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O O JUNE 1, 2023 Madison County Journal Merged with The Comer News and The Danielsville Monitor, 2006 MadisonJoumaITODAY.com Vol. 40 No. 17 • Publication No. 1074-987 • Danielsville, Madison County, Georgia 30633 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers Inc. • 24 Pages, 2 Sections Plus Supplements $1.00 Four Red Raiders compete in powerlifting championship — Page 7A Madison County 4-H competes in Project S.A.F.E. events — Page 9A MCHS GRADUATION Jamarion Combs shakes hands with Madison County High School Principal Johnathan Harris as he crosses the stage to get his diploma Friday night. Photo by Zach Mitcham Tassels turned Class of ‘23 says goodbye to grade school — See each graduation speech in its entirety on Page 6A — See photos inside in the B section and a gallery online at MadisonJournalTODAY.com By Zach Mitcham zach@mainstreetnews.com A few did a little dance, some pumped their fist, and many couldn't help but smile as their family members cheered from stands. Members of the Madison County Class of 2023 wrapped up their grade school days Friday night on the high school football field, with a commencement ceremony that was moved from Saturday morning due to expected bad weather. Kyrsten Watts was recognized as the class’s "Good Citizenship" award win ner. Outgoing MCHS Principal Johnathan Harris felt his neck get heavy with silver bead necklaces from each graduate. Addie Mitcham and Mary Kincaid were honored as the Valedictorian and Salutatorian of the Class of 2023, and Billy Hallberg and Kate Bray were featured speakers during the cer emony, along with Mitcham and Kincaid. Each speaker addressed the passage of time. Hallberg told his classmates that it’s important to savor life and to be grateful for the moments they’ve had together in school. “No matter who you are, where you are, or what you are doing, enjoy it," he said. “If you are getting that new PR (personal record), embrace it. If you are devouring a delicious chicken sandwich from Chick- Fil-A, slow down and savor it. Enjoy every single moment of your life as if it were your last. We’ll never be those kids again. We’ll never have those 2,340 days again, but we do have those memories that made them special.” Mary Kincaid, the salutatorian of the Class of 2023, urged her peers to seize opportunities, embrace life’s challenges, and cherish the lessons from youth. “Right now, we are all in a time of potential," she said. “We are graduating high school, and quite literally, we have the opportunity to do whatever we want at this point. If you want to be an astronaut or a nuclear engineer or a scuba diving pizza delivery man (real thing by the way), now is your time to go for it. The choices you are making at this moment are setting the stage, and you get to decide what kind of show your life will be,” Speaker Kate Bray listed a number of accomplishments of her classmates in the Class of 2023 and then had each graduate stand. “If you are wearing a cap and gown today, please stand up," said Bray. “This! This is why we’re here. This big red gown and funny looking cap on our heads is an accomplishment that should never be over looked. Despite the different paths we may have each taken, and the different things we may have each faced along the way, at the end of the day, look around guys. We are all standing here today, at the Madison Coun ty’s Class of 2023 Graduation Ceremony, receiving our diplomas. Teachers, friends, and families let's celebrate all of our stand- See ‘Graduation’ on 2A In honor of the fallen The Jackson EMC Neese Office put up this Memorial Day display in front of its office off Hwy. 29. COUNTY GOVERNMENT Sammy Haggard Park may soon get facelift By Alison Smith The county's most used park may be the beneficiary of the largest renovation since its development nearly 50 years ago. Recreation Department Director Shelley Parham and Angela Rouse presented a request to the Board of Commissioners May 22 that outlined a proposal for extensive projects within the Sammy Haggard Park Facility. The director requested the approval of the board to apply for a matching $500,000 grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). LWCF grants have been important in the history of the park's development. In 1972, a LWCF Grant of $62,954 was used to develop 17 acres with the base ball, softball, and football fields. Five years later, a $20,000 grant allowed for expansion of the park with the pavilions, playground, tennis and basketball facil ities. More softball fields were added in 1984, and the Brewer Phillips Soccer Complex was developed with the funds in 2003. No major additions or renovations have utilized the funds since that time. Expanding services and aging facilities necessitate the renovations. “Sammy Haggard Park has been loved to death,” Rouse explained in her presentations of photos within the park. Parham’s proposal divides the grant funds into three overall projects with the goal to minimize disruptions in service and still produce an end result that will meet future needs of county citizens. The first phase of the projects include a master design to plan the projects in the most efficient man ner. Drainage of storm water continues to be an issue in the park. Many culverts are broken or too small for See ‘Rec’ on 2A INDUSTRIAL AUTHORITY IDA talks sewer services with Waffle House By Zach Mitcham zach @ mainstreetnews.com EDUCATION BOE holds hearing on ’23-’24 budget By Hannah Barron hannah@ mainstreetnews.com The Madison Coun ty Board of Education’s budget is expected to total $66.1 million this upcom ing fiscal year, up from $59.7 million. The budget includes a 10% increase in revenue from local taxes for a sec ond year, but that increase had some residents ques tioning the numbers at the BOE’s May 9 budget hear ing. “Enrollment is marginal at best as far as growth,” resident William Smith said. “I’m not saying we may not see it, I don't know, but we're talking about a 10% increase again this year." “We’re sitting on $18 million dollars and we’re going to take more from the citizens," he added. "I know once again we're the larg est employer in the county, but where does stewardship come into play here with this? That's my ultimate concern.'’ Another resident made similar comments, ques tioning if anything in the budget could be cut. Board chairman Robert Hooper said the board is working hard to be good stewards of county tax dol lars. “I believe we’ve been very good stewards of the fund," he continued. Hooper noted that the roughly $18 million in the unassigned fund balance is federal Elementary and Secondary School Emer gency Relief (ESSER) funds with specific criteria See ‘BOE’ on 2A Index: News — 1-2A Crime — 3A Opinions — 4A Church — 7 A Sports — 7A School — 8A Social — 9A Obituaries — 10-11A Classifieds — 12A Legals — 13-15A Contact: Phone: 706-367-5233 Web: MadisonJournal TODAY.com News submissions: zach@ mainstreetnews.com 8 ■■0 4879 14144* o Madison County may have a Waffle House some time in 2024 off Hwy. 29 in Hull. “Waffle House is in looking into acquiring the old Truist Bank property in hopes of putting a new restaurant on that site.” said industrial authority chairman Ben Morris at the authority’s May 24 meeting. Morris and the IDA met with two Waffle House representatives at that meeting to discuss tying the restaurant to the authority’s Hull sewer system. A connection will involve boring a sewer line under Hwy. 29 to hook up to the existing line on the Ingles side of the road. County commission chairman Todd Higdon suggested that the county cover the cost of running the line under the road, since the line can be used by the coun ty to serve more businesses than just Waffle House, which will tear down the existing bank building and construct a restaurant. “I feel the bore under Hwy. 29 and then the 200 feet to get us to that manhole needs to be the coun ty’s responsibility,” said Higdon. ‘Anything future will be traveling that line. By us owning that (the line under Hwy. 29) anything in the future that wants to tap to it, we have a right because it belongs to us and not Waffle House or any private individual." The restaurant will be responsi ble for installing sewer infrastruc ture on its own property and mak ing sure it complies with county regulations. This includes putting a sewer lift station — which is used to move wastewater from lower to higher elevation — on the back of its property. County leaders would like the lift station to have the capacity to serve other businesses, not just Waffle House. The size of the lift station is still being negotiated. When complet ed. the lift station will be deeded to the county, which will maintain it. Waffle House representative Ken See ‘IDA’ on 2A