By Ann Dickerson

The Board of Directors of the Big Canoe Property Owners Association (POA), as well as dozens of volunteers who have studied and discussed the establishment of a capital reserve fund for more than a year, might be tempted to drown their sorrows with a few too many tasty German brews Saturday, October 11 at Big Canoe’s Oktoberfest.

Who could blame them? The proposed amendment to the covenants to create a capital reserve fund was soundly defeated last month, with approximately 60 percent of those who voted vetoing the measure.

League sponsors events to prepare voters for November 4 ballot

The League of Women Voters of Dawson and Pickens Counties is hosting two forums to help voters make informed decisions on three proposed amendments to the Georgia Constitution.

The Pickens County forum will be held on Wednesday, October 15 at the Pickens County Library from 6:30-8:00 p.m.

The Dawson County forum will be held on Saturday, October 18 at the Dawson County Senior Center from10:00-11:30 a.m. The forums are free and open to the public.

The proposed amendments will be on the November 4 ballot.

John Lipkowitz

John Lipkowitz, current POA Director and candidate for a second term, officially withdrew from the race today, Monday September 29.

His statement to the POA Election Committee follows:

"After having given much thought to my running as a POA Director candidate for a second term, I have made a personal decision that for my self one three year term as a POA Director is sufficient.  

"Thus I am withdrawing my name as a POA Director candidate for this fall election.  I humbly thank all who have counseled, encouraged and supported me as your POA Director representative."

Back to the drawing board
Big Canoe votes: 2,237 no; 1,517 yes 

The POA Board released the following statement in a broadcast email distributed late Friday afternoon, September 26:

The initial results from the POA Audit firm are that 3754 votes were cast regarding the Amendment to our Covenants to fund a Capital Reserve.  There were 5565 eligible votes. 

In the meantime, routine Property Owners Association business goes on. The POA Board discussed the pending solid waste disposal contract and modifications to the current Rules and Regulations regarding rental dwellings in its monthly meeting Sept. 17. Eighteen property owners, many of whom serve on POA committees, attended the 50-minute meeting.

Former resident to face Grand Jury in December  

By Laura Link
Jim Francois of Yellow Creek Road and a former Big Canoe resident was granted bond Thursday, September 18, following his arrest by the Pickens County Sheriff's Department September 2 on a child molestation charge.

Judge Roger E. Bradley of Pickens County Superior Court, Appalachian Judicial Circuit, set bond in the amount of $100,000 subject to a lengthy list of confining conditions. Francois bailed out of the Pickens County Detention Center Thursday, September18, afternoon. His case will come before the next grand jury convening December 8, 2008.

Pickens County District Attorney Joe Hendricks said he is pushing for this case and another child abuse case in the county to go to the top of the court calendar.

Dawson Sheriff's department investigating death

UPDATED FRIDAY, SEPT. 19
By Laura Link

One person was shot and killed Tuesday morning, September 16, at a residence in Big Canoe. The motive of the shooting was not immediately known.

 Too many cases, not enough prosecutors

Lee Darragh, district attorney for Georgia's Northeastern Judicial Circuit (Dawson and Hall counties), told the Squires and Stags men's group last month that there is no backlog of court cases in Dawson County, even though the office opened 822 cases in 2007 and is on track to open slightly more this year.

Unfortunately, that is not the case in Pickens County, where there is a three-year backlog of cases, according to District Attorney Joe Hendricks, who is also the DA for Gilmer County as part of the Appalachian Judicial Circuit.

But Big Canoe can solve it, Bates says

Short-term rental properties are a growing problem in Big Canoe, according to Director of Public Safety and Public Works Bill Bates, who spoke at the September meeting of Squires and Stags.

Bill said approximately 10 percent of the homes in Big Canoe are being advertised as available for short stays or conferences, and he believes the number is increasing. 

In some cases, homes with two or three bedrooms are being advertised as having sleeping facilities for 30 people or conference space for 60 people.