Hoyt Wade, 91, of Alto, Georgia, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, October 05, 2024.
Born in Alto, Georgia, on January 18, 1933, he was a son of the late CLC Wade, Sr., and Emma Dodd Wade. Hoyt graduated from South Habersham High School, Class of 1951, and proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict. He enjoyed taking day trips and spending precious time with his family. Hoyt was of the Baptist faith and was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his infant son, Hoyt Roger Wade; brothers CLC Wade, Jr., Robert Wade, Lonnie Wade, and Ed Reems; and sisters Ida Wade, Pauline Wade, and Issaqueena Wade Sparks.
Survivors include his beloved wife of 65 years, Bessie Armour Wade; son & daughter-in-law, Ronnie & Pam Wade; special nephew & spouse, Greg S. & Carol Armour; grandchildren, Matthew H. Wade & his fiancé, Laura Morales; Joshua S. & Cris Wade; Anthony Armour; great-grandchildren, Aliyah Morales, Lennon Wade, Lyon Wade, & Levi Armour; sister-in-law & brother-in-law, Judy Armour Clark & Bob Clark; brother-in-law & sister-in-law, Faye & Sue Armour. He was also the beloved, jovial uncle to his numerous nieces & nephews.
Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 09, 2024, in the Chapel of McGahee-Griffin & Stewart, with Rev. Dennis Taylor and Rev. Ray Davis officiating.
Interment will follow in the Wade Family Cemetery in Alto, Georgia, with Rev. Austin Kelley officiating at the graveside. The Grant Reeves Post #7720 Veterans Honor Guard will provide military honors.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 1:00 p.m. until the service hour on Wednesday, October 09, 2024.
Clarkesville City Council (Brian Wellmeier/NowHabersham.com)
Clarkesville plans to review a variety of items – including parking and a potential change to the city’s charter – at a work session and regular meeting Monday, Oct. 7.
The work session will take place at 5 p.m. at Clarkesville City Hall. The regular meeting will follow at 6 p.m.
Charter change
Clarkesville is looking to make a slight amendment to its city charter. Council members broached the topic during a work session in September after a recent reexamination of the formula by which residents are taxed.
Property is assessed and taxed at 100% of its value in Clarkesville, whereas Habersham County and surrounding municipalities tax property at 40% of its value.
The amendment, if approved, would not change the amount residents pay in taxes. Instead, the purpose is to create a formula for taxation that’s more aligned with the rest of the county.
A fundamental change to the overall structure of the charter would require approval by a majority (as high as ⅔) of Georgia’s legislative body. But Clarkesville’s charter contains a specific rule that enables council to make small changes to single line items.
Clarkesville City Attorney Matt Skilling said a home rule provision in the code allows the city to change the charter under certain circumstances.
“Under these circumstances – as long as a proposed ordinance is published and notice is provided – over a period of 60 days we can have two consecutive meetings where the ordinance is passed,” he said.
Though the millage rate itself would increase if such a change were made, the amount of taxes paid by residents would remain unaffected. In other words, since property would then be taxed at 40% of its value (instead of 100%), a higher millage rate figure would not mean higher tax bills.
“It would push (the rate) above 10 (mills),” City Manager Keith Dickerson said. “It doesn’t affect the end dollar amount residents are being taxed.”
A mill is equal to $1 per $1,000 in taxable property value.
While property is currently assessed and taxed at 100 percent of its value in Clarkesville, Councilman Brad Coppedge said he’s in favor of amending that percentage.
“It’s a numbers game,” Coppedge said. “It comes to the same number. It’s just, when people see it (at 100%), there’s an immediate perception that people think they’re getting charged more…and it was a request to bring us in alignment with the other municipalities.”
The possible change to the city charter will again be considered at a work session Monday, Oct. 7.
Parking policy
At Monday’s work session, Clarkesville’s City Council is also expected to take a look at its parking policy – an effort driven by Councilman Brad Coppedge, who held two public forums and gathered input from the community in September.
Clarkesville has a total of almost 600 parking spaces in and around the city, with about 88 on the square and nearly 500 (off-square) along the perimeter of the downtown area.
“We’re kind of looking at all elements of what’s going on in this community – because we are a growth community,” Coppedge said at a public forum in late September. “Over the next 5-7 years, we’re having a (projected) influx of 17,000 people into Habersham County. You’re not going to stop the growth. We just need to be smart about it.”
Coppedge has described Clarkesville’s parking problem as being closely tied to the long-term health of downtown commerce. And “unless we start figuring this out,” according to Coppedge, “it’s going to continue to be a problem, and then we’re going to see a turnover of businesses.”
Other business
During the regular meeting Monday, city officials will hear monthly reports from department heads, an update on construction of the Mary Street restroom and consider a budget amendment resolution.
DEMOREST, Ga. – Piedmont women’s soccer was unable to contain top-ranked WashU on Sunday morning in Demorest, falling 9-0 at the hands of the Bears.
The Lions were able to hold tough early, until starting goalkeeper Maggie Leger was forced to leave the game with an injury, and freshman forward Madison Johnson took over in goal.
Piedmont was able to hold WashU at bay until the 15th minute, when Madison Foley found the back of the net off an assist from Sophie Viscovich.
After the Bears scored again in the 24th and 26th minute to make it 3-0, they delivered a late first half onslaught of three more to make it 6-0 headed to the break.
The second half was more of the same, but the Lions held the Bears to just three goals over the final 45 minutes.
Johnson delivered an admirable effort in goal, making nine saves total, including seven in the second half.
Up next, the Lions will battle Belhaven in Demorest in a crucial conference home contest this Wednesday, October 9 at 3 p.m.
Vionie Saxton Irvin, age 95, of Demorest, Georgia, took her heavenly flight home to be with the Lord on Saturday, October 05, 2024.
Born in Ila, Georgia on February 14, 1929, she was a daughter of the late George Saxton and Cora Lee Loggins. Vionie was the co-owner of Odell’s Self-Service Station for over 21 years. Most importantly, she loved spending time with her family. Vionie was a member of the Fairfield Baptist Church where she was a part of the lady’s visitation ministry for many years.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband of 62 years, Emory Odell Irvin; daughter-in-law, Pam Irvin; brother, James Saxton & sister, Varnie Freeman.
Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Danny and Carolyn Irvin of Demorest; daughter and son-in-law, Sheree and Stanley McDougald of Cleveland; six grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.
Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 08, 2024, at the Chapel of McGahee-Griffin & Stewart, with Rev. Keith Allison officiating. Interment will follow in the Fairfield Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Monday, October 07, 2024.
Flowers are accepted, or memorials may be made to Gideons International, c/o Habersham North Camp, P.O. Box 1855, Clarkesville, GA. 30523
After days of forecasting how Hurricane Helene might impact my native Northeast Georgia, the storm shifted and hit my adopted hometown much harder. This mobile home is one of many homes in western North Carolina that were damaged or destroyed. (Photo by Tyler Penland)
A few miles south of Boone, North Carolina, the rain started on Tuesday.
Afternoon thunderstorms dropped 1.61″ of heavy rain along a cold front at my house in the little town of Foscoe. This cold front would be a part of our lives for much longer than anyone realized.
Grim forecast
By the time Wednesday rolled around, the forecasts were starting to look increasingly grim. Tropical Storm Helene was churning in the Caribbean Sea, soon to take a turn to the north.
As the day rolled on, the clouds thickened and quickened from the southwest. By afternoon, the rain had set in again. Strong thunderstorms rolled in from the south, and I witnessed my first tornado. This was exciting for a weather aficionado. It was to be the least scary part of my weekend.
WATCHTornado Video
Screenshot of an EF-1 tornado blowing out a transformer in Blowing Rock, NC
The rain intensified throughout the evening. One inch fell, then another, and another. At one point, we reached an astounding 4.56″ per hour rain rate, by far the heaviest rain I have ever witnessed. By midnight, we had already received 8.30″ of rain, and we still had 48 hours to go before Helene moved through the region.
Storm shifts
I went to work as usual on Thursday morning, splitting my day between my day job and updating North Georgia about the storm through Now Habersham. It was clearly going to be a bad situation overnight. We shut the store down early Thursday evening to beat the worst weather home. At that point, I wouldn’t have guessed we wouldn’t reopen for another week. I barely slept overnight watching a Category 4 Helene make landfall and begin racing north. By this point, it was becoming more apparent that the storm was moving in a different direction than initially forecast. The storm had maintained just enough of an eastward component after landfall that it was headed for Western North Carolina.
The rain hadn’t stopped since Wednesday night, and by midnight Thursday, we had tacked on an additional 10.60″, bringing our total already to a whopping 19.51″. To this point, the wind hadn’t really blown very much. That changed beginning in the early hours of Friday. Strong winds moved in during the morning. At times, the house shook as the winds battered us from the east and later from the south. Our predominant wind direction around here is from the northwest, so these strong gusts from the opposite direction are something I am not used to. The wind didn’t bring any relief from the rain. Limbs and tree tops rained down in the forest around me as another 8.17″ of rain fell. 28.68″ total. Over two feet in 4 days.
Surveying damage
After my power had been out for some time, around lunchtime, I decided it was time to go out and check on the neighborhood. I realized very quickly that driving wasn’t an option. Trees blocked our driveway in more than one place, and it was in severe danger of washing out entirely at the top. So, I went on foot.
I first checked on my neighbor, who had a river running into the side of their house. Mind you, we aren’t normally on riverfront property. The sheer amount of water coming down the mountain overwhelmed any natural runoff streams and rolled down in sheets across the ground. Fortunately, my house sits slanted so that it kept the newly-formed river from running underneath. My neighbor wasn’t so lucky, but the damage was limited to underneath the raised house.
I moved down the driveway to the intersection with the dirt road ours branches from. I was startled to find it wasn’t much of a road anymore.
The dirt road I live off of in Foscoe, NC (Photo by Tyler Penland)
After surveying the damage as best I could in the pouring rain, I made my way to the highway beneath us and across the street. There, I found a low water bridge on the other side that was completely washed out and a person stranded on the other side. This bridge normally sits several feet above the Watauga River. We are near the headwaters, so getting the river this large, this far upstream, requires some serious rain. 28″ is enough. I made a quick call to emergency personnel to get him help.
Washed-out bridge (Photo by Tyler Penland)
Messy mile
I continued my trip down the highway, assisting anyone I could reach and checking on spots near the river.
House nearly flooded along the Watauga River (Photo by Tyler Penland)
I saw many houses flooded and one mobile home washed up on a bridge. Fortunately, the owners were out of it before the river claimed it.
Mobile home washed up against a half-flooded bridge (Tyler Penland)
I had witnessed so much destruction, and as I turned around, I had only made it one mile from my house.
Over the next few hours, I would get my truck out and make it a little farther down the road, although it was washed out or completely blocked by landslides in both directions.
Blocked road, a landslide was shortly past this point. (Photo by Tyler Penland)
The receding waters left behind massive piles of rock (Photo by Tyler Penland)
Flooding along the upper Watauga River (Photo by Tyler Penland)
A car claimed by the flood waters (Photo by Tyler Penland)
I was finally able to get out of Foscoe the following afternoon, but the roads were still rough. I spent the next few days working on fixing up my home and property, as well as venturing out to help others. I was able to help one gentleman who had lost part of his house to a landslide. I spent several hours with others shoveling mud. I also spent some time clearing one-lane sections of roadway of tree debris.
The western half of the county was hardest hit. Further downstream, the Watauga had swelled to 20 feet above normal, and all the feeder streams did the same. The communities of Banner Elk, Cove Creek, Sugar Grove, and Meat Camp around Boone were all hit extremely hard.
Landslide on HWY105 (Photo by Tyler Penland)
Landslide/trees down on HWY 194 (Photo by Tyler Penland)
Collapsed roadway on HWY 105 (Photo by Tyler Penland)
Power pole still hanging five days after the storm (Photo by Tyler Penland)
Loss and recovery
It has been a little over a week since Helene’s departure. I reopened my store on Thursday, but the effects are still being felt. I count myself among the lucky ones to have minimal damage. I know numerous people who still don’t have power and several who suffered much worse damage. The National Guard has been fixing roadways, and hundreds of linemen have been working to restore power.
I don’t really have the words yet to describe how I feel about the storm. It was terrifying being inside my house, knowing that at any moment, a tree could fall onto it or the mountain could give way. This happened to countless people across the region. I rarely shelter in my closet but did so on more than one occasion. Overall, I just feel sad; sad that so many died as a result of this storm across the Southeast. Sad that we won’t be able to share this beautiful region with you for a long time. Sad that hundreds, if not thousands, of people have lost their homes and livelihoods, and sad that more will in the coming months as tourist dollars dry up.
“Tomorrow’s gonna be a brighter day…..”
A tough road lies ahead, but we’ll be here at the end, fighting, NC Strong.
Grandpa, left, and Grandaddy with my brother John when he was 3-years-old.
Nine years ago, when I began my second career as a columnist, one of my early stories was “Her Name Was Grandpa!” I authored two books and started each with the same story to introduce my Grandmother with the funny name. Grandpa is integral to the books’ chapters and my life.
The original story about my Grandpa spread across the country, and countless columns about this angel would follow. When they do, I receive many of the same questions, “Why is your grandmother called “Grandpa?” Then, I explain or send them the initial story, which I keep on my web page.
For those of you who are still asking, here is the answer:
“My brother, John, was three and watching his favorite Grandmother prepare biscuits. When the flour hit the dough board, it dusted the air. She was talking to him the entire time and laughed as the white powder settled on his dark eyelashes.
John had trouble with her name, “Grandma.” He would quickly get them confused since he was born with six grandmothers. He was blessed with two grandmothers, two great-grandmothers, and two great-great-grandmothers. They all were alive and well, living in the same small Tennessee mountain town of 2000 folks. Plus, they all preferred to be called “Grandma.” However, only one living grandfather was married to his favorite.
Suddenly, while he and his Granddaddy watched the biscuits being rolled and cut, he thought the solution would be to rename his favored Grandmother, making her extra special.
His coal-brown eyes opened wide as he tugged his Grandmother’s apron. “You gonna’ be Grandpa!” he shouted.
“John, I am Grandma, and he is your Grandaddy,” she laughed as she pointed to her smiling husband.
“Nope, you, Grandpa, and he, Grandaddy!” He emphatically stated again before stomping away.
“Is he serious, honey?” Grandaddy responded to his wife, “Of course not; he’s only three. This too shall pass.”
Our Grandmother lived for 97 years. After John, eight more grandchildren were born, and eventually, she would know and love 18 great-grandchildren, countless nieces and nephews, and the town’s kids. And we all cherished the woman we only knew as “Grandpa.”
After I had written the original story, memories and dreams flooded my mind with all I had learned from Grandpa. I began writing them down, and notes became another column, then another. Letters arrived from readers telling me, “I just love Grandpa!”
When I was young, she and I would drive into town to the “dime store.” She would head to the candy counter while I went for the paper dolls. When I found the right ones, I yelled, “Grandpa, come here!”
Folks started looking around for a man until the Grandpa woman showed up to see what I found.
The truth is, it was so funny that later, we would do it on purpose just to see the look on customers’ faces.
Grandpa is now famous. Readers and editors love ‘Grandpa’ stories. She still teaches from heaven that what we are called has nothing to do with who we are. She gave up Grandma to be Grandpa because she loved a little boy more than a title. Her pride was not in her name but in the grandchild who named her.
Her humor could transform her into a kid of any age. Her kindness could heal a broken heart, and her relationship with God could put anyone on their knees because you could see Him within her. I wanted to grow up and be like Grandpa, but I quickly realized that only one could wear such an illustrious crown.
When my granddaughter was born, I let her call me whatever she wanted my name to be. I quickly became Grandma. While my friends have all kinds of cute names they selected for the grandchildren to use, I have the one Grandpa gave up out of love. It seems pretty appropriate.
What is in a name? Does it represent fame, money, power, inheritance, or prestige? Or does it represent honor, humility, and love beyond measure?
When I think of my brother today, I see him in heaven sitting at a table with Grandpa, eating her famous biscuits that no one could emulate, and trying to explain how his sister is telling America about her.
Grandpa shakes are head and smiles, “Lordy, that child always was a talkin’!”
Yes, Grandpa, I am talking, and I will continue sharing those lessons you taught us all by the way you lived and the life you led. I keep your memory alive because you were one of those rare folks everyone needs to know. You taught us about love, sacrifice, leadership, and the true meaning of a name.
What’s in a name? Sometimes everything.
For Grandpa, Nancy Melissa Sparks Pugh — 1897-1994
That’s a question asked frequently in Joker: Folie a Deux, the highly anticipated sequel to director/cowriter Todd Phillips’ take on the Clown Prince of Crime starring Joaquin Phoenix who won an Oscar for this very role.
I can say that this follow-up is certainly a disappointment compared to its predecessor, but I don’t think it’s an epic disaster. Still, given how successful the first film was at drawing me in, I expected something much more thoughtful and challenging. Instead we just get disorganized scenes that don’t add up to much.
Phoenix returns as Arthur Fleck, a.k.a. Joker, who now resides in Arkham City Hospital and is awaiting his trial for the crimes he committed in the first film. He’s regularly abused by the guards, especially the head guard (Brendan Gleeson).
Arthur meets another patient named Harleen “Lee” Quinzel (Lady Gaga) during a music therapy session. Together, the two instantly bond over their love of music and their deeply troubled upbringings in broken homes. She idolizes his psychotic audacity.
Catherine Keener plays Arthur’s attorney, who tries to persuade him that he has an identity disorder and that Arthur is not responsible for his actions but rather Joker is. The movie attempts to be a meditation on sensationalism here, as the media hounds Arthur at every corner while most of Gotham is in staunch support.
Folie a Deux, as the movie’s subtitle suggests, is French for shared madness, and that’s definitely the case when watching Phoenix and Gaga on screen. They have believable chemistry in their scenes, and quite a few of them work. They get to share some insights as to what led them down their twisted destinations, and maybe more of that would’ve been effective.
Now, let’s talk about the musical scenes. I don’t understand why this needed musical elements because most of them end up becoming distracting, lack any kind of focus, and are largely tonally inconsistent. For example, one scene has Arthur’s fellow inmates leading a rebellion of sorts while singing “When the Saints Go Marching In.” It’s designed to motivate the inmates but ends up being unintentionally funny.
On the bright side, a couple of the numbers are well-directed by Phillips and look great, thanks to cinematographer Lawrence Sher’s excellent lighting. However, songs like “What the World Needs Now Is Love” or “That’s Entertainment” are largely hit or miss.
I wasn’t sure if Joker warranted a sequel, but a sequel is inevitable when your film becomes the first R-rated film to gross $1 billion worldwide.
Approaching Joker’s story from a musical perspective is peculiar and turns this franchise into a joke.
Grade: C+
(Rated R for for some strong violence, language throughout, some sexuality, and brief full nudity.)
Elon Musk jumps on the stage behind Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
BUTLER, Pa. (AP) — Donald Trump returned on Saturday to the Pennsylvania fairgrounds where he was nearly assassinated in July, urging a large crowd to deliver an Election Day victory that he tied to his survival of the shooting.
The former president and Republican nominee picked up where he left off in July when a gunman’s bullet struck his ear. He began his speech with, “As I was saying,” and gestured toward an immigration chart he was looking at when the gunfire began.
“Twelve weeks ago, we all took a bullet for America,” Trump said. “All we are all asking is that everyone goes out and votes. We got to win. We can’t let this happen to our country.”
The Trump campaign worked to maximize the event’s headline-grabbing potential with just 30 days to go and voting already underway in some states in his race against his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris. Musician Lee Greenwood appeared on stage and serenaded him with “God Bless the USA,” frequently played at his rallies, and billionaire Elon Musk spoke for the first time at a Trump rally.
“We fought together. We have endured together. We have pushed onward together,” Trump said. “And right here in Pennsylvania, we have bled together. We’ve bled.”
Supporters arrive before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
At the beginning of the rally, Trump asked for a moment of silence to honor firefighter Corey Comperatore, who died as he shielded family members from gunfire in July. Classical singer Christopher Macchio sang “Ave Maria” after a bell rung at the same time that gunfire began on July 13. Several of Comperatore’s family members were in attendance, including his widow, Helen, who stood during Trump’s remarks next to the former president’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump.
Standing behind protective glass that now encases the stage at his outdoor rallies, Trump called the would-be assassin “a vicious monster” and said he did not succeed “by the hand of providence and the grace of God.” There was a very visible heightened security presence, with armed law enforcers in camouflage uniforms on roofs.
Trump honored Comperatore and recognized the two other July rallygoers injured, David Dutch and James Copenhaver. They and Trump were struck when 20-year-old shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, opened fire from an unsecured rooftop nearby before he was fatally shot by sharpshooters.
The building from which Crooks fired was completely obscured by tractor-trailers, a large grassy perimeter and a fence.
How Crooks managed to outmaneuver law enforcement that day and scramble on top of a building within easy shooting distance of the ex-president is among many questions that remain unanswered about the worst Secret Service security failure in decades. Another is his motive.
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign event at the Butler Farm Show, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Pennsylvania is critical to both presidential campaigns
Trump lost Pennsylvania four years ago after flipping it to the Republican column in 2016. He needs to drive up voter turnout in conservative strongholds like Butler County, an overwhelmingly white, rural-suburban community, if he wants to win Pennsylvania in November after losing it four years ago. Harris, too, has targeted her campaign efforts at Pennsylvania, rallying there repeatedly as part of her aggressive outreach in critical swing states.
“Pennsylvania, clearly, is going to be the center of the universe for the next 30 days, for both sides, and we’re pretty bullish on where we are here organizationally, politically, and in terms of the resources that we’ve been able to commit here,” campaign senior adviser Chris LaCivita told reporters.
Trump highlighted Harris’ previous stance against fracking, a process of producing natural gas key to Pennsylvania’s economy, like he has done in the past. But then, he continued to spread falsehoods about the federal response to Hurricane Helene, further spreading a claim floating around that disaster survivors are only getting $750 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. That figure refers to help the agency can give someone in an affected area for what they might need immediately.
Trump also claimed Harris had “lost more than 325,000 migrant children that are now dead, in slavery or just plain missing.” An August report from a government watchdog said those were cases where immigration officials were faulted for failing to consistently “monitor the location and status of unaccompanied migrant children” once they are released from federal government custody. Those figures also covered more than two years of the Trump administration.
Elon Musk made an appearance
Elon Musk and Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, listen as Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
One of the most anticipated guests of the evening was Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla and owner of X, formerly Twitter. Musk climbed onto the stage on Saturday jumping and pumping his fists in the air after Trump introduced him as a “great gentleman” and said he “saved free speech.”
“President Trump must win to preserve the Constitution. He must win to preserve democracy in America,” said Musk, who endorsed Trump after the assassination attempt. “This is a must-win situation.”
Musk, who has embraced conservative politics and is funding get-out-the-vote efforts for Trump in several swing states, met with Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, backstage, donning a black “Make America Great Again” hat. A billboard on the way into the rally said, “IN MUSK WE TRUST,” and showed his photo.
Earlier on Saturday, Vance got on stage and reflected on the events that day while severely criticizing Democrats for calling Trump “a threat to democracy,” saying that kind of language is “inflammatory.”
“You heard the shots. You saw the blood. We all feared the worst. But you knew everything would be OK when President Trump raised his fist high in the air and shouted, ‘Fight, fight!’” said Vance, who was chosen as his vice presidential nominee less than two days later.
Rallygoers said they felt secure coming back to Butler
Supporters arrive before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Crowds were lined up as the sun rose Saturday. A large crowd packed bleachers, folding chairs and the expansive field stretching to the venue’s edges. Area hotels, motels and inns were said to be full and some rallygoers arrived Friday. Much of the crowd waited several hours for Trump. About half an hour into his speech, Trump paused his remarks for more than five minutes after an attendee had a medical issue and needed a medic.
Butler County, on the western edge of a coveted presidential swing state, is a Trump stronghold. He won the county with about 66% of the vote in both 2016 and 2020. About 57% of the county’s 139,000 registered voters are Republicans, compared with about 29% who are Democrats and 14% something else.
Chris Harpster, 30, of Tyrone, Pennsylvania, was accompanied by his girlfriend on Saturday as he returned to the scene. Of July 13, he said, “I was afraid” — as were his parents, watching at home, who texted him immediately after the shots rang out.
Heightened security measures were making him feel better now, as well as the presence of his girlfriend, a first-time rallygoer. Harpster said he will be a third-time Trump voter in November, based on the Republican nominee’s stances on immigration, guns, abortion and energy. Harpster said he hopes Pennsylvania will go Republican, particularly out of concern over gas and oil industry jobs.
Mounted police watch as supporters arrive before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Other townspeople were divided over the value of Trump’s return. Heidi Priest, a Butler resident who started a Facebook group supporting Harris, said Trump’s last visit fanned political tensions in the city.
“Whenever you see people supporting him and getting excited about him being here, it scares the people who don’t want to see him reelected,” she said.
Terri Palmquist came from Bakersfield, California, and said her 18-year-old daughter tried to dissuade her from traveling. “I just figure we need to not let fear control us. That’s what the other side wants is fear. If fear controls us, we lose,” she said.
She said she was not worried about her own safety.
“Honesty, I believe God’s got Trump, for some reason. I do. So we’re rooting for him.”
DEMOREST, Ga. – Piedmont volleyball rebounded from a 3-0 loss to Covenant to start the day with a thrilling fourth-set comeback to overtake LaGrange 3-1 in the evening in a CCS Tri-Match in Demorest Saturday.
Katie Hubbard tallied 21 kills for the day, including a team-high 14 against LaGrange to pace the Lions for the day.
Despite losing in straight sets, the Lions challenged throughout the match against the Scots. Piedmont kept it close in the opening set in a 25-18 loss. The second set was a tough one for the Lions dropping it 25-10, but Piedmont bounced back in the third set falling 25-16.
Piedmont jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the opening set and held the lead 11-10 before the Scots jumped ahead. Covenant used a 9-2 run to lead 19-13 and hold control for the opening set.
In the second, Piedmont was out of rotation early and fell behind 6-1 quickly. The Scots raced out to a 16-6 lead and did not let up. In the final set, Piedmont fell behind 8-4 but pulled back within two to trail 16-14.
Match two: Piedmont 3, LaGrange 1
All four sets were competitive between the Lions and the Panthers, but Piedmont was able to close strong more often than not in the four-set win.
The first set saw the Lions reel off a 5-0 run trailing 19-18, highlighted by a pair of service aces from freshman Mary Brit Tallevast. Although LaGrange answered with two points of their own, it was too late as Piedmont finished off the set 25-21.
The second set was back-and-forth throughout, until Piedmont stunned the Panthers with a 5-0 run to take the set 25-20. Bryn Whitedelivered a pair of kills in the scoring run to lift the Lions over the top.
While LaGrange responded with a dominant start to the third set, Piedmont was able to rally to make it close before falling 25-22.
Piedmont fell behind early in the fourth set, but were undeterred. Despite trailing 20-13, Piedmont won six straight points to cut the deficit to 20-19. Although the Panthers won two straight in response to make it 22-19, the Lions fought back again, winning four in a row to close out the match in four sets.
The ending was punctuated by a kill from Tallevast to clinch the first home victory of the season for the Lions.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES vs. LaGrange:
– Katie Hubbard led the Lions with 14 kills.
– Mary Brit Tallevast tallied eight kills, 13 digs and a team-high four service aces.
– Freshman Natalie Adams-Mullis paced the team with 23 digs against the Panthers.
A Hartwell man died Thursday after his car went airborne and overturned multiple times on GA 181 near GA 8, according to the Georgia State Patrol.
State troopers were called to the scene of a single-vehicle accident east of Hartwell around 1:15 p.m. on Oct. 5. They say Donald Phillip Hall, 63, was traveling westbound on GA 181 in a Ford Taurus when he is believed to have suffered a medical episode, causing him to drive off the right side of the roadway.
The Taurus struck a culvert and became airborne. As the car overturned, Hall, who was unrestrained, was ejected from the vehicle.
Hart County EMS transported Hall to Anderson Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries.
Leftover crime scene tape litters the ground on the Apalachee High School campus in Winder days after a deadly school shooting on Sept. 4, 2024. (Daniel Purcell/NowHabersham.com)
In the wake of the Apalachee school shooting, Moms Demand Action and Indivisible Georgia District 10 are holding a rally this weekend. The event, which was originally scheduled for September 14th, will feature speakers including educators, law enforcement, parents, and students. Organizers say the gathering is part of their effort to support sensible gun legislation. Barbara Burt is a volunteer with Indivisible Georgia District 10.
“Everyone is so horrified by what happened at Apalachee High School,” Burt said. “Everybody wanted to do something. We needed to both, support the families that were so injured in the shooting, the whole community. And we also wanted it to mean something.”
The rally is Sunday, October 6th from 5 to 6 pm in front of the historic Walton County Courthouse, across from the office of 10th District Representative Mike Collins. Rally planners say they want the Congressman to vote for gun safety laws.
“There seems to be kind of an upswell of feeling that this has to stop, we can’t go through and it’s time to let our elected officials know that they can’t choose guns over kids lives,” according to Burt.
Though they support the Child Protection Act passed by Congress in 2022, the groups are calling for more to be done.
This article comes to Now Habersham in partnership with WUGA
Collectibles are a way to engage children in a lifelong hobby and an opportunity for anyone of any age to find something they enjoy.
Mark Gravel has been collecting since he was 10 years old. It was Michael Jordan and his love of basketball that hooked him. “I grew up playing basketball. Today I have over 3500 Michael Jordan trading cards. Some of his rookie cards are valued at over a million dollars,” Gravel said.
A hobby for all ages
Gravel explained collecting can be done by anyone at any age. The hobby requires little more than organization and interest.
“I keep my cards in a binder. People have different ways of displaying their collections. Binders are just one way.”
His growing love of collecting and trading sports cards grew into a business. North Georgia Collectibles showcases about 30 dealers monthly at the Gainesville Civic Center. There is no admission fee, and Gravel says it is a fun event for the entire family.
“We give away prizes at the door. There is a free customer raffle as well. I enjoy seeing the kids getting interested. Selling cards is like today’s lemonade stands of the past,” Gravel added.
Ways to get started
Gravel advises the best way to get started is to buy a box of cards. Learning about their value and making trades makes it fun. Trading card games such as Pokemon and other favorites are popular, particularly with youth.
“I would be amiss not to mention my wonderful helper at each event, Arianna Pervel. She is a dynamic young lady and helps me at the front desk. Her dad is a dealer, which makes Arianna quite an expert at the age of 12,” Gravel said.
North Georgia Collectibles draws big crowds of enthusiasts who want to share in the love of collecting. (Mark Gravel/North Georgia Collectibles)
His shows always draw big crowds of enthusiasts; there is always something to learn.
“Finding a great deal is rewarding,” says Gravel. “It is a way to get young people off of their screens and into an avenue to have conversations with others and make lasting friendships.”
Next show
Gravel usually holds his shows on the third Saturday of the month. This month, the date is October 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Gainesville Civic Center, 830 Green Street NE in Gainesville, Georgia.
If you are interested in learning about trading, Sports Card Hub frequents Gravel’s North Georgia Collectibles Shows. It is a great avenue to learn about value, trading, and which cards to watch out for.
Hoyt Wade, 91, of Alto, Georgia, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, October 05, 2024.
