New Year’s Day dinner: what to prepare and why

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December 31, 2024

processed-43368A6B-8C7C-4187-A9C6-0A9A23A7CABD — Arrows Farm offers veggie boxes weekly, organically grown vegetables, and so much more. (Arrows Farm)

Aaaahhhh…the essence of Christmas lingers in the air, on the floor, in the piles of boxes and wrapping paper stacked next to the trash cans awaiting pickup. Like a cyclone, the holiday blew in and spiraled out.

Time to look toward 2025, set your intentions for the year, and prepare the auspicious savory New Year’s Day smorgasbord to light the way. You know the ones: collards and greens for money, black-eyed peas for luck in the new year, onion rings for growth and rebirth, tamales for strength in family and so many more. With all the traditions, the meal could look quite like a hodgepodge of thrown together foods unless you know their significance.

Vinny and Allie Correa own Arrows Farm, a family owned farm which grows foods organically. “Collards love frost. Frost is what changes the plants flavor profile to less bitter and more tender,” explained Allie.

Arrows Farm offers homegrown produce in the Northeast Georgia mountains. Located at 1823B Shoal Creek Rd, Clarkesville, GA, the Correa’s offer weekly veggie boxes, educational opportunities, and events.

A recipe the Correa’s love is Collard Slaw. It is one of their favorites for New Year’s Day dinner.

The Correa’s love this simple recipe you will enjoy for New Year’s Day dinner as well as afterwards. (submitted)

To add to the collards, pork is considered a sign of prosperity. Pork chops or a glazed ham will go nicely with the Collard Slaw. Cornbread symbolizes gold and when added with black-eyed peas and greens, you have tripled your luck.

There are also foods you should not eat on New Year’s Day. Lobster is a big no-no because legend has it that since lobsters swim backwards, by eating lobster, you seal your fate to not move ahead in the new year. Chicken is never a good choice either. It is believed since they have wings, your luck will fly away.

Whatever you choose to eat to start the new year, we at Now Habersham want to wish you a year filled with joy, hope, peace, and luck.

Flow

By

Justin Hall

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December 31, 2024

Flow is an animated revelation that has no equals. Here is a movie that is 85 minutes long and is told solely through visuals and no dialogue. Every frame is painstakingly crafted to give us a sense of wonder and imagination in a way that live-action movies enviously aspire to achieve.

The movie has already won top honors at the European Film Awards, the New York Film Critics Circle Awards, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards, and the National Board of Review.

Now, it can add one more honor: For me, it’s the best animated movie I’ve seen so far this year.

Flow is powerful and profound in its simplistic premise. It deals with a black cat that gets chased by a series of dogs until a tsunami wipes out everything in their paths. The cat manages to find an ally in the form of a Labrador Retriever and his canine companions as they find shelter on a boat.

As they make their way downstream, they encounter other animals who join them on their quest for survival: They meet a lemur, a capybara, and a Secretary bird. The animals must work together to constantly stay one step ahead of the potential dangers that lie ahead.

The movie contains many astonishing images, such as a city submerged underwater and a series of gigantic cat statues. The level of detail involved in creating these images adds to the atmosphere and has a dramatic narrative purpose.

Every frame of Flow exudes sensational fluidity. The camera follows the animals’ actions in a way that feels natural and creative and always has something to behold. Our reactions to the imagery are the same as those of the animals themselves: There’s a hypnotic curiosity and even dread as the animals navigate their way to safety, and we’re right there in the middle of the journey with them.

As mentioned, it contains zero dialogue minus the sounds that the animals make. Whenever the cat meows, it’s the sound of a real cat. Whenever the dog barks, it’s the sound of a real dog. This is another example of how writer/director Zints Gilbalodis keeps this epic odyssey grounded in a measure of reality.

There are moments of humor and sadness that feel genuine just by facial expressions alone. Steven Spielberg once told Gene Siskel about a theory involving creatures: He said you relate to their eyes. That’s ubiquitously captured throughout Flow.

The movie is so rich and thorough that it could be shown in IMAX. It should be required viewing for anyone who wants to pursue a career as an animator and bring something engrossing to life from the first frame to the last. Flow is a mesmerizing, mystifying experience.

Grade: A

(Rated PG for peril and thematic elements.)

‘Raise your glass to President Carter’: Savannah bar made famous by Jimmy Carter pays tribute

By

Benjamin Payne

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December 31, 2024

Raise a glass — Patrons toast former President Jimmy Carter at The Original Pinkie Masters in Savannah on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024 (Benjamin Payne/GPB News)

“Everyone’s got a drink?” bellowed Matt Garappolo from behind the bar at The Original Pinkie Masters on Monday afternoon.

Throngs of regulars packed the tiny one-room tavern not just to drink cheap PBRs, but to pay tribute to a special visitor from long ago: former President Jimmy Carter, who died Sunday at 100.

The cash-only establishment might look like any old dive bar in downtown Savannah, if it weren’t for the bronze plaque bearing Carter’s face.

Bolted onto the wooden bar itself, it marks the very spot where the then-president delivered a surprise speech in 1978: on Saint Patrick’s Day, Carter snuck out of his room at the DeSoto Hotel across the street and absconded to Pinkie’s, hopping atop the bar to eulogize its founder: a man by the name of — you guessed it — Pinkie Masters.

Born Luis Christopher Masterpolis, Masters was a kingmaker in Savannah politics and an early supporter of Carter’s campaigns for both governor and president.

Forty-six years later, current owner Garappolo returned the favor: “Raise your glass to President Carter [and] to Pinkie Masters!” he shouted. “And let’s celebrate all the good things these guys did.”

Hurricanes Helene and Milton swept a wave of invasive species into Georgia in 2024

By

Ross Williams

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December 31, 2024

20120625100918 — The Cuban treefrog may appear polite, but when away from its native land, it can cause trouble for human and frog alike. (Photo by Denise Gregoire, U.S. Geological Survey)

(Georgia Recorder) — Dorothy and Toto aren’t the only ones known to hitch a ride on a passing severe weather event.

A map from the U.S. Geological Survey finds that there are 222 possible non-native species that had the potential to spread in Georgia and Florida due to storm-related flooding from Hurricane Helene, which devastated southern states including Georgia in September. The list includes 90 species considered invasive and likely to spread via flood waters.

And while the famous Kansas duo’s trip to the magical land of Oz was bad news for the Wicked Witch of the East, these out-of-place critters are potential problems for all Georgians, said Mike Worley, president of the Georgia Wildlife Federation.

“These plants or animals come into an area, and they are uniquely adapted to the area in which they evolved, and they generally will have their own set of predators, they’ll have checks on their population, but they come into a new area – and all these invasive species are getting here because we’re bringing them in some way, either intentionally or accidentally – and suddenly they find a new niche in the world where there’s no checks on them,” he said.

Without those checks, invasive species can decimate native creatures, which can disrupt the entire food chain.

“If you live in Georgia because you like Georgia, then invasives are a problem because they can fundamentally change it. They can fundamentally change the nature, they can change the very essence of what we are,” Worley added.

The species monitored in the USGS’s map include everything from plants and algae to fish, reptiles, and crustaceans. The survey provides an interactive map of where different species have already been seen and where Helene-related flooding may have washed them up.

One creature on the list is the Cuban treefrog, a native to the island nation that has spread to Florida, Georgia, and other spots across the continental U.S., usually through food or plant shipments, especially palm trees, or hidden in building materials.

They look cute, but the slimy little fellas can cause a lot of trouble. According to the USGS, not only do they compete with and even prey on native treefrogs, but they have been found to host diseases and parasites that can harm humans and other frogs, and their skin secretes a chemical that can irritate the skin and eyes, and they have even been observed to cause power outages when in contact with electrical equipment.

The USGS map shows they have the potential to spread via flooding around the north and south metro Atlanta areas as well as near Augusta, Peachtree City, Valdosta, and Waycross.

Even plants can cause problems if they wash up in the wrong part of the world. Take the alligator weed, which grows natively in the Parana River region of South America, in Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay, where its hollow stems help it to float on the water in thick mats. They’ve established footholds in areas across the southeast and all along the Gulf of Mexico stowing away in ship ballast water, researchers believe.

When clusters of alligator weed show up unannounced, they can impede the flow of water, decreasing water quality and harming other species that live in the water or depend on it for food. They can be a nuisance to boaters by blocking waterways and to farmers by clogging up irrigation channels, and to add insult to injury, they make excellent breeding grounds for pests like mosquitos.

As if that weren’t bad enough, a new plant can grow from a cut off piece of an old one, which makes getting rid of them even more challenging once they have become established.

Before the storm, these meanie greenies were already present in watersheds from Athens to Valdosta, and researchers say they could be popping up in new bodies of water.

But while only a wonderful wizard can control the weather, there are steps Georgians can take to keep critters where they belong, Worley said. For campers, that means not bringing in firewood from other states; for boaters, it means cleaning out your systems before moving on to the next lake or stream; and for gardeners, it can mean only planting native vegetation in your yard.

Musk and Ramaswamy to confront Congress in struggle for control of the public purse

By

Jennifer Shutt

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December 31, 2024

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump enlisted Washington outsiders Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to tell members of Congress how they should run things.

But Musk and Ramaswamy as they build their Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, don’t actually hold any elected or bureaucratic positions in the federal government — giving two hard-driving businessmen far less authority than they’re used to having in the private sector.

The duo will need to garner support from hundreds of members of Congress for any of their suggested spending cuts to become law, even with Republicans in control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. That is an uphill slog many have failed at before.

The mix of personalities, differing committee jurisdictions and separation of powers laid out in the Constitution could create tension, to say the least, when powerful Republican lawmakers disagree with or outright ignore Musk and Ramaswamy. Several Republicans indicated in interviews with States Newsroom that they intend to listen to the DOGE duo but will not back down from their roles as elected representatives of the people.

Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins, the incoming chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, said during a brief interview she believes the two men can offer lawmakers “valuable insights” and advice, but cautioned the power of the purse rests with Congress.

“It doesn’t mean that we will take all of these issues, but it’s always helpful to have additional oversight,” Collins said. “And so I look forward to seeing what they come up with.”

Rhode Island Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, chairman of the Budget Committee, summed up Democrats’ views on the Musk-Ramaswamy entity in a social media post.

“What does Doggie (“DOGE”) do? Maybe think of it this way: you have to watch a couple of precocious toddlers for the day,” Whitehouse wrote. “They need activities, but you don’t want them near stoves, cars, electrical equipment, or anything operational.”

Meet the appropriators

In Congress, the Appropriations Committee is tasked with drafting the dozen annual government funding bills that total about $1.7 trillion. The legislation funds the vast majority of federal departments and agencies, including Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior, Justice, State and Transportation.

The other two-thirds of federal spending covers interest payments on the debt, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

Idaho GOP Rep. Mike Simpson, chairman of the Interior-Environment Subcommittee, told States Newsroom he expects there will be “conflict” between Congress and the Musk-Ramaswamy group, in part, because they don’t have the years, or even decades, of experience learning the ins and outs of federal spending that appropriators hold.

“I noticed that they’ve said that they want to defund public television. I think they might get some kickback on that,” Simpson said. “To me, that’s a policy decision, not an efficiency issue.”

When GOP lawmakers met with Musk and Ramaswamy behind closed doors in early December to talk about government spending, Simpson said, the two pressed the idea that Trump should be able to cancel spending he deems “waste.”

But what Trump might consider unnecessary could be an essential program to a GOP lawmaker or a rural community, Simpson said.

There’s also a federal law called the Impoundment Control Act that prevents presidents from halting funding that Congress has approved and a Supreme Court ruling that bars the president from using line-item vetoes.

Arkansas Republican Rep. Steve Womack, chairman of the Transportation-HUD Subcommittee, told States Newsroom he expects there will need to be some “deconfliction” once Musk and Ramaswamy release their proposals.

“There will be a lot of different, competing interests and ideas, and we’ll just have to see what those are,” Womack said. “It’s a little premature, but, yeah, I’m sure there’ll be some deconfliction, there’ll be some negotiating. Some of this will be leveraged with other significant emotional events up here like debt ceiling, or funding the government.”

Floor votes could also be a hurdle for the various DOGE groups if they don’t gain Democratic support. Republicans will hold just 220 seats in the House at the start of the 119th Congress before a few of their members depart for other opportunities. That razor-thin margin means proposals from Musk and Ramaswamy will need support from the full spectrum of GOP lawmakers to pass.

Then they’ll need to gain the support of nearly all 53 GOP senators if they expect any spending cuts proposals to become law through the complex budget reconciliation process.

Proving their value

One of the many challenges for Musk and Ramaswamy will be showcasing how their efforts differ from those of the White House budget office.

Bipartisan Policy Center Managing Director for Economic Policy Rachel Snyderman said in an interview with States Newsroom she’ll be watching closely to see whether Musk and Ramaswamy integrate their proposals with the president’s budget request, which the White House will likely release sometime in the spring.

That massive document tells Congress how the president wants lawmakers to change tax and spending policy. Congress, however, rarely follows it to the letter and often ignores large swaths of it.

If Musk and Ramaswamy’s proposals go a completely different route, it could create confusion about what exactly it is the Trump administration wants lawmakers to do and could bog down any support they might get on Capitol Hill.

But simply mirroring what’s already in the budget request would lead to a question about whether or not Musk and Ramaswamy serve any real purpose.

“If you go back and look at the budgets from Trump’s first term … they averaged about $1.6 trillion in cuts over a 10-year budget window,” Snyderman said. “And at least for the first two years, those were presented to a GOP trifecta as well and not implemented as policy.”

Snyderman said Musk and Ramaswamy will likely want to do something other than reinvent the wheel by simply republishing the hundreds of government efficiency and spending cuts proposed over the years by the Congressional Budget Office, the Government Accountability Office and inspectors general.

Those groups have given lawmakers and presidents plenty of recommendations to reduce waste, fraud and abuse. But government officials don’t always act on their suggestions.

“There have been so many resources over the years doing just this — proposing smart, sensible, but tough pills to swallow when it comes to government efficiency,” Snyderman said. “What I think it’s going to really boil down to is what’s politically palatable through legislative or executive action. And where as a nation we’re willing to make those trade-offs in service to improve our fiscal outlook and trying to get a handle on the national debt.”

One of the more recent examples, she said, was the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office’s release of a detailed, 116-page report on ways that lawmakers could reduce the deficit in mid-December.

Impoundment law

If Republicans disagree with Musk and Ramaswamy’s suggestions or only put a few of them in place, it could lead Trump to try to cut spending unilaterally.

Such a decision would create considerable issues for Republicans, since it would violate the Impoundment Control Act and potentially set a new precedent that future Democratic presidents could use to ignore Congress on conservative spending priorities.

That Impoundment Control Act, enacted after then-President Richard Nixon refused to spend billions approved by lawmakers, essentially says a president must distribute money Congress has approved for various federal departments and agencies. It also gives the president a couple of paths to ask lawmakers to cut spending they’ve already approved, but they must agree.

Russ Vought, who has been nominated as director of the Office of Management and Budget, is likely to press the belief that presidents can unilaterally cancel spending, often called “impoundment.”

The Center for Renewing America, the think tank Vought established following his stint as OMB director during the first Trump administration, has repeatedly argued the Impoundment Control Act is unconstitutional and published a detailed history of how presidents canceled spending before the 1974 law took effect.

The Trump administration ignoring the ICA would likely lead to legal challenges and eventually a Supreme Court ruling.

Checks and balances

North Dakota Sen. John Hoeven, the top Republican on the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, told States Newsroom some of the government efficiency proposals that Musk and Ramaswamy pursue will be able to move through executive action, but said any spending cuts must go through Congress.

“This is a country of 320 million people that all have a different point of view about all these different issues, which is why you’ve got to have the kind of process we have, the checks and balances and all that — to figure out where is there enough support to implement these recommendations,” Hoeven said. “That’s how the system works because you’re talking about something that’s very far-reaching and it’s going to affect people throughout the country.”

Arkansas Sen. John Boozman, the top Republican on the Military Construction-VA spending subcommittee, said he expects there will be a lot of communication between lawmakers, Musk and Ramaswamy about constitutional authority to try to avoid public disagreements, though he didn’t rule that out.

“I think as long as the communication lines are open, we should hopefully end most of that,” he said.

Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said during a press conference he expects it will take some time for Musk and Ramaswamy to “scrutinize government operations and figure out where we can achieve savings and efficiencies” before Congress reviews those recommendations and puts them in a bill.

Thune said he would like to see some of those move through the budget reconciliation process that Republicans are planning to use to get around the Senate’s 60-vote legislative filibuster; essentially allowing the GOP to move sweeping policy changes without Democratic input.

More cooks in Congress

Republicans have talked about cutting government spending for decades, but haven’t used unified control of government to make significant structural reforms in quite some time.

Newly formed groups in the House and Senate will likely provide some support for Musk and Ramaswamy’s proposals, but they may disagree with them as well, or come up with completely separate ideas.

The combination of Musk and Ramaswamy’s DOGE, a soon-to-be-formed House Oversight subcommittee on government efficiency chaired by Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and the government efficiency caucus could become a too-many-cooks scenario.

The Delivering Outstanding Government Efficiency Caucus already holds several Republican lawmakers among its ranks, but it doesn’t have the jurisdiction that the Appropriations Committee holds. Neither does the Oversight subcommittee.

Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst established the caucus alongside Florida Rep. Aaron Bean and Texas Rep. Pete Sessions

North Carolina’s Ted Budd, Texans John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, Oklahoma’s James Lankford, Utah’s Mike Lee, Kansan Roger Marshall, Ohio’s Bernie Moreno, Missouri’s Eric Schmitt, Florida’s Rick Scott and Alaska’s Dan Sullivan have all joined the group on the Senate side.

House members include Rick Allen of Georgia, Jim Baird of Indiana, Andy Barr of Kentucky, Stephanie Bice of Oklahoma, Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma, Ben Cline of Virginia, Jeff Duncan of South Carolina, Ron Estes of Kansas, Pat Fallon of Texas, Randy Feenstra of Iowa, Scott Franklin of Florida, Carlos Giménez of Florida, Glenn Grothman of Wisconsin, Diana Harshbarger of Tennessee, Doug LaMalfa of California, Nick Langworthy of New York, Debbie Lesko of Arizona, Barry Loudermilk of Georgia, Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, Celeste Maloy of Utah, Tom McClintock of California, Cory Mills of Florida, Dan Newhouse of Washington, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Gary Palmer of Alabama, David Rouzer of North Carolina, Mike Rulli of Ohio, Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida, Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, Beth Van Duyne of Texas, Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin, Tim Walberg of Michigan, Randy Weber of Texas, Daniel Webster of Florida, Roger Williams of Texas and Joe Wilson of South Carolina.

Habersham County Gymnastics facility closed due to storm damage

By

Joy Purcell

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December 30, 2024

Habersham County Gymnastics facility1 — All gymnastic events scheduled at the Habersham County Gymnastics facility are canceled through at least the end of this week due to storm damage. (Joy Purcell/NowHabersham.com)

The Habersham County Gymnastics Facility in Clarkesville was damaged Sunday, December 29, after high winds blew through the area. The winds tore off a section of the roof, according to Ashlyn Brady with the county public information office.

“We don’t know the full extent of the damages at this time; however, we do know that the Gymnastics Facility had internal water damage due to the roof leaking,” Brady said Monday afternoon.

As Now Habersham reported, the north end of Habersham County saw extensive storm damage.

The gymnastics facility, located at Old Clarkesville Mill off Historic Highway 441, is closed until a complete assessment can be made. All gymnastics events scheduled for this week have been canceled.

Updates will be provided regarding a reopening timeline. Questions regarding scheduled events may be directed to Lenay Gerrin or Catherine Rogers at 706-839-0238 and 706-839-0240, respectively.

Clean-up, recovery efforts ongoing in Clarkesville after Sunday storm

By

Jerry Neace

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December 30, 2024

Windstream Crews Rocky Branch — Several Windstream crews were busy Monday afternoon repairing internet service in the Rocky Branch Road area. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)

Residents and businesses were busy working Monday to clean-up and recover after the Sunday morning storm that brought down trees and power lines in Clarkesville and and across the Northeast Georgia region.

One of the hardest hit areas in Clarkesville was the Rocky Branch Road and Gabrels Drive vicinity. Power crews worked into the evening Sunday repairing service and power transmission lines in the area to restore power to customers. On Monday, Windstream was in the area repairing internet lines in an effort to restore service to their customers.

Crews were busy Monday cleaning the parking lot at Cap’N Auto Service. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)

According to Clarkesville Fire Chief Jason Poole, the city had received various reports of damage around the city. Most of the damage was due to fallen trees but he said there were lots of reports of minor roof damage in the area. Cap’N Auto Service received some of the worst roof damage in the city.

Poole said that Ingles experienced some minor roof damage and trees were snapped off behind the building. Fortunately, none of the trees hit the grocery store.

Clarkesville city crews place large sheets of plastic over the hole in the roof at the fire station. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)

As for the damage to the Clarkesville Fire Department, Poole stated that the roof has in fact sustained significant structural damage and will have to be replaced. He said that Clarkesville City Manager Keith Dickerson had already contacted the city’s insurance company and filed a claim. However, no time line has been given for when repairs will begin.

City damage

Dickerson confirmed the damage to the fire station during the storm. “The city suffered some severe structural damage to the Fire Department and we are working to keep that area safe for our employees,” he said.

Large trees remain piled at the intersection of Gabrels Drive and Rocky Branch Road.

According to Dickerson, “The City has been working on keeping the public safe since the storm hit. Public safety was constantly monitoring the situation and we have been clearing roads and working with electric companies to clear power lines so trees could be removed from the roadways,” he said. “There are certain areas that were hit much harder than others in the City and we do have crews still working to clear the roads. Small debris will be removed once the roads are clear.”

Clean-up and repairs will be ongoing for several weeks as people recover from the Sunday morning storm.

Johnson wins Trump’s endorsement to continue as U.S. House speaker

By

Shauneen Miranda

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December 30, 2024

WASHINGTON (States Newsroom) — As U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson vies to keep his gavel, President-elect Donald Trump on Monday gave the Louisiana Republican a major boost with his “Complete & Total Endorsement.”

Trump’s coveted backing — just days ahead of Friday’s House vote to elect a speaker — came as Johnson sat in the hot seat over a government shutdown quarrel earlier this month that exacerbated public dissatisfaction from several of his GOP colleagues over his leadership.

The spending fight also put a spotlight on his vulnerabilities in securing the votes to win the speakership again.

“The American people need IMMEDIATE relief from all of the destructive policies of the last Administration,” Trump said in a Monday post on Truth Social.

The soon-to-be president described Johnson as a “good, hard working, religious man,” noting that “he will do the right thing, and we will continue to WIN.”

In a post on X shortly after the endorsement, Johnson said he was “honored and humbled” by Trump’s support. “Together, we will quickly deliver on your America First agenda and usher in the new golden age of America,” he added.

Tensions flare

But Johnson has failed to secure the backing of every House GOP colleague — which will be critical in a chamber Republicans will hold by a razor-thin margin. His opponents include Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who said he would not be voting for the incumbent.

In a post on X, Massie said: “I respect and support President Trump, but his endorsement of Mike Johnson is going to work out about as well as his endorsement of Speaker Paul Ryan.”

“We’ve seen Johnson partner with the democrats to send money to Ukraine, authorize spying on Americans, and blow the budget,” he added.

In an earlier Monday post on X, Massie noted he was the only Republican to not vote for former U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan’s reelection to the speakership in 2017.

“Mike Johnson is the next Paul Ryan,” Massie said. He urged his colleagues to join him in voting against the Louisiana Republican “because history will not give America another ‘do-over.’”

Massie has not said whom he would prefer for the position.

In another post on X, Massie said he thinks no one will run for speaker until “Johnson concedes that he can’t be Speaker” and “Trump weighs in.”

“To step up before then, or to nominate someone before then, is to doom that candidacy,” he said.

Indiana GOP Rep. Victoria Spartz has also been vocal in her dissatisfaction of Johnson’s leadership and so far has refused to commit to voting for his reelection.

On Monday, Spartz laid out several demands for whoever becomes the next leader, saying: “Our next speaker must show courageous leadership to get our country back on track before this ‘Titanic’ strikes an iceberg at any moment.”

“We must have a vision and a concrete PLAN to deliver on President Trump’s agenda for the American people, which I have not seen from our current speaker despite countless discussions and public promises,” she added, comparing federal spending to the iceberg that caused the infamous nautical disaster.

Spokespeople for House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York did not immediately respond Monday to a message seeking comment.

White County officials sworn into office for new four year terms

By

Dean Dyer, WRWH Radio

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December 30, 2024

Missy Jarrard is sworn into office for another term as White County Board of Education Chair. She was among 16 elected officials sworn in on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (Dean Dyer/WRWH.com)

CLEVELAND, Ga. – Newly elected White County officials were sworn into office Friday morning at the White County Courthouse in Cleveland. County Probate Judge Don Ferguson first administered the oath of office to Enotah Judicial Circuit Judge Joy Parks who then gave the oath of office to Judge Ferguson.

During the 10 AM ceremony at the White County Courthouse, the following people were administered their oath of office and loyalty oath by Judge Ferguson: Magistrate Judges, Corey Hyde, Garrison Baker, and Cherie Kinsey; Commission Chairman Travis Turner; Commissioners Craig Bryant and Shan Ash; Sheriff Rick Kelley; Tax Commissioner Cindy Cannon; Surveyor Eddie Hood; Board of Education Chair Missy Jarrard; Board of Education members Charlie Thomas and Jon Estes; and Corner Ricky Barrett.

White County Clerk of Court Dena Adam was not a part of Friday’s ceremony, Adams, who has served as Superior Court Clerk since 1998, received her oath in a special ceremony on Monday, December 23.

For Shan Ash this will be his first term as commissioner and he said he is looking forward to serving, “I look forward to this new position and I look forward to working with other Commissioners to hopefully do what’s best for our county and best for our people here, “ said Ash.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by family members, county employees, and the general public.

Judge Ferguson said each of the public servants took an oath that was designed specifically for their office, he said “Every office is a little bit different. The Superior Court judge is a little different from the Probate judge, which is a little different from the Magistrate judge as compared to the sheriff, who’s a little different from the corner, but you see some of the same wording, depending upon their duties. And then the commissioners, you know, their oath is for what’s best for the whole county, not just their district, and then the Board of Education is the same. So everything’s just a little bit different.”

The new four-year term for each of these officials will begin on January 1.

White County swearing in ceremonies • Dec. 27, 2024

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John Henry Tilson

By

Now Habersham

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December 30, 2024

John Henry Tilson, 94, of Mt. Airy, passed away on Sunday, December 29, 2024.

Mr. Tilson was born in Banks County, Georgia, on February 24, 1930. He was of the Baptist Faith, where he served as a deacon for many years. Professionally, Mr. Tilson worked as a supervisor for over three decades at Coats and Clark in Toccoa, Georgia. Mr. Tilson proudly served his country as a veteran of the United States Army. In his leisure, he found joy in the simple pleasures of life: tending to his garden, casting a line while fishing, and cherishing precious moments with his family.

Survivors include his loving wife of 73 years, Thenia Hulsey Tilson, of Mt. Airy; daughter and son-in-law, Janice and Glenn Edmonds of Mt. Airy; son, Michael Tilson and son-in-law Ken Gailey, of Acworth; grandchildren, Kim and Joey Reynolds, of Woodstock; Tracy and Matt Newton, of Demorest; Kevin and Charity Edmonds, of Woodstock; and Nathaniel and Jessica Edmonds, of Macon; great-grandchildren, Madison and McKenzie Reynolds, of Woodstock; John, James, and Josiah Newton, of Demorest; Noah, Esther, Lydia, and Elijah Edmonds, of Woodstock; and Everlee, Gates, and Jack Edmonds, of Macon.

A Private Graveside Service will be held at the Glade Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Gideons International, c/o Habersham North Camp, P.O. Box 1855, Clarkesville, GA. 30523.

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

Michael Crow

By

Now Habersham

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December 30, 2024

Michael Crow, age 52, of Maysville, Georgia, passed away on Wednesday, December 25, 2024.

Mr. Crow was born in Commerce, Georgia, on January 21, 1972, to the late Edgar Newton Crow and Doris Campbell Crow. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandparents.

Michael had an enduring passion for life’s simple pleasures, whether that meant enjoying a day on the water fishing, cheering on his favorite dirt track racers, or the thrill of watching wrestling. He was employed at Outback Steakhouse in Commerce, where Michael was a hard-working individual with a heart of gold. He was always the first to lend a helping hand to those in need, offering his time, support, and love without hesitation. Michael will be remembered most for his devotion to family. He cherished every moment spent with his loved ones and was a constant presence as a brother, uncle, and friend. His kindness, compassion, and unwavering loyalty will forever be cherished by those fortunate enough to know him.

Survivors include his loving sister, Pam Shirley, of Maysville; nephew Zach Shirley; nieces Leia Webb and Chantay Shirley; great-nieces and nephews Baylus Shirley, AJ Shirley, Katelyn Shirley, Cambrie Webb, and Mayson Webb; and fiancé Bridget.

A Visitation to celebrate Michael’s life will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Sunday, January 5, 2024, at the Whitfield Funeral Home, South Chapel.

A Private Graveside Service will be held for the family at Jackson Memorial Park.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, South Chapel, at 1370 Industrial Boulevard, Baldwin, Georgia 30511. Telephone: 706-778-7123.

Jimmy Carter is being mourned in his tiny hometown and around the world

By

Russ Bynum, Sharon Johnson and Bill Barrow

-

December 30, 2024

PLAINS, Ga. (AP) — Johnny Jones found out about Jimmy Carter’s deathwithin a matter of minutes. That’s how it works in a small town, even for a former U.S. president and Nobel Peace Prize winner known throughout the world.

“Somebody texted my wife and told her about it — that’s when I found out,” Jones said Monday, a day after the 39th president died at the age of 100, surrounded by family in the one-story house he and his late wife, Rosalynn, built before he launched his first political campaign more than 60 years ago.

“His presence here in Plains has really boosted the morale of everyone who lives here,” said Jones, 85, as he recalled warm exchanges with “Mr. Jimmy” and “Ms. Rosalynn,” who died in November 2023.

A flag flies at half-staff on main street in the aftermath of former President Jimmy Carter’s death, Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, in Plains, Ga. Carter died Sunday at the age of 100. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Indeed, the Carters put this town of fewer than 700 people — not much bigger than when Carter was born Oct. 1, 1924 — on the world stage. His remarkable rise to the White House, landslide defeat in 1980 and rehabilitation thereafter as a freelance diplomat and global humanitarian were reflected Monday in tributes from Plains’ residents and around the world.

Not far from where Jones sat on his front porch, black ribbons hung alongside U.S. flags flying in front of the souvenir shops and cafes that make up the nucleus of Plains’ main street, which spans just a few blocks from Carter’s 1976 presidential campaign headquarters — the old train depot — to where the family once operated its peanut warehouses. TV cameras and news trucks lined the street that runs in front of the old gas station where the former president’s late brother, Billy Carter, once would hold court with national journalists who covered his older brother.

Across the railroad tracks, Philip Kurland stood in his political memorabilia shop, which he opened years after the Carters returned from Washington, and recalled the former president not as a famous figure but an approachable neighbor who once prayed with him when he was sick.

A man enters the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park, Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, in Plains, Ga. Former President Carter died Sunday at the age of 100. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

“We’re in a state of denial,” he said. “I was telling people: Let’s start planning for his 101st birthday.”

At Maranatha Baptist Church, where the Carters long taught Sunday school, a handful of residents trickled in for a silent vigil Monday evening. A piano played softly as people lit candles at the altar, with lighted Christmas trees standing on either side.

In Washington, plans continued for the state rites that will affirm Carter’s global status. President Joe Biden confirmed that Jan. 9, 2025, will be a day of national mourning, with federal offices closed for Carter’s state funeral at the National Cathedral. Biden, a longtime Carter friend and political ally, will deliver a eulogy for his fellow Democrat. Congressional leaders have confirmed to the Carter family that the former president will lie in state from Jan. 7 to Jan. 9, when his remains will be transported to the cathedral for the state funeral.

In New York, the 15 members of the U.N. Security Council stood in silent tribute to the Nobel Peace Prize winner. U.S. deputy ambassador Dorothy Shea read a statement from the U.N.’s most powerful body at the start of an emergency meeting on Yemen.

National Park employee Mary Anne Robbins speaks to guests of the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park, Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, in Plains, Ga. Former President Carter died Sunday at the age of 100. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

“President Carter was a peacemaker who worked tirelessly and effectively in support of conflict mediation, the furtherance of human rights and the strengthening of democracy, both while he was in office and during his many years of service thereafter,” the Security Council statement said.

China’s deputy U.N. ambassador, Geng Shuang, remembered Carter as “a driving force” in establishing relations between Beijing and Washington. “We highly commend his achievements,” Geng said, stating that Carter “made great contribution over the years to … cooperation between the two countries.”

Prominent Egyptian rights defender Hossam Bahgat, a fierce critic of the government of President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi’s government, said Carter was among the first to warn of “Israeli apartheid” against Palestinians — a position that put Carter at odds with much of the U.S. foreign policy establishment.

“Such a profile of courage,” Bahgat wrote on Facebook. “He warned of Israeli apartheid as early as 2007. He stood by his principles and moral standards because he understood his mission and stayed true to his beliefs without seeking to placate donors or please hedge-funder packed boards.”

Back in Georgia, neighbors of the Carter Center in Atlanta congregated near the grounds where Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter would redefine what a post-presidency can be. The Carters established the Carter Center in 1982 and for four decades oversaw diplomatic missions, election monitoring and public health programs with operations that spanned five continents.

FILE – Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter speaks at a news conference in Katmandu, Nepal, on April 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha, File)

“I really appreciate him as an ex-president, what he’s done since” leaving office, said Richard Hopkins, an Atlanta resident.

Hopkins said Carter’s public service went beyond elected office. A Korean War veteran, Hopkins noted that Carter, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, was a submarine officer after World War II. He also highlighted the Carters’ work with Habitat for Humanity, which builds houses for low-income people. The Carters’ Habitat involvement came in addition to their Carter Center work; they headlined their own annual builds into their early 90s.

Habitat for Humanity CEO Jonathan Reckford said the Carters were integral to Habitat’s growth.

“Most people think President Carter started and ran Habitat, which is not actually true,” he said Monday. “But what is true is Habitat was founded in 1976, and it was a tiny organization in 1984 when President and Mrs. Carter famously wrote a bus up from south Georgia to spend a week sleeping in a church basement and rehabbing a tenement building on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. That’s when the world found out about Habitat.”

Gail Hassler and her mother Sara Hassler view a classroom inside the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park, Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, in Plains, Ga. Former President Carter died Sunday at the age of 100. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

A black ribbon denoting the death of former President Jimmy Carter wraps the badge of National Park employee Mary Anne Robbins at the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park, Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, in Plains, Ga. Carter died Sunday at the age of 100. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Jason Carter, the former president’s grandson who now chairs the Carter Center’s governing board, said in a recent interview that the former president formed that lifelong commitment to service because of Plains.

“My grandfather could go to a village anywhere in the world,” the younger Carter said, and help people without patronizing them. “Because he was from a village like that himself.”

Some residents like Jones are worried about their small town now that the Carters are gone.

“Interest in Plains will dwindle,” he predicted.

Jill Stuckey, a longtime Carter friend who oversees the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park for the National Park Service, is more optimistic. She expressed personal sadness but commended the Carters for ensuring a lasting impact in Plains, just as they have globally through the Carter Center.

A man moves by the portrait of former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn Carter at the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park, Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, in Plains, Ga. Jimmy Carter died Sunday at the age of 100. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

“Since the moment Rosalynn passed, he wanted to be with her. So, knowing that he’s finally reunited with Rosalynn is a wonderful thing. But those of us who selfishly wanted to keep him here forever, I’m in that camp,” Stuckey said.

But the Carters, she emphasized, planned long ago to be buried in the same town where they were born, married and spent most of their lives. Rosalynn Carter already is buried in a plot visible from the front porch of the family home. The house and gravesite eventually will be added to the National Park.

Said Stuckey: “I think they’ve kind of set us up for success.”