Barrow County Starts Layoffs

Barrow County has laid off 18 employees this week. The county cut the workers Monday and Tuesday as part of plans to deal with a $5 million budget shortfall. Three other employees took early retirement. The jobs ranged from the fire department to the tax commissioner's office. The county has cut other expenses since the shortfall was announced in January, but it still faces a $1.6 million deficit. Cuts include eliminating holiday pay, salary reductions and a hiring freeze. Barrow County is northeast of Atlanta. It has about 400 workers.

(Associated Press)

Chico's Expands to northeast Georgia

Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that women’s fashion retailer Chico’s FAS, Inc. (NYSE:CHS) plans to expand its distribution center facilities in Barrow County with an initial investment of $15 million, which is expected to create 189 full-time jobs over the next three years.

“Georgia’s strong business assets continue to make it a compelling location for distribution centers,” said Governor Perdue. “Our state’s unmatched transportation network, business-friendly environment and ready pool of qualified workers translate to success.”

In order to expand its facilities in Winder, Chico’s purchased the former Hagemeyer Building on Barrow Industrial Parkway. The 300,000-square-foot building, which is close to the current Chico’s distribution center, will house an additional distribution facility. When the expansion is completed by year-end, there will be more than 450 full-time Chico’s employees in Barrow County. Employment opportunities at Chico’s Winder Distribution Center will be posted on their website, www.chicos.com .

Chico’s located a distribution center in Barrow County in 2002 and expanded that facility in 2004 and 2006. In 2006 the company also opened an adjacent call center to service its direct-to-consumer business for its Chico’s, White House | Black Market and Soma Intimates brands.

“We are fortunate in having the opportunity to purchase this nearby facility that will enable us to expand our current distribution operations, providing sufficient capacity to serve our needs through 2016,” said Jeffrey A. Jones, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Chico’s FAS.

“We welcome Chico’s third major expansion of its facilities in Barrow County since 2002,” said Linda Moore, VP of the Barrow Economic Development Council. “Chico’s is an excellent corporate citizen and I know our residents are grateful in these economic times for the increase in jobs and investment.”

Susie Haggard, project manager with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, assisted the company in its location.

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About the company

Chico’s FAS Inc. is a women's specialty retailer of private branded, sophisticated, casual-to-dressy clothing, intimates, complementary accessories, and other non-clothing gift items. The Company operates specialty stores in 48 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The company’s brands include Chico’s, White House | Black Market and Soma Intimates, which together operate more than 1,000 stores in addition to catalog and e-ecommerce operations.

(Governor's Office News Release)

Barrow County Needs Water Plan

A water study committee says Barrow County will run short of drinkable water by 2020 if the county government doesn't start planning soon to increase the supply. Experts say there are at least 10 potential reservoir sites in the county that can be developed. Barrow County has the right to take about 11 million gallons a day from the Bear Creek Reservoir. Meanwhile, counties throughout the state are easing outdoor water restrictions, including two more served by the Bear Creek Reservoir - Clarke and Oconee.

(Associated Press)

Two NE Ga Counties Cut Staff To Ease Shortfall

Two northeast Georgia counties facing budget shortfalls have trimmed some department staff. Jackson County officials say they’ll save $225,000 through the end of the year with the recent lay-offs of four building inspectors and two engineering department workers. Neighboring Barrow County is saving $70,000 with the lay-off of two staff members. This is on top of a cut of between three to ten percent of all county salaries.

Economy Won't Impede New Boat Ramp

Despite state budget cuts, the long-awaited Bear Creek Reservoir boat ramp will open this spring. The four counties that own the reservoir plan to pony up the money themselves. They are Barrow, Clarke, Jackson and Oconee. Gov. Sonny Perdue cut $125,000 for the project from the state Department of Natural Resources budget.

(Associated Press)

Bethlehem popular for postmark

Hundreds of people are flocking to Bethlehem, Georgia to mark the holiday. The post office in the small Barrow County city is offering a special postmark during the Christmas season. People go there to mail their holiday cards and letters. The postmark shows a picture of trumpeting angels. Last year, the post office crew postmarked more than 130,000 letters, cards and packages between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The staff usually serves the shipping needs of the just over 1,000 people who live in Bethlehem.

(Associated Press)

Bible classes likely for Barrow County

In northeast Georgia, Barrow County is considering offering two elective Bible-focused courses. The county Board of Education would need to sign off on the recommendation next week. Then, each high school could begin plans to offer a literature or history class covering either the Old or New Testament as soon as 2009. A 2006 change in state law allows schools to offer the courses.

Georgia's fastest-growing counties

Paulding County, near Atlanta, was the third fastest growing county in the nation in 2007. Census estimates rank 23 Georgia counties among the top 100 fastest growing. Paulding County had more than 50,000 housing units in July 2007, up 72 percent from April 2000. Henry County was the sixth fastest-growing county in the nation. Forsyth County was seventh. Also in the Top 25 were Newton, Fannin, Cherokee, Barrow and Jackson counties.

Braselton gets jobs and investment from national pet chain

A national pet products company announced it will locate a new distribution center in Barrow County. PETCO will open a 500-square foot facility in Braselton, which will serve the southeastern United States.

The Governors’ office says the center will bring an infusion of 33 million dollars and up to 277 jobs when running at full capacity.

PETCO is based out of San Diego, and has more than 200 stores nationwide—15 in Georgia.

Distribution center to bring jobs

217 jobs are coming to northeast Georgia. PETCO is opening a new distribution center in Braselton in Barrow County. PETCO is based in San Diego, California.

Barrow may wait on Bible classes

A Barrow County school committee is expected to recommend holding-off the introduction of Bible history classes in county schools until 2009.

Barrow County’s Board of Education meets tonight, and will get the recommendation from a 10-member committee made up of teachers, students, parents and community members. According to the Athens Banner-Herald, the committee wants more time to review proposed coursework and plan curriculum.

The Barrow school board has been considering the addition of two classes teaching history and literature of the Old and New Testaments. Courses were approved by the state in January of this year.

Bible courses in public schools has been criticized by some, including the ACLU. It fears state-approved coursework is not specific enough to avoid teachers crossing the line from class-teaching, to preaching.

NE Ga deputy faces child porn charges

A Barrow County deputy is facing 20 felony counts of sexual exploitation of a child, connected to child pornography found on his personal computer. 32-year-old Jason Gaub of Winder is being investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Authorities received an anonymous tip to kick-start the investigation. Officials say nothing illegal was found on his work computer, only his computer at home.

Ten Commandments on display

The Ten Commandments are on display in Hartwell in northeast Georgia. The display is part of a nine-document exhibit inside the city courtroom. It was set up by the group Ten Commandments Georgia under a new state law that allows the public display of historical legal documents. The new measure in Georgia was prompted after public postings of the Ten Commandments sparked controversy at the Barrow County Courthouse.

Total outdoor water ban in four NE Georgia counties

State officials have tightened water restrictions in four northeast Georgia counties, as the main reservoir for the area is running dry.

Barrow, Clarke, Jackson and Oconee counties draw their water from the Bear Creek Reservoir. It is running dry however, because of the ongoing drought.

The counties are all now under level-4 restrictions. That means a total ban for residences on all outdoor watering, 7 days a week—-24 hours a day.

Jeff Killip is Public Works Director for Jefferson in Jackson county.

"We’re going to have to ban substantially all outside use, even on the professional businesses. The water situation is worse than dire".

Killip says there is about a 14-day supply left in the reservoir.

In Jefferson as well as Athens, businesses must get a special permit and prove they are conserving water.

Another watering ban

A northeast Georgia county is the latest to ban outdoor watering. Barrow County west of Athens says its reservoir is five feet below normal. Beer Creek reservoir also serves Athens-Clarke, Oconee and Jackson counties. The Athens area is nearly 16 inches below average rainfall for the year.

Northeast Georgia airport talks revived

The idea of a regional airport in northeast Georgia is gaining steam, with the re-activation of a dormant transportation commission.

After 15 years, government and business leaders think now is the time for the Northeast Georgia Surface and Air Transportation Commission to meet again. The need for a regional airport is growing once more since Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is expected to reach capacity in the next decade. Expansion of Chattanooga's airport is also an idea on the table.

According to the Athens Banner-Herald, the Northeast Georgia group abandoned work on bringing-in a regional airport in 1992 because of strong opposition from area counties. However, the Barrow County Commission has now expressed interest in expanding the Winder-Barrow Airport into a regional service hub. The airport is currently extending one runway and has plenty of surrounding property for continued construction.

The Northeast Georgia Transportation Commission will begin its reorganization plans at a meeting on August 23rd.

In a related story, state transport officials and experts are meeting in Columbus to discuss funding and future transport-infrastructure planning.

Monday and Tuesday's sessions of the State Senate and House Transportation Funding Study Committee are the third of six such statewide meetings.

Former school secretary charged with theft of 43-K

A former bookkeeper and secretary for a Barrow County elementary school has been charged with theft of more than 43-thousand dollars from the school. Authorities say 45-year-old Lucretia Carder of Winder was charged with three counts of forgery, and three counts of theft-by-taking. A Barrow County official says Carder worked for eight years at Holsenbeck Elementary School, north of Winder. She was asked to resign back in May after an annual state audit uncovered discrepancies at the school.

Barrow county toughens water restrictions

Another Georgia county gets tough on water restrictions. Starting Wednesday, Barrow County will activate the Level 3 drought response--it means outdoor watering is limited to only one day a week, between the hours of midnight and 10am. Customers with odd-numbered addresses can water on Sundays--even numbered on Saturdays. The cities of Winder and Auburn in Barrow County had already enacted the tougher restrictions.

Grand jury indictment for Barrow County man

A Barrow County man has been indicted by a grand jury in northeast Georgia in the deaths of four family members last year in Hoschton. 34-year-old Henry Lee Stringer is facing 15 felony charges. Stringer's two children, their mother, and grandmother were found dead last year inside a burning house. Prosecutors have not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty.

Prom death ruled accidental

Barrow County authorities say a high school senior's death at an after-prom party was an accidental suffocation. The sheriff's office says 18-year-old Leland Martin died of "positional asphyxia due to airway compression in a person acutely intoxicated by ethanol."

Martin was found dead April 29th after a party at a house near Auburn. Police say Martin drank "a significant amount of Everclear," which is a high-proof grain alcohol. They say the autopsy results rule out any investigation into possible homicide.

Authorities have charged three people in connection with the party, including the mother of the high school student who hosted it. 39-year-old Barbara Ann Michael was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, maintaining a disorderly house and furnishing alcohol to a minor.