Prep scores: Saturday football

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August 21, 2022

High school football in Georgia capped off its first week on August 20. Here’s a look at Saturday’s prep scores:

Week 1: Aug. 20

Bayside Academy, Ala. 14, Elbert County 13
Brookwood 28, Norcross 24
Colquitt County 37, Deerfield Beach, Fla. 0
Darlington 28, Olympia, Fla. 16
Douglas County 52, Lithia Springs 13
Dutchtown 24, Stephenson 13
Grayson 32, Marietta 12
Hughes 47, Spartanburg, S.C. 16
Jones County 26, Northside-Warner Robins 21
Jonesboro 43, Mt. Zion-Jonesboro 13
Mays 35, Douglass 0
Mill Creek 44, Walton 41
Mt. Zion-Carrollton 34, Cleburne County, Ala. 17
North Gwinnett 32, McEachern 20
Pace Academy 20, Holy Innocents’ 17
Riverdale 62, North Clayton 0
Sandy Creek 38, Newnan 27
Starr’s Mill 16, East Coweta 4
Whitewater 27, Northgate 14

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Some high school football scores provided by Scorestream.com, https://scorestream.com/

Fire breaks out twice at same Hall County business

By

Joy Purcell

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August 20, 2022

Atlanta Hwy. fire2 — A commercial building burns at 3526 Atlanta Highway/SR 13 in Hall County Saturday morning, Aug. 20, 2022. Two fires broke out at this same location eight hours apart. The county fire marshal is investigating. (photo Hall County Fire Rescue)

Hall County firefighters were called to a business on Atlanta Highway that burned twice within eight hours, officials say.

Around 11 p.m. Friday, firefighters extinguished a burning shed owned by Graceland Portable Buildings at 3526 Atlanta Highway. At 7:12 a.m. Saturday, they were dispatched to the same location and found the main commercial building fully involved.

“Once (firefighters) were able to flow water from above the structure, and make a defensive attack, the fire was knocked down and brought under control,” says Hall County Fire Rescue Public Information Officer Kimberlie Ledsinger.

Firefighters remained on the scene for several hours Saturday morning. The Hall County Sheriff’s Office shut down several roads in the area as crews worked the scene.

The cause of the fires is unknown at this time. The Hall County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating.

Roadwork to cause traffic delays on GA 365 North near Lanier Tech

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Staff Report

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August 20, 2022

GA 365 repair — The right northbound lane of Highway 365 between Lanier Tech and Ramsey Road will be closed during the day for repairs Aug. 22-25. (GA DOT)

Drivers can expect to encounter some delays while traveling on GA 365 North in Hall County next week.

The Georgia Department of Transportation will be working between Lanier Tech Road and Ramsey Road Monday through Thursday. The right northbound lane will be closed between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Crews will be working on concrete slab replacement and spall repair.

Drivers are cautioned to reduce their speed while traveling through work zones, stay alert, and watch for workers. Before heading out, get real-time information on work status and traffic conditions by calling 511, visiting 511ga.org, or downloading the Georgia 511 app.

Free community organ concert Sunday at First Presbyterian Clarkesville

By

Staff Report

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August 20, 2022

First Presbyterian's organ — Work was recently completed on the Opus 14 pipe organ at First Presbyterian Church of Clarkesville. The church unveiled the new organ in a concert in May. (Margie Williamson/Now Habersham)

First Presbyterian Church of Clarkesville will host the second in its series of Concerts on the Hill this Sunday, August 21. The concert will feature Dr. Oliver Brett on the church’s new Opus 14 pipe organ.

Dr. Brett serves as the Associate Organist and Choirmaster at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church in Atlanta.

In addition to solo organ works, the concert will include music by First Presbyterian’s Festival Choir and congregational hymns.

The concert is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. and is free and open to the community. There will be a reception following the concert.

First Presbyterian is located at 181 Jefferson Street next to the Charm House in Clarkesville.

Greater Vision to perform free concert at Bethlehem Baptist Church Aug. 21

By

Margie Williamson

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August 20, 2022

Greater Vision Gospel group — Greater Vision, among the most awarded groups in Christian music, will perform a free concert at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Clarkesville, Georgia, on August 21st at 5 pm. Everyone is invited.

The popular gospel group, Greater Vision, will be at Bethlehem Baptist Church on Sunday, August 21st, at 5 pm. The community is not only invited––it’s the reason behind the performance.

Carley Abner, the force behind the concert, wanted to do something for the people of Habersham County. “This is a good night of worship for the community,” Abner explains, “with the opportunity to hear probably the most awarded group in Christian music.” Bob Eagar, another supporter of the concert, agrees. “We want to bless the congregation and our community with this nationally known group.”

Greater Vision’s gospel message

Greater Vision started in 1990 and has been blessing audiences ever since with their beautiful harmonies. They’ve appeared across the globe, effectively communicating the gospel message, and performing 175 concerts each year.

The group was founded by Gerald Wolfe who also serves as its pianist. The trio includes lead singer Rodney Griffin, a multi-award-winning songwriter; Chris Allman, another prolific songwriter who is also known as Gospel Music’s Favorite Tenor; and baritone Jon Epley, the newest member of the group, who is also a songwriter.

Bethlehem Baptist Church is located at 624 Hwy 197 North in Clarksville, Georgia. The event is free, and a goodwill offering will be taken during the concert.

This article has been updated to reflect that the concert will be held on a Sunday

Edith White Goodson

By

Now Habersham

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August 20, 2022

Edith White Goodson, age 84, of Alto, went home to be with her Lord and Savior after a short illness and a full life on Saturday, August 20, 2022.

Edith was born October 20, 1937, to the late Beacher White and Mellie Segars White of the Hollingsworth Community in Banks County, Georgia. Edith was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband, Coy Goodson; her beloved daughter, Kathryn Eileen Goodson; sister, Peggy White Goodson; and brothers, Denver White and Dennis White, all of Alto.

She is survived by her son, Rex Edwin Goodson of Alto; granddaughter, Serena Goodson of Dahlonega; grandsons, Jason Goodson and Corey Goodson of Alto; five great-grandchildren; ten great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Willette White Mote of Demorest and Trudy White Galloway of Alto; brothers, Dan White (Sandy) of Gainesville and Phil White of Alto; brother-in-law, Ralph Goodson; sisters-in-law, Lavonne Goodson Martin and Margaret Goodson, all of Alto.

Edith was the matriarch of the Fort Hollingsworth-White House White family in Banks County. For the last several years she had held court on the shaded front porch of her home near the family homeplace. There, on that oasis surrounded by her many flowerpots, one could find rest from the modern-day rush and struggle. One frequent visitor remarked that “while sitting with Edith on her front porch…. all seemed right with the world”.

Edith loved to laugh, and the only thing she loved more than hearing a well-told tale, was telling one herself. For years she could be found spinning folklore on the grounds of Fort Hollingsworth-White House.

Edith was a descendant of the Segars clan on her mother’s side and it was well known the Segars women could be loud and lively. This natural voice amplification served her well for years as the choir director at Mt. Sinai Congregational Holiness Church. Her gusto and adoration in performing a song of worship were unrivaled this side of Glory.

Edith’s passion for prayer will be sorely missed in her family and community. Edith was a prayer warrior of the highest rank. She kept a prayer log and dutifully prayed for each entry every day. If you had a need, the place to be was at the top of her prayer list. Edith was beloved by her family and extended family alike, and her charm and wit will never be forgotten.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 pm on Wednesday, August 24, 2022, at Rehoboth Congregational Holiness Church, formerly Mt. Sinai Congregational Holiness Church with Rev. Maggie Black and Rev. Drewery Loggins officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends from noon until the service hour on Wednesday, at the church.

Instead of flowers, donations may be made to Fort Hollingsworth-White House, Friends of the Fort, c/o Willette White Mote, 660 Bethel Temple Road, Demorest, Georgia 30535.

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

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

Beast

By

Justin Hall

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August 20, 2022

Last week it was Fall. Now, this week it’s Beast, another survivalist film that looks great and has a fair amount of thrills and suspense. With a great performance from Idris Elba at its center, this film keeps us invested even if the movie does go through familiar territory.

Elba plays Dr. Nate Samuels, a recently widowed father who decides to take his daughters (Iyana Halley and Leah Sava Jeffries) on a safari in Africa which is guided by his old friend (Sharlto Copley).

They all take in the lush deserts and small villages, but soon they discover one village has had all its people killed and then they find out that a ravenous lion is on the loose that will devour anyone or anything in its path.

Nate’s friend tries to kill the lion, but he ends up attacked and seriously injured. It isn’t long before the lion sets its sights on Nate and his family. I pretty much described all you need to know about the plot in a nutshell.

The rest of the movie follows what we might expect from a movie like this: The family tries to stay one step ahead of being killed, they’re badly injured in the process and they doubt whether they will make it out alive. That’s the formula for its 93-minute runtime.

I know that sounds like I’m criticizing Beast, but I was just describing it. If anything, it’s a well-made creature feature that does take its time to introduce the characters and even give us some smart thrills to go along with its bloody violence. And it does encourage itself to go right to the wall with its intense carnage at times.

Beast could also be described as one part Jaws, one part Jurassic Park and even a little bit of Anaconda for good measure. Films such as this are not that original. They’re designed to give the audience a disposable ride that’s fun in the moment and may resonate beyond that.

Still, Elba is very effective in his scenes as a father desperate to save not only his life but his daughters’ as well, and he’s fully equipped to face the dangers head-on. He becomes a superhero by circumstance, but it’s a role he plays with relative ease.

Those who don’t demand a whole lot more out of a movie like this will find it an enjoyable creature feature. Beast is derivative but fun.

Grade: B+

(Rated R for violent content, bloody images and some language.)

Tallulah Adventures Grand Opening: Wet weather, great music and lots of food

By

Margie Williamson

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August 20, 2022

Tallulah Adventures food service — The covered spaces inside the cafe and bar were filled as Tallulah Adventures celebrated its grand opening on Friday. The celebration continues through this weekend with events daily, Aug. 20 and 21. (Margie Williamson/Now Habersham)

Tallulah Adventures kicked off its Grand Opening Friday. While the rain kept people off the climbing wall, the weather didn’t keep people from showing up.

Singer and guitarist J. B. Wolf provided the entertainment. Wolf plays country rock, classic rock, and southern rock, and he kept the music jumping under the pavilion. Tables were packed with dinners, the wait staff were jumping, and even a couple of dogs showed up with their owners.

The kitchen and bar were both open and were working hard to keep up with orders.

The Grand Opening continues Saturday and Sunday with a variety of activities, classes, and entertainment scheduled.

Several diners brought their well-behaved pets with them. (Margie Williamson/Now Habersham)

Tallulah Adventures is located at 11785 Highway 441, just north of the bridge across Tallulah Gorge. It’s open Saturday from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. with three workshops and a cooking demonstration scheduled throughout the day. Steady Hand String Band will provide live entertainment from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

On Sunday, a yoga class will be offered from 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. All activities will be available until 8 p.m., depending on the weather.

Read more about Tallulah Adventures here. For a complete listing of daily activities, go to Tallulah Adventures.

Riley, Wright lead Braves past Astros 6-2 in Series rematch

By

George Henry, AP Sports Writer

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August 19, 2022

ATLANTA (AP) — Austin Riley hit a three-run homer off Lance McCullers Jr., Kyle Wright won his 15th game to tie for the NL lead, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Houston Astros 6-2 on Friday night in the teams’ first meeting since last year’s World Series.

The defending champion Braves have won 10 of 11 and are 51-20 since June 1, best in the majors over that span. AL-leading Houston had won six of eight and 10 of 15. The Astros are 41-21 since June 12.

“It’s just a matter of all of us putting it together, and we’re doing it right now,” Riley said. “We’re playing fun baseball right now.”

Houston left fielder Yordan Alvarez left the game in two outs in the bottom of the fifth. He reported feeling ill and was taken to a hospital for evaluation. Alvarez is second in the AL in homers with 31 and leads the league in on-base percentage.

Astros manager Dusty Baker said the slugger was suffering from shortness of breath and was bothered by smoke from in-game fireworks.

“I’m glad we got him out when we did because I looked up and he was in the dugout and it was kind of a scary moment because it could be anything,” Baker said. “But they said he’s doing fine at the moment.”

Wright (15-5) was making his first start since Aug. 10 because of arm fatigue. He erased a one-out walk in the third on Jose Altuve’s double-play grounder and stranded Kyle Tucker, who tripled with two outs in the sixth, by retiring Trey Mancini on a comebacker. Wright allowed two runs and six hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in six innings.

“Like we say, if your starters are pitching the majority of the innings, you’re probably doing pretty good,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “They’re really confident they’ll work their way out of it.”

After taking three of four this week from the NL East-leading New York Mets, the Braves went up 3-0 in the third when Riley hit his 31st homer an estimated 409 feet to right-center. Riley’s 67 extra-base hits lead the majors.

Houston, which was coming off a 21-5 victory at the Chicago White Sox, missed a chance at an inning-ending double play on Dansby Swanson’s single when second baseman Altuve couldn’t handle shortstop Jeremy Peña’s flip throw at second and the ball bounced away.

Riley is the only player in the majors with at least 30 homers and 30 doubles. Swanson, who went 3 for 5 with two RBIs, began the game ranked second in the majors with 104 hits since May 23. He is batting .323 in that span.

McCullers (1-1) allowed three runs and seven hits with three walks and six strikeouts in five innings. He was making his second start since missing last year’s ALCS and World Series and the first 119 games of this season with a right flexor tendon strain.

“McCullers was good,” Baker said. “He was very good. They had two little cheap hits and then the one mistake was a big blast to Riley. This guy is one of the finer young players in the game, so it’s no harm when you give up one to him. He’s excellent.”

The Astros scored twice in the fifth to trim the lead to 3-2. Tucker hit his 22nd homer, a 445-foot shot to right-center. Wright gave up singles to Mancini and Chas McCormick before Altuve drove in Mancini with a single to left.

Phil Maton gave up a leadoff double to Michael Harris II in the sixth and walked Ronald Acuña Jr. before Swanson doubled off the wall in right-center to score both runners and make it 5-2. Matt Olson followed with a sacrifice fly.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros: Chas McCormick shifted to left when Alvarez departed, and Mauricio Dubon took over in center. … Dubon tried to stay in the game after crashing into the fence in right-center on Swanson’s double in the sixth. A trainer came out to see about Dubon, who soon left the game with left elbow discomfort. Baker said X-rays came back negative. Jake Meyers took his place. … Baker said the groin injury to INF Aledmys Díaz isn’t as bad as the team originally thought. Díaz was placed on the injured list on Wednesday.

WELCOME BACK

Astros LHP Will Smith returned to his former ballpark and faced four batters in the seventh. Smith was dealt to Houston at the trade deadline for RHP Jake Odorizzi.

NOT CAPACITY

Though both teams are in playoff contention, there were several thousand empty seats at Truist Park. The Braves announced a crowd of 42,837 and their 30th sellout of the year.

UP NEXT

Braves RHP Spencer Strider (7-4, 3.04 ERA) will face Cristian Javier (7-8, 2.96) as the teams play the second game of a three-game series.

Cleveland man missing for days found dead

By

Joy Purcell

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August 19, 2022

Jeffery McKenna was last seen in the Cleveland, Georgia, area on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact authorities. (Cleveland Police Department photos)

A Cleveland man reported missing earlier this week in White County has been found dead. On Friday, authorities discovered the body of 50-year-old Jeffrey McKenna inside his wrecked pickup truck on Highway 75 north of Cleveland. He had been missing since Tuesday.

McKenna’s vehicle was located a short distance off the highway. Officials say the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado apparently left the road, struck an embankment, and overturned onto its top in a ditch.

Authorities searched for McKenna for four days using tracking dogs and Georgia State Patrol helicopters, says Cleveland Police Chief Jeff Shoemaker. Police put out a flyer on Thursday, asking the public to be on the lookout for McKenna.

“The members of the Cleveland Police Department are saddened by the outcome; our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Mr. McKenna,” says Chief Shoemaker.

Other agencies assisted in the search, including the White County Fire Department, White County Sheriff’s Office, Helen Police Department, Appalachian Regional Drug Enforceement Office, and other surrounding local and state agencies.

In his press release announcing the discovery, Shoemaker did not say how McKenna was located or give his cause of death. He says the matter remains under investigation by the Cleveland Police Department, Georgia State Patrol, and White County Coroner’s Office.

Suspect in 28-year-old murder case captured in Northeast Georgia

By

Joy Purcell

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August 19, 2022

The suspect in a 1994 Atlanta murder case is behind bars after being captured in Northeast Georgia. Deputies arrested Muhammed Bilal El-Amin during a traffic stop in Oconee County earlier this week, the FBI says.

During his arrest, Oconee County Sheriff’s deputies learned the man they arrested was operating under an assumed name and was wanted by the Atlanta Police Department and FBI for murder and flight to avoid prosecution.

El-Amin allegedly shot and killed 18-year-old Jafferd Tucker at a MARTA station on November 27, 1994, then evaded arrest for 28 years. The FBI had a reward out for him, but it was a suspended car tag and license that landed him in jail.

According to the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, on August 16, Deputy Devan Blair stopped a Mazda on East Monroe Highway for lack of registration and insurance. The driver, who identified himself as Rais Sekhem, provided the deputy with a South Carolina license that also came back as suspended. The deputies arrested the man, only to learn later he was wanted by the FBI.

At the jail, deputies fingerprinted him and his prints came back as a match for the fugitive El-Amin, the sheriff’s office says. A judge denied him bond. According to Atlanta police, El-Amin is now awaiting extradition back to Atlanta.

Georgia lawmakers examine changing state K-12 school funding

By

Jeff Amy

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August 19, 2022

Georgia students living in poverty could get some extra money for their education if lawmakers decide to edit the state’s nearly-40-year-old funding formula.

ATLANTA (AP) — The leader of a state legislative committee that’s looking at how Georgia funds K-12 public schools promised on Friday that nothing “dire and ominous” would come from any possible changes.

Nearly 40 years after then-Gov. Joe Frank Harris signed the Quality Basic Education formula into law, Senate Majority Leader Mike Dugan told members of a Senate committee that it was time to consider whether changes were needed.

“QBE was done 40-plus years ago,” the Carrollton Republican said. “The way we educate our children has changed in that time period and what this committee is to look at is are we allocating the resources to the areas of education that are most appropriate today.”

The move comes at what, in some ways, is a good time for Georgia’s $10 billion funding formula. The state has fully funded the formula for four of the last five years after 16 years in which it imposed austerity cuts each year. The formula is used to calculate how much money the state should provide each of Georgia’s 181 school districts to give them enough money to provide a good education for 1.7 million students. Over the 16 years, the state would provide only a portion of the entire amount, saying it had to cut back to balance the state budget.

But there are continuing issues with the QBE formula. It provides only a small fraction of what districts spend to buy and operate school buses. Other costs besides employee salaries are rarely adjusted for inflation. The state, for example, allocates $150 per teacher to pay for what is supposed to be eight sick days. When the formula was written, schools largely relied on textbooks, while they now increasingly rely on electronic materials. And Georgia has yet to fully fund a previous upgrade in the number of school counselors per student.

Georgia’s formula already provides extra money for students with special education needs, students learning English, students needing remediation, those studying career and technical subjects, and gifted students. The formula also provides more money for younger students than high schoolers.

The system also gives more state money to districts with low property tax bases. Lawmakers are likely to consider local property tax and sales tax collections later. Districts also get money from the federal government.

Some lawmakers also expressed interest in the state providing extra money for students in poverty.

Another question is paying teachers more. Georgia teacher salaries are higher than any neighboring state. But take-home pay for first-year teachers lags because state health care premiums are above average.

At least three previous attempted overhauls of QBE faltered, producing few significant changes. Those overhauls were dogged by suspicion that Republicans were trying to spend less. To win support, formula writers often look to spend more, at least temporarily, to avoid creating losers who get less money.

“Ultimately what has happened every time is they think they’re going to go into it and find savings and be able to shift money around, but they go into it and find it’s going to cost more money,” said Angela Palm, a longtime lobbyist with the Georgia School Boards Association.

Dugan encouraged people to be open to possible changes.

“Humans by nature fear change more than they fear failure,” Dugan said. “And failure in my mind is not doing anything when we have the opportunity to improve the quality of our education for our students moving forward.”