Entries by Mike Buffington
At ground zero of immigration issue
Friday, May 17. 2013
QUEENS, N.Y. — I’m standing in a car on the N train approaching the Queensboro Plaza station. The subway has just emerged above ground after zooming through a tunnel underneath the East River from Manhattan and we’re now clanging along an elevated platform above the road. It’s a Saturday morning and the subway is packed with weekend shoppers, teenagers and young families with strollers.
[Full Story »]
In the May 15 issue of the Barrow Journal
Father of BOC member could face charges with incident involving Sonny Perdue
The father of a Barrow County commissioner is under investigation for allegedly threatening to shoot down a helicopter last Friday that reportedly was carrying former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue.
The incident happened around noon Friday, May 10, when the helicopter owned by a Lawrenceville company flew in circles around the Barrow County Airport.
As it circled, it made several passes over the home of 65-year-old Ken Shook, who owns multiple parcels that abut the airport’s 358-acre site.
Shook has filed similar complaints in the past, but this time, when a deputy responded to take the complaint, the Winder man allegedly made threatening comments.
Deputy Chris Jackson states in a report that Shook said the pilot was “deliberately trespassing” on his property, was polluting his air, and was “threatening” him.
Barrow seniors set for graduation
Twelve years of hard work will pay off in the coming days as more than 800 students graduate from public and private high schools across Barrow County.
The county’s public schools are presenting diplomas to 798 graduates, and the private schools, 13.
Officials try to verify reason Peskin missed court date
Winder’s municipal court judge last Friday did not issue a bench warrant for the arrest of the owner of the Peskin Building, because Winder’s police chief told the court clerk that Phillip Peskin had a lawful excuse for missing court in late April.
Clerk Megan Williams said Tuesday that chief Dennis Dorsey told her that Peskin had a lawful excuse for missing court — he been in the hospital — so she didn’t prepare the warrant for Judge Stephen Nicholas’ signature.
She also removed an additional $100 fine that had been levied for the missed court appearance.
Peskin had until May 10 to set a new court date and to pay a $734 bond that included the original fine plus the Failure to Appear fee, or face arrest and another fine.
Knights enter quarterfinals
The Bethlehem Christian Academy baseball team will host a quarterfinal series Thursday in the GISA Class A state playoffs.
The father of a Barrow County commissioner is under investigation for allegedly threatening to shoot down a helicopter last Friday that reportedly was carrying former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue.
The incident happened around noon Friday, May 10, when the helicopter owned by a Lawrenceville company flew in circles around the Barrow County Airport.
As it circled, it made several passes over the home of 65-year-old Ken Shook, who owns multiple parcels that abut the airport’s 358-acre site.
Shook has filed similar complaints in the past, but this time, when a deputy responded to take the complaint, the Winder man allegedly made threatening comments.
Deputy Chris Jackson states in a report that Shook said the pilot was “deliberately trespassing” on his property, was polluting his air, and was “threatening” him.
Barrow seniors set for graduation
Twelve years of hard work will pay off in the coming days as more than 800 students graduate from public and private high schools across Barrow County.
The county’s public schools are presenting diplomas to 798 graduates, and the private schools, 13.
Officials try to verify reason Peskin missed court date
Winder’s municipal court judge last Friday did not issue a bench warrant for the arrest of the owner of the Peskin Building, because Winder’s police chief told the court clerk that Phillip Peskin had a lawful excuse for missing court in late April.
Clerk Megan Williams said Tuesday that chief Dennis Dorsey told her that Peskin had a lawful excuse for missing court — he been in the hospital — so she didn’t prepare the warrant for Judge Stephen Nicholas’ signature.
She also removed an additional $100 fine that had been levied for the missed court appearance.
Peskin had until May 10 to set a new court date and to pay a $734 bond that included the original fine plus the Failure to Appear fee, or face arrest and another fine.
Knights enter quarterfinals
The Bethlehem Christian Academy baseball team will host a quarterfinal series Thursday in the GISA Class A state playoffs.
In the May 15 issue of the Barrow Journal
Father of BOC member could face charges with incident involving Sonny Perdue
The father of a Barrow County commissioner is under investigation for allegedly threatening to shoot down a helicopter last Friday that reportedly was carrying former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue.
The incident happened around noon Friday, May 10, when the helicopter owned by a Lawrenceville company flew in circles around the Barrow County Airport.
As it circled, it made several passes over the home of 65-year-old Ken Shook, who owns multiple parcels that abut the airport’s 358-acre site.
Shook has filed similar complaints in the past, but this time, when a deputy responded to take the complaint, the Winder man allegedly made threatening comments.
Deputy Chris Jackson states in a report that Shook said the pilot was “deliberately trespassing” on his property, was polluting his air, and was “threatening” him.
Barrow seniors set for graduation
Twelve years of hard work will pay off in the coming days as more than 800 students graduate from public and private high schools across Barrow County.
The county’s public schools are presenting diplomas to 798 graduates, and the private schools, 13.
Officials try to verify reason Peskin missed court date
Winder’s municipal court judge last Friday did not issue a bench warrant for the arrest of the owner of the Peskin Building, because Winder’s police chief told the court clerk that Phillip Peskin had a lawful excuse for missing court in late April.
Clerk Megan Williams said Tuesday that chief Dennis Dorsey told her that Peskin had a lawful excuse for missing court — he been in the hospital — so she didn’t prepare the warrant for Judge Stephen Nicholas’ signature.
She also removed an additional $100 fine that had been levied for the missed court appearance.
Peskin had until May 10 to set a new court date and to pay a $734 bond that included the original fine plus the Failure to Appear fee, or face arrest and another fine.
Knights enter quarterfinals
The Bethlehem Christian Academy baseball team will host a quarterfinal series Thursday in the GISA Class A state playoffs.
The father of a Barrow County commissioner is under investigation for allegedly threatening to shoot down a helicopter last Friday that reportedly was carrying former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue.
The incident happened around noon Friday, May 10, when the helicopter owned by a Lawrenceville company flew in circles around the Barrow County Airport.
As it circled, it made several passes over the home of 65-year-old Ken Shook, who owns multiple parcels that abut the airport’s 358-acre site.
Shook has filed similar complaints in the past, but this time, when a deputy responded to take the complaint, the Winder man allegedly made threatening comments.
Deputy Chris Jackson states in a report that Shook said the pilot was “deliberately trespassing” on his property, was polluting his air, and was “threatening” him.
Barrow seniors set for graduation
Twelve years of hard work will pay off in the coming days as more than 800 students graduate from public and private high schools across Barrow County.
The county’s public schools are presenting diplomas to 798 graduates, and the private schools, 13.
Officials try to verify reason Peskin missed court date
Winder’s municipal court judge last Friday did not issue a bench warrant for the arrest of the owner of the Peskin Building, because Winder’s police chief told the court clerk that Phillip Peskin had a lawful excuse for missing court in late April.
Clerk Megan Williams said Tuesday that chief Dennis Dorsey told her that Peskin had a lawful excuse for missing court — he been in the hospital — so she didn’t prepare the warrant for Judge Stephen Nicholas’ signature.
She also removed an additional $100 fine that had been levied for the missed court appearance.
Peskin had until May 10 to set a new court date and to pay a $734 bond that included the original fine plus the Failure to Appear fee, or face arrest and another fine.
Knights enter quarterfinals
The Bethlehem Christian Academy baseball team will host a quarterfinal series Thursday in the GISA Class A state playoffs.
Updated: We are all Bostonians now
It’s been three weeks since the bombings in Boston and we know a lot more now about how it happened than we did in the hours after that horrific event.
What has amazed a lot of people in the bombing’s aftermath was the strong sense of resilience displayed by the people of Boston. It began the moment of the bombings when Bostonians ran toward the danger to help those who had been wounded. And in television interviews in the hours and days after the bombings, many Bostonians echoed the theme that they would never give in to the fear of terrorism.
Can you imagine any other American city standing as stoic and defiant? Would Atlanta citizens have run toward danger to help victims? Would people in Los Angeles have sounded so defiant against terrorism?
Hardly. The Atlanta chamber would have probably called on the national media to ignore the bombing because it might hurt the city’s PR “brand.” In Los Angeles, many would have immediately looked for a movie deal. [Full Story »]
What has amazed a lot of people in the bombing’s aftermath was the strong sense of resilience displayed by the people of Boston. It began the moment of the bombings when Bostonians ran toward the danger to help those who had been wounded. And in television interviews in the hours and days after the bombings, many Bostonians echoed the theme that they would never give in to the fear of terrorism.
Can you imagine any other American city standing as stoic and defiant? Would Atlanta citizens have run toward danger to help victims? Would people in Los Angeles have sounded so defiant against terrorism?
Hardly. The Atlanta chamber would have probably called on the national media to ignore the bombing because it might hurt the city’s PR “brand.” In Los Angeles, many would have immediately looked for a movie deal. [Full Story »]
In the May 8 issue of the Barrow Journal
Auburn employees receive bonus
Most of the employees of Auburn’s city government last Friday received a $300 bonus in their paychecks.
The Auburn City Council on Thursday night approved the supplements for 36 workers whose annual salaries are below $50,000. Six employees who earn above that threshold did not receive the extra money. The council’s resolution said employees had saved the city government thousands of dollars in FY2013. The extra pay cost the government $11,626 from existing budgets. The last bonus was paid in FY2011. The vote was 3-0-1 with Councilman Robert Vogel abstaining.
Mixed results on writing tests
Barrow County students in the 5th and 8th grades did not fare as well as high school students on the latest round of state writing tests.
Though local students in both lower grade levels did better than their counterparts across the state, one in six Barrow County fifth graders failed to meet the state’s minimum standard on the writing test, and one in 10 students in the eighth grade failed.
As previously reported, only 4.5 percent — or about one in 20 — 11th graders failed.
The percentage of local 5th graders not meeting state standards (16.5 percent) was lower than the fifth graders statewide (21 percent). But the performance of Barrow fifth graders overall slipped about 2 percent this year.
Barrow Teacher of the Year named
A special education English language arts teacher at the College & Career Preparatory Academy on Tuesday was named Barrow County’s 2014 Teacher of the Year.
The selection committee, the school superintendent, and the winner’s husband surprised Kim Davis at the school Tuesday morning. Davis has worked for the school system since July 2009.
Diamond Doggs advanced in postseason
The Winder-Barrow High School baseball team won a third and deciding game against South Paulding Tuesday. WBHS will play at Pope High School beginning Thursday in the Sweet 16.
Most of the employees of Auburn’s city government last Friday received a $300 bonus in their paychecks.
The Auburn City Council on Thursday night approved the supplements for 36 workers whose annual salaries are below $50,000. Six employees who earn above that threshold did not receive the extra money. The council’s resolution said employees had saved the city government thousands of dollars in FY2013. The extra pay cost the government $11,626 from existing budgets. The last bonus was paid in FY2011. The vote was 3-0-1 with Councilman Robert Vogel abstaining.
Mixed results on writing tests
Barrow County students in the 5th and 8th grades did not fare as well as high school students on the latest round of state writing tests.
Though local students in both lower grade levels did better than their counterparts across the state, one in six Barrow County fifth graders failed to meet the state’s minimum standard on the writing test, and one in 10 students in the eighth grade failed.
As previously reported, only 4.5 percent — or about one in 20 — 11th graders failed.
The percentage of local 5th graders not meeting state standards (16.5 percent) was lower than the fifth graders statewide (21 percent). But the performance of Barrow fifth graders overall slipped about 2 percent this year.
Barrow Teacher of the Year named
A special education English language arts teacher at the College & Career Preparatory Academy on Tuesday was named Barrow County’s 2014 Teacher of the Year.
The selection committee, the school superintendent, and the winner’s husband surprised Kim Davis at the school Tuesday morning. Davis has worked for the school system since July 2009.
Diamond Doggs advanced in postseason
The Winder-Barrow High School baseball team won a third and deciding game against South Paulding Tuesday. WBHS will play at Pope High School beginning Thursday in the Sweet 16.
BOE facing tough choices
Friday, May 3. 2013
It’s no surprise that the Barrow County Board of Education is considering a millage rate hike. Every school system in Georgia is suffering from a budget crisis that has been building for the last few years.
But Barrow County is perhaps one of the hardest hit communities in that crisis. The collapse of Barrow’s local tax digest has been among the worst in the nation. A recent AJC story listed the Winder zip code as being in the top one percent of the nation with homes “underwater.” Over 63 percent of homeowners in Barrow owe more money on their homes than the houses are currently worth. That and the very high foreclosure rate places Barrow at ground zero of the housing collapse.
There has been a lot of pain from that economic downturn, but perhaps none has been as severe as its impact on public schools. Because schools have a very narrow source of revenue, any hit on income is dramatic. Public school systems only have local taxes and state revenues to pay for expenses while most other local governments have a variety of sources. [Full Story »]
But Barrow County is perhaps one of the hardest hit communities in that crisis. The collapse of Barrow’s local tax digest has been among the worst in the nation. A recent AJC story listed the Winder zip code as being in the top one percent of the nation with homes “underwater.” Over 63 percent of homeowners in Barrow owe more money on their homes than the houses are currently worth. That and the very high foreclosure rate places Barrow at ground zero of the housing collapse.
There has been a lot of pain from that economic downturn, but perhaps none has been as severe as its impact on public schools. Because schools have a very narrow source of revenue, any hit on income is dramatic. Public school systems only have local taxes and state revenues to pay for expenses while most other local governments have a variety of sources. [Full Story »]
In the May 1 issue of the Barrow Journal.....
Graham: Barrow hit hard, but moving forward
Barrow County may have been hit hard by the recession, but it has weathered the worst of the nation’s financial storm and is showing signs of recovery, according to the chairman of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners.
In her first annual State of the County address, Pat Graham on April 24 gave the Barrow County Chamber of Commerce a presentation about where the county and its government stand.
Her overarching message was that while the downturn has severely affected Barrow County, the county is moving forward under new leadership.
“We have a new charter, a new manager, and a new role for our elected officials,” she said. “We have the opportunity to lay a foundation for the county that will serve to make Barrow County better.”
17-year-old charged with child molestation
Nathaniel Clack, 17, of Scott Drive, Winder, has been arrested and charged with child molestation, aggravated sodomy and enticing a child for indecent purposes and will now be facing those charges in Barrow County Superior Court as an adult, according to authorities.
BOE facing tough choices
It’s no surprise that the Barrow County Board of Education is considering a millage rate hike, writes co-publisher Mike Buffington. Every school system in Georgia is suffering from a budget crisis that has been building for the last few years.
The real question, he asks, is should the Barrow BOE raise the tax rate, or go back to 160-day calendar and make other cost cutting moves?
[Full Story »]
Barrow County may have been hit hard by the recession, but it has weathered the worst of the nation’s financial storm and is showing signs of recovery, according to the chairman of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners.
In her first annual State of the County address, Pat Graham on April 24 gave the Barrow County Chamber of Commerce a presentation about where the county and its government stand.
Her overarching message was that while the downturn has severely affected Barrow County, the county is moving forward under new leadership.
“We have a new charter, a new manager, and a new role for our elected officials,” she said. “We have the opportunity to lay a foundation for the county that will serve to make Barrow County better.”
17-year-old charged with child molestation
Nathaniel Clack, 17, of Scott Drive, Winder, has been arrested and charged with child molestation, aggravated sodomy and enticing a child for indecent purposes and will now be facing those charges in Barrow County Superior Court as an adult, according to authorities.
BOE facing tough choices
It’s no surprise that the Barrow County Board of Education is considering a millage rate hike, writes co-publisher Mike Buffington. Every school system in Georgia is suffering from a budget crisis that has been building for the last few years.
The real question, he asks, is should the Barrow BOE raise the tax rate, or go back to 160-day calendar and make other cost cutting moves?
[Full Story »]
Graham: Barrow hit hard, but moving forward
Wednesday, May 1. 2013
Barrow County may have been hit hard by the recession, but it has weathered the worst of the nation’s financial storm and is showing signs of recovery, according to the chairman of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners.
In her first annual State of the County address, Pat Graham on April 24 gave the Barrow County Chamber of Commerce a presentation about where the county and its government stand.
Her overarching message was that while the downturn has severely affected Barrow County, the county is moving forward under new leadership.
“We have a new charter, a new manager, and a new role for our elected officials,” she said. “We have the opportunity to lay a foundation for the county that will serve to make Barrow County better.”
For the full story, see the May 1 issue of the Barrow Journal.
In her first annual State of the County address, Pat Graham on April 24 gave the Barrow County Chamber of Commerce a presentation about where the county and its government stand.
Her overarching message was that while the downturn has severely affected Barrow County, the county is moving forward under new leadership.
“We have a new charter, a new manager, and a new role for our elected officials,” she said. “We have the opportunity to lay a foundation for the county that will serve to make Barrow County better.”
For the full story, see the May 1 issue of the Barrow Journal.
17-year-old charged with child molestation
Wednesday, May 1. 2013
Nathaniel Clack, 17, of Scott Drive, Winder, has been arrested and charged with child molestation, aggravated sodomy and enticing a child for indecent purposes and will now be facing those charges in Barrow County Superior Court as an adult, according to authorities. The February 22 report from the Barrow County Sheriff's Office lists an approximate incident date of January 4.
For the full story, see the May 1 issue of the Barrow Journal.
For the full story, see the May 1 issue of the Barrow Journal.
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