MadisonJournalTODAY

Danielsville woman arrested on drug charges

nospam@example.com (Staff Writer) — Sat, 25 May 2013 01:36:00 -0500

A Danielsville woman was arrested recently after a woman on James Adams Road reported that another woman had driven into her driveway in a 2006 Chevrolet Colorado and appeared to be under the influence of some type of drug.
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OPINION: ‘You are what you read’

nospam@example.com (Zach Mitcham) — Sat, 25 May 2013 01:30:00 -0500

If we truly are what we eat, then I am 30-percent sandwich.
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Four Former Raiders fall just short of National Championship

nospam@example.com (MainStreetNewsSports) — Fri, 24 May 2013 04:08:00 -0500

Fresh off a season where the high school Red Raiders were one inning away from claiming a state title, four former Madison County softball players just missed playing for a national title.

Madison County’s Olivia Duncan, Abby Atkinson, Taylor Morgan, and Megan Kesler play for Piedmont College’s (NCAA Division 3) softball ...

OPINION: OK, here’s my graduation speech

nospam@example.com (Zach Mitcham) — Fri, 24 May 2013 01:03:00 -0500

Forget the word problem. You know the one about train A leaves the station at 8 a.m. Train B leaves at such and such time. When will they meet?
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LETTER: The nations of the world need to work together

nospam@example.com (Letter to the Editor) — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:01:58 -0500

Dear Editor:

With the “Great Recession” over and the economy starting to recover, the world that the class of 2013 will enter into is a little better off than the past few years.

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MCHS class of 2013 to graduate Friday

nospam@example.com (Margie Richards) — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:44:43 -0500

Valedictorian Caitlin Felt will say goodbye to her alma mater Friday night, along with approximately 277 of her fellow classmates, and set her sights on the University of Georgia this fall, where she will study international affairs with a pre-law concentration.

She will live in the pre-law community on campus. Felt said she hopes to one day work with the United Nations as an International Human Rights lawyer.

Felt is the daughter of Andy and Shannon Felt and she has one brother, Drew, who will be a freshman at Madison County High School this fall.
Salutatorian Emily Pace will also begin the next phase of her life, which will take her to the campus of Georgia State University in Atlanta this fall, where she will major in nutrition, with a possible minor in food science. She says this is something she has always been interested in and she hopes to have a career as a nutritionist. She is the daughter of Randy Pace and Lynn Duke.

Felt and Pace will speak at Friday’s ceremony along with fellow classmates Kevin Jones and Justin Granados. The ceremony will begin at 7 p.m.

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Retiring educators recognized

nospam@example.com (Margie Richards) — Thu, 23 May 2013 01:21:00 -0500

Thirty retiring members of the Madison County School System were honored at a reception and recognition ceremony during May’s board of education meeting Tuesday night. The person retiring with the longest tenure at the school system was human resources director Bob Harrison, who began his career in 1971.

Those recognized included Sara Bridges, Kathy Cribb, Karen Gordon, Jodie Cronic, Lynn Clark, Joan Cross, Wanda Royal, Brenda Smith, Steven Osborne, Rebecca Braswell, Willie Lou Stoyle, Shirley Whitlock, Brenda Arrendale, Mark Cronic, James Beall, Barbara Coile, Edna Coley, Denise Cooper, Allison Owen, Sylvia Shiflet, Kathryn Willingham, Shirley Aaron, Dottie Coile, Robert (Bob) Harrison and Donald Mitchell Meadow, Jane Fitzpatrick, Susan McCormick, Walter Craig, Phil Benson and June Martin.

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Comer council purchases car for police dept.

nospam@example.com (Frank Gillispie) — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:38:30 -0500

Comer’s City Council approved the purchase of a low-mileage car for the city police department recently.
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Burglary reported on Friendship Church Road

nospam@example.com (Staff Writer) — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:34:28 -0500

A BOLO (be on the lookout) was issued for a man driving a black and red older model pickup truck after he allegedly broke into a home on Friendship Church Road and was surprised by the homeowner.
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OPINION: Beware of online scams

nospam@example.com (Frank Gillispie) — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:28:01 -0500

A couple of months ago I turned on my computer only to discover that the screen had been seized by someone claiming to be from the FBI. I tried everything in the book to reclaim my computer, but nothing worked.
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Local schools above state, regional averages in new CCRPI assessments

nospam@example.com (Zach Mitcham) — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:24:00 -0500

Madison County schools received a good report card for last year.

The school system exceeded the state average in 2011-12 in the new College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI), the state’s new method of measuring school performance that has replaced the “pass/fail” of the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) system.

The district score for elementary schools, 92.1, surpasses the state average of 83.4 and the 13-county Northeast Georgia Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) average of 84.1. Madison County elementary schools rank fifth in RESA and each of the five county elementary schools exceeded the state and RESA averages.

The middle school score was 85, which surpassed the state average of 81.4 and the regional average of 83.9. The middle school ranks sixth in RESA.

Meanwhile, the high school score was 77.9, which surpassed the state average of 72.6 and the RESA average of 76.2. The high school ranks fifth in RESA.

“As I reflect on these scores, I could not be more proud of the work that our teachers and students have done,” said Madison County Superintendent Dr. Allen McCannon. “It has not been easy work. Our jobs have only gotten more challenging over time, and at a time when school systems face budget deficits and amended calendar days, we have only been asked to do more with less. Our teachers have indeed done more with less.”

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Danielsville police chief resigns

nospam@example.com (Margie Richards) — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:23:25 -0500

The city of Danielsville is without a police chief.

Officer Matt Pilkington resigned from his position as the Danielsville chief Monday, May 13.

The city council accepted his resignation at its regular business meeting Monday night following a closed-door session to discuss personnel. In a copy of his resignation letter provided by Pilkington to the Journal, he thanked the council for the opportunity to serve as police chief, but said he was resigning “due to the low pay and benefits” and accepting a job that would “better support his family.”

The council wished him well. Mayor Todd Higdon said officer Henry Hicks will continue on the job and the council will post a position for police chief “immediately.”

He added, however, that choosing a replacement for Pilkington would most likely be a slow process to ensure they select the right candidate.

Also May 13, the council announced that they have hired a new full-time assistant clerk who will also serve as court clerk. Karen Dudley began work on Monday, May 6.

In other business, construction on the roundabout to replace the city’s lone red light has encountered some setbacks and will not begin when school lets out for the summer later this month, as originally planned.

Higdon said the D.O.T. is still working on land acquisitions at this time and that Georgia Power has encountered a delay in getting the power poles needed to replace the ones that will be taken down during construction.

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BOC chairman backs down in conflict with sheriff

nospam@example.com (Zach Mitcham) — Sun, 19 May 2013 10:40:40 -0500

Madison County commission chairman Anthony Dove suspended two employees this past week, contending that they had worked with the sheriff’s department in surveillance of two employees in the BOC office. But the chairman released a statement Sunday morning, saying he wanted to back down on the issue and bring the matter to a close.

The board of commissioners met Thursday to consider the suspensions against county clerk Linda Cox and human resources director Donna Sisk. The group took no action on the suspensions after hearing written statements from both Cox and Sisk.

Early Sunday morning, Dove submitted a letter to this paper, the sheriff’s department and the suspended employees, saying that he wanted to end the conflict.

Here is Dove’s Sunday letter, as well as written statements from both Sisk and Cox submitted to the BOC Thursday:

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Comer woman charged with battery, cruelty to children

nospam@example.com (Staff Writer) — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:23:00 -0500

A Comer woman was arrested recently on a myriad of charges after she allegedly struck her teenage daughter in the face with her fist and was found driving drunk with two small children.
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OPINION: Referees deserve baseline respect

nospam@example.com (Zach Mitcham) — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:18:00 -0500

The bridal limo fire in California may have topped the list of bizarre and horrible news last week. But another incident fit those descriptions too. And it sent me into yet another round of philosophizing on the state of our culture.
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BOC forms committee to study jail project options

nospam@example.com (Zach Mitcham) — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:14:00 -0500

Madison County leaders will soon determine how a projected $12.4 million will be spent if voters renew a one-cent sales tax in November. But there’s another matter the commissioners now want to resolve before the referendum: how will the $3.3 million tagged from the 2008 special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) for expanding the county jail be used?

“We need to find out how much to spend on the jail situation,” said commissioner Pete Bond May 6.

Other commissioners agreed.

“In five years we haven’t done anything and we need direction before the next SPLOST,” said commissioner Stanley Thomas. “…We’re asking people to go to the polls and vote for SPLOST money and we need to know what we’re doing with what we already have (for the jail).”

The commissioners agreed to establish a committee to study jail expansion options. Thomas and commissioner Mike Youngblood were nominated by the board to represent the BOC on the committee, which will also include Sheriff Kip Thomas, county engineer Phil Munro and county road and building director Alan Lapczynski. The committee list was not finalized Monday. It may include a couple of county citizens and perhaps a representative from the judicial system.

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$1.1 million road contract approved

nospam@example.com (Zach Mitcham) — Wed, 15 May 2013 01:13:00 -0500

Madison County commissioners approved over $1 million in road improvements May 6.

The board of commissioners approved a contract with Pittman Construction for $1,149,600 to handle road resurfacing projects on Sanford Road, Blacks Creek Church Road, Madison Oaks Drive, Adams-Duncan Road, Sorrow Patterson Road and Colbert Danielsville Road.

The projects, which leaders plan to start after this school year ends, will be partially funded through the Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG) Program. The county received $543,713 from the state through LMIG for 2013. That means the county’s portion of the road project cost will be $605,887.

This money will be pulled from the county’s cash reserves. The county has maintained roughly $5 million in reserves over the past couple of years.

BOC chairman Anthony Dove reminded commissioners Monday that the approval of the road projects and the recent approval of four sheriff’s vehicles for $112,000 will bring down the county’s cash reserves.

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Man sentenced to 15 years for child molestation

nospam@example.com (Staff Writer) — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:20:00 -0500

A Hull man was recently sentenced in Madison County Superior Court to 15 years in prison for child molestation.
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Madison Co. now home base for DA

nospam@example.com (Zach Mitcham) — Mon, 13 May 2013 01:12:00 -0500

Madison County is now the home base for the Northern Judicial Circuit’s new district attorney.

Parks White and his staff held a ribbon cutting ceremony May 4 to show off their new office space at the Lakeview Business Park off Rock Quarry Road in Danielsville. The former commercial building will serve as the main DA office for the five-county circuit.

“I can’t tell you how grateful I am Chairman (Anthony) Dove and every member of the board of commissioners for allowing us to use this office space for the central office of the Northern Judicial Circuit,” said White, before he and Dove cut the ribbon. “It’s such a blessing to come here and be embraced by this community.”

White also told the crowd that he wants criminals to understand that the court system will be run efficiently under his watch and that those who break the law will be punished. He praised his staff, which was also on hand.

“We want the criminal element to know that justice is served here,” he said.

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Athens woman charged with shoplifting

nospam@example.com (Staff Writer) — Mon, 13 May 2013 00:22:00 -0500

An Athens woman was charged with shoplifting and obstruction after she fled on foot from the Glenn Carrie Road Dollar General Store recently.
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OPINION: I am addicted to books

nospam@example.com (Frank Gillispie) — Mon, 13 May 2013 00:15:00 -0500

Most, if not all of us, are addicted to something. Some of us are addicted to chemicals, whether tobacco, alcohol, drugs or even coffee.
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Raider guys take second in state tennis tourney

nospam@example.com (Staff Writer) — Sat, 11 May 2013 18:34:47 -0500

By Dallas Bordon

JONESBORO: The Madison County Red Raider tennis team made history this season by advancing to the state championship for the first time.

They came up just short of the top prize Saturday as 5A-AAAA Columbus won the championship with a 3-1 win over Madison County.

The expected rain that was due to the area held off just long enough to get the matches in at the Clayton International Tennis Park in Jonesboro.

A rain-out would have given number one seed Madison County home court advantage on Monday or Tuesday, but as it turned out, plenty of the Raider faithful made the trip to Jonesboro.

Trey Morris remained undefeated on the season, winning at the number one singles (2-0). Ben Strickland battled to a tie-breaker but came up on the short end of a 2-1 loss. With the number one doubles team of Zach Peneguy and Adam Sartain falling to Columbus 2-0 and the number two doubles Hank Sartain and Koti Nguyen also losing 2-0, all eyes were glued to Strickland's match.

With Columbus leading overall 2-1 with Strickland and Tyler Terrell (number 3 singles) still playing, Columbus needed just one win to seal the championship.

Columbus got the win after Strickland fell 6-4 in the tiebreaker. Terrell's singles match was halted at that point as Columbus got the needed 3 wins.

The Raiders (22-4, 12-0) were able to reach the championship round by defeating Carrollton and S. Effingham in earlier post season play

Colbert to pave and patch roads

nospam@example.com (Staff Writer) — Fri, 10 May 2013 10:10:43 -0500

By Jeremy Elrod

The Colbert City Council received two bids for paving and repairing South Fourth Street May 6, but the group also discussed ways to better use the state funding.

“We’ve received two bids for paving the entire strip of S. Fourth Street and a few other places, but unfortunately they may be too high for us to consider taking on at the moment,” said Mayor Chris Peck. “We have $8,400 that we’re getting from the LMIG (Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant) to do the project, but we still have to come up with 30 percent of that to put forth ourselves in order to receive the grant.”

Peck said the city has up to three years to use LMIG funds.

“So we could hoard this year’s LMIG amount and add it to next year’s amount to do one big project,” said Peck. “Or, we could re-evaluate the entire project, and just accept a bid to take care of the worst parts of the road instead of doing the entire thing.”

City advisor John Waggoner offered a suggestion.

“Since we should get about the same amount of LMIG money next year, I would just patch up the worst places for the time being and use the combined funds to do a larger project later,” he said.

Peck agreed.
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LETTER: Asks BOC to support reversal of Citizens United

nospam@example.com (Letter to the Editor) — Fri, 10 May 2013 10:08:38 -0500

Dear Editor:

(This letter is addressed to Madison County commission chairman Anthony Dove).

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