Christopher Eugene Starnes (Hall County Sheriff's Office)
A stolen vehicle investigation led to a drug trafficking arrest over the weekend in Hall County. Deputies apprehended Christopher Eugene Starnes, 43, Sunday evening after K9 units tracked him down east of Gillsville.
Starnes had approximately 13 ounces (369 grams) of methamphetamine in his possession at the time of his arrest, a sheriff’s office spokesperson says. The drugs have an estimated street value of $28,000.
Investigators say Starnes fled on foot from a residence in the 4000 block of Whipporwill Road as deputies were recovering a stolen 1994 Ford Ranger pickup and license plate. The truck was reported stolen Saturday from a residence on Timber Ridge Road.
Investigators charged Starnes with felony theft by receiving for the truck and misdemeanor theft by receiving for the license plate.
Additionally, investigators charged Starnes with felony theft by receiving in connection with a 2020 Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle stolen from a Noah Martin Road residence last October. Deputies recovered the motorcycle earlier this month from some woods north of Gainesville.
As of Tuesday afternoon, March 29, Starnes remained in the Hall County Jail without bond.
The sheriff’s office says the investigation is continuing.
Firefighters check for hotspots around a burned out camper on Paradise Valley Road in White County on March 24, 2023. (White County Public Safety)
Fire investigators are trying to determine what caused a camper to go up in flames in White County. The fire on March 24 destroyed the camper and threatened several nearby structures.
On Friday afternoon, White County and Cleveland firefighters responded to a report of a structure fire in the area of Paradise Valley Road and Robinson Road, northwest of Cleveland. They arrived to find a fifth-wheel camper destroyed by fire and still burning.
Firefighters acted quickly to prevent the blaze from spreading to four nearby structures, public safety officials say
White County EMS evaluated one patient who sustained a superficial injury.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office and White County Fire Services are investigating.
The Atlanta Braves' 2023 'City Connect' jersey by Nike is an homage to baseball legend Hank Aaron. (Credit: MLB)
The Atlanta Braves debuted a new jersey this week in a splashy video featuring actor and rapper Chris “Ludacris” Bridges. The uniform’s Nike design is a throwback to the 1970s heyday of baseball legend Henry ‘Hank’ Aaron, whose wife Billye makes a heartfelt cameo in the short film.
In 1974, Hank Aaron surpassed 715 runs to break the record held by Babe Ruth, and the 2023 Braves jersey recalls classic photos of Aaron wearing the club’s white uniform with blue accents that set off its signature red “A” logo.
“The Atlanta Braves are proud to honor Hank Aaron with our City Connect uniforms,” Atlanta Braves President and CEO Derek Schiller said in a statement. “We are thankful to Nike who collaborated with us on the designs as we recognized the impact that Hank continues to have on our organization while also celebrating the role of the Braves in our community.”
City Connect is a brand of alternative uniforms created by Nike to celebrate the history of Major League Baseball.
According to MLB, the clothing includes design elements with symbolic meanings:
“The A” emblazoned on the chest of the over the heart of the jersey is synonymous with Atlanta’s nickname and a visual representation of the Braves’ battle “For The A.”
The inside collar features a “715” graphic in a font reminiscent of the scoreboard lights at Atlanta Stadium (later named Atlanta Fulton County Stadium) after Hank Aaron’s record-breaking 715th home run on April 8, 1974.
The Art Deco-esque crown design on the sleeves is a nod to Aaron as the Home Run King. The new ribbing pattern on the peak of the crown mirrors the Presidential Medal of Freedom bestowed upon Aaron by President George W. Bush.
The cap’s classic “A” logo bears the colors of the 1974 uniform.
“Keep Swinging #44” is embroidered on green fabric on the cap’s under-bill.
Braves fans can purchase the new jersey and cap at official Braves stores online and in person beginning April 1. A portion of proceeds from the collection purchased at the Braves Clubhouse Store at Truist Park will benefit the Henry Louis Aaron Fund.
Several community events are also planned around the launch of the new line, including a volunteer project to clean up Rosa L. Burney Park on April 5 and a Fantatics’ wiffle ball game in Piedmont Park on April 8.
The Atlanta Braves will sport the new gear for the first time on April 8, when they take on the San Diego Padres at Truist Field.
The team will wear the special jersey at every Saturday home game during the 2023 season.
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This article appears on Now Habersham through a news partnership with GPB News
About $135 million in the bipartisan infrastructure will go toward installing electric vehicle charging stations in Georgia. Funding was also included for electric school buses. (Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder)
(GA Recorder) — Legislators in Georgia overwhelmingly approved legislation Monday that would change the way electric vehicle owners pay to recharge their cars and trucks to a similar system.
Senate Bill 146, which establishes guidelines to regulate and tax electric vehicle charging stations in a similar way as retail fuel pumps, was passed by the Senate and House with nearly unanimous support.
The second part of the bill refers to the permitting, inspections, and regulations of charging stations to be enforced by the Department of Agriculture.
If Gov. Brian Kemp signs off on the plan, the bill would allow convenience stores and other businesses to charge the electricity by the kilowatt hour instead of the amount of time it takes for electric vehicle drivers to charge their batteries.
However, supporters of Georgia’s quest to become a leader in the EV market complain the legislation heaps additional taxes on top of the $217 annual registration fee paid by owners of electric vehicles to help pay for road and bridge maintenance.
Several lawmakers objected to the measure, saying it will force an unreasonable tax on drivers who use free public charging stations. And, they say, companies that might offer the service as a benefit to their environmentally friendly employees also would bear an unfair cost. According to the legislation, electric charging at business and public places will be taxed at a rate that corresponds to the price of gas per gallon.
Atlanta Democratic Sen. Jason Esteves said he appreciated the hard work lawmakers performed to get a grasp on the electric vehicle industry. But he underscored the importance of not making Georgia one of the most expensive places to own and drive EVs in the nation.
If the pending legislation becomes law, Georgia will become the fifth state to implement a kilowatt-hour fee.
“The intent to target out-of-state drivers driving to Georgia makes perfect sense, but it would also impact residents who live here and who are helping to make Georgia the EV capital of the country,” Esteves said.
A months-long joint legislative study committee led to this year’s electric vehicle legislation in the Senate, and a similar House bill as the state prepares to receive a $135 million federal grant to install charging stations off interstate exits in rural communities. The study panel last year heard recommendations from utility executives, state regulators, convenience store owners, and electric vehicle drivers on the best way to regulate a market that now accounts for just 1% of vehicles on the road but could grow to 10% by 2030.
The Republican sponsors of the twin proposals pointed out that the state should be better able to determine whether the annual EV registration fee is the best method for maintaining roads and bridges by the time the new law goes into effect in 2025.
As part of a multistate pilot program, the state is evaluating the feasibility of replacing the fee with a system based on the number of miles driven.
The new rules also ensure the safety of the equipment and the reliability that people are being charged appropriately, Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch said.
“As time goes on and inflation rises, the dollar value of $1 will continue to decrease,” said Gooch, who sponsored the Senate bill. “So if the gasoline tax goes up to 35 cents per gallon, then that rate would also go up with the electric cars.
“What we’re trying to do is to make sure that the (person) driving a gasoline-powered car is paying the same rate as the person that is driving an electric car,” Gooch said.
The Georgia Department of Transportation will be installing all-way stops at two major intersections in Franklin County.
The intersection at State Route (SR) 51 and SR 326 will be a four way stop with flashing stop signs.
The intersection of SR 8 and SR 145 will be a three-way stop with a flashing stop sign.
GTG Traffic Signals has been awarded the contracts and anticipates mid-April to be the start date for the traffic pattern changes.
Leading up to the switch, the Georgia DOT will install lighted message boards around both intersections. The messages will notify the general public about the brand new all-stop condition. These boards should remain for several weeks after the switch.
State transportation officials ask drivers who travel these areas to remain alert to the traffic pattern changes.
Discover authentic Chinese culture as Shen Yun Performing Arts comes to Downtown Athens on Tuesday, April 11, at The Classic Center Theatre.
Shen Yun is a show brimming with themes of courage, hope, and triumph of good over evil. At the performance’s core is classical Chinese dance. This is the same richly expressive art form once performed before emperors in palace halls. Today, it has evolved into one of the most comprehensive dance systems in the world.
The performance features:
Breathtaking dances
Gorgeous costumes
A live orchestra
And dynamic backdrops.
Shen Yun performs in 150 cities worldwide. The company debuts a new lineup of original music and choreography each year, ranging from classical Chinese dance to traditional ethnic and folk-dance styles to theatrical depictions of beloved stories.
Shen Yun, a New York-based company, was founded in 2006 by a group of Chinese artists. Their dream was to create a renaissance for mankind’s most ancient heritage.
Shen Yun is a must-see for dance and history lovers.
Tickets range from $75.00-$200.00, plus applicable fees and are on sale now at ClassicCenter.com/ShenYun.
Habersham Central High swimmer Joshua Martinez signs his letter of intent to swim for Piedmont University.
Habersham Central High School swimmer Joshua Martinez has signed with the Piedmont University swim team. Martinez signed his letter of intent on Friday, March 24, in a ceremony at the high school.
An HCHS varsity swim team member, Martinez has competed in four state championships. He’s ranked 179th in the state.
Family members were with Martinez to celebrate with him on signing day.
“We are very proud of the amazing person he has become,” says his mother and coach, Mirella Martinez.
Pictured with Joshua are, from left, coach Annette Cochran, Joshua’s mom and coach Mirella Martinez, and coach Samantha Collins.
First responders will conduct a motor vehicle accident simulation at White County High School on Wednesday morning, March 29.
“This mock exercise is an opportunity for students to see the effects of drunk driving as well as getting a glimpse of first responder rescue efforts,” says White County Public Safety spokesperson Bryce Barrett.
The exercise will start at 9:20 a.m. Wednesday and will be conducted in the lower level of the high school parking lot on U.S. 129 north of Cleveland.
There will be multiple emergency vehicles on the school campus for this event and Barrett says they want to public to be aware that this is a mock crash.
Police in Tennessee have released surveillance video taken at the school where a deadly shooting took place on March 27. Six victims died in the shooting, including three students and three adults.
The suspect, 28-year-old Audrey Hale, was shot and killed by police. Officials say Hale was a former student at the school.
Suspect shot way into school
The surveillance video released by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) shows the suspect driving onto campus, then shooting her way into the building through double glass doors.
Covenant School shooting suspect Audrey Hale (Source: Metropolitan Nashville Police Department)
Alarms can be seen flashing inside the building as the suspect, dressed in camouflage pants and wearing a red cap, makes her way down the hall into the church office. After 14 seconds, the shooter emerges from the office and continues walking through the school hallways.
The video does not show anyone being shot, but it does give a frightening view of the moments leading up to the school’s terror.
Hale was armed with two “assault-style” weapons as well as a handgun, authorities said. At least two of them were believed to have been obtained legally in the Nashville area, according to MNPD Police Chief John Drake.
The initial 911 call about the shooting went out at 10:13 a.m. Monday. Authorities say Hale was firing through a second-floor window as police cars arrived.
“It was on the second floor, in a common area, that a team of officers encountered Hale shooting. Two members of an officer team fired on Hale and fatally wounded her,” states a police department press release.
Those two officers have been identified as Officer Rex Englebert, a four-year MNPD veteran, and Officer Michael Collazo, a nine-year MNPD veteran.
According to the timeline laid out by police, 14 minutes passed from the time the initial 911 call went out and the time Hale was shot dead.
Police say writings recovered from Hale revealed that her attack was “calculated and planned.” Hale had multiple rounds of ammunition and was “prepared for a confrontation with law enforcement,” Chief Drake said. He said the shooter had maps drawn of the school and its entry points.
Investigators executed a search warrant at Hale’s home and say they seized a sawed-off shotgun, a second shotgun, and other evidence.
Mayor John Cooper said Nashville was joining the “dreaded, long list” of cities and towns that have suffered school shootings.
“My heart goes out to the families of the victims,” Cooper said. “Our entire city stands with you.”
Tennessee state Rep. Bob Freeman, whose district includes the school, said it was “an unimaginable tragedy for the victims, all the children, families, teachers, staff and my entire community,” NPR reports.
State Sen. Jeff Yarbro, who represents Nashville, said on Twitter: “My heart breaks for the families at Covenant. As a parent, I both ache for them and rage with them that fear of this kind of tragedy is just accepted as just part of what it means to raise kids these days.”
A tragic day here in Nashville. My heart breaks for the families at Covenant. As a parent, I both ache for them and rage with them that fear of this kind of tragedy is just accepted as just part of what it means to raise kids these days. https://t.co/X0H1pUWzDf
President Biden called the Nashville shooting “sick” and “heartbreaking,” saying it was “a family’s worst nightmare.”
“We have to do more to stop gun violence. It’s ripping our communities apart, ripping at the very soul of our nation,” he said at the White House.
The President ordered flags at the White House and all federal buildings be flown at half-staff through March 31 to honor the victims of the school shooting.
According to the national Gun Violence Archive website, there have been 130 mass shootings in the U.S. this year.
From left, Emma Bushong, Sarah Kate Esquivel and Katherine Dix grieve for the victims of the Covenant School shooting during a community vigil at Belmont United Methodist Church Monday. (Photo: John Partipilo)
(Tennessee Lookout) — Three children and three adult staff members are dead after a mass shooting event Monday at The Covenant School, a private Christian school in Nashville’s Green Hills neighborhood.
Among the victims are three 9-year-old children: Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney. The adult victims are Cynthia Peak, 61, Mike Hill, 61, and Katherine Koonce, 60. Police said Peak was a substitute teacher, Hill a custodian, and Koonce, Covenant’s head of school.
The shooter, identified as 28-year-old Nashville native Audrey Elizabeth Hale, was killed by responding officers, according to police. Hale is believed to be a former student of the school, Nashville Police Chief John Drake said. Police said they have found a “manifesto,” a map detailing entry points into the school and other materials. Local and federal law enforcement on Monday afternoon continued a search of the Nashville home Hale shared with parents and also said they have found no prior criminal history.
Drake said Hale may have had plans to target another school.
“It’s a very unfortunate situation,” Drake said of the tragic loss of life. He was moved to tears to see children being ushered out of the building following the shooting, he said. “My heart goes out to the families of all six” victims.
All of the victims’ families have been notified, according to police. Families of students and staff gathered at a nearby church that served as a reunification center.
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden on Monday morning also addressed the tragedy at separate public appearances.
“It’s sick … heartbreaking … a family’s worst nightmare” the president said. He called on Congress to pass an assault weapons ban and urged students and teachers to seek out counseling.
“We stand with Nashville in prayer,” Jill Biden said.
The shooting took place Monday morning inside the school where 209 students and 42 staff are present on a typical day. The school, operated by Covenant Presbyterian Church, is located in one of Nashville’s most affluent neighborhoods.
Nashville Police responded to a report of an active shooter incident made at 10:13 a.m., said Don Aaron, a police department spokesman.
At 10:27 a.m. the shooter was killed by two of a five-member police team that responded, he said.
Metro Nashville Police Department spokesperson Don Aaron, left, and Nashville Fire Department spokesperson Kendra Loney, right. (Photo: John Partipilo)
Aaron said the shooter was armed with at least two assault rifles and a handgun. Hale entered by shooting through a side door at the school and went to the second floor, police said. The shooting took place on the second floor, a “lobby-type area,” not inside a classroom.
Drake said they believe two of the weapons were legally obtained in Nashville.
One officer suffered a hand injury from cut glass, Aaron said. “That is the only other injury I’m aware of,” he added.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center confirmed students from the pre-K-6th grade school on Burton Hills Road were transported to Monroe Carrell Jr. Children’s Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
The private school had no onsite school resource officer, Aaron said.
The school did have security cameras. “There is video from the school we are viewing now to try and learn exactly how all of this happened,” Aaron said.
Nashville Police plan to release video of officers confronting the shooter.
A nearby vehicle yielded clues to law enforcement about the shooter’s identity, the police chief said.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation will handle the officer-involved shooting, while Nashville police will field the larger investigation, law enforcement officials said during a 2 p.m. briefing.
“It’s a horrible, senseless tragedy, and we will be here working with our partners to get through this,” said TBI Director David Rausch.
The Senate and House planned to gavel in Monday evening and then adjourn out of respect for the victims.
Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Nashville, issued a statement on the incident, which took place in his South Nashville statehouse district.
“This is an unimaginable tragedy for the victims, all the children, families, teachers, staff, and my entire community,” Freeman said.
“I live around the corner from Covenant and pass by it often. I have friends who attend both church and school there. I have also visited the church in the past. It tears my heart apart to see this. I’m praying for my neighborhood, my city, and my state,” he said. “It is time to pull together and provide all the love and support that we can to those affected by this terrible catastrophe. It is time for serious action.”
A Metro Nashville Police vehicle heading to the Covenant School in Nashville, Tenn., on March 27, 2023 (Photo: John Partipilo)
State Sen. Heidi Campbell, a Nashville Democrat, spent the day at Covenant School reuniting parents with students in the church sanctuary. The school is also located in her district.
“No parent should have to go through this. This has been the worst waiting room I’ve ever sat in,” Campbell said.
Campbell, in part, blames what she calls a “diseased gun culture” for the shooting deaths. Tennessee passed a permitless carry law in July 2021, allowing anyone except felons, two-time DUI offenders, and stalkers to carry handguns without a state permit process.
The law applies to residents 21 and older, but bills are moving this year in the General Assembly to lower the age limit to 18.
Campbell said when she spoke out against the legislation two years ago on the Senate floor, the bill’s sponsor told her, “this is the price we pay for freedom.”
“This has nothing to do with freedom. This is the antithesis of freedom. These parents are sitting here with minutes turning into hours waiting to find out what’s happened to their children,” Campbell said.
Gov. Bill Lee said on Twitter early Monday afternoon he was monitoring the situation.
“As we continue to respond, please join us in praying for the school, congregation, and Nashville community,” Lee said.
The House Republican Caucus issued a statement calling the shooting deaths “a horrific act of violence carried out by a disturbed individual.”
The Covenant School, where seven people, including the shooter, died in a mass shooting in Nashville, Tenn. on Monday March 27, 2023. (Photo: John Partipilo)
(Tennessee Lookout) — A day after an armed shooter stalked the hallways of The Covenant School in Nashville, killing three children and three adults, the law enforcement investigation continues.
Among the victims were three nine-year-old children: Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney. The adults were Cynthia Peak, 61, a substitute teacher; Mike Hill, age 61, a custodian; and Covenant Head of Schools Katherine Koonce, 60.
The shooter was identified as a former student Audrey Elizabeth Hale, 28, killed by two Metro Nashville Police Officers who responded to the scene. Hale was armed with at least two assault rifles and a handgun, police said.
People gathered Monday night in vigils across the city to mourn the tragic losses; President Joe Biden ordered U.S. flags at half staff until sunset on Friday and the Metro Nashville Police Department began releasing new details of the events last Monday. There are more public gatherings planned for today. The Legislature reconvenes and law enforcement are expected release further details.
Monday marks Nashville’s third mass shooting in six years
The violence wrought Monday inside an elementary school is Nashville’s third mass shooting in six years.
In 2018, four people were killed when an armed gunman entered a south Nashville Waffle House restaurant in the early hours of a Sunday morning.
Burnette Chapel Church of Christ was targeted by a mass shooter in 2017. Monday night, the church shared its support for Covenant School on Facebook. (screen capture)
The victims were Joe Perez Jr., Taurean Sanderlin, Akilah Dasilva and DeEbony Groves.
Travis Reinking, the shooter, was sentenced to life in prison for the murders last year.
In 2017, an armed gunman opened fire at the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Nashville, killing one person and injuring six others who had gathered their for Sunday services.
The shooter, Emanuel Kidega Samson, was sentenced to life in prison in 2019.
On Monday, the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ posted a message of sorrow on Facebook.
Police release surveillance video
Police on Monday night released a portion of school surveillance video showing Hale driving a Honda Fit through the school’s parking, past a playground of children on swing sets, before parking, shooting down a double door into the schools and roaming empty hallways.
Police reported that Hall fired through a window at arriving police officers. Two members of an officer team fired on Hale in a second floor common area. Those officers were identified as Officer Rex Englebert, a 4-year Metro Nashville Police Department veteran, and Officer Michael Collazo, a 9-year-veteran.
Police said they have also found writings from Hale, including a manifesto and detailed maps of the building housing the school, in searches of a home and car connected to Hale.
Hale fired a number of rounds inside the Covenant Church/School building. She was armed with these 3 guns and significant ammunition. pic.twitter.com/3LYOU2r0sh
Late Monday, the school also released a statement expressing heartbreak and asking for privacy:
Our community is heartbroken. We are grieving tremendous loss and are in shock coming out of the terror that shattered our school and church. We are focused on loving our students, our families, our faculty and staff and beginning the process of healing.
Law enforcement is conducting its investigation, and while we understand there is a lot of interest and there will be a lot of discussion about and speculation surrounding what happened, we will continue to prioritize the well-being of our community.
We appreciate the outpouring of support we have received, and we are tremendously grateful to the first responders who acted quickly to protect our students, faculty and staff.
We ask for privacy as our community grapples with this terrible tragedy – for our students, parents, faculty and staff.
Report: Shooter texted friend shortly before shooting
WTVF in Nashville also reported late Monday that the shooter had texted a former basketball teammate in the minutes before the shooting.
At 9:57 a.m., a former middle school basketball teammate of Audrey Hale looked at her phone to find a message from The Covenant School shooter on Instagram. https://t.co/JbJET68hj0
