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THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. DECEMBER 31.2020 — PAGE 3A Hindsight cont d from 2A Evan Michael Davis, 17, was killed in a single-vehicle acci dent on Hwy. 98 in Madison County July 15. •Madison County schools delayed opening by a week, from Aug. 7 to Aug. 14. •County Republicans hosted an in-person debate between Republicans Matt Gurtler and Andrew Clyde, who were vying for the GOP U.S. 9th Congressional Dis trict nomination. •The Madison County Jour nal reported on an online can didate forum for local runoff candidates. •Georgia Renewable Power (GRP) leaders talked to The Journal about their plans as GRP neighbors waited for Gov. Kemp to sign HB857 into law. AUGUST •Gov. Kemp signed HB857 into law, banning the use of creosote-treated wood as a fuel source at biomass facil ities. •County industrial authority (IDA) members agreed to pro ceed with a water line project with an estimated price tag of at least $1.1 million that will allow them to purchase more water from Franklin County and to utilize water from a well on Roger’s Mill Road. •Investigators determined the fire at a Galilee Holiness Church metal bam was pur posefully set. •Todd Higdon was elected as the new county commis sion chairman. Rob Leverett was elected the new House District 33 representative. And Terry Chandler was picked to face Conolus Scott for the BOC District 2 post in November. •Madison County COVID- 19 cases and hospital admis sions doubled over the pre vious month. The Aug. 11 Georgia Department of Public Health report showed Madison County with a total of 417 COVID- 19 cases since March, up from 162 on July 11. •Madison County students returned to in-person instruc tion Aug. 14. •Danielsville leaders voted to proceed with a “letter of condition” for a $5,986,000 loan/ grant package from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for sewer upgrades and expan sion. •The Madison County High School football team resumed practice after a 14-day shut down after a coach tested pos itive for coronavirus. •Madison County topped 500 cases of COVID-19 since March. •Madison-Oglethorpe Ani mal Shelter (MOAS) Director Shaina Knight announced her resignation. SEPTEMBER •Industrial development authority leaders gave an overview of the Madison County Water System at the local Rotary Club meeting. •Madison County commis sioners approved a small roll back of county tax rates. •County resident David Jones appeared before com missioners and offered his help in securing good Internet service for Madison County. •Stan Elrod was mourn ed in Madison County and beyond after the long-time law enforcement officer lost his life after being shuck by a car. Arvil E. Hamons, 31, Danielsville, faces first-de gree vehicular homicide and other charges for the colli sion that claimed the life of the 49-year-old Department of Natural Resources Captain from Danielsville. •A Madison County Labor Day celebration was held at Madison County Memorial Park. •Madison County will get a new Department of Fam ily and Children Services (DFCS) building after all and should be open in August 2021. The 13,800-square-foot building will be construct ed on 7.257 acres formerly owned by the county school system. •The Madison County var sity football team opened its season at Habersham Central. •Madison County schools declared teachers as “essen tial workers.” This policy change means teachers who have been exposed to coro navirus have the option of returning to school following a three-day quarantine if they are symptom free and follow safety guidelines. •Madison County commis sioners said they were inter ested in conducting a noise study of GRP in Colbert. A number of neighbors of the facility have long said the noise is unbearable. •Madison County held its 72-annual Agricultural Fair. •Madison County had 50 new COVID-19 cases in a week. •Local citizens angered by Georgia Renewable Power (GRP) in Colbert put up a billboard on Hwy. 72. •County commissioners picked nine roads to be resur faced in with a combination of state and local funds total ing roughly $1.4 million. OCTOBER •County commissioners voted 4-0, with Theresa Bet tis absent, to move hiring and firing responsibilities to the district commissioners and away from the chairman. •Karen “Kay” Kirk, 64, Royston, was killed in a three-vehicle accident on Hwy. 29 and Moon’s Grove Church Road Oct. 2. •A Madison County 7-year- old second grader, Gus Boy kin, recovered from compli cations from COVID-19 that required a stay at Scottish Rite. His father, Bo, spoke to The Journal about his son’s experience with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). •The Madison County Board of Education heard from those in favor and opposed to a mask mandate in classrooms. •Emma Ollis was crowned the 2020 Madison County High School Homecoming Queen. Brady Bates was named Homecoming King. Pasha West was named the 2020 Madison County High School Homecoming Prin cess. •A man was attacked by a pack of dogs on Farm Road. •The Madison County Food Bank announced it would not host a Christmas program this year due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. •Andrew Kitchens was named the new director of the Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter. •Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger met with the Rotary Club of Madison County to discuss state voting policies. •The Madison County Red Raider softball team advanced to the Elite 8 by defeating Marist two games to one in a best-of-three series. •A federal $3,186,000 loan and $2,677,000 grant were awarded to the City of Danielsville to upgrade and expand its sewer system, which serves the city and also the county government and school system in Danielsville. •The Madison County School System dropped its requirement for students to wear masks while in class rooms, though a number of students continued to wear the face coverings. NOVEMBER •Donald Trump was favored by a 3-1 margin over Joe Biden in Madison County in the 2020 Presidential election. •Terry Chandler was elect ed BOC District 2 commis sioner. •A homestead exemption for Madison County property owners over 70 was approved by 92 percent of county vot ers. •The Madison County High School 2020 graduation rate was 95.1 percent, up from 94.64 percent in 2019. It was the highest rate ever at MCHS. •A memory card for a bal lot scanner at the Pittman precinct in Madison County didn’t successfully upload on election night, leaving 231 votes from that precinct off the county’s election-night totals. But those totals were added to the official count for Madison County and Geor gia. •The 17th annual Madison County Toy Ride was held Nov. 14, beginning at Madi son County Memorial Park. •Hwy. 72 from Hwy. 98 in Comer to the Elbert Coun ty line was named the "Bill Madden Parkway.” •Madison County High School basketball star Kayla McPherson signed a scholar ship to attend the University of North Carolina. •The Journal featured Grant Belk, who donated a kidney to his father-in-law, Dwayne Kidd. •The industrial authority agreed to seek grant fund ing to tie a water line in the Blacks Creek Church Road/ Mize Road area in western Madison County to the coun ty's main system. DECEMBER •After months of discus sions, county commission ers approved a contract with Mobile Communication America (MCA) to install a new 911 radio system. •Madison County commis sioners approved a per-bag increase. Trash bags of 33 gallons or less will go up from 50 cents to a $1 fee in 2021, while bags over 33 gal lons will cost $2 to drop off. •Madison County COVID- 19 numbers began to sharply increase. •The national Center for Disease Control (CDC) announced a reduction in the number of days some one should quarantine if in close contact with a positive COVID-19 case, •The Journal featured Patrick Blount and his new blacksmithing business, Greenhow Handmade Iron works in Comer. •The Journal featured MCHS running back and actor Dayton Gresham. •The Journal featured Mei Deavers, a sixth-grade Mad ison County Middle School student, who plays soccer on his recreation all star team on prosthetic legs. •Madison County High School and Madison County Middle School went to dis tance learning for the final week before Christmas break due COVID-19. Elementary schools remained in person. •The Rotary Club of Mad ison County constructed its 800th ramp. •The 36th-annual Christ mas Luminaries took place on Moon’s Grove Church Road with a Live Nativity at Moon’s Grove Baptist Church. •State school leaders decid ed to weigh end-of-course (EOC) tests at .01 percent of students’ grades for the 2020- 21 school year. •Three elected officials at the county commissioners’ table said their goodbyes — BOC chairman John Scarbor ough, District 1 commission er Lee Allen and District 2 commissioner Tripp Strick land. •Two hundred and eighteen needy Madison County kids had a brighter Christmas this year thanks to the county sheriff's office and communi ty volunteers and donors. •The Journal reported on a lawsuit between several Oglethorpe and Wilkes coun ty residents against Madison County's Smith Dairy Farms, saying their properties are being used for waste disposal, not ag production. The Smiths said their claims lack merit. •Local elected officials talk ed about a range of issues at the Madison County Cham ber of Commerce's annual “Eggs and Issues” breakfast. Gov’t complex closed until Jan. 4 Man dies in chainsaw accident The Madison County Government Complex will be closed until Jan. 4 due to COVID-19 protocol. Commission chairman John Scarborough said that approximately 40-to-50 people at the complex were exposed to a person pos itive with the vims. He said the complex will be sanitized during the week. The complex was already scheduled to be closed Jan. 1 for the New Year’s holiday. “Please if anyone feels sick in anyway, get tested before Monday Jan. 4,” said Scarborough in a notice about the closure. “Hope everyone has a safe and Happy Holidays.” A 78-year-old man lost his life in a chainsaw accident on McCarty Dodd Road Dec. 22 around 3:30 p.m. According to county coroner Julie “Coach” Harrison. Anthony Mazeika and a family member were working together on a construction project. Mazeika was on a ladder using a chainsaw when the instrument kicked back and hit him in the neck area. He died at the scene. The Madson County Journal is your source for local news. Call 800-367-5233 to subscribe or visit About the papers The five MainStreet News papers publications — The Madison County Journal, The Jackson Herald, The Braselton News, The Barrow News-Journal and The Banks County News — are printed and delivered once a week. •About delivery: The news papers are delivered to the post office and, from there, to sub- THE STARTER & ALTERNATOR SHOP • Starter • Alternator • Generator Repair .WAYNE, Owner 245-0055 Batteries 481 College Street $40 Royston, GA 30662 HOURS: 8-5:30 M, T, TH, F 8-12 Wed. • 8-11 Sat. Headmaster’s Corner by Steve Cummings LOOKING FOR HOPE? Many would say that 2020 was the most difficult year in our lifetimes. The virus caused much sickness, many deaths, unemployment, business clos ings, church closings, and loss of our ability to be together. We’ve seen political chaos, ra cial strife, and hatred on display. As a result, people are look ing for hope. Some see hope in a vaccine. Some see it in a new president. Some see it in gov ernment assistance. Hebrews 6:19 says, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” What is this hope? It is God’s promise to save His children through His Son, Jesus. For Believers - even in difficult times - our hope is Jesus, our anchor for the soul. ATHENS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL “Affordable Quality Education Since 1970” K3-12TH CALL (706) 549-7586 www.athenschristianschool.org scribers’ post office boxes or home mailboxes. The news papers do not have “paper boxes” at people’s homes and are not delivered by carriers. However, the papers are deliv ered to newspaper vending machines in various locations across Madison, Jackson, Bar- row and Banks counties. •About subscriptions: Sub scribers are sent a renewal notice before their subscrip tion runs out. A quick way to check to see when a subscrip tion ends is to look for the expiration date on the mailing label. For more information on the above items, or for other details about the newspapers, call the MainStreet Newspa pers Inc. office at 706-367- 5233. CITY OF HULL CALL FOR SPECIAL ELECTION Notice is hereby given that, in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 21-2-540, a special election shall be held in the City of Hull to fill the vacant position of Council Member previously held by Yvonne Daven port, which expires December 31, 2023. Qualifying Fee is $19.50. Qualifying for the special election shall be held at the Hull City Hall, 1326 Old Elberton Road, Hull, Georgia, on January 11th, 12th and 13 th, 2021, between the hours of 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. All persons who are not registered to vote and who desire to register to vote in the special election may register through close of business on February 16, 2021, at the county registrar’s office. In the event of an election Early and Advance Voting Dates will be published at the end of the qualifying period. Sandra Pou Election Superintendent Qualifying Officer City of Hull us online at MadisonJournalTODAY.com FOR ONLY $5 PER MONTH you can list your group’s meetings! Call 706-367-5233 to advertise your meeting date, time and place. Banks County News • Jackson Herald Madison County Journal • Braselton News 15786 KIWANIS OF JEFFERSON Meetings every 2 ,1C| & 4 th Monday at 1 p.m. Beef O’Brady’s 15252 HUDSON LODGE #294 F & A.M. 1364 Hospital Rd., Commerce 1st Thursday of each month Meeting 7:30 p.m. • Dinner 6:30 p.m. Cameron Boswell 706-215-4282 15850 GAINESVILLE CHURCH belonging to Christ Meets for Bible study Wed. 7PM Sun. 9:30AM Worship Sun. 10:30AM 2815 Wallace Road • Gainesville, GA Free Home Bible Study • 770-835-4000 For info call (678) 928-9350. GCOC.org 12626 JEFFERSON ROTARY CFUB Meets Tuesdays 12:30 p.m. American Legion Post 56 309 Lee St., Jefferson Les Crane, President les.crane@bhhsgeorgia.com HALL COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY Meetings at 6:30 p.m. Gainesville Civic Center OPEN TO ALL ^470-577-0095 Pilot Club of Jefferson Meets 3rd Tuesday of each month, 6:30 p.m. Jefferson City Clubhouse 706-367-9313 or 706-693-4715 12625 12971 MADISON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY Meets 4th Sat. @ 10:30 a.m. Madison Co. Senior Center 706-789-3336 mcgademocrats.wixsite.com/mcdp BANKS COUNTY Jfl| AMERICAN LEGION llpr Post 215 Meets each 3rd Tues., 6 p.m. In Homer, GAat the American Legion Building on Historic Highway 441 ~ 12972 J&p ROCKWELL M LODGE F& A.M. No. 191, Hoschton, GA 2nd Tues. at 7:30 p.m. • Dinner at 6:30 p.m. www.rockwelllodgel.91 .com Two blocks behind Larry's Garage West Broad at Hall Street BANKS COUNTY 13004 HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC. Meets first Monday each month 7:00 p.m. in the Banks County Historical Courthouse at 105 U. S. Hwy 441 North in Homer, GA 12623 JEFFERSON LIONS CLUB Meets 2nd & 4th Monday Jefferson City Clubhouse 6:30 p.m. • (706) 247-4094 Robert Hall, President 4660 St. Catherine Laboure Catholic Church Mass Schedule: Sat. 4:00 p.m. Sun. 10:00 a.m. Monday ■ Friday 12:10 p.m, Spanish Sun. 8:00 a.m. Website: www.stcatherinelabourega.org 706-367-7220 fa, 13905 1 UNITY LODGE F & A.M. No. 36, Jefferson, GA 1st Tues. of each month, 7:30 p.m. Tom Hays • 678-316-7492 Borders St. Behind Tabo's 1 “JL BANKS COUNTY ill AMERICAN LEGION '•‘"AUXILIARY - Post 215 Meets each 3rd Tues., 6 p.m. In the American Legion Building at 1350 Historic Homer Hwy., Homer, GA JEFFERSON AREA 2620 BUSINESS ASSOCIATION www.jaba-ga.org Meets 3rd Thursday • 11:45 a.m. Jefferson City Clubhouse 302 Longview Drive jk JEFFERSON AMERICAN LEGION Post 56 • Meets 3rd Tues., 6:30 p.m. Joe Ruttar, Commander Phone (860) 949-4037 309 Lee St., Jefferson, GA 12969 . Tri-County J Shrine Club 3rd Thurs. of each month 7:00 p.m. Rockwell Lodge 191 11067 JACKSON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY Meetings at 6:30 p.m. Meets 3rd Thursday of each month '■a/jP- Bank OZK Jr465 Old Swimming Pool Rd. Meeting is open to all who wish to attend. www.jcdcga.org