About The Madison County journal. (Hull, Ga.) 1989-current | View Entire Issue (March 26, 2025)
PAGE 2A - THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025 Turkey hunting season to open April 5 The statewide Georgia turkey hunting season opens on private land on Saturday, March 29, and on public lands, including Wildlife Management Ar eas (WMAs) and National Forest land, on Saturday, April 5. Turkey season ends statewide (on both public and private land) on May 15, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Divi sion (WRD). “If we look back to 2023, the statewide tur key reproduction rate av eraged 1.5 poults per hen, which was on par with the average over the past decade,” explains Emily Rushton, WRD wild tur key project coordinator. “So, even if that translates into fewer adult birds this spring, the number of available gobblers will likely be comparable to the past few years.” The northern regions of the state had steady reproduction from 2022 to 2023, though the Pied mont region dropped to 1.2 poults per hen. The southern half of the state had increased reproduc tion two years ago, so hunters in both the Upper and Lower Coastal Plain regions will potential ly see a good number of two-year-old gobblers in the woods. According to Rushton, “Since the season date and bag limit adjustments in 2022, hunters often ask if there has been a change in in poult production. Despite a record high re productive year in 2024, and a slight bump in harvest rate since 2022, it is still too soon to say whether those regulation changes have affected the population. We will need a few more years of data, like weather, mast crop and insect availabil ity and how those factors affect poult production, to then have a better, sci ence-driven understand ing of the turkey popula tion’s trajectory.” The daily and season bag limits are one gob bler per hunter per day, and a season total of two gobblers. On WMAs and National Forest land (out side of WMAs), the bag limit is one gobbler per area. All turkey hunters, in cluding those under 16 years of age, landowners, honorary, lifetime and sportsman license hold ers, must obtain a free harvest record each sea son. Before moving a har vested turkey, hunters are required to immediately enter the date and coun ty on the harvest record, and within 24 hours, must complete the reporting process through Georgia Game Check. More infor mation at GeorgiaWild- life.com/HarvestRecord- GeorgiaGameCheck. Resident youth hunters under age 16 do not need a license. Hunters ages 16 years or older (includ ing those accompanying youth or others) will need a hunting license and a big game license unless hunt ing on their own private land. Get your license at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com, at a retail license vendor or by phone at 1-800-366- 2661. Each time someone purchases a recreation al license or equipment used to turkey hunt, such as shotguns, ammunition and others, they become part of the greater con servation effort for wild life in Georgia. Through the Wildlife Restoration pales 4 Wild turkeys. Program, a portion of the money spent comes back to states and is put back into on-the-ground efforts such as habitat manage ment and species research and management. Find more hunting in formation, including the Hunting and Fishing Reg ulations Guide, at Geor- giaWildlife.com/hunting/ hunter-resources. ROTARY CONSTRUCTS RAMP 975 FOR MIKE RING PZC recommends approval for zoning requests Submitted photo The Ramp Crew of the Madison County Rotary Club constructed its 975th handicap ramp for Mike Ring on Neese-Commerce Road in Danielsville on Thursday, March 20. “Mike is The Madison County Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recom mend approval of three zoning requests at a March 18 meeting. The items approved were: • The rezoning of 9.52 acres at 0 Par ham Dudley Rd., Bowman, from Al to AR to allow the property to be split into two tracts consisting of 4 acres and 5.52 acres to gift to the owner’s two children. • The rezoning of 7.16 acres at 3159 Vineyard’s Creek Church Rd., Comer, from Al to AR to allow an accessory dwelling unit to be placed on the prop erty for a child. • The rezoning of 5 acres at 2613 Hardman Morris Rd., Colbert, from A2 to AR to allow an expired medical hardship mobile home to remain on the property as an accessory dwelling unit for family. The zoning requests will now go be fore the Madison County Board of Com missioners on April 7. NEGA CASA establishes new CASA program covering Madison County’s service area a long-time resident of Madison County and enjoys the blessing of having two caring sons, Colby and Cole, living nearby,” Rotary leaders said. “As fate would have it, Mike, who taught auto collision repair at Athens Technical College, was severely injured in a motorcycle colli sion with a truck. He has been bedridden for months and unable to leave the house for over a month. His spirits are high as he faces months of more surgeries on his legs and his shoulder while on his road to recovery. Mike made a generous donation to the Rotary Club and his son, Cole Ring, joined the Rotary Ramp Crew for the accompanying photo on the new 28- foot ramp.” The Rotarians and volunteers who worked on the ramp consisted of Floyd Phil lips, Artry Bishop, Roy Nunnally, Bruce Gandy, Gerry Carroll, Bobby Gower, Walton Hill, Ed Brown, Mitchell Hill, Don Sullinger, Alan Phillips, Johnny Minish and Nevin Belsen. Corner continued from 1A that will take a drink of alcohol will become alcoholics,” she said. “When there is more of a distance, when it is not readily available; it makes a huge differ ence.” “A lot of people that moved here from larger cities - this is the rea son we came here: we like the wholesomeness of our community,” she continued. “I pay tax dollars, and I don’t want that in my community, anywhere.” She added that she felt Comer should invest in something like a skate park to provide children in the community some Kristin Habel & Associates Are you thinking about your future health? Are we protecting the ones we love? Short Term Care Final Expense Life Insurance 27 It doesn’t cost anything to get a quote. Kristincares2@gmail.com • 706-870-5500 thing to do. Three more Comer residents came forward in opposition of allow ing liquor sales, citing concerns about littering and potential negative impacts on the commu nity and its children. Three letters sent in from community mem bers were read aloud, all of which expressed their opposition to permit ting the sale of liquor in Comer, citing concerns over potential higher crime rates and deteri oration of the commu nity’s small-town atmo sphere. Mayor Yarbrough and District 3 Council Mem ber Tommy Appling both thanked the large crowd for coming out to express their opinions to the council. “Your opinion is very important to us, we’re listening,” Yarbrough said. “We are thankful that you are here and you’re speaking out.” Yarbrough said that the proposed amend ment to the city code would be tabled for a later meeting to allow the council time to fur ther discuss the matter. “Celebrating 40 y CARS of Serving Our Communities” GA REG CN 210335 Office 706-546-1810 ddheatingaircond@bellsouth.net 100 Lyons Rd. Athens, GA 30605 Website: ddheatingaircond.net. The Northeast Georgia Court Appointed Special Advocates (NEGA CASA) program has announced a critical junction in their agency’s history witli a change in service area and the establishment of a new CASA program effective Marell 1. NEGA CASA began serv ing children in foster care in the spring of 2004. By 2008 the program was serving nearly 100% of the chil dren in dependency court in Rabun, Habersham and Stephens counties. The pro gram had a strong volunteer base, dedicated board mem bers and experienced staff. At this point, after a request from Georgia CASA and a comprehensive communi ty assessment, the program expanded its’ operations into the Northern Circuit counties of Elbert, Franklin, Hart, Madison and Ogletho rpe counties. Since 2009 NEGA CASA has served nearly 2,000 children in the eight coun ties comprising the two ju dicial circuits. More than Fun By The Numbers 400 CASA volunteers have been trained and supported by a small staff. The ad vocacy provided by these volunteers over the last 15 years has enabled children to obtain critically important services and helped ensure they were placed in a safe, permanent home as soon as possible. Witli community growtli in all eight counties, the addition of Banks County into the Mountain Circuit, and the already widespread geographic area, it became clear that furthering the mis sion and reaching the goal of providing CASA advocacy for every child experiencing foster care in the area re quired a new tactic. After a careful analysis of the situation the NEGA CASA Board of Direc tors voted unanimously to change the program’s ser vice area from botli judicial circuits to just the Mountain Judicial Circuit. This, com bined witli an equitable dis tribution of program assets, paved the way for estab lishment of a CASA of the Northern Judicial Circuit program. The Northeast Georgia CASA program is now serving children in Banks, Habersham, Rabun and Ste phens counties and CASA of the Northern Judicial Circuit is serving children in Elbert, Franklin, Hart, Madison and Oglethorpe counties. Botli CASA programs require volunteers and fi nancial donations to fulfill their missions and ensure children in foster care re ceive services to address their physical, educational and emotional needs. Please contact NEGA CASA at 706-886-1098 or CASA of the Northern Judicial Circuit at 706-389-4368 to find out how you can help abused and neglected children in your community. Headmaster’s Corner by Steve Cummings ACS LITERARY TEAM WINS STATE! The ACS Literary Team made school history last week by winning our first Literary State Championship! After an incredibly close State Finals, ACS tied with Mount de Sales, allowing both schools to claim the first place prize. In Speech: Hannah Stephenson, 1st in Impromptu Speaking, 2nd in Rhetorical Analysis; Bradley Zimmerman, 1st in Argumentative Essay; Gavin Crawford, 2nd in Humorous Interp; Bladen Smith and Seth Woodlief, 3rd in Duo Interp; Grace Morris, 3rd in Spelling. In Music: Annie Rollins, 3rd in Girl’s Solo; Anneliese Ingerson, Thalia Smoot and Annie, 3rd in Girls’ Trio; Ethan Woodlief, 3rd in Boy’s Solo; and Ethan, Gavin, Anneliese, and Thalia, 3rd in Mixed Quartet. GREAT JOB, Literary Team! ATHENS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL "Affordable Quality Education Since 1970” K3-12TH CALL (706) 549-7586 www.athenschristianschool.org
