There wasn’t a Mayan apocalypse in 2012. But the year held plenty of eye-opening news — globally, nationally and locally.
In Madison County, citizens spent much of 2012 watching the local political races, particularly the campaign for sheriff, which was hotly contested.
Incumbent Kip Thomas defeated former sheriff Clayton Lowe in an August runoff to grab the Republican nomination for the sheriff’s seat. Thomas then held on in November to defeat Democratic challenger Brent Zellner to keep the Madison County sheriff’s post for four more years.
Numerous other seats were also up for grabs in 2012.
Commissioner Stanley Thomas held off Lee Parker for the District 1 BOC seat, while incumbent Dewitt “Pete” Bond defeated Larry Stewart and Conolus Scott in 2012 to keep his place at the BOC table as the District 2 commissioner.
Julie Phillips was tops among four candidates for coroner, defeating John Sartain in a runoff. Parks White defeated long-time incumbent Bob Lavender for the Northern Judicial Circuit’s district attorney’s post.
Cindy Nash, District 3; and Amy McKenzie, District 4, were elected to the county school board.
Meanwhile, board of commission chairman Anthony, clerk of superior court Michelle Strickland and tax commissioner Louise Watson each ran unopposed for their seats.
Madison County voters selected three incumbent legislators to return to Atlanta in 2013: representatives Tom McCall and Alan Powell and senator Frank Ginn.
Madison County joined much of the state in turning down a proposed one-cent transportation tax to fund local and regional road improvements.
In November, 76 percent of county voters selected Republican Mitt Romney over Democratic incumbent president Barack Obama, though Obama won the national election.
Bye, bye 2012: A look back at the past year of Madison County news
Madison County voters were almost evenly split on a referendum to allow the state to create a board to consider charter school requests, taking the ultimate decision out of the hands of local school boards. Madison County voted 50.6 percent against the measure, but the referendum passed statewide.
While the elections were a focal point of local news coverage in 2012, there were plenty of other headlines this past year.
LIBRARY RENOVATIONS COMPLETED
For instance, the county library completed a major renovation project in the spring and a ribbon cutting was held at the Hwy. 98 facility March 31.
Renovation work began at the library in April 2011. The project included five additions to the building, which nearly doubled the building’s footprint; 7,500 square feet were added to the original 10,000-square-foot building. The library now has a larger and redesigned children’s area, larger public meeting room, more room to study, a new computer lab, new genealogy research room and more space in general for the collection.
CHRIS SMITH HIRED
Madison County’s Chris Smith was hired in January as the new Red Raider football coach, replacing Randell Owens, who resigned following the 2011 season.
Smith was a standout quarterback for the Red Raiders in the early 90s and served as an assistant coach at his alma mater since 1997. Madison County finished 1-9 in 2012, defeating Walnut Grove 32-31 on Nov. 2.
NEW DANIELSVILLE MAYOR ELECTED
Philip Croya resigned as the mayor of Danielsville in 2012 and a special election was held March 6 between Todd Higdon and Junne Temple, who resigned from her council seat to seek the post.
Higdon edged Temple 70-68 to win the election.
GOSS GETS 12 YEARS FOR FRAUD
Madison County’s Mark Goss was sentenced in March in federal court to 12 years in prison for scamming numerous church-going senior citizens out of their life savings.
Goss’ victims included an 86-year-old WWII veteran who lost $280,000, a couple that had saved money to build a handicapped accessible home for their disabled daughters and an elderly woman who lost all of her money to Goss, then put her home into a reverse mortgage arrangement to cover the expenses of her own declining health. Her daughter told the judge that her mother died upset with the knowledge that she had nothing to leave for her children.
He is now serving time in a Florida prison.
BOC, BOE DISTRICTS CONSOLIDATED
Madison County was long one of the few Georgia counties with separate districts for its county commissioners and its school board. Well, that changed in 2012. The county commission agreed to adopt the school board’s district map. Under the old BOC map, the District 4 commissioner served the Danielsville area. Now, the Danielsville area will be in District 2 at the BOC and BOE tables. The move was designed to eliminate voter confusion about the districts.
HWY. 98 NAMED FOR LOUIE CLARK
The stretch of Hwy. 98 from Ila to Danielsville was officially renamed the “Louie Clark Highway” in May.
A crowd of 200 honored the former state legislator on a Sunday afternoon in May for his service to Madison County with a sign unveiled in his honor on Hwy. 98 in front of the library.
State Senator Frank Ginn said Clark is a “great American.”
“There’s nothing finer than the service he gave in the military in a little conflict we call World War II,” said Ginn. “…There’s nobody who brought more to Madison County and worked harder for the citizens of Madison County than Louie Clark.”
NEW PRINCIPALS NAMED IN 2012
Both Madison County High School and Madison County Middle School saw a change in leadership in 2012.
Assistant Elbert County Comprehensive High School principal Chuck Colquitt was named the new principal at MCMS in April, replacing Matt Boggs, who retired from the position.
George Bullock was named interim principal of Madison County High School in May, replacing Dr. Chad Stone, who left the high school after three years to take a job closer to his family in south Georgia due to a family illness.
MCHS STUDENTS, TEACHERS RECOGNIZED
A number of Madison County High School students and teachers were recognized in 2012 for various achievements. Among them were STAR student Taylor Hall and his STAR teacher Latana Coile, 2012 valedictorian Samantha LaZear and salutatorian Julia Sims.
MCHS teacher Andy Felt was also recognized as a finalist for Georgia’s “Teacher of the Year” in 2012.
WATSON MILL REMAINS A STATE PARK
The state Department of Natural Resources downgraded Watson Mill from a “state park” to an “outdoor recreational area” in 2011. But thanks to efforts by numerous local individuals, the state agreed in 2012 to keep the park open as a “state park.” Many were concerned that with the downgrade and the loss of employees at the park, Watson Mill would become a place for criminal activities and lose its popularity for family getaways, camping and horseriding.
Numerous officials spoke at a May celebration of the park, including Becky Kelley, director of the DNR’s State Parks and Historic Sites Division.
“The support of the local community has been what brought us forward,” she said.
SCHOOL SYSTEM RECEIVES ‘CHARTER’ STATUS
Madison County schools now have fewer strings attached when it comes to state regulations.
The school system received “charter” status in May, meaning that more decisions regarding curriculum can be made locally.
“We’re real excited,” said Madison County school superintendent Dr. Allen McCannon. “The heart of becoming a charter system is instructional innovation and increasing your shared governance.”
BANK ROBBED IN HULL; ARREST MADE
The man who allegedly robbed the First Citizens Bank inside of Ingles April 25 was arrested two days later.
Madison County Sheriff Kip Thomas said James Edward Lawson, 46, Athens, has been charged with armed robbery. He was arrested at a hotel in Claxton by the Claxton Police Department and the Evans County Sheriff’s Department.
He was transported to the Madison County Jail.
Thomas said that two people recognized the surveillance photo of Lawson that was posted on local media sites and contacted the sheriff’s department with Lawson’s identity.
MCHS RENOVATIONS BEGIN, COMER CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED
Madison County High School’s “extreme makeover” began in 2012, with the completion date set for fall 2014.
The new front entrance of the school, when completed, will face the football field and be connected to the current school building through the gymnasium. A new drive will be constructed “up and around” the new addition while construction is going on.
Construction officials said a first-floor “basement” will be located on the same level as the gym and will contain the new cafeteria and kitchen area with a large commons area. The band and choral suite will also be located on the first floor, along with business education labs and an ROTC suite. The cafeteria will provide an entrance for students and this area can also be “closed off” in order to host sporting and other events.
The second floor, or main level, will look out over the football field and will house the media center, administrative offices, regular classrooms, two science labs and a life skills suite. The third level will house more classrooms, two more science labs and two art suites, including one standard suite with a kiln and another for graphic art. Two sets of bathrooms will be located on each floor.
The renovations are being funded through sales tax dollars, which are also being used to cover the cost of a new media center at Comer Elementary School, which was completed in 2012.
The additions also included three new classrooms, a renovated clinic and computer lab, along with a new energy-efficient HVAC system.
A new deceleration lane at the entrance of the school was also installed this year to help alleviate traffic tie-ups and increase safety for both students and parents.
FINE FINISH CHANGES LOCATIONS
Fine Finish, a day-time program for developmentally challenged Madison County adults, was moved from a structurally unsafe building atop an old landfill on Hwy. 98 to a former business park on Rock Quarry Road off Hwy. 29 this summer.
Former Fine Finish manager Lee Smith said the June ribbon cutting ceremony was a “beautiful moment.”
“This (new) building is evidence of commitment,” said Smith. “It’s a statement that says we care about our DD (developmentally disabled) population.”
WORK CONTINUES ON SOCCER FIELDS
Work continued in 2012 on a new soccer complex at the Madison County Recreation Department’s “Sammy Haggard Park” off Hwy. 98. The complex is accessed off of Brewer Phillips Road. Madison County worked on grading, sodding, lighting, fencing and other various jobs in 2012, with the fields expected to open for play in spring 2013.
MCMS GETS RESOURCE OFFICER
The county board of education approved a written agreement in July with Sheriff Kip Thomas for a resource officer at the middle school.
The agreement is similar to the one the school system has for a resource officer at the high school, superintendent Dr. Allen McCannon noted, with the exception that the school system will reimburse the county for the officer’s salary at the middle school. The sheriff pays the salary of the high school resource officer.
FOOD BANK MOVES
Madison County’s Chamber of Commerce sponsored a ribbon cutting in July at the new Madison County Food Bank, located in the former U.S. Forestry Service office on Hwy. 98 West. County commissioners and other state and local officials were on hand for the event. The food bank is open Tuesday – Thursday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
STORE OWNER CHARGED WITH ELECTION FRAUD
A Madison County convenience store owner was charged in August with two counts of election fraud.
Mohammad Shafiq, 43, 84 Hidden Falls Drive, Hull, was charged with two counts of fraudulent entry on a voter registration card.
According to probate judge and county election superintendent Cody Cross, Shafiq was charged with fraud for altering information on two cards that weren’t his own. The convenience store owner turned in a number of registration cards to the county registrar’s office. But only two were found to be fraudulent.
SENIOR LEAGUE ALL STARS CAPTURE STATE CROWN
Madison County’s Senior League All Star girls captured the state title in July. Madison County swept through the state tournament, closing the deal with a title championship win on 6-2 over District 8 champion Pioneer of Columbus. Madison County finished the tournament outscoring its opponents 42-9.
ROTARY CONSTRUCTS 500TH RAMP
A crew of Rotary Club workers took about 30 minutes to build the club’s 500th ramp in September, an addition to the porch of Annie Mae Jarrells, a 90-year-old woman who recently lost a portion of her leg. Jarrell’s daughter, Phyllis, said the ramp will make their lives much better.
Numerous officials were on hand on the September Saturday to commemorate the Rotary’s 500th ramp, including Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, who put on a blue Rotary hard hat and fastened some boards with a nail gun.
Cagle addressed the large gathering and said it “thrills my heart” to be on hand for the ceremony.
“I wish every morning could start like this,” said Cagle. “It catches all of our hearts to make a difference in someone’s life, to make life a little easier for a wonderful deserving woman.”
Cagle praised Madison County for its willingness to help others.
“It speaks to the character and integrity of the community,” he said. “… All of us have had people sacrifice for us and it’s up to us to do the same. Thank you for what you do and I encourage you to continue in your efforts.”
DANIELSVILLE, BOE REACH SEWER DEAL
Madison County’s board of education formally approved an intergovernmental agreement in early September regarding a lease/purchase agreement with the city of Danielsville for the wastewater treatment pond behind the high school that the BOE owns, but the city operates.
This agreement will allow the city to purchase the pond from the BOE over a 30-year period. The BOE will also begin to pay for sewer service, something it did not do in a previous agreement with the city. The BOE also agreed to pay for much-needed upgrades to the pond, with the city agreeing to pay the school system back for those upgrades over the 30-year period.
HWY. 29 ROUNDABOUT CHANGED
The roundabout around the old county courthouse was changed this fall. Traffic on Hwy. 29 now has to yield so the roundabout will remain uncongested with backed up traffic. DOT engineers felt this would eliminate some of the morning congestion from school and work traffic around the courthouse by keeping the roundabout traffic flowing freely.
SECOND DANIELSVILLE ROUNDABOUT PLANNED
Danielsville will soon be a “two roundabout” town.
In a special called meeting in November, the Danielsville City Council voted unanimously to remove the city’s single red light at the intersection of Hwy. 29 (State Route 8) and Hwy. 98 in favor of a roundabout, also known as a “traffic circle.” This will make the town one of the few, if not the only, town in the state to have two roundabouts, according to Department of Transportation officials.
COUNTY DIGEST DOWN IN 2012
Madison County government bodies will have to get by with less in 2013.
The revenue decline is due to the decrease in local property values. Combined, all of the governmental agencies in Madison County collected $19.7 million in 2011, while this year’s local property tax revenues are projected at $17.1 million, a drop of 13.4 percent.
GROCERY STORE COMING TO COLBERT
Colbert can expect a grocery store in late 2013.
Dill’s Food City has purchased property at the intersection of Hwy. 72 and Foote McClellan Road with plans to construct an approximate 30,000-square-foot store with a full deli.
“It’s great to see business coming in to the county,” said county industrial development authority executive director Marvin White. “This is something needed in Madison County.”
MCHS STUDENT DIES IN WRECK
A Madison County High School junior died in November following a one-car accident on Colbert-Danielsville Road at Kincaid Road.
Caitlyn Christy, 17, was pronounced dead shortly after midnight Nov. 14 at Athens Regional Medical Center, according to coroner Michelle Cleveland.
According to Sheriff Kip Thomas, the wreck happened about 11 p.m. as Christy was traveling toward Danielsville.
Colbert-Danielsville Road has long been cited as a traffic hazard. And county commissioners agreed shortly after the wreck to widen the curve where the accident happened.
MADISON CO. CONSIDERS BEING PART OF CHARTER EVENING SCHOOL
Madison County school leaders may sign the system up to participate in a regional charter evening school in Bowman next year.
A Mountain Education Charter High School is being proposed in Elbert County in the old Bowman Elementary School, which was shut down recently due to a lack of funding.
The proposed high school would serve Madison, Elbert, Franklin and Hart counties and would operate year-round from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
The charter high school would give students at risk of dropping out another classroom alternative, allowing them to work at their own pace to complete school. Likewise, students could maintain a day job while going to school at night.
“We just want to give kids a big tool kit,” said Madison County school superintendent Dr. Allen McCannon. “This is something we’ve been looking at as another pathway for kids to be successful.”
MADISON CO. RECEIVES $3.65 MILLION GRANT FOR AG COLLEGE
Madison County High School is already receiving a massive upgrade of its campus. Now, it will also be the site of a regional ag-industry college.
The Madison County School System has been awarded a $3.65 million grant for a Regional Advanced Agriculture-Industry College and Career Academy.
The academy will include new classrooms and facilities at the high school — in addition to new facilities currently under construction. No completion date for the ag-industry academy construction has been set. The upgrades will include a culinary arts lab, an ag mechanics lab and renovation of current labs.
LONG-TIME ROAD HEAD RESIGNS
Madison County road superintendent Charles Temple resigned in December after 23 years on the job.
Temple voiced his displeasure Dec. 3 to county board of commission members on their vote on a vacation pay issue. He submitted his resignation effective Dec. 7.
NEW HWY. 191 BRIDGE COMPLETED
The new Hwy. 191 Bridge over Scull Shoal Creek in Madison County is now open to traffic.
Hwy. 191 over Scull Shoal Creek is approximately four miles northeast of Danielsville.
The bridge closed Dec. 27, 2011 and opened in Dec. 13, 18 days ahead of the project completion date of Dec. 31, 2012.
The original bridge outlived its life expectancy and did not meet current design standards, Department of Transportation (DOT) officials said.
BOC MOVES FORWARD WITH ELECTION BOARD
Madison County commissioners agreed to move forward with a resolution to create a three-person election board. The probate judge has long handled election superintendent duties, but current judge Cody Cross asked the board to consider taking those responsibilities (and pay) from him. Under such a setup, the judge could be required to oversee his own contested election. The Georgia General Assembly will consider the resolution in its upcoming legislative session.
While the elections were a focal point of local news coverage in 2012, there were plenty of other headlines this past year.
LIBRARY RENOVATIONS COMPLETED
For instance, the county library completed a major renovation project in the spring and a ribbon cutting was held at the Hwy. 98 facility March 31.
Renovation work began at the library in April 2011. The project included five additions to the building, which nearly doubled the building’s footprint; 7,500 square feet were added to the original 10,000-square-foot building. The library now has a larger and redesigned children’s area, larger public meeting room, more room to study, a new computer lab, new genealogy research room and more space in general for the collection.
CHRIS SMITH HIRED
Madison County’s Chris Smith was hired in January as the new Red Raider football coach, replacing Randell Owens, who resigned following the 2011 season.
Smith was a standout quarterback for the Red Raiders in the early 90s and served as an assistant coach at his alma mater since 1997. Madison County finished 1-9 in 2012, defeating Walnut Grove 32-31 on Nov. 2.
NEW DANIELSVILLE MAYOR ELECTED
Philip Croya resigned as the mayor of Danielsville in 2012 and a special election was held March 6 between Todd Higdon and Junne Temple, who resigned from her council seat to seek the post.
Higdon edged Temple 70-68 to win the election.
GOSS GETS 12 YEARS FOR FRAUD
Madison County’s Mark Goss was sentenced in March in federal court to 12 years in prison for scamming numerous church-going senior citizens out of their life savings.
Goss’ victims included an 86-year-old WWII veteran who lost $280,000, a couple that had saved money to build a handicapped accessible home for their disabled daughters and an elderly woman who lost all of her money to Goss, then put her home into a reverse mortgage arrangement to cover the expenses of her own declining health. Her daughter told the judge that her mother died upset with the knowledge that she had nothing to leave for her children.
He is now serving time in a Florida prison.
BOC, BOE DISTRICTS CONSOLIDATED
Madison County was long one of the few Georgia counties with separate districts for its county commissioners and its school board. Well, that changed in 2012. The county commission agreed to adopt the school board’s district map. Under the old BOC map, the District 4 commissioner served the Danielsville area. Now, the Danielsville area will be in District 2 at the BOC and BOE tables. The move was designed to eliminate voter confusion about the districts.
HWY. 98 NAMED FOR LOUIE CLARK
The stretch of Hwy. 98 from Ila to Danielsville was officially renamed the “Louie Clark Highway” in May.
A crowd of 200 honored the former state legislator on a Sunday afternoon in May for his service to Madison County with a sign unveiled in his honor on Hwy. 98 in front of the library.
State Senator Frank Ginn said Clark is a “great American.”
“There’s nothing finer than the service he gave in the military in a little conflict we call World War II,” said Ginn. “…There’s nobody who brought more to Madison County and worked harder for the citizens of Madison County than Louie Clark.”
NEW PRINCIPALS NAMED IN 2012
Both Madison County High School and Madison County Middle School saw a change in leadership in 2012.
Assistant Elbert County Comprehensive High School principal Chuck Colquitt was named the new principal at MCMS in April, replacing Matt Boggs, who retired from the position.
George Bullock was named interim principal of Madison County High School in May, replacing Dr. Chad Stone, who left the high school after three years to take a job closer to his family in south Georgia due to a family illness.
MCHS STUDENTS, TEACHERS RECOGNIZED
A number of Madison County High School students and teachers were recognized in 2012 for various achievements. Among them were STAR student Taylor Hall and his STAR teacher Latana Coile, 2012 valedictorian Samantha LaZear and salutatorian Julia Sims.
MCHS teacher Andy Felt was also recognized as a finalist for Georgia’s “Teacher of the Year” in 2012.
WATSON MILL REMAINS A STATE PARK
The state Department of Natural Resources downgraded Watson Mill from a “state park” to an “outdoor recreational area” in 2011. But thanks to efforts by numerous local individuals, the state agreed in 2012 to keep the park open as a “state park.” Many were concerned that with the downgrade and the loss of employees at the park, Watson Mill would become a place for criminal activities and lose its popularity for family getaways, camping and horseriding.
Numerous officials spoke at a May celebration of the park, including Becky Kelley, director of the DNR’s State Parks and Historic Sites Division.
“The support of the local community has been what brought us forward,” she said.
SCHOOL SYSTEM RECEIVES ‘CHARTER’ STATUS
Madison County schools now have fewer strings attached when it comes to state regulations.
The school system received “charter” status in May, meaning that more decisions regarding curriculum can be made locally.
“We’re real excited,” said Madison County school superintendent Dr. Allen McCannon. “The heart of becoming a charter system is instructional innovation and increasing your shared governance.”
BANK ROBBED IN HULL; ARREST MADE
The man who allegedly robbed the First Citizens Bank inside of Ingles April 25 was arrested two days later.
Madison County Sheriff Kip Thomas said James Edward Lawson, 46, Athens, has been charged with armed robbery. He was arrested at a hotel in Claxton by the Claxton Police Department and the Evans County Sheriff’s Department.
He was transported to the Madison County Jail.
Thomas said that two people recognized the surveillance photo of Lawson that was posted on local media sites and contacted the sheriff’s department with Lawson’s identity.
MCHS RENOVATIONS BEGIN, COMER CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED
Madison County High School’s “extreme makeover” began in 2012, with the completion date set for fall 2014.
The new front entrance of the school, when completed, will face the football field and be connected to the current school building through the gymnasium. A new drive will be constructed “up and around” the new addition while construction is going on.
Construction officials said a first-floor “basement” will be located on the same level as the gym and will contain the new cafeteria and kitchen area with a large commons area. The band and choral suite will also be located on the first floor, along with business education labs and an ROTC suite. The cafeteria will provide an entrance for students and this area can also be “closed off” in order to host sporting and other events.
The second floor, or main level, will look out over the football field and will house the media center, administrative offices, regular classrooms, two science labs and a life skills suite. The third level will house more classrooms, two more science labs and two art suites, including one standard suite with a kiln and another for graphic art. Two sets of bathrooms will be located on each floor.
The renovations are being funded through sales tax dollars, which are also being used to cover the cost of a new media center at Comer Elementary School, which was completed in 2012.
The additions also included three new classrooms, a renovated clinic and computer lab, along with a new energy-efficient HVAC system.
A new deceleration lane at the entrance of the school was also installed this year to help alleviate traffic tie-ups and increase safety for both students and parents.
FINE FINISH CHANGES LOCATIONS
Fine Finish, a day-time program for developmentally challenged Madison County adults, was moved from a structurally unsafe building atop an old landfill on Hwy. 98 to a former business park on Rock Quarry Road off Hwy. 29 this summer.
Former Fine Finish manager Lee Smith said the June ribbon cutting ceremony was a “beautiful moment.”
“This (new) building is evidence of commitment,” said Smith. “It’s a statement that says we care about our DD (developmentally disabled) population.”
WORK CONTINUES ON SOCCER FIELDS
Work continued in 2012 on a new soccer complex at the Madison County Recreation Department’s “Sammy Haggard Park” off Hwy. 98. The complex is accessed off of Brewer Phillips Road. Madison County worked on grading, sodding, lighting, fencing and other various jobs in 2012, with the fields expected to open for play in spring 2013.
MCMS GETS RESOURCE OFFICER
The county board of education approved a written agreement in July with Sheriff Kip Thomas for a resource officer at the middle school.
The agreement is similar to the one the school system has for a resource officer at the high school, superintendent Dr. Allen McCannon noted, with the exception that the school system will reimburse the county for the officer’s salary at the middle school. The sheriff pays the salary of the high school resource officer.
FOOD BANK MOVES
Madison County’s Chamber of Commerce sponsored a ribbon cutting in July at the new Madison County Food Bank, located in the former U.S. Forestry Service office on Hwy. 98 West. County commissioners and other state and local officials were on hand for the event. The food bank is open Tuesday – Thursday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
STORE OWNER CHARGED WITH ELECTION FRAUD
A Madison County convenience store owner was charged in August with two counts of election fraud.
Mohammad Shafiq, 43, 84 Hidden Falls Drive, Hull, was charged with two counts of fraudulent entry on a voter registration card.
According to probate judge and county election superintendent Cody Cross, Shafiq was charged with fraud for altering information on two cards that weren’t his own. The convenience store owner turned in a number of registration cards to the county registrar’s office. But only two were found to be fraudulent.
SENIOR LEAGUE ALL STARS CAPTURE STATE CROWN
Madison County’s Senior League All Star girls captured the state title in July. Madison County swept through the state tournament, closing the deal with a title championship win on 6-2 over District 8 champion Pioneer of Columbus. Madison County finished the tournament outscoring its opponents 42-9.
ROTARY CONSTRUCTS 500TH RAMP
A crew of Rotary Club workers took about 30 minutes to build the club’s 500th ramp in September, an addition to the porch of Annie Mae Jarrells, a 90-year-old woman who recently lost a portion of her leg. Jarrell’s daughter, Phyllis, said the ramp will make their lives much better.
Numerous officials were on hand on the September Saturday to commemorate the Rotary’s 500th ramp, including Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, who put on a blue Rotary hard hat and fastened some boards with a nail gun.
Cagle addressed the large gathering and said it “thrills my heart” to be on hand for the ceremony.
“I wish every morning could start like this,” said Cagle. “It catches all of our hearts to make a difference in someone’s life, to make life a little easier for a wonderful deserving woman.”
Cagle praised Madison County for its willingness to help others.
“It speaks to the character and integrity of the community,” he said. “… All of us have had people sacrifice for us and it’s up to us to do the same. Thank you for what you do and I encourage you to continue in your efforts.”
DANIELSVILLE, BOE REACH SEWER DEAL
Madison County’s board of education formally approved an intergovernmental agreement in early September regarding a lease/purchase agreement with the city of Danielsville for the wastewater treatment pond behind the high school that the BOE owns, but the city operates.
This agreement will allow the city to purchase the pond from the BOE over a 30-year period. The BOE will also begin to pay for sewer service, something it did not do in a previous agreement with the city. The BOE also agreed to pay for much-needed upgrades to the pond, with the city agreeing to pay the school system back for those upgrades over the 30-year period.
HWY. 29 ROUNDABOUT CHANGED
The roundabout around the old county courthouse was changed this fall. Traffic on Hwy. 29 now has to yield so the roundabout will remain uncongested with backed up traffic. DOT engineers felt this would eliminate some of the morning congestion from school and work traffic around the courthouse by keeping the roundabout traffic flowing freely.
SECOND DANIELSVILLE ROUNDABOUT PLANNED
Danielsville will soon be a “two roundabout” town.
In a special called meeting in November, the Danielsville City Council voted unanimously to remove the city’s single red light at the intersection of Hwy. 29 (State Route 8) and Hwy. 98 in favor of a roundabout, also known as a “traffic circle.” This will make the town one of the few, if not the only, town in the state to have two roundabouts, according to Department of Transportation officials.
COUNTY DIGEST DOWN IN 2012
Madison County government bodies will have to get by with less in 2013.
The revenue decline is due to the decrease in local property values. Combined, all of the governmental agencies in Madison County collected $19.7 million in 2011, while this year’s local property tax revenues are projected at $17.1 million, a drop of 13.4 percent.
GROCERY STORE COMING TO COLBERT
Colbert can expect a grocery store in late 2013.
Dill’s Food City has purchased property at the intersection of Hwy. 72 and Foote McClellan Road with plans to construct an approximate 30,000-square-foot store with a full deli.
“It’s great to see business coming in to the county,” said county industrial development authority executive director Marvin White. “This is something needed in Madison County.”
MCHS STUDENT DIES IN WRECK
A Madison County High School junior died in November following a one-car accident on Colbert-Danielsville Road at Kincaid Road.
Caitlyn Christy, 17, was pronounced dead shortly after midnight Nov. 14 at Athens Regional Medical Center, according to coroner Michelle Cleveland.
According to Sheriff Kip Thomas, the wreck happened about 11 p.m. as Christy was traveling toward Danielsville.
Colbert-Danielsville Road has long been cited as a traffic hazard. And county commissioners agreed shortly after the wreck to widen the curve where the accident happened.
MADISON CO. CONSIDERS BEING PART OF CHARTER EVENING SCHOOL
Madison County school leaders may sign the system up to participate in a regional charter evening school in Bowman next year.
A Mountain Education Charter High School is being proposed in Elbert County in the old Bowman Elementary School, which was shut down recently due to a lack of funding.
The proposed high school would serve Madison, Elbert, Franklin and Hart counties and would operate year-round from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
The charter high school would give students at risk of dropping out another classroom alternative, allowing them to work at their own pace to complete school. Likewise, students could maintain a day job while going to school at night.
“We just want to give kids a big tool kit,” said Madison County school superintendent Dr. Allen McCannon. “This is something we’ve been looking at as another pathway for kids to be successful.”
MADISON CO. RECEIVES $3.65 MILLION GRANT FOR AG COLLEGE
Madison County High School is already receiving a massive upgrade of its campus. Now, it will also be the site of a regional ag-industry college.
The Madison County School System has been awarded a $3.65 million grant for a Regional Advanced Agriculture-Industry College and Career Academy.
The academy will include new classrooms and facilities at the high school — in addition to new facilities currently under construction. No completion date for the ag-industry academy construction has been set. The upgrades will include a culinary arts lab, an ag mechanics lab and renovation of current labs.
LONG-TIME ROAD HEAD RESIGNS
Madison County road superintendent Charles Temple resigned in December after 23 years on the job.
Temple voiced his displeasure Dec. 3 to county board of commission members on their vote on a vacation pay issue. He submitted his resignation effective Dec. 7.
NEW HWY. 191 BRIDGE COMPLETED
The new Hwy. 191 Bridge over Scull Shoal Creek in Madison County is now open to traffic.
Hwy. 191 over Scull Shoal Creek is approximately four miles northeast of Danielsville.
The bridge closed Dec. 27, 2011 and opened in Dec. 13, 18 days ahead of the project completion date of Dec. 31, 2012.
The original bridge outlived its life expectancy and did not meet current design standards, Department of Transportation (DOT) officials said.
BOC MOVES FORWARD WITH ELECTION BOARD
Madison County commissioners agreed to move forward with a resolution to create a three-person election board. The probate judge has long handled election superintendent duties, but current judge Cody Cross asked the board to consider taking those responsibilities (and pay) from him. Under such a setup, the judge could be required to oversee his own contested election. The Georgia General Assembly will consider the resolution in its upcoming legislative session.
Seriously, is this any different from any other sheriff who has ever held the job in Madison County or any other southern place? Basically, the big problem is that his group of good ol' boys is different and by bringing in Oconee people he out-rednecked some of y'all's favorites.
Believe me, I empathize with you. The people on my FaceBook feed who were supporting the guy were douchebags. Maybe next time around, you will get a better option than Clayton "Traffic Cop" Lowe.