The Georgia Department of Transportation announces its road maintenance work schedule for north Georgia for the week ahead. Some projects will cause traffic delays.
Tuesday, November 11 is the Veteran’s Day Holiday. Crews will work Monday, Nov. 10 and Wednesday, Nov. 12 through Friday, Nov. 14. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. if weather permits. Lane closures are required for patching asphalt, a flagman or pilot vehicle will direct traffic through the work zone.
Habersham – A crew will inspect the drainage pipes for SR 15/US 441. The shoulders will be closed as needed.
Union – A crew will repair the slopes alongside SR 180 west then repair the rutting alongside the edge of SR 11/ US 129 pavement. The shoulders will be closed as the work occurs and a lane closure could be needed for the repair on SR 11/US 129.
Gwinnett – A crew will mow the rights of way along SR 20 and SR 120. Another crew will fill the cracks in the driving surface of SR 317. A lane closure is required as this work occurs. Faded striping on the roadway will be refreshed along SR 8/US 29. A lane closure is required as this work occurs.
Franklin – A crew will trim vegetation growing in the rights of way alongside SR 59. The shoulder will be closed as this work occurs. Then the crew will repair the rutting that has developed alongside the edge of pavement then clean and restore the ditches alongside SR 51. This work requires the shoulder to be closed and could require a lane closure as well.
Hart – A crew will install raised pavement markers or reflectors to mark lane striping on SR 8/US 29, SR 51 and SR 368. The work requires a lane closure and will cause delays.
Madison – A crew will manually clean the drainage structures alongside SR 72. This work requires the shoulder to be closed. Then the crew will trim vegetation growing in the rights of alongside SR 98. This work requires a lane closure.
Douglas McDonald of Baldwin is the new Grand Master of Masons in Georgia.
Douglas W. McDonald, Sr., was installed as the 2014-2015 Grand Master of Masons in Georgia at the 228th Annual Session of the Grand Lodge of Georgia, F. & A.M., in Macon, Georgia, on Wednesday, October 29, 2014.
Grand Master McDonald was raised to the degree of Master Mason in 1967, and is a member of Mt. Airy Lodge, No. 141, F. & A.M. He has served in many positions with the Lodge and has progressed through the Grand Line to reach his current position as the state-wide Grand Master and leader of Free and Accepted Masons in Georgia. McDonald also belongs to other Masonic Appendant Bodies, including York Rite, Scottish Rite, and Shrine.
Freemasonry has existed continuously in Georgia since 1734 and the Grand Lodge of Georgia, F. & A.M., has existed since 1786. There are currently approximately 40,000 Masons in Georgia. In the history of Grand Lodge, McDonald is only the fourth Mason from Habersham County, to be elected Grand Master.
Grand Master McDonald and his wife Carol reside in Baldwin, Georgia. He is the founding partner of McDonald & Cody, LLC, in Cornelia, Georgia, where he practices law with his partners P. Gerald Cody, Jr., and Gus McDonald.
A lion lurks across the countryside, a reporter jumps out of the TV screen, FBI agents appear from the microwave; and they are all looking for the same thing: Maggie. An 11 year old girl from Hush, Kansas, Maggie Parks has a vivid imagination. She dances with angels and talks with lions. But, when a television reporter believes Maggie really can see angels, she and her father are thrust into a media spotlight that threatens to destroy them both. Can fantasy live in the era of the 24-hour news cycle? “Hush: An Interview with America” is a thought-provoking look at the modern media through a child’s eyes.
Presented in the Swanson Center Blackbox Theater in Demorest, performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m., Nov. 20-22; and 2 p.m., Nov. 23. General Admission tickets are $5. Piedmont College students, faculty and staff are admitted free. Tickets can be purchased online at www.piedmont.edu/fa by clicking on “PC Theatre Schedule,” or by calling the Piedmont College Box Office at 706-778-8500 x 1355.
Directed by Kathy Blandin, “Hush” is a show where imaginations collide, dreams become reality, and every moment draws you further into the small town world of Hush, Kansas. Written in 1998 by three-time Pulitzer Prize nominee, James Still, “Hush” is a humorous and heartfelt play for young and mature audiences alike. Appropriate and exciting for all ages, “Hush” is sure to stimulate imagination, produce laughter, and quench your thirst for adventure.
Wind ensemble fans have two opportunities to hear music by large and small groups at Piedmont College Nov. 15 and Nov. 18, in the Chapel at the campus in Demorest.
At 7:30 p.m., Nov. 15, Dianasue Walton will direct several small ensembles, followed by a performance by the 40-member Piedmont Wind Ensemble. The group will play works by John Philip Sousa, Claude T. Smith, and David Holsinger. Highlights of the performance will be a flute solo by Piedmont junior Jessie Bee of Hartwell; and Kara Taylor, a graduate student from Cornelia, will serve as guest conductor for Smith’s “Emperata Overture.”
At 7:30 p.m., Nov. 18, also in the Chapel, the Piedmont Wind Ensemble will be joined by musicians from six area high schools for a concert featuring 96 instruments, directed by Vicki Pinson. In addition to the Piedmont Wind Ensemble, the group will include players from East Hall High School, Craig Cantrell, director; Banks County High School, Jon Congdon, director; Hart County High School, Alan Tolbert, director; Riverside Military Academy, Katy Wilson, director; West Hall High School, Ernie Phillips, director; and White County High School, Michael Pickett, director.
The Habersham Central Raiders closed out their season tonight with a disappointing loss to the Chattahoochee Cougars in front of a home crowd at Raider Stadium in Mt. Airy.
Early in the 4th quarter the Raiders were down 35-14. As the clock ticked down the Raiders got down to business. Michael Babers ran for an 83-yard touchdown with a little over six minutes left in the game to move the Raiders to within striking distance. Mason Kinsey intercepted the ball a few downs later and the Raiders were off to the races. After Kinsey scored on a 20-yard run with 5:17 left in the game the Raiders were just one touchdown away from tying it up but time ran out before they could.
Final Score 35-28 Cougars.
This was the last game of the season for the Habersham Central High School Raiders and last high school football game for the seniors. They end the season 1-9 overall, 1-8 in the region.
Other 6AAAAAA Region scores from Friday, Nov. 7:
Alpharetta 34 North Forsyth 14
Northview 54 Centennial 26
West Forsyth 34 Johns Creek 3
Lambert 40 South Forsyth 7
Other scores of regional interest:
8-AAAAA
Lanier 55 Apalachee 17
Salem 35 Cedar Shoals 14
Clarke Central 27 Loganville 12
Gainesville 49 Flowery Branch 7
Winder-Barrow 43 Heritage, Conyers 26
8-AAAA
Buford 56 Stephens County 0
Monroe Area 41 Chestatee 28
Dawson County 28 Johnson, Gainesville 0
North Oconee 24 Madison County 0
North Hall 14 White County 4
8-AA
Rabun County 30 Greene County 7
Riverside Military 34 Social Circle 13
Union County 35 Washington-Wilkes 34
7-AAA
East Hall 35 Banks County 21
Dawson County 28 Johnson, Gainesville 0
Franklin County 21 Fannin County 14
West Hall 35 Lumpkin County 0
A Cornelia woman charged in the death of a local man is out of jail, free on bond tonight. Hall County authorities say Ruby Marshall was released from the Hall County jail late yesterday. The 64-year old Marshall is charged in the death of 47-year old Jerald Freeman of Cornelia. Freeman died on Oct. 7 when his motorcycle crashed into a ravine off of Pea Ridge Road near the Hall/Habersham County border.
64-year old Ruby Marshall of Cornelia is charged with first-degree vehicular homocide in the death of Jerald Freeman.
Georgia State Patrol investigators say Marshall allegedly crossed over the center line while traveling on Pea Ridge Road and forced Freeman’s motorcycle off the road. Freeman was thrown from his bike as it traveled down an embankment. Troopers say Marshall left the scene without calling for help. A family member discovered Freeman’s body the next day.
According to the Hall County Medical Examiner the 47-year old Freeman died of a broken neck.
Marshall was arrested by state troopers on Oct. 30 in Dahlonega. Sources tell Now Habersham someone came forward with information that led to her arrest.
Yesterday a Hall County Magistrate set Marshall’s bond at $20,100. She will remain free at least until Nov. 17 when a court hearing is scheduled to determine if there is enough evidence to move forward with the case against her. Marshall faces numerous charges including first-degree vehicular homocide, failure to maintain lane, reckless driving and failure to stop at the scene of an accident. If convicted, she could face up to 15 years in prison.
Jerald Freeman and his wife Nicole. She launched a search to find him after he failed to return home from Florida on Oct. 7. His brother discovered his body in a ravine just two miles from his home the next day.
Jerald Freeman was the owner of About Time Tree Service in Cornelia and also worked as a skydiving instructor in Atlanta. He was a 1985 graduate of Habersham Central High School in Mt. Airy and a 1987 graduate of Truett McConnell College in Cleveland.
Bonnie Loffredo (second from left) retired from her job as Executive Director of the Habersham County United Way on Nov. 6. She held that position for 14 years. Loffredo’s life and work were celebrated by family, friends and colleagues during a dinner Thursday night in Clarkesville. Here she is pictured with her daughter and granddaughter, Jenny and Kate Holbrook, husband Bob, and grandson and son-in-law, Chris and Tom Holbrook.
She’s known as the little lady with a big heart. For the past 14 years Bonnie Loffredo has been at the helm of the Habersham County United Way. Today, she is no more.
Loffredo officially retired from her job as the executive director last night during a dinner held in her honor at Habersham Electric Membership Corporation in Clarkesville. The evening was bittersweet. Full of laughs and light-hearted ribbing, it brought to a close the end of an era that has seen the United Way steadily grow in fundraising and giving.
Habersham County United Way Board President Jim Weidner celebrated Loffredo’s achievements during her retirement dinner. Weidner told the audience that local fundraising and giving have increased over 26% since Loffredo joined United Way in 1998.
United Way board president Jim Weidner told those gathered that since Loffredo joined United Way annual fundraising goals have increased by more than 26% – from $430,000 in 1998 to $575,000 this year. During that same time the United Way has always met or exceeded its goal. Per capita giving to the Habersham County United Way now stands at $13 and, since 1998, United Way has distributed $5,551,097 to its agencies.
“Bonnie is an extraordinary person. Bonnie’s heart is huge, and in some cases it’s bigger than her brain,” Weidner quipped. He recounted the time a man came into the United Way office in Cornelia seeking help. He was a complete stranger but Loffredo drove him from Cornelia to Toccoa anyway so that he could sign up for Social Security benefits. “Her trust in God is extraordinary,” Weidner said, “and that story enough explains that.” He choked up when he spoke of Loffredo’s Christian example. “Bonnie has done so many things for so many people with no expectation, but she did this…she did this, because Jesus taught her and taught all of us to do this.”
Loffredo says her work has been, and will continue to be, driven by her faith. “I dedicate our United Way to the Lord and if we have good times then, Glory to God. I take no praise. I do what God requires of me and the results are left up to Him.”
Loffredo says she was deeply moved by the outpouring of love and good wishes she received during last night’s tribute. “I’m very humbled by the whole thing. It makes me a little uncomfortable because it’s something you don’t want praise for, you just do your thing and hopefully change people’s lives for the better.”
Though no longer at the helm, Loffredo is still ‘doing her thing’ to help United Way and the community. She actively volunteers twice a week as a math tutor for the LiFT (Learning for Tomorrow) program at Habersham Central High School. LiFT is partially funded by United Way. “They say that you have to exercise the mind, so this has really been exercising my mind, to a point of exhaustion at times,” Loffredo says smiling. “God’s given me the opportunity to sit in a high school math class and learn and work and get to know kids and help them out. I really feel good that this is what I’m supposed to be doing. It’s fun!”
Former United Way board member Barbara Copeland was one of several speakers who ‘roasted’ and ‘toasted’ Loffredo at her retirement party.
Fun is a word that is often associated with the Habersham County United Way under Loffredo’s leadership. That was evident in the comments made by several past and current board members who ‘roasted’ and ‘toasted’ her at last night’s gathering. Barbara Copeland of Clarkesville latched onto Loffredo’s penchant for tardiness. “Being on time is not one of Bonnie’s spiritual gifts,” Copeland laughed. She told of a conversation she once had with Loffredo’s husband, Bob, in which he told her, “Bonnie’s the perfect example of why during the American Revolution there were no Minute Women.”
Loffredo’s United Way predecessor, Caroline Cramer, brought a bag of props to the dinner. As she reached into the bag she pulled out binders and notebooks and stacks of paper and good-naturedly placed them on the table in front of Loffredo. Cramer deadpanned, “I just wanted Bonnie to feel comfortable tonight,” referring to the piles of paperwork stacked inside Loffredo’s United Way office.
Close to 50 people attended Loffredo’s retirement dinner at HEMC in Clarkesville on Nov. 6. The event was both a tribute and fundraiser. Guests donated more than $1,000 to this year’s United Way fundraising campaign in Loffredo’s honor.
There were other gags and good-humored stories about Loffredo shared throughout the evening. Many focused on her love of animals and her knack for picking up strays and keeping them in her office until she could find them a good home. But her love of animals wasn’t the focus; it was her love for people. As the laughter died down each speaker spoke of Loffredo’s kind, caring and generous heart. Former board member and pastor Phil Demore said of Loffredo, “She has a deep love for the person she serves…all people. She’s made a positive difference in the lives of countless people. She truly has a servants’ heart.” He went on to say, “Our community and the Habersham United Way are stronger mainly because of the diligent and tireless service of Bonnie Loffredo.”
Loffredo stepped into the role as executive director in 2001. Before that she worked as United Way’s full-time information referral coordinator and, before that, as a part-timer for one year. Her role as executive director was supposed to be temporary but that ‘temporary’ job turned in to a 14-year career. When asked what her fondest memory is Loffredo quickly replies, “The joy of some of our board meetings.” Loffredo describes the Habersham County United Way Board of Directors – past and present – as a group of people “who want to make the community better. They are there for totally altruistic reasons. They’re not getting paid for it and they have a sweet spirit. We didn’t always agree on everything,” she says, “but we always had laughter and we always had respect for each other.” Loffredo happily recalls the time one board member told her attending the meetings was the “funnest part of her day.”
Loffredo says seeing the work that is being done by the 25 local charitable agencies the Habersham County United Way funds makes her feel good, especially knowing that she had, in her words, “some small part of it.”
Ask anyone who knows and they’ll tell you Loffredo was more than a ‘small part’ of it. She may be short in stature but she has left a big imprint on the local community.
Former United Way Board President Ken Smith said filling the size of the petite Loffredo’s shoes won’t be the problem; filling the size of her heart, will be.
Incoming Habersham County United Way Executive Director Billy Boyd was among those who attended outgoing director Bonnie Loffredo’s retirement party. Boyd is the former Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Northeast Georgia.
It is now up to Billy Boyd to do both. Boyd is the former Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Northeast Georgia. He was hired to succeed Loffredo this summer and has been training with her ever since. He says Loffredo has been a tremendous help in making it a smooth transition. He adds, “It’s certainly a challenge and it was certainly heartwarming tonight to see how the community feels about Bonnie and the good work that she’s done. My task is to continue with the same enthusiasm, love and concern for our community.”
Good luck, Billy. Good bye, Bonnie. And a new era begins.
Today’s devotional is written by Sarah Beth Cody, daughter of Gerald & Britt Cody of Clarkesville. I know you will enjoy her wisdom and insight. Sarah Beth currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia where she works for Porter Novelli.
Somewhere between the filters and the likes and the favorites and the shares it got lost. Eyes and heart glazed over like a Christmas ham, I had succumbed to the “should.”
Should.
The most calculating little auxiliary verb there is. Because, when added into the equation, it can quickly dismiss where we are and what God is doing in us and through us and with us in that moment.
“You’re 19? So you should probably be in college at this point, I guess?”
“You’re 25? You should probably have a ring on that finger by now.”
“38 and you’re still not exactly sure what career path you want to take? You should probably figure that out…”
I dare say what the world tells us should be is often Satan’s way of distracting us from what God says already has been and is and forever will be.
He tells us that if we will pray to Him and thank Him for all He has done, we will experience God’s peace. That we are His and He is ours. That His love can and will cover all things.
He does not ask why we haven’t gotten that promotion we should have gotten six months ago. He simply asks us to talk to Him.
He does not give us measurements or numbers on a scale that tell us we shouldn’t have had that cupcake three days ago. He gives us a joy that surpasses every fleeting moment of happiness this world has to offer.
And I know that in the middle of the messiness and the tears and the confusion that come with the lies of inadequacy, it can be hard to keep those truths at the forefront of our minds. But thinking less of ourselves because we aren’t where we should be brings no glory to God. Acknowledging His hand in where we are does.
So just be. Be present where you are. With Jesus. Knowing that if you are doing life with Him, you will always be right where you should. His grace goes before us; He is already where we’re trying to run.
The high school swim season kicks off this Saturday Nov. 8, at 9:30 am at the Ruby C. Fulbright Aquatic Center in Clarkesville.
The Hawaiian Luau themed meet will host 17 high school and middle school teams with over 425 swimmers. Teams from TFS and Habersham Central High School will be among those competing.
