If you’re looking for some good, wholesome family fun this weekend look here.
Commissioners maintain support for byway
It’s scenes such as this that supporters of the Soque Scenic Byway hope tourists will enjoy along the proposed route.
Water boil advisory in effect for Mt Airy until 6pm Thursday
A water boil advisory remains in effect for people on the Mt Airy water system until 6pm Thursday.
The advisory was issued yesterday after crews cut into an old pipeline while installing new lines in front of city hall. Residents were without water for several hours. Water service has since been restored.
A boil advisory means you should bring water to a rolling boil for 3 minutes before consuming.
Benefit ride set to honor fallen firefighter
There will be a benefit fundraiser this Saturday for the Clayton Martin Foundation. The foundation was established by Clayton’s family after he drowned this past Memorial Day.
Clayton attended and played basketball at Toccoa Falls College and was also a firefighter with the Clarkesville Fire Department. His mother Juli Tomlin says the purpose of the foundation is to provide scholarships for young people. “Our hope and vision is to help kids in many ways (sports camps scholarships, Christian camps, survival swim lessons, sports and academic scholarships). Saturday’s ride is to help fund this endeavor and is a true labor of love for us,” Tomlin says.
The ride will begin at Banks County High School (registration until 10:15 and ride begins at 10:30). It will pass Toccoa Falls College and end at the Clarkesville Fire Department located at 210 East Waters Street. BBQ plates, raffle tickets and t-shirts will be available for purchase at the fire department.
Tomlin says street legal vehicles and motorcycles are also welcome to join in the ride. Those who choose not to participate in the bike road and motorcade are welcome to enjoy BBQ, fun and fellowship at the Clarkesville Fire Department.
Shooting victim’s family gives gift of life; sobering reminder of need for gun safety
An accidental self-inflicted gunshot that resulted in the death of a Cornelia man has brought the spotlight back to the importance of gun safety.
“We just want to remind everyone that you have to treat every gun as if it’s loaded,” says Joey Terrell, Habersham County Sheriff. “Just like I teach my 11-year-old, you do not point a gun, even a toy gun, at a person. When you let your guard down or get careless; that’s when accidents can happen.”
Eric Daniel, 25, was handling a .38 revolver while at his Locke Road, Cornelia residence on Wednesday evening, Oct 15 when the gun discharged.
Daniel was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Cetner in Gainesville, where he was pronounced dead at 7:05 p.m. the following day, Oct. 16, with Habersham County Coroner Kasey McEntire listing a gunshot wound to the head as the cause of death.
This was an accident, a tragic accident,” says Terrell. “His (Daniel’s) family did donate his organs, so he could help other people live.”
Data released by the National Safety Council reports that unintentional firearm related fatalities continue to remain at historically low levels, with a 58 percent decline in the number of unintentional firearm-related fatalities has declined by 58 percent in the last two decades – from 1,441 unintentional fatalities in 1991 to 600 in 2011, according to a 2013 NSC report. Firearms are involved in 0.5 percent of all unintentional fatalities in the United States.
As firearms safety education programs have increased, the number of unintentional firearm-related fatalities have decreased, but continued diligence and education is paramount, according to the National Rifle Association, who promotes the following firearm safety rules.
* ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction
This is the primary rule of gun safety. A safe direction means that the gun is pointed so that even if it were to go off it would not cause injury or damage. The key to this rule is to control where the muzzle or front end of the barrel is pointed at all times. Common sense dictates the safest direction, depending on different circumstances.
* ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot
When holding a gun, rest your finger on the trigger guard or along the side of the gun. Until you are actually ready to fire, do not touch the trigger.
* ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use
Whenever you pick up a gun, immediately engage the safety device if possible, and, if the gun has a magazine, remove it before opening the action and looking into the chamber(s) which should be clear of ammunition. If you do not know how to open the action or inspect the chamber(s), leave the gun alone and get help from someone who does.
* Know your target and what is beyond
Be absolutely sure you have identified your target beyond any doubt. Equally important, be aware of the area beyond your target. This means observing your prospective area of fire before you shoot. Never fire in a direction in which there are people or any other potential for mishap. Think first. Shoot second.
* Know how to use the gun safely
Before handling a gun, learn how it operates. Know its basic parts, how to safely open and close the action and remove any ammunition from the gun or magazine. Remember, a gun’s mechanical safety device is never foolproof. Nothing can ever replace safe gun handling.
* Be sure the gun is safe to operate
Just like other tools, guns need regular maintenance to remain operable. Regular cleaning and proper storage are a part of the gun’s general upkeep. If there is any question concerning a gun’s ability to function, a knowledgeable gunsmith should look at it.
* Use only the correct ammunition for your gun
Only BBs, pellets, cartridges or shells designed for a particular gun can be fired safely in that gun. Most guns have the ammunition type stamped on the barrel. Ammunition can be identified by information printed on the box and sometimes stamped on the cartridge. Do not shoot the gun unless you know you have the proper ammunition.
* Wear eye and ear protection as appropriate
Guns are loud and the noise can cause hearing damage. They can also emit debris and hot gas that could cause eye injury. For these reasons, shooting glasses and hearing protectors should be worn by shooters and spectators.
* Never use alcohol or over-the-counter, prescription or other drugs before or while shooting
Alcohol, as well as any other substance likely to impair normal mental or physical bodily functions, must not be used before or while handling or shooting guns.
* Store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons.
Many factors must be considered when deciding where and how to store guns. A person’s particular situation will be a major part of the consideration. Dozens of gun storage devices, as well as locking devices that attach directly to the gun, are available. However, mechanical locking devices, like the mechanical safeties built into guns, can fail and should not be used as a substitute for safe gun handling and the observance of all gun safety rules.
* Cleaning
Regular cleaning is important in order for your gun to operate correctly and safely. Taking proper care of it will also maintain its value and extend its life. Your gun should be cleaned every time that it is used. A gun brought out of prolonged storage should also be cleaned before shooting. Accumulated moisture and dirt, or solidified grease and oil, can prevent the gun from operating properly.
Before cleaning your gun, make absolutely sure that it is unloaded. The gun’s action should be open during the cleaning process. Also, be sure that no ammunition is present in the cleaning area.
Piedmont students leave mark on new building
Steel workers with Scroggs and Grizzel Contracting attach one of the final structural beams in place at the Piedmont College Student Commons now going up on Georgia Street in Demorest. The beam, bearing the names of students, faculty and staff, was raised into place on Monday, Oct. 20, marking a milestone in the construction of the 58,000-square-foot building, which is slated to be complete in May 2015.
HCHS senior Lindsey Brown critical but stable
Family and friends of 18-year-old Lindsey Brown are clinging to good news this afternoon.
“Got a good report from CT scan,” Brown’s mother, Alice Roland Brewer, told close family friend Beth Chapman early Tuesday morning, Oct. 21. “The neurologist said the results were “OK,” meaning no worse, and that is a good thing.”
Brown suffered critical injuries in single-vehicle wreck in Hall County monday morning. Brown, a senior at Habersham Central High School, was driving north on State Route 365 toward Habersham County when her vehicle, a red Toyota pickup truck, drifted onto the right shoulder of the road, traveled back across both northbound lanes and into the median before overturning multiple times across both southbound lanes of the highway and landing in a ditch.
Brown was transported by ambulance to Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) where she is undergoing tests and treatment for head injuries suffered in the wreck.
“They will do another scan tomorrow to continue to check brain swelling and bleeding, but it is looking like she is headed in the right direction,” Brown’s mother said early Tuesday morning after consulting with doctors. Chest x-rays have been taken to check the status of a pulmonary contusion, but no results have been reported yet, Brewer added, calling her daughter a “fighter” and voicing appreciation for the support and prayers that have been expressed for Brown and her family.
Friends and fellow students at HCHS, who met in the pre-dawn hours this morning to paint messages of hope on ‘The Rock’ at the high school’s Mt. Airy campus, will meet at “the rock” again this afternoon at 3:20 p.m (Tuesday, Oct. 21) to offer prayer up prayers and support for Brown and her family. The public is welcome.
HCT presents ‘Alice in Wonderland’ Oct 23-26
The White Rabbit, the Queen of Hearts, and the Mad Hatter will all take the stage as Habersham Community Theatre presents Disney’s “Alice In Wonderland Jr.,” a musical for all ages.
Partial Solar Eclipse on Thursday
The biggest partial eclipse in 20 years is set to occur this coming Thursday, and you definitely won’t want to miss it.
After the visibility failure that was the total lunar eclipse just 2 weeks ago, the moon has swung back around to the sun-ward side of it’s orbit and will treat a large portion of North America to a partial solar eclipse Thursday evening. To see this eclipse you will want a good view to the west at sunset, as well as some way to safely view the sun.
The easiest/cheapest viewing method is to poke a pinhole in a piece of dark paper, which will allow you to project the image of the sun on a wall. If you have them, solar glasses work great and welding helmets will work well also.
The maximum eclipse will occur right at sunset with roughly 40% of the sun’s surface being covered by the moon, but most folk’s horizon will only show about 30% coverage (still not too shabby). The partial eclipse will begin at 5:51PM and last until sunset around 6:45. As of now, the weather looks fantastic with just a few scattered clouds to get in the way.
What exactly causes a partial solar eclipse, though? It is basically just the opposite of a lunar eclipse, with the moon passing between the Earth and Sun rather than the Earth passing between the Sun and Moon. In the case of a total eclipse, the moon blots out the entire sun, but in the case of a partial the pass is off-center.
Be sure to spread the word and I’ll update with a reminder either late tomorrow or early Thursday.~TW
Finding community in times of crisis
As I sit here writing another story about yet another human tragedy that has touched our community I can not help but reflect on how quickly life changes. In just the past two weeks two families lost their husbands and fathers in a motorcycle wreck and shooting, two young children were orphaned in an accident in Banks County, a Clarkesville family lost their 22-year old daughter to a merciless illness and two other local families are grappling with the aftermath of frightening wrecks. All so sudden. So unexpected. So sad. And these are just the stories we know about. How many more people are out there hurting today?
What is it about us humans that it takes such tragedies to remind us of how fleeting our days are; how precious are the moments we have here on earth.
When you’re young life seems endless. It’s a grand adventure with seemingly limitless possibilities. In youthful aspiration we think to ourselves ‘Maybe I’ll move to Paris, New York, London or Rome. Maybe I’ll become an actor, a singer, a writer, NFL player or president.’ Or maybe our aspirations are simpler and closer to home. ‘One day I want to get a good paying job, maybe start my own business and raise my family here.’ Many in the senior class at Habersham Central High School right now are probably saying, ‘I just want to graduate.’
Whatever the aspiration, the goal or the dream there is one thing that’s required…breath. How quickly it can be snuffed out. How quickly our dreams can turn into nightmares when tragedy strikes.
I’ve had a lot of time to think about this over the past several weeks sitting here in front of my computer sharing the news of the day. Some stories make my heart leap with happiness; some – like the ones mentioned above – make my heart cry. And yet, in the midst of all this sadness and tragedy there’s a glimmer of hope. It’s found in the words of friends, even strangers, who offer their prayers and encouragement through visits, cards, phone calls and social media. It’s found in the donations given and fundraisers held to help families with mounting medical bills. It’s found in the faces of the people who line the hallways and fill up the waiting rooms at hospitals just waiting on news, any news, about their sick or injured friend. It’s found in the midnight escapades of young people who paint a rock to show their solidarity with an injured classmate.
Following a recent article we posted about a second high school senior being injured in a wreck one Now Habersham reader wrote, “What in the world is going on?” That’s a question I would venture to say we’re all asking today. The only answer I can come up with is “Life.” That’s what’s happening to us as individuals, neighbors, friends, family and as a community…Life.
How blessed I am to live my life in a community that cares. Where people still wave when you drive by, aren’t afraid to tell you they’re praying for you and openly share their gratitude and concern. Habersham County is a community. And though we don’t all know one another we are inextricably bound by geography and human compassion.
It’s sad when human tragedy strikes but it’s inspiring to see a community rally around its members in times of crisis. If you ask me, Habersham County has a lot going for it. We also have our challenges. Sure, we bicker and gripe about politics, taxes and neighbors – even our own family and friends – but at the end of the day we band together. We allow the pettiness of life to give way to what’s important in life; helping our loved ones and neighbors in need. And while we may not have the big city trappings of Atlanta, New York or London we have something I think is far greater, we have each other.
Thank you, Habersham, for reminding me of that. I pray it won’t take another tragedy to remind me again.
Second HCHS senior injured in wreck in as many days
A Habersham Central High School senior suffered minor injuries in a wreck early this morning in Habersham, less than 24 hours after a classmate was critically injured in a wreck in Hall County.
It happened shortly before 8am on South Camp Creek Road, about a mile from Habersham Central. Lt. Tonya Elrod with the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office says 18-year old Courtney Banks told her mom that a deer ran out in front of her. Banks apparently swerved to miss the deer and flipped her truck into a ditch. “She was in stable condition. She was talking…just real scared and shook up,” Elrod says.
Fellow classmate and friend, Courtney Veach was on her way to school when she drove up on the wreck. “I was coming down the road and I saw Courtney’s truck turned over and she was on top of it screaming, ‘I want my mom.'” Veach left to get Banks’ mother and siblings as emergency personnel arrived on the scene.
Banks was transported to Habersham Medical Center by ambulance.
The Georgia State Patrol is investigating the accident.
Students rally in support of injured classmate
High school seniors share a special bond and that was never more evident for the Habersham Central High graduating class of 2015 than on Monday as students reached out to a classmate who was critically injured in a wreck. They flooded the halls and ICU waiting room at Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) in Gainesville – more than 100 people at times – waiting on word of Lindsey Brown.
Brown, the 18-year old daughter of Alice Roland Brewer and Jamey Brown of Habersham, was critically injured Monday morning around 10 in a rollover wreck in Hall County that spanned all four lanes of State Route 365. The Georgia State Patrol says Brown was heading north toward Habersham when she ran off the shoulder of the road, traveled back across both northbound lanes into the median and overturned multiple times across both southbound lanes of the highway before landing in a ditch. She was rushed by ambulance to NGMC where she remains in critical but stable condition this morning.
As word of the accident filtered out through the news and social media, students and faculty responded. They joined the Brown family at the hospital to offer support and encouragement. A group of more than a dozen returned home to Habersham late last night to send Lindsey a message. They gathered at ‘the rock’ on the high school campus in Mt. Airy and showed their solidarity by painting it with a flower with her initials in the center surrounded by their handprints. The students also included a Bible verse, Isaiah 40: 29-31:
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Lindsey Brown is an active member of the youth group at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Clarkesville. Her Sunday School teacher Laurie Brooks reached out through social media Monday asking for prayer:
She is loved by so many and have so many praying for her. My heart breaks for them all. Praying for God’s healing on her precious life!
As seniors return to school this morning eagerly awaiting word of their classmate, Lindsey Brown’s family anxiously, prayerfully, waits at the hospital for news of her prognosis. A family friend tells Now Habersham Lindsey is undergoing medical tests to determine the full extent of her injuries.
The following photos were posted on Facebook by HCHS security guard Kristi Tucker Payne.
