Driver arrested after hitting elderly woman in Walmart parking lot

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March 7, 2022

pedestrian accident — (NowHabersham.com)

A Cleveland woman faces aggravated assault charges after she allegedly drove into a group of pedestrians at the Walmart parking lot, injuring an elderly woman.

Police charged Deborah Richardson Inglehearn in the incident that happened Sunday afternoon around 1:20 p.m. at the Walmart on Thurmond Parkway in White County.

Cleveland Police Jeff Shoemaker says the initial investigation showed a driver, later identified as Inglehearn, was driving through the store parking lot in an “erratic and reckless manner.”

“The vehicle then swerved in the direction of a group of pedestrians striking an elderly female,” he says.

White County EMS transported the victim to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville with non life-threatening injuries. She was treated and released.

Cleveland police charged Inglehearn with three counts of aggravated assault and reckless driving and booked her into the White County Detention Center. As of Monday afternoon, March 7, no bond had been set.

The case remains under investigation.

Rabun-North Carolina brush fire contained, no injuries reported

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Staff Report

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March 7, 2022

Rabun brush fire — (Hadley Cottingham/Now Habersham)

Fire crews have contained a large brush fire that began burning on the north end of Rabun County on Friday. Officials say it covered a total of 50 acres of national forest land in North Carolina.

The fire broke out around 3 p.m. Friday off Highway 246 in Dillard and Sky Valley. The cause at this time is still unknown, but the brush fire extended from Rabun County into Macon County, North Carolina, according to officials.

Local fire services and state forestry services worked to contain the flames and manage safety both on the ground and by air Friday. (Hadley Cottingham/Now Habersham)

Personnel from the Georgia Forestry Service, North Carolina Forestry Service, Macon County Fire Rescue and Rabun County Fire Services, as well as local public safety crews, worked to contain the flames and manage safety both on the ground and by air.

There were reports that some homes were evacuated as many homeowners watched in fear as the flames crept toward them. Officials say that thankfully, no structures were affected, nor were there any injuries.

While there is no official map of the area the brush fire affected, the region pictured encompasses where the fire took place. (Photo: Google Maps)

“It was horrifying,” says Pat Martin. She credits the Sky Valley Fire Department and Georgia Forestry Department with saving her house and their neighbor’s house. Around 8 p.m. Friday she said they could still see the fire burning on the ridges in the forest across from them. “Our police and fire dept did a super job under some hard conditions! We are thankful!”

Dead brush and strong winds fed the fire as the flames made their way through the wooded region near Highway 246 in Dillard. (Hadley Cottingham/Now Habersham)

While it’s not yet known how this fire began, it further illustrates the increasing danger of wildfires in the region. In 2016, the Rock Mountain Fire consumed some 25,000 acres in Northeast Georgia’s Rabun and Towns counties. More recently, in February of this year, the Unicoi Wildfire burned nearly 200 acres near Unicoi State Park in White County.

Joseph Earl Treadway, Jr.

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Now Habersham

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March 7, 2022

Joseph Earl Treadway, Jr., of Demorest, Georgia passed away on Sunday, March 6, 2022.

Born on January 16, 1947, in Atlanta, Georgia he was the son of the late Joseph Earl Treadway, Sr. and Elizabeth Jane Milligan Treadway.

Mr. Treadway, a veteran helicopter pilot, served in the United States Army in Vietnam. He was a self-employed Numismatist and Philatelist. He loved his family, his fur babies and all his friends.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Sandra Bailey Treadway; daughter Susan Elizabeth and her spouse, Jeff Mohon of Winder, Georgia; son David Cameron Treadway of Cumming, Georgia; daughter Pamela Leigh Carder of Loganville, Georgia; two granddaughters, Grace and Cally Mohon of Winder, Georgia; and his sister Pamela Jane Inglis of Ooltewah, Tennessee.

The family will receive friends at McGahee-Griffin & Stewart funeral home from 12:30 pm until the service hour of 2 pm, on Thursday, March 24, 2022. Memorial services will be held in the chapel with Rev. Terry Rice officiating. Inurnment will follow at the VFW Memorial Park with military honors provided by the Grant Reeves Veteran’s Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Habersham Humane Society, PO Box 1442, Clarkesville, GA 30523, the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516 or https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate, or the charity of your choice.

An online guest register is available and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinandstewart.com.

McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home of Cornelia, Georgia (706/778-8668) is in charge of arrangements.

Qualifying period begins for area elections

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Hadley Cottingham

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March 7, 2022

Clarkesville Runoff voting — Clarkesville voters wait their turn to head to the voting booth during the November 2021 elections. (Hadley Cottingham/Now Habersham)

The qualifying period for candidates running in the City of Clarkesville, Habersham County Board of Education and Habersham County Board of Commissioners elections has begun.

The City of Clarkesville’s Post 5 council seat will be on the ballot, filling the vacancy left by the late Councilman Steven Ward, who passed away in December. Qualifying fees are set at $18 for the seat, and qualifying will take place at the Habersham County Board of Elections.

The board of education seats for Districts 3, 4 and 5, held by Russell Nelson, Kristie Dover and Joey Duncan, as well as the county commission seats for Districts 2 and 3, held by Jimmy Tench and Dustin Mealor, will be on the ballot.

Qualification fees and processes depend on the district and political party for these seats. Click here for qualifying information. The qualification period will end Friday at noon.

Qualifying for two seats on the White County Board of Commissioners and for two seats on the White County Board of Education also begins today.

White County Commission District 2 seat, which is currently held by Lyn Holcomb, and the District 3 seat, which is currently held by Edwin Nix, will be on the ballot. The White County Board of Education District 2 seat, held by John Solmon, and the District 4 seat, held by Linda Erbele, will also be on the ballot.

The elections, which will take place on May 24, will coincide with the gubernatorial primaries, where Republican gubernatorial candidates Brian Kemp, Cathrine Davis, David Purdue and Kandiss Taylor will be on the ballot. The winner will face off against Democrat Stacey Abrams in the Georgia governor’s election in November.

Habersham County’s ESPLOST 6 will also be on the ballot during the May 24 election.

Sandra Lynn Allen

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Now Habersham

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March 7, 2022

Sandra Lynn Allen, age 72, of Cornelia passed away on Thursday, March 3, 2022.

Born on May 14, 1949, in Gainesville, Georgia, she was the daughter of the late James Cleveland Allen and Florene McDonald Allen. Sandra was retired from Northeast Georgia Medical Center and was a member of Lakewood Baptist Church. She was a member of the Clarkesville Writers Society, who also enjoyed several different hobbies which included all types of needle crafts, reading and listening to music.

Surviving are her loving husband, James R. Wright of Cornelia; daughter, Amanda Michelle Johnson of Oakwood; daughter and son-in-law, Shanna Scarlett du Mont (Justin); grandchildren, Corinne Madison du Mont and Natalie Claire du Mont.

No formal services are planned at this time.

An online guest register is available and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinandstewart.com.

McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home of Cornelia, Georgia (706/778-8668) is in charge of arrangements.

Home cooling assistance program for elderly and homebound opens April 1

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Staff Report

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March 7, 2022

Ninth District Opportunity is preparing to offer home cooling assistance to the elderly and medically homebound in Habersham and other North Georgia counties.

NDO Program Director Brenda Dalin says households in which every member is age 65 and older or is medically homebound due to health reasons may apply for assistance with their cooling bills beginning on April first.

A one-time payment of up to $500 will be made by check to the eligible party’s home energy supplier.

Eligibility is based on income. When applying for assistance, be prepared to provide proof of age, household income, Social Security, and citizenship. Applicants must also provide a copy of their most recent electric bill.

NDO will begin accepting applications for home cooling assistance at 12:01 a.m. on April 1 by telephone at 855-636-3108 or online at https://ndo.appointment.works/ea/home.

Weblinks and phone lines for scheduling will not be active until the opening date of the program. No appointments will be made by telephone or online until April first. No walk-ins, please. Appointments will be scheduled until all funds are exhausted, NDO says.

The general public may apply for home cooling assistance beginning May 2.

NDO serves people across North Georgia including in Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White counties.

Georgia DNR approves 15 conservation and outdoor recreation projects

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Staff Report

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March 7, 2022

Vogel State Park Visitor Center — The 1930s era visitor center at North Georgia's Vogel State Park will be turned into a museum when the new visitor center is built. (Facebook)

The Georgia Board of Natural Resources has approved 15 conservation and outdoor recreation projects worth about $28 million to receive funding through the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program. Among the projects is a plan to build a new multi-million dollar visitor center at Vogel State Park in Union County.

After considering 44 proposals submitted by state agencies, local governments and nonprofit conservation groups, the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund Board of Trustees unanimously approved the following projects:

$4.2 million for the construction of a new visitor center at Vogel State Park near Blairsville. The existing visitor center, which was built in the 1930s, will be renovated into a Civilian Conservation Corps Museum to expand opportunities for interpretive programming.
$3 million to develop a 45-acre inclusive/accessible facility known as Ridley Lake Project in LaGrange.
$3 million for the City of Sandy Springs to acquire easements and construct approximately two miles of multi-use trail and boardwalk.
$3 million to create outdoor recreational opportunities on a property known as Fisherman’s Co-Op in Bryan County.
$2.5 million for the City of Tucker to enhance the Johns Homestead Park
$2.2 million for trail improvements at Sweetwater Creek State Park in Douglas County.
$1.7 million to acquire approximately 882 acres of property known as the Coleman Tract bordering the northeast corner of Franklin Delano Roosevelt State Park in Harris County.
$1.5 million to develop Phase Three of the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center (CEWC) in Jasper County.
$1.4 million for Groundwork Atlanta, in collaboration with multiple entities, to develop approximately three miles of trail connecting two existing trail systems in the Woodall Creek Conservation Corridor.
$1.4 million to design and build a passive recreational park and for stream restoration at the Butlers Bridge Park in Henry County.
$1.1 million to construct boat ramps and improve conservation and stormwater management at Williamson Park (Champney) Public Access Facility in Brunswick.
$978,274 to conduct large-scale habitat restoration practices on multiple state-owned properties, including reforestation, prescribed burning, and selective herbicide treatments.
$600,000 to develop Long Swamp Creek Recreation Area in Cherokee County.
$562,264 to acquire and conserve approximately 1,348 acres in Marion County as an addition to the Chattahoochee Fall Line Wildlife Management Area (WMA).
$500,000 to acquire approximately 30 acres of land and develop Jake’s Woods Park in Jones County.

These grantees have committed an estimated $20.5 million in matching funds, DNR says. They must now complete the final level of the application process for their proposals.

Third round of funding

In 2018, Georgia voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment creating a dedicated fund for outdoor recreation projects. The funding comes from a tax on sporting goods purchases.

This marks the third year that grants have been awarded under the state’s stewardship program. Since the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Act took effect in July 2019, the program has awarded approximately $68 million in grants, including this year’s funding cycle.

In 2021, Vogel State Park was awarded $2.6 million for renovations to its campground. That work is now underway and is expected to continue through early 2023. Amicalola Falls near Dawsonville was also awarded $2.6 million last year for repairs to the entrance to its Appalachian Trail Approach Trail entrance.

Adopt-A-Pet: A long-time resident

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Hadley Cottingham

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March 7, 2022

If you’ve been to the Habersham County Animal Shelter this year, you’ve probably met Grado— and he’s hard to forget. With a sweet face, happy tail and plenty of kisses to go around, it’s shocking he’s still waiting on fur-ever.

Grado, a male terrier mix, came to the animal shelter in December of 2021. He’s currently the longest-staying resident at the shelter, with nearly four months of waiting behind him. Grado spent Christmas, the new year and Valentine’s Day, the days where many other pets get to feel extra-special seasonal love from their families, alone in a kennel.

“I’m loved and cared for here at the shelter, but it isn’t the same as it would be with a family,” Grado tells Now Habersham. “Watching everyone else, especially my playmates, leave to find homes, or get adopted here at the shelter, is hard to see.”

Grado is a ray of sunshine that’s been waiting for a person to love for nearly four months. (Photo: HCACC)

Grado hasn’t been able to go on any of Habersham County Animal Care and Control’s successful rescue transports because he’s heartworm positive. While he’s receiving treatment and doing well, because of his health, he can’t go to a rescue facility to find a home. That means he has to wait in Habersham, hoping someone will give him a chance.

“I don’t give up hope on being adopted, and I don’t give up on healing,” Grado says. “It’s who I am, I know things get better, and I know that in every day, even the bad ones, there’s something good in them. So while waiting here and watching everyone else leave hurts, knowing that I might make a new friend, getting to run around outside and play, getting a new toy— it helps me hold out longer.”

Grado continues to hold out hope each and every day, waiting at the door of his kennel and greeting each person that walks by, ready for the moment someone decides to take him home.

“I’ve gotten really good at waiting, and I think that makes me even more of a good boy,” Grado says. “I’m gentle, patient, full of love, ready to make new friends and go new places. I really think that if someone could give me a chance, they’ll still see that I have a heart, even if it’s a little different than some other dogs’.”

If you’re interested in adopting Grado or any of the other animals at the Habersham County Animal Shelter, please call the shelter at (706) 839-0195 to set up an appointment. You may also visit them in person Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m. to Noon & 1-5 p.m. or on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Check out their Facebook page for more information.

The Batman

By

Justin Hall

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March 6, 2022

After a ridiculous amount of anticipation and delays, Matt Reeves’ The Batman has finally arrived in theaters and the result is a movie that belongs in that rare transcendent category of comic book movies that encompass and surpass that very label.

Reeves and his cast and crew have crafted a Batman movie that is unapologetically dark yet thoroughly engrossing. It’s a three-hour movie that feels more like two.

The Batman begins with Robert Pattinson donning the cape and cowl and it takes place within the Dark Knight’s second year of fighting crime in Gotham City. This version of Gotham is so grim and gritty that it could make Christopher Nolan’s trilogy look like something out of the MCU.

The Batman is considered a vigilante by the police except for Lieutenant James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright). Together they team up on an investigation of the city’s wealthiest citizens being murdered by the Riddler (Paul Dano). He leaves riddles at the crime scenes in the form of cutesy cards.

Dano’s Riddler is both creepy and sinister and the resulting performance is much more likely inspired by the Zodiac Killer than the over-the-top buffoonery Jim Carrey showcased in Batman Forever.

Joining the Batman is Selina Kyle a.k.a. Catwoman (Zoe Kravitz), a thief with her own agenda who is in a sometimes flirtatious relationship with Batman when they’re not engaging in hand-to-hand combat or investigating the activities of crime boss Carmine Falcone (John Turturro).

Falcone’s second-in-command is Oz Cobblepot a.k.a. the Penguin (an unrecognizable Colin Farrell). Both Falcone and the Penguin may be in cahoots on the surface, but their morality is tested when confronted by Batman and Gordon.

Andy Serkis plays the loyal butler Alfred and like some of the characters in this movie, his moral fiber is also stretched when learning to accept his ward’s choice to be Batman and the repercussions it’s having on his alter ego. A crucial revelatory scene involving Bruce Wayne is especially effective and may even leave some jaws dropped.

There are an incredible number of scenes that are deliberately slow-paced, but that works in service for the type of story Reeves is telling. However, he compensates by giving us many tension-filled moments such as when a funeral is interrupted by a car crash and when one of the Riddler’s victims has a bomb strapped to him: Batman has to correctly guess the riddles presented to him in order to keep the bomb from going off.

There’s also plenty of action including a sensational car chase between Batman and the Penguin. There’s a visceral ferocity that feels like something like out of Mad Max rather than a comic book.

Reeves and his production designer James Chinlund fashion the world of Gotham to be like the mood and atmosphere of David Fincher’s Se7en. Cinematographer Grieg Frasier accentuates the moodiness and makes Gotham’s rain-soaked world look like Blade Runner. Michael Giacchino’s score is epic and helps reinforce the action as well as the quieter scenes.

Pattinson, Kravitz and the rest of the cast do an outstanding job of taking these characters and playing them straight. They never act like they’re in a comic book.

Instead, they all, including Reeves himself, manage to combine the genres of film noir, crime drama, and psychological thriller and put them together in a package that just happens to have comic book characters in it.

For 176 minutes, it never bores or disappoints. It has a lot to offer even beyond its rabid fanbase.

Grade: A

(Rated PG-13 for strong violent and disturbing content, drug content, strong language, and some suggestive material.)

Howard Jay Mull

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Now Habersham

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March 6, 2022

Howard Jay Mull, age 78 of Clarkesville, Georgia went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, March 05, 2022.

Born in Hayesville, North Carolina on November 07, 1943, he was a son of the late Amos & Clara Crane Mull. Howard spent over 40 plus years as a self-employed mechanic before retirement. In his spare time, he was an avid outdoorsman. Howard enjoyed fishing, hunting, and working in his vegetable garden. He was of the Baptist faith.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 30 years, Shirley Justice Mull; brothers, Horace Mull, Marvin Mull, Dewey Mull; & sister, Joyce Mull.

Survivors include his children, Michael Mull of Ludington, MI; Jay & Connie Mull of Clarkesville, GA; Gary Mull of Dahlonega, GA; Wanda Hunter, Kevin & Misty Mull all of Clarkesville, GA; brother, Randy Mull of Clarkesville, GA; 14 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, & friends.

Funeral services are scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 08, 2022, at Hillside Memorial Chapel with Rev. Bill Trotter officiating. Interment will follow in the Demorest City Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Monday, March 07, 2022.

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

Arrangements by Hillside Memorial Chapel, Clarkesville, Georgia. (706) 754-6256

Doris Ellen Ivie Wilson

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Now Habersham

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March 6, 2022

Doris Ellen Ivie Wilson, age 92, of Cornelia, passed away on Saturday, March 5, 2022.

Born on December 10, 1929, in Cornelia, she was a daughter of the late Warner and Vassie Free Ivie. Mrs. Wilson was a homemaker and a member of Grace Baptist Church. She loved her family dearly and was the last surviving member of her immediate family.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert “Bob G.” Wilson; daughter, Judy Smith; brothers: Ernest, Clyde, J.T., Troy, Lewis, and Taft Ivie; and sisters: Willie Hazel Shubert, Irene Vickery, Lurlene Ritchie, and Betty Barnette.

Survivors include her sons and daughter-in-law, Rev. Michael Wilson and Teresa Wilson of Cornelia and Larry Wilson of Cornelia; daughter and son-in-law, Gail W. Perry and Rev. Larry Perry of Cornelia; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, at Yonah Memorial Gardens with Rev. Michael Wilson, Rev. Larry Perry, and Rev. Phillip Yarber officiating.

The family will receive friends from 11-11:45 am on Tuesday at the funeral home.

Those in attendance are asked to please adhere to public health and social distancing guidelines regarding COVID-19.

An online guest register is available and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinandstewart.com.

McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home of Cornelia, Georgia (706/778-8668) is in charge of arrangements.

Mark Timothy Brown

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Now Habersham

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March 6, 2022

Mark Timothy Brown, age 71, passed away on Tuesday, March 1, 2022.

Mark was a paramedic for 39 years beginning his career with University Hospital Ambulance service, Rual Metro EMS and Goldcross EMS. Mark attended Piedmont College in Demorest, Georgia, near Cornelia, Georgia, where he grew up.

He was the son of the late Rev. Joe C. Brown, Sr. and Jamie Henry Brown. He was a loving and devoted husband to wife of 42 years, Linda Ivey Brown. He enjoyed rasing his stepsons, Larry Little (Brady) of Nashville, TN; and Clint Douthit (Shalena), of Phil Campbell, AL. He adored the grandchildren, Austin, Braden, and Camerin Douthit. He is also survived by his in-laws, Lee and Genevea Ivey, of Hephzibah, GA; and sister-in-law, Tammy Schrader (Steve), of Augusta, GA; older brothers, Henry Brown (Rosy), of Cornelia, GA and Joe Brown (Jacque), of Clarks Hill, SC; plus five nephews and two nieces and numerous great-nieces and nephews. He was also preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Billy Ivey (Suzy) of Augusta, GA.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, March 11, 2022 at the Lumpkin Road Chapel of Elliott Sons Funeral Home.

The family will receive friends from 12:00 p.m. until the hour of service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 8180 Greensboro Drive, Suit 400, McLean, VA 22102 or the chairty of your choice.

Courtesy Arrangements by the Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory of Habersham County, Georgia. Telephone: 706-778-1700 / 706-778-7123