Barrow Journal

Driver killed in early morning wreck on Memorial Day

snorman@barrowjournal.com (Susan Norman) — Mon, 28 May 2012 08:46:39 -0500

A man driving a truck with Barrow County plates was killed in a wreck on Memorial Day when the truck left Atlanta Highway and slammed into a tree just over the county line near Pete Dickens Road in Bogart.

The driver, whose identity was not immediately released, was pinned in his vehicle and had to be extricated by firefighters from Barrow and Oconee counties, according to a source with Barrow County Emergency Services.

The man died at the scene.
Continue reading "Driver killed in early morning wreck on Memorial Day"

Performing artists lined up for Hoschton Heritage Arts Festival on Saturday, June 2

kerri@mainstreetnews.com (Kerri Testement) — Mon, 28 May 2012 05:00:00 -0500

The organizers of the Hoschton Heritage Arts Festival — set for Saturday, June 2, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Hoschton Towne Center — have announced several performing artists.
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BROWN: The awesome things in life

chris@barrowjournal.com (Jessica Brown) — Sat, 26 May 2012 07:04:00 -0500

I recently took a trip back to high school to say my goodbyes to graduating friends and retiring teachers. And of course, when anyone returns back to their old high school, Memory Lane is opened for business. As I sat in the Journalism class’ last “Circle of Trust” that would most likely ever be conducted, tears began to swell. As Mr. Hon went over the last little activity his journalism class would ever turn in, it made me want to participate as well. The assignment? Write about something awesome about everyday life. You know, just those little random occurrences that bring a smile to your face. So, in honor of my journalism pals, here it goes.
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Winder kicks off summer with 'Summerfest'

snorman@barrowjournal.com (Susan Norman) — Fri, 25 May 2012 18:10:06 -0500

Winder is kicking off the traditional start of summer with its annual ‘Summerfest’ featuring midway rides, games, music and food. Entertainment this weekend includes performances by Mike McIntire, Vertically Challenged, Arcado, Southern Relics, Scarlet Stitch and Show Time on Saturday, May 26; Mobile DJ Service by Kelly Martin on Sunday, May 27; and Vancouver, Not Quite Devils on Monday, May 28.
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Yearwood pulls political shocker; 19 Republicans, 3 Democrats qualify for county races

snorman@barrowjournal.com (Susan Norman) — Fri, 25 May 2012 12:18:49 -0500

Barrow County Board of Commissioners Chairman Danny Yearwood on Friday morning pulled a political shocker on the final day of candidate qualifying for the 2012 elections.

He did not qualify to run for a second term as county chairman. He instead drove to Atlanta and qualified to oppose Sen. Frank Ginn for the Republican nomination for the Georgia Senate's District 47 seat.
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BARROW CO., ARIRENTALS.COM Apalachee Realty, Inc.

smobley@barrowjournal.com (Susan Mobley) — Fri, 25 May 2012 09:26:52 -0500

BARROW CO., ARIRENTALS.COM Apalachee Realty, Inc. 770-586-5272, 1BD studio $425; 2BD's $550 - $800; 3BD's $725 - $850; and 5BD 3BA - $1,300. Current info + application on website.

To view this week's Barrow Journal classifieds, click CLICK HERE

REWARD $500 FOR INFORMATION on the theft of

smobley@barrowjournal.com (Susan Mobley) — Fri, 25 May 2012 09:24:06 -0500

REWARD $500 FOR INFORMATION on the theft of a Hooper trailer from 443 Freeman Brock Rd., Auburn, Ga., on Thursday night, May 17, 2012. An additional REWARD is offered for the names of the thieves. Call 770-867-9678 or 770-307-7172.

To view this week's Barrow Journal classifieds, click CLICK HERE

STATHAM - 3BR, REMODELED

smobley@barrowjournal.com (Susan Mobley) — Fri, 25 May 2012 09:22:52 -0500

STATHAM - 3BR, REMODELED and very cute! Large kitchen, new paint and hardwood floors, large fenced in back yard and spacious storage building. Great location close to downtown and new school. $750 per month. Call Nicole 678-725-4693.

To view this week's Barrow Journal classifieds, click CLICK HERE

RENOVATED 2 BEDROOM in downtown Statham

smobley@barrowjournal.com (Susan Mobley) — Fri, 25 May 2012 09:21:40 -0500

RENOVATED 2 BEDROOM in downtown Statham. Kitchen appliances included. Everything like new! Scott 706-362-5647.

To view this week's Barrow Journal classifieds, click CLICK HERE

DNR confirms signs consistent with alligator in Statham

mike@mainstreetnews.com (Katie Cofer) — Fri, 25 May 2012 07:57:19 -0500

Authorities confirmed Friday morning that there are signs consistent with a four- to six-foot alligator living in a pond in an undeveloped subdivision off Providence Road in Statham.

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Perfect storm brewing in Georgia school finance

mike@mainstreetnews.com (Mike Buffington) — Fri, 25 May 2012 07:35:00 -0500

There is a lot of misunderstanding about how local school systems are funded in Georgia. Most people assume that local school systems handle tax money similar to how city and county governments operate.
But there are tremendous differences between how school funds are raised and spent and how other local governments are financed:
1. School systems do not have the range of funding sources that other local governments have. The City of Winder, for example, derives a large part of its financial resources from its utility system, various fees, alcohol taxes, etc. School systems don’t have utility systems to generate income. In addition, both city and county governments have sales taxes that can be used in their general budgets, but school systems do not. School systems can only use sales taxes for specific building projects, not general expenses. Locally, school systems can only levy property taxes for revenue.
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Four new principals named; fifth vacancy opens up

snorman@barrowjournal.com (Susan Norman) — Thu, 24 May 2012 11:37:06 -0500

The Barrow County Board of Education on May 23 filled four vacant principal positions by promoting two assistant principals and by hiring two new administrators from other Georgia systems. However, a fifth principal position opened up at the same called meeting, when the BOE accepted the resignation of Jeb Gregory, the support services director and principal of the Barrow County Alternative School.

Also leaving the system are Dorann Mansberger, the assistant principal of Apalachee High School; Dennis King, the school system’s plant operations director, and more than two dozen additional employees who worked mostly in the classroom.
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Wildcats complete spring, look ahead to summer work

http://www.mainstreetnewssports.com/ (MainStreetNewsSports) — Wed, 23 May 2012 18:04:00 -0500

Many of the goals the Apalachee High School football coaches set for their players this spring were met.

Head coach Shane Davis always likes to establish a depth chart in the spring and for the most part that was done the past two weeks.

“There are still a few questions,” Davis said Sunday night as he finishes ...

Bulldoggs install new systems this spring

http://www.mainstreetnewssports.com/ (MainStreetNewsSports) — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:05:00 -0500

The Winder-Barrow High School football team concluded spring practice last Wednesday with a controlled scrimmage, although there was plenty of contact on the field.

“Our players got after it,” Bulldogg coach David Wagner said. “It was very physical, especially with our older players.”

Wagner, who is entering his ...

In the May 23 issue of the Barrow Journal....

mike@mainstreetnews.com (Mike Buffington) — Wed, 23 May 2012 10:34:00 -0500

Qualifying opens; no surprises so far

Most of the announced local candidates who are vying for their parties’ nominations in this year’s county races qualified as candidates within the first two hours of Wednesday’s opening of the qualifying period. The early Republican qualifiers included Steve Worley, who holds the District 3 seat on the Barrow County Board of Commissioners; Barrow County Board of Education incumbents Mitch Churchill, Lynn Stevens, and Rickey Bailey; and incumbent constitutional officers Sheriff Jud Smith, Probate Judge Tammy Brown, Clerk of Superior Court Regina McIntyre, Coroner David Crosby, and Tax Commissioner Melinda Williams. The challengers who filed early included former District 2 commissioner Bill Brown and former District 1 commissioner Jerry Lampp, who hope to take back the seats they lost in the 2008 elections; and Patricia Graham, who is running for BOC chairman.
(The Barrow Journal will update candidate qualifying information on its website as it becomes available.)

Winder to crack down on drug devices

Now that state law prohibits convenience stores from selling synthetic marijuana, Winder police are targeting another drug-related product easily available in the community: drug paraphernalia.
Stores legally sell pipes and other devices often used to smoke illegal substances, because the packaging says they are “for tobacco use only” or they are sold as “novelty” items.

Authority hires lawyer for water contracts

The Barrow County Water and Sewerage Authority approved an hourly contract for an attorney to execute wholesale water contracts with Auburn, Braselton, Statham and Winder. Winder-attorney Wayne McLouglin will be paid $175 to renegotiate the contracts.
Continue reading "In the May 23 issue of the Barrow Journal...."

Winder to crack down on drug devices

mike@mainstreetnews.com (Mike Buffington) — Wed, 23 May 2012 10:30:01 -0500
Now that state law prohibits convenience stores from selling synthetic marijuana, Winder police are targeting another drug-related product easily available in the community: drug paraphernalia.
Stores legally sell pipes and other devices often used to smoke illegal substances, because the packaging says they are “for tobacco use only” or they are sold as “novelty” items.

Continue reading "Winder to crack down on drug devices"

Authority hires lawyer for water contracts

mike@mainstreetnews.com (Mike Buffington) — Wed, 23 May 2012 10:28:39 -0500
The Barrow County Water and Sewerage Authority approved an hourly contract for an attorney to execute wholesale water contracts with Auburn, Braselton, Statham and Winder. Winder-attorney Wayne McLocklin will be paid $175 to renegotiate the contracts.
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Hazmat spill leads to closure of I-85 in Braselton

snorman@barrowjournal.com (Susan Norman) — Tue, 22 May 2012 07:20:15 -0500
A loaded tractor-trailer caught fire early this morning on Interstate 85 in Braselton and spilled almost 300 gallons of corrosive material onto the shoulder of an on-ramp in Barrow County.

No one was injured, but the 3:15 a.m. incident led to the closure of the interstate both north and south. The northbound lanes reopened at 6 a.m. One southbound lane opened around 6:30 a.m. All lanes, as well as the southbound ramp of Exit 126, had reopened by 8 a.m.

An Atlanta cleanup crew was working on the ramp's shoulder at mid morning, according to Lt. Scott Dakin of Barrow County Emergency Services.
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Former HR Director's house catches fire

mike@mainstreetnews.com (Staff Writer) — Mon, 21 May 2012 15:35:06 -0500
A Pierce Road home belonging to former Barrow County Human Resources Director Norma Jean Brown and her family caught fire Monday afternoon.

Fire investigators were just beginning to look for the cause of the flames at approximately 4 p.m., Barrow County Emergency Services Public Information Officer Lt. Scott Dakin said.
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Mayor breaks tie in favor of Auburn transit

mike@mainstreetnews.com (Mike Buffington) — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:21:36 -0500
The proposed public transportation system for the City of Auburn caused a difference of opinion among citizens and even council members, but in the end it was mayor Linda Blechinger who had the final say. Blechinger broke a deadlocked 2-2 council vote to approve the Auburn Neighborhood Transit (ANT) which city officials hope will provide an estimated $10,000 in net profit each year.
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Affordable housing developer seeks BOC support

snorman@barrowjournal.com (Susan Norman) — Mon, 21 May 2012 09:48:48 -0500
The developer of an affordable-housing apartment complex off Haymon-Morris Road will go before the Barrow County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday night to seek support for his company’s application for federal tax credits to build Farmington Hills' second phase. Construction of the first 72 apartments is under way on an 8.82-acre tract. The second phase is for another 72 apartments on an adjacent 7.63 acres.
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Winder Police warn of telephone scam

mike@mainstreetnews.com (Staff Writer) — Mon, 21 May 2012 07:29:08 -0500
The Winder Police Department is receiving complaints from citizens who have become a victim of a telephone scam.
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SINN-CLARK: County animal control needs more help and better oversight

chris@barrowjournal.com (Lorin Sinn-Clark) — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:33:03 -0500
“The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” - Mahatma Gandhi IF YOU can judge a county using the same criteria, then Barrow County has work to do, starting with the resources and attention our community and our county government pay to Barrow County Animal Control.

The first issue is funding. In 2008, before the economy tanked, the Animal Control budget was $587,000. In 2011, it was $438,500; that’s a 25 percent cut in four years. This year’s budget is $420,200, an additional $18,300 slashed since last year. During the same period, calls for service remained basically stable at around 4,000 per year. (There were 500 less calls for service in 2011, as compared to 2010.)

This means the people at Animal Control are having to do much more with much less and this is taking its toll on the quality and quantity of services we receive, as well as our public safety. Compare 2011 figures to those from 2010, and you’ll see about a 42 percent decrease in vicious animal (179 vs 313) and cruelty to animal case investigations (271 vs 453.) You will also see the number of citations issued cut in half (329 vs 650.) Court fines (income for the county) fell by 52 percent ($17,494 in 2011; $36,443 in 2010.) Requests for compliance were also down 33 percent (444 vs 718.)
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Connell named AD at Monroe Area High School

http://www.mainstreetnewssports.com/ (MainStreetNewsSports) — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:28:00 -0500
Former Winder-Barrow High School varsity boys basketball coach Eli Connell will be the new athletic director for Monroe Area High School beginning with the 2012-2013 school year.

Connell, who compiled a 98-59 record at WBHS, had been an assistant coach at Loganville High School the past two seasons. During his time at WBHS, Connell ...