Warriors, Jefferson fall in round 1 as Rabun and Stephens advance in the playoffs

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November 13, 2021

The first round of the GHSA State Football Championships got underway this week, with several Northeast Georgia area teams advancing to the next round. Those still in the playoffs include Rabun, Stephens, Cherokee Bluff, Clarke Central, Dawson County, Flowery Branch, North Oconee, Oconee County, and Prince Avenue Christian (by forfeit).

Area teams whose seasons ended in round 1 include Banks County, Cedar Shoals, Elbert, Hart, Jackson County, Jefferson, North Hall, and Union County.

Some of the games were close, such as Hapeville’s 12-10 win over Jefferson, but not so for White County. The Cedar Grove Saints showed no mercy, shutting out the Warriors 79-0 on the road at Buck Godfrey Stadium in Decatur. Cedar Grove put up 58 points in the first half and returned after halftime to score 21 more, putting an end to White County’s season.

First-round action continues tonight with Commerce at Bowdon and Lanier at Kennesaw. Kings Ridge Christian Forfeited their game to Prince Avenue Christian, so, the Wolverines will advance to round 2.

Here’s a look at your Northeast Georgia area playoff scoreboard:

Round 1 (Nov. 12)

Maynard Jackson 6 – Clarke Central 46
Sandy Creek 27 – Dawson County 36
Columbia 26 – Elbert County 14
Breman 14 – Fannin County 45
Flowery Branch 33 – Mays 28
Hart County 21 – Ringgold 30
North Hall 17 – Carver Early College 56
Pace 14 – Rabun County 63
Stephens County 27 – Rockmart 13
Union County 7 – Lovett 28
White County 0 – Cedar Grove 79
Hapeville Charter 12 – Jefferson 10
Greater Atlanta Christian 17 – Cherokee Bluff 38
Jackson County 14 – Villa Rica 42
Mountain View 20 – Denmark 23
Miller Grove 21 – North Oconee 56
Cedar Shoals 7 – Marist 49
Adairsville 22 – Oconee County 29
West Forsyth 20 – Mill Creek 49
Banks County 12 – South Atlanta 46

Trent Crawford of WRWH Sports contributed to this report

Ballards donate for second caboose restoration

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Now Habersham

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November 13, 2021

SR Caboose restoration donation at Cornelia Train Museum — Philip Ballard, right, and his wife, Jane, present a $5,000 check to Cornelia's Depot Association President Buck Snyder as Mayor John Borrow looks on. The money will be used to help restore the SR caboose that sits behind the train museum at 102 Grant Place.

More improvements are coming to the Train Museum in Cornelia.

The Depot Association recently received a donation from Philip and Jane Ballard to help restore the Southern Railway Caboose located behind the Historic Train Museum downtown. The $5,000 donation comes on the heels of the completed restoration of the Tallulah Falls X5 Caboose located in the Train Museum parking lot.

The SR Caboose is more durable than the TF X5 because it is metal, but it has been in disrepair for quite some time, says Cornelia’s Community Development Director Jessie Owensby.

“The restoration of the second caboose can be a big tourism draw to downtown because it is already so popular. The kids love to walk through it. The city is so appreciative of the Ballard family, as well as the Depot Association for seeing the importance of keeping it maintained,” she says.

The caboose was used on the Tallulah Falls Railroad to haul freight from the Cornelia Veneer Plant from 1942 until 1961.

The Historic Train Museum in Cornelia is located at 102 Grant Place. (nowhabersham.com)

“We have many good memories of the railroad and that caboose, and we (Jane and I) think that it deserves to be restored to help preserve our past,” Philip Ballard says. Ballard has served on the Depot Association Board of Directors for many years and has some of his father’s artifacts on display inside the museum.

“The cost to restore the Tallulah Falls X5 Caboose was approximately $30,000, and this caboose is projected to cost around $25,000,” says Depot Association President Buck Snyder. “The contribution from Philip and Jane will go a long way in helping us get the project underway and see its completion.”

Bivins and Jones Art Gallery opens at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School

By

Megan Morris

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November 13, 2021

Bivens Jones Art Gallery Dedication-1386 — The Bivins and Jones Art Gallery at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School was dedicated on October 17 and is named for the late Maude Bivins and Virginia “Jinny” Jones. Friends and family of Bivins and Jones, pictured, gathered at the dedication on October 17.

Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School recently dedicated the new Bivins and Jones Art Gallery on campus with the opening of a show featuring Appalachian textile artists.

Dozens of artists and community members gathered to commemorate the opening of the updated gallery space on Sunday, October 17. The new gallery, located on the second floor of Rabun Gap’s Arts & Technology Building, was made possible by a generous gift from the Maude Bivins Estate and is named for the late Maude Bivins and Virginia “Jinny” Jones. They valued loyal friendships, family, nature, and the preservation of history, calling Franklin and Snow Camp, North Carolina, and Deerfield, Rhode Island home.

“We pause to remember the full and generous lives of Maude Bivins and Jinny Jones, and we celebrate the arts of our region with this special exhibit,” said Head of School Jeff Miles. “We are grateful to have such a wonderful gallery space on campus to showcase the artwork of our region and beyond.”

The Bivins and Jones Art Gallery at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School was dedicated on October 17 and is named for the late Maude Bivins and Virginia “Jinny” Jones. Pictured, from left, are Rabun Gap Head of School Jeff Miles, Associate Head of School for Advancement Paige Spivey, Jennifer Jones, and Fred Jones.

Artists Sharon Grist, Tommye Scanlin, Peggy McBride, Helen Meadors, and Carol Dearborn, at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School’s opening of the Bivins and Jones Art Gallery. These artists were members of the Yonah Mountain Fiber Arts Guild. They collaborated on the overshot coverlet hanging behind in 1985, which was featured in the gallery’s opening exhibit, “Pulling the thread: a brief survey of Appalachian textiles.”

The opening show, titled “Pulling the thread: a brief survey of Appalachian textiles,” features historical and contemporary weavings, quilts, sewing, felting, and handmade dolls and baskets. Among featured living artists are Peggy McBride of The Globe Gallery, Tommye Scanlin of North Georgia University, Sharon Grist & Kelly Coldren of Foxfire, Melanie Wilder of Warren Wilson College, Allie Dudley of the John C Campbell Folk School, Marty Greeble, Carol Dearborn, Susan Leveille, and Peggie Wilcox. Historical items are on loan from a number of organizations including The Hambidge Center for Creative Arts & Sciences, The John C. Campbell Folk School, the Appalachian Women’s Museum, and the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School Archives.

Included in this special collection is a quilt created by one of Rabun Gap’s earliest graduates in 1917, Miriam (Mimi) Dickerson. The exhibit is curated by Rabun Gap faculty member, Beth Loveland. In reflecting on the exhibit, Loveland said “I want to show you with this exhibit the threads connecting the artists in this show to one another and to this place. Each piece is a meticulous record of hours, joining them across the warp and weft of time, to tell a story of this region.”

Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School dedicated the Bivins and Jones Art Gallery on October 17. The opening show, “Pulling the thread: a brief survey of Appalachian textiles,” runs until January 10.

William Bowyer “Bill” Handley

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Now Habersham

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November 13, 2021

William Bowyer “Bill” Handley, age 99 of Rabun Gap, Georgia went home to be with the Lord on Friday, November 12, 2021.

Born in Huntington, West Virginia on May 16, 1922, he was a son of the late Garland Love Handley & the late Heloise Bowyer Handley Tolbert. Bill served his country proudly in the United States Army Air Corp during WWII and was retired from Georgia Power Company with 37 years of dedicated service. In earlier years, “Wild Bill” as he was known, was deeply involved with the Tallulah Falls Volunteer Fire Department and the Tallulah Falls Lions Club. Following retirement, he enjoyed many years of traveling around the country, bird & squirrel watching, and was a natural engineer of various homemade devices. Bill also spent hours of researching and compiling his family’s genealogy into a family book and was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. Most of all, he enjoyed spending precious time with his family and was affectionately known to his grandchildren as “Poppy.”

In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Martha Alice Williamson Handley; brother & sister-in-law, Robert Handley Tolbert & Margaret E. Tolbert; and a nephew, Robert Arthur “Rip” Tolbert.

Survivors include his daughters & sons-in-law, Heloise & Chuck Wilson of Jonesboro, GA; Lynn Handley & Bruce Taylor of Decatur, GA; Julia & Bill McEntire of Lula, GA; grandchildren, Caroline & Jared Steinberg of Cumming, GA; Lily & Joshua Killingsworth of Manhattan, NY; Tyler & Hannah McEntire of Lula, GA; Seth & Madeline McEntire of Smyrna, GA; great-grandchildren, Piper Steinberg & Luke McEntire; sister-in-law, Lillie Williamson of Mountain City, GA; many nieces, nephews, other relatives, & a host of friends.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 16, 2021, at Hillside Memorial Chapel with Rev. James Turpin & Rev. Kenneth McEntire officiating.

Bill’s wishes were to be cremated following the funeral service.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 1:00 p.m. until the service hour on Tuesday.

The Handley family requests that those present for the visitation & funeral observe all guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control for social distancing regarding Covid-19.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to www.stjude.org/donate in memory of Bill Handley.

An online guest registry is available for the Handley family at www.HillsideMemorialChapel.com.

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

Last Night in Soho

By

Justin Hall

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November 13, 2021

Last Night in Soho marks writer/director Edgar Wright’s return to the horror genre that he put a cool, subversive spin on in Shaun of the Dead. Fans of Wright’s will appreciate this film as he crafts a screenplay that mostly lives up to its clever premise.

Thomasin McKenzie stars as Ellie, a fashion student in London who has ambitions of being a designer. She lives with her grandmother until she gets accepted to the London College of Fashion. Once there, she quickly moves out of her dorm room that has become a party zone, and looks for new boarding.

She finds an apartment room run by an elderly lady (Diana Rigg) who takes her in, but it isn’t long before Ellie is haunted by disturbing dreams of London in the Swinging ’60s and vivacious doppelganger Sandie (Anya Taylor-Joy).

Sandie’s presence in Ellie’s dreams might be providing clues to a murder that occurred years ago and Ellie is perplexed as to what it could all mean. So are we, and that’s one of the strengths and weaknesses of Edgar’s script.

Not only does Sandie affect Ellie in her dreams, but also in reality. She makes it difficult for Ellie to concentrate on her fashion and she’s considered mentally unstable by her friends, the cops, and even her new boyfriend (Michael Ajao).

The dream sequences Wright concocts are a pure delight for any ’60s purist as he recreates the fashions, trends, and dance moves of that era and then punctuates it with equal doses of blood that would look right at home in Hammer horror or Dario Argento. No doubt those films provide influence.

Last Night in Soho stumbles during the finale and gives us the proverbial twist ending that proves to be simultaneously infuriating and revelatory.

The movie is about 116 minutes long. Out of those 116, I’d say the first 55 or so are ingenious, the next 25 to 30 are decent and the climax made me lose a bit of admiration.

Nevertheless, thanks to its style, atmosphere, cinematography, and performances, Last Night in Soho does achieve what Wright sets out to do, just not in spades.

Grade: B

(Rated R for bloody violence, sexual content, language, brief drug material and brief graphic nudity.)

William Lamar O’Kelley

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Now Habersham

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November 12, 2021

William Lamar O’Kelley, age 54, of Tullahoma, Tennessee, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, November 9, 2021.

Mr. O’Kelley was born March 20, 1967, in Commerce, Georgia, to Carolyn Bonds O’Kelley and the late William Paul O’Kelley.

Mr. O’Kelley was owner-operator of O’Kelley Electric. He was of the Christian faith. Mr. O’Kelley loved to fish, play golf, and spending time with family, especially his grandchildren. His heart was larger than life: always willing to help those in need, his ever-present smile, broad sense of humor, and never met a stranger.

Survivors, in addition to his mother, include his loving wife, Kandace O’Kelley, Tullahoma, Tennessee; sons and daughters-in-law: Lee and Gracie O’Kelley, Lula, Georgia, Will and Katy O’Kelley, Ft. Worth, Texas; sons: Quinton Ringel and Wyatt O’Kelley, Tullahoma, Tennessee; sister and brother-in-law, Lisa and Darrell White, Baldwin, Georgia; brother, Hunter O’Kelley, Baldwin, Georgia; grandchildren: Aiden O’Kelley, Abigail O’Kelley, and Payton Ross.

Graveside services will be held at 3:00 PM, Sunday, November 14, 2021, at the Lamar Christian Church Cemetery with eulogies by the family.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Whitfield Funeral Home & Crematory – South Chapel, 1370 Industrial Blvd Baldwin, GA 30510, 706-778-7123.

Peyton Reed Griffin

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Now Habersham

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November 12, 2021

Peyton Reed Griffin, age 47, of Cornelia, passed away on Tuesday, November 9, 2021.

Born on November 28, 1973, in Athens, he was the son of the late James Ralph and Sharolyn Reed Griffin. Mr. Griffin was a painter with Girlsters, LLC and a Celebrate Recovery Leader. He served in many different roles at the church as a member of River Point Community Church. Mr. Griffin loved fishing, hiking, and his family, and was a great, talented musician.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Marlin and Elizabeth Griffin, and maternal grandparents, Doyle and Frances Reed.

Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, Ashlee and Austin Holcomb of Demorest; sons, Caden Griffin and Sawyer Griffin, of Demorest; grandchild, Kyler; sister and brother-in-law, Beth and Rev. Tim Beasley of Homer; nephew, Todd Beasley and wife, Jessie of Homer; niece, Kayla Martin and husband, Chris of Colorado; fiancé, Danielle Turner, and her daughters, Spencer and Conner, all of Cornelia.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 pm on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, in the Chapel of McGahee-Griffin & Stewart with Pastor Kevin Mangum and Mr. Tim Reed officiating. Interment will follow in Bethany Christian Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 pm on Monday, November 15, 2021, at the funeral home.

Those in attendance are asked to please adhere to the 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.

House redistricting map heads to governor

By

Donna Lowry

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November 12, 2021

ATLANTA – The first map of the 2021 redistricting Special Session is headed for the governor’s desk for a signature. The Senate passed the House legislative map 32-21 with one Republican voting with Democrats against it.

“We’ve got some folks in north Coweta who are not excited about what their map looks like,” Sen. Matt Brass (R-Newnan) said on the Senate floor.

State Rep. Philip Singleton’s district shifts to a Democratic-leaning north Coweta area in the state House’s redistricting map, which passed the Senate on Friday, Nov. 12, 2021.

The house map splits Coweta County into five districts — combining the northern area with south Fulton. That district is currently represented by Republican state Rep. Philip Singleton. His supporters blast the move as revenge for his criticism of House Speaker David Ralston over the years. Sen. Matt Brass (R-Newnan) had a message for residents of that area.

“They think they’re going to lose conservative leadership in that part of the area,” Brass said. “But they’re not. They’re going to gain more and we’re going to fight and we’re going to win it.”

Democrats charged Republicans with speeding through the process and drawing maps that don’t reflect the growth of the state’s minority population in the last 10 years.

“The Republicans have a waning political power here in Georgia,” Sen. Elena Parent (D-Atlanta) told reporters after the vote. “I certainly expected that they would draw gerrymandered maps and try to rush them through as soon as possible.”

Democrats are also fighting two bills they say saps their strength in Gwinnett County. The bills’ sponsor says the county’s population calls for redistricting the school board and doubling the size of the county commission.

The Republican-controlled House is expected to approve the Senate legislative map next week. Also, the debates over redistricting congressional maps begin.

This article appears on Now Habersham through a news partnership with GPB

Alto distilled spirits sale referendum passes by razor-thin margin

By

Hadley Cottingham

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November 12, 2021

The Town of Alto, along with three other Habersham municipalities, passed their package sales referendum, which will allow the sale of liquor at retail locations in the coming year.

While three of the four municipalities, Baldwin, Clarkesville and Cornelia, knew their referendum would pass after election night results came in, the Town of Alto sat in limbo, awaiting the results of 12 provisional ballots. Those votes came through Nov. 5.

The City of Alto’s ability to offer packaged sales of distilled spirits came down to a total of two votes, with 14 votes in favor (53.8%) and 12 against (46.15%).

Alto voters also elected a new town council member. Turner Griffith received 15 votes (48%) to beat incumbent Post 1 councilmember Carolyn Cabe by one vote.

Alto councilmembers Allen Fox and P.J. Huggins were both re-elected after running unopposed.

For a full list of the results of the Nov. 2021 municipal and special election results, click here.

Habersham commission runoff: Who can vote, when and where?

By

Joy Purcell

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November 12, 2021

Election day 2021 — Hayliegh Gosnell of Clarkesville casts her ballot at the Ruby Fulbright Aquatic Center on November 2, 2021. (Hadley Cottingham/Now Habersham)

Election officials are preparing for the District 5 Habersham County Commission runoff. The special election between political newcomers Ty Akins and Jason Hogan is set for Tuesday, November 30.

All Habersham County voters who were registered by October 4 of this year may vote in the runoff, regardless of whether or not they voted in the November 2 special election.

Early voting starts Wednesday, November 17. Saturday voting is November 20. And advance voting begins on Monday, November 22 (see schedule below).

All in-person early voting will take place at the Habersham North Precinct at the Ruby Fulbright Aquatic Center in Clarkesville. The temporary Habersham South Precinct at the Cornelia Community House will only be open on election day, November 30.

Absentee voting

Absentee ballots are available now until November 19, according to Habersham County Election Supervisor Laurel Ellison.

Those 65 or older or disabled who voted absentee in the November 2 special election will automatically receive a runoff ballot, says Ellison. Everyone else who voted absentee will have to request a runoff mail-in ballot if they plan to vote absentee again.

Absentee ballots are available through the Habersham County Elections Office by calling 706-839-0170 or by visiting the Secretary of State’s My Voter Page. Online applications may be returned by mail, fax, email, or in person at the elections office.

The Habersham County Elections Office is located in the county administration building at 130 Jacob’s Way Suite 101 (backside, lower floor).

Georgia governor hopeful Vernon Jones campaigns in Habersham

By

Hadley Cottingham and Joy Purcell

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November 12, 2021

As speculation mounts over who’s going to run for Georgia governor, one of the three declared candidates in the race made a campaign stop in Habersham.

Republican candidate and Brian Kemp challenger Vernon Jones was the featured guest speaker at the Habersham GOP’s monthly meeting in Demorest on November 9. The former Democratic State Representative and Dekalb County CEO turned Republican was met with cheers and applause from party faithful as he shared his campaign platform and plans to challenge Gov. Kemp and Stacy Abrams.

Jones outlined his goals to keep critical race theory out of state schools, remove all state funding from Planned Parenthood, reduce state income taxes, launch an investigation and audit into the 2020 presidential election and support Georgia’s new voting law.

“You want to call this a Jim Crow Law? What are they afraid of, that Stacy’s going to sit on them?” Jones joked during his campaign speech in Habersham. The off-color reference to Abrams’ weight drew laughs from the crowd. “You know why the Democrats are pulling their hair out? Because they’re so scared of me. And the RINOs? Because I’m the only one that can beat Stacy Abrams.”

Abrams, the former minority leader who served in the state House with Jones and came close to beating Kemp for governor in 2018, has not yet announced whether she intends to run again in 2022. If she does, she’ll enter the race as the Democratic front-runner, and political observers say it’s unlikely she’ll face a formidable primary challenge.

While sitting governors rarely face primary challenges, Kemp will. He and his supporters will have to fight to hold onto his role as the state’s presumptive party leader in the wake of the fallout from the 2020 presidential election.

In addition to Jones and South Georgia educator Kandiss Taylor, there’s speculation former U.S. Senator David Perdue may enter the race for the GOP nomination.

I-85 bridge near Commerce to undergo repairs this weekend

By

Staff Report

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November 12, 2021

I-85 bridge repair over North Oconee River — (Source: GDOT)

If you’re traveling I-85 North near Commerce this weekend, expect possible delays. The Georgia Department of Transportation is again closing a section of the interstate for bridge repairs.

Weather permitting, GDOT construction partners will close one northbound lane at milepost 144.5 in Jackson County. They’ll replace five edge beams and patch the concrete deck on the North Oconee River bridge as part of ongoing maintenance. That same bridge was closed earlier this week for emergency repairs.

The interstate will be reduced to one lane of traffic around the work zone nightly from Friday, Nov. 12 to Monday, Nov. 15 from 9 p.m. at 5 a.m.

GDOT says all I-85 Northbound motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use an alternate route.