The Paper October 23, 2014 Edition

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CMYK Thursday, October 23, 2014

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Reward programs helping schools. 3B

Jackson County Commission OKs tax hike By LEANNE AKIN

lakin@clickthepaper.com

Jackson County ad valorem tax bills will be due Dec. 30 as the Board of Commissioners Monday accepted the proposed budget and set the county millage rate. Boards of education and fire boards have set their rates on which taxes will be assessed for the 2014 tax year. Tax Commissioner Don Elrod was taking the tax digest and corresponding paperwork this week to the Georgia Department of Revenue for acceptance so that bills can go out next week. Approval by commissioners came after Monday’s third public hearing. County Manager Kevin Poe provided a summary of the 2015 fiscal year budget proposal as he had done at the earlier public hearings convened on Oct. 10. He noted the county had experienced a net property tax loss each year since 2009. Also, 24 percent of the total general fund was going toward debt service, meaning less than 5 mills is actually

being used for maintenance and operations. The county’s total budget is projected at $65.34 million with the general fund budget at $37.2 million. District 3 Commissioner Bruce Yates carried his message from the earlier hearings into the final, and best attended, gathering. He has continued to ask for a self-study of individual departments. He reminds that the analysis provided to the commission by theninterim county manager Leonard Myers had resulted in efficiencies at the Jackson County Correctional Institute which saved the county hundreds of thousands of dollars since that time. “It is hard to ask for a tax increase without guaranteeing that we are doing all we can to ensure we are running the county as efficiently as possible,” said Yates, suggesting a lack of planning and study reflects that the county “is not operating at the best standard.” He again questioned the priorities which include a $20,000 capital expenditure for a boat for the volunteer dive team which would likely serve as a body and evidence recovery

craft rather than a rescue vessel. While he acknowledged “public safety is our No. 1 priority,” he questioned where the priorities were placed if some residents had a 25-minute wait for an emergency medical unit to arrive at their north Jackson County location between Talmo and the Hall county line. Yates asked Poe to give a rundown of the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) collection which had $23.7 million earmarked to pay down the jail debt. Satellite EMS stations are to receive $1.2 million and $2 million is earmarked for recreation. Other funds are going toward roads and bridges. “People are already paying additional taxes for our debt,” said Yates. Back to the public safety priorities, Yates said, “I want to make sure we cover all the bases for all citizens.” District 4 Commissioner Dwain Smith said Jackson County has come a long way from Aug. 1, 1974 when he was on the first ambulance unit the county deployed. There was a single ambulance in Jefferson and one in Commerce. “I am proud of our services,”

said Smith, who also shared that Sheriff Janis Mangum has collected $100,000 in back fi fas and brought in $108,000 thus far in 2014. Salaries are being held $181,000 below budget when previous spending was overbudget due to overtime. Utilities are being held $17,000 below budget and the department has offered nine gun safety classes and 71 career days in schools at no charge to citizens. “And it’s not just the Sheriff,” said Smith, suggesting that other departments were also holding the line on spending. “They are busting their tails the best they can and doing things the cheapest way they can.” Yates said the Sheriff had done her own check within her departments, her own self study, and he commended her for her efforts. With the Sheriff’s office and jail as at the CI, the self-study had netted monetary savings. Yates said the commission owes it to the taxpayers to spend taxes to the best of its ability by setting a plan. He urged citizens “to pay attention where your dollars are going.”

See COMMISSION, 2A

Braselton busy with festivals and more

Faces from Jefferson’s past revive for Haints & Saints Local figures from the Civil War to the early 20th century are telling their stories this week as the Crawford Long Museum Association and Jefferson Community Theatre presents the third annual Haints and Saints cemetery tour Oct. 24-26. Tommy Benton (top, left) is portraying G.J.N. Wilson with Jani Taylor (top, right) sharing her sorrow as Mary Jane Patrick, a widow of a Civil War soldier. James Mauldin, who returned from the War Between the States to live out his days in Jefferson, is being portrayed by Dr. James Jackson (at right). Scenes were captured by LeAnne Akin during the Oct. 19 dress rehearsal. See more scenes at ClickThePaper.com or make plans to go one of the tours. Also in the cast of Haints and Saints will be Dr. Crawford W. Long being portrayed by Andy Garrison with Lurline Collier portrayed by Christine Dalton. Matthew Cheatham is bringing Alexander McCoy to life in Woodbine Cemetery. Character sponsors for Haints and Saints are Jackson and Coker, Premier Dental, Howell Orthodontics, Anesthesia Associates of Gainesville, Al and Anita Westmoreland and Newell Orthodontics. Reserve your tour times and purchase tickets ($15 for adults and $10 for children ages 6-12) at the museum or by calling 706-367-5307.

Get ready for a weekend of fall fun filled with antiques, holiday happenings and more as Braselton becomes Ground Zero for an busy calendar of activities for the whole family. From the Friends of the BraseltonWest Jackson’s book sale on the porch of the Braselton Library which begins on Thursday to Friday evening’s trick or treat and more for kids called “Carnival of Shadows” at the library, downtown Braselton will be alive with activity. The Friends are also hosting a Friday book debut for a Braselton family history book. Expected to attract 10,000-plus people to town is the Braselton Antique & Holiday Festival, the 12th show coordinated by Donna Cannella which will find more than 130 booths of vintage, salvage and rustic treasures including antique and custom furniture, primitives, repurposed pieces, yard art and more. And the vintage also includes jewelry and tools. Local plant nurseries and artists including folk potters, and holiday crafters will also be involved along with the producers of jellies and honey and locally grown veggies. And there will be food and beverage options galore This weekend is going to be a big one in downtown Braselton, according to Robbie Bettis of Braselton Antique Mall and Auction Ventures.

See BRASELTON, 7A

Families getting technologysmart with support from WJIS By FARAH BOHANNON

fbohannon@clickthepaper.com

The Jackson County School System is always looking for ways to enrich the lives of not only their students, but parents as well. Schools also emphasize the importance of learning with technology yet still teaching children that learning can still happen without the latest and greatest gadgets. West Jackson Intermediate School’s (WJIS) Principal Troy Johnson, Assistant Principal Laurie Hitzges and Media Center Specialist Meg Barber saw a need to reach out more than they already are and keep the media center open until 6 p.m. on Mondays. This allows the

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use of the school’s technology after hours. Barber spends her days in the media center and sees the benefits that learning resource has on the children, so she hopes that keeping it open late one night a week will increase these benefits for both students and their parents. WJIS also stays on top of the latest technology that can be utilized in the classroom while maintaining a love for learning without constantly using devices — working in groups, reading books, participating in group discussions with peers and teachers, playing learning games and much more. “We thought this would be a great option for families who may not

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have access to computers and internet on a regular basis,” said Barber. “We really want to focus on where the world is going in terms of technology. Technology is so important today, so we have to either jump on board or get left behind. That is why offer this opportunity for both our students and their parents.” Barber said students and parents are also allowed to bring their own devices and use the wireless network as well as using school-provided computers. The WJIS media center has a handful of Mac and PC computers available for use. There is also a SMART Board, SMART Table and SMART Clickers.

See TECHNOLOGY, 2A

Got a news tip? Call 706-658-2683 or e-mail editor@clickthepaper.com Want to advertise? Call 706-658-2683 or e-mail dpurvis@clickthepaper.com Delivery questions? Call 770-532-2222 or e-mail circulation@clickthepaper.com

Farah Bohannon The Paper

West Jackson Intermediate School media specialist Med Barber cheks out the SMART Board as youngsters use the SMART Clickers to select their answers. More scenes at ClickThePaper..com

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