Drive-Thru Flu Clinic Sept. 26 in Habersham County

By

-

September 25, 2023

drive-through-flu-shots — County health departments across Northeast Georgia will hold drive-thru flu shot clinics from late September to mid-November. (NowHabersham.com)

Flu season is here, and many people are choosing to get their annual flu shot. To make those shots more convenient, public health departments across Northeast Georgia are conducting Drive-Thru Flu Clinics from now through early November.

The Habersham County Health Department will conduct its drive-thru clinic on Tuesday, Sept. 26. Clinic hours will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the health department at 185 Scoggins Drive in Demorest.

For safety and convenience, participants will remain in their vehicles at all times.

No appointment is necessary, and health departments accept most commercial insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, for no co-pay.

Self-pay pricing is available for those who are uninsured or underinsured.

The drive-thru clinics started last week in Hart County and will be held at public health departments around Northeast Georgia through early November. See the schedule below for times and locations.

Authorities seize over $90,000 in drugs, make 2 arrests after traffic stop

By

Staff Report

-

September 25, 2023

Erika Nava-Caballero and Sergio Rodriguez-Rodriguez, both of Gainesville, are charged with drug trafficking. (Hall County Sheriff's Office)

Authorities arrested two alleged drug traffickers and seized over $90,000 worth of methamphetamine following a recent DUI stop in Gainesville.

The Hall County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, FBI Safe Streets Task Force, and Gainesville Police Department carried out the operation.

The investigation began on September 13 when Gainesville police stopped a vehicle driven by Erika Laura Nava-Caballero on I-985 North at the Exit 20 off-ramp. During the stop, authorities say they seized approximately 172 grams of methamphetamine, a handgun, and multiple fake IDs.

Police arrested and charged the 40-year-old Gainesville woman with trafficking and possession of meth with intent to distribute. They also charged her with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, DUI, and driving without a license.

The following day, agents executed a search warrant at Nava-Caballero’s residence in the 3000 block of Heatherwood Drive. Authorities say they seized an additional 1,067 grams of methamphetamine and 18 grams of fentanyl from inside the home.

While carrying out the search, agents arrested 19-year-old Sergio Rodriguez-Rodriguez, who also lives at the residence. They charged him with trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl, as well as possession of both drugs with intent to distribute.

Nava-Caballero faces the same charges in addition to offenses from the previous day.

According to the sheriff’s office, the combined street value of the methamphetamine seized from the house and vehicle is approximately $86,730. Investigators estimate the street value of the seized fentanyl at $3,600.

Nava-Caballero and Rodriguez-Rodriguez each remain in the Hall County Jail without bond.

Teen injured in Athens drive-by shooting

By

Joy Purcell

-

September 25, 2023

Athens-Clarke County police are asking for help to identify suspects in a weekend drive-by shooting that injured a teenager.

Police say someone fired multiple shots at a residence in the 1900 block of Winterville Road just after midnight on Saturday, September 23. A 16-year-old girl inside the residence was struck in the hand.

“The injury was minor and did not require medical transport,” says Athens-Clarke County Police Department spokesperson Lt. Jody Thompson.

She says investigating officers located approximately 31 spent shell casings from two different calibers at the scene.

Two bullet holes, believed to be associated with this incident, were found at a neighboring residence. The residence was not occupied at the time of the shooting, Thompson says.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Lieutenant Barnett at 762-400-7318 or at [email protected].

Brief pursuit leads to East Point man’s arrest on numerous charges

By

Joy Purcell

-

September 25, 2023

JAIL_INMATE_BOWERS_DOMINQUE_ISSAC_FRONT_09252023_110708_988_AM — Dominque Issac Bowers (Habersham County Sheriff's Office)

An East Point, Georgia, man was arrested following a brief pursuit on Highway 365 Friday night, September 22.

A Habersham County Sheriff’s Office HEAT Unit spotted a Nissan Xterra that was the subject of a Hall County lookout for reckless driving.

“The deputy attempted to stop the vehicle while it was traveling north on GA 365 between GA 385 and Iron Ore Road when the driver of that vehicle failed to stop,” says Habersham County Public Information Officer Rob Moore.

According to the arrest warrant, the suspect, 37-year-old Dominque Issac Bowers, was traveling 95 mph in a 65 mph speed zone. When he refused to stop, the deputy pursued him.

The approximate 2-mile chase ended just south of Double Bridge Road when the deputy conducted a PIT maneuver on the Nissan and took Bowers into custody.

Deputies charged Bowers with fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, tampering with evidence, and speeding. They also charged him with violating the hands-free law, failure to maintain lane, failure to signal a lane change or turn, following too closely, no proof of insurance, and reckless driving.

Moore says Bowers “tossed something out the window” of the vehicle during the pursuit, leading to the tampering with evidence charge. A judge set his bond at $14,650. Bowers remained in jail on Monday afternoon, September 25.

“There was no damage to any county property as a result of the pursuit or PIT maneuver,” says Moore.

Student car burns on NGTC campus

By

Joy Purcell

-

September 25, 2023

There were some tense moments during the lunch hour on the North Georgia Technical College campus in Clarkesville on Monday. A student’s car caught fire near Ramsey Hunter Dining Hall, causing concerns that it might spread to nearby vehicles.

Students looked on as the smoke grew thick and pieces of the burning engine fell to the ground.

A campus police officer tried to put out the flames with a fire extinguisher. He pushed back the flames but was unable to reach the source of the fire under the hood.

A campus police officer pushes back the flames with a fire extinguisher while waiting on firefighters to arrive. (NowHabersham.com)

The officer’s quick actions did give at least one nearby vehicle owner time to move their vehicle.

The officer fought the fire until Clarkesville firefighters arrived.

Firefighters doused the flames with a high-pressure water hose. They wedged open the hood with crowbars and axes to gain access to the burning engine. Several minutes after they arrived, the fire was out.

Students and staff look on as firefighters attack the car fire with a high-pressure water hose. The fire broke out before noon took about twenty minutes to get under control. (NowHabersham.com)

A college spokesperson says a “bad battery” apparently started the fire.

The student’s car appeared totaled, but the fire did not cause any other property damage, says NGTC Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Marketing Amy Hulsey.

Habersham County Emergency Services sent a fire engine and several personnel to assist at the scene.

Low income families’ food benefits at risk in a government shutdown, White House says

By

Ariana Figueroa

-

September 25, 2023

NEGA Food Bank — Food banks like this one in Northeast Georgia may have to help more families fight food insecurity if the government shuts down. (Margie Williamson/NowHabersham.com)

WASHINGTON (GA Recorder) — As Congress barrels toward a partial government shutdown, the White House Monday warned that a program that helps millions of low income families afford healthy food could see substantial cuts.

The White House released a state-by-state breakdown, estimating that nearly 7 million people who rely on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, also known as WIC, could be at risk of losing funds to purchase select food and receive vouchers for vegetables and fruit.

The program provides financial support for those who are low income and pregnant or nursing, as well as for children up to 5 years old.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said during a Monday White House briefing that WIC recipients could feel the impact of the shutdown within days.

“Millions of those moms, (babies) and young children would see a lack of nutrition assistance,” he said.

Vilsack, Iowa’s former governor, said some states have leftover WIC benefits and “could extend (WIC) for a week or so.”

“The vast majority of WIC participants would see an immediate reduction and elimination of those benefits, which means the nutrition assistance that’s provided would not be available,” he said.

In Georgia, about 221,000 WIC recipients could lose their benefits.

Additionally, new eligible participants could face a backlog.

“Without the urgent investment of additional funds, state WIC offices could soon be forced to consider waiting lists for prospective participants — a drastic step not seen in nearly 30 years,” Kate Franken, board chair of the National WIC Association, which is the non-profit advocacy arm of WIC, said in a statement.

The impending shutdown comes after President Joe Biden made a deal with Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy earlier this year to raise the debt ceiling. That deal set maximum spending levels for the next fiscal year.

However, none of the 12 appropriations bills has been passed by the House, and a handful of far-right Republicans are pushing for steeper cuts, even if it means a partial government shutdown.

“House Republicans have turned their backs on the bipartisan budget deal that a large majority of them voted for just a few months ago and proposed a continuing resolution (CR) that makes devastating cuts to programs that millions of hardworking Americans count on,” the White House said in a press release.

A continuing resolution, or CR, is regularly used to keep the government funded for weeks or a couple of months while the House and Senate finish work on the 12 annual spending bills.

Without a CR by Saturday, the end of the fiscal year, a partial shutdown will occur and programs that have discretionary funding, like WIC, will lapse.

Funding for WIC is not mandatory spending, meaning the program won’t be automatically funded regardless of a government shutdown. It’s funded through the Agriculture Appropriations Bill, which has not been passed by Congress.

The White House criticized the Agriculture appropriations bill the House passed out of its committee that did not include the supplemental funding the Biden administration requested.

“Without the Administration’s funding request, states could soon be forced to institute waiting lists for WIC, causing mothers and children to lose access to the vital nutrition assistance,” the White House said.

WIC funding is distributed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service to states through a formula. The share of eligible people who participate in WIC can vary between states — for example, California, Massachusetts, and Minnesota have a coverage rate for WIC by over 60%.

Broadus Eugene “Gene” Nichols

By

Now Habersham

-

September 25, 2023

Broadus Eugene “Gene” Nichols, age 75, of Lula, Georgia, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, September 24, 2023, following a sudden illness.

Mr. Nichols was born on July 22, 1948, in Habersham County, Georgia, to the late Henry Grady Nichols and Christine Miles Nichols. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, S.T. “Nick” Nichols, James Ray Nichols, Barbara Poole, Richard Nichols, Wayne Nichols, Virginia Evans, Martha Nichols, and Faye Nichols.

Gene was a member of Rock Springs Baptist Church, where he was a dedicated member of the choir and his Sunday School Class. In his early years, Gene enjoyed pitching horseshoes and later enjoyed working in his yard. Most of all, Gene loved to spend time with his family.

Survivors include his loving wife of almost 53 years, Mavis Sheridan Nichols, of Lula; daughter and son-in-law, Julie and Chad Payne, of Adel; grandson, Austin Payne, of Adel; brother, David Nichols, of Commerce; numerous nieces and nephews as well as close family friends.

Memorial Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 27, 2023, at the Rock Springs Baptist Church, with Rev. Bart McMillan and Rev. Chad Payne officiating.

The family will receive friends from 12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. at the church prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Rock Springs Baptist Church, 747 Rock Springs Road, Lula, Georgia 30554

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, South Chapel, at 1370 Industrial Boulevard, Baldwin, Georgia 30511. Telephone: 706-778-7123.

Gainesville man arrested on marijuana charges

By

Staff Report

-

September 25, 2023

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Hall County Sheriff’s Office investigators recently arrested a Gainesville man after seizing nearly five pounds of marijuana from a residence on Wildwood Drive.

Investigators took Israel Delarosa, 35, into custody after executing a search warrant at his residence on Wednesday, September 20.

In addition to the marijuana, which had an estimated street value of $8,000, investigators say they seized approximately $36,000 in U.S. currency.

Delarosa faces felony charges of felony possession of marijuana and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

He remains in the Hall County Jail with no bond.

Sherry Ann Edwards

By

Now Habersham

-

September 24, 2023

Sherry Ann Edwards, age 88, of Doraville, Georgia passed peacefully on Friday, September 22, 2023.

Mrs. Edwards was born on March 16, 1935, in Forsyth County, Georgia to the late Walter T. Bagley, Jr. and Vivian Barnett Bagley.

Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Pat Edwards, of Comer; daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Butch Farrell, of Clarkesville; grandchildren, Laura, Rachel, Jeremy, Allison, Gary, and Tasha; great-grandchildren, Ashlyn, Grayson, Rylie, Avery, Ashlyn, Avery, Luke, Emily, Anslee-Paige, Brookelynn, Kendall, Isabelle, Collin, Elliana, Julliet, Ayden, and Vivian.

No Formal Services are planned at this time.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Sherry’s Memory to Alzheimer’s Association,

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Whitfield Funeral Home & Crematory, South Chapel, at 1370 Industrial Boulevard, Baldwin, Georgia 30511. Telephone: 706-778-7123.

Authorities ask for public’s help to locate missing man

By

Staff Report

-

September 24, 2023

The Hall County Sheriff’s Office has issued a lookout for a 22-year-old man who’s been missing for nearly three weeks.

Jose Navarette Jr. was last seen by family on the afternoon of September 4, 2023, in the 3900 block of Willow Wind Drive in Gainesville.

Jose was last seen wearing ripped jeans and a t-shirt with a backpack and a skateboard, officials say.

He is five-feet-nine inches tall, weighs 176 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes.

If you see him or have information that will help find him, please contact Hall County Sheriff’s Investigator Phillips at 770-536-5206.

Those watershed moments

By

Lynn Walker Gendusa

-

September 24, 2023

I am writing to you from a room that needs refreshing. The paint color is not horrible, but some of it is gone. I would get right to work if I had a bucket of good latex. However, applying putty to fill many nail holes and climbing a ladder from a hospital bed is problematic. When one is imprisoned and chained to hoses, wires, and whatever that thing is above me, forget doing anything. Trust me, I tried escaping, but sirens blared, and police dressed in scrubs quickly cuffed me. Darn.

Everything was just fine Saturday morning after a great night’s sleep. My day was planned to the minute. First, I would exercise with the girls in my garage gym, change bed linens, do laundry, and wash my hair. I couldn’t wait till the evening when I was to meet old friends at a charity benefit.

However, I never returned to the house to accomplish a thing. I, instead, made it to the back of an ambulance with a handsome young paramedic named Ian.

The last minutes of our exercise routines usually require mat work. After doing a few without a problem, I suddenly became faint. Couldn’t get my head together to save my life. I would almost pass out whenever the girls tried to sit me up. My friends and husband grabbed a blood pressure cuff to check the numbers.

I don’t have high blood pressure, but for some strange unknown reason, it decided to blast to the moon for a visit with ET. Trust me, rocket rides are not for the faint of heart… literally.

So, Ian and his ambulance, a fire truck, and a few strange men and women found themselves at my gym. Poor things lifted me onto a gurney, and I pray they have a stash of Ben Gay in their homes.

Uh-Oh! Now, folks were coming at me with needles, machines, dye, and other contraptions I cannot explain. I learned quickly that a patient defying the norm requires many tests. I now have sincere empathy for the mighty lab rat.

Doctor after doctor asked the same questions; they seemed more bumfuzzled each time. One brilliant one said it could be related to “old age.” He is now in the room beside me, suffering from well-placed punches.

“Sorry ’bout that, Doctor Young’un.”

No, it doesn’t appear I will be “moving on up to the deluxe apartment in the sky” just yet, but who knows when our show will be canceled. I understand now that most things we go through have a purpose.

Life is full of watershed moments, and this could be one. I have always been a strong caretaker, and the thought of needing aid was unthinkable. Nope, it will never happen; I was invincible. Why else would I keep lifting weights?

To tell me to slow down is perfectly ridiculous, but for a minute or two, the scrub police say I must. Darn.

But, alas, I realize I am the same as everyone else. We can fall, fail, fumble, or faint at any moment. And when we do, we need help, even when we hate to ask.

I know life does not last forever, but when there are wires, tubes, and peeling paint around you, it puts an exclamation point on it. So, we must live it to the fullest while we are well enough to do so. And never take the air we breathe or the people we love for granted.

Appreciation and empathy are born from experiences and mainly from the bad ones. I now have an intense desire to free a lab rat.

As I stare at the ceiling tiles, I hope at the end of my life’s journey, I find someone’s life was touched by my words, been forgiven by those I hurt, and tossed a dose of kindness into the air. Most of all, I pray that God smiles when He greets me at the deluxe apartment in the sky.

So, this whole experience humbles me to remember that I am but a speck on earth, like everyone else who exists for a moment in time. We must live, love, and learn till the end and make our hours count for the good of all.

“How do you know what is happening tomorrow? For the length of our lives is as uncertain as the morning fog… now you see it; soon it is gone.” James 4:14

_______

Lynn Walker Gendusa is a Georgia-based author and columnist. Her first book, “It’s All Write with Me! Essays from My Heart,” was published in 2018. Her latest book is “Southern Comfort: Stories of Family, Friendship, Fiery Trials, and Faith.” For more inspirational stories, click here. You may reach Lynn at www.lynngendusa.com.

Jerome’s late game winner lifts lions past Millsaps 1-0

By

Piedmont University Sports Information

-

September 24, 2023

The Piedmont women’s soccer team emerged victorious in a hard-fought battle, 1-0, over Millsaps on Sunday afternoon in Mississippi.

Sophomore Savannah Jerome played the hero, finding the back of the net in the 81st minute to break the scoreless tie, and the Lions held on in the final stretch to come home with a victory.

The game was a defensive struggle in the first half, with neither side able to generate much in the way of offense. The Majors held a 4-2 shot advantage over the Lions in the opening 45 minutes, but Piedmont goalkeeper Maggie Leger made three saves to keep the game tied at 0-0.

The second half saw both sides generate a greater frequency of chances offensively. However, in the final minutes, a Piedmont cross found its way to sophomore Peyton Gates on the back post and the sophomore’s shot careened off the left post. With the Millsaps keeper displaced, the bounce found Jerome with a wide open net and the sophomore converted for the only goal Piedmont needed.

The win gives the Lions three wins in their past four contests, with two of them being shutouts.

Up next, Piedmont will return to Demorest and to conference play, hosting Agnes Scott this Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.

TURNING POINT:
– Jerome’s goal in the final minutes broke the scoreless tie and gave Piedmont its second road win of the season.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
– Jerome’s game-winner marks her first goal of 2023 after scoring three times in her freshman season.
– Leger earned the start in goal and delivered a shutout with seven saves.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
– Piedmont held a 9-8 overall shot advantage for the game, including a 7-4 edge in the second half.