Sen. Isakson`s speech heartbeat of GOP banquet

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VOLUME 8, ISSUE 7 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014 | WWW.FANNINSENTINEL.COM
Sen. Isakson’s speech heartbeat of GOP banquet
More than 200 attended annual event
By Marci Watson, Sentinel Staff Writer
The Fannin County Republican
Party Valentine Banquet was held
at Willow Creek Falls & Vineyard
on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014.
GOP Chairman Johnny Scearce
began the evening’s program by
warmly welcoming the crowd.
Chad Galloway led the invocation
followed by Elaine Owen leading
the Pledge of Allegiance and band
member Pete George singing the
National Anthem.
The Party’s decorating committee outdid themselves with a
red and white holiday theme. A
wonderful meal was prepared by
Black Sheep Restaurant and the
EDQG7RSSHUJDYHD¿UVWFODVVSHUformance while attendees socialized and dined.
U.S. Representative Doug
Collins, GA State Senator Steve
Gooch and U.S. Senatorial Candidate Karen Handel were in attendance. Fannin County Commission Chairman Bill Simonds,
Post One Commissioner Earl
Johnson, Post Two Commissioner
Larry Joe Sosebee, Mayor Donna
Whitener and many other elected
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Georgia House Speaker Rep.
Speaker of the House David Ralston introduced Sen. Johnny Isakson.
U.S. Representative Doug Collins
U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson tells Fannin County he won’t forget them.
State Senator Steve Gooch with son Samuel and Post 2 Commissioner U.S. Senate candidate Karen Handel
Larry Joe Sosebee.
David Ralston gave a brief speech
before introducing U.S. Senator
Johnny Isakson. With the Georgia
General Assembly reconvening on
Monday, Feb. 17, Ralston took the
opportunity to outline priorities in
legislation for the remainder of this
legislative session.
“The Republican majority in the
House of Representatives allows
me to do the job of representing the
conservative values of this part of
Georgia,” Ralston said.
Some prominent tasks ahead
in the next 40 days for the House
includes a balanced budget. With
state revenues increasing, his focus is on funding the state’s rainy
day fund and an increase in pay for
state employees and teachers may
be in the works.
Gun rights for college students is
also on Ralston’s mind. He hopes
to move that legislation on to the
Senate. Abortion control and Medicaid legislation were also on the
priority list.
Ralston asked the FCRP for their
support in the May GOP Primary.
“It’s not going to be a pretty camSDLJQ´ KH LQWRQHG ³, ZLOO ¿JKW
See GOP BANQUET pg 2A
Fannin County Board of Commissioners
Chairman Bill Simonds and with Glenda.
Fire & Ice Chili Cook-Off
heats up Blue Ridge
By Elaine Owen, Editor
It was a week of snow, ice
and freezing temperatures.
After three days of closed
schools, closed government,
black ice and weather warnings, Blue Ridge was ready
for a change.
It came Saturday, Feb. 15
when the 4th Annual Jim
Thompson Memorial Fire &
Ice Chili Cook Off came to
Blue Ridge. It began early-at 8 a.m. cooks and chefs
from several counties began
to make chili in the downtown depot area. It wasn’t
long before the tantalizing aroma of spices, meat,
and onions began wafting
through the air--enticing
residents and visitors alike
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it was.
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the source of the aroma,
First Place Winner - Youth Category: Syndey and the hard-at-work chefs,
Lyons of the team Batman & Robin, cooked chili cookers, and others who
were stirring up big pots of
in honor of her sick Grandfather.
Fannin
Sentinel
P.O. Box 799
Blue Ridge, GA 30513
Thursday
Friday
chili and other tasty morsels.
With 15 entrants of mixed
nationalities and tastes, the
smells of pungent spices
and yeasty breads attracted
more people as the sun rose.
The 15 who took the challenge to “Be the Best” were:
1 - Blue Ridge Community
Theater; 2 - Red Hot Chili
Preppers; 3 - Grilling GangVWHUV :DIÀH .LQJ Mercier Orchards; 6 - Boro
Inn Irish Pub; 7 - Tommy
Wosyluk
Construction;
8 - Blue Ridge Brewery;
9 - Copperhead Lodge; 10
- Christy Lee’s Courtyard
Grille; 11 - Batman and
Robin; 12 - PaChang!; 13 Harvest on Main; 14 - Faith
Presbyterian Church; 15 Grandpa Bill’s Wild Turkey
Chili.
Chili was not the only attraction in Blue Ridge. Ice
carvers converged on down
See FIRE & ICE pg 9A
Saturday
McCaysville bridge to be
named after “Boss” Mull
By Marci Watson, Sentinel Staff Writer
Before a packed audience of
the Mull family, the City of McCaysville Mayor and Council
passed a resolution to request the
concrete bridge on Blue Ridge
Drive (Hwy. 5) be named the William T. “Boss” Mull bridge.
Mayor Thomas Seabolt and
Council unanimously voted in favor of the request and signed the
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be forwarded to Speaker of the
House David Ralston.
Boss Mull served as Chief of
Sunday
Monday
Police in McCaysville, GA before
being killed in the line of duty
Mar. 5, 1955. Mull was in law enforcement for 46 years and died at
the age of 67.
Blue Ridge Police Chief Johnny
Scearce, who was present at the
meeting, is Mull’s grandson.
“My dad was a good man. He
was dearly loved by many city
residents. My dad would give kids
who had missed the school bus a
ride to school. He was known to
provide groceries to those that
Tuesday
Wednesday
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needed food.” said Boss’ son,
Dennis Mull.
Council reports included Police
Commissioner Tommy Quintrell
regarding the Police Department.
Chief W.L. Panter has accepted
a position with Fannin County in
Drug Court and will be soon be
leaving the McCaysville Police
Dept.
Quintrell made a motion to promote Lloyd Bennett to replace
Panter. The motion was seconded
See “BOSS” MULL pg 6A