CLARKESVILLE, Ga. — The Habersham County Board of Commissioners opened Monday’s meeting with a series of recognitions highlighting agriculture, public safety and county service during recent winter storms.
Commissioners honored a local entrepreneur for her agricultural legacy, recognized a deputy and an EMT for life-saving actions and applauded county crews for 10 days of work during dangerous weather conditions.
Agriculture Hall of Fame
Commission Chairman Bruce Harkness recognized Abby Jackson for her induction into the Habersham County Agriculture Hall of Fame during the annual Farm-City Breakfast hosted by the Habersham County Farm Bureau in November 2025.
Harkness said Jackson’s life’s work reflects the county’s agricultural heritage through farming, conservation, agritourism and entrepreneurship.
Raised in a farming family in Habersham County, Jackson later returned home after working for Motorola and Pfizer to establish Blackhawk Fly Fishing on the Soque River with her husband, John, in 1997. The business has grown into a premier outdoor destination and contributor to the local economy.
Jackson also launched Abby J’s Gourmet, a specialty food brand built around Georgia Grown ingredients. Her sweet pickles earned a Flavor of Georgia award in 2016.
Harkness highlighted her environmental stewardship, including preservation efforts involving more than 2,400 hemlock trees along the Soque River, as well as her family’s longstanding donations of farm produce to the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia.
“Through her business, her dedication to agriculture, her environmental stewardship and her generosity toward others, she has strengthened both our agricultural heritage and our community as a whole,” Harkness said.
Deputy de-escalates hostage situation
Habersham County Sheriff Robin Krockum recognized Deputy Andra Townsend for her response to a Jan. 11 domestic violence call near Baldwin that escalated into a hostage situation.
Townsend, who has more than 21 years of law enforcement experience and has served with the county for more than eight years, arrived to find a man holding his wife at gunpoint.
Through communication and negotiation, Townsend was able to gain the suspect’s trust and persuade him to surrender without further incident.
“She was able to remain professionally calm and diffuse that situation,” Krockum said. “That’s exactly what we want.”
Krockum noted Townsend has handled similar high-risk situations in the past, including an armed mental health crisis call in the Denver area last year.
EMT walks through ice to reach patient
Commissioner Ty Akins recognized EMS employee Josh Garrett for his actions during the January winter ice storm.
On Jan. 25, as hazardous conditions left roads blocked by fallen trees and power lines, Garrett and his crew were dispatched to Ernest Nations Road to assist an elderly woman concerned about her oxygen supply.
When their unit could not pass, Garrett used a chainsaw to clear debris. When that was no longer possible, he continued on foot — carrying medical gear, oxygen tanks and the chainsaw — for approximately a mile and a half to reach the patient.
He assessed her oxygen levels and helped arrange safe relocation to a home with power.
“Josh walked approximately a mile and a half through hazardous winter conditions to reach the citizen in need,” Akins said. “Your commitment to going the extra mile, quite literally, made a real difference in someone’s life.”
Rotary honors storm response crews
County Manager Tim Sims also recognized county employees after accepting an award from the Rotary International during a recent Habersham Rotary Club meeting.
The award honored the work of EMS personnel, road department crews and fleet services during 10 consecutive days of winter storm response.
“For 10 straight days, 10 long, demanding days, they worked tirelessly,” Sims said. “They didn’t do it for recognition. They did it because that’s what public servants do.”
Crews cleared roads before daylight in freezing temperatures, responded to emergencies and repaired equipment while many were away from their families.
While the award bore the county’s name, Sims said the credit belonged to the employees.
“Your dedication, sacrifice and teamwork kept Habersham County safe, connected and cared for during some very challenging days,” he said.
Commissioners presented plaques to representatives from the three departments as the meeting concluded its recognitions.
