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DECEMBER 24, 2020
Madison County Journal
Merged with The Comer News and The Danielsville Monitor, 2006
MadisonJoumaITODAY.com
Vol. 37 No. 47 • Publication No. 1074-987 • Danielsville, Madison County, Georgia 30633 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers Inc. • 20 Pages, 2 Section Plus Supplements
$1.00
EDUCATION
State BOE
approves .01
EOC course
weight
State school lead
ers decided Monday to
weigh end-of-course
(EOC) tests at .01 per
cent of students’ grades
for the 2020-21 school
year. The tests typically
count 20 percent of a
student’s final grade.
The vote followed
some back and forth by
the Georgia Board of
Education on how to
handle EOC tests. State
School Superintendent
Richard Woods pro
posed the .01 weight to
reduce students’ stress
during a pandemic year,
a move supported by
Madison County School
Superintendent Michael
Williams.
U.S. Secretary of
Education Betsy Devos
wrote education leaders
in September, saying
that she didn’t plan to
waive regular require
ments this school year.
The Georgia BOE then
voted in October to
weigh the tests at 10
percent. However, the
BOE heard from many
who supported the .01
weight for 2020-21.
And the board unani
mously adopted the .01
weight for this school
year.
The Georgia
Milestones EOCs are
typically taken in high
school in four subject
areas — Algebra, U.S.
history, biology and
American literature and
composition — and
count for 20 percent of
a student’s final grade.
Index:
News — 1-3A, 6A
Opinions — 4-5A
Crime — 7 A
Social — 8-9A
Obituaries —10-11A
Features — 1B
School — 2-3B, 6B
Legals — 4-5B
Classifieds — 7B
Contact:
A Madison
Co. Christmas
tradition
— Page IB
COVID-19
case rate
remains high
— Page 2A
EGGS AND ISSUES
Lawmakers talk elections
Madison County Chamber holds annual Eggs and Issues breakfast
By Margie Richards
margie @ mainstreetnews.com
Election reform, education and
continuing healthcare issues during
the pandemic will likely be the big
issues on the minds and agendas
of state lawmakers in the upcoming
2021 legislative session.
Representative Alan Powell and
Senator Frank Ginn were on hand
for this year’s annual sponsored
“Eggs and Issues’’ legislative break
fast, sponsored by the Chamber
of Commerce and Jackson EMC.
Though some members were in
attendance, the breakfast was broad
cast via Zoom and Facebook Live in
order to comply with COVID-related
restrictions.
Representative Rob Leverett, who
won the election to replace long-time
representative Tom McCall, was in
COVID quarantine and unable to
attend. Both Powell and Ginn wished
him a speedy recovery.
Powell, who spoke first, said the
country was the most divided he had
ever seen it, at least since the early
1970s.
“It’s all about the ‘haves and the
have nots,”’ Powell said. He said he
feared the country under the new
administration might be on the road
See ‘Issues’ on 3A
HELPING HANDS
Madison County Sheriff Michael Moore, Torie Lester, Angel Fisher and county
911 director Brenan Baird are pictured Saturday with trash bags full of toys
for needy Madison Coirnty kids. The toys were picked up by families this past
weekend to give to children on Christmas.
Community steps to the plate
for needy kids at Christmas
By Zach Mitcham
zach @ mainstreetnews.com
Two hundred and
eighteen needy Madison
County kids are having
a brighter Christmas this
year thanks to the county
sheriff’s office and com
munity volunteers and
donors.
Over $10,000 was
raised by the county Toy
Ride in honor of the late
Stan Elrod this year, and
trash bags full of toys
See ‘Kids’ on 2A
BOC
Three at BOC
table say ‘goodbye’
By Zach Mitcham
zach @ mainstreetnews.com
Three elected officials at the county commissioners’
table said their goodbyes Monday — BOC chairman
John Scarborough, District 1 commissioner Lee Allen and
District 2 commissioner Tripp Strickland.
They will be replaced Jan. 1 by Todd Higdon, Dennis
Adams and Terry Chandler.
The officials offered numerous thank yous, and they
were met with fond farewells from their fellow commis
sioners who voiced appreciation for their service at the
BOC table for the past four years. New BOC chairman
Higdon thanked each of the outgoing members and
thanked Scarborough for being very helpful during the
transition.
“He has been helpful to me and has definitely made
the transition much easier,” said Higdon of Scarborough.
Scarborough said people do have differences, but he
said public service can’t be about that.
“I think the mark of good character is you get beyond
that,” he said. You put your personal grievances and gripes
aside and work for what’s best.”
The outgoing chairman said he enjoyed his time in
office.
“From my perspective, it’s been an honor serving the
citizens of Madison County and working alongside so
many good, dedicated people, the employees, the com-
See ‘BOC’ on 2A
LITIGATION
Ag practice or waste disposal?
Madison Co. company sued over spreading practices in Oglethorpe, Wilkes counties
Phone: 800-795-2581
Mail: P.O. Box 658,
Danielsville, Ga. 30633
Web:
MadisonJournalTODAY.
com
Residents in Oglethorpe and Wilkes counties have filed suit against Madison County’s
Smith Dairy Farms and several businesses supplying poultry materials. Plaintiffs say
what’s happening on Smith properties isn’t an ag practice, but a waste-disposal arrange
ment that has affected their quality of life. The Smiths say it is indeed an ag practice.
By Zach Mitcham
zach@mainstreetnews.com
William Beck’s college-age daughters called
him one day in 2018 and said they couldn’t stay at
the family property. Their friends were throwing
up due to the overwhelming stench.
“They said, 'Dad the smell is so bad we can’t be
outside; the flies are like what we’ve never seen
before,”’ said Beck.
Beck says owning land in rural areas involves
being exposed to agricultural smells. That’s just
life in the country.
“It could be the sour smell of silage or food
materials,” he said. “Those are smells you should
buy into if you have rural property. But the smell
of death is something you would probably not
expect.”
He said he reached out to the Smith brothers of
Madison County’s Smith Dairy Farms, who own
property across from his land on Centerville Road
in Rayle.
Beck said he was told it was just manure.
“I said, 'No, it’s more than that,”’ he said.
Donna Blanton lives about half a mile from
Smith’s property in Lexington. She said there
were numerous truckloads of waste dumped per
week and that being outside was intolerable.
“Horrific is the best term I can use, but when
they were having this sludge dumped, it was
impossible to do anything outside,” she said. “It
was impossible to cut the grass, feed the dogs. It
was horrible and it is not as bad today. They are
using a different product, but the stench is still
there.”
THE ALLEGATIONS
Beck and Blanton were joined by several prop
erty owners in Oglethorpe and Wilkes counties
who have taken the Madison County farming
business to court over spreading practices near
their homes. They are also suing the companies
providing the material.
A civil case was initially filed in Oglethorpe
County Superior Court, but it was transferred to
Madison County Superior Court in November.
Plaintiffs in the case include Beck, Blanton,
Thomas Adair, Scott Powell, Wade Powell,
Raymond Arnold and Ruth Wilson. Defendants
are Smith Dairy Farms Inc., Smith Land & Cattle
Company, Jeff Smith, Isonova Technologies,
Wilbros, Denali Water Solutions, Prime-Pak
See ‘Lawsuit’ on 6A
