Entries by Mark Beardsley
OPINION: A paranoid and insane view of the future
After nearly four decades in journalism, I considered myself adequately cynical and pessimistic. I’m negative about the economy (even in good times) and suspicious of government, particularly at the state and federal levels — a glass half empty type.
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OPINION: Seriously, more guns the answer for curtailing gun violence?
Nothing boosts the sales of assault-type rifles like a massacre of kindergartners by a gunman with an assault-type rifle.
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Woman charged in 2010 wreck that killed 2
A Commerce woman was arrested last week on two charges of homicide by vehicle in connection with a wreck two years ago that killed two people and injured five others.
Tiffany Renee Dicara, 22, 410 Heritage Hills, Commerce, was the driver of a 1999 Mercury Cougar traveling east on Hwy. 326 that pulled into the path of a 2006 Chevy Tahoe SUV that was traveling north on U.S. 441. The SUV T-boned the smaller vehicle.
Shane Kennedy, 22, of Danielsville, and Laura Ashley Epps, 19, of Hull, died at the scene. Both were passengers in Dicara’s vehicle.
The charges came following an investigation by the Georgia State Patrol’s Specialized Accident Reconstruction Team.
Dicara and Cody Bishop, 22, of Blairsville, who was also a passenger in the Cougar, were both transported to Athens Regional Medical Center.
All three occupants of the Tahoe were transported to St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens with visible injuries. They included the driver, Thomaas Gearing, 38, Jennifer Gearing, 33, and Haley Fricks, 10, all of Hull.
Tiffany Renee Dicara, 22, 410 Heritage Hills, Commerce, was the driver of a 1999 Mercury Cougar traveling east on Hwy. 326 that pulled into the path of a 2006 Chevy Tahoe SUV that was traveling north on U.S. 441. The SUV T-boned the smaller vehicle.
Shane Kennedy, 22, of Danielsville, and Laura Ashley Epps, 19, of Hull, died at the scene. Both were passengers in Dicara’s vehicle.
The charges came following an investigation by the Georgia State Patrol’s Specialized Accident Reconstruction Team.
Dicara and Cody Bishop, 22, of Blairsville, who was also a passenger in the Cougar, were both transported to Athens Regional Medical Center.
All three occupants of the Tahoe were transported to St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens with visible injuries. They included the driver, Thomaas Gearing, 38, Jennifer Gearing, 33, and Haley Fricks, 10, all of Hull.
Ginn expects more talk on tax reform
State Senator Frank Ginn expects the Georgia General Assembly to revisit the issue of “tax reform” when the 2012 legislative session convenes.
The issue was a popular topic of discussion last year, but ultimately the plan that would have reduced the state income tax in exchange for expanding the reach of the sales tax was scuttled.
“I was proud that last year while it never got perfected we didn’t pass something just to pass something,” said Ginn last week. “There was no urgency to pass something that might be a problem later on.”
The challenge, said the second-year legislator, is keeping the changes “revenue neutral” but at the same time avoiding shifting the burden of taxation unfairly.
“Today, we know where every dime we collect in taxes comes from,” Ginn declared. “When you get into the unknown… it’s a tax shift. Any time you’ve got people working on that, you always have to look at what the motivation is. Is it going to make us more competitive or is it taking advantage of folks in this area and giving a credit to those in another area?”
[Full Story »]
The issue was a popular topic of discussion last year, but ultimately the plan that would have reduced the state income tax in exchange for expanding the reach of the sales tax was scuttled.
“I was proud that last year while it never got perfected we didn’t pass something just to pass something,” said Ginn last week. “There was no urgency to pass something that might be a problem later on.”
The challenge, said the second-year legislator, is keeping the changes “revenue neutral” but at the same time avoiding shifting the burden of taxation unfairly.
“Today, we know where every dime we collect in taxes comes from,” Ginn declared. “When you get into the unknown… it’s a tax shift. Any time you’ve got people working on that, you always have to look at what the motivation is. Is it going to make us more competitive or is it taking advantage of folks in this area and giving a credit to those in another area?”
[Full Story »]
NE Ga. leaders formally approve T-SPLOST list
Leaders from 12 counties in Northeast Georgia recently approved a list of 68 transportation projects they plan to fund over 10 years if voters in the region approve a referendum next July for a one-cent transportation special purpose local option sales tax (T-SPLOST).
If passed district-wide, the counties expect to collect almost $988 million. Thursday’s district list spelled out how 75 percent of the money — $740 million — would be spent. The other 25 percent — $247 million — will be divided among the 12 counties and their municipalities by a formula based on population and miles of roadway.
Madison County stands to get two road improvement projects if the referendum passes — the widening of Hwy. 72 east of Comer and the improvement of the intersections of Hwy. 29 and Hwy. 98 in Danielsville.
The heavier populated counties would get the lion’s share of the designated projects, while rural counties like Madison, Oglethorpe and Elbert, get one or two projects.
[Full Story »]
If passed district-wide, the counties expect to collect almost $988 million. Thursday’s district list spelled out how 75 percent of the money — $740 million — would be spent. The other 25 percent — $247 million — will be divided among the 12 counties and their municipalities by a formula based on population and miles of roadway.
Madison County stands to get two road improvement projects if the referendum passes — the widening of Hwy. 72 east of Comer and the improvement of the intersections of Hwy. 29 and Hwy. 98 in Danielsville.
The heavier populated counties would get the lion’s share of the designated projects, while rural counties like Madison, Oglethorpe and Elbert, get one or two projects.
[Full Story »]
Ginn’s bill vetoed by Gov. Deal
Forty-seventh District State Senator Frank Ginn said he’s “very disappointed” that Gov. Nathan Deal recently vetoed legislation Ginn introduced to reduce state planning maandates on smaller cities and counties.
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Sen. Ginn proposes axing comp plans
State Senator Frank Ginn’s very first piece of legislation seeks to eliminate costly state-mandated comprehensive plans, and it is receiving support from local governments.
Ginn represents the 47th District, which includes Barrow, Madison and Oglethorpe counties and portions of Clarke, Elbert and Jackson counties. Officials in Madison and Jackson counties, at least, voiced support for Senate Bill 86 that would make comprehensive plans optional among local governments.
Currently, state law requires governments to produce a 20-year plan and update it every five years in order to be “qualified” local governments — able to receive state grants through the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). The plans can be expensive, and every community from Camilla to Commerce must complete pretty much the same document.
That doesn’t make sense to local officials. While those contacted indicated that they believe long-range plans to be important, virtually all of them found the “one-size-fits-all” approach burdensome to smaller governments and not representative of local needs.
Established in 1989, local comprehensive plans were considered a first step in the development of regional and state plans — which have yet to be developed in the two decades since. Local governments, regardless of size or location, must follow a state-mandated process to develop a comprehensive plan and report on specific areas. [Full Story »]
Ginn represents the 47th District, which includes Barrow, Madison and Oglethorpe counties and portions of Clarke, Elbert and Jackson counties. Officials in Madison and Jackson counties, at least, voiced support for Senate Bill 86 that would make comprehensive plans optional among local governments.
Currently, state law requires governments to produce a 20-year plan and update it every five years in order to be “qualified” local governments — able to receive state grants through the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). The plans can be expensive, and every community from Camilla to Commerce must complete pretty much the same document.
That doesn’t make sense to local officials. While those contacted indicated that they believe long-range plans to be important, virtually all of them found the “one-size-fits-all” approach burdensome to smaller governments and not representative of local needs.
Established in 1989, local comprehensive plans were considered a first step in the development of regional and state plans — which have yet to be developed in the two decades since. Local governments, regardless of size or location, must follow a state-mandated process to develop a comprehensive plan and report on specific areas. [Full Story »]
Commerce man charged with shooting his wife
Alleged shooter, victim both graduated from Madison Co. High School
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EPD likely to grant LP emissions increase
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division will likely approve Louisiana Pacific's request to increase formaldehyde emissions at its Center plant in Jackson County.
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