ELBERTON, Ga. — A late-night shooting inside an Elberton McDonald’s left one employee dead Tuesday, sparking a homicide investigation now led by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Police say the gunman fled before officers arrived.
Elberton Police responded to the restaurant around 10:19 p.m. on December 9. They found a male employee on the floor with multiple gunshot wounds. Officers provided first aid until EMS arrived. The victim was taken to Elbert Memorial Hospital, where he later died, police said. His name has not been released.
Investigators believe the shooting followed an argument between the victim and another man in the lobby. During the dispute, the suspect pulled out a gun and opened fire.
The Elbert County Coroner’s Office is working with local law enforcement and the GBI. The victim will undergo an autopsy at the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office in Decatur.
Because the investigation is ongoing, Elberton Police are not releasing further details. All inquiries are being directed to the GBI.
Anyone with information is urged to call the GBI Tip Line at 1-800-597-8477 or the Elberton Police Department at 706-213-3130.
The Baldwin City Council. (Patrick Fargason/Now Habersham)
BALDWIN- Â The Baldwin City Council is expected to finalize the appointment of Tiera Morrison as the city’s next city manager Tuesday night, marking the conclusion of a months-long search for the city’s top administrative role.
Morrison, the sole finalist announced in November, is slated for appointment during the regular meeting following the council’s 6:30 p.m. work session.
According to a city release issued Nov. 19, Morrision brings extensive public-section management and public-health experience, having supervised more than 50 employees and overseen multi-million-dollar budgets. City officials said they anticipate her leadership will strengthen long-term planning and day-to-day operations. Morrision is schedule to take her loyalty oath during the meeting.
The council will meet for its final meeting of 2025 with several wastewater and budget-related items set for discussion. Votes are expected on a sewer credit settlement agreement, un-committing funds within the Wastewater Treatment Plant’s Operations and Maintenance reserve, and the purchase of new aerators for the plant. The actions continue the city’s ongoing efforts to update wastewater operations and address associated costs.
Members will also review the 2026 meeting calendar and an acknowledgment from the state Department of Revenue regarding an agreement with automated enforcement provider Altumint.
Residents will also be reminded that 2025 property tax bills have been delayed. Once mailed, payments will be due 60 days from the mailing date. The city will post the date online and include it on water bills.
In a top-10 battle between #10-ranked Habersham Central (4-1) and #7 Franklin County (4-2), the Raiders won in front of the home crowd with a high-scoring second half. The final read 64-40 in favor of Hab Central, though scoring was at a premium in the opening half.
Franklin County got rolling quick when Bentley Huff hit a 3-pointer, but Jake Mihalik had a 3-point play and then a triple right before the end of the first, putting the Raiders ahead 14-10.
In the second, it was knotted at 19 apiece briefly, but back-to-back 3-pointers by Mihalick and Eli Maye started to create some padding. Donnie Warren had a big basket too as the Raiders were up 29-23 at the half.
A low-scoring third quarter saw Habersham add just a dozen more, while the Lions went cold from the floor and scored just four points. The game was still tight until the closing seconds of the third, when Maye connected from beyond the arc and drew the foul, hitting his shot at the line for a rare 4-point play. All of a sudden, Habersham was feeling comfortable with a 41-27 advantage.
Hudson Huff and Bentley Huff tried to mount a comeback, but Judge Wilbanks drained a trifecta to put the game on ice with just over four minutes left.
Mihalick led all scorers with 24 points, as Wilbanks had 11 and Maye 10. Warren finished with eight, Micah Huff had six, and Sy Ward closed shop with five points.
The Lions were led in scoring by Bentley Huff with 12, while Hudson Huff had 11. Jordan Ardister and Drake Nix each had five, while Sam Shaver added three.
The Lady Raiders never trailed at the conclusion of any quarter in a 61-45 Monday home win over Franklin County (2-4), as seven different players chipped in with scoring.
Habersham Central (2-3) got a quick start with Daytona Underwood and Tessa Murdock combining for 10 points in the opening stanza.
Oaklee Jackson buried a big 3-pointer to double up Franklin at 27-13 midway through the second, and it was a 32-16 halftime advantage for the Lady Raiders.
Bella Rosene and Jackson, along with Underwood, owned the second half. Rosene had all of her team-high 17 points in the second half, while Jackson connected on three more deep shots.
A pair of triples by Jackson in the fourth sealed the win, while Underwood had back-to-back buckets late to put the finishing touches on it.
Underwood had 16 to pace Habersham, while Jackson and Murdock each finished with 12. Makenzie Gosnell and Kenzie King both added seven, Sadie Chambers had four, and Macy Huff had three.
For the Lady Lions, it was Rosene leading with 17 points, followed by Nykhia Johnson with 13. Kallie Thrift added seven in the contest.
Cornelia City Commission (Patrick Fargason/NowHabersham.com)
CORNELIA, Ga. – Cornelia city commissioners will hold a special called meeting at noon today to consider an emergency moratorium on new annexation requests. The move comes less than a week after a three hour public hearing ended with the collapse of the proposed Red Apple Corridor annexation.
The meeting, to be held in the Cornelia Municipal Courtroom, features only one item on the agenda; whether or not to temporarily halt acceptance of annexation applications while the city reviews its procedures and service capacity. The public may speak during the forum portion of the meeting, with comments limited to three minutes.
City officials say the pause is intended to give staff and elected leaders time to examine existing annexation rules, evaluate current and future water and sewer capacity, and consider updates to the city’s annexation ordinances. The review follows intense public scrutiny of the city’s annexation process during last wee’s hearing, where residents questioned service demands, infrastructure limits, and zoning impacts.
Residents interested in Cornelia’s growth, services, and long-term planning are encouraged to attend. Commissioners are expected to adjourn shortly after taking up the moratorium.
Outgoing Clarkesville Mayor Barrie Aycock accepts a plaque commemorating her years of service from incoming mayor Franklin Brown. (Patrick Fargason/Now Habersham)
CLARKESVILLE, Ga. – The Clarkesville City Council concluded its final meeting of 2025 Monday with a tribute to Mayor Barrie Aycock, who presided over her final council meeting after nearly a decade of service.
Incoming mayor and current councilman Franklin Brown presented Aycock with a plaque recognizing her commitment to the city. Aycock reflected on her longstanding working relationship with Brown and his decision not the challenge her in past elections.
“Ten tears ago when I first ran, he could have run, but he had a business to take care of,” Aycock said. ‘Then four years ago he could have run again, and he asked me if I wanted to run again. I said yes, and Franklin said, ‘Well I won’t run against you.’ So I’ve always appreciated that.”
Brown offered his own lighthearted farewell: “I hope you live 125 years, and the last voice you hear is mine.”
Impact Fees
Earlier in the meeting, City Manager Keith Dickerson gave council members an update on the development of an impact-fee spending plan. Dickerson stated he has spoken to planning consultant Bill Ross of Bill Ross and Associates, who is preparing a draft outlining suggested fees and eligible projects allowed under state law.
Dickerson said one potential long-term use of impact-fee revenue is a future fire station, but stressed that the process requires strict compliance. “It’s a very complex, date-and-time-specific item,” Dickerson said.
Dickerson emphasized that no commitments have been made and no votes have been taken.
Board appointments
Councilwoman Angelia Kiker (center) congratulates Rick Coulon and Gloria Camp for being named to the Clarkesville Housing Authority Board. (Patrick Fargason/Now Habersham)
The council unanimously approved Darrin Johnston, Sean Nix, Liz Treadwell, and Lisa Nicholson to the Habersham County Library Board, and approved Rick Coulon and Gloria Camp for the Clarkesville Housing Authority Board. Both items were passed without discussion.
Other business
Members voted to update the city’s retirement benefits through the Georgia Municipal Employees Benefit System. The update adjusts employer contributions beginning in 2026 to keep the plant actuarially sound.
The council also approved the city’s 2026 meeting and holiday schedules, and voted to amend the city’s property tax due date. City Clerk Julie Poole said she hopes to mail residents their tax bills later this week.
LAVONIA, Ga. — Drivers in Lavonia can expect to see an increased police presence over the coming weeks as the Lavonia Police Department (LPD) kicks off its annual holiday safety initiative.
Running from Dec. 10, 2025, through Jan. 1, 2026, the department is joining law enforcement agencies across Georgia for the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign. The initiative aims to curb impaired driving during the holiday season, which is traditionally one of the busiest and most dangerous times for travel on American roadways.
According to department officials, officers will increase proactive enforcement contacts to identify and remove impaired drivers from the road. While the department is prepared to issue citations when necessary, leadership emphasizes that the primary objective is education and crash prevention rather than punishment.
“Sometimes a simple conversation or reminder about the law is all that’s needed to keep someone safe,” said Lavonia Police Chief Shane Edmisten. “Our focus is on proactive contacts and making sure everyone gets home safely for the holidays. We do this by looking for impaired drivers and distracted drivers.”
With impaired driving remaining a leading cause of serious injury and fatalities nationwide, the LPD is urging residents to plan ahead. Officials recommend securing designated drivers and making responsible choices regarding alcohol and drug use before getting behind the wheel.
“We appreciate the hard work of our officers and their ongoing commitment to public safety,” Edmisten said. “Thank you to our community for partnering with us to keep Lavonia safe.”
For more information on national impaired driving prevention statistics and strategies, visit www.nhtsa.gov.
Overturned box truck wreck on Alternate 75 near Smithgall Woods entrance in White County, Georgia, on Monday morning, December 8, 2025. (Photo Credit: Hannah Kay Henderson.)
CLEVELAND, Ga. — Two motor vehicle accidents, one involving a school bus, disrupted Monday morning traffic in White County.
The Georgia State Patrol is investigating an accident that occurred around 7:30 a.m. on Dec. 8, involving a tractor and trailer on Alternate Highway 75 near the entrance to the Smithgall Woods State Park.
There was no initial word on whether there were any injuries.
About an hour later, a minor school bus accident occurred on Hulsey Road in Cleveland. There were no students on the bus at the time of the accident, and no one was injured, officials said.
ELBERT COUNTY, Ga. — The GBI has released new information about the circumstances surrounding the shooting deaths of a man and woman late last month in Elbert County.
Investigators say 62-year-old Refugio O. Torres was found shot inside a crashed vehicle on Pulliam Mill Road, and 31-year-old Moriah Lane Mills died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound nearby. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Wounded man identified shooter
The newly released details outline a rapidly unfolding series of events that began shortly before 4 p.m. on November 29, when Elbert County E911 received a call reporting a man who had been shot near Martin Villa Drive and Pleasant Hill Road. Deputies and EMS arrived to find a seriously wounded man who identified Mills as the shooter before being transported to the hospital.
As deputies searched for Mills, a second 911 call came in reporting a vehicle crash and a woman matching the suspect’s description in a yard on Pulliam Mill Road. When a deputy arrived, he discovered what appeared to be a single-vehicle wreck. As he stepped out to investigate, he saw Mills holding a handgun in a grassy area separated from the roadway. The deputy ordered her to drop the weapon, but investigators say she shot herself.
Inside the wrecked vehicle, deputies found Torres, who was already dead.
Police seek public’s help
Autopsies for both Torres and Mills are being conducted by the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office. The surviving victim from the initial shooting remains hospitalized as the investigation continues.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the GBI Athens office at 706-552-2309, submit tips anonymously at 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at the GBI website, or through the See Something, Send Something mobile app. The case will be turned over to the Northern Judicial Circuit for review once the investigation is complete.
Rep. Sharon Henderson, a Covington Democrat whose district spans a western portion of Newton County, was charged with two counts of theft of government funds and 10 counts of making false statements. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)
(Georgia Recorder) — A Georgia state representative is accused of fraudulently collecting $17,811 in unemployment benefits after allegedly applying for a federal program meant to support people who had lost their jobs due to the pandemic, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Monday.
Rep. Sharon Henderson, a Covington Democrat whose district spans a western portion of Newton County, was charged with two counts of theft of government funds and 10 counts of making false statements.
Henderson was scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Justin Anand on Monday afternoon. She did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
The program, which was established by Congress in 2020, provided cash assistance to those experiencing unemployment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants were required to submit weekly certifications providing the reason they were unemployed and stating that they were actively looking for work.
Prosecutors say Henderson applied for the program during June 2020, when she was a candidate for the Georgia House of Representatives, falsely claiming that she had been an employee of the Henry County School District in 2019 and 2020, and was laid off due to the pandemic.
In reality, authorities say Henderson had only spent five days working for Henry County Schools as a substitute teacher in 2018, and had not worked there since. Additionally, the substitute teaching contract she signed included an acknowledgement that she was not eligible for unemployment benefits.
Henderson allegedly submitted eight certifications in June 2021, after she was sworn in as an elected official.
Henderson was first elected to represent House District 113 in 2020, defeating incumbent Democrat Pam Dickerson during the primary. She was reelected in 2022 and 2024 without Republican opposition and is currently in the middle of her third term.
CARNESVILLE, Ga. – The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office has requested assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation after deputies found a person unresponsive along a county roadway Sunday, according to a statement.
Deputies responded yesterday to Kesler Rd., where they discovered an individual lying on the roadside. the release said. Life-saving measures were attempted but were unsuccessful.
The identity of the deceased is being withheld until next of kin has been notified. Investigators said no additional details are being released at this time to protect the integrity of the case, which remains active and ongoing.
“Our office is committed to ensuring a thorough and transparent investigation,” Andrews said in a release. “We appreciate the GBI’s assistance and ask for patience as investigators work to determine the facts.”
The GBI is now leading the inquiry into the circumstance surrounding the death. Officials asked anyone with question to contact the GBI.
Athens-Clarke County Police Officer Hayes with delivers a package to an Athens resident after the package delivery driver quit mid-shift. (photo submitted)
ATHENS, Ga. – Athens-Clarke County police officers stepped in to “save Christmas” for dozen of local residents after finding more than 70 abandoned packages scattered along a neighborhood sidewalk last week, according to department.
Police say there were dispatched November 29 after a caller reported multiple packages lying on the ground in a residential area. When officers arrived, they discovered parcels addressed to homes across Athens and quickly realized they had all been dropped by a delivery driver.
A package delivery driver quit mid-shift and ACCPD sprung into action delivery packages throughout Athens. (photo submitted)
Officers contacted the delivery company, which police declined to name, and learned the driver had quit mid-shift, leaving the packages where they were. The company told officers it would not send anyone to pick up the parcels and advised police that packages could be discarded or donated because replacements would be issued to customers.
Instead, officers chose a different approach.
Determined to prevent residents from losing their holiday deliveries, ACCPD officers collected the packages, divided them among themselves and spent the night delivering each one.
“We knew that a lot of people worked hard for the packages, and the right thing to do was play delivery services/Santa,” Sgt. Cooper with ACCPD said.
The department said the officers’ actions reflect their commitment to serving the community, even during a busy holiday season  and amid the usual demands of their work.
Officers made doorstep deliveries throughout the Midnight’S West patrol zone. ACCPD thanked the community and wished residents and happy holidays.
