One person died when this doublewide mobile home in Madison County went up in flames on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022. (State Fire Marshal's Office photo)
State fire investigators are still trying to determine what caused a fatal fire in Danielsville over the weekend. One person was killed in the Sunday fire in a home on Shiloh Fort Lamar Road.
Firefighters were dispatched to the scene after a passing motorist reported the fire to Madison County authorities around 6 a.m. on Sunday, December 11.
(State Fire Marshal’s Office photo)
According to the State Fire Marshal’s Office, the 39-year-old doublewide mobile home was completely destroyed.
“The body of the victim has been sent to the GBI Crime Lab for autopsy and positive identification. The cause of the fire is under investigation, though no foul play is suspected at this time,” says Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office worked with the Shiloh Volunteer Fire Department and Madison County Sheriff’s Office on the case.
According to Commissioner King’s office, 95 people have died in fires in Georgia so far this year.
The Hall County Fire Marshall’s Office is investigating the cause of a fire that damaged a residence northwest of Gainesville.
At approximately 7:30 p.m. on December 15, Hall County Fire Rescue (HCFR) arrived to a single wide mobile home fire in the 5800 block of Saddle Club Road.
The fire was confined to one area of the residence, says HCFR spokesperson Kimberlie Ledsinger.
“Crews extinguished the fire quickly and found no one during their primary search,” she says.
The American Red Cross was notified to help the displaced family.
The Tallulah Falls upper school girls sing "Carol of the Bells" by Peter Wilhousky.
The Tallulah Falls School middle and upper school choral ensembles hosted the annual TFS Christmas Concert on Thursday, December 8.
With a standing-room-only audience, the vibe was cozy, festive, and inviting. Together, the ensembles sang enchanting, harmonious carols and entertaining renditions of holiday favorites.
Highlights of the night included “Mary Did You Know” by the 7th and 8th-grade choir; “Veni, Veni Emmanuel” performed by the upper school choir; and “White Christmas” performed by the upper school men’s choir.
“The students did a wonderful job showing the audience all we’ve been working on this semester,” said upper school chorus director Mary Lauren Keeney. “I was also impressed with the crowd — standing room only. That made for a lively audience in which the performers were able to connect with and it really helped them perform their best.”
The upper school men’s choir surprised the crowd with a one-of-a-kind performance of White Christmas. Sophomore Jake Owensby wowed the room with his mile-high confidence, along with junior Marc Crotta and seniors Henry Bowman and Benjamin Okoronkwo.
“It was so surprising to see the boys deliver a comical show while singing with their talented voices,” said senior Aarington Brown. The audience gave them a standing ovation.
“I was incredibly impressed by the Christmas concert on Thursday,” said middle school chorus instructor Rachel LeGrand. “The students have worked hard this semester to prepare, and it showed.”
The concert finished with the entire ensemble leading a “Jingle All The Way Medley” sing-along.
“It brought me great joy to see us all together celebrating the season and our students’ tremendous talents,” said President and Head of School Larry Peevy.
After the show, the singers shared their gratitude by serving hot chocolate and cookies to attendees.
The photo that started it all. This iconic image of wreaths placed on graves at Arlington National Cemetery started a movement that now includes wreath-laying ceremonies at over 3,400 locations nationwide. (photo courtesy Wreaths Across America)
Habersham Countians will join volunteers nationwide this weekend in honoring the service and memories of military veterans.
On December 17, Old Clarkesville Cemetery and VFW Memorial Park in Demorest will both observe National Wreaths Across America Day. This year marks the first time Habersham County has participated in the annual observance. It provides an excellent opportunity for the community to pause and say thank you to veterans and their families during this special time of year.
Both cemeteries will hold public ceremonies at 12 Noon on Saturday to mark the occasion. During the ceremonies, volunteers will place remembrance wreaths on veterans’ graves.
“To be killed in war is not the worst that can happen. To be lost is not the worst that can happen… to be forgotten is the worst.” — Pierre Claeyssens (1909-2003)
In all, over 3,400 locations nationwide will participate. A list of participating sites in and around Northeast Georgia is posted at the bottom of this page.
The wreaths for Saturday’s ceremonies were sponsored during a months-long online campaign.
Speak their names
Wreaths Across America is a national nonprofit that grew from a grassroots movement that began 30 years ago. In 1992, the owner of a wreath-making company in Maine donated 5,000 surplus wreaths to decorate graves at Arlington National Cemetery. Morrill Worcester’s generous gesture sparked a movement that took off in 2005 when a photo of wreaths at snow-covered Arlington went viral.
Two years later, in 2007, the nonprofit was formed with a mission to “remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and teach our children the value of freedom.”
In 2008, Congress unanimously voted to declare “National Wreaths Across America Day” to be held annually on the second or third Saturday of December. Six years later, for the first time, volunteers placed wreaths on all 226,525 graves at Arlington. Millions more are now laid annually at cemeteries nationwide, but laying the wreaths is just part of it.
WAA recounts the story of how British street artist Bansky once wrote, “They say you die twice. One time when you stop breathing and a second time when somebody says your name for the last time.” Taking those words to heart, WAA encourages volunteers to speak aloud each veteran’s name as they lay the wreath on their graves. “Thank them for their service and sacrifice, reflect on their life as a person and member of a loving family and never let that service member die a second time.”
Northeast Georgia area WAA sites
THE OLD CLARKESVILLE CEMETERY
180 Morgan Street
Clarkesville, GA, 30523
GRANT-REEVES MEMORIAL PARK
1492 Smith Loop Road
Demorest, GA 30535
HOLLY HILL CEMETERY
130 Ford Mountain Road
Blairsville, GA 30512
ST JOHN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH CEMETERY
301 W Main Street
Walhalla, SC 29691
WESTMINSTER CITY CEMETERY
West Main Street
Westminster, SC 29692
(Ceremonial only)
ALTA VISTA CEMETERY
521 Jones Street
Gainesville, GA 30501
UNION MEMORY GARDENS
430 Ledford Road
Blairsville, GA 30512
WOLF STAKE BAPTIST CHURCH CEMETERY
511 Wolf Stake Church Road
Seneca, SC 29672
MT. VIEW CEMETERY
408 N. Fairplay Street
Seneca, SC 29672
NEW HOPE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
4815 Dawsonville Highway
Gainesville, GA 30506
OAK GROVE CEMETERY
East South 6th Street
Seneca, SC 29678
VETERAN MEMORIAL PARK
Highway 9 North
Dawsonville, GA 30534
(Ceremonial only)
FRIENDSHIP UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
1341 Friendship Road
Seneca, SC 29678
HIGHLANDS CEMETERY
Memorial Park Drive
Highlands, NC 28741
SALEM UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CEMETERY
520 Church Street
Salem, SC 29676
HART COUNTY CEMETERIES
Hart County Court House
Hartwell, GA 30643
OLD STONE CHURCH CEMETERY
101 Stone Circle
Clemson, SC 29631
PICKENS CEMETERY & CENTRAL & CLEMSON SC CEMETERIES
856 West Main Street
Central, SC 29630
COLBERT CEMETERY
Corner of 5th and Park Avenue
Colbert, GA 30628
ROSE HILL CEMETERY
W Candler Street
Winder, GA 30680
SUGAR HILL CEMETERY
5039 West Broad Street
Sugar Hill, GA 30518
NEW PROSPECT BAPTIST CHURCH CEMETERY
2503 Whitehall Road
29626
WINTERVILLE CEMETERY
Parkview Drive
Winterville, GA 30683
OCONEE & CLARKE COUNTIES CEMETERY PROJECT
2661 Mars Hill Road
Watkinsville, GA 30677
It’s been one week since it was revealed that missed tax appeal hearing deadlines would cost Habersham County a sizeable chunk of change in the form of tax refunds. One week in, there is confusion about exactly how much the county will lose.
The Habersham County Board of Tax Assessors letter dated November 30th asserts that the county must refund $333,828 due to appeals not being heard in a timely manner for 2019 and 2020. However, based on figures Now Habersham has obtained from the tax assessor’s office, that does not appear to be the case. According to those figures, for the tax years of 2019 and 2020, the county and school board, collectively, must refund approximately $79,897.
According to figures provided to Now Habersham by the tax assessor’s office, the total amount of refunds for 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 would be $263,887, nearly $70,000 less than what was originally asserted in the board of tax assessors’ letter. And even with that, the 2022 refunds are currently being questioned.
Assessments were mailed out in late June, notifying property owners of their property assessments for their 2022 property taxes. Once those assessments were sent out, the property owner had 45 days to appeal the assessed value. Once filed, the appeal must be heard within 180 days. The latest hearing date would be in February of 2023. It is unclear where in the process the 2022 appeals are for a Hearing Officer. According to the Tax Assessor’s office, the 2022 refund amount would be approximately $99,602.
For years, there have been complaints by citizens and real estate agents that commercial properties in the county have been undervalued. Contrary to those complaints, a few commercial property owners have “asserted” that their property assessment is “overvalued.”
In 2020, Walmart’s listed Fair Market Value for its property in Cornelia was $9,475,970. That year they appealed their assessment and asserted that their property value was $5,929,600, 37.4% lower than fair market value. Walmart’s “assertion” stood since their appeal was not heard by a Hearing Officer within 180 days. This will result in the county and the school board having to refund approximately $23,305 to the retailer.
Scenic View Healthcare appealed its assessment for 2019 and 2020. However, their property value assertions changed from one year to the next.
In 2019, Scenic View asserted that their property value was $2,500,000, approximately 4.1% less than fair market value. In 2020, Scenic View asserted that their property value decreased to $1,700,000, approximately 34.8% less than fair market value. Their refund for 2019 will be approximately $1,140, and $9,746 for 2020. Baldwin will have to issue a refund separately for those tax years as well.
Fieldale appealed three of its properties – Cornelia processing plant, BC Grant Road Warehouse, and feed mill – to a Hearing Officer as well. In their appeal, they asserted a 25% reduction from Fair Market Value on those three properties for 2020. This will result in a total refund from the county and school board of approximately $40,412. Cornelia will have to issue a refund for one of the properties as well.
The table below represents the eight appeals that were referenced in the letter from the Board of Tax Assessors to Habersham County Clerk of Court David Wall.
These recent revelations bring into question whether commercial properties are undervalued or overvalued. According to Walmart, Fieldale, and Scenic View, their property assessments are overvalued.
Now Habersham reached out to the Tax Commissioner’s office regarding the status of the pending refunds. Habersham County Tax Commissioner June Black-Warren tells us she has not received any affidavits from the Tax Assessor’s office for those refunds. They can not be processed until she does. Black-Warren says she has reached out to the state for guidance on applying interest to those refunds.
Baldwin and Cornelia have already received affidavits from the Tax Assessor’s office.
Frances Elizabeth Freeman Hulsey Winkles, age 76, entered heaven Thursday, December 15, 2022, at her residence with her loving family by her side.
Elizabeth was born November 29, 1946, in Cornelia to the late Hubert & Dorothy Ellis Freeman. She retired from managing the Oakwood Arrow Auto Auction. She also loved to crochet. She would make blankets and give to the homeless outreach as well as making them for the Northeast Georgia Medical Center NICU. Elizabeth would also make them for Veterans and would send them to the Veterans Hospital for them to distribute. She was a member of the Central Baptist Church and was preceded in death by her first husband of 21 years, Pat Hulsey; step-grandson, Nathaniel Phillips; brothers & sisters, Clarence Freeman, Aileen Freeman West, Raymond & Louise Freeman Garrison, Jewell & Annie Mae Freeman Nix & Crawford & Shirley Gibson Freeman.
Left to cherish memories, husband, Paul Winkles; daughter, Laura (Wade) Hulsey Phillips; son, Cale (Sandi) Hulsey, step-sons, Michael Winkles & Timmy (Gina) Winkles; 7 grandchildren, Tyler (Madison) Hulsey, Neil (Avonlea) Holtzclaw, Brooke (Dalton) Webb, Beth (Jose) Hulsey, Cristy Phillips, Brittany (Ryan) Hunt & Makayla Winkles; 10 great-grandchildren, Lillie Grace, Sawyer, Colton, Madeline Kate, Grace, Kyler, Kyzer, Kaston, Makenzie & Braylin; sisters in law & brothers in law, James & Jean Hulsey Braselton, Joe & Rose Hulsey, Ann Hulsey Jackson; a host of special nieces, nephews, cousins, family & friends who are very close to her heart also survive.
Services honoring Elizabeth will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, December 18, 2022, at the Ward’s Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Earl Pirkle officiating. She will be laid to rest at the Sugar Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Saturday, December 17, 2022, at the funeral home.
The family asks in lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Hospice of Northeast Georgia, 2150 Limestone Parkway, Gainesville, Georgia 30501.
You may sign the online guestbook or leave a condolence at www.wardsfh.com.
Ward’s Funeral Home of Gainesville is honored to serve the family of Frances Elizabeth Freeman Hulsey Winkles.
A father and son were trapped inside this SUV after it wrecked on New Liberty Road northeast of Clarkesville on Dec. 15, 2022. (nowhabersham.com)
An 81-year-old man was seriously injured in a rollover wreck Thursday afternoon northeast of Clarkesville.
William Loyd McConnell was a passenger in a Kia Sorento driven by his son, David William McConnell. State troopers say the two Clarkesville men were traveling north on New Liberty Road near O’Kelley Road around 12:37 p.m. when the accident happened.
According to the Georgia State Patrol, the SUV ran off the east shoulder of the roadway. The driver overcorrected, causing the vehicle to rotate counterclockwise across the road. The Sorento then traveled off the west shoulder and overturned onto its passenger side, trapping the two men inside.
Emergency crews had to bust out the vehicle’s windshield to free them.
The driver, David McConnell, of Clarkesville, gathers items that were thrown from his vehicle during the wreck. (nowhabersham.com)
Habersham EMS transported the elder McConnell to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
David McConnell, 52, was not injured. He remained at the scene following the crash. The investigating trooper issued him a warning for failure to maintain lane and slick tires.
Traffic on New Liberty was temporarily stalled between Frank Lovell and O’Kelley roads as crews worked to clear the scene.
Christmas at Lunsford Farm in Elbert County features several iconic movie scenes, including this one from 1989's "Christmas Vacation." Cousin Eddie cleaning out the septic tank is just one of the sights you'll see in this 9-acre display on a 90-acre working farm in Bowman. (Jessica Waters/Now Habersham)
Walking through acres of twinkling lights, Christmas carols filling the air along with the joyful laughter of dozens of children darting in and out of festive displays… Just the prospect of wandering through a wintery-wonderland Christmas light display can bring the holiday spirit out in even the dourest Scrooge – until you look outside and, instead of gently falling snowflakes and crisp, clear air, you are met with drizzly, overcast skies and temperatures adequately described as “meh.”
(A lexophile side-note: “meh” is actually a word – The term “meh,” defined as “mediocre; unexceptional, uninspiring,” was added to the pages of the Oxford English Dictionary in 2015 – the same year “twerk” made the grade. The term ‘blech’ – also an appropriate description of last Sunday’s weather – also found its way into Merriam Webster’s pages as “an interjection used to express disgust.”)
This was exactly the situation as I prepared to set off in search of Christmas light displays for this week’s Appetite for Adventure. A bit of social media polling, and some web crawling, had revealed quite the anomaly – two area Christmas light displays with the chops to gain national attention on ABC’s The Great Christmas Light Fight – and yet still charge no entrance fee.
There was a compelling temptation to postpone the adventure – after all, Appetite for Adventure is supposed to show you guys all sorts of ways to enjoy and appreciate the great Northeast Georgia region, not emphasize the occasional drawbacks! But deadlines are deadlines, and duty called.
Turns out, luckily, that proper preparation, the correct equipment, a good attitude, and even better friends can make even the most meh of evenings into an adventure. Oh, and chocolate – chocolate makes everything better!
CHECKLIST
In order to launch a successful drizzly-day Christmas light escapade, you must be properly attired and adequately stocked:
Boots. This is not the time to drag out the Manolo Blahniks. I would not even recommend your go-to sneaks, and definitely no Vans. Hiking boots – that was my choice for the evening. Good traction in the slick mud of wet fields as you try to revive a half-fainting, slumped inflatable Grinch, and helpful for keeping socks dry, ankles untwisted, and toes warm. Rain boots are another excellent choice – especially for the young – or young at heart – of the bunch. The brighter the color, the better! And If they happen to match check-list item #2, all the better.
Umbrella. Not that you’ll ever actually use it. Well, the more responsible, adult-like of our readers may actually unfurl them and use them as God and Jonas Hanway (inventor of the modern rain umbrella) intended. The rest of us will continue to either accidentally leave them in the car or use them as swords (what is a Christmas lights adventure if you don’t triumph in a mock duel with your compatriots?), a walking stick, a “poke it, I’m not sure if it’s working” stick, an impromptu tripod, and a necessary prop for a rousing rendition of “Singing in the Rain,” substituting a bedazzled, life-size candy cane for the requisite Gene Kelly-approved light post.
GPS. Essential for un-losing yourself after you miss the turnoff in the rain-and-fog lack of visibility.
Warm clothes. Something snuggly that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy, even when the weather is miserable, is required to preserve the integrity and longevity of your Christmas spirit. Bonus points for ugly Christmas sweaters.
Christmas music. You know those radio stations you hate? The ones that start playing 24/7 Christmas carols before the final turnover of the Thanksgiving football games? Now is when they come in handy. Christmas music is essential for the drive to/between Christmas light displays – and singing along is required, even if your voice could make Santa swear (apologies to my friends I roped into tagging along on this adventure with me, and who were forced to bear witness to my inability to carry a tune in a bucket).
Chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate – mostly in piping-hot liquid form, but leave room for s’mores!
Our first stop was in Bowman, in Elbert County. Lunsford Farm is a 9-acre display set in the midst of a 90-acre working farm and is about 55 miles from Clarkesville. Despite the less-than-perfect weather, the Lunsford Farm was open, and visitors were enjoying the expansive walk-through light displays when we arrived at about 8 p.m. It took about an hour for us to make our way through the display, which included huge inflatables, scenes from both new and classic Christmas movies, a 40-foot Santa, a reindeer barn, a 1930s-built Santa’s workshop where children can sit and write letters to Santa, and of course, tons of twinkling lights (more than 400,000 of them!).
On Fridays and Saturdays, Lunsford Farm also offers hot cocoa and popcorn, and Santa and the Grinch can be found for photos. 2023 is the sixth year Lunsford Farms have provided the light display for their neighbors and community, and there is no charge, although donations are accepted. This year, Christmas on Lunsford Farm was chosen as one of three Christmas light displays from across the country to be featured on the 10th-season premiere of ABC’s The Great Christmas Light Fight (Lunsford section begins at minute 28 of the video), which aired on Nov. 28.
Christmas at Lunsford Farms • Bowman, GA
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(Jessica Waters/Now Habersham)
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Christmas at Lunsford Farm in Elbert County features several iconic movie scenes, including this one from 1989's "Christmas Vacation." Cousin Eddie cleaning out the septic tank is just one of the sights you'll see in this 9-acre display on a 90-acre working farm in Bowman. (Jessica Waters/Now Habersham)
(Jessica Waters/Now Habersham)
(Jessica Waters/Now Habersham)
(Jessica Waters/Now Habersham)
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If You Go: 2730 Sand Hill Road, Bowman Nightly through 12/25/2022 Sunday-Thursday 6-9 PM Friday-Saturday 6-10 pm. Check their Facebook page daily for any notes about that evening’s display.
Setting out from the Lunsford Farm at close to 9 p.m. as they were getting ready to shut the lights off for the night, we headed north toward Canon – about a 30-minute drive – to find CHRISTmas at the Goffs. This 3-acre walk-through light display, only about 30 miles south of Cornelia, is open until 10 p.m., and, while not as large as the Lunsford Farm display, it is packed with an amazing array of displays. It is an especially enjoyable trip down memory lane for those of us who grew up on blow mold manger scenes, balsa-wood cut-and-paint Christmas ornaments, and the Christmas Story. Kids (of all ages) will especially enjoy the Nightmare before Christmas display all made and designed by 12-year-old R.J. Goff. On nights when the weather permits, there is a bonfire in the large bonfire pit at the center of the display.
As with the Lunsford farm, there is no entrance fee to enjoy the Goff’s light display, but they also welcome donations, with a portion of the donations going to help with the expense of putting on the light show. Still, a portion of each donation also goes to a local charity, with visitors being able to choose whether they drop their donation in the Franklin Life donation box or the Rainbow Pantry box.
If You Go: 2035 Starrs Bridge Road, Canon 6 till 10 every night (weather permitting) Check their Facebook page daily for any notes about that evening’s display.
We planned to make a final stop at Winter Wonderlights at the UGA Botanical Gardens. Their display is one of the top-rated in the state and looks lovely in the posted videos. But by the time we got out of the Goff display at around 10 p.m., it was too late. The Winter Wonderlights light show is a reservation-only event, with tickets available for $15 per person.
And since one of the essential ingredients of a successful Christmas Lights trip, regardless of the weather, is lots of chocolate:
Thermos of from-scratch Hot Chocolate
Cap off your evening of Christmas light viewing with a cup of made from scratch hot chocolate. You can make variations of this recipe using chili peppers, peanut butter, or peppermint. (Jessica Waters/Now Habersham)
Fills a 32+ oz thermos (divide recipe by 4 if you are just making one cup)
4 cups milk (whole is best, 2% will work) ¼ cup sugar (caster sugar is best, but standard granulated sugar is fine) ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (Hershey’s is the standard, Guittard Cocoa Rogue is my favorite) 1 – 1 ½ chocolate bars, chopped (pick your favorite, try different brands and flavors) ¼ tsp. Vanilla extract
Add milk and sugar to a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir constantly until sugar is dissolved.
Add cocoa powder and whisk till combined (if you add the cocoa powder first, it will float on top of the milk and not blend well; adding the sugar first gives the cocoa powder something to stick to.)
Melt chopped chocolate in the microwave in 20-second bursts. Add melted chocolate to milk, increase heat to medium (do not go higher, and do not ever allow to boil, it risks scorching the milk, and it will make your chocolate grainy) and heat, stirring regularly, until well combined and smooth.
Turn off heat and let cool slightly. Stir in vanilla. Add to thermos.
Variations:
Mexican Hot Chocolate: Add ¼ tsp ground ancho chile pepper, ¼ tsp ground cinnamon and a small pinch of cayenne pepper into hot chocolate. (you can leave off the chile and pepper and increase the cinnamon to ½ tsp if you don’t want your hot chocolate to have a bite.)
PB&C: Melt 1Tbs creamy peanut butter in the microwave with the chocolate, and mix as directed.
Peppermint Patty: Drop a candy cane or two into your thermos before adding hot chocolate. Let sit for at least 30 minutes, and shake lightly before serving.
One person was injured in a single-vehicle wreck that shut down a section of the highway between Helen and Hiawassee. State Route 75 North, north of Helen, was closed for an extended period of time Wednesday as first responders worked to free the driver from the wreckage.
White County E-911 dispatched first responders to the scene around 6:26 p.m. on December 15. The Georgia State Patrol also responded. According to troopers, the Chevrolet Equinox was traveling northbound passing Andrews Cove in White County when the driver became distracted while trying to wipe the fog off the front windshield. The Equinox crossed the center line and ran off the roadway.
“The vehicle with a single occupant left the roadway and settled about 300 feet down an embankment. The accident resulted in the entrapment of the individual, and the roadway was shut down for an extended amount of time,” says White County Public Safety spokesperson Bryce Barrett.
EMS transported the driver to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville with non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities have not released their name.
The rescue was a joint effort between Helen Fire and White County Fire Services. Towns County Fire provided additional manpower.
The roadway was reopened shortly before 9:30 p.m., Barrett says.
Dora Belle Hamilton Sosebee, age 87, of Demorest, Georgia, passed away on Wednesday, December 14, 2022.
Mrs. Sosebee was born on February 7, 1935, in Towns County, Georgia, to the late Clarence and Della Chastain Hamilton. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband, James “Jay” Edgar Sosebee, and son, Cecil Sosebee.
Mrs. Sosebee was a member of Amy’s Creek Baptist Church. She had retired from Fieldale Farms with over 20 years of service. Prior to her time there, she worked for Sewing Manufacturers, including Orbit and Carwood Manufacturing Plants. Dora was a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was known to her grandchildren and many others in the family as “Granny.”
Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Terrie and Leon Sheets, of Clarkesville; son, Scott Sosebee, of Gainesville; sister, Ora Lee Barnes; grandchildren: Jennifer Nix, Richard Sheets, Cody Sheets, Daniel Sheets, Zackery Sosebee, Madison Sosebee, Heather McDaniel and Crystal Story; eight great-grandchildren, Rhett, Riley, Ryan, Leland, Logan, Caden, Colton, Lily; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, December 18, 2022, at the Whitfield Funeral Homes, North Chapel, with Rev. Eddie Tanner and Rev. Austin Kelley officiating. Interment will follow in the Blue Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 2:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., Sunday, December 17, 2022, at the funeral home prior to the service.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, North Chapel, at 245 Central Avenue, Demorest, Georgia 30535. Telephone: 706-778-1700.
Investigators with the Hall County Sheriff’s Office have arrested a Gainesville man for possessing and distributing child pornography.
Cameron Dakota Dove, 26, was booked at the Hall County Jail on Wednesday, December 14, on four felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, two for possession of child pornography and two for distributing the pornographic materials.
The investigation began when local investigators received cyber tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
“They determined Dove was in possession of at least two sexually explicit images of children while at his residence in northwest Hall County on September 21, 2022,” says Hall County Sheriff’s Public Information Officer B.J. Williams.
The investigation into Dove’s online activity continues, and additional charges are possible, says Williams. As of Thursday afternoon, December 15, Dove remained in the Hall County Jail without bond.
Dustin Cain “Pooh Bear” Wilkins, 36, of Cornelia, Georgia, passed away on December 15, 2022.
Mr. Wilkins was born November 27, 1986, to William Edward Wilkins and the Late Theresa Gayle Lovell.
Dustin loved working on cars and motorcycles, being a tattoo artist, and going to music festivals. He loved all of his children very dearly. His family describes him as a prankster that loved having a good laugh and having a great love for Hello Kitty. Pooh bear is what he is best known as by his family and friends. Along with his mother, he is preceded in death by his grandparents on both sides, Reba and John Garrish, Thoyce Wilkins, and John and Martha Lovell.
Dustin is survived by his parents, William and Lisa Wilkins; sisters Hannah Holcomb(Christian), Emily Miller(Ryan), Nikki Redd(Mathew); children Gavin Wilkins, Madison Wilkins-Hood, Paityn Wilkins-Horner, Audrey Wilkins-Maddox; nephews Leland and Logan Sheets, Hudson Redd; best friend Brian “Yankee” Parker as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
A private memorial service will be scheduled at a later date.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Whitfield Funeral Home and Crematory, North Chapel. 245 Central Avenue, Demorest, Georgia 30535. Telephone 706-778-1700.
