The Ritz Theatre in Toccoa Georgia (Tami Mayhugh/City of Toccoa)
The Historic Ritz Theatre is bringing in the Christmas season in GREEN! Not in holly or Fraser Fir, but in the meanie greenie form.
It’s the annual Christmas Movie Series, and it starts Thursday, December 5 at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. with the showing of the 2000 version of the Jim Carrey movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
On December 12, the original 1966 version of Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas will be shown at 10 a.m. only.
The beautiful Ritz Theatre in Toccoa, GA, hosts a Christmas movie series. (Tami Mayhugh/City of Toccoa)
The series will finish with The Grinch, 2018’s animated remake of the classic, on December 19 at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Bring your friends and family to enjoy these Christmas Classics!
Tickets and concessions are just $1 each. Tickets are sold at the box office, one hour before show times. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Tami Mayhugh at 706-244-0039 or at[email protected].
The Iron Horse was reinstsalled in its home on the Iron Horse Plant Sciences Farm on Friday. (Chamberlain Smith/UGA)
After months of work, the Iron Horse sculpture has been returned to the Iron Horse Plant Sciences Farm. The sculpture was lifted from its base earlier this year and transported to a workshop, where it was repaired and repainted over the summer and fall.
The 12-foot, 2-ton sculpture was created in 1954 by Abbott Pattison while he was an artist-in-residence at the University of Georgia. The horse, made from welded pieces of boilerplate steel, was met with derision from students when it was placed on campus.
It was later moved to a farm in Greene County by L.C. Curtis of UGA’s Horticulture Department. The Curtis family deeded the horse to the university, and it now stands on the Iron Horse Plant Sciences Farm, approximately 25 miles south of Athens on Highway 15.
The renovated Iron Horse is on its way to reinstallation at its home on the Iron Horse Plant Sciences Farm. (Chamberlain Smith/UGA)
“We are grateful to everyone who made the renovation of the Iron Horse possible,” said Dean of Students Eric Atkinson. “All of this work will help ensure that the Iron Horse will be enjoyed for many years to come.”
The recent work was overseen by sculptor and artwork conservator Amy Abbe. Abbe evaluated the sculpture and determined that after years of being outdoors, repairs were needed to its structural integrity.
Local artist and fabricator Donald Cope welds a new tail section on the Iron Horse sculpture during the restoration process. The tip of the tail rusted way due to contact with cement and dirt at its site outside of Watkinsville. (Peter Frey/UGA)The Iron Horse is painted in white primer before it receives its final black coat during the restoration process. (Peter Frey/UGA)
The restoration cleaned the sculpture, removed corrosion, reinforced joints, and repainted it black. A concrete plaque has also been installed near the sculpture with details about its history.
In Georgia, health care plans must cover biomarker testing for lung cancer. The state policy has contributed to a 26% increase nationally in the survival rate for lung cancer over the last five years.
Cancer screening saves lives.
That’s the message the American Lung Association wants to drive home for policymakers, according to this year’s “State of Lung Cancer” report. Early detection of lung cancer raises your chances of surviving the disease — and there are positive shifts nationwide — but, in Georgia, early diagnosis is much lower than the national average, Danna Thompson, director of advocacy for the American Lung Association in Georgia said.
Biomarker testing can help determine the subtype of lung cancer, which informs the health care team as to best treatment options based on the individual’s genes.
“It’s really been developing over several years,” Thompson said. “It looks for changes in the tumors. It allows for patients not to have to get unnecessary treatment as well.”
Insurance coverage removes a cost barrier for people with lung cancer, but coverage for biomarker testing is only required in some states.
The Lung Association is also calling on Congress to pass the Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act (H.R. 4286), Thompson said.
Though Georgia law requires insurance companies to cover biomarker testing, many people do not have a primary care doctor or a health care plan. That’s why the ALA is calling on Georgia officials to expand Medicaid.
“Not having Medicaid expansion in Georgia leaves our taxpayers taking on a higher cost for individuals that show up to the ER,” Thompson said, noting that cancer is a devastating disease that impacts too many families.
“We are leaving over 500,000 low-income Georgians without health coverage,” Thompson said. “So that means, you know, no screenings, no preventative care, no conversations with the doctor to learn more about if you are at risk for lung cancer and other ailments.”
Thompson says older adults who smoke — or who have a history of smoking cigarettes — are at higher risk for lung cancer, but anyone can see if you are a good candidate for lung cancer screening by taking a quiz on the chapter’s website.
This article comes to Now Habersham in partnership with GPB News
U.S. Sens. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and John Kennedy (R-LA) have introduced bipartisan legislation intended to promote economic development, national security and improved relations between the U.S. and African nations.
The DiasporaLink Act, if approved, would direct a study into the exploration of the costs and feasibility of developing an undersea fiber-optic cable between the East Coast of the U.S. and the African nations of Nigeria and Ghana. U.S. Rep. Stacey Plaskett (D-VI) also has introduced “companion legislation” in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration would conduct the proposed the study. Undersea cables are described internet highways that run along the ocean floor and connect two continents for greater global communication.
If ultimately constructed, a U.S.–Africa undersea cable would “serve as both a national security instrument and a digital commerce highway to boost America’s global political, economic and military advantages,” according to officials, as well as “represent America’s commitment to countering the proliferation of China’s influence in the global telecommunications space.”
“This bipartisan effort is a crucial first step in strengthening America’s global leadership in the telecommunications space–something that impacts our daily lives in an increasingly digital world–and I am proud to work across the aisle with Senator Kennedy to get it done,” Warnock said. “If constructed, this cable would be an investment in both a physical connection and stronger diplomatic and economic connections between the United States and African nations, and in turn bolster America’s national security by curbing China’s growing influence after years of activity in the region.”
In terms of national security, Kennedy noted the importance of ensuring China doesn’t surpass the U.S. on the global stage.
“Every day, China is laying the groundwork to dominate Africa by controlling internet infrastructure. Beijing is building undersea cables for intelligence transmission, financial transactions, and more. This bipartisan bill would help the U.S. defend American interests and support our friends in Africa against the predations of Communist China,” Kennedy said.
WASHINGTON (States Newsroom) — President-elect Donald Trump Saturday announced his intent to name Brooke Rollins of Texas, the president and CEO of the pro-Trump America First Policy Institute, to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“As our next Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke will spearhead the effort to protect American Farmers, who are truly the backbone of our Country,” Trump said in a statement.
Trump’s statement said Rollins is a graduate of Texas A&M University, with an undergraduate degree in agriculture development.
“From her upbringing in the small and Agriculture-centered town of Glen Rose, Texas, to her years of leadership involvement with Future Farmers of America and 4H, to her generational Family Farming background, to guiding her four kids in their show cattle careers, Brooke has a practitioner’s experience, along with deep Policy credentials in both Nonprofit and Government leadership at the State and National levels,” the statement said.
Multiple news reports Friday had quoted sources close to Trump saying he would name former U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler, a Georgia Republican, as secretary of agriculture.
Billions in spending
Rollins, if confirmed by the Senate, would run a crucial agency that administers roughly $213 billion in mandatory and discretionary funding. The current secretary is Tom Vilsack, a former governor of Iowa.
USDA manages food safety practices, conducts agriculture and conservation research, handles farm management and administers the government’s largest food benefits program for low-income families, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
The agency also provides federal grants for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, or WIC.
During the first Trump administration, Rollins served in several roles, including with the Domestic Policy Council. She was also director of the Office of American Innovation, and assistant to the president for strategic initiatives, the statement said.
“In these roles, she developed and managed the transformational domestic policy agenda of the Trump Administration, leading to historic achievements for the American people,” according to her biography.
A conservative lawyer, Rollins earned her law degree at the University of Texas. Rollins later served as the policy director for former Texas Republican Gov. Rick Perry, who was the secretary of Energy in the first Trump administration.
Rollins also ran the Texas Public Policy Foundation — a conservative think tank — for 15 years.
Farm bill at a standstill
One big effort for the next secretary is to work with Congress to finalize the delayed farm bill that sets agriculture and conservation policy for the next five years. A big portion of the farm bill consists of the nutrition program, or SNAP.
USDA is also implementing portions of the Biden administration’s climate and clean energy program, known as the Inflation Reduction Act. Over the next five years, the IRA will provide USDA with about$20 billion for conservation programs that mitigate climate change.
Republicans have been critical of the climate law, and have vowed to claw back some of the funds.
Rollins is likely to work closely with former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whom Trump says he will nominate to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Kennedy, if confirmed by the Senate, has publicly voiced his plans to influence the agriculture industry.
Demorest Fire Department (Brian Wellmeier/Now Habersham)
Habersham County could potentially offer each of its municipalities consolidation of city fire services for a centralized, countywide department. And while some cities have expressed openness to the idea, one in particular believes that’s what’s best for its citizens.
County and city officials began a dialogue regarding a possible consolidation study at Demorest City Hall Thursday, Nov. 21. The meeting between county officials and all seven of Habersham’s cities wasn’t open to the public, and Now Habersham was barred from attending.
Habersham County Manager Alicia Vaughn said the meeting, exclusive to both elected officials and city/county personnel, was intended to foster an open dialogue among all municipalities. No quorum was formed by elected officials with the county or any of the cities.
“There’s a lot of reasons I feel like it’s important to have this conversation,” Vaughn said. “Most of those are geared around costs. If you look at everything, costs are going through the roof right now. And even though the county is large and the cities are small, we all have the same issues – and that’s trying to keep staff and (maintain) equipment.”
Demorest City Hall (Brian Wellmeier/Now Habersham)
Baldwin Councilwoman Alice Venter, who felt the meeting should’ve been open to the public, live streamed just over 24 minutes of the discussion on Facebook. It began with a presentation by Thad Dixon, a representative of consulting firm SouthEastern Fire Consulting Company.
During his presentation, Dixon explained in vague terms what it would mean for a city fire department to surrender operations to the county.
“What you’re looking at doing is becoming a part of an overall, countywide fire system,” Dixson told nearly 30 people in attendance. “What you would be doing is merging into a county system, so instead of everything being dependent on you…you would be part of the countywide response.”
A potential cost of the study is not yet known, according to Vaughn. “Once we know how many cities are involved, then we’ll be able to define the scope of work and the consultant will be able to give us a cost,” she said.
Demorest’s ‘fact-finding mission’
Demorest City Manager Mark Musslewhite told Now Habersham on Thursday that Demorest is looking closely at participating in the study, which would come at no cost to the city.
Talks of launching the consolidation study and discussions over service delivery were sparked by Musslewhite earlier this year as he drafted the city’s 2025 budget.
With a limited taxbase, Musslewhite pointed to a variety of factors involving Demorest’s ISO rating that have now constituted a need to reexamine the feasibility of the city’s fire department. 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 a third party audit team for insurance companies, and ISO ratings are directly tied to insurance policies for cities and counties.
Demorest’s ISO rating is currently 3, though it’s at risk of falling in the near future, and Habersham County’s is 5. Standards to achieve better ISO ratings include various requirements – such as a minimum of four firefighters on staff and water pressure (PSI) standards.
Demorest Fire Department has two firefighters and one chief on staff. Habersham County’s Fire Department has 78 full-time positions.
Musslewhite said rising costs and a projected 2025 gross tax digest of just $470,000 – a dismal figure compared to surrounding cities like Baldwin ($1.1 million), Clarkesville ($1.7 million) and Cornelia ($3 million) – have brought a slew of financial challenges to the city of around 2,000 people.
“This is a fact-finding mission,” Musslewhite said. “A lot of it goes back to ISO. For Demorest, we can’t meet (those requirements). It’s an additional $725,000. I have a ladder truck that needs $150,000 worth of repair – because (Demorest) does have three-story buildings, and we do have to have 3,500 PSI. And right now, all we’ve got is 1,500 with an engine, so we’re missing a lot of things.”
Musslewhite noted that if a department maintains a high ISO rating, the city could lose insurance, setting up potential for catastrophic consequences. And since Demorest stopped taking in-county calls, the city has continued to operate a full department while only responding to three calls a day.
“Am I going to (pay) four firefighters sitting over there for 24 hours for less than five calls a day?” Musslewhite said. “That doesn’t make sense.”
He added: “If you cannot produce four firefighters on a call when (ISO) comes to do our inspection, you will automatically go to a 10. That means you don’t have anybody that will write your insurance coverage…if you can’t produce four firefighters, it’s over right there. They’re not going to the second inspection.”
A new requirement that also has posed a challenge for Demorest’s ISO rating is mutual aid, according to Musslewhite. Now, ISO “no longer counts your mutual aid,” he said. “That’s additional aid, and so they’re taking that away.”
The only other alternative for funding fire services would be drastic cuts, increased taxes or to ramp up transfers from the city’s water/sewer fund. But with Demorest supplying water to 75% of the county, and a need for much-needed investments in its water/sewer infrastructure, Musslewhite believes that is no longer an option.
“Forty percent of Demorest’s water will go toward testing for ISO,” he said. “If we have poor water pressure, that’s going to be a minus. The stronger my water department is – the better it is for the other fire departments.”
Demorest City Council is expected to take a vote on whether to officially enter into the county’s consolidation study on Dec. 3.
“If other cities don’t want (to enter) the study, so be it, but I want the facts,” Musslewhite said. “…the money is not there. I don’t have the money. And I’m trying to protect the city’s assets and the taxpayers. That’s the key to this – knowing (taxpayers) are getting the best coverage for the best dollar.”
(Rob Moore/Habersham County)
Habersham County Emergency Services Director Jeff Adams said the financial implications consolidation could have on cities and the county won’t be fully known until after the study is complete.
“At this point, we don’t know yet,” Adams said. “This is probably a six-month or year-long process…I think the first step is get the consolidation study done, and see where we all stand.”
Other cities
By comparison, with ample funding (a $1.5 million budget for fire services), Cornelia Fire Chief Billy Jenkins said it’s unlikely that his city will participate in the study. “As far as the (department), we don’t have any issues at all,” he said.
Baldwin Mayor Stephanie Almagno, who attended Thursday’s meeting, indicated her city is not interested in participating.
“At all times, it’s our job to protect our citizens, the assets our citizens have paid for and our staff,” she said. “At this point, with no information that came out of the meeting, I don’t see how our citizens would benefit from consolidation.”
Clarkesville City Manager Keith Dickerson said he plans to bring the county’s proposal to council and the mayor at their next meeting in December.
“It never hurts to take a look at it,” Dickerson said. “…I think we should all take a good look and make sure we’re in compliance with where we need to be. That’s kind of a starting point on whether (council) wants to do (the study) or not.”
The city of Mt. Airy relies on Cornelia and Alto on Baldwin for fire services.
Tallulah Falls dropped a tough one Saturday at Lumpkin County, 66-57. The Indians found themselves up 22-18 after the first, but the home Indians rallied to tie the contest at 33 by halftime.
Neyo Bain dropped in a team-high 18 points, while Brian Neely joined him in double figures with 10. Noah Massong had eight, and Kayra Aksu and Marquis Rolle seven apiece.
Judah McIntosh added four, while Armando Landecho Cedeno, Hayden Bootle, and Veran Bajic each finished with two. TFS is now 3-3 overall on the season.
The Lady Indians dropped a Saturday road game at Lumpkin County, 59-37.
TFS was knotted at eight apiece after the opening quarter, but a 22-point second period put Lumpkin up for good.
Haygen James led with 11 points, while Breelyn Wood chipped in with eight. Marian Nino had had six, Lia Sanjur four, LB Kafsky three, and two by Sofia Alderfer.
Down power lines cause smoke outside Hill Street Baptist Church Thursday (Hannah Joy Henson/Facebook)
A homeschool co-op group was forced to shelter in place for about 40 minutes at Hill Street Baptist Church in Toccoa on Thursday, Nov. 21, after a transformer blew and caused power lines to fall in the parking lot.
An urgent-sounding social media post by one of the people inside the school went up during the incident Thursday.
(We’re) currently trapped inside Hill St. Baptist Church with live, sparking power lines down in the parking lot,” Melissa Moore posted to Facebook. “The lines are starting fires under and behind our vehicles…Toccoa Fire Dept is here but can’t do anything until the power company shows up to turn off the power.”
A firefighter interacts with the children after gaining entry to the school. (Hannah Joy Henson/Facebook)
After expressing frustration over Georgia Power’s response to their phone calls, Moore added, “We have 40+ children trapped in a building with live wires sparking fires and there is zero urgency on their part to assist us.”
Moore said it took the power company more than 40 minutes to arrive.
Savannah Caudell, a secretary at Hill Street Baptist Church, said the group was told to remain indoors until Georgia Power arrived. She said a representative for the utility company had to travel from Clayton to Toccoa, and that Georgia Power was there within an hour.
“Everybody was OK,” she said. “Just a little shaken up…he had to get the power cut off so they could leave.” She said the incident occurred at 11:48 a.m., and the power was shut off by 12:23 p.m.
“It took them a couple of hours to fix it, but it’s electricity, and you’ve got to be careful with that,” Caudell said.
It is unclear what caused the transformer to blow. Georgia Power was not immediately available for comment.
As Kermit the Frog once said, “It’s not easy being green.”
That’s certainly the case with Wicked, the big-screen version of the highly acclaimed and successful Broadway musical. I’m not necessarily talking about the character of the Wicked Witch of the West, but rather the execution, which I know has such a devout following.
This could’ve easily been an epic disaster on the level of Cats, but thanks to its masterful direction by Jon M. Chu and an electric cast, it soars high, and its broomstick rarely falter.
For the uninitiated, Wicked is based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, which was then adapted into its Broadway setting by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman. The story serves as a prequel to the Wizard of Oz and shows the point of view of events from the perspective of the Wicked Witch herself.
She’s played by Cynthia Erivo in a magnetic performance as Elphaba Thropp, who was born green and rejected by her parents because of that. When she becomes an adult, she attends Shiz University in Oz and befriends Galinda Upland (Ariana Grande), who later becomes the Good Witch of the North.
Michelle Yeoh plays Madame Morrible, the Dean of Sorcery who takes an immediate liking to Elphaba and wants her under her wing. Morrible has zero faith in Galinda and offers her a forced sympathy at times due to her friendship with Elphaba.
There are a bizarre number of characters we meet who get surprising doses of screen time and character development, such as Dr. Dillamond (Peter Dinklage), a talking goat who is also a professor. He’s concerned because animals are losing their rights in Oz.
Soon, Elphaba receives a letter from the Wizard himself (Jeff Goldblum) after hearing about her magical abilities. He invites Elphaba to the Emerald City, and she invites her friend Galinda to come with her.
Given the movie’s ambitious material, I expected Wicked to feature too many characters, which it does, and too many plot threads (again, it does). Thankfully, the structure of the screenplay by Holzman and Dana Fox is not completely superfluous and gives us just enough to figure out who is doing what with whom.
The musical numbers are well-directed and glossy and help advance the story. The showstopper is “Defying Gravity,” which plays during the climax. Erivo demonstrates her vocal range in other numbers, such as “I’m Not That Girl.” Anyone else in the role would not have given the level of gravity (no pun intended) that this character requires.
Ariana Grande and Michelle Yeoh are also equally effective in their roles. Grande portrays Galinda as simultaneously narcissistic and bubbly, with a sly sense of humor in many of her scenes. Yeoh is very stoic, but not so much to the point where she’s uninteresting. Her character has a level of complexity bubbling below the surface.
The movie is visually gorgeous and a triumph of production design, costumes, and visual effects that are reminiscent of the 1939 classic. It’s also brimming with cinematography by Alice Brooks that makes it look bright and borderline immaculate.
From a technical and musical perspective, Wicked shines despite its 160-minute runtime. The storylines do meander once in a while, and some characters might seem a little overstuffed, but then again, it is a massive undertaking, and we should know that going in.
Wicked: Part 1 will no doubt satisfy fans of the Broadway musical and might make converts want to walk down their own Yellow Brick Road and become fans. Who knows?
The film gives a nice nod to actresses Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, who originated the roles of Galinda and Elphaba on Broadway. Note: The movie ends with “To Be Continued.” Part 2 is currently scheduled to be released next November.
Grade: A-
(Rated PG for some scary action, thematic material and brief suggestive material.)
Republican Gov. Brian Kemp will lead the Republican Governors Association for the next year, the group announced Wednesday. The announcement comes after Republicans won eight of 11 governor’s races in the recent midterm elections.
Kemp, currently the vice chair of the organization, will take over for Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee. Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte will take on the role of vice chair.
The Republican Governors Association works to elect Republican candidates for governor across the United States. Kemp is expected to use the position to push for conservative policies across the country.
“Republican governors are making commonsense, conservative policies a reality, putting families and children first, and making our states the best places to run a business and raise a family,” Kemp said in a statement.
Kemp’s relationship with President-elect Donald Trump has seemingly thawed after a rocky patch. Trump previously attacked Kemp for refusing to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results, but after Kemp promised to help with Trump’s electoral efforts on Fox News, Trump’s comments turned from attacks to praise.
“I look forward to working with my fellow Republican governors and President Trump to keep getting the job done for the American people and to add even more Republican governors to our ranks,” Kemp said in a statement.
As Republicans look ahead to the 2025 and 2026 elections, Kemp is expected to campaign across the country, boosting his national profile as his term as governor comes to an end.
Some have suggested Kemp might challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia in 2026 or run for president. Leading the Republican Governors Association will give Kemp strong national connections and resources for either effort.
The organization previously backed Kemp’s campaigns against Democrat Stacey Abrams in 2018 and Trump-endorsed David Perdue in the 2022 Republican primary. Kemp’s well-funded political operation was instrumental in turning out Georgia Republicans for the November elections, helping to secure wins for Trump and other Republican candidates in the state.
Gladiator II marks the sequel to the original film almost a quarter century later. Director Ridley Scott returns for another thunderous outing, but I personally didn’t see the need for a follow-up.
The original film worked wonderfully well as a self-contained effort and ended perfectly. Gladiator II supplies a bombastic spectacle but curiously lacks much of the weight and emotional resonance of the first one.
This second chapter focuses on the character of Lucius Verus (Paul Mescal), now an adult who lives far away from Rome in 200 AD and goes by the name Hanno. He lives in Numidia with his archer wife when the Roman army invades and conquers. Pedro Pascal is General Marcus Acacius, responsible for Lucius’ wife’s death.
Lucius’ wife is killed in battle. He becomes a slave and, eventually, a gladiator. Lucius fights against savage baboons. It’s here where we can see the original formula on autopilot.
Denzel Washington costars as Macrinus, a former slave who now manages gladiators. He senses great potential in Lucius and offers him an opportunity for revenge in the Roman Colosseum. Washington brings the most charisma to his role as a man who has lofty ambitions of overthrowing the current emperors.
Connie Nielsen returns as Lucilla, Lucius’ mother. When she’s reunited with him, he rejects his lineage. Lucilla sent him away because he was next in line for the throne.
Director Ridley Scott still knows how to execute these intense, violent, and over-the-top sequences with a combination of practical sets and CGI. Perhaps the movie’s most memorable sequence involves flooding the Colosseum and staging a naval battle. It’s impressive to look at and offers something different while still being cut from the same cloth. And there are sharks.
My recommendation is more for the spectacle rather than the emotional or psychological attempts the movie makes. Russell Crowe’s Maximus and Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus provided equal contrast, and their performances were so committed to the material that there was a strong interest in who would come out on top.
Here Gladiator II misses that despite solid work from Mescal, Pascal and Washington. I can see Mescal emerging as a star due to his towering sense of intensity as Lucius and Washington generates interest with his screen presence by playing Macrinus with a wit and a charm that masquerades ambiguity underneath his mostly poker-face exterior.
Gladiator II doesn’t reach the near-perfect heights of its Oscar-winning predecessor, but you might be entertained.
