MadisonJournalTODAY

SOFTBALL: Red Raiders fall in close battle with Archer

nospam@example.com (MainStreetNewsSports) — Fri, 13 Sep 2019 15:19:12 -0500

Madison County had the the pieces in place for a late game rally Wednesday night at Archer, but were unable to bring home tying and winning runs.

The Red Raiders lost to Archer 2-1, falling to 9-9 in the season. Madison County is still 4-1 in Region play with two region games left. They travel to North Oconee Tuesday night and ...

2012 MCHS grad fights rare cancer

nospam@example.com (Margie Richards) — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 10:25:13 -0500

Gage Gillespie and his bride, Jessica, celebrated their first anniversary last month. Last year around this time, they were honeymooning in Yosemite National Park where they both love to hike. But this year, their lives are quite different as Gage is one month out in his recovery from major surgery to treat a rare cancer with Jessica by his side.
Continue reading "2012 MCHS grad fights rare cancer"

'Teacher of the Year' helps students apply math to every day experiences

nospam@example.com (Margie Richards) — Mon, 09 Sep 2019 01:44:00 -0500

Teacher Amy Dobbs says she tries to help her students see the math in their everyday lives, not just as problems on a page to be solved.
With this in mind, she kicks off every school year with a lesson entitled, “Figure Me Out.”
First, she draws a stick person to represent herself and fills a poster with questions about herself for students to “figure out” the answers to.
“The only way the students can figure out the answer to the questions is to solve the math equations that match the questions,” Dobbs said. “For example, (they have to) solve the equation ‘4 divided by 2,’ to find the answer to the question, ‘How many children do I have?’”
She makes sure to include all levels of equations so that all levels of learners can figure out a few facts about her.
“Of course, some are very basic and others are very tricky,” she added. “This lesson gets the students so excited about math. They love trying to solve the equations to learn new things about me. They are so engaged trying to figure out my age, number of children, how many pets, number of states I’ve traveled to and so forth that they don’t even realize they are working, learning, and having fun!”
Once they complete Dobbs’ poster, she has them make their own posters with equations about themselves.

Continue reading "'Teacher of the Year' helps students apply math to every day experiences"

FOOTBALL: Wright’s block, Cooper’s score lift the Raiders past Apalachee in fourth quarter

nospam@example.com (MainStreetNewsSports) — Sat, 07 Sep 2019 01:27:08 -0500

DANIELSVILLE – Football is often called a game of inches. If you want to find out why, look no further than Friday night’s barn burner between Madison County and Apalachee.

Apalachee scored a touchdown with 11 minutes left in the game to break a 14-14 tie. Either the following extra point was kicked too low, or Tyler ...

Dog killed with a BB gun

nospam@example.com (Staff Writer) — Fri, 06 Sep 2019 12:45:53 -0500

A woman on Greenridge Court in Colbert reported that she left home for about 30 minutes and when she came home her Jack Russell dog was bleeding and she didn’t know why.
Continue reading "Dog killed with a BB gun"

Rotary plans splash pad at rec department

nospam@example.com (Zach Mitcham) — Fri, 06 Sep 2019 12:43:06 -0500

The Rotary Club of Madison County aims to give local youth a new option for summer fun: a splash pad at the recreation department.

The club is planning to raise private funds for a 70’ by 30’ concrete pad near the batting cages and track at the Sammy Haggard Park off Hwy. 98 in Danielsville.

“There’s nothing like it in Madison County,” said Josh Chandler of the Rotary Club. “We see it being hugely popular and will bring a lot of people together at the rec center. One of the things you look at in a community is: ‘What’s the quality of life?’ We feel like this is a good way to enhance what we have here, giving kids a place to play.”

The club is aiming to raise $120,000 and to have the splash pad in service by May of 2020. The funds will come from private donations, grants and sponsorships. No tax money will be used to construct the splash pad. The Rotary already has $38,000 to go toward construction, which will be handled by Great Southern Rec. There will also be advertising offered on fencing and bricks at the site to help cover splash pad costs.

“The Rotary will be financially responsible for the installation of it,” said Chandler. “It will become a county facility. The county will assume maintenance and operation of it. The model we’re following is one in Dawson County. They worked out a partnership with the county and the Rotary does stipend some maintenance funds for the county. We don’t know what that will look like yet, but we’re not going to build it and walk away from it, because it is going to be branded for Rotary.”

Continue reading "Rotary plans splash pad at rec department"

Madison Co. BOC to meet Sept. 9

nospam@example.com (Staff Writer) — Fri, 06 Sep 2019 12:42:21 -0500

The Madison County Board of Commissioners will meet at 6 p.m., Monday, Sept. 9, in the county government complex.
Continue reading "Madison Co. BOC to meet Sept. 9"

LETTER: The rest of the story on Theresa Bettis

nospam@example.com (Letter to the Editor) — Fri, 06 Sep 2019 12:41:28 -0500

Dear Editor:

Many times in today’s world people tend to hear what they want to hear. They tend to relay to others what they want them to hear. As we have come to realize from news media and other forms of media, often the information relayed can be biased and, unfortunately, you do not get, as Paul Harvey would say, “The Rest of the Story."

Continue reading "LETTER: The rest of the story on Theresa Bettis"

SOFTBALL: Hits come at a premium in loss to East Hall

nospam@example.com (MainStreetNewsSports) — Thu, 05 Sep 2019 11:20:08 -0500

Madison County is the latest victim for East Hall pitcher Macey Banks.

Her two-hit, six-strikeout performance spearheaded a 4-0 victory for the Vikings over the Red Raiders, who now have a record below .500 for the first time since 2016.
Madison County (6-7, 3-1) suffered their first shutout loss in two years, reaching ...

Man says estranged wife took his dog

nospam@example.com (Staff Writer) — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 10:04:14 -0500

A man on Hwy. 98 East reported that his estranged wife took their Dachshund from his yard while he was asleep.
Continue reading "Man says estranged wife took his dog"

Man says estranged wife took his dog

nospam@example.com (Staff Writer) — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 10:04:14 -0500

A man on Hwy. 98 East reported that his estranged wife took their Dachshund from his yard while he was asleep.
Continue reading "Man says estranged wife took his dog"

LETTER: BOC ignored the people on Little League issue

nospam@example.com (Letter to the Editor) — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 10:02:22 -0500

Dear Editor:
I attended the Aug. 26 meeting of the Madison County Board of Commissioners to see what transpires and how Madison County citizens are represented. I found out why we have very little representation. Your minds are made up before these meetings are called into session.
Continue reading "LETTER: BOC ignored the people on Little League issue"

BOC sets tax rates

nospam@example.com (Staff Writer) — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 10:01:02 -0500

After several weeks of discussion and three public hearings, county commissioners set their tax rates Aug. 26.
Continue reading "BOC sets tax rates"

Rec dept. to take over youth baseball, softball programs

nospam@example.com (Zach Mitcham) — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 09:57:50 -0500

Little League is out at the Madison County Recreation Department after more than six decades.

County commissioners voted 4-0 Monday, Aug. 26 not to renew a “facilities use agreement” with Little League. The vote followed a lengthy, and sometimes contentious, discussion about who should oversee youth baseball and softball in Madison County. County commissioners ultimately decided to move the programs from Little League to the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association (GRPA). The action doesn’t affect the agreement between the Madison County Youth Association, which oversees youth football, and the recreation department.

Commissioner Tripp Strickland made the motion to discontinue the annual agreement with Little League. He was joined in the action by commissioners Theresa Bettis, Brian Kirk and Derek Doster. Commissioner Lee Allen wasn’t at Monday’s meeting. Strickland said Little League is not like it once was. He named several former coaches as “pillars of the community” who set a high standard for Little League, which he said no longer remains. He noted the ugly speech on Madison County Rants and Raves and an overall decline in behavior as his reason for seeking a change.

“Something has changed, folks,” said Strickland. “This thing isn’t the same. You don’t have the same feeling. I got kids playing ball. I got a son who’s moving up next year. But I have people coming to me. I can’t even watch a ball game for people coming to me and talking to me about how bad things are and how people act so uncourteous and unkind and disrespectful, and just frankly like a bunch of rednecks. And we’re better than this. Everybody in this (BOC meeting) room is better than what we’ve been through and what y’all have thrown at us for the last several weeks. Talk about personal. It’s been personal. And therefore I make the motion, not on a personal level, but for our children that we not renew this contract. It’s time for a change.”

Little League supporters took offense to Strickland’s use of “redneck.” And they said they didn’t feel commissioners should judge all in favor of keeping Little League by the actions of some people on social media.

But mostly, those wanting to keep Little League spoke of the good the program has brought to the county. They said it’s a way for kids to have real camaraderie with those they know locally. Commissioners were also presented with surveys conducted by Little League that showed support for keeping program.

Continue reading "Rec dept. to take over youth baseball, softball programs"

FOOTBALL: Proud performance by the “hogs” leads team to dramatic victory at Habersham Central

nospam@example.com (MainStreetNewsSports) — Sat, 31 Aug 2019 02:02:12 -0500

MT. AIRY – No final buzzer has ever sounded better to the Madison County football team than the one it heard Friday night at Habersham Central.

As the clock counted 0:00 between a scoreboard which read Madison County 26, Habersham Central 20, The Red Raiders were overcome with an emotion that had eluded them for so long; ...

SOFTBALL: Red Raiders cash in 16 hits for 10 runs to run-rule North Oconee

nospam@example.com (MainStreetNewsSports) — Thu, 29 Aug 2019 13:22:32 -0500

In 18 previous games against North Oconee, Madison County had only lost to the Titans once and entered Wednesday with a 10-game winning streak.

By the end of the night, nothing had changed. The Red Raiders defeated the Titans 10-2 with three-hit games from four batters and a solid pitching combo from Emma Strickland and Lily ...

FOOTBALL: Madison County meets Habersham Central for rematch of 2018 thriller

nospam@example.com (MainStreetNewsSports) — Thu, 29 Aug 2019 13:16:07 -0500

August 24, 2018. With mere seconds on the clock, needing a touchdown and an extra-point to tie, down on the goal line, Madison County came up short against Habersham Central.

The final score was 42-35, and only once for the rest of the year would Madison County score over 30 points. Now, a year later, following an 18-8 season ...

SOFTBALL: Red Raiders fall to .500 with loss to Loganville

nospam@example.com (MainStreetNewsSports) — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 12:00:00 -0500

Errors and a lack of timely hits proved to be Madison County’s undoing Tuesday night at Loganville.

The Raiders committed three errors, undermining an eight-strikeout performance by Emma Strickland. At the plate, they were 2-of-11 with runners in scoring position. The last error came with two outs and the game tied 2-2 in ...

Chamber to interview applicants for director’s position

nospam@example.com (Zach Mitcham) — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 17:37:34 -0500

Leaders for the Madison County Chamber of Commerce are reviewing applications for a new director.
The position has sat vacant since January 2018 due to a lack of funding. But three government agencies have agreed to collectively chip in to cover the planned $45,000 salary. County industrial authority members agreed Friday to allocate $20,000 for the Chamber director’s salary, with the board of commissioners adding $15,000 and the school board chipping in $10,000. Benefit plans are available through the Chamber of Commerce in Georgia. And the three governing boards aren’t being asked to cover those expenses.
A Chamber director will promote Madison County, seek grant funds, maintain working relationships with existing county businesses, while attempting to bring new commercial developments into Madison County.
Madison County Chamber board member Jill Fortson, who oversees the group’s personnel committee, said the Chamber has gotten a good response to its advertisements for the position.
“We received 12 applications and some that look very promising,” said Fortson.
Continue reading "Chamber to interview applicants for director’s position"

IDA talks about several issues during budget meeting

nospam@example.com (Zach Mitcham) — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 17:36:10 -0500

County industrial development authority (IDA) members talked about a wide range of issues at a 2020 budget meeting Aug. 16, including the need for finding serviceable wells in the county, the Georgia Renewable Power plant project, sales tax funding, and potentially moving industrial authority employees under county government benefits plans.

Friday’s meeting opened with talk of the 2020 budget, which has yet to be approved. The budget will include an estimated $45,000 in new tax revenues. But the IDA didn’t have to hold hearings to announce a tax increase.

That’s because state law was changed last year regarding the setting of tax rates by county industrial authorities in Georgia. Now, the IDA doesn’t officially set its own rate. Instead, it recommends a rate to the county commissioners, who set the authority’s rate. The IDA is not rolling back its tax rate to offset an increase in the county digest (overall property value).

County commissioners will approve three tax rates at 6 p.m., Monday, Aug. 26, in the county government complex: the county tax rate, the school board tax rate and the IDA’s millage rate. The IDA will also hold its regular monthly meeting at 6 p.m. Monday in the old courthouse in the center of Danielsville.

At the authority’s Aug. 16 meeting, IDA chairman Bruce Azevedo said he estimates the authority’s budget to increase from $708,000 in 2019 to about $720,000 in 2020. While property tax revenues will be up, the IDA and other local taxing authorities have seen a decrease in motor vehicle tax revenues due to the state government’s change several years ago in how vehicles are taxed in Georgia, which boosted state revenues, while local car tax revenues are declining. The IDA brought in $60,000 in motor vehicle tax funds in 2017. That dropped to $21,000 this year.

Continue reading "IDA talks about several issues during budget meeting"

BOC to hold tax hearing, regular meeting Aug. 26

nospam@example.com (Staff Writer) — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 17:23:57 -0500

The Madison County Board of Commissioners will hold a tax hearing at 5:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 26, in the county government complex followed by the group’s regular meeting at 6 p.m.

Continue reading "BOC to hold tax hearing, regular meeting Aug. 26"

Head Start provides a needed service for young children in Madison County

nospam@example.com (Margie Richards) — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 17:19:58 -0500

Madison County Head Start, a free non-profit organization, has been part of the community for a long time, but new center manager Mechelle Bond says she is continually surprised at how many parents still don’t seem to know they are there.
Continue reading "Head Start provides a needed service for young children in Madison County"

Woman reports altered pics of child on Facebook

nospam@example.com (Staff Writer) — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 17:19:03 -0500

A Hull woman reported false statements being posted to social media site Facebook last week.

Continue reading "Woman reports altered pics of child on Facebook"

LETTER: Appreciates column by Richards

nospam@example.com (Letter to the Editor) — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 17:17:41 -0500

Dear Editor:
I write in support of Margie Richards and her clear-eyed assessment of the poor quality of GOP leadership as represented by Donald Trump.

Continue reading "LETTER: Appreciates column by Richards"