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Faith in Action

By
Pastor Mike Franklin
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Mark 2:5, “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.'”

Jesus was teaching in a house in Capernaum. The people wanted to hear him so much there was no room to get in and it appears the house was surrounded by people. Four friends of a paralytic man carried him on a stretcher to be healed by Jesus. When they got to the house, they realized there was no way they were going to get in through the front door because of the crowd.

Mark 2:4, “Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on.”

If you have ever cracked walnuts, you know how hard it is to get through the outer shell. We keep working at it because we know inside the hard shell is a wonderful tasting nut. We wouldn’t worry with it if we didn’t have the belief that the nut was inside.

This guy’s friends not only loved him and wanted for him to be healed, but they believed he could be healed. If I could make a YouTube video of the event, I would titled it “Faith in action.” When they realized they couldn’t get in the house, they climbed up on the roof and dug a hole large enough to then lower him down through the hole. Can you imagine what was involved in the doing so?

There are times when we have to carry the load. We have to have faith for our friends and family. Sometimes, a person cannot do it alone. Do you realize the faith of our friends can change our circumstances? Prayer is important – yes! But there are times when your friend needs more than your prayers, he needs to see your faith in action. Maybe he  needs you to fast for him. Maybe  she needs you to invest money in what  she is trying to do. Whatever the situation, as Christians, we have a responsibility to show our faith for someone else’s need.

When Jesus sees our faith in action, He will move mountains for our friend.

The Enterovirus-What you should know.

By
Michelle Wetherbee
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Buried below the headlines of Ebola stories and the storms, the CDC announced today the implementation of a new, faster lab test for the Enterovirus or EV-D68. Faster testing will allow for quicker response and treatment for a virus responsible for 5 deaths so far this season. A toddler in Michigan was the latest victim. The virus is now confirmed in 691 children in 46 states. In Georgia, there are 12 confirmed cases. While the exact locations of the 12 cases are not available, two hospitals in Atlanta and one in Augusta are reporting active cases.

EV-D68 is a form of the non-polio respiratory illness and is commonly seen during flu season. This year has been unusual in the number of cases and the deaths attributed to the virus. In addition, the CDC is investigating 10 children in Colorado suffering from muscle weakness and paralysis seemingly related to the virus.

In Georgia, the virus is not a report-required illness, so the actual number of cases may be higher. The recommendations from the CDC and the Georgia Department of Health are as follows:

  • Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after changing diapers
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
  • Avoid kissing, hugging, and sharing cups or eating utensils with people who are sick
  • Disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, especially if someone is sick

The virus is spread through bodily secretions so extra care is needed with little ones. If your child become ill with cold-like symptoms and is having difficulty breathing, seek medical care immediately and keep away from other children. Let’s make sure Habersham stays healthy this flu season.

 

Review sample ballots

By
Joy Purcell
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Make informed decisions and save time at the ballot box by reviewing these sample ballots. Election day is Nov. 4. Early and advance voting are now underway.

Vote-Counts1
Click here to review sample ballots

 

 

Early voting begins in Habersham

By
Joy Purcell
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Click here for statewide election results

Early/Advance Voting

Early voting in the Nov. 4 General Election begins today in Habersham. You can cast your ballot now through Oct. 31 from 8am-5pm at the County Elections and Registration Office located in the basement of the old courthouse at 555 Monroe Street.

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New Piedmont College scholarship for state’s valedictorians

By
Joy Purcell
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Alex Childers of Winder-Barrow is the first recipient of Piedmont College's new Premier Scholarship
Alex Childers of Winder-Barrow is the first recipient of Piedmont College’s new Premier Scholarship.

Demorest, GA – While a senior at Winder-Barrow High School, Alex Childers was looking for three things in a college. He wanted a small college not too far from home, he wanted to study business, and he wanted the opportunity to play baseball.

Childers decided that Piedmont fit that bill, and it did not hurt that as Winder-Barrow’s top academic graduate, he also qualified as the first recipient of Piedmont’s new Premier Scholarship, which grants full tuition to Georgia high school valedictorians.

This year Piedmont will provide students with in-house scholarships worth more than $9 million, but the Premier Scholarship is special, said Cindy Peterson, Dean of Admissions and Undergraduate Enrollment Management. “This is our first scholarship program specifically designed for valedictorians,” Peterson said. “Along with our other programs, including the Camp-Younts, Trustees, and Presidential scholarships, Piedmont each year has been able to attract more and more academically talented students. For the current freshman class, the average GPA is now 3.44. We think the Premier Scholarship is an important addition because it tells the best students in Georgia that they have a place at Piedmont.”

Dr. Perry Rettig, Vice President for Academic Affairs, agreed that the Premier Scholarship can have a big impact for Georgia top students. “With Piedmont’s exceptional liberal arts heritage, our students graduate with the intellectual attributes and skill sets required of today’s global citizens. Alex and an increasing number of his classmates are today’s scholars and tomorrow’s community leaders.”

Childers was not only valedictorian at Winder-Barrow with a GPA of 4.0, he also was the senior class STAR student, an honor given to the student with the highest SAT score. While in high school, he was a member of the National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Beta Club, and the Academic Bowl team. And he accomplished all of this while playing baseball for the Bulldogs for four years.

Now a freshman at Piedmont, Childers said the experience has lived up to his expectations. “I enjoy the small classes,” he said. “With one exception, all my classes have 15 students or less. I am majoring in business, but have not decided which concentration to take, whether accounting, finance, or marketing. I am also trying to make the baseball team, and we practice four or five hours a day, so it keeps me busy.”

Theft and suspicious behavior put neighborhood on alert

By
Joy Purcell
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The reported theft of a minibike from a home in a Cornelia neighborhood over the weekend has spurred concern and increased communication between residents of one city neighborhood.

Comments in the past several days on social media and discussions among residents of the Tower Mountain community point to sightings of unknown individuals “coming and going” and suspicious behavior of people who do not live there. Comments have included talk of a possible break-in to a vehicle and trespassing on porches and carports.

However, outside of the report involving the minibike, no citizen has contacted the police department to report a crime or express concern about activity in the Tower Mountain community, Cornelia Police Chief Chad Smith says.

When the owner of the minibike reported the theft Monday morning, Smith says he conveyed to police comments from others about suspicious sightings in the neighborhood.

“He told officers that people in the neighborhood were saying they noticed people going in and out, suspicious people, and somebody said there might have been a car that had been broken in to,” Smith says. “But nobody has called or reported anything to us about anybody (and) if nobody makes a report, we don’t know.”

Chief Smith stresses involvement from the community in situations such as this is vital.

“People need to know; if they see something that is not right, or see suspicious people that they know shouldn’t be doing things, they need to call 911 and let the police and law enforcement know,” he says.

Final SPLOST VI meeting TONIGHT

By
Joy Purcell
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A small crowd gathered for a SPLOST VI town hall meeting in Cornelia on Sept. 23. Two more town hall meetings are scheduled in Demorest and Tallulah Falls before the SPLOST VI vote on Nov. 4.

Meetings like this one in Cornelia on Sept. 23 have been held throughout Habersham County for the past month-and-a-half to educate voters about SPLOST VI.

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TFS honored by Chamber

By
Joy Purcell
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Martha Reabold of the Habersham County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors presents the 'Business of the Quarter' award to TFS President Larry Peevy on Sept. 23, 2014.

Martha Reabold of the Habersham County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors hands the ‘Business of the Quarter’ award to TFS President Larry Peevy on Sept. 23, 2014.

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Magnificent splendor

By
Nora Almazan
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Psalm 139:14 – “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful.”

I recently encountered a precious four-year old in a gift shop in North Carolina. We were standing in line, and she was admiring her shoes.

“I got new shoes,” she said to no one in particular.

“I like them,” I whispered.

Her big brown eyes looked up at me with a sheepish grin as she pondered her next statement. I could tell she was thinking intently;  about which I could not imagine.

“God made me really beautiful. He did you too!”

“Yes, He did make you beautiful,” I answered with a smile, “And me too. Thank you.”

The familiar verse came quickly to mind from Psalm 139, remembering just recently complaining to the mirror at home about my own inadequacies. I no longer looked or felt 19 and somehow I thought I had been robbed. Why did we have to change as we grew older? Oh, to fit into my 19-year-old clothes again – pre-children body.  I wondered if butterflies questioned their beauty or how they measured up. Did the Tiger Swallowtail wish to be more like the Virginia Lady? Did she long for orange speckles instead of yellow and black stripes?

Just last night my son Will and I took a long walk to a beautiful pond behind my house. David Thoreau’s Walden couldn’t compare to the natural, private setting of this dwelling. I noticed a tree that has probably been around 100 years, with thick twisted branches and a large rounded trunk. Its roots ran deep, obvious to all that it had probably weathered.  As I pressed my hand against the bark, Will asked, “Trees are so much prettier when they’ve been around a long time, aren’t they?’

Storms, seasons, snowy days, drought, flood –  all combined give the tree its magnificent splendor.

Aren’t we the same? Shouldn’t we all state with the confidence of that brown-eyed four-year old, “God made me really beautiful” each and every day?

We are a combined total of our experiences, challenges, joys, sorrows, and laughter. We are created uniquely and individually – like no other.

Celebrate who you are and the Artist who carefully constructed you. Like the tree, it is the strength of our roots that give us our splendor.

Andrew Tallies 100th Career Victory

By
Joy Purcell
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Head Women’s Soccer Coach Stephen Andrew collected yet another accomplishment Saturday when his Lady Lions’ 7-0 shutout of Mary Baldwin gave him his 100th career victory as a head coach with all but four of those coming as the leader of the Green and Gold.

Staunton, VA – The Piedmont College women’s soccer team rolled to a 7-0 shutout of USA South member Mary Baldwin College Saturday to move to 5-1-1 in league action going 2-0 in conference contests over their weekend trip through the Carolinas. The icing on the cake came for Head Coach Stephen Andrew who picked up his 100th career victory with the win today cementing his place in the Green and Gold history now as a coach after doing so first as a collegiate player with the Lions.

Piedmont’s first three goals on the afternoon were mirror images as Kalyn Dumanowsky was the goal scorer on each with Savannah Castles tabbing the first three assists of the day as well. Dumanowsky’s hat-trick puts her now at eight goals scored this season, tied for 7th best in the league and the most amongst the Lady Lions in 2014.

The sophomore also now has four game-winning goals on the year, tied for the most in the league along with Ferrum’s Morgan Funck. Piedmont would go on to hold a 6-0 lead a the half after Castles got a goal for herself in the 21st minute while Whitney Lambert and Kristen Newstrom would also add scores to the sheet before the intermission.

The Lady Lions’ 4-0 lead before 21 minutes had elapsed more than sealed the deal in Staunton, but a 7th goal by Piedmont’s Haley Hall just six minutes into the 2nd half stamped the exclamation point on a 7-0 shutout over the Fighting Squirrels. Hall’s goal made her the 11th different Lady Lion to score this season as PC is averaging nearly two goals per game while allowing a goals against average of just 0.79, the best such mark of any team in the USA South.

Junior Michaela Gardner and freshman Ashlie Gonzalez combined for the shutout in goal playing a half each as Gardner lowered her own goals against average to within .08 of the league individual leader while Gonzalez has not allowed a goal in her first four games seeing action for PC, including a 90 minute shutout of local rival Toccoa Falls last weekend.

Gardner got the win as the starter as PC improved to 9-4-1 overall and picked up another three points on the road to move to 5-1-1 in league action, good enough for 3rd place on the table.

For Andrew, the win was his 100th career victory as a head coach as he moves his overall record to now 100-46-6 while sporting an incredible .749 winning percentage as the leader of the Green and Gold in just about six and a half seasons.

Coming into the 2014 season, Andrew entered the record books in the top 52 amongst active Division III coaches across the country with a .678 winning percentage joining the ranks of the elite coaches in the nation. Andrew’s 100th win came in his 152nd game coached, just 33 games behind Ohio Wesleyan’s Bob Barnes as one of the fastest ever to 100 wins.

Piedmont will stay in league play for its next contest, a Wednesday night matchup against long-time conference rival Maryville College who comes to Demorest three points ahead of PC in the league standings in 2nd place. Last season, the Scots took a 2-1 decision from the Lady Lions in Tennessee that edged Piedmont out of a share of the USA South Regular Season title.

Kickoff in the October 15 mid-week match is set for 6:00 pm at Walker Athletic Complex, and the match will be aired live on the Mane Event Broadcasting Network.

Lions drop match to Chowan

By
Joy Purcell
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Piedmont’s Chris Bible scored his first goal of the season when his tally in the 13th minute put the Lions up 1-0 over Chowan who rallied for a 2-1 win over PC.

Murfreesboro, NC – The Piedmont College men’s soccer team got on the board early but could not hold on in Saturday’s 2-1 loss at Chowan University, a NCAA Division II member competing in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. The loss drops Piedmont below .500 for the first time since the Lions were 1-2 to start the season as the Green and Gold have now lost five of their last six after starting 5-2 in 2014.

The Lions’ Chris Bible would get the visitors on the board first in the Saturday afternoon contest between the two who faced each other for the first time in the Jimmy Stephens era at PC. Bible tucked away a Vincent Thomas pass for the score in the 13th minute handing PC a 1-nil lead early on.

Despite the early advantage, Chowan converted on a penalty kick in the 30th minute to equalize before pulling ahead for the first time on the day when Terell Williamson netted his second score of the day on a shot to the near post just five minutes before the halftime break.

Up now 2-1, Chowan had all it needed to come away with a one-goal win at home though Piedmont would push the issue in the second half with five shots including a flurry in front of goal in the closing minutes. Piedmont’s corner in the 89th minute by Matthew Metzger led to a header by defender Chris Keller which forced Chowan keeper Marco Lujan to make a key save and preserve the lead.

Just ten minutes prior to the last gasp effort, Piedmont’s Vincent Thomas would have pair of shots blocked as well as the Green and Gold could not locate the goal that would draw them level again.

Chowan led the shot count taking 22 to Piedmont’s 14 holding a 15-5 advantage in the second half alone. The home team also held an 8-3 lead in corners. Piedmont’s Kenneth Hearn chalked up five saves in the loss with all of those five coming in the second half.

Piedmont drops to 6-7 overall now on the season after a 5-2 start to the year. Four of Piedmont’s last five losses this season have come in one-goal games with the lone exception coming in a 4-1 defeat to Methodist University.

The Lions get back in action when they take on another USA South member in the Scots of Maryville College renewing a rivalry that has now spanned two league associations for both schools. The Scots and Lions combined to win all 12 of the men’s soccer conference titles handed out in the old Great South Athletic Conference.

Kickoff in the October 15 mid-week match is set for 4:00 pm at Walker Athletic Complex, and the match will be aired live on the Mane Event Broadcasting Network.

Volleyball Squeezes Past Two USA South Opponents

By
Joy Purcell
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Kaitlin Norman proved to be key in Piedmont’s two close victories on the road today against Ferrum and Averett. Norman tallied 15 kills against the Cougars in the Lady Lions’ 5 set victory.

Ferrum, VA – The Piedmont College Volleyball team extended its conference winning streak to four matches with two hard fought victories Saturday against Ferrum and Averett with 3-1 and 3-2 wins respectively. The Lady Lions dropped the first set in both matches and were able to stave off elimination in three straight sets after falling behind 2-0 against the Cougars.

In the first match of the day against the host team, the Lady Lions struggled in the first set dropping it 25-21 to the Panthers. After trailing by as many as seven early on, Piedmont evened up the score at 18, but could not keep pace with Ferrum. Following that opening set loss, Piedmont would not allow Ferrum to get into the 20’s taking the second set 25-18 and the final two sets by scores of 25-16 and 25-19.

In the third set, which was the largest win in the match for the Lady Lions, Piedmont hit .360 as a team while holding the Panthers under .125 as a squad in all of the final three sets. Piedmont had a total of 5 blocks as a team while holding Ferrum to only 2 team blocks.

It was Mallory Leary who led the way with 11 kills and added 7 digs while Kaitlin Norman also proved to be a big contributor in both categories with 8 kills and 9 digs. The assists were split between Xandy Green who accounted for 18 and Kait Steele who added 13.

Against Averett, Piedmont dropped the opening set 25-21 and could not keep pace with the Cougars who took the second set 26-24. In the third set, the Lady Lions were able to take control and secure a 25-21 victory of their own and outlasted Averett in the fourth set with a 27-25 victory.

In the deciding fifth set, these teams matched one another nearly point for point with neither team having larger than a two point advantage until the final two points of the match which belonged to Piedmont to give the Lady Lions the 15-12 win. This marked the first five set match of the year for the Lady Lions.

It was Kaitlin Norman leading the charge with 15 kills and a .371 attack percentage while Mallory Leary again had double-digit kills with 10. Kait Steele had 23 assists, tied for her third-highest total this season, while Xandy Green also was in double-figures with 18 assists.

As a team, the Cougars tallied 71 kills, the most the Lady Lions have given up this season, with two players going over 20 kills each and combining for 46 kills, just two shy of Piedmont’s team total of 48 kills.

The Lady Lions move to 14-8 (6-2 USA South) and will be back in conference action Wednesday night inside Cave Arena as they play host to LaGrange College. PC has two victories this season against the Panthers with one coming in conference play. Wednesday’s match will begin at 6:30 p.m. with live stats and video available through PiedmontLions.com.

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