Carl Sanders was Georgia’s governor but also a huge contributor to Hall County’s early growth.

“It’s hard to compare governors because they all live at different times and through different problems and opportunities, but I think Carl Sanders would be on everybody’s list as one of the outstanding governors in Georgia history,” said Abit Massey, president emeritus of the Georgia Poultry Federation.

Sanders, who served as governor 1963-67, died Sunday in Atlanta. He was 89.

Massey, whose ties to state leaders date to before Sander’s tenure at the State Capitol, said the former governor helped Hall County in several important ways, including establishing a University System of Georgia presence here, as well as Lanier Technical College.

What began as Gainesville Junior College is now University of North Georgia-Gainesville.

He also was instrumental in laying the groundwork for what would become Interstate 985 from Interstate 85 in Gwinnett County to Gainesville. The move was to help ease the loss of I-85 from Hall to its current route, which skirts Hall to the south.

Also, Sanders “was extremely supportive to us on poultry matters,” said Massey, who led the Gainesville-based poultry federation 1960-2008.

“He assisted with some tax changes that improved the competitive position of the poultry industry, and he had a great legacy in education,” Massey said.

Gov. Nathan Deal said he is “greatly saddened” by Sanders’ death.

“The bond we shared was more than the mutual possession of a public office,” he said. “Gov. Sanders was a mentor and friend whose bright example of compassionate leadership was unsurpassed.”

Sanders “transformed Georgia by building thousands of classrooms, improving our transportation system, increasing state income and bringing a competitive spirit to the state through the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta Braves,” Deal said.

“But more than anything else, Gov. Sanders showed true leadership and character by supporting civil rights for all during a time when many were not.

“It is this legacy that I remember with a heavy heart today, and his lasting positive impact on our state will be felt by many future generations of Georgians. We will continue to pray for the Sanders family during this difficult time.”

Sanders, an Augusta native, “is best remembered as Georgia's first New South governor, a Democrat who provided progressive leadership,” according to New Georgia Encyclopedia, an online publication supported by several state functions, including the governor’s office.

A World War II veteran, he was the nation's youngest governor when elected in 1962.

In his term, Sanders pushed to improve education and reform and modernize state government, as well as end corruption that had tainted several areas of government in previous administrations.

He also sought a more moderate racial climate during the turbulent later years of the civil rights movement.

“Though he himself was a segregationist, he was realistic enough to recognize the futility in continued resistance to federal legislation and court rulings and to refrain from the inflammatory racist rhetoric of his predecessors,” according to the encyclopedia.

After his term, Sanders would go on to rebuff offers in national leadership positions and set up a law firm in Atlanta.

In 1970, he did seek a second term as governor but ended up losing to then-state Sen. and eventual President Jimmy Carter.

Sanders then dedicated himself to his law practice. His firm of Troutman and Sanders would grow to be an international firm with more than 500 attorneys.

“We’re very sad. We’re going to miss him very much,” said Bob Webb, the firm’s chairman. “He was a great man, a great leader. He was a great mentor and friend to very many of us.”

State Sen. Butch Miller, R-Gainesville, lost the vote Monday for Senate president pro tem in the Georgia legislature.

Miller told The Times the vote of Republican Senate members was tied 19-19, but incumbent Senate President Pro Tempore David Shafer of Duluth prevailed 20-18 in a revote.

The president pro tem is officially the No. 2 spot in the state Senate, with Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, R-Gainesville, serving as the president.

Miller, who dropped his candidacy for Senate majority leader in order to seek the pro tem post, said he was encouraged to do so after receiving dozens of phone calls from allies and supporters voicing their desire for a change in Republican leadership.

Had Miller won, representatives from Hall County, including Miller, Cagle and Gov. Nathan Deal, would have dominated leadership positions in the state’s GOP-controlled politics.

Miller told The Times he was encouraged by the support he received, which he said reveals his growing influence as a leader in the Georgia General Assembly.

In a follow-up statement, Miller said “Although my efforts may have fallen short, I have great confidence in the newly-elected leadership team and know they will continue to work hard for Georgia citizens.”

“Success is not measured on a single event,” the statement continues. “With the experience of this race, as well as serving as senate majority caucus chair, I am a better man and a better servant of the 49th District and the state of Georgia.”

Officials from Hall County and the city of Gainesville have reached an agreement that will allow for the development of a 199-lot upscale subdivision off Dawsonville Highway in Gainesville, near the shores of Lake Lanier.

Hall County had objected to the proposed development based on their assertion that the city’s plans to annex about 70 acres would create an “island” property where duplicate services are delivered.

County officials also objected to the fact that they would have to continue maintaining Ahaluna Drive.

The city has now agreed to handle maintenance of Ahaluna Drive, which accesses the proposed subdivision, after the developer agreed to annex additional parcels along the road.

County and city officials hashed out the deal, which will allow the City Council on Tuesday night to go ahead and approve the annexation needed for the development to proceed, during a court hearing Monday.

Residents in the area who have opposed certain aspects of the development said they were surprised by the last minute deal and are now re-thinking how to proceed with their objections.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee has suspended leading tackler A.J. Johnson, a Gainesville High graduate, and defensive back Michael Williams amid a sexual assault investigation.

The school announced Monday afternoon on the football program's Twitter account that both players had been suspended "from all team-related activities" without going into further details. Volunteers coach Butch Jones confirmed earlier Monday that members of the team were subjects of the Knoxville police investigation without naming anyone.

Knoxville police spokesman Darrell DeBusk said in a statement that officers arrived at a Knoxville apartment complex Sunday just before 3 a.m. A woman told police she'd been raped by two males and a second female said she was sexually assaulted. DeBusk said the suspects were Tennessee students but haven't been named because they haven't been charged.

DeBusk said one of the women was a Tennessee student, while the other was from out of state and happened to be in town visiting a friend. Both women were taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center as part of the ongoing investigation. DeBusk said the woman from out of state "has decided not to prosecute at this time" and has returned home but that the other wants to press charges.

"I am aware of the alleged incident that occurred over this weekend," Jones said at his noon press conference. "Right now we are in the process of gathering all the information. Once we have that appropriate information we will act in a very decisive manner, which we have proven over time to do here at the University of Tennessee."

Jones said at that time he wanted to be "right rather than fast" with his decision. Tennessee did not say what had changed or new information had been gathered between the coach's news conference and the players' suspensions about four hours later.

Johnson, a linebacker and four-year starter, ranks second in the Southeastern Conference with 101 total tackles and leads the conference with 10.1 tackles per game. Johnson has produced over 100 tackles each of the last three seasons, and his 425 career tackles rank second in school history.

The senior from Gainesville, Georgia, was a first-team all-SEC selection last season and has been one of Tennessee's most popular players the last few years for his productive performance and exuberant personality on the field.

Williams, a sophomore cornerback from Laurel, Maryland, has started five of Tennessee's 10 games. He has made 23 tackles. He's a two-sport athlete who also competed on Tennessee's track team last year.

Monday's suspensions come two months after freshman running back Trevyon Paulk was dismissed from the team due to what Jones called a "personal conduct issue." A police report stated Paulk had hit a woman in the mouth at a party. Paulk wasn't arrested because the woman declined to press charges.

Tennessee (5-5, 2-4 SEC) plays at No. 19 Missouri (8-2, 5-1) on Saturday. The Vols are one win away from becoming bowl eligible for the first time since 2010.

A Hall County Sheriff’s Office investigator testified a man suspected of sexually assaulting a teenage girl returned her to her jogging path Nov. 2 with his girlfriend driving the car.

Brandon Scott Nix, 27, is accused of grabbing a 17-year-old Hispanic female off Barrett Road and taking her to his Wood Creek Place residence in East Hall County. He then allegedly sexually assaulted her in his bedroom, Hall County Sheriff’s Office investigator Jamie Compton said Monday morning at a probable cause hearing.

The 17-year-old was jogging along Barrett Road in the morning of Nov. 2 when a red Dodge pickup approached her.

“Her path to run was Barrett Road to the end and back,” Compton said.

The victim told police “the white male had a heavy odor of alcohol.” After a brief exchange with a man she believed to be named “Charles,” the victim told police Nix grabbed her by the wrist. Compton said she attempted to escape through the passenger door.

According to the original warrants, Nix allegedly choked the victim — causing her to lose consciousness — and pulled her into the truck.

The victim recalled the details of the residence’s exterior and interior, including a Confederate flag in the front yard and no furniture in the living room, Compton said.

After Nix began allegedly sexually assaulting the victim, Nix’s girlfriend Brenda Baker knocked on the front door. He left the bedroom to speak with Baker, according to investigators.

The two began arguing, Compton said, with Nix blocking the way to the bedroom.

“She wanted to know why she couldn’t go toward the bedroom,” Compton said.

The victim then grabbed her sweatshirt and leggings and ran to Baker for help. After trying to determine whether she was in a relationship with Nix or not, Baker told the victim to get into her car, Compton said.

Nix’s girlfriend, who was driving, and Nix dropped off the victim at the corner of Truelove and Barrett roads, the sheriff’s investigator said.

Nix approached the victim again in a vehicle while she ran home, when he “threw the rest of her clothes out the window at her” and said he was sorry, Compton said.

When investigators searched Nix’s home, they were unable to find the victim’s missing bra nor any signs or traces of ejaculation. Investigators also did not collect sheets, Compton said.

Nix is charged with sexual battery, false imprisonment, aggravated assault, aggravated sodomy, attempted rape and kidnapping.

Magistrate Court Judge Tracy Loggins heard arguments from Nix’s attorney William Hollingsworth and the state’s attorney on whether the alleged actions taken by Nix constituted attempted rape.

All charges against Nix are headed to Superior Court, Loggins said.

Baker has been charged with misdemeanor reckless conduct, according to Hall County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Deputy Nicole Bailes.

The investigation is ongoing.

North Georgians will have to endure one more subfreezing morning before temperatures climb back toward a November normal by week's end.

The morning low in Gainesville reached 23 degrees, with wind-chill temps of 12. The thermometer finally reached the freezing mark around 1 p.m., but isn't expected to rise much more during the afternoon.

Lows tonight will again be in the lower 20s with brisk winds dying off a bit. Wednesday's high will reach the mid-40s as temps begin to moderate a bit.

Showers will return by the weekend with warmer temperatures but a chance of thunderstorms by Sunday.

Farmers and “city folk” are strongest when they work together, according to Gordon Sawyer.

Sawyer was the guest speaker Tuesday at the annual Hall County Farmer Appreciation Breakfast, held during the national Farm-City Week. The annual breakfast, held at the East Hall Community Center, was hosted by the Hall County Farm Bureau and the Hall County Cooperative Extension.

“The farm people in any county, when you get down to it, and the city folks should be one team,” Sawyer said. “The first time I remember getting involved in Farm-City Week … the idea was that people in town didn’t know a whole lot about farms, and vice versa.”

Sawyer is a middle Tennessee native and longtime Gainesville resident. He served as the first executive secretary of the Georgia Poultry Federation and editor of the Poultry Times. He was named to the Hall County Agribusiness Hall of Fame in 2007.

Today, Sawyer is a radio commentator and an author of Northeast Georgia history books. He shared some of the history of the agribusiness and poultry industry in Hall County at the breakfast Tuesday.

Sawyer said the poultry business in Hall meant the entire area had to become a team. Happenings in the town required the product and the work provided by the farms, and farmers required the business offered in the city.

The thing that counts and that unites farmers and city dwellers, Sawyer said, is the flow of money.

“This is a profit-making business, or it’s supposed to be,” he said. “It’s not always, but it’s doing well. Right now, the thing about the poultry business is 90 percent of our economy of our farm operations is really tied to poultry at this point.”

The poultry business in Hall has supported other major area industries, Sawyer said, particularly the trucking and logistics industry.

“All that started because we had truckloads of ice-packed chicken going off to Miami or Cincinnati or somewhere,” Sawyer said.

While poultry farmers helped indirectly develop these alternate industries, they likewise depend on them for their services.

“Agriculture is important,” he said. “The poultry business is important to our economy, and if you pull that thing out, we’ve got trouble.”

A.J. Johnson, a Tennessee Volunteers linebacker and Gainesville High School graduate, was named Tuesday as a suspect in a rape investigation by Knoxville police.

Johnson, 22, and defensive back Michael Williams, 21, are named in a police report detailing an alleged rape at a Knoxville apartment complex.

No charges have been filed at this time against either player, as the Knox County district attorney’s office is investigating the case.

Knoxville police responded to the Woodlands Apartment complex at 3 a.m. Sunday. A 19-year-old University of Tennessee student told police that Johnson and Williams raped her, according to the police report.

She was later transported for treatment to the University of Tennessee Medical Center along with another 19-year-old woman. The second victim was a university student from another state, according to police, and she told police that Williams sexually assaulted her at the apartment complex. The Associated Press reported that she was not pressing charges.

Both players were suspended Monday from all team-related activities, according to the football program’s Twitter account.

The athletic department did not have any further comment Monday when contacted by The Times.

A Decatur man and a woman are suspected of shoplifting over-the-counter drugs from Hall County grocery stores.

The Oakwood Police Department and Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad worked together to arrest Tortinto A. Christian, 29. Authorities plan to charge and identify the woman, but have not done so yet.

Oakwood police and the MANS unit set up a sting operation via Facebook to purchase the items back from Christian, said Oakwood police Cpl. Danny Sridej.

“We set up a buy from him, and he brought everything to us,” he said.

Dozens of boxes of heartburn medication and probiotics were seized by Oakwood police, as well as nicotine patches and packs of batteries. The items, Sridej said, could be resold on the black market or on the Internet.

“I guess batteries are one of the hot-selling items,” he said of the numerous AA and AAA batteries seized.

Christian and his accomplice are suspected of going to multiple grocery stores and concealing the items before leaving the store. Between $800 and $1,500 worth of items were taken during each incident, police said.

In total, police say they seized an estimated $7,700 or more in merchandise from Christian’s vehicle at the time of his arrest.

A white Chevrolet Impala with a dealership tag or a silver Toyota Camry with a Florida tag were seen when the suspects escaped each time.

Other stores in Hall County and neighboring jurisdictions are asked to contact Oakwood police if any similar thefts have happened at their locations, Sridej said.

After a Hail Mary pass connected late Monday, ending Hall County’s objection, Gainesville City Council on Tuesday night gave the final OK needed for the development of a 199-lot upscale subdivision off Ahaluna Drive in Gainesville.

Residents in the area who have opposed the density and quality of the development, near the shores of Lake Lanier, said their only recourse now may be to file a lawsuit against the city to stop the development from proceeding.

Residents said they were caught off guard on Monday when West Ahaluna LLC, a local developer with ties to America’s Home Place, agreed to annex additional properties along Ahaluna Drive and the city agreed to take over maintenance of the road from Hall County.

In exchange, county officials agreed to drop their protest.

The city and county might have been headed for an arbitration hearing to settle their dispute without this deal.

Residents said they were blindsided by the decision and the subsequent vote Tuesday, given the limited time they had to respond to the new circumstances.

“My objection is the process,” said resident David Chamberlain.

Councilman Sam Couvillon said officials had done all they could to find compromise between the developer and area residents, including reducing the number of homes to be built and adding new conditions to protect the lake environment.

Gainesville attorney James Walters, who represents the developer, told The Times on Monday that time is money and any additional delays could be costly.

Residents said they still object to the proposed development on several grounds, including their belief that it effectively creates an “unincorporated island” where the homes on Watauga Drive, and a few more along Ahaluna Drive, are left sandwiched between the city limits and the lakeshore.

And this may be the basis for a lawsuit, though city officials said they believe they are in the clear based on state law.

Residents of Watauga Drive will likely have to decide, eventually, whether to remain in the county or be annexed into the city.

A woman accused of falsely reporting she was raped in 2013 has pleaded guilty to three counts of false reporting of a crime.

Jillian Syfan Moore, 25, pleaded guilty Tuesday, with one count each for the reported burglary, rape and aggravated assault, according to an accusation signed by Northeastern Judicial Circuit District Attorney Lee Darragh.

On July 31, 2013, Syfan reported a burglary and rape at her home in the 5000 block of Avalon Commons Way in Clermont. Syfan told police she was stabbed in the abdomen by a masked black man. She reported the man stole jewelry and other items before escaping.

Investigators with the Hall County Sheriff’s Office later determined the minor stab wound was self-inflicted. Moore was charged with false reporting on Aug. 21, 2013.

“It appears that Jillian had a bad reaction to some prescription medicine she was taking,” attorney Graham McKinnon said at the time of the charge.

McKinnon said she would be seeking mental health treatment at a facility.

He could not be reached immediately for comment.

Two area couples were honored Thursday for their generosity and service to the community at an annual philanthropy luncheon.

Tommy and Chantal Bagwell of Forsyth County were named the North Georgia Community Foundation’s philanthropists of the year and Don and Pat Pirkle of Gainesville received the Woodrow Stewart Leadership in Philanthropy award.

“We are deeply thankful for these and many other blessings that have come from this wonderful community, and we humbly accept this award,” Don Pirkle told the 200 or so gathered at First Baptist Church of Gainesville on Green Street for the Gainesville-based foundation’s 10th annual Philanthropy Day Luncheon.

Tommy Bagwell said he thanked the foundation for the award “and God almighty for our good fortune and that we have been so lucky to be able to do the funding that has allowed us to receive this honor.

“And I promise you we will not stop here.”

Each year, the foundation hands out the Philanthropist of the Year award to recognize “outstanding achievement by an individual, family or business in recognition of lifetime or long-term achievements that have made a significant impact” in the region, according to the organization’s website.

“This award honors those with a proven record of exceptional generosity who, through direct financial support, demonstrate outstanding civic and charitable responsibility, and whose generosity encourages others to take philanthropic leadership roles.”

The Bagwells were selected because of their strong community support of area causes throughout the years, including the Northeast Georgia Council of the Boys Scouts of America and Medical Association of Georgia’s “Think About It” campaign for prescription abuse awareness, according to an October foundation news release announcing the award.

The couple also has supported public and private schools, literacy initiatives, food pantries and other programs that provide support for needy families.

Speaking before the program, Tommy Bagwell said the recognition is nice but it’s also “somewhat touchy” because of biblical admonitions about touting one’s own giving.

“On the other hand, there are passages that say to let your light so shine, so we’re grateful for the honor,” he said.

The Woodrow Stewart award is named after Woodrow “Woody” Stewart, who died in 2012. He was known for his support of Northeast Georgia Medical Center and was vital in the building of the Ronnie Green Heart Center.

Stewart “was a giant in philanthropy,” Don Pirkle said. “He set an unbelievable example. I don’t think I could walk in his shadow. We are both very humbled to be honored.”

The Pirkles are involved with Challenged Child & Friends, active at Gainesville First United Methodist Church and have contributed to Georgia Tech, Habitat for Humanity, the Boy Scouts of America, the Medical Center Foundation and Gainesville Kiwanis Club, as well as Good News Clinics and the community foundation.

A man suspected of child enticement has surrendered to authorities following an hour-and-a-half standoff at Laurel Park.

When Hall County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted to take Samuel Lamar Peppers, 36, of Covington into custody around 9 a.m., he pulled a gun, spokeswoman Deputy Nicole Bailes said.

The suspect was trying to meet a 14-year-old at the park, she said.

“This was the result of an undercover Internet operation,” she said.

A Sheriff’s Office investigator had communicated with Peppers for the past two weeks posing through a mobile app as a 14-year-old girl.

“Peppers engaged in sexually explicit conversations in addition to providing pornographic images of his self to the investigator,” Bailes wrote in a press release.

Peppers planned to meet the girl at the park, located at 3100 Old Cleveland Highway, “for the purposes of a sexual act,” authorities said.

After arriving at Laurel Park, Peppers was “spooked” and fled in his vehicle from investigators attempting a traffic stop, authorities said.

Once Peppers’ path was blocked by patrol cars, he showed them he had a gun, authorities said.

SWAT was called for help along with a negotiator, medics and Hall County Fire Services. Peppers surrendered and was taken into custody.

He has been charged with child enticement and criminal attempt of child molestation and is being held without bond. Additional charges are pending.

Gainesville City Council has approved new policies and procedures for the ways redevelopment projects seeking Tax Allocation District financing are evaluated and approved.

City, county and school board officials tabled three requests in August for taxpayer funding to help renovate the Lakeshore Mall, a building along Green Street for Looking Glass Surveys and for completion of phase two of the midtown multiuse trail.

Officials on the TAD Advisory Committee said they needed to identify just how long it would take to recoup their investment, as well as identify parameters and evaluation criteria for approving funding.

The committee only makes recommendations to the City Council, which must sign off on any funding.

Gainesville has two TADs — the midtown area and Lakeshore Mall — wherein increments in property taxes resulting from new growth are reinvested in properties.

The county participates in the midtown TAD, but not the Lakeshore TAD.

After establishing a baseline of property taxes owed, any increments resulting from an increase in property value are pumped into the TAD account and reinvested in improvements. But only the growth in property tax revenue is funneled to the fund.

According to the city’s website, “In simple terms, the increased property taxes that would be generated by a development’s improvements are temporarily used to fund those improvements. Once the improvements are paid for, a development’s taxes are then distributed traditionally.”

The Atlantic Station development in Atlanta is one of the more prominent examples of the use of TAD funding in the state. Proponents say TADs inspire a “halo effect,” wherein the renovation of one property spurs redevelopment elsewhere.

Critics, however, charge that TADs are an unwise use of taxpayer money that represents little more than corporate welfare.

The new policies regarding TAD funding outline the types of eligible redevelopment projects, including  public works; telecommunications infrastructure; street improvements; parks improvements; transit facilities upgrades; pedestrian amenities; and site preparation.

All projects must generate sufficient tax increments to pay back the city’s debt, and should help reduce service costs, attract private investment and encourage new construction, according to the new policies.

In addition, projects that receive TAD funding must include a minimum $100,000 private investment.

All projects are subject to financial review, and applicants may be charged fees associated with securing financing.

Gainesville police are investigating a Wednesday night shooting on West Avenue that led to a 21-year-old’s death.

The victim was Daniel Cornejo of Gainesville, who was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center after police responded to Brookwood West No. 2 apartments at 10 p.m. Wednesday. Cornejo later died from his injuries.

The incident is being investigated by Gainesville police and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Nancy Rodriguez, a resident of the apartment complex, said her two kids were already in bed when she heard it.

“All I heard was a shot,” she said. “I didn’t go out or anything. I stayed in.”
Rodriguez said police arrived shortly after that.

Concrete outside the apartment complex had a large blood stain, blocked off by police tape.

Police have been in the area frequently, Rodriguez said, responding to kids smoking and other foul behavior nearby.

“(The kids) really haven’t messed with anyone,” Rodriguez said.

Dispatch communications indicated that police may be looking for a certain vehicle and a certain person, but police public information officers could not verify it at this time.

Parents, teachers, superintendents and state legislators are warily supportive of Common Core standards.

Such was the consensus at the end of a meeting of the House Study Committee on the Role of the Federal Government in Education.

The committee held its final meeting at the state Capitol on Thursday, when it discussed Common Core Performance Standards and heard a presentation from Helen Odom Rice, 3rd Congressional District member of the State Board of Education.

“I want to tell you that the state board has not been asleep at the helm,” Rice said. “We’ve had a plan, and we’re putting that plan into action.”

Rice discussed at length the state board’s recent review and evaluation process, which resulted in revisions to the standards in English language arts and mathematics.

The evaluation was a result of Gov. Nathan Deal’s executive order for a formal review of the standards.

Committee Co-Chairman Rep. Carl Rogers, R-Gainesville, said, as a legislator and not an educator, he was glad to hear responses and comments from teachers and superintendents.

“Just listening to the debate and comments we’ve heard, I still have some concerns for the state board,” Rogers said. “... I hope you’ll be more transparent in the future.”

The survey results are part of the state’s efforts to remain transparent with Georgians when it comes to Common Core. Survey responses included requests for clarity of the standards themselves and the expectations they carry. More specific concerns were regarding math, specifically discreet versus integrated mathematics courses, and the concept of differentiated learning methods.

Teachers have also requested more time to learn how to teach to the standards better and more resources to help them achieve the standards.

“We’re listening to those teachers,” Rice said.

Sarah Ballew Welch, English teacher at Fannin County High School, said she believes, with tweaking, the standards can help Georgia students reach the necessary level.

“For me in secondary English, the Common Core has been very effective,” she said. “It’s brought an increased rigor to our classroom.”

Justin Adams, math teacher at Henderson Middle School in Butts County, said he wants the state to nail down what exactly it is asking with Common Core Performance Standards.

“I do have a problem with a moving target. ... If we were to abolish the Common Core, we would just move backwards to the Georgia Performance Standards,” he said. “Teachers are tired of moving targets.”

Fulton County Schools’ Superintendent Robert Avossa said he believes the question of overall content should be led by and left to the state board and should not be a legislative issue.

Co-Chairman Rep. Brooks Coleman echoed Avossa’s sentiments, but went a step further.

“I personally don’t know that we should be legislating curriculum,” Coleman said. “But that’s just a statement.”

Eric Johnson, committee member and parent of two Lowndes County students, said he is a proponent for Common Core, but it could be improved with better communication between parents, teachers and students.

“I think it’s sort of like a business,” Rice said. “You open a new business and take three to five years to grow and get accustomed to that business.”

Coleman said the comments made by all committee members would be put together and sent out soon after the meeting.

“Going forward, we’ll trust the governor, putting everything on the table the next three years,” Rogers said. “What they’ll be and how they’ll be, we’ll have to see.”

The Hall County Board of Commissioners has approved a rezoning needed for the estimated $100 million expansion of Kubota Manufacturing of America into the Gateway Industrial Centre off Ga. 365 in North Hall.

Kubota has promised to create about 650 jobs at its new manufacturing facility, but it took scrapping some standards and conditions governing property development at the industrial park to get the deal done.

And Kubota’s move will potentially increase costs, or at least offset any proceeds generated from the land sale, for the county as it continues to build out infrastructure along the Gateway corridor with taxpayer money.

Johnnie Hicks, who resides in Lula near the industrial park, told the Board of Commissioners on Thursday the exemptions granted to Kubota effectively destroy the vision for the Gateway corridor, and will lead to excessive noise and air pollution, among other problems.

“We were very encouraged when Gateway first was announced because it had an intelligent design and appropriate ordinances to protect and ensure the safety of the public around it,” she said, before adding those assurances are now in jeopardy.

Several buffer requirements and other standards outlined in the Gateway Corridor Overlay District were removed in order to approve the rezoning of about 180 acres to heavy industrial, which will accommodate Kubota’s new facility.

Brian Rochester, executive vice president of Gainesville-based Rochester & Associates, a firm that provides land surveying, civil engineering and project management services, said Kubota has been a good “corporate citizen” in the community for nearly three decades and deserves the benefit of the doubt when it comes to providing exemptions from certain standards so the company can expand its business.

“I think extending some trust to them is not a big gamble,” he added.

However, Commissioner Craig Lutz said relaxing these standards is a bad way to do business.

“I’m still having a hard time wrestling with that,” he added. “What I don’t like is having two different standards. That, in its own right, bothers me.”

Kubota’s expansion will generate an estimated 650 jobs, paying an average wage and benefits package of about $54,000 annually, and will include about $33 million in construction-related investment.

An additional $70 million to $80 million investment will be made in outfitting the facility.

The company currently employs about 1,300 workers in Gainesville.

Tim Evans, vice president of economic development at the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce, said three local suppliers to Kubota will also benefit financially from the manufacturer’s expansion into Gateway.

And a report from the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia states an additional 340 jobs are likely to be created, assuming a one-year construction time frame.

The move into the park will generate about $2.5 million in upfront cash for the county as part of its share of lot proceeds from the approximately $5.67 million ($31,500 per acre) sale of land to Kubota, according to county and chamber officials.

While that will help reimburse the county for its previous $10 million financial commitment to building out the industrial park, which includes laying sewer lines, it will be offset by the commission’s approval Thursday of up to $3 million for the construction of a public road accessing Kubota’s new facility.

“We knew we were going to spend the money,” said Philip Wilheit, chairman of the Gainesville and Hall County Development Authority, which helped negotiate the deal with Kubota. “This just gives us an opportunity to spend it earlier.”

Special purpose local option sales tax, or SPLOST VI, revenues will fund the road construction and other infrastructure projects related to Kubota’s move.

However, this revenue stream was never intended to pay for infrastructure projects at the industrial park, a fact Lutz said was concerning and the reason he did not support this expenditure.

When the Kubota deal was announced just before this year’s election, critics, such as Gov. Nathan Deal’s opponents in the gubernatorial contest, Jason Carter and Andrew Hunt, cried foul.

Wilheit, after all, has taken criticism for his involvement in the industrial park, land he and his business partners transferred to the development authority in 2012.

Wilheit has served as Deal’s campaign chairman, and Deal helped orchestrate the move of the state poultry laboratory into the industrial park, an anchor tenant for Gateway.

But charges of cronyism and back-door dealing are unfounded, Wilheit said, adding that proceeds from the poultry lab sale were pumped into building out infrastructure at the industrial park.

Wilheit said the Kubota deal, which involved no state money, was negotiated over about two years, and the announcement was made because Kubota hopes to begin grading at the new manufacturing site early next year.

“So we moved quickly,” he added. “The election didn’t have anything to do with it. I’m certainly not going to apologize” for creating jobs.

But residents, such as Hicks, said officials who orchestrated the Kubota deal should have done a more thorough job of communicating its impact on the community.

Lutz, while supportive of Kubota’s plans, also said the process had been flawed.

“And then all the sudden, snap, it had to be done and it had to be done yesterday,” he said of the deal. “I don’t think that’s the right way to do business in Hall County.”

Wilheit said Kubota’s move into the industrial park means about half of the 518-acre site is now committed to specific projects, adding he expects the remainder of the land to be developed within five years.

“It’ll be A-plus across the board,” he said of Kubota’s expansion. “There’s no doubt how important they are. Kubota gives (Gateway) great credibility.”

Georgia residents are in luck this holiday season, as gas prices hang well below $3 just in time for family travels.

Thanksgiving travels are expected to be the highest since 2007, according to AAA. More than 46 million Americans will visit family for the holiday, and about 90 percent are expected to travel on the road.

Traveling with kids can be challenging for the whole family, especially over a lengthy trip. Area child care experts offer advice for families with small children.

“No. 1, snacks, snacks and more snacks,” said Brandee Thomas, managing director at My Sister’s Place. “But easy on the drinks.”

Sheila Missler with Joyland Child Development Center agreed, saying frequent bathroom breaks and limiting drink intake can prevent accidents on the road.

Taking rest breaks periodically is important for children and adults, Thomas said. She usually stops every two hours, but she chooses exits that have both gas and food options to minimize the stops she has to make.

Kathy Simmons, assistant director from TLC Childcare Inc. in Gainesville, said having something to do can help a child pass the time in the car.

“If they have a child between 1 and say, 2«, pack a bag full of activities,” Simmons said. “Toys, coloring books — that kind of thing works great for us.”

Missler said games are a great way to keep children busy, even if there’s a television in the car.

“When they stop to use the bathroom, let the kids have just a little time to run around a bit and get some energy out,” Missler said.

According to Missler, depending on a child’s age, most require no more than a minute per year of age in a seat. So a 3-year-old will comfortably sit for about three minutes.

“Riding is a little bit different of course,” she said. “... So you’ve got to have something to keep them entertained and to let them get their energy out when you can.”

Simmons said with her 3-year-old son William, having a parent in the back seat with the child can help keep him calm if he gets nervous or restless.

“When he was really young, we would take turns driving, and one of us would sit back there with him and keep him company so he wouldn’t cry so much or get so fussy.”

Thomas said, when possible, planning a trip around a child’s usual nap time can make for a more pleasant experience all around.

“This could mean traveling at ‘off’ times, but it’s definitely worth it,” she said.

Giving extra time in case of unexpected stops, delays or traffic is important, too, especially if traveling on a timeline.

The record-low gas prices this year are likely to affect traffic on the holiday itself. According to AAA, Georgia is expected to have 1.3 million travelers on Thanksgiving Day, and 1.2 million will travel in their cars.

Missler said safety, especially on a busy holiday, is the most important thing for a parent to remember with children in the car.

Cpl. Kevin Holbrook with the Gainesville Police Department agreed, and sent out a reminder for holiday travelers to be cautious on the road.

“The Thanksgiving holiday is one of the busiest travel times of the year,” Holbrook said. “It is important to remember that many people will be traveling closer to home and by way of vehicle due to the economy. The roadways will be busier than normal. With the added holiday stress and roadway distractions, it’s easy to forget about safety.

“Please remember to wear your safety belts, watch your speed, and use a designated driver.”

One of the men charged in a Gainesville shooting June 5 pleaded not guilty in a Thursday arraignment.

Rodnie Maurice, Stokes, 27, also known as Rebel, is charged with felony murder relating to the death of Cedric Antonio Huff, 41, in the shooting off West Avenue. Stokes and co-defendant Leshan Tremiele Tanner, 42, of Gainesville, were indicted Sept. 23.

Tanner waived arraignment and pleaded not guilty Oct. 27.

Police said they believe the case is tied to an alleged drug deal between the victim and the defendants.

After allegedly attempting to purchase half of a pound of marijuana in Huff’s apartment, Stokes and Tanner are accused of shooting Huff with a 9 mm handgun and conspiring to rob him.

Tanner was arrested June 22 on a felony murder charge, and police searched for Stokes for almost a month. He was located by U.S. marshals July 16 in Gwinnett County.

Gainesville police found 3.5 pounds of marijuana, along with scales and bags, inside Huff’s residence in a search. A shell casing for a 9 mm handgun were also located.

Together, Stokes and Tanner have been charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, attempt to purchase marijuana and three counts of felony murder.

In addition, Stokes was charged with armed robbery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and an additional felony murder count.

The additional felony murder count for Stokes arises from the alleged commission of armed robbery that led to the Huff’s death, according to the indictment.