GBI releases additional details about Wilkes County triple homicide

By

-

December 10, 2024

Shannon Box of Tignall has been charged with aggravated assault and three counts of murder in connection with a triple homicide investigation in Wilkes County. (Wilkes County Sheriff's Office)

The Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) has released additional details related to the triple homicide investigation that is ongoing in the small town of Tignall in Wilkes County.

According to the GBI, the man wanted in connection with a triple homicide in Wilkes County was arrested after a search on Friday, December 6, 2024. At approximately 8:00 a.m., the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office received a report that Shannon Box had been spotted near Danburg Road in Tignall.

Deputies quickly responded and located Box at a church on Jones Chapel Road. He was taken into custody without incident.

Box was charged with aggravated assault, three counts of murder, and three counts of possession of a knife during the commission of a crime. He is currently being held at the Wilkes County Detention Center.

The victims of the attack have been identified as:

Chauncey Box, 55, of Tignall, GA
Brenda Lipscomb, 67, of Tignall, GA
Michael Schmidt, 55, of Tignall, GA

The identity of a fourth victim, currently hospitalized, is being withheld at this time.

According to the GBI, the investigation is ongoing. Authorities are asking anyone with information related to the case to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Thomson at 706-595-2575 or the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office at 706-678-2224.

‘There’s chemical smoke everywhere.’ Employee reports the Sept. 29 BioLab fire in 911 call

By

Pamela Kirkland

-

December 10, 2024

chemical plant fire in Conyers — A plume of smoke rises above the BioLab plant in Conyers, Georgia, where a fire broke out early Sunday morning, Sept. 29, 2024. (Rockdale County Gov't/Facebook)

Newly released 911 calls and dispatch notes from the Sept. 29 BioLab fire in Conyers, east of Atlanta, offer a closer look at the early hours of the chemical fire that forced 17,000 evacuations and weeks of shelter-in-place orders.

Shortly after 5 a.m., a BioLab employee called 911 to report a burst sprinkler and chemical smoke spreading through Plant 12, a massive warehouse storing hazardous pool treatment chemicals.

“The sprinkler head broke and there’s smoke everywhere,” the employee said during the call. “There’s chemical smoke everywhere.”

The employee, one of only two people on-site at the time, told dispatch they hadn’t been able to reach their colleague.

“Were you able to make contact with your partner?” the dispatcher asked.

“No, I need to put my respirator on to go back inside and get him,” the employee responded.

The dispatch operator can be heard trying to get the employees to the responding fire and rescue crew on the way on the scene.

Firefighters arrived to find near-zero visibility inside Plant 12. Notes from dispatch show responders heading inside the building, requiring self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs) to protect against the toxic fumes. The rescue workers had to rotate frequently due to fatigue and the conditions. Some first responders reported “facial skin irritation” while sitting in their patrol units.

Calls from dispatch to first responders were also obtained. During one call, dispatch and a first responder can be heard joking about the frequency of incidents at the chemical plant.

“One of the workers called and said there was chemical smoke in the building,” the dispatcher said. “Apparently, there is heavy smoke in the area, so they’re shutting everything down.”

“It’s always ‘FireLab,’ right?” the dispatcher joked.

The September fire created a plume that released chemicals into the air, triggering evacuations and school closures for several days.

Federal investigators released a preliminary report on the fire in November. Their investigation is ongoing.

BioLab said in a statement that it remains committed to understanding the causes of the incident and to “making things right for impacted area residents and business owners.”

Baldwin approves fire consolidation study

By

Jerry Neace

-

December 9, 2024

Baldwin Council 12-2024 — The Baldwin City Council approves the fire consolidation study during Monday's meeting. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)

Baldwin has become the fourth city in a week to approve a resolution presented by Habersham County for the city to participate in a fire consolidation study. The approval came just minutes after Clarkesville approved the resolution during its council meeting Monday evening.

Last Tuesday, both the cities of Demorest and Cornelia approved the resolution during their regular meetings.

The resolution that the Baldwin City Council approved outlines that the county has agreed to pay for the cost of the study. The council designated Chief Administrative Office Emily Woodmaster as the city’s representative to participate in the study and provide information on behalf of the city. The resolution also states that the CIty Council is committed to ensuring community engagement throughout the study process to gather input and remain transparent.

Finally, the resolution states that for the city’s participation in the study, in no way, does it obligate the city to consolidate.

Mayor Stephanie Almagno asked Woodmaster if the consultant gave a timeline for the study. Woodmaster responded that the study could take six months to a year to complete.

Almagno told the council that the information from the study would be beneficial to the city. The most recent ISO audit for the fire department came in at a three and missed getting a two by four points.

Council woman Alice Venter weighed in on the discussion. “I think the feasibility study itself is good,” she said. “The more data, the better.”

After a short discussion among the council, Almagno asked for a motion to approve the study. Venter made the motion and it was second by Council woman Kerri Davis. The resolution was approved unanimously.

SEE ALSO

Clarkesville becomes third city to participate in county fire study

Despite doubts on legality, Trump pledges to sign order revoking birthright citizenship

By

Ariana Figueroa

-

December 9, 2024

President-elect Donald Trump was interviewed for the edition of NBC News’ “Meet the Press with Kristen Welker” that aired on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Photo courtesy of NBC News)

WASHINGTON (States Newsroom) — President-elect Donald Trump vowed to sign an executive order on his first day in office to end the constitutional right to U.S. citizenship for anyone born in the country, during an extensive Sunday interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press with Kristen Welker.”

But Trump also admitted there would be legal hurdles to carrying out his policy goal of amending the 14th Amendment. Many constitutional legal scholars have argued that Trump could not halt what is known as birthright citizenship through an executive order.

“We have to end it,” Trump told Welker. “We’re going to end that because it’s ridiculous.”

On other immigration topics, he said he is willing to make a deal with Democrats on keeping so-called Dreamers in the U.S., and he supports deporting entire families in his mass deportation plans, even if the children themselves are U.S. citizens.

But some of his most extensive comments were on birthright citizenship. “We’re gonna have to get it changed,” Trump said of the 14th Amendment.

Ratified in 1868

The U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868 and guarantees U.S. citizenship to anyone born in the country.

“All persons born or naturalised in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside,” according to the 14th Amendment.

Trump said that he will try to end birthright citizenship through an executive order, “if we can.”

Experts take issue. “There is today no serious scholarly debate about whether a president can, through executive action, contradict the Supreme Court’s long-standing and consistent interpretation of the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment,” Gerald Neuman, director of the human rights program at Harvard Law School, said in a statement in 2018 along with a group of constitutional law scholars.

Two-thirds of both the U.S. House and Senate would be required to vote to approve an amendment changing the Constitution, and three-fourths of state legislatures would have to ratify such an amendment for it to take effect. A convention could also be called by two-thirds of state legislatures.

While Republicans are set to control both chambers by January, it’s not by a margin of two-thirds.

During the interview, Trump also inaccurately claimed that the United States is the only country in the world that has birthright citizenship. More than a dozen countries bestow birthright citizenship, from Canada to Brazil.

Some countries have birthright citizenship, but with restrictions, such as France, which requires at least one parent be a citizen in order for the child to obtain citizenship.

A branch extended to Dreamers

Welker asked Trump what his plans are for the Dreamers, the more than 500,000 people in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that he tried to end during his first administration. The DACA program is currently waiting for a federal court to decide its legal fate.

“These are people that have been brought here at a very young age and many of these are middle-aged people now, they don’t even speak the language of their country,” he said.

Trump said that he would “work with the Democrats on a plan,” but did not elaborate on any details.

Welker asked Trump about his mass deportation plans, a campaign pledge to deport millions of undocumented people, and how that would affect the more than 4 million mixed-status families, meaning families with different immigration statuses.

“I don’t want to be breaking up families,” Trump said. “So the only way you don’t break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back.”

Welker asked if that included, “even kids who are here legally?”

“Whatcha gonna do if they want to stay with the father?” Trump said. “We have to have rules and regulations.”

Trump did not answer repeated questions as to whether he would bring back one of his harshest immigration policies, known as family separation, that separated parents from their children at the border. While most have been reunited, there are still about a quarter of children who are not with their parents.

“We don’t have to separate families,” Trump said. “We’ll send the whole family very humanely, back to the country where they came.”

Clarkesville roundabout project delayed until Fall 2025

By

Jerry Neace

-

December 9, 2024

Clarkesville proposed roundabout — (Georgia Department of Transportation)

The long-awaited roundabout project in Clarkesville has been delayed once again, with the new construction start date now pushed to the fall of 2025.

Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Communications Officer for District 1 Nathan Johnston provided an update on the status of the roundabout at the intersection of GA 17/GA 385 and GA 197. “This project has shifted out due to construction funding and now has a Let Date of 10-17-25,” Johnston said, referring to the date when bids for the project will be opened.

Originally, GDOT had projected that construction on the Clarkesville roundabout would begin in late 2023 or early 2024. However, delays have occurred due to issues with right of way revisions and the relocation of utilities, causing the timeline to be extended.

The idea for a roundabout in Clarkesville was first conceived in 2019 and GDOT opened the project to public comment in May of 2021. The proposal faced significant opposition from the community.

The Clarkesville roundabout was estimated to cost $2.6 million when the project was initially proposed in 2021. For comparison, the roundabout project on GA 105/GA 115, which began construction last year, was initially estimated at $2.8 million but ended up costing nearly twice that amount at $4.98 million. No updated cost estimate for the Clarkesville roundabout has been provided yet.

Meanwhile, the GA 105/GA 115 roundabout, which has been operational since November, is still not fully completed. Johnston noted that while the roundabout is functional, additional work remains. The project’s expected completion date is Summer of 2025, depending on weather conditions.

Clarkesville becomes third city to participate in county fire study

By

Brian Wellmeier

-

December 9, 2024

Clarkesville City Council budget hearing — Clarkesville City Council (Brian Wellmeier/NowHabersham.com)

The city of Clarkesville became the third municipality to enter into a county-sponsored feasibility study after a unanimous vote by council Monday, Dec. 9.

The study will review municipal fire services and weigh the pros of potential consolidation with Habersham County. The cost of the study is not yet known, according to county officials, though it will come at no cost to participating cities. Participation in the study does not come with any obligation to cities.

“I don’t see any downfall in doing this. There’s no commitment from us,” City Manager Keith Dickerson told council members. “There’s no cost from us. I think some of the data that comes out of this would be good for us to look at, and maybe very useful…I want to see what they consider to be (Clarkesville’s) fire district – what we’re covering in the county now, and I think that information will be really important for us.”

ISO ratings

The feasibility study will look at services, staffing and other elements of city fire departments in relation to ISO ratings. An ISO rating is a score that measures a fire department’s ability to protect people/property. Scores range from 1-10, with lower scores being considered a better rating.

ISO is also a third party audit team for insurance companies, and ISO ratings are directly tied to insurance policies for cities and counties. Standards to achieve better ISO ratings include various requirements – such as a minimum of four firefighters on staff and water pressure (PSI) standards.

Clarkesville’s ISO rating is a 3, and the city’s budget for fire services is just over $515,000.

Recent changes to ISO requirements have made achieving a higher score a greater obstacle for certain cities, prompting the feasibility study.

Cornelia became the first city to enter into the study last week. Demorest also voted to participate in the study last Tuesday.

SEE ALSO

Baldwin approves fire consolidation study

Structure fire in Commerce causes heavy damage to barn and garage

By

Jerry Neace

-

December 9, 2024

Commerce-Banks FD 2 — (Banks County Fire Department)

A fire broke out on Thursday, December 5, at a residence on Beaver Creek Drive in Commerce, resulting in significant damage to a detached barn and a three-car garage.

According to Banks County Fire Chief Steve Nichols, units from Banks County Fire and Emergency Services responded to the scene at 7:27 p.m. after reports of a structure fire.

Upon arrival, firefighters found the barn fully engulfed in flames. A three-car garage, attached to a two-story single-family residence, was also exposed to the fire and was fifty percent involved.

Fortunately, all animals housed in the barn were safely rescued, but the barn itself was deemed a total loss. The garage sustained heavy damage, while the residential structure experienced only minor damage from the heat.

The homeowner was at the property at the time of the fire, but no injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Banks County Fire Department, though it is believed to be accidental in nature.

Lee Arrendale State Prison Fire Department, Jackson County Correctional Institution Fire Department, and Bold Springs Fire Department assisted in the response. The fire operation was officially terminated at 10:05 p.m. Thursday night.

NGMC Gainesville becomes first health facility to offer groundbreaking new cancer treatment

By

Brian Wellmeier

-

December 9, 2024

Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville has become the first healthcare facility in the world to offer a new groundbreaking clinical trial to treat liver cancer.

NGMC Gainesville already is one of 25 sites in the world, as well as the only facility in Georgia, to offer an innovative form of liver cancer treatment called histotripsy – which uses high-intensity ultrasound waves to break down cancer tumors at a cellular level.

Different from conventional forms of treatment – such as surgery, radiation or chemotherapy, histotripsy does not involve incisions, heat or toxic chemicals, according to healthcare officials. This, in effect, can potentially reduce side effects and shorten the recovery process between treatments.

NGMC Gainesville’s Oncology Research team is now enrolling patients in BOOMBOX, a clinical trial to study qualified histotripsy patients for up to five years to improve standard treatment protocol.

“We’ve been using histotripsy for more than six months now, helping almost 50 people in their fight against cancer,” Dr. Nelson Royall, a liver surgeon who performed the first histotripsy procedure at NGMC, said. “Our team has fielded calls and emails from people from more than 20 states and several other countries who are interested in traveling to Gainesville for this revolutionary treatment option, which shows just how many people need help, and participating in the BOOMBOX clinical trial will hopefully improve and expand access to histotripsy over time.”

Royall and Dr. Terence Jackson, both with Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) Surgical Associates, are now among the few doctors in the world trained to provide histotripsy.

“I’m thrilled to be part of this groundbreaking effort to advance non-invasive treatment options for our cancer patients,” Jackson said. “This trial is a unique opportunity to bring the most progressive care to patients who need it most, and I’m proud to play a role in shaping the future of medicine.”

Dr. Andrew Johnson, a medical director of Oncology at NGMC and a medical oncologist with Longstreet Clinic, spoke to the significance of the announcement Monday.

“The fact that NGMC became the first hospital in the world to enroll patients in this national clinical trial shows just how committed we are to helping patients beat cancer,” he said. “When you look at the select few hospitals providing histotripsy across the nation, our program is literally alongside the likes of Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, MD Anderson and Johns Hopkins – and we treat all ranges of cancer right here in Georgia.”

To learn more about histotripsy at NGMC and how to get on the waitlist for evaluation, visit nghs.com/histotripsy. For more information about a patient’s eligibility for the clinical trial, call 678-943-3935.

Habersham’s free pet clinic services over 300 pets

By

Jerry Neace

-

December 9, 2024

free pet clinic- Bodie — Bodie waits attentively for his turn at the free pet clinic. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)

Habersham County’s annual free pet clinic, a collaborative effort between the Habersham County Animal Shelter and Planned Pethood, was a resounding success this past Saturday, serving more than 300 pets.

Traffic winds through the lower parking lot as pet owners wait their turn for the free pet clinic. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)

The clinic, which ran from 9 a.m. to noon at the Habersham County Fairgrounds, provided a variety of essential services to pet owners in the community.

8 week old Homer gets his turn for his vaccinations and microchip at the Habersham County free pet climic. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)

Habersham County Animal Care and Control Director Madi Nix expressed her satisfaction with the turnout. She noted that at the event’s start, pet owners stretched from the pavilion, through the lower parking lot at the fairgrounds, all the way to GA 17. “It was a fantastic turnout,” Nix said, adding that the event had a slightly slow start due to setup but quickly gained momentum and proceeded smoothly for the rest of the day.

Copper receives his vaccines at the Habersham County free pet clinic. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)

Affordability

Planned Parenthood Outreach Coordinator Leaf Wood explained that the Habersham County Animal Shelter knows the community needs and distributed the “golden ticket” to those that needed the services provided at the free clinic.

She highlighted the importance of the event in meeting the community’s needs. “We’re trying to serve people who have a hard time affording these services or those whose animals have never seen a vet,” Wood said. “This clinic ensures that these pets get caught up with their necessary vaccinations and treatments.”

“Critters” ran amok during the free pet at the Habersham County Fairgrounds. (jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)

The free clinic offered essential services at no charge, including rabies and distemper vaccines—core vaccines for both cats and dogs. In addition to the vaccinations, pet owners were given free flea and tick medication, microchip services, and spay and neuter vouchers. The vouchers, redeemable at Planned Pethood’s Duluth office, fully cover the cost of the surgery for qualifying pet owners.

The event continues to be a vital resource for the community. It provides care and assistance to pets and their owners who might otherwise face barriers to veterinary care.

Mary Ellyn Williams

By

Now Habersham

-

December 9, 2024

Mary Ellyn Williams, a wonderful wife, mother, and nana, passed away on December 6, 2024, in Dawsonville, Georgia, after an extended illness.

Born on November 2, 1946, in Clarkesville, Georgia, Mary was the beloved daughter of the late Bob and Inez Yates. Mary pursued her passion for journalism at the University of Georgia, where she honed her skills and laid the foundation for a distinguished career. Alongside her devoted husband of 52 years, Bobby Williams, she served as editor-in-chief of The Northeast Georgia in Habersham County. Together, they dedicated many years to informing and enriching their community through their work.

Mary is survived by her loving husband, Bobby, and their daughter, Minty Ellyn Mihdawi, along with her son-in-law, Mark, and cherished grandson, Matthew. She is also survived by her brother, Gary Yates, and sister-in-law, Cindy, as well as her nephew, Adam Yates, and nieces, Elissa Smith (John) and Kylie Johnson (Shawn). Her legacy extends to her three great-nephews and one great-niece.

A graveside service to honor Mary’s life will be held on Wednesday, December 11, at 2:00 p.m. at Level Grove Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to gather and celebrate the life of a woman who touched many hearts with her kindness, dedication, and unwavering spirit.

Mary Ellyn Williams will be remembered for her contributions to journalism, her devotion to family, and her enduring impact on all who knew her. Her memory will forever be cherished by those she leaves behind.

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

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

White County firefighters battle two-story structure fire

By

Brian Wellmeier

-

December 9, 2024

Mountain Lakes fire — On Sunday, fire crews respond to a residential fire that burned well into the evening (Bryce Barrett/White County)

White County fire crews extinguished a structure fire in the Mountain Lakes community just before 2 p.m. on Sunday.

First responders responded to a call of a fence fire on Magnificent Way in the Mountain Lakes community off Highway 75 Alternate – where they found a fully involved structure fire at a two-story residence.

First responders evacuated exposed structures and proceeded to battle the blaze. Three structures sustained damage: One was fully involved with fire, and two sustained damage from fire spread. Fire crews remained on scene until 6:53 p.m.

No injuries were reported as a result of the fire, which is under investigation by the Georgia State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Lavonia man facing multiple charges after police chase

By

Brian Wellmeier

-

December 9, 2024

BROOKS_ETHAN_BLUE — Ethan Blue Brooks (Habersham County Sheriff's Office)

A Lavonia man is facing multiple charges after allegedly leading police on a brief chase in late November.

Ethan Blue Brooks, 27, of Lavonia, was arrested on Nov. 30 after he allegedly fled from police in a black Dodge Ram 1500 in Cornelia.

Authorities say Brooks initially failed to stop for Cornelia police officers on U.S. 441 before he merged onto Ga. 365 northbound, where Brooks allegedly continued at speeds of around 60 mph without stopping.

A Habersham County deputy, who had taken the lead in the pursuit, then performed a PIT maneuver. The Dodge rotated counterclockwise toward the median, struck the guide wires and came to a final rest on the median shoulder.

Authorities say officers surrounded the vehicle with firearms drawn on Brooks, who was talking on his cellphone as they ordered him to exit the truck.

A report of the incident states a deputy then seized Brooks by the arm and removed him from the vehicle by force.

Once in custody, Brooks, who allegedly resisted deputies, became “verbally aggressive” and shouted obscenities at officers before he declined medical evaluation, according to authorities.

Brooks was booked into the Habersham County Jail and charged with failure to maintain insurance, speeding in excess of maximum limits, two counts of fleeing or attempting to elude police officers, and obstructing or hindering law enforcement officers.