Edition Highlights: Crossing named for late youth Summertime fun in Dawson County Two from emergency services honored Teachers of the year announced
July 2014
The Member Newsletter of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce
Post Office Box 299 44 Commerce Drive Dawsonville, GA 30534 (706) 265-6278
Breakfast supports Family Connection Annual event draws crowd By David Renner drenner@dawsonnews.com
Local “celebrities” and community members alike packed LongHorn Steakhouse on June 6 as Family Connection of Dawson County held its sixth annual Celebrity Waiter breakfast. Nearly a dozen “celebrity” waiters poured coffee, cleaned Dawson County Commissioner James Swafford, far right, serves up fresh coffee to Brooke Anderson, left, and Tim Collins, center.
spills and cleared plates during the organization’s lone fundraiser of the year. “This year, all of the profits will go toward our new focus on child sexual abuse prevention, Stewards of Children,” said Nancy Stites, director of Family Connection. “The money raised here goes to the different programs that we head to help families succeed.” Part of a statewide collaborative of community initiatives, Family Connection brings community partners together to develop, implement and evaluate See EVENT | 2
The Chickfil-A cows poses with Dawson County Chamber of Commerce employees and representatives during last month’s breakfast.
David Renner Dawson Community News
Servers dished out breakfast to a packed restaurant hungry to help local support organization Family Connection.
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JULY 2014
Who inspires you? I just came back from the Southeast Institute for Organizational Management. It is a five day intensive learning opportunity that gathers chamber executives and staff from across the southeast together to brainstorm and learn ways to improve their organizations and help improve their communities. On the last day of the institute, we took a class from a veteran business executive who asked the class: “Who inspires you?” We turned to our partners to discuss and my partner and I had the exact same answer — our small business owners.As we went around the class explaining our answers, there was a common theme of parents, children who have overcome obstacles, a few famous leaders such as Maya Angelou and
Haynes
then the facilitator got to my partner and me. When we gave our answer, the room
went quiet. I tell this story as a way of saying thank you to all of our small business owners. You are an inspiration to me every single day. When asked in this class what made us both instantly think of our small business owners, my partner, who is also from Georgia, and I explained that we are inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit, the absolute drive and dedication of our small business owners to not give up and to achieve success. We understand that through the unstable economy and strain on
resources experienced in recent years, many of our small business owners have struggled, have stayed awake at night wondering how they will keep their doors open and pay their employees, have had to find ways to be innovative as needs have changed in their respective fields. These individuals inspire me because I believe in the entrepreneurial spirit and have the utmost respect for those who chose to take risks and build a business. One of the greatest joys of my job is having the opportunity to help a business grow and prosper. Whether you have an idea for your business but aren’t sure how to get it just right or you are looking to hire employees and need help with the process, I hope you will look to our organization to help you. We
‘One of the greatest joys of my job is having the opportunity to help a business grow and prosper.’
CHAMBer of CoMMerCe 2014 BoArD of DireCTorS Brooke Anderson
Etowah Water and Sewer Authority
James Askew
United Community Bank-Dawsonville
Charlie Auvermann
Development Authority of Dawson County
Jennifer Baker
United Community Bank-Dawsonville
James Bearden
Bearden Funeral Home
Mike Berg
Dawson County Board of Commissioners
Carla Boutin
exist to be your resource and to ensure a strong local economy. No issue, idea or question is too large to small. Our small businesses not only inspire us, but continue to excite us to find new opportunities for success. Hopefully it is easy for you to understand who inspires me, but my question to you is: “Who inspires you?” Christie Haynes President
State Farm Insurance
Calvin Byrd
Byrd’s Mini Storage-Dawson 400
Jeb Chatham
Chatham and Rea, Attorneys at Law PC
Chris Gaines
Taylor, Turner & Hartsfield
James Grogan
City of Dawsonville
Christie Haynes
Dawson County Chamber of Commerce, tourism development
Peter Hill
Hill Design Associates Architects, Inc.
Steve Melching
Big Canoe Homeowners Association
Damon Gibbs
Dawson County Board of Education
froM 1
Event plans that address the serious challenges facing local children and families. “This is my third year being a waiter,” said Doris Cook, who was representing the local board of education. “I’ve always been here to support Family Connection. This breakfast brings a good message about what Family Connection does for the community.”
The “celebrity” wait staff also included county commissioners, city council members, state leaders and a variety of volunteers from numerous service organizations. “We want people to be aware of Family Connection and the need to strengthen our families and children in our community,” Stites said. “I think this is good way to sit and come together as a community.” Customers seemed to agree, as they packed the restaurant. “This is the second or third year I’ve come out to support this.
Family Connection does fantastic work here,” said Marjorie Poss, one of the counselors at the high school. “Getting the community involved is the most important thing, and that’s what Family Connection is all about. They connect the resources to the people that need it. It’s the best joint effort that I think we [at the school] do.” More than 200 people attended the breakfast, which raised more than $5,000. The funds will be reinvested in the community through various programs that benefit local children.
Mandy Power BB&T
Denny Putlak
Denny Insurance Group
Libby Smith SleeveCo Inc.
Carol Tyger Individual
Mike Underwood
First Citizens Bank of Georgia
Gloria Wyatt
Northside Hospital-Forsyth
Seanie Zappendorf Discovery Parts Inc.
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JULY 2014
• SCHOOL YEAR • NEW TO DAWSON A preview of the COUNTY? 2014-15 school A newcomer’s year in Dawson guide to assist County you
• VOLUNTEER & CONNECT Our county’s non-profit and support groups
Dawson Living “Where quality of life matters” Advertise in this glossy magazine style guide to reach Dawson County residents. Distributed to every student and teacher in the Dawson County school system the first week of the 2014-15 school year and inserted in Dawson Community News on July 30th. Also on dawsonnews.com for a full year!
Reservation Deadline: Tuesday, July 15 Call Jennifer Lyness at 770-205-8962 or email jlyness@forsythnews.com to reserve ad space
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CALeNDAr of eveNTS July 10 – Join the chamber for its monthly lunch at noon at Peach Brandy Cottage. Featured speaker will be Robert Murphy with GDOT. Call (706) 265-6278 to make your reservations by phone. July 11 – Join the chamber in celebrating new member North Georgia Academy of Martial Arts with a ribbon cutting at 3 p.m. at 142 Prestige Lane, Suite 300. July 11 – Join the chamber in celebrating our new member We Be Bouncing with a ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. at the chamber office at 44 Commerce Drive. July 11 – Moonlight and Music on the Lawn, featuring Sounds of Sawnee Jazz Band, will begin at 6 p.m. at the Bowen Center for the Arts. Tickets are $5 at the door. July 12 – Canoe the Etowah in Dawson Forest with the Upper Etowah River Alliance from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Canoes and Kayaks available, with costs for two-person canoes and kayaks at $50 and one-person sit-on or sit-in kayaks at $35. Bring your own boat shuttle fee of $12. Registration is required. To register, call Upper Etowah River Alliance Director Diane Minick at (770) 704-5479. July 15 – Join the chamber for Business After Hours from 5 to 7 p.m. at K.C. Fuller and Associates, 137 Prominence Court, Suite 240. The chamber would also like to thank cash drawing sponsors, Mills Fuel Service, Anderson Family Medicine, The Norton Agency, Kristie Myers and John Drew, and Northside Hospital Forsyth. July 16 and 17 – Join the Hike Inn for Hike and Paddle Combo. To register, contact Eric Graves at reservations@hike-inn.com. July 26 – The Shine Pedalers Metric, a bike ride through Dawson County, will begin and end at Dawsonville City Hall. Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. and the ride starts at 7:30 a.m. Volunteers are still needed. For more information, or if you are able to work at one of the water stations for this event, contact the chamber at (706) 265-6278. July 26 – The Grapevine Band: 60s 70s 80s Favorites will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Terraces at Big Canoe, 10455 Big Canoe. For more information, call (770) 893-1299. Aug. 7 – Women of the Chamber, sponsored by BankSouth Mortgage Debi Campbell and Hometown Real Estate Group - Karmen Pharris, will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the chamber. Feel free to drop in at any time your schedule permits and enjoy some wine and cheese and a time of casual networking with women in business in our community. It’s a by women, for women, for sharing event. Admission is $3 for members and $5 for non-members. For more information, contact the chamber at (706) 265-6278. Aug. 9 – Kharisma: R&B, Jazz and Motown will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Terraces at Big Canoe, located at 10455 Big Canoe. For more information, call (770) 893-1299.
JULY 2014
Local doctor rides to support reading Local doctor and Rotarian Brian Burke will be cycling across Colorado to raise money for literacy charity WEE Books.
By David Renner
drenner@dawsonnews.com
After jumping in a cold lake in February for three years in a row, Brian Burke has now decided to find a warmer way to raise money for literacy. Burke, a local optometrist and Rotarian, is working in connection with Dawson County WEE Books to help the local non-profit raise money for its campaign to educate the county’s children. “After jumping into the lake for three years in a row for Leap for Literacy, I thought that there had to be a warmer way to show my support for WEE Books,” he said. “[WEE Books volunteer] Jane Graves approached me after one of our Rotary meetings about the rides I had done and I decided to do the ride and help raise money for WEE Books at the same time.” The WEE Books program puts age-appropriate books in the hands of preschool children, from birth to 5 years, to receive free, each month. The program is made possible by a partnership with the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy and the WEE Books Community Action Team. “I got into ultra-distance riding from when I used to do triathlons,” Burke said. “As I got older, my knees started to wear out and I looked into a different
For the Dawson Community News
kind of riding.” Burke will ride 750 miles in the Colorado Mountains for the Colorado High Country 1200. The ride will take place July 15 -18. The Colorado High Country 1200 explores the Northern Colorado Rockies and the Wyoming Snowy Range. The climbs are described as long, but not steep, with altitudes only above 10,000 feet.
Office: 706-216-4806 Fax: 706-216-4807 kfuller@alltel.net
“I know what education does for you and it has always been an emphasis for me,” Burke said. “Rich or poor, a good education does much for the life of kids. Helping kids to be able to read – that alone is enough of a motivation for me.” For more information on Burke’s ride or how to sponsor WEE Books, call (706) 216-0173 or email dawsoncountyweebooks@gmail.com.
P.O Box 1096 137 Prominence Court Suite 240 Dawsonville, GA 30534
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JULY 2014
Business breeds exotic flowers By David Renner
drenner@dawsonnews.com
David Renner Dawson Community News
Angels Party Store owners Jerry Harris, center, and wife Cerue, holding ribbon at right, are joined by Dawson County Chamber of Commerce representatives during the store’s June 6 ribbon cutting.
Party supply store opens in Dawson By David Renner
drenner@dawsonnews.com
Dawson County has everything it could ever need to hold a party in one convenient location. Angels Party Store officially joined the chamber of commerce with a ribbon cutting June 6. “We are very excited for this store. I think this store has been the talk of the town ever since advertisements started going out,” said Chamber President Christie Haynes. “They are really fulfilling a need here, because there hasn’t been a dedicated party store here for as long as I can remember.” Owners Jerry and Cerue Harris
said they searched for some time before finally finding a place they believed would fit the store. “We looked around for a very good spot for some time until we found this place,” Jerry Harris said. “We really hope we can meet everyone’s party needs.” The store is designed to hold anything shoppers could ever need to throw any type of party. “I hope that everyone will shop here. If anyone has any special orders, we can fill them here,” Harris said. “I hope we will be everyone’s one-stop shop for party supplies.” The store is located in the Kroger shopping center and can be reached at (706) 265-1079.
For people looking for exotic and uncommon plants, one of the chamber’s newest members has everything needed. The Dawson County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for Jungle Paradise Daylilies and Exotic Plants on June 4 to welcome the business to the community. Owner Suzanne Franklin said that, originally, the business was just for fun. “This all started as a hobby that turned business for me,” she said. “I didn’t really know how to market it, so I approached the chamber.” It’s now one of the more asked about members. “People are calling and asking about Jungle Paradise, so I think the word is really getting out about it,”
said chamber president Christie Haynes. “We’re really excited about having this type of business here.” Jungle Paradise offers a wide variety of plants, specializing in custom daylilies. “Eighty percent of what we have here are my creations and cross-pollinations,” Franklin said. “It takes me two years to cross-pollinate, grow and get a bloom. I would rather make healthy plants that take longer and survive than fast flowering plants that might die quickly.” As for hours, Franklin said that she is happy to show her plants off almost any time. “I’m really open all the time, except for church on Sundays,” she said. Jungle Paradise is at 929 Mill Creek Dr., Dawsonville. For more information, call (678) 410-6830.
David Renner Dawson Community News
Jungle Paradise owner Suzanne Franklin, center, joins the chamber on cutting the ribbon outside of her home-run business on June 4.
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JULY 2014
Chestatee Paint Center joins chamber By David Renner
Chestatee Paint Center owner Michael R y a n , c e n t e r, cuts the ribbon on the store’s new Quill Drive location.
Drenner@dawsonnews.com
Quality paints and know-how are now available locally. Chestatee Paint Center, a Benjamin Moore affiliate, recently cut the ribbon on its new Quill Drive location, off of Ga. 400. “I’ve always been in the painting business, but most of the time it’s been out on the job,” said owner Michael Ryan. “I’ve experienced pretty much every product in this store by using it. I know the products, how good they are and how well they work.” Ryan said that when the opportunity to purchase his own store came up, after some time of thinking, he took the plunge. “Looking around the store, the product really speaks for itself. They have a great selection of colors,” said Chamber President Christie Haynes. “It’s a great time to be a home improvement store, as residential and commercial building is picking back up.” The store at 355 Quill Drive, Suite 120 is open from 7:30 a.m.-5p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.
‘Pups in the Park’ set for fall By Michele Hester mhester@dawsonnews.com
Plans are under way for the Dawson County Humane Society’s inaugural Pups in the Park Dog Show later this fall. Set to take place Oct. 11 at Rock Creek Park, the event is a collaborative fundraiser by several local organizations in support of the county’s animal shelter. “With a joint effort from Dawson County civic organizations including the Lions Club, Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club, Woman’s Club, and chamber of commerce, the event will offer fun for all ages,” said Carolyn Bowen, humane society president. Among the activities planned, spectators can expect to be entertained by contests with prizes for silliest pet
trick, owner and dog look-a-likes and cutest pup. There will also be search and rescue demonstrations and agility presentations, as well as a number of vendors and live entertainment. Proceeds from the event benefit the no kill shelter and its volunteers’ efforts to find homes for the county’s homeless pets. “Most of our revenue is generated through fundraising events such as the dog show and donations from our generous supporters. Only a third of our operating expenses are generated from county revenues even though we are under contract to provide services to all animals picked up by county animal control,” Bowen said. For more information, visit www. dawsoncountyhumanesociety.org.
David
Renner
D a w s o n Community News
MeMBerSHiP WorkS “I’m a long-time supporter and believer in the Dawson County chamber. I like the new direction and I like the membership participation, like the groups asked when designing the new web site.” — Terry Cooksey, 400 North Board of Realtors (770) 503-4167 Below are some of the chamber membership benefits Terry Cooksey has taken advantage of that are offered to all members: • Referral services • Brochure and business card display • Advertising • Directory listing upgrades, website banner ads, ads in printed directory • Website • Members can post events, hot deals, job postings and details about their businesses on our online directory for no additional charge • Articles in local newspapers • New members receive promotional articles • Hosted ribbon cuttings, ground breakings and grand openings • Sponsorship opportunities • Place promotional materials in relocation/new resident packets
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Medical Plaza welcomes chamber to facility By Michele Hester
mhester@dawsonnews.com
Staff at Medical Plaza 400 welcomed members of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce to its facility in June for the chamber’s monthly Business After Hours event. “Thank you all for coming out. It’s really heartwarming to see everybody come out on a beautiful summer afternoon,” said Administrator Jo Brewer. Northeast Georgia Health System’s Medical Plaza 400 opened in Dawson County in the spring of 2013. Located at 108 Prominence Drive, the 25,000-square-foot facility offers services such as
A
Jo Brewer, administrator at Medical Plaza 400, reads the name of the winner of the monthly drawing during the chamber’s June Business After Hours event.
urgent care, imaging, outpatient labs, sports medicine and specialty physicians. “It is heartwarming to know that the building is doing great,” Brewer said. “All the medical facilities have been busy. We’re doing well out in Dawsonville, and it just goes to show how needed medical facilities were in the county, so we are just thrilled to be here.” The next Business After Hours event will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. July 15 at KC Fuller & Associates, LLC, which will be celebrating their 10 year anniversary. The firm is at 137 Prominence Court, Suite 240, Dawsonville.
Anderson Family Medicine
Amanda Head Dawson Community News
Dr. Larry Anderson has been proudly serving the Dawsonville Community for nine years as your neighborhood doctor. Our friendly, experienced staff provides excellent care for the whole family. COME SEE US AT OUR NEW LOCATION: 81 Northside Dawson Drive, Suite 205 Dawsonville, GA 30534 Convenient location • Same day appointments available Accepting new patients • Accepts most insurance plans Call (706) 265-1335 to schedule an appointment today. Walk-ins welcome.
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Official to outline intersection plan By Michele Hester
mhester@dawsonnews.com
A makeover is in the works for one of Dawson County’s busiest intersections. With work on the crossing of Ga. 400 and Hwy. 53 approaching, the project’s manager will be in town Thursday to discuss what motorists should expect when construction to the state’s first continuous flow intersection begins early next year. Robert Murphy is the guest speaker at the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce’s monthly luncheon to be held at noon at Peach Brandy Cottage. In a first for the state, the plan calls for a continuous flow intersection designed to move left-turning vehicles out of traffic’s main flow by using a series of access roads and longer leftturn lanes both east and west on Hwy. 53. The DOT began acquiring property for the $13 million renovation in 2012. The concept also includes displaced left turn lanes on Ga. 400, which stop left turning traffic about 750 feet before the turn onto Hwy. 53. When the left-turn signal turns green,
motorists will drive across the oncoming lanes into new lanes on the far left side of the road. Another left-turn signal then will prompt drivers to complete the left turn. Construction is expected to take 18 months “at the longest” to complete and would be staged so as not to disrupt traffic, according to Murphy. Based on a recent traffic analysis, an estimated 68,000 motorists will pass through the crossing daily by 2025. That’s nearly two times the current volume. Officials have said the design will allow more traffic through the intersection, improve visibility and lower pollution by thinning congestion. It’s also less expensive than previous design ideas. Among the previous options considered by the DOT were several styles of interchanges, “flyover” bridges and a roundabout. At one point, the DOT estimated it would cost $120 million to build a full interchange.
JULY 2014
Deputy fire chief talks to chamber members
Michele Hester Dawson Community News
Tim Satterfield, Dawson County Emergency Services deputy chief, outlined the department’s Community Risk Deduction program during the chamber’s June luncheon held at Peach Brandy Cottage. The program is designed to help identify fire and life-saving risks, prioritize those risks, determine how to prevent or mitigate them and encourage community members to take active roles in the process.
Teachers of the Year for 2015 named By David Renner
drenner@dawsonnews.com
The Dawson County Board of Education has announced its list of Teachers of the Year for 2015. The list, released by Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum Lisa Perry, is compiled by the staff for each school. Elementary school teachers of the year for 2015 are Natosha Beary for Black’s Mill, Jennifer Fuller for Kilough, Lisa Bessiere for Robinson and Kathy
Hanofee for Riverview. Middle school teachers are Kim Dutton for Dawson County Middle and Ellen Harrison for Riverview Middle. High school teachers Spencer Wright for Dawson County High and Niki Kenny for Hightower Academy were named in the final category. District teachers will be voted on later in the year, where a system-wide teacher of the year will be named during the yearly banquet held in the fall.
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Community News earns nine statewide awards From staff reports
The Dawson Community News earned four first-place awards and nine overall Friday night in the Georgia Press Association’s annual Better Newspaper Contest. The awards were presented at the GPA’s annual banquet at Jekyll Island. The Dawson Community News earned first-place awards in lifestyle, religion and education coverage, as well as for layout and design among the state’s weekly papers with circulation of 3,000 to 3,999. Second-place honors went to the Dawson Community News for its special issue on the Mountain Moonshine Festival and to Sudie Crouch for her humorous column about raising chil-
dren in a “Honey Boo Boo” world. Third-place awards were given for page one, plus individual awards to David Renner and Michele Hester for coverage highlighting local business, including a state bill on sludge application and the impact of sales revenue from the local outlet mall on Black Friday. Hester also received a third-place awarded for a feature photo snapped in September at the Reading Education Association’s annual Are You Smarter than a 10-year-old competition. “I am very proud of the hardworking staff at Dawson Community News and view the awards as recognition for a job well done,” said Editor Stephanie Woody.
Membership drive a success By David Renner
drenner@dawsonnews.com
In an effort to keep membership fresh and numbers high, the chamber hosted a membership drive in June. “We had a total of 10 businesses join the chamber during the drive. We are thrilled to have these new businesses join us and are so grateful for all the participation and hard work,” said Membership Director Kara Hewatt. “We will continue to work diligently to follow up with the businesses that expressed interest but have not yet joined.” Members that refered one new member win free admission to the membership luncheon. Those that brought in two new members won $20 off annual chamber membership. Members that brought in more won $20 off membership plus an additional $20 per added member. This event’s first place winner was Steve Melching with three new busi-
‘We sincerely appreciate all of the hard work our members have done.’ Kara Hewatt
Membership director, chamber nesses. Second place was a three-way tie, with Sharon Reagan and Libby Smith teaming up to bring in two new members, along with Carla Boutin and Vicky Hood. Seanie Zappendorf came in third with one new business. To receive credit for a new member, the chamber must have received the membership application from the business. “We sincerely appreciate all of the hard work our members have done,” Hewatt said. “We have had tremendous success with this initiative. It has been great hearing all of the feedback from visits.”
Crossing named in youth’s memory By Michele Hester
mhester@dawsonnews.com
A legion of supporters recently gathered to pay tribute to a young man many knew as “Soldier Boy.” On June 12, Kenny Stewart’s name was forever etched into Dawson County’s history with the official dedication of the Kenneth Webster Stewart III Memorial Intersection at the crossing of Hwy. 53 and Perimeter Road. Moments before the road signs were unveiled, Stewart’s mother Anna Miles addressed the group of more than 100 gathered for the dedication. “To know that a little boy moved and had such an impact on our community really blows me away,” she said. “And to call him my son, I consider myself the lucky one. “He taught me something very valuable and that was not to take life for granted and to live every moment to the fullest.” Three months after his 12th birthday, Stewart lost his five-year battle with cancer in March 2013. With a desire to one day join the military, he became known as “Soldier Boy.” He also developed an abundance of friends who followed his progress and supported the family as
Michele Hester Dawson Community News
Mayor James Grogan, from left, state Sen. Steve Gooch, state Rep. Kevin Tanner, Alex Stewart and Stewart’s mother Anna Miles stand near a sign dedicated to the late Kenny Stewart.
he battled the disease. Earlier this year, State Rep. Kevin Tanner introduced the legislation to rename the crossing, which was overwhelmingly approved and passed the Georgia Legislature. “All of us here, I think, knew Kenny,” Tanner said. “He touched our lives. He was an example of such a fine young man that was a fighter and just was an inspiration even with all the struggles he had personally in his life.” Signs were placed on each of the four corners approaching the intersection by representatives with the state Department of Transportation. Three smaller signs were also presented to the family as keepsakes. Tanner said naming the crossing, which leads to
Robinson Elementary that Stewart attended, held significant meaning. “All the people that turn at this intersection going to that school on a daily basis will remember him and the life and the legacy he left behind and that’s why we thought it would be an appropriate location for this sign and for this intersection naming,” he said. With tears in her eyes, Miles looked to the sky and rejoiced in the moment. “We keep his spirit alive through us by loving others, loving our lives, thanking God for each day that he gives us,” she said. “And each time that we stop at this red light ... look up and say thank you God for today. Because every day that Kenneth was here was a day he thanked God for.”
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JULY 2014
DAWSoNviLLe: AroUND THe SqUAre
Council approves park area Activity center part of ‘Main Street’ project By David Renner drenner@dawsonnews.com
Dawsonville is another step closer to adding an activity
center and green space. The city council voted unanimously last month to buy 14.2 acres between the Dawsonville Municipal Complex and library from Rialto Banks for $483,242, or about $34,000 per acre. “The sale was pending three contingencies - the survey, the appraisal in accordance with state law and the title run. I am pleased to report that all three
of these ... have been satisfied,” said City Attorney Dana Miles before the vote. Dubbed “The Main Street Park” project, the topic was first brought up during an October meeting, at which time the council gave Mayor James Grogan power to enter talks with the property owners. Grogan later reported back that the site was smaller than first thought.
“The bank indicated 18.18 acres, but we’ve looked at it and done the layout, and it doesn’t show to be that much property, so we’re in the process of coming up with a price,” he said. “We’ve made a tentative offer based on acreage rather than a lump sum price.” Following the appraisal, the city and the bank were able to reach agreement on the
usable acreage, which did not include roads running through the property. According to Miles, the sale will be financed through the Downtown Development Authority. Negotiation plans for financing were finalized during the June 12 meeting of the Downtown Development Authority.
Chase Elliott seeing success on the big track By Amanda Head
For the Dawson Community News
This year has been a great season for NASCAR rookie Chase Elliott, who is currently second place in NASCAR’s Nationwide Series points standing. Elliott began his Nationwide Series career by placing 15th in Daytona earlier this year. “I’ve learned a lot of useful information this weekend to help guide me through the 2014 season,” Elliott said after his debut race. In April, the rookie won his first Nationwide Series race in Texas, making him almost the youngest driver to win a race. Joey Logano was just a few months younger than Elliott when he won at Kentucky Speedway in 2008. However, a week later, Elliott madeNationwide Series history at Darlington Raceway. Not only was he the track’s youngest winner, but he was the youngest to win two races back-to-back in the series.
Out of 15 races, Elliott has finished in the top five in seven of them. Elliott took fourth place on June 21 at Road America in Wisconsin.The race left Elliott one point behind Elliott Sadler who held second in points. “It was a tough way to finish a race,” Elliott said in a release.“We dodged a couple of bullets today, but all-in-all I was proud of my NAPA Auto Parts team for overcoming adversity all weekend long.” As of June 28, Elliott is four points behind Sadler and four points ahead of JR Motorsports teammate Regan Smith. Since announcing the partnership in January, team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. has only great things to say about Elliott and his future. “He’s got a great, level head, good character and nothing really rattles him,” he said.“That’s going to be tough to contend with for many years.”
For the Dawson Community News
Chase Elliott is closely followed by Brendan Gaughan, who was the winner at the Gardner Denver 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Road America earlier this season. Elliott finished fourth.
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NeW MeMBerS All Animals Veterinary Hospital 639 Auraria Road Dawsonville, GA 30534 (706) 216-8387 Fax: (706) 216-0186 www.allanimalsvet.com/ Ryan’s Steakhouse 126 Hwy. 400 North Dawsonville, GA 30534 (706) 265-1565 Fax: (706) 265-1067 www.ryans.com Dawsonville Civitan Club 305 Atlanta Road Cumming, GA 30040 (770) 540-0447 Fax: (770) 889-8665 www.civitan.com Events by Dezine 462 Memory Lane, Suite 170 Dawsonville, GA 30534 (770) 889-3239 Fax: (770) 533-1125 www.eventsbydezine.com/ Upper Etowah River Alliance 180 McClure Street Canton, GA 30114 (770) 704-5479 www.etowahriver.org
MeMBer reNeWALS - JUNe • Dress Barn/NGPO • Kroger
MoNTHLY ToTALS Walk-in visitors: 280
Referrals: 320
Newcomer packages: 75
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JULY 2014
Two from EMS honored By Michele Hester
mhester@dawsonnews.com
The state advocacy agent for Georgia emergency services personnel recently recognized two men from Dawson County for their dedication to the field. During the Georgia Association of EMS awards banquet May 22 in the city of Forsyth, Dawson County Emergency Ser vices Chief Lanier Swafford received the 2014 GAEMS Excellence in Leadership Award. Billy Thurmond, director of Dawson County Emergency Ser vices, said Swafford was a clear choice and is well deser ving of the award, which is given to leaders in the field who advocate for EMS ser vice while making a positive difference in the ways it is delivered across the state. “In Lanier’s case, it’s his willingness to step up to help and enhance Georgia EMS in any way possible,” Thurmond said. The award is considered among the most prestigious presented to the members of the organization. “I was surprised. I didn’t expect it,” Swafford said. “I don’t feel like I deser ved it, but I was honored to receive the award.” In addition to ser ving as the county’s fire chief, EMS director and deputy director of EMA, Swafford is also president of the Georgia Firefighters Association. Firefighter and Paramedic Andy Buffington was also honored at the annual meeting. He received the 2014 Tim Peebles Champion of Children Excellence and Advocacy Award. “When it came to EMS for children … they were the dynamic duo,” Swafford said. “Together they pumped countless hours into making kids safer. His humble
and cooperative spirit, along with his excellent prehospital skills, exemplifies the life, beliefs and traits of Capt. Peebles.” Swafford The award is given in memor y of Peebles, former medical ser vices coordinator for neighboring Hall County who died in 2010, who led an effort to get automated Buffington external defibrillators into area schools and emergency vehicles. Buffington’s personal relationship with Peebles was considered in his nomination for the award. It’s presented to a group of people or individual, who through their ideas, actions and goals, carr y on and reinforce high benchmarks of care and compassion. “Andy is and has always been willing to step up and help in anyway, especially if the cause involved helping and protecting children,” Swafford said. Thurmond congratulated Buffington and Swafford on their awards. “The department is proud of these two individuals and the awards they received. They work very hard, not only for the citizens here in Dawson County, but in everything they do across the state,” he said. “Their goal is to do whatever they can do in assisting and making emergency services better.”
Michele Hester Dawson Community News
Ally Goodie dusts for fingerprints at a mock crime scene last month during the Dawson County Sheriff’s Junior Law Enforcement Academy.
Young cadets learn law By Michele Hester
mhester@dawsonnews.com
Ally Goodie doesn’t hesitate when asked what she wants to be when she grows up. The daughter of Maj. Ray Goodie, commander of the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division, Ally plans to follow in her father’s footsteps. “I like CSI, NCIS, Bones, lots of cop shows,” she said last month as she dusted for fingerprints on a “stolen” golf cart that was “recovered” near the football field at Dawson County Middle School. Ally was among dozens of fifthgraders taking part Sheriff Billy Carlisle’s annual Junior Law Enforcement Academy. The free weeklong camp is designed to give students a simplified look at practical law enforcement experiences. A mixture of classroom time and hands-on police training, academy topics range from crime scene investigations and manhunts, to use of force, patrol stops and weapons. Ten-year-old Rylie Erickson has been waiting years to attend the academy after hearing her older brothers talk
about how much fun they had there. “I’m really interested in learning about the guns,” she said. “The selfdefense tactics was also a lot of fun.” For Michaella Fricton, the opportunity to learn self-defense was her selling point when school resource officers at the elementary schools talked to students about the free academy. “I wanted to be prepared for anything. If you were in a situation, you need to know what to do,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to learn how to protect myself, so I talked to my mom about the academy and she agreed that it was a good idea.” Now in its 17th year, the academy has grown from about 25 cadets to more than 100 participating in three different camps over the summer. Deputies from each division at the sheriff’s office join school resource officers to teach the cadets. “We’ve got a good group. This is our up-and-coming fifth-grade class. These kids are special because next year the school resource officers will be teaching drug resistance at school,” said Capt. Tony Wooten. “This is our opportunity to start building relationships to help them learn to make wise decisions for the rest of their lives.”
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CHAMBer SPoTLiGHT BUSiNeSSeS of THe Week each week, the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce randomly selects a chamber member as “Business of the Week.” The business is spotlighted for one week and receives an announcement every Monday on the chamber’s facebook and Twitter pages and is placed on the front page of the chamber website, as well as highlighted in the
Chamber Chatter e-newsletter that is sent to the entire membership each Tuesday. The “Business of the Week” program is an opportunity to show the chamber’s appreciation to its members for supporting the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce and investing in the community. Businesses of the Week for June are:
Cartridge On Wheels-North Georgia Cartridge On Wheels-North Georgia has been locally owned and operated out of Dawsonville for four years. The company says that it is passionate about equipping businesses and organizations to eliminate unnecessary spending and untimely emergencies by focusing on cost reduction in consumables, boosting productivity and creating efficiencies with proper printer and copier equipment. For more information, visit www.cartridgeonwheels.com or call (706) 225-7623.
Chestatee Regional Library System The Dawson County library, a branch of the Chestatee Regional Library System, is dedicated to keeping the county well-read and entertained. “The library is responsible for providing to all the citizens of Dawson County access to current and relevant community information, support to students and schools, resources that support lifelong learning, recreational reading, viewing and listening materials for enhancement of leisure time and access to computers and other technologies to facilitate their personal and career needs in the global community,” said branch manager Stacy Leonhardt. The library’s main branch is in downtown Dawsonville at 342 Allen St. The library also has a satellite location at next to the fire station on Hwy. 53 East, near Tractor Supply. For more information, visit www.chestateelibrary.org or call (706) 344-3690.
kNoW YoUr CHAMBer MeMBer
Club aims to help By Michele Hester
mhester@dawsonnews.com
With a mission to build good citizenship by providing a volunteer organization to serve the community, Civitan International wants to have a presence in Dawson County. Members of the Cumming Civitan Club invite residents in Dawsonville, Big Canoe and Dahlonega to join them for lunch at noon Wednesdays at Ryan’s Steak House in Dawsonville to learn more about the organization, which focuses its attention on “making the world a better place,” such as helping special needs children. Dianne Hansard has been a member of the Cumming Civitan club for more than 23 years. She’s also the
Georgia District of Civitan International governor. “I have a 25-year-old special needs grandson ... 30 years ago, special needs people stayed home. They weren’t allowed to go out and be seen. I’ve seen a lot of changes in my ... years,” she said. She loves being involved with the organization and is proud of the work the group does in communities across the world. “I love it. I love going out with these children and getting the hugs and watching them have fun and watching them grow up,” she said. For more information about the club, contact Hansard at (770) 5400447 or Terry Crouch at (678) 4818474. Georgia District of Civitan International Governor Dianne Hansard gets ready to attend a meeting for the new Dawson County Club. For the Dawson Community News
Marketing Incentives In business for 20 years, Marketing Incentives wants to help Dawson County businesses succeed. “We are a full service advertising specialties company offering a wide range of promotional items to promote your company,” said owner Jane Berg. “We help you find a cost effective way to market and promote your business with custom promotional items that speak to your customers and clients.” According to Berg, companies are only limited by what they can think of for promotional materials. “With the number of companies we work with, the possibilities are only limited by your imagination,” she said. “Awards, promotional products, fundraising, uniform programs, company stores — you name it and we can do it.” For more information, visit www.marketing-incentives.net, email mark-inc@windstream.net or call (706) 216-3132
Lakeview Center of Dawson County Serving Dawson County for nine years, the Lakeview Center is a full-service convention center located on Dawson Forest Road that was opened by Vernon Smith in 2005. Its event facility can accommodate up to 500 people in the main banquet room or smaller groups in the conference or meeting rooms. The center offers in-house catering, free Wi-Fi and ample parking for guests. The Lakeview Center is located at 2057 Dawson Forest Road. For more information, call the center at (706) 216-1022 or visit www.lakeviewcentercomplex.com.
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CHAMBer SPoTLiGHT DeSTiNATioN DAWSoN
Summertime fun abundant It is summertime in Dawsonville, and with so many fun places to cool off, families are enjoying the sunny days. From remote swimming holes and easy access rivers, to more than 50 miles of Lake Lanier shoreline and an Olympic-sized public swimming pool, there’s no better place to enjoy some outdoor entertainment with family than in Dawson County.
Devil’s Elbow Devil’s Elbow is a popular canoe and kayak launch off Steele Bridge Road, off of Sweetwater Juno Road, that offers areas for swimming, with homemade rope swings and high, natural ledges that many use for jumping.
Edge of the World Rapids Edge of the World Rapids is a swimming hole and picnic spot with a number of chutes and rock slides into the river, as well as several quiet pools of water just below the rock ledges. Edge of the World is in the Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area, about six miles west of Dawsonville at the
Amicalola River Bridge on Hwy. 53.
Nix Bridge Park Nix Bridge Park on Lake Lanier is a small park and boat launch area off Nix Bridge Road. It has picnic tables with grills and nice views of the lake.
River Park River Park is located on Hwy. 9 South, between Martin Road and Riverview Middle School. While intended as a free canoe and kayak launch on the Etowah River, the park has become a popular swimming hole for local families. There are also picnic tables and swings overlooking the river. Park Hours are 7 a.m.-10 p.m., Monday-Sunday .
Thompson Creek Park
Thompson Creek Park, located on Thompson Creek Park Road, off Hwy. 53 east, is a small park and boat launch area with a large covered barbecue area, bathrooms and picnic pavilion.
Toto Creek Park
Toto Creek Park off Price Road offers primitive camping, picnic tables, restrooms, boat ramps and swimming area.
Veterans Memorial Park Veterans Memorial Park on Hwy. 9 north of Dawsonville features an Olympic-size swimming pool that is open from noon to 5 p.m. daily through Labor Day. The cost is $3 per day and season passes are available. An individual season pass is $30 and a family season pass for up to five family members, is $100.
War Hill Park War Hill Park, at the end of War Hill Park Road, has 14 primitive campsites, charcoal grill and lantern hook. Day use areas offer picnic tables, swings, benches, beach, fishing pier, four onsite boat launches and a bath house with showers and restrooms. Campsites are available for $16 per day. Day use pass is $3 per car. Park Hours are 7 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.
kNoW YoUr AMBASSADor David Jordan After being in the Ambassador program for nearly six months, Grace Presbyterian Pastor David Jordan said he has learned a lot about the program. “I am a better informed citizen of the community just for having participated in the ambassador program, which can’t help but make me a more valuable memJordan ber of the community going forward,” he said. Since joining the program, Jordan has graduated from the leadership class, as well. It’s an experience he said was interesting overall, even if some of the lessons didn’t entirely apply for the church. “Some of the things we dealt with in leadership was geared toward maximizing a profit. I think, if you’re doing a non-profit thing, you can’t really take the best and only use that,” he said. “I liked the parts of the leadership program that were strictly about dealing with people rather than the business.” As for his time with the ambassador program, Jordan said that he has made more connections outside of the church than he thought he would have as a pastor. “I think I’m a better connected member of the community now. I have people I can call now to ask about anything and get information,” he said. “I’m also a happier member of the community, just for knowing who around me does what and why.” It’s a connection that Jordan said others have reciprocated.
kNoW YoUr BoArD MeMBer Carla Boutin Carla Boutin stresses the importance of community involvement. A successful business professional, she opened her State Farm agency 10 years ago after teaching high school and coaching for several years. Passing on opportunities with other companies, Boutin spent nearly four years covering the north Georgia territory before State Farm had an agency opening for Dawson County. “I wanted to be in north Georgia, so I just kind of waited around until something came up here.
When Dawsonville came up, I was elated. It was perfect,” she said. Growing up in nearby Fannin County, Boutin said Dawsonville “feels a lot like home. I like being a part of a small town where everybody knows everybody.” She was recently inducted Boutin in the 2014 Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame, both as a player and as an assistant coach for the 1993
Girls State Championship basketball team. Boutin is active in the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce and is the current Rotary Club of Dawson County president. While she admits community involvement helps her business, Boutin stresses she remains active “because it’s something I’ve always wanted to do.” “It’s just been a passion of mine to be involved,” she said. “It’s important to me, because I think that’s part of our duty as citizens and as people to give back.”
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BUSiNeSS
Improve 'financial IQ' with these tips By Randy Donaldson
For the Dawson Community News
If you’ve had your head in the sand about your business’s finances, take heart. You are not alone. Lots of successful small business owners loathe dealing with numbers. Typically, they say they are simply too busy running the business to deal with tracking income and expenses or analyzing the numbers. The good news is that affordable bookkeeping software automates most of the work. If you really hate working with numbers or truly don’t have the time to do so, have a competent employee or outside bookkeeper do the job. Just remember that if you hire
someone to do most of the financial management tasks, make sure you’re in the loop and that you understand what the numbers mean. Make a sustained effort to learn as you go. Typically, financial management is broken down into the following three broad steps: • Keeping and organizing records of expenses and income. • Financial management starts with keeping records of all the money the business spends (expenses) and all the money it earns (income). • Entering this information into bookkeeping software. On some periodic basis — maybe monthly for a
small consulting business and daily for a busy café or retail store — you’ll enter the information from your income and expense receipts into a bookkeeping system. More often than not, this will be some sort of financial management software such as QuickBooks or Peachtree. Once your data is entered accurately, you’ll be able to compile reports such as a profit/loss report or cashflow projection (described below) to reveal how your business is doing. Financial reports are critical for showing you the financial health (or illness) of your business. By generating reports, you’ll be able to see trends and patterns in your busi-
ness’s finances and identify profitable opportunities to pursue. Here are just a few ways that analyzing your financial reports will help your business: • You’ll be able to price goods and services more competitively, pace growth more effectively and cut costs strategically. • You may be able to reduce taxes by timing your purchases strategically and claiming all your deductible expenses. • You’ll be able to manage your business’s cash flow, ensuring you can pay important bills on time. Finally, if you’re itching to launch your business venture and still worried that you
don’t have a high enough “financial IQ,”don’t worry, you don’t need to turn into a financial whiz overnight. Just take the time to consult occasionally with an experienced bookkeeper or accountant (or possibly both) to help the business get started on the right foot, and, by all means, don’t hesitate to contact your nearest SBDC to get guidance and advice. Randy Donaldson is a Business Consultant in The University of Georgia Small Business Development Center’s Gainesville office. He can be reached at (770) 531-5681 or at rdonaldson@georgiasbdc.org
Budget set for school system in 2015 Trends show tax digest improving By David Renner drenner@dawsonnews.com
The Dawson County Board of Education set the budget for the upcoming fiscal year at $33.9 million during its June meeting. The vote was 4-0, with member Will Wade absent, to approve the spending plan, which is a slight increase from the $32 million budget for fiscal year 2014.
Officials do not foresee having to raise taxes for 2015. Last year, the board voted to increase the millage rate by 1.7 mills to 17.246 mills. "We are finally getting just over $1 million per mill now," said Superintendent Damon Gibbs. "While we still aren't back to the 2008 numbers, which were at $1.4 million per mill, the digest is showing that it is at least steadying out." The system's local funding is determined by a millage rate, part of a formula used to calculate property taxes, where one mill equals $1 for every $1,000 in assessed property
value. Original projections showed that, had the board not raised the millage rate, the system would have been in the black through fiscal year 2014, before ending 2015 with a $4 million deficit. The 2014 budget was approved with the expectation that the tax digest would continue to fall, by as much as 9.4 percent. However, with the increase in incoming funds and breaks from the state, the board will be able to return items shed over the past five years, and include a 1 percent increase
'While we still aren't back to the 2008 numbers, which were at $1.4 million per mill, the digest is showing that it is at least steadying out.' Damon Gibbs Superintendent
to the local supplement teachers receive. Also for 2015, the furlough days of the past five years have been eliminated and benefit payments for health insurance and additional staff for schools were added. The moves will restore the
school calendar to 180 days for students and 190 for teachers. "While this is a very conservative budget, as we usually plan for, I believe things are getting better," said Jamie Ulrich, the school system's finance director.
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JULY 2014