LOCAL Section

Arrest made in homicide investigation

Arrest made in homicide investigation
Barrow County Sheriff’s investigators arrested Justin Baber, 18, just before midnight Feb. 5 in connection with the homicide discovered earlier on Friday. Baber is charged with possession of a knife during the commission of a crime, aggravated assault, felony murder, malice murder and tampering with evidence. He was arrested without incident after investigators obtained enough evidence to substantiate the charges against him.
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Grassroots efforts can make Barrow better
To the editor:   With the focus shifting from health care to job, the creation of a non-profit organization with the sole mission of "Cleaner roads today and tomorrow" would add jobs to our economy. One obstacle in the minds of people, when it comes to paying for cleaner roads, is that our taxes should be doing just that. The fact is our roads remain with litter and debris on them. ...




Johnson in top three for Jasper superintendent
Rob Johnson, Barrow County’s Assistant Superintendent of District Services, is one of three candidates in the running for the Jasper County Superintendent position. The chosen candidate will be announced Feb. 10.




Transportation: The bigger picture
Because of its importance to our community, I’m dedicating a third column to transportation; this time, a macro approach.

Highway to the future

Highway to the future
Nearly 150 people stopped by the Georgia Department of Transportation’s three-hour public meeting Thursday to see the designs envisioned for limited access University Parkway interchanges for Highways 11, 81 and 53.
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WBHS students sell art projects to help in Haiti
Winder-Barrow High School students are getting involved in the campaign to help Haiti. Students set a goal to raise and donate $2,000 to the American Red Cross for Haitian Relief, and so far have collected $1,500 toward that goal.

Local high schools explore ways to improve college-going rates

Local high schools explore ways to improve college-going rates
Colleges and high school counselors recently joined together for a day of sharing best practices.
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Gwinnett Federal Credit Union now offers scholarships
Realizing the importance of education as a lifelong experience, Gwinnett Federal Credit Union (Gwinnett Federal) is currently accepting Career Advancement and Student Scholarship Applications.




The Peoples Bank enters consent order with FDIC on bank practices
The Peoples Bank in Winder is now under the watch of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).




County’s ‘payroll creep’ issue will be addressed, pledge commissioners at elected officials’ meeting
  County employees need to be aware that payroll creep might happen again, Barrow County Commissioner Eva Elder said at an elected officials meeting Friday. But by the conclusion of the meeting, all the commissioners present – Elder, Steve Worley and Ben Hendrix – seemed resolved to fix the problem by the end of the year. For two years in a row, county employees have received their last paycheck of the ...




Coroner, others need budget additions
Barrow County Coroner David Crosby has run out of money for conducting drug tests, and he’ll go to the Board of Commissioners Tuesday to ask for a budget amendment.




West Winder Bypass closer to realization
Barrow County officials say a Monday meeting about the West Winder Bypass with the Georgia Department of Transportation was promising.

Moye to leave Lanier Tech for job in Macon

Moye to leave Lanier Tech for job in Macon
Lanier Tech President Mike Moye will leave his post of eight years this month to become president of Central Georgia Technical College in Macon.
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Barrow Emergency Services focusing on new E911 center
With cold and wet weather marking much of January, the men and women of Barrow County Emergency Services continued its progression into the future and worked around and in the cold and the rain to accomplish much of it.




After kicking in door of residence of 9 pit bulls, burglars change mind
A laptop and a case of Coke were reported missing from a New Street address that was burglarized Feb. 4. The back door was left unlocked and someone entered the home and took the items.




Winder Police issues annual report
The Winder Police Department issued its 2009 Annual Report, showing how its presence has affected the city.

Seniors: Filing tax return by April 1 vital to protect Homestead exemption

Seniors: Filing tax return by April 1 vital to protect Homestead exemption
Barrow County offers special homestead exemptions to eligible property owners and senior citizens. Special exemptions are based on age and/or income.
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Bethlehem Town Council adopts budget for 2010
The Bethlehem Town Council approved its $254,000 budget for 2010 Monday night.

Statham’s Gable Peacock spells way to countywide bee victory

Statham’s Gable Peacock spells way to countywide bee victory
Gradient: G-R-A-D-I-E-N-T. That’s the word that made Gable Peacock, a fourth-grade student from Statham Elementary, the winner of the Barrow County Spelling Bee after 21 rounds of competition. The Spelling Bee took place Monday morning in the Professional Development Center. Peacock will move on to the District 3 Spelling Bee Feb. 27 at North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee. Emily Bailey, a fifth-grade student from Yargo Elementary, is the runner-up for ...
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County appraisers are continuing inspections
Representatives of the Barrow County Appraisal Staff are reviewing and inspecting properties throughout all of Barrow County. The process began the week of Oct. 19, 2009.




Patience appreciated as business recovers
To the editor:   It is my wish as owner of West Jackson Medicine Center to thank all of the EMS and Sheriff’s Officers that responded to the accident at my Pharmacy on Friday, Jan. 29, 2010. Your kindness and professionalism made a horrible situation more bearable! Words can’t adequately express my gratitude for everything that was done by all of the local heroes.... And, thanks be to God that no one ...




Heart-healthy women: Awareness effort’s goal
Hopefully you’ll be seeing lots of red on Friday since it’s National Wear Red Day, an awareness event to bring attention to the facts related to cardiovascular disease being the number one killer of women.




Americans to make a change
"Watch out, America is moving to the right and it’s happening fast," said Bill O’Reilly in his latest article titled, "The Right Stuff."




Man batters juvenile, shoots at cat in home
Barrow County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a DFCS call to a Creekview Drive residence.




Winder Police investigating burglaries, entering autos
  Winder Police Detective Tracy Wild has been provided possible suspects in a theft case who were visiting a Oak Street residence and had access to the home while the victim was away. Found missing Jan. 30 from that residence were a number of pieces of jewelry and coins. Among the items missing was a tennis bracelet with garnets valued at $200, another $100 tennis bracelet as well as a diamond ...




Mother calls for police after daughter causes disturbance
A woman called the Auburn Police Department out of concern for her daughter, who was drunk and creating a disturbance. Officers arrived at the Carter Road residence and found the suspect, Jessica Eldridge, intoxicated.




100 DVDs taken in Jan. 23 burglary of Statham residence
The Statham Police Department investigated two burglaries in the past seven days including a Jan. 23 break-in at an Oakspring Street address where approximately 100 DVDs were taken.




Apartment building fire extinguished
The Winder Fire Department responded to 277 Apperson Drive on a Feb. 2 reported structural fire with Winder’s Engine 1, Engine 2, Ladder 1 and Rescue 1, along with Barrow County Emergency Services Med 6, responding.




GBI interviews caller, determines message to HR director not threat, not linked to break-in
Barrow County can now close another chapter of some of its controversies from late last year.




GBI interviews caller, determines message to HR director not threat, not linked to break-in
 Barrow County can now close another chapter of some of its controversies from late last year. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Tuesday it does not believe the voicemail left on the office phone of Barrow County Human Resources Director Norma Jean Brown in late October was a threat.




No action related to report
After almost two and a half hours in executive session Monday, the Barrow County Board of Commissioners took no action on the internal investigation report released last week.




Winder working toward response
The City of Winder met Tuesday night for its monthly council meeting, but it was Monday night’s work session where the council called for an executive session.




Furlough days approved by School Board
Furloughs brought furrowed brows at Tuesday’s meeting of the Barrow County Board of Education, but the school board members had little option but to approve the recommendations from Barrow County School Superintendent Dr. Ron Saunders for additional furlough days,




GDOT meeting is Thursday on 316 interchange proposal
Changes could be on the horizon for the University Parkway in Barrow County, but funding remains illusive.




Feb. 9 business leaders breakfast to offer workplace solutions, says ACS
The American Cancer Society invites local business leaders of Barrow County to attend an informational breakfast on Tuesday, Feb. 9.




‘There are better days ahead’
The Barrow County Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual State of the Cities luncheon on Tuesday, giving mayors from Barrow County’s towns and cities a chance to reflect on the past year and look toward the future.




Help Russell Middle get a media center tech makeover
Russell Middle School was recently informed of its selection as a Top Ten finalist in a contest to receive a Library Technology Makeover.

Car drives into Hoschton pharmacy

Car drives into Hoschton pharmacy
HOSCHTON – Tracy Jordan and the rest of her staff at West Jackson Medicine Center in Hoschton gave cheerful greetings to people walking into the pharmacy Monday morning, despite all they had been through over the weekend.
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Lori Bone fosters a caring, learning environment for special students

Lori Bone fosters a caring, learning environment for special students
Lori Bone, a special education teacher for County Line Elementary School, has been named Teacher of the Year for her school as well as Barrow County. Her recognition at the county level put Bone in consideration for Georgia Teacher of the Year.
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Burglary of May Street business being investigated
Winder Police are investigating a Jan. 28 burglary at a May Street business where the shop window was broken out to gain entry. The break-in was reported at 1:24 a.m.







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