The Paper May 7, 2015 Edition

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Lanier Tech offered land for relocation By JOSHUA SILAVENT

Regional staff

A potential site for the relocation of Lanier Technical College has been identified in the Chestnut Mountain area. Doug Magnus, president and founder of Conditioned Air Systems Inc. in Gainesville, confirmed to The Times on Monday afternoon that he has offered 121 acres to the school “in the vicinity” of Winder Highway east of Interstate 985. Officials with the school have said the current facilities are outdated and rebuilding at the Oakwood location is unrealistic. No deal has yet been struck and officials involved in finding land for Lanier Tech’s new campus said they are considering more than 20 properties throughout the county. “The technical schools system is looking at several plots,” Gov. Nathan Deal’s spokesman, Brian Robinson, said in an email. Philip Wilheit, chairman of the Gainesville and Hall County Development Authority, said

Doug Magnus’ 121 acres ‘in vicinity of Winder Highway’ east of interstate will be explored he met with Magnus on Friday and that while nothing is in writing, the initial offer includes three different scenarios: donation of some land, receiving infrastructure improvements in exchange for land or a sale and purchase. But the site owned by Magnus is the first major signal that officials are closing in on securing land for the college, and it is considered a viable option, those involved told The Times. “We’re going to look at it,” Wilheit said, adding that he has not yet personally set eyes on the property. Wilheit, along with representatives from the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce and Lanier Tech, is spearheading the search for a site. “There’s a committee that’s doing this,” he said. “It’s not just Philip.”

Lanier Tech President Ray Perren said last week that he’d like to have a new campus open to students by the beginning of the fall 2018 academic year. “I think that’s a very doable calendar, really,” Wilheit said. “Step one is identifying the property.” Perren said he would like to acquire between 65 and 75 acres for a new campus, with specific land needs including connection to sewer and telecommunications infrastructure. “We certainly want to take a look at any available parcel that meets the needs of the college and certainly (the Chestnut Mountain property) will be in the mix,” Perren said Monday. “I really don’t know enough details about the property to make much more of a comment.”

The 2016 fiscal year state budget approved in April includes $10 million in bonds and $865,000 in general funds to purchase property and design a new campus for the school in Hall County. “Let me emphasize that price is by no means the main criteria here,” Wilheit said. “Price is part of the decision-making process, but accessibility to the students, visibility and proximity to other technical schools, that sort of thing all has to go into the mix, as well.” “I don’t want anybody to get carried away just by the thought of free land …” he added. Deal, as governor, is chairman of the State Properties Commission, which will have to sign off on any land purchase for the college’s relocation. “We’re keeping the governor’s office apprised of everything we’re looking at because at the end of the day this is a project that we want the governor’s complete buy-in to,” said Wilheit, who formerly served as Deal’s campaign chairman. “This is going to be a very transparent operation.”

Hit and run kills bicyclist in Braselton Gainesville man jailed on homicide, more charges

Farah Bohannon The Paper

Dressed in 1908 period dress is Jackson County Historic Courthouse Welcome Center coordinator Sloane Meyer listens along with BULLI class member as archives coordinator Charlotte Mealor explains how to search through the archives at the historic courthouse. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, free tours will be available during the observance of National Historic Preservation Month.

Historic courthouse showcased on Saturday tours, in BULLI class By FARAH BOHANNON

fbohannon@clickthepaper.com

The Brenau University Learning and Leisure Institute (BULLI) Spring term has officially come to a close, and the members report they thoroughly enjoyed the courses that were offered this season. One of the popular courses offered this term was a walk through Jackson County’s history with Charlotte Mealor as the facilitator. Mealor is also the archives coordinator for the Jackson County Historic Courthouse. Members said the course was inter-

esting since many of the participants have lived in Jackson County their entire lives, and they have ancestors that lived there lives there as well. There is an abundance of rich history in Jackson County and, fortunately, many of those descendants are still around and are eager to learn more about their family’s past. Built in Jefferson in 1879, this beautiful building was actually the third structure built to serve as the county courthouse. The first was a small wooden structure built in 1806 when Jefferson became the county seat of Jackson County. The second bigger structure

was built in 1817 and served for more than 60 years. Finally in 1879, this incredible landmark was constructed and served for 125 years until 2004 when the new courthouse complex was built. Over the following 10 years, a group of dedicated and passionate volunteers campaigned to give new purpose to the historic building. On Aug. 10, 2014, the “new” Jackson County Historic Courthouse opened, serving as the Jackson County Welcome Center and Historic Archives, and is fast becoming a cherished and vital part of the community.

See COURTHOUSE, 2A

A 64-year-old Braselton man is dead after his bicycle was struck from behind Monday around 1:30 p.m. as he was pedaling along Highway 53 near Liberty Crossing. Georgia State Patrol Cpl. C.E. Parker reports the bicyclist was traveling east on Highway 53 when a Toyota Tundra struck the bike in the rear. The truck traveled on to the shoulder of the roadway before returning to the road and driving away. Parker identified the victim as David Fitzpatrick, who was pastor of Georgia Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Gainesville. A witness followed the truck and was able to flag down the driver with flashing headlights. When the driver was informed he had struck a cyclist, he called Barrow County 911 to report the accident, Parker said. Barrow deputies responded and stayed at the BP station at Rockwell Church Road with the driver until troopers arrived. Parker said it was determined the driver, identified as 51-year-old Billy Eugene Bowers Sr., of Gainesville, was impaired and he was placed under arrest. His truck had front-end damage. At the Jackson County Jail, Bowers was booked on charges of following too close, failure to leave sufficient distance for bicycle, leaving the scene of an accident with a death, driving under the influence (less safe), operating a vehicle with improperly transferred license plate, open container and first-degree homicide. Jackson County Emergency Services officials initially reported a person had been struck and killed by a vehicle Monday afternoon along Highway 53 at New Cut Road, however, West Jackson Fire Department responders located the accident scene closer to the Hall County line. Emergency services director Steve Nichols said the male victim unconscious and unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Hoschton recognizes two young mayoral hopefuls By FARAH BOHANNON

fbohannon@clickthepaper.com

At the May Hoschton City Council meeting held Monday, two students from West Jackson Intermediate School were recognized for writing outstanding “If I Were Mayor” essays. The students were not district winners, but they were close, and Hoschton Mayor Theresa Kenerly wanted to recognize them for their creativity and hard work. She is proud of them and is impressed with how many students participated in this contest—more than 70 students. “These guys gave me some great

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ideas,” said Kenerly. “I am so proud of them, and it really makes me happy to see young people interested in government. I hope that one day they will do what we do to keep Hoschton going strong.” Kedric Zimmer, accompanied by his parents, read his essay first. His main goals would be to make Hoschton the best place to live and work. “If I were mayor, I would make Hoschton the best place to live in the entire world,” said Zimmer. “I would increase tourism. I would build a city park to give people a place to get out of their house to run around and play. I want people to say ‘this is an awesome place’ when

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they come to my town.” Zimmer also said he would work hard to increase the amount of jobs in Hoschton as well as the literacy rate in order to maintain a higher standard of living. The city will be much nicer, complete with nicer homes and a higher quality city in general. Youth employment would be important to Zimmer as well — he said that it is at its lowest point as of today, and that would not be an issue if he were mayor. The last thing Zimmer said he would work on is keeping his citizens involved. To do this, he would have festivals every two months. “Getting citizens involved will hopefully cause them to feel more

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comfortable in my town,” said Zimmer. “Everyone will be relaxed in Hoschton. Everyone will be educated and happy. Vote me as the Mayor of Hoschton, Georgia.” Councilman David Poteet was impressed with Zimmer’s essay and asked how old one has to be to run for Mayor. Makayla Hunter was next, and she stood proud next to Councilman Scott Butler as he read her essay aloud. “I would make my town a better place to live by improving tourism and increasing jobs,” said Hunter. “I would meet with my city council

See HOSCHTON, 2A

Farah Bohannon The Paper

Kedric Zimmer, a West Jackson Intermediate School student, read his “If I Were Mayor” essay at Monday’s council meeting.

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