The U.S. Forest Service issued a temporary ban on campfires and outdoor burning in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest from Nov. 14 to Dec. 16, 2023.
The USDA Forest Service has announced a campfire ban across the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in response to heightened fire risks caused by prolonged dry conditions, including weeks of high winds and low humidity. This Forest-wide restriction is aimed at further minimizing the risk of human-caused wildfires in the area.
The ban is effective immediately as of March 27, 2025, and will remain in place until further notice. Under this Stage II fire restriction, all campfires, including charcoal fires and other open flames, are prohibited across all four Ranger Districts of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. Visitors may still use commercially available fuel stoves designed for cooking. It is important to note that fireworks are always prohibited in national forests, regardless of weather conditions.
“Many people don’t realize how frequent wildfires are in the South,” said Forest Supervisor Judy Toppins. “Since the start of the month, we’ve already seen multiple fires in this national forest, in addition to large fires spreading across private and public lands in neighboring states.”
Firefighters have been working tirelessly to contain these fires before they could escalate. Wildland firefighters and emergency responders throughout the South are on high alert, actively battling fires and working to protect communities from fast-moving wildfires.
Mike Davis, fire management officer for the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, stressed the importance of adhering to burn bans and taking preventative measures around homes.
“Even small fires can spread rapidly when conditions are this dry,” said Davis. “We encourage residents to clear leaves and debris at least 30 feet from buildings and avoid any outdoor burning until conditions improve.”
Human activity is responsible for an average of 87 percent of wildfires, often due to escaped debris burns, unattended campfires, or sparks from vehicles and equipment. Simple precautions, such as properly extinguishing cigarettes, ensuring vehicles remain on designated roads, and avoiding outdoor flames, can significantly reduce the risk of wildfires.
If you notice suspicious fire-related activity in the forest, please call the Georgia Forestry Commission Arson Hotline at 1-800-428-7337.
Firefighters battle a mobile home fire on Mt. Vernon Road in Hall County on March 27, 2025. (Hall County Fire Rescue)
Two adults are displaced following a residential fire that destroyed a mobile home, detached garage, and outbuilding.
The fire in the 6100 block of Mt. Vernon Road broke out around 9:15 a.m. on March 27.
Hall County Fire Rescue (HCFR) arrived to find the structures already fully involved in fire. Firefighters quickly established a water supply and initiated a defensive attack, knocking down the flames, says HCFR Public Information Officer Kimberlie Ledsinger.
Both the mobile home and the detached garage were deemed a total loss.
The Red Cross was called in to assist the two displaced adults.
The Hall County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.
Emergency response units search the crash site of an American Airlines plane on the Potomac River on Jan. 30, 2025, after the plane crashed on approach to Reagan National Airport just outside Washington, D.C. (Livestream image courtesy ABC 7, Washington D.C.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (States Newsroom) — The U.S. Army and Federal Aviation Administration continued to allow some flights to operate near a Washington, D.C.-area airport with a location communications system turned off, even after the absence of that system contributed to the January midair collision that killed 67 people, officials testified at a U.S. Senate panel hearing Thursday.
Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau told the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Aviation, Space and Innovation Subcommittee that he was ordering all flights in the airspace of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport operate with a certain aircraft tracking system.
But until Thursday, no such order was in place, Rocheleau said, to the dismay of some leading committee members.
The system, known as Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast, or ADS-B, automatically broadcasts once per second an aircraft’s location to other nearby pilots. The system for broadcasting outgoing signals is called ADS-B out, and the ability to receive the signals is called ADS-B in.
The U.S. Army continues to allow flights with ADS-B turned off, even in the area around the Virginia-based airport that serves the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia, also known as DCA, U.S. Army Brigadier Gen. Matthew Braman, the director of Army aviation, told the panel.
“I have to say I find that shocking and deeply unacceptable,” Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican who chairs the full committee, told Braman.
“And I want to encourage the Army right now to revisit that policy and revisit that policy today,” Cruz continued. “If the Army chooses not to, I have a high level of confidence that Congress will pass legislation mandating that you revisit the policy. If today another accident occurs over DCA with another helicopter that had ADS-B out turned off, the Army will have very direct responsibility, and I am at a loss to come up with any justification for risking the lives of the traveling public with that decision.”
Rocheleau said he was putting in place a requirement Thursday to require all flights near DCA, including military flights, to have ADS-B turned on.
ADS-B is considered much more accurate than traditional radar, which broadcasts once every four to six seconds, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said.
The full committee’s ranking Democrat, Maria Cantwell of Washington, appeared not to know in advance Rocheleau was planning to issue the requirement and questioned his handling of the issue.
“Acting administrator, you’re not building faith in this system of oversight of the FAA,” she said.
She noted several government agencies and departments, including the Department of Homeland Security, had applied for exemptions to be allowed to keep their safety systems off.
Rocheleau said the FAA had a memorandum of understanding with other federal airspace users that they must use the safety system, though Cantwell noted that was not legally enforceable.
‘Intolerable risk’
Several factors contributed to the deadly Jan. 29 collision of an Army Black Hawk helicopter with an American Airlines commercial jet over the Potomac River, Homendy said. Sixty-four people on the regional jet died, along with three in the Black Hawk.
But the helicopter’s approved flight path that left no margin for error presented an “intolerable risk to aviation safety,” she said.
Subcommittee Chairman Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican, said the FAA ignored warning signs for years.
Over a 13-year span, there was not a single month that did not include a “close call” between a helicopter and a commercial jet operating at DCA, Moran said.
He added that in just more than three years, from October 2021 to December 2024, there were 15,000 “close proximity events” between a helicopter and a commercial jet.
“I want to know how, with these statistics in the FAA files, why, prior to Jan. 29 the agency failed to improve safety protocols at Reagan National Airport,” he said.
“Sixty-seven lives that were lost on Jan. 29 were taken prematurely in an accident that, by all indications, should have been avoided,” he said.
The collision was the first disaster of President Donald Trump’s second term and came just two days after the Senate confirmed former Wisconsin Rep. Sean Duffy as Transportation secretary.
It was the deadliest plane crash in the Washington area since 1982, when an Air Florida flight crashed into the Potomac River and killed 78 people.
Transparency
Homendy also told the panel her agency had trouble procuring records and even basic information from an FAA-led working group on helicopter safety in the D.C. area.
The Army is also a member of that working group, Braman said.
“Can I please say there is a D.C. helicopter working group that we have been trying to figure out who is part of the working group and get minutes and get documents from that working group to see what information was shared and what was discussed over the years, and we have not been able to attain that yet,” Homendy said.
She added she wanted to review how the flight plan was approved.
Rocheleau said he would work to figure out why the NTSB has had issues with the records.
In a statement, the law firm representing some families of those killed in the crash, called for more transparency from the agencies involved.
Rocheleau and Braman “were less than forthcoming to the American public and did their best to obfuscate the information provided to the committee,” the statement from Clifford Law Offices read. “They failed to accept responsibility and accountability for this needless tragedy and the thousands of other adverse experiences that could have led to additional disasters.”
After two decades of delicious food and family gatherings, Ribeyes is closing March 29, 2025. (Nora Almazan/NowHabersham.com)
For over two decades, Ribeyes in Cornelia, Georgia, has been a cornerstone of the community—a place where good food, good times, and good company met. The iconic family-owned restaurant, beloved by locals and visitors alike, is now closing its doors, marking the end of an era. The final day is Saturday, March 29.
Alfred and Lynetta Young, the heart and soul behind Ribeyes, have decided to retire after nearly 50 years of marriage and a lifetime of hard work, dedication, and love for their customers.
Alfred Young was an artist at work when preparing his secret steak recipe. (submitted)
A Family Affair
Alfred and Lynetta Young opened the doors of Ribeyes 20 years ago, with a dream to provide a welcoming space where people could gather over delicious steaks, seafood, and drinks. Granddaughter Halie Frankum has worked with her grandparents since she was around 13 years old.
“We first opened in Cornelia where the Ace Hardware is today. The recession hit and times were tough for my family,” Frankum reflected. “My grandparents said we have two options – close our doors, or own-our-own and do the best we can. They chose the second option, bought their own building, and it was the best decision they ever made.”
Over the years, the restaurant became more than just a place to eat—it was a place where families made memories, celebrated milestones, and created lasting connections.
Alfred and Lynetta Young are preparing for life after Ribeyes. (submitted)
The Young family’s commitment to their business was evident in the fact that their children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren worked alongside them.
The family bond was more than just blood—it was a shared passion for serving their community and making sure everyone who walked through the door felt like family.
“My Aunt Crystal, (Rhinehart), who is like an icon at Ribeyes, truly put her heart and soul into making everyone who came to Ribeyes feel like they were coming to grandma’s for dinner. Everyone knew and loved her,” Frankum explained. Crystal is the youngest daughter of Alfred and Lynette and a huge dose of what made the restaurant so successful.
The Secret Recipe for Success
For close to 30 years, Alfred worked as head management at TC Baycor in Cornelia. Each year when they had the annual employee Barbeque, Alfred would cook the steaks and the consensus was he needed to open a restaurant.
Alfred’s secret recipe for steaks became the stuff of legends in the region. Known for their mouthwatering, perfectly seasoned flavor, no one whose ever had the delectable, savory, bite could leave without coming back. His ribeyes were addictive.
Something everybody knew – Alfred’s steaks were addictive. (Nora Almazan/NowHabersham.com)
The restaurant was renowned for its unique flavors and quality of dishes that kept customers coming back again and again. The smell of sizzling steaks, the sound of laughter, and the warmth of a friendly greeting from Alfred, Lynetta, Crystal, and Halie made every visit a memorable experience.
But it wasn’t just the food that kept patrons loyal—it was the personal touch. The Youngs made it a point to know their customers by name. Whether it was a regular who came in every Friday for their favorite meal or someone celebrating a special occasion, Alfred and Lynetta always took the time to make everyone feel like they mattered. They knew about their customers’ lives—their joys, their struggles, and everything in between.
Customers felt like family at Ribeyes. (submitted)
A Place for Celebration and Comfort
Ribeyes wasn’t just a place to eat; it was a place where life’s most important moments were celebrated. Birthdays, graduations, engagements, and even the birth of children—if something big happened in a customer’s life, you could count on Alfred and Lynetta to be there, sharing in the joy.
As in life, not all moments are happy. “Some of the toughest moments,” Frankum said, “were when one of our beloved customers would pass away or go through a difficult time or illness.”
The Youngs stood by their customers through the hard times, grieving alongside them during losses and offering comfort in their own special way.
The front porch was a favorite spot for many customer to relax and spend time together. (Nora Almazan/NowHabersham.com)
Spending time on the front porch was a treasured memory for many who dined at Ribeyes. The inviting atmosphere gave diners a chance to just sit, relax, and enjoy what made people keep coming back – the sense of belonging and the feeling of being cared for. It was a time to unwind after a long day or catch up with friends. It was a place where stories were shared, laughter echoed, and relationships were built.
Tyler, Mason, and Alfred at Ribeyes. (submitted)
The End of an Era
The decision to close Ribeyes was not made lightly. After 20 years of serving the community, Alfred and Lynetta felt it was time to step back and enjoy the fruits of their labor. Their legacy, however, will live on in the countless lives they touched and the memories they helped create.
Many have asked Halie and her husband Tyler to take over and keep it going. “Tyler picked me up for our first date here at the restaurant. I was 16,” Halie reflected. “My grandparents didn’t like him too much at first, but Tyler won them over. He’d jump back there in the kitchen, wash dishes. Now he cooks along side my Pappa on the weekends. Pappa won’t admit it but I know he loves Tyler more than me now!”
Tyler and Halie have three children (Chloe, Mason, and Wyatt) who help in the restaurant and have grown to love working with their grandparents.
The restaurant has provided job opportunities for many in the community and it has supported their family well.
Ribeyes food made memories. (submitted)
In a heartfelt statement, Alfred and Lynetta shared, “It’s been an honor to serve this community. We’ve watched families grow, seen friends become family, and have had the privilege of being a part of so many special moments. We’re grateful for all the love and support we’ve received over the years.”
Halie added, “We never had to advertise. Our customers kept us opened by word of mouth and a love for gathering here in this special place that we’ve all come to love and call home.”
As Ribeyes closes its doors for the final time, the Youngs will leave behind a lasting legacy of warmth, love, and community. While the restaurant may be gone, the memories and the spirit of what it represented will continue to live on in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to experience it.
“We want to thank all of you for being a part of our family and our restaurant. It was you who made us successful by continuing to come back and enjoy the food and the time together,” the Youngs expressed.
For Cornelia, and for all who called Ribeyes home, the closing of this beloved institution is the end of an era, but it is also a reminder of the power of family, tradition, and the connections we make along the way.
The Hubert H. Humphrey Building, the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C., as seen on Nov. 23, 2023. (Jane Norman/States Newsroom)
WASHINGTON (States Newsroom) — The Trump administration announced a sweeping plan Thursday to restructure the Department of Health and Human Services by cutting an additional 10,000 workers and closing down half of its 10 regional offices.
The overhaul will affect many of the agencies that make up HHS, including the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. HHS overall will be downsized from a full-time workforce of 82,000 to 62,000, including those who took early retirement or a buyout offer.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. released a written statement along with the announcement, saying the changes would benefit Americans.
“We aren’t just reducing bureaucratic sprawl. We are realigning the organization with its core mission and our new priorities in reversing the chronic disease epidemic,” Kennedy said. “This Department will do more — a lot more — at a lower cost to the taxpayer.”
The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Kennedy as the nation’s top public health official in mid-February.
Democrats immediately reacted with deep concern.
Senate Appropriations Committee ranking member Patty Murray, D-Wash., said that she was “stunned at the lack of thought about what they are doing to the American public and their health.”
Murray said the committee, which controls about one-third of all federal spending, “absolutely” has an oversight role to play in tracking HHS actions.
Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin, the top Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee that funds HHS, said she believes HHS has overstepped its authority and expects the panel will look into its actions.
“These individuals who are going to be terminated under this plan play vital roles in the health of Wisconsinites and people nationally,” Baldwin said. “And I believe that they do not have the authority, the Trump administration does not have the authority to do this wholesale reorganization without working with Congress.”
Maryland Democratic Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, whose constituents in suburban Washington likely hold many of the jobs in question, wrote in a statement the HHS’ restructuring plans are “dangerous and deadly.”
“I warned America that confirming RFK Jr. would be a mistake,” Alsobrooks wrote. “His blatant distrust of science and disregard for research and advancement makes him completely unqualified.”
Cuts across department
The announcement says reorganizing HHS will cut its $1.7 trillion annual budget by about $1.8 billion, in part, by lowering overall staff levels.
Staffing cuts will be spread out over HHS and several of the agencies it oversees. The restructuring plans to eliminate 3,500 full-time workers at the FDA, 2,400 employees at the CDC, 1,200 staff at the NIH and 300 workers at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
“The consolidation and cuts are designed not only to save money, but to make the organization more efficient and more responsive to Americans’ needs, and to implement the Make America Healthy Again goal of ending the chronic disease epidemic,” according to a fact sheet.
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, or HELP, Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, R-La., wrote in a statement that he looks “forward to hearing how this reorganization furthers these goals.”
“I am interested in HHS working better, such as lifesaving drug approval more rapidly, and Medicare service improved,” Cassidy wrote.
Regional offices, divisions affected
HHS did not immediately respond to a request from States Newsroom about which five of its 10 regional offices would shutter or when those closures would take effect.
Its website shows the offices are located in Boston; New York City; Philadelphia; Atlanta; Chicago; Dallas; Kansas City, Missouri; Denver; San Francisco; and Seattle.
HHS plans to reduce its divisions from 28 to 15 while also establishing the Administration for a Healthy America, or AHA.
That new entity will combine the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
That change will “improve coordination of health resources for low-income Americans and will focus on areas including, Primary Care, Maternal and Child Health, Mental Health, Environmental Health, HIV/AIDS, and Workforce development. Transferring SAMHSA to AHA will increase operational efficiency and assure programs are carried out because it will break down artificial divisions between similar programs,” according to the announcement.
HHS will roll the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response into the CDC.
The department plans to create a new assistant secretary for enforcement, who will be responsible for work within the Departmental Appeals Board, Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals and Office for Civil Rights.
House speaker says HHS is ‘bloated’
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., posted on social media that he fully backed the changes in store for HHS.
”HHS is one of the most bureaucratic and bloated government agencies,” Johnson wrote. “@SecKennedy is bringing new, much-needed ideas to the department by returning HHS to its core mission while maintaining the critical programs it provides Americans.”
Advocates shared Democrats’ concern about the staff cutbacks.
Stella Dantas, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, released a statement saying the organization was “alarmed by the sudden termination of thousands of dedicated HHS employees, whose absence compounds the loss of thousands of fellow employees who have already been forced to leave U.S. health agencies.”
“Thanks to collaboration with HHS, ACOG has been able to contribute to advances in the provision of maternal health care, broadened coverage of critical preventive care, increased adoption of vaccines, raised awareness of fetal alcohol syndrome, strengthened STI prevention efforts, and more,” Dantas wrote. “This attack on public health—and HHS’ ability to advance it—will hurt people across the United States every single day.”
Strong winds fanned a brush fire that resulted in heavy losses in Commerce.
The fire broke out shortly after 3 p.m. near Highway 326 and Duncan Road. It destroyed two barns, one storage unit, and three vehicles. Several antique vehicles were also lost in the blaze, according to Banks County Fire Chief Steve Nichols.
Banks County Fire & Emergency Services responded to find multiple structures engulfed in flames. They called in additional resources from Bold Springs, Sandy Cross, and Jackson County CI fire departments as well as Georgia Forestry to help bring the blaze under control.
Nichols says, the fire was caused by an unpermitted controlled burn conducted on a Red Flag warnimg day with high winds. Georgia Forestry cited the person who started the fire.
There were no injuries reported in connection with the blaze.
The University of Georgia in Athens Georgia. (UGA website)
Five faculty members from the University of Georgia (UGA) have been named Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), a prestigious honor recognizing significant scientific contributions. This brings UGA’s total to 50 members in the exclusive group.
The newly elected UGA Fellows are Melissa Mitchum from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Thomas Mote, Robert Schmitz, Michael Terns, and Zheng-Hua Ye from the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. Each of these individuals has made substantial contributions to their respective fields, including plant pathology, genetics, climate impact, viruses, and biotechnology.
Mitchum, a professor in the Department of Plant Pathology and the Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics at UGA’s Center for Applied Genetic Technologies, specializes in the interactions between nematodes and key crops such as soybeans, tomatoes, and corn. Her research focuses on understanding how nematodes manipulate plant cells and discovering plant genes that resist infection, with the aim of helping breeders develop more resistant crops.
Mote, Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Geography, studies atmospheric patterns and their influence on extreme weather events, ranging from heavy rainfall to ice melt. His work spans diverse regions, including Greenland, where he examines the effects of weather systems on the ice sheet, and the Caribbean, where he investigates the impacts of climate change and land use on rainfall and drought.
Schmitz, a professor and Lars G. Ljungdahl Distinguished Investigator in the Department of Genetics, leads research into how epigenetic variation enables plants to thrive in diverse environments. His team is developing methods to identify DNA sequences that can precisely control gene expression, aiming to enhance crop performance.
Terns, Regents’ Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, primarily researches CRISPR-Cas systems—RNA-based immune systems that bacteria use to defend against viruses. His work has advanced the understanding of these systems and their potential for applications in gene editing, disease treatment, and precision antibiotics.
Ye, a professor in the Department of Plant Biology, investigates the molecular mechanisms behind secondary cell wall biosynthesis. His groundbreaking work includes developing a trait in alfalfa that reduces lignin without compromising the plant’s strength, resulting in increased yield and improved nutritional value for livestock.
The 2024 AAAS class includes a total of 471 inductees. The new Fellows will be officially recognized at the AAAS Annual Forum in Washington, D.C., on June 7, 2025.
Pictured, bottomr right to left, Charlene McGowan, general counsel for the Georgia Secretary of State, and State Election Director Blake Evans urged Senate Ethics Committee members Wednesday to not ditch the current voter registration sharing database. (Stanley Dunlap/Georgia Recorder)
ATLANTA (Georgia Recorder) — Sweeping changes to election rules intended to increase paper ballot options, expand the powers of the State Election Board, and remove the state from a voter registration sharing database are up for debate as the 2025 Georgia Legislature nears a close.
The Senate Ethics Committee held a two hour hearing on the latest version of House Bill 397, which could mandate big changes to Georgia election procedures if signed into law. No vote was taken on the bill sponsored by Covington Republican Rep. Tim Fleming.
The Republican-backed election bill would prohibit Georgia from sharing voter information with third-party groups like the current participation in the Electronic Registration Information Center, known as ERIC. The partnership allows Georgia to share updated voter rolls with 24 other states.
Under HB 397, the Georgia elections board would evaluate the procedures and policies for withdrawing from ERIC and provide recommendations to the Senate Ethics Committee and the House Governmental Affairs Committee by the end of this year.
It would also give the Secretary of State the authority to make agreements with other states to share voter roll data.
Secretary of State election officials asked legislators Wednesday to reconsider banning the state from participating in a multistate database they say helps efficiently maintain accurate voter rolls.
Charlene McGowan, general counsel for the Georgia Secretary of State, said the proposals in HB 397 could undermine the states’ ability to conduct meaningful and secure data matching with other states, whether it be through a state to state agreement or a multi state compact.
“This bill does severely restrict the Secretary’s ability to share information, such as driver’s license numbers, Social Security numbers with other states,” she said. “The problem with that is that states rely on that type of information in order to conduct accurate matching.”
The bill’s Republican sponsors were also urged by the statewide association of county election officials to make changes to the bill that would require hand counting of ballots as voting precincts are closing down for the day.
Fulton County is home to more than 750,000 registered voters, according to the secretary of state office’s website. State law requires that local election superintendents report to the secretary of state and post publicly the total number of ballots cast both on Election Day and during early voting, including absentee ballots.
Rebecca Anglin, the election director in Greene County, expressed concerns about the chain of custody and hand count of paper ballots at the precinct level, emphasizing the need for secure handling and timely reporting.
Bill offers more power to State Election Board
The election overhaul legislation proposes giving the State Election Board more independence from the secretary of state’s office by moving its administration under the state accounting office.
The controversial state GOP-controlled board that is now controlled by three supporters of President Donald Trump could also be the body to hear appeals to a controversial mass voter challenge after complaints are settled by county election boards.
“This will allow for faster adjudication. If you start with them and then you disagree with the decision, then you’ll go to the superior court,” Fleming said.
Georgia Republican Party District Chairman Brad Carver said it’s important that the State Election Board gets enough backing from the state to be fully staffed to afford more investigators and other support positions that can trim case backlogs and handle new roles.
He mentioned the significant expenses associated with voter challenges going to superior courts instead of election officials.
“If you have an appellate authority in the State Election Board, you will have more consistent application to make sure that the laws are followed across the state by all 159 counties,” Carver said.
Another provision expands board duties to allow custody of all state investigative reports and communications between the secretary of state and election superintendents.
Fleming said the bill seeks to restore more autonomy to the state board that enforces election rule compliance.
“The State Election Board handles elections investigations and complaints, and having access to this information is necessary for them to do their job and for adjudication purposes,” Fleming said., “This continues to return autonomy to the State Election Board.”
State election officials could also spell out their rulemaking powers with proposed yearround authority to adopt election rules so long as they don’t take effect within 60 days of an election.
Paper ballot bill clears committee
The Senate Ethics Committee passed a bill Wednesday that would allow Georgia voters to cast a hand-marked paper ballot at polling places during early voting and on Election Day.
The Senate Ethics Committee voted Wednesday in favor of Senate Bill 214, a proposal to give voters the ability to cast their votes in polling places using pen or pencils, which can now be used to complete absentee ballots.
Sylvania Republican Max Burns’ said the legislation gives voters during early voting and election days the option of paper ballots or the electronic touchscreen system that’s been used for statewide elections since 2020.
“At the end of the day, 214 is designed to provide us a path forward beyond the current environment and move to paper ballot hand-marked paper ballot systems tabulated with an optical scan and then supported by a print-on-demand ballot system,” Burns said
Burns said he expects modifications to the bill as he tries to usher it through the legislative process.
Republican Sen. Max Burns and Sen. Marty Harbin, a Tyrone Republican, cast votes at a March 26 committee meeting in favor of Burns’ paper ballots bill. (Stanley Dunlap/Georgia Recorder)
If Burns can get his bill signed into law it will mark a big win for a movement that has long contended that hand marked paper ballots are a more transparent and safer than electronic machines.
The state’s electronic Dominion Voting System was rolled out statewide in 2019, but by that time the state was already involved in a legal battle with Coalition for Good Governance and other plaintiffs who argue that hand-marking ballots is the safest way to vote.
The debate over electronic voting machines versus paper ballots later became the of focus of conspiracy theorists who blamed the Dominion’s system for Republican President Donald Trump’s loss to Joe Biden in 2020.
Over the last couple of years, a prominent pro- paper ballot movement.has been led by VoterGa, a largely pro-Trump faction that has urged people to request that state officials get rid of the electronic voting system.
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has defended the security of the voting machine system.
Animal Care and Control Director Madi Nix answers commissioners questions during the budget review meeting on Wednesday afternoon, March 26. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)
The Habersham County Commission heard from the remaining department heads and constitutional officers during the second day of the county’s budget review meetings.
Those department heads and constitutional officers presented their “wish list” of proposed annual and capital budgets as well as personnel requests.
Wednesday’s presentation saw a repeat of the average increase of 7.6% over the 2025 budget. The remaining department budgets for day 2 of the Budget Review Meetings totaled $18,216,657, an increase of $1,285,171 over the prior year’s operating budgets.
Animal control
Animal Care and Control Director Madi Nix was one of the department heads that presented her budgets for the upcoming year. She told the commissioners that two of her line items that will see significant increases in the coming year will be for veterinarian services, up 30%, and veterinary supplies, up 75%.
She explained that the increases are due to veterinarian fees continuing to rise as does the cost of supplies. Also, the number of animals the shelter takes in each year continues to increase significantly.
Public Works
Public Works Director Jerry Baggett presented his budget for the road department to the commissioners. The commissioners questioned Baggett about what was included in the contract services line item that cost more than $250,000.
Interim Finance Director Kiani Holden explained the various contract services were included in the line item. One service that stood out was a $125,000 fee for trash collection on the county right of way.
According to Baggett, the prison used to supply a detail to provide that service, but a few years ago the prison stopped providing a detail to perform that service. At that time, the county bid out the service to a private contractor. The lowest bid was $125,000 per year.
Another question that commissioners asked him was what line item gravel fell into. According to Baggett, some of the gravel cost fell in the Materials line item that was budgeted for $60,000. Also, some of the gravel costs were paid for by SPLOST funds.
The proposed budgets are only operating budgets and do not include capital improvement budgets or additional personnel costs. (Source: NowHabersham.com)
Commissioner Dustin Mealor explained to the commission that several years ago nearly all road maintenance costs for gravel and paving were paid for with SPLOST funds. The commission, a few years ago, began pulling some of the road maintenance expenses out of SPLOST and paying for it with the general fund.
However, material costs skyrocketed and the county became unable to budget more each year for material costs as they had originally planned.
Personnel
The only personnel request was for E-911. Director Lynn Smith requested a training coordinator be added. The new position would assist with recruiting, continuing education for dispatchers, and initial training for newly hired personnel. When the individual was not involved with training, they would assist with open records requests. The salary and benefits for the training coordinator is estimated to be $70,842.
Agency requests
The final day of the budget review meetings will begin Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m. and will conclude at 12 p.m. All departments have concluded their budget presentations. The presentations set for Thursday morning are requests from various agencies in the county and the development authority.
The meeting will be held on the main floor of the Administration Building in the Commissioners Conference Room at 130 Jacob’s Way in Clarkesville.
All budgets reported for Day 1 and Day 2 of the budget review meetings do not include capital improvement budgets, only operating budgets and personnel requests.
A woods fire burned 3.6 acres in the area of Post Road and Cooley Woods Road southeast of Cleveland, Georgia, on March 26, 2025. (White County Publis Safety)
Recent incidents across Northeast Georgia serve as sobering reminders of the dangers of outdoor burning, especially in these hazardous fire weather conditions.
Local fire departments and emergency services are keeping busy, responding to what officials say are preventable fires. Stephens County deputies and firefighters have responded to approximately 30 fire-related service calls in the past two weeks. Authorities arrested one person for illegal burning.
Over the weekend, a wildfire ignited in Rabun County. The Big Ridge Fire northeast of Clayton has burned over 480 acres, fueled by the dry, windy weather.
The Big Ridge Fire has consumed at least 480 acres in Rabun County, Georgia. The fire ignited on March 22, 2025, in the Sarah’s Creek area about 10 miles northeast of Clayton. (U.S. Forestry Service)
In White County, firefighters have responded to at least three significant woods fires this week, and in Hall County, a woods fire and two residential fires sparked by fire pits destroyed three homes.
These incidents, spanning multiple counties, underscore how quickly things can spiral out of control. Seemingly innocuous fires, compounded by hazardous weather, negligence, and a lack of proper safety practices, can become dangerous, even criminal.
Fire weather
Between March 12 and March 26, the National Weather Service issued multiple increased fire danger warnings for North and Central Georgia. The region has been under a Red Flag Warning at least four times in the past two weeks.
The Georgia Forestry Commission has also issued burn restrictions for most days since March 13 due to the weather.
Stephens County Sheriff’s Public Information Officer Rebekah Smith urges the public to remain mindful of the severe fire weather conditions and potential threats.
“Simply tossing a burnt cigarette out of your car window while driving could spark a major grass fire and endanger someone’s life or property,” Smith warns.
Proper precautions
Fire destroyed this and one other mobile home on Willow Way in Buford, Georgia, on March 19, 2025. (Hall County Fire Rescue)
Hall County public safety officials echo Smith’s warning, saying fires that destroyed two mobile homes and a single-story residence were avoidable.
“All three incidents were deemed ‘accidental’ and involved a fire pit that was not fully extinguished,” says Hall County Fire Rescue Public Information Officer Kimberlie Ledsinger. She adds, “The fires could have been prevented with proper precautions.” Such precautions include:
Never leave a fire unattended;
Keep a water source nearby;
Use non-combustible materials around the pit;
Avoid using fire pits on windy days;
Ensure all coals are completely cool before leaving;
Place fire pits at least 25 feet from structures or anything flammable.
Precautions are also being encouraged in White County, where firefighters traced an out-of-control fire to a burn pile. They say the homeowner left the pile unattended for two days, thinking it was out. The March 26 fire, southeast of Cleveland, burned approximately 3.6 acres before local firefighters and Georgia Forestry personnel contained it.
“White County Fire urges all residents to carefully inspect any recent burn piles and confirm they are fully extinguished,” urges the county’s public information officer Bryce Barrett. “With current hazardous fire conditions, even a dormant pile can quickly reignite and spread.”
To find out if a burn restriction is in place where you are, call the Georgia Forestry Commission at 1-877-OK2-BURN (652-2876) or visit their burns and notifications page online.
Winder police arrested Daniel Barrios Catalan, co-owner and manager of Latin Flavors in Winder, after a mandated reporter at a local hospital contacted authorities about the alleged assault. (Barrow County Sheriff's Office)
The manager and co-owner of a Winder restaurant is accused of kidnapping and raping an 18-year-old employee, police say. Officers arrested Daniel Barrios Catalan, 46, of Winder, earlier this month, the Winder Police Department says in a news release.
According to police, a mandated reporter at a local hospital contacted police after the employee came in for treatment. The alleged incident occurred at the Latin Flavors restaurant in Winder, where Barrios Catalan is manager and co-owner.
Police say Catalan provided the employee with alcohol after her shift on March 1 and took her to a private area of the restaurant. Early the next morning, he allegedly drove the victim to his home.
“At one point, the victim became heavily impaired to the point of losing consciousness,” the release states.
Police booked Catalan into the Barrow County Jail on March 7. They say the investigation is still active. When completed, the case will be turned over to the Barrow County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
A 20-year-old Toccoa man was arrested after burning a large pile of garbage behind his residence, the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office says.
On Monday night, March 24, sheriff’s deputies and firefighters from the Carnes Creek and Shiloh fire departments responded to a 911 call reporting a possible brush fire off Terri Lane in southwest Toccoa. When firefighters arrived, they extinguished a large fire in the backyard of a residence fueled by a pile of man-made garbage, including a refrigerator. The fire was burning within 10 to 20 feet of a mobile home in a residential area, the sheriff’s office says.
According to authorities, the burn was illegal due to its size, the resident’s lack of a permit, and burning trash during a county-wide burn restriction. Deputies asked the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for assistance. A local DNR ranger determined the pile of garbage weighed over 500 pounds, making it a dump per Georgia Code.
The ranger charged Jordan Hardesty with unlawful dumping of egregious litter (greater than 500 pounds). Hardesty was booked into the Stephens County Jail and released the next morning on a $1,000 bond.
This is one of approximately 30 calls for service that Stephens County deputies and firefighters have responded to in less than two weeks due to brush fires, residential structure fires, and illegal burns.
