august 2011 chamber chronicle

By Michele [email protected]

July Business After Hours events are apparently the place to be to win the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce’s monthly cash drawing.

For the last two years, winners have gone home from the July event more than $1,000 wealthier.

Last month, Stephanie Mathis won $1,150 when the event was held at the chamber’s new office on Ga. 400.

A year earlier, Kathy Fuller took home

$1,100 when the Dawson County Arts Council sponsored the event.

Pleasantly surprised, Mathis, who serves as chairman of the chamber’s board of directors, laughed and prom-ised the drawing “was not rigged.”

“Right before Kara Hewatt pulled the name, I thought, Lord, please let the person she pulls be here,” Mathis said. “I never expected it to be me and when she said my name, all I could say back to her was ‘You’re lying.’ It

I remember my first Dawson County Chamber event. It was Business After Hours at BB&T, November of 2005.

Short disclaimer here, my actual first chamber event was Business After Hours at Chestatee State Bank in

October of 2005, but since I was working there it is not the same as attending at another business. And it doesn’t sup-port my point.

Anyway, back to what I was saying. As the lone representa-tive from my company at my

first networking event, I was so nervous. I didn’t know anyone and it seemed like everyone else already knew each other.

I remember walking up to a few people and sticking out my hand and introducing myself. I felt so weird, totally

out of my comfort zone. Awkward.

It takes a determined effort to start a conversation with someone new instead of chat-ting away with people you know. You have to be brave, acknowledging that this is an

opportunity for growth, both personally and potentially for your business. Most things that are worth doing are difficult but come

The Member Newsletter of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce

Edition Highlights:

August 2011Post Office Box 299292 Hwy. 400, North

Dawsonville, GA 30534(706) 265-6278

Dawsonville named Veterans Day site

Reverse raffl e tickets for sale

Amazing Membership Drive details announced

Travel Channel fi lms in Dawson County

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR STEPHANIE MATHIS

Mathis

Say ‘how do you do?’ and shake hands

See EVENT | 2

Board chair wins monthly drawing

See WINS | 3

Michele Hester Dawson Community News

Kara Hewatt, left, congratulates Stephanie Mathis July 23 when she was announced as the chamber’s cash prize winner.

Do you have what it takes to become a suc-cessful entrepreneur? Entrepreneurship is for the brave. It is for someone who is willing to step out of their comfort zone and it is definitely for someone who is classified as a self-starter.

If you are considering entrepreneurship or have recently opened a busi-ness, be sure to read our “How to Start a Business” guide. You will find it con-veniently located on the chamber’s Web site, www.dawson.org.

Just go to “Community,” in the gray bar at the top, then select “Economic Development” and click on “Business Start-Up.”

There you will find a sig-nificant amount of informa-tion on how to set up a business in our community.

There is also a quiz to see if you have what it takes to become an entrepre-neur.

Next, I urge you to sign up for our next class, “How to Start a Business – The Basics.” We are partnering with the Small Business Development Center to bring you first-hand infor-mation on market research, legal structure, startup and cash flow estimates, financ-ing alternatives, failure fac-tors and business planning. There will be a time set aside at the end for your questions.

The class will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Sept. 6 at the Dawson County

Library, 342 Allen Street, in downtown Dawsonville. The class is open to the public.

All prospective entrepre-neurs and current entrepre-neurs are urged to register. The class is offered at no charge, but registration is requested. I can’t make a better offer than this so please plan to attend. Register online at www.dawson.org. Go to “Chamber of Commerce” in the gray bar at the top and select “Event Registration.”

As we plan for future classes, we need your input on what topics are of interest to you. Do you need information specific to financing options, tax issues, marketing or some-thing else? Your board of directors is committed to serving you, the entrepre-

neur. Let us hear from you on what we can provide to help you as a small busi-ness owner or manager.

In the meantime, don’t forget to buy your Reverse Raffle tickets.

Do you enjoy a good party? Could you use $10,000? Ticket sales are open to members and non-members. The drawing party is set for 7 p.m. Aug. 25 at the Lakeview Center.

Tickets are $100 each and entitle two people to attend the drawing party. If $100 is out of your bud-get, partner up with one or several people to get in the game. Every 25th tick-et drawn will win a prize worth $100 or more.

The last few people in the competition are often vying to buy each other out and the last name drawn will win $10,000.

What fun! You may stop by or call the chamber office to purchase your tick-ets or ask any board mem-ber. We accept cash, check and major credit cards. Only 300 tickets have been printed, so chances of winning are

excellent.

If you are not a chamber

member already, won’t

you join us?

2 | DAWSON CHAMBER CHRONICLE | dawsonnews.com AUGUST 2011

How to start, maintian a businessPRESIDENT’S MESSAGE LINDA WILLIAMS

Williams

James AskewUnited Community Bank

Brooke Anderson (ex-officio)Etowah Water and Sewer Authority

Pat AndersonAnderson Family Medicine

Charlie Auvermann (ex-officio)Development Authority of Dawson County, exec-utive director

Jennifer Baker (2012 chair elect)United Community Bank

Mike Berg (ex-officio)Dawson County Board of Commissioners

Carla BoutinState Farm Insurance

Doris CookEtowah Water and Sewer Authority

James Grogan (ex-officio)Dawsonville City Council

Kathy Fuller K.C. Fuller and Associates

Peter HillHill Design Associates Architects

Warren KingIndividual

Stephanie Mathis (2011 chair)Bank of the Ozarks

Kristie MyersThe Norton Agency

Keith Porter (ex-officio)Dawson County schools

Denny PutlakDenny Insurance Group

Carol TygerAmbassador representative

Mike Underwood (2010 chairman)First Citizens Bank of Georgia

Linda Williams (ex-officio)Dawson County Chamber of Commerce

Gloria WyattNorthside Hospital-Forsyth

DAWSON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2011 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

with great reward and it is reward-ing to make a contact that turns into a new client.

Last month at the Membership Luncheon and Business After Hours, I was pleased to see many new faces. New faces mean new mem-bers and new members mean we are growing.

As we grow, it is challenging to know everyone but it is great to have so many new people to meet. We all just have to put forth the effort.

I challenge you, at the next cham-ber event, introduce yourself to some-one new.

If we don’t know each other, give me the chance to meet you. You may feel awkward at first, but be brave. Don’t wait for new opportuni-ties to come to you, make them hap-pen.

One other way you can meet new members is to bring them into the chamber yourself. The Summer Membership Drive is wrapping up this month and you can participate in the chamber’s version of “The Amazing Race.”

At the end of August we will have a one day membership drive and the chamber is giving away a fabu-lous prize to the team that generates the most new business members. Details can be found on page 3.

For more information, contact Pam Hamalainen at the chamber at (706)

265-6278.Almost six years later, I can tell

you, it is easy for the entire two hours at Business After Hours to go by and I have spent the whole time talking to lots of people I know. Someone said to me once: “You know every-one here.” But I don’t. There are always more people to meet.

It’s wonderful and it is exactly the point of our networking events.

I still talk to the first folks I met at those early (for me) chamber events and now we are old friends. (John and Mimi Siebel, I’m talking to you.)

So take a chance. State your name and business.

Years from now you may laugh about ever being nervous in the first place.

FROM 1

Event

dawsonnews.com | DAWSON CHAMBER CHRONICLE | 3AUGUST 2011

Aug. 11: Lunch with the chamber will begin at noon at the Lakeview Center, 2057 Dawson Forest Road. Guest speaker will be Congressman Tom Graves. Special thanks to luncheon sponsor, Northside Hospital Forsyth. For more information, call the chamber at (706) 265-6278.

Aug. 23: First Citizens Bank of Georgia will host Business After Hours from 5 to 7 p.m. The bank is at 70 Carlisle Road, just off Hwy. 400. Special thanks to the cash drawing sponsors: Anderson Family Medicine – Dr. Larry Anderson, The Norton Agency – Kristie Myers and United Community Bank – James Askew. Remember, you must be present to win if your name is drawn.

Aug. 24: Premier Cleaners will have a ribbon cutting at 11:30 a.m. at 837 Hwy. 400 South, Ste. 150, Dawsonville. The business will also begin offering free pickup and delivery for chamber mem-bers only.

Aug. 25: Dawson County Chamber of Commerce Reverse Raffle at Lakeview Center. The grand prize will be $10,000 cash. A limit of 300 tickets will be sold for $100 each, so odds of winning are excel-lent. All sold tickets will be drawn and the last ticket drawn is the winner. The draw-ing party is a lot of fun. The last few ticketholders are usually bidding to buy each other out. Tickets are available at the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce and several other locations. For more information, call (706) 265-6278.

Sept. 5: Happy Labor Day: Last official weekend of the summer.

Sept. 6: The SBDC and the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce will be presenting a seminar “Starting a Business: The Basics Part One” from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Dawson County Library. Register online at www.dawson.org. There is no fee to participate. The work-shop is excellent for up and coming businesses and a refresher for existing businesses. Topics including, market research, legal structure, startup and cash flow estimates, financing alterna-

tives, failure factors and business plan-ning, will be addressed. For more infor-mation, call the SBDC at (770) 531-5681.

Sept. 8: Lunch with the chamber will be at noon at the Lakeview Center, 2057 Dawson Forest Road. Guest speaker will be Mike Berg, chairman of the Dawson County Board of Commissioners. He will deliver the State of the County. Special thanks to luncheon sponsor, Northside Hospital Forsyth. For more information or to register, call (706) 265-6278 or visit www.dawson.org.

Sept. 27: Bank of the Ozarks will host Business After Hours from 5 to 7 p.m. The bank is located at 6639 Hwy. 53 East. Special thanks to the cash drawing sponsors: Anderson Family Medicine – Dr. Larry Anderson, The Norton Agency – Kristie Myers and United Community Bank – James Askew. Remember, you must be present to win if your name is drawn.

Oct. 7: Dawson County Chamber of Commerce annual golf tournament. More information will follow.

Oct. 13: Lunch with the chamber will be at noon at the Lakeview Center. Guest speaker will Gary Pichon. He will discuss his “Grand Park” idea for Dawson Forest. Special thanks to lun-cheon sponsor, Northside Hospital Forsyth.

Oct. 22 & 23: 44th annual Mountain Moonshine Festival will be held in downtown Dawsonville. This year’s grand marshal will be Rex White. White is “NASCAR’s oldest living champion.” Some events will begin on Oct. 21. For more information, visit www.kareforkids.us.

Oct. 25: Community & Southern Bank, downtown branch, will host Business After Hours from 5 to 7 p.m. Special thanks to the cash drawing sponsors: Anderson Family Medicine – Dr. Larry Anderson, The Norton Agency – Kristie Myers and United Community Bank – James Askew. Remember, you must be present to win if your name is drawn.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

was a wonderful surprise.”Hours before the event each

month, Pam Hamalainen, the chamber’s membership director, prints out the names of every chamber member for the draw-ing, which is sponsored by sev-eral local businesses that con-tribute a cash donation.

The pot grows until the winner is present to collect the cash prize. Remember, you must be present to claim the cash prize if your name is drawn.

The chamber would like to thank the following cash draw-ing sponsors: Larry Anderson-Anderson Family Medicine, James Askew-United Community Bank and Kristie Myers-The Norton Agency.

The chamber would also like

to spotlight the small business members that co-hosted the July after hours event.

Blocker Insurance Agency, North Georgia Remediation, Dawsonville Hardware, Franklin Construction/Jungle Paradise, SmHeart Card, Southern Select Properties, GA Promotional Products, Charles Britt of Juice Plus, Citru-Solution, Creative Visions Salon and Kaleidoscope Window Designs set up informa-tional booths to introduce the businesses to the chamber.

“It’s an opportunity they other-wise wouldn’t have because they have small businesses or home-based businesses,” said Hamalainen. “We’re planning to do this again next year in March.”

The chamber’s next Business After Hours will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 23 at First Citizens Bank, located at 70 Carlisle Road. The cash draw-ing starts over at $100.

FROM 1

Wins

From staff reports

Mark your calendars, because the race is on.

The Dawson County Chamber of Commerce will end its sum-mer membership drive with a one-day contest Aug. 30, where teams will have a chance to compete for use of a beach condo, the one-day drive’s grand prize.

Active chamber members are invited to participate in recruiting new business members and invit-ing inactive business members to rejoin.

The grand prize will be a four day, three night stay in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. The four bed-room and four bath condo is a

two minute walk to the beach and will easily accommodate 10 to 12 people.

The chamber would like to thank Mike Underwood and First Citizens Bank for donating the grand prize.

If you are an active member or the employee of an active member and would like to participate as an individual or on a team, call the chamber office at (706) 265-6278 for more details.

Also, any member who brings in a new business member throughout August will receive recognition in the Chamber Chronicle, two com-plimentary lunches at the next mem-bership luncheon and a cance at a $100 gift card to North Georgia Premium Outlets.

Teams to vie for beach condo prize

By James G. Wolfe [email protected]

Lanier Technical College’s Adult Education Center in Dawsonville has a new lead instructor.

Rick Brownlee, former head of the adult learning center in Roswell, replaced Kathy Davis who stepped down as lead instructor, but remains a teacher with the school.

Brownlee said that his goal is to make the school one of the most active learning centers in the state.

“I plan to utilize every inch of this place and every resource available, the community, its people, everything,” Brownlee said. “I want the building full of activity, to reach out and help people who want to learn to read bet-ter, earn degrees or speak English better.

“I want to help this com-munity and its people to be more educated so that this school is not only the best in the Lanier Tech family, but the best in the State of Georgia,” Brownlee added. “To do that, we’ll need the help and support of the com-munity, because there are a lot of people to be reached. They need to understand that the GED program is just a small part of what we do.”

After graduat-ing from high school in Dekalb County, Brownlee enrolled in the

University of Georgia. Brownlee was unable to complete his degree at the time due to the sudden loss of his father.

“Dad had a heart attack, so I came back and worked in law enforcement,” Brownlee said.

He served 15 years in law enforcement, includ-ing time as an undercov-er narcotics officer for the Fulton County Sherriff’s department, before finishing his degree and going into education.

He worked for several years in the Dekalb County school district, where he won two Meritorious Teaching

Awards, and served seven years as an assis-tant principal at a Cobb County alternative school before going into corporate education.

Brownlee was the director of training and development for National Home Builder, but said he was thankful for his public education background when the housing market began to decline.

“Thank God I had edu-cation,” Brownlee said. “I started two part-time jobs teaching English as a second language and then Lanier Tech hired me full time.”

Brownlee has two Master’s of Arts degrees, one in Education Leadership and one in Human Performance Improvement, and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Political Science.

He lives in Cumming with his wife, LouAnn, and has three children and two grandchildren.


Office: 706-216-4806Fax: [email protected]

P.O Box 1096137 Prominence Court

Suite 240Dawsonville, GA 30534


North Georgia Network, a region-al broadband project that is coming through Dawson County, was the subject of a presentation given at last month’s chamber of commerce lun-cheon.

Bryson Payne, chief information offi-cer at North Georgia College & State University and member of the network’s board of directors, spoke to the group of several dozen about the potential that the network will offer businesses in the area.

“Right now 10 percent of the popula-tion of north Georgia is (without Internet) and 52 percent are un-served or under-served,” Payne said. “According to the January 2011 (report), 11 of the 13 counties in the Georgia Mountains Region are un-served or under-served, with 58,000 people without access to DSL.

“The North Georgia Network will change that.”

Payne also noted that those with access to DSL in north Georgia only have access to a slow version of the service.

The new network, Payne said, will improve speeds a phenomenal amount.

“We’re not just talking about broad-band we’re talking about ultra, ultra

broadband,” Payne said. “Terabytes of information instead of gigabytes.”

The 260-mile, $34.5-million fiber optic network should bring broadband Internet access to more than 334,000 residents and 8,000 plus businesses, according to Payne.

“If you have a business that requires power or Internet redundancies, then you know that having a looped network is a positive for your business,” Payne said. “With the loop, we have to have breaks at two points in the line before we have a failure, which means that the service is more dependable.”

In addition, the network will serve educa-tion facilities in north Georgia.

“Four of the schools in Dawson County and the county office are already on the network,” Payne said. “And we’ll be add-ing the four other schools over the next six months.”

The chamber’s August business luncheon will be at noon tomorrow at the Lakeview Center on Dawson Forest Road.

Congressman Tom Graves will be the guest speaker.

Lunch is $15 for members who do not pre-register. Visitors may attend for $18 per person.

For more information or to R.S.V.P., call the chamber at (706) 265-6278.

Broadband project discussed at luncheon

Bryson Payne, center, of the North Georgia

Network pictured with Dawson County

Chamber of Commerce President Linda

Williams and chamber board of directors

member Charlie Auvermann. Payne

gave a presentation on the network and how it

will benefit Dawson County businesses

during the chamber’s July luncheon.

James G. Wolfe Jr.

Dawson Community News

Brownlee new lead instructor

Brownlee



Dawsonville Hardware celebrates its 64th anniversary this month.

Founded in 1947 by the late Carlton and Cleva Gilleland, life-long residents of Dawson County, the store, which sits just off the town square in downtown Dawsonville, has seen its share of change in the last 60 plus years.

From expansion into neighboring buildings to complete overhauls in inventory, the changes have all been witnessed by Carlton and Cleva’s son, Dwight Gilleland.

“I was two years old when they opened,” Gilleland said. “I did a num-ber of other things, worked in insurance and was in the Army, but I always came back here.”

Gilleland said he has worked full-time at the store since 1990, after spending time as an insurance agent, savings and loan banker and soldier.

“I’ve spent most of my life at this

store,” Gilleland said. “I’m pretty sure this is the oldest family-owned and operated business in Dawson County.”

Despite the downturn in the economy, Gilleland said the hard-ware store has seen an increase in customers.

“Over the past four years, we’ve increased at about 3 to 5 percent a year,” Gilleland said. “And we’ve seen our power equipment sales double each year for the past three years.”

Gilleland believes that more resi-dents of Dawson County are taking on projects that they might have called a contractor for during better economic times.

“Ninety-five percent of our business is from residents of the county,” Gilleland said. “So we’ve seen growth when other businesses haven’t seen as much.”

Dawsonville Hardware recently debuted a Web site at www.thatol-hardware.com.

Store celebrates 64th year

Gilleland

James G. Wolfe Jr. Dawson Community News

Dwight Gilleland, owner and operator of Dawsonville Hardware, helps a customer. The store celebrates its 64th anniversary this month.


The owner of a downtown hair salon recently expanded her busi-ness to offer a full array of services for women, men and children.

Debby Hale, owner and stylist at Creative Visions Salon, has been in business on the downtown square for nearly three years.

She’s planning a customer appre-ciation celebration from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 20 to commemorate the anniversary.

Hale, who graduated in the top of her class at the Georgia Institute of Cosmetology and continues to stay up to date with the latest hair and fashion trends, is one of five professional stylists at the salon.

Her team of professional stylists include: Mandy Ayers, Cherish

Gilleland, Ashley Mixon and Chelsie Rodden.

With the expansion, Creative Visions, in addition to hair care, now offers tanning, manicures, pedicures and a selection of retail products, including feather hair extensions.

“They’re the rage right now,” said Hale, who added she wants to keep prices affordable at the salon.

Cuts start at $14 for children to $25 for women. Color services range from $55 to $77.

The Redken exclusive salon is open 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.

Walks-ins are always welcome, or make an appointment by calling (706) 531-0039.


Debby Hale, owner and stylist at Creative Visions Salon, cuts a ribbon to celebrate expanding her downtown business July 27.

Downtown salon joins the chamber


Congratulations to the following businesses that are celebrating anniver-saries:

• Dwight Gilleland – Dawsonville Hardware – 64 years in business.

• Roger Slaton – State Farm Insurance – 30 years in business.

Congratulations to Mike Underwood of First Citizens Bank of Georgia. He was recently named the Community Bankers Association Vice Chair.

Congratulations to Karl and Pam Hamalainen for appearing on the National Honor Roll for the National 9/11 Flag.

Improve your skills … take an online class. For more information, visit www.dawson.org.

Are you certified Work Ready? For more information, visit www.gaworkready.org.

Past issues of the Dawson County Chamber Chronicle can be found on the chamber’s Web site, www.dawson.org.

Remember to shop local.

Please let the chamber know when you have a special event.


RESIDENTS ‘STUFF THE BUS’Dawson County Family Connection collected school supplies July 23 during the group’s Stuff the Bus campaign at Walmart in Dawsonville. The Chick-fil-A cow made an appearance at the event to make a dona-tion on the restaurant’s behalf. He is pictured with, from left, Nancy Stites of Family Connection, Robin Smith of KARE for Kids and Marjean Miller of Family Connection.

By Michele Hester [email protected]

Longtime Dawson County Senior Center director Margie Weaver has been named the 2011 Senior Director of the Year by the area’s Department of Natural Resource’s agency on aging.

Weaver learned about the award, which is for the 13-county region, last month when she saw her photo on the front of the Legacy Link newsletter.

“It’s unusual for them to choose one of their own that works in an agency they supervise,” she said. “It’s just a great honor.”

Seniors who visit the center on a regular basis were not surprised Weaver received the recognition.

“I think she does a great job, really and truly,” Helen Anderson said. “I’ve never heard nobody say ne’er about Margie. I just love her to death.”

Weaver was sewing Boy Scout uniforms at the local manufacturing plant when she was first approached about taking over operations at the center.

Nearly three decades later, Weaver can’t imagine doing anything else.

“I feel like my job’s not done yet. I still think there’s other things we need to do,” said Weaver, who has no plans for retirement anytime soon.

With Weaver at the helm, the senior center has reached feats she only dreamed of back when it operated from

the basement of a now aban-doned doctor’s office.

“Through a community block grant we were able to build this wonderful build-ing,” she said. “And we’re able to offer so many pro-grams with help from the county commissioners, who have so much support for our seniors.”

County Manager Kevin Tanner said the programs at the center are due to the time, energy and love Weaver puts in.

“As a result of Margie’s hard work, our community has seen tremendous improve-ments in the services we pro-vide our seniors,” Tanner said. “It has truly been a pleasure to work beside her.”

For Weaver, it’s all in a day’s work.

“It’s a very rewarding day-to-day job,” she said. “Very,

very few can say that about their job.”


Director Margie Weaver, standing, talks to Kay Summerville at the Dawson County Senior Center. Weaver was recently named the 2011 Senior Director of the Year for the 13-coun-ty region by Legacy Link.

Weaver honored for work with seniors



Amicalola Falls State Park in Dawsonville is in the running to be named America’s Favorite Park.

As of press time, Amicalola Falls was trailing in fifth place with nearly 150,000 votes.

Park superintendent Bill Tanner said he’d be ecstatic to win. In addition to being named America’s Favorite Park, there’s a $100,000 recreation grant from Coca-Cola for first place.

The second place park will receive a $50,000 grant and third place will receive $25,000.

With budget cuts at the state level, Tanner said the park is in dire need of infrastructure improvements.

“We don’t get any funding at all from the state anymore, so the win-nings would be well spent,” he said. “You name it, every aspect of the park, there are some needs - road improve-ments, some water line issues and the lodge needs a lot of work.”

Last year, a park in Minnesota received more than 1.6 million votes to win the title and was able to build a warming hut for winter sports enthusi-asts.

“The word’s getting out. We’re just hoping to see our numbers grow,” Tanner said.

Sandy Lipkowitz, of Big Canoe, found out about the contest when she took her grandkids to the park this sum-mer. Once at home, she immediately sent out a mass e-mail to everyone in her address book encouraging them to vote.

“I just firmly believe Amicalola Falls State Park is one of the best state parks and natural resources around and we need to support it to keep it,” she said.

There are several ways to vote including going to LivePositively.com or checking in from the park on Facebook. Uploading photos of the park and videos of activities at the park also help the point accumulation.

Voting continues through Sept. 6.

Local site in running for America’s Favorite Park


Park Ranger Elizabeth Pinion shows young visitors a corn snake at Amicalola Falls State Park.



After 19 years in retail management, Jo Lisa Cochran was ready for a job that made her smile when she woke up each morning.

Cochran opened Romancing The Range, a western wear apparel and boot store in Dawsonville, last month.

Located on Hwy. 400 near the intersection of Dawson Forest Road, Romancing The Range offers a full line of cowboy boots and western apparel for the entire family. Brands

available include Ariat boots, Stetson, Cowgirl and Wrangler, among others.

Cochran, who lives in Commerce, said she “knew there was a market” in Dawson County for the shop.

And apparently, she was right. “Business has been great,” she said.Romancing The Range is open

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The store is closed on Wednesday.

For more information, call (706) 216-0095.


Romancing The Range owner Jo Lisa Cochran cuts a ribbon July 22 to cele-brate the western wear shop’s grand opening.

Western wear shop opens

Located at 837 Hwy. 400 South, Suite

170, near the inter-section of Dawson

Forest Road, Romancing The

Range offers a full line of cowboy

boots and western apparel for the

entire family.

From staff reports

There is still a chance to purchase tickets for one of the most anticipat-ed events the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce holds each year.

The chamber will give away $10,000 in cash at the annual reverse raffle Aug. 25 at the Lakeview Center.

According to Pam Hamalainen, membership director for the cham-ber, there are still tickets remain-ing.

“We only printed 300 tickets this year. In the past we printed 350, so the odds are even bet-ter,” Hamalainen said.

Tickets are drawn one by one from a drum, but unlike most raf-fles, the last ticket drawn is the winner.

In addition to the cash raffle, ticket holders are also eligible for door prizes donated by local busi-nesses. Every 25th ticket drawn wins a prize valued at $100 or more. The chamber accepts all major credit cards, cash and checks.

Tickets are on sale for $100 each at the chamber office, from any of the chamber’s board of directors and at Roger Slaton State Farm Insurance.

One ticket admits two guests to the ticket party, which begins at 7 p.m. Heavy appetizers are includ-ed. A cash bar will be available.

Proceeds from the raffle support many chamber initiatives through-out the year.

For more information or to pur-chase a raffle ticket, call the chamber at (706) 265-6278.

Reverse raffle tickets for sale

Chamber board member Carol Tyger holds up tick-ets for the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce reverse raffle that will be held Aug. 25 at the Lakeview Center. Tickets at $100 each are on sale at the chamber office, Roger Slaton State Farm and by any of the chamber’s board of direc-tors. The winner will take home a $10,000 prize.

Michele Hester

Dawson Community News


Walk-in visitors: 422 Telephone referrals: N/A

Special thanks to the following members that renewed memberships last month:

MEMBER RENEWALS

NEW MEMBERS

MONTHLY TOTALS

Thank YouChamber Building Fund

Sponsors

PropertyInvestmentAssociates

400 EditionAT&T Wireless ExpoFranklin Construction and Jungle ParadiseGold City Insurance Agency LLCJames A. Hamilton, Attorney at LawKrogerNorth Georgia OutfittersNorth Georgia Title Inc.Physicians Immediate Med of DawsonvillePower Realty PartnersThe Dawson Clinics

Romancing the RangeJo Lisa Cochran(706) 216-0095837 Hwy. 400 SouthDawsonville, GA [email protected]: Retail: Western Wear

Etowah Tree Care LLCJohnny Freeman(706) 429-8360366 Mayapple GlenDawsonville, GA [email protected]: Tree Service, Arborist

Grogan Disposal CompanyGinger Power(770) 887-2135190 Stacie LaneDawsonville, GA [email protected]: Commercial Trash Hauler

Frosty Mountain PureJohnny Glass(706) 265-1442296 Harben RoadDawsonville, GA [email protected]: Bottled Water

Triple T Bed & BreakfastAndrea Sumner(706) 216-686086 Young PlaceDawsonville, GA [email protected]: Bed and Breakfast

Turner, Taylor & HartsfieldMichele Charles(770) 889-860070 Carlisle RoadDawsonville, GA [email protected]@tthins.comCategory: Insurance Agency


Ambassador of the Month is Tommy HoneaFrom staff reports

The Dawson County Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Program recently recognized its July Ambassador of the Month.

Tommy Honea, who joined the volunteer orga-nization in January, was recognized for his numerous contributions to the chamber during the month of July.

An elite group of volunteer chamber members who act as liaisons between the business com-munity and the organization, ambassadors attend ribbon cuttings, grand opening celebra-tions and volunteer at chamber functions to pro-mote the chamber.

Honea grew up in the north Georgia moun-tains, near Toccoa, and retired from the distribu-

tion industry. He said he knew he wanted to move to a more rural area.

“I lived in Alpharetta and moved here about nine years ago, mostly to get away from all the traffic and to be in a small town where people are friendly,” Honea said. “I’ve been all over the place, lived in Texas and Florida, but always wanted to come back to north Georgia.”

Honea has two grown sons and three grand-children, and said that he volunteers at the hall of fame mostly due to his father.

“I grew up with racing, my father used to help build race cars, so I’ve always had a love for the sport,” Honea said.

For more information on the ambassador pro-gram, call (706) 265-6278.


Dawson County Chamber of Commerce Ambassador of the Month for July Tommy Honea stands ready to welcome visitors to the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame.

AMBASSADOR SPOTLIGHT


NEWCOMERS WELCOMEDDoug Ritson, left, of Kauffman Tire and Johnny Freeman, right, of Etowah Tree Care LLC stand with Diane Lemly, member of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce. Ritson and Freeman were introduced as new members at the chamber’s July luncheon. The summer membership drive continues until Aug. 31.


Currently in its fourth year of operation, the Denny Insurance Group is an independent insurance agency in Dawsonville which provides all lines of insurance, including home, auto, health, business and flood insurance.

Denny Putlak, owner and operator of the group, said that the mission of his com-pany is to “treat customers like family.”

“My belief is simple,” Putlak said, “when you treat your customers like family, everything else will fall into place.

“Members of my family have my home number,”

Putlak added, “and so do my customers.”

Putlak is an ambassador for the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce and serves on the events and business development com-mittees of the chamber’s board of directors. He has served as a United Way co-chair, mobile blood drive chair, and organized the construction of two Habitat for Humanity homes in Houston, Texas.

Along with his wife Jennifer and their two sons Michael, 13, and Jeffrey, 14, Putlak attends New Hope Methodist Church. He graduated from Southern Illinois University with a bachelors of science in finance in 1987.

Company treats its customers like family



Dawsonville will soon be featured in a Travel Channel television special.

A film crew was in the city during July, filming for an episode of America’s Wildest Roads to air in November.

The crew, assisted by several com-munity members, filmed a staged car chase between one of the first Georgia State Patrol Cars, a 1937 Ford, and two former ‘shine hauling cars, a 1939 Ford and a 1948 Ford.

The simulated chase occurred along Hwy. 9, the same route that moonshine runners once used and where such chases were frequent events.

America’s Wildest Roads is a three-

episode series, broken down by region: North, South and West.

The moonshine route along Hwy. 9, with curves that become even more dangerous during a high-speed chase, will be the feature of the south-ern episode.

Nina Giannelli, producer of the episode, said that the help of the community made the experience one she will remember.

“It’s been a good time, and every-one has been great to work with,” Giannelli said. “I think the episode is going to be really great and very realistic.”

The crew finished the shoot by filming locals giving an introduc-tion to the moonshine distillery, set to open at the Dawsonville City Hall and Georgia Racing Hall of Fame.

Travel Channel films scene in Dawsonville

File photo

A crew from the Travel Channel was recently in Dawsonville to film a segment for an upcoming episode of America’s Wildest Roads that will spotlight the area’s moonshine hauling heritage.


A local architect’s involvement with the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce led to his recent appointment to a regional commis-sion by Georgia’s House Speaker.

House Speaker David Ralston, of Blue Ridge, appointed Peter Hill, of Dawsonville, to the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission during the group’s June 30 meeting in Rabun County.

Hill and Ralston became acquaint-ed earlier this year when the speak-er delivered the keynote address to graduates of Leadership Dawson 2011, a program which Hill co-chaired for the chamber of com-merce.

Ralston described Hill as an accomplished business leader and “deeply involved in the community.”

“His appointment now means that Dawson County is well represented on the commission and I know his experience and record of accom-plishment will make him an asset not just to the body itself, but also to the county’s future,” Ralston said.

Hill currently serves as vice chair on the Development Authority of Dawson County and sits on the board of directors of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce.

“I’m very honored to be selected as the speaker’s appointment to this commission,” Hill said.

While he will be representing the state for Ralston on the commission, Hill emphasized his commitment to Dawson County.

“I will continue to be looking out for Dawson County first and fore-most,” he said.

With Hill’s appointment, Dawson County has five delegates on the commission.

He joins Mike Berg, Dawson County Board of Commission chair,

Dawsonville City Councilman Calvin Byrd and Executive Director of the Development Authority of Dawson County Charlie Auvermann, who represents Dawson County as a standing coun-cil member.

Berg recommended Hill for the appointment.

“Pete’s well deserving of this appointment. David was very impressed with his resume,” he said.

Will Wade from the Dawson County School Board also serves on the commission as an appoin-tee by former Gov. Sonny Perdue.

The commission’s mission is to locally promote and guide proper development of human, natural, physi-cal, social and economic resources in the Georgia Mountains Region.

The area covers 3,500 square miles and includes Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union and White counties.

Speaker appoints local man to commission

‘I’m very honored to be selected as the speaker’s appoint-ment to this commission.’Peter HillChamber member



Five new members of the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame will be inducted Oct. 21.

George Elliott, Mike Head, Harold Kite, Swayne Pritchett and Ken Ragan will be honored at the annual induction and banquet ceremony, which begins at 6 p.m. at the hall, located at 415 Hwy. 53 East.

Elliott is a late resident of Dawson County and father of NASCAR great Bill Elliott.

Born in the county and raised in the War Hill area, George Elliott is also the father of Ernie and Dan Elliot, and grandfather of the late Casey Elliott and rising star Chase Elliott.

Both Ernie and Bill Elliott are already members of the hall of fame, and local racing historian Gordan Pirkle believes it’s past time for their father to join them.

“It’s too long coming, in my opin-ion,” Pirkle said. “George should have went in at the beginning. He’s well-deserved of being in the hall of fame because he did so much for racing.”

Elliott owned a racing team in the

early days of NASCAR, and spon-sored many different drivers before his son Bill grew old enough to race.

Although George Elliott never drove in NASCAR, he grew up learn-ing about cars while working on area farms, and owned the Dahlonega Ford Dealership in addi-tion to a building supply business.

His building supply business grew prosperous due to the tin he sold to local chicken farmers during the industry’s boom in the mid-1900s.

But his first love was always rac-ing.

“He always fooled with cars,” Pirkle added. “He grew up in [rac-ing]. He wasn’t in the liquor busi-ness, but he knew all them boys.”

Pirkle credits Elliott’s shrewd busi-ness sense for the success he had in NASCAR as an owner and sponsor.

“George had real principles, he was a good person, a good man,” Pirkle said. “I used to kid him that if he hadn’t been a fanatic about rac-ing, he probably would have owned north Georgia.”

There are a limited number of tick-ets available for the ceremony.

To purchase tickets, call (706) 216-7223. For more information, visit www.thunderroadusa.com.

Hall of fame inductees have been announced


Former NASCAR champion Rex White will serve as grand marshal for the 44th annual Mountain Moonshine Festival this October.

White, a member of the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame and the 1960 Winston Cup champion, is NASCAR’s oldest living champion and has been named one of NASCAR’s 50 greatest driv-ers.

Born in Taylorsville, N.C. in August 1930, White said at the age of 8 he was already working on his family’s Model T.

“I was unaware the car on which I labored represented hope to people around me [and] frustration to those trying to stop illegal moonshine,” White wrote. “I saw automobiles as transportation, not the symbol of an upcoming billion-dollar sport.”

White won more races than any other driver between 1959 and 1963, includ-ing other NASCAR greats Richard Petty,

Ned Jarrett, Junior Johnson and Buck Baker.

White now makes his home in Fayetteville.

The Moonshine Festival is set to take place Oct. 21-23 in downtown Dawsonville, and begins with the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame induction ceremony at 6 p.m. Friday.

White, who is expected to attend the induction ceremony, will serve as grand marshal for the festival parade, which begins at 9 a.m. Saturday.

White to serve as grand marshal at festival

Rex White


Dawsonville package store retailers may soon be able to sell alcohol on Sundays after the city council voted 4-0 on July 11 to put the question on the Nov. 8 ballot.

If approved, the referendum would allow stores in the city to sell from 12:30 to 11:30 p.m. on Sundays.

In addition, the council approved the manufacture of alcoholic beverages on the grounds of city hall and the municipal complex and to repeal any conflicting ordinances.

The council has previously agreed to lease space in city hall to a moonshine distillery. The business plans to open by October.

Councilman Calvin Byrd had previously voted against the referendum, but said he was more comfortable with the compro-mise to only allow sales after 12:30 p.m.

“I just didn’t want alcohol being sold during church,” Byrd said. “So setting the time from 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. was a compromise that made me feel much more comfortable.”

Councilman Mike Sosebee and Mayor Joe Lane Cox, who votes only in the case of a tie, have both previously said they

believe it should be up to residents if they want alcohol sold on Sundays.

“Myself, I don’t drink, and I’ll vote against it [on the referendum]. But I think we ought to give people the right to make that choice,” Cox said last month.

Dawson County government officials have voiced general support for a similar referendum, though they may not hold a vote until 2012.

The county does not have an election scheduled this fall. Mike Berg, chairman of the county commission, has said a special election to vote for Sunday alco-hol sales could cost the government $15,000.

“Putting it on the ballot during the regu-lar primary election in August 2012 would save money,” Berg said previous-ly.

Unlike the county, the city has an elec-tion set for this fall.

On Nov. 8, two council seats and the mayor’s post are up for election.

All incumbents have declared they will run again.

Two other area cities, Gainesville in Hall County and Cumming in Forsyth County, have indicated they may soon hold a similar referendum on Sunday alcohol sales.

City residents to vote on Sun. sales



Dawsonville has been rec-ognized by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs as a 2011 Veterans Day Regional Site.

This is the fifth consecutive year the city has received the honor, and Veterans Affairs Committee of Dawson County President Pam Hamalainen said the organi-zation is proud to be named as such.

“I am very proud of

Dawsonville being named a regional site for Veterans Day and the fact that we are one of the two sites in Georgia,” Hamlainen said. “We earned this because we have proven for the past seven years that our only goal is to honor our veterans and active military while giving them the respect they earned that they never received when they came home from war.”

Atlanta and Dawsonville are the only two sites in Georgia to receive the recognition.

In order to be recognized as

an official Veterans Day site, an application must be filed with the Veterans Day National Committee. The committee then investigates to ensure that the applying organization is working to honor veterans and active military personnel.

“We try to do our best to do that year round,” Hamalainen said. “And espe-cially on Veterans Day.”

The Veterans Affairs Committee, in conjunction with the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce, will

hold its seventh annual Veterans Day Celebration on Nov. 11 in downtown Dawsonville.

Formal ceremonies honoring veterans will be held at 2:45 p.m. at Dawson County Middle School.

Capt. Larry Freeland will serve as master of ceremonies and Col. James Linder will serve as the keynote speaker.

Linder is one of the top 50 most decorated living veterans in the United States.

Active military personnel and their families will act as

grand marshals for the event, and will highlight the parade set to begin at 5 p.m. at the school. The public is invited to line the streets of down-town to show their support.

The Veteran Affairs Committee is also accepting nominations for the 2011 Dawson County Veteran of the Year.

Dawsonville named Veterans Day site


Two hearings are scheduled in September to let the public weigh in on a proposed reservoir and the possibility of a park in the Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area.

Earlier this summer, Dawson County Commissioner Gary Pichon encouraged his fellow board members to consider his idea for a grand park on a portion of the 10,000 acre tract.

While the city of Atlanta-owned land has not been ruled out as a second air-port site, Etowah Water and Sewer Authority has proposed constructing a res-ervoir on about 2,000 acres of the prop-erty to ease regional water issues.

Pichon would like to see the remaining acres conserved for recreational use, a notion he said could be an economic engine for the county.

“I’m thinking about this not only to con-serve the land, but as a tourism industry for our county,” Pichon said.

The public hearings, Pichon said, are intended to gauge the public’s interest in the park and reservoir proposal.

“We might hear some things we do not

know and maybe didn’t think about,” Pichon told commissioners in July.

Commissioners also anticipate hearing from groups that have vowed a legal fight if the reservoir plan proceeds. Opponents contend damming the Etowah River at Shoal Creek for a reservoir would endan-ger several fish species and disrupt river flows to areas downstream.

Pichon said despite any position the commission may take on the matter, the future of the site is going “to have a huge impact on the people of this county one way or another.”

The public hearings are scheduled on Sept. 8 and 22 during the board’s work session meetings. The meetings start at 4 p.m. and are held in the G.L. Pete Gilleland Council Chambers at city hall.

Dates set for park hearings 'I’m thinking about this not only to conserve the land, but as a tourism industry for our county.'

Gary PichonCommissioner

From staff reports

With Bojangles’ new fried bolo-gna biscuit, customers are in for a deli-cious southern treat that comes with a taste of the good old days.

Now available for a limited time in participating restaurants, Bojangles’ Fried Bologna Biscuit is a thickly -sliced piece of bologna fried to per-fection and served on a made-from-scratch buttermilk biscuit.

“Many of us who grew up in the South remember our moms and grandmas cooking fried bologna sandwiches – yes, it is a good memo-ry,” Bojangles’ President and CEO Randy Kibler said. “We see the Fried Bologna Biscuit as a culinary novelty, and Bojangles’ is excited to offer this old-fashioned taste to those who’ve enjoyed it in the past and also those trying it for the first time.”

Like all of Bojangles’ menu items, the Fried Bologna Biscuit will be available hot and fresh all day long.

“This isn’t just your average, pick-it-up-

at-the-grocery-store bologna,” Bojangles’ Senior Vice President of Research and Development Mike Bearss said. “We’ve gone through multiple taste tests to get the fried bologna just right, and know our customers will enjoy every last bite.”

For more information on Bojangles, visit www.Bojangles.com, become a fan on Facebook or follow Bojangles on Twitter.

Bojangles is offering fried bologna biscuits

'Many of us who grew up in the South remem-ber our moms and grandmas cooking fried bologna sandwiches.'

Randy KiblerPresident, CEO of Bojangles

For more information on how to nominate a veteran, contact Pam Hamalainen at (678) 438-3823.


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