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Monthly News and EventsOctober 2013

Events  

  

Fire Services
770.531.6838
 
Oct. 2: Groundbreaking Ceremony on the new fire station at Mount Vernon and Shirley roads at 10 a.m.
 
Oct. 1: Burn ban ends
  
Animal Shelter
678-450-1587
 
Oct. 10-11: The Shelter will be doing microchips for dogs at Mule Camp Market for only $25.  Stop by our booth!
 
Oct. 19: Havest Balloon Festival at Sterling on the Lake; proceeds benefit Challenged Child and Friends and the Hall County Animal Shelter

  

  
Parks and Leisure
770-535-8280

  

  

Allen Creek Soccer Complex:

Oct. 7-8: The Elk's Lodge's Annual Soccer Shoot Out 

This event is free of charge and is open to all youth ages U08 - U14 wanting to test their soccer skills.

Elk's Lodge Soccer Shoot Out

U08 & U10 Boys and Girls

When: Monday, October 7

Time: 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Field: 10

Ages: 7 and younger - 9 years old

Players will shoot into 5 soccer goals decreasing in size for points.

U12 & U14 Boys and Girls

When: Tuesday, October 8

Time: 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Field: 10

Ages: 10 - 13 years old

Players will shoot into a large goal with grids for points. 

 

Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center:

Oct. 5-6: Peach State Mounted Shooters
Oct. 11-13 Special Olympics
Oct. 18-20: ATL Golden Retriever Club
Oct. 26: LEA - Arena 'D'
Oct. 26-27: Lambert - IEA 'A' 
  
North Hall Park:
Oct. 26: Chili Cook-off at North Hall Community Center at 1 p.m., $5 entrance fee, proceeds benefit Challenged Child and Friends, Inc.

 

Home School PE

Date: October 14 - December 16

Days: Mondays

Time: 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. 

8 week session starting on October 14    

Cost: One student: $30 for 8 weeks

         Two students from same family: $57 for 8 weeks

         Three students from same family: $85 for 8 weeks

         Four or more from same family: $105 for 8 weeks 

  

 

Mulberry Creek Community Center (770-965-7140) 

Field of Dreams Baseball

Date: October 1 - November 5

Days: Tuesdays

Time: 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Where: Phil Niekro Field at Alberta Banks Park

Cost: $5

 

Beginners' Sign Language

Instructor: Lori Fugere

Date: October 3 - November 7

Days: Thursdays

Cost: $50

For more information please call (404)403-9825   

  

Home School PE

Date: October 17 - December 19

**No class November 28**

Days: Thursdays

Time: 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. 

8 week session starting on October 17   

Cost: One student: $30 for 8 weeks

         Two students from same family: $57 for 8 weeks

         Three students from same family: $85 for 8 weeks

         Four or more from same family: $105 for 8 weeks  

  

Fencing

Instructor: Oswaldo Ortega

Date: October 10 - November 14

Days: Thursdays

Time: 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Ages: 8 to adult

Cost: $90/6 weeks

No equipment required

For more information please call 678-927-1126

  

Wee Kidz Tumbling/Gymnastics

Date: October 28 - December 11

Days: Mondays and Wednesdays

Time: 5:45 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Ages: 2 and up

Cost: $70/7 week session, 2 days a week

         $35/7 week session, 1 day a week   

 

  

Active Generation Classes and Events

North Hall Community Center (770-535-8280) 

Technology Tutoring

Best Buy of Gainesville will be on site to answer your technology questions. This months topics include Digital Cameras and Tablets.  Bring your lunch, laptop, and questions!

Date: Tuesday, October 15

Time: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Cost: Free (bring a lunch)

Registration: Call 770-535-8280

Class minimum must be met 5 days prior to class start date or class is subject to cancellation.

  

Active Generation

Play Cards or Dominoes

Days: Tuesdays

From: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Cost: NHCC Members are free

Non-Members $1.00

Location: NHCC Game Room

 

Mulberry Creek Community Center (770-965-7140)  

Healthways SilverSneakers� Fitness Program 

Hall County Parks and Leisure is proud to partner with the nation's leading exercise program designed exclusively for older adults (65+).

 

SilverSneakers� Muscular Strength & Range of Movement Class (with Yoga Stretch)

Days: Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Time: 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. 

         Cost: FREE to SilverSneakers members

         $3 per class for non-members

�SilverSneakers is a registered mark of Healthways, Inc.

Class space is limited, so we recommend arriving early.

 

Active Generation Cards  

Days: Tuesdays and Thursdays

Time: 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Cost: FREE

 

Tai Chi

Days: Thursdays

Time: 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Cost: $1 per person

 

 

For more Parks and Leisure activities and events, click here.
  
  
Government

770-535-8288 

www.hallcounty.org/gov

 

Board of Commissioners

Work sessions: Oct. 8 and Oct. 21 at 3 p.m. in the 2nd floor Commission Meeting Room at the Hall County Government Center, 2875 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville

Meetings: Oct. 10 and Oct.24 at 6 p.m. in the 2nd floor Commission Meeting Room at the Hall County Government Center, 2875 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville

 

Planning Commission

Meeting: Oct. 21 at 5:15 p.m. at the Hall County Government Center, 2nd Floor Meeting Room, 2875 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville

 

Board of Assessors Meetings: Oct. 2 and Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. in the HR training room on the 2nd floor of the Hall County Government Center located at 2875 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville

 

 

 

 

 

Watch Board of Commissioners meetings on TV18 at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. the week following the meeting, or anytime at www.tv18online.org

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See this month's budget update, a detailed look at department spending and county revenue.

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Hall County breaks ground on new fire stations
  
Elected officials, staff, contractors and others broke ground on the new station at Ledan Ext. and Will Wallace Rd. Sept. 17
Hall County officials broke ground on the first of two new fire stations last month.  Commissioners, staff and members of the community gathered at the site of the new fire station on Ledan Extension on Sept. 17 to celebrate the start of construction on that new facility. 
  
A second groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 2 for the other new fire station under construction at the corner of Mount Vernon and Shirley roads.  The public is invited to attend.
Hall County Fire Services employee receives Georgia's Firefighter of the Year Award
jmurray
Dawson County Fire Chief and Georgia Firefighters Association President Lanier Swafford (left) presents John Murray (right) with the award in Albany, Ga.
 
A Hall County Fire Services employee was named Georgia's Firefighter of the Year on Sept. 14 at the annual Joint Fire Services Conference in Albany, Ga.

John Murray, a firefighter/paramedic with Hall County Fire Services, was nominated for the award by his peers from both Hall and Rabun counties.
 
Read more here.
  

Hall County Government recognizes Domestic Violence Month

 

Hall County Government is recognizing October as Domestic Violence Month by offering two separate training courses for professionals.

  

The Hall County Domestic Violence Task Force is hosting a domestic violence training class for salon professionals on Monday, Oct. 14 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Hall County Government Center, located at 2875 Browns Bridge Road in Gainesville.  This course is designed to help salon professionals identify signs of domestic abuse and safely and confidentially help clients, co-workers, friends or family members seek out local resources for help.

 

An Officer Family Violence Training class will also be held at the same location on Wednesday, Oct. 30 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  This course is specifically designed for law enforcement, prosecutors, victim witness advocates, sexual assault advocates and campus police.  Topics include mandated family violence response, primary agressor identification and domestic violence dynamics.

 

To register for either course, contact Amanda Fernandez at 770-538-5377 or [email protected]

 
In addition, this month's episode of Hall County Connection also delves into the topic of domestic violence. 

 

Hall County Connection - Domestic Violence Awareness - October 2013
Hall County Connection - Domestic Violence Awareness - October 2013

 

Watch this month's episode here or by clicking on the image above.  Remember, you can watch all County Commission and City Council meetings online at www.tv18online.org.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tax Assessors' new slogan emphasizes service to citizens 
  
From left to right: Chief Appraiser Steve Watson, Appraiser Tim Barrett, Appraisal Manager Susan Taylor

  

''We appraise property, but we value people.''

That simple sentence is the new motto for the Hall County Tax Assessors Office following an in-office contest to come up with a slogan that captures the office's overall mission.

Chief Appraiser Steve Watson said he wanted to provide the office with a clear vision of what its roll is in the community, so he held a contest for his employees, promising a prize to whoever came up with the best slogan for the office.

''We have some major projects coming up in 2014 that will significantly impact the community, so I thought it was important to get input from staff as to what would set the tone for those projects and their overall process,'' said Watson.

He said several employees submitted wonderful ideas, but he said the winning slogan, submitted by Appraiser Tim Barrett, stood out to the management team.

''Tim's focus on valuing people lines up with the servant's attitude we need to have,'' Watson said. ''We're proud of Tim's contribution in and out of the office, and we believe his heart for service will be contagious and give us all a better chance to succeed and serve.''

Read more here.

 

 

News from the Hall County Sheriff's Office
gerald couch
Sheriff Gerald Couch
  

- Citizens Academy: The Hall County Sheriff's Office Citizens Academy began on Sept. 10.  Capt. Chris Matthews, along with many other civilian and sworn personnel from the Courthouse Division & Citizens Academy Alumni, spearheaded the initial kickoff.  The program consists of 10 sessions lasting 3 hours each, conducted in both a classroom setting as well as a field demonstration format, with voluntary limited participation. Thus far, participants have experienced an introduction to the Academy from Sheriff Gerald Couch, an overview of the Court Services Division, a first hand glance at Courtroom Security and a complete Jail tour. 

Maj. John Latty

 

- Latty to participate in national conference: Maj. John Latty has been chosen as one of 30 law enforcement executives from across the country to participate in the 16th National Law Enforcement Leadership Institute on Violence Against Women, hosted by The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). Through the Institute experience, IACP intends to improve the response to violence against women crimes and support the adoption of best practices by the officers in the Hall County Sheriff's Office.

 

- 9-11 Breakfast: Sheriff Couch hosted the 9-11 Breakfast, an annual event that pays tribute to first responders and members of law enforcement.  Those in attendance included members of the Georgia Sheriff's Association, Harris Blackwood (director of the Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety), Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle, the Gainesville High School Junior Naval ROTC unit and members of the Hall County Sheriff's Office Honor Guard.

 

Dee, HCSO K-9

 - Dee's Birthday:HCSO K-9 Dee turned 4 on Sept. 5. Happy birthday, Dee! - from handler Deputy Jonathan "JJ" Jackson & the whole crew...

 

 

- Relay for Life: The Hall County Sheriff's Office joined supporters, volunteers, sponsors, organizers and survivors at the Relay For Life of Hall County kickoff celebration on Sept. 17. More than $2,000 was raised by the first night's event.

 

 

 

 

Burn Ban ends Oct. 1
Fire Services Logo 
On Oct. 1, citizens of Hall County will again be allowed to burn...with the proper permits, that is. Hall County Fire Marshal Scott Cagle says it is important to know the laws and regulations of burning.

 

Hall County Fire Services offers two types of permits, which are residential burn permits and land-clearing burn permits. Read more here.

News from Hall County Juvenile Court 
courthouse
  

Hall County Juvenile Court will implement the Juvenile Justice Incentive Grant (worth $200,000) during the month of October.  Local counseling agency "Family Ties" has  been selected to provide the in-home counseling program, which is intended to reduce juvenile detentions.  The grant is part of Governor Deal's effort to reform juvenile justice in Georgia.  The grants runs through June 2014.

  

In addition, Hall County Juvenile Court will welcome new Judge Lindsay Burton.  She is the current Chief Assistant District Attorney for Hall County.  Judge Burton will be sworn in Oct. 4 to begin a four-year term as one of the judges in the circuit's two counties.  She replaces retiring Judge Mary Carden who has served the circuit for 16 years.  Judge Carden's retirement is effective Dec. 6.

  
Don't forget to sign up for Hall County Citizen's Alert!
citizen's alert
  
Information is your lifeline.  From electricity disruptions and sudden road closures to instructions during natural disasters-- to make the right decisions you need to be informed.  Sign up today to receive emergency notifications from Hall County on your home phone, cell phone, email and more!  Sign up here.  

Newly designed tax bills going out Oct. 1

  

Property tax bills have been mailed out and will be due on Dec. 1 as they are every year.   This year's bill has been redesigned to provide more information and to make it easier for taxpayers to read.  Included in the new design is a

pie chart showing the breakdown of how tax dollars are distributed, as well as a scannable QR code for tech-savvy residents.   Anyone requesting additional information about the new bill is encouraged to call the Hall County Tax Commissioner's Office at 770-531-6950.

Hall County Animal Shelter events and happenings
animal shelter logo   

Volunteer Advisory Board: The Hall County Animal Shelter is proud to announce the formation of the Hall County Animal Shelter Volunteer Advisory Board, a group charged with organizing volunteer and donor efforts as the agency moves forward with several significant projects.

Animal Shelter Director Mike Ledford said the board is made up of six longtime volunteers, chosen by the shelter's leadership because of their knowledge, understanding and overall dedication to the shelter.
 

Read more here.

 

Harvest Balloon Festival: Come out to experience the many colors of fall with magnificent balloons at the 4th Annual Harvest Balloon Festival at Sterling on the Lake on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. You will enjoy an afternoon of fun with balloon rides, pumpkin carving, hay rides, face painting, kiddie games, concerts and raffles. Proceeds benefit the Hall County Animal Shelter!
For more information, visit www.harvestballoonfestival.com

 

Chili Cook-Off scheduled for North Hall Park on Oct. 26  
  
Hall County Parks and Leisure Services is hosting a Chili Cook-Off Competition at 1 p.m. on Oct. 26 at the North Hall Park Community Center.  There is a $5 entrance fee, and all proceeds will benefit Challenged Child and Friends, Inc.  The cook-off will also include live music, a bounce house, three grand prize winners and much more, so sign up today by calling 770-535-8280!  North Hall Park is located at 4175 Nopone Road in Gainesville.  
  
Our mission

The mission of Hall County Government is to promote, encourage and develop a strong, viable community and ensure that all citizens share in prosperity by providing efficient, accessible and responsible public service.