More than 250 people attended the annual awards dinner as the chamber begins a new year with new officers and several new board members.

Among the awards was the Honorary Lifetime Member that was presented to retired Blue Ridge pharmacists Bill Walden and Bill Prather, who owned a pharmacy in downtown Blue Ridge for many years. They were recognized for their long support of the community and the chamber.

Source: The News Observer

A local developer and a contractor say 1,000 or more jobs could be created if the Blue Ridge City Council would vote to allow restaurants to serve beer and wine by the drink.

Developer Ronnie Tipton told council members Thursday night at a public meeting that a couple of well-known chain restaurants are interested in locating on his property north of Home Depot, if the ability to serve beer and wine is available.

Tipton was joined by local contractor Howard Slaughter, who is working with another group of developers wanting to move forward with a large project on 26 acres near the Fannin/Gilmer county line.

Slaughter said the ability to serve beer and wine is also key to the project he represents.

Unlike Tipton, whose property is already located in the city limits, the property that Slaughter represents is not in the city. It is located on Hwy. 515 South, which the city council has been trying to annex into the city for more than a year.

During the meeting, Slaughter showed the council the plans for the development that includes retail business space, a hotel, a major chain restaurant and other restaurants and a 2,000 seat country music auditorium.

Slaughter said he has “gone as far as he can go” and if a decision isn’t made soon by the council, the project could move to Gilmer County where the developers have an option on 32 acres in the Whitepath area.

According to Slaughter, The Gateway to Blue Ridge project would be developed in several phases and would add at least 400 permanent jobs, in addition to the more than 200 temporary jobs that will be created during the construction.

“We not going to tear up the mountains like East Ellijay,” Slaughter said.

For instance, he explained, “We will recycle our water and put in a sewage pumping station to help the city extend the sewer lines along Hwy. 515.”

He said Logan’s Outback Steakhouse and Applebee’s are interested in the location, along with Bass Pro Shops and Dick’s Sporting.

“But, without the beer and wine availability, we cannot get the restaurants which will draw the other businesses,” Slaughter said.

“We are in hard economic times so we need to look at everything we can to help the economy here,” he said. “We are in a tourist area. That is our main draw and we need to build on it.”

Slaughter said the issue of beer and wine “is not a moral issue or a religious issue. It’s an economic issue.”

He said he has fought to keep the project in Fannin County even though the others involved have wanted to go to Gilmer County.

“But I have gone as far as I can to keep it here,” Slaughter said.

Tipton said Kroger in interested in locating a store in Blue Ridge, but won’t come here without the restaurants and they won’t come without the beer and wine.

“I can see us adding 1,000 jobs, good jobs, if we can develop the property, but not without beer and wine. It just won’t happen,” Tipton said.

He said Longhorn, Applebee’s, Staples and Office Max have also expressed interest.

Fannin County Veterinarian Jim McClearen, who recently opened Cohutta Feed and County Store along with a veterinary clinic and a restaurant on Hwy. 515, said this county lost its industrial jobs long ago and the only thing left is tourism.

“A few restaurants with beer and wine will draw others restaurants and other businesses to help our economy,” McClearen said. “Blue Ridge is still a destination, however if we lose that designation, the tourist won’t come back.”

He said Blue Ridge and Fannin County are fortunate to have an opportunity that the developers are offering.

“These are tough choices we are asking the council to make, but we have to make the tough choices for the future of the community,” McClearen said.

Blue Ridge Mayor Robert Greene said the council will consider the information and comments and determine how to proceed.

Greene made no commitment as to when or if the council would take any action on changing the current city ordinance to include a pouring license for beer and wine.

The city already allows packaged beer and wine sales.

“I was honored just to be on the ballot among so many other wonderful teachers at Blue Ridge Elementary School,” Gray said.

She is a 1985 graduate of Fannin County High School and has a bachelor of science degree in early childhood education from Brenau University. She is currently working on a master’s degree in curriculum and instructional reading from Grand Canyon University.

A banquet is planned for Jan. 27, when the countywide Teacher of the Year winner will be named.

Located in a 1920s bank building at 260-A W. Main Street, the original vault houses wonderful gifts and gourmet foods, and the fireplace and piano create a cozy setting to linger over a cup of coffee.

Be sure to bring a laptop to take advantage of the wireless internet service offered in the store.

They Recently have added a Bakery with delicious muffins and more.

The Beanery’s Hours:

Mon-Thurs 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Friday 7:30AM-9:30PM

Saturday 7:00AM-5:00PM

Sunday Noon-5PM

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Source: http://timescourier.com

Gilmer County’s citizens will continue their tradition of honoring thei rmilitary heroes next Tuesday, Nov. 11, with their annual Veterans Day breakfast, parade, ceremony and lunch.  The day will begin with a continental breakfast and fellowship time beginning at 8:30 a.m., in the fellowship hall of the Ellijay First United Methodist Church on McCutchen Street.

Just after 10 a.m., the parade will assemble at the church and prepare for the march to the downtown Ellijay square.

The parade will feature the veterans, a Cobb County R.O.T.C. unit, marching bands from Gilmer High School and Gilmer Middle School, and military honor guards, including the Blue Ridge Disabled American Veterans Honor Guard.

Theater President Joe Webb said the production will open Friday, Nov. 14, at 7:30 p.m. with Mike Lacy playing the part of “Phil Gorski,” one of five cast members in the play.

Lacy is replacing Phil Avery, who became ill and could not continue, Webb said.

Other Gorski family cast members include “Randi,” played by Meghan Beaver, “Mickey,” played by Micah Stuart, “Andy,” played by Eric Munchel, and “Emily,” played by Beth Inman.

The play is directed by Lee Maslankowski, who is making his directing debut. Tina Maslankowski is the production manager for the theater.

“The production is a family Christmas with a little bit of reincarnation,” Lee Maslankowski said.

The production will begin each Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m., Nov. 14-30.

For ticket information call 706-632-9223.  

SAVE THE BRCT THEATER DETAILS

Source: News Observer

Lynn Doss says she has been promised by Ron Jackson that Fannin County will be changed from the Appalachian Tech service delivery area to the North Georgia Tech service delivery area as part of the mergers taking place within the newly named Technical College System of Georgia.

In an e-mail late Friday afternoon, Doss wrote that Jackson confirmed he would make the change and it would be ratified by the technical college system state board Nov. 6. Jackson also asked Doss to make the announcement to the community.

Considerable concern was voiced last week when local community leaders learned such a change might not take place.

Several weeks ago, word was received that Fannin County would be aligned with North Georgia Tech. Then, last Thursday, an e-mail from Sanford Chandler, president of Appalachian Tech, said the decision had been reversed and Fannin County would continue to be served by Appalachian Tech.

Doss, one of two Fannin County members of the Appalachian Tech board of directors, said she urged state officials to align Fannin County with North Georgia Tech. The final decision rests with Jackson, who is commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia.

Doss made her request after talking to community leaders from the Chamber of Commerce, school system, county commission and the development authority as well as conferring with Johnny Chastain, the other Fannin County representative on the Appalachian Tech board.

“All of them said Fannin County would be better served by being a part of the North Georgia Tech SDA than the North Metro SDA,” Doss said. “So I made the request to Appalachian Tech Board Chairman Steve Holcomb and North Metro Tech President Sanford Chandler.”

Doss said both Holcomb and Chandler agreed to make the request to TCSG Commissioner Ron Jackson. “Their only concern was that the people of Fannin County be happy and be served, and they have bent over backwards to do that with our request,” Doss said.

According to TCSG Communication Director Mike Light, “The commissioner has the authority to make those decisions.”

Prior to Doss’ request, Fannin County was included in the Appalachian Tech service area which, at one time, was going to be merged with the North Georgia Tech service area with campuses in Clarksville and Blairsville.

Chandler changed that plan last week, proposing that the Appalachian Tech SDA be combined with North Metro and Chattahoochee SDAs.

Light said Jackson is considering the merits of combining the administrations of the three colleges.

Meanwhile, Fannin County Chamber of Commerce President Jan Hackett said the county would be better served by being a part of the North Georgia Tech service area than North Metro SDA.

She said the NGT’s Blairsville campus has more Fannin students than the Appalachian Tech campus in Jasper.

“We are closer geographically and share common interests such as tourism, second homes and retirement as our base of economic development with North Georgia Tech counties rather than commercial development and traditional manufacturing,” Hackett said.

“Besides, the North Georgia Tech campus in Blairsville is only 20 minutes from Blue Ridge making it a more affordable and accessible choice for Fannin students,” she said.

Also, dual enrollment between Fannin County High School students and North Georgia Tech is more feasible, which encourages students to further their education and increase graduation rates, she said.

Fannin County would be the smallest county in the North Metro service area and the furthest away, Hackett said.

Chamber board Chairman Emily Dunn said being aligned with North Georgia Tech would give Fannin students more and better options to boost their careers, whether it is vocational or traditional college classes.

“It is very likely that our graduation rate will increase by giving these options that will keep kids in school,” Dunn said. “The impact on our community could be tremendous by preparing our students and citizens with ways to be a better prepared workforce.”