Life in Motion: Pull over

By

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May 2, 2022

A Rabun County sheriff's patrol car tails a student driver from Rabun County High School on GA 15/US 441. (Rabun County Sheriff's Office)

The Rabun County Sheriff’s Office and Rabun County Schools recently teamed up to give student drivers a real-life road lesson.

Students in the driver’s education class got to experience what it’s like to be pulled over by law enforcement. Students drove in a specially-marked vehicle on GA 15/US 441 as a deputy tailed them.

“This event was to provide the students a practical exercise to teach them the proper, safe way to pull over for not only law enforcement but as well as to educate them on the ‘move over law,’ ” the sheriff’s office says.

Georgia’s move-over law requires drivers to move into the opposite lane when approaching patrol cars and other emergency vehicles parked in or alongside the roadway.

The outing also gave students a chance to experience what it’s like to be pulled over for a traffic stop. No doubt, that’s one lesson these students, and their parents, hope they’ll never have to use.

Ahead in the polls, Kemp defends record as governor against primary challengers in debate

By

Stephen Fowler

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May 2, 2022

Gov. Brian Kemp spent much of a debate Sunday defending his conservative record and achievements in office, as the five Republican candidates for governor shared the stage for the first time this election cycle.

Recent polls show Kemp is favored to win the May 24 primary outright, despite former efforts by former president Donald Trump to clear the field for former Sen. David Perdue, his hand-picked challenger who was supposed to consolidate support and unseat the incumbent.

In the first two primary debates that featured Kemp and Perdue only, the two men angrily sparred over their respective records in office as Perdue doubled down on false claims about the 2020 election and Kemp attacked the former senator as someone who was lying about the election and Kemp’s role in it.

But in the Atlanta Press Club debate, the tone was more muted, as Kemp and Perdue opted to ask questions of the other three candidates — Catherine Davis, Kandiss Taylor and Tom Williams — and largely avoided the vitriolic personal attacks seen in other debates and on the campaign trail. But, like Perdue has repeatedly said, the Republican Party is divided — and there are pockets of resistance to Kemp.

“My question to you is, wouldn’t you agree, no matter what happens tonight, once we get past the May 24th primary, that we all all of us on this stage need to come together and unite to make sure that Stacey Abrams is never our governor?” Kemp asked Catherine Davis.

“Governor, I would not agree,” she said.

Only Davis did not explicitly say she would support whoever won the GOP nomination, with far-right Kandiss Taylor saying that she would knock on doors for Perdue or Kemp if they won but “they’ll never win — Kandiss Taylor will win.”

Taylor, who is polling around 5% in the primary and has gained notoriety online for her “Jesus, Guns and Babies” campaign slogan, also made several inflammatory comments about transgender students and teachers in the classroom, accused Kemp of working with the Chinese Communist Party and called President Joe Biden a pedophile.

“Donald Trump won, he won,” she said. “We have a fraudulent pedophile in the White House because Gov. Kemp failed.”

There is no evidence to support Biden is a pedophile.

Much of the debate centered around education policy, with candidates discussing issues like teacher burnout, legislation banning so-called “divisive concepts” and school choice.

Kemp has touted a number of conservative policy wins throughout his first term in office and the 2022 legislative session, like permitless firearm carry legislation, teacher and state employee pay raises and tougher restrictions on abortion and election rules, plus a thriving Georgia economy.

“Last fiscal year, we had a record year for economic development where 74% of the 379 projects that total $11 billion went outside the 10 metro counties, furthering my commitment to strengthen rural Georgia,” Kemp said, “not to mention rural broadband that we have done.”

Perdue has failed to gain traction with a broader primary electorate beyond hardcore Trump supporters, falling behind Kemp in the polls and fundraising. He has spent recent days crafting his campaign in open antagonism to Kemp’s stances on everything from the new Rivian development coming to eastern Georgia to the Georgia State Patrol.

MORE: Battleground: Ballot Box | The primary paradox of David Perdue’s run for governor

When Kemp touted the state’s work on expanding access to rural broadband, Perdue said the governor was taking credit for legislation Perdue helped pass in the Senate.

“The governor has been running around for the last six months telling people and taking credit for all the things that he didn’t do,” Perdue said. “He’s spending money that we got for him in this COVID thing.”

After Trump held a rally in northeastern Georgia for Perdue and the slate of primary challengers he’s endorsed that saw low attendance, the former president is hosting a Monday night tele-rally for Perdue.

Early voting begins Monday, May 2 and election day is May 24.

This article appears on Now Habersham in partnership with GPB News

19-year-old motorcyclist killed in Athens crash

By

Joy Purcell

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May 2, 2022

A weekend wreck in Athens claimed the life of a 19-year-old from Nicholson, police say. Christian Williams was fatally injured in the wreck Saturday afternoon in the 4300 block of Atlanta Highway.

Athens-Clarke police say the initial investigation shows Williams was driving a Kawasaki motorcycle eastbound when he collided with a westbound Honda CRV that was turning left into the Sam’s Club parking lot.

Athens-Clarke EMS transported Williams to a local hospital where he died from his injuries.

The crash is still under investigation, according to ACCPD Lt. Shaun Barnett. This is the fifth fatal motor vehicle crash in Athens-Clarke County this year.

Georgia’s 2022 early voting season starts with sky-high stakes

By

Stanley Dunlap

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May 2, 2022

(GA Recorder) — Early voting officially kicks off Monday for the 2022 midterm elections with sky-high stakes freighted with the never-ending relitigation of the 2020 presidential election.

Over the next several weeks Georgians will cast ballots for the May 24 primaries that will determine the Republican and Democratic nominees for governor, U.S. Senate, congressional districts, secretary of state and other tests of the state’s budding battleground status.

The primary is the first statewide election since the election overhaul implemented by Republican lawmakers in spring 2020 that reshaped absentee voting, set new deadlines when provisional ballots can be cast, added an extra Saturday of early voting, and gave the state power to take over local election boards deemed to be underperforming.

Over the coming months, progressive voting rights groups are poised to closely monitor the effects of changes they charge are suppressing Black voters and other marginalized groups who helped secure Georgia’s two Senate seats and Joe Biden’s narrow Georgia win over Donald Trump for president.

Voting rights organizations are increasing their effort to educate the public about the voting law and resources like the ones offered by a coalition of 100 organizations that allow voters who have questions or problems to report them at 866-OUR-VOTE.

Even with the efforts some say make it harder to vote, Common Cause Georgia Executive Director Aunna Dennis said there’s a strong counter-effort to ensure every eligible voter can cast a ballot.

“But the anti-voter legislation that’s been pushed through our legislature means that it will be harder for some voters to vote this year,” she said in a statement. “So it’s more important than ever for Georgia voters to make a plan to vote – and maybe make a backup plan, too.”

This year’s party primaries feature a heated race between Republican Gov. Brian Kemp and former U.S. Sen. David Perdue and a crowded U.S. senate field led by former University of Georgia football great Herchel Walker trying to break out of the pack to take on Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock on Nov. 8.

And as people head to the polls, the most important push from voting rights champions is for Georgians to vote early and inform their coworkers, families, and others about the new rules, and to check on their status, said Jamil Favors, a co-founder of Atlanta-based nonprofit Power the Vote.

As a result of the new law, the deadline for requesting and submitting absentee ballots is shorter and drop boxes will no longer be available around the clock but only during early voting hours.

Under the new law, Republican officials trumpeted a plan to replace a comparatively subjective signature match for absentee ballots with a more objective driver’s license, other state ID or requiring a photocopy of a utility bill, bank statement, or government check to verify identity.

“That’s going to significantly affect many individuals who may not have that license or may not have a photocopier to take a copy of their utility bill,” Favors said. “And these things may seem small, but they’re really small cuts that are deep cuts to truly keep people away from the ballot box.”

Georgians will also have more difficulty requesting an absentee via an online portal under the new law since they will need a signed document in order to apply.

Georgian officials with the secretary of state’s office counter 97% of eligible voters already have a government ID.

It is proving difficult for many election supervisors in Georgia to find enough poll workers after the pandemic led to the older ones opting out. Meanwhile, threats to poll workers grew across Georgia in the wake of discredited claims by Trump and his allies of a fraudulent election.

The new voting law isn’t factoring into the struggles of Cobb County in hiring enough staff for an election, where Election Director Janine Eveler expects a strong turnout to settle the many contested races.

But how those votes are cast should be different from 2020’s presidential preference primary when a record 1.1 million absentee ballots were cast across Georgia.

“Absentee voting will not be as popular as in 2020. More people are comfortable voting in person now and absentee voting is much harder than before with more restrictive deadlines,” Eveler said.

As a result of the new law, provisional ballots cast at a wrong polling place before 5 p.m. on Election Day will not be counted. The proponents of this change say it will give voters a chance to vote on all the candidates on the ballot. But others say it will make it more confusing for poll workers and will leave thousands of people without enough time to cast their votes.

“I think part of the problem with this law, in particular, is just how unnecessarily complex a rule that changes at five o’clock on Election Day is,” said Saira Amir Draper, a co-founder of Power the Vote and a Democratic candidate for state House District 90.

In 2020, the deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot was three days before the election, but now voters must request the ballot 11 days before the election, which means the deadline is May 13 for the primaries.

The most significant new election measure this year was signed into law last week by Gov. Brian Kemp, which will grant the Georgia Bureau of Investigation new powers to initial election investigations beginning on July 1.

While a large number of groups, including presumptive governor candidate Democrat Stacey Abrams, founder of the New Georgia Project, and former Republican U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler’s Greater Georgia, are pushing to get more voters registered, the largest driving force in signing up new voters – the automatic registration process through the Department of Driver Service – had its percentage fall by half over the last year.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that when the agency shut off automatic voter registration after a redesign of its website, registrations decreased from 35,000 in February 2020 to less than 6,000 in the month the following year.

Draper, who is also a former director of the Democratic Party of Georgia’s voter protection division, said that drop should have sounded off alarms within state agency workers that the system was flawed.

What to know heading into the May 24 primary

Georgians can view their registration status, update their contact information, and more at the secretary of state’s My Voter Page. Voters who have problems with the website can confirm their poll location by contacting their county elections office.

Monday: Early voting begins with polls open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

May 7 and 14: Saturday early voting.

May 13: Deadline to submit application for absentee ballot.

May 20: Last day of early voting.

May 24: Election Day. Polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Jan. 6 panel asks three GOP members of the U.S. House to cooperate in probe

By

Jennifer Shutt

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May 2, 2022

A U.S. House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack has heard testimony from witnesses that “suggests that the discussion that day” included plans for Vice President Mike Pence to “unilaterally refuse to count certain states’ certified electoral votes” when Congress met to certify the presidential election results. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON (GA Recorder) — The U.S. House committee looking into the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol sent letters Monday to Reps. Andy Biggs of Arizona, Mo Brooks of Alabama, and Ronny Jackson of Texas, asking them to share information about meetings and conversations they had in the days and weeks leading up to the insurrection.

“The Select Committee has learned that several of our colleagues have information relevant to our investigation into the facts, circumstances, and causes of January 6th,” Chairman Bennie G. Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat, and ranking member Liz Cheney, a Wyoming Republican, said in a statement.

“As we work to provide answers to the American people about that day, we consider it a patriotic duty for all witnesses to cooperate. We urge our colleagues to join the hundreds of individuals who have shared information with the Select Committee as we work to get to the bottom of what happened on January 6th.”

In the letter to Biggs, the panel asks for information about meetings that took place in person at the White House ahead of the Jan. 6 attacks, as well as remotely, including one on Dec. 21, 2020.

The Select Committee has heard testimony from other witnesses that “suggests that the discussion that day” included plans for Vice President Mike Pence to “unilaterally refuse to count certain states’ certified electoral votes” on Jan. 6 when Congress met to certify the presidential election results.

The panel wants to know if Biggs and two other unidentified members of Congress originally came up with the idea of bringing protesters into Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6.

The letter says that Ali Alexander, an “early and aggressive proponent of the Stop the Steal movement who called for violence before January 6th,” has publicly said that Biggs and two other lawmakers crafted the idea.

The panel also wants additional information about conversations Biggs had with state lawmakers and officials about claims the election was “stolen” and efforts to overturn the election results.

The Select Committee is also interested in conversations Biggs and other House Republicans had about receiving pardons for their actions related to attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

“We would like to understand all the details of the request for a pardon, more specific reasons why a pardon was sought, and the scope of the proposed pardon,” the letter to Biggs says.

A trio of lawsuits in Arizona that sought to disqualify Republican Reps. Biggs and Paul Gosar and state Rep. Mark Finchem from the ballot for their alleged roles in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol were dismissed in April.

The letter to Brooks is somewhat shorter, asking him to meet with the panel to detail comments he made this March that appear “to provide additional evidence of President Trump’s intent to restore himself to power through unlawful means.”

Brooks said during an interview and a statement that Trump asked him to “rescind” the election of 2020. In the statement, he goes on to write; “As a lawyer, I’ve repeatedly advised President Trump that January 6 was the final election contest verdict and neither the U.S. Constitution nor the U.S. Code permit what President Trump asks. Period.”

The Select Committee wants to interview Jackson about why “Oath Keepers, including its leader, Stewart Rhodes, exchanged encrypted messages asking members of the organization to provide you personally with security assistance, suggesting that you have ‘critical data to protect.’”

“As you likely know from public disclosures, individuals in these groups have been charged with seditious conspiracy,” Thompson and Cheney wrote. “Several of these individuals are alleged to have plotted the violent overthrow of the United States and allegedly staged weapons at a location near Washington D.C. for that purpose.”

The panel would like to know why members of the organization were interested in Jackson’s location, why they thought he had “critical data” that needed protection, why they wanted to keep Jackson safe and whom he spoke with on his cell phone that day.

The Select Committee said it also wants to record Jackson’s “firsthand observations” of the attack on the U.S. House chamber, during which Jackson was one of the people who barricaded a door to try to stop rioters from getting in.

The letter said panel members would like Jackson to include “the reactions and statements of other members of Congress to the violence at that moment.”

The panel suggested each of the three Republicans meet with the committee the week of May 9 but said other days were an option if the members’ schedules were too packed that week.

The Jan. 6 Select Committee plans to begin holding public hearings on its findings into the insurrection next month.

Republican candidates plead their cases in wide-open 10th District race

By

Stephen Fowler

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May 1, 2022

District 10 congressional debate — Republicans vying for the District 10 congressional seat faced off during the Atlanta Press Club Loudermilk-Young Debate Series on Sunday, May 1, 2022. (livestream image courtesy Atlanta Press Club)

Term limits, the economy and social issues dominated the Republican primary debate for Georgia’s 10th Congressional District Sunday.

Candidates in the race have put more than $2.2 million of their own money into this race to replace U.S. Rep. Jody Hice, who is running to unseat incumbent Brad Raffensperger in the Secretary of State primary.

All but one qualified candidate participated in the Atlanta Press Club debate, as the moderator noted state Rep. Timothy Barr was under the weather and did not attend.

Former U.S. Rep. Paul Broun said the U.S. Supreme Court must overturn the Roe v. Wade decision dealing with abortions, touted his previous record in Congress and said he would, if elected, use his seniority to initiate a “deep dive investigation” into President Joe Biden’s chief medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci over the “truth about COVID.”

Marc McMain, a self-proclaimed “outsider” from Walton County, drove much of the conversation around a pledge for candidates to term-limit themselves if elected to represent the heavily conservative district.

“I think career politicians are destroying our country,” he said. “Nowhere did our founding fathers ever imagine that people were going to Washington, D.C., and make a career out of the House of Representatives, and that’s what’s happening.

Former Revenue Commissioner David Curry said “we don’t have a revenue problem in the state of Georgia” and called to eventually eliminate the state income tax.

But much of the debate centered around two campaigns that are most likely to head to a runoff in this crowded field. Both have strong ties to former President Donald Trump: one has his endorsement and the other has built a campaign around echoing many of Trump’s mannerisms, policies and populist appeal.

The latter is Mike Collins, a hard-charging trucking executive and son of former U.S. Rep. Mac Collins, who is running as an unabashed pro-Trump conservative despite not getting the former president’s endorsement in the race.

Collins, who leads the pack in loans and money raised, said he plans to stand up to “liberal left-wing wackos, RINOS, elites — and even the Republican establishment,” promising to vote against House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) for Speaker of the House if Republicans take control of the chamber in 2023.

“The time for compromise, time for bipartisanship — that’s over with,” he said, echoing a popular line from his stump speeches. “This is the best time in our lifetime, y’all, to send Republicans to Congress.”

And then there’s Vernon Jones, backed by Trump in the race as part of an effort to build a slate of candidates to take down Gov. Brian Kemp, Raffensperger and other Republicans who did not overturn Trump’s defeat in the 2020 election.

Jones, a former Democrat who switched parties after the 2020 election, originally ran for governor but switched races to clear a path for former Sen. David Perdue’s longshot challenge against Kemp.

“I’m an America-First agenda candidate; I was endorsed by President Trump,” Jones said in response to one question. “I would like to have President Trump as Speaker of the House.”

Jones was criticized by fellow candidates for voting against Georgia’s strict abortion law (he said it was because the bill did not go far enough), his history as a Democratic lawmaker and CEO of heavily liberal DeKalb County and for not having ties to the district.

“The smell of liberal whiskey is still on your breath; you voted against the ‘heartbeat’ bill,” McMain said about Jones. “If you’ve never seen Vernon speak, he is a master at his craft. He is an expert politician. His mouth is like a circus: get out your popcorn and watch the show.”

Many of the candidates also attacked Broun for running for office again.

“Since he left his seat with a powerful voting record, he has yet to be elected in any of the other positions he’s run for, and I’m skeptical why we should elect him again,” Mitchell Swan said.

The 10th Congressional District includes the counties of Barrow, Butts, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Hancock, Jackson, Jasper, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Putnam, Taliaferro, Walton, and portions of Henry, Newton, and Wilkes.

In-person early voting begins Monday, May 2. Election day for the primary is May 24.

This article appears on Now Habersham in partnership with GPB News

Janice Laverne (Bramlett) Hammond

By

Now Habersham

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May 1, 2022

Janice Laverne Bramlett Hammond, age 72, of Cornelia, passed away Saturday, April 30, 2022.

Born in Canton, Georgia on December 7, 1949, Janice was the daughter of the late Huell and Margaret Blackstock Bramlett. Janice met the love of her life, her husband Ronnie at a dance in Mountain City. They would soon after marry and live in Habersham County where they raised three wonderful children. She retired with over 34 years of loyal service from the State of Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles. Janice was a sports fan; she enjoyed watching the Atlanta Braves and the UGA Diamond Dawgs. Her family was the center of her life. She would always make sure that everything they needed was taken care of. Janice was an active member of Bethlehem Baptist Church and the senior ladies Sunday School class. In addition to her parents, Janice is preceded in death by brother Harrison Bramlett and grandson Drew Coleman.

Survivors include husband Ronnie Hammond of Cornelia, daughters and sons-in-law Rhonda H. and Sean Moore of Cornelia and Tina H. and Bruce Coleman of Mt. Airy, son and daughter-in-law Brent and Rebecca R. Hammond of Clarkesville, grandchildren Maddie Moore, Karrie Moore, Taylor Coleman, Ryann Coleman, Brycen Hammond, Rylan Hammond and Reid Hammond, sisters and brothers-in-law Betsy and Cliff Smith of Clayton and Huellene and Jim Dickerson of Locust Grove, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, May 4, 2022, at Bethlehem Baptist Church with Dr. Craig Ward and Rev. Chip Cranford, officiating. Interment will follow the service in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends at Hillside Memorial Chapel on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, from 5-8 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorials be made to: Bethlehem Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 488, Clarkesville, GA 30523

Online condolences may be sent to the family at HillsideMemorialChapel.com.

Arrangements by Hillside Memorial Chapel & Gardens, Clarkesville. 706-754-6256

Vernie Burns Johnson

By

Now Habersham

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May 1, 2022

Mrs. Vernie Burns Johnson, age 78, of Cornelia, passed away Saturday April 30, 2022 at Habersham Home.

A daughter of the late William Edward and Mary Elizabeth Phillips Burns, she was born February 17, 1944 in Habersham County where she lived all of her life. She retired from Scovill Fasteners with thirty seven years of service and was a member of Community Baptist Church. She was a loving mother and grandmother. She enjoyed reading her Bible, going to church and crocheting. She always cared for others and found the good in all people. She was preceded in death by her husband Andrew Johnson in 2020.

Survivors include her sons and daughters-in-law Dean and Sheila Johnson of Toccoa, Gary and Tiffany Johnson of Brasleton, Jon and Jayden Johnson of Toccoa and A.J. Johnson of Cornelia. six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, one brother Nelson Burns of Alto and two sisters Frances Wade and Minnie Lee Burns of Carnesville and a number of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday May 3, 2022 at 2 P.M. at the Hillcrest Chapel of Acree-Davis Funeral Home with The Reverend Robert Clark and her grandson Kyle Johnson officiating. The family will receive friends at the Acree-Davis Funeral Home on Monday from 5 P.M. til 8 P.M.

Interment will follow in Yonah Memorial Gardens.

The following gentlemen will serve as pallbearers Noah Johnson, Brian Walters, Denver Armour, Trent Thomason, Robert Moss and George Ivester.

Online condolences can be made by visiting our website www.acree-davisfh.com.

Acree-Davis Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements for Mrs. Vernie Burns Johnson

Roads Less Traveled: Lesson number one

By

Tyler Penland

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May 1, 2022

Just over a year ago my life changed drastically. My wife and I welcomed our first child into the world in April of 2021. It was a turbulent time in the world; COVID was still raging across the country making things around the hospital and doctor visits a bit more stressful. We pulled through it, though, and a year later our little boy is growing like a weed.

He has been going outside since week one of his life. His first trip outside of the house was to the park for a walk in the stroller when he was just a few days old and he has made plenty of trips there since. From fishing to summiting mountains Oliver has had an eventful first year.

Hiking with a baby has its challenges. The extra weight to the front is something your shoulders can’t quite be prepared for, and toting all the extra supplies adds a little more to your pack.

I have long had a passion for the outdoors and being able to share it with my child has been one of the greatest joys of my life. I love seeing him smile and interact the nature around him, and other hikers enjoy seeing him babble on at them as well. We’ve seen wild horses, flowers, butterflies, sunsets, and many more things and we will certainly see more over the coming years.

Sunset from the Blue Ridge Parkway, April 2022

I’ve learned a lot of lessons over the past year of being a father. But what is my personal idea of “lesson number one”? Enjoy it.

There will be highs and lows, good days and bad, but in the end, it is all worth it. And who knows? You might just catch a few good sunsets along the way.

Library assistant has watched TMU grow by ‘leaps and bounds’

By

Anna Skudarnova

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May 1, 2022

CLEVELAND — Judy Gillentine does not remember a day that she did not know about Truett McConnell University (TMU). While she played in her grandparent’s front yard as a little girl, students of Truett McConnell Junior College would often walk past the house to Cleveland’s town square. Today, Berry Foods IGA stands in the place that Gillentine’s grandparents’ white house once occupied.

Joining the TMU Family

Gillentine has worked in library services from her late teens when she started working at the White County Middle School Library. She later worked at the White County Public Library for seven years.

One day, as she was passing by the campus of Truett McConnell College (TMC), she felt God prompt her to turn in. She ended up at the front desk of the Cofer Library on TMC’s campus, where a young man greeted her. He promised to give her contact information to Janice Wilson, who was the director of the library at the time.

Even though TMC was not advertising any job postings, Gillentine received a call from Wilson a few weeks later, asking her to come in for an interview. Gillentine recalled that she was canning green beans on that hot July day while wearing shorts and a tee-shirt. She told Wilson she would need at least an hour to clean up. However, Wilson insisted that she come just as she was. Gillentine showed up and received a job offer. She said, “By listening to that still, small voice of God and obeying, doors opened wide.”

A Growing Campus

During her 30 years at TMU, Gillentine has witnessed TMU grow from a two-year college to a university. She has also seen old buildings torn down and new buildings sprout up, most notably the Student Wellness Center and Wood Hall. “TMU has grown by leaps and bounds,” she said.

In addition to campus-wide progress, Gillentine has been able to experience the development of the Cofer Library. She recounted that 30 years ago, the library did not have a single computer, only two typewriters used to produce book labels, checkout cards and card catalog cards. Cofer Library has since transitioned from a card catalog to an online public access catalog. Gillentine said, “Under Dr. Nott’s leadership, we are transitioning from print sources to more electronic resources. The library is always changing and growing to meet the needs of our institution.”

A Meaningful Job

Gillentine enjoys being part of the TMU family and the freedom she has to talk about Christ at her workplace. Her favorite part of her job is seeing students light up with excitement when she is able to help them with research or teach them how to navigate a database.

She also shared one touching memory of a student who once encouraged her. On March 31, 2002, a student told her that God had directed him to pray for her and remind her that whatever would happen in the days to come, God would always be by her side. The very next day, Gillentine’s father passed away unexpectedly. The prayer of the student from the day before echoed in her heart and mind.

Gillentine has seen students become ministers, nurses, teachers, and many other professions. She often meets the children of TMU alumni when they come to tour TMU. She always greets past students with a smile and a hug. The TMU Administrative Assistant said, “I have forged many friendships over my 30 years here at TMU and hope to continue for many more years.”

Exciting finish in 4×400 lifts Lady Indians into third-place at Area Championships

By

TFS Athletics

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April 30, 2022

TFS track & field — Macy Murdock, Julianne Shirley, Molly Mitchell, Caroline Ball (TFS Athletics)

TFS track and field teams, both the boys and girls, sat in fifth place at the Area 6-1A Private Championships at Hebron Christian in Dacula after Thursday’s opening action. The teams combined on the first day for nine state sectional qualifying events. Heading into Saturday, TFS was determined to move up the board and have more sectional qualifiers. The Lady Indians used their final event, the area champion and state sectional qualifying 4×400 relay, to get into third place.

With the top five in each event qualifying for state sectionals, Macy Murdock took a pair of area titles in the hurdle events, winning the 300 MH by more than three seconds over the next closest competitor. Julianne Shirley was the area runner-up in the 400, and Molly Mitchell’s 800 PR got her a fifth-place finish to qualify for sectionals. The girls and boys 4×100 and 4×400 relay teams all qualified as well. All of those except the 4×400 girls came in fifth. The girls 4×4 was the final event, and with an area title lifted the team into third place. The girls were behind in the event, but stormed back to take the win in a shocking finish. It was the second-best time in school history.

The girls closed the meet in third place, while the boys finished sixth overall. In total, TFS will be represented at state in 17 events.

DAY TWO RESULTS (TOP 5 FINISHES IN FINAL EVENTS)

Macy Murdock (1st in 100 MH, 1st in 300 MH)

Girls 4×400 Relay (1st [School Record])

Julianne Shirley (2nd in 400 [PR])

Molly Mitchell (5th in 800 [PR])

Girls 4×100 Relay (5th)

Boys 4×100 Relay (5th)

Boys 4×400 Relay (5th)

DAY ONE RESULTS (TOP 5 FINISHES IN FINAL EVENTS)

Girls 4×200 Relay (2nd)

Tyler Brown (3rd in Pole Vault [PR])

Julianne Shirley (3rd in High Jump [PR])

Sam Ketch (4th in Shot Put)

Jace Ibemere (4th in Triple Jump [PR])

Zhigao Henrry Xiong (5th in 1600)

Boys 4×200 Relay (5th)

Girls 4×800 Relay (5th)

Boys 4×800 Relay (5th)

FULL RESULTS

Edith Stonecypher Gailey

By

Now Habersham

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April 30, 2022

Edith Stonecypher Gailey, age 83, of Alto, Georgia, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, April 30, 2022.

Born in Clarkesville, Georgia on January 03, 1939, she was a daughter of the late Cline & Daisy Ivester Stonecypher. Edith was a graduate of North Habersham High School, Class of 1957. She was the former manager of Stoney’s Family Restaurant in Clarkesville for most of her adult life. Edith was a volunteer for many years with the Habersham Soup Kitchen and Habersham Medical center where she was recognized as volunteer of the year. She was a member of Hills Crossing Baptist Church.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Bobby Smith; second husband, Mitchell Gailey; son, Mike Reed; granddaughter, Lauren Howard; & son-in-law, Joe Irvin.

Survivors include her children, Angie Irvin & fiancé, Frank McClung of Flowery Branch, GA; Dean & Beverly Smith of Alto, GA; Tammy & Andy Poole of Gainesville, GA; Kim & Reggie Hulsey of Mount Airy, GA; step-son, Chris Gailey of Austin, TX; daughter-in-law, Kathy Reed of Hartselle, AL; grandchildren, Justin Irvin of Monroeville, PA; Jason Irvin of Mount Airy, GA; Chelsea Smith Honeycutt & Zack Honeycutt of Asheville, NC; Christy Smith of Alexandria, VA; Amanda Poole of Gainesville, GA; Chase Poole of Alexandria, VA; Nicholas Poole of Gainesville, GA; Dalton Hulsey of Mount Airy, GA; Miranda & Chad Edwards of Demorest, GA; Mikee & Chasity Reed of Hartselle, AL; Becca & Adrian Miller of Hartselle, AL; Tiffany & Dakota Bennett of Lubbock, TX; Matthew Gailey of Prescott, AZ; other relatives, & friends.

Graveside services are scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 03, 2022, at Hills Crossing Baptist Church Cemetery with Rev. Walter Singletary officiating.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

An online guest registry is available at www.HillsideMemorialChapel.com.

Arrangements by Hillside Memorial Chapel, Clarkesville, Georgia. (706) 754-6256