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THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. DECEMBER 31.2009 — PAGE 3A 2009 - a look back Here are some of the notable stories The Madison County Journal reported in 2009: Jan. 15 Powers returned to BOC chairman Madison County commission ers gave new county chairman Anthony Dove personnel powers in January that they had stripped from Wesley Nash. “I think the people soundly spoke for a leader in this county when they went to the polls,” said Commissioner Stanley Thomas, who proposed restoring hiring and firing powers to the chairman’s position. Jan. 26 Rezoning for retirement golfing village approved County commissioners voted 4-1 Jan. 26 — with Bruce Scogin providing the lone “no” vote — to approve John Byram’s request for a rezoning for Sunrise Golf Village, a proposed densely clus tered 55-and-over development around Byram’s Sunrise Golf Course, the only golf course in Madison County. May 4, 22 Da bank robbed twice in one month Merchants and Farmers Bank in Ila off Hwy. 98 was robbed twice in one month in 2009 — on May 4 and then again on May 22. The same robber is suspected in both crimes and has not been caught. The lone masked gunman was described as a black male, 5’5” to 5’7” and approximately 150-160. He wore a red hooded sweatshirt and carried a small pistol. May 12 Chad Stone named MCHS principal The Madison County school board hired its second high school principal in as many years, nam ing Chad Darnell Stone as Tommy Craft's successor May 12. Stone came to Madison County High School from Ashbum, where he was principal of Turner County High School. Stone was the first choice of both superintendent Mitch McGhee and the interview committee. May 19 Funds approved for Harrison water system The state government approved a $2.3 million grant/loan for water lines for the Harrison District in northern Madison County May 19. The funds are part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided to Georgia for shovel-ready projects and consist of a 70 percent subsidy ($1,610,000) and a three-percent 20-year loan on the remaining 30 percent ($690,000). June 1 Occupation tax axed Madison County commis sioners said "enough is enough" June 1 with the nearly three-year debate on the county occupation tax, agreeing to scrap the plan completely. “I think we need to trash the whole ordinance,” said Commissioner Mike Youngblood, before making a motion to do away with the occupation tax. “I think we've wasted time bicker ing back and forth trying to get this thing ironed out... We’re not getting anything accomplished.” Commissioner Stanley Thomas provided the lone vote against the dismissal, saying the tax provided a way for county leadership to keep tabs on what businesses are actually in the county, while also providing contractors a form of official licensing. June 21 Brother, sister die in Colbert fire A Colbert brother and sister died in a fire and explosion appar ently fueled by gunpowder early June 21 near Colbert Elementary School. Lisa Shubert, 42, of Colbert School Road and her brother, Terry (T.J.) Cotton, 39, of Madison Street, were pronounced dead at the scene following resus citation efforts. A third victim, Jerry Scott Payne, also of Colbert School Road, was transported by Emory life flight helicopter to Grady Memorial Hospital’s bum center with initial repons of bums to 90 percent of his body, as well as smoke inhalation injuries. June 22, Dec. 17 BOE, BOC approve reduced budgets Madison County commission ers met repeatedly for several months in 2009, poring over line items and looking for potential cuts in the 2010 budget. The board officially cut the budget by 5.4 percent Dec. 17, agreeing not to fund proposed increases next year in the sheriff’s department. They reduced holiday pay for county employees by 50 percent in 2010, but avoided layoffs or a mill rate increase. Meanwhile, the county school board cut the school system budget by 4.5 per cent June 22. Madison County Schools Superintendent Mitch McGhee said the system had to pay for state-mandated expenses and made “heart-wrenching” cuts in other areas to prevent a tax increase. Three Madison County teacher furlough days were approved in 2009. July 30 Hearing held on potential Hwy. 29 project Ten Department of Transportation officials were on hand July 30 in the Madison County High School cafeteria to answer questions and receive input from local citizens who viewed large maps of possible Hwy. 29 routes. The state DOT proposes a widening and rerout ing of Hwy. 29, along with a bypass of Danielsville, Four dif ferent routing options were on display at the MCHS cafeteria, drawing several inquisitive — and some concerned — residents. But Madison County is a long way from seeing one of its main arteries expanded. There are no designs, nor funding for Hwy. 29 proposal, DOT engineer Russell McMurry explained. “So really at this point, there is no plan, no timetable to start actually doing the finer elements of design such that you can buy right of way and eventually build a project,” he said. On a MadisonJoumalTODAY. com poll, 88 percent of respon dents favored a bypass on the east side of Danielsville, if one is even tually constructed, compared to 12 percent for a west-side bypass. Aug. 18 Dills sentenced to four years in prison Former Danielsville city clerk Michelle Dills was sentenced to four years in prison Aug. 18 for stealing almost $200,000 from city coffers between 2003 and 2008. Superior Court Judge John Bailey handed down the sen tence to Dills in Elbert County’s Superior Courtroom, issuing Dills a 10-year sentence, with four years of that sentence in prison and the remaining six years on probation. Aug. 18 Dogs euthanized at shelter after couple mauled A pack of 16 dogs that offi cials believe killed an Oglethorpe County couple was euthanized at the Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter Aug. 18. Former University of Georgia professor Lothar Karl Schweder, 77, and his wife Sherry Schweder, 65, a librarian, were found mauled to death Aug. 15 along Howard Thaxton Road off Hwy. 77 about two miles north of Lexington in Oglethorpe County. The case drew national attention. Aug. 25 Waggoner announces retirement John Waggoner, who served as the city’s chief elected offi cial since 1969, won’t seek a bid for re-election this year. “I'm not going to be qualifying for mayor next go-round," Waggoner said Aug. 25. His term expires today (Dec. 31). Waggoner, 73, was never opposed in any election in his 40 years as mayor. September-December Rains soak county After several years of drought conditions, the skies opened up in 2009, with Madison County soaked by numerous deluges in the last four months of the year. The rains led to road and roof problems in the county, but also came as welcome relief for many who had faced well water short ages. Oct. 27 Spence sentenced to two years in prison Former deputy county clerk Melinda Spence was sentenced in Madison County Superior Court Oct. 27 to two years in prison and 18 years probation for two counts of felony theft by taking. But during a hearing prior to the sentencing, Spence testified that she was not the only one involved in the thefts of over $80,000 from the BOC office. She claimed she had been instructed to alter deposit slips by her boss, former county clerk and finance director, Morris Fortson. “I was instructed to do this,” she told the court. “...Morris Fortson showed me how to do this." Fortson also took the stand and vehemently denied the allegation, saying that he had “absolutely not” had any part in the crime. No charges have been filed against Fortson. Nov. 3 Three new Madison County Industrial Authority approves sewer bid By Margie Richards margie@mainstreetnews.com Industrial Development Authority board members met briefly Dec. 21, accepting a bid of Griffin Brothers ($66,810) to install the force main at the Hull-Sanford sewer system. A commercial sewer system is being constructed in the Hull area to attract businesses to the county. In other business, the IDA voted to amend construction standards and sanitary sewer system specifications in order to meet EPD requirements. The group also heard that projects such as the Harrison Social Security Disability Denied? Call us today to set the benefits you deserve! Hynes & Associates LLC Disability Advocates 678-935-3923 or Toll Free 1-866-460-0903 P. O. Box 1657, Suwanee, GA 30024 www.hvnesdisabilitv.com Member: National Association of Disability Representatives water line and the Hull- Sanford sewer system are pro gressing well. Utility director Steve Shaw said most of the work on the Harrison water line project should be done in a couple of weeks and that the sewer plant building is nearing completion as is the wastewater pond site. Commerce Kidney Center 592 Ridgeway Rd. • Commerce, GA BezeAdogu, Khudr Burjak, Harini Chittineni, MD, PhD, FACP MD MD 1 st Rate Dialysis Care, Right Here At Home. ♦ Board-Certified Doctors ♦ Hypertension & Dialysis Experts ♦ Daily Evaluation By Doctor / Call (706) KIDNEYS v (706) 543-6397 for appointment. Visit facility with loved ones to see for yourself., mayors elected New mayors were elected in Danielsville, Comer and Colbert Nov. 3. In Danielsville, council man Philip Croya defeated long time mayor Glenn Cross, 92-46. In Comer, David McMickle defeated long-time mayor Billy Burroughs 120-73. And in Colbert, council man Chris Peck ran unopposed as the city’s new mayor. He replac es John Waggoner, who retired after 40 years as the city’s mayor. In other municipal races, Paige Phillips defeated Paul Cook for a Hull council seat and Tim Wyatt defeated Ellyn Trinrud in a runoff for a Colbert council seat. Dec. 1 Feed mill opens on Hwy. 72 Columbia Farms' new Comer chicken feed mill off Hwy. 72 east of Comer held an official ribbon-cutting and open house for county officials, commu nity members and growers Dec. 1. The company, a division of House of Raeford, relocated its Lavonia feed mill to the 107- acre tract east of Comer. The plant currently employs about 30 people. At peak production, the mill should be able to pro duce about 6,500 tons of chick en feed per week, or more. Dec. 10 Tax sale planned Madison County residents who haven’t paid their taxes for two years or more could lose their property early in 2010. Tax commissioner Louise Watson said in December that she is planning a tax sale next year, with the sale date prob ably coming in early March. Dec. 10 Foreclosures reach record high Fifty two Madison County properties were advertised in December in The Madison County Journal for the January 2010 foreclosure sale, topping the previous monthly record total of 50. In 2009, 377 fore closures were advertised in The Madison County Journal. That’s up from 260 foreclo sures advertised in 2008 and 150 advertised in both 2006 and 2007. Nov. 26 Shelter faces financial crisis The head of the financially- strapped Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter predicted a long, cold winter, with MOAS need ing about $15,000 in donations to get it through the spring. The shelter recently received a dona tion of $500 from the Madison County Democratic Party and a pledge of $500 from the city of Hull. A private, anonymous donor has offered $10,000 if the county matches the donation. r $5°°0FF Ticket Of s 20°° Or More. Valid with coupon Mon.-Thurs. only. n La Hacienda Commerce La Hacienda Braselton 173 Steven B. Tanger Blvd. 5391 Highway 53 706-335-7458 706-654-0070 I The Original Mexican Restaurant! Not affiliated with any other restaurant. | Ring in the New Year with I q • • n R&S SANITATION • ) p rf• •' - — | $18.00 Monthly Serving Madison Co. / X 706-795-5476 A FOR ONLY $5 PER MONTH, YOU CAN LIST YOUR GROUP'S MEETINGS! Let your members know when your group is meeting! 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 T DANIELSVILLE |g| AMERICAN LEGION '^0' Post 39 Meets last Thursday, 7 p.m. JANUARY - OCTOBER American Legion Building Crawford W. Long Street BANKS COUNTY ip AMERICAN LEGION Post 215 Meets each 3rd Thursday, 7 p.m. In Homer, GA at the American Legion Building on Historic Highway 441 pd.oe/io v|f| VETERANS OF W FOREIGN WARS Post 4872, Hurricane Shoals Convention Ctr. Each 4th Tuesdasy, 7:00 p.m. Jason Mergele, Commander Phone 706-367-7237 lei JEFFERSON ROTARY CLUB Meets Tuesdays Jefferson City Clubhouse 12:30 p.m. • (706) 335-3151 Shade Storey, President 547 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 mo JEFFERSON LIONS CLUB Meets 2nd & 4th Monday Jefferson City Clubhouse 6:30 p.m.-(706) 367-9349 Jimmy Mock, President 542 HO BANKS COUNTY gJjAMERICAN LEGION Riders Post 215 Meets each 2nd Thursday, 7 p.m. In Homer, GA at the American Legion Building on Historic Highway 441 pd.oa/io 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 thewlettl@charter.net Pd. 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/io NORTH EAST GEORGIA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB Meets the 1st Thursday each month at the Commerce City Public Library 1344 South Broad Street www.ne4ga.org pd 12 JEFFERSON HI AMERICAN LEGION Albert Gordon Post 56 Each 3rd Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. Harvie Lance, Commander Phone (706) 654-1274 .no St. Catherine Laboure Catholic Mission Mass Schedule: Sat. 4:00 p.m., Sun. 11:00 a.m., Thurs. 12:10 p.m. First Friday Adoration 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Website: www.stcatherinelabourega.org 706-367-7220 Pd. 1/10 No Fee Unless You Win!