About The Banks County news. (Homer, Banks County, Ga.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (May 21, 2025)
Banks County News www.BanksNewsTODAY.com Banks County’s Legal Organ WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2025 $1.00 • Homer, Banks County, GA 30547 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. • 12 Pages, 1 Section Plus Supplements • Vol. 59 No. 32 7 COL. MCCLURE o -.63‘a U.S.ARMYI XX Memorial Day program planned Mon. A Memorial Day program has been planned for Mon day, May 26, at 10 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Park in Homer. “Everyone is welcome to come help us honor those who have given it all to se cure our freedom that we enjoy every day,” organiz ers state. The guest speaker is Col. Christopher McClure, a graduate of Banks County High School who is a high ly-decorated active duty member of the military. If inclement weather con ditions occur, the program will be held at the American Legion post. Colonel Christopher McClure graduated from the United States Military Academy in May 2000 and was commissioned as a Sec ond Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. His awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with one oak leaf clus ter, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal with one campaign star, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, Operation Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal with one campaign star, Global War on Terror ism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea De fense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with numer al five, NATO Medals for Kosovo and Afghanistan, the Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation, Valorous Unit Award, and the Meri torious Unit Commendation with one oak leaf cluster. BOC chairman Griffith calls for state investigation into county boundary issue By ANGELA GARY Banks County Board of Commission chairman Tay lor Griffith has called for a state investigation into whether any election laws have been violated related to whether the sheriff lives in the county or not. This issue has been brought up for more than 10 years with a lawsuit and a court ruling that sheriff Carlton Speed does live in the county being part of the process. Griffith said, “I will plain ly say that I have seen zero evidence that the sheriff had any involvement at all in the attempted falsification of the county line. I only know that Banks County did at tempt to have the Census portrayal of the county line BCHS graduation coming up Friday at Leopard Stadium Banks County High School will hold gradua tion at Leopard Stadium at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 23. Gates at Leopard Stadium will open at 6 p.m. The top three honor grad uates of the Class of 2025 are Valedictorian Alyssa Mackenzie Zohoranacky, Salutatorian Kimberly Ze- nayda Madrid-Ramirez and First Honorarian Jayla Ma rie Tory. A breakfast was held last week to honor the top graduates. Members of the Banks County Board of Ed ucation—William Reems, Anthony Seabolt, Dr. Mark Stroud, Eli Cooper, and Tyler Maney—and Super intendent Dr. Ann Hopkins and Assistant Superinten dent Joy Edwards were in attendance. The honorees’ families joined to celebrate the stu dents’ accomplishments. High School Principal Will Foster shared remarks about each of the three young women, highlighting their academic dedication, school involvement, and service at Banks County High School. “I cannot express how grateful we are for their hard work and support through out the years,” said Foster. “These are the students we Homer City Council approves bid for tree removal amended. I have seen no evidence of motive in one way or the other, just that attempts were made.” In his public statement, Griffith apologized for not bring this issue up earlier. “I am truly sorry that I did not immediately bring this to your attention,” he said. “Banks County deserves better, and I vow to not let fear prevent me from telling the truth ever again.” He added, “I cannot adequately express how ashamed I am of my pre decessors, the state govern ment and myself for how long this was allowed to continue. The United States of America’s elections de serve our utmost attention to detail and commitment to truth, and we have failed in The top three honor graduates of the Class of 2025 are Valedictorian Alyssa Mackenzie Zohoranacky, Salutatorian Kimberly Zenayda Madrid-Ramirez and First Honorarian Jayla Marie Tory. look to—not just for then- leadership, but for how they connect and care for others. They are often the first to lend a hand, whether it is welcoming new students as tour guides, leading clubs, or setting the standard in the classroom. Their presence has made a lasting impact on our school community.” He added, “We are ex cited to see what they will accomplish as they enter the world as young adults.” Other honor graduates in clude the following: Marisa that regard. “There is a legitimate argument that the way res idency laws are written in OCGA may unequivocal ly show that our sheriff is a bona-fide resident of Banks County, but I can not, in good faith, continue to perpetuate or hide what I believe to be an unethical attempt to falsify a county boundary.” Griffith states that not long after taking office, he was informed that Banks County was “almost cer tainly portraying the county line in an inaccurate man ner.” He states that an effort was made to “falsify a por tion of our county boundary through what is known as a CQR process with the Unit ed States Census. Aguilar, Austin Anderson, Allaryce Appell, William Ashworth, Tatiana Bailey, Kylee Bergmann, Jackson Boisclair, Shae Britt, Cal lie Brown, Haven Brown, Emily Butler, Melany Ca marena-Miranda, Kileigh Carter, Ruby Carter, Em- malyn Chitwood, A, da- lynn Clark, Josie Cochran, Camden Cooper, Shelby Crenshaw, Brandon Crum ley, Andrew Crumley, De- sirae Evans, Reagan Fer guson, Garrison Fowler, Addison Franklin, Kyle “I am disgusted with the fact that it happened, and I am disgusted that I waited as long as I have to bring this to light,” he said. Griffith states that the Census portrayal of the boundary does not deter mine the legal boundary of the county.” “The legal boundary of Banks County has not been amended since the late 1850s,” he said. “There is undoubtedly supposed to be a dead straight line be tween the points known as Kessler’s bridge and the 10-mile post on the Carnes ville-Gainesville Road. Up until our correction, this line was portrayed as a curved line on varying maps.” He added, “Your current board of commissioners all Gaeta, Jessie Gee II, Rae- gan Gilbert, Savannah Gif- fith, Trinity Haynes, Chloe Heaps, Brady Hebb, Ga briel Guzman, Emily Hill, Jayda Holcombe, Madison Holcombe, Aimee Holling sworth, Kenadie Howe, Margaret Irvin, Christopher Jacobs, Braxton Jaworski, Levi Johnson, Alexis Koo- chel, Ava Landers, Jadyn LeFevre, Luke Lindeman, Kimbelry Madrid-Ramirez, Cheyanne Mapp, Hailey Matos, Abigail Mendoza, Kiley Mick, Hollie Mill agreed, once we were cer tain that the county maps were inaccurate, to correct the maps in county build ings, elections offices, and websites. This occurred over a month ago. Our hope at the time was to correct the maps, and just let the chips fall where they may. Looking back, that was ex traordinarily cowardly. We should have immediately presented the facts publicly in as transparent a manner as possible and then or dered an official survey of the relevant portion of the county boundary. I am sorry that we did not. Whether it was fear, self-preservation, or plain stupidity, that was not a decision worthy of the trust that the people who elected us placed in us.” er, Jorge Molina-Veronico, Bethany Moon, Hayley Nix, Cameron Oliver, Robert Ol iver, Ansley Osborn, Noah Page, Monil Patel, McKen- zi Ray-Porter, Andrew Re ece, Chloe Reece, Abigail Roberts, Brian Sears, Abi- gael Segars, Amelia Shedd, Garrett Simmons, Anden Smith, Judson Spears, Lau ren Speed, Kendall Todd, William Todd, Jayla Tory, Shayna Vickery, Serenity Wade, Kolby Watson, Noah Thomas, Michelle Wireko and Alyssa Zohoranacky. MAILING LABEL By ADAH THOMPSON The Homer Town Coun cil approved a bid when it met last week for tree clean up on Scales Creek Road. The trees have been cut down but the stumps still need to be removed. The town received one bid of $540,000, which is less than the Georgia Depart ment of Transportation’s es timation of $765,000. Once the bidder receive the notice, they will have 180 days to begin work. OTHER BUSINESS In other business at the meeting: •the town heard from the public concerning holding a vote on distilled spirits by package. The council postponed taking action calling for a vote in order to hold a town hall meeting to get more in put. •the council appointed Matthew Ayersto to the Ho mer Zoning and Planning Committee. •the DDA gave an update about the park project pro posed for a 26-acre lot. DDA members have reviewed the students’ plans and have de cided to take the “best parts of all of them and combine them into one.” •the council discussed budget issues concerning a possible increase in the li brary’s budget. Maysville town council leaders begin budget talk The Maysville City Council held a work session last week to begin review ing projects to include in the upcoming budget. Items discussed included seasonal workers receiving benefits with the hours they work, the electric for the wastewater pond, pump sta tion, well and concessions at park. Other topics discussed in cluded a police maintenance log for their vehicles every 30 days, library staff gath ¬ ering a maintenance list for their building. The city will also look into adding a city maintenance person. Banks County BOE called meeting set for Thursday, May 22 8 0 487 9 1 4 1 4 3 The Banks County Board meeting scheduled for May ing meeting scheduled to was also cancelled. called meeting at 4 p.m. on of Education work session 15 was cancelled. The vot- follow this work session The BOE will have a May 22.
