CMYK Thursday, August 21, 2014
Get updates during the week at ClickThePaper.com | 50 ¢
Picture perfect. 4B
Will beer be on tap for Bryan concert? lakin@clickthepaper.com
By LEANNE AKIN
Public hearing on caterer license is today at 5
If country music artist Luke Bryan’s Oct. 9 concert announced to take place at Meldon Farm in Jefferson as a part of his sixth annual Farm Tour concert is to have malt beverages flowing, an application for a catering license must be approved. The Jackson County Board of Commissioners will be holding a 5 p.m. called meeting on Thursday to conduct the required public hearing for the malt beverage license for catering for the concert for which tickets went on sale Aug. 5. The concert was announced and ticket information placed on Bryan’s website at www. lukebryan.com/farmtour as the application was being submitted to the office of Jackson County Public Development Director Gina Roy.
During the commissioners’ work session held July 29, Roy requested the board set a called meeting so the public hearing could be properly advertised and required signage posted on the property. The commission agreed to a scheduled Aug. 21 hearing date. According to information provided by Roy’s office, BRGR of Milledgeville, doing business as 119 Chops, is seeking a Class D-2 Caterer-Malt Beverages by the drink, on premise consumption for the Bryan concert to be held at Meldon Farm, located at 168 Hardman Road in Jefferson. The property is owned by Melvin S. Porter. James B. Stafford, the contact for BRGR which was incorporated Sept. 23, 2010, has a license for 119 Chops, a full-serve restaurant in Milledgeville which serves beer, wine and
distilled spirits as does his other corporation, Chrysha Inc., doing business as Rumrunners in Statesboro. Rumrunners has been in business since 2002 and 119 Chops has been operational since 2010. The county’s $500 license fee for a Class D-2 Caterer license has been paid. The public will have an opportunity to comment on the consumption-on-premises-only license request. The called session will be convened in the auditorium of the Jackson County Administrative Building, located at 67 Athens St., in Jefferson. While Roy said her office is dealing only with the application for the caterer license, another county office has been contacted by a local resident who is questioning whether the commercial use of the property is a viola-
tion of the county’s Conservation Use Valuation Assessment (CUVA). Ron Johnson of Hoschton contacted the Jackson County Assessors Office and, apparently not satisified with the response he received, sent the following to Chief Assessor Valerie Thornton along with a copy to The Paper: “Looking at Luke Bryant’s Farm Tour website, it is apparent that the Board [of Assessors] will be turning a blind eye to the fact that it is a clear violation of CUVA. To give Meldon Farms a 30-day letter after the fact would be useless. This Board is clearly one of the most unethical Boards in the State... “As a taxpayer in Jackson County and someone that saw the County Commission, School Board and all the Fire Districts raise taxes this year, I find it appalling that this Board would not breach the property owner for this blatant violation,” Johnson wrote.
Community invited to join schools’ strategic planning Low crawlin’ & haulin’
A district-wide meeting is set for 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 25, to engage community members in the Jackson County School System’s strategic planning process. The meeting will be held at East Jackson Comprehensive High School. “The vision and voice of our parents and community stakeholders is vitally important,” said School Superintendent Dr. April Howard, who issued an invitation to the planning session at two previous community meetings held after recent eastside and westside school performance celebrations. “At this meeting, we will have a brief overview and break into small focus groups where parents and stakeholders will be asked to provide candid feedback on their experiences and expectations for Jackson County Schools as we plan for the next five to 10 years,” said Howard, who also informed the community of the upcoming gathering on the system’s website and in her backto-school commentary published in The Paper. Forty-five teachers, including Angie Konarski of Gum Springs Elementary, have received training as conversation facilitators to help the school system gain the most feedback possible from the community. “Our community’s voice and vision are valued and needed. Please plan to join us and encourage your friends and colleagues to invest in our community through our schools,” said Howard.
Primal Rush obstacles are conquered By LEANNE AKIN
lakin@clickthepaper.com
As the fog lifted off the water at Crow’s Lake in Jefferson on Saturday morning, the first wave of competitors left the starting line of the Primal Rush obstacle course race which included trekking up and over wooden obstacles, low crawling under stretches of barbed wire, running and treading water. The second annual Primal Rush was a fundraiser for The Tree House, the children’s advocacy center which serves families of Barrow,
See PRIMAL RUSH, 5A
Hero’s Ball honors public safety officers, military By FARAH BOHANNON
fbohannon@clickthepaper.com
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Cpl. Brian Perrin, West Jackson Fire Department Fire Apparatus Operator (FAO) Joel Keith and Braselton Police Department Officer Daniel Britt were honored as Public Safety Officer of the Year award winners at the fourth annual Hero’s Ball. The ball took place at the Braselton Stover House on Friday, Aug. 15. The Hero’s Ball is a fundraiser for Operation One Voice, an organization that supports the families of wounded or deceased soldiers. According to founder William F. Stevens, the Hero’s Ball serves two purposes: one, to raise funds for these families; and two, to honor the Braselton Police Department, West Jackson Fire Department and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. Funds raised through the sale of tickets, alcoholic beverages, a gun raffle and silent auction will be used to support Operation One Voice. Guest of honor Grant McGarry said he cannot thank Operation One Voice enough for what they Farah Bohannon The Paper
As the Gwinnett County Honor Guard stands nearby, Braselton Assistant Police Chief Lou Solis participates in a ceremony which pays tribute to those servicemen and women who have given their all in the service of their country.
INSIDE Church Entertainment Events Features Forum
4A 6B 4B 3B 6A
Volume 8, Number 43 Obituaries 4A Police report 2A Puzzles 6B School News 7B Sports 1-2B
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
do, especially since he served under the United States Special Operations Command in the 1st Ranger Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment. He understands the importance of protection, which was the topic of his speech that evening. “I remember Sept. 11, 2001, because it was the day that I realized I wanted to protect my country,” said McGarry. “I was 18 years old. I fulfilled a promise to my mother and went to college first but, as soon as I finished a difficult finance exam my senior year, I immediately went to an Army recruiting station to sign up.” McGarry spent several McGarry years and deployments protecting others during his time as an Army Ranger, and he was sure to thank the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, West Jackson Fire Department and the Braselton Police Department for their service to the community and the protection they offer. “I understand the sacrifices you all face daily,” said McGarry. “Thank you all so much for your service.”
See HERO’S BALL, 2A
The Paper P.O. Box 430 Hoschton, GA 30548
ECRWSS CURRENT RESIDENT
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 13 GAINESVILLE, GA