Home Blog Page 830

Mary Lois Bentley Cook

By
Now Habersham
-

Mary Lois Bentley Cook, age 97, of Alto, passed away on Thursday, March 16, 2023.

Born on August 16, 1925, in the Leaf Community of White County, she was a daughter of the late Hubert Lee Bentley and Daisy Mae Humphries Bentley. Mrs. Cook retired from Chicopee/Ethicon and was a member of Mud Creek Baptist Church. In her spare time, she enjoyed sewing, cross stitching, needlepoint, gardening, reading, shopping, and traveling (especially to the beach).

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Homer E. Cook; brother, Grady Bentley; sisters, Fannie Ruth Wade and Mildred Holbrook.

Survivors include daughter and son-in-law Patricia Cook Gerrin (Steve) of Alto; son and daughter-in-law Jerry Cook (Kim) of Alto; grandchildren Julie Gerrin Parker (Chad) of Homer, Stephanie Gerrin Shubert (Brent) of Cornelia, Brandy Cook Anderson (Matt) of Clarkesville, and Jacob Pitts of Alto; great-grandchildren, Emily Parker, and Melody Parker both of Homer, Zach Shubert, Addie Shubert, and Sydney Shubert all of Cornelia, Harold Anderson, and Ely Anderson both of Clarkesville, Charlie Pitts, Jackson Pitts, and Trey Smith all of Mt. Airy, and Hazel Bea Pitts of Wisconsin; numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services are scheduled for 3 pm on Sunday, March 19, 2023, in the Chapel of McGahee-Griffin & Stewart, with Rev. Kenneth McEntire and Rev. Chad Parker officiating. Interment will follow in Mud Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, with Rev. Ray Turpin officiating.

The family will receive friends from 2 – 4 and 6 – 8 pm on Saturday, March 18, 2023, at the funeral home.

An online guest register is available and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinandstewart.com.

McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home of Cornelia, Georgia (706/778-8668) is in charge of arrangements.

John Walton Davis

By
Now Habersham
-

John Walton Davis, age 79 of Baldwin, passed away on March 15, 2023.

Born on October 10, 1943, he was the son of the late Thomas Walton Davis and Christine Lolly Motes Davis. Mr. Davis retired from Henkel Chemical Company, where he was a customer service supervisor for 20 years, and previously worked at American Hospital Supply for 12 years. He was a former chairman of the Banks County Democratic Party and a deacon of First Presbyterian Church in Ocala, Florida. In his spare time, John was an artist, a collector of local lore, and a competitive card player who enjoyed playing golf and tennis. He loved his family and loved all kinds of animals, particularly cows, dogs, cats, and guineas.

Survivors include his loving wife, Margaret Tester Davis of Baldwin; daughters, Elizabeth Davis McWhinnie of Erlanger, Kentucky, and Katherine Davis Rinck of Lebanon, Ohio; grandchildren, Ellie, Emmy, and Jake McWhinnie, Maggie, Charlie, and Lucy Rinck; sisters, Pauline Anderson of Norcross, and Salina Durham of Baldwin; and numerous nieces and nephews.

No formal services will be held.

An online guest register is available and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinandstewart.com.

McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home of Cornelia, Georgia (706/778-8668) is in charge of arrangements.

Judge sentences Toccoa man to 60 years for shootings

By
Joy Purcell
-

A Toccoa man has been sentenced to 60 years in prison plus 10 years probation for shooting three people. Judge Chan Caudell handed down the sentence Wednesday to Antuan Demetrius Prather after a three-day trial in Stephens County Superior Court.

The jury convicted the 32-year-old Prather of three counts of aggravated assault and two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. The charges stemmed from an August 1, 2021, shooting spree that began outside the Marathon gas station on Big A Road in Toccoa.

According to the indictment and police reports, Prather fired a 9mm handgun at Andrew McKnight of Jefferson, who was sitting in his vehicle outside the gas station. A bullet struck McKnight in the leg. Prather fled the scene.

An hour later, five miles away, authorities say Prather shot Karanjit Singh and a man by the last name of Harpol (no first name), who were working at Tony’s General Store on U.S. Highway 23. Soon after, Toccoa police arrested Prather.

Mountain Judicial Chief Assistant District Attorney Suzanne Boykin and Assistant DA Rebecca James prosecuted the case. The GBI, Toccoa Police Department, and Stephens County Sheriff’s Office investigated the shootings.

“Mr. Prather shot three innocent people with whom he had no prior relationship,” says Boynkin. “These shootings were random and in the middle of the day on a Sunday afternoon. Thank goodness this was an aggravated assault prosecution rather than a murder case.”

Toccoa Police Chief Jimmy Mize applauded the verdict, saying the DA did “an awesome job” prosecuting the case. He also commended the officers who investigated.

“I hope this also gives the victims some peace,” says Mize.

The District Attorney’s Office says Prather will be eligible for parole as determined by the Georgia Department of Corrections.

Alto man arrested after allegedly torching car

By
Staff Report
-
State fire investigators say John McConnell tried to torch his car by lighting up the gas tank in an incident on March 10 in south Habersham County. (State Fire Marshal's Office)

A 51-year-old Alto man remains jailed for arson after allegedly setting fire to his car.

Deputies arrested John Michael McConnell on March 10 in south Habersham County. At approximately 5:12 p.m. that day, 911 received a report of a vehicle fire at the intersection of Crane Mill Road and Cedar Creek Drive.

When officers arrived, they saw McConnell walking away from the 2012 Nissan Altima that was sitting disabled and burning near the entrance to Cedar Creek subdivision. Authorities who stopped and questioned him reported smelling a “strong odor” of alcohol.

According to the incident report, McConnell refused to admit he was driving. He reportedly told officers a woman he picked up to give a ride to was driving and said he did not know her name. When the vehicle broke down, McConnell said he called his wife to pick him up.

Authorities say they found the car key in McConnell’s pocket and his shoes in the driver’s side floorboard. Deputies also reported finding a cold, open container of beer in the car.

John McConnell (Habersham County Sheriff’s Office)

“No witnesses saw this mysterious female,” the report states.

The investigating deputy concluded McConnell was driving. When he refused a field sobriety test, the deputy arrested him.

According to the State Fire Marshal’s Office, McConnell tried to destroy the vehicle by placing a shirt in the car’s fuel spout and igniting it.

In addition to second-degree arson, authorities charged McConnell with DUI, pedestrian under the influence of alcohol or drugs, open container, and improper stopping.

A judge denied bond for McConnell. As of March 16, he remained in the Habersham County Detention Center.

One person dead, 5 injured in Athens wreck

By
Staff Report
-
fatal accident

Athens-Clarke County police are investigating an apparent wrong-way crash that killed one person and injured five others Wednesday night.

On March 15, at approximately 9:27 p.m., the Athens-Clarke County Police Department responded to a two-vehicle crash at Lexington Road and Oak Drive. The initial investigation indicates that a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu, driven by Jesse Garner, 67, of Athens, was traveling westbound on Lexington in an eastbound lane.

At the intersection of Lexington Road and Oak Drive, the Malibu collided head-on with a 2016 Nissan Rogue driven by a 23-year-old male.

Garner died at the scene.

EMS transported the Nissan’s five occupants to a local hospital. Police say all of them are expected to survive.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information regarding the crash is asked to contact Senior Police Officer Trotter at 762-400-7362 or by email at [email protected].

This is the fourth fatal motor vehicle crash in Athens-Clarke County this year.

Controlled burns continue across northern Georgia

By
Staff Report
-
The U.S. Forest Service conducts controlled burns to reduce wildfire hazards and improve wildlife habitat. (file photo - USFS)

If you see smoke in the skies above Northeast Georgia today, don’t be alarmed. Forest service personnel are conducting controlled burns across the region.

Just north of Cleveland, there’s a controlled burn in the area of Chambers Road and Pink Mountain. Georgia Forestry officials say there will be lots of smoke generated by this fire.

Another controlled burn is happening south of Tallulah Gorge State Park in Habersham County. U.S. Forest Service fire managers are clearing debris and dried vegetation from the 177-acre Tugalo Village area.

And in Union County, crews are burning 1,523 acres in the Cliff Ridge area 10 miles southwest of Blairsville.

Georgia DAs debate need for prosecutor oversight

By
Stanley Dunlap
-

(GA Recorder) — Georgia district attorneys faced off Wednesday over a proposed state-appointed commission that could remove prosecutors from office for abuse of power or negligence in pursuing some cases.

Douglas County and Coweta County district attorneys were among the witnesses to testify Wednesday at a two-hour meeting before a House Judiciary subcommittee that is expected to vote in the coming days on high-stakes legislation that would establish a prosecutor oversight commission.

The supporters of Senate Bill 92 say that the oversight commission would close a loophole that allows prosecutors to engage in inappropriate conduct that might not rise to the level of a crime, but that should lead to their removal. The commission would follow the standards set by the Judicial Qualifications Commission of Georgia, which investigates complaints filed against judges and recommends sanctions when warranted.

Cataula Republican Sen. Randy Robertson said he’s worked on Senate Bill 92 for the last couple of years after witnessing several examples of district attorneys failing to provide justice to victims of crimes and the accused.

“If we put our superior court judges, if we put our state courts, if we put those others that sit on the bench and carry such immense power; if we put them under the microscope of the JQC, I do not see the problem of putting prosecuting attorneys under some level of scrutiny,” Robertson said.

Douglas County District Attorney Dalia Racin said the legislation is a GOP-led attempt to try to reign in power after a greater number of minority women were elected as district attorneys in 2020.

Racin said that district attorneys and solicitors general in Georgia would be much more at risk of losing their jobs for exercising their discretion based on limited resources and a community’s best interest. District attorneys can be forced to go before a disciplinary board if anyone files a complaint for any reason under the legislation.

“I like to call this provision the shut up and dribble portion of the bill where somehow, we are held to the same standard of judges, who are umpires,” Racin said. “They’re refs who are supposed to be unbiased. We are advocates. We stand up for our community. We sometimes have to take the position of unpopular opinions.”

Among the district attorneys who do approve of an oversight commission is Coweta Judicial Circuit District Attorney Herb Cranford, who said he believes the bill will better ensure prosecutors are held accountable for misbehavior, even though it could be weaponized in a partisan manner.

He said the bill still gives district attorneys the discretion to determine which cases they will pursue but that individual decisions should be made rather than blanket decisions.

The Senate bill is co-sponsored by Sen. Bill Cowsert, an Athens Republican. Athens District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez has said publicly that she will not pursue charges against people accused of low level drug offenses.

A similar House bill is also in the Senate chamber, although the process of appointing board members differs. Dallas Republican Rep. Joseph Gullett’s House Bill 231 would require the Georgia Supreme Court to appoint five-member investigation panels and three-member hearing panels that will determine disciplinary consequences for prosecutors who decline to prosecute low-level offenses.

In Robertson’s bill, the panels would be appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the House, and legislators, a system he said is in line with many other state commissions. A former judge and at least one district attorney would be among the five members of the investigative panel.

The bill’s fiscal note estimates it will cost $1.5 million to create the commission.

“I think what we’ve done is we have built a good structure that builds confidence in citizens back into the prosecutorial side and takes out the politics as much as we possibly can,” Robertson said.

Lula man charged with attempted murder in Gainesville road rage incident

By
Staff Report
-
Steven Dallas Cooper (Hall County Sheriff's Office)

A 26-year-old Lula man faces attempted murder and other charges following a road rage incident Wednesday morning in Gainesville.

Police say Steven Dallas Cooper and another driver, Michael Charles Gabriel, were involved in a road rage incident that started on 365 north of Gainesville.

“The aggression continued between the parties involved until Cooper began firing a handgun at YMCA Drive,” says Gainesville Police Lt. Kevin Holbrook.

According to Holbrook, Cooper fired multiple shots, striking Gabriel and 65-year-old Paula Blackwell who was traveling on the highway. She was hospitalized in critical condition.

“This poor lady was just in the wrong place at the wrong time,” says Holbrook.

Police investigate the scene of the shooting on GA 365 South at YMCA Drive Wednesday morning, March 15, 2023. (Gainesville PD)

After the shooting, Gabriel drove approximately three miles south to the Imaging Center on Jesse Jewell Parkway where he called 911. He sustained minor injuries.

Gainesville police took Cooper into custody at the scene of the shooting. Holbrook says there was a 2-year-old child in his vehicle.

Police charged Cooper with aggravated battery, criminal attempt to commit murder, criminal damage to property, reckless conduct and aggravated assault. He was booked at the Hall County Jail.

Police shut down GA 365 South near the YMCA across from Lanier Technical College while they investigated. Traffic was diverted until the road reopened shortly after 11 a.m. Wednesday.

Cleveland holds first public hearing on package store regulations

By
Dean Dyer, WRWH Radio
-
Commercial real estate agent David Shockley represents clients who own package stores in Athens and want to open one in Cleveland. (Dean Dyer/WRHW.com)

The City of Cleveland held the first of two public hearings on the adoption of regulations governing the retail sales of distilled spirits in the city.

City residents approved a referendum allowing package stores back in November.

During the hearing Monday night, Cleveland City Attorney Keith Whitaker gave an overview of the regulation. To be considered, a business must be located in an area that has been zoned for commercial use. Future liquor stores must be adjacent and include access to a state route or city street with at least three lanes of traffic, which can include a turn lane.

The regulations set a defined setback distance from schools, churches, and residents using property lines as a basis in most cases.

Only one license will be granted to a person, group, or entity with similar members, Whitaker said.

In establishing the regulations, the Cleveland City Council says it aims to combat the “undesirable” secondary effects of package sales, including crime, poor community conditions, depressed property values, and increased law enforcement costs.

The city set its fee for an annual license at $5,000. Cleveland is currently limiting the number of package stores in the city to three.

A second public hearing will be held on April 10th at 6:30 PM.

Habersham County Schools police car unveiled

By
Joy Purcell
-
(Facebook)

Less than 24 hours after the Habersham County Board of Education voted to appoint Habersham Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Murray Kogod as the Director of School Safety, photos surfaced online of the school system’s new police car.

Helton Graphics of Gainesville Tuesday posted photos of the vehicle on social media. The car, a 2015 Dodge Charger, was wrapped to read “Habersham County Schools Police.” It has the school system’s motto “Success for all students” and the logo of Kogod’s private nonprofit, G.A.S.R.O.E. on the rear driver’s side.

(Facebook)
(Facebook)

In a lengthy speech before the board of education Monday night, school superintendent Matthew Cooper downplayed the fact that, with Kogod’s hiring, the school system is revitalizing its police department. He emphasized the board was hiring a ‘safety director,’ a point he pressed in an interview Friday with Now Habersham.

“We do not want the focus to be on ‘chief of police’ – that’s not why we’re creating this position to have a chief of police – but we’ve researched it enough that if we want our safety director to carry a firearm, the best thing is to hire someone who has law enforcement training,” he told Now Habersham. “We need to be careful the emphasis is on the title of school safety.”

The new school police department vehicle has a county government tag on it. It’s unclear how and when the vehicle was purchased.

Kogod’s hiring was a foregone conclusion. On March 3, his official POST officer profile was updated, naming him Habersham County B.O.E. Police Chief, ten days before the school board voted.

Five other people applied for the job. None of them were interviewed, according to Cooper.

Mountain Voices to perform in concert March 17 at First Presbyterian Church of Cornelia

By
Joy Purcell
-

The Mountain Voices Community Chorus will present its annual spring concert at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 17 at the First Presbyterian Church of Cornelia.

This year’s theme is “I Will Lift My Voice and Sing.” The community choir will perform sacred and secular music, including songs about songs such as “Singin’ in the Rain” and “A Nightingale Sang in Barkley Square.”

Choir director Donna Bunn James says the concert’s theme is “all about the joy of singing.”

“It’s a lot of beautiful music, of course; some pieces you’ll recognize and some pieces you’ll just enjoy.”

Choir members began rehearsing for this week’s concert in January. Taylor Sexton is assistant directing, and Hunter Acker will accompany the choir on piano.

The concert is free. A love offering will be accepted.

16 years and counting

Mountain Voices is in its second decade of performing. Current members range in age from 14 years to their mid-70s. They travel from Habersham, Hall, Stephens, and Jackson counties to participate.

“Mountain Voices members have been blessed with wonderful friendships as well as the joy of making music together for sixteen years and more than 90 concerts,” says James founded the choir in the mid-2000s. “Some previous members of our group have moved away or passed on. Some members have been in almost every concert, and some are brand new to this concert!”

Anyone over the age of 14 is welcome to join; it doesn’t matter where they live.

“If they can make it to rehearsals, then they’re good to go!” says James.

This is the third year Mountain Voices has performed at Cornelia First Presbyterian. Previous concerts have been held at other venues throughout Habersham County. The Presbyterian church is located at 469 North Main Street in Cornelia.

Willie Ruth Stockton Mize

By
Now Habersham
-

Willie Ruth Stockton Mize, age 93, of Mount Airy, Georgia, took her heavenly flight home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 15, 2023.

Born in Stephens County, Georgia on April 15, 1929, she was a daughter of the late Elem Stockton & Clara Minyard Stockton. Willie Ruth retired from Piedmont Automotive after many years of faithful service. She loved going to yard sales and was a wonderful caregiver to people who needed help. Willie Ruth also loved spending time with her grandchildren. She was a member of Hazel Creek Baptist Church and was the last surviving member of her 1948 graduating class of Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Granville Eugene Mize; second husband, Frank Ledford; sisters, Vernell Mize & Betty Jean Allen; brothers-in-law, A.E. Mize, Jr., Cleve Allen, Jr., Martin Robinson, Swain Wood, & Ken Palmer; sisters-in-law, Wanda Stockton, Margaret Stockton, & Mildred Wood.

She is survived by her son, Kale Mize (Ouida) of Clarkesville, GA; granddaughter, Kendall Mize Thornton (Pete) of Murrells Inlet, SC; step-grandson, Adam Barron (Melissa) of Clarkesville, GA; step-granddaughter, Rebecca Barron of Sandy Springs, GA; brothers, Jimmy Stockton, Ed Stockton both of Demorest, GA; sisters, Margaret Dickerson of Rabun Gap, GA; Barbara Jo Robinson of Clayton, GA; special niece, Joan Burke Morris; great-grandchildren, Emma Barron, Drew Barron, Sterling Tinker, & Cosette Thornton; many nieces, nephews, & friends.

The family would like to thank her wonderful caregivers and fellow residents at Graceful Care Assisted Living Home. Willie Ruth loved and cared for each of them.

Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 18, 2023, at Hillside Memorial Chapel with Rev. Trent Smith & Rev. Billy Burrell officiating. Interment will follow the service at Hazel Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, with Rev. Kenneth McEntire officiating at the graveside.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, March 17, 2023.

An online guest registry is available for the Mize family at www.HillsideMemorialChapel.com.

Arrangements are in the care & professional direction of Hillside Memorial Chapel & Gardens of Clarkesville, Georgia. (706) 754-6256

1...829830831...2,568Page 830 of 2,568
© Copyright 2025 - Now Habersham