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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
