Entries from July 2009
Two arrests following DUI hit-and-run
The Georgia State Patrol last week arrested two Barrow County residents following a hit-and-run accident involving a pedestrian.
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Statham finalist for Army Center
The City of Statham appears to have emerged as the frontrunner for a new Army Reserve Center.
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Jack Ellington
BRASELTON – Jack Wesley Ellington, 75, died Wednesday, July 22, 2009. Born in Atlanta, he was the son of the late J.W. and Margaret Peacock Ellington. He worked in the electrical trade and as director of training with the AEJATC school. He was a member of Hebron Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, Sylvia Saback Ellington, Braselton; ...
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Drewey Vandiver
BRASELTON – Drewey Bynam Vandiver, 84, died Tuesday, July 21, 2009, at his residence surrounded by his loving family. Born in Franklin County, Ala., he was the son of the late William Lonnie and LuDie (Garrett) Vandiver. He was a veteran, having served in the United States Army during World War II. Mr. Vandiver was preceded in death by sons, ...
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‘Rich’ Phillips
GAINESVILLE – Ethelene “Rich” Phillips, 92, died Monday, July 20, 2009, at New Horizon Nursing Home following an extended illness. Born on March 16, 1917, in Banks County, she was the daughter of the late Arnie and Nellie Sheridan Rich. She was a retired seamstress and was of the Baptist denomination. Mrs. Phillips was preceded in death ...
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Ricky Davis
MONROE – Ricky Wayne Davis, 53, died Thursday, July 16, 2009. He was the son of Modell Montgomery of Winder and the late Frank Davis. He was an employee of Lanier Contracting. Survivors in addition to his mother include sons, Ricky Davis, Winder, and Joel Davis, Monroe; grandson, Zack Davis, Winder; sisters, Linette Casey, McDonough, Shirley ...
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Did you get a property reevaluation notice?
Monday, July 20. 2009
Some 29,000 property reevaluation notices were sent out last week by the Barrow County Tax Assessors Office.
If you received a notice, the Barrow Journal would like to hear from you. By posting the following information as a comment to this story, you can share with your fellow taxpayers how the reevaluations affected you.
Simply add a comment to this story with the following information:
1. Last year's evaluation.
2. This year's evaluation.
3. The type of property (residential, commercial, agricultural, undeveloped, etc.)
4. The area of Barrow County you live in.
5. Comments you wish to make.
If you received a notice, the Barrow Journal would like to hear from you. By posting the following information as a comment to this story, you can share with your fellow taxpayers how the reevaluations affected you.
Simply add a comment to this story with the following information:
1. Last year's evaluation.
2. This year's evaluation.
3. The type of property (residential, commercial, agricultural, undeveloped, etc.)
4. The area of Barrow County you live in.
5. Comments you wish to make.
BREAKING NEWS: Winder's First Piedmont Bank closed by FDIC
Friday, July 17. 2009
First Piedmont Bank, Winder, was taken over Friday night by the FDIC and Georgia Department of Banking.
First American Bank and Trust Company of Athens assumed all deposits of the bank.
The bank is the second area community bank to be closed this year by the FDIC. Freedom Bank based in Commerce with a branch in Winder was taken over by the FDIC in February. Fifteen Georgia banks have been shut down this year due to the recession.
Customers who have questions about the First Piedmont transaction can call the FDIC toll-free at 1-877-367-2717. The phone number will be operational Friday evening until 9:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time (EDT); on Friday and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., EDT; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., EDT; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., EDT.
Interested parties can also visit the FDIC's Web site at www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/piedmont.html.
According to the FDIC, First Piedmont Bank's two offices will reopen on Monday as branches of First American Bank and Trust Company. Depositors of First Piedmont Bank will automatically become depositors of First American Bank and Trust Company. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship to retain their deposit insurance coverage, officials said.
Over the weekend, depositors of First Piedmont Bank can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual.
In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, First American Bank and Trust Company agreed to purchase approximately $111 million of assets. The FDIC will retain the remaining assets for later disposition, officials said.
First Piedmont, founded in 1998, had assets of $115 million as of July 6. It had long been viewed as a bank likely to be closed by the FDIC.
In the first quarter of this year, the bank lost $680,000 and was not in compliance with capital requirements. The banks “non-performing asset ratio” was over 439 at the end of the first quarter, an extremely high number. Banks with troubled asset ratios over 100 are viewed as candidates for serious problems.
The bank's core problems revolved around real estate loans that had gone sour during the economic downturn.
First American Bank and Trust Company of Athens assumed all deposits of the bank.
The bank is the second area community bank to be closed this year by the FDIC. Freedom Bank based in Commerce with a branch in Winder was taken over by the FDIC in February. Fifteen Georgia banks have been shut down this year due to the recession.
Customers who have questions about the First Piedmont transaction can call the FDIC toll-free at 1-877-367-2717. The phone number will be operational Friday evening until 9:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time (EDT); on Friday and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., EDT; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., EDT; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., EDT.
Interested parties can also visit the FDIC's Web site at www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/piedmont.html.
According to the FDIC, First Piedmont Bank's two offices will reopen on Monday as branches of First American Bank and Trust Company. Depositors of First Piedmont Bank will automatically become depositors of First American Bank and Trust Company. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship to retain their deposit insurance coverage, officials said.
Over the weekend, depositors of First Piedmont Bank can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual.
In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, First American Bank and Trust Company agreed to purchase approximately $111 million of assets. The FDIC will retain the remaining assets for later disposition, officials said.
First Piedmont, founded in 1998, had assets of $115 million as of July 6. It had long been viewed as a bank likely to be closed by the FDIC.
In the first quarter of this year, the bank lost $680,000 and was not in compliance with capital requirements. The banks “non-performing asset ratio” was over 439 at the end of the first quarter, an extremely high number. Banks with troubled asset ratios over 100 are viewed as candidates for serious problems.
The bank's core problems revolved around real estate loans that had gone sour during the economic downturn.
Huge revaluation may hammer Barrow's tax digest
Thursday, July 16. 2009
The Barrow County Tax Assessors Office is reducing the assessed value of almost all of the properties owned in the county.
By the end of this week, the county will mail 29,000 reassessments for real and personal property owned in the county. That represents more than 90 percent of the 31,150 parcels in Barrow County, said Chief Appraiser Cecil Highfield. And 90 percent of those are going down.
Property owners have 45 calendar days — until the end of August — to either accept their newly assessed values or to appeal. Highfield said he could not estimate the total impact of the lower assessments on the county’s tax digest. However, the total impact is expected to be below the 20-percent shrinkage of the tax base that he had earlier given the county administration as an estimate.
The number is critical to the FY2010 budgets because it will determine how many other spending cuts will have to be made by county governments. A large drop in the tax digest could dramatically affect both the county government and school system, forcing the millage rates up to offset the drop in values.
By the end of this week, the county will mail 29,000 reassessments for real and personal property owned in the county. That represents more than 90 percent of the 31,150 parcels in Barrow County, said Chief Appraiser Cecil Highfield. And 90 percent of those are going down.
Property owners have 45 calendar days — until the end of August — to either accept their newly assessed values or to appeal. Highfield said he could not estimate the total impact of the lower assessments on the county’s tax digest. However, the total impact is expected to be below the 20-percent shrinkage of the tax base that he had earlier given the county administration as an estimate.
The number is critical to the FY2010 budgets because it will determine how many other spending cuts will have to be made by county governments. A large drop in the tax digest could dramatically affect both the county government and school system, forcing the millage rates up to offset the drop in values.
‘Buford Heavy’ Duncan
COMMERCE – Eric D. “Buford Heavy” Duncan, 60, died Wednesday, July 15, 2009. He was the son of the late O.D. Duncan and Lora Allen Duncan Carr of Braselton and step-father, the late William Carr. He was a 1967 graduate of North Gwinnett High School, was a machinist by trade, but his passion was building dragsters and racing. He owned ...
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