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Macon County Commissioners

Coverage of the meetings of the Macon County Board of County Commissioners.

Franklin Town Board of Aldermen

Coverage of the meetings of the Franklin Town Board of Aldermen.

Macon County School Board

Coverage of the meetings of the Macon County School Board.

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Friday, December 19, 2014

Macon County Planning Board
Video of December 2014 Meeting




The Macon County Planning Board met for the regular December 2014 meeting last night at the Health Department. Commissioner Jimmy Tate reflected on his time served on the board for the last 5 years, he introduced Commissioner Gary Shields, who would be taking his place as liaison to the planning board.

Two citizens spoke during public comment. James Wright shared his noise and nuisance problems that had been ongoing for over two years without resolution. Donna Majerus also shared some of her problems for the last few years with a noisy neighbor.

The main topic of the meeting was the noise ordinance that the county commissioners had instructed them to create. Board members spoke at length about what they wanted and didn't want in the ordinance. County Planner Matt Mason handed out a copy of the as yet unadopted noise ordinance for neighboring Clay County for members to refer to and there was some discussion on that document and how it might be amended to fit Macon County.

Chariman Chris Hanners reminded the board that the terms of himself (2/2015), Susan Ervin (5/2015), Peggy Patterson (5/2015) and Mark West (11/2015) would be expiring in 2015, as well as that of the seat of the Town of Highlands (1/2015). The current occupant, John Underwood, indicated that he no longer wished to serve on the board and would only serve until a replacement had been located.

The next meeting on the board will take place on Tuesday, January 13th at 4 pm at the health department. The February meeting will be a joint meeting with the Macon County Commissioners at a location to be determined, but has in the past been held at the Macon Bank Corporate Center.

Here is a video of the meeting. The audio is amplified because there were a couple of members who do not speak loudly enough to be easily heard.



Here is the agenda for the meeting.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Tractor Trailer Rolls Over on Cowee Mountain


On December 16, 2014, a tractor trailer rolled over in Waterspicket Curve near the top of Cowee Mountain on US-441. Mountain Valley Volunteer Fire Department, Macon County EMS and the North Carolina Highway Patrol responded to the incident. Firefighters, EMS and bystanders extricated the driver of the truck and Macon County EMS transported the victims to Angel Community Hospital.

Here are some photos and video from the scene, with snippets of the radio traffic mixed into the video.



Photos can be viewed on Flickr.

Friday, December 5, 2014

Area law enforcement seeking subject wanted for several felonies, including kidnapping

**update** 12/05/2014: The manhunt is over and Jester has been taken into custody by the Rabun County Sheriff's Office at 1:45 pm on December 5th in a field near Yorkhouse Road in Mountain City. The manhunt had started around 10:30 pm the previous evening.



Law Enforcement in North Georgia and western North Carolina are on the lookout for a Phillip Norman Jester for kidnapping, grand theft auto, eluding arrest and several other felonies. The audio included with this post is of a BOLO (Be On the LookOut for) issued by the Macon County EOC just after 4 am this morning.

Jester has eluded capture in Rabun County and was last seen in the Rabun Gap area. They believe he may have stolen a vehicle.

Details on the individual are as follows:

Phillip Norman Jester
Age: 24
Brown Hair and Brown Eyes
Height: 5 foot 10 inches
Weight: 190 pounds
Considered armed and dangerous

Skylar Nichole Foster
Age: 14
Hair is black, shaved on the right side
Height: 5 foot 2 inches
Weight: 110 pounds
May be held against her will


Authorities believe that 24 year-old Jester is holding 14-year-old Skylar Nicole Foster against her will. He is a wanted felon out of Delaware, as well as Georgia and other states. Skylar met Jester on Facebook before he came to Georgia and ran away with him and it is believe she is now being held against her will.

Skylar is believed to be in danger. She is 5'2" and weighs 110 pounds. She was last seen wearing blue jeans with leggings and an oversized blue zip-up hoodie and black shoes. Her hair is dyed black and is shaved on the right side.

If you see Jester or the couple, please do not attempt to apprehend them on your own call 911 and report their location and direction of travel.

Monday, December 1, 2014

Board of Education Swears In Fred Goldsmith and Tommy Cabe
Re-elects Leadership
Recognizes Service of Gary Shields

The Macon County Board of Education met this morning at 9 am.

The first order of business was to swear in Tommy Cabe and Fred Goldsmith to the board. The board then proceeded to re-elect Jim Breedlove as Chairman and Tommy Cabe as Vice Chairman.

The board then presented former board member Gary Shields with a plaque recognizing his service on the school board. Gary Shields did not run for re-election to the board of education and mounted a successful election campaign to join the Macon County Commissioners. He will be sworn into that office at 5:45 pm tonight at the Macon County Courthouse.



Here are a few photos from this morning's meeting:

(You may click the photos to embiggen)



Chairman Jim Breedlove directs meeting via phone
Board member Tommy Cabe sworn in for fourth term
Fred Goldsmith sworn for first term
Departing member Gary Shields recognized for service
Board member Melissa Evans participates in meeting via phone