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I-85 bridge near Commerce to undergo repairs this weekend

By
Staff Report
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(Source: GDOT)

If you’re traveling I-85 North near Commerce this weekend, expect possible delays. The Georgia Department of Transportation is again closing a section of the interstate for bridge repairs.

Weather permitting, GDOT construction partners will close one northbound lane at milepost 144.5 in Jackson County. They’ll replace five edge beams and patch the concrete deck on the North Oconee River bridge as part of ongoing maintenance. That same bridge was closed earlier this week for emergency repairs.

The interstate will be reduced to one lane of traffic around the work zone nightly from Friday, Nov. 12 to Monday, Nov. 15 from 9 p.m. at 5 a.m.

GDOT says all I-85 Northbound motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use an alternate route.

 

Trion’s Brown, Rabun’s Stockton and Gibson finish first in yardage

By
Todd Holcomb
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Rabun County's Gunner Stockton and Jaden Gibson

Rob Brown of Trion edged Keyjuan Brown of South Atlanta by a single yard to finish on top of the final regular-season state yardage leaderboard.

Both are 2,000-yard rushers – Trion’s Brown with 2,002 and South Atlanta’s Brown with 2,001.

Gunner Stockton of Rabun County finished as the state’s leading passer with 3,228 yards. Stockton has thrown for 12,746 yards in his career. He needs 1,157 yards to break Trevor Lawrence’s career state record.

Jaden Gibson of Rabun County is the state’s leading receiver with 1,497 yards. Gibson needs 550 yards to break Marcayll Jones’ single-season record.

This GHSF yardage leaderboard is final pending corrections. It will not be updated for the playoffs.

Rushing
2,002 – Rob Brown, Trion [A Public leader]
2,001 – Keyjuan Brown, South Atlanta [Class 2A leader]
1,702 – Clay Hyatt, Haralson County
1,654 – Justice Haynes, Blessed Trinity [5A leader]
1,648 – Kyle Oakes, Towns County
1,635 – Simeon Askew, Houston County [6A leader]
1,619 – Duke Watson, Mary Persons [3A leader]
1,531 – Johne’ss Davis, Athens Christian [A Private leader]
1,517 – Dallas Johnson, Eastside
1,514 – Omari Arnold, Brooks County
1,500 – Jaiden Credle, Carver-Columbus [4A leader]
1,455 – Xzavier Green, Westside-Augusta
1,450 – Damari Alston, Woodward Academy
1,447 – Kevin Rochester, North Hall
1,408 – Justin Williams, East Paulding
1,388 – Robert Edwards, Columbus
1,383 – Selatian Straughter, Monroe Area
1,368 – Jayquan Smith, Cherokee Bluff
1,368 – Ousmane Kromah, Lee County
1,354 – Alan Jones, Monroe Area
1,345 – Fernando Washington, Mount de Sales
1,333 – Jahvon Butler, Bleckley County
1,332 – Malcolm Brown, Warner Robins
1,331 – Jaylen Lilley, Charlton County
1,327 – Jaiden Daniels, Commerce
1,317 – Temarcus Elam, Lakeside-Evans
1,300 – Joseph Hampton, Evans
1,299 – Trey Ransom, Jackson County
1,296 – Jonathan Simmons, South Cobb
1,293 – Ty Adams, Swainsboro
1,288 – Jamarion Wilcox, South Paulding
1,282 – Jamarion Walker, Cook
1,282 – Jayden Brown, Miller Grove
1,278 – Ethan Joseph, King’s Ridge Christian
1,269 – Joseph Jean, Grovetown
1,256 – Marlon Mitchell, Macon County
1,242 – Solomon Locke, Christian Heritage
1,240 – Josh Kelly, Metter
1,235 – Kameron Davis, Dougherty
1,223 – Tre Hawkins, Athens Academy
1,220 – J.L. Lackey, Hart County
1,213 – Malachi Hosley, Northside-Columbus
1,202 – Kori Dumas, Ringgold
1,171 – Jacob Davis, Discovery [7A leader]
1,170 – Charlie Bussey, Aquinas
1,162 – Dre Booker, Providence Christian
1,160 – Jarveous Brown, Carver-Atlanta
1,159 – Tylan Johnson, Johns Creek
1,148 – Ahmari Douglas, Long County
1,145 – D.J. Rogers, Pepperell
1,138 – Votarres Thaxton, Redan
1,134 – Quan Moss, Elbert County
1,123 – Jason Williams, Harlem
1,122 – Charlie Pace, Colquitt County
1,115 – Tradon Foster, Alexander
1,109 – Christian Johnson, Pace Academy
1,105 – Gavin Hall, Hebron Christian
1,102 – Dalen Cobb, Washington-Wilkes
1,099 – Tevin Gartrell, Lincoln County
1,093 – Cameron Edwards, South Effingham
1,093 – Donovan Johnson, Calvary Day
1,087 – Hakem Hodges, Drew
1,087 – Rashod Dubinion, Cedar Grove
1,083 – Kam Mikell, Statesboro
1,082 – Cartevious Norton, Ware County
1,081 – Seth Reece, Fannin County
1,080 – C.J. Allen, Lamar County
1,075 – J.T. Wright, Dublin
1,068 – Colby Sikes, Apalachee
1,057 – Adonis Dessin, Hiram
1,053 – Jamarquez Tyson, Washington-Wilkes
1,039 – Silas Mulligan, White County
1,029 – Evan Guyton, West Laurens
1,027 – De’mar Riley, Berrien
1,013 – Avery Hamilton, Loganville
1,010 – Nazir Berry, Spalding
1,008 – Phillip Sims jr., Pope
1,007 – Marcus McFarlane, North Gwinnett
1,005 – Nate Brown, Oglethorpe County
1,005 – Tyler Crow, East Jackson
1,004 – Bryson Hill, Rome
1,002 – Chip Cooper, Worth County
1,002 – Dominic Elder, North Oconee
1,002 – Jaylon Ramsey, LaFayette

Passing
3,228 – Gunner Stockton, Rabun County [2A leader]
3,054 – Aaron Philo, Prince Avenue Christian [A Private leader]
3,010 – Avery Smith, Riverwood [6A leader]
2,968 – Lonnie Ratliff, Duluth [7A leader]
2,910 – Tyler Hughes, Marietta
2,834 – Brooks Pangle, Greenbrier [5A leader]
2,649 – Seth Griffin, North Murray [3A leader]
2,643 – Brayden Mauldin, Paulding County
2,638 – Geimere Latimer, Sandy Creek
2,624 – David Dallas, Trinity Christian
2,601 – Dylan Lonergan, Brookwood
2,491 – Jai’que Hart, Lithia Springs
2,460 – Owen Brooker, Northwest Whitfield [4A leader]
2,458 – M.J. Morris, Carrollton
2,455 – Armar Gordon, Perry
2,442 – Shaihi Brown, Eagle’s Landing
2,390 – Sam Horn, Collins Hill
2,381 – John Alan Richter, Jones County
2,309 – Gary Gaither, Spencer
2,275 – Fabian Walker, Chamblee
2,275 – Robbie Roper, Roswell
2,220 – Jack Cendoya, Mount Pisgah Christian
2,193 – Jaxon Pate, Sonoraville
2,186 – Holden Geriner, Benedictine
2,128 – Keegan Stover, West Forsyth
2,111 – Cole Peterson, Whitefield Academy
2,111 – Zach Harris, Cambridge
2,109 – Thomas Castellanos, Ware County
2,107 – Qamar Grant, Pebblebrook
2,089 – Cooper Corey, Harris County
2,080 – Boone Anderson, North Paulding
2,067 – Reece Fountain, Rome
2,054 – Logan Cross, Social Circle [A Public leader]
2,035 – Connor Jones, Providence Christian
2,035 – Kasen Weisman, South Paulding
2,025 – R.J. Johnson, Westlake
2,019 – Jake Merklinger, Calvary Day
2,004 – Jay Kanazawa, Schley County
2,002 – Kyle Durham, Johns Creek
1,986 – Hayden Morris, Claxton
1,975 – Christian Lewis, Calhoun
1,974 – Malachi Singleton, North Cobb
1,960 – Clete Cooper, East Hall
1,951 – Christon Lane, Warner Robins
1,939 – Jake Walling, Harrison
1,921 – Chip Cooper, Worth County
1,907 – Luke Bornhorst, Chestatee
1,887 – Matthew Bruce, Veterans
1,886 – Bryce Archie, McEachern
1,875 – Logan Helcher, Union County
1,870 – Jett Miller, Wesleyan
1,867 – Zane Touchton, Pelham
1,856 – A.J. Swann, Cherokee
1,844 – Zach Holtzclaw, Dawson County
1,824 – Neko Fann, Colquitt County
1,808 – Luke Barnes, Mount Vernon
1,777 – Jacob Faircloth, Lanier County
1,750 – Ty Watkins, South Forsyth

Receiving
1,497 – Jaden Gibson, Rabun County [2A leader]
1,326 – Malik Leverett, Greenbrier [5A leader]
1,238 – Kaleb Webb, McEachern [7A leader]
1,123 – Jadyn Rice, North Murray [3A leader]
1,050 – Bailey Dameron, Dawson County
1,012 – J.T. Pendleton, Eagle’s Landing
1,001 – Damare Franklin, Veterans
962 – Miles Thornton, Sandy Creek
947 – Cameron Edwards, Jackson
942 – Brandon Smallwood, Wheeler County [A Public leader]
939 – Javorris Brown, Spencer [4A leader]
934 – Daveon Walker, Warner Robins
928 – Daequan Wright, Perry
925 – Joshua Thompson, Johns Creek [6A leader]
923 – Jonathan Gallinaro, Mount Vernon [A Private leader]
914 – Kahlil Jones, Paulding County
905 – Za’Quan Bryan, Benedictine
897 – Quentin Thomas, Eagle’s Landing
894 – Kamryn Perry, Marietta
883 – Matthew Miller, Providence Christian
866 – K.D. Hutchinson, Harris County
854 – Alex Ingram, Westover
853 – Alexander Diggs, Brookwood
852 – Jalewis Solomon, Schley County
851 – Danny Curran, Lassiter
842 – Camden Overton, Marietta
837 – Martel Hight, Rome
836 – Cam Lacy, Stephens County
835 – Jameel Avery, Chamblee
834 – Bailey Stockton, Prince Avenue Christian
834 – Rishon Spencer, Duluth
831 – Keshawn Weathers, Towers
827 – Evan Thomas, Duluth
820 – Eddie Watson, Cook
812 – Ray Morrison, Northwest Whitfield
805 – DeNylon Morrissette, North Cobb
803 – Oscar Delp, West Forsyth
801 – Joshua Dallas, Trinity Christian
800 – Zion Ragins, Jones County
787 – Cameron Robinson, Toombs County
786 – Ethan Christian, Prince Avenue Christian
785 – Darius Cannon, White County
779 – Christian Mathis, Marietta
775 – Frantzyr Chardavoine, Paulding County
766 – Darius Holcomb, East Hall
766 – Jordan Thornton, Chamblee
762 – George Futch, Savannah Christian
762 – Randall Dixon, Spencer
762 – Sacovie White, Cass
757 – Caylon Washington, Duluth
754 – Travis Maufer, Cherokee Christian
752 – Craig Adams, Pebblebrook
750 – Cole Spence, Mount Pisgah Christian
745 – Vicari Swain, Central-Carrollton
741 – Mathias Height, Alcovy
720 – Will Taylor, Cambridge
714 – Kejun Williams, Claxton
713 – Collin Crowder, Towns County
712 – Taylor Carrell, Murray County
708 – Takare Lipscomb, Carrollton
704 – Xavier Brantley, Montgomery County

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

State lawmakers reach across aisle, say 2022 is ‘the year of mental health’

By
Jill Nolin
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State Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick, a Marietta Republican, drew applause when she predicted “this is going to be a big legislative year for mental health.” (Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder)

ATLANTA (GA Recorder) — Bipartisan momentum for action on mental health in the wake of the pandemic appears to be building ahead of next year’s legislative session.

A group of lawmakers from both sides of the aisle and both chambers gathered this week at the state Capitol for a press conference, with several declaring 2022 to be “the year of mental health” in a state that is now near the bottom in a ranking based on mental health access.

Georgia now ranks 48th in the Mental Health America ranking, which is a slight improvement from last year when the state was in last place.

“I believe that we are on track to have some significant and some comprehensive changes to the mental health landscape here in Georgia,” said Abdul Henderson, executive director of Mental Health America of Georgia.

“The bad news is that, one, it hasn’t happened yet and, two, just because we’re 48th doesn’t mean that we did anything significantly better. In fact, it’s because Texas, Alabama and Florida got much worse,” he added. “So, while we moved up, we cannot take that as a sign that we need to take our foot off the pedal, because that is not the case.”

Proposals for next session are still being hashed out behind the scenes even as lawmakers meet at the Capitol this month to bitterly debate new district lines for the next decade.

But lawmakers and advocates say they are pressing for both funding increases and legislative fixes for mental health and substance use disorder treatment gaps that were worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. The regular legislative session starts in January.

“I would like to make a prediction today: I think this is going to be a big legislative year for mental health. So, stay tuned,” said state Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick, a Marietta Republican.

State Rep. Sharon Cooper, a Marietta Republican who chairs the House Health and Human Services Committee, said state leaders “really must get down to work, help and put the resources behind our words.”

Advocates have called the rising number of people experiencing mental health and substance use disorder after this extended period of isolation and disruption the next pandemic, urging state leaders to ramp up services and tackle barriers to treatment.

Overdose deaths in Georgia jumped 37% last year, claiming about 1,900 lives here. And the state’s Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities has reported an increase in people turning to their services.

“This is our moment for mental health,” said Sen. Sally Harrell, an Atlanta Democrat. “You have an entire population of people who have been traumatized all at the same time, and it will take years to heal that that happened during this pandemic. But we are all united in this.”

Sen. Kim Jackson, a Stone Mountain Democrat and co-chair of a new mental health caucus, drew a parallel to the focus on law and order that dominated the legislative off-season.

“I’m glad and excited about the policy work that we’re going to be doing together on mental health because it helps to change the narrative,” Jackson said. “I have been sitting in the public safety committee meetings in which people who are experiencing homelessness and mental illness have been talked about as if they are just trash on the streets that needs to be picked up.”

What’s in the works?

The push for increased funding happens as the state sees an influx in revenue. Collections last month were up nearly 23% over the same month last year. For the year, they are up 16.6% or nearly $1.36 billion over last fiscal year.

But budget writers will also have to factor in the rising costs for fuel and other expenses. Auburn Republican state Rep. Terry England, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, says the cost of doing business for the state may take one of the largest jumps seen in recent history.

“Many folks just think, ‘Hot dog, we’re flush with cash. Ain’t a thing to worry about. We need to either spend it or give it back,’” England said in an interview. “And I’m trying to tell them no, it’s just like in your business or home, the things you were buying for $2 last year, that had not increased in 25 years but from $1.89 is now $2, all of a sudden jumped to $3 this last year.”

Still, England said work was underway to address the state’s mental health needs. He said funding alone is not enough, adding that the shortage of trained practitioners to provide the services hamstrings efforts to ramp up services.

“We’re going to do everything that we know to do to make significant gains in that area,” he said Thursday.

In the meantime, the state has hired a consultant to “help identify actionable budget and policy recommendations” for next year from the state Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission’s work, said Katie Byrd, the governor’s spokeswoman. The group issued a report earlier this year.

About $335,000 from the governor’s emergency funds were used for the state’s Office of Health Strategy to enter a contract with Accenture, which has also brought on the Council of State Governments as a subcontractor to provide technical assistance to the commission’s two criminal justice committees, according to Byrd.

“Accenture is still in the process of gathering feedback from stakeholders, talking to state agencies that would be impacted, and prioritizing the recommendations and potential timeline for implementation,” Byrd said Thursday. “They will be providing us with budget and policy recommendations and a final report for consideration in the coming weeks ahead of the legislative session.”

One of the commission’s recommendations that already appears to be gaining traction deals with how insurers treat mental health and substance use conditions, ensuring that people seeking treatment receive the same level of health insurance benefits as people with physical health conditions.

“Parity improves health outcomes, it helps prevent crisis and it can alleviate provider shortages, for example, in rural areas by ensuring that our providers are able to be adequately reimbursed,” said Helen Robinson, associate director of public policy with The Carter Center’s mental health program.

“Without parity, Georgia families are required to go out of network, pay out of pocket, are limited to fewer visits for care and are denied coverage for needed behavioral health care because they are arbitrarily deemed to be not medically necessary without being provided an explanation,” she said.

State Rep. Erick Allen, a Smyrna Democrat, said lawmakers need to move with urgency.

“We have thousands and thousands of Georgians who are depending on the Legislature to get something done to provide relief, support and hope for their families,” Allen said. “People forget that the purpose of government is to deliver services, and that’s where we’re failing the most.”

Defense lawyer in Arbery case claims Al Sharpton presence intimidates jurors

By
Stanley Dunlap
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Defense attorney Kevin Gough, center, listens to questions during jury selection for the trial of Greg and Travis McMichael and their neighbor, William "Roddie" Bryan, at the Glynn County Courthouse, Monday, Oct. 25, 2021, in Brunswick, Ga. The three are charged with the February 2021 slaying of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton, Pool)

(GA Recorder) — After Rev. Al Sharpton sat next to Ahmaud Arbery’s family in a Glynn County courtroom Wednesday, a defense attorney representing one of the three white men on trial for Arbery’s killing raised questions about prominent Black pastors showing up.

The judge rejected defense attorney Kevin Gough’s request to limit how many nationally recognized Black pastors can sit in the gallery during the high-profile case where race is a central theme in the coastal community. The predominantly Black city of Brunswick is surrounded by a majority-white county.

Thursday marked the fifth day of testimony in a trial where a jury of 11 whites and one black person will try to render a verdict in the shooting death of Arbery, who was chased through a Brunswick-area neighborhood by Greg and Travis McMichael and neighbor William “Roddie” Bryan on Feb. 23, 2020.

The McMichaels and Bryan are white. Arbery was Black.

Bryan’s attorney on Thursday said he’s worried that the presence of more well-known Black pastors in the courtroom to support the Arberys will intimidate the jurors.

Gough said he didn’t realize Sharpton was in the gallery until after Wednesday’s session ended. While Sharpton is welcome to continue sitting with the family, other Black pastors who might attend for politically motivated reasons should not be permitted to attend, he said.

“Obviously, there’s only so many pastors they can have and the fact that their pastor is Al Sharpton right now that’s fine,” Gough said. “ But that’s it. We don’t want any more Black pastors coming in here or Jesse Jackson, whoever it was, he was in here earlier this week, sitting with the victim’s family trying to influence the jury in this case.”

Chatham County Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley dismissed the request noting that Sharpton’s visit didn’t cause any disruptions.

On Thursday, the Rev. William Barber, who leads the national Poor People’s Campaign, was outside the Brunswick courtroom to bring attention to the underlying issues of a type of violence that’s not only dangerous for Black people.

“We understand that intersection of racial bias, like the lynching of Arbery and the police violence leads to all these unnecessary deaths,” Barber said in front of the courthouse. “What we have seen here is not just murder, it’s an act of terrorism in America.”

The trial is set to resume Friday with testimony from a police officer who responded after the McMichaels and Bryan chased an unarmed Arbery through the Satilla Shores neighborhood in their pickup trucks for five minutes before Travis McMichael shot him three times at close range. The defendants claim they attempted a lawful citizen’s arrest of a suspected burglar and that Arbery’s killing was self-defense.

Local prosecutors initially declined to prosecute the case. They were replaced after the public release of cell phone video footage Bryan took showing the moments leading up to the shooting and Arbery’s struggle with Travis McMichael over the killer’s shotgun. A Glynn County Grand Jury indicted a Brunswick district attorney in September after accusations she hindered the shooting investigation.

The national outrage that followed the release of the Bryan video continues to spur national media coverage, with print, radio and TV media outlets from across the U.S. and beyond gathering on the courthouse grounds.

A high-profile case unfolding at the same time in Wisconsin also carries a theme of vigilantism, with many people sympathizing with the person charged with killing people at a Kenosha protest.

Kyle Rittenhouse, an 18-year-old white teenager who shot three people during a protest against police brutality last year, is considered a martyr by some conservatives rather than a vigilante who shot into a crowd.

Racial tension has pervaded the case from the beginning since Arbery was killed through jury selection and into Thursday’s comments from Gough.

Gough also helped limit the jury to just one Black member, through his allotted strikes. The lop-sided racial demographics of the jury have been heavily criticized – including by the judge who said discrimination appeared intentional.

Jurors hear testimony of owner of home at focal point of trial

Jurors Thursday heard Larry English recount how the construction of his Satilla Shores home became the focus of the case.

According to the 51-year-old former contractor, he installed the cameras out of concern for the safety of two young boys who had been spotted playing around the unsupervised construction that backs up to a river.

English testified that over a period of months the surveillance cameras recorded Arbery walking around the property several times, but he never saw Arbery take anything.

The jury heard recordings of several 911 calls from English, including the first time he called about Arbery, in which he described a “colored” man with curly hair and tattoos on both arms trespassing on the construction site.

The McMichaels have claimed they and their neighbors in the Satilla Shores neighborhood were on edge due to reports of property crime and they decided to chase Arbery based on his visits to the unoccupied home.

Jurors Thursday saw footage of Arbery walking around English’s home and looking at the wooden beams inside the car garage shortly before he was killed.

English said he asked another neighbor to check on his property after installing the cameras but didn’t request that of the McMichaels or Bryan.

Schools placed in new regions

By
Todd Holcomb
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Collins Hill has the No. 1-ranked football team in Class 7A. Buford is No. 1 in 6A. In a year, they will be chasing the same championship, part of the new Region 8-7A released Thursday by the Georgia High School Association.

The new regions, effective for the 2022-23 academic year, will foster new rivalries, and some schools will be watched more closely than others.

Buford has won 49 state titles in various sports this century, 12 in football, across six classifications, starting in Class A in 2001. For the first time next year, the Wolves will be in the highest class with fellow Gwinnett County schools Collins Hill, Mill Creek and others.

Roswell and Blessed Trinity, crosstown rivals that rarely compete against each other, will find themselves in Region 7-6A together next year. Roswell is down from 7A while Blessed Trinity is moving up.

Private schools, such as Blessed Trinity, and city schools, such as Buford, were the most affected by the GHSA’s latest reclassification, which moved those kinds of schools to higher classes in most cases. It was the work of a 3.0 multiplier that targeted schools with high percentages of students from out of zone.

Carrollton, which competed in Class 3A as recently as 2015-16, is now in 7A, the highest class, with Westlake and East Coweta in Region 2.

DeKalb County private schools St. Pius and Marist are up in Region 4-6A with northern crescent metro Atlanta schools Dunwoody, Riverwood and South Cobb. Woodward Academy is up in Class 6A with Clayton County-dominated Region 3.

Greater Atlanta Christian, a Class 2A school back in 2015-16, is now in 5A with north Fulton County schools Cambridge, Centennial and Chattahoochee in Region 6.

Region 1-7A has a more robust look to it with five schools – Camden County, Colquitt County, Lowndes, Richmond Academy and Valdosta. The iconic Region 1 from the highest class has not had more than four members since 2015-2016.

Also conspicuous in the region assignments is Class A Private. It’s shrinking.

Two of its regions have only three schools. Region 8 has only Athens Christian, Athens Academy and Prince Avenue Christian, while Region 1 comprises Brookstone, Heritage of Newnan and St. Anne-Pacelli. Later Thursday, Heritage announced it was leaving for another association, leaving the region with Brookstone and Pacelli. Eight small private schools have left the GHSA in the past week, and more are expected to follow, which could lead to the GHSA having to redraw or combine Class A Private regions.

The region assignments can be appealed on Nov. 18, after which they become final. Over the next week, schools may request a different region, but not a different class.

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2021 playoffs: 254 teams begin road to Georgia State

By
Todd Holcomb
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The Georgia high school football playoffs begin this week with 254 of the GHSA’s 424 football-playing schools advancing beyond the regular season.

This season, the eight champions will be home before Christmas. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic effectively pushed the state finals beyond Dec. 25.

This time, the champions will be crowned Dec. 9-11 at Georgia State’s Center Parc Stadium after five weekly rounds of playoffs.

Here’s a closer look at the playoffs, which kicked off Thursday night with Spalding traveling to Troup in a Class 4A game.

Favorites: The No. 1-ranked teams are Collins Hill (Class 7A), Buford (6A), Cartersville (5A), Marist (4A), Monroe Area (3A), Rabun County (2A), Trinity Christian (A Private) and Irwin County (A Public). Collins Hill, Monroe Area, Rabun County and Trinity Christian have never won state titles. Buford, Marist and Irwin County won in 2020.

Regulars: Seven schools have made the playoffs each season this century. They are Buford, Calhoun, Commerce, Cook, Fitzgerald, Marist and Peach County. Gainesville and Stephenson each missed this season for the first time since 2000.

Newbies: Long County and ACE Charter are the only teams in the playoffs for the first time. Long County lost its first 51 varsity games until breaking through in 2005 and was 0-10 last season, but first-year coach Mike Pfiester has the Blue Tide 5-5 this year and traveling to Southeast Bulloch in the first round. ACE started varsity football in 2018. Teams breaking long droughts are Duluth (last appearance 1994), Crawford County (1998), Cass (2006) and Apalachee (2009).

Cinderella: Georgia Military has won its first region title since 1960 and finished 10-0 for the first time since 1934, when Wally Butts was the coach. The Bulldogs are playing Manchester in their first home playoff game since the 1930s.

Delay of game: Instead of virtually every game being played Friday night, Classes 6A and A will be contested a day later, on Saturday, because the GHSA doesn’t have enough officials who meet playoff standards. A similar thing occurred for the first time last year, and now it’s the new normal. In 2019, the GHSA had 1,107 qualified playoff officials. This year, they have 881, as it’s getting tougher to recruit young officials into the profession.

Good story line: East Laurens is in the playoffs for the first time since 2012 after breaking a 46-game losing streak in region games this year. East Laurens clinched its playoff berth Friday in a must-win game. It was one day after a traffic accident resulted in the death of East Laurens student Breanna Dice. “Everybody’s hurting,” coach Bin Turner said. “This [playoff berth] gave us some glimmer of happiness in a dark couple of days.”

Bad story line: King’s Ridge Christian and Heritage of Newnan forfeited first-round Class A Private games to top-10 opponents. King’s Ridge cited injuries and competitiveness concerns. Heritage (0-10) didn’t give a reason.

Best first-round games: No. 9 Walton is playing at No. 6 Colquitt County in Class 7A, and No. 7 Coffee is playing at No. 5 Creekside in Class 5A. All four teams have been ranked each week this season, and each has reached the top four at some point.

Hardest to pick: The computer Maxwell Ratings put four games as pure toss-ups. They are North Gwinnett at South Forsyth (7A), Hart County at Ringgold (3A), St. Francis at Athens Christian (A Private) and Charlton County at Wilcox County (A Public). Seventh-ranked Carrollton is a one-point favorite at home against 10th-ranked Creekview in Class 6A.

Best players: Nine of the AJC’s Super 11 are playing this weekend. Amehre Morrison’s River Ridge team is out despite a 6-4 record, and Travis Hunter’s Collins Hill team is in, but he’s out with a leg injury and hopes to return. Those with the best chances at a state title are probably Hunter and quarterback Sam Horn of No. 1 Collins Hill in 7A, quarterback Gunner Stockton of No. 1 Rabun County in 2A, tight end Jake Johnson of No. 2 Oconee County in 3A, and quarterback Thomas Castellanos of No. 3 Ware County in 5A.

What’s next: The second round is next week. If all favored teams advance, the rounds of 16 could include Warner Robins at Cartersville in a rematch of the 2020 Class 5A final; No. 6 Calhoun at No. 3 Ware County, also in 5A; and No. 8 Marietta at No. 3 Milton in 7A.

 

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Antonio Polmo Dahinden

By
Now Habersham
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Antonio Polmo Dahinden, age 61, of Cornelia, Georgia, passed away on Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 PM, Sunday, November 21, 2021, at the Whitfield Funeral Home and Crematory, North Chapel with pastor Mike Franklin officiating.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, North Chapel at 245 Central Avenue, Demorest, Georgia 30535. Telephone: 706-778-1700.

Carolyn Janie-Sue Ivester Ledford

By
Now Habersham
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Carolyn Janie-Sue Ivester Ledford, age 80 of Clarkesville, Georgia went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, November 11, 2021.

Born in Clarkesville, Georgia on May 13, 1941, she was a daughter of the late Loy Lee & Ila Ruby Moore Ivester. Carolyn was a seamstress for many years, retiring from Clarkesville Garment Company. In her spare time, she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and front porch sitting. Carolyn was of the Church of God faith.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Robert Ivester.

Survivors include her daughter & son-in-law, Cathy & Bill Meeks of Clarkesville, GA; sister, Clara VanHook of Traveler’s Rest, SC; sister-in-law, Gail Ivester of Clarkesville, GA; grandchildren, Matthew & Kristi Davis, Joseph & Jessica Meeks, Amanda Meeks, & Jonathan Meeks; great-grandchildren, Avery Davis, Isaiah Davis, Kayleigh Hicks, Karah Hicks, Gavin Wilkins, Gracie Patterson, Bailey Hulsey, & Morgan Meeks; several other relatives & friends.

Carolyn’s wishes were to be cremated and no formal services will be held.

An online guest registry is available for the Ledford family at www.HillsideMemorialChapel.com.

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

David Andrew Loudermilk

By
Now Habersham
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David Andrew Loudermilk, age 59 of Nicholson, formerly of Mount Airy, Georgia went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, November 11, 2021.

Born in Demorest, Georgia on January 30, 1962, he was a son of the late Carl Fletcher & Clara Pitts Loudermilk. David was a 1979 graduate of Habersham Central High School and enjoyed cattle farming for most of his life. He was a member of Community Baptist Church where he was a former Sunday School teacher. Most of all David enjoyed spending precious time with his family.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his step-mother, Exie Burrell Loudermilk; sister, Maxine McDuffie; & brother-in-law, Roger Ansley.

Survivors include his daughter & fiancé, Amber Loudermilk & Bruce Harper of Nicholson, GA; son, Andrew Loudermilk of Franklin, NC; grandchildren, Rylee Faye Harper & Brandon Alan James York; sister, Wilma Ansley of Cornelia, GA; brothers & sisters-in-law, Carl Jr., & Valerie Loudermilk of Demorest, GA; Lamar “Marty” & Amanda Loudermilk of Mount Airy, GA; several nieces, nephews, other relatives, & friends.

Graveside services are scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 13, 2021 at Hazel Creek Baptist Church Cemetery with Rev. Billy Burrell & Rev. Kenneth McEntire officiating.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 11:30 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. on Saturday prior to the service.

An online guest registry is available for the Loudermilk family at www.HillsideMemorialChapel.com.

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

New Cornelia VFW opens in time to celebrate Veterans Day

By
Hadley Cottingham
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Thursday was a special day for veterans across the United States as the country celebrated their contributions and honored their sacrifices, but in Habersham County, there was something extra for veterans to celebrate, too.

The new veterans center location, which has taken residency at 174 Cornelia Crossing next to Spring Garden restaurant, is now the largest VFW facility in Northeast Georgia. (Hadley Cottingham/Now Habersham)

The county’s veteran center burnt down in the summer of 2020 due to an electrical shortage, and over a year later, the Grant-Reeves Veteran Center is back and better than ever, taking over the old School Tools & Office Pro’s building in Cornelia.

 

The new building is much bigger than the last, offering a new amount of space to host veterans, their families and community members for popular events like their bingo night. Grant-Reeves VFW Commander Bill Miles says that the new center is now the largest VFW facility in Northeast Georgia.

The new veteran center, which has taken residency in the old School Tools & Office Pro’s in Cornelia, offers a much bigger space for the center’s needs. (Hadley Cottingham/Now Habersham)

Members of the Grant-Reeves VFW, Grant-Reeves VFW Honor Guard and the Habersham County Chamber of Commerce cut the ribbon to officially open the new Grant-Reeves Veteran Center Thursday night.

Grant-Reeves Veterans Center and Habersham Chamber of Commerce members held the official ribbon-cutting for the new Veterans Center. (Hadley Cottingham/Now Habersham)

Honoring veterans

It was a busy night for the veterans center as they opened their doors to the public for the first time in their new building, kicked off their $1,000 bingo jackpot and shared the exciting news that the Grant-Reeves Veteran Center won the National Community Service Award for putting in the most community service hours in the state, but honoring the service of veterans is at the heart of their mission.

Commander Miles took a few moments in between celebration of the new building and door prizes to thank and recognize veterans, and their families, on the day the country honors them.

Grant-Reeves VFW Commander Bill Miles recognized veterans and delivered a speech about their sacrifices during the Veterans Day and veterans center grand opening event. (Hadley Cottingham/Now Habersham)

“Today we celebrate the millions of veterans who have made sure [of] our freedom, since America’s humble beginnings,” Miles says. “We celebrate their determination, dedication and unwavering patriotism.”

The Grant-Reeves VFW choir sang the national anthem, as well as the Armed Forces Medley, during which veterans were asked to stand during their branch’s anthem to be recognized by attendees.

“Through war and in times of peace, American veterans have remained committed to ensuring our great country remains the land of the free, and truly, the home of the brave,” Miles says.

Man walking on tracks struck, killed by train in Hall County

By
Staff Report
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A man from Albany, Georgia, died Wednesday near Gainesville when he was struck and killed by a train. Jartaqaron Duniteo Willis was walking on the tracks around GA 60/Queen City Parkway at the time, investigators say.

Gainesville police and firefighters and Hall County Fire Services responded to the call at approximately 5:20 p.m. on November 10. Willis was dead when emergency crews arrived, according to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office became involved in the investigation when it was determined soon after, that the incident happened in unincorporated Hall County.

Norfolk Southern officials were also notified.

According to the preliminary investigation, the conductor sounded the horn and began slowing the train when Willis was spotted walking on the tracks. He was hit by the train under the Queen City Parkway Bridge.

Willis’ body was sent to the medical examiner for an autopsy. The incident remains under investigation, although the sheriff’s office says no charges are anticipated.

House Dems urge probe of 11th Circuit judge for hiring clerk with ‘racist’ history

By
Ariana Figueroa
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Judge William Pryor, chief judge of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, hired a law clerk alleged to have sent a racist text. Georgia U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson and his Democratic colleagues are requesting an investigation. (John McCosh/Georgia Recorder)

WASHINGTON (GA Recorder) — Democratic leaders of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee are urging the chief justice of the Supreme Court to investigate decisions by federal judges in Georgia and Alabama to hire a law clerk who allegedly has “a history of nakedly racist and hateful conduct.”

The letter says the Democrats have “grave concern” about the hiring by Judge William Pryor, chief judge of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, and Judge Corey Maze of the Northern District of Alabama.

States in the 11th Circuit include Florida, Alabama and Georgia. The letter was led by Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler of New York and Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet Chairman Rep. Hank Johnson, a Lithonia Democrat.

“Placing an individual with this history in such close proximity to judicial decision-making threatens to seriously undermine the public’s faith in the federal judiciary,” the House Democrats wrote.

“To put it mildly, it would be reasonable to question these judges’ impartiality in cases where race, religion, or national origin plays a role, which is the statutory standard for disqualification,” they wrote.

They did not name the law clerk in their letter but in footnotes link to articles about Crystal Clanton, a student at Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University in Virginia.

The legal blog Above the Law first reported Clanton had been hired for the “incredibly prestigious” clerkships, set for 2022 and 2023, by Pryor and Maze.

Clanton made headlines in 2017  when The New Yorker reported that she sent a racist text message to her co-workers at the conservative student group Turning Point USA, writing “I HATE BLACK PEOPLE… I hate blacks. End of story.” The New Yorker reviewed a screenshot of the text.

Clanton told the publication that “I have no recollection of these messages and they do not reflect what I believe or who I am and the same was true when I was a teenager.”

The House Democrats’ letter details other reported incidents, such as when Clanton sent a photo of a man with brown skin to her co-workers with the caption “just thinking about ways to do another 9/11,” according to the publication Mediaite.

When she worked at Turning Point USA, Clanton fired the organization’s only Black employee on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and that employee stated in The New Yorker article that she felt “very uncomfortable working there because I was black.”

Clanton left Turning Point USA and later worked for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ wife, Ginni.

The House Democrats wrote to Supreme Court Justice John G. Roberts as the presiding member of the Judicial Conference of the United States, the national policy-making body for the federal courts. They also addressed the letter to Judge Charles Wilson, the most senior active member of the 11th Circuit appeals court.

They said while they said the reported remarks are “worrying in the extreme,” their concern was more that Pryor and Maze would make such a hire. They said the clerk’s past conduct was clearly available at the time of the hiring decisions.

“If the judges were not aware of their law clerk’s widely reported record, their negligent hiring practices present their own set of problems with the judiciary and the judges’ abilities to discharge their administrative responsibilities competently,” the Democrats said.

Due to a federal holiday, Pryor and Maze could not be reached for comment.

Pryor was nominated to the federal appeals court by former President George W. Bush. Maze was nominated by former President Donald Trump.

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in downtown Atlanta conducts hearings in the Elbert P. Tuttle Courthouse in downtown Atlanta. Tuttle exercised great influence during the civil rights era soon after the landmark Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling.

The Democrats said that “to date, the news of these judges’ hiring decisions has been met with uniform silence by the judges themselves, the courts on which they sit, and the Judicial Conference.”

The letter was also signed by Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties Chair Steve Cohen, (D-Tenn.),  and Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Government Operations Chair Gerry Connolly, (D-Va.).

The lawmakers wrote that they expect a briefing on the matter by Dec. 1.

Georgia Recorder Editor John McCosh contributed to this report.

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