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Cornelia City Commission tackles housing and growth issues

By
Carly McCurry
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Judge Wink Verdery administers the oath of office to Commissioners Janice Griggs and Don Bagwell during a Cornelia City Commission meeting. (Carly McCurry / Now Habersham)

Cornelia city leaders opened the new year by tightening governance policies while confronting rising housing costs, infrastructure needs, and long-term growth pressures.

Commissioners held their first meeting of the new year on Tuesday, Jan. 6. During the meeting, Judge Wink Verdery administered the oath of office to Commissioners Janice Griggs and Don Bagwell. Later in the meeting, the commission voted to appoint Griggs as Mayor Pro Tem for 2026, positioning her to assume mayoral duties when needed during the coming year.

City Manager Donald Anderson acknowledged that previous methods of appointing members to city committees contributed to public distrust and announced a new policy requiring city commission approval for future committee appointments. The policy applies to permanent boards as well as temporary committees formed for specific projects, placing appointment authority directly with elected officials.

Housing needs and recommendations

Commissioner Janice Griggs listens attentively during the Housing Needs Assessment presentation. (Carly McCurry/NowHabersham.com)

As they look to the new year, commissioners couldn’t help but look back at recent controversy surrounding efforts to annex land for a large housing development. While that annexation request failed, housing remains a significant issue in Cornelia.

The Georgia Conservancy delivered a remote presentation on the city’s Housing Needs Assessment. The Conservancy research revealed the average cost of a home in Cornelia is now around $333,000, up from $167,000 in 2019. Monthly housing costs have nearly doubled, from $1,472 to over $2,700.

The Conservancy offered several key zoning recommendations to help address the city’s need for affordable housing. Those recommendations include:

  • Reduce minimum lot sizes in all land use categories
  • Reduce minimum acreage requirements in all residential zoning categories
  • Reduce maximum impervious surface ratio, particularly for R-1A, R-18, and R-2
  • Reduce setback requirements and/or restrictions in all residential zoning categories
  • Permit zero lot line setbacks, particularly in the historic district
  • Allow missing middle housing types -primarily Al construction – by-right on all residentially zoned lots. removing the need to go through a zoning variance to approve and develop missing middle housing types
  • Introduce cottage court and ADU ordinances to help guide and normalize this type of development in
  • Keep Cornelia’s historic district parking requirements, which are significantly lower than the rest of the city’s requirements
  • Include on-street parking in minimum parking requirements, where appropriate
  • Remove HOA requirement for new residential subdivisions
  • Streamline small scale subdivisions: Increase leniency on small scale lot mergers and lot subdivisions, such as four parcels merging or one parcel subdividing into four. This is essential for creating more fee-simple opportunities for small scale homeownership.
  • Streamline the Development Review Process: clearly articulate requirements, timelines, and fees for the development approval process. This is especially important in and around Comelia, given that developers are navigating eight zoning and development approval processes throughout Habersham County and its seven incorporated municipalities.

Anderson said the presentation would be posted on the city’s website. A public link to the livestream is available on Cornelia’s Facebook page.

$800K property purchase and road closure

Commissioners approved the purchase of property connected to the city’s wastewater treatment plant expansion, authorizing the acquisition of a tract owned by Higgins Construction for use in expanding wastewater capacity. City staff explained that the property sits adjacent to existing facilities and supports future system upgrades tied to population growth and development. The approved purchase price was $800,000.

The commission also approved a resolution to abandon an unopened and unfinished roadway known as Catch Drive. The city attorney, Steve Campbell, stated that the street had never been constructed, contained no utilities, and was not needed for future access. Property owners on both sides of the right-of-way requested the abandonment, and the commission approved the resolution.

Cornelia City Commission members Mark Reed, Janice Griggs, Mayor Don Bagwell, and Tony Cook gather for the first Commissioner’s meeting of the new year.
(Carly McCurry / Now Habersham)

Boy Scout hut plans move forward

Commissioners approved a new lease agreement with Boy Scout Troop 24 for the scout hut located near the community house at City Park.

Anderson explained that the agreement replaces the original 1953 lease and allows the troop to continue using the property as long as it serves scouting purposes. If the building ceases to be used for that purpose, the city may terminate the lease with 90 days’ written notice.

During the discussion, staff noted that the building is currently in poor condition and has not hosted regular meetings since the COVID-19 pandemic. The troop is raising funds for repairs, with the Kiwanis Club identified as the sponsoring organization for the fundraiser.

Suspect claims ‘meth license’ before trafficking arrest in Hart County

By
Kevin Angell
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(NowHabersham.com)

HARTWELL, Ga. — A Hartwell man faces multiple felony charges, including fentanyl trafficking, following a traffic stop early Saturday morning in Hart County.

The Hart County Sheriff’s Office reports that a deputy pulled over a silver 2003 Honda Accord on Reed Creek School Road at approximately 4 a.m. on January 3rd. The driver was identified as 30-year-old Aaron Allen Jackson.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, a search during the stop yielded significant quantities of narcotics. Deputies reportedly found a glass pipe and a cigarette pack in Jackson’s pocket containing a bag of fentanyl, along with methamphetamine and additional fentanyl folded inside U.S. currency.

A subsequent search of the vehicle allegedly uncovered another bag of fentanyl and more currency containing the drug, hidden beneath the car’s radio.

Authorities noted that during the investigation, Jackson told deputies he held a “license to use methamphetamine.”

Jackson was taken into custody and charged with the following:

  • Trafficking in fentanyl
  • Possession of a Schedule II controlled substance with intent to distribute
  • Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute
  • Possession of drug-related objects
  • Vehicle equipment violation

Jackson was booked into the Hart County Jail and is currently being held while the investigation continues.

Cleveland Council purchases property for new municipal facilities

By
Dean Dyer, WRWH Radio
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The proposed new Cleveland City Hall/Police Station at 55 Cantrell Road. (Dean Dyer/WRWH)

CLEVELAND, Ga. — The Cleveland City Council has voted to provide City Hall and the Police Department with a new home.

Following an executive session Monday night, the council voted to purchase real estate — specifically the office building at 55 Cantrell Road — from MountainCraft Holdings LLC. The building formerly housed the office of Dr. Denise Workman.

A motion by Council Member CJ McDonald, seconded by Council Member Nan Bowen, authorized the purchase at a price not to exceed $1,803,400. Of that amount, $1.1 million will be paid at closing, with the remainder financed by the seller.

The city is expected to close on the property within 120 days.

In a statement, Cleveland Mayor Josh Turner said city leaders have taken a “methodical and deliberate approach” to planning for future municipal facilities.

“While each of us brings different ideas, we all agree on a central goal,” Turner said. “We all believe in investing in our infrastructure and improving our facilities to better serve our community while avoiding a substantial long-term financial burden on our taxpayers.

“With the successful completion of our new fire station on East Underwood, we are now able to formalize the next phase of this plan: the purchase of a new property that will allow us to relocate City Hall and the Police Department into a single, multipurpose municipal complex,” he said. “This consolidation will improve efficiency, accessibility and coordination among city services, all while making responsible use of public resources.”

Turner noted the current City Hall, constructed in the 1950s, no longer meets the needs of a modern and growing community.

The city anticipates relocating City Hall and the Police Department to the new property during fiscal year 2026–27, which begins July 1, 2026.

“This investment represents a thoughtful, long-term commitment to public service, safety and fiscal responsibility, ensuring that our facilities meet the needs of our community for decades to come,” Turner said.

Wheels are turning for Bicycle Columbus 

By
Mitzi Oxford
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Bicycle Columbus is hiring an Executive Director.

The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety has awarded a grant of $72,554 to Bicycle Columbus. The money will be used to hire the organization’s first Executive Director.

The job will include organizing events to distribute educational and safety materials, conducting pedestrian and bicycle conditions audits, hosting family-friendly group bicycle rides, and partnering with community organizations in their efforts to make streets safer.

“Innovative projects like this are designed with the intent for Georgia and our nation to reach the realistic goal of zero traffic deaths by the middle of this century,” said Allen Poole, Director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. “Each life saved on our roads is one less family that will have to live with the pain of losing a loved one whose life was taken from them in a traffic crash that was completely preventable.”

“Bicycle Columbus and GOHS share the same vision for a Georgia with zero traffic deaths,” said John Jackson, President of Bicycle Columbus. “This partnership will enable Bicycle Columbus to continue making bicycling and walking safer for everyone in our community.”

Bicycle Columbus was founded in 2012 as a volunteer led organization.

Bicycle Columbus’ mission is to promote safe walking and bicycling for transportation and recreation and to advocate for improved bicycle and pedestrian conditions in Columbus, Georgia. Since its founding in 2012, it has been 100% volunteer run with little budget. In 2024, it expanded its mission to promote pedestrian safety. Every year the organization hosts several community events, including free bicycle maintenance clinics and Ride with the Mayor.

“With traffic injuries near a record-high in Georgia and nationwide,” said Jackson, Bicycle Columbus’ mission has grown beyond its all-volunteer organization, and we are ready to bring on an Executive Director who can work full-time.” 

For more information on the director position, click here. Review of applications will begin on January 22, 2026, and continue until the position is filled. 

Baldwin swears in new mayor, council members as work session previews policy changes

By
Patrick Fargason
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New Baldwin mayor Doug Faust takes his oath of office at Tuesday's work session. (Patrick Fargason/Now Habersham)

BALDWIN — Baldwin officially ushered in a new era of city leadership Monday night, swearing in a new mayor and council members before turning to a work session that previewed potential changes to public safety operations, city ethics policy and employee scheduling.

Outgoing Mayor Stephanie Almagno called the meeting to order and opened with remarks thanking city staff, council members and residents for their service to the community.

“You have an opportunity to work for your neighbors and help solve the everyday issues that matter — sanitation, public safety and quality of life,” Almagno said. “Our residents are the reason we do what we do.”

Almagno praised city employees across departments, noting that police, fire, water and wastewater staff serve the community around the clock

“They are the face of our community and the heroes we call when we need help,” she said.

She also thanked council members for their service and acknowledged the demands of public office before congratulating newly elected officials.

“Thank you to the citizens of Baldwin for allowing me six years of service, including two years as mayor,” Almagno said. “I wish you all peace and good health.”

Doug Faust was sworn in as Baldwin’s new mayor, along with new council members Joe Elam and Mike Tope.

Faust told Now Habersham his top priorities include improving water and sewer infrastructure, restoring confidence with residents and pursuing responsible economic development.

“I really want to work with Baldwin to improve our infrastructure, particularly water and sewer,” Faust said. “That was one of the commitments I made during my campaign.”

Faust said rebuilding trust between city leadership and residents will be critical moving forward.

“I think one of the biggest issues right now is restoring confidence with residents, so they understand the opportunities ahead,” he said.

Elam, who previously served as Baldwin’s mayor, told Now Habersham that fiscal discipline

will be one of his main focuses as he returns to council.

“One of my top priorities is right-sizing the city’s budget,” Elam said. “Recent spending has grown at an unsustainable rate.”

Elam also asked residents for patience as the new council begins its work.

“I would ask the citizens of Baldwin to give us a little grace and some time to make changes that can’t happen overnight,” he said. “As one member of a five-member voting body, I will always keep the concerns of the citizens in mind, even if I end up standing alone on a vote.”

Following the swearing-in, the council moved into a work session with no votes taken.

Police items before the council

Baldwin City Council members and Mayor Doug Faust listen to employee reports during their first work session of the new year on Jan. 6, 2026. (livestream image)

Baldwin Police Chief Chris Jones outlined plans to restructure the city’s code compliance position, recommending the sworn role be moved back under the police department. Jones said the city has been without a code compliance officer since late summer.

“I don’t have the exact date, but it was around August or September, so roughly four months,” Jones said. “A good code compliance officer is proactive — they’re out riding the streets, not just waiting on complaints.”

Jones said the position could also assist with court security and investigative overflow without increasing costs.

“When the investigator is tied up on a felony case that requires outside forensic interviews,

the code compliance officer can step in and take an initial report,” Jones said. “That allows us to keep investigations moving.”

Jones also addressed school resource officer budget items, noting the position is fully reimbursed by the Habersham County Board of Education and carries no cost to the city.

“This was a rare opportunity built on trust,” Jones said. “We’ve made significant strides in that relationship.”

Firefighter schedule changes

Fire Chief Ross Jackson presented a proposed pilot program to test alternative firefighter schedules aimed at improving rest and family time without increasing costs.

“This doesn’t change anything budgetary or the number of days firefighters work,” Jackson said. “It simply gives them more time to recover and be more present with their families.”

Jackson also discussed a proposal to sell the department’s mini pumper, saying the apparatus no longer fits the department’s operational needs.

“In theory, it was meant to get us started on a call, but in practice, you can start with it and you can’t finish,” Jackson said.

Ethics Ordinance

City Attorney David Syfan presented a draft ethics ordinance, describing it as the city’s first formal step toward establishing an ethics framework for elected officials and employees.

“This is the city’s public commitment to becoming a city of ethics,” Syfan said.

Elam and Tope both urged the council to allow more time for review before bringing the ordinance to a vote.

“Any ordinance like this needs time, especially for new council members,” Elam said.

No votes were taken during the work session, with several items expected to return for consideration at the council’s regular monthly meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 20.

ICE officer fatally shoots driver through car window in Minneapolis

By
Max Nesterak, Madison Mcvan and Alyssa Chen
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The crashed SUV after an ICE agent shot the driver at point-blank range through the window. The driver died, according to the Department of Homeland Security. (Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)

(Minnesota Reformer) — An ICE officer fatally shot a woman driving an SUV through her car window in south Minneapolis on Wednesday morning.

The deadly confrontation immediately ratcheted up the intensity of what was already a brutal crackdown on Minnesota and its immigrants by the Trump administration, and in a community with raw memories of the police murder of George Floyd.

Video of the incident shows masked ICE officers approach a Honda Pilot stopped in the middle of Portland Avenue near 34th Street. One officer tells the driver to “get out of the f*cking car” and tries to open the door. The driver then slowly backs up and then pulls forward, appearing to try to leave. An officer at the front of the vehicle fires three shots and the SUV travels a short distance before crashing into a parked car.

The woman was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead, the Minneapolis chief of police said.

A group of Minneapolis City Council members identified her in a statement as Nicole Renee Good, an American citizen. They said she was a “member of our community” and demanded justice for her killing. She was 37 years old, according to the Minneapolis mayor.

Tricia McLaughlin, assistant Secretary Dept. of Homeland Security, writing on X, gave a different version of what happened: “One of these violent rioters weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them — an act of domestic terrorism. An ICE officer, fearing for his life, the lives of his fellow law enforcement and the safety of the public, fired defensive shots.”

MAGA supporters showed video from different angles that purported to show the officer acting in self-defense, while former senior Obama administration official Tommy Vietor reshared the video on X and called the incident, “an execution by this ICE officer.” Americans can expect a debate over the shooting for years to come, regardless of the outcome of any investigations.

WARNING: This video contains graphic images and strong language that some may find offensive. 

 

The witness who took the video, Caitlin Callenson, said she was on a walk when she saw an ICE vehicle stuck in the snow. As more ICE vehicles arrived, bystanders blew whistles in protest, and the driver of the SUV tried to block the ICE vehicles.

Callenson said she did not see ICE agents attempting to detain anyone leading up to or after the shooting.

After the shots were fired, the driver was “then was completely slumped over in the vehicle,” said Emily Heller, another witness.

Federal agents wouldn’t allow a man who said he is a physician to examine the driver, Heller said. Emergency medical technicians arrived 15 minutes later, she said. First responders were unable to get close to the scene because ICE agents did not move their cars to let them through.

Law enforcement sprays demonstrators with chemical irritants at the scene where an ICE office shot and killed a 37-year-old woman in her car in Minneapolis on Jan. 7, 2026. (Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)

“There was chaos and ambulance and fire trucks couldn’t get through,” Callenson said. “They had to walk through all of the ICE vehicles on foot to try to administer first aid.”

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he had been dreading this moment since the Department of Homeland Security began ramping up immigration enforcement in the Twin Cities in recent weeks, sending thousands of officers to the state in what the Department of Homeland Security is calling its “largest operation ever.”

Frey called ICE’s statement saying the shooting was in self-defense was “bullsh*t” and blasted the agency’s presence in the city saying they’re only “causing chaos and distrust.”

“To ICE, get the f*ck out of Minneapolis,” Frey said.

He urged residents to remain peaceful and not “take the bait” from the federal government.

“They want us to respond in a way that creates a military occupation in our city,” Frey said. “Let’s not let them.”

Dozens of federal agents from ICE and the FBI, as well as Minneapolis police officers and Hennepin County sheriff deputies responded to the scene.

While ICE agents left the scene, the standoff between law enforcement and protesters is ongoing.

As some federal officers attempted to leave, protestors blocked their vehicle. The officers fired a noxious gas at close range, causing distress and vomiting for many demonstrators and journalists

Protesters hurled insults at Minneapolis Police officers, who are not supposed to assist with immigration enforcement, but were on the scene Wednesday morning.

After law enforcement cleared the scene, demonstrators placed white roses where blood stained the snow.

People lay white roses where a 37-year-old woman was shot and killed by an ICE officer in Minneapolis on Jan. 7, 2026. (Madison McVan/Minnesota Reformer)

City Council members including Robin Wonsley and Jamal Osman addressed the crowd, saying the area was an active crime scene, and that MPD was present to investigate.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said at a Wednesday press conference that they have yet to see information indicating that the shooting was justified and there was nothing to indicate the woman was a target of immigration enforcement activity, O’Hara said.

Minneapolis police officers secured the crime scene to preserve evidence, O’Hara said. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is now jointly conducting an investigation into the use of deadly force with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt emphasized the need for local involvement in the investigation for transparency: “With all due respect to the federal level, we do need to make sure that our local agencies are involved.”

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty issued a statement soon after the shooting saying “pushing hard for a local investigation which is the only way to ensure full transparency and review by our office.”

U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, a St. Paul Democrat, called on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who filmed herself observing ICE actions in Minneapolis on Tuesday, to immediately stop the ICE operation “to restore order and prevent further injuries.”

Rabid Fox located off Mobley Road

By
Robbie Watson
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Fox tests positive for rabies/NowGeorgia.com

A fox from the Ranch Forest Subdivision off Mobley Road in Columbus was tested on January 6, 2026, by the Georgia Public Health laboratory and found to have rabies. Residents and visitors to this area are strongly advised to take precautions.

If you know of anyone who may have come into contact with a fox, contact Columbus Environmental Health Office, Columbus Animal Care and Control Center and have them contact their physician.

Suspect arrested for child solicitation facing additional charges

By
Robbie Watson
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(Opelika Police Department)/NowGeorgia.com

On Tuesday, January 6th, 2026, members of the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office Collaborative Intelligence Group (CIG) executed a search warrant in Muscogee County during a joint investigation with the Opelika (AL) Police Department. The Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office executed the search warrant at the home residence of Don Anthony LeBeouf, after being contacted by the Opelika Police Department on January 5th, 2026.

The Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office seized multiple cameras, cellular phones, and other digital storage devices, along with 7 firearms (2 shotguns, 3 rifles, and 2 pistols) and 90 pills of un-prescribed alprazolam (a schedule IV controlled substance).

Investigators also located a video surveillance camera concealed inside a vent in a bathroom of the residence set up to record occupants. There were 7 children located inside the residence when Sheriff’s Investigators executed the search warrant. The camera was located inside the bathroom used by the children.

Don Anthony LeBeouf remains in the Lee County Jail on charges with the Opelika Police Department. The Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office is also issuing warrants for LeBeouf on the following charges:
• 7 Counts Unlawful Eavesdropping and Surveillance
• 3 Counts Sexual Exploitation of Children
• Violation of the Georgia Controlled Substance Act – Schedule IV (Alprazolam)

This is an active investigation. Investigators are conducting multiple interviews and exploring digital platforms for evidence. Additional warrants and criminal charges are likely pending for LeBeouf as the investigation continues.

Attorney for Rob Reiner’s son resigns, says client not guilty of murder under state law

By
Joy Purcell
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Alan Jackson, the attorney for Nick Reiner, speaks during Reiner's arraignment on murder charges for the deaths of his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Los Angeles. (Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times via AP, Pool)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The high-profile private attorney for Nick Reiner resigned from his case Wednesday for reasons he said he could not reveal, and he later told reporters that under California law his client is definitely not guilty of murder in the killing of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner.

“Circumstances beyond our control and more importantly circumstances beyond Nick’s control have dictated that, sadly, it’s made it impossible to continue our representation,” lawyer Alan Jackson said as he stood with his team outside a Los Angeles courthouse.

But, Jackson added, after weeks of investigation, “what we’ve learned, and you can take this to the bank, is that pursuant to the laws of this state, pursuant to the law of California, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder. Print that.”

Jackson would not specify what he meant and took no questions at the brief news conference, but it was the first direct statement from a Nick Reiner representative about his guilt or innocence in the 3 1/2 weeks since the killings.

He spoke after a hearing where Reiner was supposed to be arraigned and enter a plea to two charges of first-degree murder. Instead, after meeting with the Judge Theresa McGonigle in chambers, Jackson, at his own request, was replaced by a public defender and the plea hearing was postponed to Feb. 23.

Jackson does not say why he has to quit case

Jackson said that for legal and ethical reasons, he could not reveal why he had to resign. He first appeared in court representing Nick Reiner at a hearing a few days after the beloved actor-director and his wife of 36 years were found dead with stab wounds in their home in the upscale Brentwood section of Los Angeles. Jackson did not say how he was hired — or who hired him. Generally, defendants use public defenders when they can’t pay for a private attorney.

Jackson has become one of the most prominent defense attorneys in the nation in recent years after his defense of clients including Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey and Karen Read at her intensely followed trials in Massachusetts.

Deputy Public Defender Kimberly Greene took over as Reiner’s attorney during the hearing.

“The Public Defender’s Office recognizes what an unimaginable tragedy this is for the Reiner family and the Los Angeles community,” LA County Public Defender Ricardo D. Garcia said in a rare public statement on a case from the office. “Our hearts go out to the Reiner family as they navigate this difficult time. We ask for your patience and compassion as the case moves through the legal process.”

A Reiner family spokesperson said in a statement after Wednesday’s hearing that “They have the utmost trust in the legal process and will not comment further on matters related to the legal proceedings.”

Nick Reiner appears in jail clothes, without suicide prevention smock

During Wednesday’s hearing, Reiner stood behind glass in a custody area of the courtroom wearing brown jail garb and with his hair shaved. Two deputies stood behind him. Jackson and his team stood in front of him on the other side of the glass. At one point, Reiner stood on his tiptoes to peer over the lawyers’ heads to look at the audience. He spoke only to agree to the delayed arraignment.

McGonigle approved the use of cameras inside the courtroom but said photos and video could not be taken of the defendant. Reiner did not wear the suicide prevention smock he had on at his initial court appearance on Dec. 17.

Reiner, 32, the third of Rob Reiner’s four children, has been held without bail since his arrest hours after his parents were found dead on Dec. 14.

Jackson says he ‘dropped everything’ to represent Reiner

Jackson, a former LA County prosecutor, had given no indication of the plans for his defense.

He said that just hours after Nick Reiner’s arrest, he and his team were in New York when they got a call about representing him. He did not say who called him.

“We dropped everything,” Jackson said. “For the last three weeks, we have devoted literally every waking hour to protecting Nick and his interests. We’ve investigated this matter top to bottom, back to front.”

He said they remain “deeply, deeply committed” to him and said, “We’re not just convinced; we know that the legal process will reveal the true facts.”

Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Singer Reiner, 70, were killed early on the morning of Dec. 14, and they were found in the late afternoon, authorities said. The LA County Medical Examiner said in initial findings that they died from “multiple sharp force injuries.” A court order has prevented the release of more details. Police have said nothing about possible motives.

Prosecutors have said they have not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty for Nick Reiner.

Rob Reiner was a prolific director whose work included some of the most memorable and endlessly watchable movies of the 1980s and ’90s. His credits included “This is Spinal Tap,” “Stand By Me,” “A Few Good Men,” and “When Harry Met Sally …,” during whose production he met Michele Singer, a photographer, and married her soon after.

A decade ago, Nick Reiner publicly discussed his struggles with addiction and mental health after making a movie with his father, “Being Charlie,” that was very loosely based on their lives.

Columbus State University to build $3.2 million golf clubhouse

By
Robbie Watson
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CSU to build $3.2 million golf clubhouse/NowGeorgia.com

Columbus State will host a groundbreaking for a new $3.2 million, 6,447-square-foot donor-funded clubhouse at the University’s Key Golf Studio Thursday.

This initiative, led by alumni golfers and community leaders, seeks to ensure that Columbus State’s student-athletes have an experience unrivaled by any other golf program in the Peach Belt Conference and beyond. The clubhouse will serve both the Men’s Golf and Women’s Golf teams and enhance existing Key Golf Studio facilities by adding state-of-the-art practice technology and outdoor playing surfaces—thereby increasing team competitiveness and bolstering student-athlete recruitment and retention.

The groundbreaking launches a $3.2 million fundraising campaign by the CSU Foundation. Through it, Columbus State boosters, community patrons and golf enthusiasts can invest in the Men’s and Women’s Golf teams through multi-year facility-naming opportunities.

During the last 50 years, the CSU Golf Program has garnered a combined eight men’s and women’s Peach Belt Tournament championships and 35 NCAA Division II championship appearances. Men’s Golf has secured six DII national championships and 67 total individual All-American honors.

The 13-acre Key Golf Studio opened in November 2015 and is named for the late James W. “Billy” Key, a 2001 CSU Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, a founding member of the CSU Athletic Fund and one of the most decorated golfers to come out of the Chattahoochee Valley.

The CSU Golf Program is under the leadership of Lee McCoy, who is in his third year as director of golf and Men’s Golf head coach. Kristin Culpepper, a two-time Columbus State graduate and Women’s Golf team alumna, was named the Women’s Golf head coach in December 2023 and also serves as the university’s senior woman administrator.

Phenix City appoints new assistant police chief

By
Robbie Watson
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Arrest made after 4-year-old shot (Daniel Purcell/NowGeorgia.com)
The Phenix City Police Department is proud to announce the official appointment of Donnie Thomas as our new Assistant Chief of Police.
Assistant Chief Donnie Thomas (PCPD)/NowGeorgia.com

Assistant Chief Thomas brings more than 20 years of dedicated service with the Phenix City Police Department. Throughout his career, he has served in Patrol, Criminal Investigations, and the Training Division, gaining extensive experience that has helped shape and strengthen our agency.

Before his service with the Phenix City Police Department, Assistant Chief Thomas honorably served his country for 22 years in the United States Army, exemplifying a lifelong commitment to service. Assistant Chief Thomas is a graduate of the Northeast Alabama Police Academy, completing his training in December 2005.

We congratulate Assistant Chief Thomas on this appointment and look forward to his continued leadership and service to our department and the citizens of Phenix City.

Georgia standouts CJ Allen and Zachariah Branch declare for NFL draft

By
Maura Carey
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Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch (1) celebrates a touchdown in the second half of the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football playoff quarterfinal game against Mississippi in New Orleans, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Georgia standouts CJ Allen and Zachariah Branch became the latest Bulldogs to declare for the NFL draft on Monday.

Branch announced his decision on X, ending his tenure with the Bulldogs after one year. The wide receiver transferred to Georgia in 2025 alongside his brother, Zion, after spending his first two seasons at Southern California.

Branch quickly became quarterback Gunner Stockton’s go-to, finishing the season with a team-high 811 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns. He had one year of eligibility remaining.

“DAWG NATION, thank you for your unwavering support. You welcomed me with open arms. Having the opportunity to play between the hedges and winning the SEC Championship is a story only God could’ve written, and for that, I am forever grateful,” Branch wrote.

Allen also took his decision to social media on Monday. The AP first-team All-American spent all three years of his collegiate career in Athens and is similarly leaving behind one year of eligibility to pursue the NFL.

Allen anchored a dominant Georgia defense in 2025, leading the unit with 88 tackles, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He also contributed 3.5 sacks for a loss of 15 yards, four passes defensed and earned AP first-team All-SEC honors.

“This experience has played a major role in shaping me, not only as a player, but as a man, and has prepared me for this next step ahead,” the linebacker wrote. “With faith and purpose, and as this chapter comes to a close, I am officially declaring for the 2026 NFL draft!”

Both Branch and Allen are viewed as top prospects in their positions.

The duo joins defensive tackle Christen Miller on Georgia’s growing list of NFL hopefuls. Miller declared for the draft on Saturday.

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