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Juvenile suspected in downtown damage
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The employees of the Dawson News & Advertiser found themselves involved in a news story of their own the morning of July 25.

Windows at Creative Vision Salon, the Dawson News & Advertiser and Hayleys in downtown Dawsonville were broken in at about 3 a.m. that Wednesday. There was blood to be found in and around the window at Hayleys, leaving a trail through the nearby Kangaroo gas station parking lot.

The Dawson County Sheriffs Office apprehended a 16-year-old juvenile suspected in connection with the crime. He was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center for treatment of injuries.

The juvenile also is a suspect in beating up mailboxes in the area of Jenkins Road, off Hwy. 9 South, immediately before the glass-breaking incidents.

He is charged with six counts of injuring/destroying mailboxes, three counts of obstruction, two counts of interference with government property, public drunkenness, underage consumption of alcohol, two counts of criminal trespass and damage to property in the second degree.

Im just glad that he wasnt hurt worse than he was, said Hayley Garrett, owner of Hayleys. And maybe he did learn from this before he could really get hurt.

News & Advertiser Publisher Kimberly Boim expressed a similar sentiment.

We feel very thankful that it wasnt worse, and that the Dawson County police arrested a suspect before we had even arrived at work that morning, Boim said. Its comforting to know that while were sleeping, our officers are out there doing their jobs, protecting our community and our property.

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.