Newspaper Page Text
THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. JULY 23, 2009 — PAGE 5A
Opinions
Disappointed in response of business after dog hit
Ongoing services
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
Alcoholics Anonymous meets on Mondays and Thursdays at 7
p.m. at the Colbert Baptist Church annex and Fridays at 7 p.m. at
the Danielsville Methodist Church annex.
Dear Editor:
I would like to take this
opportunity and inform the
citizens of Madison County
of the potential hazard on our
roadway.
On Friday, June 19, at approx
imately 8 p.m. my mother and
her dog Oscar were in the yard
when she heard a vehicle. As
she reached for Oscar he ran
across Garnett Ward Road, she
could see that it was the deliv
ery truck for Pizza and Sub
Express. My mother stood in
the road waving for him to
slow down when the unfortu
nate happened and Oscar was
hit. My mother had to move
out of the road way or she may
have also been hit. The driver
never stopped.
The driver was making
a delivery approximately 50
yards past where Oscar was
struck. My mother stood in
the road waiting for the driver
to return but he took an alter
native route of approximately
five miles so that he would
not have to admit what he had
done. That evening I called the
owner of the pizzeria to discuss
the situation. He informed me
that he would talk with the
driver and more than likely
dismiss him. The owner also
admitted to me that the police
where already watching out for
the driver.
Later, I found out that the
driver has been reported several
times for speeding on the same
road. The owner also expressed
his concern for my mother and
would personally call and apol
ogize to her and he has yet
to call her. On the following
Sunday afternoon my mother
received a phone call from the
driver. He told my mother that
he saw her in the road, hit his
brakes but it was too late.
Oscar was taken to the UGA
Vet School were he remained
for three weeks with the doc
tors unclear of what his prog
nosis may be. As the weeks
have passed Oscar has returned
home. He has slowly regained
his strength but has a long road
to a full recovery. This has
been devastating to everyone
in our family. To us, Oscar is
a part of our family; others
may see him as just a dog and
do not understand or realize
the reasoning behind my letter.
Yes, I do know that Oscar is a
dog, but what if he had been a
human being.
Regrettably, my mother was
told that she could not take
legal action to hold the driver
responsible for his actions.
I believe that Madison County
is a great place to live and that
we need to support our local
businesses but unfortunately I
feel that Pizza and Sub Express
has shown negligence in this
situation.
Sincerely,
Christy Clark
Churches shouldn’t follow the fads of the world
Dear Editor:
Many churches, in eager
ness to bring the lost into
their fold, have accommo
dated themselves to a pat
tern that is acceptable to the
general unbelieving public.
Their growth is accomplished
through surveys and worldly
marketing means. The heroes
generally held up for our
youth today are professional
athletes and “rock” stars, who
are paraded before the church
as if to say, “This is your
ideal: this is the kind of per
son Jesus wants you to be.”
The effort is to attract youth
through entertainment rather
than offer them the challenge
to “take up the cross and fol
low” the Lord Jesus Christ.
Churches try to accommo
date themselves to the cur
rent fads of the world. They
discard the old hymns that
are both musical and edifying
and replace them with “praise
choruses” such as were used
50 years ago in Christian
camps because they were
simple, easy to learn, and
didn't require a song book.
But when the children came
back from camp, they readily
joined the rest of the congre
gation in singing hymns with
meaning and which require
some thought. It is a serious
mistake for church leaders to
fashion a program after the
ideas of untrained youth.
Jesus did not cave in to the
immature concepts of youth
in order to appeal to them. To
the rich young ruler (Mark 10)
He sternly said, “One thing
thou lackest: go, sell whatso
ever thou hast, and give to the
poor, and thou shalt have trea
sure in heaven: and come, fol
low me” (Mark 10:21). This
young man failed the test, but
do you really think the Lord
has “softened” the require
ments for us today? The “easy
faith” that has become so pop
ular doesn't much resemble
the gospel of the kingdom,
which Jesus preached. It is
tragic when so many take the
worldly ambitions of the flesh,
give them religious titles, and
then peddle them as God-
given “ministries.”
Sincerely,
Clem Thurman
The Gospel Minutes
Consider joining our newly named NE Ga. CASA family
Dear Editor:
Nationally, the approximate
yearly cost of child abuse is
$104 billion. About 11,000
children are in legal custody
of the state of Georgia annu
ally. Every day, approximate
ly 90 children are the victims
of confirmed abuse or neglect
and 240 incidents of child
abuse occur also annually.
In 2007, 60 children died
from abuse or neglect (www.
gacasa.org/prog stats.html).
So what can citizens
in Madison County do to
address this alarming real
ity?
Our community has always
valued faith, family, friends
and fun. Most importantly,
we know our children are the
future leaders of our local
community. It is relatively
easy to insulate ourselves with
our families, jobs, churches
and lifestyles. It is also easy
for us to turn a blind eye on
things, issues and concerns
that are not on our immediate
doorsteps. Better awareness
is an amazing experience that
spawns endless challenges
and opportunities for indi
viduals and communities.
CASA (Court Appointed
Special Advocates) programs
provide training to commu
nity volunteers who advo
cate on behalf of abused and
neglected children for their
safety, a permanent residence
and well-being through inde
pendent recommendations to
the court. The CASA vol
unteer is a community vol
unteer who works on behalf
of the child, along with the
family, and the juvenile court
system to search for the best
home placement for the child
as swiftly as possible.
In the last month, the
local CASA program of the
Northern Judicial Circuit
merged with the Mountain
Circuit CASA program to
continue providing services
for our local children in fos
ter care. The new name is
Northeast Georgia CASA.
We already have one com
munity member volunteering
and we are in need of many
more. If you are interested
in finding out more informa
tion about volunteering, or
prefer to make a monetary
contribution, please contact
Melissa, Pat or Brenda at
706-886-1098. Our website
is www.MountainCasa.org.
For those who can, and will,
we welcome you to consider
joining our newly named
Northeast Georgia CASA
family.
Sincerely,
E. Ann Gowdy
Danielsville
Thanks for article on taxes
Dear Editor:
Thank you Zach Mitcham, of
The Madison County Journal,
for printing that Mr. David
Ragland, who is leading the
Madison County tax assess
ment board, had not paid his
2008 property tax as of July 16,
2009 newspaper printing.
Mr. Ragland, you have no
credibility. Take your firing by
the Madison County Board of
Commissioners like a man and
ride off into the sunset.
Also, the article pointed
out that Mr. Gerry Burdette
and Mr. Bruce Azevedo, both
board members on the Madison
County industrial authority, let
their property taxes go unpaid
until called on it. I see a conflict
of interest in serving on the
industrial authority board and
in the real estate business.
You both should be fired
from this board. What about it
Mr. (Marvin) White? Madison
County board of commission
ers, apply pressure to get this
done.
I and most property owners
paid their taxes on time. Why
didn't you?
It seems we property owners
who paid their taxes on time are
the ones paying the bills of the
county government. I guess all
of us should let our property tax
“slide” for a few years.
Mr. Ragland, Mr. Burdette
and Mr. Azevedo, you are poor
examples of good citizenship.
Mrs. Louise Watson, tax com
missioner, has not collected all
property taxes for 2007. How
long does the law give us to pay
our property tax, Mrs. Watson?
I would like to see printed in
this newspaper just what the
laws are.
Also, print the names and
addresses of those still owing
taxes for 2008 and prior years.
Sincerely,
Gene Lurwig
Danielsville
City of Ila
PUBLIC MEETING
The City of Ila, Georgia hereby gives notice of a Public
Meeting 6 P.M. August 18, 2009 at City Hall in Ila,
Georgia.
The purpose of the public meeting is to:
1) Inform the public of the need for improvements to
the City’s water system.
2) Comply with the requirements of the Georgia’s Rules
for Safe Drinking Water and with the public
participation requirements of Georgia’s Drinking
Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF)
Environmental Review Process.
3) Encourage public involvement in the development of
a plan to improve the water system.
During the public meeting the City will attempt to
identify public preferences for alternative methods of
improving the City’s water facilities. These
alternatives will be evaluated and included in the
City’s Facilities Plan and Environmental Information
Document, the major planning document covering the
water system.
Public participation is considered essential to the
selection and development of the final plan to be
adopted prior to its approval by the State of Georgia,
Department of Natural Resources.
NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS
Narcotics Anonymous meets at 7 p.m. Monday at the Danielsville
Methodist Church annex.
SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS
The Madison County Greys, Camp 1526, Sons of Confederate
Veterans now meet on the 4th Monday of each month at 7:30
p.m. in the community room of First Madison Bank in Colbert,.
Contact Frank Gillispie at 706-540-0120 for more information.
OVER FIFTY CLUB
The Over Fifty Club meets at 11:30 a.m. on the second
Wednesday of each month at Gordon's Chapel United Methodist
Church. Membership is open to people ages 50 and over.
TOUCHDOWN CLUB
The Madison County High School Touchdown Club meets
Tuesday nights during football season at 7:30 p.m. The football
program’s website can be accessed at http://eteamz.active.com/
madisoncountyfootball/
MART
The Madison Area Resource Team (M.A.R.T)/ Family
Connection meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at the old
Danielsville courthouse at 8 a.m. Call 795-3565 for more infor
mation.
TOPS MEETING
The local chapter of TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly) Club
International meets each Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. with weigh-in
from 6:30 to 6:50 p.m. at the Ila Community Center on Sewell
Mill Road.
MCHS BAND BOOSTER CLUB
MCHS Band Booster Club meets every fourth Tuesday at 7
p.m. at the high school band room. Band parents are invited and
encouraged to attend.
GAMBLER’S ANONYMOUS
Gambler’s Anonymous meets every Monday night at 7:30 p.m.
at Living Word Baptist Church. For more information, call (404)
237-7281.
AMERICAN LEGION
The American Legion Post #39 of Danielsville meets the last
Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. All veterans are welcome.
4-STAKES HORSESHOES
Four-Stakes Horseshoes pitches every Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
The league is handicapped to give all pitchers an equal chance.
All ages and skill levels are welcome. Call 207-9831 for more
information or visit www.freewebs.com/4stakes.
MADISON COUNTY MASTER
GARDENERS ASSOCIATION
The Madison County Master Gardeners Association meets the
first Tuesday of every odd month at 7 p.m. at the Madison County
Extension office. Meetings are open to members and guests.
For more information about becoming a Master Gardener or
about membership in MCMGA visit the website at: www.madi-
soncountymastergardeners.org.Or, contact the Madison County
Cooperative Extension office at 706-795-2281 or email gamc-
mga@yahoo.com.
COLLINS DISTRICT VFD
The Collins District Volunteer Fire Department meets the sec
ond Saturday night of each month from 7 to 10 p.m. Refreshments,
free bingo, games and prizes provided. The youth night at the
Collins VFD is held the last Saturday night each month from 7
to 10 p.m.
To have an event listed in on-going services, call Margie
Richards at (706) 795-2567.
FOR ONLY $5
YOU CAN LIST YOUR
Let your members know wl
Call (706) 367-5233 to advertise your
meeting time, place and date in...
• The Jackson Herald
• The Commerce News
• The Braselton News
• The Banks County News
• The Madison County Journal
PER MONTH,
GROUP'S MEETINGS!
ien your group is meeting!
JEFFERSON EIONS CEUB
Meets 2nd & 4th Monday
Jefferson City Clubhouse
6:30 p.m. • (706) 387-1156
Mack Cates, President
542
UNITY LODGE
W F & A.M.
No. 36, Jefferson, GA
1st Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m.
Dwayne Potts • 706-367-4449
Borders St. behind Tabo’s 260
JEFFERSON ROTARY CLUB
Meets Tuesdays
Jefferson City Clubhouse
12:30 p.m.-(706) 367-7696
Gina Mitsdarffer, President
547
MM BANKS COUNTY
fc ,.ftJAMERICAN LEGION
Riders Post 215
Meets each 2nd Thursday, 7 p.m.
In Homer, GA at the
American Legion Building on
Historic Highway 441 pd.02/10
Georgia Real Estate Investors
Association, Inc. - Athens
Meets the third Thursday each month
6:30 pm at the UGA Conferen ce Center
1197 South Lumpkin Street,
Athens, GA 30601
Tom Hewlett - Chapter President
the wlettl @charter.net pj 12/09
BANKS COUNTY
HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.
meets first Monday each month
7:00 p.m. in the Banks Co. Historial
Courthouse at 105 U.S. Hwy. 441
North in Homer pd,-07/09
St. Catherine Laboure
Catholic Mission
Mass Schedule: Sat. 4:00 p.m.,
Sun. 11:00 a.m., Wed. 12:10 p.m.
Parish Council meetings:
2nd Sunday of the month after 11:00 mass
First Friday Adoration 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Website: www.stcatherinelabourega.org
706-335-2622 pd.05/09
JEFFERSON
Hf AMERICAN LEGION
Albert Gordon Post 56
Each 3rd Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.
Harvie Lance, Commander
Phone (706) 654-1274 .no
BANKS COUNTY
I|§ AMERICAN LEGION
Post 215
Meets each 3rd Thursday, 7 p.m.
In Homer, GA at the
American Legion Building on
Historic Highway 441 Pd.06/10
r|f| VETERANS OF
W FOREIGN WARS
Post 4872, Hurricane Shoals Convention Ctr.
Each 4thTuesdasy, 7:00 p.m.
Jason Mergele, Commander
Phone 706-367-7237 263
JESUS CHRIST
And His Restored Gospel!
Come Worship With Us!
4859 Mt. Olive Road, Commerce
Meeting Time: Sunday, 9:00 am
www.mormono.org
For Missionaries Call: 706-380-9927
The Church Of Jesus Christ
Of Latter-Day Saints pd.06/09