The Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce has narrowed its field of applicants to three for the position of president and has asked each to prepare a “strategic plan” for the organization.
Mark Valentine, chairman of the chamber’s board of directors, updated his board last Friday morning on the search status. After completing the first round of interviews to determine the finalists, Valentine said the search committee asked all three to create a one to two-page document that would include benchmark goals and strategies.
“None of them blinked,” Valentine said. “The reports are submitted and the committee is reviewing them.”
The next step, he said, will be to narrow the field to two finalists, both of whom will be asked to make an oral presentation based on their action plan.
The plan, said Valentine, “will give us a feel for their writing skills. The oral presentation will tell us what do they look like as a CEO and how they think on their feet.”
For the full story, see the May 22 issue of The Commerce News.
Area Headline News
Stowers reassigned at EJCHS; athletic director, football coaches resign
East Jackson Comprehensive High School principal Tim Stowers is being reassigned to an athletic leadership position within the system, according to Jackson County school leaders. Meanwhile, the school’s newly-hired football coach and athletic director both resigned this week, along with a couple other coaches who had been approved by the board of education to be hired, but who had not yet begun working at the school.
Stowers was hired earlier this year as principal by former superintendent John Green, who resigned May 16. System leaders said Friday that Stowers will take an unspecified position within the system’s athletic programs.
Officials said several s people have already applied for the coaches’ positions and that a search for a new principal would undertaken at some point. For now, however, an interim principal would likely be named for EJCHS until a full search can be conducted.
[Full Story »]
Stowers was hired earlier this year as principal by former superintendent John Green, who resigned May 16. System leaders said Friday that Stowers will take an unspecified position within the system’s athletic programs.
Officials said several s people have already applied for the coaches’ positions and that a search for a new principal would undertaken at some point. For now, however, an interim principal would likely be named for EJCHS until a full search can be conducted.
[Full Story »]
Updated: Green resigns, Howard named acting JC superintendent
Assistant superintendent April Howard was named interim superintendent of the Jackson County School System in a called meeting Monday night. Howard succeeds John Green, who resigned last Wednesday night.
The Jackson County Board of Education has another called meeting slated for today (Wednesday) at 7 p.m. at the media center at East Jackson Comprehensive High School. No agenda for that meeting has yet been released.
Monday night, the BOE made quick work of naming Howard to serve in the superintendent’s seat with a unanimous vote. The board has not announced any plans for hiring someone to fill the position on a long-term basis.
“I appreciate the opportunity to serve as interim,” Howard said. She also acknowledged the system’s difficult financial situation saying that the system has “significant challenges ahead of us.”
Green’s resignation last Wednesday came after several days of intense rumors that he planned to step down. Many expected Green to resign Monday, May 13, at the regular BOE meeting, but no action or discussion took place at that meeting regarding Green.
Wednesday’s called BOE meeting didn’t have an agenda about Green, but was rather called for the board to discuss and review a student disciplinary issue. But Green tendered his resignation and the board voted to accept it.
For the full story, see the May 22 issue of The Commerce News.
The Jackson County Board of Education has another called meeting slated for today (Wednesday) at 7 p.m. at the media center at East Jackson Comprehensive High School. No agenda for that meeting has yet been released.
Monday night, the BOE made quick work of naming Howard to serve in the superintendent’s seat with a unanimous vote. The board has not announced any plans for hiring someone to fill the position on a long-term basis.
“I appreciate the opportunity to serve as interim,” Howard said. She also acknowledged the system’s difficult financial situation saying that the system has “significant challenges ahead of us.”
Green’s resignation last Wednesday came after several days of intense rumors that he planned to step down. Many expected Green to resign Monday, May 13, at the regular BOE meeting, but no action or discussion took place at that meeting regarding Green.
Wednesday’s called BOE meeting didn’t have an agenda about Green, but was rather called for the board to discuss and review a student disciplinary issue. But Green tendered his resignation and the board voted to accept it.
For the full story, see the May 22 issue of The Commerce News.
Updated: Mystery building baffles Nicholson authority
The Nicholson Water Authority is trying to account for a building that appeared on the authority’s asset report in its yearly audit.
The asset report is part of the audit completed by Hawkins and McNair, Winder.
According to water authority member John Ring, the board at its April 9 meeting voted to instruct its auditor to remove the missing building from its audit, but how it got there is still a question.
Ring recently met with District Attorney Brad Smith in reference to the building and reported his findings back to the water authority on May 7. He said Smith’s view is that the board needs to discuss the issue with its attorney to determine whether there was an accounting discrepancy or to determine that the funds of the authority were properly handled.
For the full story, see the May 15 issue of The Commerce News.
The asset report is part of the audit completed by Hawkins and McNair, Winder.
According to water authority member John Ring, the board at its April 9 meeting voted to instruct its auditor to remove the missing building from its audit, but how it got there is still a question.
Ring recently met with District Attorney Brad Smith in reference to the building and reported his findings back to the water authority on May 7. He said Smith’s view is that the board needs to discuss the issue with its attorney to determine whether there was an accounting discrepancy or to determine that the funds of the authority were properly handled.
For the full story, see the May 15 issue of The Commerce News.
County schools fiscal issues worse than thought
It’s even worse than many thought.
Although Jackson County School System leaders have been talking for months about the system’s difficult finances, the latest draft budget shows an even worse picture than previously believed would exist by now.
In a draft budget presented to the Jackson County Board of Education last week, officials now project that the system will only have $1.5 million in reserves at the end of this fiscal year on June 30. That puts the system in virtual crisis mode to avoid a financial collapse in the upcoming fiscal year. The BOE is scheduled to adopt its FY 2014 budget next month.
The board discussed the budget at a work session meeting last week. Although the system had planned to reduce the number of furlough days next year, it now looks like more furlough days are needed. In addition, further staff cuts are now likely. The system recently adopted a consolidation plan to cut some system costs as well.
For the full story, see the May 15 issue of The Commerce News.
Although Jackson County School System leaders have been talking for months about the system’s difficult finances, the latest draft budget shows an even worse picture than previously believed would exist by now.
In a draft budget presented to the Jackson County Board of Education last week, officials now project that the system will only have $1.5 million in reserves at the end of this fiscal year on June 30. That puts the system in virtual crisis mode to avoid a financial collapse in the upcoming fiscal year. The BOE is scheduled to adopt its FY 2014 budget next month.
The board discussed the budget at a work session meeting last week. Although the system had planned to reduce the number of furlough days next year, it now looks like more furlough days are needed. In addition, further staff cuts are now likely. The system recently adopted a consolidation plan to cut some system costs as well.
For the full story, see the May 15 issue of The Commerce News.
Blood drive set Tuesday at First Baptist
The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive Tuesday, May 14, from noon to 6:00 p.m. in the family fellowship center of the First Baptist Church of Commerce.
The church is located at 1345 South Broad Street, Commerce.
The Red Cross provides blood services to local hospitals, including Northridge Medical Center and the Athens, Gainesville and Atlanta area hospitals.
A unit of blood can help treat up to three people. Blood donations are processed into three primary components, red blood cells to treat trauma, platelets for cancer patients and plasma for burn victims. Whole blood is also used in surgery.
Participants will receive a coupon for a free Chick fil-A sandwich at the Banks Crossing restaurant.
The church is located at 1345 South Broad Street, Commerce.
The Red Cross provides blood services to local hospitals, including Northridge Medical Center and the Athens, Gainesville and Atlanta area hospitals.
A unit of blood can help treat up to three people. Blood donations are processed into three primary components, red blood cells to treat trauma, platelets for cancer patients and plasma for burn victims. Whole blood is also used in surgery.
Participants will receive a coupon for a free Chick fil-A sandwich at the Banks Crossing restaurant.
Road grinding project set for Commerce
Driving through downtown Commerce will get a lot more challenging starting Monday, May 20.
That’s when crews under the Department of Transportation is scheduled to begin milling about four inches of pavement off Hwy. 98 in a project that will ultimately result in new pavement and striping. The work will continue through the downtown and out to Hwy. 334 near Ingles.
“They will be working at night, but it is going to cause major interruptions during the day because of the uneven pavement,” city manager Pete Pyrzenski told the Commerce City Council during its work session Monday night.
The last time the DOT milled down Broad and Elm streets it created an obstacle course of raised tops to water valves and sewer manholes that caused many a vehicle to need a new front end alignment.
Also on the topic of roads, the city manager reported that the DOT has responded to a request for yet another modification to the intersection of Hwy. 98, Broad and Elm streets and South Broad Street Extension that will allow drivers approaching from the east on Ila Road to turn left on South Broad Street Extension. The DOT’s recent change to the intersection made the left turn illegal.
Turning left onto South Elm Street will still be illegal.
That’s when crews under the Department of Transportation is scheduled to begin milling about four inches of pavement off Hwy. 98 in a project that will ultimately result in new pavement and striping. The work will continue through the downtown and out to Hwy. 334 near Ingles.
“They will be working at night, but it is going to cause major interruptions during the day because of the uneven pavement,” city manager Pete Pyrzenski told the Commerce City Council during its work session Monday night.
The last time the DOT milled down Broad and Elm streets it created an obstacle course of raised tops to water valves and sewer manholes that caused many a vehicle to need a new front end alignment.
Also on the topic of roads, the city manager reported that the DOT has responded to a request for yet another modification to the intersection of Hwy. 98, Broad and Elm streets and South Broad Street Extension that will allow drivers approaching from the east on Ila Road to turn left on South Broad Street Extension. The DOT’s recent change to the intersection made the left turn illegal.
Turning left onto South Elm Street will still be illegal.
County recycling event is Saturday
Keep Jackson County Beautiful’s spring recycling event will take place this Saturday, May 11, with an expanded list of items being accepted.
“We continue to take auto oil and batteries, oil and latex paint (six free, $1 per gallon over that), E-waste (televisions are $10 apiece), household batteries, fluorescent light bulbs (six free, after that $1 apiece), eyeglasses, good used clothing, in-date nonperishable food and aluminum cans,” reports Susan Trepagnier, director of Keep Jackson County Beautiful. “And please don’t forget we will be shredding documents that day. We’ve added hardback and softback books, videos, DVDs and CDs and kitchen oil and grease this year.” [Full Story »]
“We continue to take auto oil and batteries, oil and latex paint (six free, $1 per gallon over that), E-waste (televisions are $10 apiece), household batteries, fluorescent light bulbs (six free, after that $1 apiece), eyeglasses, good used clothing, in-date nonperishable food and aluminum cans,” reports Susan Trepagnier, director of Keep Jackson County Beautiful. “And please don’t forget we will be shredding documents that day. We’ve added hardback and softback books, videos, DVDs and CDs and kitchen oil and grease this year.” [Full Story »]
Nicholson Daisy Festival is this weekend
The annual Nicholson Daisy Festival will be held this weekend with a parade, booths and entertainment planned.
The festival is held on the city grounds where the community center and City Hall are located.
The festival will kick off at 3 p.m. on Friday when the booths open. A cakewalk, comedian and karaoke are all on tap Friday evening.
The festival opens at 9 a.m. on Saturday. The parade will be at 10 a.m. with Margaret Ward as grand marshal.
On Sunday, the festival will open at 1 p.m. with gospel music planned throughout the afternoon. Among those to perform are The Dyer Family, I Am, Anointed by Faith and Glory Road.
The festival is held on the city grounds where the community center and City Hall are located.
The festival will kick off at 3 p.m. on Friday when the booths open. A cakewalk, comedian and karaoke are all on tap Friday evening.
The festival opens at 9 a.m. on Saturday. The parade will be at 10 a.m. with Margaret Ward as grand marshal.
On Sunday, the festival will open at 1 p.m. with gospel music planned throughout the afternoon. Among those to perform are The Dyer Family, I Am, Anointed by Faith and Glory Road.
Rabies clinics under way
Jackson County will continue its spring offensive against rabies through Saturday in a series of 18 rabies vaccination clinics held at 14 locations throughout the county.
The incidence of rabies, which is always fatal, has increased in Jackson and surrounding counties over the years, and health officials stress that the first line of defense in protecting people from the disease is to get their dogs and cats inoculated.
State law also requires all dogs and cats three months old or older to have a current rabies vaccine.
[Full Story »]
The incidence of rabies, which is always fatal, has increased in Jackson and surrounding counties over the years, and health officials stress that the first line of defense in protecting people from the disease is to get their dogs and cats inoculated.
State law also requires all dogs and cats three months old or older to have a current rabies vaccine.
[Full Story »]
Recent Comments