Paschal Dwight Brown, age 17, of Demorest, went home to be with The Lord on Sunday, January 21, 2024.
Born on September 5, 2006, in Gainesville, Paschal was the son of Noel Dwight Brown and Crystal Lynn Turpen Brown of Demorest. His family describes him as an earthbound angel who was a bundle of joy who enjoyed life.
He was preceded in death by his twin brother, Haschal Noel Brown; paternal grandparents, Paschal and Elma Brown; and maternal grandfather, Jimmy Erwin Turpen.
In addition to his parents, survivors include his sister, Ashley Lynn Brown (fiancé, Russell Eugene Morgan) of Cornelia; nephew, Liam Noel Brown-Morgan; maternal grandmother, Helen Eva Turpen of Cornelia; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives, and friends.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, January 25, 2024, in the Chapel of McGahee-Griffin & Stewart, with Rev. Leon Thompson officiating. Interment will follow in Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Cemetery with Rev. Junior Robinson officiating.
The family will receive friends from 6-8 pm on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at the funeral home and from 2-4 and 6-8 pm on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at the funeral home.
Flowers are accepted, or memorials may be made to Children’s Scottish Rite Hospital, 1575 Northeast Expressway, Atlanta, Georgia 30329.
Shelia Jean Nelms Moore, age 59, of Alto, Georgia, passed away on Saturday, January 20, 2024, at her residence following an extended illness.
Born in Demorest, Georgia, on January 10, 1965, she was a daughter of the late Wiley & Dorothy Jean Kinsey Nelms. Shelia was a homemaker and of the Baptist faith. She enjoyed taking care of others and loved her family tremendously, especially her grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, Shelia was preceded in death by her son, Christopher Gary Moore.
Survivors include her loving husband of 31 years, Gary Allen Moore; sons, Randy Scott Nelms, Cody Allen Moore, and David Wiley Moore; step-sons, Frank Jacob Moore, & Eugene Erwin Moore; step-daughters, Syble Rebecca Sanchez and Debbie Marie Moore; sister, Judy Ann Hogan; niece, Vanna Brooke Hogan; nephew, Dustin Keith Hogan; 17 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; other relatives, & friends.
Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at Hillside Memorial Chapel with Rev. Garvis Kinsey & Rev. Bill Trotter officiating. Interment will follow in the Nix Family Cemetery in Cornelia, Georgia.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 23, 2024.
Clarkesville and Cornelia are catching a break on animal control costs this year thanks to a newly negotiated agreement with the county.
The agreement is based on a new funding formula that takes into account how much each municipality in Habersham contributes to the county tax digest. As a result of that formula, Clarkesville and Cornelia are slated to get animal control services provided this year at no additional cost.
Habersham implemented the formula after Baldwin voiced its concerns over the cost of animal control services.
No more ‘double taxation’
Baldwin leaders claimed their residents were being “double taxed” because they pay city and county taxes. They argued a portion of those county tax dollars should be applied to help cover the cost of animal control services.
Habersham County Finance Director Tim Sims says the county discussed the matter with Baldwin at great length and had preliminary discussions with the other cities in Habersham. Those discussions began late last spring. The county distributed the intergovernmental agreements in December.
Because the formula is based on how much a municipality contributes to the overall county digest, the county considers that Clarkesville and Cornelia have, effectively, already paid for the service. Other municipalities will pay significantly less this year than in the past, with the exception of Alto. Their fee increased by $214.66.
Alto and Baldwin are unique given that a portion of their property owners are in Banks County and do not contribute to the Habersham County digest. However, the IGA stipulates that Habersham County will service the corporate limits of both cities, including the Banks County side. Banks County does not offer animal control.
The table demonstrates the cost difference between the old formula and the new formula to the cities for animal control. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)
Under the new formula, Baldwin’s animal control fee went from $30,531 to $18,455. Mt. Airy will save nearly $5,000 on its animal control costs, and Demorest’s fee was reduced by nearly $3,600.
The Clarkesville City Council approved its new animal control intergovernmental agreement (IGA) at its meeting on January 8. Alto and Cornelia approved their agreements the following day.
Baldwin, Demorest, and Mt. Airy have yet to approve their IGAs.
According to Habersham County Finance Manager Tim Sims, “There will be no impact to Animal Control Services based upon the new formula. It is just a more fair way of calculating the fees.” He adds, “The only reduction of service that would occur is if the remaining cities choose not to approve the IGA thus [that] would stop us from performing those duties in those city limits.”
Jon Langston, founder and president of Reboot Jackson, which is a recovery community organization in Jackson County, displays a naloxone kit while at the state Capitol in January. (Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder)
(GA Recorder) — Jon Langston says he probably would not have set foot inside the state Capitol before he sobered up 15 years ago. But if he had visited, he would have most definitely been high.
So to him, the five overdose reversal kits that were installed under the Gold Dome last year are more than symbolic.
But as a person in long-term recovery who now advocates for more widespread adoption of naloxone kits, Langston said he also sees the prominent placement of the boxes as an important recognition.
“I don’t much think there will be an overdose at the Capitol. I just really don’t. There may be,” said Langston, who is president and founder of Reboot Jackson, which is a recovery community organization in Jackson County.
“But that symbolism for the state Capitol to say hey we see the need and we have these in our Capitol – yeah, that’s huge,” he said.
Georgia officials have been taking steps over the last decade to ease access to the life-saving drug in response to the rise in opioid overdoses here and nationally. The state has, for example, made the drug available over the counter and empowered first responders to carry it.
An overdose reversal kit was installed next to emergency medical equipment and a fire extinguisher near the main public entrance at the state Capitol. It’s one of five on-site. (Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder)
Langston said he sees mandating access in government buildings, including schools and universities, as the “next bite” towards broader access. As an advocate, he pointed to Honolulu’s recent decision to require bars, nightclubs and restaurants to have the anti-overdose medicine on hand as his ultimate goal for Georgia.
“Overdoses are real and so is recovery, but they can’t recover if they’re dead,” he said.
A bill has not yet been filed but the proposal is one of a few legislative initiatives announced Thursday as priorities of the Georgia Council for Recovery, formerly known as the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse.
“This saves lives. This breaks stigma,” said Jeff Breedlove, who is the council’s advocacy strategist.
Breedlove cited the Georgia World Congress Center as being a state-owned complex where the overdose reversal drug is sorely missing. The sprawling center is the setting of many large events, including what is billed as the country’s largest event focused on the opioid crisis, the Rx and Illicit Drug Summit.
Conferees checking in might notice a defibrillator and a fire extinguisher on site, but they won’t see a naloxone kit.
“There’s nothing for us,” Breedlove said. “We just want the state to be prepared.”
Other proposals meant to protect people in recovery
This naloxone kit has six Narcan doses and multiple pairs of gloves and masks. Five kits like this have been installed at the state Capitol and other buildings. (Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder)
The council also backed two other proposals for this session, although only one of them has been filed. A Senate bill that was filed late in the session last year by Cataula Republican Sen. Randy Robertson would create a certification process and regulations for recovery residence programs, which is often the next stop after treatment.
Todd Wilson, who is executive director of the Georgia Association of Recovery Residences, said his group represents more than 100 locations in the state, which offer more than 4,000 bed spaces for people healing from addiction.
“We’re ground zero to the recovery of many people,” he said.
But Wilson said Georgia lacks the regulatory framework to protect these vulnerable people and help them succeed in their recovery. State standards are needed to ensure these recovery residences are run safely and ethically, he said.
“Currently, in the state of Georgia, you have to have a license to cut hair, but you do not have to have a license to run a recovery residence,” Wilson said.
Another proposal would define in state code what a recovery community organization is. Breedlove said the goal is to guard against any unscrupulous group that might try to exploit people who are in recovery.
DBHDD commissioner announces series of meetings on opioid settlement funds
A series of meetings will be held across the state as Georgia prepares to divvy up the $636 million received through the opioid settlement for treatment and prevention.
Kevin Tanner, commissioner of the state Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, speaks at Addiction Recovery Awareness Day in 2024. (Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder)
Kevin Tanner, commissioner of the state Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, said Thursday that more information about the meetings will be announced in the spring.
Tanner, who is the trustee of the funds, pledged transparency as the state sets up an application process for grants. The commissioner said his agency is doing an inventory of resources that are available in Georgia.
“We’re going to be overly transparent with that process, and we’re going to communicate with you, the peers, and others around this state,” he said to a group of people gathered at the Capitol Thursday for Addiction Recovery Awareness Day.
The money is Georgia’s share of a $26 billion multistate opioid settlement with Cardinal, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen – the nation’s three major pharmaceutical distributors – and opioid manufacturer and marketer Johnson & Johnson.
Goodwill of North Georgia is wrapping up the first month of 2024 with its “New Year New Job” program. The free service provides job training and placement services to residents across North Georgia.
To help job seekers, Goodwill is hosting career fairs and hiring events across the state. Upcoming events include:
Goodwill of North Georgia serves 45 counties with 100+ stores and donation centers. The organization operates 14 career centers offering a range of job training programs in customer service, environmental services, phlebotomy, welding, youth employment services, highway construction, and more.
To learn more about available career services and job training programs, visit Goodwill of North Georgia online.
Graduating class of 2023 from White County Law Enforcement Academy (White County Sheriff's Office)
It is an opportunity for White County Citizens to receive hands-on training and law enforcement knowledge. Open to all White County residents, employees, and business owners age 21 and over, the Law Enforcement Academy is a 6-week course, free of charge.
The Academy meets on consecutive Monday nights from 6 until 8 p.m. starting Monday, March 25 and ending on Monday, April 29.
In the classroom at the White County Sheriff’s Office (White County Sheriff’s Office)
Students of the Academy have the opportunity to learn about Constitutional law, traffic stops, judgmental use of force, K9 and S.W.A.T. demonstrations, ride-along with deputies, and more.
Megan Bennet is the coordinator for The Academy. She spoke with Now Habersham about the importance of the program. “It is an opportunity to build a better connection between law enforcement and the community. It is also an avenue to see a side of the sheriff’s office many may never have the chance to see.”
Learning about the K9 Unit at White County Law Enforcement Academy (White County Sheriff’s Office)
Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m., Wednesday, March 6. It is limited to 16 individuals.
If you have any questions, please contact Megan Bennett at 706-865-5177. Anyone who would like to participate must pass a background check. The Academy is located at White County Sheriff’s Office, 1210 Hulsey Road, Cleveland, Georgia 30528.
Habersham Central High School’s athletic department is gearing up to host its annual dinner, raffle and silent auction event with the night’s big winner walking away with $10,000.
The athletic department will be selling 300 tickets at $100 apiece.
The purchase of a ticket comes with a steak dinner for two and one entry into the $10,000 draw.
The event will take place on Saturday, March 16 at the high school.
HCHS is currently accepting donated items from individuals or businesses to be auctioned off.
Silent auction items in the past have included golf and vacation packages, furniture, and signed sports memorabilia, among other things.
To make a donation of a potential auction item or to purchase a ticket for entry to the event, contact athletic director Geep Cunningham at HCHS at (706) 778-7161 or via email at [email protected].
Gov. Ron DeSantis announces the suspension of his campaign for president on Jan. 21 2024, in a video posted to X.
WASHINGTON (States Newsroom) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis withdrew from the Republican race for the presidential nomination on Sunday, less than two days before Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary.
DeSantis, who came in second in the first-in-the-nation Iowa Caucuses on Jan. 15, released a nearly five-minute video on social media announcing that he had suspended his campaign and was endorsing the front-runner, former President Donald Trump.
“Following our second-place finish in Iowa, we’ve prayed and deliberated on the way forward,” DeSantis said. “If there was anything I could do to produce a favorable outcome, more campaign stops, more interviews, I would do it. But I can’t ask our supporters to volunteer their time and donate their resources. We don’t have a clear path to victory.”
While DeSantis said he’s had disagreements with Trump, including on how he handled COVID-19 while president, the governor said he believes Trump is “superior” to President Joe Biden.
“He has my endorsement because we can’t go back to the old Republican guard of yesteryear, or repackaged form of warmed-over corporatism that Nikki Haley represents,” DeSantis said, referring to the former United Nations ambassador from South Carolina who is seeking the nomination. “The days of putting Americans last, of kowtowing to large corporations, of caving to woke ideology are over.”
Haley, speaking at a campaign event in New Hampshire, said she wished DeSantis well and noted the Republican presidential primary is now just her and Trump.
“There were 14 people in this race. There were a lot of fellas. All the fellas are out, except for this one,” she said, according to a video posted to X, formerly known as Twitter. “And this comes down to what do you want: Do you want more of the same, or do you want something new?”
Haley said in a written statement that the campaign for the Republican nomination is far from over.
“So far, only one state has voted. Half of its votes went to Donald Trump, and half did not,” she said. “We’re not a country of coronations. Voters deserve a say in whether we go down the road of Trump and Biden again or we go down a new conservative road. New Hampshire voters will have their say on Tuesday.”
The Trump campaign thanked DeSantis for his endorsement and maligned Haley in a written statement.
“Nikki Haley is the candidate of the globalists and Democrats who will do everything to stop the America First movement,” the Trump campaign said. “From higher taxes, to decimating Social Security and Medicare, and to open borders, she represents the views of Democrats more than the views of Republicans.”
Democratic National Committee National press secretary Sarafina Chitika rebuked DeSantis in a written statement, saying that his campaign ran on “pledging to ban abortion nationwide, rip away access to health care, and gut Social Security and Medicare, while embracing election deniers and whitewashing January 6.”
“Whichever candidate wins the race for the MAGA base will be left running on the same dangerous and unpopular anti-freedom agenda that voters will reject in November,” Chitika said.
Montana Republican Sen. Steve Daines, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, posted on social media that all GOP lawmakers should line up behind Trump.
“Donald Trump is the presumptive nominee,” Daines wrote. “I am encouraging every Republican to unite behind him because it will take all of us to defeat Joe Biden, take back the Senate, and hold the House.”
Virginia Rep. Bob Good, chairman of the U.S. House Freedom Caucus, posted on social media that he’s now supporting Trump for president.
“It is my privilege to provide my complete and total endorsement for Donald J. Trump as the 47th President of the United States,” Good wrote. “President Trump was the greatest President of my lifetime, and we need him to reinstate the policies that were working so well for America.”
MARYVILLE, Tenn. – For the third straight contest, the Piedmont men’s basketball team’s fate was determined in the final minute of play as the Lions lost 86-84 on the road at Maryville Sunday.
Piedmont was held scoreless over the final three minutes of play as Maryville surged ahead for the win using a 9-0 run to end the game.
The Lions fell behind early by eight points but tied it up with a Fisher Darden 3-pointer nearly eight minutes in. The two danced around back-and-forth with Piedmont taking a three point lead off a 3-pointer by Caleb Lesch, but the Scots again managed to take a six point lead with under five to go till the half.
Piedmont challenged late as Griffin Neville hit a pair of 3-pointers, but the Scots led 42-38 at the break.
In the second half, Noah Reardon tied the game at 50 on a fastbreak layup with 16:08 remaining. Piedmont was not able to take the lead until nearly the 10:00 mark as Ryan Jolly hit a jumper to go ahead 66-64.
Piedmont stretched their lead to as many as eight with 8:02 remaining off another Neville triple, but in the final eight minutes, Piedmont scored just eight points after leading 76-68.
In the final eight minutes of play, Piedmont committed six turnovers and went 3-of-14 from the field.
Up next, the Lions head to Belhaven to take on the Blazers Saturday at 5 p.m.
TURNING POINT:
–The Scots held Piedmont scoreless over the final three minutes of play as Maryville connected for nine points and the victory.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
—Ryan Jolly led Piedmont with 15 points as he was held off his average of 20+ points for the fourth game in a row.
—Griffin Neville posted a season-high 14 points off the bench.
NEWS AND NOTES:
–Piedmont’s last three losses have come by a combined seven points.
MARYVILLE, Tenn. – The Piedmont women’s basketball team dropped its second consecutive CCS road contest, falling 74-58 at Maryville on Sunday afternoon.
After taking a two-point lead into the second quarter, the Lions allowed the Scots to take control of the game and fell too far behind to make a comeback late.
Freshman Alexandria Willis delivered a double-double in the loss, pacing the team with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Senior guard Laken Stiles added 16 points and was a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line.
With the Lions off to a solid start and an 18-16 lead heading to the second quarter, the Scots reeled off a quick 8-0 run over the first 1:21 of the period. Piedmont never was able to recover, with Maryville winning the second quarter 20-6 and taking a 36-24 edge to the break.
Piedmont found its footing out of halftime, cutting its deficit to 39-37 midway through the third quarter. However, they were never able to get over the top as the Scots pushed their lead back to 10 at the end of the third and only increased the advantage in the final 10 minutes.
Up next, the Lions will return home and host Agnes Scott this Tuesday, Jan. 23 at 6 p.m.
TURNING POINT:
– Maryville used an 8-0 run to start the second quarter to catapult in front and never look back.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
– Willis’ 18 point effort tied her career high while she also added 10 rebounds for her second double-double of the season, with both coming in conference play.
– Stiles’ 10 free throws marked a career-high for the senior.
– Maryville’s Emily Allen scored a game-high 29 points, coming off the bench to go 11-of-14 from the field and 4-of-5 from three-point range.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
– The Lions were rock solid 21-of-25 (84%) from the free throw line but were ice cold from the field (16-of-53) at 30.2%.
NEWS AND NOTES:
– Maryville’s win snapped a streak of four consecutive games in the series that went in favor of the Lions.
“Grandpa! I had a funny dream last night!” I exclaimed while my grandmother prepared my breakfast.
“What did you dream, sweetheart?”
“I was at the top of a hill where the grass was so thick and dark green it felt like plush carpet. The sky was as blue as one could imagine, and just as I started to race down the hill in my bare feet, I grabbed your hand.”
Grandpa listened intently as I continued, “But, Grandpa, when I saw your face, you were my age! Your hair was the color of amber, and your hands were youthful, showing no wrinkles or spots!”
Grandpa laughed, and then a wry smile illuminated my grandmother’s face as if she knew something I didn’t. With a twinkle in her eyes, she explained.
“Sweetheart, you just were given a glimpse of Heaven. And, one day after we leave this earth, I will meet you there and race down that hill with you barefooted.”
I was a young teen when I sat in Grandpa’s kitchen describing my dream. And to this day, I believe with all my heart that I will see her again in a place without weeds, storm clouds, and age.
A man named Jesus suffered and died on the cross over 2023 years ago. He rose from the dead to tell the world there was a Heaven where sin was gone, and folks ran down grassy slopes without fear of falling. And Grandpa and I believed Him.
Some pave the way for us to see a glimpse of Heaven. Those precious family members, friends, and teachers take our young hands and guide us toward faith. I was one of those who learned of Christ before I could write my name. I had no doubt there was a God or a Heaven because I watched my family pray, read the Bible, and trust the Lord. They sent me to Sunday School and made me sit still in church. I thank God daily for them and the grandmother who assured me I would see her again. Grandpa never lied.
Countless people are suffering today because a loved one is gone. Worldwide, there are broken hearts and tattered souls. Some are shattered by war and drowned with disillusions and doubt. If ever we all needed to fall to the feet of the risen Lord, it is now. If ever we need to rely on our faith, it is today. Now is not the time to turn away but to run to the open arms of God. We desperately need Him to forgive us for our selfishness and stubbornness and remind us that we are His children.
Grandpa lived 97 years, and during those years, I did witness her suffer, but she had no doubt that one day, the pain would end, and living would continue.
When my brother was diagnosed with terminal cancer in his early fifties, he noticed my sad face one day and tried to cheer me up.
“Guess what, Lynn!” he said with that same wry smile our grandmother exhibited. And only as a sibling would say, “I am going to Heaven before you, and eat all of Grandpa’s biscuits and homemade grape jelly before you get there!”
Today, when I think of my departed family, I imagine they are laughing around a breakfast table, eating Grandpa’s amazing biscuits and jam, along with Jesus, who would never miss such goodness. This vision always makes me smile because I also notice an empty chair waiting for me.
Faith is the blessing the cross left us. We have a choice as to whether we pick it up and carry it forward or not. If we want to heal and help others, embracing its power might be a good idea. Believing in the Lord has encouraged me to climb from many valleys of despair and grief. The hand of God has pulled me from many an abyss and given me hope and an unbridled determination to press forward.
Just before my father died in 1999, I walked toward the head of his bed and whispered, “Dad, are you scared?” Without missing a beat, he answered, “What is there to be afraid of?” Then, as if they heard him, the angels took him home without fear in his soul.
That is what faith gave my father. Christ rising from death and walking among those who lived on earth assured us that we will run on grassy hills with those we love once again if only we believe.
