Mariota, Ridder solid for Falcons in 24-16 loss to Jets

By

Dennis Waszak Jr., AP Pro Football Writer

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August 23, 2022

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Marcus Mariota is feeling — and playing — like a starter again.

After leading Atlanta to scores on two of his three drives in the Falcons’ 24-16 loss against mostly New York Jets backups Monday night, Mariota appears to have strengthened his hold on the quarterback job.

“The last couple years were a good reset for me, but I’m excited about the opportunity, excited about this team,” said Mariota, who was a backup the last two years in Las Vegas and hasn’t started a regular-season game since 2019 with Tennessee.

Mariota was 6 of 10 for 132 yards and a touchdown pass to Olamide Zaccheaus before giving way to rookie Desmond Ridder with a 10-0 lead in the second quarter.

“I’m pleased with Marcus,” Falcons coach Arthur Smith said. “Looked like he got into a good rhythm.”

Ridder, a third-round pick out of Cincinnati, wasn’t too shabby, either, going 10 of 13 for 143 yards and leading the Falcons to two field goals during his three series that were marred by penalties.

“He’s young, spunky and he’s showing flashes out here today,” said tight end Kyle Pitts, one of only a few projected Falcons starters who played.

Pitts made his presence felt quickly with a 52-yard reception on Atlanta’s second play from scrimmage. He got wide open on Bryce Hall, who’s competing with rookie Sauce Gardner for a starting job at cornerback, to put the Falcons at the Jets 9.

“Well, you know, it makes it easy when you’ve got a guy like Kyle,” Mariota said. “But yeah, we felt good about the player, felt good about the look and hats off to Kyle for executing it.”

The drive stalled, though, and the Falcons had to settle for a 23-yard field goal by Younghoe Koo. But Mariota led Atlanta into the end zone on the next possession. He hit a wide-open Anthony Firkser for a 39-yard gain to get to the Jets 14, and then found Zaccheaus for a 13-yard TD two plays later.

The Jets sat most of their projected starters, including quarterback Joe Flacco — who took over as New York’s QB1 in place of the injured Zach Wilson. Coach Robert Saleh said after the game the Jets will treat this week as a “dress rehearsal” for the regular season and the starters are expected to play Sunday against the Giants.

Wilson is out a few weeks as he recovers from a bone bruise and surgically repaired torn meniscus in his right knee, with his availability for the season opener against Baltimore on Sept. 11 uncertain. It would be Flacco under center if Wilson can’t go, but Mike White got the start against the Falcons and was mostly ineffective with the backups.

White went 12 of 17 for 90 yards, and the offense punted on each of his first four series before Greg Zuerlein’s 44-yard field goal ended the first half with the Jets trailing 16-3.

“It was one of those preseason games where you couldn’t get into a rhythm,” White said.

COMEBACK CHRIS

Fourth-stringer Chris Streveler, who hadn’t thrown a pass in team drills before leading the Jets to two touchdowns in the preseason opener at Philadelphia, was at it again against Atlanta.

The former CFL quarterback, who had previous NFL stints with Arizona, Baltimore and Miami, replaced White in the third quarter and engineered TD drives in his first two series.

First came a 34-yard TD pass to Lawrence Cager, then an eight-play drive that was capped by La’Mical Perine’s 7-yard run that gave the Jets a 17-16 lead 11 seconds into the fourth quarter.

Streveler finished 8 of 11 for 119 yards and the TD, and was intercepted by Teez Tabor. He also led the Jets with 33 yards rushing on six carries.

SCOOP AND SCORE

Jets defensive lineman Bradlee Anae, competing for a roster spot on a deep unit, made his case to stick around. He sacked Franks, causing him to fumble, and then picked up the ball and rumbled 30 yards into the end zone for a touchdown in the rain that gave New York a 24-16 lead.

SLOPPY

Ridder led the Falcons to the Jets 1 in his first series, but a false start penalty on offensive lineman Jalen Mayfield on fourth down had Atlanta opt instead for a 23-yard field goal by Koo.

The next drive featured five more penalties — four on the Falcons, with one declined — and Atlanta settled for a 30-yard field goal.

“We’ve got to be more disciplined,” Smith said. “We’ve got to operate cleaner. We’ve got to finish those drives in the red zone.”

Atlanta finished with 13 penalties for 121 yards. New York wasn’t much better: The Jets were penalized 11 times for 104 yards.

“It was sloppy on both sides,” Saleh said.

INJURIES

Jets WR Tarik Black was being evaluated for a concussion. … Jets WR Irvin Charles left with a rib injury in the fourth quarter.

UP NEXT

Falcons: Wrap up their preseason schedule by hosting Jacksonville on Saturday.

Jets: Host the Giants on Sunday in their annual preseason showdown.

Lassie “Geraldine” Wilson

By

Now Habersham

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August 22, 2022

Geraldine Lassie Wilson, age 84, of Lula, devoted faithful servant, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, August 21, 2022.

Born on May 8, 1938, in Baldwin, she was daughter of the late Richard Mealer and Lassie Walls Mealer. Mrs. Wilson grew up on a farm where she plowed and did other aspects of farming due to her father being sick, she enjoyed working in the garden. She later retired from Carwood Manufacturing, was a seamstress and a homemaker. Geraldine was a member of Enon Baptist Church, where she enjoyed singing in the choir, volunteered as an assistant teacher for Bible School and enjoyed playing with the children.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Iris Allen “Pete” Wilson, and son Ricky Allen Wilson.

Survivors include daughter and son-in-law, Shirley Wilson Crider (Jeffery) of Eustis, Florida; granddaughter, Brittany Boswell of Florida; great-grandchildren, Seth Roberts, Bailey Boswell and Lily Boswell; brother, James Mealer of Baldwin; sisters, Carolyn Jeanette Chambers of Nicholson, Betty Louise Byrd of Baldwin and Mary Evelyn Shubert of Baldwin; daughter-in-law, Betty Wilson; step-granddaughter, LeAnne Woodcock; step-great grandson, Jasper Woodcock; and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be held at 4 pm, Wednesday, August 24, 2022, in the Chapel of McGahee-Griffin & Stewart with Pastor Tony Elrod officiating. Interment will follow at Enon Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5 – 8 pm, Tuesday at the funeral home.

An online guest register is available and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinandstewart.com

McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home, Cornelia, Georgia (706/778-8668) is in charge of arrangements.

Demorest man charged with sexual exploitation of children

By

Staff Report

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August 22, 2022

A Demorest man is out of jail on bond after being arrested and charged in a child pornography case. A Habersham County internet crimes investigator arrested Kevin Mitchell Owens on August 17 after receiving a cyber tip, jail records show.

Owens is accused of possessing material that appeared to show a minor engaging in a sexual act. Th Habersham County Sheriff’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force was assigned the case on August 11. On August 17, officials took the 48-year-old Owens into custody.

Owens is charged with one count of sexual exploitation of children. He was released from jail on an $11,100 bond.

Company: Legal settlement puts Okefenokee mine back on track

By

Russ Bynum

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August 22, 2022

Visitors canoe along the Okefenokee Swamp in south Georgia near the Florida state line. (contributed by Joy Campbell)

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — A company seeking to mine in Georgia near the edge of the Okefenokee Swamp’s vast wildlife refuge said Monday that its project is back on track after a federal agency reversed a June decision that had posed a big setback.

Twin Pines Minerals said the Army Corps of Engineers has agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by the company by once again relinquishing the agency’s regulatory oversight of the proposed mine in southeast Georgia near the Okefenokee, home to the largest U.S. wildlife refuge east of the Mississippi River.

“We appreciate the Corps’ willingness to reverse itself and make things right,” Twin Pines President Steve Ingle said in a statement, calling the development “great news” for the project.

Scientists have warned that mining close to the swamp’s bowl-like rim could damage its ability to hold water. They urged the Army Corps of Engineers to deny the project a permit. But the agency declared in 2020 it no longer had that authority after regulatory rollbacks under then-President Donald Trump narrowed the types of waterways qualifying for protection under the Clean Water Act.

Trump’s rollbacks were later scrapped by federal courts. President Joe Biden’s administration has sought to restore federal oversight of development projects that under Trump had been allowed to sidestep regulations to prevent pollution of streams or draining of wetlands.

In June, the Army Corps notified Twin Pines that its prior decisions allowing the company to bypass federal regulators “are not valid” because a tribal government with ancestral ties to the proposed mining site had not been consulted. The agency said the Georgia project couldn’t move forward without consultation with the Muscogee Creek Nation.

Twin Pines quickly sued the Army Corps in U.S. District Court, arguing the agency was “asserting jurisdiction the federal government does not possess.” The company noted the Corps’ finding from October 2020 that it lacked jurisdiction over the mining project should be valid for five years.

A copy of the settlement, which Twin Pines provided to The Associated Press, says the Army Corps will honor that five-year span unless “new information” surfaces that causes the agency to revisit whether it should reclaim oversight of the project near the Okefenokee.

Cheri Pritchard, a spokesman for the Army Corps’ Savannah District, said she could not comment and referred a reporter to the Justice Department, which had attorneys represent the agency in the Twin Pines lawsuit. An email message to the Justice Department seeking comment Monday evening was not immediately returned.

Without oversight by the Army Corps, the only regulatory approval Alabama-based Twin Pines needs is from Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division. The proposed mining area includes more than 556 acres (225 hectares) of wetlands.

The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge covers nearly 630 square miles (1,630 square kilometers) in southeast Georgia and is home to alligators, bald eagles and other protected species. The swamp’s wildlife, cypress forests and flooded prairies draw roughly 600,000 visitors each year, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which manages the refuge.

Two decades ago, chemical giant DuPont retreated from plans to mine outside the Okefenokee after meeting fierce resistance. Twin Pines wants permits to mine a small fraction of the acreage DuPont pursued. Ingle has insisted his company can mine the site without harming the swamp.

Government scientists have been skeptical. In February 2019, the Fish and Wildlife Service wrote that the proposed mine could pose “substantial risks” to the swamp, including its ability to hold water. Some impacts, it said, “may not be able to be reversed, repaired, or mitigated for.”

New space telescope shows Jupiter’s auroras, tiny moons

By

Marcia Dunn, AP Aerospace Writer

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August 22, 2022

Webb NIRCam composite image of Jupiter from three filters – F360M (red), F212N (yellow-green), and F150W2 (cyan) – and alignment due to the planet’s rotation. (Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, Jupiter ERS Team; image processing by Judy Schmidt.)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The world’s newest and biggest space telescope is showing Jupiter as never before, auroras and all.

Scientists released the shots Monday of the solar system’s biggest planet.

The James Webb Space Telescope took the photos in July, capturing unprecedented views of Jupiter’s northern and southern lights, and swirling polar haze. Jupiter’s Great Red Spot, a storm big enough to swallow Earth, stands out brightly alongside countless smaller storms.

One wide-field picture is particularly dramatic, showing the faint rings around the planet, as well as two tiny moons against a glittering background of galaxies.

“We’ve never seen Jupiter like this. It’s all quite incredible,” said planetary astronomer Imke de Pater, of the University of California, Berkeley, who helped lead the observations.

“We hadn’t really expected it to be this good, to be honest,” she added in a statement.

The infrared images were artificially colored in blue, white, green, yellow and orange, according to the U.S.-French research team, to make the features stand out.

Webb NIRCam composite image from two filters – F212N (orange) and F335M (cyan) – of Jupiter system, unlabeled (top) and labeled (bottom). Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, Jupiter ERS Team; image processing by Ricardo Hueso (UPV/EHU) and Judy Schmidt.

NASA and the European Space Agency’s $10 billion successor to the Hubble Space Telescope rocketed away at the end of last year and has been observing the cosmos in the infrared since summer. Scientists hope to behold the dawn of the universe with Webb, peering all the way back to when the first stars and galaxies were forming 13.7 billion years ago.

The observatory is positioned 1 million miles (1.6 million kilometers) from Earth.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Doris English Thomas

By

Now Habersham

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August 22, 2022

Doris English Thomas age 87 of Clarkesville, passed away Sunday, August 21, 2022.

Born in Clarkesville on June 14, 1935, Mrs. Thomas was the daughter of the late Clyde and Kathleen Smith English. She was retired from Habersham Board of Education where she worked in food service for many years. She was known for showing love and care for others through her gifts of making delicious food and wedding cakes. Mrs. Thomas enjoyed country music concerts, spending time at the beach, and growing beautiful flowers. She was a member of Cool Springs United Methodist Church. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband Jackie P. Thomas and brother Harold English.

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law Dale and Becky Thomas of Clarkesville, son Gary Thomas of Clarkesville, brother Charles English (Betty), sisters Willene Sosebee, Coma Lee Black (Duane), Ethelene Minish (Bruce) and Diane Colston (Jimmy), sister in law Vivian English, grandchildren Sarah Thomas, Stephen Thomas (Leah) and Maggie Thomas Dyer (Adam) all of Clarkesville, great-grandchildren Daniel, Jaelynn, Palmer, Katelynn, and Silas, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, August 24, 2022, at Hillside Memorial Chapel. Interment will follow the service in Cool Springs United Methodist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday, August 23, 2022, from 5-8 PM.

An online guest book is available for the family at HillsideMemorialChapel.com.

Funeral arrangements by Hillside Memorial Chapel and Gardens, Clarkesville, 706-754-6256.

Larry “Joe” Wheeler

By

Now Habersham

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August 22, 2022

Larry “Joe” Wheeler, age 72, of Cleveland, passed away on Monday, August 22, 2022.

Born on May 21, 1950, in Clarkesville, he was the son of the late Tom Wheeler and Margie Wheeler. Mr. Wheeler owned and operated J and N Janitorial with his wife Nina, for over 30 years. He enjoyed watching NASCAR, collecting NASCAR memorabilia, and was a Yellow Jackets fan. Joe loved his family and was of the Baptist faith.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Roy, Elmer, and Tommy Wheeler, and sisters, Shirley Garrett and Betty Durden.

Survivors include his wife, Nina Wheeler; son and daughter-in-law, Michael Wheeler (Robin) of Loganville; grandchild and spouse, Devon Wheeler (Bree) of Hawaii; great-grandchildren, Audree, Eloise “Ellie”, Ralph, and Calvin Wheeler; sister and brother-in-law, Brenda Payne (Tommy) of Cleveland; and several nieces and nephews.

No formal services are planned at this time.

An online guest register is available and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinandstewart.com.

McGahee-Griffin and Stewart Funeral Home of Cornelia, Georgia (706/778-8668) is in charge of arrangements.

Cleveland man killed in Clarkesville motorcycle wreck

By

Joy Purcell

-

August 22, 2022

Beaver Dam Road wreck — The Georgia State Patrol says Levi Sullens ran off the road and into a road sign. He was pronounced dead at the scene early Sunday morning, Aug. 21, 2022. (nowhabersham.com)

A motorcycle accident early Sunday morning claimed the life of a Cleveland man. 23-year-old Levi Jacob Sullens was killed in a single-vehicle wreck on Beaver Dam Road in Clarkesville.

The fatal crash happened sometime before dawn on Beaver Dam Road off Hwy. 115 in Clarkesville. (now habersham.com)

Around 7:41 a.m. on August 21, authorities were dispatched to the scene a short distance from Highway 115. A preliminary report from the Georgia State Patrol says the crash may have occurred as early as 2:15 a.m. The exact time of the crash is unknown.

According to GSP, Sullens was driving a 2019 Husqvarna FE 501 north on Beaver Dam Road when he lost control of the bike at Gastley Road. The motorcycle traveled off the roadway and struck a sign. The motorcycle came to an uncontrolled rest facing west on its wheels.

Habersham County Coroner Kasey McEntire pronounced Sullens dead at the scene. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family,” he says.

Troopers from GSP Post 7 in Toccoa are still investigating the crash, according to Department of Public Safety Public Information Officer Franka Young.

Raiders fall to Indians, Warriors win as football season kicks into high gear

By

Staff Report

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August 22, 2022

The high school football season kicked into high gear Friday with 144 teams returning to action. It was a rough start for Habersham Central as the Raiders fell on the road to #10 ranked Stephens County, 14-3.

Elsewhere in Northeast Georgia, the White County Warriors christened their new playing field with a win over the North Hall Trojans, 35-14. And Rabun County launched its first season of the post-Gunner Stockton era with a rout over Haralson County, 49-3.

Here’s a look at your Friday Night Scoreboard with Northeast Georgia area games in bold:

Week 1 – Aug. 19

Alcovy 37, Lithonia 6
Alpharetta 47, Jefferson 46
Appling County 0, Ware County 0
Aquinas 40, Jefferson County 21
Armuchee 10, Gordon Central 6
Athens Academy 41, Dade County 28
Banks County 41, Johnson 20
Benedictine Military 45, Jenkins 0
Bethesda Academy 8, Hilton Head Prep, S.C. 7
Bethlehem Christian Academy 28, Augusta Prep 7
Bleckley County 33, Dodge County 6
Blessed Trinity 36, Calhoun 25
Brantley County 34, Atkinson County 6
Bremen 15, Heard County 13
Brooks County 42, Thomasville 7
Brunswick 23, Andrew Jackson, Fla. 13
Buford 38, Thompson, Ala. 7
Bulloch 42, Tiftarea 20
Burke County 24, Thomson 21
Butler 33, Cross Creek 0
Calvary Day 49, Islands 6
Cambridge 28, Creekview 0
Carrollton 69, Gadsden, Ala. 7
Cartersville 35, Cherokee 0
Carver-Atlanta 22, South Cobb 6
Cedartown 27, Rockmart 14
Centennial 21, Wheeler 14
Central Gwinnett 29, Discovery 22
Central-Carrollton 36, Redan 12
Chapel Hill 17, Stone Mountain 0
Cherokee County, Ala. 20, Model 0
Coahulla Creek 49, Murray County 7
Coffee 55, Tift County 7
Columbia 13, Camden County 10
Commerce 21, Southside Christian, S.C. 17
Crisp County 17, Dooly County 6
Dalton 49, North Murray 27
Dawson County 28, Jackson County 21
Deerfield-Windsor 45, Westfield 28
Dougherty 28, Westover 21
Dublin 21, Wilkinson County 0
Duluth 35, MLK Jr. 0
Dunwoody 21, North Springs 9
Eagle’s Landing 50, Brentwood Academy, Tenn. 49
Eagle’s Landing Christian 50, Brentwood Academy, Tenn. 49, OT
Eagle’s Landing Christian 50, Brentwood, Tenn. 49, OT
Early County 52, Miller County 14
East Hall 19, West Hall 14
East Paulding 38, Woodland Cartersville 13
Eastside 21, Luella 14
Elbert County 31, Hart County 28
Etowah 25, Lassiter 14
Evans 16, North Augusta, S.C. 7
Fitzgerald 28, Irwin County 20
Flowery Branch 39, Decatur 38
Forsyth Central 44, Chattahoochee 21
Gainesville 34, Marist 23
Gilmer 32, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe 13
Glynn Academy 43, Statesboro 42, OT
Greene County 27, B.E.S.T. Academy 6
Grovetown 43, Midland Valley, S.C. 17
Hampton 34, Tri-Cities 0
Harlem 27, Greenbrier 7
Hebron Christian Academy 63, Chestatee 13
Hephzibah 32, Westside-Augusta 3
Heritage School 72, Sample School B, R.I. 0
Heritage-Catoosa 31, Ringgold 17
Houston County 41, Americus Sumter 7
Jenkins County 40, Treutlen 0
John Hancock 35, Westminster Christian 12
John Milledge 42, Brentwood 7
Kennesaw Mountain 26, Cass 25
LaFayette 42, Chattooga 12
Lakeside-DeKalb 20, Berkmar 6
Lakeside-Evans 32, Aiken, S.C. 0
Lakeview Academy 35, King’s Ridge 28
Lamar County 48, Wilcox County 28
Lambert 41, Sequoyah 14
Landmark Christian 17, Rockdale County 16
Laney 14, Strom Thurmond, S.C. 0
Lanier County 12, Bacon County 6
Lee County 26, Warner Robins 10
Lincoln County 23, Bryan County 20
Lipscomb Academy, Tenn. 17, Milton 7
Loganville 45, Monroe Area 39
Lumpkin County 61, Riverside Military Academy 7
Madison County 35, Franklin County 6
Manchester 29, Bowdon 14
McIntosh 20, Fayette County 7
McIntosh County Academy 20, Johnson-Savannah 12
Meadowcreek 34, Greater Atlanta Christian 12
Morgan County 42, Social Circle 18
Mountain View 24, Shiloh 14
Mt. Pisgah Christian 21, Fellowship Christian School 18
North Cobb 21, Westlake 17
North Cobb Christian 21, Christian Heritage 14
North Oconee 16, Oconee County 13
North Paulding 35, Allatoona 13
Northside-Columbus 42, Columbus 7
Northwest Whitfield 46, Pepperell 17
Oglethorpe County 16, East Jackson 7
Opelika, Ala. 29, Callaway 28
Osborne 46, Woodstock 7
Pace Academy 20, Holy Innocents’ 17
Pataula Charter 52, Barbour County, Ala. 0
Peach County 50, Baldwin 20
Peachtree Ridge 60, Seckinger 0
Prince Avenue Christian 39, Hammond, S.C. 3
Rabun County 49, Haralson County 3
Richmond Hill 14, Effingham County 0
River Ridge 27, Hillgrove 14
Roswell 35, Denmark 10
Savannah Christian Prep 54, Hilton Head Christian Academy, S.C. 7
Savannah Country Day 31, Windsor Forest 0
Schley County 28, Tattnall Square 21
South Forsyth 28, Lanier 0
South Gwinnett 26, Pebblebrook 18
South Paulding 28, Harrison 20
Southeast Whitfield 14, Coosa 7
Southland 21, Taylor County 20
Spalding 37, Eagle’s Landing 28
Sprayberry 21, Campbell 0
St. Francis 35, Providence Christian 0
St. Pius X 10, Dacula 7
Stephens County 14, Habersham Central 3
Swainsboro 21, Metter 7
Temple 41, Pike County 18
Terrell Academy 14, Southwest Georgia Academy 7
Thomas County Central 50, Cairo 7
Toombs County 21, Long County 0
Trion 45, Gordon Lee 19
Troup County 33, Harris County 0
Union County 14, Fannin County 7
Union Grove 17, Upson-Lee 6
Valdosta 40, North Miami, Fla. 6
Veterans 23, Richmond Academy 20
Vidalia 21, South Effingham 14
Washington-Wilkes 28, East Laurens 7
Wesleyan 31, Mount Vernon 7
Wheeler County 42, Georgia Military 14
White County 35, North Hall 14
Whitefield Academy 35, Macon County 30
Winder-Barrow 23, Apalachee 7
Woodward Academy 37, Trinity Christian-Sharpsburg 19
Worth County 28, Turner County 6

POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS
Cook vs. Pelham, ppd.
Mt. Zion-Carrollton vs. Cleburne County, Ala., ppd. to Aug 20th.

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Some high school football scores provided by Scorestream.com, https://scorestream.com/

Katherine “Kathy” English

By

Now Habersham

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August 22, 2022

Katherine “Kathy” English, age 66, of Homer, Georgia went to her heavenly home on Sunday, August 21, 2022.

Mrs. English was born on February 7, 1956, in Savannah, Georgia to her late parents, James, and Louise Huff. Kathy was a member of Damascus Baptist Church for several years. She was known to her grandchildren as “Nanny”.

Survivors include her husband, Ralph English, of Homer; daughter and son-in-law, Felicia and Kevin Cunningham, of Homer; son and daughter-in-law, Donny and Jennica Moore, of Mt. Airy; step-son, Roger English, of Alto; Tommy English, of Alto; Casey English, of Demorest; Bryan English, of Mt. Airy; sister, Rita Gray, of Winder; grandchildren, Jessica Thomas; Madison Jarrard and spouse, Kenyon Jarrard; Carson Moore; Aaron English; Grant English; Brett English; Callan English; and Cason English; great-grandsons, Waylon Jarrard, Connor Jarrard, Wyatt Jarrard; and expecting her first great-granddaughter, Everlyn Moore Farley; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 24, 2022 at the Damascus Baptist Church with Rev. Johnny Stone and Rev. Gene Todd officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 23, 2022 at Whitfield Funeral Home, South Chapel.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, South Chapel at 1370 Industrial Boulevard, Baldwin, Georgia 30511. Telephone: 706-778-7123.

Barbara Jean Shuler

By

Now Habersham

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August 22, 2022

Barbara Jean Shuler, age 82 of Gainesville entered heaven Sunday, August 21, 2022, at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Gainesville.

Barbara was born March 21, 1940, in Gainesville to the late John & Mildred Burrell Jackson. She retired from the textile industry having worked at Gainesville Mill & Chicopee Mill. She was known for her cooking. Barbara loved cooking and taking care of others. She was a member of Sardis Baptist Church and was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Shuler & brother, Johnny Jackson.

She is survived by her son, Chris Shuler, and his wife, Amanda; her grandson, Benjamin Shuler; several other relatives also survive.

Funeral services honoring Barbara will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Ward’s Funeral Home Chapel. She will be laid to rest beside her husband Charles at Sardis Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 24, 2022, at the funeral home.

Please share online condolences & you make sign the guest registry at www.wardsfh.com. Ward’s Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Barbara Jean Shuler.

Anthony Fauci, leader on federal COVID response, to step down in December

By

Jennifer Shutt

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August 22, 2022

Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Examines The NIH 2023 Budget — WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 17: Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci testifies during the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2023 for the National Institutes of Health on Capitol Hill on May 17, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Shawn Thew-Pool/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON (GA Recorder) — Anthony Fauci, one of the federal government’s leading public health figures, announced Monday he’ll be leaving his post in December, though he made clear he’s not retiring.

The 81-year-old doctor who runs the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which is part of the National Institutes of Health, became a household name during the COVID-19 pandemic as a consistent, medically focused and rational voice.

“Because of Dr. Fauci’s many contributions to public health, lives here in the United States and around the world have been saved,” President Joe Biden said in a statement. “As he leaves his position in the U.S. Government, I know the American people and the entire world will continue to benefit from Dr. Fauci’s expertise in whatever he does next.”

While Fauci is leaving as NIAID director after nearly four decades, he plans to continue working, though he declined to say Monday in his statement exactly what his next role will be.

“I want to use what I have learned as NIAID Director to continue to advance science and public health and to inspire and mentor the next generation of scientific leaders as they help prepare the world to face future infectious disease threats,” Fauci said.

Fauci will not just leave behind his role as NIAID director, but his position as chief of the NIAID Laboratory of Immunoregulation and Biden’s chief medical adviser.

Fauci has researched numerous illnesses throughout his career, including HIV/AIDS, respiratory infections, tuberculosis, malaria, Ebola and Zika.

He’s advised seven different presidents on “on global HIV/AIDS issues, and on initiatives to bolster medical and public health preparedness against emerging infectious disease threats such as pandemic influenza and COVID-19,” according to his biography.

Fauci is most well known for his role explaining COVID-19 to Americans during the first weeks and months of the outbreak in 2020, though he later became something of a boogeyman for conservative politicians and commentators as the pandemic dragged on, and pharmaceutical companies debuted vaccines.

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Rome last year led a group of House Republicans calling for the firing of Fauci, formalizing their intense criticism of his public statements and actions throughout the coronavirus pandemic into legislation.

During the past few months, he’s become a leader in the federal government’s response to the recent monkeypox outbreak, which the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency earlier this month.

Biden said Monday that Fauci has his “deepest thanks for his public service.”

Georgia Recorder Editor John McCosh contributed to this report.