Margie McCollum, age 90, of Clarkesville, Georgia passed away on Friday, January 14, 2022.
Mrs. McCollum was born on June 8, 1931, in Habersham County, Georgia to the late William Alvin and Maude Chambers Skelton. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Lewis Skelton and sisters, Flossie Black and Dot Edwards. Mrs. McColllum was a member of Clarkesville Baptist Church where she was very active. Margie was also active in her community with Sharing and Caring. She also enjoyed time being outdoors and walking her dog, Rhett. Margie loved to spend time sewing, crocheting and most of all quilting; it was her delight to gift quilts she had made for special occasions.
Survivors include her loving husband, Johnnie G. McCollum, of Clarkesville; daughters and sons-in-law, Brenda and Jim Briggs, of Greenwood, SC; Jorie and Ron Stephens, of Helen; grandchildren and spouses, Kevin Briggs and Erin; Martin Briggs and Molly; great-grandchildren, Winstin and Austin.
Due to the concerns involving COVID-19, Private Family Funeral Services will be held at the Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel with Pastor Grady Walden officiating. Interment will follow in Yonah Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of visitation, the funeral service will be livestreamed on facebook.com/whitfieldfh.
The family respectfully requests their privacy at this time.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sharing and Caring, P.O. Box 194, Clarkesville, Georgia 30523 in Honor of Marg or to the Habersham Co. Animal Shelter in Memory of Mrs. Margie McCollum
For those wishing to send cards to the family can mail them to P.O. Box 411, Helen, Georgia 30545.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, North Chapel at 245 Central Avenue, Demorest, Georgia 30535. Telephone: 706-778-1700.
Fire destroyed this house in Rabun Gap just before dawn on Jan. 13, killing two of the five people inside. Fire investigators are now trying to determine what caused the deadly blaze. (State Fire Marshal's Office)
Officials have released the name of one of two people killed in a recent house fire in Rabun County. 76-year-old Dolli LaDuke died from smoke inhalation and other injuries says Rabun County Coroner Sam Beck.
Dolli LaDuke, 76, died in a house fire in Rabun Gap on Jan. 13, 2022.
LaDuke lived in the house that burned at 734 Western Way in the Sylvan Lake Falls subdivision in Rabun Gap. She was one of five people inside the house when the fire broke out before dawn on January 13, 2022. Three people escaped the burning home; LaDuke and one other person did not.
The coroner’s office sent the bodies to the GBI Crime Lab in Decatur for positive identification. Beck says they’re waiting on additional medical records to positively ID the second fatality.
State and local fire officials are still investigating what caused the deadly blaze.
According to her obituary, LaDuke was a Certified Nursing Assistant with Regency Hospice. She is survived by four sons.
A memorial service will be held in her honor on Friday, January 28 in Clayton.
Joyce Rucker Street, age 64, of Cornelia, passed away on Friday, January 21, 2022.
Born on December 1, 1957, in New York City, New York, she was a daughter of the late James and Gussie Heard Rucker. Mrs. Street was a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church. She enjoyed crocheting and loved to talk.
Survivors include her husband, Chester Street of Cornelia; stepson, Shawn Street of New Jersey; stepdaughter, Shanie Street of New York City, NY; brother, Shawn Rambert of Gainesville; sister, Desiree Rucker of New York City, NY; and nephew, Levan Rambert of Cornelia.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, January 27, 2022, in the Chapel of McGahee-Griffin & Stewart with Shanie Street officiating.
Those in attendance are asked to please adhere to public health and social distancing guidelines regarding COVID-19.
After serving as the county’s interim manager for more than six months, Alicia Vaughn is now Habersham County’s manager.
“I feel somebody just told me I’m going to Disney World,” now-County Manager Alicia Vaughn said. “I am so happy, first of all. I’m ecstatic, I’m so excited and I feel very blessed.”
Vaughn came to Habersham County from Catoosa County in July of 2021 when she was appointed to the position of interim county manager. During the county’s search for a permanent manager, which Vaughn applied for, she was one of three finalists in the search. Jan. 4, she was named the sole finalist, and Thursday night, she became the county manager.
Vaughn thanks the commissioners for their appointment, sharing her excitement to become Habersham’s County Manager. (Hadley Cottingham/Now Habersham)
“I truly feel like I was meant to be here,” Vaughn says. “I was sent here, and I feel like this is the place I was supposed to be.”
Vaughn says that working with the county through Winter Storm Izzy “hammered home” how much she wants to be part of Habersham’s community long-term.
“It’s just full of really kind, amazing people,” Vaughn says of Habersham. “And the commissioners have been so supportive, I’m just really excited.”
The commission echoed her excitement after unanimously voting to make her county manager. They applauded her appointment, exchanging fist-bumps and words of praise.
“We are blessed and fortunate to have someone of your caliber, your qualities, your integrity, your heart, your passion,” Vice-Chairman Bruce Harkness said. “I’m a firm believer that attitude, zeal and morale trickle down.”
County Clerk Brandalin Carnes’s daughter, who has spent the past few days at the county offices due to closed schools, made Vaughn a card and offered her congratulations at the meeting. (Hadley Cottingham/Now Habersham)
A 70-year-old man recently entered a metro Atlanta hospital after a fall. He subsequently tested positive for Covid.
Dr. Danny Branstetter
So did his daughter, who drove him to the hospital. Eight other family members also tested positive.
Three of the 10 died, said Dr. Danny Branstetter, medical director of infection prevention for Marietta-based Wellstar Health System, addressing the media Thursday about the Covid crisis in the Atlanta area.
None of the 10 was vaccinated, said Branstetter, who did not provide personal details.
Branstetter joined medical officials of five other metro Atlanta health care systems – Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory Healthcare, Grady Health System, Northeast Georgia Health System, and Piedmont Healthcare – in the virtual media briefing to deliver a stark description of the current Covid surge’s impact on hospitals and their staff.
These officials’ message: Georgians should do what they can to reduce and prevent infections.
That starts with vaccinations. A large majority of patients hospitalized with Covid have not been vaccinated, the officials said.
At Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, more than 95 percent of children who are hospitalized with Covid and are eligible for vaccination have not received the shots, said Dr. Andi Shane, division chief of pediatric infectious diseases at the pediatric health system.
Children not eligible for vaccines – those under age 5 – “are completely dependent upon people around them’’ to protect them from the virus, Shane added.
The briefing continued the unprecedented coordination among these Atlanta area health systems in alerting the media and public about the dangers and prevention strategies related to Covid spread.
Georgia recently has set records in numbers of infections reported daily. The current surge, ignited by the Omicron variant, has generated an extraordinary spread of the disease, Dr. Kathleen Toomey, Georgia’s Public Health commissioner, told state lawmakers earlier Thursday. Late in the day, Congressman Hank Johnson, a Georgia Democrat, announced that he has tested positive for Covid.
Grady Memorial Hospital
Atlanta’s Grady Memorial Hospital is operating at 110 percent capacity, Dr. Robert Jansen, chief medical officer and chief of staff of Grady Health System, told reporters.
The hospital’s emergency room “is wall-to-wall stretchers,’’ he said. “We have no capacity left at the hospital.’’ It’s the busiest Grady has been since the pandemic began. The hospital has been forced to divert ambulances recently to other facilities.
Nurses and other employees are feeling exhaustion and frustration during this fifth surge, said Sharon Pappas, chief nurse executive at Emory Healthcare. Staff have been extraordinarily creative and resilient in fighting the disease, she said.
Nevertheless, Pappas said, “we are seeing many nurses and clinicians leave the profession or pause their careers because of the stress the pandemic has caused, both personally and professionally.’’
Dr. Jayne Morgan, executive director of Piedmont Healthcare’s Covid-19 Task Force, noted that the average length of a hospital stay is lower during this Omicron-driven surge than during the previous four Covid waves.
But Morgan warned that people should take the current wave very seriously. The sentiment that some people have about intentionally getting Covid so they can put it behind them is “an absolutely terrible idea,’’ she said.
Infectious disease specialist Dr. Supriya Mannepalli of Northeast Georgia Health System participates in a joint virtual media briefing to discuss the ongoing pandemic on Jan. 20, 2022. (livestream image)
Therapeutic treatments are in short supply, she noted, with Piedmont and other systems having to triage who gets this care.
There’s also the potential for a person to get “long-haul’’ Covid or other lingering symptoms. And Morgan said children need to be protected from the disease.
Like other systems, Northeast Georgia Health System, based in Gainesville, has seen record numbers of employees out sick with Covid. If you have symptoms, don’t go to work or travel, said Dr. Supriya Mannepalli, the system’s medical director for infectious diseases. “Isolate immediately and get tested.”
After the Justice Department’s Jan. 21 arrest of a Texas man accused of threatening Georgia election officials, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said a federal task force will continue aggressively pursuing people targeting election officials and workers. (File)
(GA Recorder) — A Texas man accused of threatening Georgia election and other government officials Friday became the first arrest by a Justice Department task force charged with investigating the increasing number of threats of violence since the 2020 presidential election.
Chad Christopher Stark, 54, is accused by authorities of posting a Craigslist message on Jan. 5, 2021- the day before the violent breach at Capitol Hill – urging the killing of several Georgia officials in order to regain control of the state and country from “lawless treasonous traitors,” according to the justice department.
The Attorney General’s Office launched the Election Threats Task Force in July, which took Stark into custody for a message that called for an unnamed Georgia official to be shot before moving to another official, local and federal judges, and also shooting another official and her family.
Stark was arrested by Election Threats Task Force that launched in July for the Craigslist post.
“The Justice Department has a responsibility not only to protect the right to vote, but also to protect those who administer our voting systems from violence and illegal threats of violence,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. “The department’s Election Threats Task Force, working with partners across the country, will hold accountable those who violate federal law by using violence or threatening violence to target election workers fulfilling their public duties.”
There is no indication in court documents who the suburban Austin resident was threatening and a spokesman for Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger Friday referred questions to the justice department.
The Republican Raffensperger, his wife and family, as well as other Georgia election workers and officials faced physical threats after Donald Trump and his allies alleged widespread fraud cost him the election by less than 12,000 votes to Joe Biden.
Raffensperger and some of his other election division staff were temporarily relocated from their office inside the state Capitol as a result of the threats.
A few weeks after the 2020 election a Raffensperger deputy delivered a passionate plea condemning Trump and others for failing to speak out against threats against election workers, including a metro Atlanta voting equipment technician who received death threats.
Also, two Fulton County election workers are suing conservative news outlet, The Gateway Pundit, for spreading debunked claims which resulted in them being harassed.
Dolli LaDuke, 76, of Western Way Rabun Gap, GA., died January 13, 2022, at her residence.
Born September 20, 1946, to the late Reginald LaDuke and Claire Pratt LaDuke she was a Certificated Nursing Assistant for Regency Hospice and was of the Baptist Faith.
She was preceded in death besides her parents, Reginald and Claire LaDuke by three brothers, Michael, Reginald and William LaDuke., three sisters, Diane, Maureen and Linda LaDuke., and is survived by four sons, Ray Kearns of Naples, FL, Gary and (Michelle) Guretin of New Hampshire., William Guretin of Rabun Gap, GA., and Louis Guretin, Jr. of Rabun, GAP, GA. One sister, Janet Richmond of Tiger, GA., five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren also survive.
The body has been cremated and a Memorial Service will be held Friday, January 28, 2022, at 3:00 P.M. at the Eastside Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home with Rev. Greg Bailey officiating. The Family will receive friends Friday, January 28, 2022, from 2:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. (The Service Hour). The family is at the home of her niece Lisa Overholt on Payne Hill Drive Clayton, GA.
William John “Jack” Mustard was born in Greene County, Ohio, on June 29, 1940, to Melvin and Geraldine. At 20 months old and following the death of his mother to cancer, his father placed him into the custody of Dr. William and Julia Taylor, as Melvin could not care for his six siblings. At the age of 7, the Taylors formally adopted him. Dr. Taylor was the pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Binghamton, New York. Jack attended Binghamton North High School, where he won the title of state runner-up in wrestling. He graduated from Atlantic City High school in 1959.
Following graduation, he moved to Pompano Beach, Florida. Shortly thereafter he enlisted and proudly served in the US Air Force. Prior to enlisting, he met the love of his life, Henrietta “Henny” Lee. They began their life in marriage in the summer of 1963. Their family grew with the birth of his two daughters, Ginger and Julie.
Throughout his life, Jack was a committed man. In 1966, he began his 38-year-long career with the US Postal Service. He was simultaneously a faithful member of First Baptist Church of Pompano Beach, where he served as a deacon, choir member and a Sunday School teacher to youth and adults.
His commitment was arguably most evident through the many ways he mentored young people in his community. He devoted his spare time to refereeing and coaching church football and basketball teams, and formally coached wrestling at Pompano Beach and Ely High Schools. He treasured the years he and Henny spent working together in the Youth Ministry impacting the lives of many young people.
It was through his work within youth ministry he first placed his hands on the strings of the upright bass. The Lord revealed to him a lifelong passion simply because the Youth Joy Explosion Worship team needed a bass player. He became a member of the South Florida Bluegrass Association where his love for Bluegrass music and affection for playing in a band began. What many may not know is his ability to play the bass was solely self-taught.
While raising his girls with Henny, he loved to go camping, take annual trips to Disney World and attend Bluegrass Festivals. He also loved fishing and black powder hunting.
In the 90s, he was blessed with the arrival of his precious granddaughters Taylor and Molly, whom he lovingly referred to as his Taye and Molbug.
In 2006, he and Henny fulfilled a dream by moving to Skylake, a community in northeast Georgia mountains. They quickly settled in by joining the church family at Helen First Baptist where they continued to serve the Lord in the music ministry. His love for bluegrass continued to thrive professionally onstage and personally in the company of friends and fellow bluegrass lovers. His time in Georgia gave him the feeling he was always on vacation.
In the last six months of his life, he was blessed by the arrival of his great-granddaughter Blair Jolley. He was so thankful to be given the opportunity to share several occasions of family time with her.
Living on in his memory, are his wife, Henrietta “Henny;” daughters Ginger McCormick (John) and Julie Eibeschitz (Josh); granddaughters Taylor Jolley (Nathan) and Molly McCormick; great-granddaughter Blair Jolley; sister Marcella Cross; and many other beloved family members.
All Mt. Airy Water customers are under a Boil Water Advisory until further notice. The town issued the advisory after discovering a water main break Friday afternoon, January 21.
Repairs are underway, says Town Clerk Sheri Berrong. The Boil Water Advisory was issued as a precaution.
Mt. Airy water customers are advised to boil their water at a rolling boil for at least two minutes before drinking, cooking, or preparing baby food with it.
Donald Marty Ledford, 56, of the Ashland community, passed away Wednesday evening, January 19, 2022, at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia.
Born May 6, 1965, he was the son of Willie Vera LeCroy Ledford and the late Bobby Harold Ledford. He was the brother of the late Greg Ledford. He was a machinist.
Survivors include his mother, Willie V. Ledford; son and daughter-in-law, “Chas” and Sherelle Ledford; grandchildren, Lacy and Chaslyn.
Services are planned for 2 pm Sunday afternoon. Interment will be at Franklin Memorial Gardens North.
The body is at the Ginn Funeral Home. The family will receive friends Saturday evening from 6 until 8 pm at the funeral home.
Athens-Clark County Police are investigating a single-vehicle crash that claimed the life of a 20-year-old Commerce man. The deceased driver is identified as Austin Marjuan Tarpkins.
Police say Tarpkins was driving a 2002 Ford Escape north on South Lumpkin Street when he ran off the road while negotiating a sharp curve between Gran Ellen Drive and Old Princeton Road. An eyewitness told officers he saw the vehicle enter the curve “at a high rate of speed, leave the road, and flip.” The Ford Escape slid down an embankment and struck a tree on the driver’s side.
Tarpkins was pronounced dead at the scene. The front-seat passenger, 19-year-old Macie Chastain of Box Springs, GA, sustained minor, non-life-threatening injuries, police say. EMS transported her to Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center for treatment.
The fatal crash happened around noon Thursday, January 20. The investigation is ongoing. Athens-Clarke police are asking anyone else who may have witnessed the crash to contact them.
This is the first fatal motor vehicle crash of 2022 in Athens-Clarke County.
Sean Pender will be North Hall High School’s new head football coach for the Trojans in 2022. The school’s athletic director Sam Borg made the announcement this morning.
He says the North Hall is proud to have Coach Pender as its new Head Football Coach.
“When you read his bio, you get excited; but then, when you get to know the man, you really know he’s the right fit for our school and our program,” says Borg. “He passionately includes leadership and character development in his football program curriculum, and he’s determined to help players find opportunities to play at the next level. His warm personality is contagious.”
Pender comes from Brunswick High School in Glynn County, GA, where served as head coach from 2017 to 2021. This past season, he was named 6A Coach of the Year after having led the Pirates to an impressive 11-1 record and a Sweet 16 appearance in the GHSA 6A playoffs.
Prior to his time at Brunswick, Pender was the head coach at Pierce County High School, where he compiled a 54-18 record and coached his teams to the playoffs all six years, advancing to the Elite 8 twice.
Pender says he’s grateful for the opportunity to lead the North Hall Trojan Football Program and says it will “be built on relationships.”
“We will have a championship mindset. The Trojans will believe. We will have faith in what we are doing and what we are about to do. Our passion will shine and our enthusiasm will be contagious. We will teach leadership and teamwork daily. We will represent the North Hall Community with high character and integrity. All members of our program will care and love each other,” he says.
Coach Pender adds, “Our goals will be set high, and we will formulate a plan to achieve our desired goals. We not only want to win Region and State Championships, but we want to be champions in life.”
Pender gained critical experience at Brantley County High School from 2002-2010, where he taught and fulfilled various responsibilities during his tenure; at various times he served as head football coach, Athletic Director, track coach, and soccer coach. He played football at Valdosta State, setting NCAA DII records with receptions in a season (111). He played professional football for NFL Europe’s Frankford Galaxy.
Pender graduated from Valdosta State and earned his Master’s Degree in Education from Troy University.
