Entries from May 2011

Gov. vetoes Sen. Ginn’s legislation

Tuesday, May 31. 2011
Forty-seventh District State Senator Frank Ginn said he’s “very disappointed” that Gov. Nathan Deal last week vetoed legislation Ginn introduced to reduce state planning mandates on smaller cities and counties.

The first-year legislator said he plans to meet soon with Deal to find out what problems Deal had with legislation that overwhelmingly passed both the House and the Senate.

“Senate Bill 86 attempts to address concerns of smaller cities and counties regarding the expense of developing and maintaining plans in order to obtain certification for ‘Qualified Local Government’ status,” Deal said in a written explanation of his action. “While I am sympathetic to the desires of cities and counties to more easily attain such status, the Department of Community Affairs through the promulgation of its own internal rules and regulations, is already attempting to meet their needs. Accordingly, I do not believe this bill is necessary and therefore, I veto SB 86.”

“I don’t know exactly what his thought process was, but I look forward to having some discussion on it,” Ginn said.

The legislation would have repealed the definition of a “qualified local government and made comprehensive plans optional as opposed to mandatory.

The Senate approved the final version by a 47-0 margin, and the House approved it 159-7.

“If I had known the governor had issues with the bill, I would have tried to work them out,” he said.

Ginn said he’s talked briefly with Deal’s chief of staff, but that the governor was on his way out of town when Ginn learned of the veto.

“I’m sure we’ll be getting together over the next week or two,” he said.

Amanda Kathy Howell (5-23-11)

Tuesday, May 31. 2011
NICHOLSON – Amanda Kathy Howell, 52, died Monday, May 23, 2011. Family and friends notified. Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson, is in charge of arrangements.

Hailey Rochelle Gill (5-28-11)

Monday, May 30. 2011
JEFFERSON - Hailey Rochelle Gill, 32, of Jefferson died Saturday, May 28, 2011 at Athens Regional Medical Center after a courageous battle with cancer. Born December 12, 1978 in Decatur, she is a daughter of George and Sheila Watford Gill of Statham. Mrs. Gill was employed with Barrow County Department of Family and Children Services as a ... [Full Story »] 

Earl Reid Hudspeth (5-27-11)

Monday, May 30. 2011
JEFFERSON - Earl Reid Hudspeth, 79, did on Friday, May 27, 2011. Born in Gastonia, N.C., he was the son of the late James Earl and Daisy Belle Presley Hudspeth. Mr. Hudspeth was a veteran of the United States Navy from June 1948 to February 1950, and in the Army Paratrooper Division from September 1954 to August 1957. He was preceded in death ... [Full Story »] 

Samuel L. Oliver (5-25-11)

Friday, May 27. 2011
Gainesville has lost another person whose contributions to this community and to his family can never be measured. Samuel L. Oliver passed away Wednesday, May 25, 2011, at Emory University Hospital, after a short battle with leukemia, at the age of 68. Sam was a member of the law firm of Hulsey, Oliver & Mahar, LLP and specialized in the ... [Full Story »] 

Schools just play musical chairs with incompetence

Friday, May 27. 2011
Do you wonder why the public has such little faith in public school systems? [Full Story »] 

Jefferson approves new voting districts in split vote

Friday, May 27. 2011
In split vote, the Jefferson City Council approved new voting districts Monday night. The new voting map district map was approved following major growth in the town over the past decade.

Council members C.D. Kidd III and Bosie Griffith voted against the new districts, while Kathy DuBose, Steve Kinney and Roy Plott voted in favor of the changes.

Kidd and Griffith did not comment at Monday night’s brief meeting but at an earlier work session on the issue Kidd said he didn’t agree with the plans to revamp his district.

At that meeting, Kidd said he wanted another map that will include more minorities in his voting ward. Under the proposal, his district stands to have the greatest population jump.

Like many communities across the nation, Jefferson redrew its voting districts for the city council and board of education using the 2010 Census figures. That data showed a dramatic population increase for Jefferson — from 3,825 in 2000 to 9,432 in 2010. Most of that growth in Jefferson occurred west of the U.S. Hwy. 129 bypass in a number of new subdivisions along Old Pendergrass Road.

At the start of the redistricting process, officials used the total population to determine an ideal, equal number of residents spread across all of the voting districts. For Jefferson, that would be 1,886 residents in each district, based on the 2010 Census. The city has five council districts and voters elect the mayor at-large.

Qualifying will be held in August for three council wards — District 1 (currently held by Steve Kinney), District 3 (currently held by Kidd) and District 5 (currently held by Roy Plott). The general election will be held in November.

Storms cause damage in Jackson

Thursday, May 26. 2011
Heavy thunderstorms caused much of the power in Jefferson to go out Thursday night along with problems in the Commerce area.

Some 25 trees were reported down in Jackson County along with a fire call in Maysville.

Wind also blew part of the roof off the old train depot in Jefferson.

Dewey Paul Hill (5-25-11)

Thursday, May 26. 2011
NICHOLSON - Dewey Paul Hill, 82, died Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at his residence. Born in Franklin County, he was the son of the late Richard and Magalee Clark Hill. He retired from Ashland Oil and was a member of Nicholson Baptist Church. Mr. Hill was preceded in death by his daughter, Nancy Roberts. Survivors include his wife, Virginia Ann ... [Full Story »] 

James Hicks (5-24-11)

Thursday, May 26. 2011
NICHOLSON - God called James E. Hicks, 71, home on Tuesday, May 24, 2011. Born in Jackson County on October 23, 1939, he was the son of Irene Hicks of Monroe and the late Bill Hicks. He moved to Nicholson about 26 years ago. Mr. Hicks is preceded in death by a son, Jimmy Hicks; and brother, Gene Hicks. He was retired from the City of Monroe and ... [Full Story »] 
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