The Paper May 9 2013 Edition

Page 1

CMYK Thursday, May 9, 2013

Get updates during the week at ClickThePaper.com | 50 ¢

Jackson EMC hosts Junior Solar Sprint. 9A

Lease purchase OK’d for county vehicles By LEANNE AKIN

lakin@clickthepaper.com

The Jackson County Board of Commissioners Monday approved the lease purchase of vehicles and equipment authorized in the Fiscal Year 2013Capital Projects Fund budget. In the budget, the board previously approved $628,200 to provide for the replacement of 10 Sheriff’s patrol cars, a passenger van and a mower for the Jackson County Correctional Institute, a crew cab truck for Fleet

Election office hopes to add third full-time staffer in preparation for municipal balloting Maintenance, two skid steers for the Solid WasteDepartment, an EMS rescue truck and a mowing tractor, a heavy equipment trailer and an asphalt distributor for the Road Department. The vehicles and equipment are being replaced in accordance with the county’s fleet policy, according to a memo from County

Finance Director Logan Propes. The policy specifies certain replacement mileage thresholds for vehicles operated for public safety, as pursuit vehicles and as administrative vehicles. Six quotes were received from the county’s request on financing the capital leases in an effort to ensure maximum savings to the

Meaningful mentor

Farm to School seeks to connect kids with locally-grown produce By KATIE JUSTICE

Despite rivalries and competition, all three Jackson County school districts have found something they agree on. Jackson County, Jefferson City and Commerce City School Systems are working together to bring fresh and healthy local produce into their school cafeterias. The directors of school nutrition from each system, representatives from Georgia Organics and local farmers met Monday to discuss the Farm to School Program. Farm to School is a movement to bring more locally grown produce into school cafeterias. It aims to encourage children to eat healthy and helps them understand more about their food and where it comes from, while also helping to stimulate the local economy. “Our kids have grown up on McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy’s and Pizza Hut,” said Jackson County Nutrition Director Dr. Debra Morris. “They think pizza is a vegetable.” Monday’s meeting was conducted as a forum, allowing school representatives and farmers to openly discuss their goals, questions and concerns.

One big concern from the school systems was being able to bring local produce into their schools while abiding by federally set guidelines. “We’re very willing to work with the local community, but there are so many hoops we have to jump through,” said Morris. “We’ve got our work cut out for us, but it’s good work.” The Veggie Patch at Bouchard Farms, Finch Creek Farms and the

See COUNTY, 7A

Braselton hosts its Beach Bash this Saturday

Mary Ann Parks looks on as her mentee, Maria Couch, a student at Kings Bridge Middle School, reads her comments about her mentor who was honored as the Jackson County Mentor of the Year. Mentored by Parks through Lindsay’s Legacy Mentoring for six years, Maria said she hopes to retain her special mentor until she graduates from high school. “I love you, homey,” joked Maria, who was among the students who highlighted their mentors at the recent mentoring luncheon. Smiling in the background is Ray Booher, a member of the Lindsay’s Legacy Mentoring Board of Directors who made the announcement and presented the engraved plaque. See more coverage of the event by LeAnne Akin at ClickThePaper.com

kjustice@clickthepaper.com

county, Propes noted in his memo. Some of the equipment has already been acquired and to meet the time frame requirement for the lease purchase, approval was needed at the Monday session. District 3 Commissioner Bruce Yates made the motion for approval with District 4 Commissioner Dwain Smith offering the second to authorize Chairman Tom Crow and County Manager Kevin Poe to execute the necessary documents for lease purchase

R2 Farm expressed interest in working with the school systems. “It’s not just about profit; it’s about educating these kids,” said Cass Fraunfelder of Finch Creek Farms. The goal of this initial meeting was to provide connections. Now the school systems are moving forward to determine how they can bring locally grown fruits and vegetables into their schools by as soon as next fall.

Katie Justice The Paper

Local farmers Todd McCain and Cass Fraunfelder discuss what they feel their roles will be in providing fresh fruits and vegetables to local schools.

The family-friendly Braselton Beach Bash comes to Braselton Park on Saturday with white beach sand setting the stage for a day of entertainment. “We will bring in 18 tons of sand and put it in front of the stage,” says Danielle Austin, who has coordinated for the 30-plus booths to fill the park. “We have sand buckets with shovels to giveaway as well as two different types of sunglasses for the children,” said Austin. This year’s festival T- This year’s T-shirt design was shirt design features the en- submitted by 8-year-old Trentry from 8-year-old Trenton ton Bishop, below. Bishop of Commerce. He was judged as the winner of the third annual contest for the Beach Bash T-shirt design. Beach Bash will be held from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. as vendors fill the park. A train, sand art, tutus, gourmet ice cream, seafood, boiled peanuts, Ecuadorian Art, Hawaiian ice, hand-

See BEACH BASH, 2A

LifePath will be celebrated June 1 Sponsors are being sought for a June 1 family-friendly celebration of the Braselton Community Improvement District’s LifePath which is nearing completion. The grand opening event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June with a challenge for event-goers to get a card punched to represent visits to the businesses along the LifePath. The Lifepath, a multi-use path along Highway 211 and Highway 347, will provide a multi-modal access connecting The Village at Deaton Creek, River Place, Chateau Élan, Mulberry Walk and the Town of Braselton Riverwalk. The completion of the current phase is being hampered somewhat as CID administrator Guy Herring of McFarland Dyer & Associates works to secure the needed easement at the corner at Deaton Creek. That section may require later permitting through the Georgia Department of Transportation as a bank is involved after a property foreclosure, Herring advised the CID members at their Monday meeting.

Racing venues attracting aircraft to local airport By KATIE JUSTICE

kjustice@clickthepaper.com

The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Southern Nationals meant business for the Jackson County Airport. According to Airport Manager Tom Strong, the tarmacs were filled with owner, fan and team aircraft. Strong said the airport staff welcomed and assisted the various crews, making sure that their experience here was enjoyable and that time spent at the airport productive. “The Jackson County Airport is ideally situated among the three major race venues in the area with Road Atlanta to the south, Atlanta

INSIDE Church Entertainment Events Forum Obituaries

8A 8B 7B 6A 4A

Dragway to the north and Gresham Motor Speedway located literally at the end of the runway,” said Strong in a recent press release. The airport is also a top choice thanks to its open ramp spaces, which are ideal for parking medium to large corporate aircraft, highly competitive fuel prices and the ease at which pilots can fly in and out of the airport. “Extensive planning by the airport authority is helping to ensure that our growth is economically efficient and regionally effective by seeking to attract a wide range of airport customers,” said Strong. “Hosting racing teams is only a small part of how the Jackson County Airport supports local businesses. “

Volume 7, Number 27 Pastor’s Pen 4A Police report 8A Puzzles 8B School News 5B Sports 1-2B

For The Paper

The Jackson County Airport is seeing airplane traffic associated with race venues – Road Atlanta, Atlanta Dragway and Gresham Motorsports Park, says Manager Tom Strong.

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

The Paper P.O. Box 430 Hoschton, GA 30548

ECRWSS CURRENT RESIDENT

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 13 GAINESVILLE, GA


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.