Biden OKs release of 1 million barrels of oil a day from reserve, calls for supply boost

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April 1, 2022

Ukraine gas prices — (Hadley Cottingham/Now Habersham)

(GA Recorder) — President Joe Biden called Thursday for U.S. energy companies to do their part in lowering gasoline prices by boosting supplies of oil, saying the industry should plow record profits back into increased production.

Biden also said he would release 1 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve daily for the next six months and spur mining companies to increase their production of the materials used to power electric vehicles.

With gas prices almost $1 per gallon higher on average than at the start of the year — a situation Biden blamed on a supply shortage resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and subsequent U.S.-led sanctions — the president urged Congress to pressure oil companies to produce more.

Congress should pass a law to fine oil companies who are not using approved leases to produce oil on federal lands, Biden added. The industry has about 9,000 permits it is not using, he said.

“Those sitting on leases and idle wells will either have to start producing or pay the price for their inaction,” Biden said.

Thriving energy companies had a choice to either give Americans a break or exploit them, Biden said. Some already-used record profits to jumpstart production, but others must join them, he said.

“I say enough,” Biden said. “Enough of lavishing excessive profits on investors and payouts and buybacks.”

Executives for oil and gas industries are scheduled to testify at a House hearing next week, where it’s expected they’ll be grilled about what they’ve done to help ease prices.

Strategic Petroleum Reserve

The president also said he was using his own authority to release more than 180 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Biden previously released 30 million barrels from the reserve, a complex of four sites with deep underground storage caverns in salt domes along the Louisiana and Texas Gulf Coasts, which was matched by 31 allies in the International Energy Alliance. It’s unclear how much oil, if any, those allies will release to match Thursday’s announcement.

In a two-part plan to increase gas production but also encourage clean energy, Biden said he would invoke the Defense Production Act, a 1950 law that gives the president authority to require production of materials needed to meet a national emergency, to increase the domestic supply of lithium, nickel and other minerals used to make electric vehicle batteries and other clean energy storage.

The United States imports some of those materials, including from Russia and China.

The U.S. Senate Energy Committee met Thursday to discuss the matter, calling for more production to counter Russia and China’s position in the market.

“It makes no sense to remain beholden to bad actors when we have manufacturing know-how here in the United States,” committee Chairman Sen. Joe Manchin III, a West Virginia Democrat, said.

Putin’s war

Biden sought to blame Russian President Vladimir Putin for the price spikes. Biden banned the import of Russian energy supplies on March 8, noting at the time that it would likely lead to higher prices.

“As I said from the start, Putin’s war is imposing a cost on America and our allies and democracies around the world,” he said Thursday. “I know how much it hurts.”

Gas prices had been rising, though, before Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The national average has increased to $4.31 per gallon, about a 90-cent boost since the start of the year. But that January 2022 average was already more than a dollar higher than January 2021.

Biden said it was hard to tell when drivers would see results from Thursday’s actions and how much of an impact they would have. It would partly depend on the response from U.S. allies, he said.

“It will come down,” he said. “And it could come down fairly significantly.”

Biofuel boosters

A bipartisan group of 29 U.S. House members of both parties also urged Biden to turn to ethanol to pursue lower gas prices. In a Thursday letter, the lawmakers asked Biden to make sure ethanol blended with gasoline was available year-round and to not reduce the standard minimum amount of biofuel in the U.S. fuel supply.

“These actions would significantly increase U.S. energy independence and lessen the domestic impact of our ban on Russian energy imports by replacing them with U.S. biofuels,” the lawmakers wrote.

“Increasing domestic energy production is an important part of our effort to sustain sanctions on the Russian economy and we urge you to increase U.S. energy independence and decrease inflationary pressures at the pump.”

The House members who signed the letter include Democrats David Scott of Atlanta, as well as Angie Craig of Minnesota, Cynthia Axne of Iowa, Mark Pocan and Ron Kind of Wisconsin, Tim Ryan of Ohio, Dan Kildee and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, and Republicans Adrian Smith and Don Bacon of Nebraska, Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Randy Feenstra of Iowa, Michelle Fischbach of Minnesota, Blaine Luetkemeyer and Vicky Hartzler of Missouri and Tracey Mann and Jake LaTurner of Kansas.

Georgia lawmakers pass permitless carry legislation. Kemp promises to promptly sign

By

Riley Bunch

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April 1, 2022

gun — The court ruled that New York’s concealed carry law violates the 14th Amendment of the Constitution — a major decision that expands the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.

Georgians will soon be able to carry a concealed handgun in public without first obtaining a license from the state.

The Georgia General Assembly gave final passage to this year’s permitless carry legislation — also known as “constitutional carry” — that does away with the permitting system.

Gov. Brian Kemp pledged to push constitutional carry legislation across the finish line as one in a flurry of proposals to court favor with his conservative voter base. After the vote he said he would soon sign the bill into law.

“I appreciate the House and Senate for their hard work to get constitutional carry over the finish line,” Kemp said. “Law-abiding Georgians deserve to ensure they can protect themselves and their families, and this legislation strengthens that God-given right.”

The Republican incumbent faces a tough primary challenge from former U.S. Sen. David Perdue.

Proponents of the bill said it simply does away with an unnecessary burden on legal gun owners.

“The Constitution of the United States says that we have the right to bear arms and it doesn’t say ‘if’ — it doesn’t say ‘if’ anything,” Chikamauga Republican Sen. Jeff Mullis said.

But advocates for stricter gun laws say it eliminates one of the few background checks Georgia has on the books and would let dangerous criminals slip through the cracks at a time when gun violence is at a high.

Democrats have also accused their colleagues on the other side of the aisle of putting campaign priorities to satisfy their voter base ahead of smart gun policy decisions.

Georgia does not require a background check in private sales of firearms, so oftentimes permit applications are the first time a check is required.

“We’re removing one of our small checks on keeping weapons carry licenses out of the hands of criminals,” Sen. Elena Parent, an Atlanta Democrat, said, “thousands of whom have been denied this very permit, every year. Criminals. Not law-abiding citizens — criminals.”

When a Georgian applies for a permit, the $75 application fee gets divided up between state and local agencies. More than half is sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the federal government’s national background check system.

An analysis conducted by GPB News found that almost all Georgia counties have over a 90% approval rating for concealed carry applications. In 2020, more than 280,000 permits were granted with around 5,300 denied — mainly for criminal history.

The bill that relaxes the state’s gun laws has been debated at length in both the House and the Senate during session.

During the final debate in the House, Suwanee Republican Rep. Bonnie Rich told a story about harassment she and her family faced from a convicted child molester in 2008. Rich said that the situation prompted her to purchase a firearm for protection, but was unable to obtain a timely weapons carry permit.

“This is the only thing that gave me any, any power in this situation to protect my children: a gun,” she said. “…The problem is that I couldn’t get my carry permit before he got out of prison, so I stayed home with my children because I was terrified to go out by myself without my equalizer.”

The bill now heads to the governor’s desk for a signature before it becomes law.

This article appears on Now Habersham in partnership with GPB News

White County school board approves lunch price hike and bus app

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Dean Dyer, WRWH Radio

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April 1, 2022

Student lunches will cost a bit more next year at White County Schools. The board of education Thursday night approved a request from School Nutrition Director Abby Rowland to increase the cost of student lunches by 25 cents.

White County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Laurie Burkett an elementary said student lunch costs will go from $2.00 To $2.25 middle and high will go from $2.25 to $2.50. The Adult meal will be $3.75 to $4.00.

Burkett said all students receive breakfasts for free.

The board also approved initiating a transportation app so parents can keep abreast of where the buses are during their pickup and delivery process.

Superintendent Burkett told the board that we already have GPS on the buses and this would just be another layer. A parent will be able to download an app on their phone and use it to determine where their child’s bus is.

Burkett says they get calls all the time from parents wanting to know where the bus is, especially if the bus has some type of delay in their route.

The school system is looking at implementing the app system sometime next school year.

Insulin price cap approved by U.S. House

By

Ariana Figueroa

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April 1, 2022

WASHINGTON (GA Recorder) — The U.S. House on Thursday passed a bill on a bipartisan 232-193 vote that would limit the price of insulin, as congressional Democrats met throughout the day with health care advocates to make their case for the proposal.

Democratic Sens. Raphael Warnock of Georgia and Patty Murray of Washington state held a virtual round table with residents from their states to push for capping the cost of insulin at $35. The House bill, from Democratic Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota, includes the same limit.

“Costs for prescription drugs like insulin have skyrocketed,” Warnock said. “It’s not a mere inconvenience if you can’t have access to it. This is a life-saving drug.”

He argued that the formula for insulin was created 100 years ago, and there is no reason for the rising cost of the medicine because “we’re not talking about the cost of research and development.”

“We’re paying the cost of greed,” Warnock said.

The senators were joined by Leslie Dach, chair of the group Protect Our Care; Kevin Wren, a Type 1 diabetes patient from Washington state; and Shannon Bjorneby, from Darien, Georgia, whose son was recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

Murray said that she’s hoping for a bipartisan effort in the Senate to pass a bill, introduced by Warnock, to cap insulin costs. This provision was originally in the president’s “Build Back Better” social spending and climate package sent to Congress that stalled in the Senate.

Murray added that when people have to ration their insulin because it costs so much, “that is a direct threat to their health.”

The Kaiser Family Foundation, which produces research on health care policy, detailed that Medicare spending on insulin increased 840% between 2007 and 2017, or from $1.4 billion to $13.3 billion.

Wren talked about several times when he had to ration his insulin and said that the cost of his medicine was sometimes more than his rent.

House insulin bill

Earlier Thursday, Craig and fellow Democratic Reps. Lucy McBath of Georgia and Dan Kildee of Michigan and Majority Whip Jim Clyburn of South Carolina held a press conference, advocating for the measure passed by the House, the “Affordable Insulin Now Act.”

The bill would ensure that no patient pays more than $35 per month for insulin, regardless of their insurance provider. Twelve Republicans voted with Democrats for it.

The chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Frank Pallone, said on the House floor that he wants Congress to continue working to lower the overall cost of prescription drugs, “but we cannot afford to wait any longer to address the price of insulin.”

“Today, 1 in 4 Americans who need insulin report either having cut back or skipped doses because the cost is simply too high,” the New Jersey Democrat said. “No one should have to ration their insulin to help reduce costs, risking their health and in some tragic cases, costing them their lives.”

McBath said in a statement she hopes Congress will soon send the legislation to President Joe Biden for his signature to lower drug costs for millions of American families.

“I am so proud to have worked with my colleagues to bring this bill to a vote and secure its passage in the House,” McBath said. “We must bring a measure of certainty and affordability to every American who needs insulin to continue living a healthy life. This is a bill that will lower costs for almost 40 million Americans, and it will save lives.”

The CDC estimates that 34.2 million people, or 10.5% of the U.S. population, has diabetes.

Georgia Recorder Editor John McCosh contributed to this report

Public health officials report increase in overdoses due to drugs mixed with fentanyl

By

Staff Report

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April 1, 2022

Public health officials in Georgia are seeing a rise in people overdosing on drugs mixed with fentanyl. Overdoses have been reported in several areas of the state over the past month, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health Drug Surveillance Unit.

The synthetic opioid has been detected in a variety of narcotics, particularly cocaine, methamphetamine, and counterfeit pills.

Between early February and mid-March, at least 66 emergency department visits across the state involved the use of cocaine, methamphetamine, crack, heroin, pain killers and cannabis products that were likely laced with fentanyl. In Northeast Georgia, such cases were reported in Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Jackson, and White counties.

Patients described extreme reactions to drugs – one patient reported taking a Percocet and went unresponsive – or patients were seen for a stimulant overdose but had a positive response to naloxone. Naloxone is administered to reverse the effects of opioid overdoses.

Fentanyl is a deadly substance that can be made illegally and found in all types of street drugs, not just opioids. It is important to know that it is possible to have an opioid overdose from a stimulant such as cocaine that is laced with fentanyl.

Symptoms of an opioid overdose include:

Unconsciousness, or inability to wake up
Limp body
Falling asleep, extreme drowsiness
Slow, shallow, irregular or no breathing
Pale, blue, cold and/or clammy skin
Choking, snoring, or gurgling sounds
Slow or no heartbeat

Drugs that contain fentanyl cannot be detected by sight or smell, and even a small amount can cause an overdose.

“If you have a drug that was not prescribed for you, be aware it could contain fentanyl,” DPH states in a news release.

Fentanyl-related overdose deaths have been increasing in Georgia since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Between May 1, 2020, and April 30, 2021, fentanyl-involved overdose deaths increased 106.2% compared to the same time period the previous year.

If you suspect a drug overdose, call 911 immediately, provide the location of the overdose and stay with the individual until help arrives. Georgia has a medical amnesty law that protects individuals who may be experiencing an overdose and callers seeking medical attention for drug overdoses. Naloxone reverses the effects of an opioid overdose and can be obtained from pharmacies in Georgia without a prescription under a standing order from the Commissioner.

For information on drug prevention and recovery programs, call the Georgia Crisis & Access Line at 1-800-715-4225 available 24/7.

TFS tennis blanks Loganville Christian in regular season finale

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TFS Athletics

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April 1, 2022

Tanner Davis 2022 POFFENBERGER — Tanner Davis (photo by Austin Poffenberger)

The TFS tennis teams were back in action on Thursday at Loganville Christian, as both won 5-0 in the regular-season finale.

The Indians move to 7-3 overall and 4-1 in region play, while the Lady Indians are now 7-3 in total and 2-3 in region. The teams have wrapped up the regular season, and being the Region Tournament on April 12 at Athens Academy.

BOYS

#1 Singles: Tanner Davis (9-1) W 8-2
#2 Singles: Josh Jackson (5-5) W 9-7
#3 Singles: TJ Cox (6-3) W 8-1
#1 Doubles: Zach Carringer & Jake Owensby (7-3) W 8-5
#2 Doubles: Aiden & Everett VanOrman (5-4) W 8-1
EXHIBITION: Benjamin Okoronkwo (1-0) W 8-2

GIRLS

#1 Singles: Maggie Peacock (5-5) W 8-0
#2 Singles: Ashli Webb (8-2) W 8-0
#3 Singles: Evette Corwin (8-1) W 8-0
#1 Doubles: Sophie Herrera & Annabelle Jackson (3-0) W 8-0
#2 Doubles: Christy Hulsey & Cassidy Hayes (5-4) W 8-1

Phoebe Jane Pierce Martin

By

Now Habersham

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March 31, 2022

Phoebe Jane Pierce Martin, 80, of Clarkesville, Georgia, went peacefully to be with our Heavenly Father on March 31, 2022.

Born in Westerly, Rhode Island, Phoebe was the daughter of the late Raymond and Eleanor Pierce. When Phoebe was born, her 22-year-old sister and family lived in an apartment above her home, creating a beautiful sisterly bond that lasted until “Dori” passed away in 2015 at 97.

Phoebe spent her childhood growing up in Coral Gables, Miami, Florida, graduating from Coral Gables High School in 1960. Although Phoebe first met her beloved “Skeeter” as a child attending the Riveria Presbyterian Church in South Miami, their official love story began when she was 14. In a rush to become his bride, Phoebe graduated in just three years with a Bachelor of Arts and History from Queens College, and married John Marshall Martin, Jr. in the summer of 1963.

Having taught elementary school while John completed his Master’s Degree, Phoebe was able to stay home with their adopted children, John and Suzanne, for eight years. After twelve years with General Electric and many moves around the country, Phoebe and John decided to settle down in one place. When considering where to establish roots, they remembered the little town of Clarkesville they had fallen in love with when attending a family friend’s wedding at the First Presbyterian Church in 1958. This same Church she first visited as a 16-year-old would become her “church on the hill” for over 46 years.

In 1976, Phoebe and John arrived in Clarkesville, and Phoebe changed careers and entered the banking world with Habersham Bank. She organized their first Training Department, became their first female loan officer, and was named Vice President of their central office. Five years later, Phoebe became Assistant Vice President of Business and Staff Development at Community Bank & Trust, and in 1983 accepted an opportunity to join 1st Franklin Financial as their Investment Center and Marketing Director. Phoebe adored her 1st Franklin Financial family and would spend the last 22 years of her career helping expand the company in other states and eventually serving as their Executive Vice President of Human Resources. Professionally, she served as a member and President of the American Financial Services Associations Human Resource Committee.

Phoebe’s servant heart led her to be involved in many service organizations. Serving as a long-time member and the first female President of the Rotary Club of Toccoa, where she was a Paul Harris Fellow and sustaining Will Watt Fellow, Phoebe also served as a Trustee of the Georgia Rotary Student Program (GRSP). GRSP excited Phoebe as it provided her and John the opportunity to host several international students over the years, solidifying her love for other nations and their people. She was a member and President of the Stephens County Chamber of Commerce Board, President of the Stephens County United Way Board, member and President of the Stephens County Literacy Foundation, member and President of the Foothills Counseling Board, member of the Juvenile Judges Citizen Review Panel, and member of the Department of Family and Children Services and Prevent Child Abuse Habersham Boards. In 1994, Queens College initiated an Outstanding Alumni Award and honored Phoebe as the first recipient, acknowledging her outstanding alumni service and contributions. After retiring in 2005, Phoebe spent most days volunteering at Circle of Hope, continuing her service with the agencies addressing child abuse and prevention, caring for her grandchildren, enjoying time with her Girls’ Night Out friends, and being a globe-trotter. She often shared that her best volunteer activity was being Nana to Ella Jane, Marshall, Jacob, Joshua, and Abigail Grace.

Phoebe loved her First Presbyterian Church family and actively served as a Sunday School teacher, Treasurer, Elder, and choir member. She was also a Moderator with the Northeast Georgia Presbytery. In 2010, the Church honored Phoebe with their Lifetime Achievement Award. Although honored for the recognition, in her written acknowledgment, she wanted her church family to know that she considered her most wonderful “Lifetime Achievement Awards” to be her two children, John and Suzanne. Anyone who knew Phoebe knew how proud she was that her children had chosen to serve others with their lives.

Phoebe could be described as a pioneer businesswoman who led by example, mentored many, and held many offices in civic and professional organizations. But the essential part of her life was her family. She adored her husband, children, five grandchildren, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, sister, brother-in-law, nieces, nephews, and extended family members. Phoebe devoted her life to being Skeeter’s wife. Over the course of their 58-year marriage, Phoebe and John traveled the world, visiting over 31 countries. While the trips were for their enjoyment, Phoebe always had the attitude that she was a guest in the country and, more specifically, an ambassador for the United States. Phoebe was known to befriend everyone she encountered in their travels. She would always issue an invitation to their host to visit them in the US, and, on occasion, they did.

In 2008, Phoebe was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. Two years later, she made the brave decision to share the news of her battle with others to be a beacon of hope and help those afflicted with the same disease. Throughout her 14-year battle, she believed that God gives us the grace to deal with tough situations, and with HIS help, HE sees us through.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister and brother-in-law, Doris and Carlton Crabtree. Survivors include her husband, John Marshall Martin Jr., son and daughter-in-law John and Heather Martin, daughter and son-in-law Suzanne and Jason Dow, grandchildren Ella Jane Dow, Jacob Martin, Marshall Dow, Joshua Martin, and Abigail Grace Martin.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Circle of Hope, P.O. Box 833, Cornelia, GA 30531; Filter of Hope 1400 Jack Warner Parkway NE, Tuscaloosa, AL 35404; First Presbyterian Church of Clarkesville, P.O. Box 354, Clarkesville, GA 30523; or the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Monday, April 4, 2022 at First Presbyterian Church of Clarkesville. Visitation will be held at Hillside Memorial Chapel on Sunday, April 3, 2022 from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM.

An online guest book is available at HillsideMemorialChapel.com.

Arrangements by Hillside Memorial Chapel & Gardens, Clarkesville.

Ukrainian student grateful for TFS refugee relief fundraising

By

E. Lane Gresham

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March 31, 2022

Ukraine Red cross donation TFS — Tarasova presented a check to Northeast Georgia Red Cross Executive Director Marlon Trone on March 30. Key Club representatives and school administrators joined her for a photo. Shown, from left are Upper School Academic Dean Kim Popham, Key Club Advisor Scott Davis, Zhigao "Henrry" Xiong, Madisyn Ramey, Trone, Tarasova, Peevy and Hannah Lundy. (E. Lane Gresham/Tallulah Falls School)

To honor classmates from Ukraine, students at Tallulah Falls School raised close to $1,500 for refugee relief. The school’s Key Club led the initiative to raise funds.

It’s not unusual for the learning community to support a cause, but the current need is in response to an active war relief effort.

A global community representing 22 countries, TFS students are experiencing this crisis in real-time.

One of those students, junior Ninel Tarasova of Zaporizhzhia, a city in southeastern Ukraine, is in her first full year on campus at TFS, starting as a distance learning student in January of 2021.

Tarasova is in frequent contact with her parents via email and WhatsApp. Her mother, stepfather and two younger siblings, 6 and 10, escaped the conflict, relocating to a town in Western Ukraine.

Since then, Tarasova’s mother and siblings fled to Hungary seeking safety, leaving her stepfather behind.

“They are having to move around a lot,” Tarasova said. “The shelters are overwhelmed; it’s crowded and loud.”

Her father is still living in Zaporizhzhia, Tarasova said.

She was moved by the show of support generated by several dress-down days at both the middle and upper school.

“No matter the amount, it will help provide for the Ukrainian people,” she said. “It doesn’t matter how much. If it is only $1, they can buy a water bottle. It means a lot; they [friends and teachers] are always ready to help and give support. I can talk, and I know they will listen.”

She is incredibly grateful for Assistant Academic Dean Jim Van Hooser; she collaborated with him to identify a relief organization, ultimately selecting the American Red Cross.

She remarked on the resolve of the Ukrainian citizens.

“I’ve never seen Ukraine that brave!” she said. “I’ve never seen our people so united and ready to help.”

The future is uncertain for the student studying so far away from home. Tarasova will spend the summer with a family friend in New York before returning to TFS for her senior year.

Being at TFS has been a realized dream, she said, sacrificing an early love of dancing to attend a U.S.-based school to better position herself for college admission.

After graduation, she hopes to attend college in the United States to study psychology criminal justice, perhaps following her mother’s career path as an attorney.

“I am proud of our students for stepping up to help,” said President and Head of School Larry A. Peevy. “This is truly a tribute to the power of friendships with our TFS family across the globe.”

SOS: Audit finds 7 noncitizens attempted to register to vote in Habersham County

By

Joy Purcell

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March 31, 2022

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in Habersham2 — Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger meets with county and election officials during a stopover in Habersham County in October 2019. (Daniel Purcell/Now Habersham)

Georgia’s first citizenship audit of voter rolls turned up 1,634 people who tried to register to vote but could not be verified as U.S. citizens, the secretary of state’s office says. Another 624 individuals were flagged by the Department of Driver Services.

All 2,258 individuals were placed in “pending status” and not added to the voter rolls. None of them have voted in Georgia’s elections, according to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffnsperger.

Data provided by the secretary of state’s office (see below) shows approximately 50 noncitizens attempted to register to vote in counties across Northeast Georgia, including seven in Habersham. Officials were unable to verify them through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program.

In the 624 cases flagged by DDS, the secretary of state’s office was not able to obtain the required information to utilize the SAVE verification tool. Those applicants remain in “pending citizenship” status.

“Ensuring that only citizens are voting in Georgia’s elections is key to upholding the integrity of the vote in Georgia,” says Raffensperger. “Leading the state’s first citizenship audit of the voter rolls is an important part of that effort.”

Raffensperger says the audit proved that Georgia’s citizenship check procedures work.

GA SOS Citizenship Audit results:

COUNTY	NUMBER
Appling	2
Atkinson	4
Bacon	1
Baldwin	1
Banks	1
Barrow	5
Bartow	8
Bibb	15
Bleckley	1
Brooks	2
Bulloch	4
Camden	1
Carroll	6
Catoosa	1
Chatham	31
Chattahoochee	2
Chattoga	1
Cherokee	7
Clarke	15
Clayton	141
Cobb	143
Coffee	4
Colquitt	2
Columbia	10
Cook	1
Coweta	7
Crisp	3
Decatur	1
DeKalb	345
Dodge	1
Dougherty	13
Douglas	33
Effingham	4
Fayette	9
Floyd	1
Forsyth	20
Franklin	1
Fulton	275
Gilmer	3
Glynn	6
Gordon	12
Gwinnett	221
Habersham	7
Hall	17
Henry	37
Houston	7
Jackson	2
Jeff Davis	1
Johnson	1
Jones	1
Lamar	1
Lanier	1
Laurens	3
Liberty	13
Long	3
Lowndes	12
Lumpkin	1
Madison	2
McDuffie	1
McIntosh	3
Mitchell	2
Morgan	1
Murray	3
Muscogee	27
Newton	5
Oconee	2
Paulding	17
Peach	2
Pickens	1
Rabun	1
Richmond	17
Rockdale	17
Spalding	6
Sumter	4
Tattnal	3
Thomas	1
Tift	6
Toombs	1
Troup	3
Union	1
Upson	1
Walker	1
Walton	8
Ware	4
Wayne	1
Webster	1
White	1
Whitfield	20

This article has been updated

Well-attended senior health fair provides free resources for locals

By

Hadley Cottingham

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March 31, 2022

Senior Center Wellness/Health Fair — Hilda Mewborne of Mt. Airy gets her blood pressure checked by MedLink nurses Sarah Parker and JoJo Dawes at the Habersham County Senior Center's Health Fair. (Hadley Cottingham/Now Habersham)

Getting information from a trusted source is always important, but when it comes to health and wellness, it’s critical. That’s why Habersham County Senior Center Director Kathy Holcomb organized a health fair for the seniors of northeast Georgia, where representatives from trusted organizations could give seniors the wellness resources they need.

“What was most important to me is finding vendors who can really benefit my seniors,” Holcomb said last week. “Not just somebody trying to convince you to change this program to this program, it was important to me to find people who can make a difference in their life.”

Thursday, the senior center’s wellness building was jam-packed as seniors from Habersham and surrounding counties took advantage of free information, samples and health screenings to improve their physical, emotional and mental health.

Seniors from all over Northeast Georgia attended Thursday’s health fair. (Hadley Cottingham/Now Habersham)

“It’s been awesome, everyone has been so nice,” Holcomb tells Now Habersham. “This is our first time doing this and it was a little kind of crazy. And I said, ‘Everybody bear with us,’ And they’re like, ‘Oh, you did great for your first time.'”

She says she was happy to see the turnout and number of seniors engaging with the resources provided to them.

A Wellcare representative hears an attendee’s concerns about medical expenses and explains what Medicare provides. (Hadley Cottingham/Now Habersham)

“Everybody started coming in, and it just feels so good,” Holcomb said. “I couldn’t be more pleased with how it turned out.”

Holcomb invited senior center directors from all over the region to participate, and members of the senior centers in Banks, White and Stephens County enjoyed an outing to Habersham for the health fair.

“Kathy was kind enough to share information with all the directors of other local senior centers about this event,” White County Senior Center Director Barbara Overton said. “It was just a great opportunity for some of our seniors to get to see people from LegacyLink, from MedLink, from disability services—It was just really a great one-stop-shop to get to do a lot of things.”

Banks County Senior Center Director Tracie Hammond says that she was “excited” to share the resources the wellness event provided with her seniors.

Banks County Senior Center Director Tracie Hammond was enthusiastic about the opportunities Banks County seniors had to interact with wellness groups. (Hadley Cottingham/Now Habersham)

“We wanted to come up and support the health and wellness fair for seniors because we feel like it’s so important that they realize they can start exercising at any age,” Hammond said. “It does so much good for their health, their wellbeing, their mind, diabetes, all the different elements that health and wellness help.”

Wellness from all angles

While many booths focused on physical health, mental and emotional health were also at the forefront of the information and opportunities shared with seniors. Representatives from local nonprofits, like Circle of Hope, FAITH Powerhouse for Kids and the Sautee Nacoochee Cultural Arts Center were there to answer questions about their programs and provide seniors with volunteer opportunities.

Sautee Nacoochee Cultural Arts Center Volunteer Coordinator Kat Stratton encourages seniors to get involved with their community by volunteering. (Hadley Cottingham/Now Habersham)

Sautee Nacoochee Cultural Arts Center Volunteer Coordinator Kat Stratton encouraged seniors to get involved with their local arts community.

“We’re here to help people know that there are places that they can go to be part of a community,” Stratton says. She shared a brochure with some of the health benefits of volunteering and being engaged in a community, saying social relationships are part of long-term health. “I think that’s important for folks as they get older.”

Directors, representatives and attendees all agreed that the event was a success.

“It was very good, and it was very informative,” says Elaine Maxwell, who attends classes at the Habersham County Senior Wellness Center with her husband, Ross Maxwell. “I was really surprised, it had a good turnout— I was pleased with it.”

Raider tennis teams head to State

By

Joy Purcell

-

March 31, 2022

The Raider boys and girls tennis teams are heading to the state playoffs after a strong showing at the region championship this week in Buford.

The boys made it to Wednesday’s championship match against Buford after defeating Shiloh and Dacula a day earlier. They lost Wednesday to the Wolves, 3-0.

It was the first region championship match for Raider Tennis since 2008.

“These boys are runner ups in a very tough region for 2022,” a proud Coach Robert Wallace says.

(photo courtesy HCHS tennis coach Robert Wallace)

On Tuesday, the boys advanced to the championship round on wins by Luke Atwood at 2S, Kevin Wonders at 3S, and a forfeit at 2D. In the 2nd Round, they beat Dacula 3-2 with wins by 1S Ray Carr, 1D Josh Burris and Andrew Huizing, and 3S Kevin Wonders.

The Raiders head into the state playoffs as 2nd seed. They’ll host the first round on their home courts in Mt. Airy.

Lady Net Raiders

The Lady Net Raiders will go into the state playoffs as 4th seed after dropping a close one Wednesday to Dacula, 2-3.

The team made the playoff cut Tuesday after defeating Winder in the 1st round, 3-2. They posted wins by 1S Meredith Hill, 1D Lyndee Carver and McKenzie Chitwood, and 2D Katelynn LoBuono.

“These student-athletes have worked hard this season and will continue working to do well in the State Tournament,” Wallace says. The first round opens on April 15.

Diane Hill Stover

By

Now Habersham

-

March 31, 2022

Elizabeth Diane Hill Stover, age 68 of Clarkesville, passed away Wednesday, March 30, 2022, at her residence following an extended illness.

A lifelong native of Habersham County, Diane was born on December 10, 1953. She was the daughter of the late Amos Lamar Hill and the late Elizabeth Ruth Dover Hill. Diane was an honor graduate of the first class of Habersham Central High School and a summa cum laude honor graduate from Piedmont College where she earned a B.A. in Finance. She was a trust officer with over 38 years of loyal service with Habersham Bank and had more recently been an accountant at North Georgia Technical College. At the age of 4, Diane was hit by an automobile leaving Sunday School at Bethlehem Baptist Church, an event that would shape the direction of her life serving others. As a lifelong member of Bethlehem, Diane was an active G.A. and Acteen in her youth and later served as a leader in those departments. She was an active member and past president of the Clarkesville Kiwanis club and was a recipient of the G.O.A.L. award (Georgia Occupational Award for Leadership). Alongside her husband David, they were active in the Unicoi Springs Camp Resort in Helen where they served for over 10 years as the activity coordinators. Diane lived a true life of service to others. She was the rock of her family and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the light of her life. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Stover is preceded in death by infant son Michael Lamar Stover and sister-in-law Patricia Hill.

Survivors include husband David Stover of Clarkesville, son Bryan Stover (Tiffany), daughters Shelley Rayner (Richard Wistrom) and Carrie Duren (Michael), grandchildren Haley Stover, Jason Howard, Ella Stover, Mckinlee Howard, Adelyn Stover, Bailey Rayner, Phillip Rayner, Allee Wistrom, April Wistrom, Mya Duren, great-grandchildren Harper Rayner, Karson Wistrom and Kameron Willary, sister and brother in law Frank and Dorothy Hill of Mt. Airy, brother Roy Lee Hill of Cornelia, numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and many friends.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Sunday, April 3, 2022, at Bethlehem Baptist Church. Interment will follow the service in Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday, April 2, 2022, from 1-3 PM and 5-8 PM.

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

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