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North Georgia lawmaker renamed to top committee

By
Staff Report
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Sen. Bill Cowsert (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

Another North Georgia lawmaker has been reappointed to a top committee at the State Capitol in Atlanta.

Last week, Sen. Bill Cowsert (R–Athens) was reappointed as chairman of the Senate Committee on Regulated Industries and Utilities by Lt. Governor Burt Jones and the Senate Committee on Assignments.

The Senate Committee on Regulated Industries and Utilities is responsible for overseeing legislation related to professional licensing, utility regulations – including gas, electricity, broadband, and telecommunications—and the regulation of industries such as alcoholic beverages, hemp/medical marijuana and various forms of gaming.

Cowsert, who first assumed the role in 2019, has led the committee through six legislative sessions and will continue to do so in the current session.

“I am pleased to have been re-appointed Chair of the Senate Committee on Regulated Industries and Utilities by the Committee on Assignments, chaired by Lt. Governor Burt Jones,” Cowsert said. “This committee historically deals with a large quantity of meaningful legislation, and I am sure that our work this session will positively impact Georgians for generations to come.”

Jones commended Cowsert’s as he again assumes the leadership role.

“Chairman Cowsert is a strong Chairman who has been in the Senate for over a decade,” Jones said. “He is an expert on issues that will be addressed in the Senate Regulated Industries Committee, and I am confident that, along with the other members, the work of this committee will be efficient and effective.”

In addition to his role as Chairman of the Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee, Cowsert has been assigned to several other key positions this session. He will serve as Vice Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Secretary of the Senate Committees on Rules and Redistricting, and is a member of the Senate Committees on Finance, Insurance, and Health and Human Services.

Trump warns of sweeping executive orders coming Monday as he rallies with supporters

By
Ashley Murray
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Donald Trump speaks at a pre-inauguration rally in Washington D.C. ahead of returning to office on Jan. 20, 2025. (livestream image)

WASHINGTON (States Newsroom) — President-elect Donald Trump rallied a packed arena Sunday in the nation’s capital ahead of his inauguration Monday, heralding an era of “the Trump effect” and vowing to “act with historic speed and strength and fix every single crisis facing our country.”

Shortly after his swearing-in, Trump is expected to issue pardons for rioters who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, who he said are “J6 hostages.” Trump also plans a barrage of executive orders curtailing immigration and undoing President Joe Biden’s energy policies.

The victory rally, streamed live on C-SPAN from the Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, D.C., featured live music from Kid Rock, Lee Greenwood and, at the conclusion, a surreal performance of the 1978 disco hit “YMCA” by the Village People, as Trump danced along with them. Trump often played the song at his campaign rallies.

Assorted incoming administration officials and celebrities delivered speeches that railed against transgender people, DEI initiatives and immigration at the U.S. southern border. Vice President-elect J.D. Vance was not among the speakers.

Trump spoke for just over an hour, repeating his campaign trail themes about fictional cannibal Hannibal Lecter, SpaceX rockets, an “invasion” of migrants and “transgender insanity.”

He also promised to declassify records related to the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy, and claimed that Apple CEO Tim Cook told him Sunday about “a massive investment in the United States because of our big election win.”

“I’m thrilled to be back with so many friends, supporters and true American patriots on the eve of taking back our country,” Trump told a cheering crowd in the arena, which has a capacity of about 20,000.

On Monday it will also host Trump supporters who held tickets to sit in the audience at the Capitol before the ceremony was moved inside due to forecasts of low temperatures, as well as an inauguration parade on Monday afternoon.

Trump touted the return Sunday of the popular app TikTok and the “epic ceasefire agreement” between Israel and Hamas.

The incoming president said war in the Middle East would not have happened had the 2020 election not been “rigged” — a false claim he’s repeated over the last four years.

Trump and Vance will be sworn in Monday indoors in the Capitol rotunda. The four-year term for Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris ends at noon, as stipulated in the Constitution’s 20th Amendment.

Emergency declaration

Among the executive orders Trump plans will be an emergency declaration on the U.S.-Mexico border, the Wall Street Journal reported Sunday.

“You’re going to see executive orders that are going to make you extremely happy, lots of them,” he told rallygoers. “By the time the sun sets tomorrow evening, the invasion of our borders will have come to a halt.”

Trump later told the crowd: “Somebody said yesterday, ‘Sir, don’t sign so many in one day. Let’s do it over a period of weeks.’ I said, ‘Like hell we’re going to do it over weeks.’”

Also on his list of day-one executive orders is extending the deadline for TikTok to find a new owner, a mandate set forth in a bipartisan law last year. Without an extension, companies that distribute or maintain TikTok will face fines up to $5,000 per user on the popular video platform app.

The order will “confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform hours ahead of the rally.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew was expected to sit on the dais Monday during Trump’s inauguration, but seating arrangements for the indoor ceremony remained unclear.

Trump invited tech billionaire Elon Musk to the stage with him Sunday. The mogul he’s tasked with making recommendations to cut trillions in federal spending told the crowd “we’re looking forward to making a lot of changes.”

Speakers vilify ‘radical left,’ Harris

A parade of speakers introduced the president-elect. Trump’s son Eric, standing alongside his wife Lara and their two children, declared “The bullsh-t ends right now.”

Stephen Miller, incoming White House deputy chief of staff for policy, touted “ending the border invasion, sending the illegals home and taking America back,” and ridding children’s playgrounds of “piles of needles.”

Miller denied the very existence of transgender people.

“We’re not going to let the radical left indoctrinate our children into believing there’s 435 genders because President Trump knows there are men and there are women, and it is not up to you whether you’re a man or a woman. That’s a decision that’s made by God, and it can’t be changed,” Miller said.

There are an estimated 2 million transgender people in the U.S., according to the Human Rights Campaign. Gender dysphoria — defined as psychological distress resulting from incongruence between one’s sex assigned at birth and current gender identity — is widely recognized by the medical community. Transgender youth experience disparate health outcomes and increased stigmatization and suicidal behavior, according to a 2024 report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Right-wing media personality Megyn Kelly delivered remarks during which for several minutes she slammed singer and actress Jennifer Lopez and media magnate Oprah Winfrey for their support of Harris during the 2024 election.

“But of course the fakest person involved on that side of the aisle was the woman at the top, Kamala Harris herself,” Kelly said.

The former Fox News host said the vice president used a “fake Jamaican accent, her fake Eastern European accent, her fake Spanish accent. It was like spending the day at Joe Biden’s southern border nonstop, right?”

Similar criticisms were made repeatedly by Republicans during the campaign and a Fox News reporter in September pressed White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre about Harris’ accent. “The question is just insane,” said Jean-Pierre, saying Americans cared more about the economy, health care and lowering costs, HuffPost reported.

Jab at media

The rally kicked off with a prayer from a duo dubbed “Girls Gone Bible” followed moments later by a musical set from Kid Rock.

In a video message to his “rock ‘n roll patriots,” Trump told the crowd “Let’s make America rock again” as Kid Rock launched into his new song “We the People” that featured the chorus line “Let’s Go Brandon.” “Brandon” was the name used by Trump supporters to insult Biden.

While performing his 1999 hit “Bawitdaba,” Kid Rock ad-libbed “The mainstream media can suck my” — without finishing the sentence.

Prior to the rally, Trump and Vance participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. They also visited three graves of servicemembers who were killed in the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Several of Trump’s Cabinet nominees attended the ceremony, including Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who’s been tapped as secretary of state; Fox News TV host Pete Hegseth, the nominee for secretary of defense; and current and former U.S. representatives Elise Stefanik and Tulsi Gabbard, nominees for ambassador to the United Nations and director of national intelligence.

Biden ends his term by again thanking SC for putting him in the White House

By
Shaun Chornobroff
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President Joe Biden addresses attendees at the International African-American Museum on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025 in Charleston, South Carolina. One day before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, Biden thanked South Carolina for its support during his speech. (livestream image)

CHARLESTON, S.C. (South Carolina Daily Gazette) — President Joe Biden spent the final day of his tenure in the state that catapulted him into the office: South Carolina.

The day before Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Biden delivered a speech at the Royal Missionary Baptist Church in North Charleston. He is set to speak later Sunday at the International African American Museum in downtown Charleston.

He also briefly spoke to reporters about the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas that resulted in the release Sunday of three hostages.

Addressing one of South Carolina’s largest Black churches, Biden again thanked South Carolina voters for putting him on the path to be the 46th president.

“I could not be standing here, I would not be standing here and that’s not hyperbole, at this pulpit were it not for Jim Clyburn,” Biden told the congregation.

It was Clyburn’s endorsement in 2020 that reinvigorated his campaign. After a poor start in his third attempt at the office, a victory in the South Carolina primary culminated in his victory over then-President Donald Trump, Biden’s predecessor and successor.

When he stepped off Air Force One on Sunday, Biden hugged Clyburn, South Carolina’s only Democrat in Congress, whom Biden’s referred to as his best friend.

Biden easily won South Carolina‘s Democratic presidential primary in February, the party’s first recognized primary of the campaign, against two extreme long-shot candidates. But it ultimately didn’t matter, as he dropped out in July following a disastrous debate performance against Trump.

Cease-fire

Biden spoke on the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas that went into effect Sunday, declaring “the guns in Gaza have gone silent.” Biden told reporters that two American hostages will be released as part of the first phase of the deal.

The agreement reached last week ended more than 15 months of warfare between Israel and Hamas.

The decades-long conflict was reignited on Oct. 7, 2023, after Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing about 1,200 civilians and taking some 250 hostages.

“I’ve worked in foreign policy for decades and this is one of the toughest negotiations I’ve been a part of,” Biden said.

Biden said the second phase of the agreement will include the release of Israeli soldiers and “the permanent end to the war without Hamas in power or able to threaten Israel.”

The first three hostages released from Gaza arrived in Israel on Sunday.

Church

There’s one word that resonates with Biden when he steps into a Black church, he said Sunday: Hope.

“Not a joke,” he said to the congregation at Royal Missionary, a church he visited in February of 2020 during his presidential run.

It’s among several Black churches in South Carolina Biden’s spoken at over the years.

Following the 2015 Mother Emmanuel massacre of nine people following a Wednesday night prayer service, then-Vice President Biden spoke at the funeral for Rev. Clementa Pinckney, the church’s pastor and state senator. Last month, Biden commuted the sentences of 37 inmates on federal death row. The Mother Emanuel shooter was not one of them.

Biden’s first campaign stop a year ago was at Mother Emanuel.

In North Charleston on Sunday, Biden quoted scripture and touched on his own personal tragedies as he delivered a message of persistence, community and hope, as well as honored Martin Luther King Jr.

“Your friends bear witness, they see your pain, they pick you up, they help you get to Sunday, from pain to purpose,” said Biden, who added that multiple friends in South Carolina aided him through personal tragedies.

Biden called King one of his political heroes Sunday after a service that included a video dedicated to the civil rights activist and preacher.

He also called the Black church “the spiritual home of the Black experience.” Biden said.

“That’s a truth we honor,” he said.

At multiple points in his speech, applause erupted through the crowd and a booming “thank you” was heard at one point.

The president said his father called abuse of power the greatest sin. The essence of the Bible, he said, is that all people are created equally and deserve to be treated equally.

“We never fully lived up to that commitment, but never fully walked away from it either because of you and your ancestors before us,” Biden said.

Biden said that “we pledge allegiance not just to an idea but to each other.”

“That’s how I viewed my decision to issue more individual pardons than any pardons than any president in American history. … To show mercy to those who served a significant amount of time,” he said.

Biden closed his message by again thanking the people of South Carolina, saying being their president “was the greatest honor of my life.”

And to a resounding applause, the 46th president said, “I’m not going anywhere.”

What to know about the Trump inauguration schedule

By
States Newsroom Staff
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Snow falls on the North Lawn of the White House, Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. (Official White House photo by Oliver Contreras)

Here are activities planned around the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, who will be sworn into office at noon Eastern on Monday in the U.S. Capitol, though the timing of some events might shift due to moving the ceremony inside:

SUNDAY, JAN. 19

Wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery.

Make America Great Again rally, Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, D.C. Performers include Kid Rock, the Village People, Billy Ray Cyrus, Lee Greenwood and the Liberty University Praise Choir.

Candlelight dinner, at which Trump is expected to speak.

MONDAY, JAN. 20

St. John’s Episcopal Church service, on Lafayette Square across from the White House.

The traditional tea at the White House with the president-elect, Melania Trump, President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden.

Swearing-in ceremony, first for Vice President-elect J.D. Vance and then for Trump in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. Country music star Carrie Underwood will perform “America the Beautiful,” while tenor Christopher Macchio will sing the national anthem. Lee Greenwood will also perform.

Trump’s inaugural address.

A farewell ceremony for President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris as they leave the Capitol.

A ceremony in the Capitol in which the new president signs executive orders or other documents.

Luncheon at the U.S. Capitol, hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.

Indoor parade, Capital One Arena.

Oval Office signing ceremony, the White House.

Commander-in-Chief Ball, with performances by the band Rascal Flatts and Parker McCollum. Trump delivers remarks.

Liberty Ball, with performances by Jason Aldean, The Village People and Nelly. Trump delivers remarks.

Starlight Ball, with performance by Gavin DeGraw. Trump delivers remarks.

TUESDAY, JAN. 21

National interfaith prayer service, Washington National Cathedral.

Traffic accident on GA 365 in Alto results in fatality

By
Jerry Neace
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The two vehicles involved in the accident on GA 365 that snarled northbound traffic for more than an hour Saturday morning. (Amanda Fagan/NowHabersham.com)

A two-vehicle accident that impacted traffic on GA 365 near Hayes car dealership in Alto Saturday morning has resulted in a fatality.

The crash was reported around 9:40 a.m. on Jan. 18. Initial reports indicated one of the vehicles involved may have caught on fire after impact.

According to the Georgia State Patrol (GSP), the accident occurred in the northbound lanes of GA 365 at Wilbanks Road, just south of the car dealership. The two-vehicle accident involved a Toyota Prius and a Kia Forte.

The GSP report states that the driver of the Toyota Prius, James Purdy, 79, of Alto failed to yield after stopping at a stop sign and entered the roadway into the path of a Kia Forte driven by Matthew Bridges, 34, of Lula. The Prius was struck in the driver’s side.

Both drivers were transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville for treatment. Purdy later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased by hospital staff.

Traffic was backed up past Anderson Village on GA 365 northbound due to a wreck near the Hayes car dealership in Alto. (Amanda Fagan/NowHabersham.com)

The northbound lanes were blocked for nearly two hours while first responders investigated and cleared the scene. The highway was reopened at around 11:30 a.m.

Georgia State Patrol is investigating the accident.

Hall Co. encourages citizens to prepare for extreme, extended cold temperatures

By
Staff Report
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(Hall County Government)

Hall County Government officials remind the public to prepare for the incoming cold and of the County’s three community centers as places to escape the cold while North Georgia experiences temperatures below freezing through Wednesday.

“At this time, Hall County is under an Extreme Cold Warning, and confidence is continuing to increase in the potential for winter weather impacts beginning Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning,” Assistant County Administrator Casey Ramsey said. “Citizens are encouraged to begin prepping their homes for temperatures below freezing, and if they need a place to stay warm during normal operations, to please take advantage of Hall County’s three community centers.”

All Hall County community centers are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. Hall County community centers include:

  • East Hall Community Center: 3911 P Davidson Road, Gainesville, GA 30507 | 678-450-1540
  • Mulberry Creek Community Center: 4491 JM Turk Road, Flowery Branch, GA 30542 | 770-965-7140
  • North Hall Community Center: 4175 Nopone Road, Gainesville, GA 30506 | 770-535-8280

As a reminder, community centers will only serve as temporary warming centers during normal business hours and will close if County facilities close due to inclement weather.

For those needing overnight accommodations, or in the event County facilities close, the Good News at Noon Gainesville facility at 881 Dorsey Street, Gainesville, GA 30501, will be available to the public from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m., as space allows.

Citizens needing additional resources should reference Hall County’s Community Resource Guide for a list of organizations that may be able to provide support.

Additionally, Hall County Emergency Management is providing regular updates and preparation tips on Facebook, including tips to minimize risk when utilizing space heaters and fireplaces, dressing for extreme cold and preparing homes and pipes for the extended cold.

For questions or more information related to emergency preparedness, contact Hall County Emergency Management at [email protected] or visit Hall County Government online at hallcounty.org.

To sign up for free emergency and non-emergency alerts, visit alerts.hallcounty.org.

Trump to sign executive order Monday delaying TikTok ban

By
Jennifer Shutt and Ashley Murray
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(Daniel Purcell/NowHabersham.com)

WASHINGTON (States Newsroom) — President-elect Donald Trump said Sunday he will sign an executive order as soon as he takes office that would delay a law that banned the popular social media app TikTok unless its parent company sells it.

“I’m asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark!” Trump said on his TruthSocial account. “ I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect so that we can make a deal to protect our national security. The order will also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order.”

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday had left the law in place, and on Saturday night, TikTok went dark for U.S. users. The Associated Press reported that Google and Apple removed the app from their digital stores to comply with the law. But by midday Sunday, TikTok was again functioning.

Trump said in his post he wants to explore how to keep TikTok viable in the United States.

“I would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture.  By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands and allow it to say up.  Without U.S. approval, there is no TikTok.  With our approval, it is worth hundreds of billions of dollars – maybe trillions,” he wrote.

“Therefore, my initial thought is a joint venture between the current owners and/or new owners whereby the U.S. gets a 50% ownership in a joint venture set up between the U.S. and whichever purchase we so choose.”

The bipartisan law enacted last year required ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to sell the platform by Sunday or face exclusion from U.S.-based app stores.

TikTok fought the law all the way to the Supreme Court, arguing First Amendment rights, but did not prevail.

“There is no doubt that, for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement, and source of community,” the court wrote in its ruling. “But Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well-supported national security concerns regarding TikTok’s data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary. For the foregoing reasons, we conclude that the challenged provisions do not violate petitioners’ First Amendment rights.”

Action left to Trump

The 27-page court ruling created a bit of a dilemma for Trump, who now supports TikTok staying on Americans’ cell phones despite wanting to ban it during his first administration.

Trump wrote Friday in a post on his social media site, Truth Social, that he would address the issue once he takes office.

“I just spoke to Chairman Xi Jinping of China. The call was a very good one for both China and the U.S.A,” Trump wrote. “It is my expectation that we will solve many problems together, and starting immediately. We discussed balancing Trade, Fentanyl, TikTok, and many other subjects. President Xi and I will do everything possible to make the World more peaceful and safe!”

Trump issued an executive order in 2020 to ban the video platform unless it broke from ByteDance, but reversed his position last year.

Trump’s attorney general nominee, Pam Bondi, cited “pending litigation” and declined to directly answer a question about whether she would direct the Justice Department to enforce the TikTok ban during her confirmation hearing Wednesday.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration Monday, according to a source familiar with the planning.

Chew will not be the only tech executive sitting nearby as Trump takes the oath of office. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who also owns The Washington Post, are expected to be in attendance. Both donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural.

Chew posted a video on social media Friday after the Supreme Court ruling was released thanking Trump “for his commitment to work with us to find a solution that keeps TikTok available in the United States.”

“This is a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship,” he said. “As we’ve said, TikTok is a place where people can create communities, discover new interests and express themselves, including over 7 million American businesses.”

The director of national intelligence released a report in February 2024 stating that “TikTok accounts run by a (People’s Republic of China) propaganda arm reportedly targeted candidates from both political parties during the U.S. midterm election cycle in 2022.”

Bipartisan backing for law

The law requiring TikTok’s parent company to sell the app or lose access to the American social media market received bipartisan support in the House last year, following a 352-65 vote in March. The measure cleared Congress as part of a larger supplemental package a month later.

President Joe Biden signed it into law. However, he said he will not enforce it, leaving the incoming Trump administration to decide what to do.

“President Biden’s position on TikTok has been clear for months, including since Congress sent a bill in overwhelming, bipartisan fashion to the President’s desk: TikTok should remain available to Americans, but simply under American ownership or other ownership that addresses the national security concerns identified by Congress in developing this law,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre wrote in a statement.

“Given the sheer fact of timing, this Administration recognizes that actions to implement the law simply must fall to the next Administration, which takes office on Monday.”

Congress and the Biden administration pointed to warnings from national security officials about ByteDance’s ties to China’s government as the top reason to force its parent company to sell the app.

TikTok maintains that it is majority-owned by global investors, including the Susquehanna International Group and Blackrock, though roughly 20% remains in the hands of its Chinese founders.

Democratic senators made an eleventh-hour pitch on Wednesday to extend ByteDance’s deadline to divest from TikTok, but Republicans blocked the effort.

One dead in White County house fire

By
Joy Purcell
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White County firefighters battle flames at a fully engulfed house on Tom Bell Road. One person was found dead inside the burning home on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (Bryce Barrett/White County)

One person died in a house fire Saturday evening on Tom Bell Road in White County.

According to White County Public Information Officer Bryce Barrett, the fire was reported at 5:52 p.m. on Jan. 18, with initial reports of a possible entrapment. When firefighters arrived, the modular home was fully involved.

“Fire crews initiated an aggressive search for the entrapped individual while subsequent arriving units worked to suppress the fire and support search operations,” says Barrett.

The victim was found dead inside the house. Barrett says their next of kin has been notified, but he did not release the victim’s name.

White County Fire Services and units from the Cleveland and Helen Fire Departments responded to the blaze. Lee Arrendale State Prison firefighters also assisted in putting out the deadly fire.

Barrett says firefighters remained on-site throughout the evening, extinguishing hot spots to prevent flames from reigniting.

The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Georgia State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Myrtle Beach fugitive captured in Helen manhunt

By
Joy Purcell
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Helen Police arrested four suspects, including a fugitive wanted for possession of a weapon during a violent crime and armed robbery, after a manhunt in Helen.

The GBI arrested Courtney Cole Scott, 32, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Kaylynn Bohan, 23, of Cleveland, Georgia; Jeffrey Edwards, 62, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and Katrina Edwards, 51, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Myrtle Beach law enforcement requested assistance in locating Scott, who was wanted on fugitive warrants. Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office (ARDEO) agents, with the assistance of the White County Sheriff’s Office, Cleveland Police Department, and Helen Police Department, conducted a manhunt that culminated in Cleveland.

During the operation, authorities arrested Bohan on charges of hindering the apprehension of a criminal, possession of cocaine, and crossing the guard line with a controlled substance. They charged Jeffrey Edwards with hindering the apprehension of a criminal, and Katrina Edwards with possession of cocaine and hindering the apprehension of a criminal.

Authorities booked the suspects at the White County jail.

ARDEO encourages anyone with information related to drug activity to contact them at (706) 348-7410. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can call 1-800-597-TIPS(8477), visit https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or use the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

Piedmont rolls at Wesleyan 82-46

By
Joseph Garwood
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(Mooreshots LLC)

MACON, Ga. – Piedmont women’s basketball ran its winning streak to five games in an 82-46 rout at Wesleyan on Sunday afternoon in Macon.

In a matchup that was rescheduled due to the winter storm last weekend, the Lions were able to take the court and earn a CCS win on back-to-back days.

Overall, Piedmont used a team approach, with 13 different players scoring in the contest. Just two Lions scored in double figures on the day, led by 14 points from junior Brooklyn Begley and 13 points from senior Ashley Scott. Scott continued her hot shooting from deep, making 3-of-4 from beyond the arc after knocking down a pair of three-pointers in Saturday’s win over Belhaven.

There were a number of Lions who delivered season highs in scoring, including Emaline Rault (8 pts), Kivana Bogne (6 pts) and Brooke Godown (4 pts).

The Wolves showed fight from the start, however, as they jumped out to a 12-8 lead near the end of the first quarter. However, the Lions were quickly able to find their footing, using a 12-0 run to end the quarter and race ahead 20-12 heading into the second.

Wesleyan was able to cut its deficit to 22-17 midway through the second quarter as the Lions struggled offensively. However, Piedmont was able to close the first half in strong fashion, punctuated by a Begley three-pointer in the final seconds of the half to give the Lions a 35-21 edge at the break.

The second half saw the Lions continue to pull away, scoring 47 points over the final 20 minutes. Piedmont also locked in defensively in the third quarter, outscoring the Wolves 24-7 to remove all doubt from the contest.

Up next, Piedmont is scheduled to face Covenant at home on Tuesday at 5 p.m. pending no changes with winter weather in the forecast.

TURNING POINT:
– Piedmont closed each of the first two quarters strongly to push the lead to double digits and then ran away from the Wolves with a dominant third quarter performance.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
– Begley’s 14 points now gives her two double-digit performances this season, both of which have come in conference games.
– After back-to-back scoreless performances, Scott has returned to form with 14 points Saturday against Belhaven and 13 more points against Wesleyan in just 15 minutes of action.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
– The Lions are now averaging 79.5 points per game in conference play.

NEWS & NOTES:
– Piedmont’s 6-0 start is its best start in the CCS and best start to conference play since a 12-0 conference season in the USA South in 2020-21.

Track & Field Opens 2025 Indoor Season at KMS Invitational

By
Danielle Percival
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(Piedmont Athletics)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Piedmont University track & field program kicked off the 2025 season Sunday in Birmingham, Alabama at the KMS Invitational. A total of three school records fell and multiple personal bests were set to start the season strong.

Freshman Jayden Smith set a school record in the shot put with a 13.94m throw earning second place behind Life University’s Geovanni Hawes mark of 14.73m.

Bella Caccamo set a personal best and the school record in the 600m with a time of 1:46.49 to earn ninth place overall as the top Division III competitor. In the men’s 600m, Silas Goolsby broke another school record with his 1:23.58 to earn fifth place also as the top Division III student-athlete.

Piedmont saw top-10 finishes in many field events as Bryant Murray earned fourth place in the men’s long jump with a 6.71m jump. Three men earned top-10 marks in the weight throw led by Ethan Jackson with a 14.01m throw in his return.

On the women’s side, Haley McLeer (2.45m) earned third in the women’s pole vault while Ja’Nia Gray (2.30m) took fourth. Tucker Pulliam (2.90m) took fifth in the men’s pole vault.

Kayla Ward earned fourth in the women’s shot put with a 10.53m mark while three women earned top-10 places in the women’s weight throw led by Kailyn Thomas who finished fifth (12.66m).

In the one mile, Skyler Seeber finished third on the women’s side (5:34.17) while Tucker Cox finished eighth for the men (4:35.11).

Up next, the Lions will head to Danville, Kentucky for the Centre Indoor Showcase on Saturday, January 25.

Field Events – Bold denotes school record 

W High Jump —
M High Jump —
M Long Jump Bryant Murray (6.71m) – 4th
Almarion Martin (6.03m)
Johnny Taylor (5.81m)
W Long Jump Allison Cantrell (4.86m)
W Triple Jump —
M Triple Jump Johnny Taylor (12.03m) – 8th
W Pole Vault Haley McLeer (2.45m) – 3rd
Ja’Nia Gray (2.30m) – 4th
M Pole Vault Tucker Pulliam (2.90m) – 5th
W Shot Put Kayla Ward (10.53m) – 4th
Kailyn Thomas (9.23m)
Allie Feltus (8.83m)
M Shot Put Jayden Smith (13.94m) – 2nd
Kerrigan McClain (9.72m)
Ian Grimes (8.93m)
W Weight Throw Kailyn Thomas (12.66m) – 5th
Allie Feltus (12.54m) – 6th
Shealee Gallegos (11.81m) – 8th
M Weight Throw Ethan Jackson (14.01m) – 4th
George Ketch (13.50m) – 5th
Matthew Blocksom (12.58m) – 9th

Track Events – Bold denotes school record (only finals included)

W 60m Hurdles —
M 60m Hurdles —
W 60m —
M 60m —
W 200m Allison Cantrell (27.68)
Michelle Cates (28.81)
Sara Bjerke (30.28)
M 200m Silas Goolsby (22.56)
Garrett Stadler (24.21)
Xander Wiley (25.33)
W 400m —
M 400m Xander Wiley (57.07)
W 600m Bella Caccamo (1:46.49) – 9th
Michelle Cates (1:48.71)
M 600m Silas Goolsby (1:23.58) – 5th
Parker Snelson (1:29.43) – 10th
Garrett Stadler (1:30.08)
W 800m —
M 800m Peter Sligh (2:18.77)
W 1 mile Skyler Seeber (5:43.17) – 3rd
M 1 mile Tucker Cox (4:35.11) – 8th
Walker Capelle (4:48.35)
Brody Geckler (5:04.65)
W 3000m —
M 3000m Jadon Gonzales (9:46.35)
Keegan Ivey (10:38.61)
M 4x400m Relay —
W 4x400m Relay —

Women’s swimming glides past Warren Wilson, honors three seniors

By
Joseph Garwood
-

TALLULAH FALLS, Ga. – Piedmont women’s swimming glided past Warren Wilson as it opened its spring season at home and honored three seniors on Sunday afternoon in Tallulah Falls, Georgia.

The Lions were able to take home victories in all 14 events on the day, bookending the afternoon with a pair of relay victories.

Prior to the meet, seniors Olivia Bechtel, Brynne Gillilan and Madison Nance were honored for their contributions to the program.

Overall, eight different Lions were either solo winners or part of a relay victory over the 14 events, with six of those eight delivering multiple victories.

The group was headlined by the senior Nance, who won three times solo and was part of the 200 free relay team that ended the festivities. In her final home meet, Nance also banked solo wins in the 50 and 100 breast and the 100 IM, where she finished just a second behind her own Piedmont school record.

Nance was matched by Kelly Mashburn, who also won four times (three solo, one relay). Mashburn’s three solo wins all came in the freestyle of varying lengths (50, 500, 1000).

Caroline Massaro and Sydney Addison each added three total victories (two solo, one relay), with Addison taking the 100 and 200 free as Massaro claimed the top spot in the 50 and 100 back.

The senior Bechtel ended the day in style, helping the team win the 200 free relay.

Finally, on the day she was honored for Senior Day, Gillilan claimed a second place finish in the 50 back at 41.57.

In the team’s final event of the meet, Sydney Addison was able to get on the board, teaming with Mashburn, Massaro and Polk to win the 200 free relay with a time of 1:52.00

Up next, the Lions will be in double dual action on the road on Saturday November 9 at Greensboro, taking on the Pride and Southern Virginia.

PIEDMONT WINNERS:
Sydney Addison – 200 Medley Relay (2:03.79); 200 Free (2:08.59); 100 Free (59.78)
Olivia Bechtel – 200 Free Relay (1:51.56)
Donevin Lakey – 100 Fly (1:04.37)
Kelly Mashburn – 1000 Free (11:59.35); 50 Free (26.80); 500 Free (5:48.99); 200 Free Relay (1:51.56)
Caroline Massaro – 200 Medley Relay (2:03.79); 100 Back (1:06.57); 50 Back (31.08);
Madison Nance – 50 Breast (35.06); 100 Breast (1:17.32); 100 IM (1:07.63); 200 Free Relay (1:51.56)
Tressie Polk – 200 Medley Relay (2:03.79); 200 Free Relay (1:51.56)
Olivia Smith – 200 Medley Relay (2:03.79); 50 Fly (28.80)

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