MadisonJournalTODAY

Former Madison Co. School Superintendent passes away

nospam@example.com (Staff Writer) — Thu, 17 May 2012 09:52:17 -0500

Long-time Madison County educator Jim Perkins passed away Wednesday, May 16, at 4:10 p.m. at St. Mary’s Hospital after recently suffering a stroke.

Perkins, who would have turned 80 in June, served the Madison County School System for 38 years as superintendent, principal, teacher and coach.

“His dedication and commitment to the Madison County School System was legendary,” said Madison County superintendent Dr. Allen McCannon.

Visitation will be at Bernstein Funeral Home tomorrow (Friday), May 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. The funeral will at Bernstein Saturday, May 19, at 2 p.m. The burial will be at Evergreen.

Mrs. Perkins has asked that all of his former basketball players serve as honorary pallbearers for the funeral. Those former players interested in serving in this capacity can contact Bernstein Funeral Home at 706-643-7373.

MCHS Class of 2012 graduates Fri.

nospam@example.com (Zach Mitcham) — Thu, 17 May 2012 01:20:00 -0500

Approximately 280 Madison County High School seniors will walk across the stage at the Classic Center in downtown Athens to receive their diplomas Friday night. The class will be led by valedictorian Samantha LaZear, who will attend the University of Georgia on a softball scholarship this fall, where she will study pharmacy, and salutatorian Julia Sims, who leave in July for a career in the U.S. Air Force.

Speakers for the occasion, besides LaZear and Sims, will be Andrew McCannon, Steven Resby, Nicole Adams and Blaise Bolemon.

Honor graduates this year are: Kelcie Adams, Tyler Beam, Blaise Bolemon, Haley Bowles, Kristin Bradshaw, Samantha Bridges, Taylor Bruce, Aubrey Bullock, Tyler Christopher, Maura Clifton, Jessica Cooper, William Crumley, Kaitlin Dean, Joshua Dooley, Julia Dove, Olivia Duncan, Tiffany Eubanks, Chloe Farmer, James Fielding, Adrienne Fitzpatrick, Amber Fitzpatrick, Catherine Gilliam, Candis Gordon, Jesse Griffeth, Ashley Haley, Taylor Hall, Kayla Harper, Martin Hoang, Victoria Hurteau, Bryson James, Bailee Jordan, MacKenzie Kelley, Joel Kellum, Jeffrey Lawton, Cody Mainland, Courtney Mattox, Caleb McCain, Andrew McCannon, Holden McKenzie, Audra Minish, Tony Patrick, John Patton, Jonathan Peeples, Alexander Perry, Courtney Phillips, John Pieper, Christopher Poss, Richard Preston, Katelyn Reeves, Kathryn Reeves, Emely Sandres, Megan Seagraves, Jasmine Taylor, Daniel Townsend, Brock Turner, Franciska Virginia, Daniel Walker and Kymberlie Williams.

Commencement services will begin at 7 p.m.

Upgrades complete at Comer’s Arnold Park

nospam@example.com (Frank Gillispie) — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:05:00 -0500

Comer’s city council heard a report that the upgrades to Arnold’s Park in Comer have been completed.
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School system to offer free summer lunches to children

nospam@example.com (Margie Richards) — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:00:00 -0500

The Madison County school system will once again offer free lunches to children during a portion of the summer break.

According to assistant superintendent Bonnie Knight, the free lunches, which are available to any Madison County child up to age 18 (whether enrolled in the school system or not), will be offered at the freshman academy cafeteria in Danielsville 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday beginning June 4. Knight said the lunches will likely continue through the beginning of July.

In a related matter, the board of education voted May 8 to increase meal prices slightly for the 2012-13 school year. Breakfast prices will increase five cents per meal and ten cents per meal for lunches.

Superintendent Dr. Allen McCannon said the increases were necessary to stay within the federal government’s reimbursement rates for free and reduced lunches.

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The Cottage seeks nominations for first responder award

nospam@example.com (Staff Writer) — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:50:38 -0500

The Cottage, Sexual Assault Center & Children’s Advocacy Center — which serves Madison County — is seeking nominations for its first-annual “Person of Courage Award.”
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Bullock named interim MCHS principal

nospam@example.com (Zach Mitcham) — Mon, 14 May 2012 01:59:00 -0500

George Bullock has been named interim principal of Madison County High School.

Bullock has served as the assistant principal at MCHS and head of the school’s Freshman Academy for the past four years.

Madison County Middle School assistant principal Veronica Hunter will move into Bullock’s former role as head of the Freshman Academy.

The county school board approved superintendent Dr. Allen McCannon’s recommendations for the changes May 8.

“We felt at this time of year we have a lot of initiatives going on at the high school and it would be best if we moved on in an interim basis with Mr. Bullock,” said McCannon.

The superintendent said Bullock, a former science teacher, has done a good job at the Freshman Academy. He said Bullock’s role at the high school will be reviewed during the next school year.

“We’ll just talk in the winter or spring and see how things are going,” said McCannon.

Bullock replaces Dr. Chad Stone, who is leaving the high school after three years, to take a job closer to his family in south Georgia due to a family illness.

The superintendent said Hunter will do a good job taking over at the Freshman Academy, adding that she will be a stabilizing force for middle schoolers entering the high school environment.

“She has a great knowledge of the students at the middle school and will help them in their freshman year,” he said.

Jones, Gaskin earn second team all region

nospam@example.com (MainStreetNewsSports) — Mon, 14 May 2012 01:16:00 -0500

Madison County senior goalkeeper Sebastian Jones and junior midfielder Forrest Gaskin were voted by the region’s coaches to the second team all region eleven.

“Both players thoroughly deserve the award, although I think they both deserved to be on the first team,” said Madison County head coach Trevor Mangan. “Sebastian ...

OPINION: Despite local deluge, drought still dominates

nospam@example.com (Letter to the Editor) — Mon, 14 May 2012 01:12:00 -0500

By Mark Jenkins

Those of you who had been tempted to start singing “It Ain’t Gonna Rain No More, No More” had to change your tune on the last Friday night in April.
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Woman charged with obstruction on McCarty Dodd

nospam@example.com (Staff Writer) — Mon, 14 May 2012 01:08:00 -0500

A Colbert woman was arrested last week after she refused repeatedly to come to the door of a residence on McCarty Dodd Road despite requests from deputies. They were called to the scene after the homeowner called 9-1-1 to say she took his pants and locked him out of his residence.
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Colbert adjusts rental fees for city buildings

nospam@example.com (Staff Writer) — Mon, 14 May 2012 01:04:00 -0500

By Jeremy Elrod
Correspondent

The City of Colbert recently took ownership of the old city school and made various improvements to city buildings. On Monday, the Colbert council discussed adjustments in rental fees and rates for the usage of such facilities.

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4-Stakes announces recent results

nospam@example.com (MainStreetNewsSports) — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:15:20 -0500

Madison County’s 4-Stakes horseshoes released its results from May 1 action.

The high game for Tuesday, May 1, was Bobby Jordan with a 114. There were only two players winning all three of their games, Walter Brake and David Coile.

Ernest Decker managed to get two wins and a tie. Coni Hix is still leading the ...

OPINION: One more gift for my mama

nospam@example.com (Margie Richards) — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:10:45 -0500

What I wouldn’t give for just one more conversation with my mama.
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Two arrested after breaking school bus glass with BB gun

nospam@example.com (Staff Writer) — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:07:33 -0500

A 20-year-old man and a juvenile were charged after they reportedly shot out a window on a school bus as it drove by in Three Rivers Court last week.
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Gilmore is new animal shelter director

nospam@example.com (Zach Mitcham) — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:28:12 -0500

Tracy Gilmore worked at a life insurance company for 15 years. Now, she’s working to ensure that animals have a good life and home.

The new Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter director says her main goal at the Colbert-Danielsville Road facility is to reduce the number of animals that must be euthanized at the shelter.

“The biggest long-term goal for me is to turn the euthanasia rate around to where we are not running so full all the time and having to euthanize as many animals,” she said.

The self proclaimed “Marine brat,” who was born in California, lives in Jefferson with two mini schnauzers she rescued and a hound dog she had on a foster basis before adopting for good.

After Gilmore was laid off from her life insurance job, she decided to follow her passion — animal rescue.

She went back to school to become a veterinarian’s assistant and she volunteered with the Gwinnett and Jackson County Humane Societies, before finally applying and receiving the Madison Oglethorpe Shelter position, which she took in late March. She said she has fostered 50 to 60 animals over the years.

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Hull mother charged with child neglect

nospam@example.com (Staff Writer) — Fri, 11 May 2012 01:13:00 -0500

A Hull woman was arrested recently after officer Brandon Hanley was summoned to the home regarding an intoxicated man who called for help with a young child.
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OPINION: The struggle between feeling and logic

nospam@example.com (Zach Mitcham) — Fri, 11 May 2012 01:09:00 -0500

My father told me when I was a kid that while I may feel something, I don’t really understand what I feel unless I can put it into words.
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Woman being treated for rabid dog bite

nospam@example.com (Zach Mitcham) — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:44:33 -0500

A woman was bitten by a rabid dog this past week in Comer.

According to Madison County animal control and code enforcement director Jack Huff, a woman was bitten by a white brindle pit bull around 2 or 3 p.m. Sunday, May 6.

The dog, which was estimated at five to six months old, followed the victim’s children back to a house on East South Avenue in Comer, where the puppy got in a fight with the family dog, which was vaccinated for rabies.

The woman was bitten on the right forearm and the right ankle and calf while separating the dogs.

The family took in the animal and then called the county animal control service two days later when the puppy showed signs of rabies. An animal control officer observed the dog in the tub foaming at the mouth, disoriented and vomiting.

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OPINION: Storm showed my dependence on computers

nospam@example.com (Frank Gillispie) — Tue, 08 May 2012 07:06:00 -0500

I did not realize just how much I depend on my computer until I carelessly forgot to disconnect it during the thunderstorms a recent Friday evening. The storm did its thing. I lost the power supply for the computer, the extra hard drive and the cable modem.
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Church gym donated for $1 is sold for $40K; preacher says church done wrong, but youth program leaders disagree

nospam@example.com (Zach Mitcham) — Tue, 08 May 2012 01:03:00 -0500

A local preacher feels his church’s spirit of giving was taken advantage of by leaders of a proposed youth program.

But the youth leaders disagree, saying the preacher gave them the go-ahead to sell a gym and land donated to their organization.

Rising Sun Youth Club finalized the sale of the old Kings Way Bible Church gym to the city of Comer last week for $40,000, a little over a year after Kings Way deeded the gym to the club for $1 for use as a youth facility.

Was Kings Way done wrong in the deal?

Well, that depends on who you ask.

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Man charged with 11 counts of entering auto

nospam@example.com (Staff Writer) — Mon, 07 May 2012 07:11:00 -0500

An Athens man was charged with 11 counts of entering auto and a single count of being “party to a crime” last week stemming from a number of car break-ins last year.
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Rotary presents ethics lessons to first graders

nospam@example.com (Zach Mitcham) — Mon, 07 May 2012 01:06:00 -0500

Madison County Rotary Club leaders want the county’s first graders to understand the word “ethics.” And they are trying to teach it in a fun way.
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OPINION: Loud commercials — now for a limited time only!

nospam@example.com (Zach Mitcham) — Sat, 05 May 2012 01:54:00 -0500

I love the name of a new federal regulation — the “CALM Act.”
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Raider netters fall in Sweet 16

nospam@example.com (MainStreetNewsSports) — Fri, 04 May 2012 17:17:26 -0500

Madison County’s boys’ tennis team fell just shy of an Elite 8 appearance this week, falling to Dunwoody in the Sweet 16 round in Danielsville.

The boys finished the season at 20-3, 13-0 in the region.

Red Raider head coach Keith Strickland said his guys got a real boost from the top two singles positions.

Raiders wrap up season with playoff loss to Heritage

nospam@example.com (MainStreetNewsSports) — Fri, 04 May 2012 17:15:34 -0500

Madison County wrapped up its 2012 baseball season Saturday versus Heritage, dropping the third game of a best of three series in the first round of the Region 8-AAAA playoffs.

“It (the season) kind of finished like it started, a lot of ups and downs,” said Red Raider head coach Charlie Griffeth, whose squad finished the ...