Guns seized by Athens-Clarke County police while serving warrants on a suspect on Nov. 22, 2023. (Athens-Clarke County Police Dept.)
Two Athens men remain in jail following their recent arrests on weapons charges.
Athens-Clarke County police arrested 18-year-old Demetrius Collins outside a residence in the 100 block of Parkview Homes on Nov. 22. Officers also arrested 22-year-old Marcus Dowdy at the same location.
Modified handgun (ACCPD)
At the time of his arrest, Collins was out of jail on bond for several violent offenses, including a carjacking in 2021.
During a search of the suspects and residence, police say they found four handguns and a stolen AR-15 rifle. One of the handguns had also been reported stolen and one was modified “for machine gun fire,” police say.
In addition to the felony warrants, police charged Collins with theft by receiving stolen property and obstruction. Officers charged Dowdy with possession of a machine gun, tampering with evidence, and marijuana possession.
Collins and Dowdy are being held in the Clarke County Jail without bond.
Body bags line a hallway in the aftermath of the May 24, 2022, shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. (image from U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on gun violence)
WASHINGTON (GA Recorder) — U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats on Tuesday discussed how to treat gun violence as a public health crisis in hopes of building upon last year’s federal gun safety legislation.
“Across the country, gun violence is a public health epidemic,” Illinois Democrat Dick Durbin, the chairman of the committee, said in his opening remarks.
Senate Republicans pushed back against framing gun violence as a public health crisis and argued that approach would violate the Second Amendment and that the focus should be on mental health.
“The fact is a firearm in the hands of a law-abiding citizen is not a threat to public safety,” the top Republican on the committee, Sen. John Cornynof Texas, said.
Durbin said the Democratic witnesses tapped — who ranged from doctors to public health experts — would help lawmakers decide how to expand the most comprehensive federal gun safety legislation that Congress passed in nearly 30 years, known as the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin ( livestream image)
Any additional gun safety legislation will be an uphill battle, as Republicans control the House, and although Democrats have a slim majority in the Senate, they would still need to pass a 60-vote threshold.
The bipartisan safety act came after 19 children and two teachers were killed in Uvalde, Texas, and 10 Black people were killed in a white supremacist attack at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York. There have been several high-profile mass shootings this year, including a school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, where three children and three teachers were killed, and another in Lewiston, Maine, where 18 people were killed and another 13 were injured.
Durbin said that Congress needs to get involved because the U.S. is unique in its gun violence.
This year alone, there have been 619 mass shootings, according to the Gun Violence Archive, an organization that tracks gun violence in the U.S. Firearm-related injuries are now the leading cause of death for children and adolescents in the United States, according to the New England Journal of Medicine.
One of the witnesses tapped by Democrats, Megan L. Ranney, who is the dean of the Yale School of Public Health, said that she has a front-row seat to gun violence.
“We are turning into a nation of traumatized survivors,” she said.
Dr. Megan L. Ranney, an emergency physician and Dean of the Yale School of Public Health, testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on gun violence on Nov. 28, 2023. (livestream image)
Ranney said that for the U.S. to treat gun violence as a public health epidemic, the first step is to first collect data on gun violence. She said through data, researchers will be able to find risks and predictions and then figure out what kind of programs can change those patterns, such as violence prevention programs.
She said that the next step would be to scale up those projects that work and implement those practices in communities with high rates of gun violence.
Cornyn argued that gun violence and mass shootings were tied to mental health, and he asked Ranney how often that was the case.
Ranney said that studies have shown that people with mental health problems are more likely to be victims of violence rather than perpetrators, adding that “mental illness is deeply connected to firearm suicide, which is the leading type of firearm death in this country.”
“I think it is worth noting that when you actually look at mass shooters, the vast majority of them were in an identifiable crisis prior to that mass shooting, but only slightly more than the average American population (that) has been identified as having serious mental illness,” Ranney said.
Another witness tapped by Democrats, Franklin Cosey-Gay, the director of the Violence Recovery Program at UChicago Medicine, said that hospital-based violence intervention programs are critical to solving a gun violence epidemic.
“Violence recovery specialists use intensive case management partnering with community violence intervention to ensure comprehensive recovery and reduce re-injury after discharge,” he said.
Cosey-Gay said that kind of intervention could include a multidisciplinary approach involving spiritual care, social work, child life specialists, mental health, and hospital clinical staff.
The bullet-riddled walls of First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, where 26 people were killed on Nov. 5, 2017. (U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee video)
New Mexico executive order
Several Republicans, such as Sens. John Kennedy of Louisiana, Mike Lee of Utah, and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, slammed an executive order in September from New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham that declared gun violence a public health emergency.
Source New Mexico reported that the Sept. 8 order encouraged local mayors and sheriff’s offices to ask for “an emergency proclamation and implementation of temporary additional restrictions” under the state Riot Control Act.
The governor later revised the order to apply to parks and playgrounds, but it set off a political firestorm from Republicans and a flurry of lawsuits.
Tillis, who was part of the group of bipartisan senators who worked to pass the federal gun safety legislation, said the decision by Lujan Grisham to declare a public health emergency pushes “us further back from coming up with reasonable policy.”
Cornyn said it was the latest attack on the Second Amendment.
“A group of our colleagues …, and I wrote to the Department of Justice to intervene and protect the constitutional rights of New Mexicans to carry a firearm outside of their home,” he said. “What is a constitutional right? That’s something … some of our colleagues consistently overlook.”
Habersham County deputies talk with Baldwin Police Chief Chris Jones (far right) after shooting incident at Heritage Garden apartments in Baldwin. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)
Shots were fired at the Heritage Garden Apartments around 9:02 a.m. Tuesday. Baldwin Police officers and Habersham County deputies responded.
Baldwin Police Chief Chris Jones stated that upon their arrival an elderly woman that lived in the apartment complex had fired two shots at another woman. The weapon used was a revolver, possibly a .38 caliber. No one was injured in the shooting.
The elderly woman was arrested for aggravated assault and disorderly conduct. She will possibly be charged with discharging a firearm under the influence of alcohol.
Also dispatched to the scene was the Baldwin Fire Department. One of the bullets reportedly struck a water line and initial reports were that the water line was part of the sprinkler system in the apartment. According to Jones, the bullet penetrated only a water line and not the sprinkler system. The resulting water leak flooded two apartments. Power and water were cut off to the affected apartments until repairs could be made.
The elderly woman’s dog, which was still in the apartment, was taken into possession by the Habersham County Animal Control.
Now Habersham asked if the public was at any time in danger. Jones stated, “Yes, at points, until we got the weapon secure in the apartment. There could have been a possible danger to the other occupants of the apartment complex.”
Derk, right, is a 2-year-old mixed breed sure to bring fill your home with laughs and love. (Habersham County Animal Care and Control)
Introducing Derk, the charming canine comedian with a heart as unique as his white and black “cow print” coat! This 45-pound bundle of joy is not just a dog; he’s a stand-up pup ready to make you laugh and tug at your heartstrings.
Derk’s tale began when he was found straying along the Stephens/Habersham line, doing his best to turn every sidewalk into a makeshift stage. Despite his knack for comedy, his original owner pulled a disappearing act, leaving Derk in search of a new audience and a forever home.
At just 2 years old, Derk is in his prime, making him the perfect companion for those seeking an energetic sidekick. He’s the kind of dog who excels in agility, turning everyday walks into a hilarious obstacle course. Need a jogging buddy? Derk’s got four legs ready to hit the pavement with you.
Although Derk is a one-dog comedy show, he’s also a team player when it comes to canine companionship. He’s dog-friendly with a preference for playmates who share his zest for life and playful antics.
Fully vetted and heartworm-negative, Derk is not just a pretty face; he’s a healthy and hearty hound ready for same-day adoption. It’s been 24 days since his original owner said they were coming to pick him up but never showed. Derk’s spirit remains unbroken, and his tail is wagging with anticipation to find a family that will appreciate his unique brand of humor and give him the forever stage he deserves.
Come meet Derk, and get ready for a lifetime of laughs and love!
Click on the image to schedule a time to meet Derk.
Bobby Lee Moody, 66, of Alto, Georgia, passed away on Saturday, November 25, 2023.
He was born on June 9, 1957, in Habersham County, Georgia, to the late Tom and Molly Myers Moody. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Jim Moody and Tommy Moody, as well as his special nephew, Jimmy Moody.
Bobby was a loving and dedicated husband, father, brother, papa, friend, and musician. His life was a tapestry woven with the threads of family bonds, musical notes, and a commitment to his work. His passion for music was evident in his roles as a guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Bobby’s musical talents allowed him to share his gift on stages across the globe, creating a harmonious connection with people all over the world.
In his professional life, Bobby dedicated over 30 years of service to Star Auto Electric in Cornelia. His commitment and hard work were a testament to his character, earning him respect and admiration from colleagues and peers.
Beyond his professional achievements, Bobby’s true joy was found in the embrace of family and friends. As a husband, he was devoted; as a father, he was nurturing and supportive. His role as a brother brought laughter and camaraderie, and as a papa, his love knew no bounds. Bobby’s friendships were built on a foundation of trust, loyalty, and the shared language of music.
Bobby Lee Moody leaves behind a legacy of melodies and memories that will resonate in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. While the notes of his guitar may fade, the echoes of his love, laughter, and music will linger in the hearts of his loving wife of 38 years, Wanda Crane Moody, of Alto; daughter, Kathleen Moody Welborn, of Alto; daughter, Jenny Phillips, of Mt. Airy; grandchildren, Ashlin Delacruz, Zack Lipscomb, Jamey Lipscomb, Ava Welborn; great-grandchildren, Brielli Delacruz, brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Linda Moody, of Baldwin; sister, Jean Turner, of Baldwin; sister and brother-in-law, Leasie and Charles Fleming, of Hull.
A gathering with family and friends will be announced at a later date.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, North Chapel, at 245 Central Avenue, Demorest, Georgia 30535. Telephone: 706-778-7123.
Former President Jimmy Carter (third from right) sits front row at his wife's tribute service in Atlanta.
(Screenshot from live feed)
Former President Jimmy Carter sat front row at his wife Rosalynn Carter’s memorial service in Atlanta. It is one of the only times Carter has appeared publicly since he entered hospice care in February 2023.
Carter did not speak at the service. He sat, reclined in a wheelchair draped in a blanket, listening to the scripture, music, and loving remembrances of his wife.
The Carters were married for 77 years before the former first lady died on Nov. 19.
A host of dignitaries
(livestream image)
The tribute service was held at Glenn Memorial Church on Emory University’s Campus. Every living first lady of the United States attended the funeral, as well as President Joe Biden and former President Bill Clinton. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp were also among the dignitaries present for the invitation-only service.
Carter’s longtime assistant, Kathryn Cade, recalled the former first lady’s many humanitarian causes and missions around the world.
Journalist Judy Woodruff said, “Without Rosalynn Carter, I don’t believe there would have been a President Carter.”
Woodruff covered the Carters during their White House years. Addressing the 39th president, Woodruff added, “She and the two of you set an example for all of us. And I agree with my friend Jim Fallows who wrote, ‘Her memory will be a blessing. Her influence on the world will be her monument.’ Because of Rosalynn Carter, millions of lives are better off. What a gift she left.”
Heartwarming insights
Although Carter’s public image has been extensively documented, it is the private moments her family shared that provided some of the most heartwarming insights into her life.
“My mother was the glue that held our family together. Through the ups and downs and thicks and thins of our family’s politics, as individuals, she believed in us and took care of us,” said son James Earl “Chip” Carter II.
Chip Carter spoke of his mother’s gentle compassion and determined strength.
“When I was 14, I supported President Johnson for president, and every day I wore a Johnson sticker on my shirt. And periodically, I would get beat up, and my shirt torn, and the buttons pulled off, and my sticker always destroyed. And I would walk the block during lunch from school down to Carter’s Warehouse, and my mother would have a shirt in a drawer already mended, buttons sewn on, and the LBJ sticker still applied. Years later, she was influential in getting me into rehab for my drug and alcohol addiction. She saved my life.”
Daughter Amy Carter read a love letter her father sent to her mother 75 years ago. The Carters were married for 77 years. (livestream image)
Speaking on behalf of her father, Amy Carter read aloud a love letter he wrote to her mother 75 years ago while he was serving in the Navy: “My darling, every time I have ever been away from you, I have been thrilled when I returned to discover just how wonderful you are. While I am away, I try to convince myself that you really are not, could not, be as sweet and beautiful as I remember. But when I see you, I fall in love with you all over again. Does that seem strange to you? It doesn’t to me. Goodbye darling, until tomorrow, Jimmy.”
‘Her life was her sermon’
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chamber Chorus celebrated Carter’s life in song, with traditional Baptist hymns. Country music stars and husband and wife Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks also paid tribute, singing “Imagine” by John Lennon.
Throughout the service, Carter’s great-grandchildren shared her favorite scriptures from the Bible.
Rosalynn Carter’s love for her husband and commitment to her faith were two of the
cornerstones that defined her character and guided her throughout her life. These fundamental aspects of Rosalynn Carter’s identity not only shaped her role as a devoted spouse but also fueled her unwavering dedication to humanitarian causes and social justice initiatives.
Jason Carter (livestream image)
Grandson Jason Carter opened his remarks by saying his grandmother did not need a eulogy “because her life was a sermon.”
As the service drew to a close, congregants joined together in singing “Let There Be Peace on Earth.”
Following the service, Carter’s body was transported back to her hometown of Plains where on Wednesday, the family will hold a private funeral service and burial.
Sallie May Cook Lanier, age 97, of Clarkesville, Georgia, passed away on Thanksgiving, November 23, 2023, at Scuppernong, her daughter Sarah’s home, in the presence of family, friends, and caretakers.
Mrs. Lanier was preceded in death by her parents, Homer Cook, Sr. and Annette Granger Cook, her husband, William Chandler Lanier, Sr., and her daughter, Sallie Lanier.
Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, William C. Lanier, Jr. and Joy, of Jonesboro; daughter, Sarah A. Lanier, of Clarkesville; son and daughter-in-law, Homer Cook Lanier and Miriam “Mimi”, of Lebanon; her brother, Homer Cook, Jr., of Clarkesville; four grandchildren: Bethany Lanier, Anne Marie Lanier Maltbie, Leigh Ann Lanier Judd, and David Lanier; and four great grandchildren: William Shawn Maltbie, and Harrison, Yates, and Olympia Mae Judd.
Mrs. Lanier was born on January 20, 1926, in Sparta, Tennessee, grew up in Covington, Georgia, and was educated at North Georgia College, Bryn Mayr, and Johns Hopkins University. Mrs. Lanier was a pastor’s wife at Wadley Baptist church for seven years and a missionary with the Southern Baptist Mission Board in Israel, where she served as treasurer and Hebrew linguist for 29 years. Locally in Clarkesville, after retirement in 1989, she co-founded the Soque River Watershed Association.
Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, December 9, 2023, at the Clarkesville Baptist Church, with Rev. Grady Walden and Rev. Hobie (Homer) Wood officiating.
The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until the service hour at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of your choice or to her granddaughter Bethany’s work as the principal of a school for refugee children in Lebanon, Triumphant Mercy Zahle Center. (Tax deductible donations can be sent to Sunergos Missions, INC, 5095 Bayberry Ct. Cumming, GA 30040-9409. Please make a note that the gift is going to Bethany Lanier. Donations can also be sent through Zelle at [email protected].) OR to Dugit Ministries in Tel Aviv, Israel, where Chandler Lanier pioneered a ministry serving Arabs and Jews. To send a gift from the States: Dugit Ministries, P.O. Box 60099, Jacksonville, FL, 32236.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, North Chapel, at 245 Central Avenue, Demorest, Georgia 30535. Telephone: 706-778-1700.
Ciella Elizabeth Wilson, age 90, of Lula, entered heaven Monday, November 27, 2023, at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Gainesville.
Ciella was born in Dahlonega to the late Author Joseph & Lula Mae Grizzle Lee. She was a very dedicated member of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Lula, where she was very active in WMU, the church choir, and many more areas of the church. In her spare time, she enjoyed needlepoint, reading, doing word searches, and cooking, but she really enjoyed keeping up with her church family. Ciella had a lot of wisdom, and her memory was excellent, recalling past events as though they had just happened. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William Wilson & her son, the Rev. Shane Wilson; daughter, Vickie Lynn Wilson; sister, Bonnelle Stephens; brothers, Jewell Lee & Glenson Lee.
Left to cherish sweet memories, son, Mark Wilson; sister, Louvanna Grizzle; brother, Richard Lee; a number of nieces, nephews, relatives & friends.
Funeral services honoring Ciella will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday at the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church with Rev. John Wayne Abernathy & Rev. James Duncan officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12:00 p.m. until 12:45 p.m. Thursday at the church and again after the service in the vestibule of the church.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, you may make contributions to the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, 2405 Highway 51 South, Lula, GA 30554. You may sign the online guestbook or leave a condolence at www.wardsfh.com.
Ward’s Funeral Home, Gainesville, is honored to serve the family of Ciella Elizabeth Wilson.
Residents listen as Sautee-Nacoochee business owner April James addresses commissioners during the White County Board of Commission meeting Monday night, Nov. 27, 2023. (Dean Dyer/WRWH.com)
CLEVELAND, Ga. – The White County Board of Commissioners spent an hour working through a single proposed land use issue that came before them Monday afternoon.
The request was from April James, owner of Lucille’s Mountain Top Inn and Spa located on Rabun Road in Sautee Nachoochee. James wanted to rezone her property, which sits atop a mountain, from Residential Single Family and Community Commercial to C-2 classification which is Highway Business.
James told the commissioners she was seeking the change to obtain a better insurance rate.
Opposition to rezoning
April James tells commissioners her plans for the property (Dean Dyer/WRWH.com)
The proposal had earlier received approval from the White County Planning Commission without any restrictions. That followed a large number of area residents who opposed the change. Many of those residents attended the county commission meeting Monday along with several residents who were in approval.
The commissioners felt there should be some restrictions on the property to prevent any large development on the mountaintop.
After hearing from James, the commission board voted 4-1 to approve the change with restrictions to limit the property to its current use as a health spa, lodging, tourist shop, and retail dining.
Commissioner Craig Bryant cast the lone dissenting vote.
The board also approved the construction of a new spa building next to the current building but limited it to 3,500 square feet.
To help ease some of the concerns of those opposed to the change, the commissioners said that the limiting conditions they approved will stay with the property if it is ever sold.
CLEVELAND, Ga. – A three-vehicle accident Monday afternoon west of Cleveland killed a 30-year-old Cleveland man.
Courtney Floyd, Public Information Officer with the Georgia Department of Public Safety, provided preliminary details, saying the accident occurred at approximately 5:09 PM on State Route 115 and Asbury Mill Road.
The trooper investigating the accident advised that the initial collision involved a tractor-trailer and a passenger car. Upon arrival, the trooper determined that a 2021 Toyota RAV4, driven by Andrew Clark of Cleveland was traveling south on Asbury Mill Road and failed to stop for the stop sign. The RAV4 entered the path of a tractor-trailer operated by Joseph R. Dyer, age 62, of Blairsville, who was traveling west on SR 115.
According to GSP, the tractor-trailer struck the driver’s side of Clark’s vehicle, causing the RAV4 to overturn. The tractor-trailer then jack-knifed and traveled into the eastbound lanes, where it struck a Toyota Highlander driven by 31-year-old Harry Martin of Cornelia.
Clark was trapped in his vehicle. White County Fire and EMS extricated him from the wreckage. He died at the scene.
The crash did not injure Dyer, Harry Martin, and his passenger, 28-year-old Casey Martin.
The wreck shut down the roadway for approximately two and a half hours as law enforcement investigated and crews cleared the scene.
Floyd says the accident is still under active investigation.
Pictured, from left, are Paul Hopkins; Kaitlyn Crosby; NGTC President John Wilkinson; Maria Zavala de Orozco; and Angie Bartron.
CLARKESVILLE, Ga. – North Georgia Technical College recently named its four finalists for the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL). The award honors students for academic and leadership excellence at each of the state’s 22 technical colleges.
NGTC’s finalists are Angie Bartron, an accounting student from Blairsville, nominated by English instructor Dorothy Hansen; Kaitlyn Crosby, a welding and technology student from Mount Airy, nominated by instructor Ronnie Ayers; Paul Hopkins, a precision machining and manufacturing student from Toccoa, nominated by his instructor Derrick Hogan; and Maria Zavala de Orozco, a registered nursing student from Cornelia, nominated by RN instructor Dr. Martha Marquardt.
The four finalists will compete on Jan. 11, 2024, in front of a panel of business, civic, and industry leaders, who will select the college’s 2024 GOAL winner. The NGTC GOAL winner will then represent NGTC at the regional and state competitions.
The finalists were selected from among 20 nominees. Other nominees are Lanise Baer of Macon.; Gerald Barker of Eastanollee; Johnathan Brown of Hartwell; Hannah Carney of Blairsville; Britney Carter of Ellijay; Brian Dickerson of Tiger; Victoria Hartley of Eastanollee; James Hilton of Cleveland; Ashley Logan of Jasper; Ansley McAvoy of Blairsville; Liana Newsum of Cleveland; Renee Petenbrink of Toccoa; Dylan Rice of Cornelia; Diane Rucker of Hartwell; Mykola Thorbecke of Demorest; and Kelley Ward of Martin.
“The 2024 GOAL nominees were an outstanding group of students who all shared their unique perspectives on the importance of technical education,” says NGTC GOAL co-coordinator Rebekah Franklin. “We are tremendously proud of each of these individuals for their hard work and dedication to pursuing excellence in their chosen programs and for stepping outside their comfort zone. We wish them all continued success in their endeavors.”
The Christmas Concert at First Baptist Cornelia is a holiday tradition. (Photo by FBC Cornelia)
The sounds of the season are all around and you can enjoy them this weekend at First Baptist Church in Cornelia. The church, located at 325 Oak Street, will host its annual community Christmas concert at 5 p.m. on Sunday, December 3.
Song of the Angels is the theme of this year’s concert, according to First Baptist Minister of Worship & Music Randy LeBlanc.
“As I gathered the music for this year, I noticed how often ‘angels’ appeared throughout the songs, thus the concert title Song of the Angels,” said LeBlanc. “I am excited to feature the orchestra in a delightful original composition, ‘Angels Dance’ by Steve Amundson, recently retired orchestra director of St. Olaf’s College.”
This will be LeBlanc’s sixth Christmas concert with the choir and orchestra.
“As with past concerts, this year there will be plenty of Christmas Carol favorites, including a wonderful audience carol sing-along accompanied by the professional chamber orchestra assembled by Heather Strachan, Artist in Residence at Piedmont University,” said LeBlanc. “Each year, we also welcome area choral ‘friends’ who join with the Sanctuary Choir to expand our Christmas repertoire.”
The event is free; donations can be made to the Music Ministry of First Baptist Church.
