Victim of July 17 wreck on Hwy. 115 passes away

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August 2, 2024

GA-115-at-Haywood-Hills-wreck2 — Sandra Pulliam, 61, of Helen, was fatally injured in a 3-vehicle wreck on GA 115 west of Clarkesville on July 17, 2024. (Rob Moore/Habersham County)

One of the victims of a July 17 multi-vehicle wreck on Hwy. 115 at Haywood Hills Road has died.

61-year-old Sandra Holbrooks Pulliam of Helen passed away Thursday, July 25, at Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville from injuries suffered in the wreck, said Habersham County Coroner Kasey McEntire.

According to the Georgia State Patrol, Pulliam was a passenger in a Mazda CX5 that was hit by a Ford Mustang that swerved into its lane.

Pulliam, a retired hairdresser, was a native of Demorest and a graduate of Habersham Central High School. She is survived by her son and two grandchildren. A memorial service was held on July 31 at the chapel of Flanigan Funeral Home in Buford.

“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the Pulliam family at this difficult time,” McEntire said.

At the time of the wreck, state troopers charged the Mustang driver, 34-year-old Kevin Young of Gainesville, with several traffic violations, including following too closely, failure to maintain lane, and distracted driving.

Georgia State Patrol Public Information Director Capt. Michael Burns tells Now Habersham the State Patrol is reopening the investigation into the crash to seek the possibility of additional charges.

Sandra Holbrooks Pulliam obituary

Extradition of suspect in Maria Gomez-Perez case delayed

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Nora Almazan

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August 2, 2024

Mug - ANTONIO AGUSTIN — Antonio Agustin faces charges in the disappearance of 12-year-old Maria Gomez-Perez of Gainesville, GA. (Source: Tuscarawas County Sheriff's Office)

Suspect Antonio Agustin-Ailon, 34, who was arrested last week in connection with the disappearance of Maria Gomez-Perez, 12, of Gainesville, will remain in the custody of authorities in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.

While there are no specifics as to what the charges are against Agustin-Ailon, Lee Darragh, District Attorney for the Northeastern Judicial Circuit of Georgia stated, “After consultation with the Hall County Sheriff’s Office and the elected county prosecutor in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, we have determined it best to delay extradition to Hall County.”

The information at this time indicates that most of the serious criminal offenses in this case occurred in Ohio, District Attorney Darrah indicated, according to a press release issued by the Hall County Sheriff’s Office. Most of the witnesses to prove the Hall County case are in Ohio.

The press release states that “District Attorney Darragh believes it makes sense that the suspect must answer to what charges Ohio proceeds on first. Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch agreed with the DA’s decision.”

Investigators found Agustin-Ailon with the missing girl in Dover, Ohio, and took him into custody on Thursday, July 25.

Gomez-Perez disappeared from her home on May 29. Authorities say Augustin-Ailon traveled to Gainesville and drove her back with him to his home in Ohio after connecting with her online.

“My primary goal in this case is to see justice done. If that means we have to wait for this suspect to have his day in court in Ohio before he faces our charges, so be it. I just want to make sure he has no chance of luring another young girl from home, wreaking havoc on another community as he did ours,” said Sheriff Couch.

The DA’s office indicated it will move forward with filing relevant charges in Hall County, likely through a Grand Jury presentation, as Tuscarawas County proceeds with its case.

Missing Hall County girl Maria Gomez-Perez found safe in another state

Teresa Annette Goss

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Now Habersham

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August 2, 2024

Teresa Annette Goss, age 64, of Lavonia, found eternal peace Thursday, August 1, 2024 following an extended illness.

Born on March 29, 1960, in Indianapolis, Indiana, she was the daughter of the late Frank, Jr. “Junior” & Mavine Graham Goss.

Teresa was most importantly a devoted mother, aunt, grandmother and great-grandmother and also an amazing cook, serving alongside some of her favorite people for many years at the great Stoney’s Restaurant. A longtime resident of Habersham County, Teresa also served many years as a housekeeper. It has been said that she never met a stranger, as she would find someone she knew or make a new friend everywhere she went.

She is survived by her son, Allan Goss of Gainesville, sister Rita Goss of Lavonia, brother and sister-in-law Frank and Rosie Goss of Mt. Airy, niece Chelsea Goss and bonus niece Skylar Hyden of Lavonia, grandchildren Cali and Macy Goss, Brianna Goss and family of Clarkesville, Hunter Goss and family of Gainesville and Brentlee Kinsey and family of Mt. Airy.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 10, 2024, at Hillside Memorial Chapel in Clarkesville, with Rev. Austin Kelley officiating. Per her wishes, Teresa’s ashes will be interred with her parents at a later time.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday, August 10, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. until the service hour.

An online guest registry is available for the Goss family at www.HillsideMemorialChapel.com.

Arrangements are in the care & professional direction of Hillside Memorial Chapel & Gardens of Clarkesville, Georgia. (706) 754-6256

Trap

By

Justin Hall

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August 2, 2024

Trap is M. Night Shyamalan’s latest psychological effort. While it’s a far cry from some of his more unintentionally hilarious atrocities, like The Happening, The Last Airbender, or After Earth, it doesn’t reach the heights of The Sixth Sense, Signs, or even Split.

It might be his best film since Split, but it’s also a near miss.

Josh Hartnett stars as Cooper Adams, a firefighter in Philadelphia who takes his daughter Riley (Ariel Donoghue) to a concert featuring pop sensation Lady Raven (Saleka Shyamalan, M. Night’s daughter). While they’re at the concert, Cooper begins noticing some suspicious activity when a barrage of police officers are there hoping to catch a serial killer called The Butcher.

Anyone who has seen the trailer for Trap automatically knows that Cooper is The Butcher, and he devises every plan in the book to escape without being caught. At this point, I’m intentionally leaving the plot’s events vague so that there can be some measure of suspense, but that might be an exercise in futility.

For its first two acts, Trap does a solid job of setting up its premise despite the reveal of The Butcher. It also keeps things afloat with some effective pacing, but once we get to that final act, the movie loses its momentum until we get to the conclusion and a hint of a sequel.

This movie would’ve worked better if Shyamalan had settled on a more imaginative climax instead of relying on a pseudo-Hitchcockian structure. However, Hartnett’s committed performance is especially charming and convincing and works throughout.

Shyamalan has a checkered filmography and Trap falls somewhere in between. It’s well-intentioned and sufficiently made, but it could’ve been more and better.

Grade: B-

(Rated PG-13 for some violent content and brief strong language.)

Kamala Harris will be the Democratic presidential nominee, DNC announces

By

Jennifer Shutt

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August 2, 2024

WASHINGTON (States Newsroom) — Enough Democratic delegates selected Kamala Harris to make her the party’s presidential nominee by Friday, during an ongoing virtual vote that began less than two weeks after President Joe Biden ended his reelection campaign.

The vote, which will not officially close until Monday evening, was held in advance of the Democratic National Convention, scheduled to take place in Chicago later this month, to assuage concerns about state registration deadlines that begin in August.

The DNC began laying the groundwork for the virtual nomination months before Biden announced his decision to step aside.

Harris said on a call with supporters Friday that she was happy to have surpassed the threshold needed to win the nomination.

“Of course, I will officially accept your nomination next week once the virtual voting period has closed, but already I’m happy to know that we have enough delegates to secure the nomination,” Harris said.

DNC Chair Jaime Harrison encouraged DNC delegates to keep sending in their ballots during the Zoom call, but said the support for Harris so far has been overwhelming.

“I am so proud to confirm that Vice President Harris has earned more than a majority of votes from all convention delegates and will be the nominee of the Democratic Party following the close of voting on Monday,” he said.

“The outpouring of support we have witnessed for the vice president has been unprecedented,” Harrison added. “We knew your ballots would come back quickly. But the fact that we can say today, just one day after we opened voting, that the vice president has crossed the majority threshold and will officially be our nominee next week — folks, that is simply outstanding.”

The virtual roll call vote began Thursday at 9 a.m. Eastern and will conclude Monday at 6 p.m. Eastern. Harris was the only candidate to qualify.

The DNC plans to announce the final results afterward, including a state-by-state breakdown.

One of Harris’ first official acts will be selecting a running mate from a list that holds several governors as well as at least one senator. Her decision will set the tone for the sprint to the ballot box.

Harris and her running mate are expected to hold rallies in swing states next week, including Pennsylvania on Tuesday, Wisconsin and Michigan on Wednesday, North Carolina on Thursday, Georgia and Arizona on Friday, and Nevada on Saturday.

Investigators charge Lula man for possession of child sex abuse material

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Staff Report

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August 2, 2024

Michael Perkins (Hall County Sheriff's Office)

Hall County Sheriff’s Office investigators have charged a Lula man with six counts of sexual exploitation of children in an ongoing investigation that began earlier this year, a news release from the sheriff’s office says.

Authorities arrested 62-year-old Michael Reid Perkins on Thursday, August 1, after executing a search warrant at his River Station Drive home. The search was prompted by multiple cybertips related to Perkins’ alleged online activity, according to the news release.

“During the search, investigators seized multiple electronic devices from the residence,” says HCSO Public Information Officer Derreck Booth.

According to preliminary details released by the sheriff’s office, Perkins allegedly downloaded at least six files of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), including videos and photos. The downloads were made at various times, dating back to December 2023, says Booth.

Investigators began investigating the case in June after receiving the initial cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

Booth says additional charges are possible pending forensic processing of the seized electronics and further investigation.

Hall County Jail personnel booked Perkins on Thursday afternoon. He remains held without bond.

UGA football player dismissed from team after domestic violence arrest

By

Martin Matheny

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August 2, 2024

Coach Kirby Smart press conference — UGA Coach Kirby Smart talks to reporters at a press conference in August 2024. (Livestream image courtesy of GeorgiaDogs.com)

A University of Georgia football player arrested last week after an alleged domestic violence incident is no longer part of the team.

Rara Thomas, a wide receiver who played for the Bulldogs in 2023, was arrested on July 26 in Athens on one felony count of child cruelty and two misdemeanor battery counts. He was suspended from the team on the day of his arrest.

Speaking at a preseason press conference on Thursday, coach Kirby Smart confirmed Thomas’s dismissal from the squad.

“I had a chance to sit down and meet with him face to face Tuesday, which I think was really important, and let him know that he can no longer be a part of the football team and he understands that, and we wish him nothing but the best moving forward,” Smart said.

Thomas’s arrest in July was not his first brush with the law. He was arrested in early 2023 for another family violence incident. Thomas attended a pretrial diversion program, and the charges were dropped.

Thomas, a transfer from Mississippi State University, played several games for the Bulldogs following his 2023 arrest. His case is the latest in a series of player arrests, primarily for driving offenses, that have plagued the program in recent years.

This article appears on Now Habersham in partnership with WUGA

Jackson County SRO struck by vehicle, injured while directing school traffic

By

Joy Purcell

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August 2, 2024

Sheriff Mangum and SROs — Jackson County Sheriff Mangum implores drivers to be careful after a deputy was struck and injured by an SUV while directing school traffic in Jefferson on the first day of school, August 1, 2024. (Jackson County Sheriff's Office Facebook livestream image)

A Jackson County School Resource Officer (SRO) is recovering from injuries he sustained when a vehicle hit him on the first day of school.

SRO Drew Archer was directing school traffic Thursday outside Gum Springs Elementary School in Jefferson when, according to the Georgia State Patrol, a Toyota RAV4 struck him.

“Scary times for us when we hear that call,” said Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum in a livestream about the incident later that afternoon. “Not sure what happened that he couldn’t be seen. The car was in the road, blue lights were on, and he’s directing traffic.”

According to GSP’s preliminary crash investigation, Archer sustained minor injuries. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was treated and released.

Driver faces charges

Flanked by other SROs, Sheriff Mangum used the livestream to encourage drivers “to be mindful, be cautious, and slow down.”

“Nothing is that important that you have to be that neglectful and risk the lives of some innocent person, especially our deputy sheriff’s that are school resource officers that get out in that road that is so dangerous to direct this traffic to try to get ’em [vehicles] in and out.”

Mangum urged drivers to watch for kids waiting on school buses and reminded them not to drive around school bus arms “because we have reports of that every year.”

Directly addressing the injured SRO, Mangum said, “Deputy Drew Archer, we’re praying for you, buddy, that you make a full recovery.”

Troopers from GSP Post 32 in Athens investigated the crash. That investigation is still ongoing, says GSP Public Information Director Capt. Michael Burns. He says charges are pending against the Toyota driver. Burns did not release the driver’s name.

“We’re very blessed this deputy has not got any serious serious injuries,” Sheriff Mangum said. “He’s hurt. He went to the hospital. Praise God he got to go home today.”

Drivers urged to use caution as schools reopen

By

Joy Purcell

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August 2, 2024

Habersham County SRO directs traffic — Fairview Elementary School SRO Deputy Evaleez Gonzalez directs traffic on the first day of school in 2022. Law enforcement officials urge drivers to use extreme caution during the morning school commute. (Hadley Cottingham/NowHabersham.com)

It’s back to school for thousands of students across Northeast Georgia. Today, schools open in Elbert, Habersham, Stephens, and White counties. Next week, students will return to class in Rabun (Aug. 6), Madison (Aug. 7), and Towns and Union (Aug. 9) counties.

Schools opened Thursday, August 1, in Athens-Clarke County, Banks, Hart, Jackson, and Madison counties.

7,200 students are returning to the classroom in Habersham County. The sheriff’s office urges drivers to use extreme caution.

“There will be a LOT of traffic around schools on Friday, as well as students waiting on our roadsides to be picked up by the bus,” the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office warns in a social media post. “Slow down, leave a little earlier, put down the phone, and PLEASE pay attention to officers directing traffic.”

SRO injured

On Thursday, August 1, a vehicle struck and injured a Jackson County school resource officer as he was directing traffic in a school zone. He was treated and released from a local hospital, according to Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum.

That incident is a stark reminder of how dangerous morning school commutes can be and why people need to pay close attention when they’re behind the wheel.

“I’m asking all you drivers that bring your kids to school to be mindful, be cautious, slow down — because we’re very blessed that this deputy has not got any serious, serious injuries,” said Sheriff Mangum in a social media livestream following Thursday’s incident.

The Habersham County Sheriff’s Office echoed that, saying, “Our deputies will be out working to ensure safety around our schools, so drivers, please do your part.”

SEE ALSO

Safety reminders as school starts this week

Mountain Lakes Medical Center to host free Back-to-School Health Fair Aug. 3

By

Joy Purcell

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August 2, 2024

It’s here! The new school year kicked off this week in Northeast Georgia. Students returned to class Thursday in Athens-Clarke County, Banks, Hart, Jackson, and Madison counties. More schools will open in the coming days.

To help students and families get off to a good start, Mountain Lakes Medical Center in Clayton is hosting a free Back-to-School Health Fair.

This community event, which will feature free school supplies, health checks, and lunch, will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday, August 3, at the hospital at 162 Legacy Point.

“We’ve never had anything like this before, so we have no benchmarks. I’m in pins and needles,” says Matt Miles, the medical center’s director of community relations.

Improving children’s health

Offered in collaboration with Kids Alliance for Better Care (KidsABC)—a collaboration between Mercer University and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta—the Back-to-School Health Fair is a first for Mountain Lakes. According to Miles, they are one of only six rural hospitals in Georgia chosen to participate in the KidsABC program this year. The program aims to expand healthcare access and education for children in rural communities.

Matt Miles is no stranger to rural health. He previously worked as the marketing manager at Habersham Medical Center in Demorest. Last fall, he orchestrated a special Santa Claus fly-in to Mountain Lakes aboard an AirLife helicopter.

“The local kids LOVE it!” he says enthusiastically.

Miles hopes Saturday’s health fair will bring a similar dose of feel-good community spirit to those who attend. But it also offers something more.

“The other reason for this event is to celebrate our participation in the Kids Alliance for Better Care (KidsABC). Thanks to KidsABC’s support, we have been able to purchase pediatric-specific medical equipment for our Emergency Department, take part in educational programs, and enhance care for kids right here in Rabun County,” he says.

Migrant families encouraged to attend

Roberto Aquilar works with migrant workers’ children in the Rabun County School System. He intends to help them and their families get to Saturday’s event.

Students from inside and outside of Rabun County are welcome to attend.

Miles says they’re hosting the health fair “in hopes of touching lives,” adding they hope to hold more events like this.

“Our northeast Georgia community needs us in the healthcare industry to unite and support each other and, most importantly, our community.”

Habersham County Board of Education to pay for SRO program

By

Jerry Neace

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August 1, 2024

HabCo BOE 8-1 — (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)

The Habersham County Board of Education will consider paying 100% for the school resource officer (SRO) program during their board meeting on Monday.

The program has been funded by, both, the Board of Education and the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office for several years. This year, during the county’s budget hearings, it was announced that the program would be fully funded by the school board for the upcoming fiscal year.

Last year, the Board of Education paid for 80% of the program with the remaining 20% coming from the Sheriff’s Office budget.

Assistant School Superintendent Patrick Franklin explained to the school board during the work session Thursday afternoon that they had received a contract where the school board would pay 100% of the SRO program.

Franklin explained that the program is prorated by the number of officers that are on staff. The cost for a fully staffed program would be $1,103,397. That would include 14 SROs and the Director of School Safety. Currently, that cost is in the neighborhood of $500,297. The program currently has nine SROs and the Director of School Safety.

He explained how the program would be funded. “We would utilize safety funds that came in on QBE for that,” Franklin told the board members. He explained that those funds could be used for other safety items but “at this point, those funds could pay for the SRO contract.”

The board members agreed to place the item on the agenda for Monday’s board meeting. The board is expected to take action on the SRO contract during that meeting.

Child airlifted, drivers transported after Thursday wreck on Cannon Bridge Road

By

Staff Report

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August 1, 2024

Cannon Bridge Road wreck at Smith Loop Road2 — A Dodge Durango shows heavy damage after colliding with a Chevrolet Sonic on GA 105/Cannon Bridge Road on August 1, 2024. (Rob Moore/Habersham County)

A child was airlifted to an Atlanta hospital following a two-vehicle wreck on GA 105/Cannon Bridge Road early Thursday.

A Dodge Durango and Chevrolet Sonic wrecked at the intersection of GA 105 and Smith Loop Road. According to Habersham County Public Information Officer Rob Moore, the crash was reported to E-911 around 7:43 a.m. on August 1. He says the call came through as a “wreck with entrapment.”

According to the Georgia State Patrol’s preliminary crash report, a Chevrolet Sonic was stopped at a stop sign on Double Springs Road (opposite Smith Loop), and a Dodge Durango was traveling north on GA 105.

The report states that the Sonic driver failed to yield. The Durango struck the car on the driver’s side, seriously injuring a 2-year-old passenger in the Sonic.

Paramedics airlifted the child from the Habersham County Airport to a children’s hospital in Atlanta. Ambulances transported the drivers to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville.

Thursday’s wreck is at least the third accident at the Smith Loop Road intersection since mid-July.