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Court theft saga ends as Donna Sheriff gets two years
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The final chapter on the theft of thousands of dollars from the Dawson County Clerk of Courts office ended last week with the sentencing of the final defendant.

Last Tuesday, Donna Jeanette Sheriff, former deputy clerk of courts, was sentenced to two years in state prison and eight years on probation by Superior Court Judge Kathlene Gosselin.

Sheriff, 44, pleaded guilty to felony theft by taking and violating her oath of office back in June 2010, but sentencing was delayed while former Clerk of Courts Becky McCord was on trial, even though the two crimes were unrelated.

Local law enforcement discovered that while Sheriff served as deputy clerk, she had written more than $80,000 in unauthorized checks from a clerk of courts account to contract worker Justin Disharoon.

Sheriff and Disharoon were arrested in January 2010.

Last month, Disharoon was sentenced to two years in state prison. He also must pay $5,000 to the county.

Following the arrest of Sheriff and Disharoon, authorities began investigating McCord, who later resigned from the office shed held for 17 years.

In August, McCord pleaded guilty to stealing more than $140,000 from the clerks office.

She is serving two years in federal prison for tax evasion and bankruptcy charges.

McCord also was convicted on counts of theft by taking and violation of oath of office and will transfer to a state prison to serve two additional years following her federal incarceration.

As part of her sentencing, Sheriff must undergo drug and alcohol evaluation, waive her 4th Amendment rights and pay $5,000 in restitution to Dawson County.

Sheriff was taken into custody immediately following last Tuesdays sentencing.

Community Events
6 variances approved by board
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BOC

The Dawson County Board of Commissioners Thursday said yes to six of seven variances that will bring Dawson Marketplace one step closer to reality.

"Dawson Marketplace wants to vary from the stipulations given to them by the Board of Commissioners in 2007," Rachel Burton, director of planning and zoning for Dawson County said.

Documents indicate Dawson Marketplace approved variances include:

varying the minimum setback from the right-of-way for Georgia 400 to 90 feet from 100 feet; vary the building facade composition from 80 percent to 50 percent; varying the maximum number of off-street parking spaces to one per 50 square feet of gross floor space; varying the number of monument signs from one to five; varying signage for multi-tenant buildings from two to one and allowing for minor signs, and varying the screening of mechanical equipment from the street for only rear facades facing Lumpkin Campground Road.

The board denied the variance for wall signage with the stipulation that it could be addressed at a later date.

Separately, the board approved two agenda items pertaining to the Margie Weaver Senior Center: a request to hold a raffle and an addendum to the FY 2016 Legacy Link contract.

"Dawson County contracts with Legacy Link each year for our meal service for our seniors," Senior Centor Director Dawn Pruett said. "They are our facilitator for funding for state and federal grants. We are in a district with Hall, Lumpkin, Forsyth and a few others. This is an addendum to the contract that was originally approved months ago."

In other county business, the following requests passed by unanimous vote:

Dawson County Emergency Services Director Billy Thurmond was granted approval of the Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Grant. Each county in Georgia is required to update their hazard mitigation plan and have it approved by GEMA and FEMA. By doing so, Dawson would be eligible for federal and state funding in the event of a disaster declaration. The total amount is $24,000 ($18,000 federal, $2,400 state, $3,600 county in-kind).

"The grant allows us to be eligible for funding in the event of an emergency like we had last February with the ice," Thurmond said.

Lori VanSickle and Duane Wallace were appointed to the Dawson County Library Board by the commissioners, replacing Kay Black and Eydie Stegall, respectively. VanSickle brings twenty years of leadership and management experience to the board. Wallace has been a licensed counselor for nearly fifteen years both professionally and in a volunteer capacity.

October has been proclaimed 'Clean Water Month' and Dawson County citizens are encouraged to participate in "Imagine A Day Without Water" Oct. 6-8. Other observances include River Clean-up Oct. 14 and Shore Sweep for Lake Lanier Oct. 27, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at War Hill Park.

Separately, the issue of a new fire station was addressed on behalf of Sandra Bryan, a resident of Rainbow Lake Dr. Bryan's residence received a fire rating of 10 due to its considerable distance from a fire station. The implication for those who receive a rating of 10 is higher insurance costs.

Anybody that is beyond five road miles from any of Dawson County's eight fire stations is classified as a ten, according to Thurmond.

"When and if we build a fire station at the Etowah water tank on Elliott Family Parkway, Ms. Bryan would be within the limits," Thurmond said. "We have property, but we don't have funds."

The Board will meet next on Thursday, Sept. 24 in the Assembly Room of the Dawson Government Center, 25 Justice Way at 4 p.m.