Rosa Lee Pancoast, age 60, of Maysville, Georgia, passed away on Sunday, July 11, 2021.
Mrs. Pancoast was born on September 11, 1960, in Jackson County, Georgia, to the late Zudie Mae Turpin Dalton and Lloyd Turpin. She was of the Baptist Faith. She worked for Baker and Taylor for 16 years. Rosa was a woman of many talents; she loved to spend time drawing, crocheting, tatting, and working with origami.
Survivors include her loving husband of 30 years, Robert “Bob” Pancoast, of Maysville; brothers and sisters-in-law, Clinton and Cindy Turpin, of Carnesville; Ricky and Susan Turpin, of Commerce; niece, Brittany Turpin, of Royston; and nephew, Cody Rowland, of Carnesville.
Funeral Services will be held at 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 14, 2021, at the Whitfield Funeral Home, South Chapel, with Rev. Swayne Carlan officiating. Interment will be held at the Line Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 13, 2021, at the funeral home.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, South Chapel at 1370 Industrial Boulevard, Baldwin, Georgia 30511. Telephone: 706-778-7123.
Residents in Cornelia’s Hillandale Drive neighborhood are under a Boil Water Advisory. The city water department issued the advisory after a water main ruptured.
The advisory affects only those residents on Hillandale who received a notice on their door or who have experienced water outages and/or low water pressures.
Affected residents are advised to boil their tap water for at least one minute at a rolling boil before drinking, cooking, or preparing baby food with it.
The advisory remains in effect until further notice.
Rita Faye Hubbard, age 62 of Lula, passed away Sunday, July 11, 2021.
Born in Habersham County on December 2, 1958, Mrs. Hubbard was the daughter of Bill G. Watts and Jewell Maxwell Watts. Mrs. Hubbard was of the Pentecostal faith and was retired from Scovill Fasteners in Clarkesville.
In addition to her parents, survivors include son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Tracie Watts, sisters Valda Anderson, Alice Woodley, and Eva Mae Henry, grandchildren Cameron Watts and Allison Sammons, and a host of extended family and friends.
A memorial service will be held at 5:00 PM on Friday, July 16, 2021, at Bethesda Fellowship Church with Pastor Terry Benfield, officiating.
An online guest book is available for the family at www.hillsidememorialchapel.com.
The City of Baldwin appointed a new police chief at their Monday city council meeting. Jeff Branyon, former marshal for the City of Dahlonega, was the city’s sole finalist in their search for a new chief to take the reigns from temporary police chief Jerry Saulters.
Branyon has over 25 years of experience in law enforcement service. (Photo: City of Dahlonega)
“I’m honored and humbled to be selected for the Chief’s position,” Branyon tells Now Habersham. “I’m excited about the opportunity to lead the department. My plan is to work with the council to develop an agency that serves the community with honesty, integrity, and transparency.”
Branyon has worked as a crime scene manager with the Gwinett County Police Department, a special agent with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and serves as an associate professor of criminal justice at Truett McConnell University.
“We are very thankful and pleased […] to have a gentleman of Branyon’s character and experience to be interested in helping serve our city,” Mayor Joe Elam said at the meeting. “I truly believe that with our new chief in place, we’re on the cusp of creating the best [police] department in the state.”
You can watch a recording of the meeting on the city’s Facebook page.
Edwin Carter Stewart of Baldwin, Georgia, passed away peacefully at home following an extended illness on Sunday, July 11, 2021, at the age of 78.
Carter was born at home on May 24, 1943, in Banks County, Georgia, to the late William Stewart and Inez Chitwood Stewart. He graduated from South Habersham High School in 1961. Carter became the first college graduate in the family when he graduated from the University of Georgia as a scholarship recipient from baseball legend Ty Cobb, his mother’s 1st cousin. He taught high school history for a few years before returning to UGA for a degree from its School of Pharmacy. He worked as a pharmacist at Commerce Drug in Commerce, Georgia, before opening his own pharmacy, Homer Drug in Homer, Georgia, where he was devoted to his work and cherished his daily interactions with customers. As the only pharmacy in Banks County for many years, this store and its owner with the out-sized personality held a prominent place in the community. A truly memorable character, Carter never forgot a name or a face, and he loved to regale his listeners with stories and memories from the past. One always knew where Carter stood on any issue, as he was quick to share his opinion and perspective. He was a great storyteller who had a witty and impressive comeback in almost any conversation. Carter remained a handsome man even in his later years, with a head full of hair and striking blue eyes.
Carter also enjoyed making concrete pottery at his pottery business, Stewart Pottery, in Banks County. Retirement from the pharmacy business didn’t slow down his entrepreneurial drive, as he continued to buy and sell cars and dabble in other business ventures. He was known in every local restaurant as the man who liked his steak cooked well done and always brought his own beverage.
Carter was proud of his family and loved them deeply. He will be greatly missed by friends, family, and all who knew him. One of his greatest joys was when his grandchildren would attend church with him and then lunch afterward so that he could show them off. He was truly one of a kind.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 36 years, Nancy Tanner Stewart, son Steven Stewart and daughter Lee Ann Turner; and four grandchildren: Mary-Carter Stewart, Jim Stewart, Taylor Turner, Emilee Turner, and great-granddaughter, Sawyer Baker. Additional survivors include his stepson, Kenneth Ott (Jennifer), and step-grandchildren Cory Ott and Noah Ott.
The Stewart family wishes to extend a special thank you to his nurse, Amy Upchurch of Pruitt Health Hospice, and caregivers, Mekia and Roderick Gordon.
Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, July 15, 2021, at the First Baptist Church of Cornelia, with Rev. Jimmy Lewis and Pastor David Terrell officiating. Interment will follow in the Tates Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 14, 2021, at Whitfield Funeral Home, South Chapel.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, South Chapel at 1370 Industrial Boulevard, Baldwin, Georgia 30511. Telephone: 706-778-7123.
John Richard Plant, age 61, of Demorest, Georgia, entered into his eternal glory on Saturday, July 10, 2021.
Mr. Plant was born on February 3, 1960, in Washington Courthouse, Ohio, and grew up in Cocoa, Florida. He was preceded in death by his father, Rev. Kenneth Richard Plant; infant sister, Terri Lynn Plant; paternal grandparents, George and Lola Plant; maternal grandparents, James and Clara Happeny; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Harold and Beatrice McAlister. John was Co-Owner of Mr. Vacuum and Cornelia Chemical since 1987 and had also worked for McLane Trucking. John was also a traveling evangelist for approximately 5 years. He was known to his grandchildren as “Pop.” Even through John’s disability, he remained active with all aspects of work and kept his trust and faith in God.
Survivors include his wife of 43 years, Judy McAlister Plant, Demorest; son, Jantzen Plant, Demorest; mother, Carolyn Plant, Baldwin; grandchildren, Caitlin Plant, Chandler Allen, Chaselin Allen, Coler Allen; sister, Vickie Daniel, Cleveland; brothers, Michael (Joy) Plant, St. Augustine, FL; Paul Plant, Alachua, FL; Jeff (Anna) Plant, Mountain Home, AK; brother-in-law, Alpheus McAlister; sisters-in-law, Elva Kulinsky; Paula (Tim) Morgan; Donnice McAlister; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 14, 2021, at the Trinity Full Gospel Church, with Rev. Troy Knox, Rev. James Page, and Rev. Dennis Taylor officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 13, 2021, at the Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, North Chapel at 245 Central Avenue, Demorest, Georgia 30535. Telephone: 706-778-1700.
LUMPKIN COUNTY — Following an intense overnight manhunt, law enforcement today captured a gunman who shot at Lumpkin County deputies Sunday. Gerardo “Jerry” Johnathan Flowers was taken into custody Monday afternoon.
Gerardo “Jerry” Johnathan Flowers
Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard announced his arrest to the public on social media, thanking the men and women of the sheriff’s office “who pursued him all night.”
“He is in custody, so, we’ll take care of him and, hopefully, we can get him in the right direction,” the sheriff said of Flowers.
Flowers, who is wanted on active warrants in Lumpkin, Hall, and possibly Habersham counties, led deputies on a chase southeast of Dahlonega Sunday. During the pursuit, he reportedly opened fire on deputies, fled from his vehicle, and ran into the woods.
The sheriff says Flowers “put out a note” that he wanted to do suicide by cop. “That’s very unfortunate to put people in that kind of [harm’s] way,” Jarrard said.
Law enforcement surrounded the area and searched for Flowers with the GSP Aviation unit and tracking dogs on the ground overnight. Residents in the area were instructed to lock up their property and call 911 if they saw anything suspicious.
No law enforcement officers were injured in the shooting or search.
On June 27, 2020, Ritchie Nichols and his dad, Richard, went fishing on South Carolina's Lake Moultrie. Little did they know, their father-and-son getaway would turn into a life-threatening ordeal. (Nichols family photos)
Have you ever flipped through channels on television and happened to come across the show “When Vacations Attack?” It’s the kind of show that features accounts of tragic accidents in the wild. Most people would probably say, “That would never happen to me,” or “That’s pretty farfetched!”
That’s exactly what I used to think.
Some of the stories on the show are just that–rare instances that have only happened to a handful of people. Even though I never thought I would be the one to experience a freak accident or find myself in some horrific life-or-death crisis, I still always pray for safe travels before any trip. Not only do I pray for my safety, but also the safety of my fellow travelers and our families.
On one fishing trip last summer, I found out firsthand why it is always a good idea to pray, as I would go on to experience a near-death situation that seemed like something you’d see on The Discovery Channel.
Father and son fishing trip
When Covid hit, it gave me a chance to slow down and rekindle and build on the relationships with my family and friends. When work slowed down, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to take my dad on a fishing trip to one of my favorite fishing destinations. The sole purpose of this trip was to show him a good time in hopes that it would bring us closer together, and I was determined to make that happen. Little did I know at the time, this trip would end up bringing us closer than we’d ever been.
I had all the details planned out for a four-day fishing trip, and I was looking forward to spending some time on our own, out on the lake.
Ritchie and Keila Nichols with their two children, Mayson and Mariana. (Nichols family photo)
On June 26, 2020, I visited my wife, Keila, and daughter, Mariana, at the hospital in Atlanta. We ate dinner and enjoyed good conversation all evening. After a lovely visit, we said our goodbyes, and I left. I knew my daughter was in good hands. I then visited my son, Mayson. Before I left on the trip, I hugged each of them, told them I loved them and I’d see them soon.
Later that day, my dad and I arrived at our destination.
Santee Cooper consists of two lakes: Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie. We started out fishing Lake Moultrie. The lake is more than sixty-thousand acres and is the third-largest lake in South Carolina. Wildlife is abundant there, including some of the largest alligators in the state. It is a beautiful place, especially at sunset.
As I would soon find out, it’s not a place that you want to get caught in a storm.
An unexpected storm
On June 27, 2020, my dad and I ventured out onto the lake. We were both very obviously excited as the boat pulled away from the ramp. I FaceTimed my wife from the boat and showed her my beautiful surroundings. As we talked, she asked, “Are you wearing your life jacket?” I replied, “No,” feeling a little rebellious but also glad to have a wife who cares so much for me. She immediately told me to be sure and put it on right away as soon as we hung up. Foolishly, I didn’t put the life jacket on at that moment. I brushed it off, not thinking I’d need it, and we headed out onto the lake.
Richard Nichols hooks a fish
At around 7 that evening, not more than a half-hour later, my dad hooked his first fish. My reaction was that of a child — I was grinning from ear to ear. My dad later told Keila that he had never seen me so excited.
We fished another hour before heading in for the night. I looked at the weather before moving and saw nothing on the screen: Clear skies with a little wind. It was getting darker out, and the night was beautiful. I motored the boat toward the camp and decided to make one last stop before calling it a night. By that time, it was 8:50 pm. The place where I decided to stop looked very promising, and I was ready to catch a big fish.
After stopping, I began looking around to decide where to cast my line. We were twenty yards from one side of a bank and twenty yards from the other side of the bank. I could only see the outline of the shore. Five minutes later, it began to rain, so I checked the weather radar again, but there were still no signs of bad weather.
What happened next was completely unexpected and terrifying.
Within three minutes, a fierce wind came out of nowhere. We had no warning at all, and everything just started happening so quickly!
“I knew I was in grave danger if I got separated from my life jacket.”
I could tell right away that we had gotten caught up in a really bad storm. The wind caused the waves to kick up tumultuously. I looked at my dad and told him, “If we don’t get out of here, we are in trouble!” I cranked the boat and tried to get us to safety as quickly as I could. Moments later, my dad yells, “Ritchie, we are going down!” As soon as he said that, I felt the water hit my knees, and the boat capsized. It was at that moment that I remembered my wife’s words and quickly grabbed my life jacket. Thank God my dad had worn his the entire time we were out there.
Just like that, the boat turned upside down and we were in the water. We struggled against the rain, fierce waves and wind, and the current beneath us. I was struggling to hold onto my life jacket as I hadn’t had time to put it on properly, so, I was just holding it in my arms with all my might. I knew I was in grave danger if I got separated from the life jacket. I held on to that thing as if my life depended on it because I knew that it did.
The wind and current caused the boat to keep ramming into us. I was afraid that we would get our shoes hung in one of the rod holders and be drawn under, so I kicked it with all my strength to get it clear of us. Then, I hear my dad say, “I love you, Ritchie.” I said, “I love you too!” That was the last I heard from him.
Lord, help me get through the night
The storm passed quickly, but the waves were almost just as rough and going in every direction. I found myself alone and afraid. I gathered my thoughts and started to pray — so many thoughts kept running through my mind. I couldn’t stop thinking of my family and continuously thanking God for my utterly amazing life. I thought about those who had died in the hospital alone, taken by Covid. I prayed that I had not killed my dad on our very first trip together.
I was also mad.
South Carolina’s Lake Moultrie is one of Ritchie Nichols’ favorite fishing spots. That’s where he and his dad were on the evening of June 27, 2020, when their boat capsized. (Nichols family photo)
Hours had gone by at that point. I was mad at my wife, assuming that she must not have even been worried or bothered to call anyone because I had not been rescued. I thought surely someone from the camp will notice. But no one came. All night I floated, swimming against the treacherous waves and weather. I realized that these evil thoughts and blame weren’t coming from me but a darker presence.
Once I realized I was under attack spiritually, I said, “Devil, not today! You are not taking my life today. I will not die alone out here. You are a liar and a thief. You will not rob me of my family or my life!” I felt empowered and surrounded by the love of God at that moment. I decided to remain positive and try my best to get through the night.
Once I felt God’s hand over me, I knew I had to do something to help myself. Eventually, I started swimming toward some lights that I kept seeing that seemed close enough to swim to. I swam for two hours straight, and I was getting nowhere. I looked at my watch and noticed it was 1 am. I repeated the same prayer. “Not today, devil,” for it was a new day, and I knew in my heart my God was right there with me.
After the long swim and getting nowhere, I was totally physically and mentally exhausted. Then, I heard a still, small voice say, “Are you done yet?” I answered, “Really, Lord? I have nowhere to go, and no one is checking on me. Yes, I think I’m done.” All the while, it felt like something was keeping me away from those lights. Like a force much larger than myself or my life was holding out a hand and blocking me from reaching the lights that seemed like the shortest route to safety. At the time, I did not understand, but it was not long after that it all ended up making a lot of sense.
I’ve found that is how God works in our lives so often when we do not understand what is going on and we lose hope or get frustrated — when we are trying to make our own plans and follow our own lead, not remembering how God is always working behind the scenes on our behalf.
Covering 60,400 acres, Lake Moultrie is the third largest lake in South Carolina. It stretches 14 miles across at its widest point and has an average depth of around 18 feet. (Source: South Carolina DNR)
I later learned that I had actually been swimming towards a very dangerous area—a swampy area where I’m told there are hoards of alligators. The lights were a warning to nearby boats to steer clear of the shallow waters near the marsh. The entire time I swam, that still, small voice was knowingly keeping me away from the danger.
This account serves as a constant reminder that even when I can’t see or feel Him working and even when I’m trying to do things my way, to take a step back and realize that God is always working for my benefit. He is always watching my back, whether I understand it or not.
I couldn’t stop thinking of my family and continuously thanking God for my utterly amazing life…I prayed that I had not killed my dad on our very first trip together.
After my exchange with God, I fell asleep on my life jacket for a short time, only to be awakened by a loud splash right beside me. It was the biggest splash I have ever heard. My thoughts suddenly turned to the alligators. At the time, I had not thought about the wildlife with everything else that was going on. I believe we scared each other so much that both of us went in different directions. Then suddenly, my swimming skills were that of a professional. I felt like I could have outswum any athlete.
By the time I finally came to a stop, it was 4 a.m. At this point, I knew I just had to float until daybreak, and a sort of peace had come over me.
Daybreak, danger, despair
Daybreak seemed to come early, and, to my amazement, I could see the shore. I began to swim toward the shore, but I was exhausted. I must have swum for several hours, but, like before, I was getting nowhere thanks to the strong current and waves. I had to wait until the boats started coming out and ride the wakes to shore. I later realized I had been swimming toward shore that morning for three full hours–from 6 a.m. until 9 a.m. when I finally reached the shore.
Once I had land underneath my feet, I began climbing up the bank, and I collapsed from sheer exhaustion. I laid there and stripped off my clothes, hoping they would dry. I knew I had to get myself dry if I was going to survive. Then, I just slept. I slept for two hours, only to be awakened by an alligator skull digging in my back–a remnant, stuck in the dirt, that I had not noticed when I collapsed there. I told myself, “At least I’m out of the water and the danger of drowning,” but deep down, I knew that a new danger awaited me on the island.
A few small islands jut out into the open waters of Lake Moultrie. (Source: South Carolina DNR)
On the island, the dangers I was faced with were alligators, snakes, mosquitoes, heat and humidity, dehydration, and my arthritis made worse from being in the lake all night. Every muscle in my body ached from swimming all night. I tried to get up and walk and only fell back to the ground. I finally got enough energy to get to my feet and found two sticks I could use as crutches. I then found a spot to sit down to plan my next move. I happened to spot a boat in the distance. I got back to my feet, grabbed my white shirt, and waved it in the air, all while yelling. The boat came closer and closer. I thought I was going to be saved. The bow of that boat was pointed straight at me and suddenly turned and left. I guess a man standing in his red underwear was too much to handle. My heart dropped — my mind almost in despair.
Again I prayed, “Lord, you did not let me come this far, swim for 12 hours, only to let me die on an island. I cannot accept this defeat.” I sat against a tree and went through the pockets of my life jacket to see what I could use. I had nothing but my wallet. The only useful things were the credit cards to use as reflectors and a quarter. Again, I stood to my feet, grabbed my clothes, and walked using the crutches I had made. I walked, keeping the water in sight, when all of a sudden, I walked into the path of an 8-foot alligator. We looked at each other, right in the eyes. He opened his mouth and hissed at me. That was my cue to leave. I had to find another route. I slowly walked away only to find a swamp that I could not cross: alligator territory!
Wildlife, including alligators, is abundant in the waters of Santee Cooper Lakes. (Source: South Carolina DNR)
Every step I took, I stepped on alligator shells, bones, and humps where they had buried their shells. I noticed their tracks indented in the soil. There was no way I was going to win a wrestling match with one of those guys. I walked all the way around the island until I was absolutely dehydrated, and I just could not go on. I came to rest beside where some alligators had made their home, but they didn’t seem to be home that day, thank God. It was the best place I could find in case of rescue.
I could see boats sitting in the channel miles away. I was close to a tree that I could climb to sleep in. The only problem was the nearly 12-foot alligator swimming right in front of me. I prayed again and told the alligator we’d have to be buddies for a while. “I am not here to hurt you,” I said, hoping he understood my tone. I cautiously stepped in the water and drank lake water until I couldn’t drink anymore. My throat was on fire, and my body was shutting down. I stripped down to my underwear again to dry out and placed my white shirt on the farthest point I could. I laid down in the shade and drifted off to sleep.
I woke up to the sound of a boat cranking. I looked up to see they were heading in my direction. I just sat there watching them come closer, completely dumbfounded. I didn’t move. Once I could muster the energy to stand, I got up and tried to wave them down. They got closer and closer. I jumped in the water, waving my shirt in the air like a flag. They flashed lights at me, and I just threw my hands into the air and shouted, “Thank you, Jesus.” At last! I was rescued!
They took me into the boat, and right away, I asked to call my wife. I knew she would probably never let it go if I didn’t get in touch with her immediately, and I could have only imagined how worried she must have been. They did call her and told her that I was ok and headed to the hospital.
I can’t remember ever being so relieved in my life.
“God still performs miracles.”
The EMTs then informed me that they had found my dad–he was at the hospital being treated for dehydration as he was in the water all night. I was utterly relieved. The EMT motored me back to camp where we were staying, only to find a crowd of people standing there watching, awaiting our return. They put me on a gurney, and everyone cheered loudly and clapped to praise my rescue. One guy in the crowd said to me, “You are one lucky S.O.B.” I just had to laugh. To be honest, I needed a good laugh after the night I had just gone through.
After a brief investigation, I was on my way to the hospital. At the hospital, they wheeled me in to see my dad before taking me to another room. I said, “Hey, Pops, we made it,” as tears flowed down his face.
Father and son were reunited more than 18 hours after being separated by the storm. (WCIV)
I was missing for 18 hours and my dad for 15 hours that weekend, both of us in perilous, life-threatening conditions. I was alone, dehydrated, and at one point hypothermic. The EMT told me on the boat that I probably would not have survived another night.
It is by the grace of God that I was able to endure. God shut the alligator’s mouth. He guided the alligators and wildlife in different directions, away from us. He kept me from swimming right into the marsh. My dad and I are here today because of the grace of God.
Ritchie Nichols returned to South Carolina to thank the first responders who rescued him and his dad. (photo submitted)
(photo submitted)
(photo submitted)
What a difference a year makes. Ritchie survived his harrowing ordeal and was around to celebrate his son Mayson’s wedding to daughter-in-“love,” Charleigh. (Nichols family photo)
What I learned
Three days before the anniversary of his rescue, Ritchie Nichols and his wife, Keila, welcomed their grandson, Richard Miller Nichols, into the world. (Nichols family photo)
It has been a year since the accident, and I still struggle with some of the events from that night. Yes! I still wake up in the middle of the night feeling like I am drowning, and I struggle with thoughts of “what if?”
God has blessed me to see my family again and to meet my first grandson, who was just born on June 25. I cannot wait to tell him the story when he’s old enough to understand. What I went through was tough, and people want to hear my story and what I have taken away from this experience.
The Bible is like a life jacket: It will keep you afloat through the wind and the waves, no matter how dark it gets
My message is this: Even now, in this day and time, God still performs miracles. God may take you on the longest route possible to keep you from danger. You may not understand what he’s doing or why He’s doing it, but let him, it’s ok; He knows better than we do.
The times may be hard, and you may feel like giving up. Keep your life jacket on!
The Bible is like a life jacket: It will keep you afloat through the wind and the waves, no matter how dark it gets. No matter how strong the storm, you can weather anything if you keep the Lord at your side.
If you step outside tonight, you’ll be witness to a conjunction of planetary proportions. Venus and Mars have been drawing near one another for several weeks, with Venus slowly catching up to Mars. They were close together over the weekend, but tonight they will reach their closest point, around 33 arcminutes apart.
What is an arcminute? First, imagine the sky in every direction without the Earth in the way. Now divide it into 360 equal parts all around in each direction. Take 1/60 of one of those, and you get an arcminute. It is one of several ways astronomers measure distances in the sky where you have to use a spherical coordinate system. It is most often the unit of measurement used to say how big objects are in the sky, with the sun and moon both being roughly 30 arcminutes across.
This means that Venus and Mars will be slightly farther apart than the moon is wide. Speaking of the moon, it will be nearby currently in its crescent phase.
The last major conjunction was the Saturn and Jupiter conjunction we livestreamed here on Now Habersham. A Venus/Mars conjunction is far more common, with the last one occurring in 2019. That one wasn’t visible, however, due to proximity to the sun. The last visible one came back in 2017 when they were only 21 arcminutes apart. The next one won’t come until 2024 (a conjunction that will be higher in the sky), and the next one where they will be so close together won’t be until 2031.
Placement of the moon, Venus, and Mars on Monday, July 12 in the evening sky. Source: NASA
You won’t need a telescope, just a good pair of eyes and a western horizon to see this planetary conjunction. Venus is impossible to miss in the evening twilight, and once the sun has been down for a bit, Mars will become easily visible just slightly down and left. A good pair of binoculars or a small telescope would be excellent to view this conjunction through as they will be close enough to be seen at the same time.
Get out and take in this conjunction and check back next week when we’ll be back to your normally scheduled programming with Watch the Skies!
Now, Habersham, and all parts in between, here’s your chance to (maybe) catch a ride on a rocket!
Space pioneering billionaire Richard Branson is offering a ticket giveaway, following Sunday’s successful launch of his Virgin Galactic flight into suborbital space,
Branson is teaming up with the charity fundraising platform Omaze to give away two tickets aboard a future space flight. The winner and their guest will fly on Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity ship, which carried Branson and fellow passengers into suborbital space on July 11. The companies say the giveaway will support a nonprofit called Space for Humanity, which states that it aims to “democratize space.”
To be eligible, you must be at least 18 years old, come from a part of the world where participation wouldn’t be prohibited, and provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination, Space.com pointed out. Participants would also be asked to release the sweepstakes holders of “all liability, loss or damage or expense arising out of, or in connection with, participation in any experience or the acceptance, use or misuse of any prizes.”
If you’re still intrigued and want your shot at the stars, visit www.omaze.com/space to read the full rules and enter. While it is a fundraiser, organizers say “no donation or payment is necessary to enter or win.”
The deadline to enter is August 31.
Sunday, Branson became the first person to blast off in his own spaceship, beating Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos by nine days. Bezos is set to head to space on July 20 with his rocket company Blue Origin on their first vehicle called New Shepard.
Branson, 70, also became only the second septuagenarian to depart for space, as the Associated Press noted. In 1998, Astronaut John Glenn flew on the shuttle Discovery at age 77, making him the oldest human ever to travel to space, according to History.com.
Starting this week and ending in December, the vast majority of U.S. households with children will begin receiving monthly payments as a result of changes in a new law expanding and reworking the federal child tax credit.
WASHINGTON (GA Recorder) — The most ambitious part of the pandemic stimulus package signed by President Joe Biden earlier this year is about to hit the bank accounts of millions of U.S. parents.
Starting this week and ending in December, the vast majority of U.S. households with children will begin receiving monthly payments as a result of changes in that law expanding and reworking the federal child tax credit.
The tweaked tax credit drew less attention than stimulus checks and expanded unemployment benefits in that wide-ranging COVID-19 relief legislation.
But the effect may be longer-lasting, with Democrats already angling to prevent the temporarily broader tax credit from shrinking again next year.
The new law not only makes more families eligible for the child tax credit, it also changes when families receive its financial benefits.
For the first time, half of the tax credit will be distributed through monthly payments, instead of only when families file their taxes. That will send families up to $250 a month for every child between 6 and 17 years old, and up to $300 a month for kids under 6.
For roughly 39 million households — covering 88% of children in the United States — the monthly checks will be automatic, according to the Internal Revenue Service.
The rest of the tax credit — worth between $3,000 and $3,600 per child, depending on their age — will be paid out when a family files taxes next spring.
Researchers say it could have a significant effect on families, estimating that those dollars could cut child poverty in half.
Here’s more on how the program will work:
What exactly is the child tax credit?
Typically, the child tax credit is distributed annually, as a deduction for how much a family owes on their income taxes. Prior to this year’s changes, the deduction was up to $2,000 per dependent child under 17, and it phased out for those earning over $200,000, or $400,000 for couples filing jointly.
But low-income families who owed less in taxes than the amount of the deduction previously could only receive part of that deduction.
Under the revisions to the tax credit, children as old as 17 now count as qualifying dependents, and low-income families can now receive the full value of that tax credit, even if they have no earned income.
The amount per child also is higher for most families, increased to $3,000 for each child between 6 and 17 years old and to $3,600 for each child under age 6.
And the biggest change will be the monthly checks, which will provide essentially a guaranteed stipend to families.
Who is eligible?
Families can receive the full credit if their income is less than $75,000 for households with a single filer, $112,500 for head-of-household filers, and $150,000 for married couples filing jointly.
The increased credit phases out above those amounts, with those making more than $144,500 as a single filer and $182,000 as a married filer eligible for the previous $2,000 per child, according to the Congressional Research Service.
The structure puts single parents at a disadvantage, capping their credits compared to what married parents would receive. Rep. Katie Porter, (D-Calif.), a single mom, has pushed to make those filing as heads of household — as single parents typically do — eligible for the same amount as married couples.
Those eligible to receive the monthly payments may have received a letter from the Internal Revenue Service in the past few weeks detailing the tax credit and how much they will receive.
If not, there’s also an online tool for checking how much someone will receive.
How does it work?
Families who filed tax returns for 2019 or 2020, or who signed up to receive a stimulus check from the Internal Revenue Service, do not need to do anything to begin receiving the monthly payments.
Parents who didn’t file taxes should use an online IRS tool, called the “non-filer sign-up tool,” to get their money.
The payments will be made on the 15th of each month through December, except for August, when it is scheduled for the 13th because the 15th falls on a weekend.
Do families have to receive the monthly payments?
No, though it’s too late to opt out of the initial July 15 payment. Families that would prefer to receive their credit as a lump sum next year can opt out of payments starting in August using the online IRS portal, where they also can update bank account information.
Will the tax credit changes affect eligibility for other government benefits programs?
No. Receiving the expanded child tax credit will not impact eligibility for means-tested programs like Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, or Supplemental Security Income, known as SSI.
What will this money mean for families?
There are no restrictions on how families use the money. Spreading the payments throughout the year, as opposed to the lump sum approach, means that the aid will be better-timed to assist with recurring child-related costs.
Robyn Bles, a pastor in Des Moines, said during a recent Iowa event promoting the tax credit that she plans to use the money to enroll her 4-year-old daughter, Rosey, in swimming lessons and art classes. She also plans on making smaller changes, like buying more healthy foods.
Will the tax credit go away after next year?
The pandemic stimulus law only expanded the tax credit for one calendar year, 2021. It would take further action by Congress to extend the changes into future years.
But popular temporary tax changes have a way of getting renewed on Capitol Hill. Democrats already have been working to promote the broader tax credit and its effects, including vulnerable incumbents like Rep. Cindy Axne, who held a recent event with parents in her southwestern Iowa district highlighting the upcoming checks.
“I don’t think these are parents that are asking for too much for their children,” Axne said.
A Biden administration fact sheet detailing the tax credit notes that the president “strongly believes that we should extend the new Child Tax Credit for years and years to come,” and that he has proposed doing so in his American Families Plan.
Katie Akin of the Iowa Capital Dispatch contributed to this report.
Tricia Anderson (E. Lane Gresham/Tallulah Falls School)
A new position at Tallulah Falls School will support classroom learning at the middle school.
Tricia Anderson is joining the faculty for the 2021-22 academic year. In her new role as the Middle School Resource Center Director, she will provide support for both teachers and students.
With more than 20 years of experience in education, Anderson brings a diverse background to the TFS learning community. She holds a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Mercer University, a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction, and a Specialist in Leadership and Administration from Central Michigan University.
She also recently attended the Columbia University Teachers College Winter Institute for Writing.
Anderson will help students successfully transition into middle school and provide support to teachers, said TFS President and Head of School Larry Peevy. She will also collaborate with upper school learning center personnel to ensure a smooth progression from middle to high school, he added.
“Implementing this position will provide another dimension to the services we provide to our middle school families and our faculty,” Peevy said. “We are delighted to have someone with Tricia’s background joining our middle school faculty.”
Anderson will support students in all subject areas, said Middle School Director Carol Madden.
“She’ll also help our teachers with lesson plans and hands-on staff development,” Madden said. “Tricia will help our students and teachers reach their greatest potential.”
Anderson said she is honored and excited to join the TFS faculty.
“I have always been passionate about education; I have a deep desire to educate teachers about learning differences,” Anderson said. “I believe that anyone can learn, and it’s up to me to provide the pathway. I look forward to creating new opportunities for teachers and learners in our community.”
