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The www.MadisonJournalTODAY.com APRIL 2, 2009 Merged with The Comer News and The Danielsville Monitor, 2006 Vol. 24 No. 14 • Publication No. 1074-987 • Danielsville, Madison County, Georgia 30633 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers Inc. • 22 Pages, 2 Sections Plus Supplements INSIDE 1 . MCHS teacher has stories to tell The Journal pro files accomplished author and Madi son County High School teacher Richard Hoard. — Page 3A Occ. tax, animal control on agenda Madison County commissioners will again discuss the county occupation tax, as well as ani mal control servic es at their Monday night meeting. See the complete agenda inside. — Page 2A Opinions: Journal founder Frank Gillispie says Madison County should abolish property taxes. Journal edi tor Zach Mitcham writes about the state of the news paper industry. — Page 4A Man charged with child molestation A Hull man was arrested last week on child molesta tion charges. — Page 6A Still unbeaten in region The Madison County var sity baseball team remained unbeaten in Region 8-AAAA after an 8-0 win over Apalachee Tuesday. — Page1B Index: News—1-3A5A Opinions— 4A Crime— 6A Socials — 7-9A Obituaries— 10-11A Sports — 1-2B Churches— 3B Legate— 4-7B Contact: Phone: 706-795-2567 Fax: 706-795-2765 Mail: P.O. Box 658, Danielsville, GA, 30633 Web: MadisonJoumalTODAY.com COUNTY POLITICS BOC ousts assessors But court battle looms By Zach Mitcham zach@mainstreetnews.com Madison County commission ers voted to can all assessor board members Monday, but the matter apparently won’t be settled with out a fight. “If they (the commissioners) will resign and walk away, I’ll resign and I will personally ask the rest of the assessors to resign.” said assessor chairman David Ragland Tuesday. “Let the county start over anew if that’s what they want. But I have done nothing wrong and I will fight this.” The BOC voted 5-0 Monday to ask county attorney Mike Pruett to draft a termination letter to each of the four members of the assessor board, informing them why they are being removed. That letter is expected to be before the commis sioners at their meeting Monday. Meanwhile, it appears the planned termination will likely be appealed by assessor board members, with both sides plead ing their case before a Superior Court judge. “We’ll take it to Superior Court and let the judge decide,” said Samantha Garland Tuesday. "If — See ‘Assessors’ on 5A “I WAS SIMPLY FORCED INTO A POSITION WHERE I HAD NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO RUN THIS COUNTY THE BEST WAY I THOUGHT.” — BOC Chairman Anthony Dove on requesting resigna tions from the BOA “...I HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG AND I WILL FIGHT THIS.” — BOA Chairman David Ragland LOCAL SERVICES Harmony House Local advocacy helps hurting children center uncovers abuse, 1 ^ Debi Bartlett sits in Harmony House’s exam room. Photo by Charles Richards Harmony House ‘Ride to Survive’ set for April 11 provides comfort for mistreated youth By Margie Richards margie@mainstreetnews.com W alking through the front door of Harmony House Child Advocacy Center in Royston is like entering a peaceful, comfortable home. And for those who work and volunteer their time there, that is just what they're striving for. “When they come here we want them to know they are coming to a safe, comfortable place,” said Debi Bartlett, who serves as the center's forensics nurse. Harmony House, which serves the five counties in the Northern Judicial Circuit, including Madison County, is a place where sexual assault victims are brought for interviews, exams and to gain some measure of comfort. It is also hopefully a place where victims can begin to heal from the experiences they've been through, she said. Bartlett, who comes to the center on a case-by-case basis, is sometimes called out in middle of night by law enforce ment officers to examine and gather evidence from a child who may have been abused. She now performs foren sics exams on adult victims of abuse at the center as well. Children and adults alike are offered an unhurried, calm environment, a warm, soft blanket to wrap up in and a handmade Teddy bear. A shower and a change of clothing are also pro vided during their time there, as well as counseling services and referrals. And for the children, there's a color- — See “Harmony’ on 5A Harmony House Child Advocacy Center presents the second-annual “Ride to Survive,” on Saturday, April 11, at the Danielsville City Hall (rain or shine). There will be a free Holman Autry Band concert with bike check-in/ reg istration at 9 a.m. The ride starts at 10 a.m. Registration fees are: $10 per bike, $5 per passenger (fee includes lunch). The ride starts in Madison County (Danielsville) and goes through Franklin, Hart, Elbert counties and then back to Danielsville City Hall. Raffle prizes, food and T-shirts will also be available, organizers said. All proceeds will be used for advo cacy and related items in the opera tion of Harmony House, a non-profit agency that assists child and adult victims of sexual assault, according to organizers. Call 706-247-3848 for more infor mation. FESTIVAL Folklife in Georgia festival set for Saturday Organizers urge participants to bring contributions for food bank Performance schedule •1-1:40 p.m. The Myers Family and Friends •1:50-2:30 p.m. Madison County Pastors and Laymen Male Choir •2:40-3:20 Marion Montgomery, Glynn Denham/ The Random Roosters •3:30-4:10 p.m. The Corduroy Road •4:20-5 p.m. Gabriel Kelley Madison County will once again celebrate tra ditional music, dance and handiwork of rural Georgia Saturday. But organizers of the ninth-annual Folklife in Georgia Festival hope participants will do more than just have a good time Saturday. They want fes tival goers to remember all of those in need in the area and bring donations for the local food bank to the festival. “This festival has many purposes,” said festival coordinator Beth Zorbanos. “But we hope this will also bring the community together to bring food for the food bank.” Saturday’s festvial will be held from 1 to 9 p.m., Saturday, at Madison County Memorial Park in Danielsville. The day-long event, which will be held rain or shine. Twenty visual art ists will demonstrate and sell their traditional crafts. They include: Mark Davis, blacksmith- ing; Sharon Grist, spin ning and weaving; Barney — See “Festival’ on 2A WRECK Teen killed on Hwy. 106 A 17-year-oldMadison County High School junior was killed in a one-car accident early Monday morning. Crystal Yamasato, Hull, died after her 1996 Nissan Altima ran off the road on Hwy. 106 South at JJ&G Drive about 4:07 a.m. According to the Georgia State Patrol, it appears she fell asleep at the wheel. Yamasato was travel ing southbound when her car ran off the road, veered across the north bound lane, went down an embankment, then reentered the roadway and overturned, par tially ejecting her. According to the report, Yamasato was traveling alone and was not wearing a seatbelt. REC. DEPT. County Easter egg hunt set for Sat. The 22 nd annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held Saturday, April 4, at 10 a.m. the Madison County Recreation Department. The egg hunt is free of charge and open to all children ages 8 and under, offi cials said. Participants are asked to bring a canned food item to donate to the Madison County Food Bank. Children will be divid ed into four age divi sions: 2 and under; 3-4 year olds; 5-6 year olds and 7-8 year olds. There will be over 4.000 eggs, 20 prizes and plenty of fun for everyone, organizers said. In case of inclement weather, the rain date is Saturday, April 11, at 10 a.m. For more information, call the recreation depart ment at 706-795-6270.