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PuzzlePalooza will offer Valentine’s Day activity in Habersham County

By
Staff Report
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Looking for your missing piece as Feb. 14 approaches? Habersham County Parks and Recreation has an option to help put the pieces together.

“We’re super excited to announce another special event we’re putting on for Valentine’s Day: PuzzlePalooza,” said Habersham County Parks and Recreation Director Brooke Whitmire. “Our first one is going to be on Valentine’s Day. Folks can bring their Valentines, Galentines, friends, family, etc. We’ll take teams of two to four people, up to 12 teams total.”

The cost to register is $15 per team with up to four team members.

The “Love You to Pieces” event for teams of two to four people will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14, at the Habersham County Ruby Fulbright Aquatic Center near Clarkesville.

Teams will have two hours to see who can complete a Valentine’s-themed 500-piece puzzle the fastest.

There will be prizes for the winners.

Valentine’s Day-themed refreshments and goodies will be provided to registered participants.

Click here to register online or visit www.habershamrecreation.com, click on Programs, search for Special Events, and click on PuzzlePalooza!

Piedmont basketball doubleheader v. Covenant postponed

By
Joseph Garwood
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(Piedmont Athletic Communications)

DEMOREST, Ga. – The Piedmont basketball doubleheader against scheduled for Jan. 16 at 5 and 7:30 p.m. has been postponed due to winter weather in the forecast for Lookout Mountain, Georgia.

The games will be made up separately, with the women now scheduled to take on Covenant on Thursday, Jan. 25 at 5 p.m.

The men’s basketball team will now take on the Scots on Thursday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m.

As always, updates will be made to the Piedmont Lions men’s and women’s basketball schedule pages.

Trump cruises to historic Iowa caucus victory; DeSantis edges past Haley

By
Robin Opsahl and Ashley Murray
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(Photo illustration via Canva, photos by Robin Opsahl and Jared Strong/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

(Iowa Capital Dispatch) — Former President Donald Trump is projected to win the Iowa Caucuses Monday night, according to The Associated Press, which calls unofficial results for American elections.

AP called the caucuses for Trump just after 7:30 p.m. Central, just 30 minutes into the Iowa precinct meetings. With more than 95% of the vote reported, Trump was leading in 98 of Iowa’s 99 counties.

Trump took the stage at his watch party at the Iowa Event Center in Des Moines, surrounded by supporters and family Monday night, celebrating his victory in the Iowa Republican caucuses.

“Iowa, we love you,” Trump said as the crowd cheered. “You are beautiful. You just go out and buy larger tractors and more land, don’t worry about it.”

The Republican front-runner was leading with 51.1% of the vote, nearly 30 percentage points ahead of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at 21.2%. The margin of victory broke the record of 12 points set by Bob Dole in 1988.

DeSantis, Haley vow to keep competing

“We got our ticket punched out of Iowa,” DeSantis said just before 10:30 p.m., saying he would go on to compete in upcoming primaries. DeSantis had predicted early in the campaign that he would win the caucuses.

Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who was narrowly leading Trump in Johnson County, was in third place with 19.1%.

Haley said she was going on to New Hampshire later Monday night and continued to predict she would be the last challenger to Trump left standing.

“The pundits will analyze the results from every angle. We get that. But when you look at how we’re doing in New Hampshire, in South Carolina and beyond, I can safely say tonight I will make this Republican primary a two-person race,” Haley said.

Ohio entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who came in a distant fourth place, suspended his campaign Monday and endorsed Trump. “… There is no path for me to be the next president absent things that we don’t want to see happen in this country,” Ramaswamy said.

All other candidates on the ballot — Texas businessman Ryan Binkley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, had less than 1% of the vote.

Trump entered the first-in-the-nation nominating contest with a historic lead in the most recent Iowa Poll by The Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom — leading at 48%, with Haley at 20% and DeSantis trailing at 16%.

The DeSantis campaign criticized the projection.

“It is absolutely outrageous that the media would participate in election interference by calling the race before tens of thousands of Iowans even had a chance to vote. The media is in the tank for Trump and this is the most egregious example yet,” said Communications Director Andrew Romeo.

Trump congratulates rivals

Most of the candidates held Iowa watch parties with supporters and media to track results before heading to New Hampshire and South Carolina, the first and second primaries in the GOP nominating process, to continue their campaigns.

The former president, who has spent much of his time on the campaign trail attacking his opponents for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, gave congratulations to DeSantis and Haley.

“I want to congratulate Ron and Nikki for having a good time together; we’re all having a good time together,” he said. “And I think they both actually did very well. I really do; I think they both did very well. We don’t even know what the outcome of second place is.”

He also congratulated Ramaswamy for getting roughly 8% in the Iowa caucuses.

Turnout tops 110,000 despite sub-zero temperatures

Turnout was brisk at precincts across the state despite arctic temperatures and recent winter storms.

According to early results released by the state Republican Party, more than 110,000 Iowans participated in the 2024 GOP caucuses. Though some predicted that high energy going into the nominating cycle could push the 2024 caucuses past the 2016 record of nearly 187,000 caucusgoers, 2024 participation levels fell somewhat short.

That lower participation rate may have been driven by winter weather – snow was falling in some areas of Iowa, and wind chill temperatures kept much of the state in dangerous travel conditions.

Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Jeff Kaufmann thanked the Iowans who braved record-low temperatures following a blizzard to come to the Iowa caucuses to “deliberate with members of their community about the future of our country.”

“I could not be prouder to be an Iowan than I am tonight,” Kaufmann said in a statement. “… Iowans coming out en masse demonstrates our people’s resilience and determination, as well as their confidence in the most transparent democratic process in the country.”

Candidates rally voters in final hours before caucuses

In the final hours before the state contest, candidates made their final push to bring Iowans out to caucus. Haley held events in Des Moines, Pella and Newton Monday, while DeSantis traveled to Sergeant Bluff, Council Bluffs, and Cedar Rapids to give his final rallying call.

DeSantis repeated his calls for his supporters to go out despite the cold weather in a Sergeant Bluff stop Monday afternoon. He promised that if Iowans would dedicate a few hours to supporting him on caucus night, he would be “fighting for you for the next eight years.”

He also said he believes his supporters are passionate enough about his campaign to show up. The Florida governor thanked volunteers and supporters who traveled to Iowa to phone backers and go door-to-door in the final days before the caucuses, saying it showed the energy behind his campaign.

“The former president, how many people that served that his administration are even willing to publicly support him — much less come in negative temperatures to go door to door?” DeSantis said. “Not a lot. Whereas with us, this is, this is what they want to do.”

In a tele-town hall less than two hours before the caucuses start, Haley answered questions from voters on issues from Israel to congressional term limits. The former United Nations ambassador said that as president, she would work to reduce divisiveness in American politics and change the “tone in our country” to bring Americans together.

She thanked Iowans for their kindness during her time on the campaign trail and urged them to go to the caucuses, bringing friends, family and voter ID.

“Make sure you spread the word, because we are going to do something that’s going to really make you proud,” Haley said. “And I will focus every day on proving that you made the right decision.”

Though Trump did not have public events scheduled before the caucuses Monday, he attacked his rival candidates in a post on TruthSocial. The former president called Haley a “Globalist RINO” who would not be supported by “MAGA” Republicans in the general election, adding that “Ron DeSanctimonious, at least, is MAGA-Lite” and that votes for Ramaswamy are “wasted.”

“Remember, I think MAGA is almost ALL of the Republican Party,” Trump wrote. “… It’s not going to happen for her, or DeSanctimonious!”

The Republican Party of Iowa released results on its website Monday night. The party had designated volunteers to record and report results at each precinct site using a web-based application, which will be posted publicly following verification by state GOP staff.

Proposed Georgia law would push social media companies to require minors to get parental consent

By
Ross Williams
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Lt. Gov Burt Jones. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

(GA Recorder) — Georgians under 16 could soon need to get permission from their parents before they can log on to social media if a bill backed by Lt. Gov. Burt Jones becomes law.

Senate Bill 351, sponsored by Dallas Republican Sen. Jason Anavitarte, would require social media networks to “make commercially reasonable efforts” to determine users’ ages and treat those under 16 as minor users.

Social media companies would need to get parental consent before opening an account for a minor user. The companies would be restricted in collecting information from and advertising to minor account holders.

The bill updates rules about bullying to include cyberbullying and institutes requirements for local districts. If it becomes law, districts will be required to adopt a social media policy banning students from accessing social media on school-provided devices, and the state Department of Education will be mandated to develop a program promoting safe and responsible internet use and update it as technology develops.

“Since we announced this initiative in August, Senator Anavitarte and I have worked with industry and education leaders, online safety advocates, and legal experts to craft this legislation, and we will continue working with them as this process moves forward,” Jones said. “We believe SB 351 is an important step forward in protecting Georgia’s children and giving them the tools they need to be safe in their use of social media and other technologies.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, teens can benefit from social media by connecting with friends across geographic boundaries, learning about new places and topics or learning new ways to express themselves, but social media can also harm teens, the researchers found, with some studies linking heavy social media use with mental health problems. Harmful effects can include loss of sleep, exposure to bullying and peer pressure, as well as negative feelings from unrealistic views of other people’s lives.

“As two dads, we believe we must keep our kids safe through the ever-growing threat of social media on minors,” said Anavitarte. “The threats are not just locally in our communities, but in the global stage as we have seen more recently.  No kid should have to worry and stress about bullying and online threats. We will continue to promote efforts to have strong families against the poison eroding America.”

States, including Arkansas and Utah, have passed similar laws. Social media companies say they take pains to make their apps safe for young users but would rather comply with one set of national regulations than many.

“Parents want to be involved in their teen’s online lives, and they need simple ways to oversee the many apps their teens use,” said Rachel Holland, a spokesperson for Meta, which operates platforms like Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. “However, U.S. states are passing a patchwork of laws with different requirements to use certain apps. That’s why we support federal legislation that requires app stores to get parents’ approval whenever their teens under 16 download apps.”

“We’re grateful for our partnership with Georgia policymakers and look forward to continuing to work closely with them to safeguard teens and empower parents,” she added.

SB 351 has been assigned to the Senate Committee on Education and Youth.

Phoebe McConnell Edwards

By
Now Habersham
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Phoebe Anne McConnell Edwards, age 72, of Clarkesville, Georgia, went home to be with her Lord & Savior on Saturday, January 13, 2024.

Born in Clarkesville, Georgia, on November 25, 1951, she was the daughter of the late John Earl & Alice Evelyn King McConnell. Phoebe married the love of her life, Claude Lamar Edwards, on October 22, 1987, and they enjoyed many wonderful years together before his passing in March of 2018. She worked for Habersham Medical Center in the early years and retired from Ethicon – A Johnson & Johnson Family Company after many dedicated years of service. In her spare time, Phoebe enjoyed traveling, giving to others, quilting, flower and vegetable gardening, canning, and cooking. She often shared her food or recipes with many around her community and enjoyed her early mornings with her coffee club friends on Facebook. Phoebe was of the Baptist Faith.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Claude Lamar Edwards, and two infant brothers.

Phoebe was the last surviving member of her immediate family.

Survivors include sisters-in-law, Clara Lee Helton of Cleveland, GA; Barbara Edwards of Clarkesville, GA; a special cousin, Mark McConnell & his wife Margie of New Mexico; many other cousins, Claude’s nieces & nephews; other relatives, a host of friends who were also considered family, as well as her faithful dachshund fur babies, Barney & Ruby.

Funeral services are scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Friday, January 19, 2024, at Hillside Memorial Chapel, with Rev. Kenneth McEntire & Rev. Jerrell Beatty officiating. Interment will follow in the Habersham Cemetery.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 2:00 p.m. until the service hour on Friday, January 19, 2024.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Gideons International, c/o Habersham North Camp, P.O. Box 1855 Clarkesville, GA. 30523 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by visiting www.st.jude.org/donate.

An online guest registry is available at www.HillsideMemorialChapel.com.

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

King’s granddaughter calls for goodwill among Georgians in celebration of civil rights icon

By
Stanley Dunlap
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Stone Mountain Democratic State Rep. Billy Mitchell, chairman of the Georgia Martin Luther King, Jr. Advisory Council, on Friday served as the master of ceremonies that drew more than 150 people to the state Capitol for an event honoring the former civil rights leader birthday. (Stanley Dunlap/Georgia Recorder)

During a speech at the state Capitol on Friday, the 15-year-old granddaughter of Martin Luther King Jr. said Georgia can continue to set an example for the rest of the country in how to fight for justice and equality that King championed before his assassination.

Yolanda Renee King, the only grandchild of the civil rights icon and his wife, Coretta Scott King, delivered a message of inspiration for Georgians as the keynote speaker as more than 150 people attended the state’s annual celebration of the civil rights leader’s birthday.

Federal and Georgia governments will be closed on Monday in observance of the King’s birthday holiday, celebrated every third Monday in January. In 1968, King was slain at the age of 39 after becoming the leading face of the nonviolent Civil Rights movement fighting systemic racism facing Black people across the deep South and other parts of America.

King said the strides made in Georgia over the past few decades to address long-standing injustices can continue this holiday weekend by residents taking the opportunity to honor King through community service.

“All Georgians can take pride that Martin Luther King Jr. called our state home and that even with all of the racial segregation of our past, he was able to sow seeds of interracial brotherhood and sisterhood into the red clay of this state,” she said during the event held inside the Capitol. “Under his leadership, people of all races and religions came forward to take a stand for justice and equality. Let us thank God that this spirit of interracial goodwill has prospered in Georgia perhaps more than any other state.”

 
Yolanda Renee King, the granddaughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., urged Georgians to renew their commitment to civil rights and equal opportunity during an MLK Day observance at Georgia’s Capitol on Jan. 12, 2024. (Stanley Dunlap/Georgia Recorder)

King would follow Friday in the footsteps of her aunt and King’s daughter Bernice King, who, during the state-sponsored 2020 tribute to her father, spoke about the ongoing battle against social injustices and economic inequalities.

King’s granddaughter highlighted the importance of the upcoming election year in 2024, when Georgians will elect state legislators and congressional members, and the entire nation will determine the next president.

“In the months ahead, America will be involved in political campaigns that threaten to divide our nation, and Georgia will surely be one of the most contested states,” she said. “But we who call Georgia home can set a different tone, a tone of mutual respect and goodwill, a tone of perseverance and friendship for all people that can still be exemplified by the non-violent spirit of Martin Luther King Jr.”

Friday’s ceremony was also an opportunity to acknowledge the June 29 death of King’s eldest sibling and a civil rights leader in her own right, Christine King Farris, who became one of four Black Americans to receive the distinction of lying in state at Georgia’s Capitol Rotunda.

Republican Gov. Brian Kemp said King’s unwavering dedication to racial equality is what eventually led to King’s wife and sister being honored in a way that was once denied to King by the state government.

A national poll conducted a few years before King’s death revealed that more than 60% of Americans held an unfavorable view of him. Gallup’s 1965 poll showed a stark difference between racial demographics, with 89% of Black people favoring King compared to 38% of White Americans.

Gov. Brian Kemp speaks during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day ceremony at the Georgia Capitol on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. (Stanley Dunlap/Georgia Recorder)

“We had an important opportunity to provide (Farris) the tribute that had been unjustly denied her brother decades before you know it was a shining example of the great strides made since his tragic death,” Kemp said. “But while we acknowledge the work that has been done, it is important to remember that we still have work that remains before us.”

During the ceremony, the Georgia Martin Luther King Jr. Advisory Council recognized this year’s winners of awards named after five former longtime Georgia residents who worked closely with King during the Civil Rights Era.

A lifetime achievement award named after the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis was presented to former state Rep. Calvin Smyre, known as the long-time dean of the House. The Columbus Democrat retired from the Legislature in 2022 after becoming the state’s longest-serving elected official with 48 years as a lawmaker.

Smyre shared this year’s lifetime achievement award with Omotayo Alli, who has been the executive director of the Georgia Public Defender Council since 2020 and is credited with improving legal representation for those who cannot afford it.

Also on Friday, Bishop Reginald T. Jackson,  who represents 500 Georgia churches within the African Methodist Episcopal Church’s Sixth Episcopal District, was presented with an award named after Rev. Joseph Lowery, a former president of the United Methodist Church who co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with King.

Family pets killed in Homer garage fire

By
Joy Purcell
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This detached garage near a home on Brown Circle in Homer burned early Monday morning, Jan. 15, 2024. The fire killed two family pets that were housed inside. (Banks County Fire Dept.)

An early morning fire in Banks County gutted a detached garage near a home in Homer, killing two family pets housed inside the garage.

Firefighters from Banks and Jackson counties responded to 116 Brown Circle around 5:18 Monday morning, Jan. 15. They arrived to find the approximately 900-square-foot structure fully involved in fire.

“The structure was a total loss,” says Banks County Fire Chief Steve Nichols. “No injuries were reported except for two animals that succumbed to the fire.”

The cat and dog that died belonged to the homeowner.

The Banks County Fire Department is investigating the cause of the fire. Nichols says, at this time, it appears to be accidental.

Austin Ball signs LOI with Belmont Abbey College

By
TFS Athletics
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With a promising senior season just days away, Austin Ball has penned his letter of intent with Belmont Abbey College to pursue his athletic and academic career post-graduation.

The soccer standout from Tiger, GA already holds several records for Tallulah Falls, as he is the all-time (52) and single-season (39) goals leader, as well as the all-time (39) and single-season (16) assists leader. Ball will take his talents to Belmont, NC to suit up for the Crusaders, who compete at the NCAA D-II level in the Conference Carolinas.

“Committing to Belmont Abbey has made me feel reassured that my hard work and dedication are getting me to my goals and dreams,” says Ball. “Belmont Abbey strives for greatness in more ways than just athletics. The sports team is made up of great men who work together to lift each other. The coaching staff is all amazing men who work to better their athletes in all forms of life.”

The coaching staff reciprocates those feelings about having Ball join their program.

“Belmont Abbey is a unique and special place,” says coach John Keating. “We try to recruit student-athletes to our college who are of the ‘both-and’ variety: Good, strong men of character who are also talented, young soccer players. In Austin, we think we have that combination. He has good soccer pedigree, good parentage, good schooling, and is an ideal fit for our program.”

“Congratulations to Austin on this remarkable achievement,” exclaims Stille. “It has been an absolute pleasure to witness Austin’s growth and leadership throughout his time with the TFS soccer program. From captaining the team since his freshman year to showcasing continuous success on the field, Austin has truly exemplified dedication and skill. As he embarks on this exciting journey to play for Belmont Abbey, we wish him all the best. May his passion for the game and exceptional leadership continue to shine at the collegiate level. We know he will make his family, peers and community as he continues to pursue his dreams at Belmont Abbey.”

Stille and the TFS program have been instrumental in helping get Ball to this point.

“Coach Stille has helped form me as a leader and helped build my work ethic,” adds Ball. “He taught me to take more in-game challenges head-on and be more competitive.”

Ball was the 2023 Region 8-A DI Player of the Year and was a GACA 1st Team All-State selection. The three-time All-Region honoree opens his senior season with 52 goals and 39 assists, as well as nine hat tricks. He becomes the third TFS athlete this academic year to sign an LOI and the seventh in school history to play soccer at the next level. He, along with all others in 2023-24 who sign a letter of intent, will be recognized at the second annual Next-Level Signing Ceremony in May 2024.

Baldwin awarded $17,300 public safety grant

By
Jerry Neace
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The Baldwin City Council met Tuesday January 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the Baldwin Municipal Courtroom. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)

The Baldwin Police Department has been awarded a $17,300 grant. During their regular monthly meeting on Jan. 16, the Baldwin City Council will vote to accept the grant.

Baldwin Chief Administrative Officer Emily Woodmaster said the police department applied for a First Responder’s Grant. The money will be used for police equipment and supplies.

During Tuesday’s meeting, the council is also expected to approve an agreement for a fiber internet line to be installed at the fire department. The agreement will be with Trailwave and will cost $3,100 for the installation.

The department is requesting the installation to improve connectivity. Currently, the fire department is using line-of-sight internet, better known as broadband, through the city’s installed service with North Georgia Network (NGN).

Council members will also recognize employees Susan Newsom and Cindy Hernandez. Newsom will be recognized for her length of service to the city and Hernandez will be recognized as the City Hall Employee of the Year.

The Baldwin City Council meets Tuesday, January 16, at 6:30 p.m. in the Baldwin Municipal Courtroom at 155 Willingham Avenue in Baldwin. The public is encouraged to attend.

Missing trees in downtown Clarkesville to be replaced

By
Jerry Neace
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Stumps line Washington Street across from The Attic in downtown Clarkesville. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)

If you have been to downtown Clarkesville in the past month, you may have noticed a few trees missing along Washington Street, just a few blocks east of the square. What is left of the trees are high-standing stumps and some sawdust.

Clarkesville City Manager Keith Dickerson says the trees were removed due to being sick and dying. The trees will be replaced and the replacement trees have already been purchased.

Removing the stump will take a little work due to the brick sidewalk and underground utilities. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)

The trees were cut down in December. The city is waiting for the contractor to remove the stumps.

Removing the stumps will not be an easy task. The contractor will have to remove some of the bricks from the sidewalk around the stumps. They will also have to be mindful of underground utilities.

The reason for the high-cut stumps is for easier removal with a machine.

Once the stumps are gone, the city plans to replant the trees sometime in February.

New bookmobile launches in Northeast Georgia

By
Staff Report
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The Northeast Georgia Regional Libraries’ plan to reach more people with its services is taking a major step forward with the launch of a new bookmobile.

The new Bookmobile houses an array of books, programming, and resources to make library resources more accessible for those who cannot access the physical locations. The aim is to remove the barriers that prevent people from accessing the library and its services.

The Bookmobile is a service of Northeast Georgia Regional Libraries and is available to all community members. Sponsorship opportunities are available for businesses and community leaders to support this service by helping the library reach more people.

Jenny Brooks, the newly appointed Bookmobile and Outreach Manager, said, “We’re passionate about fostering inclusivity and providing equitable access to the wealth of knowledge and experiences available through our libraries. The Bookmobile enables us to extend our reach and directly engage with those who might otherwise face challenges accessing our services.”

Upcoming bookmobile stops

There will be a series of grand opening celebrations this month.

The Bookmobile will make its first stop in Clarkesville on January 23 at 10 a.m. at the Clarkesville-Habersham County Library. On January 24, it will visit the Rabun County Library in Clayton at 10 a.m., and on January 25, the bookmobile will make its way to the Toccoa-Stephens County Library in Toccoa for another 10 a.m. grand opening celebration.

The bookmobile will travel to the Cleveland-White County Library on February 22 at 11:30 am.

Additionally, the bookmobile will make special Storytime stops in Cornelia and Helen on January 18 and 29, respectively.

The Bookmobile is part of the Northeast Georgia Regional Libraries’ commitment to reaching distant regions and breaking barriers to public library access.

For sponsorship inquiries or to request the Bookmobile at your community event, please contact Jenny Brooks at [email protected] or 762-230-0031.

This article was written using assistive AI technology

The Beekeeper

By
Justin Hall
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The Beekeeper stars Jason Statham in yet another action role that he can do for better or worse. In this case, the movie strongly succeeds because Statham has found both a story and character that he can tap into that gives some much-needed freshness.

Statham is Adam Clay, a beekeeper who lives with an older retired teacher (Phylicia Rashad). One day, the teacher gets involved in a phishing scam that leaves her bankrupt, and in a fit of desperation, she commits suicide.

Clay finds the body, and at first, he’s accused of murdering her, but then the charges are dropped. He decides to take the law into his own hands by finding the individuals responsible and declares a one-man war. Clay used to be a part of an organization that can supply him with the intel.

Josh Hutcherson and Jeremy Irons costar as the heads of the scam. While Irons makes the most of his screen time with a decent performance, Hutcherson is pretty miscast.

Emmy Raver-Lampman plays an FBI agent and also the deceased teacher’s daughter. She’s very much conflicted about Clay’s determination. On the one hand, she’s sympathetic to his point of view in seeking justice, but his methods make him the target of the FBI.

The scenes of Statham getting his revenge are done in a brutal albeit highly creative and occasionally darkly funny fashion. One scene involves him tracking down one of the scammers at a bridge and attaching him to his vehicle, and sending it off the bridge. Another scene has Statham taking out an assassin at a gas station with explosive results. These scenes give new life to a tried-and-true formula.

I have to admit that I walked into Beekeeper with low expectations, and by the end, I found it surprisingly entertaining. Director David Ayer and writer Kurt Wimmer have concocted a story that can be predictable, but the journey turns out to be a lot more fun than expected.

Not to mention, Statham arguably gives a performance that allows him to elevate the material beyond its potentially one-note premise. I’ve generally been hit or miss when it comes to his movies, but this one is a winner that hits the sweet spot.

It wouldn’t surprise me if we get The Beekeeper 2 in the next couple of years and I’d be all for it.

Grade: B+

(Rated R for strong violence throughout, pervasive language, some sexual references and drug use.)

 

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