Almost a year after becoming seriously injured in Afghanistan, U.S. Army Private First Class Sam Walley of Winder is coming home. The 2010 graduate of Winder-Barrow High School is scheduled to arrive in Barrow County around 3:30-4 p.m. Thursday, May 30. Local veterans groups are asking the community to come out to greet the 20-year-old soldier as he comes through town.
The vehicles will come up Highway 11 from Interstate 20, through Social Circle into Winder, then west on May Street and north on North Broad Street. AMVETS Riders Chapter 13, American Legion Riders, AMVETS Post 12, the Patriot Guard and other groups are providing an escort. Barrow County and Oconee County sheriff’s deputies, along with other law enforcement agencies, will serve as a police escort.
[Full Story »]
Entries by Susan Norman
Injured local soldier coming home May 30
Friday, May 24. 2013
One lane of North Broad closing overnight Tuesday, Wednesday
Monday, May 20. 2013
The Georgia Department of Transportation says overnight work will require the closing of a portion of the northbound lane of North Broad Street for a project in downtown Winder this week on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. The closures from Athens Street to Midland Avenue will be from 9 each night until 6 a.m. the following day.
"These are the only lane closures planned this week and will occur if weather cooperates," said GDOT spokeswoman Teri Pope. "Parking spaces will be closed overnight as crews work in these areas." [Full Story »]
"These are the only lane closures planned this week and will occur if weather cooperates," said GDOT spokeswoman Teri Pope. "Parking spaces will be closed overnight as crews work in these areas." [Full Story »]
Local event to honor older Americans
Saturday, May 18. 2013
Updated: 5 days ago
The Barrow County Senior Center is hosting an event Thursday night in Winder to recognize the contributions of older Americans in this community.
Held in conjunction with Older Americans Month, the center will pay tribute to three local leaders who have devoted much of their lives to helping Winder and Barrow County. The honorees will include Barrow County commissioner and high school coach Isaiah Berry, former Winder mayor Buddy Ouzts and retired physician, Dr. C.B. Skelton.
Also recognized at the May 23 event will be seniors who continue to help the community by volunteering with various organizations. The event will be from 7-9 p.m. in the Colleen O. Williams Theater of the Winder Cultural Arts Center. The public is invited.
Held in conjunction with Older Americans Month, the center will pay tribute to three local leaders who have devoted much of their lives to helping Winder and Barrow County. The honorees will include Barrow County commissioner and high school coach Isaiah Berry, former Winder mayor Buddy Ouzts and retired physician, Dr. C.B. Skelton.
Also recognized at the May 23 event will be seniors who continue to help the community by volunteering with various organizations. The event will be from 7-9 p.m. in the Colleen O. Williams Theater of the Winder Cultural Arts Center. The public is invited.
Free summer food program for kids starts May 21
Saturday, May 18. 2013
The Barrow County School System has added another week to its free summer food program at the county’s two high schools. Any local child 18 years old and younger may eat both breakfast and lunch for free. No registration is required, and the children do not have to be enrolled in the public schools to participate. The federally funded program starts Tuesday, May 21, and is offered on Mondays-Thursdays through June 27.
“The date was changed up a week because Apalachee High School’s extended summer classes are starting on the 21st and we wanted to be able to feed these children,” said Pamela LeFrois, the school system’s director of school nutrition.
The food will be freshly prepared each day and served in the cafeterias of AHS and Winder-Barrow High School. Breakfast is from 7-8:30 a.m. and will include cereals, breads, proteins such as turkey sausage and chicken, juices, fresh fruits, and milk. Lunch is from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and will include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads, meats, cheeses and milk.
“The date was changed up a week because Apalachee High School’s extended summer classes are starting on the 21st and we wanted to be able to feed these children,” said Pamela LeFrois, the school system’s director of school nutrition.
The food will be freshly prepared each day and served in the cafeterias of AHS and Winder-Barrow High School. Breakfast is from 7-8:30 a.m. and will include cereals, breads, proteins such as turkey sausage and chicken, juices, fresh fruits, and milk. Lunch is from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and will include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads, meats, cheeses and milk.
New water rate amended after error discovered
Wednesday, May 15. 2013
Barrow County’s wholesale water rate in July may not jump as high as expected, because the county government’s rate analysis was wrong.
Instead of raising the rate to $2.60 per 1,000 gallons, the county will raise it to $2.22 for any municipal system that contracts to purchase at least 300,000 gallons of water each day. The rate without the minimum volume obligation would be $2.80.
County manager Jock Connell told the Barrow Journal that the calculation error was discovered while he and Auburn city administrator Ron Griffith were discussing the county’s rate analysis May 9. The one-page analysis is a chart that shows the county’s costs of providing water from the Bear Creek Reservoir and various rates based on those costs and sales volumes. [Full Story »]
Instead of raising the rate to $2.60 per 1,000 gallons, the county will raise it to $2.22 for any municipal system that contracts to purchase at least 300,000 gallons of water each day. The rate without the minimum volume obligation would be $2.80.
County manager Jock Connell told the Barrow Journal that the calculation error was discovered while he and Auburn city administrator Ron Griffith were discussing the county’s rate analysis May 9. The one-page analysis is a chart that shows the county’s costs of providing water from the Bear Creek Reservoir and various rates based on those costs and sales volumes. [Full Story »]
Officials try to verify reason Peskin missed court date
Wednesday, May 15. 2013
Updated: 4 days ago
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 had 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. [Full Story »]
Clerk Megan Williams said Tuesday that chief Dennis Dorsey told her that Peskin had a lawful excuse for missing court — he had 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. [Full Story »]
Local seniors set to graduate
Wednesday, May 15. 2013
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.
Apalachee High School’s graduation ceremony is scheduled for 8 p.m. Thursday, May 16, in the R. Harold Harrison Stadium. Winder-Barrow High School’s ceremony will be at 8 p.m. Friday, May 17, in the W. Clair Harris Stadium. Both events are open to the public, unless rain forces them indoors to the schools’ gymnasiums. If that happens, admission will be restricted to family members. [Full Story »]
Apalachee High School’s graduation ceremony is scheduled for 8 p.m. Thursday, May 16, in the R. Harold Harrison Stadium. Winder-Barrow High School’s ceremony will be at 8 p.m. Friday, May 17, in the W. Clair Harris Stadium. Both events are open to the public, unless rain forces them indoors to the schools’ gymnasiums. If that happens, admission will be restricted to family members. [Full Story »]
Father of BOC member could face charges in helicopter incident involving Sonny Perdue
Wednesday, May 15. 2013
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.
He said the pilot could be “a Japanese” and he asked the deputy to write the pilot a citation “or let the National Guard shoot him down.”
Then Shook added: “I have a shooting range on my property. If he keeps threatening me he’s in trouble. I’ll make sure I keep all my bullets in my airspace.”
See complete story in May 15 print edition of Barrow Journal.
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.
He said the pilot could be “a Japanese” and he asked the deputy to write the pilot a citation “or let the National Guard shoot him down.”
Then Shook added: “I have a shooting range on my property. If he keeps threatening me he’s in trouble. I’ll make sure I keep all my bullets in my airspace.”
See complete story in May 15 print edition of Barrow Journal.
Mixed results on latest writing tests
Wednesday, May 8. 2013
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 5th graders failed to meet the state’s minimum standard on the writing test, and one in 10 students in the 8th 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 5th graders statewide (21 percent). But the performance of Barrow 5th graders overall slipped about 2 percent this year.
[Full Story »]
Though local students in both lower grade levels did better than their counterparts across the state, one in six Barrow County 5th graders failed to meet the state’s minimum standard on the writing test, and one in 10 students in the 8th 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 5th graders statewide (21 percent). But the performance of Barrow 5th graders overall slipped about 2 percent this year.
[Full Story »]
Top administrator, principal resign from Barrow schools
Wednesday, May 8. 2013
One of the five members of school superintendent Wanda Creel’s “executive cabinet” has resigned — and his wife, the principal of Bethlehem Elementary School, has decided to retire.
Jake Grant, assistant superintendent for facilities, has accepted an offer to become the chief operations officer of the Oconee County school system. His last day in Barrow County is May 31.
Marisa Grant, who has worked at three Barrow County elementary schools over nine years, is retiring effective June 30.
The couple submitted their letters of resignation last week. The Barrow County Board of Education accepted Jake Grant’s resignation following a closed session April 30. The Oconee County Board of Education was scheduled to make his appointment May 6.
Jake Grant has worked for Barrow County’s school system since May 2001.
See full story in May 8 print edition of the Barrow Journal.
Jake Grant, assistant superintendent for facilities, has accepted an offer to become the chief operations officer of the Oconee County school system. His last day in Barrow County is May 31.
Marisa Grant, who has worked at three Barrow County elementary schools over nine years, is retiring effective June 30.
The couple submitted their letters of resignation last week. The Barrow County Board of Education accepted Jake Grant’s resignation following a closed session April 30. The Oconee County Board of Education was scheduled to make his appointment May 6.
Jake Grant has worked for Barrow County’s school system since May 2001.
See full story in May 8 print edition of the Barrow Journal.
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