One of the basketball goals damaged Tuesday evening in the gymnasium at the Demorest Municipal Complex. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)
During the Demorest special called meeting Wednesday evening, City Manager Mark Musselwhite announced that the gym had been vandalized.
The damage was minimal but damage was done nonetheless that will have to be paid for out of taxpayers pockets. The damage was to two basketball goals. One of the hoops was bent and one of the hoops had been broken off from the goal.
Musselwhite announced during the meeting that Police Chief Robin Krockum had pulled the video for the gymnasium. He stated that the incident occurred Tuesday evening at approximately 8:09 p.m.
The broken hoop that was recovered by Demorest city staff on Wednesday. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)
Musselwhite explained to the council that the video revealed that about 7 or 8 kids, mostly teenagers, were accompanied by two adults when the vandalism occurred. The video resolution was good enough to tell who the individuals were but staff did not recognize anyone in the video. The city would be contacting school resource officers on Thursday to assist in identifying the vandals.
Mayor Jerry Harkness stated, “This is a public use facility. We need to take care of it, make sure we can continue to use it.” He added, “Repairs, vandalism are not budgeted line items.”
Chief Krockum recommended that a camera be placed outside in an effort to capture license plates on vehicles parked outside. Musselwhite replied that he was already working on that.
Charles DeWitt Coker, age 87, of Eatonton, Georgia, formerly of Habersham County, Georgia, passed on Tuesday, January 9, 2024.
Mr. Coker was born on November 29, 1936, in Habersham County, Georgia, to the late Dan and Carrie Croy Coker. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife, Shirley Coker; daughter, Wanda Heinrich; brothers, Bobby Coker, James Coker, Randall Coker, Claude Coker; and sister, Effie Coker Davis. Mr. Coker was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Charles was a dedicated Air Force Veteran and served his country with honor. Following his military service, he continued to contribute to the aviation community through civil service as an Air Traffic Controller, where he retired following 22 years of dedication. Charles was a member of the Order of the Moose and Order of the Elks, embodying the spirit of camaraderie and service. He was a man of the outdoors, enjoying time camping, fishing, and hunting, and his green thumb was evident in his passion for vegetable gardening. Charles was also a keen numismatist, collecting coins with enthusiasm and curiosity.
Charles referred to himself as a” jack of all trades, but a master of none”; his diverse skills and talents were matched only by his love for storytelling. His tales captivated those around him, creating memories that will be cherished by family and friends alike. He was a man of unwavering integrity, earning him many nicknames over the years, each reflecting his honorable character. Above all, Charles DeWitt Coker was a family man, being remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Charles was honored to have the title of “Papa” to his grandchildren and “Big Papa” to his great-grandchildren. Charles will also be remembered for being a true man of his word, never breaking a promise, and carrying an unbreakable moral compass.
Survivors include his son, Scott Coker, of Eatonton; son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Maria Coker, of Eatonton; James and Jennifer Coker, of Stockbridge; countless grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunday, January 21, 2024, at the Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel, with military honor provided by the Grant Reeves Honor Guard at the conclusion of the evening.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial donations may be made to the Grant Reeves Honors Guard, 174 Cornelia Crossing Shopping Center, Cornelia, Georgia 30531.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, North Chapel, at 245 Central Avenue, Demorest, Georgia 30535. Telephone: 706-778-1700.
Rosalie “Rose” Sweat Graham, age 98, of Demorest, Georgia, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, January 08, 2024.
Rose was born in Water Valley, Mississippi, to Clifford and Autie Lee Sweat. She grew up in Paducah, Kentucky, where her father was a boilermaker for the Illinois Central Railroad. Rose also spent many enjoyable summers at the home of her maternal grandparents, Jackson Rhodes and Rosa Lee Underwood, near Hazelhurst, Georgia. After her father’s death, Rose and her younger brother, Morris, moved to Jacksonville, Florida, with their mother. Rose attended Andrew Jackson High School, where she ran track and played basketball. After graduating from Andrew Jackson, she attended Jacksonville Junior College (now Jacksonville University).
Rose married Vernon Graham of Denton, Georgia. The young couple first resided in Brunswick, Georgia, and then Nashville, Tennessee, where Vernon studied refrigeration and air conditioning principles while Rose worked for Spur Oil Distributing Company. The couple relocated to Jacksonville, where Vernon pursued a career as a civilian employee of the United States Navy at N.A.S. Jacksonville. The couple had one son, Danny, and Rose worked as a homemaker until Danny was a junior high school student.
She returned to her studies and then sought opportunities in finance. She worked for different companies as a bookkeeper and accounts receivable specialist and for Memorial Hospital as a special assistant to the comptroller. She next worked for the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services for the State of Florida, serving in various capacities, including statistician, payroll auditor, and currier, and data input specialist for the state hospital in Macclenny.
Rose was always an eager student taking advantage of work-related continuing education courses throughout her career. Upon retirement, she attended Jacksonville University, the University of North Florida, and Flagler College, studying computer science, history, and the humanities. In addition, she was a tour guide, historic site interpreter, and volunteer for the National Park Service in the St. Augustine area. She also worked for the NPS and on-site concessionaires at Glacier in Montana, Massanutten in Virginia, and Yellowstone in Wyoming.
Rose and her family were always active in the work of the church. During her lifetime, she served many area churches, including Hogan Baptist, Southside Baptist, Moultrie Baptist, and Ancient City Baptist. Rose taught Sunday School and directed Christian Education and Training. She volunteered with the Christian Ministry in the National Parks organization when she worked at various parks. She volunteered through Ancient City Baptist at the local food bank.
In April 2018, Rose moved to the Silver Creek Assisted Living Community, where she shared stories and participated in a variety of activities.
In 2021, at age 95, Rose wrote a short story that was published in the May-June 2021 issue of Good Old Days Magazine. “The Den of Iniquity” is the title of her light-hearted treatment of an incident from her childhood in Paducah, Kentucky, not long after the end of prohibition.
Most recently, Rose lived at Magnolia Hills in Demorest, Georgia.
Rose’s husband, Vernon, died in 1976, and Rose never remarried. She and her brother cared for their mother until Autie’s death in 1988. Rose’s brother, Morris, died in 1997, and her nephew, Harold Sweat (Morris and Bettye’s son), died in 2018. Her sister-in-law, Bettye Sweat, died in 2021. Rose is survived by her son Danny and his wife, Judith Ann; her granddaughters, Rebekah Saylors and her husband, Wes, and Ann Graham; and nieces, Linda Gerth and Suzanne Aboud; great nephew Rick Sweat; great niece Angelina Aboud; and many cousins.
An aerial survey team from Fisheries and Oceans Canada sight North Atlantic right whale “Specs” (#2930) in deteriorating health.
(Credit: DFO Science Aerial Survey Team)
A North Atlantic right whale calf spotted off the coast of South Carolina has been seriously injured and is likely to die after being struck by an ocean-going vessel.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released details about the injury Wednesday.
The agency says the calf and the calf’s mother were seen off Amelia Island, Florida, in December, meaning they traveled off Georgia’s coast.
It’s unknown where the calf was struck.
There are only about 360 whales left in the highly endangered species.
This was the 71st dead or seriously injured North Atlantic right whale spotted since 2017.
Wednesday’s news came a day after NOAA Fisheries announced a $10 million project to develop new technologies to protect the species.
“NOAA and its partners are working to stabilize the North Atlantic right whale population and prevent extinction of this species,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This partnership, made possible by funding from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, will allow us to develop and explore new technologies and tools to address the North Atlantic right whale crisis.”
According to the agency, North Atlantic right whales are approaching extinction with approximately 360 individuals remaining, including fewer than 70 reproductively active females. Primary threats to the species are entanglement in fishing gear and vessel strikes. Climate change is also affecting every aspect of their survival.
The Biden administration has proposed but not enacted new vessel speed limit rules to protect the whales from strikes.
Maritime interests have said such limits would threaten their business.
This article comes to Now Habersham in partnership with GPB News
Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns opened the door to the possibility that Georgia may expand Medicaid after years of balking at the prospect under the Affordable Care Act. Speaker Burns made his remarks at the annual Georgia Chamber of Commerce Eggs and Issues event in Atlanta on Jan. 10, 2024. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)
(GA Recorder) — House Speaker Jon Burns publicly opened the door to a conversation about fully expanding Medicaid through a “private option” that skirts traditional expansion but still extends health insurance to significantly more uninsured Georgians.
Burns, a Newington Republican who is in his second year leading the House, said in remarks to the state’s business community Wednesday morning that the chamber’s leading lawmakers on health care were in a fact-finding phase.
“When it comes to health care, there has certainly been a lot of discussion of late about Medicaid expansion,” Burns said at the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s Eggs and Issues event.
“Expanding access to health care for lower-income working families through a private option in a fiscally responsible way that lowers premiums is something we will continue to gather facts on in the House,” he said.
Republican leaders have steadfastly rejected full Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act for more than a decade, so the recent chatter represents a potential shift on the issue here. But there is no concrete proposal, and any movement this year is far from certain.
Georgia is one of 10 states that have not fully expanded Medicaid. Instead, under Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, the state expanded eligibility to low-income Georgians – but not to the extent traditional Medicaid would – and required people to complete 80 hours every month of work, school or other qualifying activity to gain and keep coverage.
Georgia’s program has had about 2,300 people sign up since its July launch. The governor’s office had projected that about 345,000 people could be eligible.
And Georgia, like all states, is also going through the process of checking the eligibility of all 2.8 million Georgians covered by Medicaid after the end of a pandemic-era federal rule protecting coverage during the public health emergency. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to lose coverage.
Georgia also has one of the highest uninsured rates in the country.
A special House panel created to look at hospital regulations last year met with officials from Arkansas, which pursued a waiver that allowed the state to expand coverage to the newly Medicaid-eligible through private insurance on the marketplace.
Any potential Medicaid expansion proposal is expected to be paired with proposed changes to the state’s certificate-of-need program, which controls how many medical services are allowed to be provided in an area.
Later Wednesday afternoon, Burns said the governor’s partial Medicaid expansion program was working and added that he thought it was at least “going in the right direction.”
“We’re allowing the governor’s objective and his plan to work, but certainly, we’re looking at other ideas, gathering facts, and we’ll continue to do our work,” Burns said to reporters.
Rep. Michelle Au is a Johns Creek Democrat and anesthesiologist who led the House Democrats’ Wednesday meeting on Medicaid expansion. (Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder)
As Burns was holding a press conference with reporters, House Democrats were holding a Medicaid expansion hearing across the street in a packed legislative meeting. Democrats heard from healthcare experts on the potential impact of full Medicaid expansion on both the state’s economy and the well-being of Georgians.
“It’s not just that we have really poor health outcomes – that would be enough – but we also have unconscionable inequities,” Dr. Harry Heiman, a public health professor at Georgia State University, said at the meeting. “The rural people in our state, the low-income Black and brown people in our state, they’re suffering. And they’re suffering needlessly because we failed to act in ways that we should.”
Democrats blasted the governor’s partial expansion plan, called Pathways to Coverage.
Rep. Tremaine Teddy Reese, a Columbus Democrat, panned the program as a “pathway to failure.” Rep. Scott Holcomb, an Atlanta Democrat, said it would be “policy malpractice” to continue to resist full expansion.
Rep. Michelle Au, a Johns Creek Democrat and anesthesiologist who led Wednesday’s meeting struck an optimistic tone about the potential change in direction this year.
“As we start this 2024 legislative session, it is my hope that all options are on the table,” Au said.
Garrison Douglas, a spokesman for the governor, declined to comment on whether Kemp was open to an Arkansas-style Medicaid expansion.
But Douglas did offer a comment touting the governor’s health care plans, including a reinsurance program that has found bipartisan support.
“The governor has championed and continues to support Georgia Pathways to Coverage and Georgia Access, which have provided Medicaid coverage to Georgians in need, reduced premiums across the state, and helped hundreds of thousands of Georgians sign up for private sector health insurance plans,” Douglas said.
Georgia Recorder reporter Ross Williams contributed to this report.
The Demorest City Council appointed a new fire chief during their special called meeting Wednesday January 10. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)
There is a new fire chief in town. David Scheurer (pronounced shur-er) got unanimous approval from the Demorest City Council in a special meeting Wednesday night.
City Manager Mark Musselwhite recommended the appointment of Scheure as the new Demorest Fire Chief.
Scheurer’s background
Scheurer currently holds the rank of Battalion Chief with the Jasper County Fire Department in South Carolina, just north of Savannah. He is assigned as the County Fire Marshal overseeing Code Enforcement officers and Fire Inspectors for the county daily.
Scheuer moved to the Atlanta area in 1995 and worked for a security company for the Olympics. From there, Schuerer moved to Forsyth County and according to Linkedin, he became a firefighter for the Forsyth County Fire Department in 1996 until 2012, where he obtained the rank of Fire Lieutenant.
Letter of recommendation
Musselwhite announced that he had received a letter of recommendation for Scheurer from State Representative Lauren McDonald who represents the 26th District (Cumming). McDonald and Scheurer worked together as firefighters years ago at Forsyth County.
Before the appointment, Musselwhite stated that it had been 86 days since Assistant Chief Palmer took over operations of the fire department. Musselwhite told the council that he and Palmer had several conversations this week. “I will tell you I will be going outside of our current roster to recommend to the mayor and council to appoint a new fire chief,” Musselwhite stated.
Mayor’s welcome
After the appointment, Mayor Jerry Harkness addressed Scheurer stating, “Dave, we welcome you to the city and we look forward to having you here in person.”
“I look forward to coming and serving your citizens and becoming a part of your community. It will be nice to be back at home,” Scheurer responded.
Demorest City Council appointed Dave Scheurer from Jasper County, SC as the new fire chief. Scheurer attended the meeting via Facebook. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)
Scheurer not only lived in north Georgia but his wife is from Cumming, and they have family in White and Habersham Counties. Musselwhite acknowledged that this is somewhat of a coming home for Scheurer.
Transition
Since Scheurer currently lives in South Carolina, his transition into the position will be delayed while he sells his house and makes the move to the area. His earliest start date will be February 20 and his latest start date will be March 11.
After the meeting, Musselwhite explained why he decided to recommend an applicant from outside the city for Fire Chief. “I did that because I looked at all the resumes and all the information and I looked at where I thought the fire department was today and I felt like bringing in some new blood.”
Musselwhite admits that hiring outside can be risky. “It can be a risky factor. I evaluated the risk factors and the rewards and I saw that as what was necessary for this roster (department).”
Baldwin Mayor Stephanie Almagno (far right) swears-in Erik Keith (far left), Kerri Davis (center), and Joseph Satterfield (right) during Tuesday evenings work session. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)
The city of Baldwin has three new Council members. Kerri Davis, Joseph Satterfield, and Erik Keith were all sworn in Tuesday evening during the council’s work session.
It marks an important event for the Baldwin City Council. It is the first time in a year that the council will have a full panel of members. With the resignation of then-Mayor Joe Elam, the resignation of Larry Lewallen, and Theron Ayers not seeking election, the year has been one of transitions.
Beginning of four-year term
The three new members, Keith, Satterfield, and Davis, all begin their first four-year term on the council. Keith was appointed three months ago after Lewellan resigned unexpectedly.
Mayor Stephanie Almagno allowed each of the new council members to address the citizens of Baldwin.
Keith, who moved to Baldwin in 2011, told the audience, “I’m still learning a lot but I’m looking forward to my role for the next four years.”
Davis became a Baldwin resident in 1999. “I’m excited to get started with the current council. I want to say thank you to everyone who voted for me.”
Satterfield, who told the audience that he was born in Baldwin in 1985, added, “I’m very pleased to get sworn in today. I would like to thank the Baldwin voters and will do my best to make sure your voice is heard.”
Over the last year, the council has gained a new mayor and three new council members. Almagno did not seek reelection for her council seat but instead opted to run for Mayor. She was elected this past November beating her opponent Tom Whitney in a hotly contested race.
Keith, Davis, and Satterfield all qualified last fall for each of the City Council seats. Each ran unopposed with no one else qualifying for a council seat.
MACON, Ga. – The Piedmont women’s basketball team dominated from start to finish, cruising past Wesleyan 95-52 on Wednesday night in Macon.
The Lions delivered a barrage from long range, making 12-of-20 from deep to run away from the Wolves in their first conference road contest of the season.
It was a balanced scoring attack from Piedmont, with all 15 players who participated finding the scoring column. The group was led by sophomore Brooklyn Begley, who delivered a season-high 14 points on 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. Two other Lions reached double figures, with Colby Reed pouring in 11 points in just nine minutes of action. The senior connected on 3-of-4 from long range.
Junior Nae-Nae Eades started and scored 10 points on 3-of-3 from the field and 4-of-6 from the free throw line.
After an Ashley Scott three-pointer gave the Lions the first points of the game and a 3-0 lead, the Wolves answered back to lead briefly at 6-5. However, from there, Piedmont reeled off a 21-3 run to end the quarter.
The second quarter saw Piedmont hold Wesleyan to nine points again in the second quarter while scoring 20+ again to run out to a 49-18 advantage at the break.
Although the Wolves picked up their offensive output in the second half, the Lions continued to push the pace and increase their lead, saving their best offensive quarter for last, with 27 points in the final 10 minutes.
Up next, the Lions will return home to host Belhaven this Saturday, Jan. 13 at 2 p.m.
TURNING POINT:
– Piedmont used a 21-3 run to finish off the opening quarter and establish a lead it never relinquished.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
– Begley tallied a season-high 14 points and came within one point of her career high, set last season against Wesleyan.
– Reed knocked down 3-of-4 from downtown in just nine minutes of action.
– Jordan Vernon scored nine points, including going 7-of-8 from the free throw line.
– Reagan York scored a career-high four points while Lexi Jarrard scored her first career points in a Piedmont uniform, knocking down a three-pointer.
– Hayley Borino delivered a season-high eight points on 4-of-5 shooting.
– Riley Bryan (8) and Emaline Rault (6) also scored season bests.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
– Piedmont’s 12 made three-pointers marks a season high in triples.
– The Lions held a 53-34 advantage in rebounds.
– Piedmont scored 28 points off 26 Wesleyan turnovers.
Nick Saban at a pre-game press conference in Pasadena, California, on Dec. 31, 2023. The Rose Bowl matchup against Michigan would prove to be his final game as Alabama head coach. (University of Alabama Athletics livestream)
Nick Saban’s coaching reign has come to an end. Wednesday night, the University of Alabama confirmed Saban’s departure from the job he’s held for the past 17 years.
The 72-year-old Saban, who has won more college football national championships than any coach in the modern era, released this statement after news of his retirement broke:
“The University of Alabama has been a very special place to Terry and me. We have enjoyed every minute of our 17 years being the head coach at Alabama as well as becoming a part of the Tuscaloosa community. It is not just about how many games we won and lost, but it’s about the legacy and how we went about it. We always tried to do it the right way. The goal was always to help players create more value for their future, be the best player they could be and be more successful in life because they were part of the program. Hopefully, we have done that, and we will always consider Alabama our home.”
Saban led the Tide to nine Southeastern Conference championships and won his first national title at Alabama with a 14-0 season in 2009. Titles came again in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2020. He also won the SEC with LSU in 2001 and 2003.
He coached the Miami Dolphins for two seasons (2005-06).
“Simply put, Nick Saban is one of the greatest coaches of all time, in any sport, and The University of Alabama is fortunate to have had him leading our football program for the past 17 seasons,” said Alabama Director of Athletics Greg Byrne.
Byrne called Saban “the consummate coach, mentor and leader.”
“While his time as our coach may have come to an end, his legacy will live on forever. What an honor it has been for us to have a front-row seat to one of the best to ever do it. A truly remarkable career for Coach Saban,” said Byrne.
‘The GOAT’
Colorado coach Deion Sanders, who has appeared with Saban in a series of commercials, had a strong reaction to both the Alabama coach’s retirement and the state of college football.
“WOW! College Football just lost the GOAT to retirement,” Sanders posted on X. “WOW! I knew it would happen 1 day soon but not this soon. The game has change so much that it chased the GOAT away. College football let’s hold up our mirrors and say HONESTLY what u see.”
Saban compiled a 297-71-1 (.806) collegiate coaching record, including a 206-29 (.877) mark in Tuscaloosa. His teams won a combined 11 SEC titles, going 11-1 in SEC Championship Games, including nine at Alabama (9-1 record) and two at LSU (2-0 mark). He also won 15 games with the Dolphins in 2005-06.
Saban developed an NCAA-record 49 NFL first-round draft picks (44 at Alabama).
Alabama President Stuart R. Bell said, “We are grateful for the lasting impact he has made on the lives of our student-athletes and the incredible memories his teams have created for our students, alumni, fans and supporters,”
(New Hampshire Bulletin) — Less than 24 hours after he said he wasn’t ready to drop his presidential bid, Chris Christie announced Wednesday in New Hampshire that he’s “suspending” his campaign. He did not endorse another candidate for the Republican nomination, instead questioning the integrity of all of them and criticizing Nikki Haley in particular.
In what sounded like a hot mic moment ahead of his planned remarks in Windham, Christie was heard on his campaign’s video feed predicting Haley would fail to win the nomination.
“Who’s punching above their weight and who’s getting a return on their investment?” Christie was heard saying to an unidentified person, noting that Haley’s campaign had outspent him by tens of millions of dollars. “And she’s going to get smoked, and you and I both know it.”
Later, he told the audience that he knew the Civil War was about slavery, a dig at Haley who cited a different cause during a town hall event in Berlin two weeks ago.
“I think the cause of the civil war was basically how the government was going to run,” she said. “The freedoms and what people could and couldn’t do.” She asked the voter who’d posed the question what he thought the cause was.
“I’m not running for president,” he said.
Christie had faced mounting pressure to leave the race with Haley, the candidate perceived most likely to pick up his supporters, rising in the polls.
Tuesday, a University of New Hampshire Survey Center poll showed Haley just seven points behind former President Donald Trump, “within striking distance,” it said. Two-thirds of undeclared voters who named Christie as their first choice said they’d back Haley if he dropped out.
Among those calling on Christie to leave the race was Gov. Chris Sununu, who endorsed Haley in mid-December. Shortly after Christie’s announcement, Sununu released a statement: “Chris ran a hard-fought campaign and is coming to this decision at a critical time,” it said. “Defeating Donald Trump requires a consolidated field and Nikki Haley has the momentum to do so.”
In remarks that ran nearly an hour, Christie said he would continue to make his case against Trump, but not as a presidential candidate.
“My goal has never been to be just a voice against the hate and the division and the selfishness of what our party has become under Donald Trump,” Christie said during remarks that ran nearly an hour. “It’s also been to win the nomination and defeat Joe Biden and restore our party and our country to a new place of hope and optimism.”
Christie went on to say, “I’ve always said that if there came a point in time in this race where I couldn’t see a path to accomplishing that goal, that I would get out. And it’s clear to me tonight that there isn’t a path for me to win the nomination.”
Following Christie’s announcement, Haley wrote on X, “Chris Christie has been a friend for many years. I commend him on a hard-fought campaign.”
Charles Edward “Ed” Stockton, age 80, of Demorest, Georgia, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, January 10, 2024.
Born in Toccoa, Georgia, on June 06, 1943, he was the son of the late Elem & Bertha Clara Minyard Stockton. Ed was a rock mason for many years. He retired from the City of Demorest after numerous years working for the Water Department. In his spare time, Ed enjoyed hunting, fishing, and golfing. Most of all, he loved spending time with his family and telling stories from past adventures. Ed was a member of Oakey Mountain Baptist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Mayfield Stockton; sisters & brothers-in-law, Betty Jean & Cleve Allen, Vernell & Junior Mize, Willie Ruth & Granville Eugene Mize; Martin Robinson; sister-in-law, Wanda Stockton.
Survivors include his daughters & sons-in-law, Brenda & Trevier Hart, Kim & Eddie Beeso; brother, Jimmy Stockton all of Demorest, GA; sisters & brother-in-law, Margaret & Marcel Dickerson of Rabun Gap, GA; Barbara Robinson of Clayton, GA; grandchildren, Kayla & Eric Watts; Christopher Mull; great-granddaughter, Ainsley Watts; special niece, Rhonda Carpenter; special nephews, Randy Robinson, Kale Mize, & Gary Allen; many other nieces, nephews, other relatives, & a host of friends.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at the Oakey Mountain Baptist Church.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Monday, January 15, 2024.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hillside Memorial Chapel in Clarkesville to help with funeral expenses.
Gov. Brian Kemp prepares to take the stage at Mercedes-Benz stadium to announce his 2024 priorities. (Ros Williams/Georgia Recorder)
(GA Recorder) — Georgia’s business elite and state leadership filled up Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium from endzone to endzone Wednesday morning for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s annual Eggs and Issues Breakfast, offering a sneak peek at the new laws that could shape the lives of the state’s 10 million-plus residents.
Anti-union action, billions in infrastructure projects and new restrictions on kids’ social media use could all be on the table. So could Medicaid expansion, long considered a third rail in the GOP-led state government.
Unions
One of Gov. Brian Kemp’s top priorities is a bill targeting labor unions by preventing businesses that seek state incentives from allowing unions to form without a formal, anonymous election.
“My commitment to you is that we will never cower to activists who seek to attack job creators and undermine the countless opportunities they create in communities across Georgia, big and small,” Kemp said. “We will remain a right to work state, and this legislative session, we will take further steps to protect workers and require transparency from unions.”
Gov. Brian Kemp. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)
Only 5.4% of Georgia workers were represented by unions in 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, down from 5.8% the year before. That’s lower than all but six other states.
“A lot of this is coming out because of the massive strikes that have been going on across the country,” said Zak Norton of Atlanta, an IATSE Local 600 camera technician in the film industry. “Georgia’s actually been affected by a few of the strikes, particularly in my industry, the film industry. And of course, the threat of UPS this summer was a huge issue, particularly in the South. And so what I think what’s going on is you’re seeing employers are trying to fight back.”
Norton said he’s particularly concerned about the bill’s effects on the film industry, which is spurred on by the state’s Film Tax Credit, which costs the state about $1 billion per year.
“When there’s more wealth in the middle class, there’s more prosperity for the rest of us and the rest of the state,” he said. “And that is a belief that I don’t think Kemp and his administration really believes, because of what we’re seeing. We’re seeing some of the unhappiest workforce in the country and some of the lowest union representation.”
James Clements, president of the Georgia State Council of Machinists, said he’d like Gov. Kemp to meet with members of his union.
“We are not sure who he is talking about in his statements, but it certainly isn’t the workers of the (International Association of Machinists),” he said. “We look forward to having a conversation about our workers and the security a contract gives us on the job. We are constantly working to improve dialogue between us and our elected officials. We think this is best achieved by taking out heavy rhetoric and bombastic language.”
“Machinists in Georgia represent a wide range of industry and are heavily loaded with defense workers. A lot of us voted for him,” he added. “We are also working folks who want a fair wage. Our union helps that. Let’s talk.”
Infrastructure and tort legislation
Kemp said stopping “frivolous” lawsuits from driving up business owners insurance premiums is a priority that will take longer than this year’s session to resolve.
“Like in every major undertaking our state has tackled in the past, we will work on a Georgia-specific solution; one designed to make meaningful reforms in this area over the next several years,” adding that his office will introduce the first legislation of a coming tort reform suite this year.
The governor’s speech also outlined some of the budget items he is set to announce Thursday at his annual state of the state address.
Kemp said his recommended budget will include $1.5 billion for the Georgia Department of Transportation for projects aimed at benefiting the movement of commuters and freight, and another $250 million for the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority to spend on local water and sewer projects.
The budget also calls for investments in medical training at two Georgia universities. If the plan passes, Georgia Southern University would receive $178 million to build a dental school in Savannah. Now, the only dental school in Georgia is the Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University.
“I am also proposing 50 million dollars for a medical school at our flagship institution – the University of Georgia,” he said. “This will go a long way to helping us address the medical workforce gap Georgia has struggled with for years.”
Medicaid Expansion
House Speaker Jon Burns raised eyebrows with a suggestion that Georgia is considering expanding Medicaid.
Speaker Jon Burns. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)
“When it comes to health care, there has certainly been a lot of discussion of late about Medicaid expansion. Expanding access to care for lower income working families through a private option in a fiscally responsible way that lowers premiums is something we will continue to gather facts on in the House.”
Georgia is one of ten states that have not adopted full Medicaid expansion, which extends coverage to adults who make less than 138% of the federal poverty level. Expansion could provide access to health care for hundreds of thousands of low-income Georgia adults. The opposition has been largely ideological, with GOP state lawmakers erecting roadblocks to expansion under the Affordable Care Act.
Speaking to reporters after the event, Georgia Chamber President and CEO Chris Clark said the General Assembly will consider models approved in other states, including Arkansas. Arkansas’ Medicaid expansion was unusual in that instead of enrolling the expansion population into existing Medicaid programs, Arkansas used the money to buy private insurance for most of its qualifying residents.
Elections
On Monday, as lawmakers convened for the first day of the Legislative session, dozens of 2020 election-denying protesters walked through the Capitol with signs calling for paper ballots and rallied in the public square behind the building.
On Tuesday, Vice President Kamala Harris flew into Atlanta to call on voting rights advocates and elected officials to continue to fight for expanded access to the ballot box.
The Republican-led Legislature passed a voting overhaul in 2021, which Democrats call an attempt to stifle votes.
Burns said the House will continue to tweak Georgia election law ahead of the big November election.
“We’re going to look at making our State Board of Elections more autonomous by separating them from the Secretary of State’s office,” Burns said. “This will allow them to adjudicate election complaints more efficiently, independently and impartially. Second, we’re going to strengthen the security of our ballots by moving away from the QR code on balance, which many voters find confusing, and towards visible watermarks on security paper to denote voter selections.”
Burns also pledged to nip a new type of high-tech election interference in the bud.
“We want to prevent any election interference through the use of generative AI by creating significant criminal penalties for any bad actors attempting to alter an election,” he said. “When voters see a political advertisement from a candidate or campaign, they should have the utmost confidence that is that candidate’s voice, image and likeness, not a robot’s.”
Education and children
The Legislature’s technological aspirations for the year don’t stop at AI deepfakes. Burns Wednesday echoed a call from Lt. Gov. Burt Jones to limit children from accessing potentially harmful aspects of social media.
“We’re going to look at things like age verification, parental consent, as well as strengthening cyberbullying definitions and penalties to create safer learning environments in our schools,” he said.
States including Utah and Arkansas have passed social media age verification bills, which require social media users to prove their age and restrict what content is available to minors.
Major social media companies argue against these bills, often advocating for blanket federal regulations rather than different rules for different states.
In his remarks, Jones called for the resurrection of a controversial education bill that passed his chamber last year, but stopped short in the House: expanding school vouchers by offering $6,000 to parents in low-performing districts to pull their children out of public schools.
“I’m a son of a public educator, but I’m also somebody who believes in public education, but I also believe in giving opportunities and choices to parents,” Jones said. “We’ve got a lot of great public school systems, but even in the best public school system, it might not be the right fit for an individual child. And so in cases like that, we need to have choices and other opportunities for those parents to feel like they’re empowered.”
Last year’s bill was scuttled by a group of House Republicans who voted with nearly all of the Democrats, who argue that vouchers take money away from public schools and don’t provide enough cash for the average private school tuition.
Speaking with reporters Wednesday afternoon, Burns expressed his support for the idea and his optimism for its chances.
“I’ve had conversations with the proponents, go out and educate my members, and then let’s see what we can do. So it’s an ongoing conversation.”
