Max Weldon Medley Jr.

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September 26, 2024

Max Weldon Medley Jr., 82, of Clarkesville, Georgia, passed away on Friday, September 20, 2024.

Military Honors will be rendered at 11:00 a.m., Friday, October 4, 2024, at the Crematorium at Baldwin Mountain at Whitfield Funeral Home, South Chapel.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 5, 2024, at Cornelia Christian Church with Pastor Greg Miller officiating.

A completed obituary will be announced once made available.

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

Georgians brace for widespread damage as hurricane Helene nears

By

Staff Report

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September 26, 2024

Gov. Kemp Hurricane Helene press conference Sept. 26, 2024 — Gov. Brian Kemp speaks at a press conference Thursday outlining the state's preparations for Hurricane Helene. He urges Georgians to stay off the roads "unless absolutely necessary."

Hurricane Helene is on track for landfall Thursday night east of Tallahassee, Florida. The Category 3 hurricane brings significant hazards that have the Southeast on high alert. The storm is expected to come ashore as a Cat 4 storm with sustained winds of around 140 mph.

High winds, flooding, tornadoes, and widespread debris that could block major roadways are just a few of the concerns in Georgia. State officials urge residents to prepare for what could be one of the most severe hurricanes to hit the state in recent years.

Governor Brian Kemp held a press conference Thursday afternoon, providing an update on the state’s preparedness efforts. Speaking at the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA), Kemp stressed that Hurricane Helene is expected to affect the entire state, not just isolated regions.

“This is a big storm, and it’s going to affect our entire state,” he said. “We feel certain we’re going to have to clear debris statewide, and if people are on the roads, that will only slow down the process and create more dangers.”

Memphis, Tennessee tree service workers in Macon, Georgia, prepared to get to work once Hurricane Helene clears the area. (Grant Blankenship/GPB News)

The governor urged residents to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary, as the Georgia Department of Transportation prepares to mobilize crews across the state.

“We’re expecting debris fields in all parts of the state,” Kemp added, “so it’s crucial that our crews have clear access to begin recovery efforts as soon as it’s safe.”

Power outages are also a major concern, with Georgia Power deploying approximately 10,000 linemen ready to restore electricity as soon as conditions allow. With the storm’s expected strength, power lines are likely to be affected across much of the state.

Flooding and tornado risks

As Helene inches closer to the Georgia coast, the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued several alerts, including tornado watches and flood warnings. Flooding is anticipated to be especially severe in the northern part of the state, where areas like Atlanta and surrounding counties could see over 10 inches of rain. Flash flooding is also a significant concern in regions that have recently experienced dry conditions, which could exacerbate the severity of the floods.

White County is already preparing for potential damage on par with what was experienced during Hurricane Irma in 2017. Bryce Barrett of the county’s Emergency Management Agency noted that residents should expect flash flooding and should prepare emergency kits, including food and water, in case of extended power outages.

“We’re stressing to the public the importance of having preparedness kits and signing up for emergency alerts through county systems,” Barrett advised.

Workers fill sandbags in Houston County, Georgia, in preparation for Hurricane Helene on Sept. 26, 2024. (Photo by Ron Wildman)

In the central part of the state, cities like Warner Robins are already distributing sandbags to help residents protect their homes from expected flooding. Long lines of cars were seen Thursday morning as locals took advantage of the free distribution efforts, indicating widespread concerns about the storm’s potential to cause significant water damage.

The National Weather Service has provided educational materials on how to stay safe during a flood and an interactive map to monitor flood-prone areas in real-time.

Travel and flight disruptions

Hurricane Helene is also causing disruptions at one of the busiest airports in the world. By Thursday morning, over 100 flights had already been delayed or canceled at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, with more disruptions expected as the storm approaches. The delays follow over 1,100 flight delays from the previous day, further complicating travel plans for those trying to evacuate or reschedule flights.

Emergency shelters and resources

To ensure public safety, GEMA has opened several shelters in Central and South Georgia in the path of the storm. These shelters will provide a safe space for residents who need to evacuate and cannot remain in their homes during the hurricane. Residents are advised to check GEMA’s online resources for shelter locations and other safety updates.

Utility workers and tree service teams from neighboring states like Tennessee have already arrived in Georgia, staging in areas like Macon and preparing to assist with post-storm cleanup efforts. This proactive response is expected to help restore normalcy as quickly as possible once the storm passes.

Struggling with overcrowding, shelter evacuates cats ahead of Helene

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Brian Wellmeier

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September 26, 2024

An at-capacity shelter and an unprecedented storm put the Habersham County Animal Shelter on a potential collision course this week.

With less than 24 hours before the storm makes landfall, the shelter reported a total of around 82 animals (42 felines and about 40 canines) in need of adoption.

In preparation for Helene and the potential for fallen trees, animal shelter staff recently “evacuated” 27 cats from a trailer the facility uses for overflow and placed them in the care of temporary foster homes.

The cats housed in this trailer were evacuated to foster homes to protect them from the storm. (Madi Nix/Habersham County Animal Shelter)

“The trailer is not the best place to be in a storm,” Animal Control Director Maddie Nix said Thursday. “We also have some pretty (dangerous) trees around here. We put out a plea for our fosters to take them over the weekend.”

Hurricane Helene

Like other government agencies, Nix and her 10-member staff will continue to operate through severe weather expected over the next few days.

For the last week, animal shelter personnel have made calls and worked to move as many animals (around 15 dogs) as possible to secure locations (foster homes) before the storm’s arrival. Volunteer groups went to and from the shelter Thursday to play and exercise canines while staff members donated around 20 dog houses to pet owners in need throughout the community.

After two days of rain, water pools up near the outside dog runs at the Habersham County Animal Shelter in Clarkesville, Georgia, on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2024. (Brian Wellmeier/NowHabersham.com)

“Responding to calls, (staff) would notice an animal with inadequate shelter or something that wasn’t going to be sufficient for them with this kind of weather, so we were able to pass along some dog houses that were donated to us,” Nix said.

Even after the storm hits, while adoptions will pause, Nix said those same staff members will continue to conduct daily visits to ensure animals receive care, food and water.

“We will still, one way or another, have somebody here every day making sure they’re taken care of,” she said.

Strays down, surrenders up

Around 75% of the 80-plus animals held at Habersham County’s Animal Shelter were surrendered by residents (most of them newcomers from other counties), according to Nix, who called this a growing problem that’s created a strain on resources.

“This has been a huge issue,” Nix said. “The strays are declining, but the surrenders are increasing. It’s been happening for a while over the years, but now, it’s just kind of in our face.”

Nix said that while animal shelter officials can turn away out-of-county surrenders, Habersham will continue to accept in-county surrenders. In times of full capacity, this can present a life-or-death challenge.

“But this really puts a (burden) on our taxpayers,” Nix said. “We can let people know that we are at capacity and we will have to euthanize an animal to make space for theirs and that theirs may also be euthanized as well. We try to be transparent with folks and just let them know what the situation is before they bring (surrendered pets) in.”

Need for space

As county officials continue to consider the timeline for construction of a future animal shelter, Nix said the need for a new facility grows by the day.

“As the community’s growing, the need is growing,” Nix said. “There’s a lot of things that are not up to par – that do cause disease issues and make it difficult to sterilize properly…we have doors that wheelchairs don’t fit through. We have septic (issues). And the need for more space is the biggest.”

County Manager Alicia Vaughn said on Thursday that plans for that project are moving forward.

“We are finalizing the engineering plans,” she said. “…I expected to have a maximum price any day – probably Monday or Tuesday of next week. The next step would be getting financing options and then the go-ahead (from commissioners).”

In a message to the public, Nix sought to remind the community that adoption of a pet is a long-term commitment that people should take seriously.

“We’re making sure we’re communicating and making sure we find the right match,” she said. “We’re not just trying to push an (animal) out the door so that our numbers are good.”

Despite increasing spay and neuter costs (from $65 to $175 per animal), adoption fees are currently $110 for dogs and $55 for cats.

All animals adopted from the shelter come spayed and neutered and are fully vaccinated.

The Circle of Hope celebrates growth with Ribbon Cutting

By

Nora Almazan

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September 26, 2024

Circle of Hope 4 — The Circle of Hope Ribbon Cutting on Tuesday, September 24. (Shane Smith/Habersham Chamber of Commerce)

The Circle of Hope has much to celebrate as it grows and expands with its new administrative office and outreach center at 120 Trinity Drive in Demorest, GA. The Habersham County Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the completed building from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The new administrative office serves as an outreach center. Suzanne Dow, Executive Director for the Circle of Hope, explained, “Having the outreach center allows victims immediate access to protective orders, crisis intervention, and counseling and those types of things without having to live at the shelter which stays full. If we can help in that capacity, that is what we want to do.”

Senator Bo Hatchett spoke with those in attendance of the important work the Circle of Hope does to help victims of domestic violence. (Nora Almazan/NowHabersham.com

Senator Bo Hatchett spoke at the event, applauding Dow for her years of service to the Circle of Hope and her vision to continue to help those who find themselves in situations of domestic violence. Representative Victor Anderson expressed his appreciation for the organization and all that they do to solve the crisis of domestic violence.

“It is such a warm and welcome feeling to come into this building for those people who are at the lowest point in their lives,” Anderson said. “Senator Hatchet and I will continue to work hard to assure funding through the state to provide assistance and support.”

A security fence will be installed behind the building with controlled access. This ensures the safety of those who work there as well as those who are seeking assistance. The entire building is secured with limited access by anyone other than those who work there.

Dow talked about the reasons which led up to building the new space. “The Board of Directors felt The Circle of Hope needed a more public face in the community because the shelter had always been hidden for safety reasons. People didn’t know how to access services.”

The decision was made in 2012 and the Circle of Hope rented a space in Cornelia across from CVS. In 2020 they acquired a second office space due to program growth. The Board completed a cost analysis and determined it was more economical to build and own a space.

Board Members gathered together to celebrate at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Circle of Hope. (Nora Almazan/Now Habersham)

“It is a big leap of faith financially and I thank our Board for believing in us,” Dow added.

She also expressed her sincere gratitude to Carol Lovell. “None of this would have been possible without her generosity. Not only did she ensure the cost was affordable and attainable for us as a non-profit but she also secured donations from construction vendors to reduce our costs further.”

Dow thanked all those who were involved in the completion of this project. “We’d also like to thank all the businesses, vendors, and individuals who donated or significantly reduced their services for this project.”

The Circle of Hope is a local domestic violence organization serving primarily Habersham, Stephens, and White County. The organization works with those experiencing intimate personal violence. Services are offered and available 24/7 365 days a year through the Crisis Hotline at 706-776-4673, by Text Messaging at 706-776-1616, or through Chat Messaging at gacircleofhope.org.

Rebecca “Becky” Ayers Beacham

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Now Habersham

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September 26, 2024

Rebecca “Becky” Ayers Beacham passed away on September 25, 2024, at the age of 95. She was born on July 31, 1929, in Habersham County, Georgia. Becky met Jimmie “Jim” F. Beacham at Demorest College in Piedmont, Georgia, and they married in 1949. They moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where Becky worked at Vanderbilt University while Jim finished his education. After Jim’s graduation, they moved to Toccoa, Georgia, before settling permanently in Marietta, Georgia.

Becky was devoted to her children, Beth and Jimmie “Jimbo,” spending their early years as their full-time mother. During this time, she also enjoyed her work as a fashion model for Rich’s department store, and she actively served the church. When her children went to college, Becky began working at Lockheed Martin in Marietta, and it was a family affair since Becky, Jim, and Jimbo all worked at Lockheed until their retirements.

Becky and Jim joined the First Presbyterian Church of Marietta in the early 1960s, where she served as President of Women in the Church and in other service roles. Becky had many decades of involvement as a small group leader in Precept Bible Studies. She was a national speaker for the Christian Women’s Club and served as the prayer chairperson for the 1973 Billy Graham Crusade in Atlanta. In 1974, she traveled to Rome, Italy, with a delegation from the Presbyterian Church (USA) to participate in the World Food Conference. Later, Becky became a founding member of Marietta Community Church (ECO Presbyterian). Becky has an everlasting love for the Lord and often shared the gospel with those she encountered until her earthly journey concluded. In confidence, she eagerly anticipated the day when she would see her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, face to face in heaven.

She is survived by her daughter, Beth Beacham Sullivan, and her husband, Bryce, of Nashville, Tennessee; her grandson, Jeremy Smith; granddaughter-in-law, Christina Smashey Smith; and great-granddaughter, Violet Smith, of Athens, Georgia; as well as her grandson, Joshua Smith of Mt. Hood, Oregon. Becky is also survived by her brother, Morgan Ayers, and his wife, Pauline, of Rome, Georgia. She was preceded in death by her son, Jimbo; her husband, Jim; and her sister, Algen Ayers Thurmond.

A graveside service will be held on September 30 at Harvest Christian Church Cemetery in Clarkesville, Georgia. A memorial service will be held at Marietta Community Church, 3121 Ernest W Barrett Pkwy NW, Marietta, Georgia, on Wednesday, October 2 at 2:00 p.m., with a visitation to precede the service at the church at 12:30 p.m.

Instead of flowers, donations to Marietta Community Church are appreciated and can be made at https://mariettacommunity.church/giving or Calvary Children’s Home https://calvarykids.org/.

An online guest book is available for the family by visiting www.hillsidememorialchapel.com.

Funeral arrangements are in the care and professional direction of Hillside Memorial Chapel & Gardens, Clarkesville. 706-754-6256

Piedmont announces weekend schedule changes for volleyball, women’s soccer

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Staff Report

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September 26, 2024

DEMOREST, Ga. – Due to the effects of Hurricane Helene, Piedmont volleyball and women’s soccer have announced the following schedule changes for this weekend.

Volleyball: Tri-match at Belhaven originally scheduled for Saturday has been moved to Sunday with Piedmont scheduled for matches at 3 & 5 p.m. EST.

Women’s Soccer: Originally scheduled Saturday matchup at Wesleyan has been moved to Sunday at 6 p.m.

Stephens County schools tighten security for students

By

Brian Wellmeier

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September 26, 2024

Stephens County School System recently adopted enhanced security measures in response to the Sept. 4 shooting at Apalachee High School that left four dead and nine injured.

The proposal, approved by the Stephens County Board of Education earlier this month, includes more than $329,000 in new resources for public schools across the county.

More than a dozen weapons detectors ($288,722), five metal detectors ($23,935) and an additional police detection canine ($16,947) are among the new purchases intended to protect students across all grade levels. The new items, funded through the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, are expected to be installed by November. Funding for the detection canine, handled and transported by School Resource Officer Paul Kent, comes from the school system’s general operating budget.

“We were already having conversations about the possibility of installing metal detectors or a weapon detection system as part of our safety plan,” Superintendent Connie Franklin said. “After the tragic school shooting at Apalachee High School in Barrow County earlier this month, we felt this additional safety measure needed to be moved up on the timeline.”

Franklin went on to call the new measures another layer of protection for students and employees that “help provide some additional reassurance for our parents and guardians as well.”

Weapons detectors vs. metal detectors

There is a difference between weapons detectors and metal detectors, Deputy Superintendent John Stith explained.

“Metal detectors will expose metallic objects, and they typically have a limited weapon detection range,” he said. “A weapon detection system uses advanced digital software to expose a broader range of both metallic and non-metallic threats. The system we are purchasing is…(a) wireless, portable and lightweight system that can be easily installed and moved to other locations, such as athletic events, easily.”

Franklin stressed that while “it’s unfortunate” weapons/metal detection systems have to be installed, she believes students and employees will swiftly adapt to the new measures.

“…it’s common in large public places like airports, concerts and professional sports stadiums to go through these detectors or see a K-9 patrolling,” she said. “They’ve become a necessity for increased safety, and we want to create a safe environment for our students to learn and grow.”

Neighboring schools

While Stephens and a number of other school systems in North Georgia have implemented additional security systems since the tragedy in Apalachee, Habersham County school officials say they’re still exploring the issue.

“We are constantly reviewing safety measures currently in place and considering new initiatives that will further enhance the safety of our schools,” Habersham Central Principal Adam Bagwell said late last week. “Our School System Safety Director, Murray Kogod, and I work closely with one another on a daily basis to ensure the safety and security of HCHS.”

Georgia court rejects counting presidential votes for Cornel West and Claudia De la Cruz

By

Jeff Amy

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September 25, 2024

Election 2024-Georgia — Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Boggs and Justice Sarah Warren listen to oral arguments from attorney Elizabeth Young, representing the Secretary of State, at the Supreme Court in Atlanta on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

ATLANTA (AP) — Presidential candidates Cornel West and Claudia De la Cruz aren’t qualified to be on Georgia’s ballots and votes for them should not count, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled Wednesday.

Following a hearing Tuesday, the unanimous court agreed that West and De la Cruz failed to qualify. That is because their presidential electors did not each submit a separate petition with the 7,500 signatures needed to access Georgia’s ballots. Instead, only one petition per candidate was submitted, as specified by Georgia’s secretary of state.

Democrats who are trying to prevent other candidates from siphoning votes from Vice President Kamala Harris challenged West and De la Cruz’s positions on the ballot. West and De la Cruz qualified as independents in Georgia, although De la Cruz is the nominee of the Party for Socialism and Liberation.

“Democratic Party lawyers and the Republican-majority Supreme Court worked together to suppress democracy,” De la Cruz said in a statement. “This unjust ruling is a reminder of why it is so urgent to build an alternative outside the two-party system.”

A spokesperson for West’s campaign urged voters to still choose him even though such ballots wouldn’t be counted.

“His name is still appearing on the ballot,” spokesperson Edwin DeJesus said. “We encourage all voters supporting our campaign to cast their vote for Cornel West in Georgia.”

The names of both candidates will remain on Georgia’s ballots, but votes for them won’t be counted, said Robert Sinners, a spokesperson for Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. A lawyer for Raffensperger told justices Tuesday that it is too late to reprint ballots, in part because not enough watermarked security paper is available. There could also be problems with reprogramming voting machines.

If ordered to disqualify the candidates, Raffensperger will order notices in polling places and mailed-out ballots warning that votes for West and De la Cruz won’t count, Sinners said. That is a common remedy for late ballot changes in Georgia.

The disqualifications will leave Georgia voters with the choice of four presidential candidates — Harris for the Democrats, Republican Donald Trump, Libertarian Chase Oliver and the Green Party’s Jill Stein.

Democrats, Republicans and Libertarians automatically qualify for elections in Georgia. Even four candidates will be the most since 2000 in Georgia.

Justice Sarah Warren, writing for a unanimous court, affirmed the rulings of two lower court judges who separately overturned Raffensperger’s decisions to qualify West and De la Cruz.

“But the defect that prevents independent presidential candidates West and De la Cruz from appearing on Georgia’s ballot does not pertain to the number of signatures acquired; it is that West’s electors and De la Cruz’s electors filed no nomination petitions at all,” Warren wrote

Justices rejected the argument that a 2017 federal court decision that lowered the signature threshold for statewide ballot access to 7,500 — citing constitutional issues — should also prohibit the claim that each of the 16 electors should have to file petitions, which would require a total of 120,000 valid signatures.

“No constitutional challenge to the current statutory scheme for qualifying candidates for the office of elector of independent candidates for president is properly before this court in these cases,” Warren wrote. “We therefore express no view on any such constitutional questions today.”

Because the court ruled no elector submitted a valid petition, an appeal into federal court on constitutional grounds could be difficult, said Bryan Tyson, a lawyer who represented West.

Georgia is one of several states where Democrats have challenged third-party and independent candidates, seeking to block nominees who could take votes from Harris after President Joe Biden won Georgia by fewer than 12,000 votes in 2020.

“Today’s ruling affirms what two judges have already found: neither of these candidates is qualified to be on the ballot, and the Secretary of State attempting to ignore the judges’ rulings doesn’t make state election law any less clear,” said Democratic Party of Georgia Executive Director Tolulope Kevin Olasanoye.

Republicans in Georgia have sought to keep all the candidates on the ballot, and the party has pushed to prop up liberal third-party candidates in battleground states.

Those interests contributed to a flurry of legal activity in Georgia. An administrative law judge disqualified West, De la Cruz, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Georgia Green Party from the ballot. Raffensperger, a Republican, overruled the judge, and said West and De la Cruz should get access. He also ruled that under a new Georgia law Stein should go on Georgia ballots because the national Green Party qualified her in at least 20 other states.

Kennedy’s name stayed off ballots because he withdrew his candidacy in Georgia after suspending his campaign and endorsing Trump.

State officials warn Hurricane Helene threatens impacts across all 159 Georgia counties

By

Jill Nolin

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September 25, 2024

Hurricane Helene satellite Sept. 25, 2024 — Hurricane Helene is expected to hit Florida on Thursday as a large and dangerous Category 4 hurricane. Parts of the state’s Big Bend region could see 15 to 20 feet of storm surge. (Source: NOAA)

(Georgia Recorder) — A hurricane warning has been issued as far inland as Macon as Hurricane Helene threatens the entire state of Georgia, prompting Gov. Brian Kemp to issue a state of emergency for all 159 counties.

The rest of Georgia is under a tropical storm warning, with areas of north Georgia facing a high risk of flooding. There is even a threat of mudslides in some of the state’s mountainous areas.

“As Hurricane Helene strengthens, it’s likely that all parts of Georgia will be impacted in the coming days,” Kemp said in a statement Wednesday.

Widespread power outages are expected, likely leaving some Georgians without electricity for an extended period of time.

“It’s probably one of our most significant events we’ve seen in a long time,” James Stallings, director of the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, said during a Wednesday briefing.

Georgia’s most similar recent storm may be Hurricane Irma, which caused major tree damage in every county back in 2017, according to Will Lanxton, who is the state meteorologist.

“It’s definitely been several years,” Lanxton said.

Compounding the threat is another storm system that turned on the spigot early over metro Atlanta Wednesday, saturating the soil and causing the area’s creeks, rivers and streams to swell ahead of Hurricane Helene. Some areas of Georgia could see more than a foot of rain.

State officials say Hurricane Helene, which is now expected to make landfall Thursday evening as a Category 4 storm, is poised to deal a financial blow.

“We have not seen, other than COVID, a recent event where 159 counties in Georgia have been impacted,” Stallings said.

As a point of comparison, Stallings said Hurricane Debby recently inflicted about $60 million in damage, and that storm only affected 30 counties.

“I would just simply say this is a wide-scale event with significant implications,” Stallings said.

As of Wednesday afternoon, schools from south Georgia to metro Atlanta had sent emails to parents and students canceling classes and extracurriculars for Thursday and Friday.

Citing widespread closures across the state, the Department of Education announced Wednesday it would delay releasing Georgia Milestones math scores from Friday to Monday.

Several colleges, including Valdosta State University, also announced campus closures as they brace for the storm.

Georgia Recorder reporter Ross Williams contributed to this report.

Goodwill of North Georgia ranks number one in job placement

By

Nora Almazan

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September 25, 2024

Goodwill-Store — Goodwill in Cornelia, GA (NowHabersham/com)

Over the past decade, Goodwill of North Georgia has been responsible for placing more than 160,000 people in jobs according to a press release about Goodwill’s latest job report for FY24 and the last 10 years. In fiscal year 2024, Goodwill of North Georgia was recognized as the number one Goodwill in the nation regarding people employed, helping more than 22,000 North Georgians get connected with jobs.

Success in job placement

Key hiring and employment data was included for 2023. Goodwill of North Georgia is one of the largest retail operations & workforce training agencies in Georgia with a mission to put people to work. This data highlights the agency’s success in serving job seekers and placing individuals into jobs across the state.

Goodwill of North Georgia celebrated its 99th anniversary in operation. The 2023 data reflects the organization’s significant impact on job creation and placement over the past decade.

An objective of Goodwill of North Georgia has been to effectively identify the workforce needs of North Georgia communities and develop programs to train people across a wide range of skilled trades and career opportunities.

With 14 career centers dedicated to providing no-cost job training, placement, case management, work support, paid internships, and opportunities to anyone in need, a variety of training programs are available. Participants can learn about customer service, environmental services, phlebotomy, welding, youth employment services, highway construction, clean tech, and much more. Training is offered free of charge.

Number one Goodwill in the country

In 2023 alone, Goodwill of North Georgia served 48,205 job seekers and successfully placed 22,083 people into jobs across the state according to data from Donovan Jackson, Communications Manager for Goodwill. Additionally, the organization remains the number one Goodwill in the country for connecting job seekers with jobs for the fifth year in a row.

“As we celebrate our 99 years of service, we are thrilled by the tremendous impact we continue to provide in communities across North Georgia,” said Keith Parker, President & CEO of Goodwill of North Georgia.

“Our career centers allow individuals to obtain proper job training, gain life-changing employment opportunities, and contribute to the state’s growing workforce. In fact, we are pleased to report that just last month (August) Goodwill of North Georgia placed more than 1,800 people in jobs – 80 percent of those being living wage positions. 2024 is gearing up to be one of our most groundbreaking years to date.”

Through the career centers and training programs, Goodwill serves veterans, people with disabilities, youth, single parents, the under-employed, people with criminal backgrounds, and anyone else looking for work.

Trump says Ukraine is ‘demolished’ and dismisses its defense against Russia’s invasion

By

Jonathan J. Cooper

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September 25, 2024

Former President Donald Trump described Ukraine in bleak and mournful terms Wednesday, referring to its people as “dead” and the country itself as “demolished,” and further raising questions about how much the former president would be willing, if elected again, to concede in a negotiation over the country’s future.

Trump argued Ukraine should have made concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin in the months before Russia’s February 2022 attack, declaring that even “the worst deal would’ve been better than what we have now.”

Trump, who has long been critical of U.S. aid to Ukraine, frequently claims that Russia never would have invaded if he was president and that he would put an end to the war if he returned to the White House. But rarely has he discussed the conflict in such detail.

His remarks, at a North Carolina event billed as an economic speech, come on the heels of a debate this month in which he pointedly refused to say whether he wanted Ukraine to win the war. On Tuesday, Trump touted the prowess of Russia and its predecessor Soviet Union, saying that wars are “what they do.”

The Republican former president, notoriously attuned to slights, began his denunciation of Ukraine by alluding to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s recent criticism of Trump and running mate JD Vance.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, at the UN headquarters. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Zelenskyy, who is visiting the U.S. this week to attend the U.N. General Assembly, told The New Yorker that Vance was “too radical” for proposing that Ukraine surrender territories under Russian control and that Trump “doesn’t really know how to stop the war even if he might think he knows how.”

Said Trump, “It’s something we have to have a quick discussion about because the president of Ukraine is in our country and he’s making little nasty aspersions toward your favorite president, me.”

Trump painted Ukraine as a country in ruins outside its capital, Kyiv, short on soldiers and losing population to war deaths and neighboring countries. He questioned whether the country has any bargaining chips left to negotiate an end to the war.

“Any deal — the worst deal — would’ve been better than what we have now,” Trump said. “If they made a bad deal it would’ve been much better. They would’ve given up a little bit and everybody would be living and every building would be built and every tower would be aging for another 2,000 years.”

“What deal can we make? It’s demolished,” he added. “The people are dead. The country is in rubble.”

Zelenskyy is pitching the White House on what he calls a victory plan for the war, expected to include an ask to use long-range Western weapons to strike Russian targets.

While Ukraine outperformed many expectations that it would fall quickly to Russia, outnumbered Ukrainian forces face grinding battles against one of the world’s most powerful armies in the country’s east. Ukraine has lost a fifth of its territory and tens of thousands of lives in the conflict.

Trump laid blame for the conflict on President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, his Democratic rival in November. He said Biden “egged it all on” by pledging to help Ukraine defend itself rather than pushing it to cede territory to Russia.

“Biden and Kamala allowed this to happen by feeding Zelenskyy money and munitions like no country has ever seen before,” Trump said.

Notably, Trump did not attack Putin’s reasoning for launching the invasion, only suggesting Putin would not have started the war had Trump been in office. He did say of Putin, “He’s no angel.”

Jimmy Dwayne Turner

By

Now Habersham

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September 25, 2024

Jimmy Dwayne Turner, age 66, of Clarkesville, Georgia, passed away on Wednesday, September 25, 2024.

Mr. Turner was born on December 23, 1957, in Habersham County, Georgia, to the late Hermus “Bud” Turner and Louise Thomas Terrell. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Tina Marie Goss, and a brother, Richard Turner.

Jimmy spent over 50 years as a skilled sheet rocker, earning a reputation as one of the best in the business. In addition to his sheet-rocking career, Jimmy was proud to work with Habersham Metal Products for over 16 years. However, one of the most cherished parts of his career was his time with the Habersham County Board of Education, where he served as a mechanic at the bus stop and was a beloved school bus driver from 1993 to 2019. Outside of work, Jimmy was a man who enjoyed the simple pleasures of life, whether it was taking road trips, camping, or enjoying the outdoors. Yet, above all, Jimmy will be remembered as a loving and dedicated family man. He was “Papa” or “Pop” to his grandchildren, titles that he cherished deeply. Every family gathering, holiday, or simple get-together held special meaning to him because, for Jimmy, time spent with family was what mattered most.

Jimmy’s legacy will live on through his family that he is survived by, including his loving wife, Sandy Thompson Turner, of Clarkesville; sons and daughters-in-law, Kent and Courtney Foskey, of Wrightsville; Michael and Jessica Turner, of Clarkesville; daughter, Krystal Phasavang, of Clarkesville; son and daughter-in-law, Austin and Megan Turner, of Clarkesville; daughter and son-in-law, Macie and Wes Payne, of Toccoa; son and daughter-in-law, Harley and Erin Turner, of Clarkesville; grandchildren, Merinda Oxner, Jason Goss, Justin Goss, Connor Wilson, Blake Turner, Gracie Ann Foskey, Weston Foskey, Allie Phasavang, Ethan Phasavang, River Armour, Chase Payne, Ridge Segers, Walker Payne, Skyler Belangia, Kameron Turner, Stetson Turner, Breiglon Turner; great-grandchildren, Lola Jean Oxner, Jaxson Oxner; special niece, Jennifer Turner and children, Turner Chastain, Ellie Chastain; and his beloved pets, Smokey Joe, Polly Ray, Sallie Mae and Theo.

Funeral Services will be held at 4:00 p.m., Saturday, September 28, 2024, at the Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel, with Rev. Austin Kelley officiating.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, September 27, 2024, and 1:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. on Saturday, September 28, 2024, prior to the service.

Flowers will be accepted, or memorials may be made to the Chris Thompson Foundation, 925 West Tanglewood Drive, Dublin, Georgia 31021

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, North Chapel at 245 Central Avenue, Demorest, Georgia 30535