Entries by Mike Buffington

A Homer woman was injured Tuesday night around 11:15 p.m. in a one-car accident on Highway 51 South at Russ Rumsey Road in Banks County.

Jennifer Ann Ratliff, 69, 364 Charity Road, was traveling east on Highway 51 South when her 2007 Chevrolet HHR hydroplaned as she was negotiating the curve at the intersection of Highway 51 South and Russ Rumsey Road. Ratliff’s vehicle left the roadway, struck a bank on the driver’s side and flipped over onto the passenger side.

Ratliff was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Gainesville, for treatment of her injuries.

Sen. Frank Ginn (District 47) said Friday afternoon that after re-reading SB159 — legislation that would slam the door on any public meetings or records related to an "economic development project" — he would not support the current version of the proposed bill.

Sen. Ginn said that the bill as written is too broad and needs to be amended.

His main concern with economic development projects, he said, was that since the current law doesn't allow a government group to meet together with company representatives, those representatives tend to meet one-on-one with officials, often manipulating them into agreeing to a deal that may not be good.

"The dynamics of the group are different," he said.

Still, Sen. Ginn said the bill as written was not good and that he won't support the current version. He has contacted the main sponsor of the legislation to see about getting some changes made, he said.

Are you paying too much in local property taxes? Do you think your property is overvalued by the county government?

You can challenge your assessment if you act soon.

The deadline for all Georgians to challenge their local property tax appraisal is April 1.

By filling out a Georgia property tax return (Form PT50-R), you can have local county appraisers reevaluate your property value. Forms can be downloaded online or gotten from your local appraiser office.

Officials suggest that you also set up a meeting with your local appraiser to go over how they have valued your property to look for errors and to understand better how the system works.

Because of the recession, many property values have fallen dramatically, but that doesn’t mean your property valuation by the county government has been adjusted. If you have evidence of property sales near your property, including foreclosures, that are lower than your own valuation, you may need to seek a reappraisal.

A 61-year-old Banks County woman reportedly died in a fire early Friday morning.

Sharolyn Griffin appears to have died of smoke inhalation at a mobile home fire on Harley Drive, in the Hollingsworth area of Banks County.

The body has been taken to the state crime lab for autopsy.

Officials arrested a South Carolina man Thursday afternoon about a half hour after the armed robbery of the Banks Crossing branch of Northeast Georgia Bank following a chase that began in Commerce and ended in the median of U.S. 441 a few hundred yards from the Athens-Clarke County line.
[Full Story »] 

One of the roles of a newspaper is to be a mirror for the community. Last week, The Banks County News mirrored something that was unflattering to some people in the community. [Full Story »] 

A large crowd of teenagers and some adults gathered in front of the home of Tyler Bush just hours after his funeral Friday to cheer on cars drag racing down Sims Bridge Road. [Full Story »]