2008: A forward looking year in spite of itself

Commentary: By Judy Salter, Editor

This issue of The Hartwell Sun is dedicated to a look back at 2008 - admittedly not a very good year. The stories on this page and the photos on page 3A chronicle a bit of the past year. The outlook for 2009 is a bit better. With hard work and a little rain, things are looking up.

Even though the unemployment rate here is 10.3, the announcement of yet another small industry coming into the county is something Hart County officials see as very good news.

Within the last three years, a number of smaller, more diversified industries have come into the county.

They are environmentally clean, with jobs requiring varying degrees of skill sets.

Hart county's situation is analogous to "Field of Dreams." By making Hart County inviting to these kinds of industries, they will come.

According to Dwayne Dye, Hart County economic development director, industries look for areas with certain qualities for new plants.

Aside from the obvious: access to transportation, plenty of land on which to build and a ready-made, trained and Work Ready certified job force, all of which Hart County has, they look for quality.

That comes in the form of good schools, engaged and active communities with access to the arts, festivals, sports events and other group events.

Hart County is fortunate to have a lake which, when it is full, is a recreational outlet for employees and helps keep local businesses afloat.

The steps the county has made to create a better economy are baby steps, but they are in a positive direction and should help lower the unemployment rate as the national economic climate changes. Nothing happens overnight, as county officials are quick to say.

Hart County's position is much like that of the tortoise in the fairy tail. Slow and steady wins the race. Other counties, which like Hart have no zoning ordinances, accept whatever comes in and could be the losers. Hart's deliberate pace with careful, intelligent leadership, should result in more prosperous years to come.

Following are stories about issues in 2008.

County faces problems head on

By Megan E. Davis

Staff writer

Hart County faced budget constraints and began work on several projects in 2008.

Extending water

infrastructure

The Hart County Water and Sewer Utility Authority voted Jan. 14 to contract with an outside company to create a master plan for extending water lines throughout the county, based on cost and population projections.

The water authority received final copies of the master plan in November.

The BOC agreed Nov. 25 to use about $700,000 in SPLOST III money to extend water lines down Old Highway 29.

Revaluation

The Board of Assessors continued to convert the county's parcel data onto a new Geographic Information System as the year began.

New maps were developed after aerial photographs of the county were taken in February.

The BOC voted July 24 to approve a contract for a county-wide revaluation of real property.

Work on the revaluation by an outside company, GMASS, began in September.

Government campus

The county broke ground on a new sheriff's and tax office buildings at 890 Vickery St. Jan. 8.

A Georgia Department of Corrections prison crew committed to providing labor to build the office buildings was pulled off the job Sept. 24.

The tax office building was sealed and work on the sheriff's office was contracted out. The county planned to use labor by Whitworth Detention Center inmates where possible.

Animal Shelter

More than 50 residents asking for funding for an animal shelter filled the BOC meeting room Jan. 8. After listening to a proposal for a building by Hart County Animal Shelter Inc., the board voted to table the issue.

The BOC voted May 27 to build an animal shelter in Hart County. The vote passed 3-2, with Commissioners Joey Dorsey and Ken Brown voting against it.

In November, Nolan Carter offered to renovate and lease the old Wal-Mart building on Anderson highway to serve as an animal shelter for the county. The BOC voted Nov. 11 to hold a meeting with the city of Hartwell to discuss the proposal. A meeting had not been scheduled as of Dec. 30.

Megaramp

The board signed a contract March 25 for construction of a megaramp at Gum Branch, as part of Gov. Sonny Perdue's Go Fish initiative.

Georgia Department of Natural Resources representative Anthony Rabern said in December the underwater portion of the megaramp would begin "as soon as possible."

Tight budget

Facing budget woes, the BOC voted July 15 to order all departments to cut their 2009 budgets by 5 percent.

The Hart County Senior Center barely escaped the chopping block when the BOC voted Sept. 22 not to fund the center in 2009, but agreed to fund the center with a 5 percent cut Sept. 23.

After several months of work sessions to develop a 2009 budget, the BOC voted in September not to increase their property tax rate in 2009.

megandavis@hartcom.net

Drought sucks water out of Lake Hartwell

By Megan E. Davis

Staff writer

Residents of Hart County continued to struggle under a drought in 2008.

Watering restrictions

The Hart County Water Authority voted not to relax restrictions on outdoor watering, though the EPD announced Feb. 11 that local water authorities under a complete outdoor water ban could choose to allow limited watering.

Hart County residents received the OK to water outside one day a week in August.

The Georgia Department of Resources began allowing city residents to water three days a week in June.

Low Lake Levels

The Board of Commissioners voted March 25 to contribute $22,000 to a study of the economic impact of Lake Hartwell on surrounding communities.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Park Ranger Sandy Campbell made a presentation on the effects of the drought on Lake Hartwell before a crowd of more than 220 residents at Cateechee Aug. 22.

Experts predictions

Despite recent rainfalls, state climatologist David Stooksbury predicted in April that Hart County had a dry summer coming up.

Both U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson Billy Birdwell and assistant state climatologist Pam Knox predicted in June a hot and dry summer was on the way and lower lake levels than the previous summer.

Local farmers were seeing lower yields in October as the county received more rainfall than the previous year, but not enough to break the drought.

Lake Hartwell broke a record low Oct. 21. The previous record was 642.4 feet, reached Dec. 24, 1981.

Lake Hartwell rose about two feet after rains in December, leaving it about 640 feet under full pool, 660 feet. William Schmitz, a climatologist with the Southeast Regional Climate Center, said above average rainfall will be needed for the lake to recover.

megandavis@hartcom.net

Crime, wrecks keep law enforcement officers busy

By Megan E. Davis

Staff writer

Accidents and crime kept both the Hart County Sheriff's Office and Hartwell Police Department busy in 2008.

Serious accidents

Hart County saw more traffic deaths in January 2008 than all of 2007, with three total.

Tracy Beucher, 39, of 37 Sanders Cove was airlifted to Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta after sustaining burns over 65 percent of her body in a house fire Feb. 9.

Sheriff's deputies found Donald Boswell, 66, of Madison County, dead April 9 after he had been missing for three days. Boswell, employed by Orkin, was found under a crawl space of a house he was inspecting.

Darla Kupfer, 57, of 34 New Hope Road, was killed in a motor scooter accident when she traveled off Mt. Olivet Road into some trees April 23.

Timothy Michael Wilson Jr., 23, of Comer, drowned in Lake Hartwell while attending a family event at Watsadler Campground June 13.

Daniel Adams McCeuan, 39, of Loganville, suffered a broken leg and possible internal injuries in a motorcycle accident at the intersection of Highway 29 S. and Bethany Bowersville Highway July 27.

Craig Fineza, 44, of 306 Attice Point, died of a gunshot wound to the head Sept. 13. Sheriff Mike Cleveland said the shooting occurred when an argument between Craig and his father, Joe, turned violent.

A bystander found the body of Chris Wallace, 28, of 2011 Coldwater Road, Elberton, Oct. 24, in a swampy, highly vegetated about 60 yards from his residence. Wallace was a teacher at Hart County Academy, the school system's alternative school.

Two murders

Sheriff's deputies found Tracy Sloan of 243 Kelley Road beaten to death in a bedroom she shared with her boyfriend, Jason Powell Kelly, Feb. 29. Kelley was arrested and charged with murder and aggravated assault.

Gabriel Brown, 32, of Toccoa, died shortly after he was transported to Anderson County Medical Center after being shot twice in the chest with a shotgun in the Cokesbury community Aug. 11. Brandon Gaines, 23, of 908 Ernest Oliver Drive, was arrested and charged with murder and aggravated assault after the shooting.

Sheriff's deputies arrested and charged Kyreecus Jamarco Alexander, 19, of 95 Pearson Drive, and Yukiko Fernando Montgomery, 25, of 24 Circle Drive, with arson in the first degree in September after a fire consumed the mobile home where Gaines' lived before he was arrested.

Crimes resulted

in arrests

Sheriff's deputies arrested Richard "Duck" Teasley, considered one of the area's biggest cocaine dealers, April 12. Teasley was found carrying 1 kilo of cocaine, worth about $40,000.

After eluding officers in a high speed chase through three counties May 3, law enforcement agencies worked together to track down Christopher Davis of Anderson, S.C.

Sheriff's deputies arrested Jesse Wallace, 21, of 325 Sourwood Lane, after probation officers found marijuana plants and a baby alligator in his residence May 9.

Sheriff's Deputies arrested Damon Greggory, 38, of 8686 Schaefer St., Bowersville, suspected of shooting another man and operating a marijuana grow lab in his house.

Hartwell Police officers arrested Wade Lamar Elgin and William Reece Hancock after a fight broke out on S. Forest Avenue, near the Pre-Fourth's Dancing on Depot. Earl Hancock received treatment at Hart County Hospital after receiving an inch-long cut on his calf.

Sheriff's deputies arrested Dwight Slater Jr., 36, of 121 Shady Hills Road, after learning he taught his children to make explosives with CO2 cartridges and gunpowder.

Hartwell Police Officers arrested Bobby Joe Eades, 49, of 83 Cherry Lane, after an armed robbery at Bell's Grocery Store Aug. 13.

Hartwell Police officers arrested Phillip Daniel Massey, 28, of 466 Leard St. Lot 26, after an armed robbery at Jimbo's Store Oct. 10.

Hartwell Police Officers arrested Terrayvious Mykal Tate, 19, of 358 Ernest Oliver Drive, and two juveniles, Nov. 20 after an armed robbery at Jimbo's.

Nathan Ricks, 37, was arrested after flipping his vehicle and fleeing the scene of an accident on Highway 29 Nov. 20.

megandavis@hartcom.net

City of Hartwell takes steps toward change

By Antonia Robinson

Staff writer

The City of Hartwell tackled several major issues throughout the year.

Liquor-by-the-drink

Overturned vetoes and lengthy discussion about liquor-by-the-drink dominated the beginning of the year.

The city council approved the liquor by the drink ordinance Jan. 7, but Mayor Matt Beasley signed a veto Jan. 15.

He cited three reasons for the veto: the ordinance was not tough enough, would prohibit employing people under 18 and contained what he said was an unrecognized accounting term.

The Council met Jan. 17 and overturned the mayor's veto 5-1 with Councilman David Little dissenting.

The council tweaked the ordinance in subsequent meetings to address issues such as employing minors, using the term "annual gross sales" and including beer and wine in sales calculations for licensees.

Mi Jalisco Mexican Restaurant was the first business approved for a liquor by the drink license April 7.

Archway

The council joined the University of Georgia Archway Partnership Program bandwagon April 7. Council members voted 5-1, with Councilman Jim Evans dissenting, to contribute $12,000 annually to the program.

Evans said he voted against only because he wanted to know more about the program.

Charles Rice, Hart County extension coordinator, and Mel Garber, UGA's Archway Project director presented more information to the council May 5.

The Archway Project held a listening session to identify Hart County's priority issues May 20.

Audit

The city was issued a clean opinion on its comprehensive audit report June 2.

The audit, prepared by Williamson & Co. CPA, focused on the city for its fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2007.

The city was in compliance with state laws. The audit also showed that Hartwell has a strong balance sheet and minimal debts.

Rome Neighborhood Revitalization Project

The Rome Neighborhood Revitalization Project came under fire from residents Aug. 4 and 5. The city was awarded a $472,775 Community Development Block Grant for the project last year.

The sidewalk is close to the street, and residents said that, along with the curbing, narrowed the streets even more.

Council members and some citizens reviewed the plans for the project and came to agreement on improvements for each street that would widen the roads and adhere to the original outline.

However, the changes significantly increased the project's cost. The original contract price was $597,533.36, but the additions brought a net increase of $122,760.25 bringing the total to $720,313,61.

The council considered a change order for the Rome Neighborhood CDBG project Sept. 2.

Elements of the change order that dealt with street widening were eliminated.

Residents were still concerned about the work.

The council unanimously voted Oct. 6 to form a citizens' group to meet with the city and have a representative attend the next BOC meeting to present a proposal for help with the project.

Budget

The council created a balanced budget despite the downward economy.

The budget is set at $12,304,835, which is $448,395 more than last year.

It maintained its tax rate of 9.6 mills for the 2009 fiscal year.

antoniarobinson@hartcom.net

Business world rocked by economic downturn

By Antonia Robinson

Staff writer

Because of the drought and the national economic downturn, Hart County lost several businesses; but many more also came into the area. The county took steps to counter the trend.

Mobile Lab

The mobile computer lab for the Northeast Georgia Regional Development Center came to Hart County several times throughout the year.

It offers remediation training for the Work Ready certificate as well as administer an electronic version of the assessment

The RDC, through the Workforce Investment Board and the Workforce Development Division, converted motor coaches into mobile computer learning labs.

Inside the lab are 10 student workstations, an administrator control station and a career advisor station. Software in the lab includes Georgia Graduation Test preparation and remediation, typing tutorial and resume programs.

Fabritex

Representatives from Fabritex Inc., Georgia Quick Start and Athens Technical College met at The Hart County Chamber of Commerce to sign a partnership agreement for training Feb. 28.

Fabritex specializes in tubing and wiring. The company expanded operations and was hiring 20 new employees. The partnerships with Athens Tech and Georgia Quick Start helped train the employees.

Fabritex was recognized at the Georgia 2008 Manufacturer of the Year Awards luncheon in April.

The award is given to companies that exhibit a high degree of corporate responsibility, economic impact on Georgia and workforce excellence, as part of Manufacturing Appreciation Week.

Fenner Dunlop

Fenner Dunlop signed a training partnership agreement with Georgia Quick Start and Athens Technical College June 5. Fenner Dunlop Americas Inc. is a manufacturer of industrial products made with reinforced polymers, such as conveyor belts.

The company opened a 300,000-square-foot man-ufacturing plant at Gateway Industrial Park.

Fenner Dunlop first worked with Quick Start when it relocated to Atlanta. Quick Start was to train 40 employees in treating the industrial fabric.

Fenner Dunlop donated a brand new loom to Athens Tech last year. In turn, the college has been training potential employes in how to use the equipment. The loom is used to weave materials into conveyor belts.

The training is done at Hart Academy in a converted classroom.

CD Controls

The Hart County Industrial Building Authority held a ground breaking ceremony for CD Controls LLC Aug. 4.

CD Controls is a commercial refrigeration and electrical contracting company, along with electrical manufacturing.

A 4-year-old industry, it was looking for a permanent home in a location where it could expand its electrical manufacturing component.

CD Controls will bring in 25 jobs with the potential for a total of 50 in the future. The business is based in electronics and would help diversify the types of industries in the county.

Juniper Court

Juniper Court broke ground Oct. 23 for its senior citizens apartment complex.

Completion is expected in 2009 for the complex, which will be on Nancy Drive. It will rent the 52 apartments to people 55 and over.

Cheryl Murphy is property manager.

Ritz

A German-based industry announced it will locate its newest plant in Hart County Dec. 14.

Ritz Instrument Transformers announced it will invest $3 million in a plant in Hart County, initially creating 50 jobs.

The new facility will be built at the I-85 Gateway II location, the newly acquired property near Gateway Industrial Park. An aggressive time line has been set to have the factory online by June 27, 2009.

Ritz will be a Work Ready industry, hiring only employees who are Work Ready certified.

Ritz is actually returning to Georgia. It formerly owned a plant in Waynesboro that made high voltage transformers. The Hart County plant will focus on medium and low voltage products.

The facility will also serve as North American corporate and sales headquarters.

The manufacturing processes will include transformer winding, assembly, molding and electrical testing, creating job opportunities for employees of various skill sets. Ritz hopes to develop a pool of domestic suppliers for its component needs.

The company was founded in 1945 by Dr. Hans Ritz. The company will start with 50 jobs.

Business round up

Several businesses closed in the area including Hartwell Ford, Sears, Sonic, S&W Diner, Fred's, Friedman's Jewelers and Hibbett. However, more than 20 businesses also opened this year.

antoniarobinson@hartcom.net

Education survives change

By Antonia Robinson

Staff writer

The Hart County Board of Education was not without its share of turmoil in 2008.

School Calendar

The Board of Education adopted a new school calendar.

It included four week-long breaks and one two-week break for the Christmas holidays.

The calendar was created by the 2007-2008 Teachers of the Year, along with Superintendent of Schools David Hicks and then Assistant Superintendent of Instruction Robert Costley.

The BOE voted 4-1, with Board Member Gerald Herring dissenting, to accept the calendar at a Jan. 28 called meeting.

Integrators

The BOE considered the possibility of reducing the ratio of integrators to technicians.

Integrators are in each of the schools, except Hart Academy. Three technicians provide technology troubleshooting in the six schools and at the central office.

Hicks proposed the system retain two integrators, one each at the elementary and secondary level, and add more technicians as needed, during the Jan. 13 meeting.

Ultimately, the board voted 3-2, with Gwen Eppinger, Gerald Herring and Ronny Weaver voting to maintain technology integrators in each school Jan. 28.

Fine Arts Center

The Lonnie Burns Fine Arts Center had its completion date pushed back several times.

The center finally opened May 24 with a dedication ceremony.

The center houses the fine arts program for the high school, which include art, drama, chorus and band.

The BOE now hosts meetings in the center.

Curriculum changes

The 2008-2009 Hart County freshman class is taking mathematics I or accelerated mathematics I instead of algebra and geometry.

Additional math classes will be added each year.

The Georgia Performance Standards math curriculum will be completely rolled out in the high school by the 2011-2012 school year.

Pre-K

A pre-kindergarten program was implemented in the Hart County School System for the 2008-2009 year.

The program is housed at Hartwell Elementary School.

Basic skills taught in kindergarten, such as colors, tying shoes or even the alphabet, are a part of the Pre-K curriculum.

New assistant superintendent

The Habersham County Board of Education selected Costley as its superintendent March 31.

Costley started the new position July 1.

Stan Davis was named as Hart County's assistant superintendent of instruction June 6.

Davis was principal for the 2007-2008 school year at Bowdon High School in Carroll County. He was assistant principal at the school from 2004-2006.

SPLOST

A Special Local Option Sales Tax came up for a vote and passed July 15.

The system compiled a two-tier list of projects based on how to allocate the money.

Tier I lists projects the system anticipates being able to do, and Tier II lists those it would like to do if money exceeds expectations.

The top priority for Tier I is bond indebtedness. The school system still must pay off $14,000,000 in bonds.

Budget

The Board of Education officially adopted its 2008-2009 fiscal year budget July 3.

The BOE voted 2-1 to adopt the budget with Ronny Weaver opposing. Gerald Herring and Charles Bailey were absent from the vote.

Total revenue and expenditures for the year were anticipated at $30,972,198.

A tax increase was proposed but the BOE voted 3 to 1, with Gwen Eppinger, against to not support Superintendent David Hicks' recommendation for a 1.6 tax millage increase Sept. 12.

Hicks and his staff had to balance the budget at the current millage rate of 13.73.

The BOE had to cut $1.6 million to keep the millage rate the same.

The new budget was approved 3-1 Oct. 2. Eppinger voted against it.

The plan included a reduction in staffing.

No teachers or administrators lost their jobs, but twelve non-certified positions were cut.

District 5

Board Member Gerald Herring passed away Aug. 25. He was appointed to the BOE district 5 seat to replace Sammy Beggs, who died Jan. 9, 2007.

The Hart County Board of Education appointed Angie McGee to district 5 at a special called meeting Nov. 6.

McGee was elected to the office Nov. 4, and will serve the remainder of Herring's term before officially starting hers in 2009.

Grad rate

Hart County High School's 2007-2008 graduation rate rose to 79.6 percent, compared to 69.4 percent in 2006-2007.

The system also officially won the graduation cup which was awarded Oct. 31.

Franklin County challenged Hart County to the graduation cup at the school's last meeting Oct. 12, 2007.

Franklin County's graduation rate was 58.9 percent in 2007 and 67.7 percent for 2008.

Writing test

The number of students passing the Georgia High School Graduation Test writing assessment increased for fall 2008, Davis announced at the Nov. 10 meeting.

All test takers, including first-time juniors and seniors retaking it, increased from 78 percent in fall 2007 to 88 percent for fall 2008.

First-time test takers, who are juniors, rose from 79 percent to 90 percent.

antoniarobinson@hartcom.net