Essien Lockleer put the Tigers on his back in a 37-point performance, as #4 Commerce (5-0) held off Hudson Huff’s 37 for #7 Franklin County (4-1) in a 76-69 heavyweight battle.
Commerce, playing at home, never trailed in the contest, though the Lions got within a few points with just over a minute left in the game. Lockleer and Huff went toe-to-toe in the second half, as the former had 26 of his 37 in that span, and the latter 24 in the final two quarters.
The Tigers got going early behind Bryson Parks and Lockleer riding out to a quick 8-3 lead. Maki Mitchell nailed a 3-pointer, but Huff retaliated with the first of his five. Lockleer had 11 points in the opening quarter as Commerce held a comfortable 21-10 lead.
Franklin County would not give in, as the Lions outpaced the Tigers 16-14 in the second. Huff had a 3-point play followed by another deep ball, helping his team to within four. He had 13 first half points, as the home team was up 35-26 at the break.
Hudson Huff opened the third quarter with a rare 4-point play, converting at the line after hitting a trifecta and getting knocked down. The Lions were inching close, but Jeremiah Jarrells ignited the crowd with a dunk on the break. Lockleer hit a dagger from beyond the arc seconds later, pushing the lead back up to 46-35. Commerce was up by as many as 15 in the second half.
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The fourth quarter saw a furious rally by Hudson and Bentley Huff. They drained back-to-back deep shots, and Bentley Huff had a clutch triple at the 3-minute mark to make it a 63-57 ball game. The Lions closed to 65-62 with 1:27 on the board, but Lockleer had a game-sealing 3-point play to ice the contest.
Lockleer led with 37 points for Commerce, while Mitchell had 14. Parks ended with nine, Jarrells seven, Ty Sorrells six, two for Mason Brown, and one for Zavion Smith.
Franklin County was paced by Hudson Huff’s 37, with Bentley Huff following with 16. Sam Shaver and Drake Nix each had six, Kennan Burtch had four, and Elliott Harbin one.
Commerce remained perfect at 8-0 with a tenacious defensive showing, which led to a 65-23 final at home Thursday against Franklin County (2-2).
The Lady Tigers didn’t need the deep ball, as they had just one deep shot in the game. Instead, a press defense created several breakaway layups and points in transition. Twelve different players got involved in the scoring for Commerce.
The Lady Tigers were up 15-5 after one, as Vi’Tory Williams led the field with six points. Niya Daniels had a big second quarter, as Commerce went up 33-11 at the half.
Commerce came out of the break, with Williams picking up where she left off with four straight points following steals. Ciara Rucker had six points in the quarter, and the Lady Tigers were in complete control with a 48-17 lead going into the final quarter.
With a 6-minute clock set for the fourth, Franklin County got a little more offense in the final stanza, but it was too late.
Williams led in scoring with 14 points, Kenyanna Jackson had eight, Daniels seven, and Rucker six. Number three (roster missing) had five points, along with Jurnee Vann. Ranyisia Wood, Mary Waters, and Arianna Patman each added two.
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Franklin County was led by Bella Rosene with 10 points, while Baylor King and Chloe McFarlin each had three. Nykhia Johnson and Avery Burton both recorded two, along with Kallie Thrift. Jyhia Sturghill had one.
The Habersham County Christmas Parade rotates among host cities Clarkesville, Cornelia, and Baldwin. This year is Baldwin's turn to host it again. (Daniel Purcell/Now Habersham)
BALDWIN, Ga. — Habersham County will celebrate the holiday season this weekend with its annual Christmas parade, set for Saturday, December 6, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in Baldwin.
This year’s theme, “The Music of Christmas,” invites participants to celebrate the season through traditional carols, modern holiday hits, and timeless classics. Organizers encourage floats and groups to incorporate live performances or recorded favorites to create a sing-along atmosphere for spectators lining the route.
The parade will stage at Fieldale’s corporate offices, travel down Willingham Avenue, and conclude on Airport Road. Parents picking up children participating in the parade should meet them at Baldwin CH Church, 303 Airport Road.
Habersham County Christmas Parade route, Baldwin, Ga. (NowHabersham.com)
City officials say limited street closures will begin around 5:30 p.m. as barricades are placed along Willingham Avenue. Roads will reopen as soon as the parade passes, with total closures expected to last about 30 minutes. Emergency access will be maintained throughout.
(Source: Baldwin Police Department)
Residents are invited to come out, enjoy the music-filled festivities, and help kick off the holiday season in downtown Baldwin.
Former Piedmont NICU children and their families will experience Christmas magic.
They were premature, had low birth weight, or were born with serious health issues. On Friday, December 5, Piedmont Columbus Regional Auxiliary will host a special celebration just for them from 5 p.m, to 7 p.m. at the Midtown Campus Conference Center for NICU graduates.
Participants can enjoy meeting Santa, Mrs. Claus and reuniting with NICU staff along with activity stations, Christmas cookies and hot chocolate. A children’s choir will perform holiday tunes, plus there will also be an outdoor tree lighting and NICU graduates will receive a commemorative ornament.
A youth choir is set to perform Christmas music for the children and their families.
Vintrez and Tessa Davis will be the featured NICU family with the honor of helping the Auxiliary light the tree. They will share their emotional experience with their youngest son, Landon, who was born in January 2025 and quickly was sent to the NICU. Landon received the biblical-based nickname “Baby Lazarus” as his parents and care team got to see him walk out of the grave after dying twice.
Piedmont Hospital in Columbus, GA has a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) that provides advanced care fir premature and critically ill newborns. This unit, located at the Midtown Campus, is equipped to handle a wide range of conditions, including prematurity, low birth weight, respiratory distress, and congenital anomalies. The NICU is part of the Bill and Olivia Amos Children’s Hospital complex and is designated to provide the highest level of neonatal care in the region.
Back in April, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed legislation into law aimed at enhancing school safety and improving mental health counseling in the state's 180 public school districts. (Governor Brian Kemp/Facebook)
On paper, 2025 is shaping up to be a historic year for safety in America. According to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University, the nation has recorded 17 mass killings this year—the lowest number since 2006.
But for families in Barrow County and across Georgia, these statistics ring hollow. While the national definition of “mass killing” (incidents with four or more deaths) suggests a decline, the reality on the ground in Northeast Georgia reveals a different crisis—one driven not by the hardware in the hands of offenders, but by broken homes, missed mental health warning signs, and a judicial system that struggles to intervene before it is too late.
The “Regression” Illusion
The data shows a roughly 24% drop in mass killings compared to 2024. However, criminologists warn this is likely a statistical anomaly rather than a societal victory. James Alan Fox of Northeastern University describes it as a “regression to the mean,” a return to average levels following uncharacteristic spikes in 2018 and 2019.
“Sir Isaac Newton never studied crime, but he says ‘What goes up must come down,’” Fox noted. “Will 2026 see a decline? I wouldn’t bet on it.”
Furthermore, the data masks the violence that stops just short of a fatality count. In 2025 alone, Georgia has seen at least 17 “mass shootings”—defined as four or more people shot—in locations ranging from Savannah to Snellville.
A Case Study in Systemic Failure: Apalachee High School
A spray of flowers sent from Texas stands near the Apalachee High School entrance three days after the Sept. 4 school shooting the left four people dead. (Daniel Purcell/NowHabersham.com)
The disconnect between national optimism and local grief is most palpable in Winder, where the community continues to reel from the September 4, 2024, tragedy at Apalachee High School. Four lives were lost—students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, and teachers Richard Aspinwall and Cristina Irimie—but the investigation revealed a timeline littered with missed opportunities for intervention.
The 14-year-old shooter, Colt Gray, did not act in a vacuum. His case has become a national litmus test for parental accountability in a two-parent household structure that had fractured.
Parental Negligence: In a rare legal move, the suspect’s father, 54-year-old Colin Gray, was charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. Prosecutors allege that despite knowing his son struggled with severe mental health issues, the father provided him with the weapon used in the attack. This case highlights a critical gap often ignored in safety debates: the fundamental responsibility of child-rearing and the consequences when guardians fail to secure their homes or address their children’s instability.
Judicial & Law Enforcement Gaps: The system also blinked. In 2023, over a year before the shooting, the FBI and local law enforcement interviewed the Grays regarding online threats. Lacking “probable cause” for an arrest at that time, the teen remained on the path to violence. This “catch and release” approach has drawn sharp criticism from safety advocates who argue that soft-on-crime policies and high thresholds for intervention leave communities vulnerable.
Mental Health: The “People Problem”
While national rhetoric often turns to bans, experts on the ground are pointing to behavioral health. Christopher Carita, a former detective and senior training specialist, suggests the focus is finally shifting.
“It’s always been framed as either a ‘gun problem’ or a ‘people problem’… I feel like for the first time, we’re looking at gun violence as a ‘both, and’ problem nationally,” Carita said.
In Georgia, the “people problem” is acute. The state has struggled with mental health funding, leaving schools as the de facto front line for psychiatric triage. The Apalachee tragedy underscored this when the suspect’s mother reportedly called the school warning of an “extreme emergency” just 30 minutes before the attack—a desperate, last-minute attempt to intervene in a situation that had been spiraling for months.
Missing the Forest for the Trees
While 2025’s low “mass killing” numbers are technically positive, they obscure the broader issue of youth violence. Just this May, four teenagers were shot at a park in nearby Snellville, and in September, three teens were injured in Athens. These incidents, which often involve juveniles, point to a deepening crisis in youth conflict resolution and family structure.
Emma Fridel, an assistant professor of criminology at Florida State University, warns that focusing only on the rare, high-casualty events runs the risk of “missing the forest for the trees.”
“The number one cause of death for children is guns,” Fridel said, noting that suicide and domestic violence remain the quiet drivers of these stats.
For Georgians, the lesson of the last year is clear: Safety will not come from national trends or statistical dips. It will come when the state addresses the difficult realities of mental health care, enforces consequences for violent threats, and demands accountability from parents long before a weapon enters a school.
The Columbus Police Department is reporting a decrease in crime as the year comes to a close. From January 1 to December 2, 2025, the city reported 1,022 fewer Part 1 crimes than during the same period in 2024.
Violent crimes show a 29% reduction for the year. These numbers reflect steady work by officers across every division of the department, and ongoing cooperation between CPD and the community.
Safety remains a year-round priority. As the holiday season typically brings more activity and, at times, more crime, CPD has increased Patrol presence and activated specialized details in areas where crime data points to a greater need for focused enforcement. These efforts are aimed at keeping pressure on offenders and strengthening safety in
neighborhoods during one of the busiest times of the year.
FILE PHOTO - Demorest City Council (Carly McCurry/NowHabersham.com)
DEMOREST, Ga.- The Demorest City Council postponed a decision Tuesday whether to raise the city’s water rates in 2026, tabling a proposal until members can review more detailed financial projections and long-term infrastructure needs. The item is expected to return at the council’s January meeting.
The council also heard from Barry Church of VFW Post 7720, who spoke on behalf on Wreaths Across America about this year’s wreath-laying ceremony scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 13, at Demorest Cemetery.
This year, the annual ceremony just happens to coincide with the Army-Navy football game, and is part of a nationwide effort to honor veterans by placing wreaths on their graves.
Founded in 2007, Wreaths Across America partners with local volunteers and veterans’ groups to ensure each veteran’s grave is remembered during the holiday season.
Following Church’s presentation, the council presented him with a donation check to help fund wreaths for local veterans.
Earlier in the meeting, the council held a public hearing on a request from resident David Cook to add a secondary accessory dwelling unit at 331 Pine Avenue. After a brief discussion, the council denied the special-use request.
The council then moved through a slate of administrative items, voting to accept Downtown Development Authority member Jamie Allred’s resignation, holding a first reading of the home-rule charter amendments; adopting final changes to the city’s temporary special event license ordinance; and formally accepting the Local Emergency Operations Plan, which outlines how the city coordinates response efforts during major incidents.
Project manager Audrey Davenport addressed the Cornelia City Commission Tuesday with updates on the Brushstrokes for Change mural project (Patrick Fargason/Now Habersham)
CORNELIA, GA- The Brushstrokes of Change mural project, a community-driven effort honoring the history and legacy of Cornelia’s historic Black neighborhood, is moving into its next phase with a public workshop scheduled tonight.
Project manager Audrey Davenport updated commissioners during the Dec. 2 Cornelia City Commission meeting, sharing both the project’s progress and its personal significance. The mural is funded through a Vibrant Communities Grant which was awarded to the city in November.
“There’s nothing permanent except change, and that is part of why I named this project Brushstrokes of Change,” Davenport told commissioners. “This project continues to grow in ways that honor our historical Black community’s legacy, its people, and its future.”
Audrey Davenport works on Cornelia’s first mural project. (Daniel Purcell/NowHabersham.com)
Davenport’s late sister inspired the project
Davenport said the date of her presentation marked an important personal milestone.
“Last year on this day, my sister, Dora Davenport, transitioned from this life,” she said. “She inspired this project because of her love for our community, the neighborhood, and her belief in our stores and her constant reminder that our history deserves to be heard.”
Dora Davenport’s poetry and her work with the Legacy Collection at the Regional African American Museum of Northeast Georgia helped shape the vision for the mural. Davenport also praised the encouragement of City Manager Donald Anderson who has played a key role in moving the project forward.
Involving the community in the design process
The mural will be created through a series of community gatherings and workshops intended to preserve local stories and involve residents directly in the design process. The first meeting will take place Dec. 4 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, and will be live-streamed for those who can’t make it in person.
“Brushstrokes of Change combines a collective vision,” Davenport said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to carry this work forward, and I appreciate your continued support as we bring this mural and the vision to life.”
The mural will be installed in Cornelia’s Ward 4, an area rich with African American history and central to the community’s cultural identity, City leaders say the project is party of a broader effort to persevere and celebrate the neighborhood’s stories for future generations
Choose Columbus announced today that BioTouch, a global healthcare logistics company, will invest $12.5 million to expand two existing facilities in Columbus, creating a combined 480 new jobs in Muscogee County over the next four years.
BioTouch is a single-source, global provider of healthcare kitting and logistics solutions. The company’s Columbus operations specialize in manufacturing kits for medical testing and sample collection. Across its two facilities in Muscogee County, BioTouch currently employs approximately 390 team members.
“BioTouch has been proud to call Columbus home since 2005, and our commitment to this community remains strong. Expanding in Columbus has been a pivotal chapter in our growth story,” said Rob Coyle, CEO of BioTouch.
Board member Kevin Boykin started what would become BioTouch in a storage building at Columbus State in 2005. Today BioTouch is an international company. “We have over 2,000 employees, seven or eight different locations, international company that ships to over 100 different countries throughout the world and we’re one of the leading kitting and logistics providers helping laboratories and hospitals throughout the U.S,” Boykin said.
Missy Kendrick of Choose Columbus told Now Network News “We love supporting the companies that have already put down roots here and have already started growing so we want to support that and help them expand as much as possible.”
BioTouch’s facilities are located at Corporate Ridge Business Park and Columbus East Industrial Park. Construction on and hiring for the expansion is currently underway, with full operations expected by 2028. Interested applicants can learn more and apply at biotouchglobaljobs.com.
Columbus Civic Center to host Kids Bash (Daniel Purcell/NowGeorgia.com)
The Columbus Civic Center announced that beginning January 1, 2026, the venue will transition to a fully cashless and ticketless experience for all events. All major credit and debit cards, as well as mobile payment options (Apple pay, Google pay etc.) will be accepted for box office, concessions and bars.
Fans will use the Ticketmaster app or digital tickets on their smartphones for entry. Step-by-step guides are available on the Columbus Civic Center’s website. The Columbus Civic Center box office will continue to accept card and mobile payments. Instead of receiving a paper ticket, purchases will go directly into the guest’s email.
Guests who purchased paper tickets before January 1, 2026 will still be honored at entry. Moving forward, all tickets will be digital. This transition reflects the Columbus Civic Center’s commitment to safety, convenience and efficiency. Cashless transactions reduce waiting times, minimize contact, and create a more secure environment for fans and staff alike.
Ronnie Kilburn (left) presents Cornelia Police Chief Jonathan Roberts with a plaque recognizing the agency as a state certified law enforcement agency. (Patrick Fargason/NowHabersham)
CORNELIA, Ga.- The Cornelia Police Department has once again been recognized as a State Certified Law Enforcement Agency, extending its status through August 2028 and reaffirming its place as the only certified municipal police department in Habersham County.
The recognition was formally presented during the Cornelia City Commission meeting on Dec. 2, where representatives from the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police highlighted the department’s continued commitment to professional standards.
‘The honor is earned’
Kilburn said this honor is earned, not given. (Patrick Fargason/NowHabersham)
“The honor is earned, it is not given,” said Ronnie Kilburn of the Georgia Chiefs Association, who delivered the presentation and conducted the department’s most recent assessment.
“The members of the Cornelia Police Department, under the direction of Chief [Jonathan] Roberts, have done a great service to you, the citizens of Cornelia, by maintaining the certification through the state of Georgia.”
Cornelia became state-certified in 2007, making it the first agency in Habersham County to reach the benchmark. It remains the only certified police department in the county today.
State compliance was rigorous
Kilburn explained that state certification requires compliance with 141 standards and roughly 275 bullet-point requirements, including policies, training, and reporting procedures. About 157 law enforcement agencies across Georgia currently hold the designation.
“What that does is give them a strong foundation and something you can be proud of,” Kilburn said. “The Cornelia Police Department is being held accountable on more than just municipal level. They’re being held accountable on a state level.”
He said basic legal requirements from the minimum standard for any law enforcement agency, but certification represents a higher level of professional achievement.
“When you become state certified, that’s kind of like having an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree,” Kilburn said. “It’s not a ‘have to,’ it’s a ‘want to.’ And in that ‘want to,’ you put together this dedication.”
Cornelia police had full participation
Kilburn praised the department for full participation among officers and staff, something he said not all agencies achieve.
“It takes buy-in from the top all the way to the bottom so that everybody’s on the same page,” he said. “Trust me when I say not all agencies get buy-in and it’s a huge struggle.”
Kilburn told commissioners he spent three years reviewing the department’s standards and documentation and found Cornelia in full compliance. He recommended recertification to the state’s Joint Review Committee, which approved the designation through 2028.
He then presented Chief Roberts and his staff with a plaque recognizing the achievement.
Mayor thanks police for their service
Mayor John Borrow thanked the officers for their service.
“Thank you to all police officers for helping keep us safe,” Borrow said. “We don’t take it for granted.”
The recertification marks nearly two decades of the department’s participation in Georgia’s voluntary statewide law enforcement standards program.
The website of Connect for Health Colorado, the state's health insurance marketplace, is pictured on Aug. 27, 2025. (Chase Woodruff/Colorado Newsline)
WASHINGTON (States Newsroom) — Americans who purchase their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace are bracing for a steep rise in costs next year that many say they will not be able to afford, according to a poll released Thursday by the nonpartisan health organization KFF.
Nearly 60% of enrollees surveyed could not cover the costs of a $300 annual increase in their premiums, while an additional 20% said they couldn’t afford a $1,000 jump in prices per year.
About 90% of those polled said it would be somewhat or very difficult to afford health insurance within their budget if they could no longer purchase a plan through the ACA marketplace.
About one-in-eight Marketplace enrollees say they could afford an increase of $2,000 or more. (Graphic by KFF)
The spike in prices is predominantly due to the end-of-year expiration date for enhanced tax credits for ACA marketplace plans. Republicans in Congress have so far declined to extend the subsidies, while Democrats shut down the government in an unsuccessful attempt to continue the credits.
While increases would vary considerably based on location, income and plan type, a Sept. 30 KFF analysis projected individuals’ annual premiums would rise between around $350 and more than $1,800.
Open enrollment for ACA marketplace plans began in many states on Nov. 1 and will run through Dec. 15 for most Americans, giving little time for Congress to broker a deal before the ability to purchase a plan for next year closes.
No progress on negotiations
The Senate is expected to vote next week on a Democratic bill to extend the subsidies, though that legislation appears unlikely to get the 60 votes needed to advance in the Republican-controlled chamber.
The Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a hearing this week to explore short- and long-term options to bring down health care costs, but senators on that panel didn’t reach a clear consensus.
KFF President and CEO Drew Altman said in a statement the “poll shows the range of problems Marketplace enrollees will face if the enhanced tax credits are not extended in some form, and those problems will be the poster child of the struggles Americans are having with health care costs in the midterms if Republicans and Democrats cannot resolve their differences.”
The KFF poll showed only 9% of marketplace enrollees have a lot of confidence that Republicans in Congress will address rising health insurance costs, with 24% saying they had some confidence, 25% saying they didn’t have much confidence and 42% responding they had no confidence in GOP lawmakers on that particular issue.
Blame falls to Trump
ACA marketplace enrollees would predominantly fault President Donald Trump if their overall health care costs, including premiums, co-pays and deductibles, were to increase by $1,000 next year, though Republicans and Democrats in Congress would share nearly as much blame, the survey found.
Thirty-seven percent would place the responsibility with Trump, while 33% would cite GOP lawmakers and 29% would fault Democrats with the rising costs.
Those numbers fluctuate significantly depending on a person’s political affiliation, with 65% of Republicans saying they would blame Democrats, while 20% would credit Republicans in Congress and 14% would fault Trump.
Forty-four percent of people who identified as independents said they would blame Trump, while 32% said they would cite Republicans in Congress and 23% said they would fault Democrats.
Among Democrats, 49% would blame Trump, 46% would credit congressional Republicans, with the remainder would fault members of their own party.
KFF conducted the survey of 1,350 people between Nov. 7-15. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points for the full sample, with a plus or minus 6 percentage points margin of error for political party affiliation questions.
