The Commerce office of The Commerce News is closing and production will move to MainStreet Newspapers’ home office in Jefferson.
The News office will close in Commerce June 1. Over the next two weeks, the office will be open intermittently. A door slot will remain available for people to drop off items, said Mike Buffington, co-publisher of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
“The time has come when the overhead costs of maintaining two separate offices so close together no longer makes economic sense,” Buffington said. “In addition, most of our customer needs are now met through our online systems. Both subscriptions and classified ads are largely done online by most of our customers. Wedding, church and other community announcements are usually emailed to us now.”
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Entries by Mike Buffington
Ginn backs off secrecy bill as drawn; says changes needed
Sen. Frank Ginn (District 47) said Friday afternoon that after re-reading SB159 — legislation that would slam the door on any public meetings or records related to an "economic development project" — he would not support the current version of the proposed bill.
Sen. Ginn said that the bill as written is too broad and needs to be amended.
His main concern with economic development projects, he said, was that since the current law doesn't allow a government group to meet together with company representatives, those representatives tend to meet one-on-one with officials, often manipulating them into agreeing to a deal that may not be good.
"The dynamics of the group are different," he said.
Still, Sen. Ginn said the bill as written was not good and that he won't support the current version. He has contacted the main sponsor of the legislation to see about getting some changes made, he said.
Sen. Ginn said that the bill as written is too broad and needs to be amended.
His main concern with economic development projects, he said, was that since the current law doesn't allow a government group to meet together with company representatives, those representatives tend to meet one-on-one with officials, often manipulating them into agreeing to a deal that may not be good.
"The dynamics of the group are different," he said.
Still, Sen. Ginn said the bill as written was not good and that he won't support the current version. He has contacted the main sponsor of the legislation to see about getting some changes made, he said.
Ginn co-signs development secrecy bill
Sen. Frank Ginn is on of the co-signers on a bill that would close all records and meetings of local governments when discussing an “economic development project.”
SB159 was introduced this week. If passed, the bill would allow local governments to negotiate in secret with individuals or companies, giving tax breaks or making other commitments outside public oversight. It would also allow chambers of commerce and economic development councils that received a third of their funding from government to also deal in secret with such projects. [Full Story »]
SB159 was introduced this week. If passed, the bill would allow local governments to negotiate in secret with individuals or companies, giving tax breaks or making other commitments outside public oversight. It would also allow chambers of commerce and economic development councils that received a third of their funding from government to also deal in secret with such projects. [Full Story »]
CB&T fails; FDIC sells assets to SCBT
One of Northeast Georgia’s best-known community banks failed Friday, Jan. 29. Community Bank & Trust was taken over by state and federal regulators and the bank’s assets sold to SCBT, N.A. of Orangeburg, SC.
CB&T is based in Cornelia, GA, and has 36 branches, many in Northeast Georgia, including Jackson and Barrow counties. The firm pioneered supermarket banking in the area. It had assets of over $1.2 billion.
Officials said the bank would continue to operate under the CB&T name, but depositors would automatically become depositors of SCBT.
“This evening and over the weekend, depositors of Community Bank and Trust can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards,” the FDIC said in a news release. “Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual.”
Officials said the bank’s failure would cost the Deposit Insurance Fund some $354.5 million.
The bank’s demise comes amid continuing real estate and foreclosure problems in the area. Although it is the largest local bank failure to date, most had expected the FDIC action to happen. The bank had been under a scathing cease and desist order since last summer and its bank rating status had fallen to the lowest level in recent months.
Customers who have questions about Friday’s transaction can call the FDIC toll-free at 1-800-430-7974. The phone number will be operational Friday evening until 9:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time (EST); on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., EST; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., EST; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., EST. Interested parties also can visit the FDIC's Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/cbt-cornelia.html
CB&T is based in Cornelia, GA, and has 36 branches, many in Northeast Georgia, including Jackson and Barrow counties. The firm pioneered supermarket banking in the area. It had assets of over $1.2 billion.
Officials said the bank would continue to operate under the CB&T name, but depositors would automatically become depositors of SCBT.
“This evening and over the weekend, depositors of Community Bank and Trust can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards,” the FDIC said in a news release. “Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual.”
Officials said the bank’s failure would cost the Deposit Insurance Fund some $354.5 million.
The bank’s demise comes amid continuing real estate and foreclosure problems in the area. Although it is the largest local bank failure to date, most had expected the FDIC action to happen. The bank had been under a scathing cease and desist order since last summer and its bank rating status had fallen to the lowest level in recent months.
Customers who have questions about Friday’s transaction can call the FDIC toll-free at 1-800-430-7974. The phone number will be operational Friday evening until 9:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time (EST); on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., EST; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., EST; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., EST. Interested parties also can visit the FDIC's Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/cbt-cornelia.html
Freedom Bank seized by FDIC; deposits acquired by Northeast Georgia Bank
Freedom Bank of Georgia based in Commerce with branches in Jefferson, Winder and Homer became the 17th bank taken over so far in 2009 by the FDIC. Freedom Bank was taken over Friday evening at 6 p.m. by state and federal banking officials. All deposits of the bank were acquired by Northeast Georgia Bank of Lavonia and all branches will reopen Monday under that bank's name.
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Commission races in election spotlight
When the Republican Primary is over Tuesday night, Jackson County will have selected three county commissioners, a district attorney and a sheriff.
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