Citing its desire to “go in a different direction,” the Stephens County Board of Education has announced its intention to hire a new school superintendent.
The Board met with Superintendent Dr. Daniel Oldham in a called meeting on August 6. During the meeting, they agreed Oldham would be reassigned from Superintendent to Transitional Coordinator. In his new role, Oldham will oversee the District’s transition to an interim superintendent and, ultimately, to a new superintendent of schools.
“The Board of Education expresses its appreciation to Dr. Oldham for his leadership and contributions to the School District during his service as Superintendent, but the Board wants to go in a different direction,” a press release states. “Dr. Oldham expresses his thanks and gratitude for the encouragement and most of all the support of the staff, parents, and community.”
Oldham served one year as Stephens County’s deputy school superintendent before taking over as superintendent last year.
In a statement to Now Habersham, Oldham added: “I am thankful to have had the opportunity to serve as superintendent of Stephens County Schools. This is a wonderful community that welcomed me and my family with open arms.”
When announcing Oldham’s departure, school officials emphasized their desire for a “smooth and productive transition.”
As of Monday afternoon, August 9, the school system had removed Oldham’s name and contact information from its website. Deputy Superintendent of Stephens County Schools Matt Thompson has assumed Oldham’s duties. Board members intend to name an interim superintendent at their next scheduled work session.
And that scenario describes how Georgia’s health insurance exchange is shaping up for individuals and families looking for coverage in 2022, according to initial filings by health insurers to the state’s insurance department. The filings were obtained by Georgia Health News through an open records request.
Five insurers are proposing to enter the individual exchange for 2022, bringing the state’s total to 11. Three had dropped out in earlier years – Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, and Cigna – and two are new entrants to the market, Bright Health, and Friday Health Plan.
They would join holdovers Alliant, Ambetter, Blue Cross, CareSource, Kaiser Permanente and Oscar.
Eleven would be the most options for consumers to pick from since the exchange opened in 2014. Exchanges in the individual states were created by the Affordable Care Act to allow people without health insurance from government programs or private employers to buy their own coverage at a reasonable rate.
“The rates look really good – obviously the market is really stable,’’ said Bill Custer, a health insurance expert who analyzed the insurer filings.
Part of the flat trend in premiums relates to the COVID-19 pandemic, Custer said. “A lot of people didn’t get care’’ during 2020 as the coronavirus spread, he said, which reduced the level of insurer payouts to medical providers.
Custer said that there has been concern about pent-up demand for medical care leading to a surge in claims once the pandemic is over. “Obviously, insurers don’t think that it is a big issue,’’ he added.
Among the returning insurers, the highest increase in premiums proposed was Aetna’s 6.9 percent, the analysis by Custer shows. Alliant, Blue Cross, CareSource, Kaiser, and Oscar all posted premium decreases.
Ambetter, with the largest number of Georgia exchange enrollees, proposed just a 0.6 percent increase, Custer showed. Run by St. Louis-based insurance giant Centene, Ambetter is the only health plan that would be offered statewide next year.
Rates are not final until state regulators, and then federal officials approve them, and those decisions are scheduled for September.
Meanwhile, insurance agents warn consumers that the cheapest health plans may not have the most robust networks of hospitals and doctors.
Changes for this year
Enrollment in the exchanges is normally concluded before the coverage year begins. But enrollment for 2021 is still open for new customers until Aug. 15, under an extended enrollment period approved by the Biden administration because of the economic effects of the pandemic. During this special enrollment period, Georgia has seen at least 70,000 more enrollees enter the exchange than in previous years, federal data show.
“These numbers show what we’ve long known to be true: People both need and demand affordable health coverage in Georgia,” said Xavier Becerra, the U.S. Health and Human Services secretary, in a recent statement.
Depending on income, policies available on exchanges offer discounts, known as subsidies, for consumers. Under the American Rescue Plan implemented by President Biden, subsidy changes are allowing Georgians already enrolled in 2021 coverage to save even more money, an average of $59 per month, according to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Patrick, 33, who lives in metro Atlanta, said that he will soon get a premium decrease of about $100 a month thanks to the new subsidy hike. Patrick, who owns a company in the entertainment industry, requested that his full name not be used.
The exchange, he said, “has given me some good options and not some garbage catastrophic plans’’ that don’t cover much care.
Those extra discounts will continue through next year.
More than 500,000 Georgians are enrolled in exchange coverage this year.
A better bargain than elsewhere?
Nationally, proposed 2022 premiums reviewed by Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) show the rate hikes of 13 other states are generally higher than Georgia’s, which were not analyzed by KFF.
Most insurers expect health utilization patterns to return to pre-pandemic levels, and thus most are not factoring in any additional costs or savings related to COVID-19 in their 2022 premiums, the KFF analysis said.
The extra subsidies, and new help for those with incomes of above 400 percent of poverty, are expected to increase the number of enrollees in the individual market, the analysis said. Some insurers predict these new enrollees may be healthier and thus financially less risky to insure than current members.
Premiums for individual policies on California’s health insurance exchange will go up 1.8 percent on average next year — a small increase credited to record enrollment and increased competition among health carriers, officials in the state reported recently.
A more optimistic scenario
The Georgia exchange has emerged from some rockier past years when premiums spiked, and some insurers dropped out.
The four additional insurers show they see the exchange as a profitable area, Custer said. “They can assess the risk and price accordingly.’’
One of the new entrants, Friday Health Plans, said it’s looking forward to bringing affordable and quality health plans to Georgia residents in 2022.
“We are currently working with regulators to obtain our final licensing agreements in the state,’’ said Sal Gentile, CEO of the Denver-based company. “High uninsured numbers have plagued the Peach State in recent years, which is especially concerning in the wake of the pandemic.’’ The company says it features unlimited, free primary care visits.
The increased competition shows more certainty from insurers about the stability and viability of the health insurance exchange, said Laura Colbert of the consumer group Georgians for a Healthy Future.
Kemp discussing waiver plans last year.
She noted that many uninsured Georgians are eligible for discounted exchange policies with premiums that are less than $50 and, in some cases, as low as zero, but that these people are often unaware that such deals are available.
The proposed 2022 premiums in Georgia are going through the government review process even as federal health officials are balking at Gov. Brian Kemp’s waiver plan to replace healthcare.gov with a privately run enrollment system. (Waivers, which require federal approval, are state changes to certain health programs.)
Another facet of the waiver plan that’s being debated, and has received a more favorable reception from the feds, would create a reinsurance program for Georgia. That could lower premiums on the exchange even further.
Tips for consumers
Before shopping, consumers should study the networks of providers that the health plans are offering, said Bill Lucas, an insurance agent in the Savannah area. Some insurers offer much better networks of doctors and hospitals to employers than they provide for individual coverage, he added.
With a week remaining to sign up for coverage this year, federal officials note that consumers:
Lenward E. Jordan, age 83, of Alto, passed away on Sunday, August 8, 2021.
Born on November 21, 1937, in Commerce, he was a son of the late John Thomas and Addie Mae Baxter Jordan. Mr. Jordan was retired from Carwood Manufacturing and was a faithful member of Crossroads Baptist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Ann McDuffie Jordan, and a son-in-law, Alvin Crane. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Survivors include daughters and son-in-law, Ninia Crane of Baldwin and Barbara “Bobbie” and Bill Robinson of Clarkesville; daughter-in-love and son-in-love, Rita and Lee Smith; son-in-love, Pete Burgess of Alto; grandchildren and spouses, Theron and Melissa Robinson, Darin and Jessi Kimbrell and John and Jessica Kimbrell; great-grandchildren, Shae Lynn Robinson, Willow Robinson, Lucas Robinson, Peyton Dodd, Devyn Kimbrell, and Bo Kimbrell; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services are 11 am on Thursday, August 12, 2021, at Crossroads Baptist Church in Alto, with Rev. Lamar Kastner and Rev. Ray Davis officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery with Rev. Alvin Burns officiating.
The family will receive friends from 6-8 pm on Wednesday at the funeral home.
Those in attendance are asked to please adhere to the public health and social distancing guidelines regarding COVID-19.
Dollie Timmons Lively, age 87, of Clarkesville, passed away on Sunday, August 8, 2021.
Born in Trion, Georgia, on February 21, 1934, she was a daughter of the late James Timmons and Repsie Garmany Timmons. Mrs. Lively retired from Mt. Vernon Mills with 34 years of service.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James T. Lively, and 8 siblings.
Surviving are her children, Ellen Robinson of Clarkesville, James Len Lively (Tinie) of Cleveland, Beverly Garner (Brian) of Alto, Susan Martin (Bobby) of Homer and Marie Cantrell (Kevin) of Mt. Airy; 8 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; sister, Delvie Reed of Alabama; several nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Graveside services are scheduled for 11 am, Wednesday, August 11, 2021, at Eastview Cemetery in Mt. Airy, with Chaplain David Souderes officiating.
The family would like to express their appreciation to Amedisys Hospice for the care of Mrs. Lively.
Those in attendance are asked to please adhere to the public health and social distancing guidelines regarding COVID-19.
James Douglas Tedder, age 73, of Cornelia, Georgia, passed away on Sunday, August 8, 2021.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM until 8:00 pm, Thursday, August 12, 2021, at the Whitfield Funeral Home North Chapel, in Demorest, Georgia.
A private burial will be held.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel, 245 Central Ave, Demorest, Georgia. Phone number 706-778-1700
The biggest meteor shower on the year is upon us once again: the Perseids.
Every August, the Earth passes through the debris stream of the comet Swift-Tuttle. Swift-Tuttle is a periodic comet that has a period of between 20 and 200 years. The varying orbital period is due to interactions with Jupiter that happen regularly and make small changes to it’s orbit. The first time the comet was recorded by the Chinese in the year 69B, and they recorded it becoming very bright in the year 188. Modern records of the comet begin in 1862 when it reached naked eye brightness again. It’s most recent visit to the inner solar system came in 1992. Swift-Tuttle is one of a handful of large objects that comes close to the Earth. While an impact isn’t happening any time soon, it is possible that over the next few thousand years it could eventually hit the Earth. The next close pass won’t come until it returns to the inner solar system in 2126 when it will pass a mere 14.2 million miles from Earth (a relatively tiny distance).
Source: HORIZONS System, JPL, NASA, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=92550800
Since it is so large and regularly passes through our orbit, it is responsible for leaving a thick trail of dust and rock behind for the Earth to plow through. It does so every August, usually between the 9-14. The shower officially runs from mid-July to mid-August but it always peaks in the 2nd week of August when the Earth passes through the thickest part of the dust cloud. While the Geminid meteor shower in December historically produces more meteors per hour, the Perseids falling during the warmer months makes it possibly the best shower of the year since you don’t have to freeze to see it.
It is believed this meteor shower may gradually weaken over the coming years as Earth passes through less dense areas of the cloud, but that won’t be a problem this year.
From our point of view, the radiant, or the place the meteors appear to come from, is in the constellation Perseus. This is where the shower gets it’s name, and is based on Greek mythology. In August Perseus rises around local midnight making for the best viewing hours between midnight and dawn. In 2020, meteor rates reached around 100/hr in dark skies.
A Perseid Meteor Source: Tyler Penland (author)
This year, the Perseids will be peaking on the night of the 11th into the morning of the 12th, Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Rates of 60/hr are likely in dark skies with less visible the more light pollution you have. The best time to look is always between midnight and dawn when our side of the Earth is plowing directly through the dust stream. Luckily, the moon won’t be in the way this year with the new moon occurring on the 8th. This means the moon will set early on in the night leaving perfectly dark skies for meteor viewing!
So this coming Wednesday night keep your fingers crossed for clear skies and get out to enjoy this yearly visitor!
Beekeepers Virginia Webb (left) and Katie Goodman open the hive to check the honey. (Margie Williamson/Now Habersham)
Virginia Webb has an international reputation as a leading expert in bees and honey. Her Sourwood honey has been selected four times as the best in the world at the World Honey Show. And, her Sourwood honey has been chosen best in the country for the past five years against more than 2,000 entries and 17 categories.
When she advertises the best honey in the world, Virginia isn’t kidding.
Virginia and her late husband Carl are well known nationally and internationally for their work with honey bees. In fact, colleague, Katie Goodman, describes her and her late husband as “bee royalty.”
“When I first started going to conferences with Virginia and Carl Webb, it felt like the crowds would part for them like they would for royalty to allow them to walk through,” says Goodman. “Virginia continues their work and is highly regarded in the beekeeping world.”
Virginia, however, is low-key about her work in the bee industry.
Beekeeper Virginia Webb carefully checks the work of her bees. (Margie Williamson/Now Habersham)
According to Virginia, the title she most prefers is “female farmer.” Virginia points out, “Habersham is still a farming county. I want to be counted as one of the farmers, and there are not many female farmers in the county.”
And, Virginia is proud of her workforce.
“I’m the largest employer in the county,” she says. “Each hive has 60,000 –80,000 bees working in the summer. And right now, I have 200 hives. That’s 12 to 16 million bees working each year for me.”
Regardless of which title is used, beekeeper or female farmer, spending a day in Virginia’s domain is an educational experienced. Webb is passionate about everything she gets involved in, and it’s especially seen in her passion for bees.
Becoming a beekeeper
Virginia Webb received her first beehive in 1964 as a birthday gift from her father. He was always working with bees as a hobby. Over time, Virginia’s talent with bees grew, as did her own collection of hives. Working in an Atlanta bank kept her busy and her bees were definitely a hobby. That is until she met Carl Webb.
Webb has millions of honey bees working in her hives. (Margie Williamson/Now Habersham)
Carl was a beekeeper when he and Virginia met at a beekeepers’ meeting. Although he was a good bit older than Virginia, they had so much in common that they were married in 1998. He asked her to move to Clarkesville for a year and see how she felt about living in a rural area. Virginia agreed, thinking one year was as long as she could make in in a rural setting. However, she never looked back and has been in Clarkesville ever since.
At one time, Virginia and Carl had as many as 400 beehives, spread throughout Habersham County, neighboring counties, and even into North Carolina. When Carl became sick, they had to downsize the number of hives they could take care of. Carl died over a year ago, but Virginia continues their business and is ready to expand the number of hives again.
The science of bees
Albert Einstein is sometimes quoted as saying, “If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live.” According to Virginia Webb, that’s not reality. “But,” she says, “we would live without the colors and the varieties of foods we now enjoy!” That’s because bees play an important role in growing the fruits and vegetables we enjoy but often take for granted.
Virginia points out that only three natural foods can exist without bees: wheat, rice, and mushrooms. Regardless of what happens to the honey bees, we will always have those foods available. But, really, would we ever be satisfied with that kind of diet.
Honey bees play an important role in the production of all grown food. They move from flower to flower, collecting nectar from each, that they take back to the hive. That nectar is brought back to the hive to become honey. In the process, the bees pass pollen from plant to plant. According to Virginia, a seedpod must be fertilized seven to nine times each for the pod to grow into a marketable vegetable.
Virginia and Carl were also chosen to be part of a small, select group of beekeepers who worked with importing Russian honey bees to the United States. The Russian bees were resistant to the Varroa destructor, a parasitic mite that attacks and feeds on the American honey bees. The mites were so successful that they almost eradicated America’s honey bee population.
Virginia remains a certified specialist working with the United States Department of Agriculture in breeding Russian honey bees to be used throughout the United States. There are only 25 certified breeders in the U.S. who are required to take scientific data to ensure that the DNA of the Russian bees is passed on to the honey bees they breed. Virginia is the only certified beekeeper in the program in Georgia
The process of making honey
Each box in which bees work is actually a hive. Each group of hives, usually between 20-30, is called an apiary. And, the beekeeper can be called an “apiarist” as well as a beekeeper. Up close, the hive is a series of trays, placed one atop the next. The queen of the hive resides in the bottom level, and the beekeeper never touches all the honey created at that level because it is what will be needed to keep the colony alive during the winter.
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Virginia and Katie use smoke to keep the honey bees calm as they open the hives. (Margie Williamson/Now Habersham)
The white wax the bees produce can be seen when the top is removed. (Margie Williamson/Now Habersham)
A special tool is used to separate the trays stuck together with the beeswax. (Margie Williamson/Now Habersham)
Trays are taken out to check how much honey has been collected. (Margie Williamson/Now Habersham)
Trays are checked to determine if the honey is ready to be harvested. (Margie Williamson/Now Habersham)
Author Margie Williamson takes her turn inspecting the bees. (Photo by Katie Goodman)
Apiaries are spread out in areas that provide the flora and fauna the bees need to make the honey. For example, Sourwood honey is made using the nectar from Sourwood trees, so the hives in a sourwood apiary need access to those trees.
Wildflower honey is made from bees feeding off the variety of flowers in the area. For example, clover is one of the flowers honey bees will feed on. Each tiny spike in the clover ball is actually a separate flower. Honey bees will take nectar from any of them.
One interesting fact is just how much nectar has to be collected to produce honey. To collect enough nectar for a one-pound jar of honey, bees in one hive will visit two million flowers and fly 55,000 miles in the process.
To make honey, the bees create a digestive enzyme that transforms the raw nectar into honey. When this process is completed, the bees cover the honey with pale wax. That wax lets the beekeeper know that the honey is ready to be harvested.
Virginia Webb uses state-of-the-art commercial equipment in collecting and processing her honey. (Margie Williamson/Now Habersham)
Virginia has state-of-the-art equipment for processing the honey she collects from her bees. One machine actually cuts away the wax layer, uncovering the natural honey. The tray of honey is then put into a processor that removes the honey from the tray and then is processed to remove anything that isn’t honey. Finally, the pure honey is collected into large vats, ready to be bottled.
The world’s best honey
It’s difficult to get Virginia to explain why her honey has won international awards. She credits the area in which her bees work – the Northeast Georgia mountains – with much of her success. Virginia points out, “There are other beekeepers producing excellent honey in this area. We make wonderful honey up here.”
Virginia offers her award-winning Sourwood Honey and her Wildflower Honey. Both are delicious!
Perhaps Virginia’s edge is in her desire to create the best honey possible. Katie Goodman has been working with Virginia for several years now and has watched her at work. Katie shares, “Virginia is really passionate about her bees and her honey. And she’s constantly monitoring the hives, making sure the bees are healthy. She’s a stickler for the details. She checks and then rechecks every step of the way to make sure the honey is as close to perfect as it can be.”
Virginia’s busy with her commercial honey business, but not too busy to share her passion for bees with others. She’s in demand as a speaker and teacher about bees and honey. She teaches at the Arrendale State Prison for women as well as the John Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina. She’s also a member of local and national beekeeping organizations and has served as leadership in the organizations.
Know your beekeeper
Virginia’s advice for anyone who loves honey is to buy locally and know your beekeeper. Apparently, half of all honey sold in the United States is imported. Virginia suggests talking to the beekeeper and hearing how they go about making the honey. And, she encourages us to try out many of the local varieties.
One last fact learned with Virginia: Honey can last forever. Makes you want to go get some honey, doesn’t it?
Save the honey bees
The Save the Bees license plate provides funding for state-wide education and research projects.
One of the things that Virginia and Katie are both proud of is their work in getting the Save the Honey Bee License Plate developed for the state of Georgia.
The Georgia Beekeepers Association created the tag and got it approved by the state.
Some of the funds raised through the sale of the tags are provided as grant monies to support the educational and research work in the area of bees and beekeeping in the state of Georgia. For more information, go to the Georgia Beekeepers Association.
There are only two ways to purchase Virginia’s honey – online or at her Honey Stand at the bottom of her driveway. If you’re local to the Clarkesville area, the honey is cheaper at the Honey Stand because there are no extra fees attached. You may purchase the honey online at MtnHoney.com.
The Honey Stand is Virginia’s serve-yourself shop.
Authorities charged a Cleveland man with theft, DUI, and multiple traffic offenses after he allegedly led them on a chase through Hall County on a stolen motorcycle.
Trent Michael Ash, 21, was arrested after wrecking the bike off Old Cornelia Highway.
The incident began Saturday afternoon when Hall County deputies requested assistance with their pursuit of a stolen bike southbound on GA 365. The Georgia State Patrol took the lead in the chase on I-985 at the Exit 24 off-ramp.
The chase headed east onto Old Cornelia Highway, where troopers channeled the 2007 Suzuki GSX-R600 Ash was riding toward the shoulder of the road. According to the GSP report, Ash failed to stop, traveled off the roadway, and crashed in the grass.
Ash reportedly suffered minor injuries but refused treatment and was arrested at the scene.
In addition to DUI, troopers charged him with speeding, reckless driving, fleeing and attempting to elude, failing to obey traffic control device, and driving on the wrong class license.
Hall County deputies charged Ash with theft by receiving stolen property. They booked him into the Hall County Detention Center, where he remained early Monday on a $22,300 bond.
Local elections are still three months away, but if you’re considering a possible run, you better decide soon. The qualifying period for Habersham County’s municipal elections opens on Monday, August 16, and runs through noon on Friday, August 20.
There is one Habersham County Commission seat up for grabs and fourteen city council seats. There are mayoral races in Baldwin, Clarkesville, Demorest, and Mt. Airy.
In addition to electing their next slate of officials, voters in Alto, Clarkesville, and Cornelia will also vote on liquor referendums.
Prospective candidates may qualify at the Office of Elections and Registration during the qualifying period. The office is located in the new Habersham County Administration Building at 130 Jacob’s Way, Suite 101 in Clarkesville.
What’s on the ballot?
Habersham County: Habersham County voters will head to the polls to elect a new District 5 County Commissioner. The seat remains vacant since Tim Stamey resigned in April. While the seat is elected at large, only qualified candidates who live within Commission District 5 may run. The winner will fill the remainder of Stamey’s unexpired term beginning November 15, 2021, and running through December 31, 2024. The qualifying fee is $288.
Alto: Three at-large council seats are up for election in the Town of Alto, including Posts 1, 3, and 5 currently held by Carolyn Cabe, Allen Fox, and P.J. Huggins, respectively. The elections are for four-year terms running January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2025. The qualifying fee is $35.
Alto voters will also vote on a liquor referendum to decide whether to allow package sales of distilled spirits in their town.
Baldwin: Baldwin voters will vote in three at-large elections for Post 4 and 5 council seats and mayor. Maartin Venter and Alice Venter currently hold the council seats. Joe Elam is the current mayor. The elections are to fill four-year terms from January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2025. The qualifying fee for both mayor and council is $35.
Clarkesville: Voters in Clarkesville will cast ballots in November for mayor and three at-large council seats. Posts 1, 4, and 5 are up for election. The seats are currently held by E. Lane Gresham, Franklin Brown, and Steven Ward, respectively. The current mayor is Barrie Aycock. The elections are for four-year terms running January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2025. The qualifying fee for council is $18 and for mayor, it’s $35.
Clarkesville voters will also vote on a liquor referendum to decide whether to allow the package sale of distilled spirits in their town.
Cornelia: Cornelia voters will elect two city council members this year. The seats up for election are Ward 2, currently held by Janice Griggs, and Ward 3, held by Don Bagwell. The elections are for four-year terms running January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2025. The qualifying fee is $72.
Cornelia voters will also vote on a liquor referendum to decide whether to allow the package sale of distilled spirits in their town.
Demorest: In Demorest, the office of mayor and two council seats are up for election this year. Voters will elect all three officeholders at large. The council seats are currently held by Shawn Allen and Jim Welborn. The current mayor is Rick Austin. The elections are for four-year terms running January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2025. The qualifying fee is $100.
Mt. Airy: Voters in the Town of Mt. Airy will elect two council members and a mayor in November. All three will be elected at large. Patrick Ledford and Ray McAlister currently hold the council seats. Longtime Mayor Gary Morris has said he will not seek reelection. The elections are for four-year terms running January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2025. The qualifying fee for mayor is $35.00 and for council, it’s $20.00.
Dates to remember
This is the first local election since Georgia lawmakers passed the state’s controversial new voting law. Here are important dates to remember regarding the November 2, 2021, election:
August 16 is the first day to submit an absentee ballot application. NOTE:Under Georgia’s new voting law, you may submit an absentee ballot application no earlier than 78 days and no later than 11 days prior to the election. Previously, a voter could ask for their ballot as early as 180 days before an election and as late as the Friday before Election Day. Click here to download the new absentee application form or contact the county registrar at 706-839-0170 for more information on obtaining an absentee ballot.
October 4 is the last day to register to vote.
Absentee ballots will be available beginning October 12.
Early Voting will be held from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. October 12-22 at the Ruby Fulbright Aquatic Center in Clarkesville
October 22 is the last day to submit an absentee ballot application.
Saturday Voting will be held from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on October 16 and 23 at the Ruby Fulbright Aquatic Center in Clarkesville.
Advance Voting at the Habersham North Precinct (Ruby Fulbright Aquatic Center in Clarkesville) and the Habersham South Precinct (First Baptist Church of Cornelia) will run from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. October 25-29.
All Habersham County and municipal voting precincts will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on election day, November 2, 2021.
To register to vote, visit the Office of Elections and Registration in person or visit My Voter Page online.
Mrs. Evelyn “Rebecca” Kesler Poole, age 63, of Baldwin, Georgia, passed away on Saturday, August 7, 2021, at Northeast Georgia Medical Center following a brief illness.
Mrs. Poole was born on March 13, 1958, in Stephens County, Georgia, to Gene and Aleene Stevens Kesler. She was preceded in death by her son, Justin Bishop Poole, and a sister, Laura Jean Kesler; grandparents, O.B. and Evelyn Eubanks Stevens and J.B. Kesler and Alma Eubanks Kesler Anderson.
Mrs. Poole was a member of Line Baptist Church, where she was the church clerk for 27 years. Rebecca was the one who initiated the first church bulletins and continued to print them for over 34 years. She also served over the years in many other areas at the church, including teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School.
Rebecca was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She was known to her grandchildren as “Nana.” Rebecca enjoyed sewing, photography, tending to her flowers, and genealogy.
Survivors include her husband of nearly 43 years, Johnny Poole, of Baldwin; daughter and son-in-law, Amanda and Casey Sheriff, of Martin; grandsons, Jared and Jacob Sheriff, of Martin; brother, Beacher Kesler, of Commerce; several aunts, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Funeral Services will be held at 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 11, 2021, at the Whitfield Funeral Home, South Chapel, with Rev. Jerrell Beatty and Rev. Brandon Crunkelton officiating. Interment will follow in the Line Baptist Church Cemetery, with Rev. Kenneth McEntire officiating.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 10, 2021.
Flowers are optional; however, the family request that memorials be made to the Gideon’s International Banks-Jackson Camp, P.O. Box 225, Commerce, Georgia 30529.
The following gentlemen will serve as pallbearers: Jared Sheriff, Jacob Sheriff, Judson Irvin, Joseph Irvin, Chris Harper, and Nick Irvin.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, South Chapel at 1370 Industrial Boulevard, Baldwin, Georgia 30511. Telephone: 706-778-7123.
Katherine Jane Shelton Chandler, age 92 of Lula, passed away on Sunday, August 8, 2021.
Born in Forrester, North Carolina, on May 27, 1929, she was a daughter of the late Sam Shelton and Idabelle Redden Shelton.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, John M. Chandler.
Surviving are her son and daughter-in-law, Robert & Tina Chandler of Lula; 2 grandchildren, Catherine Chandler and John Chandler; several nieces and nephews.
No formal services are scheduled at this time.
Those in attendance are asked to please adhere to the public health and social distancing guidelines regarding COVID-19.
School is back in session, and so are exciting weekend events! There’s plenty to do with theaters back open, free entertainment and family fun, you’ll find it all happening in (and around) Habersham.
This week…
On Thursday, August 12, local author and playwright Emory Jones’ comedy “It’s About Time” will debut at the Sautee Nacoochee Center. The play will run through the month. More information, as well as tickets for purchase, can be found on their website.
The Georgia Mountain Fair kicks off this Friday for nine days of fairground festivities. (photo courtesy of Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds)
Friday, August 13, celebrate the end of the workweek with free entertainment, shopping, food, and more. Food Truck Friday at Lake Lanier Olympic Park in Gainesville starts at 5 p.m. and goes to 9, with live music and family-friendly fun. Dogs are welcome.
The Georgia Mountain Fair kicks off its nine-day run at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds in Hiawassee this Friday at 9 a.m. Find out more information and reserve tickets on their website.
Saturday, August 14, head out to the White County Farmers Market for all your local produce, food, and handmade crafts. The market opens at 7:30 a.m. and goes to noon at Freedom Park in Cleveland.
In Mt. Airy, the eighth annual “Battle of the Heroes” charity flag football game takes place at Raider Stadium. There will be a Classic Car Cruise-In from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the parking lot outside the Stadium followed by kickoff at 7 p.m. After the game, enjoy a thirty-minute fireworks show. The event is sponsored by the Easton Foundation and donations are encouraged.
In Toccoa on Saturday, the Ida Cox Music Series will feature “The Funk Brotherhood” of Athens, GA for an evening of classic funk. The free event begins at 7 p.m. with beer, wine and food available for purchase.
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Depending on income, policies available on exchanges offer discounts, known as subsidies, for consumers. Under the American Rescue Plan implemented by President Biden, subsidy changes are allowing Georgians already enrolled in 2021 coverage to save even more money, an average of $59 per month, according to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
With a week remaining to sign up for coverage this year, federal officials note that consumers:
