Despite adversity, the Gibbs family clings to their faith

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May 12, 2024

Gibbs house — Trees remain on the Gibbs family home Friday evening. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)

The storms that blew through north Georgia Wednesday night into the early morning hours of Thursday left paths of destruction in its wake. The Gibbs family is one such family having to deal with recovering from the devastation after the storms have passed.

Mitchell Gibbs recounts the storm Thursday morning.

“At about 12:30 at night, we woke up to what sounded like hail on our tin roof. I looked at Shana (his wife) and said, “We need to get downstairs just to be on the safe side.” As soon as I said that we heard a big loud boom.” It was not until morning did they know what that boom was. Four trees had hit their house in northern White County on Antioch Cemetery Road.

Downed trees

Fortunately, the family had a basement to escape to during the height of the storm that provided them shelter. The resulting aftermath of the storms left large trees on the Gibbs’ home, numerous trees blocking their driveway, and trees and limbs on top of their vehicles.

The storms also affected their 13 year old son Memphis and daughter Rylynn who is ten years old. They now have difficulty staying at home at night. Since the storm, they have stayed either with an aunt or their grandmother, Loretta Gibbs due to their increased anxiety.

Shana, Memphis, Rylynn, and Mitchell Gibbs remain strong in their faith amid adversity. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)

The trees that fell on the house punctured holes in the roof that has resulted in water damage in one of the bathrooms, it knocked the air conditioning unit off of it’s pad, damaged a couple of decks, and broke the facia boards on the back of the house. The damage to the house won’t be fully known until the trees are removed.

However, the storm Wednesday night, just days before Mother’s Day, is not the only storm the family is having to overcome.

Leukemia

Their son Memphis is battling leukemia. He was diagnosed with lymphoblastoma in December of 2022. The disease requires him and his family to make frequent trips to Atlanta so he can receive treatment at Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital.

The primary vehicle the family uses for those trips was damaged in the storm Thursday night. Fortunately, the damage was less than originally expected. The family thought the vehicle had been crushed by one of the large oak trees that fell across their vehicles. After removing the fallen trees and debris, they discovered that the Honda Accord only sustained several dents and a broken mirror. However, the car will require a trip to the body shop for repairs, leaving the Gibbs’ without the primary transportation used to take Memphis to Atlanta for his treatments.

The storm couldn’t have come at a worse time. Memphis had an appointment for a chemo treatment on Thursday. Due to the damage at their home and the primary vehicle under a tree, his grandfather, Michael Gibbs had to take Memphis to Atlanta so he could receive his treatment.

Other than the storm, the family has had a few challenges they are having to overcome recently.

Other health issues

Mitchell, Memphis’ father, had knee surgery on May 1 that has restricted his movement significantly. He is an Army veteran and sustained the knee injury while in service. According to Mitchell, his doctor has ordered him to not even drive for at least six weeks and limited his ability to walk or work until his knee has recovered. Once he has recovered from knee surgery, he will have to undergo several weeks of physical therapy.

Also recently, Memphis has had a few challenges as well. Due to his reduced immunity, he developed a fungal infection as well as a staph infection. The staph infection caused a blood clot in his heart that now requires him to take shots twice a day.

The recent infections also reduced his blood count requiring his chemo treatments to be reduced to once a week. However, his blood count numbers are on the rise but with that, his chemo treatments will increase, requiring Memphis to go to Atlanta two to three times a week.

Faith in God

Their faith in God is what is helping Memphis get through his illness. Memphis’ grandmother, Loretta recounts a conversation between her father-in-law and Memphis. He told Memphis that he wished he could take the cancer and all the pain away from him. Memphis responded, “No papa, God gave this to me for a reason and when it’s over I’ll have an awesome testimony.” Loretta states, “ I wish I could be that awesome.”

Even with the challenges they face, they remain infectiously positive and strong in their faith. Mitchell states, “I want to say, don’t lose hope and kiss the ones you love and never be mad at anybody when you go to bed. You never know what’s going to happen.”

Trees blocked the Gibbs’ driveway. A narrow path was cut in so family could take Memphis to Atlanta for treatment. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)

Shana recollects the events of Wednesday night and Thursday morning. She tells of how Mitchell and Memphis went to bed upset with one another. When the family first got into the basement, Memphis stated to her, “This is God’s way of telling me don’t go to bed mad at daddy.”

Even with the family’s health issues and storm damage, Mitchell adds, “We are lucky to be where we are at. There are some people that didn’t get so lucky.”

When asked what the family needed, Michael Gibbs, Mitchell’s father stated, “Backs, we need more backs,” referencing removing the storm debris from around the property.

Chasing aurora

By

Tyler Penland

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May 12, 2024

Aurora chasing isn’t for the faint of heart.

I’ve been chasing mid-latitude auroras over Georgia and North Carolina since 2015. I saw my first ones in June of that year from Richard Russell Scenic Highway. It would be a full three years before I saw them again in August of 2018, and then the next time wouldn’t be until March of 2023. There were countless unsuccessful trips between those, particularly in 2016, 2017 and 2022. That’s why this night was so much sweeter.

I got the notification on the 8th, a few days before the storm. The sun had been hurling numerous strong solar flares at our little planet, and they were expected to arrive on the 10th. My first thought: “What’s the weather?” Good? Impossible. But it was true, clear skies were in the forecast. The plan went into motion, prepping all my camera stuff, like cleaning lenses and charging batteries. I bundled up and headed to the best place to see the aurora borealis: the Blue Ridge Parkway in western North Carolina.

A buddy joined me on this trip to keep good company. We arrived at our chosen spot to find a road-closed sign. After some quick debate, we parked and began the half-mile trek up the hill to one of the best northern horizons in the area. Little did we know we wouldn’t even need it.

My first shot of the evening perfectly encapsulated what the following two hours would be like. The sky was lit up like bright twilight all around. We arrived just as the International Space Station passed overhead, visible as the streak in the image above.

For the first time in my life, I could look UP to see aurora!

Pointing the camera straight up yielded a shot I had never even dreamed I would see here in the South, but it was nothing compared to what would come shortly after.

We continued our walk up the hill as large purple streaks leaped across the sky. You could physically watch them move, another first for me, and the greens actually became visible to the naked eye, one more first for me. For the most part, the greens appeared mostly white to our eyes, but occasional greens showed through.

Continuing up the hill yielded my favorite photo of the night. The sky was so bright it lit up the landscape around us in a soft pink glow. My camera easily picked this out as I pointed it due north along the yellow line that pointed our way to the most beautiful sight.

Upon reaching our final destination at the top of the hill, I pointed my camera straight up once more. Looking up, we could see the brighter streaks flickering like in the videos from the Arctic. It was truly an amazing, indescribable sight. I liken it to a ghostly kite or flickering candle against the beautifully bright sky.

For the next two hours, we were treated to the most incredible aurora show we would likely ever see at this latitude.

Eventually, the aurora would die off, but that just meant it was time to hit another spot.

We made our way to the Linn Cove Viaduct outside Boone, NC. I timed my shot to catch a car driving across this wonder of engineering with some purple aurora hanging overhead. Truly, this was a once-in-a-lifetime shot.

I made my way back north just a hair by 3 a.m. as the next wave of strong auroral activity kicked in. The pillars this round were truly impressive, stretching up to nearly overhead.

At around 3:45 a.m. I finally decided to call it quits since I was very, very tired.

I don’t have words to describe this experience. As a dedicated astronomy/space and photography hobbyist, I have often dreamed of what it would look like to see aurora overhead and this bright. I was very loud and excited during the entire experience, and now, as I’m writing this nearly 24 hours later, I am still absolutely excited about it. Hopefully, I will one day have the words to describe it, but for now, my photography must stand on its own.

Truly one of the greatest nights of my life.

Southern Lights Photography

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

By

Justin Hall

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May 12, 2024

The Planet of the Apes franchise has had a rocky road since the 1968 original. There have been endless sequels, reimaginings, and reboots along the way, with some of them being remembered fondly while others are just plain forgettable.

The franchise got a reboot in 2011 with Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and it’s been pretty uphill ever since. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, the latest installment, may not be considered quite as thrilling or sophisticated, but it still proves to be a memorable ride nonetheless.

The story picks up generations after Caesar’s death, with Earth becoming dominated by all those primates. One of them, Noa (Owen Teague), encounters a group of warmongering apes led by the imposing Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand). Proximus is in search of technology, and he takes Noa’s family hostage.

On a quest to get them back, Noa meets a wise orangutan named Raka (Peter Macon), who teaches him about Caesar. Together the two come face to face with a human scavenger that Raka names Nova (Freya Allen). At first, Nova doesn’t speak, but then she tells the apes that her real name is Mae.

Like the previous films, Kingdom showcases the same brilliant use of performance capture to have actors mirroring their simian counterparts. The result is once again convincing, seamless and indistinguishable.

Director Wes Ball has the enviable task of taking the reigns from Rupert Wyatt, who made the first reboot, and Matt Reeves, who made the sequels. He does a fine job creating a stellar first act with impressive, effective special effects. The third act mostly succeeds despite falling victim to the trappings of too many effects and a false ending.

We’re introduced to Proximus’ fortress, where Noa’s family is held. While we get introduced to more characters, including a human historian (William H. Macy), the rest of the scenes aren’t nearly as interesting. The movie slowly bides its time until we get to the predictable showdown. If the middle had more intriguing elements, the movie would’ve proved to be equal to its predecessors.

However, despite my minor reservations, the movie does lead to an intriguing conclusion that will set up another film.

Even though Andy Serkis’s presence is sorely missed, the new characters are welcome additions with fine performances. Some emotional moments have decent payoffs, and the CGI still makes this latest effort a jump on the cinematic evolutionary ladder.

This is a worthy and mostly entertaining sequel.

Grade: B+

(Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence/action.)

When Mother’s Day hurts

By

Nora Almazan

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May 12, 2024

It was the card aisle at Ingles that reminded me. Not of Mother’s Day – I’d bought my card weeks ago – but how much it can hurt.

Another mother was standing on the same aisle as me staring at cards but not pulling any out.

I remembered the homemade cards with handprints and letters written backward with the simple words, “I love you Mom” across a page colored with disproportionate people, grass, a house with a chimney, and smoke even though it was May.

The white Styrofoam cups with potting soil and a plant of some sort filled my windows until they didn’t anymore.

She stared at me. I stared at her.
Sometimes, Mother’s Day hurts.

The Hallmark Channel makes it so believable – flowers, gifts, chocolates, phone calls. The expressions of gratitude and love. The generations of mothers in one photograph, all blended in perfect harmony.

The reality is that most of us are looking through lenses of brokenness and what we perceive as failures.

Every mother knows that feeling of intense joy to love and nurture a young life. Every mother knows that feeling of intense sadness when something goes wrong.

Like the fire that we gather around to roast marshmallows or warm our hands – it can also be the fire that burns and leaves us in gut-wrenching pain.

So many avenues of hurt – whether it is the loss of a child, loss of a mom or grandmother, painful childhood, estranged relationship with an adult child, infertility, miscarriage, abortion, empty nest, or emptiness.

There’s no real formula to getting through the seasons that leave us longing for something we used to have. Sometimes our prayers seem to fall on deaf ears, but I’ve learned those ears aren’t deaf, they are listening to what I have to say.

Through listening to our prayers and requests, God shows us His participation in our lives – not to fix us but to be with us.

Grief holds a strong power from the loss of someone or something we once held close, but it is part of the cost of loving and experiencing life.

I found her in the parking lot – the woman who stood on the card aisle with me. I handed her a yellow envelope I’d just purchased. The card was covered in daisies on the outside and blank on the inside.

She looked up at me and smiled.
“Sometimes there really aren’t any words,” I said. “I just wanted you to know that I understand.”

If today isn’t a day of celebration for you, redirect what your expectations are and mother yourself. Take a walk. Soak in the bathtub. Eat some ice cream. Watch a funny movie. Paint something. Pick flowers. Cook something new. Be kind to you.

Take the time to honor yourself, accept your pain, recognize your humanness, and look forward to the future.

The most important task

By

Lynn Walker Gendusa

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May 12, 2024

Lynn Walker Gendusa and daughter Amy — This photo of my daughter Amy and me is one of three photos in my office that daily remind me of life's most important task. (Lynn Walker Gendusa)

As I pondered my column regarding Mother’s Day, I realized the story was before me, hanging on a wall above my desk.

Her big blue eyes are bright in contrast to the rest of the fading picture taken by Olin Mills over 48 years ago. She is not smiling but looking beyond the camera with an uncertainty that still haunts me each time I study her sweet face. She is my middle daughter.

To the left of her portrait is her younger brother’s picture in his overalls and another in his first baseball uniform, clutching a bat. He is sporting the same impish grin he still has today.

On the right, a framed snapshot depicts me holding my oldest child in my arms. In the photo, she is crinkling her nose with laughter while we both look at the camera. Seeing this picture makes me smile and reminisce about the day I realized that being a mom to this precious baby daughter would make life wonderful forever.

However, some days were not so fine, and they never will be with children. The ups and downs of our children’s lives affect all we do. The quote, “You are only as happy as your saddest child,” requires an “Amen!” To this day, if one of my middle-aged offspring is in sorrow, I am also. Time never stops the beating, worrisome heart of a mother.

If we do well, we teach our children by example. If they see us struggle and fall but stand again, they learn courage and determination. We are our children’s teachers, and we wish them to be excellent examples to their children. Being a good mother is the most important task on earth because our love passes forward through generations.

As mothers, we raise our children to be independent and self-sufficient. However, it’s ironic that as they grow up and become self-reliant, we find it hard not to be needed anymore. With age, our children require less mothering, and it can be challenging for us to accept this shift in our roles as caregivers.

I know that is God’s plan, but after my mother died, I knew I didn’t tell her enough how much I relied on her to catch all my tears and ease my soul by her just being present.

Being a mother is never easy, but it embodies devotion, compassion, and joy if you try. It is not without heartache, but every kind of love comes with some degree of suffering. It is through such pain that we learn resilience and become stronger. Maybe my middle daughter, with big blue eyes, was uncertain of my determination and fortitude to handle such a responsibility as motherhood. However, I did it because I simply loved her, just as my mother loved me.

We should praise all those Mothers who did what was best for their children and sacrificed so much to care for each one. I am thankful for those who teach a child kindness, respect, dignity, and honesty, which must become a priority before success and money.

Our unsung heroines are mothers who pack school lunches daily, head to the ballparks on Saturdays, and accompany kids to church on Sundays. These women who work to provide a home, a safe haven, and assuring hugs are priceless.

No blessing is more significant than a mother’s love to absorb all the tears shed and comfort their children.

We mourn with the mothers who’ve lost a child, cared for sick babies, and prayed tirelessly for strength and healing. Their bravery teaches us courage.

I am grateful to God for giving women the ability to be guardians of His children, examples of His power, and protectors of the future.

I remember those days as a single working woman when fatigue hit me. But even after reading the last bedtime story, I did the laundry, put away the toys, and prepared for the next day of mothering.

Thankfully, God was with me as I folded clothes, scrambled eggs, and wiped away tears. He provided me with the will and faith to get through those unfine days and find the glory of motherhood.

After my granddaughter was born, I held her in my arms and rocked her during a bout of colic while her mom rested. She stopped crying for a moment and gazed at my face. Her eyes were just like her mom’s… uncertain.

I whispered as if she could understand, “Have no fear, little girl. You are loved beyond what you can comprehend. You will always have uncertainty in life, but there is one thing you can be assured of…. your mother will always be with you.”

Happy Mother’s Day to all the unsung heroines out there!

Indians surge to series win, clinch title game appearance

By

TFS Athletics

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May 12, 2024

The Indians are heading to the State Championship. On Friday evening, TFS worked a two-game sweep of King’s Ridge, taking a huge 8-7 comeback win in the opener and an 8-3 victory to clinch.

GAME 1

It was disastrous early on, as King’s Ridge scored four in the first and two in the second for a 6-0 lead. The Indians got back in the contest with a four-run fourth. Chase Pollock singled in a pair before a run scored on a passed ball. David Dutary brought home Wyatt Franks to make it a 6-4 game.

In the next frame, Diego Gonzalez had an RBI single, and moments later Pollock had the game-tying hit. The Tigers got a solo homer in the sixth to pull ahead 7-6, but the comeback Indians were at it again. Ashton Roache launched a line drive homerun to tie the game with one out in the seventh, and Dutary’s base hit to left proved to be the game-winner.

Danny Grant, Gonzalez, Caden Walker, and Dutary all had two hits apiece, while Pollock had three RBI and Dutary two. Pollock went six innings and earned the win despite giving up seven earned runs and recording one strikeout against 11 hits and four walks. Cole Bonitatibus notched a save with a perfect seventh.

W: Chase Pollock (7-3)
S: Cole Bonitatibus (3)
HR: Ashton Roache (6)
RBI: 3 Chase Pollock, 2 David Dutary, Ashton Roache, Diego Gonzalez

GAME 2

Andrew Skvarka got the nod to start game two and delivered. He was staked to a 7-run first-inning lead. Roache hit a 3-run homer, Pollock doubled in one, and BJ Carver had an RBI double to make it 5-0. Dutary blasted a 2-run home run to complete the big inning.

Pollock’s RBI groundout in the second advanced the lead to 8-0, and Skvarka would go six innings and give up three runs on eight hits and no strikeouts. Bonitatibus pitched the final frame and struck out two.

W: Andrew Skvarka (5-1)
HR: Ashton Roache (7), David Dutary (1)
RBI: 3 Ashton Roache, 2 David Dutary, 2 Chase Pollock, BJ Carver

The Indians are now 27-10 on the season and winners of six in a row as they head into next week’s State Championship series.

Indians place 12th, Lady Indians 22nd at State Championships

By

TFS Athletics

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May 12, 2024

The TFS track and field teams competed in the 2024 GHSA State Championships in Rome, GA at Barron Stadium, May 9-11. The following individuals and relays competed and finished accordingly. The Lady Indians came in 22nd as a team, while the Indians finished 12th. FULL RESULTS

Lady Indians – 22nd Place

Julianne Shirley – 3rd in High Jump (5-0); 12th in 400 Prelims (1:03.13)
Jace Ibemere – 7th in Triple Jump (33-10)
4×200 Relay – 8th (1:48.86)
4×100 Relay – 10th in Prelims (50.72)
4×400 Relay – 10th in Prelims (4:18.35)

Indians – 12th Place

Sam Ketch – State RU in Discus (162-10; School Record); 3rd in Shot Put (48-3)
Ade Akisanya – 5th in Shot Put (46-10.5); 6th in Discus (138-4; PR)
Teagan Penland – 13th in 1600 (4:46.19)

Pastor David Terrell

By

Now Habersham

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May 11, 2024

Pastor David Terrell, age 87, of Cornelia, Georgia, passed away on Saturday, May 11, 2024.

David Edward Terrell was born on May 12, 1936, on a small farm in College Park, GA, and he loved to tell stories about his simple childhood. Though he, his parents, and three younger brothers lived without luxury in a drafty, one-bedroom tenant house, he remembered his early years fondly and often spoke of the way his hard-working, devoted mother shaped his life there. After graduating high school and attending West Georgia College, he served a year in the U.S. Army. In 1958, he met Phyllis Newell at a church service and, after hearing her sing, told a buddy he was going to marry her. He proposed on their third date, and they were married in 1959. Together, they raised nine children.

David began preaching shortly after he married, and in 1965, he began pastoring at Cornelia Christian Church. During this time, as a testament to his work ethic and determination, he also took classes at Atlanta Christian College, commuting three hours, one way, five days a week until he graduated three years later. He made his home in Cornelia and devoted his life to his work at the church, where he continued preaching for 51 years. On the day he retired, everyone anticipated the last sermon he would give. But instead of recounting his years of service and reminiscing over memories, he asked the deacons and elders to come to the front, had them sit on the stage, and wordlessly knelt down and washed their feet.

During his years of ministry, David was tireless in his work. He had a genuine love for people and felt a great responsibility for being present to deliver a word of comfort and hope for those in need. He was known for being at the hospital more than the hospital staff, visiting the sick and hurting. He loved and cared for others for the long term, guiding many of the families of his congregation through multiple generations.

David was constantly trying new ideas to reach people and share the gospel. Through the years, he started youth rallies, began church leagues for softball and basketball, ran a bus ministry, started The Joyful Noise Choir tours in Florida, and wrote a weekly column for the local newspaper. In 1966, he stepped out in faith to pursue his true passion–starting a camp. As a boy from a poor family, he wanted to make it possible for all children to go to camp and learn about God because a similar experience deeply impacted his own life. This led him to begin drawing up the vision, which has now become North Georgia Christian Camp in Clarkesville, Georgia. The camp has ministered to thousands of children of all ages since then and continues to grow, thrive, and impact lives year after year.

David and Phyllis had a heart for young people, and even though they had a houseful of their own children, they had an open-door policy. Many young people grew up considering the Terrell house a second home. In order to meet the needs of his large family, in 1977, in addition to pastoring, he started a landscaping business. In this way, as with his ministry, he has sown seeds that have made his community more beautiful.

When his beloved wife of 60 years passed away in 2019, David began putting his heart into the Lower Campus of Cornelia Christian Church, making improvements to the property and creating a place for families to gather in a beautiful setting for events, picnics, and fellowship. This space will serve as a lasting legacy of his love for God, family, and the church as, through the years, people come down the path of the prayer walk, picnic by the creek, play on the playground and in the treehouse, take the winding trail that loops through the woods, and enjoy family and friendship in a peaceful place that he designed with much love and prayer.

David loved to make things beautiful, and he loved the simple pleasures of life. He loved to laugh, to drink tea from a china cup, and to watch a movie with a happy ending. He loved celebrations, the fragrance of flowers, eating good food, and a well-crafted line of poetry. He never missed an opportunity to tell a good joke or take a day trip to the mountains. He fully enjoyed the company of friends and the deep satisfaction of good, honest work.

David often used metaphors from the garden to describe faith. Those who have been to his home know he was an artist in the garden. He put seeds in the ground and he waited patiently for them to grow, delighting in walking through each day to see what was in bloom. His garden, like his ministry, is one that could have only existed through long years of slow and patient work. It is a lifetime garden, as his ministry is a lifetime ministry. His is an example of the incredible impact one man can have by living a quiet, humble, and faithful life.

David will be greatly missed by all who knew him, but especially by his church, his family, and his dear friend Carole Jackson, who was a companion to him in the final year of his life.

He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Ruth Terrell, wife Phyllis Newell Terrell, and granddaughter Megan Elizabeth Terrell.

He is survived by his three brothers, George Terrell, Leonard (Barbara) Terrell, Lewis (Kaye) Terrell, and sister-in-law Audra (Richard) White.

David’s love and legacy lives on in his nine children, 25 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren.

Children (and Spouses): Jonathan (Tracie) Terrell, Cornelia; Melanie Terrell, Gainesville; Memrie (Rick) Cox, Elberton; Melissa (Neil) Landers, Mt. Airy; Monica (Greg) Miller, Cornelia; Jason (Anna) Terrell, Elberton; Jody (Megan) Terrell, Gainesville; Michelle (Barry) Steiner, Bettendorf, Iowa; Mackenzie (Randy) Chester, Clarkesville.

Grandchildren (and Spouses): Zach (Vanessa) Terrell, Jordan (Amy) Terrell, Meredith Terrell, Josh (Ashley) Cox, Jared (Brooklynn) Cox, Joel Cox, Mallory Cox, Jackson (Grayson) Landers, Lauren (Shane) Seckinger, Dawson Landers, Terrell Miller, Marti Love Terrell, Jace Terrell, Jude Terrell, Jeb Terrell, Jett Steiner, Rosanna Chester, Paloma Chester, Kells Chester, Remy Chester, Heidi Chester, Azalea Chester, Rune Chester, Haven Chester, Ezra Chester

Great-grandchildren: Clay Terrell, Ivy Terrell, Izzy Terrell, Myla Terrell, Ryder Terrell, Declan Terrell, Jax Terrell, Lexie Heaston, Kennedy Heaston, Jensen Cox, Memphis Cox, Judson Cox, Calvin Cox, Cali Moss, Landon Heath, Heath Landers, Blythe Landers

In lieu of flowers, the family would be honored if you would consider a donation to North Georgia Christian Camp or to the Lower Campus Fund in David’s memory. (For camp donations, visit https://www.christiancamp.net/supportcamp. To contribute to maintenance of the Lower Campus, send a check to Cornelia Christian Church and mark it for “Lower Campus.”)

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at the Cornelia Christian Church with Pastor Greg Miller and Pastor David Simpson officiating. Interment will follow in the Yonah Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 15, 2024 at the Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel.

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

Auroras visit North Georgia

By

Tyler Penland

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May 11, 2024

Deidre Howell Sky Valley — Sky Valley (Photo Credit: Deidre Howell)

For the first time since October 2003, a severe solar storm brought auroras to North Georgia. People as far south as Florida were treated to dazzling light displays on Friday, May 10, 2024.

Bright red and green auroras danced in the skies across North Georgia for a few hours on Friday night, May 10. Photos of this natural phenomenon tell the story that words can not.

Keep sharing your photos and videos with us on the Now Habersham Facebook page.

Richard Russell Scenic HighwayPhoto Credit: — Richard Russell Scenic Highway (Photo by Larissa Nielsen)

Chance for auroras again Saturday night: Here’s what you need to know

By

Tyler Penland

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May 11, 2024

life in motion-aurora borealis — The Aurora Borealis was spotted over North Georgia in the early morning hours of Tuesday, June 23, 2015. This picture was taken by Now Habersham’s Tyler Penland around 1:30 a.m. just north of Helen.

NOAA has issued a G4 (severe) geomagnetic storm alert for the second time in two days as the most significant solar storm in decades continues.

Solar flares are sending plasma into space, and millions in the continental United States were treated to a spectacular light display last night. The Aurora Borealis reached as far south as Texas and Florida Friday night, and it’s expected to be visible again this evening, Saturday, May 11.

RELATED Auroras visit North Georgia

What to look for, where and when

Sunspot 3663/3664 is massive and the source of our aurora chances.

As a seasoned middle-latitude aurora chaser, here’s my guide of what to look for and what to expect.

Before we get into anything else, they are never as bright as the pictures. When I saw them for the first time from Richard Russell Highway in 2015, they were nothing more than a faint pillar of light standing against the northern horizon. Even a small amount of light pollution could have had a significant impact on visibility. Friday night was a bit of an anomaly but could easily happen again Saturday night.

Since then, I have seen them numerous times from the western NC mountains (my preferred chasing spots), and only twice were they easily noticeable against the background stars: once in 2018 and once in 2023. No matter what, you will generally need a good view of the northern horizon and dark skies. Around here, both Richard Russell Scenic Highway and Brasstown Bald offer great vantage points. Bell Mountain outside Hiawassee is also an excellent choice. There is also one overlook in Black Rock Mountain State Park that looks north and may be the best spot around, although the park closes at 10 p.m. If you are bent on having the best chance, the Blue Ridge Parkway outside Cherokee or Waynesville offers the best chance.

If you do go out, look for a dim red glow extending up from the northern horizon and some dim greenish/purple-ish pillars to the north as well. We don’t usually see green aurora in Georgia because we are viewing the tops of the green ones occurring further north.

Next, bookmark the website www.spaceweatherlive.com. This website is a great and essential tool for southern aurora chasing. You can even sign up for phone alerts to let you know what level of geomagnetic storm is currently ongoing and anytime there is a solar flare. Also, bookmark https://www.spaceweather.gov/. All the data Spaceweather Live uses is pulled directly from NOAA. All the things I talk about below can be found in the header on the NOAA website as well, I just prefer Spaceweather Live for the nice graphics so you can track changes over time.

These solar flares are the first step towards getting auroras here on Earth, as they often send bits of the sun flying off into space. These bits of sun (made of plasma, mostly charged protons and electrons) interact with our magnetic field to cause auroras. When these flares send plasma into space, we call it a Coronal Mass Ejection, or CME. You can see several of these from the past couple of days in the image below. The bright dots are Saturn and Jupiter, both on the far side of the sun right now.

CMEs can be seen expanding as halos from the sun.

We have a few indices we can use to determine whether or not these CMEs are resulting in aurora over Georgia.

KP-Index

The KP-index is the planetary K-index that indicates the geomagnetic storm intensity over a 3 hour period. It is on a scale of 0 to 9. KP-index numbers of at least 7 are necessary to get auroras this far south, but an index of 8 or 9 is preferred. Fortunately for us, the forecast from NOAA for Saturday night remains a KP index of 8.

This KP index is closely related to the G-scale that is on a scale of 1-5. A G3 storm indicates a KP index of 6 G4 storm indicates a KP index of 7-8, and a G5 storm indicates a KP index of 9. G5 storms are exceedingly rare with the last occurrence back in October of 2003. Back then, aurora were easily visible from North Georgia. This time, a G4 storm is expected which is enough to get them this far south.

Interplanetary Magnetic Field (B)

The Interplanetary Magnetic Field, listed as variable B, is the single most important thing for auroras in the middle latitudes. We really care about two parts of it: the direction and strength. On Spaceweatherlive you’ll see the strength listed as Bt and direction listed at Bz.

The strength (Bt) is measured in nanoTeslas (T) and generally runs from 20-40T during strong storms. I generally look for a strength of at least 15T to see aurora but the stronger the better. Of course, the strength means nothing if our magnetic sphere is being contrary.

The direction (Bz) is measured in both positive and negative. A positive number means things aren’t looking too great for aurora. A negative number means a “hole” has opened up in our magnetic sphere and that auroras can spill south. The lower the negative number the better for us here in North Georgia. I generally look for -15 at least but -20 or less is preferred.

Example of what the NOAA dashboard looks like with the current data from the evening of May 9. Notice a Bt of 7nT (weak) and a Bz of -5. The direction is good but weak.

Solar Wind Speed

You’ll see the solar wind speed over on Space Weather Live and this plays right into aurora chances. With this, the higher the number the better. Normally the solar wind speed runs around 300-400km/s. During strong geomagnetic storms it can increase to 700-800km/s or, rarely, even higher. There is no set number for what to look for before chasing auroras in Georgia but I personally like to see at least 600km/s before rolling out of bed.

You’ll also see particle density, which I won’t get into, but just know that the higher the number, the better.

Summary

So, to summarize what you want to see:

-KP-Index of 7+
-G-index of G4+
-Solar Wind Speed of 600km/s+
– Bt of 20nT+
– Bz of -15 or less

Keep an eye on this post and share your photos and videos with us on Now Habersham’s Facebook page.

Keep looking up!

4th suspect arrested in murder of 3-year-old Athens boy

By

Staff Report

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May 11, 2024

3-year-old Kyron Zarco was killed while watching tv with his brother inside the family's mobile home in Athens on March 8, 2024. (GoFund Me photo)

The fourth suspect wanted in connection with the March 8th shooting that killed a three-year-old Athens child has been arrested.

Athens-Clarke County police say Dakious Echols was arrested Friday in Brooklyn, New York, in a multi-jurisdictional law enforcement operation.

Echols is charged with two counts of murder (malice and felony murder), four counts of aggravated assault, and violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. He also faces a federal charge for unlawful flight.

Three other suspects remain in custody in connection to the fatal shooting of Kyron Zarco. Zarco was killed, and his 9-year-old brother was injured when bullets flew into their home and struck them as they sat watching television. The shooting took place at the Hallmark Mobile Home Park off Spring Valley Road in Athens.

Police say this is an ongoing investigation. They ask anyone with information to contact Sergeant Scott Black at 762-400-7058 or [email protected].

Habersham’s long-awaited community transit van arrives

By

Staff Report

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May 10, 2024

New transit van — Habersham County Manager Alicia Vaughn is one of the first to check out Habersham Transit’s new bus, purchased with less than $11,000 of local tax money combined with state and federal funds for the $107,690 price tag. (Rob Moore/Habersham County photo)

Habersham County recently accepted delivery of its new public transit van.

The eight-seat vehicle offers door-to-door transportation by appointment within Habersham County, with a rate schedule based on mileage.

The 2023 Ford Starcraft Starlite van was purchased for $107,690, with 80% federal, 10% state, and 10% local funds. According to Habersham County Public Information Officer Rob Moore, the direct cost of the vehicle to Habersham County taxpayers was less than $11,000.

The vehicle features the new ‘Let’s Ride’ Habersham Transit markings, including the Habersham Transit phone number (706) 839-0167.

“We are so excited to add this new bus to our fleet,” said Habersham County Manager Alicia Vaughn. “This is such an important service to our citizens!”

Serving Habersham County’s population that doesn’t drive or have access to a vehicle, Habersham Transit operates Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding county holidays that include New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Day After Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas.

To schedule a trip, call (706) 839-0167 between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is important to call at least 24 hours before the requested trip, says Moore. He adds that rides are not guaranteed and are on a first-come, first-served basis.

To learn more about transit, visit www.habershamga.com/transit.cfm.