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PAGE 2A — THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. MAY 28. 2009
Robbery .cont’dfrom 1A
robbery, but because of the time proximity, we "re thinking either it was
involved in the robbery or it was a witness we need to talk to. We "re looking
to try to identify who was in tire car at the bank at that time.”
Fullington said investigators don’t have a positive identification of the
car’s make and model.
“You can see enough to see that it’s a compact small, four-door, late
model sedan, greenish in color, very similar to a late-model Toyota Corolla,”
said Fullington. “But it could be a Dodge Neon. There are some other cars
that are similar. Tire picture is not clear enough to say 100 percent that that’s
what it is."
The armed robbery occurred around 3 p.m. Friday. The lone masked gun
man fit tire same description as the person who robbed the bank earlier this
month: a black male, 5 "5" to 5’7” and approximately 150-160 lbs. He wore
a red hooded sweatshirt and carried a small pistol. Authorities believe the
suspect may be the same person who robbed the bank May 4.
The robber left on foot, exiting into a tree line to the left of the front
entrance. He left with an undisclosed amount of cash.
“We (the GBI) are working four separate bank robberies that have hap
pened in the Athens area since April 9,” said Fullington. "However, we’re
not saying they’re all linked. And we don’t know they’re linked. But we're
saying there are some similarities between the robbery that happened in
Ha on the 4th and 22nd that we're looking that possibly being the same
person.”
Fullington said the robber in both incidents at Merchants and Farmers
approached tire bank in "the same general way and exited the same general
way.”
“He was in tire bank the same general amount of time and once he got
in the bank he approached the same way," said Fullington. "He was in the
bank less than a minute, closer to 30-35 seconds.”
Anyone with infomration regarding the crime is urged to call tire Madison
County Sheriff's Department at 706-795-6202 or the Athens post of the
Georgia Bureau of Investigation at 706-542-7901. The Federal Bureau of
Investigation is also involved in the hunt for the bank robber.
Attendance .cont’dfrom 1A
the Madison County Cattlemen’s Association provided 800 hamburgers
and buns and Merchants and Farmers provided 800 hotdogs and buns.
Parents sold donuts to by a Wii game system and three iPods to give away
for perfect attendance and bell-to-bell winners. Popcorn, snowcones,
nachos and cotton candy were also provided by First Madison Bank, the
special ed department of Madison County schools, the school board cen
tral office and the Madison County Rotary Club.
Three large inflatables were sponsored by C&S Plumbing and Fireco.
Numerous parents volunteered to set up, serve and clean up, while youth
pastors from area churches organized and led games. MCMS teacher
Doug Wood was DJ and karaoke man.
“Leading up to the Extravaganza we had Bell-to-Bell rewards, which
is a monthly reward for students with no absences and no tardies every
month,” said McCannon. “Local restaurants and organizations donated
food and money for these ‘lunch with a friend reward.”
McCannon said next year’s event will be May 20. She said the day of
fun seems to be a good motivator for the kids.
“Fun was had by all, even the adults!” said McCannon. “Our efforts
seem to be improving attendance.”
Tax ..cont’dfrom 1A
issue for over two years. And
county building inspection direc
tor Eddie Pritchett asked the BOC
last week to put an end to dis
cussions with a final vote. But
commissioners postponed final
approval of the tax, agreeing to
review the latest 10-page version
of the ordinance.
Numerous county residents
have spoken out in opposition to
the tax over the past couple of
year's.
And two people, Mildred Baker
and her son, Marion, both spoke
against the occupation tax last
Thursday, saying it is unnecessary
and an unfair' burden on small
businesses.
“I reckon this occupation tax is
just sort of a pet peeve of mine,”
said Marion Baker. "What benefit
will it be other than revenue to the
county?"
Baker said it would give the
county attorney and code enforce
ment officer "a little something
else to do.”
“But as far as a personal benefit
from anybody considering going
into business, I don't see it,” said
Baker. “If you do a good job,
there’ll be word of mouth. Your
phone will ring. You don't have to
be on their' list of businesses.”
Baker said this is a good year
for someone to get in the grass
cutting business.
“My son hits me up about get
ting business going,” he said. “I’m
going to tell him, son, you got to
go over there and give the county
$35 before you can even do that.”
Commissioner Stanley Thomas
said the tax is not intended as a
money maker. He said leaders
need a way to track what busi
nesses are in the county, noting
that it is helpful to have that infor
mation handy when pursuing state
grant funding.
He said the chamber of com
merce and industrial authority,
which are trying to bring business
to the county, support the tax. The
commissioner noted that business
licenses also help the government
keep up with who's filing Georgia
sales taxes.
“Is it fair for that business per
son not to pay their' sales tax and
yet you (the property owner) end
up having to pay the difference?”
asked Thomas.
The commissioner added that
Madison County’s occupation tax
is lower the most anyone else's.
“My feelings are, if you don’t
have $35 per year to spend, you
probably don’t need to go into
business," said Thomas.
According to the ordinance,
those who don’t pay the tax can
be "punished by a fine not less
than $250 and not to exceed $500
for each day such violation con
tinues.” The ordinance also states
that “Where a person conducts
business at more than one fixed
location, each location or place
shall be considered a separate
business for the purpose of occu
pation tax."
BOC chairman Anthony Dove
said he doesn’t see the prudence
in taking people to court for $35.
“I want you to be sure of what
you’re voting on," said Dove to
the BOC. “I don’t want to take
somebody to court for $35. They
can't afford to pay the $35, then
we're going to take them to court.
I don’t think they’re going to be
able to pay it in the court either
... My concern is not the bigger
businesses. It’s the smaller person
who's out there. I know men that
haul garbage for a living and $35
might be all they make in a few
days. I know it doesn’t sound like
that much, but to some people it
is. And I've been there. So I want
you to read each line and know
what you're voting on.”
Schools .cont’dfrom 1A
under $11.25 million in local tax revenue, down 5.85 percent from last
year.
Following a public hearing, the school board will approve the final
ized 2009-2010 budget in mid-to-late June.
The decrease in next year's budget is due to a $1.24 million revenue
shortfall — a result of a drop in state funding, a dip in the local tax digest
and the expectation of some uncollected property taxes.
The revenue shortage would have been worse if not for nearly $1.4
million in federal stimulus funds headed Madison County’s way.
In addition to the $1.24 million revenue shortfall, the system is look
ing at $ 1.66 million in added expenses. Most all are costs — such as step
increases in teacher pay and health insurance coverage expenses — over
which the school system has no control.
To compensate for both the lost revenue and the required expenses,
school leaders had to slash $2.9 million elsewhere in the budget.
Included was $915,278 worth of teacher reductions since the state
is funding 14 less positions in 2009-2010 (Most all teachers affected
retained their jobs by moving into spots vacated by retirement or resig
nation). School leaders also cut $751,061 in central offices expenses and
an aggregate $320,766 from the school campuses.
School officials composed the 2009-2010 budget with a hard look at
2010-2011 too, which could be just as trying.
"We think we're pretty lean,” McGhee told the school board at its
Tuesday night work session. "There's a lot of things we’d like to do. We
just know we can't, and we’re also kind of keeping one eye on next year
(2010-2011) as well.”
BOC ..cont’dfrom 1A
nues,” said Dove. “And she (Clark) has been reviewing each department
and looking at ways we might trim or cut the budget, because it looks like
they (revenues) could be down.”
The BOC may start meeting on the budget next month.
"Kathy will be sending out a form to each department head and elected
officer and start getting into some numbers," said Dove. “It will probably
be based on what we project the (revenue) numbers to be. So we’re going
to ask them to make their budgets comply with that.”
Boutier Winery hosts chamber coffee
Victor and Mary Boutier, owners of Boutier Winery on
Hudson River Church Road, hosted the Madison County
Chamber of Commerce Coffee Hour this month. The win
ery opened on Nov. 15, 2008, on a 32-acre tract, complete
with vineyard. The Boutiers received an award for the best
white wine in Georgia last year. Margie Richards/Staff
First Madison Bank & Trust
Is proud to announce its
ONE YEAR
ANNIVERSARY
For its Danielsville location
Come in to see David, Ann, Gidget,
Veronica and Telina
for all your banking needs.
Your only locally owned bank
pro u dly serving Ma dison Co un ty.
FIRST
MADISON
BANK &“ TRUST
Colbert Danielsville Athens
5536 GA Highway 72 200 General Daniel Ave., Ste. 223 780 US Highway 29
706-788-0039
706-795-5000
706-389-7979
&
www.firstmadisonbank.com FDIC
COUPONS
Monday
2 Bacon
Biscuits
$4.00
1 coupon per order. Expires 6/13/09.
Tuesday
2 Sausage
Biscuits
$4.50
1 coupon per order. Expires 6/13/09.
Wednesday
2 Steak
Biscuits
$4.50
1 coupon per order. Expires 6/13/09.
HOMESTYLE COOKING
DINE-IN / DINE OUT
Hwy. 72 • Hull
Mon. - Fri. 5 a.m. - 11 a.m. • Sat. 5 a.m. - 12 p.m.
706-546-6141
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