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Hart County troopers deliver hospital sendoff for boy burned in crash

By
Staff Report
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State troopers celebrate with Bennett Dornellas and his mother, Chelsea Oliver, on the day he was released from the hospital, Sept. 16, 2024. Pictured are SFC Fleming, SGT Dean, CPL Andrews, CPL Gandy, TFC2 Green, TFC2 Anderson, and TFC1 Pratz. (photo submitted)

After spending 134 days in an Augusta burn center, Bennett Dornellas returned home last week.

The 3-year-old South Carolina boy suffered third-degree burns over 90% of his body on May 8. On that day, authorities say his father kidnapped him from his home in Belton and then lit a fire in the truck while they were being pursued on Interstate 85.

Troopers say Joshua Dornellas jumped out of the truck before it crashed near Lavonia. Law enforcement officers saved the young boy from the burning wreckage and arrested his father.

Bennett Dornellas with his model GSP patrol car presented the day he left the hospital on Sept. 16, 2024. (photo submitted)

Troopers from Georgia State Patrol Post 52 in Hartwell were among the officers on the scene in May. They were in Augusta on Sept. 16 for Bennett’s big sendoff. The troopers delivered a care package to him at the JMS Burn Center at Doctors Hospital.

“Bennett was released to return home this morning, and this care package was just the start of his great day!” said Post 52 SGT J.R. Dean.

Bennett’s long road to recovery

Soon after Bennett’s rescue, his uncle, Jeremy Darnell, expressed his family’s gratitude on GoFundMe.

“Our family wants to take this moment to recognize the officers, paramedics, and first responders involved in saving Bennett’s life. Specifically, to the officers who risked their lives to pull Bennett from the burning vehicle—you personify the greatness of what the human spirit is capable of. We will never be able to repay your bravery.”

While Bennett is now home from the hospital, his family says he still requires 24/7 medical care. He must make the 180-mile roundtrip to Augusta weekly for surgeries, treatments, and dressing changes.

The online fundraiser is helping with those expenses. The family has raised $81,000 toward their $100,000 goal.

UGA Students give back to Athens-Clarke County

By
Staff Report
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Volunteers removed invasive vines from trees at Athens Land Trust, led by Service Ambassador Wendy Trejo and Co-Site Lead Roberto Rios.

More than 500 University of Georgia students participated in Dawg Day of Service, the university’s largest annual community service event, setting records for the number of participants and service sites.

The 11th annual event, on Saturday, September 21, had students cleaning spaces for the homeless, writing cards for memory care patients, and planting gardens, among other activities.

Two volunteers hold gourds at the Athens Community Council on Aging community garden, led by Service Ambassador Anna Thomas. Students helped prepare the garden for fall production and overwintering, which supports ACCA’s senior hunger initiatives like Turkeypalooza and Squash Senior Hunger.

Serve UGA organizes the effort, which involves student-led groups within the Department of Engagement, Leadership, and Service. Students served over 30 locations in Athens-Clarke County and the surrounding area.

“I would recommend serving to other students because it gives one the ability to meet like-minded people and know that you are making a difference in what you did during the event,” said Sabrina Webb, a participant experience coordinator for Dawg Day of Service. “I believe through our core value of sustainable service we are able to leave a lasting impression and not a quick, fleeting action.”

Webb’s passion for volunteering stems from her experiences growing up on an animal rescue farm, which taught her the importance of caring for others.

In addition to off-campus activities, students contributed to on-campus initiatives, such as the UGA Period Project, Bulldog Basics, the Disability Resource Center, and the Professional Clothing Closet.

Digital volunteer opportunities, such as creating coloring sheets for children supported by the Athens Area Diaper Bank, were also available.

Led by Director of Member Development Emma Benedict, students pack essential hygiene items for community members at City of Refuge.

The following 30 sites benefited from student volunteers’ efforts:

  • Athens Area Diaper Bank
  • Athens Area Homeless Shelter
  • Athens Area Humane Society
  • Athens Community Council on Aging
  • Athens Land Trust
  • Atlanta Mission Thrift Store
  • Bigger Vision of Athens Community Shelter
  • Brightpaths
  • Broad River Watershed Association (in collaboration with Ramsey Outdoor Recreation & Rivers Alive)
  • Brooklyn Cemetery
  • Burks Elementary School garden
  • CHaRM
  • Cleveland Road Elementary School garden
  • Divas Who Win
  • Extra Special People
  • Family Promise of Athens
  • Georgia Museum of Art
  • Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful Site 1
  • Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful Site 2
  • Keep Oconee County Beautiful
  • Lyndon House Arts Center
  • Nuci’s Space
  • Oconee County Library
  • Oconee Forest Park
  • Professional Clothing Closet
  • Project Safe
  • Spirit Ridge Rescue
  • Sweet Olive Farm
  • The Backpack Project
  • Trial Gardens
  • Whit Davis School garden

This article appears on Now Habersham in partnership with UGA Today

School shooting damage lasts for years, survivors tell panel of U.S. House Democrats

By
Ariana Figueroa
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(Daniel Purcell/NowHabersham.com)

WASHINGTON (States Newsroom) — The devastating effects of school shootings continue well after shootings occur, according to survivors, experts and educators who spoke at a roundtable U.S. House Oversight and Reform Committee Democrats held Monday.

Democrats scheduled the discussion after the recent school shooting in Georgia, where two students and two teachers were killed. Witnesses told the panel the psychological trauma of a school shooting lingers long beyond the events themselves.

“In the months and years after a mass shooting, young people injured or wounded in the attack experience continuing fear, pain, trauma and disorientation, and struggle to hang on to what is left of their lives,” the top Democrat on the committee, Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, said.

The roundtable came just after the one-year anniversary of the White House establishing its Office of Gun Violence Prevention. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are scheduled to speak about gun violence at the White House Thursday.

There have been 404 mass shootings this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, a group that studies gun violence in the U.S.

Several educators at the roundtable advocated for Congress to provide more funding for schools to address the long-lasting effects of a school shooting.

“There’s not a time period when the trauma is going to disappear,” Frank DeAngelis, who was the principal of Columbine High School during the 1999 mass shooting in Colorado, said.

DeAngelis is also a founding member of the National Association of Secondary School Principals Principal Recovery Network, which is a network to help educators in the aftermath of a school shooting.

Greg Johnson, a principal at West Liberty-Salem High School in West Liberty, Ohio, said that even though no student died at his school’s shooting in 2017, students and faculty had lasting trauma.

“Hundreds of students heard the piercing shotgun blasts, and those same hundreds barricaded the doors of their classrooms before they evacuated and in random ditches and across fields in search of safety,” he said. “Many were traumatized, though almost all tried their very best to hide it by putting on a mask of strength and normalcy. Our students suffered in silence.”

Sarah Burd-Sharps, the senior director of research at Everytown for Gun Safety, added that the economic cost of gun violence is estimated at more than $550 billion a year.

Mental health funding

Patricia Greer, principal at Marshall County High School in Benton, Kentucky, said that while the bipartisan gun safety bill that Congress passed in 2022 provided substantial funding for mental health, Congress should consider increasing such funding to help students and staff recover from trauma.

“Schools are uniquely positioned to provide mental health support, but they need our help to meet the growing demand,” Greer said.

She pushed for Congress to consider increasing funding for Title II and Title IV to support professional development for educators and expand school-based mental health services. Those titles refer to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which provides federal grants to schools.

“Recovery requires sustained support and resources,” she said. “By increasing funding for … Title II to $2.4 billion, and Title IV to $1.48 billion, we can provide schools with the resources they need to prevent tragedies and support students through trauma.”

Melissa Alexander, whose son survived the Covenant School shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, said, “a mass shooting is not something you get over.”

She said her then 9-year-old son called her during the shooting, begging for her to save him.

“He prepared to die,” she said.

Alexander, who is now a firearm safety advocate, said that even though she is in a deep-red state, nearly 75% of residents support some type of red flag laws. Such laws allow courts to order the temporary removal of a firearm from people at risk of harming themselves or others.

Despite the widespread support, state lawmakers have not taken action, she said.

“It’s not translating up to the (state) Legislature,” she said.

Georgia election board probes handling of mass voter challenges in eight Democrat-led counties

By
Stanley Dunlap
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Georgia Election Board member Janice Johnston voted Monday, September 23, in favor of the board opening an investigation into eight county boards that review mass voter eligibility challenges filed predominantly by conservative residents. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

(Georgia Recorder) — The Georgia State Election Board voted Monday to investigate claims that several county election boards are failing to properly investigate challenges disputing voter eligibility.

Three State Election Board members loyal to former President Donald Trump agreed to request that the board’s executive director look into whether eight election boards in counties led by Democrats are improperly dismissing complaints questioning if tens of thousands of voters are eligible to vote.

The mass voter challenge controversy has been a mainstay in Georgia over the last several years since the feverish push to overturn the 2020 presidential election results after Republican President Donald Trump narrowly lost to Democrat Joe Biden in Georgia by fewer than 12,000 votes.

Many conservatives have argued that voter registration lists need to be purged of ineligible votes, while Democrats and progressive activists have argued that mass voter challenges aim to intimidate and remove voters who should remain eligible to cast ballots.

The Georgia board requested Executive Director Mike Coan report findings by the time the election board plans to hold its next meeting Oct. 8.

DeKalb County Republican Party Chairwoman Marci McCarthy requested that the board carefully examine how several counties handle voter eligibility cases. A lawsuit filed by the DeKalb County Republican Party and a DeKalb resident argues that the DeKalb Election Board has failed to address complaints challenging the status of over several thousand registered voters regarding issues such as whether residential addresses are correct and potential double registrations.

McCarthy said the DeKalb board did not follow its duties to investigate challenges of voters registered at non-residential addresses, voters who may have moved out of the county and others who have not been in touch with election officials for over a decade.

“There’s a 90-day period before an election that certain voters should not be removed from the voter list,” McCarthy said. “In particular are voters that just haven’t recently voted. However, as you might guess, voters who have died, been convicted of a felony or moved away more than 30 days ago to another county or state, do not belong in the voter rolls for that county, they are ineligible to vote.”

Federal law mandates a 90-day hiatus prior to an election that prevents certain voter list purges. However, Georgia law prohibits voter removal within 45 days of the upcoming election. Georgia’s Election Day is Nov. 5.

Earlier this month, the DeKalb election officials passed a measure declaring it would follow the 90-day moratorium on voter list maintenance as prescribed under federal law.

According to state law, election boards must consider it sufficient probable cause to move forward with  an investigation when a voter does not appear to reside at the same address, lists a non-residential address on their registration, or has other reasons that could disqualify them.

Georgia Election Board member Janice Johnston said Monday that it appears that a number of election officials in Georgia have been concerned about investigating voter challenges after Democratic election lawyer Marc Elias sent letters threatening legal action if challenges were upheld.

“This appears to have interfered with the duty of registrars to hear challenges and review the qualifications of voters in On the county voter list,” she said.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported this week that since July, county election boards in the metro Atlanta region have rejected more than 45,000 voter eligibility challenges filed by conservative activists. Their analysis found that since July fewer than 50 voters were removed from the rolls in Gwinnett, Fulton, Cobb and DeKalb counties.

A federal judge in Atlanta ruled in January that right-wing True the Vote did not violate the Voting Rights Act as alleged in a Fair Fight Action lawsuit that said the group intended to intimate voters as it challenged the eligibility of thousands of Georgian voters leading up to a pair of U.S. Senate runoffs in early 2021.

Clarkesville talks parking policy changes at public forum

By
Brian Wellmeier
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Clarkesville Councilman Brad Coppedge engages local business owners during a parking forum at City Hall Monday, Sept. 23 (Brian Wellmeier/NowHabersham.com)

City Manager Keith Dickerson’s office determined an estimated 12,000 vehicles travel through Clarkesville a day – a stream of potential revenue downtown businesses could reap with greater parking availability. 

This was among several statistics cited by Councilman Brad Coppedge during Monday’s public forum at Clarkesville City Hall, where officials and nearly a dozen local business owners took a closer look at the city’s current parking policy.

Clarkesville has a total of almost 600 parking spaces in and around the city, Coppedge said, with about 88 on the square and nearly 500 (off-square) along the perimeter of the downtown area. 

“We have parking,” Coppedge said. “We just have to find a way to best manage it.”

The real challenge, as identified by city officials, involves parking on the downtown square amid a growing population, increased tourism and booming business scene. 

“We’re kind of looking at all elements of what’s going on in this community – because we are a growth community,” Coppedge said Monday. “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.”

Signs mark the first reserved spaces for veterans and Purple Heart recipients near war memorial and gazebo on the downtown Clarkesville square. Four more of these spaces are due to be marked in two other public parking lots. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)

Before the presentation, Coppedge 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.”

“We’re going to see businesses come – they’re going to be open for 6-9 months, and then we’re going to see an empty space,” he said. “Then, we’re going to see someone else come in and try to do it. They’re all having the same challenges. We’ve got to make sure we’re addressing what the dynamics are, and dealing with them.”

Coppedge went on to present eight options the city could adopt to “best utilize current capacity” and improve its parking dilemma. 

Options

  • Require all downtown square business employees to use all five perimeter public parking lots – which will free up a minimum of 20% (18 spaces) of overall daily parking spots. 
  • Test specific parking spots and signage for retailers that have appointment-based, order pick-up and delivery-oriented business operations. Coppedge explained this option would in effect reserve specific slots for businesses that require extended parking for a certain duration of time.
  • Require all upper level business retailers and housing renters to utilize the five designated perimeter public parking lots. (Each new designated parking spot could generate additional revenue of at least $300 a week, according to Coppedge. While this could free-up parking areas on the square, as mentioned during the forum, it could also pose a challenge for older populations. This option could be considered on a case-by-case basis, he said.)
  • A potential redesign and decrease slot size of both downtown square parking lots to increase parking space count with smaller sizing efforts, in addition to a new parking lot layout. Current parking areas on the square are 9-feet in size. (This option would be implemented in conjunction with a parking study, which Coppedge suggested could be conducted by an institution like the University of Georgia at no cost. Still, such a plan could potentially come at a cost to the city.)
  • Added extra ‘free public parking’ signage to direct shoppers to the five overflow lots throughout the city’s downtown area. (Coppedge said he believes this could create additional parking space on the square. He added that there’s no plans to charge for parking.)
  • Create new designated wholesaler, UPS and Federal Express delivery areas and food truck staging areas on both sides of Water Street.
  • Request that all downtown housing landlords require their renters use their ‘back of building’ parking lot.
  • Clarkesville’s Main Street team will be reviewing downtown promotional events that best drive retailer sales growth – but do not add to current parking issues.

Takeaways

Property and business owners expressed tentative sentiment following the forum, though a majority of them agreed that the first step to improve parking in Clarkesville is through continued talks with city officials. A common consensus among those in attendance was that employees and business owners should be required to park in areas away from the downtown square.

“Mostly, we need signs (for non-employee public parking),” said Samantha Gore, owner of Old Towne Pub. “I see the square all day from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. It’s specific people who park there all day, and they happen to be business owners.”

Peyton Davis, owner of Four Seasons Styling Salon, agreed that establishments “need to make sure employees and business owners park elsewhere” – not on the square. 

“Let’s see what happens and go from there,” she said. “One step at a time.”

Coppedge called the forum a step in the right direction, adding that he’d be inclined to support a new policy that prohibited employees and business owners from parking on the square during business hours – if necessary.  

“There’s got to be ownership,” he said. “If we all agree on one, two or three policy changes, then we have to own it. And we have to enforce it, individually, as businesses. If something isn’t done, this conversation is going to continue, and it’s only going to get more complicated as the traffic picks up and as more people are coming to the downtown area. Those parking spots are going to become even more valuable.”

Lady Indians sweep, taking win streak to eight

By
TFS Athletics
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Laura Ruiz Rendon (Photo by Austin Poffenberger)

#10-ranked Tallulah Falls won both Monday home matches against region foes George Walton and non-region opponents Lumpkin County. The straight-set wins extend the Lady Indians’ win streak to now eight matches.

Against George Walton, TFS won 25-13, 25-10. Shelby Whisnant accounted for almost 20 of the total points on her serve, according to coach Matt Heyl. Margalida Amengual Sanchez set and served well, and the connection between her and Becca Heyl led to several key kills. Laura Ruiz Rendon did a great job organizing the defense and taking control.

In the finale against Lumpkin, the girls won 25-14, 25-15 to sweep the match. Sanchez made some solid sets to Lily Smith, who had several great kills. Ca’Rin Swinton and Jace Ibemere were strong at the net. Whisnant led the way again with some solid serving runs, and Rendon and Heyl had a great defensive match.

The Lady Indians improve to 20-14 overall on the season, and are now 7-1 in region play.

Meanwhile, the JV girls earned a straight-set win over George Walton, 25-19, 25-18. Tori Crotta had five kills and five aces, Finley Ridlehoover added three kills and three aces, and Keely Franks added four aces. Nora Mitchell and Stella Bowman both had two aces as well.

Against Lumpkin County, the JV girls lost 25-23, 18-25, 11-15 despite taking the opening set. Crotta had seven kills and four aces this time, while Bowman had two kills and two blocks. Franks, Becca Roberts, Ridlehoover, and Emma Whisnant each had an ace, while Mitchell, Bowman, and Roberts added two kills apiece.

The JV Lady Indians now stand at 11-11 overall and 4-3 in region play.

Women’s Soccer Falls 3-0 at Sewanee Monday Night

By
Joseph Garwood
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(Photo courtesy Piedmont University Athletics)

SEWANEE, Tenn. – Piedmont women’s soccer saw its offense stifled by a tough Sewanee team in a 3-0 road loss on Monday night in Tennessee.

Playing for the first time in over a week, the Lions were unable to control possession and mount a sustained offensive attack, as the Tigers found a goal in the first half and two more in the second half to pull away and earn the victory.

The Tigers had a few chances saved by Piedmont’s Haylee Dornan before Kate Thomson delivered the only goal they needed in the 38th minute.

Overall, Sewanee held a 16-0 shot advantage in the first half.

Piedmont held within striking distance for most of the second half until the Tigers broke through again late, scoring in the 76th minute and then again in the 85th.

Up next, the Lions will return home and begin CCS play, hosting Belhaven in Demorest this Thursday, Septembrer 26 at 6 p.m.

Habersham county manager’s severance package higher than reported

By
Jerry Neace
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Habersham County Manager Alicia Vaughn. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)

The amount paid out to Habersham County Manager Alicia Vaughn will be higher than Now Habersham originally reported, according to information recently obtained from the county manager herself.

Vaughn said in an email to Now Habersham that she will receive just over $144,200 for her departure. That figure includes COBRA family insurance, vacation, and sick leave – information that was not previously made available to us in our reporting.

Though the terms of the amended contract remain the same, the defined calculations increase the severance package amount.

Vaughn, who is set to step down at the end of the year, will receive a total compensation package of approximately $144,220.72, not $122,385.08 as previously reported.

The break out is as follows:

Vaughn’s COBRA family insurance includes health insurance at $16,788.36, dental at $1,124.28 and vision at $96.06, totaling $18,008.70. Vacation and sick leave – both of which will still be accrued, or used, over the next three months – are included in her base salary and could change the total amount of the severance package by her last day of employment.

RELATED County manager severance package details revealed

Previous contract

A copy of Vaughn’s amended employment contract, as well as her previous employment contract, was released by County Attorney Donnie Hunt last Friday.

Last year, no changes were made to the 2023 contract, which was renewed in January.

The 2023 contract had provisions for termination with cause, termination without cause, non-renewal, and resignation.

Termination with cause would only occur if laws or policies were broken during her employment. At which time, the county commission could terminate immediately with no provision for a severance package.

Termination without cause, on the other hand, would allow the commission to terminate the contract at any time for no reason since Georgia is an “at will” employment state. In that scenario, the commission terminated without cause. The contract provided, in this case, for a severance package to be paid within 30 days of the termination date.

For non-renewal, the commission could vote to not renew the contract but the commission would have to give the county manager a 90 day notice of its intent to not renew the contract. That notice would have to be given no later than October. This would in effect be a termination without cause and obligate the county to pay a severance package.

The county manager had the option to resign with a written 60 day notice. Upon the county manager’s resignation, the county would not be obligated to pay a severance package. The county would only be obligated to pay for all accrued leave.

The terms for the severance package in the previous contract were a base package of three months aggregate salary, expenses, COBRA Insurance, and accrued leave. After her first year of employment, the severance package would increase one month per year of employment. It was capped at a total of six months. It did not include a provision for payment into the senior management retirement program.

Amended contract

The amended contract that went into effect on September 16 defined a specific ending date for the contract as December 27, 2024. The contract states that the employee agrees and submits her resignation effective December 27, 2024.

The county manager duties did not change with either contract – except the amended contract states that Vaughn may assist in the selection process and the hiring of the next county manager.

During the term of the amended agreement, the county manager may not accept employment or become employed by any other employer.

The amended contract provides that the county commission can suspend the county manager at any time. However, should the commission exercise that provision, the contract states that the county manager will receive full pay and benefits during the suspension period, along with the agreed upon severance package.

Hiring new manager

Habersham County Commission Chairman Ty Akins explained that since Vaughn’s resignation, the commission is looking at hiring a county manager on an interim basis. “That seems to be the consensus at this point,” he said.

However, the process for hiring a manager will not be quick. The county must first advertise the position before the hiring process proceeds. Akins anticipates at least 30 to 45 days before a potential candidate is considered.

Akins said he expects the salary for a new county manager to come from the county’s contingency fund.

Donovan’s record-setting performance earns MCC women’s intercollegiate individual title

By
Danielle Percival
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(Photo courtesy Piedmont Athletic Communications)

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Erin Donovan earned another record and another title on Monday with a 70 (-2) in the second round of the MCC Women’s Intercollegiate to claim the individual title at -8 for the event.

Piedmont as a whole set the team-low score for 36 holes with a 610, besting their own previous mark that was set in the opening tournament of the 24-25 season (623). The Lions also tied the team-low score for a single round for the second time this season, shooting a 300 to end the event in seventh place.

Donovan earned the Piedmont record for 36 holes in the process with her 136 (-8), besting the previous mark held by Katarina Hodge from the 2012-13 season.

Donovan birdied four times in the second round and made eagle on 18 just before turning the corner. She dropped as low as nine under for the tournament and managed to finish one under on both the front and back nines.

Keegan Goins bounced back on day two to record three birdies and shoot a 74, shaving seven strokes off her round-one score. Sarah Fox was consistent with an 80 in round two to finish third overall for the Lions.

Abigail Evans was the third counting score for the Lions on Monday with a 76, also taking eight strokes off her round one total. Marissa Weaver also improved in round two by 11 strokes with a 91.

Overall, Emory won the event by a single stroke finishing six over, one stroke ahead of Carnegie Mellon. In all, the field included the top two teams in the NCAA Division III rankings, three teams from the top-10 and six of the top-25.

Up next, Piedmont will be in action in San Antonio, Texas at the Alamo City Classic on October 7-8.

LIONS ON THE LEADERBOARD:

7 Piedmont University 310 300 610
1 Erin Donovan 66 70 136
T32 Keegan Goins 81 74 155
T40 Sarah Fox 79 80 159
T43 Abigail Evans 84 76 160
63 Marissa Weaver 102 91 193

 

Cleveland man arrested and charged with trafficking meth

By
Joy Purcell
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Jimmy Moss (White County Sheriff's Office)

A Cleveland man faces three felony counts following his recent arrest for alleged drug trafficking.

Jimmy Moss, 36, was booked into the White County Detention Center on September 17, according to the GBI’s Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office (ARDEO).

The investigation began after several people tipped off law enforcement that Moss was distributing drugs, says ARDEO Special Agent in Charge Ken Howard.

Drugs and drug paraphernalia agents say they seized during a search on a home in White County on Sept. 17, 2024. (Photo by ARDEO)

ARDEO agents, deputies from the White County Sheriff’s Office, and officers from the Georgia Department of Community Supervision served a fugitive warrant on Moss at a home in White County. During the search, Howard says agents seized suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Suspected meth seized in the raid. Georgia law defines trafficking as 28 grams or more. (Photo by ARDEO)

Authorities charged Moss with trafficking methamphetamine and two probation violations, according to online jail records. As of September 23, he remained jailed without bond.

The Hall County Sheriff’s Office also assisted with the investigation.

ARDEO is a multi-agency unit that covers 30 North Georgia counties. Howard encourages anyone with information about illegal drug activity in the region to contact the unit. ARDEO may be reached at 706-348-7410. You may also submit anonymous tips by calling 1-800-597-8477.

Harris presses Trump to debate again, and Democrats launch ‘chicken’ billboards

By
Jennifer Shutt
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Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, speaks during an event at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on September 20, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia. Harris spoke about abortion and reproductive rights in Georgia as she continues to campaign against Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump. (Vice President Harris/Facebook)

WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris is chiding GOP nominee Donald Trump for not agreeing to another presidential debate before voting ends Nov. 5, though he doesn’t appear inclined to change his mind.

“Let’s have another debate,” Harris, the Democratic candidate, said Sunday. “There’s more to talk about and the voters of America deserve to hear the conversations that I think we should be having on substance, on issues, on policies.”

Harris and Trump debated for the first time on Sept. 10, but so far, the two campaigns haven’t reached agreement with another news organization to set up a second debate. Two days after their only debate so far, Trump declared he wouldn’t agree to another.

Harris-Walz Campaign Chair Jen O’Malley Dillon released a written statement this weekend announcing that Harris agreed to a CNN debate on Oct. 23 and pressing Trump to do so as well.

“Donald Trump should have no problem agreeing to this debate,” Dillon wrote. “It is the same format and setup as the CNN debate he attended and said he won in June, when he praised CNN’s moderators, rules, and ratings.”

Trump brushed that aside during a rally on Saturday in North Carolina, saying that “it’s just too late” since early and mail-in voting has already begun in some states.

During the 2020 presidential campaign, Trump and then-Democratic nominee Joe Biden held their final debate on Oct. 22.

Four years before that, when Trump and Hillary Clinton were vying for the Oval Office, they debated on Sept. 26, Oct. 9 and Oct. 19.

In an attempt to nudge Trump toward debating, the Democratic National Committee has paid for mobile billboards calling him a “chicken” and showing him dressed up in a yellow chicken costume. Those billboards, as well as a second one trying to link him to Project 2025, will be in Pennsylvania on Monday evening ahead of a campaign stop.

DNC Deputy Communications Director Abhi Rahman wrote in a statement about the chicken billboards that Trump had previously said he’d debate anytime, anyplace.

“The American people deserve another opportunity to hear Vice President Harris and Donald Trump lay out their starkly different visions for our country side-by-side before Election Day,” Rahman wrote. “Instead, Trump is busy hiding from the American people because he knows they’ll reject his Project 2025 agenda to hike taxes on the middle class, ban abortion nationwide, and use the federal government to assert virtually unchecked power over our daily lives.”

Harris and Trump, however, are both in talks with the CBS show “60 Minutes” for detailed interviews that would air back-to-back on Oct. 7.

The vice presidential candidates are scheduled to debate on Oct. 1 in New York City, hosted by CBS. That will be the last debate of this cycle unless Trump changes his mind.

Trump, Harris, running mates in swing states

Campaign travel will continue to be a central focus for both Republicans and Democrats this week, with just over six weeks until voting wraps up.

Harris is expected to rally supporters in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, Arizona on Friday and Nevada on Sunday.

Trump will be in Savannah, Georgia on Tuesday to talk about his tax plans before heading to Mint Hill, North Carolina on Wednesday. He then has two stops scheduled in Michigan on Friday; the first in Walker and the second in Warren.

Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz is expected to hold a campaign reception Tuesday in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, the Republican vice presidential candidate, won’t be on Capitol Hill for the final in-session week before the election but will be out on the campaign trail.

Vance is scheduled to be in Traverse City, Michigan, on Wednesday before holding two stops in Georgia on Thursday and heading to Newton, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.

Habersham County considers privatizing youth gymnastics program

By
Joy Purcell
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A Habersham County Recreation Department youth gymnastics meet in 2023. The program is housed at Old Clarkesville Mill. (Photo courtesy Habersham County)

The Habersham County Board of Commissioners is exploring privatizing its youth gymnastics program to save taxpayers money.

A news release from the county says the study of whether to privatize comes after a review and analysis of current funding, community needs, and long-term sustainability. The process includes requesting proposals from outside organizations.

“At this time, we are issuing a request for proposals to help the Board of Commissioners and administration determine whether this is the best option for Habersham County and its residents,” said County Manager Alicia Vaughn. “Our Board of Commissioners heard concerns from those whose children’s lives are positively impacted by the program, but also from taxpayers who are concerned that taxpayers are largely subsidizing the program.”

If the gymnastics program is privatized, the new operator would be required to assume the lease on the current facility. They would also be required to meet the county’s performance standards, ensuring a high-quality program that remains accessible to county residents.

Vaughn says a private operator potentially could provide specialized expertise and more resources to enhance and expand the program in a way the county can’t due to public funding constraints.

Families currently enrolled in the program would receive support and information throughout the transition process.

“We are excited about the potential benefits this privatization could bring to our community,” said Habersham County Parks and Recreation Director Brooke Whitmire. “Our primary goal is to maintain a high-quality gymnastics program for our youth while being fiscally responsible. This transition allows us to achieve both objectives.”

The county manager’s office says it is committed to transparency and will keep the community informed throughout this process.

Habersham County assumed management of the gymnastics program in 2016 after the YMCA withdrew from the program.

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