About The Madison County journal. (Hull, Ga.) 1989-current | View Entire Issue (May 28, 2025)
MAY 28, 2025 Madison County Journal Merged with The Corner News and The Danielsville Monitor, 2006 • MadisonJournalTODAY.com Merged with Vol. 42 No. 21* Publication No. 1074-987* Danielsville, Madison County, Georgia 30633 * A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers Inc. *28 Pages, 3 Sections Plus Supplements $1.00 Former Hull mayor indicted on over 50 counts of credit card fraud, felony theft Walton accused of using city credit card for personal use followingjoint GBI-Northern Judicial Circuit investigation By Caleb Rollins caleb@mainstreetnews.com Former Hull Mayor Paul Walton was recently indict ed on 54 counts of finan cial card fraud, along with counts of felony theft and violation of oath, crimes that all allegedly took place during his time in office from 2019 to 2023. 58-year-old Walton, who currently resides in Mc Donough, turned himself in to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office earlier this month, according to a re port from the Georgia Bu reau of Investigation (GBI). A TUMULTUOUS TERM Walton’s term as mayor of Hull resulted in a great HOPE Hill: Local non-profit seeks to provide emergency housing for those displaced due to a crisis In October of 2021, a group of county residents expressed concerns over the need for housing for families that have lost their homes due to fires or natu ral disasters, as well as the lack of temporary housing available in Madison Coun ty- County resident and Ro tary Club member, Mitch ell Hill, organized a public meeting to discuss these concerns. As a result of the meeting, nine individ uals volunteered to serve on a board of directors and formed a 501c3 non-profit. The board of directors began to brainstorm ideas Index News — 1A, 3A, 5A, 3B Opinions — 4A Crime — 6A Socials — 2A Schools — 8A Churches — 4B Obituaries — 5B-6B Sports —1B-2B Classifieds — 3B Legals — 7B-8B MAILING LABEL 1 4144 deal of controversy for the small city. In September of 2022, Walton fired City Clerk Sandra Pou, claiming that she refused to receive train ing that he had requested she undergo. Pou denied that this was true, claiming that the real reason she was fired was because she had begun to question some of Walton had also request ed to use city funds for the repair of his personal vehi cle, and that he frequently travelled across the state for various meetings and train ing, and got the expenses for the trips reimbursed by claiming the trips as city business. Walton also ran for a U.S. to bring their project to fru ition. One of the members suggested that the non-prof it use the acronym HOPE in its name, to stand for “Helping Other People in Emergencies.” The word “Hill” was added when an other member envisioned a house sitting on a hill as they were brainstorming ideas for the charity’s bro chure. HOPE Hill, Inc. Pub lic Charity, as the organiza tion was then named, was formed with the mission to provide emergency housing for those displaced due to a crisis. The newly formed group, aware of the absence of Submitted photo Stephanie Higdon poses for a photo with her family, Cham ber of Commerce leaders, Sami Johnson and representatives of Echols Livestock, Advantage, Middle Of Nowhere Farm, the City of Danielsville, Barrett’s Towing, Iron Pin Ranch. Chamber holds ribbon cutting for Danielsville's Minding You The Madison County Cham ber of Commerce recently held a ribbon cutting celebration for Minding You, a Danielsville business owned and operated by Stephanie Higdon, a Li censed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Certified Advanced Addiction and Drug Counselor (CAADC) and Certified Hand Therapist (CHT). Minding You has officially opened the doors to its new space, located in a different part of its same building at 122 Courthouse Square, Daniels ville. Photo from MCSO Paul Walton Congressional seat in 2022, losing in the Democratic pri maries. Two Hull city coun cil members later filed a suit to have Walton removed See Indictment, page 3A Submitted photo HOPE Hill volunteers are pictured. hotels in the county for See HOPE Hill, page 3A “Stephanie brings a wealth of expertise to the community, offering compassionate, cli ent-centered therapy services with a focus on trauma-in- formed care, addiction recov ery, hypnotherapy and holistic mental wellness,” Chamber leaders said. “Her passion for supporting clients on their healing journeys truly sets her apart. This milestone not only marks a physical move—it represents growth, transforma tion and continued dedication to mental health and wellness in our community.” QNADISOM % Veterans Memorial Garden COUNT Photo by Caleb Rollins A sign honoring the county’s veterans is set up in front of the historic courthouse in Dan ielsville. Memorial Day: Remembering Madison County’s fallen heroes By Caleb Rollins As businesses and govern ment offices across the coun ty closed on Monday, many locals fired up their grills and enjoyed a day off from work. American flags waved along the sides of the road all weekend, accompanied by signs memorializing veterans, to remind passersby who they had to thank for the holiday. Memorial Day, the reason for the long weekend, honors all U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Originally called “Decora tion Day,” the holiday orig inates from around the time of the Civil War when people would decorate the graves of fallen soldiers. Memorial Day officially became a federal holiday in 1971. Madison County has its own share of veterans who fell while serving in the mili tary, and who are remembered as heroes by their families and members of their community on Memorial Day. Some of these fallen ser vice-members include: Guy G. Hardman Jr. 37 % • it GUY G. HARDMAN JR. Staff Sergeant Guy G. Hardman Jr., a World War II veteran from Danielsville, served in the Korean War as a member of Company H, 2nd Battalion, 187th Airborne Infantry Regimental Combat Team. Hardman Jr., who was 24 years old, made his first com bat jump on Oct. 20, 1950, parachuting in near Sukchon, Nortli Korea. He was killed in action by enemy gunfire as he com manded a machine gun posi tion at a bridge near Sukchon. Hardman Jr. was awarded a Purple Heart award and is re membered at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Wash ington D.C. TE til 22 in wetter. James Michael Burroughs JAMES MICHAEL BURROUGHS Private First Class James Michael Burroughs, a Comer native, served in the Vietnam War in the B Company, 4tli Battalion, 47th Infantry, 9fli Infantry Division. Burroughs died of multi ple fragmentation wounds on May 20, 1967, in the Ding Tu- ong Province of Soutli Viet nam, at the age of 20. Burroughs was awarded a Purple Heart Award and is buried at the Marietta Nation al Cemetery in Marietta. He also has Iris name inscribed on the Vietnam Veteran’s Memo rial in Washington D.C. Arthur Edward Scott ARTHUR EDWARD SCOTT Sergeant Arthur Edward Scott, from Hull, served in the Vietnam War in the Americal Division, 75tli Infantry Rang er, G Company, where he was an Infantry Operations and Intelligence Specialist. Scott died from multiple fragmentation wounds due to hostile action on May 12, 1969, in the Quang Nam province of Soutli Vietnam. He was 20 years old. Scott was awarded a Purple Heart Award and has his name inscribed in the Vietnam Vet eran’s Memorial in Washing ton, D.C. John Melvin Wheeler . 3 JOHN MELVIN WHEELER Captain Jolin Melvin Wlieeler, a Comer native, served in the Vietnam War in the 1st Aviation Brigade, 13th Aviation Battalion, 164th Avi ation Group, 336th Aviation Company. He specialized as a Rotary Wing Aviation Unit Com mander. Wlieeler was returning from Soc Trang, Vietnam to Dong Ba Tliin, Vietnam, when the helicopter he was riding in lost control and crashed due to a mechanical issue. He, along with the two others on board, died in the crash. Wlieeler was 28 years old. Wlieeler was awarded Bronze Star and Air Medal awards and is buried at the Marietta National Cemetery. He also has his name in scribed at the Vietnam Veter an’s Memorial in Washington D.C. WORLD WAR II The following list includes those from Madison Coun ty who were reported dead or missing in World War II according to USGenWeb Ar chives: • Second Lieutenant Charles H. Amason - Died Non-Battle • Sergeant Willie B. Ander son - Killed in Action • First Lieutenant Harold E. Arrendale - Died Non-Battle • Teclinician Fiftli Grade Clyde N. Berryman - Died Non-Battle • Private Gordon G. Brown - Killed in Action • Staff Sergeant Anthony Burroughs - Finding of Deatli • Private Millard C. Con ner, Jr. - Killed in Action • Private First Class Ernest N. Courtney - Finding of Deatli • Private First Class Robert A. Dover - Killed in Action • Second Lieutenant Ray mond W. Eberhart - Killed in Action • Private First Class How ard J. Faulkner - Died of Wounds • Sergeant G. D. Freeman, Jr. - Died Non-Battle • Private First Class An drew Harris - Died Non-Bat tle • Second Lieutenant Rufus T. Harwell - Died Non-Battle • Corporal Roy B. Hol comb - Died Non-Battle • Private First Class Jolin W. Hutcherson - Killed in Action • Private James W. Kidd - Died Non-Battle • First Lieutenant Robert B. Lowe - Died Non-Battle • Private Otha Maxwell - Killed in Action • First Lieutenant James E. McCay - Died Non-Battle • Private First Class Clyde M. McClain - Killed in Ac tion • Private First Class Charlie H. Moon - Killed in Action • Private First Class Den nis P. Needham - Killed in Action • Sergeant Walter A. Palm er - Killed in Action • Technician Fourtli Grade Ederley Ramsey - Died Non-Battle • Technician Fourtli Grade Frank S. Robertson - Killed in Action • Private Paul D. Rousey - Died Non-Battle • Private First Class Billy R. Smith - Killed in Action • First Lieutenant Rufos B. Stephens - Finding of Deatli • Private Allen F. Stevens - Killed in Action • Private William B. Upton - Finding of Deatli • Teclinician Fiftli Grade James T. Von - Killed in Ac tion
