TJO 8-10-16.indd

Friday Night
Lights 5K &
Fun Run.
Wildcat
Boosters Do
Dirty Work.
Meet the New Teachers
in Chattahoochee
and Stewart Counties
Contact us at 229-649-6397 or [email protected].
Page 2
Page 14
Page 2
For details: www.tjournal.com
Thank you for reading The Journal.
We offer print and online subscriptions.
Marion County • Schley County • Chattahoochee County • Webster County • Stewart County
Winner of Six GPA
Statewide Awards
in 2015
50¢
The Journal
Formerly The Tri-County Journal & Chattahoochee Chronicle
14 Pages • Volume 21, Number 30
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Buena Vista to get
new ‘Event Center’
By Richard
Harris
One of
Buena Vista’s historic
buildings on
“The Square”
is about to get
new life as an
event center.
Members
of the BueThe future home of ‘Fox Hall’.
na Vista City
Council got a brief overview of the creation of “Fox Hall”,
which will be located in the old “Charlie Clements Building”
at 104 East 4th Avenue.
Britt Moon said he and his wife, Angie, have already begun
renovations and plan to turn the old brick building into “something really nice for the town”.
Architecturally, they plan to return the building as close as
possible to its original appearance. They have already begun
to remove the thick coating of plaster from the inside walls in
order to reveal the attractive brick.
They have applied for a license to sell/serve alcohol, but
See FOX HALL, Page 8
Sis D’s BBQ opens in Cusseta
‘Faith, Family,
and Food’
By Richard Harris
Cusseta has a new restaurant,
as Sis D’s BBQ held its Grand
Opening on Saturday, August 6
with a nice crowd of supporters
on hand to celebrate the occasion.
“Our restaurant’s slogan is
‘Faith, Family, and Food’,”
said Gwendolyn Jefferson, part
owner. “We keep our faith, our
families are important to us, and
we love food.”
To say it’s a “family business”
would be an understatement, as
it’s owned by a combination of
six family members – Gwendolyn and her father Robert
Davis, Sr., along with her sister
Tomeria Lyles and three brothers, Tonie Davis, Sr., Norman
Davis, Sr., and Robert Davis II.
The name of the restaurant
pays tribute to the children’s
late mother, Edna “Sis” Davis,
who passed away a little over
From left: front row - Chaplain Lonzia Ghant, Columbus City Councilman Pop Barnes, Chattahoochee
County Manager Thomas Weaver, Sheriff Glynn Cooper, Gwendolyn Jefferson (part owner), Robert
Davis Sr. (part owner), Jeanie Field of the Chamber of Commerce, County Commissioner Rev. James
Morton; back row - Tonie Davis, Sr. (part owner), Tomeria Lyles (part owner), Norman Davis Sr. (part
owner), and Robert Davis II (part owner).
a year ago from complications
with diabetes.
“Sis D” and Robert owned and
operated a café/club for several
City of Ellaville to receive big
$150,000 grant for ‘Street-Scape’
By Linda Adams
The Ellaville City Council got some really good news recently.
A Local Maintenance Improvement Grant of $150,000 has been
awarded the city by the Department of Transportation as a way
to compensate for the financial
hardship caused by the original
contractor used on the StreetScape project. These funds must
be used only for street and sidewalk work.
By Linda Adams
That was one of many topThe City of Ellaville was
ics discussed during the recent
recently
notified that they
Council meeting. Another “hot”
are
to
receive
a USDA Grant
topic was the city’s chipper.
for
the
purchase
of a new paCity Manager Lynne McChatrol
vehicle.
rgue told the council that the
The grant, which was apchipper had caught on fire and
plied
for on behalf of the
was completely destroyed. She
Ellaville
Police Department
said that insurance funds were
by
City
Manager
Lynne Mcapplied for but that they would
Chargue,
is
in
the
amount
prefer a “grapple” truck which
of
$40,000.
The
funds
will
would pick up the debris and
purchase
and
equip
a
new
also provide chipping all in one
patrol unit to be added to the
vehicle.
Ellaville Police Department
Water damage from leakage in
fleet.
the City Center has resulted in
“We are pleased that the
needed repairs and refurbishing
of the facility. Estimates are being collected for the work.
A DOT Systems Safety Grant of $50,000 was applied for to replace all the signs within the City limits with the “high density”
signs that are more reflective and will be required by next year.
This grant will also pay for repainting the centerlines on the streets.
This work will not be done until 2017.
McChargue reported on the financials to the council and said that
the city was in better shape than the previous month. Councilman
Carlton Wilson remarked, “Never have I seen a nickel squeezed
any harder”.
The Georgia Department of
Transportation will begin the
resurfacing of GA Highway 26
from the red light in Ellaville
and east out to the county line at
Corinth Church Road.
City of Ellaville will be
Adoption of a new Special
the recipient of this USDA
Events Ordinance Resolution
funding,” McChargue said.
was voted on and passed. The
“Applying for grants and
City Manager will review and
receiving grant funds is cruapprove or deny applications for
cial to Ellaville’s growth. We
events on public property withare consistently applying for
in the city. Applications must be
grant funding for all areas
submitted no later than 30 days
of the City’s operations and
prior to the event. Anything
are very thankful when one
other than low-hazard activities
is awarded. We look forward
will have to be covered with the
to adding this new patrol
applicant’s insurance. Fees will
unit to the Police Departapply to events.
ment fleet. Having up-toThe group Nyu Hope 4 Ville
date equipment is necessary
presented a request for a varifor quality operations.”
ance to the city sign ordinance.
The group has worked on the
George Edwards Park on the
east portion of the John Lewis School property and wants to erect
a 4x8 sign at the right-of-way access off Kings Road. Linda Adams
showed the council a representation of the sign and a map of the
area showing twelve property owners on adjacent lots. Otis Hudson canvased the owners and found no objections to the sign being
placed on the entrance to the Park. The variance was granted.
Ellaville Police Department
gets grant for new patrol vehicle
years, so cooking for the public is not a new concept for
the family. The siblings started
cooking in the parking lot for
various fundraisers and folks
liked the food so much that they
suggested they open an actual
See RESTAURANT, Page 12
Buena Vista Police
to fingerprint more
when investigating
Public Works Supervisor resigns,
Unauthorized event is cancelled
By Richard Harris
The Buena Vista City
Council discussed a more
vigorous use of fingerprinting by the Police Department, learned that the Public
Works Supervisor turned in
a letter of resignation, and
discussed various other issues during its recent regular monthly meeting.
The way a recent breakin was handled has led to
changes in the operation of
the Buena Vista Police Department, which has vowed
to be more proactive in investigating crimes through
the use of fingerprinting.
It was actually not technically a “break-in” as the
local resident said she had
left her door unlocked. At
any rate, someone entered
her home during the night
and only fled after realizing
that someone was awake
inside the house. She was
understandably shaken up
and called the Police Department.
She was not entirely
pleased with the response,
including the lack of dusting for fingerprints until a
number of days later. At that
time, a thumbprint that could
have been left by the mysterious intruder was found
near the door handle, but so
far it has not led to a suspect.
During the recent City
Council meeting, Police
Chief Ray Sales apologized
for the delay in fingerprinting. He noted that steps have
been taken to avoid similar situations in the future.
These include having a fingerprint kit in each patrol car
and instructing all officers to
make sure it remains in the
car for the next officer who
comes on duty.
Mayor Ralph Brown also
apologized to the resident
and said city officials will
See BV, Page 13
Buena Vista & Ellaville host Back to School Giveaways/Parties
City of Buena Vista rocks Courthouse Square
The lawn of the Marion County Courthouse was packed with
youngsters last Saturday afternoon/evening as the City of
Buena Vista hosted a Back to
School Giveaway and Party.
Many children received free
school supplies thanks to local
businesses and individuals who
made donations for the event.
Other highlights included live
entertainment, inspirational advice, games, and prizes.
One of the special guests was
Buena Vista native Michael
“Ozone” Grier, who gave a motivational speech to the children
and also provided some live
entertainment. He talked about
his background, his roots in the
small town of Buena Vista, his
education, and his current professional life as a probation officer.
See PARTY, Page 14
Buena Vista native Michael “Ozone” Grier came home and performed for the youngsters at this year’s Back To School Giveaway
and Party. For more photos from the event and a video clip of
Grier performing, visit www.tjournal.com.
Ellaville provides supplies, health help, & fun
By Linda Adams
The Schley County Health
Department building was
crowded last Saturday with
kids and their parents collecting school supplies. There
were ten different groups
dispensing supplies, refreshments and also information
about a host of services and
organizations.
Organized by Schley County
Health Department and Schley
County Family Connection,
the event gave out school supplies to over 150 low-income
kids. Family Connection Coordinator John Greene helped
the kids get the supplies they
need for school through donations from individuals and
businesses throughout the
community.
“Special thanks to all individSee PARTY, Page 13
John Greene of Schley County Family Connection with some of the
participants and visitors, including a couple of local youngsters who
received free items to help them get the school year off to a good
start.