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Towns County Herald Legal Organ of Towns County www.townscountyherald.net Your Hometown Newspaper Since 1928 50 Cents Publication Number 635540 Volume 87 Number 40 Wednesday, August 10, 2016 It’s official – students are back in class Hiawassee City Council Post 1 By Todd Forrest qualifying begins Monday Towns County Herald By Shawn Jarrard council held a second reading and Staff Writer Towns County Herald adoption of the election ordinance It's that time of year Staff Writer to fill the seat of former councilman again. Stephen Smith. Qualifying for the Hiawassee “The ordinance sets a special On Thursday, Aug. 4, City Council Post 1 seat will the day for which parents and election for Tuesday, Nov. 8, regular run Monday, Aug. 15, through polling times of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.,” teachers have been prepping Wednesday, Aug. 17, from 8:30 finally arrived, a day students said attorney David Syfan in the a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at Hiawassee meeting. “Polling precinct will be have feared since the end of City Hall. May. here at (Hiawassee) City Hall. The qualifying fee for the “Any registered and qualified At Towns County seat has been set at $72. Elementary School, close to elector within the city that’s a Currently, the five-seat resident of the city – they’re pretty 500 students, faculty and staff council only has four members – filled the halls on Thursday much synonymous there, but you’ve Liz Ordiales, Anne Mitchell, Jay got to be a registered voter – can morning for the first of 180 Chastain and Kris Berrong. days during the 2016-2017 qualify to run for the seat. The special election was “It will be to fill the remainder school year. discussed in the July meeting of of the term of Post 1, which would As expected on the first Hiawassee Mayor Barbara Mathis be approximately for one year, one One of the first things to take care of during Open House is making sure you can get into your and city council, in which the See School, Page 6A locker, all in preparation for the first day of school month and 16 days.” Hiawassee embracing upcoming changes Emma Kate Ledford wins speech competition By Lily Avery Towns County Herald Towns County Herald NEWS SPECIAL Staff Writer Snakes, ticks, Legos, The Hiawassee softball and marching band – City Council discussed an these are just a few of the topics upcoming water agreement impressed upon a standing- with Towns County, as well as room-only crowd during the the new update for the city’s annual Youth Leadership Comprehensive Plan at the Development Public Speaking regular monthly meeting on Competition held on Monday, Tuesday, Aug. 2. Aug. 1, at the new Towns Towns County Chamber County Senior Center. of Commerce representative Ten local students, Lynn McPeak, owner of TATA ranging from seventh-graders to On Main, gave a presentation high school seniors, impressed on the updates to the Hiawassee the audience and the judges Comprehensive Plan in the with their presentations and meeting, explaining how masterful speaking abilities. Winners of the 2016 Youth Leadership Development Speech citizens can be more involved Lynn McPeak of TATA On Main speaks on the Hiawassee Master of Ceremonies Competition: L-R, First Prize Emma Kate Ledford, Second in the process of writing the Comprehensive Plan in the Aug. 2 Hiawassee City Council Terry White began the Prize Kendall Floyd, Third Prize Vanessa Floyd, Fourth Prize new plan. meeting festivities by introducing Bazya Smith As with any or three groups,” said McPeak. Troop 125 of the Boy Scouts invocation. Comprehensive Plan, refer to specific goals that the of America, which led the Hiawassee’s and Towns city or county see happening “Towns County, which affects Kaylee Hamilton Both Hamilton and all of us, Hiawassee and Young audience in the Pledge of roused the spectators with Vanattia received standing County’s will be required to sooner, rather than later. The Allegiance. establish community goals, plan itself will be a 10-year Harris. There is a survey out her rendition of “God Bless ovations for their moving that asks you to identify which Former Youth America,” followed by Sylvi performances. a general vision statement, plan that is updated every five Leadership Development policies, and character areas years. group you’re from. I would Vanattia, who then blessed the The keynote speaker of encourage you to fill out two, winner and recent Towns group with her presentation of the event was none other than and defining narratives. “Our community is County High School graduate broken into three composites “God Bless the U.S.A.” The latter two items See Changes, Page 6A Adam Penland delivered the See Speech, Page 6A Tracy Lawrence to play The Hall Friday TCHS FBLA students win at nationals By Todd Forrest Towns County Herald Towns County Herald NEWS SPECIAL Staff Writer ATLANTA – More than 12,000 of America’s best and Tracy Lawrence is one of brightest youths gathered the most recognizable voices in in Atlanta this summer to Country Music. showcase their talents as With such songs as future business leaders, and to “Time Marches On,” “Alibis,” compete for a chance to make and “Find Out Who Your it to the national award stage Friends Are,” Lawrence will for the opportunity to win over be bringing his brand of Merle $150,000 in cash awards. Haggard and Vern Gosdin- Future Business inspired Country Music to Leaders of America, the Anderson Music Hall in the largest and oldest business- Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds oriented student organization, on Friday, Aug. 26. held its National Leadership The multi-platinum Conference in Atlanta from Country Music Association June 28 to July 3. and Academy of Country Music Participants from award-winning artist has helped Tracy Lawrence around the country attended shape the sound of Country shows by performing any hosting his own radio show. this conference to sharpen Music for two decades. their core business skills, Having recently number of his double-platinum He recently released an hits, including “Time Marches album titled “Evolution,” which expand their networks, and celebrated 20 years in music, participate in more than 60 Lawrence has served as an On” and “Alibis,” songs that includes remakes of his greatest make Lawrence one of the hits. His last studio album business-related events. inspiration for a whole new Towns County FBLA generation of entertainers and most played artists on Country was the critically-acclaimed Music radio. “Headlights, Taillights, and proudly represented Georgia fans. with eight competitors who FBLA National Competitive Event Team from Towns County: Jason Aldean and Luke Despite performing Radios” from 2013. 90-plus live concerts a year, “Management is in the advanced as state winners Back Row, Adam Penland, Jackson Taylor and Nick McConnell; Bryan frequently pay tribute Front Row, Alyson Nelson, Kyra Tallent and Sara Beth Hobbs; Lawrence also stays busy See Lawrence, Page 6A See FBLA, Page 6A to Lawrence during their live not pictured, Shea Underwood and Nick Shook Sen. Wilkinson saves $80,000 grant for Mattee muses over mummy berry Towns County road improvements and more at Movers and Shakers By Shawn Jarrard By Lily Avery Towns County Herald Towns County Herald Staff Writer Staff Writer When Towns County YOUNG HARRIS – Sole Commissioner Bill Towns and Union County Kendall hit a road block trying Extension Agent Melissa to acquire grant funds through Mattee mulled over matters the Georgia Department of of lawn and flora care with the Transportation, he knew Mountain Movers and Shakers exactly who to turn to for help during their weekly meeting – State Sen. John Wilkinson. on Friday, Aug. 5, at Mary’s Commissioner Kendall Southern Grill. had applied for the DOT’s Local This is not the Maintenance & Improvement conservative educational Grant in order to complete group’s first encounter with much-needed road striping the self-proclaimed “bug in the county, and though the lady” – Mattee spoke with Gainesville office approved the Movers and Shakers for Towns and Union County Ag Agent Melissa Mattee addressed Towns County’s application, the first time back in March, the state turned it down due to a variety of common lawn care concerns at Mary’s Southern Towns County Sole Commissioner Bill Kendall looks over a when she introduced herself to Grill on Friday, Aug. 5 insufficient funds for the total striping contract as he signs it, with Deputy Clerk Andrea the community and instantly number of grant applications. Anderson and Roads Superintendent Clyde Shook on Friday, became a hit among the “Sen. Wilkinson worked and mummy berry. really important month for Aug. 5. members. “It’s really important, our grasses, whether you’re diligently with DOT officials Mattee addressed the to get the grant reinstated and The grant puts $80,000 match, which is $24,000, for a if you have any grass at all, establishing a lawn or just group on topics of current to have upkeep to prevent maintaining it.” approved,” said Commissioner of state money toward striping total of $104,000 in available relevance at the extension Kendall, expressing his 151 linear miles of county funds for the project. erosion and maintain greenery According to Mattee, office – proper lawn care, around your home,” said grass in the North Georgia gratitude for the good work of roads, and the county has to black knot fungus, fire blight the senator. provide a 30 percent local See Roads, Page 7A Mattee. “September is a See Mattee, Page 7A Inside NEW 2 Sections 16 Pages Arrests 2A An Evening Towns County Church 4B Celebrating Hunting Friday Night Blue Ridge 1,680.59 Classifieds 6B Food Pantry Seasons Chatuge 1,922.15 Opinion 4A Ronnie Milsap, ‘64 Football! Nottely 1,770.29 NEEDS your and Thursday, Aug. 11 @ Fri. Aug 12 Obits 5B empty egg cartons! Regulations Sports 3B Young Harris College vs. Butler High See page 2A 7:30 PM