Entries from June 2012

Candidates for commission chair spar at forum

Posted by
Angela Gary
in Area Headline News
Saturday, June 30. 2012
Comments (0)
Board of commissioners chairman candidate Tom Crow accused incumbent Hunter Bicknell of trying to settle a lawsuit involving the Upper Oconee Basin Authority that would have cost the county millions of dollars.

Crow, who currently serves District 1 on the board of commissioners, brought the issue up during a political forum June 23 in Nicholson.

[Full Story »] 

OPINION: My mother and my nature

Posted by
Mark Beardsley
in Opinions
Saturday, June 30. 2012
Comments (0)
By Susan Harper

A well-meaning friend sent me an article last week about the importance of cockroaches in the grand scheme of things.

The article was illustrated by a full-color photo of a dead palmetto bug, on its back, legs in the air (the only decent position for a palmetto bug, in my view) and it began by saying that the photo would probably induce shudders in most of us. Well, duh. I tried telling myself that that hideous-looking dead thing was some female roach’s son, but all I heard back from my heart was that he clearly had one very ugly mama!

[Full Story »] 

State ourt judge candidates discuss sentencing

Posted by
Angela Gary
in Area Headline News
Saturday, June 30. 2012
Comments (0)
Incumbent State Court judge Rob Alexander says sentencing is tough in his court with those who fail probation going to jail. His opponent in the July 31 election, Jeff Perry, said there is a “revolving door” in the court and changes need to be made in sentencing.

The two candidates spoke at a political forum June 23 in Nicholson.
[Full Story »] 

Sheriff candidates speak at Nicholson forum

Posted by
Angela Gary
in Area Headline News
Friday, June 29. 2012
Comment (1)
Candidates for sheriff of Jackson County spoke at a political forum June 23 in Nicholson about why voters should elect them to replace long-time sheriff Stan Evans, who is retiring at the end of this year.

The forum was sponsored by the Northeast Georgia Tea Party and Conservative Citizens of Jackson County. [Full Story »] 

Jackson deputies arrest 30

Posted by
Staff Writer
in Public Safety
Friday, June 29. 2012
Comments (0)
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office charged 30 people last week, including the following:

•Benjamin Davis Brown, 23, 188 Magnolia Place, Commerce, DUI, failure to maintain lane.

•Christopher Ray Bunn, 30, 109 Drew Lane, Tunnel Hill, failure to appear original charge: burglary, criminal damage to property 2nd degree.
[Full Story »] 

Dr. Keith Ash dies

Posted by
Administrator
in Top Stories
Friday, June 29. 2012
Comments (49)
The Commerce Police Department is investigating the death of Dr. Keith Ash, who was found dead Wednesday night at his Commerce residence.

Ash, a former surgeon at what was then BJC Medical Center, operated Urgent Care at Banks Crossing.

"The scene was handled as a crime scene because of the unattended nature of the death," explained John Gaissert, Commerce chief of police. "The body was taken to the crime lab in Decatur for an autopsy, and the investigation into the cause of death is ongoing at this time."

The autopsy was completed Thursday, Gaissert said, but the results of the toxicology study could take weeks.

Gaissert stressed that the department "had no indications" that the death was from suicide. Treating the scene as a crime scene, he said, was done to "process and handle it to make sure we document the facts and circumstances" surrounding the death.

Ash came to Commerce in 2004 as general surgeon at BJC Medical Center. He resigned in 2008. The following day, four former patients filed a lawsuit alleging medical malpractice from surgical procedures.

OPINION: Cmmerce looking tired, worn out

Posted by
Mark Beardsley
in Opinions
Friday, June 29. 2012
Comment (1)
By Mark Beardsley

Imagine you are bringing someone into Commerce for the first time, someone who, for whatever reason, you want to like our city and to be impressed with it.
How do you enter town so as to create a good impression?

Unless you’re driving in from Jefferson, good luck. Every other entryway into town pretty much signals a lack of pride in the community’s appearance, and I’m not talking about shuttered businesses and vacant shopping centers, which are also a detriment entering Commerce and in its downtown. I’m talking about the general acceptance of litter and clutter and lack of maintenance. Commerce comes across as rundown and worn out.
[Full Story »] 

Music, fireworks on tap Saturday

Posted by
Mark Beardsley
in Top Stories
Thursday, June 28. 2012
Comments (0)
Area residents are invited to bring a picnic supper to Spencer Park in downtown Commerce Saturday night for an evening of music and fireworks — an early Independence Day celebration.

The Commerce Downtown Development Authority will get a head start on the observation of Independence Day with a show schedule that begins at 6 p.m.

Local comedian Dannette Flint will serve as emcee and introduce the various bands.

Shane Dalton will perform from 7 p.m. to 7:20, followed by Emily White at 7:36 and Hooch Holler — featuring Shane Dalton as lead singer — at 8:30.

Flint will entertain between sets, and the fireworks are scheduled to follow Hooch Holler at about 10 p.m.

“This is not a festival, it’s just a good family night out,” explained Denise McKay, executive director of the DDA. “We want people to bring a picnic dinner and enjoy a good family night out.”

There will be a face painter and a booth selling Icees.

The fireworks show, to be shot at around 10 p.m. from the J. Nolan Spear Jr. Public Safety Complex, will last about 15 minutes.

Clara Mae Hardy

Posted by
MainStreetNewsObits
in Obituaries
Thursday, June 28. 2012
Clara Mae Waddell Hardy, 98, passed away at Northridge Nursing Facility in Commerce. She was born March 11, 1914, in Jackson County. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lenard Hardy; her parents, Conard H. and Lorena Jones Waddell; and two brothers, Willie Lee and Otis Waddell. Survivors include a nephew, Robert and Shirly Lathan; sister, ... [Full Story »] 

Billy Poole (7/27/12)

Posted by
MainStreetNewsObits
in Obituaries
Thursday, June 28. 2012
HOMER – Billy Poole, 69, passed away on Wednesday, June 27, 2012, following a sudden illness. He was born in Banks County on March 25, 1943, the son of the late Jewell and Janie Parson Poole. He was a charter member of Charity Baptist Church currently serving as chairman of the deacons and was a Sunday school teacher for most of his adult ... [Full Story »] 
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