The Paper June 28 edition

Page 1

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SPORTS: Southern Eagles fly into Hoschton for camp, 1B

Chef gives handon lessons. 3B 50¢

THURSDAY, june 28, 2012

Economic development projects added The Jackson County Board of Commissioners voted in a called June 21 meeting to add two new projects to the list of Tier 1 endeavors funded by economic development bond proceeds. The two projects were deemed to be worthy of funding so the Board of Commissioners joined with Jackson County Industrial Development Authority to amend the existing intergovernmental agreement to undertake the projects. Improvements along Wayne Poultry Road will be made to facilitate the Toyota Industries Compressor Parts of America (TICA)

Braselton Parkway-53 intersection included plant to be constructed adjacent to the existing Toyota facility on Valentine Industrial Parkway. The new TICA plant, which will employ 320, is expected to launch production in September of 2013 with six million units of vehicle compressors to be manufactured by 2016. Access improvements in the amount of $200,000 will be made at Wayne Poultry Road and Valentine Industrial Parkway. Auxiliary and turn lanes will be constructed to accom-

modate future access. The work would get under way by county forces this fall. The other economic development project which was authorized in the document as another Tier 1 project is signalization for the Braselton Industrial Parkway extension to Georgia Highway 53. A “T” intersection is envisioned at Braselton Parkway and Highway 53 with a commercial access point opposite Braselton Parkway. The project will facilitate the location of the

Carter’s $50 million distribution center which is located on Braselton Parkway. The facility is 1 million square feet. Carter’s is expected to create more than 600 new full-time jobs in Georgia by 2015. The estimated construction budget for the new signalization intersection is $136,000 with $14,000 for engineering, and improvements would get under way this fall. The commission also approved the Jackson County Industrial Development Authority Revenue Refunding Bonds Series 2012 A&B as a part of the intergovernmental agreement and bond resolution.

Another taxiway not needed at airport, says authority chairman

SAFELITE LEADING THE WAY

Money allocated for project would be better spent elsewhere, says Ken Botts By FARAH BOHANNON For The Paper LeAnne Akin The Paper

Safelite Auto Glass hosted members of the Rotary Club of Braselton for a June 21 tour of the Braselton distribution facility, which is a LEED-certified building on Braselton Parkway. Rich Glover, assistant vice president, manufacturing and distribution, gave an update on the plant which will soon mark its second anniversary. See more on the club’s occupational visit and about the company at ClickThePaper.com

Emergency call for blood donors issued by Red Cross From staff reports With half as many blood products currently in the Red Cross inventory as this time last year, an emergency call for blood and platelet donors of all types is being issued. Unseasonably early warm weather may be a contributing factor to the 50,000 donation shortfall in June as many regular donors got an early start on summer activities, and aren’t taking time to give blood or platelets. But the need remains constant. Donors are needed now to help patients and replenish the blood supply. All blood types are needed, but especially O positive, O negative, B negative and A negative in order to meet patient demand this

summer. This year’s mid-week Independence Day holiday has reduced the number of scheduled Red Cross blood drives. Many sponsors, especially businesses, are unable to host drives because employees are taking extended vacations. Several American Red Cross blood drives are being conducted in the local area. Jackson County employees are participating in a Wednesday drive from noon to 5 p.m. at the Jackson County Administrative Building at 67 Athens St., in Jefferson. Winder First United Methodist Church is hosting a July 6 drive from 12:30-5:30 p.m.

See BLOOD, page 2A

Jackson County Airport Authority chairman Ken Botts considers one of the projects on the transportation intiative referendum to be voted on July 31 a waste of taxpayer money. The Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (T-SPLOST) referendum includes a new westside taxiway at the Jackson County Airport among the Northeast Georgia Regional Transportation Roundtable projects. The airport authority convened June 19 to discuss new business and several items on the budget. T-SPLOST was among the topics discussed by Airport Manager Greg Garner and Botts. Botts said he doesn’t consider a westside taxiway to be a need at the airport. “I am very much opposed to the TSPLOST paying for the westside taxiway,” Botts said. “I really don’t agree with the Jackson County taxpayers paying for something that the airport really doesn’t need. I think it is a poor use of the taxpayers’ money. We could invest money somewhere else.” While the westside taxiway project is on the authority’s five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), Botts said the project isn’t scheduled to receive attention until 2015. He said he doesn’t recall the inclusion of the project on the T-SPLOST list being discussed by the

authority. Authority members Max Allen and Stan McLain also said they did not see the need for the added taxiway when there are other projects of greater importance. Botts raised questions about the development of the CIP which includes what he calls a list of “pie in the sky” projects such as an airport business park and new terminal. While a future terminal

See AIRPORT, page 2A

I am very much opposed to the T-SPLOST paying for the westside taxiway. I really don’t agree with the Jackson County taxpayers paying for something that the airport really doesn’t need. Ken Botts Airport authority chairman

Amateur radio enthusiasts participate in field day By LEANNE AKIN lakin@clickthepaper.com Tri-County Amateur Radio Club participated in “the original global social media” last weekend as club members joined in the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Field Day at Braselton Town Hall. Members connected with the world as they also reached out to the community to share information about amateur radio. Field Day is the single most popular on-the-air event held annually. Each year, more than 35,000 amateurs work with their clubs or operate by themselves. The round-the-clock experience is exciting but tiring as clubs attempt to outscore others with their contacts. “We are all recovering from the event, but it all went well,” said Bob Richardson, who is actively involved in the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) effort and also works with the club’s public relations. “We far exceeded the number of event points this year than we had last year, whether that will get a first spot in Georgia remains to be seen.” The official numbers for Field Day recognitions don’t come out until later in the year.

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Debbie Purvis The Paper

You may have spotted the activity at Braselton Town Hall last weekend as the TriCounty Amateur Radio Club took part in the ARRL Field Day. For Field Day, club members began their setup Friday afternoon and returned for additional setup early Saturday morning. Field day – with the goal to make as many contacts as possible -- ran from 2 p.m. Saturday to 2 p.m. Sunday. A generator provided power for the operation and all equipment was staged and set up as if there was

Volume 6, Number 34 4A Obituaries Pastor’s Pen 4A Police report 8A Puzzles 7B Sports 1-2B

an actual emergency situation. “Field Day is known all over the planet,” said Fabrice Collin, who served as Field Day chairman. He calls amateur radio “the original global social media” because of the communication outreach that predates other technology which we take for granted today – cell phones, smart phones and the In-

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

ternet, for example. Collin formerly worked as an engineer with French Radio and TV and has been involved in ham radio contesting. He has transmitted to and from all around the world. It is not unusual to make contact with other Ham operators in Europe and Asia. Collin recently communicated with a man in South Africa.

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

The excitement of making contact with someone thousands of miles away is unmatched, said Collin, who says he’s still a kid at heart when it comes to ham radios. There is almost a kinship, but certainly a friendship created among amateur radio operators, and there is some-

See FIELD DAY, page 3A

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