Barrow Journal

Budget crunch affects local athletics

nospam@example.com (Chris Bridges) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:00:51 -0400

The new budget for the Barrow County School System was termed “the toughest we’ve ever had” by school officials.

The FY2010 budget, which was approved Tuesday night, will also have an impact on athletics in Barrow County for the upcoming 2009-2010 school year, superintendent Ron Saunders told the Barrow Journal recently.

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Funding opens up for Barrow roads, sewer

nospam@example.com (Mike Buffington) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:30:00 -0400

While taking intense political heat for many of his decisions regarding the day-to-day operation of the county government, Barrow County Commission Chairman Danny Yearwood is managing to score some behind-the-scenes victories in other arenas.

In an interview last week, the embattled chairman said – and other parties have confirmed – Barrow County is poised to receive $2.5 million in state and federal funding for transportation projects and $500,000 in grant funding for a sewer project to serve a $50 million facility a German company plans to build in the town of Carl by the fall of 2010.
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Uniformed Gwinnett police recruit arrested in Auburn

nospam@example.com (Susan Norman) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:40:09 -0400

A 24-year-old Gwinnett County Police Department recruit was arrested Thursday after allegedly committing a residential burglary less than 200 yards from the Auburn Police Department.

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Swine flu reported in Barrow County

nospam@example.com (Susan Norman) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:53:34 -0400

A 15-year-old girl is Barrow County's first reported case of the newly declared pandemic virus – novel influenza A (H1N1), popularly known as "swine flu."

“The District Health Office has confirmed a case of H1N1 flu in Barrow County,” states a July 3 e-mail announcement from Barrow County EMA Director Jimmy Terrell.

“The victim is a 15-year old female who has practically recovered. The sample was drawn June 23rd and confirmed yesterday.”

Terrell said there is no cause for widespread concern at this time, though caution is warranted.

“We do need to remain alert and to monitor our personal health, that of our family, our workforce and our friends,” the e-mail states.

Terrell has scheduled a meeting of the Barrow County Pandemic Flu Committee for 9 a.m. July 16th in the training room of the county administrative annex at 233 East Broad St.

“Unlike a seasonal flu, the H1N1 seems to be hanging around, and Public Health's big concern is the fall,” Terrell wrote. “We could see the same virus we are combating now or a mutation.”

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EDITORIAL: Who do you believe in Barrow?

nospam@example.com (Mike Buffington) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:32:43 -0400

Just when you thought things couldn’t get any more muddled in Barrow County politics, it does.

The conclusion of hearings last week at which county CFO Beth Horacek challenged an April suspension by board of commissioners chairman Danny Yearwood for allegedly being “untruthful” left everyone scratching their heads.
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Clock ticks to new season

nospam@example.com (MainStreetNewsSports) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:41:58 -0400

The countdown to a new football season may seem long for fans. However, Winder-Barrow High School football coach Ben Corley said Sunday it is also that way for those in his profession.

“The coaches are getting a little antsy for fall practice and the new season to get here,” said Corley, who is entering his second season as head ...

41 arrested in countywide drug sweep

nospam@example.com (Susan Norman) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:26:00 -0400

Local, state and federal law-enforcement officers on Monday conducted a large roundup of Barrow County drug suspects, making 41 arrests.

A total of 100 arrest warrants were issued for in connection with drug or domestic violence charges, and investigators are searching for the remaining 59 suspects, according to a sheriff's office press release.

The arrests were on top of another 80 suspects arrested during a six-month investigation by the Barrow County Sheriff's Office and the Auburn Police Department that involved nearly 200 purchases of illegal drugs. More than $525,000 in illegal drugs were confiscated during the investigation.

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Auburn police arrest five

nospam@example.com (Mike Buffington) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:25:01 -0400

The Auburn Police Department reported the following arrests and incidents last week:

•Joshua Paul Carlin, 21, of 320 Clover Dr., Auburn, possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, possession of a schedule IV drug, possession of a schedule II drug, and drugs to be kept in original container.

•Brian Keith Fellows, 23, of 3555 Ontario Ct., Buford, possession of a schedule III drug with the intent to distribute, possession of a schedule III drug, and drugs to be kept in original container.

•Lauren Leigh McCombs, 24, of 105 Augustine Cir., Auburn, theft by deception.

•Andre J. Sample, 44, of 114 Quail Valley Road, Auburn, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to maintain lane, and driving while license is suspended or revoked.

•Sandy Marie Ward, 23, of 186 Parks Mill Road, Auburn, deposit account fraud.

For complete crime coverage, see the July 1 issue of the Barrow Journal.

FDIC issues ‘cease and desist’ order on CB&T; Habersham Bank under state under order

nospam@example.com (Mike Buffington) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:21:00 -0400

Two North Georgia banks that operate divisions in Jackson and Barrow counties are reportedly under “cease and desist orders” from banking regulators.
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EDITORIAL: Winder moves in right direction on budget process

nospam@example.com (Mike Buffington) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:33:43 -0400

The Winder City Council did the right thing last week when it held a real public hearing on the town’s FY2010 budget. It was reportedly the first time in many years that the council had faced the public during its budget process.
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Horacek suspension upheld; but board says CFO was not 'untruthful'

nospam@example.com (Mike Buffington) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:21:12 -0400

The Barrow County Personnel Review Board has upheld the April 6 suspension of county CFO Beth Horacek because she did not provide the board of commissioners all of the information she knew about the cost overrun for health insurance.
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Horacek hearing ends; decision next week

nospam@example.com (Mike Buffington) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:21:11 -0400

The Barrow County Personnel Review Board early next week will issue its decision on whether the county chairman’s April 6 suspension of CFO Beth Horacek was fair and appropriate.

The second day of the administrative proceeding at the county annex wrapped up today just before 1 p.m. after about three hours of testimony by former chief operations officer Keith Lee, former county chairman Doug Garrison, and Horacek.
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Local teams eye start of new season

nospam@example.com (MainStreetNewsSports) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:17:00 -0400

Football players and coaches at Winder-Barrow and Apalachee High School have been working for the start of the 2009 season for months now.

As the countdown to the new season moves into the summer months, players, coaches and fans alike know just what lies ahead as far as the 2009 schedule goes.

Both WBHS and AHS will ...

Plane has rough landing at airport

nospam@example.com (Mike Buffington) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:56:13 -0400

A small airplane on a sales demonstration tour in Northeast Georgia had a small mishap Monday when it landed on its belly at Barrow County Airport.
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Barrow BOC chops salaries; some departments merged

nospam@example.com (Mike Buffington) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:50:51 -0400

The Barrow County Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 Tuesday night cut the salaries of more than half of the county’s 244 employees who don’t report to the sheriff. In addition, several county departments were combined resulting in demotions for some staff members, but also a handful of promotions and raises.
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Round 2 of clash between county, Horacek set for Friday

nospam@example.com (Mike Buffington) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:36:45 -0400

A personnel review board hearing is usually a low-level legal proceeding, but there was high drama at the county annex building last week when former county commissioner and lawyer Bill Healan spent eight hours taking on the county government in his legal defense of county CFO Beth Horacek.

A 10-year employee of Barrow County, Horacek, is attempting to restore her professional reputation by appealing a 40-hour suspension for allegedly havng been “untruthful” to the Barrow County Board of Commissioners last winter about the reason for a health insurance cost overrun in the current county budget.
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EDITORIAL: It’s the not-knowing that hurts

nospam@example.com (Mike Buffington) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:44:00 -0400

It’s the not-knowing that hurts most. That truism applies to many things in life, including the ongoing dribbling of layoffs in the Barrow County government.
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County tax hike looming?

nospam@example.com (Mike Buffington) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:06:00 -0400

Fewer Barrow County government employees were laid off this week than had been planned — 11 rather than the 25-35 expected.

While that may be good news for county employees, the lighter cuts means the county still faces a $1 million deficit this fiscal year, which ends September 30.

And county leaders are increasingly sounding like a property tax hike may happen this fall to fund the FY2010 budget that has a projected deficit of about $6 million even with these additional layoffs.
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Local baseball players name All-Region

nospam@example.com (MainStreetNewsSports) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:49:26 -0400

The postseason honors continue to roll in for the baseball players at Winder-Barrow and Apalachee High School.

Following a season which ended with a trip to the second round of the Class AAAA playoffs, the WBHS Diamond Doggs had two players earn first team All-Region honors. Junior Taylor Hinshaw was named first team at first base ...

Local baseball players named All-Region

nospam@example.com (MainStreetNewsSports) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:49:26 -0400

Statham teen charged with forgery

nospam@example.com (Mike Buffington) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:14:58 -0400

A Statham teen was arrested last week for allegedly attempting to cash $2,850 in fake money orders at the Walmart in Winder.

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Winder budget hearing set for Thurs.

nospam@example.com (Mike Buffington) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:04:31 -0400

A public hearing on Winder’s city budget for FY2010 is scheduled for 5 p.m. Thursday, June 18, at the Winder Community Center.

The mayor plans to conduct the hearing. The finance director will respond to questions posed by citizens and the city council will be on hand to hear comments.
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Barrow back taxes list being published this week in Journal

nospam@example.com (Mike Buffington) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:00:00 -0400

A comprehensive list of outstanding taxes due to Barrow County is being published in this week's Barrow Journal.

The list covers 2006, 2007 and some of 2008 past due taxes. The total owed is $2.9 million.

Fi Fas — tax leins — were taken on the property in May. The number of tax leins is 10 times the normal amount, according to county officials. Some of the 2,900 listings are for lots owned by developers who are now out of business.

If not paid, the property could be taken and sold by the county to recover the past due taxes.

Send us your recreation team photos

nospam@example.com (MainStreetNewsSports) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:50:34 -0400

The Barrow Journal will publish team photos of local recreation baseball and softball teams.

High resolution photos can be e-mailed to cbridges@barrowjournal.com. Please identify all players and coaches in photos and include team name and league.

Photos will be published in the order they are received. Call 770-867-6397 ...