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SPORTS: Football season 2012 preview special section, 1B
Founding of town is marked. 11A 50¢
THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2012
Ga. 347 construction under way By JEFF GILL Regional staff
Work has started on the long-awaited widening of Ga. 347/Lanier Islands Parkway, the first of three projects that ultimately will serve as a major east-west connector in South Hall. Grading is under way near Atlanta Highway and silt fencing is up for most of the twomile route. The $14 million project calls for a fourlane divided highway, including sidewalks, between McEver Road/Peachtree Industrial Boulevard and Interstate 985.
New road segment to be added in front of planned hospital site is final link in project The roadway will split between numerous businesses, including restaurants, gas stations and strip shopping centers. Most of the road’s commercial development is between Atlanta Highway and I-985. The completion date on the project is Nov. 30, 2014, said Teri Pope, spokeswoman for the Georgia Department of Transportation’s District 1, which includes Hall County. Mack Burgess, new director of the proposed Lanier Islands Parkway Community
Improvement District, a self-taxing area allowed under the state constitution, said Sunday that he believed the DOT’s work along the road “will be good for our campaign.” The CID, which is trying to gain business support for the initiative, hopes to use revenues to pay for extras to the road. “There’s a huge aesthetic component (to a new road),” he said. “We want to clean up blighted areas along Lanier Islands Parkway. We’d love to dress it up a little bit.”
Mike Williams, CEO at Lake Lanier Islands resort, has said the CID “would do the stuff that the DOT won’t fund — for example, streetlights, signage and landscaping.” The DOT has awarded a contract for the second leg of the project, an eight-mile widening of Ga. 347 from I-985 — where Lanier Islands Parkway becomes Friendship Road — to Ga. 211/Old Winder Highway. “We expect work to begin in September,” Pope said last week, noting that could change. Friendship Road will be widened to six
See HIGHWAY, page 5A
HOSCHTON
Stompin’ and sippin’
Utility bills, deposits can be paid online
Château Élan’s Vineyard Fest marks 16th year with even more wines By LEANNE AKIN lakin@clickthepaper.com Wine and beer flowed Sunday at the 16th annual Vineyard Fest at Château Élan as some of the best among the state’s tastes of the vine and brews were poured up. “We had a great turnout – great participants and guests, fantastic weather and more wines for tasting than we’ve had in the 16 years we have been hosting the event,” said Doug Rollins, vice president of sales and marketing at Château Élan. Tipsy Canvas instructional artist Tracy Kokfe was on hand to inspire Vineyard Fest guests to try their hand at adding some creative strokes to a piece of artwork featuring a glass of wine. Music filled the air outside as The League of Decency, a seven-piece band, took the stage under the large tent where event-goers gathered. Guests also enjoyed cooking demonstrations and winemaker and brewmaster sessions. LeAnne Akin The Paper
Kathy and Chris Donnelly of Duluth kicked off their shoes to stomp some grapes during Sunday’s Vinyard Fest at Chateau Elan. Brandon Harting and Dave Keplinger were pouring up some samples of wines available from Northeast Sales Distributors. Tastings were held in the pavilion and the cask room. See more scenes at ClickThePaper.com More than 100 different wines were available for sampling. Horse Creek Winery and Boutier Winery were among the returning participants. Currahee Vineyard & Winery was making its first appearance at the event bringing its Golden Harvest and Currahee Rose. Throughout the venue, food stations were set up offering samplings of shrimp and grits, pulled pork sliders, chicken quesadillas and other culinary delights. Some guests couldn’t resist the chance to kick off their shoes and stomp a few grapes.
Hoschton citizens and businesses can now make utility payments and deposits from the convenience of their home or office. nCourt, the leading government e-payment provider in the nation, announced that Hoschton has implemented nCourt’s electronic payment system. According to City Administrator Cindy George, providing convenience for citizens has been a goal since she arrived at city hall. “Our utility software was purchased some time ago with the promise that online bill payments would be forthcoming, but that never materialized,” said George. “I needed to find a way to provide this service without adding any expense to administer it. This system is user-fee based and therefore no cost to the city whatsoever.” Hoschton citizens can now visit www. cityofhoschtonpmts.com and access an easyto-use website (available in both Spanish and English) where utilities and utility deposits can be paid quickly and securely. Unfortunately, the system does not nterface with the city’s utility billing, so everything is manual. While there is no time savings, George said no added labor is involved. “We process the payments one by one just like if the customers drop off a check or pay in person with cash,” said George, who indicates she has fielded numerous requests for the service convenience, especially related to the deposits which amount to $160 for water, sewer and garbage. “That is difficult for many newcomers, so the ability to charge that is very helpful,” said George, who learned about at this summer’s Georgia Municipal Association meeting in Savannah. “They had all of the right answers; no cost to the city, easy to use, 24/7 customer service, a kiosk in city hall, and the sales rep answered all of our utility clerk’s concerns,” said George.
See HOSCHTON, page 2A
BULLI: Connect, learn By LEANNE AKIN lakin@clickthepaper.com When the fall term of Brenau University Learning & Leisure Institute (BULLI) in Braselton begins Sept. 24, Peg Sheffield knows her mother will be smiling down from heaven. Sheffield is a two-generation BULLI member. She and her sister are now a part of the program which Margaret Ellett helped to found. “My mother was 73 when BULLI started in Gainesville. She felt BULLI kept her mind active and was a great place to develop new friendships. She often said that BULLI helped keep her young,” said Sheffield. “A long-time Gainesville volunteer, it was only natural for her to immediately volunteer with BULLI. Member-led and member-driven, BULLI’s success depends on its member volunteers,” said Sheffield. “I know my mother would be thrilled that BULLI has expanded to Braselton.” Registration information is available at the Braselton Town Hall or by telephoning 706-6545720. A complete listing, venues and fees can be found at www.intranet.brenau.edu/bulli .
INSIDE Church 4A Entertainment 12A Events 11A Features 11A Forum 6A
Courses begin the week of Sept. 24, meeting weekly for seven weeks. Course offerings include introduction to digital photography, Al’s Taste of Braselton, creative nonfiction writing, basic home repairs, yoga, watercolor, greatest Civil War generals and more. A registration gathering was held Aug. 23 and BULLI Director Kathy Amos introduced Braselton Town Manager and Clerk Jennifer Dees as her “cohort in crime.” Dees produced a brief overview of how the BULLI program came to Braselton. Last October, she met Amos as she was exploring how to bring educational opportunities to downtown Braselton. “We want to provide lots of options for our citizens,” said Dees, who also expressed the town’s desire to have opportunities to attract people to come to town. BULLI provided the opportunity to bring lifelong learning to downtown Braselton. A group of community members serve as the curriculum committee. Headed by Lynn Hammond, the committee of Jim Smith, Peg Heckathorn,
See BULLI, page 5A
Volume 6, Number 43 Obituaries 4A 4A Pastor’s Pen Police report 2A Puzzles 12A Sports 10A
LeAnne Akin The Paper
Peg Sheffield, a second generation BULLI student, and Dr. Nancy Krippel, Brenau University Provost & Senior VP Academic Affairs, were at Thursday’s registration for BULLI in Braselton. Registration continues this week.
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