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Vol. 24 No. 34 • Publication No. 1074-987 • Danielsville, Madison County, Georgia 30633 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers Inc. • 24 Pages, 2 Sections Plus Supplements CRIME CITIES COUNTY GOV’T Seymour sentenced to life for murder Both victim, murderer were MCHS graduates By Angie Gary angie@mainstreetnews.com A Commerce man was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday morning for murdering his wife. Martin Seymour, 31, was sen tenced by Judge Currie Mingledorf to the life sentence with the pos sibility of parole. He would not be eligible for parole for 30 years. Seymour, a 1995 Madison County High School graduate, was arrested in December 2008 for shooting his sleeping wife, Jamie Seymour, mul tiple times in the head. He then called his parents and told them to come pick up the couple’s 3-year-old daughter. He then called 911 and told the operator he’d killed his wife. "I don't think he’ll ever under stand why (he did this),” Seymour’s attorney, Walter Harvey, said after the guilty plea was entered. “He has never ottered an excuse. He has taken total responsibility. He has never blamed anyone but himself... He recognizes what he did...He feels he deserves the punishment.” More than 30 family members attended the sentencing at the Jackson County courthouse with the victim’s mother, brother and sister speaking. Mrs. Seymour's mother’s shared photos of her daughter dur ing her emotional comments to the judge. Mrs. Seymour’s nephew said that the murder had "robbed him of his best friend, his aunt.” He spoke of the University of Georgia ballgames, barbecues and birthday parties he enjoyed with his aunt. "The memories of her in her cof fin block all the good thoughts," the teenager said. Mrs. Seymour’s brother spoke of the loss the family has suffered. "My sister is gone,” he said. "The worst thing is that a little child lost a loving mother...Jamie was executed in the most cowardly way." Jamie Bridges Seymour was a 1997 graduate of Madison County High School. Judge Mingledorf thanked the family members who spoke, and said, "I realize there are many other sentiments that are unspoken...Thank you all for coming here today.” Seymour, dressed in a blue dress shirt and khaki pants and wearing shackles, did not speak. Five depu ties were in the courtroom during the sentencing. INSIDE Showroom for history Grant-funded Comer museum to pay tribute to the auto By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews.com A half century ago, the best-kept secret in town was tucked safely within the unassuming brick walls of the building that flanks Comer's city hall. There, new-year Ford models were parked and guarded from public view until their grand unveiling. Secrecy was of the utmost importance. Leaking the new models’ appearance — See “Comer’ on 3A Future Comer Museum HELPING HANDS Pilot Club of Madison County member Betty Sartain puts on a small water-resistant bracelet on Madison County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Jimmy Patton. These bracelets are used to help track those with brain injuries or illness if they leave their care providers. Margie Richards/Staff To save a life Pilot Club’s ‘Project Lifesaver’ provides a way to find injured, ill who go missing By Margie Richards margie@mainstreetnews.com P ilot Club of Madison County members sponsor a program they feel could be of tremen dous service to those who care for someone with a brain inju ry or illness. “It seems like you hear week ly on the news about an elderly person who's missing who has Alzheimer’s or dementia,” Pilot Club member Linda Freeman said. “Sometimes those stories have a safe ending for that person, but sometimes there’s a tragic one.” Freeman added that the search often turns from hours, to days and even weeks, before a person is found, if ever. And Pilot Club members want to provide a service they — See “Lifesaver’ on 7A New assessors named BOA reduced from 5 to 3 members Assessment appeal deadline is Monday, Page 2A By Margie Richards margie@mainstreetnews.com The old board is out; the new board is in. But two chairs can be pulled away from the table. Madison County commissioners named three people to the board of assessors Thursday, while reducing the BOA from a five-member to a three-member board. The new members are Lynn Hix, Ralph McCay Jr. and Janice Ellis. The commissioners agreed to set lengthy initial terms for two of the three members, so that term expirations will be staggered in the future. — See “BOA’on 7A TAXES Occupation tax refund deadline set for Aug. 31 County will return 50% of fee paid by businesses By Zach Mitcham zach@mainstreetnews.com After years of debate on whether to have an occupation tax, Madison County commissioners scrapped the plan earlier this year. Now, businesses that paid for the tax in 2009 have until Aug. 31 to get half their money back. “We are giving people till August 31, 2009, to bring a written request (signed and dated) along with their original OTC (occupation tax) to our office to request a refund,” said build ing inspection director Eddie Pritchett. “All requests are then forwarded to the — See ‘Occ. tax’ on 2A BUSINESS Feed mill to begin production Sept. 15 Index: News — 1-3A, 7A Opinions —4-5A Crime — 6A Schools — 8A Churches — 9A Obituaries — 10-11A Socials — 14-16A Sports— 1-2B Legate— 3-9B Classifieds — 10-12B Contact: Phone: 706-795-2567 Fax: 706-795-2765 Mail: P.O. Box 658, Danielsville, GA, 30633 Web: MadisonJoumalTODAY. com By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews.com Columbia Farms’ new Comer plant will begin production Sept. 15, accord ing to one company official, reaching full output by early-to mid-October. The company is relocating its Lavonia plant to a 107-acre tract east of Comer. Columbia started construc tion over a year ago — breaking ground in April 2008 — and is eager to get started in Madison County. “You’re dadgum right,” said Scott Cochran, a production manager for Columbia Farms said. “It’s a much- needed addition. I just can’t say enough about it.” At peak production, the mill should produce about 6,500 tons of chicken feed per week, though the plant can generate much more if needed. “It could peak out at 12,000 if you sold enough, and the poultry business g cc ‘p ccc [ mill’on 7A The Columbia Farms feed mill off Hwy. 72 is approximately 200 feet tall. Ben Munro/Staff