FILE - In this image released by the Martin County, Fla., Sheriff's Office, law enforcement officers arrest Ryan Routh, the man suspected in the apparent assassination attempt of Donald Trump, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (Martin County Sheriff's Office)
FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) — A man charged with trying to assassinate President Donald Trump last year in South Florida is set to represent himself during a pretrial conference on Tuesday, as final preparations are made for trial.
Barring any delays, jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday in Fort Pierce federal court for the case against Ryan Routh. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon signed off on Routh’s request to represent himself in July but said court-appointed attorneys need to remain as standby counsel.
The trial will begin nearly a year after prosecutors say a U.S. Secret Service agent thwarted Routh’s attempt to shoot Trump as he played golf. Routh, 59, has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer and several firearm violations.
Prosecutors have said Routh methodically plotted to kill Trump for weeks before aiming a rifle through the shrubbery as Trump played golf on Sept. 15, 2024, at his West Palm Beach country club. A Secret Service agent spotted Routh before Trump came into view. Officials said Routh aimed his rifle at the agent, who opened fire, causing Routh to drop his weapon and flee without firing a shot.
Law enforcement obtained help from a witness who prosecutors said informed officers that he saw a person fleeing. The witness was then flown in a police helicopter to a nearby interstate where Routh was arrested, and the witnesses confirmed it was the person he had seen, prosecutors have said.
Routh was a North Carolina construction worker who in recent years had moved to Hawaii. A self-styled mercenary leader, Routh spoke out to anyone who would listen about his dangerous, sometimes violent plans to insert himself into conflicts around the world, witnesses have told The Associated Press.
In the early days of the war in Ukraine, Routh tried to recruit soldiers from Afghanistan, Moldova and Taiwan to fight the Russians. In his native Greensboro, North Carolina, he had a 2002 arrest for eluding a traffic stop and barricading himself from officers with a fully automatic machine gun and a “weapon of mass destruction,” which turned out to be an explosive with a 10-inch-long fuse.
In 2010, police searched a warehouse Routh owned and found more than 100 stolen items, from power tools and building supplies to kayaks and spa tubs. In both felony cases, judges gave Routh either probation or a suspended sentence.
In addition to the federal charges, Routh also has pleaded not guilty to state charges of terrorism and attempted murder.
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick, front, walks off the field after his team lost to TCU in an NCAA college football game Monday, Sept. 1, 2025, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
A festive pregame atmosphere led to a roar from the crowd at kickoff. And a season-opening drive moved at a crisp pace to the end zone.
After that, well, Monday night’s hyped-up debut turned into a romp by TCU — along with a reminder that even an NFL icon with six Super Bowl titles as a head coach can’t just magically turn the Tar Heels into winners after decades of also-ran status.
“We played competitively but then just couldn’t sustain it,” Belichick said in a familiar low tone from his NFL news conferences after the 48-14 loss. “Obviously, we have a lot of work to do. We need to do a better job all the way around — coaching, playing, all three phases of the game.”
The blowout put a major damper on a night buzzing with optimism for the 73-year-old Belichick’s college debut, only to see the Horned Frogs dominate so thoroughly they drove UNC fans to the Kenan Stadium exits by midway through the third quarter.
“It was a great environment tonight,” Belichick said. “I mean, the fans were awesome. There was great energy in the stadium. We just didn’t do enough to keep it going. We’ve got to play better for the energy to be sustainable.”
By the end of the game, Kenan was a ghost town and the Tar Heels had given up more points than in any previous opener in their history, according to Sportradar.
It was a jarring result, even amid uncertainty as to exactly what to expect from UNC with roughly 70 new players between transfers and incoming recruits. There were few highlights after that opening drive beyond Kaleb Cost’s athletic reeling in of a deflected ball for an interception, and quarterback Max Johnson returning in relief from a serious leg injury sustained in last year’s opener at Minnesota.
“We’re just moving forward, just moving forward,” said Cost, offering an unintentional callback to Belichick’s famous “We’re on to Cincinnati” response to reporters’ questions after a blowout loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2014.
UNC was picked to finish eighth in the 17-team Atlantic Coast Conference, though that seemed almost entirely predicated on Belichick’s mere presence. This is a man, after all, who teamed with legendary quarterback Tom Brady to win six world titles in his 24-year run with the New England Patriots. Someone who won more regular-season and playoff games in the NFL (333) than anyone other than Don Shula.
So there was spectacle to Belichick’s debut as he took the field sporting a familiar look from the pro sideline with a gray hoodie — only this one bearing the name “Carolina Football” in that distinctive shade of light blue.
An estimated 5,000 fans packed onto a main campus quad for a pregame concert and throngs lined the team’s walk to Kenan, where UNC has sold out all its season tickets — at an elevated price with Belichick’s arrival — and single-game seats for the season. The game attracted ESPN to hold a pregame studio show from the sideline with a crew that included former Alabama coach Nick Saban, with Belichick popping over briefly to say hello.
There were notable former UNC athletes from years past, including NBA legend Michael Jordan — who won a national championship under Dean Smith here in 1982 — and former UNC star linebacker Lawrence Taylor, who played under Belichick when he was an assistant and eventually defensive coordinator with the New York Giants during the 1980s.
And it wasn’t hard to spot Jordon Hudson — Belichick’s 24-year-old girlfriend who has generated her own tabloid-level curiosity — as she walked the pregame sideline sporting Carolina blue pants shimmering with sequins-like additions on the legs.
Belichick roamed the field during pregame warmups for the better part of a half-hour. At one point, he stood on the UNC end of the field with general manager Michael Lombardi, then shared a quick handshake with ACC commissioner Jim Phillips as he made his way toward midfield.
Once there, Belichick shook hands with members of the officiating crew and watched the Horned Frogs warm up.
The Tar Heels got off to a sprint of a start with an 83-yard drive that ended with Caleb Hood scoring through the right side from 8 yards out, followed by forcing a quick punt. But things soon started getting away.
TCU — which lost in a similar scenario as the “other” team in Deion Sanders’ debut at Colorado two years ago — never looked rattled or thrown. Bud Clark provided a highlight by jumping Gio Lopez’s sideline throw for an easy 25-yard pick-six as TCU took a 20-7 lead into the break.
It quickly got worse after halftime. Kevorian Barnes sprinted through the right side and down the sideline for a 75-yard touchdown on the first snap. Trent Battle added his own big run, slipping through the left side untouched and going 28 yards for a TD.
And finally, Devean Deal had a 37-yard scoop-and-score on Lopez’s fumble to make it 41-7 and start the Kenan exodus.
By the end, UNC had just 222 total yards, 320 fewer than TCU, and a short week to fix problems before visiting Charlotte on Saturday.
“They were clearly the better team tonight,” Belichick said. “They deserved to win and they did it decisively.”
Chicago Cubs' Carson Kelly, left, is congratulated by third base coach Quintin Berry, right, after hitting a two-run home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Chicago, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
CHICAGO (AP) — Carson Kelly hit a tying two-run homer in the eighth inning and a game-ending single in the 10th, sending the Chicago Cubs to a wild 7-6 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Monday.
Ian Happ had three hits for Chicago, including his 19th homer. Dansby Swanson drove in two runs, and Matt Shaw had a run-scoring double.
Seiya Suzuki began the Cubs’ 10th on second as the automatic runner. Suzuki advanced on Nico Hoerner’s one-out grounder to second before Kelly hit a liner into the corner in left off John Brebbia (1-1).
Andrew Kittredge (4-3) worked a perfect 10th for the win.
The Cubs trailed 6-1 before Shaw doubled home Swanson in the fifth. Swanson hit a two-run double off Hunter Stratton in the sixth, and Kelly completed the comeback with his 14th homer on a 3-2 curveball from Pierce Johnson.
Michael Harris II drove in four runs for Atlanta on a pair of two-out hits. Drake Baldwin had two hits and scored twice.
Harris’ two-run single off Colin Rea made it 3-0 in the third. He also hit a two-run double in Atlanta’s three-run fifth after Taylor Rogers retired the first two batters of the frame.
Harris’ single — driving in Ronald Acuña Jr. and Baldwin — landed in between Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and right fielder Kyle Tucker. Crow-Armstrong peeled off and Tucker came up empty on a diving attempt as the ball landed in right-center.
After a tough start to the season, Harris is batting .335 (59 for 176) with 11 homers and 33 RBIs in 43 games since the All-Star break.
Key moment
Kelly’s hit set off a wild celebration for the crowd of 39,673 at Wrigley Field.
Key stat
The Cubs improved to 23-45 when their opponent scores first.
Up next
Joey Wentz (5-4, 4.92 ERA) starts for Atlanta on Tuesday night, and fellow left-hander Shota Imanaga (8-6, 3.08 ERA) pitches for Chicago.
Editor’s note: In July 2025, Now Habersham weathercaster Tyler Penland headed west to hike and camp in Yellowstone National Park. His latest “Go west, young man” series features the stunning images he captured and the stories he brought back.
After leaving Norris Basin, it was time to head to our first campsite of the trip. I had booked us in Imperial Meadows, site OD4 on the backcountry list, and a roughly 2-mile, mostly flat hike lay ahead of us. Unfortunately, it was nearly dark. We decided to eat supper at the truck, so we fired up the grill in the parking lot of the Grand Prismatic Spring. While eating along the Firehole River, a bald eagle swooped through, no doubt looking for its own supper.
Given our lack of time, I didn’t take any photos on our way to our site. Most of the hike was in the dark, regardless, which I don’t recommend. This is grizzly bear country, after all. We managed to reach our site without getting eaten by any bears, and after a quick tent set-up, it was time for bed. Well, almost. It wasn’t planned, but I happened to be in Yellowstone National Park during a new moon and under clear skies.
Dark skies are categorized into nine distinct levels on the simplified Bortle scale. Zone 1 is the darkest sky on Earth, while Zone 9 is an inner city with near-daylight levels of light pollution. There are no Bortle 1 zones east of the Mississippi, and the darkest skies I had ever seen were a Bortle 2 on my trip to the Great Sand Dunes in 2023.
Yellowstone National Park? Well, it’s a Bortle 1.
There aren’t many of these dark sky zones left in the country, with only the most remote regions seeing the darkest skies on Earth. I had resolved to myself that, despite late sunsets and early sunrises, I was going to see the night sky on this trip at least once. As luck would have it, I was awake unintentionally after dark. Imperial Meadows is exactly what it sounds like, a series of large meadows with very little tree coverage. This was great for dark sky viewing, as we had a very short walk of only 25-30 yards to a wide-open sky view. Even without allowing much time for our eyes to adjust, we were immediately awestruck by how many stars you could see and how much of the Milky Way was readily visible.
The Milky Way as seen from the darkest skies on Earth. (Photo by Tyler Penland)
As our eyes adjusted, the number of stars continued to increase. In a very short period of time, we realized that despite the lack of a moon, you could actually seearound you. After about 10 minutes of adjustment, we no longer needed our red lights to move around much. It was truly amazing to see with just starlight.
One phenomenon I had never witnessed due to light pollution was airglow. It isn’t visible to the naked eye, but it can be detected in photographs taken under dark enough skies. You can see some of the light green areas just above the trees in the image above, but pointing the camera away from the core of the Milky Way really highlighted these green and red ripples.
Airglow seen as green and red ripples from Imperial Meadows (Photo by Tyler Penland)
Airglow is generally caused by oxygen and nitrogen molecules emitting light after being hit by UV radiation. On this night, the green was especially prevalent in my 30-second exposures. You may notice some bright red/purple on the left and think: That looks oddly familiar. I was also lucky enough to have captured a photographic aurora looking to the north. There was a weak G1 storm underway, which in most circumstances would’ve been completely impossible to pick up, but when you are in the darkest skies on Earth, even the faintest glow becomes noticeable. These were actually visible to the naked eye as a very faint, purple glow.
Faint aurora looking north from Imperial Meadows (Photo by Tyler Penland)
As enamored with the view as we were, it had been a long day, and we had another long one ahead. As I went to bed that night, I couldn’t help but think of a quote from my favorite comic strip, Calvin and Hobbes.
“If people sat outside and looked at the stars each night, I’ll bet they’d live a lot differently.” ~ Bill Waterson
A Mt. Airy man is charged with three counts of aggravated assault after allegedly stabbing his girlfriend’s parents and a neighbor during a domestic dispute south of Clarkesville.
The incident occurred just before 1 p.m. on Sunday, August 31, on Canterberry Trail. Authorities say the girlfriend escaped from a camper during an argument with Ethan Blue Brooks and alerted a family member for help. That family member notified the girl’s parents, who went to speak with Brooks at the camper.
Camper on Canterberry Trail, where the stabbing suspect barricaded himself after the attack. Authorities used less-lethal weapons to remove him from the camper and take him into custody. (Joy Purcell/NowHabersham.com)
“As soon as they opened the door, Ethan Brooks had a knife of some sort and stabbed Ricky [Smith] three times in the gut and then also stabbed Diana [Smith] and Ashley [Chaffin],” said Kassandra Watson, speaking for the family.
Chaffin’s mother, who lives next door to where the incident occurred, called 911.
“A Habersham County deputy arrived, determined there were three victims with stab wounds, and provided cover so that Clarkesville police and other arriving responders could provide aid and evacuate the injured to ambulances as they got on scene,” said Habersham County Sheriff’s Public Information Officer Rob Moore.
Ricky Smith was critically injured. All three victims were transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville.
Commenting on Now Habersham’s Facebook page, Chaffin said Monday they were still at the Gainesville hospital. She asked for prayers for her uncle, who is “on a ventilator in critical condition.”
Crime scene tape in a trash can at the site of the stabbing and standoff on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (Joy Purcell
After the attack, investigators said Brooks barricaded himself in the camper. Law enforcement used less-lethal pepperball launchers to force him out and took him into custody without further incident. He remains in the Habersham County Detention Center.
Jail records show Brooks, who was previously listed as a Lavonia resident, has had prior run-ins with law enforcement, including an arrest last November in Habersham County for fleeing and obstructing officers following a police pursuit.
Sunday’s stabbing case remains under investigation.
A 17-year-old Dahlonega teen was killed and a passenger injured in a single-vehicle crash early Monday on Wimpy Mill Road in Lumpkin County.
The Georgia State Patrol says the wreck happened around 6:42 a.m. on Sept. 1 when a 2008 Ford Mustang left the roadway while negotiating a curve. The car went onto the north shoulder, struck a power pole and guard rail, then overturned into a creek.
The driver, identified as Ayden James Molinari, 17, of Dahlonega, died from his injuries. A 16-year-old passenger was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, troopers said.
The GSP’s Troop B Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team (SCRT) is assisting with the investigation.
ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. – The perfect season-opening weekend continued for Piedmont women’s soccer with a 1-0 Labor Day road victory at N.C. Wesleyan.
In the most closely contested matchup of the weekend, the Lions emerged victorious thanks to a late-game winner by senior Peyton Gates, who found the back of the net in the 76th minute.
From there, Piedmont’s stifling defense kept the Battling Bishops at bay, closing out the fourth consecutive win in four days on the road trip.
N.C. Wesleyan played lockdown defense throughout the first half, holding Piedmont without a single shot while taking five itself.
However, Piedmont goalkeeper Maggie Leger was up to the task, playing all 90 minutes in goal and totaling four saves in the win.
The second half saw play tilted more toward the Lions, as they out shot the Battling Bishops 5-1 with Gates eventually breaking through with the only goal of the contest.
This marks Piedmont’s first 4-0 start since the 2015 season, a year in which the Lions ended up going 20-2-1 and winning the USA South Conference Tournament.
Up next, the Lions will make their home debut with two contests over the weekend, first hosting local rival Oglethorpe this Friday, September 5 at 7 p.m.
TURNING POINT:
– Gates’ 76th minute goal proved to be the difference in the 1-0 victory for the Lions.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
– Leger stood tall in goal, making four saves in the shutout win for the senior.
– Gates has dished out five assists over the last two seasons, but her game winner Monday marked her first goal since her freshman season in 2022.
NEWS AND NOTES:
– Piedmont outscored its opponents 21-2 over the four games to start the season.
– 14 different players scored over the four game road trip.
Labor Day turned out to be a mix of work, play, and everything in between — at least according to Now Habersham readers.
For some, it’s “just another day” — especially for the retirees like Sherry Jett, who laughed that every day feels like a holiday now. Others took the holiday name literally. Riley Chapman and Eleanor Whitfield were among those who summed it up in one word: laboring.
About 41% of the responses we received were from people who said they were working in one form or another. From offices and restaurants to poultry plants and chicken houses, plenty of readers spent the day on the job.
Not all the labor came with a paycheck. Several readers spent the day deep-cleaning, unpacking from camping trips, or tackling yard work. Others added a tasty twist, cooking gumbo, chili, and tomato soup, or firing up grills across the region.
Omarri DeLeon spent the day shooting his bow and playing cornhole. Another reader said they planned to “hit a garage workout before a trip to the creek.” Gary Humberson went for a bike ride, clocking 18.3 miles in an hour and 12 minutes. Others took in the mountain views and relaxed, proudly declaring they were doing “absolutely nothing.” And still, other readers checked in from the lake and the beach, even on horseback.
Family time was big, too. David King remembered a cousin at a memorial service before sharing a meal with loved ones. John Loggins and David Bridgeman enjoyed the day with their grandkids. Christopher Dobbs said he spent the day “With my friends that are like family.”
Travelers checked in from the Smoky Mountains, Panama City Beach, New York City, and beyond, and we enjoyed hearing from each and every one of them.
One of the more unique responses we received to our question, “What are you doing this Labor Day?” came from Jamie Sanders, who spent the day trying to “avoid humans.”
Whatever it is that you are doing – or trying to avoid – this Labor Day, we hope you have a safe and happy Labor Day.
We’d like to hear from you. Share with us what you’re doing this Labor Day on Now Habersham’s Facebook page.
A proposal to redevelop the Historic Iron Triangle Plaza in East Athens has ignited debate over zoning, favoritism, and fears of gentrification.
Local restaurateur and Farm to Neighborhood director Rashe Malcolm wants to amend the 1996 Planned Development for the plaza at 585 Vine Street. Her nonprofit’s plan would remove ten parking spaces to add green space, a teaching garden, ADA-accessible sidewalks, and an indoor teaching kitchen. Malcolm says the project would give neighborhood youth gardening and cooking skills to use at home or in business.
Athens District 6 Commissioner Stephanie Johnson questions the Iron Triangle project during the commission’s Aug. 19, 2025, meeting. (livestream image)
But critics argue the changes risk fueling displacement.
“Today it’s a teaching kitchen and a garden. Tomorrow it could be apartments, student housing, higher land values, and families priced out,” said Dr. Cshanyse Allen, president of the Inner East Athens Neighborhood Association. She urged using an existing garden behind the plaza instead of altering the Planned Development.
Mounting tensions
Tensions rose during the Aug. 19 Athens-Clarke County Commission meeting when District 6 Commissioner Stephanie Johnson pressed Malcolm about past projects and questioned Farm to Neighborhood’s reported food distribution.
Johnson also raised concerns about the nonprofit’s ties to project engineers and asked why Mayor Kelly Girtz’s office had signed a recent check to the nonprofit. Girtz cut off the line of questioning, prompting pushback from Johnson and others.
Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz shut down Commissioner Johnson’s questioning when he said it strayed off course. (livestream image)
The mayor later clarified that the $1,250 check came from his Community Improvement Program Fund, which provides small grants to nonprofits. He said the money supported a back-to-school event on August 2 and defended his decision to limit debate, citing zoning rules.
“Particularly around a zoning item in Georgia, it’s important to focus on the physical contours of the site,” Girtz said. His office added that commission rules allow him to suspend irrelevant debate and maintain decorum.
Dr. Allen says she and other Inner East Athens residents want their community to be invested in and beautified.
“When you go across the city and you see flowers, tulips, and daisies lining the communities, we don’t have that. But we pay the same taxes,” she said.
The Historic Iron Triangle Plaza is part of a planned development that began in 1996. Rashe Malcolm, the property’s owner, is seeking an amendment to the development to add green space and a teaching garden. (Emma Auer/WUGA)
Still, neighbors are concerned about the long-term effects of the proposed project.
“We’re losing our identity as a community,” Allen said. “The community has to be involved and engaged, and that piece did not occur.”
The Athens-Clarke County Commission is expected to vote on the Iron Triangle amendment in early September.
This article is based on reporting by Emma Auer of WUGA News
Friday night in the press booth at Raider Stadium. From left, WCON Radio color commentator Chris Black, play-by-play announcer David Foster, and sound engineer David Foster. (Brian Carter/NowHabersham.com)
“Friday Night Voices” is a limited series that highlights the longtime radio/streaming broadcasters of area high school football teams. These local legends of the airwaves have seen it all and called it all, and along the way have become synonymous with Friday night football across Northeast Georgia.
You’d be hard-pressed to find another group that’s called as many football games as the team at WCON has. The voice of Habersham Central Raiders football has been, and will continue to be, David Foster and Chris Black. That duo has teamed up on air on 99.3 FM for 35 seasons. Clayton Foster, whose voice you don’t hear but who engineers the broadcast from the stadium while juggling stats, has been at it for 36 years, never missing a contest.
All told, David is in his 37th season calling the Raiders games, dating back to 1989. He’s only missed one game – what would have been his first – because he was hospitalized. If you’ve ever heard a live broadcast of the Raiders, you knew a big moment happened when you heard David emphatically exclaim ‘Oh My’ after a big play.
There have been others on air along the way, such as Jeff Henderson, who was the color commentator when Black was the sideline reporter. David and Chris teamed up in the booth in 1990 and haven’t missed a beat.
From left, Clayton Foster, David Foster, and Chris Black. The trio has been broadcasting Raider football on WCON Radio for nearly four decades. (Brian Carter/NowHabersham.com)
How it all started
WCON has been around for a long time, predating 1950. Back in the day, the station even called North and South Habersham games before Habersham Central was established in 1970. WCON has called every Raiders football game since, starting with Ken Philips and Melvin King before David and Chris took over.
Former Georgia State Senator John Foster and his wife Bobbie bought the station in 1961. John was a disc jockey before becoming the owner. He is now 90 and continues to run the business. Bobbie passed away in 2021 after decades of dedication. WCON remains the only family-owned 100-kilowatt station in the state.
That being said, it’s no surprise that David and Clayton Foster, John and Bobbie’s sons, ended up involved.
Game prep ahead of the Raider/Flowery Branch matchup on Aug. 22 at Raider Stadium in Mt. Airy, Ga. (Brian Carter/NowHabersham.com)
“We grew up in it,” says Clayton. “As a kid, I’d be cleaning the station and eventually got into real estate. But I’ve worked for 15 years full-time at WCON and part-time just about my whole life.”
David fondly recalls starting the Habersham games and how the team came together.
“Dad started it in 1953, and I started calling the Raiders games in 1989 – only missing the one game. Clayton’s wife [Kimberly] and my wife [Leslie] have been a big part of it, too. It’s a family affair.”
Chris might as well be family, as he and David, both 59, go way back to playing together for the Raiders before graduating in 1983. Chris was the quarterback and punted/kicked, while David was an offensive lineman. Clayton, 62, was also a Raider, playing offensive tackle and graduating in 1980 from Habersham Central.
“Clayton was happy-go-lucky with his equipment, and really blew up what we were already doing,” adds David. “He keeps the stats and keeps us online. Then Chris got into it, and he’s never missed a game.”
“The investment they’ve made is so impressive,” states Chris. “I remember it like it was still yesterday, working and getting that call. David called me and asked if I’d consider doing games as the guy on the sidelines, and I thought I’d love to do that. I’m sure I was nervous; I had to be. I had never interviewed people before – it’s so easy to do now, and I enjoy being a part of this team.”
David leads the WCON team on Friday nights as the play-by-play voice and producer, Chris as the color commentator, and Clayton as the stadium engineer and statistician. Others involved are Kimberly as the scribe for stats, Leslie, who often shoots video from the field, Latonio Harmonson as studio engineer, Rodney Long as spotter, and Mark Ausburn as the 10-year field analyst.
“I don’t even have to make calls anymore,” says David. “It’s just a given – it’s just going to happen every Friday night.”
A view of the WCON crew from the field. (Riley Moody/NowHabersham.com)
Best friends and brothers
“Our close relationship makes for a tight bond on and off the air,” says David of his relationship with Chris and Clayton. “Clayton likes doing what I don’t like to do with all the tech side, and vice versa. I think it’s trust. I don’t have to worry about anybody; we’re all going to be here and are committed to being here. It’s a job, but we love to do it.”
The time spent live on air just scratches the surface between Chris and David.
“I was in David’s wedding,” says Chris. “We’ve become best friends. We’ve been around each other because of WCON and basketball and football, and it’s created the fondest memories, even when my son Bennett was playing football and basketball, and even before that, tagging along with us.”
David and Chris can anticipate when the other is going to speak, and have an innate sense of when to speak up or stop talking to let the other one chime in. Sometimes it’s just a pat on the leg from David to Chris to indicate he needs his input. And Clayton keeps it all running smoothly.
“We’re very tight,” adds Clayton. “We trust each other. Whatever they need, we try to make everybody happy. We just all get along.”
The view from the booth at Raider Stadium, calling the season opener against Stephens County on Aug. 15, 2025. (Brian Carter/NowHabersham.com)
“I can always count on Clayton ASAP when I need something,” adds David. “And Chris and I, we don’t try to outdo each other.”
“After being in the booth so long, we just have a good feel for it,” says Chris. “I know when it’s my turn to talk, and not to go too long as well.”
“It’s a special group,” adds 13-year sideline reporter Mark Ausburn, a 1980 Habersham Central grad who played wide receiver and free safety for the Raiders under coach Fred McManus. “We enjoy what we do. I hope that comes through – we enjoy each other.”
Fond memories
“One of my favorite games I called was in 1997, Theo’s [Caldwell] first game as head coach,” remembers David. “Habersham won that game, and it went into overtime. Bryan Black hit Hal Higgins for the winning score. That one stands out.”
To each their own – there are several games to pick from over a 35-year stretch, and Chris has a different one at the front of his mind.
“That 2007 game,” says Chris of the Habersham second round playoff win of 36-35 against Cherokee at home, which went into a second overtime. “That’s the one that always sticks out. When Habersham came up with that 2-point play, and Bo Hatchett kept it. The atmosphere was unbelievable, and it was a great team with Coach [Gene] Cathcart and TK [Tavarres King]. Winning that one to get to the Quarterfinals.”
The duo along with Clayton reeled off other games that were memorable, such as a game at Cedar Shoals in a tropical storm, and so many high-scoring games with the likes of Kevin Ellison on the field. The WCON legends talked about heated rivalry games against Stephens County, and they all agreed that White County in recent years has become just as heated.
The stand outs
Tavarres King was one of several standouts in Habersham football. He went on to play for the Georgia Bulldogs and in the NFL. (Photo courtesy BLITZ Sports)
While games stand out, players do as well. Sometimes it’s the obvious ones like King and Ellison, and other times it’s the lesser-talked-about former Raiders that were the most fun to watch.
“I still say Kevin Ellison,” says Chris. “He could do everything. TK was phenomenal, but Kevin was multi-dimensional. Nobody could stop him. He’s easily the best that I’ve seen.”
“I don’t disagree,” adds David. “I also think of some great players to watch – Michael Discerio, Kyle London, Nathan Wilson, Chet Sanders, Chase Green, Joshua Pickett, Marty Patterson, Avery Dodd.”
“I also recall Daniel Franklin,” chimes in Clayton. “Anthony King, him too. He was just a big guy, a really good athlete.”
All three preface that conversation with ‘there’s just so many good ones,’ both in talking about games and top players to watch.
“The Douglas County game,” adds Ausburn, who’s been part of the team for 13 years. He’s referencing the 2018 Raiders’ playoff win of 35-0 on the road against #7-ranked Douglas County. “We were a huge underdog in that game, and it was rainy and cold. Something about that night was special. I heard one of their players yell out to his teammates that [Habersham] was supposed to stink. We kept it on, and it was a special night.”
Not signing off anytime soon
“I don’t think there’s anything stopping us,” says David on the prospect of WCON and specifically this team from being on air Friday nights for the Raiders. “We’ll keep doing it til they won’t let us. It takes a huge commitment and a team that’s 100% all-in.”
“They control that,” says Chris on how long he’d like to stay at it. “I’ll show up as long as they are doing it. It’s a big commitment, but I always look forward to it.”
All the guys are closing in on what most would consider retirement age, but a team like this is so hard to replace.
“That’s the thing,” adds Clayton. “To find five guys to take this over and be committed to it and do it at the level we’ve done, that’s going to be hard to find.”
What keeps these guys going, though, isn’t necessarily the lack of a transition plan, but it’s for love of the game and their relationship with each other and the community.
The football Friday night WCON crew at work calling the game between Habersham Central and Flowery Branch on Aug. 22, 2025. (Brian Carter/NowHabersham.com)
“I coached for Habersham for 38 years at various levels,” adds Ausburn. “Played here, coached here, and everything. Being a part of this team ties everything together. It’s a part of my life that is special.”
“It’s hard to explain — I have people come up to me and talk about hearing us call the game, and I have no idea who they are,” says David. “It makes me feel good that they’re listening and enjoying it, and if you didn’t know, you wouldn’t be able to tell if you were hearing a college game broadcast.”
“I enjoy trying to describe it,” adds Chris. “I always pay attention to how the others are doing it at the college and pro levels, and try to mimic the best ones and what they bring to the call.”
David recalls vividly how, after any game, good or bad for the Raiders, his mom Bobbie would be there to greet him and say ‘Great game, honey.’ While he has nothing left to prove on air, his mom’s memory helps keep him coming back to call a great game.
Chase Briscoe, center, celebrates with his son Brooks in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Darlington Raceway, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in Darlington, S.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) — Chase Briscoe shared some history with his second straight Southern 500 victory at Darlington Raceway on Sunday. He hopes to make a bit more this season as he goes after his first NASCAR Cup Series title.
Briscoe held off Tyler Reddick on the final lap to become just the eighth driver in stock racing history with consecutive wins at the track “Too Tough To Tame.” The list includes Hall of Famers and greats like Dale Earnhardt, Cale Yarborough, Jeff Gordon and Bobby Allison.
“The expectation was to go and contend for wins,” Briscoe said about his first season with Joe Gibbs Racing. “It definitely took more time than I expected, but tonight I feel like we showed what we’re capable of.”
Briscoe took the lead early, won both stages and led 309 of 367 laps. Not only did he advance into the round of 12, he became the first driver with consecutive wins in NASCAR’s crown jewel race since Greg Biffle in 2005 and 2006.
“It’s so cool to win two Southern 500s in a row,” the 30-year-old Indiana driver said. “This is my favorite race of the year.”
A year ago, when the race was the last of the regular season, Briscoe used a late, four-wide pass to move in front and win his way into the playoffs. This time, he had the baddest machine on the block throughout.
“I definitely like I’m holding up my end of the bargain,” Briscoe said.
Briscoe moved in front early and cruised through most of the event on NASCAR’s oldest superspeedway. After Reddick swept past him on the restart for the final segment, Briscoe got back in front a lap later and easily moved into the lead after each of his final three pit stops.
Reddick went low and got to Briscoe’s door on the final lap, but could not finish the pass. Briscoe held on to win for the second second time this season and fourth time in his career.
“That was way harder than it needed to be,” said Briscoe, also the winner at Pocono in June.
Briscoe’s owner, Joe Gibbs, recalled greeting the driver in victory lane here last year when he was finishing up racing for now defunct Stewart-Haas Racing. Soon enough, Briscoe was picked to succeed retiring JGR champion Martin Truex Jr.
Gibbs was amazed how quickly Briscoe, crew chief James Smalls had the car challenging for wins as it had in the past.
“Certainly, this wasn’t something we expected,” Gibbs said.
Two-time Southern 500 winner Erik Jones was third, followed by John Hunter Nemechek and AJ Allmendinger. Playoff racers Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin, Briscoe’s JGR teammate, were next.
Playoff problems
It was a not a great night for most of the playoff field as several contenders struggled. Only four playoff racers were in the top 10.
Alex Bowman was among just two playoff drivers without a win this year and needed a strong showing at Darlington to move up from 16th. Bowman pitted several times to find speed and instead found problems, including a malfunctioning air hose that kept him on pit road about 30 seconds.
Penske driver Ryan Blaney, who won a NASCAR title two years ago and took Daytona last week, was one of the circuit’s hottest drivers with six straight top 10 finishes. But spun out on Lap 209 while 13th to slide down the playoff standings.
The four drivers below the cut line are defending champion Joey Logano in 13th, then Austin Dillon, Bowman and Berry.
“It was not what we were expecting,” Logano said about his 20th-place finish.
Toyota on top
The top four all drove Toyota’s just third time that happened since the manufacturer joined the Cup Series in 2007. In all six of the first seven were driving Toyotas, including playoff contenders Briscoe, Reddick, Wallace and Hamlin.
Hamlin is co-owner of 23XI Racing along with Michael Jordan with the team’s two playoff drivers in Reddick and Wallace in the top six.
“It was a good day for them and a great day for Toyota in general,” Hamlin said.
Up next
The playoffs continue next Sunday at World Wide Technology Raceway outside of St. Louis in second of three first-round races — the round concludes at Bristol on Sept. 13 — before the field is cut from 16 to 12.
Camper on Canterberry Trail where the stabbing suspect barricaded himself after the attack. Authorities used less-lethal weapons to remove him from the camper and take him into custody. (Joy Purcell/NowHabersham.com)
A man is in custody following multiple stabbings that occurred just before 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31, on Canterberry Trail near Clarkesville.
Habersham County 911 dispatchers first received a call about a fight outside the residence. As deputies were being notified, dispatchers learned several people had been stabbed and that the suspect — identified by family members as Ethan Brooks — had barricaded himself inside a camper on the property.
A Habersham County Sheriff’s deputy arrived to find three victims with stab wounds, officials said. The deputy provided cover so Clarkesville police and other first responders could reach the injured, render aid, and evacuate them to waiting ambulances. One victim was critically injured, while two others also suffered stab wounds. All were transported by ambulance to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville.
Family members tried to intervene
Family members identified the victims as Ricky and Diana Smith and Ashley Chaffin.
Crime scene tape protrudes from a trash can outside the home of two of the victims stabbed in a domestic dispute on Canterberry Trail south of Clarkesville. (Joy Purcell/NowHabersham.com)
Kassandra Watson, the fiancée of one of the Smiths’ nephews, spoke with Now Habersham on behalf of the family. She said Chaffin alerted the Smiths to an alleged domestic incident involving Brooks and another family member.
“Ricky and Diana went to try to find out exactly what was going on,” Watson said. “As soon as they opened the door, Ethan Brooks had a knife of some sort and stabbed Ricky three times in the gut and then also stabbed Diana and Ashley.”
Watson said Ricky Smith was the most seriously injured.
Suspect barricaded inside camper
Habersham County Sheriff’s Investigator George Cason told Now Habersham that, after the attack, Brooks barricaded himself inside a camper on property adjacent to the Smiths. Officers used less-lethal pepperball launchers to subdue him.
A Habersham County Sheriff’s deputy at the scene of the attack on Canterberry Trail outside Clarkesville on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (Joy Purcell/NowHabersham.com)
“We were able to extricate him from the camper without incident,” Cason said.
Deputies arrested Brooks at the scene and booked him into the Habersham County Detention Center. The case remains under investigation.
The sheriff’s office expressed appreciation to the agencies that assisted, including Baldwin Police, Clarkesville Police, Cornelia Police, Demorest Police, Tallulah Falls Police, Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Department of Public Safety Commercial Vehicle Enforcement, Habersham County Emergency Services, and Clarkesville Fire Department.
