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The www.MadisonJournalTODAY.com JANUARY 22, 2009 Merged with The Comer News and The Danielsville Monitor, 2006 50< Vol. 24 No. 4 • Publication No. 1074-987 • Danielsville, Madison County, Georgia 30633 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers Inc. • 26 Pages, 2 Sections Plus Supplements LOCAL CEREMONY The Rev. Robin Wright delivers the keynote speech at Monday’s Martin Luther King holiday celebration at Colbert Grove Baptist Church. Ben Munro/Staff Madison Co. celebrates MLK day Event held on eve of historic inauguration By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews.com On the eve of the first black president's inauguration, a packed house at Colbert Grove Baptist Church was reminded that it took heroism from past civil rights leaders to pave the way. “It takes courage to change the course of history,” was the frequent refrain used by Evangelist Robin Wright. Wright, who is from Athens, delivered the key note speech Monday from the Colbert Grove pulpit on the day marking Rev. King's 80 th birthday. For the past four years, the Madison County Pastors’ and Laymans’ Fellowship has organized this celebration of the slain civil rights leader's life. During her 30-minute speech, Wright noted prominent civil rights figures like King, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, W.E.B. Du Bois, Nelson Mandela and Rosa Parks as evidence of courage spurring change. Wright also intertwined Barack Obama’s ascension to the nation's highest office — and his overcoming the obstacles of a multi-racial background — into her discus sion of the future. “It takes courage to change the course of history.” — The Rev. Robin Wright — See ‘MLK’ on 3A INSIDE Index: News—1-3A Opinions— 4-5A Crime— 6A Socials — 7-8A, 14A Legate— 9-13A Sports— 1-2B Churches—3B Obituaries— 6-7B Schools— 11B Contact: Phone: 706-795-2567 Fax: 706-795-2765 Mail: PO. Box 658, Danielsville, GA, 30633 Web: MadisonJoumalTODAY.com Madison Co. softball team recognized for top GPA in nation Madison County’s softball team was recognized last week at the state capitol for having the top grade point average In the nation for a public school soft- ball team. — Page 1B LOCAL TAXES Three tax bills in 2009? ‘08 bills set to hit mailboxes this week; Perdue’s proposal could lead to additional $242 bill for county homeowners; ‘09 bills will come later if digest is on time INSIDE: Search for new chief appraiser continues, Page 3A By Zach Mitcham zach@mainstreetnews.com Madison County property owners can expect their 2008 tax bill in the mailbox this week. Unfortunately, that enve lope could include just the first of three property tax bills they receive in 2009. While property owners will pay their 2008 taxes soon, if the county digest is completed on time this year, as promised, property owners will also pay their 2009 taxes this calendar year. Likewise, homeown ers may get a third bill if the General Assembly approves Gov. Sonny Perdue’s plan to eliminate the Homestead Tax Relief Grant from 2008 tax bills. Madison County Tax Commissioner Louise Watson said that most Madison County homeowners received $242.58 in homestead relief in their 2008 bills. If the state elimi nates that break for 2008, then Watson must send out bills for $242.58 to homeowners who received the credit. Facing an estimated $2 bil lion budget shortfall, the state is desperate to cut expenses and raise revenues. The elimination of the tax relief grant would put $429 million back into the state’s budget. But property owners would endure the blow during a particularly difficult time. “At a time when we con tinue to hear about record home — See “Taxes’ on 3A The Property Tax Picture TaJffJ'.A'fivnw 520,180,876 f20,578,418 + JJ8?£42 +2<Z, rm ■ >ra■ mu■ ■ >b.v■ mi ■ r T™' rt.-n ■ ■I ■ ki ■■Ajniuffam Total Madison County tax revenues up 2% for 2008 School bond rate to caver old construction debt accounts for most of increase; county government revenues down By Zach Mitcham zach@mainstreetnews.com Madison County tax levying entities will see an overall two-percent increase in revenues from property taxes this year. The increase is primarily due to the county school system's issuance of a bond mill rate to cover debt payments on the construction of Danielsville Elementary School in 1993. According to Madison County Tax Commissioner Louise Watson, the school board's .826 bond rate will generate $504,649 in tax revenue. The school system had covered the annual construction payments in recent years with Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) money from 2003, Cov'c Entity Ella- 2007 M* In JU-ranuc- Hirup Hml* 2008 dprt TJX nthnnii HflYBDUg CbojiAg mc »=■■: ill--1 ELK ara.nuw rauss HiK mOLTtA -U* MCDQCiL'riiLi M ±St w&Tsnin KKOeH +* l J — IV.C — Em KMC lUfi — ildU — HCKSEib4**i 1 i 1 ■■is •HaUHMA + MiJv tlW* HCIEX AJ +r iSirii jW lit-:-: v*c . E.HTT .>* Cta-lwa 11 KLU J1K Shl.ttPj Mil .EC — is —Sm C:lhn ia 4ll*iMfc Hi T il i* *11 .■*.£.£ sum — SJU¥ -4J C-:-rw ii GECirj&l JjI tlUliiE . LVJ ■ i± Evulib Ld 4lhjVh>!h Hi i* i>; — i.HJ —1± Ih 1'E irjeaiac C-lOJ injiui! rnTJSn — -U but that funding has been depleted. SPLOST was not available as a financ ing option for school construction in 1992, so the school board financed the Danielsville Elementary construction with a 20-year bond package, which will expire in 2012. While a bond rate will be applied to cover old construction costs this year, the school board is keeping its tax rate steady for general maintenance and operation at 16.99 mills, which will result in a $54,000 reduction in revenue. Meanwhile, the county government will levy $63,000 less in property taxes for 2008. Carlton, Colbert, Danielsville and Ila will also have slight reductions in tax revenues, while the industrial author ity and city of Comer will see slight increases. ANIMAL SERVICES New shelter director seeks to be a matchmaker for pets, owners New Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter direc tor Susan Fomash is pictured with “Sunshine,” a 4-year-old boxer mix available for adoption. Ben Munro/Staff By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews.com The way Susan Fomash sees it, the Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter is something of a match maker. “To find the right dog or cat for a person and the right person for our dogs and cats,” the new shelter director said. Fornash will continue that quest of matching owner with pet in her new job. She took over shelter director duties Jan. 5 after serving as the Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter (MOAS) bookkeeper since November. She's a retired employ ee from the city of East Point, moving to Madison County 10 years ago. Fomash feels her work background will help her lead the shelter, a place constantly strapped for funds. “I think the fact that I have a lot of administra tive experience, that's one thing that I can offer to the shelter, plus my love of animals,” she said. Among the objectives under her watch will be educating the public about the shelter. In fact, she plans on vis iting the schools to do just that, taking shelter dog — See ‘Shelter’ on 3A ZONING Planners say ‘Yes’ to Sunrise proposal BOC to consider matter Monday By Zach Mitcham zach@mainstreetnews.com Madison County planners don’t want the sun to set on Sunrise Golf Course, but oppo nents of a proposed senior resi dential development and golf course overhaul say the plan is in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now, the Madison County — See ‘Sunrise’ on 3A