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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2024
Homer, Banks County, GA 30547 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. • 12 Pages, 1 Section Plus Supplements
Vol. 58 No. 4
Assistant
manager
named
for City
of Lula
Frank Etheridge has been
named to the newly-cre
ated position of assistant
city manager for the City of
Lula.
Etheridge has served in
local government for close
to 30 years following his
military service in the U.S.
Air Force. He has held po
sitions as both a city and
county manager for numer
ous communities across
Georgia, the most recent
with the historic mill town
of Porterdale for the past
three and a half years.
Etheridge also held de
partment head positions in
planning and zoning, eco
nomic development, build
ing permitting and inspec
tions, code enforcement,
soil and erosion control,
storm water management,
budgeting and financial ac
countability, and human re
sources. He earned a Master
of Public Administration
degree from Troy Universi
ty and a Bachelor’s in Ge
ography from the Universi
ty of Georgia.
Two
qualify
for Alto
council
PJ. Huggins and John
Smith qualified for the Post
1 vacant Alto City Council
seat.
The special election will
be held on March 12.
The election is to fill the
unexpired term of Carolyn
Cabe.
The last day to register to
vote for the March 12 spe
cial election is Feb. 12.
Inside this issue;
News-Page 2-3
Sports-Page 4, 12
School-Page 5
Crime-Page 6
Church-Page 7
Obits-Page 8-9
Classifieds-Page 10
Legals-Page 11
MAILING LABEL
Turk to seek re-election
as county BOG chairman
Charles Turk has an
nounced that he is seeking
re-election as chairman of
the Banks County Board of
Commissioners.
Turk is the widower of
Kim Beck Turk. He has
two daughters, Charlie Turk
Chapman (Dustin) of Lula
and Faith Turk Carter (Dal
ton) of Maysville. He also
has two grandsons, Adam
and Kimber, and one grand
daughter, Caroline.
Turk has an associate
degree in Pre-Veterinarian
Science from ABAC and a
bachelor of science from the
University of Georgia.
Turk is a retired poul
try farmer of 30 years, has
owned rental property for
over 30 years, and has raised
cattle for over 45 years.
Turk lias served as a Banks
County Commissioner for
15 years and is currently
CHARLES TURK
serving as chairman. He is
a certified county commis
sioner, an active member at
Homer Methodist Church, a
member of Homer Fire De
partment, Assistant Chef of
Maysville Rescue Depart
ment and charter member
of the Banks County Rotary
Club,
Turk is also a 1982
American Farmer recip
ient, lifetime member of
FFA alumni, former Young
Farmer member, Vice Pres
ident of the Banks Coun
ty Cattlemen Association,
member of American Inter
national Charolais Associa
tion, member of American
Maine-Anjou Association,
member of North Ameri
can Limousin Foundation,
board member of Banks
County Chamber of Com
merce, former President
of Banks County Primary
School PAT, former Presi
dent of Banks County Rec
reation Board, former Presi
dent of Banks County High
School Athletic Booster
Club, and former District
3 Capt. Banks County Fire
Department.
“I would greatly appreci
ate your support and vote for
another term as Chairman
of Banks County Board of
Commissioners,” Turk said.
■
PANKS,
Grove Level Road was flooded on Tuesday due to the heavy
rain in Banks County. Several other roads also had flooding.
Heavy rain leads
to flooded roads,
school closing
BY ANGELA GARY
Heavy rains across Banks County Monday night and
Tuesday led to school closing/delays and flooded roads.
School was closed on Tuesday due to the anticipated in
clement weather. On Wednesday, Jan. 10, a two-hour delay
to the school start time was put in place.
The following roads have been reported as having stand
ing water or flooding. Moss Mill Road (the dirt portion),
Mt. Sinai Road f(rom Moccasin Gap Road to Hwy. 51 S.,
Bruce Kesler Road, Moss Farm Road, Gene Crane Road
(near N. Mangum Bridge Road), Grove Level Road (near
Grove Level Drive), Shady Grove Road (on Hwy. 441
where the end is closed because water is rushing over the
bridge), Partain Road (at the Franklin County line) and
Mountain Creek Lane.
“Please use caution,” public safety officials state. “We
will continue to update this (on county Facebook page) as
more come in.”
RECREATION ATHLETES RECOGNIZED
Photo by Hannah Caudell
The Banks County Recreation Department athletes run through the tunnel of the Banks
County Leopards Cheer squad to be met by a crowd of cheering spectators. Recreation Night
was held at the game with players being recognized. See more photos on page 12.
Gillsville council approves
renovation at city park building
By SHERRY LEWIS
The Gillsville Town
Council met last week and
voted to move forward with
renovations at the city park
building.
The $11,200 bid was
awarded to Nick Eldridge.
The bid includes the re
placement of the ceiling
drywall and lights, wiring
as necessary, painting the
new ceiling and inside and
outside of the restrooms.
The bid also includes
the installation of two new
kitchen windows, replac
ing the steel door in rear of
building, and adding insula
tion as needed.
In other business at the
meeting, the council dis
cussed fire safety.
The council approved
an estimate of $998 from
Peach State Fire, Inc. to
purchase and install six fire
extinguishers to be installed
and maintained in the build
ings and downtown area.
OTHER BUSINESS
The council also:
•honored former Town
Clerk Sandra Helton and
presented her with a certif
icate and a gift.
•had the swearing in of
incumbent officers Keith
Segars, Ricky Sutton, and
Todd Dale by Town Clerk
Rachel Canada.
•discussed a leaky roof at
Town Hall. The council will
collect estimates and hold a
special meeting to further
discuss this matter.
•reviewed the Frankum
Building Rental Agreement.
•discussed the submis
sion of the Frankum Build
ing to be considered as the
Best Restoration Project in
Georgia. The award is giv
en out each November and
Brian LeBrie, of Ray, Ellis
& LaBrie Consulting, LLC,
who were hired as outside
consultants for the renova
tions, said the all the criteria
has been met.
•heard from Joseph Cana
da on the details of the new
town website and emails.
BOC to meet Thursday
for comp plan review
The Banks County Board of Commissioners will hold a
called meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.
This meeting will include discussion of the 2024 Com
prehensive Plan with the Comprehensive Plan Update
Committee. Other items on the agenda will include: Ath
letics Manuel submitted by the recreation department for
approval, request from KCI Technologies for additional
funds and surplus property sale.
Man dies after being
struck by vehicle
A man died after being struck by a vehicle when he was
assisting with getting a car out a ditch
Banks County Fire & Emergency Service’s responded
Friday to 4464 Highway 198, Homer, near Hwy 63 on a
reported person hit by a vehicle. Upon arrival, public safe
ty officials found an elderly male who had been assisting
in getting a vehicle from a ditch and was attempting to
direct traffic in the dark. Another vehicle struck the male
during the incident. The male had extreme blunt trauma
and was in critical condition. He was transported by am
bulance to Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital where he
died due to his injuries. No other injures were reported.
Lula could see new town home development
4 8 7 9 1 4 1 4 3 1 111 3
By SHERRY LEWIS
The Lula City Council
held a work session Mon
day evening and discussed a
potential town home devel
opment that could come to
Belton Bridge Road.
Mayor Joe Thomas ex
plained that a 61-acre tract
was zoned Residential-3
several years ago and city
leaders have been given a
plat for the project to in
clude 244 townhomes.
“If it fits the zoning regu
lation they may start build
ing before long,” he said.
“As of now, we have the
plat.”
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business at the
meeting, the new Develop
ment Authority names were
presented. Greg Sutton and
Frank Gordon will be in
stalled to fulfill the unex
pired terms that will end in
2024. While Robert Grizzle
and former mayor Jim Grier
will fulfill the terms to end
in 2026.
The council also dis
cussed:
•the regular council meet
ing to be held on Tuesday,
January 16, at 7 p.m. due to
the observance of the Mar
tin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
on Monday.
•the stormwater upgrade
bid plan for Chattahoochee
Streets. The design and bid
process should be heard lat
er this month.
•that they will take a vote
to reinstate City Manager
Dennis Bergin, City Clerk
Tangee Puckett, and City
Attorney Joey Homans at
the council meeting next
week. This is a procedure
that is completed each Jan
uary.
•the Lula Belton Histor
ical Society meeting to be
held on Monday, January
22, at 7 p.m. at the Depot.
•the Lula Ladies lunch
and dinner will be held on
Wednesday, January 24.
•council committee as
signments to be voted on
next week. Council commit
tees include finance, utility,
street, and public utility.
