Homicides, bond-denied cases given priority

Reporter Ray Bowyer greets Squires & Stags speaker Lee Darragh, district attorney for Dawson and Hall counties. (Photo by Bennett Whipple.)

There is no backlog in the Dawson County Posecutor's office, according to District Attorney Lee Darragh, in his talk to Squires and Stags at their Friday, August 1st meeting.

In response to a question about how his office deals with prioritization of the backlog, he responded that homicides and bond-denied cases are given priority, but other than that, all cases are processed on a first-in-first-out basis, and their is no significant backlog of old cases.

Darragh was initially appointed to the position of District Attorney of Hall and Dawson counties to fill a vacancy, and has been elected once to a full term.  His law degree was obtained at the University of Georgia.

Concerned Property Owners for Responsible Governance
Want new GM, less spending, CRF vote delay

Several members of the ad hoc group called Concerned Property Owners for Responsible Governance were in the Big Canoe mail facility last week, soliciting names for three petitions that call for a new general manager, a slow down of POA spending, and a delay in further action on the proposed Capital Reserve Fund.

The 2008 POA budget has been a challenge, largely due to external conditions.

Lowered interest rates have reduced the POA's investment income and the housing market has impacted POA fees, including the road impact and AECD fees as well as daily gate passes. Costs, such as rapidly rising gas and oil prices, have also increased.

 Property owners will vote on proposal in September

The Big Canoe Property Owners Association Board of Directors voted unanimously Wednesday, July 23 to ask property owners to vote on a proposed amendment to the covenants that would levy a three quarters of 1 percent Capital Initiation Fee (CIF) on the purchase of a lot or home in Big Canoe. If Big Canoe property owners approve the amendment, the fee would take effect Jan. 1, 2009.

Dr. C. Gray Norsworthy will preach first sermon Sept. 8

Dr. C. Gray Norsworthy

Upon unanimous recommendation by the Big Canoe Chapel Search Committee and the Board of Trustees, the Chapel congregation voted July 20 to accept the nomination of Dr. C. Gray Norsworthy as the next senior chaplain.

Dr. Norsworthy comes from Shallowford Presbyterian Church in Atlanta where he has served as senior pastor for the past 14 years.

Meet the Norsworthy family

Born in 1957, Dr. Norsworthy is a native of Atlanta. He was raised in the Southern Baptist tradition and attended First Baptist Church of Atlanta with his parents.