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Bárbara Rivera Holmes sworn in as first Latina to lead Georgia Department of Labor

By
Stanley Dunlap
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ATLANTA (Georgia Recorder) — Former Albany Herald business reporter Bárbara Rivera Holmes became the first Hispanic woman to hold a statewide executive office position when she was sworn in Friday as state labor commissioner.

During Friday’s swearing-in ceremony, Republican Gov. Brian Kemp trumpeted Holmes’ groundbreaking accomplishment of becoming Georgia’s first Hispanic woman to become a constitutional officer. The former news reporter resigned as president and CEO of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce after being selected by Kemp to fill the remaining term of former Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson, who died in November following an eight-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

“Like I said last month when we announced the appointment of Bárbara Rivera Holmes to this position, I said that she was smart, accomplished, and dedicated to growing opportunities for hard-working Georgians,” Kemp said. “She also brings unique experience in economic development, especially in rural parts of our state, and education at the highest levels in our state will benefit all those who are looking for work.”

Holmes will begin leading the Georgia Department of Labor amid rising fears of a recession as President Donald Trump’s administration levies historic tariffs that critics argue could raise the price of U.S. goods while disrupting the global economy.

Her predecessor, Thompson, spent a decade in the Senate prior to becoming labor commissioner in 2023, taking over a state agency that had struggled to process a surge of unemployment claims since the start of the pandemic.

On Friday, Holmes credited her family’s sacrifices, including her grandparents’ 1961 search for political refuge from Cuba in America, as the driving force behind her becoming the state’s 11th labor commissioner.

Holmes said Friday that she plans to run for a four-year term as labor commissioner when her current term ends in the 2026 election year.

“The Department of Labor is vital to our state’s economy for supporting workforce development, job attainment, safe working conditions and the prosperity of our communities,” she said.

Forest Service lifts burn ban

By
Joy Purcell
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(Daniel Purcell/NowHabersham.com)

The U.S. Forest Service has lifted its week-long burn ban for the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest.

The ban was issued on March 27 in response to extreme fire weather conditions across Northeast Georgia.

Effective immediately, visitors to the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest may resume campfires and other permitted fire activities following local regulations and forest guidelines.

The public is reminded to follow fire safety best practices, including:

  • Keeping fires small and manageable;
  • Never leaving fires unattended;
  • Fully extinguishing fires before leaving an area;
  • Checking for any additional local fire restrictions.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. shifts gears with his No. 8 logo to avoid potential conflict with Lamar Jackson

By
Associated Press
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FILE - Dale Earnhardt Jr. answers questions during a news conference before the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Feb. 16, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)

NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. is shifting gears with his No. 8 merchandising.

Earnhardt announced on social media Friday that he has secured the right to use a stylized version of No. 8 and will forgo the original No. 8 logo used by his NASCAR team, JR Motorsports. His decision came two days after Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson filed an opposition claim with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to stop Earnhardt from putting that JRM version of No. 8 on merchandise.

“We are looking forward to the remainder of an already successful season,” Earnhardt wrote on social media.

Jackson, who has worn No. 8 since his college days at Louisville, previously registered the trademark “ERA 8 by Lamar Jackson.” His latest claim argued that Earnhardt’s attempt to trademark that particular version of No. 8 would create confusion among consumers.

Earnhardt avoided a trademark review with the rebranding. Had the U.S. Patent and Trademark appeal board denied Earnhardt, Jackson could have sued had Earnhardt used that No. 8 on any merchandise.

Roger Dale Dodd

By
Now Habersham
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Mr. Roger Dale Dodd, age 68, of Mt. Airy, GA, passed away Friday, April 4, 2025, at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, GA.

Born June 29, 1956 in Commerce, GA, he was the son of Betty Sue Smith Dodd and the late Billy Allen Dodd.

Mr. Dodd was a grinder/fabricator of metal, working for Toccoa Casket Company and Scovill. He was of the Baptist faith. He loved fishing and hunting, riding his four wheeler and cheering on his Georgia Bulldogs.

He is survived by his wife, Kathy Darlene Watkins Dodd, of Mt. Airy; his mother, Betty Sue Smith Dodd, of Mt. Airy, GA; daughters, Melinda Wilson of Marietta, GA, and Kathy Almond (John) of Mt. Airy, GA; sons, Brian Dodd of Martin, GA and Londan Dodd of Toccoa; sisters, Teresa Hanson (Rodney) and Donna Frady; brothers, Daniel Dodd (Rhonda), Tony Dodd (Annie) and William Dodd (Jennie); six grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family will receive friends at the mortuary from noon until the service time on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.

Funeral services will be held at two o’clock Tuesday, April 8, 2025 from the Chapel of Whitlock Mortuary with the Rev. Tony Dodd officiating.

Burial will follow at Stephens Memorial Gardens, and Mr. John Almond will speak at the graveside service.

The following gentlemen will serve as pallbearers: William Dodd, Bobby Harris, Rodney “Bubba” Hanson, Daniel Dodd, Kevin Frady, Londan Dodd, and Tyler Harris.

Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers and sign the online guestbook at www.whitlockmortuary.net.

Whitlock Mortuary, Funerals and Cremations is honored to be serving the family of Mr. Roger Dale Dodd.

Georgia Rivian factory development continues as auto industry prepares for tariff impacts

By
Amanda Andrews
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After a pause in construction last year, development is underway again for the Rivian factory near Social Circle, east of Atlanta. (GPB News)

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. — Progress on building Georgia’s Rivian factory near Social Circle, which was paused last year, has a new timeline for completion. Construction crews are scheduled to break ground in 2026 and the first vehicles are expected to roll off the production line in 2028.

Georgia offered Rivian $1.5 billion in incentives to develop the 2,000-square-foot factory and promote economic development. The deal with the state requires the company deliver 80% of its promised jobs and investments by 2030.

Georgia will produce the new R2 and R3 midsize SUV models. Production of the R2 began at Rivian’s existing plant in Normal, Illinois, to make the cars available to consumers more quickly.

Rivian spokesperson Peebles Squire said the company’s anticipating the new car will attract new buyers.

“We’re opening up the Rivian brand to a whole new group of folks with a much more competitively priced vehicle that sits like right in that midsize SUV segment, and hopefully continues to invite people to make the switch to electric and really experience the brand firsthand,” he said.

Like many auto manufacturers, U.S.-based Rivian is waiting to see what impacts tariffs will have on the industry overall. Squire said the stated goals of the Trump administration support the company’s current company strategy.

“The narrative here is all really about ensuring those jobs, bringing U.S. manufacturing back, and we’re certainly aligned with the administration on that,” he said. “Ultimately in Georgia that means 7,500 jobs by 2030 that people, you know, can be proud to have.”

Rivian recently opened a showroom in Alpharetta where consumers can see vehicles in person.

This article appears on Now Habersham in partnership with GPB News

Judge orders return of Maryland father deported by mistake to El Salvador prison

By
Ariana Figueroa
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Protestors outside the U.S. District Court of Maryland in Greenbelt rally in support of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Maryland father who was deported to El Salvador in an "administrative error,” calling for him to be returned to the U.S. (Ariana Figueroa/States Newsroom)

GREENBELT, Md. (States Newsroom) — A federal judge in Maryland Friday ordered the Trump administration to return a national from El Salvador by April 7 who was erroneously deported to a notorious prison in El Salvador, despite an order blocking such removal.

The ruling from U.S. District Court of Maryland Judge Paula Xinis sets up a fight with the Trump administration. Officials have admitted the deportation of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia of Beltsville, Maryland, was a mistake, but have stood by their actions.

The case could also mean that the more than 250 Venezuelan men in a separate case who were removed under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 without due process can be returned to the U.S.

Cheers could be heard outside the courthouse after the order, as dozens of protestors waited for the decision.

Hours later, the Department of Justice appealed the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit.

‘It was unconstitutional’

Xinis, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, said “there is no evidence to hold” Abrego Garcia at the notorious prison Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo, known as CECOT, and even noted his March 12 arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had no basis for removal.

“That means from the moment he was seized, it was unconstitutional,” Xinis said.

The attorney representing the Department of Justice, Erez Reuveni, said the Trump administration is not challenging the merits of the case and the only argument it has is that the Maryland court lacks jurisdiction because Abrego Garcia is in the custody of El Salvador.

Xinis pressed on what grounds Abrego Garcia was removed to the prison.

Reuveni said he has no idea and was not given any information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

She asked why Abrego Garcia could not be returned to the United States, which is what his family was seeking in Friday’s preliminary injunction hearing.

Reuveni said that he has asked officials that same question, and has not received an answer that is “satisfactory.”

Reuveni made one request to the court, that Xinis give the administration of President Donald Trump 24 hours to try to rectify the situation.

U.S. paying $6 million

Attorneys for Abrego Garcia are not only asking for him to be returned, but for the Trump administration to cease payments to the mega-prison for his detainment. The White House has stated it’s paying the government of El Salvador $6 million to detain nearly 300 men.

Reuveni said because Abrego Garcia is in custody in El Salvador, he is no longer in U.S. custody and therefore cannot be retrieved.

Xinis pushed back on that argument, noting that the U.S. and El Salvador have a contract to detain the men at the prison.

Reuveni said that it’s not a contract the U.S. and El Salvador have.

Simon Y. Sandoval-Moshenberg, the attorney for Abrego Garcia, contended that “there is significant coordination between the two governments.”

He noted that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has filmed herself while visiting CECOT and Secretary of State Marco Rubio has a close relationship with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele.

Xinis said to Reuveni that because the U.S. is paying El Salvador $6 million to detain the men, “I can draw the logical argument that the U.S. is the payer.”

She asked Reuveni if he has any evidence to show her that contradicts that knowledge.

“The government made a choice here to produce no evidence,” Reuveni said.

Wartime law invoked

On March 15, three deportation flights left for El Salvador with two planes carrying Venezuelans removed under the wartime law and a third plane that carried nationals from El Salvador, including Abrego Garcia.

A 2019 order from an immigration judge deemed that Abrego Garcia should be removed from the U.S. However, he was granted protection because it was more “likely than not that he would be persecuted by gangs in El Salvador” if he were returned, according to court documents.

Attorneys for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement could have challenged that decision, but did not. Instead, Abrego Garcia was required to check in with ICE every year, including earlier this year.

When Abrego Garcia was driving his 5-year-old son home on March 12, he was pulled over by ICE and informed that his “status had changed,” and was quickly transferred to a detention center in Texas. Within three days he was on a plane to CECOT, despite the order barring his removal to El Salvador.

Xinis asked Reuveni under what authority Abrego Garcia was removed and he said he didn’t know. All he was given was a declaration by ICE Acting Field Office Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations Robert L. Cerna, he said.

“This was an oversight, and the removal was carried out in good faith based on the existence of a final order of removal and Abrego-Garcia’s purported membership in MS-13,” Cerna wrote in a Monday court filing.

Xinis said if the government could not cite what legal authority he was being removed under, “then there is no basis to have seized him in the first place. That’s how I’m looking at it.”

ICE and the Department of Justice have admitted the removal was an “administrative error,” but the Trump administration has stood by its decision.

White House gets involved

Vice President J.D. Vance wrote on social media, without evidence, that Abrego Garcia was a convicted member of the MS-13 gang and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt this week echoed Vance.

“The administration maintains the position that this individual who was deported to El Salvador and will not be returning to our country was a member of the brutal and vicious MS-13 gang,” Leavitt said.

Because of those comments by Leavitt, Sandoval-Moshenberg asked the judge to “keep the government on a tight leash.”

Abrego Garcia does not have a criminal record in the U.S., El Salvador or anywhere else, Sandoval-Moshenberg has stated.

Abrego Garcia came to the U.S. without legal authorization in 2011, fleeing violence in his home country of El Salvador, according to court records. Six years later while he was looking for work at a Home Depot in Hyattsville, Maryland, he was taken into custody by Prince George’s County Police Department.

While there, he was questioned about gang affiliation and law enforcement did not believe he was not a member of the MS-13 gang, according to court records.

The evidence officers submitted included Abrego Garcia wearing a Chicago Bulls hat, a hoodie and a statement from a confidential informant that stated he was a member of MS-13, according to court documents.

While he was never charged with, or convicted of being, in a gang, he was kept in ICE detention while his case proceeded before an immigration judge.

Special Olympics: The true victory lies in daring to try

By
Nora Almazan
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Habersham County Schools held its Special Olympics April 4 at Raider Stadium. (Nora Almazan/NowHabersham.com)

The crisp spring air in Mt. Airy, Georgia, buzzed with an energy unlike any other. It wasn’t just the anticipation of competition; it was the pure, unadulterated joy radiating from the athletes, families, students, and volunteers gathered for the annual Habersham County Special Olympics on Friday, April 4, 2025 with opening ceremonies starting at 9:30 a.m.

This wasn’t just a day of races and games; it was a vibrant celebration of ability, courage, and the unwavering power of the human spirit.

Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics in Habersham County, Georgia, Friday, April 4. (Nora Almazan/NowHabersham.com)

The Opening Ceremony started off the day filling Larry Black Raider Stadium with cheers, music, and the thrill of the competition. Student volunteers and athletes carried the banners from their respective schools, circling the track. From the moment the torch was given to the first torch-bearer, pride from beaming young athletes reflected the meaning of the day and a wave of warmth washed over the Raider Field.

Applauds erupted, not because there would be record-breaking feats, but for the determination of athletes to make every stride count to cross the finish line. Stepping back to listen to the chants and cheers, one might think it to be a symphony of encouragement, a testament of a community united in its belief in the potential of every individual.

Students filled the stadium with signs and cheers for the Special Olympic athletes. (Nora Almazan/NowHabersham.com)

“Today is all about our athletes. It is a day for them to shine and to compete to the best of their ability,” Whitney Morris, P.E. Instructor at Fairview Elementary said. “We try to make this whole event about our athletes and make it extra special for them. I have volunteered to run all the games, so my Elementary P.E. colleagues are helping me today. We have students from our sports teams helping as well.”

There were the focused faces of runners pushing their limits, the delighted squeals of children, and the shared high-fives between athletes and their buddy volunteers. One young man, after carefully crossing the orange ribboned finish line, turned to a volunteer with a grin that could light up the entire county. “I did it!” he exclaimed, his voice filled with pure elation.

Opening ceremony allowed students to carry the banners of their schools. (Nora Almazan/NowHabersham.com)

Beyond the traditional sports, the day offered moments of quiet connection and unwavering support. Volunteers, many of them local high school students and community members, knelt beside athletes, offering gentle guidance and enthusiastic praise. The bond between them was palpable, a silent language of understanding and respect.

Scott Davis, Engineering teacher at Tallulah Falls school and spouse of Dr. Susan Davis, Director of Elementary Schools for Habersham County, brought a group of Key Club members from Tallulah Falls School. The fourteen students had chosen to come to the games to help instead of taking a half-day trip with their peers.

Athletes enjoyed competing in the Special Olympic Games in Raider Stadium. (Nora Almazan/NowHabersham.com)

For Davis it is personal. “My brother had severe Downs Syndrome and when I attended Habersham Central High School back in 1988, I got involved in Key Club to help out with Special Olympics.” Now, he is offering that same experience of serving to students at Tallulah Falls.

Madeline Martin, a volunteer student from Tallulah Falls school, expressed, “We just wanted to come out and show our support and help these kids have fun because it is a really important event.”

Ella Chambers, Superintendent Patrick Franklin, and Ben Gallagher. (Nora Almazan/NowHabersham.com)

Superintendent Patrick Franklin expressed his joy of being in Raider Stadium for the games, “Several thousand people are here to celebrate these students. The sun is shining, it’s 70 degrees, and I’m so happy to be here for this event.” Students gravitated to Franklin as he congratulated them on their efforts and celebrated in the excitement of doing well.

It really wasn’t about the medals, although many wore them proudly around their necks. It wasn’t about the competition or even who crossed the finish line first. It was about the spirit of the game, the thunderous applause, and genuine admiration for every person attempting to participate.

The smiles on their faces, the expressions of completion – some with shy pride, others with exuberant, arm-waving leaps – were a powerful reminder of the significance of their achievements. It was about the personal victories and the people there to celebrate the sheer joy of participation.

Special Olympians prepare to run at Raider Stadium on Friday, April 4. (Nora Almazan/NowHabersham.com)

One particularly touching moment involved a young boy who had been hesitant to participate in the running race. With the gentle encouragement of his coach and the roaring cheers of the crowd, he took to the track. Though he didn’t finished near the front of the pack, the ovation he received was accolades enough. Tears welled in his eyes as he crossed the finish line, his face beaming with a newfound sense of accomplishment.

In that moment, everyone present understood that a true victory is not about being first or claiming the win, the true victory lies in daring to try.

Big Ridge Fire still 88% contained as forecast calls for more rain

By
Joy Purcell
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Wildland firefighters continue putting out hotspots and cleaning up containment lines along the Big Ridge Fire in northeastern Rabun County. (USFS photo)

Wildland firefighters could soon wrap up their Big Ridge Fire operations in Rabun County. As of early Friday, April 4, the fire remained at nearly 90% contained, with no additional spread expected Friday, according to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). More rain is forecast for the region over the weekend.

The Big Ridge Fire has burned 3,434 acres in the Warwoman Wildlife Management Area northeast of Clayton. The fire, which started on March 22, is expected to be suppressed by the Forest Type 3 Team, which will take over management from the Southern Area Gold Complex Incident Management Team on April 5.

According to forestry officials, 224 personnel and a variety of resources from around the country have assisted in containing the fire. Firefighters will continue to mop up remaining heat sources, like large logs and stump holes, and repair fire lines that were damaged during suppression operations.

The USFS says that Georgia Forestry Commission has completed its work protecting structures around the fire.

Burn ban lifted

While no evacuations are in effect, a closure order remains in place around the Big Ridge Fire area. This includes popular camping areas and hiking trails within the Chattahoochee National Forest northeast of Clayton and south of Sky Valley.

State forestry officials have lifted a week-long burn ban for the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. Campfires are again allowed in the forest. Officials urge anyone engaged in outdoor burning to use extreme caution.

Investigation continues

The U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations is investigating what caused the fire. The agency is asking anyone who may have been in the area on March 22 and saw suspicious activity to contact the Georgia Forestry Commission Arson Hotline at 1-800-428-7337.

Carswell sworn-in as Mountain Judicial Circuit’s first female superior court judge

By
Nora Almazan
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Governor Brian Kemp administers the oath of office to newly-appointed superior court judge Nichole Carswell during a ceremony in the governor's office in Atlanta on March 27, 2025. Judge Carswell is the first woman superior court judge in the Mountain Judicial Circuit. (Credit: Governor's Office)

The Mountain Judicial Circuit has welcomed a historic appointment: the selection of the Honorable Judge B. Nichole Carswell for the superior court, filling the vacancy created by Judge Chan Caudell’s retirement.

Carswell’s appointment marks a significant milestone as she becomes the first woman to hold this position in the circuit.

Moment she found out

“I was presiding over juvenile court when I received a text from Governor Kemp requesting that I give him a call as soon as I was free,” Carswell recounts.

“Obviously, I called a quick recess. I was very excited and incredibly honored, but I had to contain my excitement to finish court.”

Judge Carswell and her family, Gov. Kemp, and First Lady Marty Kemp at the March 27, 2025 swearing-in ceremony. (Credit: Governor’s Office)

Judge Carswell brings extensive experience to the bench. In addition to her juvenile court duties, she currently presides over the Mountain Judicial Circuit’s Family Dependency Treatment Court.

Before her 2017 appointment as the circuit’s first full-time juvenile court judge, she was a partner at McClure, Ramsay, Dickerson & Escoe. She handled a diverse caseload there, including family law, adoptions, real estate, probate, appellate work, and general litigation.

Changing landscape

This appointment is a personal achievement and a landmark moment for the Mountain Judicial Circuit, reflecting a changing landscape within the region’s legal community.

“When I first began practicing in 1999, there were just a handful of female attorneys,” says Carswell. “Now, there are almost as many women in the Mountain Judicial Bar Association as men. While females had been appointed or elected to other judicial roles, a female had never been appointed to the state court bench or the superior court bench.”

Rabun County Probate Court Judge Carlton ‘Hobie’ Jones III is sworn in to succeed Judge Rusty Smith as a superior court judge in the Mountain Judicial Circuit. Gov. Kemp swore Jones into office the same day he swore in Judge Carswell. (Credit: Governor’s Office)

Caudell’s seat was one of two recent superior court vacancies filled by Gov. Kemp in the circuit. The other vacancy arose from the unexpected passing of Judge Rusty Smith. Kemp appointed Rabun County Probate Court Judge Carlton ‘Hobie’ Jones III to fill his seat.

The first order of business for Carswell and Jones will be to address the backlog of cases left by the months-long vacancies. Both seats opened up at the end of January. Carswell and Jones were sworn in on March 27.

Judge Carswell indicates she intends to bring the same efficiency she demonstrated as a juvenile court judge to her new job on the circuit’s highest court. She also aims to build upon the work Smith and Caudell started.

“I hope to continue their legacy of improving the court system to address the community’s needs,” she says.

From left, retired judge Chan Caudell, Mountain Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Bill Oliver, Chris Carswell, Mountain Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Nichole Carswell, Gov. Brian Kemp, First Lady Marty Kemp, former Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney now state appellate court Judge Brian Rickman, and Habersham County Magistrate Court Judge Tricia Hise. (Credit: Governor’s Office)

Balancing act

Carswell’s path to the superior court bench was not initially planned. “As a young lawyer, I had no aspirations to be a judge,” she admits. “It was through my work in juvenile court that the opportunity arose.”

After serving as a part-time and then full-time juvenile court judge, she decided to pursue the superior court position, encouraged by her colleagues.

Christmas with her family at Red Bird Farms in Clarkesville, GA. (submitted)

Balancing the demands of her role with family life has been a challenge, especially with the 24/7 on-call nature of her previous position.

“Fortunately, I excel at being efficient and prioritizing,” she says. “It is also extremely important to have competent staff and to take time for yourself.”

As a juvenile court judge, Carswell prioritized ensuring that those who appeared before her felt heard and respected.

“I have been surprised at the number of parents and children who have been vocal about their concerns in me not being their judge going forward,” she shares.

Judge Carswell credits her strong family support system for her success. “My husband, Chris, and my two adult children are my world,” she says. “They have been incredibly supportive.”

Faith and hard work

Looking forward, Carswell says she aims to leave a legacy of “hard work, respect, fairness, and impartiality.” She adds, “I would like to leave the Mountain Judicial Circuit better than I found it.”

Her motivation stems from a desire to use her gifts to serve her community.

“I am a firm believer that God directs our steps,” she says, citing Philippians 4:13 as a guiding scripture. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Judge Carswell and her husband Chris. (submitted)

Carswell also references Theodore Roosevelt’s famous quote about hard work, paraphrasing, “Nothing worth having comes easy.”

For those aspiring to a similar career, she advises perseverance and hard work. “Being a lawyer and eventually a judge is not always about being the smartest person in the room,” she emphasizes.

Beyond her professional life, Judge Carswell enjoys spending time with family, watching college sports, and teaching at Truett McConnell University.

While her appointment is historic, she humbly acknowledges the groundwork laid by others. “Susan Clark Campbell is the true trailblazer,” she said, recognizing the support of her colleagues and the community.

Judge Carswell highlights the impact of her mentors, including her former law partners and Judge Rusty Smith. “If I can be half of the superior court judge that Judge Smith was, I will have accomplished something.”

SEE ALSO

Jennifer Stein honored with Susan Campbell Trailblazer Award

White County Fire promotes Terry Sosebee to deputy chief

By
Joy Purcell
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(NowHabersham.com)

White County Fire Services has promoted Terry Sosebee to the rank of Deputy Chief. Officials say the 30-year veteran of the department has played a key role in its evolution over the years. Sosebee’s promotion is the culmination of a long career that has coincided with the development of White County Fire Services from a group of volunteer fire departments to a 24/7 full-time operation.

“Terry’s experience and deep understanding of our department’s history and mission make him the ideal choice for this role,” said White County Public Safety Director David Murphy. “He’s helped build the foundation we stand on today and I have full confidence in his leadership moving forward.”

Sosebee began volunteering as a firefighter with White County Fire Services in 1990. He became a full-time employee in December 2003 and has worked his way up through the ranks holding positions such as Station 4 Captain (Volunteer), South Battalion Chief (Volunteer), Technical Services Officer, and most recently, Battalion Chief of Operations and Fleet. In this role, he was responsible for managing all operations for the department and ensuring the readiness of critical equipment and vehicles.

As Deputy Chief, Sosebee will oversee day-to-day operations of the Fire Services Division and coordinate responses with local officials and public safety agencies in emergency situations.

“I’ve seen this department through so much change over the years… from an all-volunteer group of neighbors helping neighbors to a highly trained, professional fire service,” Sosebee said of his promotion. “I’m incredibly honored and humbled by this opportunity to better lead the fine men and women who make up White County Fire Services.” He added, “It’s a privilege to serve alongside such dedicated individuals, I’m excited for what the future holds.”

A native of White County, Sosebee and his wife Karan are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary this year. They recently welcomed their first grandchild, a son born to their son Cole and his wife.

Lumpkin County 2025 football schedule

By
Brian Carter
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(BLITZ Sports)

Lumpkin County is in some new territory (at least in recent memory). Four-star athlete Cal Faulkner left an indelible mark on the program and on Indians athletics in general. He will be sorely missed.

Several of the key players from the last two historic seasons are now gone…which puts Lumpkin at a crossroads.

The foundation laid by coach Heath Webb and his staff will mean that while there might be a small ‘reset,’ it doesn’t mean the program has to ‘rebuild’ anything. There’s enough talent and, more importantly, culture to keep this football program competitive.

Doris Ann Skelton Atkins

By
Now Habersham
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Doris Ann Skelton Atkins, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully on April 3, 2025, in Gainesville, where she was born on September 2, 1962. A proud graduate of White County High School, class of 1980, Doris exemplified a lifelong commitment to family, community, and the simple joys of life.

Doris was a devoted partner to her husband, Larry Donald Atkins, and an inspiring mother to her two daughters, Kayla Ashworth and Kimberly Boyd, who is married to Jeremy. She cherished her role as a grandmother to Harmony Boyd, Cayden Ashworth, McKayla Atkins, and Maylee Atkins, finding immense joy in their accomplishments and everyday moments.

In addition to her immediate family, Doris is survived by her sisters, Diane Gragg and Denise Gilbert, and her aunt, Melvina Wheelis. Her legacy is one of love, kindness, and unwavering support for those around her.

A woman of many interests, Doris enjoyed shopping and grew up gardening with her parents and enjoying time together with her family. She had a particular fondness for old model cars, sharing that passion with family and friends, which often sparked lively conversations and laughter.

Doris was preceded by her parents, Raymond Skelton and Ruby Louise Dyer Skelton, whose influence and values shaped her into the remarkable individual she became.

Private family services will be held at a later date.

As we remember Doris, we celebrate a life lived fully and a spirit that will continue to inspire those who had the privilege to know her. She leaves behind not just memories, but a deep-seated love that will remain in the hearts of her family and friends forever.

An online guest register is available and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinandmcentire.com.

McGahee-Griffin & McEntire Funeral Home of Cornelia, Georgia (706/778-8668) is in charge of arrangements.

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