About The Banks County news. (Homer, Banks County, Ga.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (June 25, 2025)
BANKS COUNTY NEWS: HAVE IT YOUR WAY! FOR ONLY ‘25/YUR • Includes 52 Print Editions Delivered Weekly • Also Includes 24/7 Access to E-Edition on Electronic Devices Subscribe at MainStreetNews.com before July 28, 2025 • See Details Inside This Edition 1875 2025 150 YEARS OF EXCELLEN E MainStreet NEWSPAPERS Banks County News www.BanksNewsTODAY.com e/ Banks County’s Legal Organ WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2025 $1.00 • Homer, Banks County, GA 30547 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. • 12 Pages, 1 Section Plus Supplements • Vol. 59 No.37 Banks BOE approves personnel items The Banks County Board of Education approved sev eral personnel items at its June meeting, including the following: •hiring Jordan Barnett, Matthew Huff, Elizabeth Payne, Angela Arias, Brit tany Huff and Magdalene Spear, all teachers. •hiring Christian Collier, Emil Hurtado, Casey Pirkle, Shelby Guy and Martha Worsham, all para profes sionals. •accepting the resignation of Tina Yonce, teacher. The BOE also approved several field trip and project requests for the next school year. Gillsville moving forward on Veterans Memorial An update on the Veterans Memorial project was given at the June meeting of the Gillsville City Council. Mayor Wade Dale updat ed the council on the proj ect, stating that Monkey Concrete will be doing the concrete and it will cost $6,300. Zack Dale will be doing the grading, however the city will pay for the die sel fuel cost of $300. In other business, the IGA SPLOST IX was dis cussed and reviewed, and councilman Keith Segars made a motion to adopt the SPLOST Intergovernmental Agreement. Ricky Sutton seconded the motion, and all council members present voted in favor. MAILING LABEL A $ Rotary Salutes award winners are shown at the annual awards ceremony sponsored by the Banks County Rotary Club. See more photos on Page 3. Banks County Rotary Club salutes local heroes The sixth annual Banks County Rotary Club’s Ro tary Salutes Distinguished Service Awards Program was held last week with awards being given. “On behalf of our entire membership, I thank you all for being here today as we recognize and honor those who selflessly pro vide a better quality of life for business, citizens, and visitors in our community,” Rotary Club president Brad Day stated. " Over the last couple of weeks, the Banks County Rotary Club accepted nom ¬ Independence Day celebrations planned in Homer, Maysville Independence Day cele brations are planned in Ho mer and Maysville. The Homer Downtown Development Authority, the Town of Homer and the Homer Fire Department are sponsoring the celebration Run-offset for July 16 in Democratic Public Service Commission race Republican Tim Echols won the Republican par ty’s nomination for another term on the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC), which regulates utilities in inations for Rotary Salutes. The purpose of the initiative is to provide recognition for first responders and civic leaders that go above and beyond the call of duty. Becky Carlan, Banks County Tax Commission er, and Tim Harper, Banks County Clerk of Court, pre sented the awards. Awards went to the fol lowing: • Shae Britt, Brother Jim McLendon Memorial Rota ry Scholarship., •Noah Williams, Mike Beasley Memorial Scholar ship. in Homer. It will be held on July 4. I The Homer event will include fireworks, music and activities for children. It will be held at the Banks County Recreation De partment, located at 607 the state. Echols will take on Dem ocrat Alicia Johnson in No vember. Former Atlanta City Councilwoman Keisha • Sonny’s BBQ, Public Safety Supporter of the Year. The Banks County Fire De partment submitted Sonny’s BBQ at Banks Crossing for the Public Safety Supporter of the Year award. •Will Foster, principal of Banks County High School, Education Community Im pact Staff Award. •Amanda Morris, Edu cation Community Impact Award. Amanda serves as the School Nutrition Man ager at Banks County High School and has dedicated many years of service to the Banks County School Sys ¬ Thompson Street. MAYSVILLE The City of Maysville will mark Independence Day on Saturday, July 5, with an evening of fami ly-friendly activities and fireworks at Maysville City Sean Waites was by far the top vote-getter in a three- way race for the Demo cratic nomination in PSC District 3 but is headed for a runoff next month with tem. •Public affairs unit at the sheriff’s office (consisting of Olivia Justus, public in formation officer, Austin bond, special projects man ager, and Josh Whie, admin istrative investigator, Public Safety Unit of the Year. •Gayle Whitlock, Com munity Leadership Award. •Cliff Hill, Homer Fire Department fire chief and city council member, Dis tinguished Service Award. •Dr. Leigh Ann Perry, principal of Banks County Elementary School, Edu cation Community Impact Park. Local sponsors will serve free hot dogs, chips and bottled water from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Children can enjoy complimentary face painting and a bounce house during the festivities. second-place finisher Peter Hubbard. The winner of the July 15 runoff between Waites and Hubbard will face in cumbent Republican Com Award. •Sherry Angel, Education Community Impact Faculty Award. •Sgt. Benjamin Haack, Public Safety Professional of the Year award. •Rick Spurgin, Lifesaving Award. •Cpl. Logan Craymer, Award of Valor. “It is so important that we support, uplift, and salute our local public service and safety professionals,” Rota ry Club president Brad Day stated. “They truly embody the spirit of the Rotary mot to, service above self.” Fireworks, provided by the city, will launch at dark. Food vendors will be on- site with boiled peanuts, Kona Ice and funnel cakes for purchase. The celebration is open to the public. missioner Fitz Johnson in the November state-wide election. The Democratic run-off election will be held on July 16. Lady Leopards sharpen claws in off season scrimmages 4879 14143 By RENEE BRITT The sounds of basketball filled the gym at Jefferson High School last week as the Banks County High School Lady Leopards played in a rigorous three-day “Team Camp,” from June 18-20. While no official scores were kept, the focus was squarely on development, as the team gained valuable court time and experience. Following a remarkable season that saw them finish as state runners-up, the Lady Leopards are wasting no time in preparing for the upcoming winter campaign. The series of scrimmages at Jefferson provided a crucial opportunity for both returning veterans and new faces to gel and showcase their skills against good competition. With the week of local scrimmages behind them, the Lady Leopards have now set their sights on the sunshine and sands of Panama City Beach, Florida. The team is heading south for their final summer basketball camp, a week-long session of training and scrimmages designed to further hone their skills. The trip will culminate in an “End of Summer Party,” an important team-bonding event aimed at strengthening camaraderie and chemistry. Lady Leopards scrimmaging at Jefferson High School. Cannon Collier taking a shot during the lady Leop ards summer scrimmages at Jefferson High School. See more sports coverage on Page 5
