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The Banks County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man on drug charges following un undercover drug operation.
On Monday, July 22, officers from the Banks County Sheriff’s Office conducted an undercover drug operation in the Banks Crossing area.
“Officers attempted to perform a traffic stop on the alleged drug dealer’s vehicle when the driver fled south on I-85,” said Banks County Chief Deputy Shawn Wilson. “Officers trained in the Pursuit Intervention Technique stopped the vehicle.”
Johnny Cue Holliday, 22, fled the area but was later apprehended in Madison County. He is facing charges of sale of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, theft by receiving a stolen vehicle, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of marijuana, several traffic violations and outstanding warrants from other areas within the region, Wilson stated.
Hwy. 51 South shut down early Thurs. morning
A serious wreck on Highway 51 South in Banks County early Thursday morning caused the road to be shut down for over three hours.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash that happened around 6:30 a.m. near Hickory Flat Road involving a mail truck and a Mazda Protégé 5.
The male ejected from the Mazda was critically injured and was transported by air ambulance to a hospital for treatment.
The male driver of the mail truck, who was reportedly trapped in the truck for a time, was transported for treatment by ground ambulance.
The Georgia State Patrol’s Accident Reconstruction Team is handling the investigation.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash that happened around 6:30 a.m. near Hickory Flat Road involving a mail truck and a Mazda Protégé 5.
The male ejected from the Mazda was critically injured and was transported by air ambulance to a hospital for treatment.
The male driver of the mail truck, who was reportedly trapped in the truck for a time, was transported for treatment by ground ambulance.
The Georgia State Patrol’s Accident Reconstruction Team is handling the investigation.
Car rental company to locate at Banks Crossing
A car rental business will be locating at the Shoppes at Banks Crossing retail center following action by the Banks County Board of commissioners at the July 9 meeting.
The BOC approved a request for a conditional use permit for Enterprise Car Rental to locate in the shopping center. The property is zoned C-2 (general commercial). The business office will locate in a store front and the vehicles will be located at the rear of the building.
In another zoning request, the BOC approved a request from Myron Ingram for a reduced setback at an existing chicken house at 605 Fort Lamar Road.
In other business at the July 9 meeting, the BOC:
•agreed to a request to abandon Mountain View Lane, Baldwin.
•heard a report from Allison Segrest, community specialist with the Georgia Forestry Commission, on the “forest action plan,” a five-year plan that includes information on current forest conditions, threats and opportunities.
•approved a back up service agreement with Data Survival Inc.
•approved a $39,500 prison detail contract with the Georgia Department of Corrections.
•approved a 2013 budget amendment to show that the revenues and expenditures both total $11.87 million.
•discussed the next fiscal year budget and agreed to move forward with holding public hearings and approving the proposed $11.9 million budget.
•accepted Chandler Crossing into the county road maintenance system.
•took no action on a request for a new medical box for ambulance service. Commissioner Charles Turk questioned why no additional information on the request was provided. “I don’t see any specs on boxes or drawings or detailed information,” Turk said. “This tells me absolutely nothing. There should be all kinds of specifications. This tells me nothing. We don’t know what kind of box we are getting.”
The BOC approved a request for a conditional use permit for Enterprise Car Rental to locate in the shopping center. The property is zoned C-2 (general commercial). The business office will locate in a store front and the vehicles will be located at the rear of the building.
In another zoning request, the BOC approved a request from Myron Ingram for a reduced setback at an existing chicken house at 605 Fort Lamar Road.
In other business at the July 9 meeting, the BOC:
•agreed to a request to abandon Mountain View Lane, Baldwin.
•heard a report from Allison Segrest, community specialist with the Georgia Forestry Commission, on the “forest action plan,” a five-year plan that includes information on current forest conditions, threats and opportunities.
•approved a back up service agreement with Data Survival Inc.
•approved a $39,500 prison detail contract with the Georgia Department of Corrections.
•approved a 2013 budget amendment to show that the revenues and expenditures both total $11.87 million.
•discussed the next fiscal year budget and agreed to move forward with holding public hearings and approving the proposed $11.9 million budget.
•accepted Chandler Crossing into the county road maintenance system.
•took no action on a request for a new medical box for ambulance service. Commissioner Charles Turk questioned why no additional information on the request was provided. “I don’t see any specs on boxes or drawings or detailed information,” Turk said. “This tells me absolutely nothing. There should be all kinds of specifications. This tells me nothing. We don’t know what kind of box we are getting.”
Lula looks at changes to sewer ordinance
The Lula City Council is considering amendments to various city ordinances, including the sewer use ordinance. The proposed changes were discussed at a work session Monday night and will be on the agenda for a vote at the regular council meeting, set for 7 p.m. on Monday, July 15, at city hall.
City staff is recommending some definitions be added to the current ordinance, in addition to regulations requiring any customer out of compliance with the regulations be charged one and a half times the monthly fee for three months for the first violation and two times the average monthly fee for three months for the second violation. For the third violation, the customer would be charged three times the monthly fee for three months and service will be cancelled until the violation is corrected.
Other proposed amendments include changes to the zoning ordinance to address the duration of yard sales. The current regulations define the frequency of yard sales to limit property owners to no more than five such yard sales in a calendar year, but does not address the duration of yard sales. Another ordinance amendment under consideration will address how fats, oils and grease are disposed of by various city businesses.
These proposed ordinance changes will be on the agenda for a vote at the July 15 council meeting.
City staff is recommending some definitions be added to the current ordinance, in addition to regulations requiring any customer out of compliance with the regulations be charged one and a half times the monthly fee for three months for the first violation and two times the average monthly fee for three months for the second violation. For the third violation, the customer would be charged three times the monthly fee for three months and service will be cancelled until the violation is corrected.
Other proposed amendments include changes to the zoning ordinance to address the duration of yard sales. The current regulations define the frequency of yard sales to limit property owners to no more than five such yard sales in a calendar year, but does not address the duration of yard sales. Another ordinance amendment under consideration will address how fats, oils and grease are disposed of by various city businesses.
These proposed ordinance changes will be on the agenda for a vote at the July 15 council meeting.
Funding sources cause contention among commissioners
Budget talks continued at a June 25 meeting of the Banks County Board of Commissioners that included a debate over funding sources.
Funding in the 2013-14 budget for some needed items was the topic of discussion that caused contention between the commissioners. The commissioners disagreed on purchasing some of the items out of the capital account instead of including it in the proposed budget.
The budget is made up of current year’s revenue collections – including property taxes, and the capital fund is money that has been or will be carried over from the previous year or years to be used for county purposes.
One item discussed by the commissioners that caused disagreement on how it would be funded, was computer hardware and software upgrades. [Full Story »]
Funding in the 2013-14 budget for some needed items was the topic of discussion that caused contention between the commissioners. The commissioners disagreed on purchasing some of the items out of the capital account instead of including it in the proposed budget.
The budget is made up of current year’s revenue collections – including property taxes, and the capital fund is money that has been or will be carried over from the previous year or years to be used for county purposes.
One item discussed by the commissioners that caused disagreement on how it would be funded, was computer hardware and software upgrades. [Full Story »]
Budget issues continue to plague Banks County BOC
At the monthly meeting on June 11, the Banks County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution that will allow the county government to continue operating as Banks County until Sept. 30, 2013, or until the commissioners approve the 2013-2014 budget, whichever comes first.
The resolution gives the county time to get the 2013-14 budget balanced and approved.
The commissioners heard several requests, during Tuesday’s meeting, for additional funds for 2013-14.
One of the requests came from Superior Court Judge Currie Mingledorff. Mingledorff told the commissioners there again is a need for a trial court administrator for the judicial circuit that includes Banks, Barrow and Jackson counties, to coordinate scheduling, handle budget management and more. [Full Story »]
The resolution gives the county time to get the 2013-14 budget balanced and approved.
The commissioners heard several requests, during Tuesday’s meeting, for additional funds for 2013-14.
One of the requests came from Superior Court Judge Currie Mingledorff. Mingledorff told the commissioners there again is a need for a trial court administrator for the judicial circuit that includes Banks, Barrow and Jackson counties, to coordinate scheduling, handle budget management and more. [Full Story »]
Officers confiscate suspected meth
One person was taken into custody on Wednesday and officers with the Banks County Sheriff’s Office confiscated approximately 2.2 lbs. of suspected methamphetamine during a drug operation conducted Wednesday afternoon.
The operation, conducted around 3 p.m., started at a restaurant in the Banks Crossing area and moved to the area between Pritchett Tire and Boots Etc.
A second person fled the scene. Officers searched the area with K-9s, but were not able to locate this person.
BCSO chief deputy Shawn Wilson said two Hispanic males delivered the drugs and while one conducted the deal the other left the scene.
“We think he possibly had a cell phone and was able to call someone and he is out of the area,” Wilson said.
Wilson said at this time officers are working to obtain the identification of the male taken into custody and to check with ICE to see if he is a legal immigrant. Officers are also working to obtain the identity of the male who fled the scene.
When asked if the drugs were coming into Banks County or intended to go out to other areas, Wilson said, “All I can say is the drug is directly tied to this area.”
[Full Story »]
The operation, conducted around 3 p.m., started at a restaurant in the Banks Crossing area and moved to the area between Pritchett Tire and Boots Etc.
A second person fled the scene. Officers searched the area with K-9s, but were not able to locate this person.
BCSO chief deputy Shawn Wilson said two Hispanic males delivered the drugs and while one conducted the deal the other left the scene.
“We think he possibly had a cell phone and was able to call someone and he is out of the area,” Wilson said.
Wilson said at this time officers are working to obtain the identification of the male taken into custody and to check with ICE to see if he is a legal immigrant. Officers are also working to obtain the identity of the male who fled the scene.
When asked if the drugs were coming into Banks County or intended to go out to other areas, Wilson said, “All I can say is the drug is directly tied to this area.”
[Full Story »]
Alcohol sales back before Gillsville
The request for alcohol sales to be allowed in the City of Gillsville came before the council again at the monthly meeting on June 4.
Bob Patel, Mike Kanabar and Suhag Patel, owners and operators of the convenience store in the city, presented the council with a petition with 125 signatures from Gillsville residents in favor of the alcohol sales.
Mayor Larry Poole told the men they could turn in the petition and city staff would reconcile the names to see how many city residents (voters) were interested in the issue.
Poole and the council members looked over the list and each one advised they saw names on the list that were people who didn’t actually live in the city, but had a Gillsville address.
Gillsville resident Assumpta Norrell asked the council how the issue would be handled if it is determined that there was an interest in alcohol sales.
“Is that handled by a city vote?” Norrell asked.
Poole said, “That looks like the way this is headed.”
Kanabar said they were in agreement with no Sunday alcohol sales even if voters approve alcohol sales.
Council member Jim Butler asked the three men how much they expected to make off of alcohol sales.
“Not much. There isn’t a lot of mark-up in alcohol, but it would bring more people into our store,” S. Patel said.
Butler said, “This has been a dry city since 1901 or before. When you bought the business years ago you knew the city didn’t allow alcohol sales.”
S. Patel said, “We are not trying to disrespect you. We are trying to be up front about this issue.”
“This is not something to be taken lightly,” Poole said.
Kanabar told the council that a number of people coming into the store had expressed an interest in the alcohol sales and that was the reason they were coming before the council about this.
Poole advised the men that the earliest possible time for a city election on the issue would be in the fall.
S. Patel asked to take the petition back so they could continue to acquire signatures from people in favor of the alcohol sales. The men also expressed an interest in obtaining a list of all registered city voters.
Bob Patel, Mike Kanabar and Suhag Patel, owners and operators of the convenience store in the city, presented the council with a petition with 125 signatures from Gillsville residents in favor of the alcohol sales.
Mayor Larry Poole told the men they could turn in the petition and city staff would reconcile the names to see how many city residents (voters) were interested in the issue.
Poole and the council members looked over the list and each one advised they saw names on the list that were people who didn’t actually live in the city, but had a Gillsville address.
Gillsville resident Assumpta Norrell asked the council how the issue would be handled if it is determined that there was an interest in alcohol sales.
“Is that handled by a city vote?” Norrell asked.
Poole said, “That looks like the way this is headed.”
Kanabar said they were in agreement with no Sunday alcohol sales even if voters approve alcohol sales.
Council member Jim Butler asked the three men how much they expected to make off of alcohol sales.
“Not much. There isn’t a lot of mark-up in alcohol, but it would bring more people into our store,” S. Patel said.
Butler said, “This has been a dry city since 1901 or before. When you bought the business years ago you knew the city didn’t allow alcohol sales.”
S. Patel said, “We are not trying to disrespect you. We are trying to be up front about this issue.”
“This is not something to be taken lightly,” Poole said.
Kanabar told the council that a number of people coming into the store had expressed an interest in the alcohol sales and that was the reason they were coming before the council about this.
Poole advised the men that the earliest possible time for a city election on the issue would be in the fall.
S. Patel asked to take the petition back so they could continue to acquire signatures from people in favor of the alcohol sales. The men also expressed an interest in obtaining a list of all registered city voters.
Roads washed out due to rain
Due to large amounts of rainfall on Thursday, two culvert washouts occurred on Cotton Tail Drive off Harmony Church Road in the northern part of Banks County leaving the road impassable.
Emergency personnel quickly responded and assessed the damage and evacuated one resident by boat. Two evacuation routes were located by the county through surrounding private property in case of emergency.
Cotton Tail Drive is a private road and the residents have already contracted with a private company for the replacement of the culverts and repair of the road.
Emergency personnel quickly responded and assessed the damage and evacuated one resident by boat. Two evacuation routes were located by the county through surrounding private property in case of emergency.
Cotton Tail Drive is a private road and the residents have already contracted with a private company for the replacement of the culverts and repair of the road.
Personnel action approved by Baldwin
The Baldwin City Council approved several personnel items after holding a closed session at the May 28 meeting, including the following:
•promoting David Moulder from officer to sergeant with the Baldwin Police Department.
•promoting Josh Ivey from seargent to lieutenant with the Baldwin Police Department.
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business, the council:
•agreed to accept Coventry Healthcare of Georgia with an early renewal date of June 1, 2013, as the City of Baldwin’s medical insurance carrier.
•accepted the SPLOST 6 Intergovernmental Agreement with Habersham County.
•agreed to assess $34 to delinquent property taxes to cover the upfront collection cost.
•promoting David Moulder from officer to sergeant with the Baldwin Police Department.
•promoting Josh Ivey from seargent to lieutenant with the Baldwin Police Department.
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business, the council:
•agreed to accept Coventry Healthcare of Georgia with an early renewal date of June 1, 2013, as the City of Baldwin’s medical insurance carrier.
•accepted the SPLOST 6 Intergovernmental Agreement with Habersham County.
•agreed to assess $34 to delinquent property taxes to cover the upfront collection cost.
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