Pike County residents have been more fortunate than their counterparts who reside north of here. For the most part, they have been able to purchase gasoline when most of the Atlanta area was searching for stations which had fuel.
That doesn’t mean Pike County is out of the loop with regard to shortages.
Mr. B’s owner Bob Singh said his supplier has limited his shipment to 5,000 gallons, rather than filling the tank as before. Monday morning he was selling regular gasoline only, but expected the other grades later in the day.
He said his business has been affected by the gasoline crunch.
Flash Foods had all grades of gasoline available Monday and it did not limit the sale. They required cash customers to prepay.
Country Gold in Zebulon had only unleaded regular gasoline available Monday morning but employees were expecting a delivery. Its supplier was also limiting the shipment, so to stretch the ability to serve customers, there was an eight gallon limit per customer.
Ferguson’s Store in Williamson reported only diesel was available Monday at 12 noon, but gasoline was expected to arrive for the open of business Tuesday. Customers are required to prepay. The owner reported a $50 drive off Sunday afternoon.
Ferguson’s did not limit the amount of gasoline customers could purchase, but Ferguson said he would be glad when the shortage ended.
Stephanie Cadenhead at Cadie’s Corner reported she just received a shipment Monday and had all fuels available, except off-road diesel. Purchases are not limited and prepay is not required at this time.
Most retailers expect the shortage to continue into the weekend.
Georgia’s tax proposals eyed by Pike, schools
By Tamra Jarrett
With the election closing in and the 2009 legislative session on the horizon, taxes are the talk of the town. In an effort to address potential taxation legislation, the board of education and commissioners held a joint meeting last week.
“We thought it would be good to throw these things on the table and analyze the impact. If it gets to the point either body wants to propose legislation, they can do it in an informed manner – like if they are considering senior tax relief,” said school superintendent Dr. Michael Duncan.
Earlier this year the board agreed to move forward with senior tax relief, which would increase the exemption from school taxes for citizens 65 and older to $50,000 and to provide for a total exemption from school taxes for citizens age 70 and older. These exemptions would apply only to the school part of property taxes.
Commissioners gave the proposal their seal of approval so it could move forward and be introduced to the general assembly. It did not get presented to the legislature during the 2008 session, but State Sen. Ronnie Chance said he would look into it during the 2009 session if the board still wanted it.
Does the board still want it?
Several members, including chairman April Byrd, have expressed their support of the legislation. Other possible taxation scenarios on the horizon could affect local actions.
During the workshop, held Wednesday, Sept. 24, at the old middle school building, school officials and board members met with county officials and commissioners to learn about proposals that could be introduced.
The first reviewed was HR900, which would eliminate every ad valorem tax. There would be no property taxes for the schools or the county. Funding would be generated by sales tax but the amount of tax is an unknown, said school improvement director Kevin Huffstetler, who led the presentation.
County manager Steve Marro said sales tax would have to be 22-23% to fund things as they are now.
He said reliance on sales tax is cause for concern in “an economy like this when people are holding onto their money.”
This proposal would abolish almost all local funding, Huffstetler noted. It would also make bond referendums more complex, requiring two-thirds of the vote of both the
(For the rest of the story, read of this week's The Journal-Reporter.)
$1.5 million memorial beautifying landscape
By Tamra Jarrett
The landscape of new Pike County fire stations could benefit from proceeds generated from a $1.5 million bequest by Thaddeus Nelson Morris to the county and Meansville, Concord and Zebulon for beautification projects.
A trust was established under Morris’ will, with proceeds to be disbursed annually to fund beautification projects for Pike and the three cities on a rotating basis. Projects must include flowering trees and shrubs, perennials and statuary to honor the memory of Thomas Nelson, a Revolutionary War patriot.
Under the direction of a garden club consisting of a representative from each entity named as a beneficiary, beautification projects are assigned. Meansville was the first recipient; then Concord, Zebulon and Pike. For the following three years, Meansville gets the proceeds for beautification; then the rotation starts again.
Larry Lynch, who represents Pike County on the board, presented the idea of using the county’s allotment for the fire stations because he knew landscaping had not been part of the plans for the Lifsey Springs and Williamson stations. Pike has not yet used its round of beautification funds.
Mayor Gayle Burden represents Meansville and Bobby Blalock represents Zebulon. Concord is recommending a new appointee.
Zebulon attorney Tom Morton, who serves as general counsel and executive director of the trust, said landscaping for the fire stations is “a matter that’s being considered.” There have been no distribution of funds yet this year.
“The county has been in somewhat of a state of flux with what to do with their fire stations (landscaping),” he said.
Although the Morris fund was a private bequest, the public benefits directly and indirectly from the fund, Morton noted.
The garden club was formed and certified by the Internal Revenue Service as a nonprofit corporation. Interest on the $1,569,000 bequest
(For the rest of the story, read of this week's The Journal-Reporter.)
Gas shortage didn’t impact
Slow Exposures photo show
The 2008 Slow Exposures photo exhibit closed Sunday, Sept. 28 after another successful run. Five hundred people came to Concord over two weekends to view and purchase art.
Current shortages of gas in the metro Atlanta area did not appear to have much impact on the show, said public relations director Joe McKaughan. Several people drove from Atlanta; one bought $1,200 worth of photographs.
“There was quite a lot of out of town interest,” he said.
“Many in our audience came from out of this area and drove to Pike for our sixth showing of photos that reflected ‘The South-Real and Imagined,’” said Slow Exposures director Chris Curry.
The end of the show brought the announcement of the People’s Choice Award for 2008: Matt Bower’s “Pop. 106,” the depiction of a small town at dusk. Those attending the two-week exhibition chose it as their favorite photo of the 71 placed in the show.
Anna Donlan’s “Dabney Suspended,” Matt Bower’s “Pop. 106,” John Sumner’s “Gay Georgia Cotton Picking Fair,” Brenda Fayard’s “Ladder” and
(For the rest of the story, read of this week's The Journal-Reporter.)
Strickland dies; Cobb injured in crash
A Concord man died as a result of injuries sustained in a two vehicle collision that occurred Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 23.
Jeremiah Strickland, 28, died Wednesday morning at Grady Memorial Hospital. He was the passenger in a 1989 pickup truck driven by Joshua Cobb, 21, also of Concord. Both men were airlifted from the scene due to the severity of their injuries.
Cobb reportedly remains hospitalized.
According to Pike County Sheriff Jimmy Thomas, deputies responded to the two vehicle accident on Concord and Pedenville roads. The pickup driven by Cobb was eastbound on Pedenville Road when it collided with a 2006 pickup truck headed south on Concord Road. It was driven by Jimmy Allen, 53, of Hollonville.
Cobb failed to stop for a stop sign at the intersection of Concord Road, according to the sheriff’s office.
(For the rest of the story, read of this week's The Journal-Reporter.)
