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U.S. Senate OKs $1.2T bipartisan infrastructure bill

By
Jacob Fischler
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The U.S. Senate signed off on a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package Tuesday with a 69-30 vote.

The U.S. Senate passed 69-30 on Tuesday a sweeping bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure package, a milestone for one of President Joe Biden’s priorities after months of negotiation.

Biden proposed an infrastructure plan in March that would have topped $2 trillion. A bipartisan group of senators led by Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), worked out details of the bill that eventually topped 2,700 pages and included $550 billion in new spending.

“After years and years of infrastructure week, we’re on the cusp of an infrastructure decade that I truly believe will transform America,” Biden said in remarks at the White House following the vote.

Every Senate Democrat and 19 Republicans voted in favor of final passage. 

Republicans voting yes included: Roy Blunt of Missouri, Richard Burr and Tom Tillis of North Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Mike Crapo and Jim Risch of Idaho, Chuck Grassley of Iowa, and Portman.

The bill includes:

  • $351 billion for highways and bridges
  • $107 billion for transit
  • $73 billion for electric grid infrastructure
  • $66 billion for passenger rail
  • $55 billion for drinking water infrastructure
  • $42 billion for broadband deployment
  • $25 billion for airports
  • $17 billion for ports
  • $7.5 billion for electric vehicle charging stations
  • $7.5 billion for electric buses and ferries

Georgia’s senators, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, quickly highlighted the funding poised to come to Georgia, such as $1.3 billion for public transit, $100 million for broadband, and $135 million for electric vehicle charging stations. The biggest chunk – $8.9 billion – would go toward repairing Georgia’s roads and highways.

About $135 million in the bipartisan infrastructure will go toward installing electric vehicle charging stations in Georgia. Funding was also included for electric school buses. (Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder) 

“Coming out of this pandemic, we have a once in a generation opportunity to repair our nation’s aging infrastructure while addressing the worsening climate crisis and supporting job growth, including the clean energy jobs that will move Georgia into the future,” Warnock said in a statement.

Ossoff hailed the bill as historic.

“Today’s historic bipartisan vote to upgrade our infrastructure, promote clean energy, and create good-paying jobs will benefit Georgians for generations to come,” Ossoff said in a statement. “The investments we make now will set us forward on a path toward sustainability, innovation, and world-class transit and transportation across our state. And we have proven that America’s elected leaders can rise above partisanship to serve the national interest.”

The White House has said the bill would be paid for with $263 billion in unused money from COVID-19 relief money and enhanced unemployment benefits, $51 billion from delaying a rule on Medicare Part D, $20 billion from future auctions of spectrum used for telecommunications, increased economic activity, and other sources.

GOP objections

Some Republicans said the overall spending was too high, objecting to the bill’s wide scope that went beyond traditional transportation infrastructure like roads and bridges.

They are also unhappy with the majority’s plan to follow the infrastructure bill with a $3.5 trillion budget resolution and plan for expansive spending on education, climate, health, and human services.

Unlike the infrastructure bill and most Senate legislation, that larger spending plan will require only a simple majority because it will be considered under a process known as reconciliation, and Democrats plan to pursue its approval without any Republican support.

Kansas Republican Sen. Jerry Moran voted against final passage of the infrastructure measure Tuesday after being part of the original bipartisan working group that produced a framework for the bill.

He said in a Monday floor speech the bill included several of his priorities, including broadband investment, but that it was too expensive and was not offset with more revenue or cuts to other spending.

“I wanted this to be a smaller, more affordable, paid-for package that was not excessive in scope, didn’t add to the national debt, and did not raise taxes on the American people,” he said.

He also objected to the measure’s link with the $3.5 trillion budget blueprint and reconciliation bill that will encompass health care, education, environmental programs, and more. That undercut the bipartisan nature of the first bill, Moran said.

The Senate voted immediately after the infrastructure vote to proceed to debate on the budget resolution. That motion passed along party lines, 50-49, with Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) missing both votes.

Moran added that the White House and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer had too much influence over negotiations instead of the group of 22 mostly moderate senators from both parties that had been negotiating. He gave kudos to Sinema for her role in leading the bipartisan group and bringing together members of both parties.

What’s next

The infrastructure measure’s fate in the Democrat-led House, which passed its own surface transportation authorization last month that included billions of dollars earmarked for specific projects requested by lawmakers, is uncertain.

The Senate’s 60-vote requirement, and the Senate bill’s backing from the White House and a substantial group of Republicans, likely mean that chamber’s version will be closer to what arrives on Biden’s desk.

Nearly $1.3 billion will go toward improving and expanding public transportation options statewide over the next five years. (John McCosh/Georgia Recorder) 

Biden is scheduled to meet with governors and mayors Wednesday to discuss the bill’s benefits for state and local roads, transit, water infrastructure, and broadband.

The federal money will allow state departments of transportation to start on the long wish lists of projects they’ve been waiting to undertake, said Susan Howard, the program director for transportation finance at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, a group that advocates for state departments of transportation.

“We have a clear backlog of unmet needs—projects that have been on the books with state DOTs for years,” Howard said last week.

Critics, however, have said the bill will worsen the transportation sector’s already problematic level of greenhouse gas emissions.

Although the bill includes some money for items meant to mitigate climate change and reduce emissions, those programs are dwarfed by the massive spending on new highways that encourages even more driving and thus emissions from cars and trucks.

Families, jobs, taxes

In his floor speech ahead of the vote, Schumer acknowledged the bill’s shortcomings and pledged the next major piece of legislation in the Senate would offer more help to working families and small businesses, add more jobs focused on addressing climate change and adjust the tax code.

“We Democrats believe we must do much more,” Schumer said. The budget resolution “will make generational transformations in these areas.”

House progressives warned Tuesday that they won’t back the infrastructure bill until the Senate acts on the $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill, the New York Times reported. House Democrats hold a slim majority and can’t afford to lose many members on a vote.

And the prospect of that larger package was not enough to satisfy some climate hawks in the House.

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) said Monday that Senate Democrats’ reconciliation instructions—the broad outline for spending the $3.5 trillion—fell far short in their allocation to the Interior Department.

The exact total the Senate is proposing for Interior is unclear. Interior programs were listed as one of eight line items sharing the Senate Energy and Natural Resources’ instruction to allocate  $198 billion in spending.

“Regardless of how much good work this resolution does in other areas, you can’t spin away the fact that it doesn’t offer the Interior Department enough money to meet some of our critical climate goals, including pressing needs like drought mitigation throughout the West,” he said in a statement. “It’s disappointing to see these obvious needs go unmet.”

Grijalva said he was working with like-minded House members to increase Interior’s share of the funding.

Georgia Recorder Deputy Editor Jill Nolin contributed to this report. 

Asa Julius Wood Jr.

By
Now Habersham
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Mr. Asa Julius Wood, Jr., age 59, of Commerce, GA died Saturday, August 7, 2021. A.J. was born in Augusta to the late A.J. and Lillian Gemae Hall Wood. He was employed with the United States Postal Service, where he served his route customers for 28 years.

A.J. (Junior) loved the Lord and everyone he met. He never met a stranger. He always brought joy, wherever he was. He enjoyed spending time with his friends and working on the farm.

A.J. is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Wanda Faye Prickett Wood of Commerce; daughters, Tabitha Tarbox of Grays Lake, IL and Renee Wood of Commerce; sisters, Rachel Bond and Susan Turpin both of Commerce; Bill Wood of Elberton and Ronnie Wood of Carnesville; grandchildren, Alisia Wood, AJ and Alex Speaker; and God grandchildren, Sophia, Lilly, Lynne and Serenity Speaker. He is also survived by many loving family and friends.

Funeral services will be at 3 PM, Thursday, August 12 at the chapel of Little-Ward Funeral Home with Rev. Marc Turner and Rev. Mitch Elder officiating. Interment will follow in Jackson Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Thursday from 1 to 3 PM. The family has requested that those attending wear casual clothes with bright colors. The family will be at the residence.

Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce is in charge of arrangements.

Robert E. “ Bob” Bellamy

By
Now Habersham
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Robert E. “ Bob” Bellamy, age 85, of Baldwin, passed away on Tuesday, August 10, 2021.

Born in Homer, Georgia, on August 1, 1936, he was a son of the late Emmett P. Bellamy and Gladys McDuffie Bellamy. Mr. Bellamy was a member of Baldwin Baptist Church where he was part of the Claude’s Sunday School Class. He proudly served his country in the United States Army. Mr. Bellamy was self-employed in used automobile sales for many years.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce Payne Bellamy; a daughter, Terri Lynn Bellamy; sisters, Francine Ward, Ruth Barrett, Patsy Trotter, and JoAnn Cocker; and brothers, Roger Bellamy, C.T. Bellamy, and James Bellamy.

Surviving are his daughter and son-in-law, Debbie & Tim Wilbanks of Commerce; son and daughter-in-law, Mike & Debbie Bellamy of Baldwin; grandchildren and families, Zach & Brandy Wilbanks, Annabelle, Abram and Amelia; Matt & Brianna Wilbanks, Riley, Anna, and Chyene; Terri Bellamy, Piper Frankum and Wyatt Frankum; Jacob & Cynthia Bellamy and Andrew & Kelsey Bellamy; brother, Buck Bellamy of Mt. Airy; sister, Shirley Wilkinson of Cornelia; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Private Graveside Services will be held at Baldwin City Cemetery, with Pastor Saul McCoy and Mr. David Sanders officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Baldwin Baptist Church, 200 Shore Street, Baldwin, GA 30511 or to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 4550 Montgomery Avenue, Suite 1100 N., Bethesda, MD 20814.

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.

College students return to campus amid union calls for mask, vaccine mandates

By
Ross Williams
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A tour guide takes new students and their parents on a tour of the University of Georgia this month in front of Sanford Stadium. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

ATHENS (GA Recorder) — College students across Georgia are saying goodbye to mom and dad, hauling furniture up to their dorm rooms, and making last-minute changes to their class schedules.

A new semester started Monday at Dalton State College and Georgia Gwinnett College, and the rest of the University System of Georgia’s 26 institutions will be heading back to class in the coming days and weeks.

At the University of Georgia, flocks of bright-eyed freshmen have been touring the campus to get the lay of the land before classes begin Aug. 18.

University of Georgia freshmen Eric Hightower, left, a computer science major, and Phillip Kelley, a biology major.

Rising freshman Phillip Kelley said he’s looking forward to life in the dorms. He’s also looking forward to life without mandatory masks.

“I don’t like wearing masks every day of school. It feels weird,” said Kelley, a biology major. “I did that all throughout high school, so I like being able to not have to do that.”

The University System of Georgia is recommending masks and vaccines but not requiring them, a policy that has sparked concern among some students and campus employees as the more contagious delta variant causes case numbers to rise and hospital beds to fill. On Monday, the Georgia Department of Public Health’s hospital diversion dashboard reported the emergency department at Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center as on total diversion, meaning it could not accept emergency medical service patients.

“It’s cool that it’s an option, but it’s not mandatory,” said Kelley’s friend, rising freshman computer science major Eric Hightower. “And plus, I’m vaccinated, so if you’re vaccinated, it’s not really an issue.”

Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidance recommending fully vaccinated people to wear masks indoors in areas of substantial or high transmission — categories that now describe all of Georgia’s 159 counties.

Not everyone has embraced the new order.

“I think it’s up to whoever wants to wear masks, you know?” said UGA landscape architecture major Will Miller as he waited for a ride near the dining hall. “We’re at the point in the pandemic where if you’re vaccinated, then I don’t know what CDC says, but yeah, I mean, it’s a personal choice, in my opinion. I mean, maybe I’m different than everyone else, but that’s how I am.”

A sign at the University of Georgia. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

Miller, a freshman who has been taking summer classes, said he has not seen many masked faces on campus.

“My professors wear them, but other than that, that’s about it,” he said. “Students aren’t required to right now, so I’m not wearing one as of right now.”

That could change if things get much worse, he added.

“As of right now, they’re not really enforced yet, but once they do, then, yeah, I’ll comply. I just kind of go with the flow,” he said.

Miller might wear a mask if someone told him he had to, but that someone will likely not be Gov. Brian Kemp.

While health experts agree masks are effective in reducing the spread of COVID-19, Kemp has fought back against mandating masks or shots and attacked local mayors of cities that have imposed mask orders.

“The biggest obstacle to getting more people vaccinated and the country returning to normal is the mixed messages from Washington D.C. and those with partisan agendas. In Georgia, we have been consistent,” Gov. Brian Kemp tweeted after the CDC’s announcement.

“Georgians know the risks and they know these safe, effective vaccines are our greatest tool to defeat COVID-19,” he added.

Georgia’s vaccination rate is 41% compared with just over 50% for the nation.

Not far away from where Miller awaited his ride, a group of freshmen international students laughed and chatted as they toured the campus, each of them wearing masks over their faces.

The new friends said they’ll be masking up when their classes start because they’re worried about new variants and because they want to keep others safe.

From left, University of Georgia freshmen Guisimran Cole, MBA, Dheera Neranna, Akshatt Dangayseh and Kevin Jain. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

“Many people are vaccinated, but a lot of them are not vaccinated, and some have very weak immunity,” said Akshatt Dangayseh, who will be studying at the Terry College of Business. “So as a citizen, or as a human, we have a social responsibility to wear masks so that we do not spread the virus to those weaker people who have less immunity to this virus because they can get really affected by it. You might not get affected, but you should think about other people who are living in the society as well.”

Judging by the signs posted around campus urging unvaccinated people to mask up, UGA leaders are hoping more students will agree with Dangayseh.

But some are calling on the school system to do more than strongly encourage mask usage.

Members of the United Campus Workers of Georgia say they plan to host a rally outside the state Board of Regents’ offices in downtown Atlanta Tuesday morning as the officials are set to meet.

The union representing faculty, staff, and graduate and undergraduate teaching assistants is calling on the university system to institute a vaccine and mask mandate as well as increased reporting and protective measures.

“As centers of research and learning, Georgia colleges and universities bear a responsibility to take the lead in educating and protecting the public— beginning with our own campuses,” co-President Jill Penn said in a statement. “Instead, the opposite has been happening: the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia has ordered a full return to normal operations. Interestingly, the Board of Regents policy contradicts with the covid safety policies many of the regents have implemented at their own workplaces. The BOR must reconsider its guidance in light of changing circumstances.”

A sign at the University of Georgia. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

According to data from the Chronicle of Higher Education, 675 public and private college campuses around the country are requiring students or employees to be vaccinated, including seven in Georgia, all private schools located near Atlanta.

Jessica DeMarco-Jacobson, a senior at Columbus State University and editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, the Saber, said faculty have been reaching out about problems they see with COVID-19 policy for the coming semester.

“I’ve already had several professors reach out to me and say, ‘Hey, Jessica, I’m kind of worried about this. I think it would be a good idea if you write about it,’ you know, see how people feel about it,” she said.

DeMarco-Jacobson said she and many of her classmates plan to be cautious about the virus, but she can commiserate with students who are tired of restrictions.

“I think people are definitely getting restless. I know I am,” she said. “It’s hard to keep staying inside and all that when you’ve already been inside for almost a year and a half.”

Soundalay Khamatsamay

By
Now Habersham
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Soundalay Khamatsamay, age 70, of Cornelia, Georgia, passed away on Monday, August 9, 2021.

Mr. Khamatsamay was born November 11, 1950, in Laos. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Cornelia. He was retired military with the Laotian military.

Survivors include his wife, Khammouk Khamatsamay, Cornelia, Georgia son and daughter-in-law, Phongsavath and Phouttha Khamatsamay, Cornelia, Georgia: daughter: Grace Khamatsamay, Cornelia, Georgia; grandson, Simon Khamatsamay, Cornelia Georgia.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm, Thursday, August 12, 2021, at the Whitfield Funeral Home, South Chapel and Crematory, with the monks officiating.

Arrangements are in the care of Whitfield Funeral Home, South Chapel and Crematory, 1370 Industrial Blvd, Baldwin, Georgia 30511. Phone number 706-778-7123.

Special session looms with redistricting and rising crime at top of agenda

By
Riley Bunch
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Blue Ridge Republican House Speaker David Ralston speaks with reporters at the Georgia State Capitol. (Riley Bunch/CNHI News)

ATLANTA (GPB) — When lawmakers left the state capitol in April, they knew they’d be back sooner than usual.

Georgia legislators are scheduled to return to the Gold Dome in the fall to complete the once-in-a-decade redistricting process and redraw the state’s political maps that could determine political power over the next 10 years.

The event requires Gov. Brian Kemp to call a special session where only he can set the agenda.

The Republican governor — up for reelection next cycle — has indicated that he will also task lawmakers with legislation to combat crime.

State and Atlanta leaders have been at odds over how to address the rise in violent crime. Kemp has slammed Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms for failing to address public safety, and the state’s top legislative leaders have pledged to intervene.

But both House Speaker David Ralston and Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan worry that with the crunch lawmakers are under to craft new district maps — a highly political process that promises drama — there simply won’t be enough time for crime.

Redistricting throws a wrench in the legislative calendar, requiring local lawmakers from across the state to return to the Capitol twice during the year.

Although the U.S. Census Bureau will release initial data later this week, Ralston suspects the mapmaking process in a special session won’t be able to take place until November.

And while Kemp is pushing for crime to be added to the list of action items, time is short, with holidays scattered during that time.

“I respect his motivation and what he’s trying to accomplish in terms of adding things to the agenda. I think it’s well-intended,” Ralston said. “If we don’t get to some of these things during this special session, they’ll be there a few weeks later when we come back in January.”

“There’s a clock factor here,” he added. “So there’s not a lot of time to add things.”

READ What Georgians have to say about redistricting

Duncan said while redistricting is the priority, the decision is ultimately the governor’s.

“If he was to want to expand the scope to deal with crime or to talk about crime, I certainly would be very open to that,” he said. “It’s not just the city of Atlanta: All of Georgia is talking about crime, and certainly the entire country is talking about crime.”

The topic of rising violent crime has been thrust into the spotlight during the pandemic and kept there by Republicans. Democrats have accused the party of turning the crisis into a campaign talking point.

The state’s GOP leaders have criticized Atlanta’s Democratic mayor for inaction and made clear that they are stepping in.

Last week, Bottoms dubbed the situation a “COVID crime wave that’s sweeping the nation.”

“I’ve given it that description because we are seeing acts of violence that we haven’t seen in decades,” she said.

On Fox News, Kemp pointed to a “lack of leadership” in the city. He also pushed back against Bottom’s mask mandate and said officers don’t have the capacity to enforce a facial covering requirement.

“The Atlanta Police Department — or our people or anybody else — has time to go around and enforce people to wear a mask,” he said. “They need to be focused, certainly in the city of Atlanta, on violent crime.”

Georgia’s Republican legislative leaders echoed his sentiments.

“We can blame everything in the world on the pandemic,” Ralston said.

He said when all is said and done, those in leadership positions must “accept some responsibility for taking action.”

Kemp, Duncan, and Ralston have each offered their own differing policy solutions to the problem that all follow a common thread: more money for law enforcement.

Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan speaks at the 2021 State of the State address at the Georgia State Capitol.
(Riley Bunch/CNHI News)

Duncan announced his plan to send more dollars toward police modeled after his namesake rural hospital tax credit. A proposed new $250 million proposal allows individuals and corporations to write checks to their local law enforcement agencies and get a 100% tax credit.

“I believe certain leaders blinked, and certain leaders just gave the notion that they were OK with defunding the police,” he said. “…And certainly we’re watching the negative effects play out here in Atlanta, in Georgia, and across the country.”

Duncan has also launched what he calls “GOP 2.0,” a political movement that pushes back against factions of the Republican Party circulating false election fraud claims and creates a policy-based path forward for the party.

Ralston, too, has offered his own path to combating crime and has suggested millions go toward law enforcement agencies and mental health.

The Blue Ridge lawmaker said there is a “clear link” between the state’s strained law enforcement agencies and underfunded mental health system.

“We have to understand that those two go hand in hand,” he said, adding that mental health has too long been dismissed in Georgia health care. “We can’t do that anymore.”

With Kemp’s indication that other topics are on the table for the special session, legislative leaders are now forced to deal with policy requests from both sides of the aisle.

State Democrats have called on their GOP colleagues to add Medicaid expansion to the special session, citing the crushing blow of the pandemic on the state’s health care system.

Democrats at both the state and the federal level have increased the pressure for the state to expand the insurance program under the Affordable Care Act, but Republicans are unlikely to budge.

“I think I can comfortably assure you and your listeners that Medicaid expansion will not be on the agenda for a special session,” Ralston told GPB News. “And that’s what happens when you start talking about adding things. Everybody has something they want to add.”

How do leaders deal with a flood of requests from lawmakers in the months leading up to the special session?

Ralston put it simply: “Just say no.”

This story comes to Now Habersham through a reporting partnership with GPB News, a non-profit newsroom covering the state of Georgia. 

Habersham Schools rank 8th in state for Heart Association donations

By
Hadley Cottingham
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After a school year unlike any other, during which students, faculty and staff battled the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Habersham County students did something amazing to give back to their communities. This past year, the school system raised over $56,000 for the American Heart Association and ranked number 8 out of 180 schools across the state of Georgia for fundraising totals.

The organization’s school fundraising program builds awareness for healthy lifestyles, as well as raises funds to save lives and give back to schools. This year, 1,900 Habersham students took the Heart Healthy Challenge, encouraging students to be kind, as well as take care of their physical and mental health. The AHA gave back $3,900 for physical education equipment this academic year, as well as provided mental health, nutrition and lesson plan resources to the school.

Holly Marbut, a representative from the American Heart Association, appeared at Monday night’s Habersham Board of Education meeting to thank the school system for their fundraising efforts and encourage Habersham principals to participate in the Heart Healthy Challenge.

“Our hearts are in it for them [the students], and they’re also in it to help others,” Marbut said.

Marbut presented awards to the principals of the schools with the highest fundraising totals at the meeting. Fairview Elementary School ranked third in the elementary education category with Level Grove in second. Demorest Elementary School raised the most out of all 12 participating Habersham schools, raising more than $20,000 and placing within the top 35 fundraising totals in the state.

In secondary education, South Habersham Middle School placed second for fundraising totals. North Habersham Middle School placed first, raising over $5,000.

The AHA and Superintendent Matthew Cooper are hopeful to raise even more funds this school year.

View Marbut’s full presentation to the BOE here.

Faith Baird named Grand Marshal for Battle of the Heroes charity game

By
Staff Report
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The Easton Foundation announced this week that Faith Baird will serve as Grand Marshal of its 8th Battle of the Heroes charity flag football game this Saturday. Faith is the co-founder of Brownies by Faith in Cornelia.

Baird, known locally for her inspiring personality and perseverance, was chosen for the honor last year, but the event was canceled due to COVID.

The young entrepreneur has overcome many obstacles to becoming a successful businesswoman. Born prematurely, she spent the first five-and-a-half months of her life in the hospital and was later diagnosed with level 2 autism.

Faith Baird and her mom, Misty, celebrate the grand opening of their first retail bakery in Cornelia on Oct. 18, 2019. (Daniel Purcell/Now Habersham)

Faith will be honored during halftime festivities at the Battle of the Heroes game on August 14. The game is a fundraiser for the Easton Foundation and pits first responders from Habersham and Banks counties against fellow first responders from Hall County.

“We are incredibly excited to host Faith as the Grand Marshal this year,” says Easton Foundation Board Chair Glenn Ingram. “Growing up in Habersham, I’ve seen firsthand the impact that Faith and her story have had on this community, and it’s inspirational.”

A dream come true

Brownies by Faith was established in October 2017 by Faith and her mother Misty Baird based on an earlier conversation between them about what Faith wanted to do after graduating from high school. Faith said she “wanted to bake” and the rest is history.

In just four short years, the Bairds have grown their brownie baking business from an online-only store to a retail bakery shop in historic downtown Cornelia. In 2019, the Habersham Chamber of Commerce presented them with its Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

The bakery, which originally opened on Irvin Street in Cornelia (see video), recently moved to a larger location at 1102 South Main Street.

The main message of their organization is that when you hear the name Brownies by Faith, it’s not just brownies baked by Faith, but it has taken a lot of faith to make their dream come true.

A full evening of activities

In June, the Easton Foundation announced the 8th Battle of the Heroes charity game will take place on August 14 with kickoff in Raider Stadium at 7 p.m. The Foundation will host an Inaugural Cruise-In before the game from 4:30-6:30 pm in front of the stadium on the Habersham Ninth Grade Academy campus in Mt. Airy.

Fireworks will cap off the evening at Raider Stadium shortly after the game ends. (Daniel Purcell/Now Habersham)

A fireworks extravaganza will cap off the evening 15 minutes after the conclusion of the game.

The Easton Foundation 501 (c)(3) is based out of Habersham County, Georgia. After losing Easton Singleton, a beloved friend and teen to a car accident in 2012, the community rallied together to turn tragedy into triumph.

The Easton Foundation was founded by Casey Lizama shortly after Easton’s passing in 2012 as a way to help other teens with pain and loss, and also encourage youth to connect with their community and become leaders. Each year the Easton Foundation not only provides assistance in times of need but also awards numerous scholarships to help teens in the Northeast Georgia community pursue their dreams of higher education.

McDonald plans to run for Cleveland council seat

By
Dean Dyer, WRWH Radio
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C.J. McDonald has announced his intentions to run for Cleveland City Council in November. (photo wrwh.com)

(CLEVELAND) — Qualifying for Cleveland and Helen municipal elections in November is set for next week. One possible candidate has already announced he will be running.

C. J. McDonald says he plans to qualify as a candidate for Ward 4 Cleveland City Council seat. Bradley Greene currently holds that seat.

McDonald is a 2009 graduate of White County High School and a 2013 graduate of the University of Georgia. He currently serves as Project Manager for Charles Black Construction Company, Inc. in Cleveland.

McDonald has lived in Cleveland most of my life and has family roots in the city. “ Since a young age, my late grandmother, Shirley McDonald, instilled a respect and love of this community in me,” said McDonald.

“With that love and respect, I want to help embrace the history of Cleveland. I would like to preserve the small, community-oriented nature of our City while at the same time helping existing and future Cleveland businesses prosper. I want Cleveland to be the best version of Cleveland possible,” he said.

In announcing his intentions, he said, “I have many friends that live and work in Cleveland, and I have a desire to see our community succeed. There will be decisions made over the next 5 to 10 years that will impact the next 30, 40, even 50 years, and I believe I am the right person to help make those decisions.”

Qualifying for the open seats will be August 16-20. Those wishing to qualify in each of the elections will take place at each of the city halls.

Cleveland has Wards 3 and 4 seats open, and they are voted on citywide. Helen has three at-large council seats to fill.

Season Preview: TFS Varsity Volleyball

By
TFS Athletics
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Sarah Jennings (by Crump Photo)

As the 2021 inches closer to first serve, the Lady Indians are loaded with experience and talent despite losing one of the program’s top players in history in Katy Corbett. Corbett, a Mercer beach volleyball signee, along with two other seniors who graduated, left some holes to fill for TFS. However, plenty of those returning were among the standouts last season and have improved their games heading into this season.

That list of returning key players begins with All-Region honoree Sarah Jennings, who is a junior this season. “Sarah will be our all-around go-to player,” says coach Matt Heyl. “She led the team last season with passing accuracy, second in kills, one of our dig leaders, and one of our best servers.”

Alba Romanos is another big playmaker back, as she will be counted on as a senior on and off the court.

“Alba plays all six rotations,” adds Heyl. “If she becomes a consistently solid player all around we will be solid offensively and defensively. Alba and Sarah are surrounded by our most improved player and setter last season, Allie Dalton, who has been improving this summer. Every starter is key this year. Addy McCoy improved greatly over the winter and spring while playing club. So her blocking and hitting will be key, along with Barrett Whitener and Nancy Fisher, who are both hitting and blocking better than they ever have. I have also seen much improvement in Evette Corwin, who will be our new Libero.”

The program is in the midst of the most successful run in school history, making the state playoffs in each of the past six seasons, and advanced to the Sweet 16 for just the second time after posting 19 wins a year ago.

“The outlook is very uncertain,” cautions Heyl. “In the region, we have five out of the six teams around the same level, and any team could win on a given day. Who the top four out of the region will be is very foggy at this point, which makes state very uncertain as well. It will depend a lot on chemistry and individual improvement on our team and who wants it more out of our region opponents. If we work hard, bond well, and improve in individual skills, we should have a winning record, get at least top two in the region and have a chance to get to another Sweet 16. This team could be the best team I have had in these four years, but that depends on them.”

The team is solid all the way around, with all of the starters logging plenty of time last year and/or significant time this summer in competition.

“Our strength is our chemistry,” says Heyl. “These girls have the common goal of being the very best team they can be and getting farther than they ever have in state. Our weakness is our lack of accountability. These girls are very nice and not willing to step on each other’s toes. I don’t see at this point people stepping up and correcting skill weaknesses or competitive/desire weaknesses they see on the court. When needed, these girls need to be able to push each other to the next level.”

The Lady Indians open the 2021 season officially on Tuesday, August 10, in a tri-match at North Forsyth, taking on the host school as well as Flowery Branch and Lumpkin County.

Danielsville man charged with murdering mailman

By
Joy Purcell
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Authorities today identified the man accused of shooting and killing a rural mail carrier in Commerce as Larry Steven Grogan of Danielsville. Grogan is also accused of shooting at Banks County deputies who attempted to stop him hours after the murder.

The Banks County Sheriff’s Office charged the 49-year-old Grogan with felony murder in the death of Asa “Junior” Wood, 59, of Commerce. The GBI charged Grogan with two counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer.

Grogan allegedly killed Wood while he was delivering mail Saturday morning in the 200 block of Hebron Road. A 911 caller alerted law enforcement to the shooting around 9:38 a.m. Banks County Sheriff’s Lt. Nicole Bailes says Wood was dead when officers arrived on the scene.

Approximately nine hours later, Banks County deputies spotted the suspect vehicle on Highway 51 North, less than ten miles from where the murder occurred.

When deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, they say the driver fled. An officer performed a PIT maneuver to disable the vehicle. It ran off the highway near the intersection with Payne Road. That’s when GBI investigators say Grogan got out of the vehicle and fired a rifle at two deputies. The deputies returned fire, injuring Grogan.

Neither deputy was injured in the shooting. Grogan sustained apparent non-life-threatening injuries. As of Monday evening, he remained hospitalized.

The Banks County Coroner’s Office sent Wood’s body to the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office in Decatur for an autopsy.

Investigators still have not determined a motive for the murder.

The GBI is investigating the officer-involved shooting. The sheriff’s office placed the deputies on administrative leave pending the outcome of that investigation, which is standard protocol.

U.S. Postal Inspectors are working with county and state officials on the investigation. Officials may file more charges.

Driver turns himself in after high speed chase leads to manhunt

By
Staff Report
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There was a heavy law enforcement presence in Mt. Airy early Sunday, August 8, as officers and K-9s searched for a driver who fled following a high-speed chase. (Red Bird Media)

An Alto man who fled from law enforcement during a high-speed chase over the weekend has turned himself in to authorities. Officials say Earnest Rayshawn Hunter fled, first in his vehicle, then on foot, as Habersham County deputies tried to stop him for speeding.

According to the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy clocked a driver going over 100 miles per hour on GA 365 North near Crane Mill Road just after midnight Saturday. As the driver attempted to flee from the pursuing deputy, he threw items out his car window, striking the pursuing patrol vehicle.

The chase ended when the driver wrecked in the parking lot of A1 Tire at the intersection of GA 197 South and Dicks Hill Parkway in Mt. Airy. (Red Bird Media)

“The pursued vehicle struck a set of Stop Sticks, which was deployed by Demorest Police Department at the intersection of Demorest Mt Airy Highway and deflated his front passenger-side tire,” says Habersham Sheriff’s Lt. Matthew Wurtz. “The vehicle continued north and exited onto Highway 197 where the vehicle struck a guardrail.”

The chase continued several more miles south on Highway 197. It ended when the fleeing driver wrecked in the parking lot of A1 Tire in Mt. Airy, striking several vehicles.

Wurtz says the driver, later identified as Hunter, exited the vehicle and fled the scene on foot. State and local law enforcement officers spent several hours early Sunday searching for Hunter in the area of GA 197 and Dicks Hill Parkway near where he wrecked. They were unable to locate him. The 29-year-old Hunter later turned himself in at the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office, says Wurtz.

Officers searched the area near where Hunter wrecked for several hours, but could not find him. He later turned himself in at the Habersham County jail. (Red Bird Media)

Deputies charged Hunter with speeding, fleeing and attempting to elude, failure to maintain lane, littering, reckless driving, failure to stop for a stop sign, and obstruction of an officer. As of Monday afternoon, August 9, he remained in the Habersham County Detention Center on a $10,900.00 bond.

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