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Darlene P. Stafford

By
Now Habersham
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Darlene P. Stafford, age 93, of Clarkesville, Georgia, went home to be with Jesus and her true love, Carlisle, on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.

Mrs. Stafford was born on April 23, 1931 in Minnesota. She was preceded in death by her father, Ronald Pennie; husband, Herman Carlisle Stafford; daughter, Zonia Nichelson; and brother, Stan Pennie.

Darlene was a woman known for her giving nature, nurturing spirit, and who never waivered in her faith. She possessed a remarkable talent as an artist, crafting breathtaking paintings that captured the beauty of the world around her. Her skillful hands also brought warmth and comfort through her exquisite crocheting and knitting, creating cherished blankets and afghans. Darlene dedicated many years of her career to serving others at Hospice of Northeast Georgia, where she served with grace and compassion as both a Hospice Director and Chaplain. Above all else, Darlene cherished her role as a devoted wife to her beloved husband, Carlisle, with whom she shared 23 years of cherished memories. Their love was a testament to commitment and enduring affection, a bond that continues beyond this life as they have been reunited. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, and cherished sister.

Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, David and Denise Nichelson, of Clarkesville; grandchildren Alyssa Grizzard, Ben Nichelson and Sam, Candice Delk and Brandon; great-grandchildren Bailey Shedd, Savanah Shedd, Destiny Withers, Gabriel Nichelson, Victorica Nichelson, Connor Delk, and Taryn Delk; and two great-great-grandchildren; and brother Bush Thornton, of Oklahoma.

A Celebration to remember Darlene’s life will be held at 3:30 p.m., Saturday, March 29, 2025, at the Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel, with Rev. Steven Wright officiating.

The family will receive friends from 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m., Saturday, March 29, 2025 at the funeral home prior to the service.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Hospice of Northeast Georgia, 2150 Limestone Parkway, Gainesville, Georgia 3050.

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

Bill criminalizing ‘doxxing’ in Georgia advances in spite of free speech concerns

By
Jill Nolin
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Sen. John Albers, a Roswell Republican, makes the case for making doxxing a crime in Georgia at a committee meeting Tuesday. (Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder)

(Georgia Recorder) — An attempt to crack down on so-called doxxing has been met with concerns from attorneys and First Amendment advocates who say the proposal is too broad and would hamper free speech.

Senate Bill 27, which is sponsored by Sen. John Albers, a Roswell Republican, would make it a crime to distribute someone’s personal information – such as their home address – in a way that could cause more than $500 in economic losses or leave the victim scared of being stalked or hurt.

“It’s really a contemporary and pernicious form of harassment just using the power of the internet,” Albers said. “It’s a gross violation of people’s privacy, often resulting in emotional distress, reputational damages, and in some cases, it has resulted in physical harm and death.

“While we can continue to digitize our lives, we have to address this issue,” he said.

The first offense would be a misdemeanor, but repeat offenders would be charged with a felony. More serious cases where the offender intends to cause harm could result in a felony that could land someone in prison for up to five years.

“I want to make sure we understand there’s absolutely no curbing any free speech,” Albers said, pointing to exceptions included in the bill.

But critics of the bill were not convinced. The Georgia First Amendment Foundation and individual attorneys spoke out against the bill during a House committee hearing Tuesday.

Sarah Brewerton-Palmer, the foundation’s president, said the doxxing issue is legitimate and needs to be addressed. But she argued that the proposal being considered is overly broad, particularly with the lower-level offense that includes situations where the offender demonstrated reckless disregard.

If passed, she said the bill would have a chilling effect on First Amendment protected speech – and could even ensnare journalists.

“We appreciate that threats and harassment, particularly those enabled by the anonymity of social media, are real and serious concerns in Georgia and throughout society,” Brewerton-Palmer wrote in a letter she delivered to lawmakers Tuesday.

“However, Senate Bill 27 presents little realistic likelihood of remedying those ills, while exposing innocent speakers and writers to arrest and prosecution that could be triggered by nothing more than publishing an already-prominent person’s name,” she said.

Brewerton-Palmer and others have said the bill could be applied to an unfavorable Yelp review, such as one urging people to avoid a specific physician because they have had their license suspended numerous times.

Andrew Fleischman, who is an attorney, presented a timely national example of what he argued could be considered doxxing under the proposal: An explosive report from The Atlantic’s editor that said he had been accidentally included in a text exchange with Trump administration Cabinet members about plans to bomb Yemen.

“A reporter was part of a text thread about national security, and in that conversation you learned who those people’s employers were and also where they’d be likely to be, and you know what? I think there’s a pretty good chance that those people will suffer mental anguish or economic harm,” he said.

Fleischman argued that existing laws can be used to go after people who are doxxing others in Georgia.

The bill advanced out of committee Tuesday night with a few dissenting votes from both parties and now goes to the gatekeeping House Rules Committee. April 4 is the last day of this year’s legislative session.

After the vote, Fleischman posted this on X: “It looks like this bill is going to pass. If you, or anyone you know, is charged with a violation of this law, call me. I will work for cheap or for free to overturn it.”

U.S. Supreme Court in 7-2 ruling upholds Biden administration regulation on ghost guns

By
Ariana Figueroa
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The U.S. Supreme Court, as seen on Oct. 9, 2024. (Jane Norman/States Newsroom)

WASHINGTON (States Newsroom) — The U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday overwhelmingly upheld a Biden-era regulation governing kits that can be assembled into untraceable firearms, also known as ghost guns.

In the 7-2 decision, Justice Neil Gorsuch, the author of the opinion, said that the regulation from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is “not inconsistent” with the Gun Control Act of 1968. The rule was written during the administration of former President Joe Biden.

Dissenting were Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas.

In his opinion, Gorsuch said that the Gun Control Act allows the ATF to regulate “any weapon . . . which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive.”

“Neither the rule of lenity nor constitutional avoidance applies where, as here, the statute’s text, context, and structure make clear it reaches some weapon parts kits and unfinished frames or receivers,” he continued.

The case, Bondi v. VanDerStok, renamed to reflect Trump administration Attorney General Pam Bondi, raised the question before the high court as to whether a 2022 rule issued by ATF overstepped in expanding the definition of “firearms” to include “ghost guns” under a federal firearms law.

The nine justices initially heard oral arguments back in October.

Ghost guns are firearms without serial numbers. The kits can easily be bought online and quickly assembled in parts. Law enforcement officials use serial numbers to track guns that are used in crimes and have raised concerns about how ghost guns can impede investigations involving firearms.

The regulation that was challenged by gun advocacy groups did not ban ghost guns, but instead required manufacturers of those firearm kits or parts to add a serial number to the products, as well as conduct background checks on potential buyers.

The ATF rule also clarified those kits are considered covered by the 1968 Gun Control Act under the definition of a “firearm.”

This is a developing report that will be updated.

Big Ridge Fire grows in Rabun County; Carolina wildfires force evacuations

By
Joy Purcell
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A view of the Big Ridge Fire from Rabun Bald. The fire has consumed nearly 500 acres since it began on March 22, 2025, in the Sarah's Creek area of the Warwoman Wildlife Management Area near Clayton. (Photo courtesy U.S. Forest Service)

Dozens of wildland firefighters continue battling a blaze burning out of control in the Warwoman Wildlife Management Area near Clayton.

According to the U.S. Forest Service, the Big Ridge Fire “grew significantly” on Tuesday due to strong winds and low humidity. The fire, which began March 22 in the Sarah’s Creek area about 10 miles northeast of Clayton, has consumed nearly 500 acres. It crossed the initial control lines on the northeast side and reached the headwaters of Addie Branch.

While the fire’s southern and western sides are contained by control lines, crews are actively constructing lines to the north and east to try and limit further spread.

“On the north side of the fire, a line has been constructed from Rabun Bald to Saltrock Gap. If conditions allow, a strategic firing operation will occur along this line today to secure this flank of the fire,” a news release from the Forest Service states.

Wildland crews work to contain the Big Ridge Fire burning in the Warwoman Wildlife Management Area near Clayton, Georgia. (U.S. Forest Service)

Crews are establishing additional control lines from Rabun Bald eastward toward Coldspring Gap. Secondary lines are being built from Rabun Bald to Beegum Gap, then east to Hale Ridge Road (Forest Service Road 7).

A Red Flag Warning remains in effect Wednesday, with low humidity and gusty winds creating dangerous fire conditions. While the rest of the week will be dry, less severe winds could bring firefighters some welcome relief since the next chance of rain isn’t until Sunday.

Currently, no evacuations are in place. However, the Sarah’s Creek Campground, Sarah’s Creek Road, and Bartram Trail from Warwoman Dell to Hale Ridge Road remain closed. Significant smoke from the Big Ridge Fire is expected to be visible throughout the day and may settle in the Warwoman Valley at night.

Carolina wildfires

The Table Rock Fire in Pickens County, South Carolina, has burned over 2,300 acres. The fire has forced the closure of Table Rock State Park and surrounding trails. (Photo courtesy South Carolina Forestry Commission)

Meanwhile, wildfires that flared up over the weekend in neighboring South Carolina have burned over 3,000 acres combined.

According to state Forestry Commission spokeswoman Michelle Johnson, emergency officials are reporting no injuries and no home damage from the Table Rock Fire in Pickens County and the Persimmon Ridge Fire in Greenville County so far.

South Carolina officials have ordered mandatory evacuations in dozens of neighborhoods as fire crews work to contain the fires, which officials have determined were human-caused.

Evacuations are also underway in parts of North Carolina, where several fires are out of control. The Black Cove and Deep Woods fires have burned nearly 6,000 acres combined, and forestry officials report they are not contained.

According to the North Carolina Forest Service, the Fish Hook fire has consumed around 200 acres and is 72% contained.

Statewide burn bans remain in place across the Carolinas until further notice.

Baldwin’s fire chief and assistant chief resign

By
Staff Report
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(Daniel Purcell/NowHabersham.com)

Fire Chief Joe Roy and Assistant Fire Chief Shaun Benfield have resigned from their positions at the City of Baldwin Fire Department.

A press release issued Wednesday says their resignations were effective on Tuesday, March 26.

The release states that Captain Ross Jackson will step in as the city’s interim fire chief while the city conducts a “thorough search” for new department leadership.

“The City of Baldwin Fire Department will remain fully operational through the transition,” says Baldwin Public Information Officer John Dills. “Habersham and Banks Counties have reaffirmed our comprehensive automatic aid agreements to provide additional coverage.”

Baldwin Mayor Stephanie Almagno stated, “While we are thankful for their years of service to the city, they will be difficult to replace. We are looking forward to a new era in the Baldwin Fire Department and continuing to provide the exceptional quality of service our team is known for.”

The city did not give a reason for the resignations.

Georgia Power rolls out new long-term plan, red carpet for more data centers

By
Stanley Dunlap
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Sierra Club of Georgia community activist Keyanna Jones Moore leads a group of demonstrators outside Tuesday’s Georgia Public Service Commission meeting about Georgia Power’s controversial energy roadmap. (Stanley Dunlap/Georgia Recorder)

ATLANTA (Georgia Recorder) — A panel of Georgia Power representatives testified for eight hours at Tuesday’s Public Service Commission hearing about its controversial roadmap for meeting large-scale, data center-driven energy demands over the next decade.

The executives testified that the investor-owned utility’s 2025 Integrated Resource Plan would provide the right balance of energy capacity to meet the rising demands of a growing Georgia, largely based on the projected boom in data centers supporting emerging internet technologies and their voracious appetite for electricity.

The company’s long-term plan forecasts 8,000 megawatts of growth through early 2030s, while citing the potential of 40,000 megawatts of industrial interest in the state.

Georgia Power officials have defended the company against criticism of past overly optimistic projections that could burden ratepayers and concerns about the financial and environmental impact of large data facilities.

In its 10-year plan, Georgia Power proposes a resource mix that is reliable, economical, and diverse enough to meet the growing needs of its 2.8 million customers, including plans to build 1,000 miles of transmission lines, adding renewable solar storage facilities, and continued investments in nuclear, natural gas, coal, and hydropower plants.

A company official said it will continue to use informed judgment and historical trends to adapt to load forecasts.

A Georgia Power industrial pipeline tracking includes companies that have shown interest and companies that have committed, which occurs after a customer selects the state’s largest supplier as their electric service provider.

A PSC public interest attorney asked how much experience Georgia Power’s staff has working with data centers customers, particularly large facilities that will operate artificial intelligence.

Georgia Power’s director of resource and policy planning, Jeff Grubb, said the company has forecast industrial energy demands successfully for years.

“It doesn’t mean that every industry that we model has had somebody from Georgia Power working there,” Grubb said. “We work with those customers. We learn from those customers.”

The company said its economic development staff can promote Georgia to prospective commercial and industrial customers.

“There’s a reason why these data centers are here in Georgia,” said Michael Robinson, vice president of grid transformation for Georgia Power. “It’s the infrastructure, it’s reliability. It’s the affordability in Georgia.”

Protesters decry Georgia Power plan

Georgia lawmakers, clean energy and consumer advocacy groups have warned against state regulators signing off on Georgia Power’s repeated utility bill increases after the Southern Company subsidiary stuck ratepayers with new electricity base rates, overrun costs associated with building two new Vogtle nuclear power plant units, coal ash cleanup and other expenses.

On Tuesday, Emory University freshman Ava Trachtenberg criticized the utility’s plan to the five-member PSC panel of elected Republicans before gathering outside to protest with her fellow Sunrise club members along with Georgia Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club of Georgia.

“The Georgia Public Service Commission has been prioritizing Georgia Power’s profits over future health of the communities, over people’s bills for so many years,” Trachtenberg said. “This is our opportunity to speak to them, to let them know that we’re paying attention. It’s really, really important that they know that young people are here. We’re paying attention, and we want clean, affordable energy.”

Georgia Power officials have said new PSC rules for data centers will prevent residential and commercial customers from being billed for power consumed by facilities that rely on enormous amounts of energy day and night.

The new rules include a provision allowing Georgia Power to require data center companies to put up front-end collateral for energy costs over the lifetime of the contract for electricity supply. Georgia Power officials testified Tuesday that the process the company uses to forecast commercial and industrial demand factors in how much the company requests to increase its energy capacity in its resource plans.

Georgia Power executives were grilled about the transparency of filings, including new generic expansion plans that lack details about specific projects.

A company official said Georgia Power adhered to a PSC rule protecting confidential information, which was put in place to prevent competitors from gaining advantages.

Jennifer Whitfield, a senior attorney representing Georgia Interfaith Power and Light and Southface Institute, requested that state regulators require Georgia Power to provide more information to consumer and green energy advocates, including fuel types and the megawattage for the proposed projects.

“This will allow intervenors to assess what the resources look like. Right now, 95% of the need to fill capacity beyond 2031 is not made available to the intervenors,” Whitfield said.

Commissioner Tricia Pridemore said that the terms of the future plan were set in a previous filing and were being withheld for good reasons this year.

“I don’t want to see us do anything that exposes pricing or anything that would jeopardize the all-source RFP,” Pridemore said.

In the recent filing, the utility company proposes extending the lifetime of coal-fired units at Plant Bowen and Plant Scherer by converting them to co-firing natural gas generation by 2030. The updated electricity generation could delay the retirement of the plants until early 2039, according to Georgia Power.

Whitfield questioned why Georgia Power staff failed to study the effects of retiring fossil fuel units at Bowen and Scherer on the economy and the environment.

Georgia Power officials said in 2022 that it was no longer economically feasible to maintain the coal-fired units.

Grubb said that because the expected energy demand increased this time, it was in the best interest of customers to continue operating the units.

Road to close in downtown Gainesville through Friday

By
Staff Report
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The city of Gainesville (gainesville.org)

Bradford Street, between Washington Street and Brenau Avenue, is temporarily closed due to ongoing building construction in downtown Gainesville. The closure will remain in effect until Friday, March 28.

Despite the road closure, businesses in the area remain open and accessible. Motorists traveling through the area are advised to exercise caution, follow posted detour signs, and remain alert for construction workers, flaggers and equipment.

The FFA chapter of North Hall Middle takes first place in state competition

By
Nora Almazan
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Pictured, left to right, Lily Reese Truelove, Liz Deaton, Brooke Padgett, Maggie Moose (North Hall Middle School)

The talented North Hall Middle School’s FFA chapter members, Liz Deaton, Maggie Moose, Brooke Padgett, and Lily Reese Truelove, recently earned first place in the Dairy Cattle Evaluation Career Development Event (CDE) at the state level. This highly competitive event occurs yearly, and North Hall Middle has participated in it since 2016.

The team traveled to Covington last Friday to compete in this prestigious event, where they successfully outperformed 35 other teams from across Georgia.

Maggie Moose took 2nd place overall. (North Hall Middle School)

In addition to the team’s remarkable achievement, Maggie Moose stood out individually by placing 2nd overall out of 137 competitors, a testament to her hard work and dedication.

The Dairy Cattle Evaluation CDE is a challenging contest that tests participants’ skills in evaluating and placing live dairy cattle based on their overall quality and productivity in the dairy industry. Contestants must also provide oral reasons for their placings and take a written exam on dairy management. The competition is a valuable opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in the field of agriculture and develop important skills that will serve them throughout their careers.

The North Hall Middle FFA Dairy Cattle Evaluation team’s first-place win is a testament to their commitment and expertise in the agricultural field. Their hard work will be celebrated during the Georgia FFA State Convention at the end of April, where they will receive recognition and awards for their outstanding achievement.

Political hardball got Georgia tort damage limits passed. Now comes the collateral damage.

By
Maya Homan
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FILE PHOTO - State Rep. Vance Smith, a Pine Mountain Republican, was ousted from his position as CEO of the Harris County Chamber of Commerce during a Friday afternoon Zoom call. He tearfully recounted his dismissal during a speech in the House chamber Tuesday. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

ATLANTA (Georgia Recorder) — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s big 2025 legislative push to pass lawsuit damage limits is ready for his victory lap, but as the dust settles in the wake of Thursday’s razor-close House vote on Senate Bill 68, some legislators’ nerves are still frayed and one longtime lawmaker lost his job over his vote.

Lawmakers in both parties are beginning to feel the fallout of their votes on the pivotal bill aimed at overhauling Georgia’s civil litigation system as party leaders and powerful business interests take note of who toed the party line and who crossed it. In the House, where the bill passed along razor-thin margins, eight Republicans broke ranks to vote against the legislation and three Democrats joined the majority to secure the bill’s passage. In the final Senate vote, two Democrats crossed party lines to vote in support of the legislation, and one Republican opposed it.

State Rep. Vance Smith, a Pine Mountain Republican, was ousted from his position as CEO of the Harris County Chamber of Commerce during a Friday afternoon Zoom call. He tearfully recounted his dismissal during a speech in the House chamber Tuesday.

Though SB 68 successfully cleared both chambers, Kemp repeatedly twisted arms throughout the session to coerce lawmakers into passing the bill. At the start of the 2025 session, he had pledged to drag lawmakers back to Atlanta for a special session if “meaningful, impactful” changes were not made to the state’s civil justice system by the end of the regular session on April 4. A key lieutenant also threatened the governor would use his substantial campaign war chest to back primary challengers to any Republicans who opposed the bill, and ahead of the final Senate vote, Republicans briefly paused floor proceedings to assemble for a caucus meeting attended by Kemp.

Republicans in both chambers might have to wait until the 2026 election season to see if Kemp makes good on his promise.

Smith, whose west Georgia district spans parts of Harris, Muscogee and Troup counties, first joined the Georgia Legislature in 1993. He has long been a reliable member of the Republican caucus, making his vote on Thursday somewhat unexpected. In an emotional speech on the House floor Tuesday morning, Smith made veiled references to the fallout from his decision.

“A lot of things have transpired since last week when we left,” he said, thanking his family and members of the house for their support over the past few days. He also tearfully quoted the Bible verse Jeremiah 29:11, “‘for I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

Though Smith expressed surprise over the Harris County Chamber of Commerce’s abrupt decision to fire him, he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he did not regret his vote. The Georgia Chamber of Commerce and local chambers formed a powerful alliance in the fight to get a bill passed intended to limit jury payouts for medical malpractice and negligent property owners.

House leaders also addressed the strong reactions to Thursday’s vote, with House Majority Caucus Whip James Burchett, a Waycross Republican who sponsored the bill in the House, urging Georgia residents to “hold legislators accountable for their votes under the Gold Dome at the ballot box – not by taking aim at their ability to support their families.”

“Numerous members have suffered threats to their livelihoods and independence because of their votes on Senate Bill 68,” Burchett said in a statement issued Tuesday afternoon. “These retaliations undermine the strengths of our citizen legislature, which depends on members voting their conscience after fully weighing the issues and determining what they think is best for their communities and our state.”

Democrats are also grappling with the aftermath of SB 68’s passage, with House minority leaders sharply criticizing the members of their caucus who broke ranks to vote for the legislation.

“We were sent here to make hard decisions, and hard decisions are hard because you have to look people in the eye that you disappoint,” said Rep. Stacey Evans, an Atlanta Democrat, shortly after the bill passed in the House. “Those victims won’t be here every day, but the chamber will be here. Insurance companies will be here, and I think too many of my colleagues were worried about walking down the hall and looking them in the eye and not worried about the people back home.”

Rep. Mack Jackson, a Sandersville Democrat who is Black with a history of splitting from his party on pivotal votes, criticized the House Democratic caucus in a speech on the House floor last Friday, comparing an unnamed Democratic colleague to segregation-era figures like Bull Connor and George Wallace.

“I realized that somewhere in her subconscious mind, she thought that she had bought me and my freedom to choose,” he said, referencing a conversation in which the unnamed colleague brought up her contribution to his most recent re-election campaign. “I gave her her money back because I don’t want anyone to think that they own me and can talk down to me as if I’m a child.”

He also described other conversations with fellow Democrats who expressed disappointment with his vote and requested that their campaign contributions be refunded.

“I’ll refund everything because I don’t ever want anybody to think that they own me,” he said.

Rep. Michelle Au, a Johns Creek Democrat and doctor who also voted in favor of the bill, took to social media to explain her decision, posting a two-page statement on the social media site X (formerly Twitter).

“It is by no means a perfect bill,” Au wrote. “There are elements I object to. But on balance I think it protects our fair, equal access for all to our justice system while hopefully addressing the ways our litigation environment has become untenable for many.”

The second part of Kemp’s tort package, Senate Bill 69 that would increase regulations around third-party lawsuit financing, passed the House Rules Subcommittee on Lawsuit Reform Tuesday evening. It is expected to come up for a vote on the House floor later this week.

Hall County Fire Rescue honors bravery and service at annual awards

By
Staff Report
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Hall County Fire Engineer Diane Woodall is presented the Nolan Spear Firefighter of the Year Award during the department's annual awards banquet on Friday, March 21, 2025. (Photo by Hall County Fire Rescue)

Hall County Fire Rescue honored its outstanding personnel at its annual awards banquet on Friday, March 21, at Free Chapel. The evening was dedicated to recognizing those who displayed exceptional bravery, leadership, and service in the past year.

Nominations submitted by co-workers showcased the awardees’ actions on specific calls. Awards were presented to individuals from various departments, including civilian employees, recruits, EMTs, firefighters, paramedics, and officers.

The 2024 ‘Of the Year’ award recipients are:

Civilian Employee of the Year: Training Administrative Secretary Xan Williams

Xan Williams (Photo by Hall County Fire Rescue)

Recruit of the Year: Firefighter/EMT Beth Flichman

FF/EMT Beth Flichman (Photo by Hall County Fire Rescue)

EMT of the Year: Firefighter/EMT David LaPorte

FF/EMT David LaPorte (Photo by Hall County Fire Rescue)

‘Tim Peebles’ Paramedic of the Year: Sergeant Carson Fields

Sergeant Carson Fields (Photo by Hall County Fire Rescue)

Officer of the Year: Lt. Brian Gregory

Lt. Brian Gregory (Photo by Hall County Fire Rescue)

And Hall County Fire Engineer Diane Woodall (pictured at top) was awarded the Nolan Spear Firefighter of the Year Award.

The evening was also dedicated to thanking the first responders’ families for their support and sacrifice. The event was made possible by the generosity of community donors, with special thanks to Free Chapel for hosting, Johnny’s BBQ for catering, Donald Sother for emceeing, keynote speaker Lanier Swafford, and all those who donated to the event.

Habersham departments pitch $32.5M budget ‘wish list’

By
Jerry Neace
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EMS/Fire Services Director Jeff Adams gives his budget presentation to the Habersham County Commissioners during the first day of budget review meetings on Tuesday, March 25. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)

The Habersham County Commission heard from 16 department heads and constitutional officers during the first day of the county’s budget review meetings scheduled this week.

Those department heads and constitutional officers presented their “wish list” of proposed annual and capital budgets as well as personnel requests.

The presentations on Tuesday with budget requests in the amount of $32,535,711. An average increase of approximately 7.6% over last year. The 2025 budget for the same departments was $30,225,711.

During the presentations, some of the departments did not have a revenue sheet to demonstrate prior year revenues. Many of those departments do not create a revenue stream or are reimbursed by the state. The district attorney’s office receives some state funding as well as funding from the four counties in the Mountain Judicial Circuit. The same is true for the public defender’s office. The magistrate court, state court, and solicitor receive some state funds as well. Neither the tax commissioner’s office nor the tax assessor’s office generate revenue for their departments.

On the other hand, all departments presented an expense budget, as well as a capital improvement budget, with some requesting additional personnel.

The day’s presentation saw an average increase of 7.6% over the 2025 budget. However, some projected budgets were skewed when compared to last year’s budget due to changes that were made during this year’s budget process.

Sheriff’s Office

One example of that change was for the Sheriff’s Office HEAT program. It saw a 153% increase in the 2026 proposed budget when compared to the prior year. The reason for that is two of the HEAT officers were included in the Sheriff’s Office budget for 2025. For 2026, they have been placed appropriately in the HEAT program budget for 2026, resulting in the increase.

Sheriff Robin Krockum told the commissioners that the HEAT program is paid for primarily through grant funding and he anticipated that the grant would be increased this year. He also informed the commission that the Sheriff’s Office and the Jail were currently fully staffed at this time.

Parks & Recreation

Another department that saw a significant increase was the Fitness Center, formerly known as Total Fitness. It saw an increase of 55%. However, the program has grown significantly with revenue to match expenses.

The budget numbers only reflect operating budgets, not capital budgets or additional personnel. (Source: NowHabersham.com)

The Parks and Recreation Department saw an increase of 45% over the previous year’s budget. Commissioner Bruce Harkness questioned the increase. The Interim Finance Director Kiani Holden explained part of the department’s increase. “I think that we also have been under budgeting part time for a couple of years. So we tried to adjust that somewhat this year,” she said.

Commissioner Kelly Woodall also questioned the increase. Holden told Woodall that when gymnastics privatized, the Rec Department picked up two positions. However, one of the positions left and will not be refilled. She further explained that one of the issues with salaries was due to the part time budget not being properly calculated. She told Woodall that the commission would have to do a budget amendment for that line item for 2025.

Another reason for the increase is because the department has added additional programs this year. One such program is a summer camp for kids this year. The new programs will provide additional revenue. Interim Director Terry Lannon told the commissioners that he and his staff were reviewing all of the programs offered by the Rec Department to ensure fees were covering costs as much as possible.

Personnel requests

As far as personnel requests, only four departments have requested additional personnel so far. The Senior Center requested that a part-time driver be moved to full-time at a cost of just over $29,000. The Solicitor’s Office requested one additional investigator. However, that position could either be part time or full time. The cost for the full time investigator would be just over $83,000 and the part time investigator would be just over $53,000.

EMS/Fire Services Jeff Adams requested three additional firefighter/EMT positions for Station 15, at a cost of just over $181,000 He requested that six firefighter/EMT’s be reclassified as Sergeants and be placed at Stations 14 and 17 at a cost of $78,744. Adams also requested a Fire Marshal position at a cost of $70,708.

For the emergency services side of the department, Adams requested three additional paramedic/firefighters to be located at Station 15 as well. The cost for the additional paramedics is just over $234,000.

The additional firefighters and paramedics would open up Station 15 as a full time fire station in the Macedonia area on New Liberty Road.

Interim County Manager Tim Sims explained to the commissioners that more work would be done to the budget going forward. “This is before our total amounts have been received and before our cuts,” he said. Holden echoed his statement. “These are the requests from the department. I have not touched these yet with scissors,” she said. Holden told the commission that was the next step.

The second day of budget review meetings will begin Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. in the Commission Meeting Room at the Administration Building at 130 Jacob’s Way in Clarkesville.

Brown leaves Jefferson for Dade County

By
Brian Carter
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In a surprising development, Jefferson coach Greg Brown stepped down from his post with the Lady Dragons for the Dade County head coaching position.

The Lady Dragons have enjoyed immense success in Brown’s tenure. Since the 2018-19 season, he’s guided the program to the playoffs each season, including four straight Elite 8 runs from 2018-19 through 2021-22. Each season has included either a tournament or regular season region title, and 22-plus wins in all but one of those years.

Brown racked a total of 155 wins while at Jefferson, and has 304 for his career as a head coach (Northwest Whitfield prior to Jefferson). Dade County went 5-21 this past season, though the team has a solid core with just one senior graduating.

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