Towns County Herald Legal Organ of Towns County www.townscountyherald.net Your Hometown Newspaper Since 1928 50 Cents Publication Number 635540 Volume 86 Number 41 Wednesday, August 12, 2015 Local Nelson, McConnell place first in Nationals Oak Ridge Boys headed to The Hall By Alana Calhoun By Shawn Jarrard Weather Towns County Herald Towns County Herald News Special Staff Writer and Chicago, Ill. - Over The Oak Ridge Boys 12,000 of America’s best and have performed at the Georgia Lake Levels brightest youth gathered in Chi- Mountain Fairgrounds before, cago to showcase their talents but come Friday, Aug. 21, the as future business leaders and Boys will hit Hiawassee as Thurs: Clouds 81 63 compete for a chance to make 2015 Inductees into the Coun- Fri: Rain 80 62 Sat: Rain 82 62 it to the national award stage try Music Hall of Fame. Sun: Clouds 83 63 and the opportunity to win over “For The Oak Ridge Boys Mon: Clouds 85 64 $160,000 in cash awards. to become part of that great fam- Tue: Rain 85 64 Towns County can now ily is something that’s very, very Wed: Rain 84 64 boast to have first place na- special indeed,” said Richard Richard Sterban tional winners for the third year Sterban, the bass singer of the in a row. group. “There’s no question Hall of Fame, and we’re so ex- Junior Alyson Nelson about it. It’s difficult I think, in cited about that. It’s going to be, competed in Spreadsheet Ap- a lot of ways, to find words to certainly, a banner night in our plications and Sophomore describe how special that is. It’s career and in our lives.” Nick McConnell competed in a tremendous honor, it’s a very The careers of The Oak Database Design and Applica- humbling thing, and to put it Ridge Boys, the current incar- tions, both placed first in their very bluntly, it’s a big deal. nation of which is the longest events. The 2015 Towns County FBLA Team “We’ve been able to ac- standing in a group with World This is Nelson’s first year ers of America, the largest with 11 competitors who ad- complish a lot of things in our War II-era roots, have spanned as a competitor. and oldest business student vanced as state winners to earn career, but that was kind of the more than four decades and Upstream Elevation seemingly countless hits. Predicted “FBLA has helped me organization, held its National their place there. missing piece. And now, that’s all coming together, and on Oct. “It’s about to be 43 years, 08/12/2015 realize that with hard work and Leadership Conference in Chi- This is the greatest dedication anything is possible. 25, we will become the newest which is hard to believe, for this Lake Chatuge 1,923.63 cago, IL on June 28 – July 3. number to ever advance from I am very grateful for the many Participants from around the TCHS. members of the Country Music See Oak Ridge, Page 10 Lake Nottely 1,772.18 opportunities FBLA has given Blue Ridge 1,682.88 country were in attendance for Competitors included: me,” Nelson said. this conference to sharpen their Mia Manto, Ashley Abraham- After competing two core business skills, expand son, Nick McConnell, Alana Fairgrounds busy through New INDEX years at the national level, Nick their networks, and participate Calhoun, Alyson Nelson, Me- Year - Milsap coming in January 16 Pages McConnell said, “Competing at in more than 60 business and gAnn Bradley, Kyle Davis, Em- NLC was an amazing opportu- ily Davis, Caden Pyrlik, Chase By Shawn Jarrard business-related competitive Towns County Herald Arrests...... 2 nity that helped me better my events. Williams and Jordan Hyatt. Church...... 6 skills on the computer.” Towns County FBLA Staff Writer Classifieds...... 14 Future Business Lead- proudly represented Georgia See FBLA, Page 10 Editorial...... 4 If the Georgia Mountain Legals ...... 15 Fairgrounds is an institution in Obituaries...... 7 the North Georgia Mountains, then Anderson Music Hall Schools are back in session serves as the perfect ambas- By Mason Mitcham sador for bringing the world to Chamber Chronicles Towns County Herald this majestic locale. Staff Writer Throughout history, mu- Page 8 For many Towns County sic has been a universal lan- students, Thursday, Aug. 6, guage, allowing folks to share marked the official end of the with each other in ways that UNTE VOL ER summer. It was the first day bridge great distances, and the back to school. year-round fare at the Fair- grounds offers area residents the Earlier in the week was Ronnie Milsap full of preparation. On Tues- chances to do just that. F IRE DEPT. day, the school system hosted Fairgrounds General 16. Tickets for that show go on an open house for parents and Manager Hilda Thomason an- sale Nov. 20, for $43 and $33. students to meet teachers and nounced at the Ray Stevens More closely on the cal- Towns County go over their class schedules. concert on Aug. 1 that American endar, The Hall will soon be “This is where parents Classic Rock favorite Three entertaining the masses with Fire & and students can come in and Dog Night will be rocking The first-time Fairgrounds perform- open up the first lines of com- Hall on Saturday, Dec. 12, with er David Allan Coe, a legend in Rescue seeking munication for the year,” ex- tickets going on sale Oct. 2 for his own right, as he performs on plained TCHS/TCMS Assistant $46 and $36 respectively. Friday, Sept. 4, at 7 p.m. Volunteer Principal Jim Melton at the Also at the Ray Stevens Coe is known for his open house. show, Thomason informed the ever avant-garde approached Firefighters Freshmen just moving up more than 2,000 in attendance to Country Music, and helped from middle school are often TCHS/TCMS Assistant Principal Jim Melton helps students with their that Country Music Legend to popularize Outlaw Country See Page 2 uncertain about moving into schedules. Photo/Lowell Nicholson Ronnie Milsap will be stopping in the ‘70s and ‘80s. His many the high school. Melton is looking for- just to watch kids throughout by the Fairgrounds on his Fare- hits include The Ride, You “Sometimes it’s a little ward to the new challenges the year grow and mature,” well Tour, playing The Hall for shock, especially with a student and opportunities that the new he said. the last time on Saturday, Jan. See Fairgrounds, Page 10 ••• from a bigger school system school year will bring. A 22-year veteran of the FREE FOOD coming to a smaller one,” said “Every day is a new day, Towns County school system, Melton. “But this is normal as and that’s what makes teach- Melton has recently made the Young Harris continues far as just meeting teachers and ing a great profession. There’s shift to administrator. getting expectations set up for something different every day to expand services the year.” when you turn around. And See Back to School, Page 10 By Mason Mitcham forth a proposal.” Towns County Herald Two additional recent Staff Writer projects that the city has com- Floyd takes speech contest victory pleted are the entrance to Main At the Young Harris City N. Mt. Zion By Mason Mitcham Street and the bridge on Sunset Council Meeting on Tuesday, Drive. Towns County Herald Aug. 4, the city worked towards Food Distribution Staff Writer “Both of those projects finishing a project that has been are funded through SPLOST. August 20th Monday, Aug. 3, was 10 years in the making. It takes a long time, mainly a big day for Towns County Young Harris has been because we’re a really small 10 AM - Noon High School freshman Kendall working on expanding its water city and we don’t have tons of Floyd. and sewer systems for nearly a money. So those are two that See Page 6 Floyd is the most recent decade years, and is finally on we’re all really proud of, be- winner of the Mountain Mov- the verge of finishing. cause of the fact that we were ers and Shakers’ annual speech For the past two years, able to do it,” said Gibby. contest. But he wasn’t without the council has been openly However, both of those ••• competition. reviewing the budget. The were short-term projects in Seventeen other high administration committee and comparison to the expansion of school students from Towns the water and sewer commit- the wastewater plant, a project County Schools and Eastgate tee have asked city engineer that has been almost 10 years Life Academy also contested for Chris Poje to put together some in the planning. the first-place prize. In addition, preliminary numbers for the “That was not quite 10 AARP Driver nine middle school students cost of necessities like meter years worth of work, but al- competed. hookups. Safety Course Kendall Floyd, left, takes first prize in the Mountain Movers & Shakers’ most,” said Gibby. “There’s a An estimated 200 guests “So let’s say you build lot that goes into it and a lot of attended. Among them were annual Speech Contest. Photo/Lowell Nicholson a new house. And you got to McConnell Bapt. public speaking, especially in re- studies that have to be done.” Towns County Commissioner looking at a computer screen or if hook onto the system. We asked The expansion is a $4.7 million August 25th Bill Kendall and House District gards to the youngest generation. you’re not touching your iPhone, him to look at whether the fees His opinion is that the younger you don’t understand personal in- project funded through USDA 8 State Rep. Stephen Allison, that we charge for hookups are for 40 years. See Page 2 R-Blairsville. generation is addicted to tech- teraction anymore,” he said. “So the right price. We do not have Additionally, people in Before the contest, Rep. nology and is therefore losing we’re getting in this environment prices for 4 and 6 inch meters,” Allison spoke to the assembled critical speaking skills. the direction of Blairsville have said Mayor Andrea Gibby. been asking to get sewer ser- ••• guests about the importance of “Oftentimes, if you’re not See Speech, Page 10 “I looked at the entire vice, which is something Young schedule and wondered what Harris is hoping to provide. if somebody needs a three inch “So we’re expanding our plant, No smoking on city property meter, a 4 inch meter, or a 6 we’re doubling our capacity, By Mason Mitcham inch meter,” said Poje. and then we’re also expanding “To have the effect of law, within the city limits. It has He ended up advising Towns County Herald it takes two readings,” said City nothing to do with the county. sewer lines,” said Gibby. Staff Writer against the city offering these “We had some pretty for- SPORTS Manager Rick Stancil. “So any- It has nothing to do with county meters because the price of thing that basically we’re going property,” said Stancil ward thinking council people At the Hiawassee City brass used for the hookups 10 years ago, who were conser- Council meeting on Tuesday, to attempt to enforce through The city also passed the fluctuates, but the city will Softball police action, or if you’re trying first reading of the 2015 Hia- vative, and who didn’t know if Aug. 4, Mayor Barbara Mathis remain locked into a certain they should spend money, but was pleased to announce that to regulate property affecting wassee Personnel Management price. However, he did add individual property rights, it System Ordinance. they were smart enough to start Tues. Aug 11 recent activity at the Georgia that it wouldn’t be entirely the studies early, and then when Mountain Fairgrounds has filled requires two readings. “We have a personnel impossible. “The important thing is management ordinance in place we got to this point where the TCHS vs. the city with tourists. More “It’s been my experience college expanded, and then we people means more money that there will be at least another now,” said Stancil. “The poli- that as long as people don’t feel 30 days between the first and cies have been in place, they had a coupe of smaller things coming into the city, giving it like they’re paying an arbitrary come into the city, that took Commerce an economic boost. second reading for people to were adopted in 2009, they’ve amount, and it’s not a profit comment or make changes. For been in place since 2010, so our capacity,” Gibby went on. “We’re just very proud center for the city, it won’t be “So if the council 10 years ago 4:45 PM because we need all of these this ordinance, there were no five years after the fact, it’s an issue. They’re commodi- changes between the first and good to review what already had not started this, and we had people in our area, and we’re ties, they cost what they cost,” just started last year, we liter- very happy to have all of this second readings,” said Stancil. has been adopted. If there’s any he said. Again, the ordinance will inconsistencies in application or ally would not be able to build Tues. Aug 18 going on,” she said. The council is looking at anything.” The rest of the meeting only affect city property. confusion in application, clari- raising water and sewer prices. TCHS passed quickly. The council “It is now an ordinance, fications or changes in the way “It’s not something they want adopted the second reading of so it is now a city law, not nec- the city wants to do business, to do but it’s something they TOWNS COUNTY HERALD the 2015 Ordinance Prohibiting essarily anything else. The dif- then we update that.” wanted Chris to bring to them,” vs. Prince Ave. Smoking and Use of Tobacco ference is that the city can only In addition, the upgrades said Gibby. “It was brought to Products on City Properties, regulate within the city limits, to the water-sewer treatment the council for the council to 4:45 PM meaning that the ordinance now so it basically effects certain plant are underway. ponder whether they’re actually has the effect of law. properties, not all properties See Hiawassee, Page 10 going to think about it and bring