National News
    • According to the Fair Labor Standards Act, the federal minimum wage is set to increase this week, from $6.55 per hour, which went into effect July 24, 2008, to $7.25, which will go into effect on Friday, July 24, 2009, an increase of roughly 10.7 percent. For more information, visit the United States Department of Labor online at www.dol.gov.
Buckhead News
    • The Buckhead City Council Monday announced plans for the ‘Old Buckhead Days celebration scheduled for Saturday, August 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Municipalities (Bostwick, Buckhead, Madison, Rutledge)

    • The Madison Police Department is watching out for you – and your house. The Residence Check Program, to help city police monitor houses when residents are out of town for extended periods of time, is a service that has been available, but many are unaware of its existence. Now, a new form has been created to simplify the process and provide more details, from mail and newspaper delivery to the make and model of vehicles that will be visible. Residents can pick up the forms at the police department office on North Main Street.
    • The Rutledge City Council held a work session meeting on Monday, July 13 to discuss the budget. No votes were taken, and only minor decisions were made. The council members and Mayor Spencer Knight chose to flag the roads and sidewalks expenses, so that they can be altered and addressed at the next meeting. “We’re still working on it,” Knight said. Another work session will likely be scheduled in the near future. “I hope to have [the budget] done by next meeting,” City Clerk Debbie Rutherford said.

Morgan County Government

• Morgan County commissioners agreed to help fund a book celebrating the agricultural heritage of Madison and the county with $775 in funds remaining from the county’s Bicentennial funds. They will also loan the Madison-Morgan Preservation Heritage group up to $5,000 to assist in production costs of the book.
“I would like to see us give them the $750 as an out-and-out contribution…and when time comes for them to repay the remaining loan, for us to consider possibly granting them the rest,” said Commissioner Ellen Warren.
    The funds provided as a loan may be forgiven in the county’s next fiscal year depending upon the financial position of the county in June of next year.
    “This is something we’re doing to contribute to the Bicentennial,” said County Commission Chairman Mack Bohlen.

Local News

    • Local healthcare is seeing progress once again with the new Madison Kidney Center. Offering expert care and dialysis treatment, the center is part of the Athens Kidney Center and operates under Medical Director Beze Adogu, MD. The center officially opened May 18, and already there are just under 20 patients receiving dialysis multiple times a week.
    Thanks to the new facility at 1311 Atlanta Highway, Madison, locals are no longer forced to travel to outside counties for their treatments.
    The grand opening will be announced at a later date. To contact Madison Kidney Center, call 706.752.1113.
    • Madison Studios, owned by Chris Cook, received a 2009 Award of Distinction at the 15th Annual Communicator Awards, sponsored by the International Academy of the Visual Arts. Madison Studios won for The Robert Hanselman Agency's Web site in the category of "Professional Services."