About The Madison County journal. (Hull, Ga.) 1989-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 25, 2024)
THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 25. 2024 - PAGE 3A Exemption continued from 1A of property owners, such as commercial, industri al and non-homesteaded properties like rentals. While this may not immediately impose is sues for school systems, some fear that the bill would flatten tax rev enue over time, while demand from increasing student growth contin ues to rise. Some local govern ment officials feel this law is an overreach from the state. If a local gov ernment declines to opt- out by March 1, they would be forever bound by the terms of 581. If they do opt-out, howev er, they could then opt to draw up their own sim ilar property assessment cap which they would retain control over. The Madison County Board of Commission ers plans to meet with the cities after the new year to discuss how they will move forward re garding House Bill 581. Inflation continued from 1A of the few to show a decline for the month. Over the past year, energy costs fell 3.2%, while food prices rose 2.4%. The core index, excluding food and energy, was up 3.3% from November 2023. The latest CPI data shows persistent inflationary pressures, particularly in housing and food, as the economy continues to navigate higher costs. Planning and Zoning Board approves multiple rezoning requests The Madison County Planning and Zoning Board recently recom mended approval for several rezon ing requests at its Dec. 17 meeting, including requests for property splits, bringing lots into compli ance with zoning regulations and allowances for the addition of ac cessory dwelling units. The rezoning requests will now go to the Madison County Board of Commissioners for final action. Among the items approved were: • Rezoning of 17.14 acres at 267 Sanders Rd., Hull, fromAl to A2 to allow a second home to be placed on the property as an accessory dwelling unit for a farm caretaker. • Dual Rezoning of 5.8 acres at 531 Sawdust Rd., Hull. A 1.5-acre portion will be rezoned from A2 to R1 to split and gift to the owner’s parents for a homesite, while the remaining 4.3 acres will be rezoned from A2 to AR to bring the prop erty into compliance with zoning regulations. • Dual Rezoning of 6.87 acres at 463 McGinnis Chandler Rd., Com merce. A 1.5-acre portion will be rezoned from A2 to R1 to split and sell, while the remaining 5.37 acres will be rezoned from A2 to AR to bring the property into compliance with zoning regulations to retain. • Rezoning of 10.3 acres at 0 Wildcat Bridge Rd., Royston, from A1 to AR to allow the property to be split into two 5.15-acre tracts to be gifted to the owner’s children for homesites. • Rezoning of 6.84 acres at 2895 Friendship Church Rd., Daniels- ville, from A1 to AR to split a two-acre portion to sell and be absorbed into adjoining property while bringing the remaining land into compliance with zoning regu lations. • Rezoning of 5 acres at 2771 Friendship Church Rd., Daniels- ville, from A1 to AR to allow a two-acre portion to be absorbed from an adjoining property for a total of seven acres and bring the property into compliance with zon ing regulations. • Dual Rezoning of 7.56 acres at 858 Blacks Creek Church Rd., Dan- ielsville. An approximate 1.75-acre portion will be rezoned from A2 to R1 to split for inheritance purposes, while the remaining 5.81 acres will be rezoned from A2 to AR to bring the property into compliance with zoning regulations to retain. • Rezoning of .75 acres at 101 Hanley Rd., Hull, from AR to R1 to allow the absorption of property from adjoining parcels to enlarge the tract to 1.53 acres to include an existing shop. • Rezoning of two parcels total ing 2 acres at 181 Hanley Rd. and 695 Williams Wilson Rd., Hull, from R1 with BOC condition lim iting the minimum acreage to two acres to R1 without the condition, allowing the minimum lot size to be reduced to 1.75 and 1.5 acres, respectively. • Rezoning of 145.25 acres at 0 Colbert Grove Church Rd., Col bert, from A1 to AR to allow a 4 to 5-acre portion to be split and gifted to the owner’s daughter, while the remaining acreage will stay in the A1 zone to retain. The board will meet again on Jan. 21 to hear new zoning requests. Georgia Farm Bureau elects 2025 board of directors Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) voting delegates elected the organization’s 2025 board of directors Dec. 10 during the 87th Annual GFB Convention held on Jekyll Island. GFB voting delegates reelected President Tom McCall for a third, two-year term. Fie was first elect ed in 2020. McCall and his family grow a variety of grain crops, sweet com, hay and straw along with beef cattle, hogs and sheep on their' farm in Fortso- nia in Elbert Comity. Fie and his wife, Jane, have two adult living children: A1 (daughter-in-law Rachel) and Katie M. Archer (son-in-law Bristol), two grand sons and one granddaughter. Their oldest son, Bud, died in 2000. Die McCalls are of the Methodist faith. McCall has been a Farm Bureau member since 1978. His first leadership role with Farm Bureau was serving as the chairman of the Elbert County Farm Bureau (ECFB) Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Committee. He represented GFB’s 2nd District on the GFB YF&R Committee in 1981-82 and chaired the state committee in 1982. McCall represented GFB’s 2nd District on the GFB Board of Directors from 1984-1996. He also served as ECFB president for several years. McCall served in the Georgia House of Represen tatives for 26 years from Jan. 9, 1995, when he was sworn into office, until he retired from the legislature at the end of his 2020 term. As a state representative, McCall represented Georgia’s House Dist. 33, which at the time included Elbert and Lincoln counties and portions of Madison, Wilkes and Columbia counties. McCall chaired the Georgia House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee from January 2005- 2020. He currently serves on the UGA Research Foundation Board of Directors. He earned an asso ciate degree in agriculture from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and a bachelor’s degree in agronomy from the UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences. GFB voting delegates redesignated GFB South Georgia Vice President Daniel Johnson of Pierce County as the organization’s 1st vice president from among the organization’s three regional vice presi dents, a position he has held since 2021. The GFB first vice president would be tapped to lead the or ganization should the president be unable to serve. Johnson begins the third year of his third, three-year term representing GFB’s South Georgia region that consists of 53-counties in the southern third of the state. Johnson, who grows tobacco, com, cotton and peanuts, previously represented the organization’s 10th District on the GFB Board of Directors from 2006-2016. He is vice president of Pierce County Fann Bureau and previously served as PCFB pres ident for 25 years. Johnson chairs the Georgia Ag ricultural Commodity Commission for Tobacco. He and his wife, Patricia, have four children and tour grandchildren. GFB members in the organization’s middle Geor gia region re-elected Ralph Caldwell of Heard Coun ty to a second, three-year term as GFB Middle Geor gia vice president. Caldwell was first elected in 2021. The GFB Middle Georgia Region includes 56 county Fanil Bureaus in the middle third of Georgia stretch ing from the Alabama line to the South Carolina line. Caldwell and his wife, Kim, raise poultry and cat tle while growing com and soybeans. The couple’s son, Colton, who is married to Delayna, helps on the farm when he isn’t at his law practice. The Caldwells have one granddaughter. Caldwell, a preacher for more than 30 years, is currently serving as interim pastor at Gold Ridge Baptist Church. Caldwell began serving as a Heard County Farm Bureau director in 1990 and has served as the HCFB president since 2002. He served on the GFB Young Fanners & Ranchers Committee from 1992-1994. Bernard Sims of Catoosa Comity begins the sec ond year of his sixth, three-year tenn as the GFB North Georgia vice president. Sims was first elected to the position in 2008. Die GFB North Georgia Region includes 49 county Farm Bureaus in the upper third of Georgia. Sims serves as the Catoosa County Farm Bureau president, a position he has held since 1979. Sims and his wife, Janet, grow turf grass, small grains, and hay, and raise cattle. The Sims have two surviv ing adult children and eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. They are members of Burning Bush Baptist Church. The following were reelected without opposition to serve two-year terms on the Georgia Farm Bureau Board of Directors: Wesley Hall of Forsyth County, 1st District; Russ Moon of Madison County, 2nd District; SkeetterMcCorkle of McDuffie County, 4th District; Matt Bottoms of Pike County, 5th District; Janies Emory Tate of Jeff Davis County, 6th Dis trict; Ben Boyd of Screven County, 7th District; Don Wood of Wilcox County, 8th District; Lucius Adkins of Baker County, 9th District; and Lamar Vickers of Berrien County, 10th District. Delegates also voted on policy that will direct the organization’s stance on legislative issues pertaining to agriculture in the coming year. ‘First Day Hikes 3 on New Year’s Day All across the countiy, people can welcome 2025 with an “In spirational First Day Hike” on New Year’s Day. Georgia’s State Park and Historic Site rangers are offering more than 70 guided adventures where participants can connect with friends, family and the great outdoors. Visitors can choose from a variety of distances and difficulties, from kid-friendly strolls to heart-pumping treks and wheelchair accessible trails. Participants will go home with a First Day Hikes sticker to commemorate their accomplishment as part of this na tionwide movement. First Day Hikes in and around Madison County include: First Day Hike at Watson Mill Bridge — Jan. 1, 10 to 11 a.m. at Watson Mill Bridge State Park, Comer. “Join us for a beautiful hike to staif • the New Year right,” said First Day Hikes leadership. “We’ll take a walk through the bridge and along the raceway trail past the power plant mins. Learn a bit of bridge histoiy and enjoy love ly views along the way. Bring your friends, family and pups (on leash) to create wonderful memories.” $5 parking. 706-783-5349 •First Day Hike at Victoria Biyant — Jan. 1,10a.m. to 12p.m. at Victoria Biyant State Park, Royston. “Kick off the New Year by joining us on the first hike of the year. We will start the hike at the Park Office and enjoy the sights and sounds of the 2.3 mile Inner Loop Trail. Along the way you will learn about the histoiy of the park and about the parks’ wildlife. Please wear closed toed shoes and bring a water bottle.” $5 plus $5 parking. 706-245-6270. • First Day Hike at Blackwell Bridge Trail — Jan. 1,10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Richard B. Russell State Park, Elberton. “Enjoy a first day hike on the Blackwell Bridge Trail. The trail is 1.6 miles, on a smooth surface path meandering along lake Russell. This hike is open to eveiyone, pet friendly (on a six-foot leash), stroller friendly and is ADA accessible. Please bring water.” $5 parking. 706-213-2045. First Day Hikes is a national initiative from America’s State Parks that encourages people to get outside and explore nature. It began more than three decades ago, and all 50 states have partici pated. A few unique First Day Hikes in Georgia include watching sunrise over the Okefenokee Swamp at Stephen C. Foster State Park, exploring a pitcher plant bog at Jack Hill State Park, a mus ket filing at Fort Morris Historic Site and birding at Crooked Riv er State Park. Dozens of additional hikes are listed on GaState- Parks.org. This year, Georgia State Parks will host two accessible hikes where mobility-impaired visitors can borrow all-terrain wheel chairs free of charge. Advanced reservations are required by Dec. 27 for these two programs. The first is at Sweetwater Creek State Park west of Atlanta and the second is at Tallulah Gorge State Park in northeast Georgia. Participants may also bring their own all-terrain wheelchairs. A few more state parks have also planned First Day Hikes on easy, accessible trails, including Panola Moun tain, Florence Marina, Seminole and Richard B. Russell. For park guests who want to celebrate a quiet New Year’s Eve surrounded by fresh air, Georgia’s State Parks offer cozy cabins, heated yurts and modem campsites. Fireworks and sparklers are not allowed in state parks, making them a peaceful choice for the holiday - especially those with dogs. For reservations, call 1 -800- 864-7275 or visit GaStateParks.org. JEMC opens applications for Washington Youth Tour Jackson Electric Membership Corporation is accept ing applications for the annual Washington Youth Tour, a premier leadership and educational opportunity for high school students. This all-expense-paid experience in Wash ington, D.C., is scheduled for June 13-20, and is sponsored by the nation’s electric cooperatives. Current high school sophomores and juniors in the Jack- son EMC service area are encouraged to apply by 5 p.m. on January 31. Applicants should demonstrate academic success, community service and leadership potential. Stu dents may apply directly online at www.jacksonemc.com/ wyt or be nominated by a teacher or guidance counselor. Key Dates: •Application Deadline: January 31 at 5:00 p.m. •Finalist Interviews: February 17 Finalists will interview with a panel of business, com munity and university leaders. Four selected delegates will represent Jackson EMC in this leadership program, joining hundreds of students from across the country. Sponsored by the nation’s electric cooperatives since 1958, the Washington Youth Tour is a weeklong, intensive tour designed to develop networking and team building skills while educating young people about the coopera tive business model. In addition to tours of the national monuments, highlights on the experiential trip feature a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Sol dier at Arlington National Cemetery, a Sunset Parade at the Imo Jima statue, a cruise on the Potomac River, visits to the Smithsonian museums, and meeting the Georgia con gressional delegation. For more information and to download an application, visit www.jacksonemc.com/wyt. Fun By The Numbers 5 4 2 5 8 3 8 4 6 6 5 1 8 1 4 3 8 9 7 1 7 3 5 6 9 JEMC accepting applications for scholarship Jackson Electric Member ship Cooperative is accepting applications for the annual Walter Haixison Scholarship, which provides $1,000 for ac ademic expenses to students pursuing post-secondary edu cation at Georgia colleges and technical schools. Students who are currently enrolled or have been accepted as full- or part-time students at accredited two- or four-year universities, colleges or voca tional-technical institutes in Georgia are eligible to apply. Applicants must also reside in a primary household served by Jackson EMC. Students are evaluated on financial need, grade point av erage, SAT scores, academic standing, scholastic honors and community involvement. Applicants must complete an application and submit a bi ographical sketch with educa tional goals, To obtain an application, stu dents can: • Contact their school guid ance counselor, or • Visit www.jacksonemc. com/walterharrisonscholar- ship. • Deadline: Applications must be completed and submit ted by January 31. Each year, 15 students across Georgia are awarded Walter Haixison Scholarships, which are sponsored by Georgia’s 41 electric cooperatives. The Walter Haixison Schol arship is named in honor of a leader in the state and nation al electric cooperative move ments. Since 1985, more than $281,500 in scholarships have been awarded to 292 recipients. DANIELSVILLE METHODIST CHURCH WELCOMES SOLOIST STANLEY PIERCE OF GAINESVILLE, GA Stanley Pierce will be singing at the Danielsville Methodist Church, 295 General Daniel Avenue N., Sunday morning, December 29 th at 11:00. Stanley organized and sang lead with his first gospel quartet, The Temple Aires in 1970. Since then he has sung with the Songsmen Quartet and Heaven Bound. He has sung temporarily with several other gospel groups as well. Now, he travels and sings as a soloist. He and his wife Peggy have a strong faith and love for our Lord and are avid supporters of Saint Jude's Children Hospital. Please come hear Stanley Pierce tell his story and sing his praises to the Lord. Everyone is welcome.
