About The Madison County journal. (Hull, Ga.) 1989-current | View Entire Issue (May 28, 2025)
THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2025 - PAGE 3A Indictment continued from 1A as mayor, claiming the term of the Congressio nal seat would have be gun during the term he was then serving as may or, meaning he legally forfeited his position as mayor when he qualified to run for Congress, ac cording to Georgia law. Walton disputed the end date of his term, claiming it would have ended before the Con gressional seat’s term began. In November of 2022, Judge Jeffery Malcom signed a restraining or der prohibiting Walton from acting as mayor while the suit was being investigated, leaving the City of Hull in a state of paralysis for months. In February of 2023, Malcom ruled in favor of the council members’ suit, and ordered Walton Office requested that the GBI Office of Special Investigations investi gate Walton, who was accused of using his city credit card for personal use during his term as mayor of Hull. The case was pre sented to the Northern Judicial Circuit Grand Jury on April 21, 2025. Walton was indicted for one count of violation of oath of office, one count of felony theft by taking and 54 counts of financial transaction card fraud. Walton was booked into the Madison County Jail on May 8. The investigation is still active and ongo ing. The GBI Office of Special Investigations encourages anyone with information to con tact them at 404-239- CASA of NJC establishes program to serve local children in Foster Care Court Appointed Special Advo cates (CASA) of the Northern Judi cial Circuit (NJC) Inc. has announced the formation of a new program es tablished to focus on advocating for children in foster care in Madison, Elbert, Hart, Franklin and Oglethorpe counties. More than 84 local children are in need of volunteers, according to CASA of NJC leaders. “CASA is ac tively recruiting and training volun teers to join their mission of being a child’s voice in court and making rec ommendations in the best interest of the child,” CASA leaders said. “Chil dren with a CASA volunteer have bet ter outcomes, spend less time in care and receive services more quickly.” The program was founded using several staff members and volunteers who worked with the former North east Georgia CASA to support chil dren during the past 15 years. The programs have since restructured to concentrate service to the children of the Northern Judicial Circuit. The program is comprised of 39 Volunteers, with years of experi ence, to “ensure the best interests of the children are met,” according to Submitted photo CASA of Northern Judicial Circuit volunteers and staff pose for a photo after be ing sworn in recently. F.A Northern Judicial Circuit CASA lead ers. Advocates are also supported by Executive Director Stacie Johnson and Advocacy Coordinators Kari LeBarron and Dana Weems, who work alongside the volunteers. “We are grateful for the dedication of our volunteers who make every effort to support the children in our community,” said Johnson. “Howev er, the need is still great, and we en courage individuals to step forward and become advocates for these chil dren.” “This is the most rewarding and fulfilling work I have ever done,” one volunteer said. CASA of the Northern Judicial Cir cuit is currently seeking more volun teers. New volunteer training begins June 7. For more information, visit www.advocatesallianceforchildren. org or contact info@casaaac.org or 706-389-4368. to turn over all city prop erty, keys to city build ings and property, credit cards and city records. INVESTIGATION AND INDICTMENTS In January of 2024, the Northern Judicial Cir cuit District Attorney’s 2106. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597- TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/ submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Some thing mobile app. Azevado awarded Rotary International Service Above Self Award HOPE Hill continued from 1A people to use during an emergency, sought to find other solutions. One of the non-prof it’s primary goals is to own a house that people in need of housing after a fire or natural disaster can use as a temporary home while making per manent arrangements to get back on their feet. “We continue to raise money to be able to purchase a home to help provide this need,” HOPE Hill leaders said. Another of non-prof it’s goals is to create emergency housing for students classifying un der the McKinney-Ven to Homeless Assistance Act in the Madison County School District. HOPE Hill volunteers have assisted two fami lies with funds for tem porary hotel expenses, and provided one single adult with funds to pur chase clothing follow ing a house fire. Volunteers meet monthly to discuss ways to raise money for HOPE Hill. The non-profit currently raises money through different fundraising projects throughout the Madison County area. Some members of the organization recent ly hand-crafted a quilt to raffle off in order to raise money for the charity. Some of HOPE Hill’s upcoming fundraisers include the Pioneer Fes tival, the 11a Christmas event, a Blue Jeans Ball and more events that are still being planned. HOPE Hill is current ly looking for volun teers, representatives and board members. Those interested can contact 770-580-0467 and follow HOPE Hill Inc. on Facebook. “If you have the de sire to help others when they are in need, please contact us,” leaders said. Madison County Rotary Club member Bruce Azevado was recently awarded the Rotary International Service Above Self Award. “This prestigious recognition is given to no more than 150 Rotarians each year, highlighting their exceptional humanitarian service and unwavering com mitment to helping others,” Rotary leaders said. “Present ed by Rotary International Director Larry Lunsford, this award celebrates Bruce’s tireless dedication to making a positive impact both locally and globally. His leadership, compassion and selfless service have inspired countless in dividuals and strengthened the fabric of our community.” Unemployment rate down across area, region, state The Georgia De partment of Labor an nounced Thursday, May 21, that unem ployment declined in every regional com mission across Georgia in April. “This April, unemployment rates dropped across every region of Georgia,” said Labor Commis sioner Barbara Rive ra Holmes. “When we connect Georgians with meaningful work, we’re putting food on tables, creating stabil ity for individuals and families, and building an economy where our children can see their future—right here at home. This is how we grow a stronger Geor ¬ gia—one job, one fam ily, one community at a time.” Highlights from the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission include: • The unemployment rate was down six- tenths to 2.9% over the month, the rate was 2.7% one year ago. •The labor force was down 2,005 over the month and up 1,123 over the year, to 348,437. • The number of em ployed was up 273 over the month and up 637 over the year, to 338,458. •Initial claims were up 101 over the month and up 136 over the year, to 1,059. J BUYING OR SELLING? Call Kim Howington, Broker/REALTOR® Local with 20+ Years of Experience 706-713-6510 Residential - Land - Farms “Integrity with Results” www.HowingtonRealty.com HOWINGTON Realty Company, Inc. NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE The Madison County School System has tentatively adopted a millage rate which will require an increase in property taxes by 3.97%. All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearing on this tax increase to be held at 800 Madison Street, Danielsville, GA 30633 on June 2, 2025 at 7:30 a.m. Times and places of additional public hearings on this tax increase are at 800 Madison Street, Danielsville, GA 30633 on June 10, 2025 at 7:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. This tentative increase will result in a millage rate of 15.25 mills, an increase of 0.582 mills. Without this tentative tax increase, the millage rate will be no more than 14.668 mills. The proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $150,000 is approximately $33.76 and the proposed tax increase for non- homestead property with a fair market value of $100,000 is approximately $23.28. PRESS RELEASE ANNOUNCING A PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX INCREASE The Madison County School System today announces its intention to increase the 2025 property taxes it will levy this year by 3.97 % over the rollback millage rate. Please note this is not an increase in the current millage rate of 15.25. If your school property taxes increase, it will be due to your property value increase. Each year, the board of tax assessors is required to review the assessed value for property tax purposes of taxable property in the county. When the trend of prices on properties that have recently sold in the county indicate there has been an increase in fair market value of any specific property, the board of tax assessors is required by law to re-determine the value of such property and adjust the assessment. This is called a reassessment. Georgia law requires that a rollback millage rate be calculated in order to produce the same total tax dollar revenue as the current year’s tax digest. In order to calculate this, the tax assessor’s office takes into account current taxes collected and increases in assessed value to determine what the millage rate would need to be in order to generate the same tax dollars as the previous year. The budget tentatively adopted by the Madison County School System indicated the revenue required for a balanced budget to include a millage rate of 15.250 which remains the same as last year. This millage rate is 0.582 mills higher than the rollback millage calculated to be 14.668. Therefore, before the Madison County Board of Education can finalize their budget and set a final millage rate, Georgia law requires three public hearings to be held to allow the public an opportunity to express their opinions on the millage rate. All concerned citizens are invited to the three public hearings on this tax increase to be held at 800 Madison Street, Danielsville, GA 30633 on June 2 at 7:30 a.m. Times and places of additional public hearings on this tax increase are at 800 Madison Street, Danielsville, GA 30633 on June 10, 2025 at 7:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
