 bridge re-opens. •The Lula City Council began the search for an as sistant city manager. •The Maysville City Council approved qualify ing fees for the 2023 elec tion. The mayor’s position and two council seats will be on the ballot. •The BOC approved a water line project for a new vet clinic. •Medlink announced plans to expand in Banks County and open a new fa cility. •Lula citizens appeared before the city council to complain about the mayor, code enforcement issues and accusations of violation of the open records act. FEBRUARY The Maysville City Coun cil approved a 90-day mora torium on construction. •The principal of Banks County Elementary School and a teacher at the school resigned amid allegations of “unethical” behavior. •Charles Turk was named Citizen of the Year at the Banks County Chamber of Commerce CVB annual awards dinner. Peace Place was named Business of the Year. • Baldwin Mayor Joe Elam unexpectedly resigned after nearly five years in the position. • Gillsville City Council members unanimously ap proved a bid for an HVAC system for the historic Fran- kum Building. • Baldwin citizen Joseph Satterfield announced his candidacy for a position on council in the upcoming November election. There will be several seats, in cluding mayor, that will be up for a vote. • Lula leaders continue to open their meetings with a word of prayer. This issue was challenged last week when a resident asked May or Joe Thomas if he could open the meeting with a non-Christian prayer for invocation, and Thomas de nied his request. • Major Carissa McFad- din was appointed as the Georgia FBI National Acad emy Associates Section III Representative during the 2023 Winter Conference in Augusta. MARCH •The Banks County Chamber of Commerce sur prises teachers with Ran dom Acts of Kindness. •Homer councilman Jerry Payne, also a long-time pas tor, passed away. •The Baldwin City Coun cil approved an update to the fire training facility. •Smokey Road, near the Alto prison, was closed for the installation of new stormwater pipes. •The Lady Leopards made it to the Final Four and headed to the state play offs. •A Lula citizen who com plained about a Christian prayer being given before the town’s city council meeting reports that three legal observers with the ACLU attended a recent meeting. •A bill was introduced to remove Banks County from the Piedmont Judicial Cir cuit. •The Lula Ladies spon sored a 98th birthday cele bration for Mordecai Wil son, a former member of the Lula City Council and a World War II veteran. •The top three scholars at Banks County High School were named: Salutatorian Nayyan Itzel Diaz Halvors- en, Valedictorian Troy Al exander Loggins and First Honorarian Abigail Caro line Irvin. •Leaders in the Piedmont Judicial Circuit appeared at a state hearing to speak against Banks County leav ing the Piedmont Judicial Circuit. •Gillsville leaders asked for public input on a new comprehensive plan. •Cliff Hill was named Homer Mayor Pro Tem. •Rhett Carroll was named the new softball coach at Banks County High School. •Legislation that would remove Banks County from the Piedmont Judicial Cir cuit and put it in the Moun tain Judicial Circuit did not move forward this legisla tive session. •Educators from across the state visited Banks County schools to learn about agriculture. •A recall effort began to oust Lula mayor Joe Thom as and council member Gene Bramlett from office. •The Banks County Sher iff’s Office completed a 10- week beautification project which included a detail team picking up 548 bags of trash, 109 yard signs and 17 tires. APRIL •Area churches planning Easter services and activ ities, with a community sunrise service among the events planned. •The BOC approved a re zoning request that will al low for a truck repair shop to continue to operate in the county. •A Banks County child was attacked by a bob cat. The child received 14 stitches from the attack. •Members of Rehoboth Congregational Holiness Church braved the cold tem peratures and rain to contin ue their annual “CrossWalk thru Homer.” •Kamryn Grier and Caine Griffith were named Miss and Mr. BCHS. •The Homer City Coun cil took action that could provide for steeper conse quences for serious ordi nance violations. •Attorney Cory Kirby reviewed new legislation impacting the school sys tem at a planning workshop meeting. •The annual Pinwheel Ceremony was held in downtown Homer at Veter ans Park. MAY •After plans to move into the Mountain Judicial Cir cuit failed, in part due to opposition from the Supe rior Court judges serving Banks County through the Piedmont Judicial Circuit, the Banks County Board of Commissioners made plans to budget significantly low er funds in the next fiscal year to cover court services. •Terry Allen, a Banks County graduate who played in the NFL, returned to BCHS as a member of the staff. •Growth, sewer, water service topic in joint BOC, Homer council meeting. •A Banks Crossing doc tor, Dr. Lionel Meadows, was killed in a small air plane crash in Tennessee. •It was announced that the JROTC program will not be at BCHS due to low student enrollment. •A bison farm, school ag program and hay bale oper ation were part of the annu al Farm Bureau tour. •Sheriff Speed was named the Georgia Sheriff of the Year. •Reve Solutions located in Baldwin. •Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger met with Banks County leaders in Homer. •The annual Memorial Day program was held in Homer. •Graduation was held at BCHS. •A weather monitoring system was put in place in the county. •Jared Jones was named the new baseball coach at BCHS. •Harley Ledford received the annual Rotary Club Brother Jim McLendon scholarship. •The Banks County Board of commissioners denied a conditional use request that would locate a new hotel to locate at the Banks Cross ing area. JUNE Jaemor Farms announced plans to close the Banks Crossing location. The Alto location will remain open with new services to be of fered. •The BOC held a hearing on the proposed $23 million budget. The next week, the BOC approved the budget. •BOE member Atha Dal ton served as costume de signer for the play, “Valley Voices,” presented at Hard man Farm. •The Georgia Environ mental Protection Division approved the proposed well project in Homer. •The Lula City Council approved a $1.7 million budget. •A Banks County fire fighter, Richie Alford, died while rescuing swimmers at Panama City Beach, Fla. •Community leaders were recognized at the annual Rotary Salutes program. •The first graduating class of Mountain Education Charter High School was recognized. JULY •Banks County deputy saved a boy at school who was choking. •The annual July 4 cele bration was held in Homer with a large crowd in atten dance. •The Baldwin City Coun cil approved a pay increase for the chief administrative officer. •Open house was held at Banks schools in prepara tion for the start of a new school year. •The BOC came to an impasse on an appointment to the planning and zoning appeals board. No action was taken after two 2-2 split votes on the issue. •The Baldwin City Coun cil approved the bid award of $938,250. •The Lula City Coun cil continued to meet to fine tune the update of the town’s building codes. AUGUST Classes started at Banks County schools for the new year with 2,900 students in attendance. •The BOE proposed a 10 percent property tax in crease. •The former Jaemor site at Banks Crossing will be con verted into a convenience store that also offers gas. •Chipotle opened at Banks Crossing. •The Banks County Plan ning Commission tabled a request for a railway storage yard after hitting a stale mate. •Dale Cash was named the new code enforcement officer for the county. Continued on Page 12 PUBLIC HEARING CITY OF MAYSVILLE PLANNING BOARD The Planning Board for the City of Maysville will have two Public Hearings on Monday, January 22, 2024. Jeff Sanders would like to split property located at 61 Homer Street, 1.84 acres, parcel #B32C048. Lee Rivers Wilkes asking for a Variance to build a carport, 126 Legacy Drive, parcel #B32D005B. All meetings are held at 4 Homer Street and open to the public. 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