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Cornelia budget hearing, Clarkesville meeting tonight

By
Hadley Cottingham
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(Hadley Cottingham/Now Habersham)

The cities of Clarkesville and Cornelia will both hold their monthly meetings tonight, as Cornelia holds their 2022 budget public hearing and Clarkesville discusses package sales and the purchase of a leaf sweeper.

Cornelia’s 2022 budget is up for final approval at the end of the month, and the public is encouraged to make their thoughts on the budget known before then. Citizens may share their thoughts, opinions and concerns regarding the budget at tonight’s public hearing. The meeting will start at 6 p.m. at Cornelia City Hall. The meeting will be livestreamed via the city’s Facebook page.

Read the budget here.

In Clarkesville, the city council will discuss distilled package sales, which voters approved for the city in the November municipal election. The council will need to vote on an ordinance for those sales, which will determine where liquor stores will be located within city limits, what standards they must meet, permits and more.

The council will also discuss and vote on the purchase of a leaf sweeper. The City of Clarkesville’s meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the Clarkesville City Hall.

Ona Corine Young

By
Now Habersham
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Ona Corine Young, age 70, of Gainesville, entered rest Saturday, December 4, 2021, at her residence.

Ona was born January 6, 1951, in Dawsonville to the late Alton Ray & Corine Gravitt Williamson. She worked in the housekeeping industry and was a member of the New Hope Ministries. She was preceded in death by brothers, Roy James Williamson, Clayton Junior Williamson & Ray Minor Williamson.

She is survived by her husband, Randy; and a host of other family members who she loved dearly.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, December 9, 2021, at the Ward’s Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Robby Ledford officiating. Burial will be private at Harmony Baptist Church, Dawson County. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Please share online condolences with the family at www.wardsfh.com. Ward’s Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Ona Young.

Phyllis Malone Hardy English

By
Now Habersham
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Mrs. Phyllis Malone Hardy English, age 67 of Lula, passed away on Saturday, December 4, 2021.

Born in Gainesville, Georgia on March 15, 1954, she was a daughter of the late Homer Hardy, Jr. and Eunice Harvey Hardy. She was a devoted wife and loving mother. She graduated from East Hall High School and later attended both Lanier Technical School and Gainesville College. Mrs. English was the first Black woman elected to the Lula City Council. She was retired from Standard Telephone Company in Cornelia, Georgia, and also retired from Gainesville Municipal Court. Mrs. English was currently serving as the Director for the Lanier Boys and Girls Club in Lula, Georgia. Over the span of her life, she taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and was very active in all the Church activities. Mrs. English was a member of the Springfield Missionary Baptist Church in Lula, Georgia. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, politics, shopping and most of all spending time with her family.

Survivors include her loving husband of 36 years, Henry Ellis English of Lula; daughters, Dr. Monica Hudson Cook and Brea English, both of Demorest; sister, Deborah Turner of Athens; special nephew, Edward Turner; special nephew and spouse, Eric and Jasmine Turner; long time best friends, Darlene Coleman, Mary Glenn, Myra Stowers Evans, Donna Martin Carpenter and Sharon Sanders Natividad, along with a host of brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, other relatives and friends.

Funeral service is scheduled for 1:00 pm on Saturday, December 11, 2021, in the Chapel of McGahee-Griffin & Stewart with Rev. Arthur Jones officiating. Interment will follow in the Level Grove Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 on Friday, December 10, 2021, at the funeral home.

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

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

Erskine Ellis Parks, Jr.

By
Now Habersham
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Erskine Ellis Parks, Jr., age 96, of Demorest, passed away on Wednesday, November 24, 2021.

Born on July 12, 1925, in Ocala, Florida, he was the son of the late Erskine Ellis Parks, Sr. and Rubye Mae Aylward Parks. Mr. Parks was a self-employed carpenter. He was a United States Merchant Marine and Veteran of World War II. Mr. Parks was a member of the American Legion and enjoyed going to the VFW.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Katherine Smith Parks; son, John Parks; and sister, Jackie Parks.

Survivors include his daughters and son-in-law, Katherine Parks Orear of Demorest and Faye and Mike DeSerio of Greer, SC, and 14 grandchildren.

Mr. Parks was laid to rest next to his wife, Katherine, at Highland Memorial Park in Ocala, Florida.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, December 11, 2021, in the Chapel of McGahee-Griffin & Stewart with Rev. John Umberhant officiating.

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

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

Dolly Vinson York

By
Now Habersham
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Dolly Vinson York, age 87, of Demorest, Georgia, passed away on Saturday, December 4, 2021.

Private services will be held.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Whitfield Funeral Homes and Crematory, South Chapel, 1370 Industrial Boulevard, Baldwin, Georgia 30511. Telephone: 706-778-7123.

GHSA Football State Championships set for Dec. 9-11

By
Todd Holcomb
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The GHSA Football State Championships will be held at Georgia State University's Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta Dec. 9-11, 2021. (photo by Jason Getz)

It’s down to the finals this week and Buford and Athens Christian are among the teams still in the title hunt. Here’s how the semifinals played out on the way to Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta.

Class 7A

Collins Hill 31, Grayson 0: Collins Hill led only 10-0 at halftime but drove 84 yards on 16 plays for a touchdown to open the second half, then scored again after forcing a turnover. Sam Horn was 24-of-32 passing for 230 yards and rushed for 99 yards on eight carries. Travis Hunter had eight receptions for 75 yards. Spenser Anderson rushed for 92 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries. Jaylen George had three tackles for losses. The shutout was Collins Hill’s sixth of the season.

What it means: Collins Hill avenges its loss in the 2020 championship game, improves to 14-0 with no game closer than 15 points and moves closer to its first state title. Grayson, unranked after the regular season, finishes 10-4 despite heavy graduation losses.

Milton 52, Walton 17: Milton trailed 10-0 midway in the second quarter but scored the game’s final 52 points. Jordan McDonald rushed for 155 yards and four touchdowns on 18 carries. Devin Farrell was 5-of-14 passing for 105 yards and rushed for 61 yards. Walton’s Jeremy Hecklinski was 26-of-37 passing for 350 yards but was intercepted three times.

What it means: Milton, the preseason No. 1 team, takes a 12-game winning streak and a 43.1-point scoring average into the final, where the Eagles are chasing their second state title, first since 2018. Walton ends up 9-4 in its best season since the 2011 state runner-up finish.

Class 6A

Buford 21, Carrollton 6: Ashton Daniels’ 7-yard TD pass to Nate Norys with 1:54 left in the third quarter gave Buford a 21-6 lead. Daniels was 8-of-11 passing for 134 yards and two touchdowns. Victor Venn rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. Josiah Wyatt had 2.5 of Buford’s nine tackles for losses. Carrollton’s M.J. Morris passed for 172 yards but was sacked three times as Carrollton was held to 52 yards rushing.

What it means: Buford, the No. 1 team, moves closer to its third consecutive state title and 14th overall. The Wolves are 14-0 in the playoffs under coach Bryant Appling. Carrollton finishes 12-2 with its first semifinal finish since 2013 under first-year coach Joey King.

Hughes 41, Dacula 14: Prentiss Noland threw TD passes of 63 and 60 yards to Rodney Shelly in the first six minutes, and Hughes led 34-7 at halftime, Dacula’s only first-half score came on a kickoff return. Noland was 12-of-17 passing for 248 yards and four touchdowns. Shelley had four receptions for 146 yards and three touchdowns and intercepted a pass. Antonio Martin rushed for 167 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.

What it means: Hughes, a 12-year-old school, is in the finals for the first time. Hughes is the first south Fulton County team to reach a final since Creekside won Class 5A in 2013 and second in more than 30 years. Dacula finishes 9-5 after a 1-3 start under first-year coach Casey Vogt.

Class 5A

Calhoun 24, Blessed Trinity 7: Calhoun took a 21-0 halftime lead on three Christian Lewis TD passes. Lewis was 13-of-15 for 120 yards. Two touchdowns went to Cole Speer, who had five receptions for 77 yards. Caden Williams rushed for 72 yards. Blessed Trinity’s Justice Haynes rushed for 157 yards on 34 carries, but Calhoun allowed only 56 other total yards.

What it means: Calhoun beats the Titans for the second time this season and advances to its first final since the 2017 Class 3A championship. It will be Calhoun’s first final under third-year coach Clay Stephenson and first ever in a larger classification, as the previous 10 were in Class 3A or below. Blessed Trinity, the preseason No. 1 team, finishes 9-5 under first-year coach Tom Hall.

Warner Robins 40, Creekside 15: Warner Robins led 23-0 at halftime and 40-7 in the fourth quarter. Chaz Sturn rushed for 163 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, and Fred Perry rushed for 60 yards and four touchdowns on eight carries. Warner Robins’ edge in total yards was only 340-291, but the Demons intercepted three passes and did not turn the ball over. Vic Burley, a junior five-star recruit, had three tackles for losses.

What it means: Warner Robins stays on course to defend its title and reaches the finals for the fifth straight time, something only Buford, Calhoun and Eagle’s Landing Christian have done previously. Creekside finishes 11-3 with its best playoff advancement since its 2013 Class 5A championship.

Class 4A

Benedictine 42, North Oconee 32: Leading 35-32 in the fourth quarter, Benedictine iced the game with an 11-play, 80-yard drive that hit paydirt with 3:39 left. Holden Geriner was 15-of-24 passing for 215 yards and three touchdowns. Za’Quan Bryan had seven receptions for 103 yards and two touchdowns. Justin Thomas rushed for 126 yards.

What it means: Benedictine wins its 12th consecutive game after an 0-2 start and reaches its first final since the 2016 Class 2A championship. North Oconee’s nine-game winning streak, which includes victories over four top-10 Class 4A teams, is over. The Titans’ semifinal finish is their best in history.

Carver (Columbus) 22, Cedartown 21: Jaiden Credle scored on a 54-yard run with about three minutes left, and Devin Riles ran in the conversion for a 22-21 lead. Cedartown didn’t threaten from there. Riles was 13-of-17 passing for 162 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 107 yards on seven carries. Credle rushed for 104 yards, putting him nine short of 2,000 on the season, and had five receptions for 37 yards.

What it means: Carver wins its 13th consecutive game and reaches the finals for the first time since its Class 3A title under current Georgia running backs coach Dell McGee. Cedartown finishes 11-2 with its deepest playoff run since 2001.

Class 3A

Cedar Grove 27, Appling County 6: Jamar Graham was 14-of-16 passing for 267 yards and threw three TD passes in the second half. Cedar Grove led only 6-3 at halftime, and Appling County missed a chance at a 10-0 lead by fumbling into the end zone for a touchback. Cedar Grove’s Rashod Dubinion was limited to 55 yards rushing. The Saints had nine tackles for losses, including two sacks by Camren Jackson.

What it means: Cedar Grove, the preseason No. 1 team under first-year coach John Adams, reaches its first final since winning the title in 2019 and moves into position to claim its fourth championship in six seasons. Appling County finishes 12-2 under first-year coach Jordan Mullis for the Pirates’ best finish since 2011.

Carver (Atlanta) 19, Pierce County 17: Carver took a 19-3 halftime lead on Quintavious Lockett’s three touchdowns and stopped Pierce County’s two-point attempt for the tie with about two minutes left. Lockett rushed for 185 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries. Jarveous Brown rushed for 108 yards on 16 carries. Bryce Bowen was 9-of-15 passing for 154 yards.

What it means: Carver is in the finals for the first time since 1967 and is the first Atlanta city school to play for a title since Mays was the Class 5A runner-up in 2014. Pierce County, the defending champion, finishes 11-3.

Class 2A

Fitzgerald 27, Swainsboro 6: Fitzgerald scored on its first two drives for a 14-0 lead and used its ground game and defense to keep Swainsboro at bay. DeNorris Goodwin had 143 of Fitzgerald’s 297 rushing yards. Jakorrian Paulk rushed for 87 yards and caught a 34-yard TD pass, one of Fitzgerald’s two completions. Fitzgerald held Swainsboro to 165 total yards.

What it means: Fitzgerald, the 2020 state runner-up, beats its third straight region champion on the road to arrive in the finals for the seventh time since its last and only title in 1948. Fitzgerald advances to get a rematch of the region game that Thomasville won 15-8 on Oct. 22. Swainsboro finishes 11-3 with its deepest playoff run since its 2000 Class 3A championship.

Thomasville 31, Callaway 6: Malik Harper returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, and Thomasville seized full control in the second quarter after Callaway’s 80-yard drive ended in a missed field goal. Two players later, Shannen White threw an 81-yard TD pass to Jordan Williams for a 17-0 lead. White was 8-of-19 passing for 180 yards and two touchdowns. Thomasville running backs Harper (15-45) and Ricky Fulton (13-47) were contained, but Thomasville held Callaway to 36 yards rushing.

What it means: Thomasville, chasing its first state title since 1988, defeats its sixth top-10 opponent this season to reach its first championship game since 1993. Callaway, the defending champion, finishes 10-3.

Class A Private

Trinity Christian 48, Eagle’s Landing Christian 45: David Dallas threw a 12-yard TD pass to Aaron Gates on a busted play in the second overtime after ELCA kicked a field goal. The game featured 13 ties or lead changes, and Trinity never led until scoring in the first overtime. ELCA matched that touchdown, then kicked a field goal, but Gates’ touchdown ended it. Dallas was 27-of-34 passing for 334 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 96 yards and two touchdowns.

What it means: Trinity Christian, seeking its first state title, is 13-0 and back in the finals for a rematch with Prince Avenue Christian. ELCA finishes 7-7 but with only two losses to a Class A opponent, Trinity. Trinity’s previous closest game had been a 34-3 victory over ELCA on Oct. 1.

Prince Avenue Christian 38, Fellowship Christian 28: Aaron Philo was 25-of-33 passing for 385 yards and two touchdowns, both to Elijah Dewitt. Their second TD connection covered 59 yards and gave Prince Avenue a 35-21 early in the fourth quarter. Dewitt had five receptions for 146 yards and scored on a 4-yard run. Philo rushed for 63 yards and a touchdown.

What it means: Prince Avenue, the defending champion, returns to the finals with its 13th straight victory since an opening loss to Calvary Day. The victory is Prince Avenue’s sixth over a ranked opponent and second straight against a top-10 region champion on the road. Fellowship finishes 12-2 in its first season under coach Tim McFarlin.

Class A Public

Irwin County 45, Wilcox County 14: Irwin County scored three third-quarter touchdowns to take a 45-7 lead. Damarkus Lundy rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries, and Cody Soliday was 4-of-6 passing for 105 yards and three touchdowns, one to Lundy. Irwin County held Wilcox to 206 total yards and forced three lost fumbles.

What it means: Irwin County moves within one victory of becoming the first Class A public-school program to win three straight state titles since Lincoln County in 1985-87. Wilcox County finishes 10-4 in its deepest playoff run since 2012.

Brooks County 49, Metter 7: Brooks County took a 28-0 first-quarter lead and cruised. Omari Arnold rushed for 153 yards (surpassing 2,000 for the season, 6,000 in his career) and three touchdowns on 11 carries. Jamal Sanders was 8-of-9 passing for 181 yards and two touchdowns, both to Willie Brown.

What it means: With a third consecutive road playoff victory, Brooks County reaches the finals for the third straight season in pursuit of its first championship since 1994. Metter finishes 13-1 for the second straight season.

Produced by Georgia High School Football Daily. To sign up for GHSF’s free email newsletter click here.

Adopt-A-Pet: Mochi and Kensington

By
Hadley Cottingham
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Does your family feel like it’s missing something this holiday season? Does the tree look a little bare underneath, or is there not a wet nose nudging your hand under the table during holiday feasts?

Now Habersham and the Habersham County Animal Shelter would like to introduce you to two adoptable animals, Mochi and Kensington, that would love to be part of your family this winter!

Meet Mochi

Mochi is known as the Habersham County Animal Shelter’s “love bug,” and is great with humans of all ages. (Photo/HCACC)

Meet Mochi, a super cuddly, three-legged male cat. Known as the Habersham County Animal Shelter’s “love bug,” Mochi will make your heart as soft as the candy he’s named after.

“I was surrendered to the shelter with a fractured leg a few months ago,” Mochi says. “It was a bad fracture, and my leg needed amputation for me to get better. I was scared at first, but with a lot of love and care from the shelter and their volunteers, the surgery went really well, and I’m all healed up.”

Now that Mochi is all healed, he can focus on what’s next: his forever home. He’s staying with a foster family right now, cuddling up with family members and relaxing while he waits for the place that he can call his own for good.

“I love people of all ages, as long as they like to snuggle,” Mochi says. “I’m hoping to find a home with lots of soft things to fall asleep on, and humans that will give me all the affection I give them.”

Mochi was surrendered to the Habersham County Animal Shelter with a fractured leg that needed to be amputated. Now that he’s healed, he’s hoping to find his forever home. (Photo/HCACC)

Meet Kensington

Kensington, a friendly female terrier and pit mix, would love to have a place, and a family, to call hers after more than 3 months at the shelter. (Photo/HCACC)

Meet Kensington, a friendly female terrier/pit mix.

“I came to the shelter at the beginning of September, and have been waiting to go home ever since,” Kensington says. “It’s getting cold in the shelter, and while everyone here takes good care of me and I’ve made lots of friends, I’d really like to have a family and a home more than anything else.”

Kensington is great with other dogs and humans, and loves to run, play, make new friends and give kisses.

“My ideal home would have a big yard to run around in, with other dogs to meet,” she says. “I can’t wait to be part of a family of my own, and to have somewhere warm and safe to call home.”

If you’re interested in adopting Mochi, Kensington or any of the other animals at the Habersham County Animal Shelter, please call the shelter at (706) 839-0195 to set up an appointment. You may also visit them in person Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m. to Noon & 1-5 p.m. or on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Check out their Facebook page for more information.

Women would sign up for the military draft under defense bill in Congress

By
Ariana Figueroa
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A proposal to require women to register for the military draft is included in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2022 under consideration by the U.S. Senate.

WASHINGTON (GA Recorder) — As the Senate works to complete a major annual defense measure, there is a bipartisan push to include a requirement that all young Americans — including women — for the first time register for the military draft.

The $777.9 billion measure, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2022, also would allocate millions to cleaning up toxic chemicals at bases and extend a heath study of the chemicals’ effects on people.

Some lawmakers leading the effort to allow all Americans ages 18 to 25 to be included for registration with the Selective Service System are Reps. Chrissy Houlahan, (D-Pa.), and Michael Waltz (R-Fla.), as well as Sen. Joni Ernst, (R-Iowa), and the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Jack Reed (D-R.I.).

“Simply put, as the Selective Service System is currently written it is unconstitutional and discriminates based on sex,” Houlahan said in a statement.

Current law refers to registration of “male persons” and both documented and undocumented immigrants are included.

The military now is all-volunteer, and there hasn’t been a draft since the Vietnam War, but the registration system is maintained.

The White House also agreed with lawmakers on the update to the selective service.

“The Administration supports section 513 and the registration requirement for all citizens, which further ensures a military selective system that is fair and just,” according to the Biden administration, referring to the section of the bill dealing with the requirement.

However, the White House also said it opposes the removal of “incentives for registration” because they are needed “to achieve an equitable system that can be implemented effectively.” When men register for selective service, they remain eligible for federal benefits like state-based student aid, loans and job training programs.

Houlahan is a veteran herself and introduced the amendment on the House side. The House Armed Services Committee backed the amendment 35-24.

Houlahan also included a 12-week maternity and paternity leave for primary and secondary caregivers in the NDAA, the shorthand for the massive defense legislation.

The House passed its version of the NDAA in September, with a vote of 316-113. The Senate has not yet scheduled a vote and continues haggling over the details, but the draft provision is included in its version.

Ernst, the first female veteran senator, has spoken in favor of allowing women to be included in the selective service.

“We are now competing in the space of combat arms, and I think it’s important that we all serve to the best of our capacity,” she told Axios.

Congress tried to update the selective service requirement back in the fiscal 2017 NDAA but instead directed an 11-member National Commission on Military, National and Public Service to conduct a study on whether women should be included in the selective service.

The report’s findings were published in 2020, with the recommendation that women be included.

The Selective Service System currently includes men who are between 18 and 25, which equated to about 17 million men in 2019, according to the agency.

But not all Republicans are on board with the concept.

Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri is leading at least a dozen senators pushing for a removal of the provision.

In a statement, Hawley argued it’s “wrong to force our daughters, mothers, wives, and sisters to fight our wars.”

“Our country is extremely grateful for the brave women who have volunteered to serve our country with and alongside our fighting forces,” he said. “But volunteering for military service is not the same as being forced into it, and no woman should be compelled to do so.”

Republican Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida and Steve Daines of Montana made similar remarks and introduced a resolution with Hawley “expressing that the Senate should not pass legislation mandating the registration of women for the Selective Service System.”

Neither Rubio, Daines or Hawley have served in the military.

‘Forever chemicals’

The NDAA also includes $549 million toward the testing and cleanup of toxic chemicals known as per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, at military sites.

Of those cleanup funds, $100 million goes toward formerly used defense sites, $175 million for the Air Force, $174 million for the Navy and $100 million for the Army.

The Pentagon reported in 2018 PFAS was detected in groundwater exceeding lifetime health advisory levels at two Georgia military bases, Robins Air Force Base near Macon and Moody Air Force Base near Valdosta.

The chemicals are linked to several health problems such as thyroid issues, some cancers and liver damage.

Some lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee who worked to include PFAS amendments are Reps. Elissa Slotkin, (D-Mich.), Jackie Speier, (D-Calif.), John Garamendi, (D-Calif.), Michael Turner, (R-Ohio), Jack Bergman, (R-Mich.) and Bill Posey (R-Fla.).

Those provisions direct the Department of Defense to report the status of cleanup at 50 PFAS sites across the country.

They also require the agency to publicly announce the results of drinking and groundwater testing for the chemicals at nearby military sites and prevent DOD from purchasing materials made out of the chemicals.

On the Senate side, Democratic Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut included in the NDAA language to establish deadlines for DOD to test for the chemicals at all military sites and require the agency to provide reports on PFAS remediation at those sites.

“This amendment will ensure better transparency and accountability to confront and clean up PFAS, which is what our communities have long called for,” Shaheen said in a statement.

Shaheen also pushed to include $15 million towards the continuation of a PFAS health impact report she first started in the fiscal 2018 NDAA.

Former GOP Sen. David Perdue will challenge Brian Kemp in Georgia governor primary

By
Stephen Fowler
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After supporting Gov. Brian Kemp in the 2018 election, former Sen. David Perdue is now challenging him. (Sean Powers /GPB News)

Former Sen. David Perdue is set to launch a primary challenge against Gov. Brian Kemp, the latest escalation in former President Donald Trump’s attack on Republicans that failed to overturn his defeat in the 2020 election.

The news of Perdue’s expected re-entry into politics, first reported by Politico, comes less than a week after Democratic rising star Stacey Abrams announced her own campaign for governor, seeking a potential rematch after losing to Kemp by about 55,000 votes in 2018.

A representative for Perdue could not be reached Sunday, but multiple national and local media outlets report the 71-year-old, who lost to Sen. Jon Ossoff in a January runoff that gave Democrats control of the U.S. Senate, plans to release a video message announcing his run Monday.

Trump has openly pushed for Perdue to run and attacked the governor often, exacerbating a fractured Republican Party that saw stunning losses in Georgia’s presidential and Senate races after decades of dominance in the new battleground state.

Perdue supported Kemp in his 2018 election. The governor told reporters last week that Perdue previously told him he would not launch a challenge, and he hoped the former senator would be a “man of his word.”

MORE: For Georgia Republicans, Perry Rally Shows It’s Trump’s World — Or Else

At a rally in Perry, Trump called Perdue a “great guy” while blasting Kemp for being a RINO (Republican in name only) who was a “complete disaster for election integrity” for not overturning Trump’s narrow defeat, even musing that Abrams would be a better governor.

“Of course, having her I think might be better than having your existing governor, if you want to know,” he said. “Stacey, would you like to take his place? It’s OK with me!”

Georgia has been ground zero for the fight over America’s political future, from the direction of the Republican Party to voting rights. Trump has endorsed a slate of primary challengers, including Lt. Gov. candidate Burt Jones, Secretary of State candidate Rep. Jody Hice and U.S. Senate candidate Herschel Walker, and Perdue is expected to receive his blessing as well.

Former Democrat-turned Trump supporter Vernon Jones and Kandiss Taylor are also in the GOP primary for governor.

Kemp is the first lifelong Republican to be governor of Georgia since Reconstruction and has a decidedly conservative record since taking office in 2019, signing into law crackdowns on abortion and voting rights while shrinking state spending and enacting fewer government restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic, but it might not be enough to convince voters he should be the party’s nominee.

RELATED: Kemp Pitches Reelection Bid As ‘Fight For The Future’

It is unclear what Perdue’s platform will be beyond opposition to Kemp and support for Trump, but bitterness over recent election results has been a driving force in grassroots Republican circles energized by Trump’s defeat. In a recent radio interview, Perdue said the Republican Party was divided and said “a lot of people feel like that people in power haven’t fought for them and caved in to a lot of things back in 2020 that didn’t have to be done.”

Georgia’s election results were counted three separate times — including once by hand — to confirm that Trump lost and President Joe Biden won the state’s electoral votes, but some Republicans have refused to acknowledge the outcome.

In a statement, Kemp campaign spokesman Cody Hall called Perdue out of touch with Georgians and said his failed reelection campaign for Senate was responsible for enabling Biden’s agenda.

“Perdue’s only reason for running is to soothe his own bruised ego, because his campaign for U.S Senate failed to inspire voters at the ballot box — twice. Governor Kemp has a proven track record of fighting the radical left to put hardworking Georgians first, while Perdue is best known for ducking debates, padding his stock portfolio during a pandemic, and losing winnable races.”

After failing to win outright in the November 2020 election, Perdue’s campaign struggled in the runoff. He skipped an Atlanta Press Club debate, where video of Ossoff debating an empty lectern went viral.

Just days before the election, Perdue left the campaign trail to quarantine after being exposed to someone that tested positive for the coronavirus and had to skip a rally with Trump the night before the election. And in a video message at the rally, Perdue begged voters to show up to the polls after misinformation about the 2020 election led to a significant dropoff in conservative turnout that ultimately helped contribute to his defeat.

This article appears on Now Habersham through a news partnership with GPB News.

Historic playoff: Michigan-Georgia, Alabama-Cincinnati

By
Associated Press
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Georgia head coach Kirby Smart speaks on the field during the first half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game against Alabama, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Cincinnati has broken college football’s glass ceiling.

The Bearcats will play Alabama in the Cotton Bowl and Michigan will face Georgia in the Orange Bowl on New Year’s Eve after being selected to the College Football Playoff as a historic field of four was set Sunday. The winners will play for the national championship on Jan. 10 in Indianapolis.

Fourth-seeded Cincinnati is the first team to reach the CFP from a non-Power Five conference. The Bearcats (13-0) won the American Athletic Conference and head into the postseason as the only unbeaten team in the country.

Previously, no team from a so-called Group of Five conference had ever even come close to making the playoff. Not two UCF teams that went unbeaten in the 2017 and ’18 regular seasons nor Cincinnati last year, when undefeated was only good enough for a Peach Bowl bid against Georgia.

“All year we’ve tried to avoid saying we’re carrying the flag (for teams outside the Power Five),” Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell said on ESPN. “I think you can get lost in a lot things that are going on.”

The Bearcats made history with little debate. Playoff selection committee chairman Gary Barta said there was strong consensus for Cincinnati at No. 4 ahead of No. 5 Notre Dame, which had only one loss — at home against the Bearcats in early October. Ohio State finished sixth.

The Bearcats might not have been so comfortably in the field had things gone differently at the Big 12 championship game Saturday. Oklahoma State, which was No. 5 in the CFP rankings going into the game, came up inches short of scoring a go-ahead touchdown in the final minute against Baylor.

Baylor made the goal-line stand to win the Big 12 and, after Cincinnati took care of Houston in the AAC title game, the Bearcats were in the clear.

It is the third time two teams from the same conference are in the CFP and second time it has happened with the SEC. In the 2017 playoff, Alabama beat Georgia in overtime to win the national title.

As conferences leaders consider expanding the playoff from four to 12 teams as soon as 2024, only two Power Five leagues will be represented this season: the SEC and Big Ten. The Atlantic Coast Conference missed out for the first time. The Big 12 was shut out for the second straight season and the Pac-12 for the sixth time will not have a team in the playoff.

The other big bowl games were also set:

Michigan State (10-2) vs. ACC champion Pitt (11-2) in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 30.

Notre Dame (11-1) vs. Oklahoma State (11-2) in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1.

Pac-12 champion Utah (10-3) vs. Ohio State (10-2) in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.

Mississippi (10-2) vs. Baylor (11-2) in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.

Cincinnati’s reward for making history is a matchup with the defending national champions in the Cotton Bowl at the home of the Dallas Cowboys.

“We certainly think Cincinnati belongs in the playoff,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said on ESPN.

The Crimson Tide is in the playoff for the seventh time in the postseason format’s eight-year history after handing Georgia its first loss of the season in the Southeastern Conference title game Saturday.

Alabama (12-1) seemed to be a loss away from being eliminated from playoff contention heading into its game with Georgia. Instead, Bryce Young and the Tide lit up the Bulldogs’ vaunted defense to earn the top seed.

“Not only did Alabama beat Georgia, but the way they beat them — they controlled the game, pretty much from start to finish,” Barta said.

Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) calls audible against Alabama during the first half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Atlanta.
Caption Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) calls audible against Alabama during the first half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Barta said the committee gave no consideration to avoiding a rematch between the Tide and Bulldogs in the first round when seeding the teams.

Nick Saban’s Alabama dynasty has won three playoff championships to go along with three BCS titles since 2009.

Georgia (12-1) managed to stay in the field as the third seed, becoming the second team to lose its conference title game and make the playoff. Notre Dame did the same thing last season, when it lost a rematch with Clemson in its lone season playing in the Atlantic Coast Conference, a move prompted by pandemic-altered schedules.

The Bulldogs will be making their second CFP appearance when they meet second-seeded Michigan (12-1) in the Orange Bowl. Coach Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines are in the playoff for the first time after winning the Big Ten for the first time since 2004. Michigan, which went 2-4 last season, is also the first team to make the playoff after being unranked in the preseason AP Top 25.

This will be the first matchup of the two historic programs — no team in college football history has won more games than Michigan — since 1965. The Bulldogs beat the Wolverines 15-7 in the Big House.

This article appears on Now Habersham through a news partnership with GPB News.

Big crowd flocks to Cleveland for Christmas in the Mountains

By
Hadley Cottingham
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(Hadley Cottingham/Now Habersham)

Downtown Cleveland was packed Saturday night as the Northeast Georgia community joined together for the city’s “Christmas in the Mountains” celebration.

The event included a Christmas market, shopping, food, music, Christmas lights, tree lighting and a festive evening topped off with the annual “Christmas in the Mountains” parade.

 

For the first time since 2019, the Jack P. Nix Elementary School “Singing Raptors” got to kick off the Cleveland tree lighting with Christmas music they’ve been preparing over the school year. Students were excited to share their performances of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” with the Cleveland community.

Jack P. Nix Elementary School Music Teacher Jake Williams accompanies the “Singing Raptors” elementary school choir. (Hadley Cottingham/Now Habersham)

“It’s been a great day,” Music Teacher Jake Williams said. “We hope everyone enjoyed [the performance].”

Children played together in Freedom Park following the performance as they waited for the Christmas tree lighting, which lit just as planned— even though organizers dealt with some issues earlier in the day when they found someone had unplugged the tree’s light pannels.

Freedom Park’s many Christmas lights were nothing in comparison to the glowing floats and vehicles that would soon fill the Dowtown Cleveland Square, as a large crowd gathered to see one of Northeast Georgia’s most anticipated parades.

Around 50 lighted floats and vehicles made their way around the square, showcasing businesses, churches, schools, sports teams and many other organizations’ holiday spirit. Children were delighted to see Santa ride in on top of a White County fire truck, and eye-catching costumes and dazzling lights impressed crowds.

Saturday’s event marked the end of the region’s first week of Christmas parades, with Toccoa, Clayton and Cleveland’s parades all in the books. Sunday, Gainesville will celebrate Christmas on Green Street with a parade and day full of activities. Tuesday, Habersham County’s Christmas parade will take to the streets of Cornelia at 6:30 p.m. And Helen will hold it’s Christmas parade on Saturday, Dec. 11.

Omicron variant of coronavirus detected in Georgia

By
Associated Press
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Dr. Manjul Shukla transfers Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine into a syringe, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, at a mobile vaccination clinic in Worcester, Mass. As the U.S. recorded its first confirmed case of the omicron variant, doctors across the country are experiencing a more imminent crisis with a delta variant that is sending record numbers of people to the hospital in New England and the Midwest. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Georgia’s public health agency said it has confirmed the first in-state case of COVID-19 caused by the omicron variant of the coronavirus.

The Department of Public Health said Sunday that the person had recently traveled from South Africa, where the variant was first detected and developed mild symptoms of COVID-19. Genomic testing confirmed the person — who is isolating at home — was infected by the omicron variant, the agency said.

Public health officials are working to determine people who came in close contact and are at risk of infection, the department said.

More than a dozen states have identified the omicron variant of the coronavirus, and the list is growing near daily. Much remains unknown about omicron, including whether it is more contagious, as some health authorities suspect, whether it can thwart vaccines and whether it makes people as sick as the original strain.

While this is the first in-state Georgia case tracked to the variant, the Department of Public Health said it was notified Friday of a Georgia resident who was in New Jersey and tested positive for the omicron variant there.

Health officials urged Georgia residents to get vaccinated against the coronavirus if they haven’t already and adults to get a booster dose if they were immunized at least six months ago.

This article appears on Now Habersham through a news partnership with GPB News.

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