Commissioner King announced that three Danielsville residents are Charged with Criminal Damage to Property
Community, Police & Government July 11, 2022
Today, Commissioner King announced that three Danielsville residents, Mark Dwayne Kelly, 54, Tammy Kelly, 50, and Dwayne Lee Kelly, 32, have been arrested in connection with a Banks County fire. The three suspects are charged with criminal damage to property in the second degree.
On Friday, July 8th, a three-month-old pole barn was demolished in the fire.
“Our investigators responded to a barn fire that began around 4:30 a.m. and found the barn, along with approximately 100 round bales of hay, totally destroyed,” said Commissioner King. “Upon further investigation, the fire was found to be an intentional act and three suspects were arrested at the scene. The owner of the barn had no previous connection with the offenders.”
Commissioner King’s Fire Investigations Unit is assisting the Banks County Fire Department and Sheriff’s Office with this investigation.


Cement Truck Stuck on Tracks, End of Yonah Homer
News July 8, 2022
BANKS COUNTY, Ga. – Banks County DNR, Sheriffs, and Hall County Sheriffs, as well as GSP, arrived at the crossing on the Hall County end of Yonah Homer Road to find a full cement truck stuck on the tracks.

Calls were made to alert the railway operators but as of 1.00 p.m., Friday July 8, the truck is still parked under the railroad crossing barriers.
The trailer failed to make clearance after the landing gear, at full height, scraped the significant hump.
Sheriffs are directing traffic and multiple citizens have stopped to attempt to help.
Banks County BOC Approves Marriott Hotel in Commerce
Business, Featured News, Police & Government May 12, 2022
BANKS COUNTY – The first application to be discussed in the 5/10/22 Board of Commissioners meeting is a Conditional Use Application by Hotel Developer Paul Patel for a new hotel to be located at Hampton Court in Commerce. The Banks County BOC approved the Marriot Hotel.
The Banks County Planning Commission recommended the hotel for approval. T0 view our coverage of that meeting, check out the article here.
There was some tension in the crowd during the regular meeting portion and some confusion about the application. One application, apparently drafted by someone other than Patel, said “Extended Stay”. The one being voted on at the meeting, however, was missing said phrase.
Patel explained the discrepancy on the applications regarding extended stay policies and what they would mean for Banks County.
“They’re going off what Marriott calls it, but its not… The “extended stay” means somebody coming that can have the extra facilities of staying two or three days… It doesn’t mean someone coming there for a month because I couldn’t make a living if I was letting people stay for a month and people couldn’t afford to stay with us if we’re charging by the day and stay for a month,” Patel said.
However, according to the ordinance, “Extended Stay Hotels or Motels” means any hotel or motel in which guest rooms have facilities for both the storage, refrigeration, and preparation of food, and/or which are advertised, designed, or utilized for weekly or monthly occupancy.”
Consequently, Larissa Campbell asked the Board what was in place to monitor or enforce the rules. She also argued that the approval would set a precedent that extended stay hotels are allowed in Banks County.
Patel’s representative said at the Planning Commission meeting there is not yet a written agreement from Marriott.
“What do we do if Marriott backs out and the Motel Six wants to come in and put in a weekly/monthly rental,” questioned Campbell.
So what is the reason the “extended stay” conversation is important to citizens?
- There are concerns around extended hotels for a few reasons. Traffic is a big concern for Banks County and the Banks Crossing area specifically. As more and more homes and hotels develop, more people will be on the roads.
- According to the proposed FY 2022 Budget, on which the BOC will hold a Public hearing on June 22 and 6:30 p.m., the allocation for the sheriff and jail operations is $5,843,032 and the current one is just above $4 million. This is low compared to neighboring Jackson County’s $15 million. So citizens are concerned about stretching our police force too thin.
- If extended stay is allowed, more hotels are built, and people begin using the hotels as home units, 911 services, police, and school bus services would need to be adjusted or grown to account for the new residential locations.
- The resources of the Sheriff are concentrated in Banks Crossing.
- Extended Stay hotels have a reputation of garnering crime.
Patel argued in his business model, they do not often have people staying “remotely close” to 29 days. He also invited people to monitor the police calls to his current hotels and that the crime problems are more concentrated in older and degraded hotels. Later, he argued there were misconceptions about “extended stay” hotels because while Marriott classifies some of their prototypes as extended stay, they are not similar to the types of downgraded hotels with which people usually associate the term.
Sporadic conversations throughout the meeting provided constructive input from multiple people, but there was still confusion over documents and semantics.
Patel said he has a written agreement but he has not paid the fees yet.
Additionally, Code Enforcement would be who monitors the records of how long people are staying.
The cookstove in the prototype was a point of concern, in regard to the code. However, the board did not remove the appliance from the prototype, likely because the price point and business model was sufficient to deter people from moving in permanently.
The Board added stipulations including a required 15-20 year contract from Marriott, no “extended stay” on any of the applications or advertisements in Banks County and a minimum price point of $125.
The Board approved the application for the “daily motel” in a unanimous 5-0.
To view the whole meeting, visit the Banks County Government’s official Facebook page.
Banks County Board of Commissioners Meeting 4/12/22
Uncategorized April 15, 2022
BANKS COUNTY, Ga. The Banks County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting Tuesday. On the agenda were the chairman’s report, acknowledgement of Child Abuse Prevention Month, and a few other ordinances and resolutions.
According to the chairman’s report, in March, Banks County had 319 fire department calls. There were also 3007 sheriff’s office calls and 40 Covid-19 cases per 100,000. Budget hearings for the renewal of the Roads and Bridges tax and budget hearings will begin on April 25 at 1:30 p.m.
The BOC proclaimed April 2022 to be Child Abuse Prevention Month. The proclamation asks citizens to recognize the month, “by dedicating themselves to the task of improving the quality of life for all children and families.”
Additionally, the Board tabled 2 agreements from the Piedmont Judicial Circuit until September 13. Also, the Propane Gas Contract & Bid was awarded to Blossom Gas for use by the sheriff’s department and fire department.
Also, the BOC voted to approve the Energy Excise Levy Resolution & Intergovernmental Agreement. Every city in the county signed off and approved of the resolution, which will be a tax for manufacturing only.
Finally, the city of Gillsville is requesting to use the voting precinct as the city’s new town hall. A motion to have the papers drawn up and deeded over to the city passed under one stipulation. If it were to revert back to a voting precinct, the county will still be able to use it as such.
The building is currently vacant and has been for around 3 years. The current voting precinct is in Banks County Fire Station 24.
To see the whole agenda, visit the website here.
To watch the entire meeting, visit the Banks County Government Facebook page.
Banks County – Homer, Ga. City Council Meeting 4/12/22
Community April 15, 2022
The Homer, Ga. City Council met in City Hall on Tuesday. Items on the agenda included a districts change, a roundabout, and TSPLOST funds. Additionally, Council Members continue to express concerns about the traffic pattern that have emerged from uncertainties about the roundabout project.
The GDOT brought the intersection of Historic Homer Hwy (SR 164), SR98, and Evans Street to the Council’s attention. Because it has been deemed dangerous, plans are moving forward to replace the 5-way stop with a roundabout.
The Council agreed to take on expenses for the roundabout when it is completed. For example, this includes utility relocations and upkeep in the right of way.
However, they expressed concerns because the final design of the roundabout has not been decided upon. Because the DOT will only allow 4 connections into the roundabout, there is potential conflict regarding right of way and the private property of Dollar General. There is no cut through behind the store. Therefore, severing the connection from either Evans Street or Athens Street could be potentially harmful to the local businesses, school, and residents.
Severing Evans St. could funnel large amounts of school traffic onto lower capacity roads near the Homer Historic District like Mulberry St. and Athens St. Disconnecting Athens Street could be detrimental to the viability of Dollar General’s loading and customer access. It is unclear whether these businesses have been contacted about these concerns.
Also, the council members discussed potential re-paving projects using TSPLOST Roads and Bridges funds.
Yonah Homer Road and Sample Scales are both potential candidates for projects. The Council noted that both they and the County would prefer to only pave one part of the road if the rest of it can be completed around the same timeframe.
To see the agenda, visit the Town of Homer website.
Suspected Tornado Damages Banks County
Announcements, Feature News, Police & Government, Press Release, Weather August 17, 2021
Murder Charges Filed in Shooting of Officer
Feature News, Police & Government, Press Release August 9, 2021
Update: Banks County Sheriff Seeks Missing Woman
Announcements, Police & Government, Press Release April 27, 2021

Mike Brown named Principal of Banks County High School
Board of Education, Community, Press Release March 5, 2021

School Zone Speed Program Begins In Banks County
Announcements, Board of Education, Community, Police & Government, Press Release January 29, 2021
Drug Arrests in Banks County
Announcements, Community, Police & Government, Press Release January 15, 2021
Commerce, GA (January 15, 2021) – On Wednesday, January 13th, 2021, Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office agents, along with Banks County Sheriff’s Office deputies executed a search warrant at the Howard Johnson Hotel Room 237 located in Commerce, Banks County, Georgia. Information developed by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office led to the search warrant that was executed at the Howard Johnson Hotel. During the execution of the search warrant, agents and deputies seized 483.5 prescription pills, 3 kilograms of methamphetamine, 4 ounces of heroin, 9 ounces of marijuana, and $12,700 of US Currency.
The following individuals were arrested at the time of the execution of the search warrant:
William Turney, 39, of Homer, was charged with Trafficking Heroin, Trafficking Methamphetamine, Possession of Heroin, Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute and Possession of Schedule IV Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute.
Kristina Hubbard, 29, of Bethlehem, was charged with Trafficking Heroin, Trafficking Methamphetamine, Possession of Heroin, Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute and Possession of Schedule IV Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute.
Gary Henson, 38, of Toccoa, was charged with Trafficking Heroin, Trafficking Methamphetamine, Possession of Heroin, Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute and Possession of Schedule IV Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute, along with Felony Obstruction of a Police Officer.
Ashley Loudermilk, 34, of Hull, was charged with Trafficking Heroin, Trafficking Methamphetamine, Possession of Heroin, Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute and Possession of Schedule IV Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute.
This investigation is still currently active and ongoing.
For additional information about Appalachian RDEO or to provide tips on criminal activity look for ARDEO @appalachiandtf on twitter or follow on facebook @appalachianrdeo and/or Instagram.
The Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office is a multi-agency unit that consists of the following Sheriff’s Offices: White County, Lumpkin County, Towns County, Banks County, Jackson County, Habersham County, Stephens County, Rabun County, Franklin County, Gilmer County, Fannin County, the Cleveland Police Department, and the Lavonia Police Department, Toccoa Police Department, along with the Georgia National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, the Department of Public Safety, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
BCPRD Confirms Basketball Games To Be Played As Scheduled
Announcements, Community, Press Release, Sports January 8, 2021

Banks County Update on Possible Wintry Weather
Announcements, Community, Press Release, Weather January 6, 2021

Scheduled Games to Be Played Tonight Per Banks County Parks and Recreation
Announcements, Community, Sports January 4, 2021


