CMYK 2A
Local
The Paper | Thursday, November 1, 2012
AMENDMENT from page 1A
TOURISM from page 1A
Funding would come from the state
Mayfield reopening visitors center
citizen Bob Bates. the school board, it’s up to the state,” said “I thought that since we already had a sys- Green. tem for applying for charter schools through While control was a continuing topic with local school boards and the state school the discussion panel, funding was the area board, I don’t see why do you need to create that audience focused on. a charter school commission,” “Where’s the money going said Bates. to come from? You’ve already Those for the amendment arcut public schools down to the gued for a need of state involvebone,” said Mitch Crump, who ment in schools, due to local attended the meeting. school board having a tendency According to Coleman, charto reject charter school appliter schools will be funded by cations, while those against the the state. They will receive the amendment argued there is alsame base amount per student ready a process in place for the as every other public school in creation of charter schools. the state. Then, instead of being “I think once and for all it is supplemented by local school time for the state to be a partfunding, the charter schools will ner,” said Rep. Coleman, as he Katie Justice The Paper receive additional money from directly addressed the audience. State Rep. Buzz the state so that their funding per “We put in $9 million into educachild is equivalent the average tion, shouldn’t the state be a part- Brockway was among of the five school systems with the speakers sup- the lowest funding. ner in education?” Coleman also argued that char- porting the charter “Charter schools are public ter schools allow parents to be school constitutional schools. The money going into more involved in their children’s amendment. them is going into public educaeducations, and that if it’s a mattion,” said Coleman. ter of local control, what’s more While those for the amendlocal than a group of parents. ment argued that funding for new state creGreen stated that creation of a charter ated charter schools would not come out of commission would simply be a way of avoid- the funding of public school, Green said that ing the real issue. how this would be possible “is one great mys“If you’re got a problem in a classroom, the tery” to him. person that fixes it is a teacher. If you’ve got a Overall the meeting stayed friendly and problem with a teacher, the person that fixes conversational, with both sides encouraging it is the principal. If you’ve got a problem with voters to take the time to learn more about the principal, the person that fixes it is me, the amendment and be educated when they the superintendent. If there’s a problem with make their decisions. me, the people that fix it are the members of “I believe either way this thing goes, we’ll the school board. If there’s a problem with be all right in Jackson County,” said Green
“We’re such a vast community. We want to try to promote the county as a destination in itself,” said Bernardi. However, for areas like Jackson County, a hotel/motel tax is the most notable revenue from tourism. In fact, Braselton’s 5 percent hotel tax completely funds its Visitor’s Bureau Authority and also contributes to the city’s general funds. Jackson County’s problem is that it only has two hotels. “We really don’t have a hotel/motel tax fund, so everything we do is really done without resources,” said Bernardi. The tourism council is made completely of volunteers and anything it creates is funded through donations or sponsorships. “You can’t just set out and say we want to be this,” says Mark Valentine, who chairs the Tourism Council. Valentine is general manager of Tanger Outlets in Commerce. Valentine said he hopes to use the success of local counties, such as Clarke and Hall, to drive tourism in Jackson County. “We want to benefit from their leverage, from their tourism draw,” said Valentine. Jackson County had only about a quarter of the amount of domestic travel related expenditures as Clarke and Hall counties in 2011, according to the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Jackson County had $53.9 million in tour-
Hoschton holds budget hearing Public hearings will be held Nov. 1 and Nov. 29 as the City of Hoschton presents budgets for the 2013 General Fund, Water and Sewer Fund and Capital Projects Fund. The public hearings will be held at 7 p.m. when the Hoschton City Council convenes for its work session. Theresa Kenerly is serving as interim mayor with the resignation of
Erma Denney. The budgets will be available for review after Nov. 1. Copies are available at no charge by contacting City Administrator Cindy George at 706-654-3034 or emailing cgeorge@ cityofhoschton.com The budget is to be considered at the council’s Dec. 3 meeting which starts at 7 p.m.
POLICE REPORT Braselton Police
■ On Oct. 15, a theft of services was reported at a Mossy Oak Landing residence. There was criminal damage to the property due to the interfering with public utilities. ■ A criminal trespass was reported at a Chardonnay Trace residence on Oct. 15. ■ On Oct. 15, a driver headed southbound on Interstate 85 was pulled over for failing to maintain lane, speeding and tag light requirements. The driver was found to also be in possession of methamphetamine and marijuana and was placed under arrest. ■ A man was arrested at a Park Bend Avenue residence for battery on Oct. 15. ■ On Oct. 16, damage to property was reported at a Highway 211 property. ■ On Oct. 17, a man driving on Highway 211 was arrested for driving under the influence after being pulled over for failing to maintain his lane. ■ A truck and the car on a dolly for towing by the truck were stolen from a Highway 124 business on Oct. 16.
■ On Oct. 18, a disorderly conduct was reported at a Kilchis Falls Way residence. ■ An aggravated assault with a gun was reported at a Walnut Woods Drive residence on Oct. 18. ■ A man traveling northbound on Interstate 85 reported damage to his vehicle on Oct. 19.
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office ■ On Oct. 22, reports of a suspicious person banging on the door of a Hightower Court residence turned out to be a neighbor whose child had locked him outside of his home. ■ A Duck Road resident was arrested at his home on Oct. 22 for an active warrant after a vehicle accident showed the car owner was wanted. ■ A Braselton man was placed under arrest for driving with a suspended license and for a warrant out of Hall County on Oct. 23. A deputy patrolling Cooper Bridge Road recognized the driver from a previous arrest for driving with a suspended license.
■ On Oct. 23, a driver failing to maintain his lane while traveling on Highway 129 was pulled over. The driver claimed to be tired due to recently becoming a dad. However, the officer smelled odor of an alcoholic beverages and asked the man to take a breathalyzer test. The man tested above the legal limit and was placed under arrest for driving under the influence. ■ On Oct. 23, a Pocket Road resident reported receiving harassing text messages from her child’s father whom she dated several years ago. ■ On Oct. 23, a civil dispute was reported between three residents living at a Lavender Road residence over the ownership of some of the appliances. ■ A Jackson Trail Road resident filed a report on Oct. 24 against her ex-husband who picked up her children, not his children, from church without her permission. ■ On Oct. 24, a dispute was reported between a man and the manager of a shop where his truck was being fixed. ■ A case of road rage was reported by a
ism-related expenditures while both Clarke and Hall counties brought in around $234 million. Therefore, Valentine and the Tourism Council have assembled a list of Jackson County locations that might interest visitors and plans to create travel itineraries based on local attractions. “People like it when you make it easy,” said Valentine. The ultimate goal is to eventually establish Jackson County as a tourism destination. “The thing that would be a mistake would be to keep growing Jackson County and not have a tourism strategy in place,” said Valentine. While Jackson County is hoping to get its tourism industry started, Braselton should continue to thrive with the re-opening of the Mayfield Dairy Visitor’s Center on Nov. 9 and NASCAR promising to increase the number of races at Road Atlanta. “We appeal to a whole lot of different groups,” said Dees, who says believes Braselton’s thriving tourism industry has a lot to do with the town’s location. “It’s a great place to be if you want to do weekend trips. We get a whole lot of people come out from Atlanta and spend the weekend here to get away,” Dees said.
RIVERS ALIVE from page 1A
Nearly 50 participate in cleanup Roy McHaney. The 48 volunteers included members of the Barrow County 4-H Club, the WinderBarrow High School Key Club, and the Mill Creek Service Unit Troup 1630 of the Girl Scouts. “Most don’t realize the Mulberry River is what they drink,” said WBHS Key Club advisor Brandon Mitchell, who said that as the advisor he gets to choose community service projects for the club. “They enjoy it. It doesn’t sound like a lot of fun before you start, but it’s actually a
driver traveling south on Highway 129 on Oct. 25. The complainant, a Greene County officer in a marked patrol car, passed the offender who he said then drove up on his bumper, ran off the road and told the officer to pull over. Before approached the officer, the other driver reached into the back of his truck, and the officer, not knowing what the man was getting, drew his gun. ■ A dispute was reported between a Winder Highway resident and her daughter on Oct. 25. ■ On Oct. 26, a car traveling along Brockton Road was pulled over for having lumber and steel extending over four foot out the back of the truck bet without a flag or light. The driver was found to be driving without insurance and with a suspended registration. The driver was placed under arrest. ■ On Oct. 27, a driver reported receiving damage to his vehicle along Highway 124 and Highway 53 after he struck a deer the night before. ■ A criminal trespass warning was issued to an unwanted guest at a Rock Forge Road resi-
lot of fun,” said Mitchell, who also teaches environmental science at the high school. “Hundreds of small streams combine in the Mulberry River. What we’re doing is just the tip of the iceberg,” said McHaney who also said the event saves clean-up costs for drinking water. This is the second Rivers Alive cleanup held in Jackson County in October. On Oct. 6, tributaries on the east side of Jackson County were addressed by volunteers of Keep Jackson County Beautiful and the Jackson County Public Development.
dence on Oct. 28. ■ Two subjects fishing on private property along Highway 124 on Oct. 28 were issued warning of criminal trespass. ■ On Oct. 28, a man who locked his keys and
dog within his vehicle at a gas station on Highway 129 was assisted. ■ A Jefferson woman was advised Oct. 28 to file a civil case against a man who was in possession of her cell phone.
TOAST from page 1A
Auctions, raffle slated “It’s a really fun night out, and tickets are only $25,” said Downtown Development Authority member Cindy Green. Tickets are available at the Braselton Town Hall or from any member of the Braselton Downtown Development Authority. Proceeds benefit the Downtown Development Authority and will go towards the improvement and beautification of downtown Braselton. “Come join us for a toast to our town,” said Green. Raffle tickets are also available for three-day, fournight cruise to the Caribbean. Tickets are $5 each or six for $20. Tickets are being sold in advance and at the Toast to Braselton. Among the other auction items will be Gwinnett Braves tickets, Corleone’s gift certificate, golf for four at The Legends, a framed picture of the Braselton Mill, a $100 gift certificate for A Flea Antique, gift baskets from Hoschton Animal Hospital, Artistic Expressions and Town & Country Floris, 10 flats of plants from The Garden, lunch for two at the Hoschton Diner, a one night’s stay at the Country Inn & Suites, a pair of lamps from Haverty’s and a one-week stay in a North Carolina cabin.
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