The Paper September 6 Edition

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CMYK

SPORTS: Mill Creek Hawks, JCCHS Panthers get wins, 1B

Responding to signs of need. 3B 50¢

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

Local block grants are awarded By LEANNE AKIN lakin@clickthepaper.com The City of Jefferson and Jackson County will be the beneficiaries of funding for three Community Development Block Grant projects. The Town of Braselton is also a CDBG recipient, although the announcement of $500,000 for the Braselton Brothers store revitalization had previously been made. The project is already out for bid. Georgia Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Mike Beatty announced Friday that Georgia has awarded more $40 million in federal assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the State’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. “This award announcement of over $1.1 million for the Martin Luther King sidewalk

$500,000 available for new Boys & Girls Club, Jefferson water filter project and MLK sidewalks project, the Jackson County Boys & Girls Club facility project and the Jefferson Water Department water filter project is wonderful news for our community,” said Jefferson City Manager John Ward. The CDBG program is administered by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), which uses funds allocated through HUD to support local initiatives that focus on improving living conditions and economic opportunities. “The State Community Development Block Grant program provides an essential resource to Georgia’s smaller more rural communities in their efforts to support projects that will create jobs and assist low- and

moderate-income citizens. As communities large and small are making difficult choices, today’s announcement represents an important investment in various local health and safety, economic development and job creation programs, helping preserve Georgia’s quality of life,” said Commissioner Beatty. A $500,000 award will provide neighborhood revitalization in a Jefferson neighborhood, and another $500,000 block grant has been given to Jackson County as the Board of Commissioners and the Jackson County Board of Education have partnered with the Boys & Girls Club of Jackson County for a new facility on Gordon Street. County Manager Kevin Poe, who worked

with officials of the Boys & Girls Club toward the application, said, “We are very pleased to be able to obtain some financial assistance to help the Boys & Girls Club to construct a new facility. The Boys & Girls Club provides a vital service for this community and we are happy to be assisting them. We look forward to working with them to get the new building under construction and to see it completed and used by the boys and girls in the Jefferson area.” Ward said the club project as well as the sidewalk project will be of considerable community benefit. “The MLK sidewalk project will greatly increase the safety of pedestrians along MLK Drive,” said Ward. “The Jackson County Boys & Girls Club Project will greatly enhance the ability of the Boys & Girls Club to

See GRANTS, page 2A

Hoschton focuses on its history By LEANNE AKIN lakin@clickthepaper.com The City of Hoschton will hold a Sept. 13 public hearing on a proposed amendment to the Recreation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) fund. The council is considering a project to relocate and partially restore the historic Hosch Store to the Depot Park. The plans also contemplate relocation of the playground equipment to the City Square lot. The Hosch Store came to the attention of the community when a demolition permit was requested to remove the structure from its Peachtree Road site. While the building has been relocated previously, its significance remains important, say those who want to preserve it for the future. A citizen meeting was recently held to consider how the community could be involved in the building’s future. Hoschton citizens Chuck and Gerri Fisk, Rick Clarke, Ralph Freeman, JoNan Warwick, Edna Sell, Bob and Dianne Blankenship, Carol Tanner and Scott and Pam Butler attended. Also on hand was James Lawson of Lawson Funeral Home and Roxane Rose, chairman of the Crawford Long Museum Board of Directors. At the council’s Aug. 30 work session, Scott Butler, a member of the city council, shared some inspiration about the importance of the project to the community.

See HOSCHTON, page 3A

Roxane Rose The Paper

Roxane Rose The Paper

David Bohannon was honored as the Public Safety of the Year Captain Tony Harris was recognized for Public Safety of the recipient for the Braselton Police Department by Assistant Bra- Year for the West Jackson Fire Department, presented to him by West Jackson Fire Department Chief Ben Stephens. selton Police Chief Lou Solis.

Bohannon, Harris: Public Safety honorees By ROXANE ROSE rrose@clickthepaper.com Captain Tony Harris of the West Jackson Fire Department and David Bohannon of the Braselton Police Department were honored at the annual Hero’s Ball, held last Friday at the Braselton-Stover House. Both were recipients of Public Safety of the Year awards. The Hero’s Ball, in its second year, is a fundraiser put on by the eXchange, an organization created to honor and support the families of deployed and returning military personnel. Founder Amber Chatham says the Hero’s Ball has two goals: One, to achieve the eXchange’s mission, and two, to honor the Braselton Po-

lice Department, West Jackson Fire Department and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. “We want this to be a reciprocal show of gratitude,” Chatham said. Sgt. 1st Class Joseph R. Kapacziewski, guest of honor at the Hero’s Ball, summed it up. “I truly appreciate the efforts of our local police and firefighters to keep our communities safe,” he said. “They are our local heroes.” Last year, the Ball recognized the local fire and police departments. This year, individual members of those departments were honored. Captain Tony Harris was recognized for

Public Safety of the Year for the West Jackson Fire Department. “He was hired as operations officer, and now he is teaching the recruit class. He went through training on vacation time, and he went through EMT school on his vacation time. Now he is teaching the recruit class on his days off. He is just an outstanding volunteer,” said Ben Stephens, chief, West Jackson Fire Department, in announcing Harris’ award. Harris has been with the department since 2003. Lou Solis, assistant police chief with the

See HONOREES, page 5A

Backpack Program is sending home some weekend nutrition Cowboy Up 5K on Sept. 22 will benefit Food 2 Kids By KATIE JUSTICE kjustice@clickthepaper.com At 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, a group of runners will begin a 5 kilometer trek through the Hoschton area. All those running the 3.2-mile race will be helping to keep a hungry child fed. This year’s race is presented by the Food 2 Kids Program in Jackson County. The Jackson County initiative is led by Sherry Aquino through the Weekend Kids Backpack Program. Preregistration for the race is $15. It is ongoing until Sunday, Sept. 16, although, you can still register on the day of the race beginning at 6:30 a.m. for the price of $20. Those entering the race will receive a goody bag and race T-shirt, and refreshments will

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be provided at the start and finish of the race. Also, awards will be given to the first overall male and female finishers, as well as to the top three male and female finishers in each age group, beginning with 10 and under and ranging to 70 and older. “It’s heartbreaking to think of a child going home and not having anything to eat,” said Aquino about the purpose of Food 2 Kids and the Weekend Kids Backpack Program. As of now there are a total of 28 elementary and middle school students in Jackson County that are a part of the Weekend Kids Backpack Program. Each student receives a bag of healthy, kid-friendly food to get them through the weekend. However, the Jackson County Family Connection as teamed up with Aquino, several local area

Volume 6, Number 44 Obituaries 4A 4A Pastor’s Pen Police report 2A Puzzles 5B Sports 1-2B

churches, and the food bank to expand the program. Forms are being sent home with all elementary and middle school students in the county discussing the program and allowing parents apply. Currently, students are recommended by teachers, school counselor or school nurses. The new method will greatly spread awareness of the program. As of now, Food 2 Kids provides bags of food to six students at East Jackson Middle. However, an estimated 50 students have already brought back forms requesting to be a part of the program. “If I just have 50 at East Jackson Middle, I can’t imagine how many more bags I’ll have,” said Aquino.

See BACKPACK, page 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

Katie Justice The Paper

Sherry Aquino carries bags of Food 2 Kids supplies into Kings Bridge Middle School on a recent delivery day. The Paper P.O. Box 430 Hoschton, GA 30548

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