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Referendum next step in urban redevelopment
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Porterdale voters are being asked to give the city to go-ahead in the next step of its urban redevelopment plan.

A referendum on the Nov. 3 ballot asks voters to say “yes” or “no” to the state’s constitutional redevelopment powers law. Earlier, the Georgia General Assembly passed the legislation needed to give Porterdale the authority to revitalize the city.
Now, the voters’ have to vote to approve the legislation.

According to the city’s attorney, Timothy D. Chambers of Chambers, Chambers and Chambers, LLP, in Atlanta, “Voting yes provides the city the tools that are necessary and desirable to rehabilitate, conserve and redevelop areas of the city that need it.

“When you think about it, Porterdale was a mill town and like so many of the mill towns in the South it went through an economic depression when textile mills closed,” he said. “Before that it was a pretty vibrant community; it was a planned community.”

Chambers said the town was a community where people lived, shopped, went to church and played, or recreated. “All of that was in Porterdale — and the historic structures, the heritage is still in place. The thing that’s missing is the vibrancy of city life.

“The referendum allows the city the tools available under Georgia law to try to return vibrancy to the city,” he said.

Those tools include permitting the city to enter into contracts with private firms or corporations, use tax funds for redevelopment, create tax allocation districts, economic development, preserve and repurpose historic buildings, and make sure housing is habitable and safe.

The referendum is part of the 2012 Urban Redevelopment Plan created with the assistance of the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission. According to Chambers, the city has been redeveloping areas of the village that have had a negative impact on the community.

Eastside High School announces Top 10 graduates for Class of 2025
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Eastside High School has announced the names of the top ten graduates of the Class of 2025. Leading the way are valedictorian, Ian White, and salutatorian, Malachi Scharf. Each of the top ten graduates have exciting prospects ahead of them as they prepare for life after high school.

Eastside High School’s 2025 Top 10 Graduates are:

• Ian White—The valedictorian, Ian plans to attend college and obtain a doctorate in chemical engineering. He selected Mr. Elijah Clark as his top teacher.

• Malachi Scharf—The salutatorian, Malachi plans to major in chemical engineering at Georgia Tech. He chose Mr. Michael Poor as his favorite teacher.

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Malachi Scharf (left) and Ian White (right) are Eastside High School’s 2025 Salutatorian and Valedictorian. - photo by Courtesy of Newton County School System

• Kaiden Blazina—Kaiden plans to attend Georgia College and State University to study biology with plans to become an anesthesiologist or a missionary. Kaiden selected Mrs. Haley Dawkins as his honored teacher.

• Abby Malcom—Abby will be attending Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in the fall to major in agribusiness. Her goal is to run a floral business. She selected Ms. Sara Beth Hammond as her top teacher.

• Shelby Moore—Shelby plans to attend Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College to pursue a degree in agricultural education. She selected Ms. Alisa Echols as her top teacher.

• Annalie Parker—Annalie will attend Georgia College & State University with plans to obtain a doctorate and pursue a career in the scientific field. She selected Dr. Catrina Pollard as her favorite teacher.

• Chandler Shurtz—Chandler plans to attend Georgia Tech to study industrial engineering. He selected Mrs. Kelly Elder as his honored teacher.

• Robby Thomas, Jr.—Robby will attend Georgia Tech to study aerospace engineering and astrophysics. His goal is to work for NASA. Robby chose Ms. Kayla Stoddard as his honored teacher.

• Anna Underwood—Anna is attending Georgia State Perimeter to study her core classes with plans to transfer to the University of Georgia. Her career goal is to become an elementary school teacher. She selected Mr. Eric Adams as her top teacher.

• Benjamin Weaver—Benjamin is attending Newberry College to play soccer and study in their pre-vet program before moving on to veterinary school. He selected Mr. Caleb Watson as his honored teacher