On August 11 at 7:20 p.m., investigators with the Toccoa Police Department and GBI received a positive identification on the Northeast Georgia Bank robbery suspect.
Toccoa police have issued a felony robbery warrant for Sidney Alan McCollum, 42, of Pickens County, South Carolina.
According to Toccoa Police Chief Jimmy Mize, McCollum has active felony warrants from Pickens County against him on larceny and domestic violence charges.
McCollum is believed to be in a vehicle he allegedly stole in Pickens. It’s described as a 1997 White F350 4-door Dooley pickup with no tag displayed. The vehicle has an aluminum toolbox on the back and has damage to the rear passenger side quarter panel. Before they ID’d the suspect, officials released a photo of a ‘vehicle of interest’ after the robbery but now say to “disregard” that photo.
Suspect handed the teller a note
According to officials, McCollum allegedly entered Northeast Georgia Bank on Big A Road around 11:57 a.m. on August 11. He passed the teller a note telling her it was a robbery and asked for money.
(image provided by Toccoa PD)
“After getting an undisclosed amount of money, he left the bank on foot,” says Mize. “No one at the bank was injured but the tellers were naturally rattled by the incident.”
Toccoa police and Stephens County deputies set up a perimeter around the bank and surrounding areas.
The Stephens County K-9 Unit was called to the scene but the dogs were only able to get a short track on the suspect.
Surveillance cameras captured an image of the suspect which investigators publicly circulated to help identify him. The image shows a white male with a medium to stocky build, brown hair, and a beard. He was wearing a gray t-shirt, jeans, ball cap, and sunglasses at the time of the robbery.
After identifying the suspect, officials Thursday released a more detailed description. They say McCollum is five-foot-ten inches tall, weighs 200 pounds, has brown hair, and blue eyes.
If you see him, do not approach him, urges Mize, instead, call any one of these investigators:
Detective SGT Denver Gunn at the Toccoa PD at 706-282-3281
Investigator Reed Kent at the Pickens County, SC Sheriff’s Office at 864-898-5534
GBI Agent, Shiloh Crane at 1-800-597-8477
The GBI and FBI are working with the Toccoa Police Department on the investigation.
Northeast Georgia Health System, which operates four hospitals in Gainesville, Braselton, Winder, and Dahlonega, is looking to hire 550 nurses to help ease the COVID-related strain.
Across Georgia on Wednesday, dozens of hospitals were reporting severe ER crowding and various forms of “diversion ” — sending patients elsewhere due to capacity problems.
The Delta variant of COVID-19, sweeping through the state, is rapidly increasing case numbers and hospitalizations.
But exacerbating the current patient crunch is the ever-worsening shortage of health care workers in the state, especially nurses. Those shortages are hamstringing the ability of hospitals to respond to the medical crisis.
The nursing shortage in the state is worse than ever, Matt Caseman, CEO of the Georgia Nurses Association, said Wednesday.
Many of the RNs who remain in hospital jobs – working their fourth COVID surge – “are depressed, angry, frustrated,’’ he said. “We’re hearing they can’t take it anymore.’’
Many nurses have left hospital work during the pandemic, taking jobs in clinics, shifting to temp positions or simply retiring, Caseman said. Hospitals are doing what they can to ease stress on workers, he said, “but in these situations, you can only do so much.’’
The anger of nurses, Caseman said, stems from having to deal with another COVID spike, plus their reaction to the still substantial number of Georgians who are unvaccinated – more than half the state’s residents.
Northeast Georgia Health System Chief of Medical Staff Dr. Deepak Aggarwal joined several of his colleagues for a press conference on Monday, Aug. 2, to discuss the rising COVID numbers in Northeast Georgia. (NGHS livestream)
In rural Georgia, “we’ve got beds sitting idle and no staff to support them,’’ said Jimmy Lewis, CEO of HomeTown Health, an organization of rural hospitals in the state. “We have major shortages of nursing and other care staff.’’
“This is an ongoing problem,’’ he added. “We don’t have a way to speed up the availability of nurses.’’
Northeast Georgia Health System, based in Gainesville, told reporters last week that it’s looking to hire more than 500 nurses to lessen the COVID-related strain.
And in Augusta, University Hospital said it would like to reopen its Summerville campus, which was crucial last year in meeting the demands of the pandemic. But there is not enough staff available to do that, hospital officials told the Augusta Chronicle.
“We have beds,” Dr. Ioana Chirca, medical director for infectious diseases, infection prevention and microbial stewardship, told the newspaper. “We don’t have nurses, and the physicians will have to be stretched to cover that. It is necessary right now to open it, we just cannot staff it.’’
New cases are mounting
The state’s Department of Public Health reported more than 7,000 new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday for the second straight day. Hospitalizations for the disease climbed again, to reach 3,800 statewide.
As of 5 p.m. Thursday, more than 40 hospitals in Georgia reported severe ER crowding. Many also reported that their ICUs or medical beds were filled, and thus they were diverting patients.
(Source: GA Dept. of Health)
It’s increasingly difficult for ambulance crews to find hospitals that can take emergency patients, industry officials say.
The overall hospital crowding isn’t just due to COVID patients.
Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta has also seen a record number of trauma patients, as well as high numbers of those needing non-COVID medical care.
“The Delta variant is driving a fourth wave of COVID-19 cases that are again bringing hospitals to a breaking point,’’ said Grady CEO John Haupert. “Just one month ago, we had 12 hospitalized COVID patients. Today that number is 100. Grady is striving to meet the demand for our emergency and inpatient services.’’
Grady’s chief medical officer, Dr. Robert Jansen, told WSB that he’s very concerned the COVID outbreak may get even worse after Labor Day Weekend.
Wellstar Health System, based in Marietta, said that as metro Atlanta hospitals experience higher volume with more intense patient care for severe illness, “we are seeing longer ED [emergency department] wait times and temporary diversions.’’ It added that the 11-hospital system “went into the pandemic with nursing and physician shortages and continues to navigate staffing challenges exacerbated by the pandemic.’’
Urging people to get shots
Piedmont Healthcare, the largest hospital-based system in the state, said unvaccinatedpatients represent 95 percent of its COVID hospital admissions and 99.2 percent of its COVID deaths.
At Piedmont’s hospital in Cartersville, CEO Chris Mosley told local radio station WBHF that patients who have been admitted have to wait longer for a bed to become available.
COVID patients at the hospital are younger than in previous surges, he said, with some in their 20s, 30s and 40s.
“That’s scary,’’ Mosley said. “I hope it will be a call to action for Bartow County to get vaccinated.’’
Just 29 percent of county residents are vaccinated. “It’s just not high enough,’’ Mosley said.
University Hospital
In the Statesboro area, Grice Connect, a local news outlet, reported more than three-hour wait times at area emergency rooms and over one-hour wait times at urgent care centers. The region EMS services are reporting record call volumes.
University Hospital told the Augusta Chronicle that it has requested 30 nurses from the state to help with the crush of patients but so far has heard nothing back.
Janee Dock, vice president of nursing and chief nursing officer, told the newspaper, “The main difference is that we are seeing a steeper increase in cases compared to last time.”
“We don’t know what the peak is going to be but if you look at the other states, they have already surpassed their previous peaks. I think this is going to be worse than it was last summer.”
I’ve been waiting on this one to bloom for awhile. And boom! Yesterday her first flower unfurled and the entire plant is loaded with flower buds. The velvety leaves sparkle in the sunlight. The flowers are unique. Nothing like a little royalty in the garden and, boy, does the Princess flower deliver!
The princess flower plant, also known as Tibouchina and Glory bush, is an exotic shrub sometimes reaching the size of a small tree. When growing Princess flower shrubs in the landscape, you’ll find they quickly reach a height of 6 or 7 feet with a spread just as wide.
I have had this one for three years and it lives in a large urn. She’s obviously a happy camper. I remember when the leaves crinkled, turned black, and fell to the ground after that first winter. It almost brought me to tears. I cut everything to about 4″ above the soil line and voila, in the spring, new growth shot up. The Princess flower may be a late bloomer but well worth the wait.
In their native Brazil, they bloom year round but I will settle for August through the first frost here in Georgia.
To be so beautiful and delicate looking, Tibouchina is actually pretty hardy. Here is the 411 on care:
Regular watering but allow it to dry out between waterings.
Tibouchina performs best when protected from late afternoon sun.
Fertilize every spring with a product formulated for azalea, rhododendron and other acid-loving plants. Reapply fertilizer in summer and autumn. Remove blooms as soon as they wilt to encourage continued blooming.
I dump about two inches of my fireplace ashes on to the plant each winter. Seems to love that!
Mulch the area heavily to retain moisture, control weeds, and keep the roots cool.
Princess flower bushes are easily multiplied from cuttings that can be overwintered in a greenhouse, or even indoors as a houseplant. In fact, don’t be surprised to see a few purple blooms on the princess flower plant indoors when it is happily located in a sunny window.
Tibouchina or Princess flower loaded with buds.
If you are interested in adding a Princess flower to your garden I can tell you they are not easy to find. Mine came from a small nursery that seems to specialize in exotic plants. There are a few options for on-line ordering including Plant Delights Nursery. I’ve ordered from them in the past and their plants are healthy and good quality.
ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration announced this week that Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and private nonprofit organizations as a result of a freeze on April 22, 2021.
This declaration covers the primary county of Union and the contiguous counties of Fannin, Lumpkin, Towns, and White in Georgia; and Cherokee and Clay County in North Carolina.
“When the Secretary of Agriculture issues a disaster declaration to help farmers recover from damages and losses to crops, the Small Business Administration issues a declaration to eligible entities, affected by the same disaster,” explains Kem Fleming director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East.
Under this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible farm-related and nonfarm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster. With the exception of aquaculture enterprises, SBA cannot provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, and ranchers.
The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates of 3 percent for small businesses and 2 percent for private nonprofit organizations of all sizes, with terms up to 30 years.
The SBA determines eligibility based on the size of the applicant, type of activity and financial resources. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. The loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits.
Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov/ela/s and should apply under SBA declaration #17057, not for the COVID-19 incident.
Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an email to [email protected].
Classes began on Aug. 9 with 555 students enrolled at Tallulah Falls School for the 2021-22 academic year. Shown, from left, Clarkesville residents and brothers Luke Thomson, a fifth-grader, and Jack Thomson, an eighth-grader, pose on the first day of school. Local families continue to represent the majority of the day student population, with 243 students from Habersham County and more than 170 students from the four other closest surrounding counties, Stephens, White, Rabun and Banks. (E. Lane Gresham/Tallulah Falls School)
Classes began on August 9 with 555 students enrolled at Tallulah Falls School for the 2021-22 academic year.
With 204 middle school students and 351 upper school students, the corridors on the middle and upper school campuses are bustling with the positive energy the back-to-school season brings.
“We are delighted to welcome our students back to campus,” said President and Head of School Larry Peevy. “Our faculty and staff worked hard to prepare for the return of school; I’m eager to observe how this first week unfolds as everyone is excited about greeting their friends and welcoming the 124 new students who joined us this year.”
Bringing together students from across the globe to learn with students from Northeast Georgia is a hallmark of the TFS experience, Peevy said.
New countries represented in the student body include students from Belarus, Croatia, Poland, Romania, and Turkey, bringing the total number of countries represented on campus to 22.
Local families continue to represent the majority of the day student population, with 243 students from Habersham County and more than 170 students from the four other closest surrounding counties, Stephens, White, Rabun, and Banks.
Ron Cantrell of Cantrell Construction, Inc. delivers a commemorative key to the new TFS Natatorium to President and Head of School Larry Peevy on Feb. 17, 2021. (E. Lane Gresham/Tallulah Falls School)
TFS residence hall staff welcomed 116 boarding students, with 75 international students making their home on campus.
For the Class of 2022, the first day started early with a traditional sunrise biscuit breakfast and middle school students kicked off the year with a special assembly.
Fall season athletic activities are already in motion, with clubs and other extracurricular activities set to start soon.
Peevy is also excited for students to use the newly opened natatorium, featuring a 10-lane competition pool. In addition to being available for the swim team, students in all grades will have access for PE classes, water safety, and other special activities.
WASHINGTON (GA Recorder) — U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is planning to bring a comprehensive voting rights package to the Senate floor for a vote when the chamber returns from recess next month.
The New York Democrat said Wednesday that the Senate will take up a compromise version of the voting and elections bill, S.1, known as “For the People Act,” as the first piece of legislation in September’s session.
Schumer’s remarks came after Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas blocked an attempt by Schumer Wednesday to advance the “For the People Act” for Senate debate, after the Senate in a marathon session had passed the fiscal 2022 budget resolution on a 50-49 vote.
Schumer had asked for what’s known as “unanimous consent” to move ahead on debate on the bill, but Cruz objected, saying that “this bill would constitute a federal government takeover of elections” and a “massive power grab” by Democrats.
We are in a 911 emergency for our democracy, and we must pass federal voting rights legislation, no matter what—meeting this historic moment requires nothing less. – Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock
Schumer said Democrats must keep trying to pass the elections overhaul, though there’s been no GOP support in the Senate.
“Reactionary Republican legislatures are making it harder for poorer, younger, and nonwhite Americans to vote, while at the same time making it easier for partisan actors to steal an election,” he said on the Senate floor. “Senate Democrats are not going to stand by while this happens. We’re going to fight to protect the sacred right to vote.”
Federal help sought
The recent overhauls of voting laws passed in Georgia, Florida, and Montana have alarmed congressional Democrats. They are pushing for federal protections of voting laws to reverse some of the enacted laws that limit the number of ballot boxes for voters, restrict mail-in voting and ban the distribution of food and water by groups to voters waiting in long lines.
“In America today, we are witnessing the most sweeping and coordinated attacks on voting rights since the era of Jim Crow,” Schumer said.
Since the 2020 presidential election, Republican state legislators have introduced and passed restrictive voting laws at the behest of former President Donald Trump, who continues to spread the falsehood that the election was stolen from him.
As of July, 18 states have passed 30 laws with restrictive voting provisions and Republicans have introduced more than 400 bills with restrictive voting provisions across 49 states, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.
Georgia U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock has worked with Schumer to advance voting rights legislation this summer and vowed to press ahead when senators return from their break.
Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock said at a rare Senate field hearing in Atlanta his top priority this year is for federal legislative intervention after lawmakers in 48 states introduced nearly 400 bills restricting voting access. Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images
“Voting rights are preservative of all other rights, and my Senate Democratic colleagues and I are fiercely committed to acting with urgency to protect the sacred right to vote,” Warnock said in a statement Wednesday. “We are in a 911 emergency for our democracy, and we must pass federal voting rights legislation, no matter what—meeting this historic moment requires nothing less.”
Sen. Joe Manchin III, a West Virginia Democrat, said on the Senate floor that the new version of the “For the People Act” will “be the text of the compromise bill that a group of senators are working on.” That bill text has not been released yet.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, (D-Minn.), chair of the Senate Rules Committee, has said that Democrats are close to a deal, and touted her work with Manchin, who has voted for S. 1, but voiced his disagreement with it.
“We’re very close to an agreement on that bill,” Klobuchar said during a virtual panel. “We cannot let this moment pass, there are people trying to take away people’s right to vote. We can’t let that happen.”
Schumer said Wednesday that in addition to Warnock he’s met in recent weeks with Klobuchar and Manchin as well as Democratic Sens. Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Alex Padilla of California, Tim Kaine of Virginia and Jon Tester of Montana, and independent Angus King of Maine.
“We have made a great deal of progress on that legislation,” Schumer said. “We had a very good meeting as recently as yesterday afternoon. And we intend to rally around it.”
Manchin recently wrote an opinion piece in the Charleston Gazette-Mail, where he said he planned to vote against the “For the People Act” because he believes the bill was too partisan. He argued that any voting legislation that the Senate would pass needed to have bipartisan support.
Schumer previously brought S.1 for a floor vote in June, but Republicans blocked the advancement of the bill on a 50-50 vote, so the legislation failed because it did not meet the 60-vote threshold per Senate rules.
Any voting legislation will need to pass the 60-vote threshold known as the filibuster, and Manchin and Arizona Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema have made it clear they have no intention of eliminating the filibuster.
John Lewis voting rights bill
Early Wednesday, Schumer also tried to begin debate on another bill, S.2670, the Redistricting Reform Act of 2021 but was again blocked by Cruz. That bill aims to establish independent commissions to handle each state’s redistricting.
“So, the American people should understand: Republicans just blocked the Senate from even debating legislation to end partisan gerrymandering and make our Congress more representative of the people,” Schumer said.
Meanwhile, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland said in a letter to members that the House “likely will take up” separate voting rights legislation named for the late Georgia civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis when the chamber comes back in session on Aug. 23 to vote on the budget resolution.
The bill would bolster the Voting Rights Act by establishing a new preclearance formula to require all 50 states to get special permission from the Justice Department before making any changes to voting laws or putting in place new voting requirements.
While the Democratic-controlled House is likely to pass the legislation, it’s bound to face an uphill battle in the Senate, as Democrats will again need to convince 10 Republicans to join in support of the bill for it to advance.
Georgia Recorder Editor-in-Chief John McCosh contributed to this report.
As the Delta variant drives a relentless COVID-19 surge, Georgia’s vaccination rate has picked up steam.
A Washington Post analysis, based on CDC data, reported Tuesday that the state’s rate of new doses administered climbed 26 percent over the past week. The national vaccination rate rose 8 percent during the same time.
Georgia has seen a spike in infections — especially in the southern part of the state — and had the ninth-most confirmed COVID cases per capita among the states and D.C. over the past week, the Post analysis shows.
Meanwhile, the state reported more than 7,000 new COVID cases Tuesday, and the current hospitalizations for the disease have risen above 3,600. Georgia overall has among the lowest rates of fully vaccinated residents, at about 41 percent.
The Macon Telegraph, though, reported that Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is considering incentives to encourage residents to receive the COVID vaccine as cases and hospitalizations increase statewide.
Kemp did not mention the matter during a speech he made Tuesday in Columbus at the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Congressional Luncheon, but a spokesperson said that the governor is “considering a variety of incentives.”
“Governor Kemp has been consistent in saying that the vaccine is safe and effective and that every Georgian should consider talking to their doctor about getting the life-saving shot,” spokesperson Mallory Blount said in a text message, the newspaper reported.
Other states have offered incentives to get shots.
One of the biggest incentives is Ohio’s Vax-a-Million campaign. It allowed vaccinated adults to enter a drawing for one of five $1 million awards, or for residents between 12 and 17 years old, one of five four-year scholarships to an Ohio state school, including room and board, tuition and books.
Colorado gave away five $1 million cash prizes for vaccinated adults and rounds of higher education scholarships for teenagers who got vaccinated earlier this year.
Some hospitals require shots
To help speed vaccinations, an increasing number of employers have issued vaccine mandates for workers. Such requirements have been adopted by large Georgia health systems Emory, Piedmont and Wellstar.
And this week, long-term care companies PruittHealth, Community Health Services of Georgia and A.G. Rhodes announced jointly that they will require all employees to be vaccinated for COVID-19 “in an effort to curb the rising number of cases in communities they serve.’’
A sense of going backward
Medical providers in Georgia continue to describe the devastating impact from rising virus cases.
Steiner
In Albany, Phoebe Putney Health System reported 18 new COVID patients being admitted since Monday morning. The nonprofit system was a national COVID hot spot in the early months of the pandemic.
“With schools returning to session and young children unable to get vaccinated, we worry about students contracting and spreading the virus,’’ Scott Steiner, Phoebe Putney’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “We hope schools in our area will follow the CDC recommendation for universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students and visitors, regardless of their vaccination status.”
“This is an extraordinary point of the pandemic,’’ said Dr. Dianna Grant, Phoebe Putney chief medical officer. “All hospitals are operating at capacity. We need people in our communities to recognize the seriousness of the current situation and do what they can to reduce the spread of the virus by getting vaccinated and wearing masks.”
Concerns about children
There is no approved vaccine for children under age 12, and with the variant raging, rising numbers of kids have become infected in the state.
Schools around metro Atlanta opened their doors last week to students, including hundreds who were infected with the coronavirus, leading to quarantines of students and staff and safety concerns among parents, the AJC reported.
Fifteen children are hospitalized with the disease at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the pediatric system said Tuesday.
At Memorial Health in Savannah, Dr. Stephen Thacker said that “prior to this surge we would go many days to weeks without a pediatric COVID-19 admission. Over the last seven days, our average number of children admitted with COVID-19 has been four. Children needing ICU level care have often had serious underlying chronic health conditions.”
A Wellstar Health System pediatrician, Dr. Andrew Doyle, told GHN on Monday that “we are clearly seeing an increase in children [having COVID] in clinics, urgent cares and ERs.’’
More children appear to be infected during this COVID surge than previous ones, he said.
“The Delta variant is a particularly dangerous form of disease,’’ Doyle said. “Children are incredibly vulnerable, especially those under 12 because they can’t be vaccinated.’’
Mr. Earnest A. Smith, age 87, of Cornelia, GA passed away on August 10, 2021, after an extended illness.
Mr. Smith was born April 29, 1934, in Banks County, Georgia to the late Paul and Donia Mae Ramsey Smith. Ernest was in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict where he served on the front lines and was awarded two Bronze Stars and one National Defense Service Medal. Mr. Smith married Gladys Ballew in 1958 and they were happily married until Mrs. Gladys went to her heavenly home in 1994. Mr. Smith Worked in textiles in Chicopee for over 12 years before he retired. Earnest’s favorite things to included working on cars and spending time with his family.
Mr. Smith is preceded in death by his loving wife Gladys and his parents. Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law Randall and Brenda Smith of Demorest; son Charles Smith of Toccoa; stepdaughters Doris Pitts of Mt. Airy, GA and Lorena Foster of Lithia Springs, GA; sister Agnes Holtzclaw of Clarkesville, GA; brother and sister-in-law Richard and Lanet Smith of Sautee, GA; grandson Jody and Elizabeth Smith of Demorest; 3 great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives.
Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, August 14, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at Whitfield Funeral Home – North Chapel. Rev. Chris York will be officiating the services. Interment will follow the funeral service at New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery in Cornelia.
The family of Mr. Smith will receive friends Friday, August 13, 2021, starting at 5:00 pm and ending at 8:00 pm.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Whitfield Funeral Homes and Crematory, North Chapel, 245 Central Ave, Demorest, Georgia. Phone number 706-778-1700
In June, the City of Cornelia reached out to the public regarding an issue that was “plaguing” the city: large gatherings and the noise they produce. The city commission scheduled a public hearing at their July meeting to hear citizen’s input on the noise ordinance and their idea to limit large gatherings in residential areas.
Nearly a dozen citizens came to speak during the public hearing, some calling the possible ordinance amendments too restrictive, others bringing up the racial implications of where the gathering and noise complaints were from. What the residents and commission seemed to agree upon was that loud noise emitting from a residential property was the problem, not the gatherings themselves.
Tonight, the commission unanimously voted to post a new amendment to the noise ordinance. The discussed amendment would make noise that can be heard 100 feet away from a residential property at any time of day a ticketable offense.
The commission also voted to post an amendment to the noise ordinance that would make operating a motorized vehicle that emits noise exceeding 95 decibels, about the sound of a lawnmower or motorcycle, on public roads a ticketable offense.
The Cornelia Fire Department, as well as Cornelia residents, have asked the commission to consider creating a deterrent to operating vehicles that have been modified to make excessive noise.
“I hear this [noise] all day, all afternoon, especially when they [drivers of loud vehicles] get off work and start cruising around town,” says Commissioner Don Bagwell. “There’s just no excuse for that; it scares you when it happens because you don’t really know what the sound is.”
Officers could ticket individuals for either of these amendments if they pass. Both amendments will be discussed in a public hearing during the city’s next meeting, which is scheduled for September 7.
CLEVELAND – The search for a new county manager in White County is apparently over, Tuesday the County Commissioners announced that they have named Joseph “Joey” Cason as the sole finalist for that position.
The commissioners have been searching for someone to fill the job since May when Jason Cobb announced he was stepping down to peruse other career interests.
Cason holds a BBA in Management from Valdosta State University and a Master’s in Public Administration from Georgia Southern University.
Cason is currently serving as Executive Director of the Camden County Public Service Authority.
His Public Service career began in 1976 at the age of 15, where he worked for the Valdosta Parks and Recreation Department cleaning bathrooms and preparing ballfields for games. Cason has worked as a Recreation Supervisor at Valdosta State Prison, Athletic Director for the City of Albany, Associate Executive Director for the Valdosta YMCA, Recreation Director for the City of Brunswick, and Executive Director for the Greater Columbus Sports and Events Council. Cason has also run a successful private business for 20 years.
Cason is married to Sheila Bandy Cason. They have five children and four grandchildren.
The commissioners will make a final decision on the new county manager at a called meeting Tuesday, August 24 at 4:30 PM.
Since the end of June, when Cobb’s resignation became effective, the commissioners have been relying on the assistance of County Clerk Shanda Murphy who was appointed as Interim Manager.
Potato salad is a staple for summertime. Picnics, simple summer meals, cookouts, and potluck dinners wouldn’t be the same without it.
I have always preferred my mother’s recipe above all others I’ve sampled. As a disclaimer, potato salad is not my most favorite side dish but I do like it, especially this time of year. A grilled hamburger and baked beans would seem mighty lonely without a side of potato salad.
My husband could eat it three times a week. Recently, when I was doing my dinner prep for the week, I added it to the menu. I knew mine wouldn’t stand a chance against neither his recipe nor my mom’s, so I found something different. Did I mention my husband and I both love Cajun food? Which led me to try this recipe. It was delicious even if I do say so myself but he also gave me his stamp of approval.
Ingredients
4 large potatoes cut up in cubes (I used red potatoes but use what you like or have on hand)
2 hard boiled eggs
1/3 cup of chopped sweet onion or green onion
2 stalks celery
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 Tbls brown or creole mustard
1 Tbls red wine vinegar
1 Tbls blackening seasoning
1/2 tsp of cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp cumin
Instructions
Wash potatoes and cut in cubes. Cover with water in saucepan and bring to boil. Boil for 10 minutes or until tender. Drain water.
Slice onions and dice celery in small pieces. Peel and chop hard boiled eggs. Place those ingredients in a large bowl.
Add mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, and seasonings.
Once potatoes are slightly cooler add to above mixture and stir until well combined.
Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to eat.
This potato salad has a little kick but doesn’t overdo it. It was cool and refreshing and the perfect compliment to the hamburger and baked beans I served with it.
If you like to try your hand at something a little different, this would make a great addition to your upcoming Labor Day weekend cookout.
The Macon Telegraph, though, reported that Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is considering incentives to encourage residents to receive the COVID vaccine as cases and hospitalizations increase statewide.
