About The Madison County journal. (Hull, Ga.) 1989-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 7, 2010)
The www.MadisonJournalTODAY.com JANUARY 7, 2009 Merged with The Comer News and The Danielsville Monitor, 2006 Vol. 25 No. 1 • Publication No. 1074-987 • Danielsville, Madison County, Georgia 30633 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers Inc. • 22 Pages, 2 Sections Plus Supplements CITY GOVT Danielsville considers new election security measures By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews.com New Danielsville mayor Philip Croya wants to pro vide no fodder for conspiracy theorists out there. Croya suggested changes in election protocol at Monday night's council meeting, which included employing a person outside the city gov ernment to oversee elections and replacing the ballot box with a safe to protect votes from any potential tamper ing. “I would like to see a more secure election around here,” he said. Croya said several cities use an election superinten dent that’s independent from the municipal government. Otherwise, there might be the assumption of preferen tial treatment if city officials — See“DVille”on2A DISTRICT 47 Ginn pulls out of state senate race Another candidate for the District 47 State Senate race has withdrawn. Frank Ginn, Madison County, announced Saturday that he is no longer run ning for the District 47 State Senate seat, currently held by Ralph Hudgens — who is running for state insurance commissioner. Ginn, who announced his candidacy on July 26, was vying for the seat with Pat Graham, Braselton; Shane Coley, Winder; and Kelley Gary, Hoschton. Kenny Weaver, Hull, withdrew from the race in November. Ginn’s 10-year-old son, Stephen, was killed in an accident with a Kubota Mule in August at the family’s Madison County home. “I’ve had the honor of spending most of my adult life in public service and was — See “Ginn” on 2A EJECTIONS Elections set for 2010 Several local, state posts up for grabs this year By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews.com Madison County voters will have plenty on their political plates in 2010 between county, state and national elections. The primaries are July 20. All general and non-partisan elections are Nov. 2. Qualifying for the July pri maries runs from April 26 at 9 a.m. to April 30 at noon. Qualifying for the November general elections and non-partisan elections runs from June 28 at 9 a.m. to July 2 at noon. The voter registration deadline for the July prima ries is June 21. The deadline for the November elections is Oct. 4. Here’s a rundown of what’s on the ballot this election year: •The magistrate judge’s post, currently held by Harry Rice, is up for election. The qualifying fee for this non partisan race is $1,491.95. •Three commission spots are up for grabs — those cur rently held by John Pethel, District 2; Mike Youngblood, District 3; and Bruce Scogin, District 5. The qualifying fees for these partisan races are $216. •Two board of education seats are up for election — those currently held by Dr. Robert Hooper, District 1; and Arlen Johnson, District 2. The qualifying fees for these non-partisan elections are $80.22. •Both of Madison County’s state legislative representa tive seats are up for elec tion: District 29, currently held by Alan Powell (D); and District 30, currently held by Tom McCall (R). The state District 47 seat is also up for grabs. Incumbent Ralph Hudgens is running for state insurance commissioner. •At the state level, voters will decide elections for both governor and Lt. governor this year. Other state elec tions include secretary of state, attorney general, state school superintendent, state agriculture commissioner, state insurance commission er and state labor commis sioner. •Nationally, U.S. senator Johnny Isakson is up for re- election as is District 10 U.S. — See “Elections” on 2A ACTIVITIES ‘Dancing the night away 5 First Saturday barn dances sponsor a sense of community, fun and of helping others By Margie Richards margie@mainstreetnews.com It may have been below freezing Saturday night, but inside the old Colbert Elementary gym, folks were fired up, kicking up their heels for the first of at least three old-time community bam dances planned for the winter months. About 60 folks sashayed, waltzed, or promenaded to the music, provided for this dance by the Garnet River Gang (aka the Garnet River Gals) Project manager Beth Zorbanos said she was thrilled at the turnout despite the cold weather. Zorbanos is spearheading the three bam dances with funds provided by a Georgia Council for the Arts Grassroots Arts Program and also sponsored by Madison County Habitat for Humanity. “I'd love to see them go on beyond these three - I'd like to see them as regular events in our community,” Zorbanos said. And the dances are not just for the experienced - beginners are welcome. A workshop is held at 6:30 p.m. before each dance, and instructions are also given throughout the dance to help newcomers learn the steps. “The point is to have fun,” Zorbanos said. Zorbanos first helped bring community bam dances to Madison County 10 years ago in conjunction with the Folklife Festivals held each spring in Danielsville. She sees the dances as not just a way to have fun, but to foster a sense of community. Dances have also been done as fundraisers for a particular need of an individual or group in the community. “It's just a fun way to do something good for the community Mani Ridgway and Charlie Jameson dance to the music at the Old Time Bam Dance held Saturday in the old Colbert gym. The dance was the first of three planned “first Saturday” dances to be held at the gym. Photo by Charles Richards or someone in the community,” Zorbanos stressed. “And if you don’t dance - it's still a lot of fun to come and watch the danc ing. . .we have a good time.” The next two dances, called First Saturday Old Time Bam Dances, will be held Feb. 6 and March 6, also at the old Colbert gym. Musicians for the February dance will be The Georgia Mudcats and the Hogslop Springband will perform in March. The dances are being called by Janet Shepherd. Admission is $5 each for adults and $3 for those under 17. Nonperishable donations to the Madison County Food Bank are encouraged and appreciated. For more information call 706-795-3223. COMER Comer agrees to do Tull audit’ of finances By Margie Richards margie@mainstreetnews.com Comer city council got down to business Monday evening with new Mayor David McMickle and council member Jimmy Yarbrough on board for their first meeting. The council voted to con duct a “full-audit” of the city's finances, instead of a less-detailed “cash audit,” and to have it done by an independent auditor, instead of the city’s regular auditors (Hawkins and McNair) at the recommendation of council man Howard Threlkeld. City attorney James Roberts recommended Washington resident Steve Albertson, who he said does audits for a number of municipalities. McMickle agreed to contact Albertson — See “Comer” on 2A HISTORY Crawford Long Museum to re-open Sat. in Jefferson Madison Go. native remembered for contribution to medicne By Jana Mitcham jana@mainstreetnews.com There’s a pair of wire framed glasses, along with a case well worn from being slipped in and out of a pock et. There’s a wedding day tie, a black silk scarf that was a present to his wife. There’s a book of Shakespeare, “The Gentlemen of Verona,” with Dr. Long’s name written on the cover page. A medical case with the handle worn rough from being gripped over and over is opened to display cork- — See “Long” on 2A INSIDE Index: News —1-3A Opinions — 4-5A Crime —6A Schools — 3B, 10B Churches —7A Socials — 12A Classifieds — 10-11A Sports — 1-2B Obituaries —4B Legals — 5-9B Contact: Phone: 706-795-2567 Fax: 706-795-2765 Mail: PO. Box 658, Danielsville, GA, 30633 Web: MadisonJoumalTODAY com COMMUNITY ‘A morning of fellowship’ Local men from various denominations enjoy monthly gathering in Ila By Margie Richards margie@mainstreetnews.com Denominational differences may exist among Methodists and Baptists, Presbyterians and Holiness, but you can't tell it by the comfortable atmosphere that exists during the Ila Men’s Fellowship breakfast, held on the third Sunday of every month at the Ila Restaurant. At their Christmas breakfast held Dec. 20, 44 men (including eight pastors) from 14 different churches around the county attended the meet ing. The morning’s scheduled spe cial speaker and musician, Rev. Tim Peek, of Ila Baptist, was sick and couldn’t attend, but the venerable Rev. Calvin Ward, of Danielsville Methodist, stepped up to fill in as speaker, while vocalists Wesley and Josh Chandler, with Danny Lord at the piano, provided musical enter tainment in Peek's absence. “I love all the busyness of the sea son, all the Merry Christmases said to one another, the music, the TV shows, and all the preparation for what we’ll celebrate this Thursday evening (Christmas Eve) - the birth of Jesus Christ,” Rev. Ward told the — See “Ila men” on 2A Rev. Calvin Ward (L), speaker for the December Ila Men’s Fellowship meeting, talks with the group’s founder, James Wofford. Forty-four men from 14 different churches attended the Christmas meeting, held Sunday morning at Ila Restaurant. Margie Richards /staff
