ATLANTA — The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) has confirmed a case of measles in an unvaccinated Greater Atlanta resident who contracted the virus during international travel. The individual was infectious from May 10 through May 18, and DPH officials are actively working to identify and notify anyone who may have been exposed during that period.
Measles is highly contagious and can linger in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person has left an area. Symptoms typically emerge 7 to 14 days after exposure and include high fever, cough, runny nose and watery eyes, followed by a red, spotty rash that begins on the head and spreads downward.
Measles rash
Health authorities remind the public that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is both safe and effective. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends administering the first dose of MMR between 12 and 15 months of age and a second dose between 4 and 6 years of age. A single dose confers immunity in more than 95 percent of recipients, while a second dose raises that protection to approximately 98 percent.
Residents who develop measles-like symptoms are urged to contact their healthcare provider by phone before visiting any medical facility. Providers who suspect a case of measles must immediately notify public health authorities to assist with contact tracing and containment efforts.
This is Georgia’s fourth confirmed measles case in 2025; six cases were reported statewide in 2024.
North Georgia Credit Union (NGCU) is opening new headquarters at 1025 Big A Road in Toccoa. To mark this exciting milestone, NGCU will host two special events: a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Thursday, May 22 at 10 a.m., and a Grand Opening Celebration for the public on Saturday, May 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m..
The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will be held in collaboration with the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce. The event will feature remarks from NGCU leadership, community representatives, and other special guests. Attendees will enjoy light refreshments and have the opportunity to tour the new full-service branch following the ceremony.
The celebration continues on Saturday, May 24, when NGCU welcomes the public to a fun-filled Grand Opening Celebration. Guests can look forward to free refreshments, a photo booth, giveaways, and live entertainment. Visitors will also get an inside look at the spacious and modern new facility, designed to support NGCU’s continued growth and its mission to serve members across the region.
As part of the festivities, there will be host giveaway drawings at 11 a.m., 12 p.m., and 1 p.m., with each drawing awarding a 10th Generation iPad and a $100 cash prize.
The newly constructed 11,000-square-foot, two-story headquarters features:
A full-service branch with an open atrium-style lobby
A three-lane drive-thru equipped with an ATM and night depository
Second-floor executive offices and a conference room
You are invited to join NGCU in this celebration of progress, growth, and local connection.
North Georgia Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative which offers a full suite of financial products and services, including loans, free checking, debit cards, direct deposit, payroll deduction, IRAs, share certificates, and robust online and mobile banking options.
For more information, you can call (706) 886-1441.
The Clarke County School district has approved the tentative budget for the 2026 fiscal year. $1.1 million is proposed for 17 additional school resource officers, annual step increases for eligible employees, and a proportional increase to cover employee state health insurance would bring the budget to around $255 million. This proposed budget is close to a $13 million increase from the 2025 fiscal year.
The school district’s 18.8 millage rate is set to stay the same for the fourth consecutive year however, there is an expected increase of around 6% for property taxes levied in 2025, and while the millage rate would remain the same under the tentative budget, that would in effect increase overall property-tax collections.
The school board will conduct three public hearings, starting June 2. All public presentations and hearings will be held in the Vernon Payne Meeting Hall at the Clarke County School District administrative office building. Anyone who wishes to speak may sign up in the meeting room before the meeting begins.
This article comes to Now Habersham in partnership with WUGA News
The Georgia Public Service Commission is considering allowing another Georgia Power rate hike so the company can recover its costs from having to pay higher fuel prices. (GA PSC hearing livestream)
(Georgia Recorder) — Today is the last day to register to vote in the June 17 primary to fill two Georgia Public Service Commission seats on an embattled board that has faced criticism for a series of Georgia Power rate hikes over the last several years.
Winners of the upcoming primaries will face off in November to determine who will serve on the five-member charged with regulating a number of telecommunications, electricity and natural gas services across the state. The winners will serve on a board that has approved six utility rate increases since 2023 for Georgia Power customers.
This year’s primary and general elections will mark the first time since 2020 PSC contests have appeared on Georgia ballots following lawsuits challenging redistricting and the fairness of the PSC election process for Black voters. Typically, the terms of the five commission districts are staggered over a six-year period.
The 2025 PSC early voting period for the primary election will be held from May 27 to June 13.
If no candidate receives 50% of the vote in the June 17 election, a runoff election will be held on July 15.
Georgians can find information about registering to vote and more about elections on the Georgia Secretary of State’s My Voter Page.
Currently, Republican incumbents Tim Echols and Fitz Johnson are facing challengers seeking to upset their bids to remain on the board. The other three members of the board are also Republicans.
Echols, who is seeking his third term on the PSC, will face challenger Lee Muns in the Republican primary for the commission’s District 2 seat. Whoever wins will go on to face Alicia Johnson of Savannah, the sole candidate for the Democratic Party.
Although the commissioners must reside in the geographical district that they represent, every Georgia voter can determine the winner since the state regulators are elected statewide.
There is a large field of candidates for the metro and suburban Atlanta area represented by Johnson, who is seeking re-election after being appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp to fill a vacancy in 2021.
One of the Democratic candidates is Daniel Blackman, who served as a regional administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency under President Joe Biden, and went to a run-off against incumbent Lauren “Bubba” McDonald in the 2020 Public Service Commission election.
The District 3 Democratic primary also includes Keisha Waites, a former member of the Atlanta City Council and the Georgia House of Representatives, as well as Peter Hubbard, founder of Center for Energy Solutions who has been an expert witness at PSC hearings, and Robert Jones, who has had a career involved in energy regulation in California.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Friday that a residency challenge has been filed against Blackman after he moved into the PSC district one day before the deadline for candidates.
There are eight candidates who have qualified to run for office this year for positions on the Georgia Public Service Commission that have not been on the ballot following lengthy legal battles. State regulators oversee Georgia Power rate cases. (John McCosh/Georgia Recorder)
Since the start of 2023, the average Georgia Power residential customer is paying about $43 more to cover base electric rate increases, recover excess fuel expenses, and cover the cost of completing two nuclear power generators at the Plant Vogtle expansion.
The Southern Company subsidiary serves about 2.7 million customers and is the state’s largest supplier of electricity.
Georgia Power’s 2025 resource plan details the company’s ambitious energy deployment goals for the next decade, including accelerated plans to add both fossil fuel and clean energy sources.
Georgia Power projects that over the next decade the growth of data centers will significantly increase the state’s electricity consumption. The proliferation of data centers has become a source of consternation for a number of consumer and environmental watchdogs.
There has been some optimism among Republican members of the PSC that the new federal administration under President Donald Trump will curb inflation and stabilize some of the high electricity bills Georgians pay. Additionally, they stated that they supported efforts to increase solar production and usage in the state.
Georgia isn’t the only state with customers frustrated about rising utility costs. Consumer education nonprofit PowerLines and the polling company Ipsos conducted a nationwide survey in March that revealed 73% of 2,000 respondents were concerned about rising energy prices.
“The results held consistent across the political spectrum, with Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike expressing similar levels of concern,” the report said.
However, 90% of respondents could not identify the name of the state regulator that oversees gas and electric bills.
Chef Jamie Allred, second from left, is well known in Northeast Georgia for his culinary influence at the Lake Rabun Hotel and Fortify Kitchen and Bar in Clayton. He opened Holden Oversoul in Demorest in May 2024. (Holden Oversoul/Facebook)
I met Jamie Allred, chef-owner of Holden Oversoul, at the tail end of a long workday and the onset of a bustling night shift. A little tired, he leans against the bar as we speak—his unassuming presence blends easily into the background. But underestimate him, and you’ll miss the chef quietly redefining casual fine dining in Northeast Georgia. Allred doesn’t advertise his range; he plates it.
Allred knows what he’s doing
After 24 years in the culinary industry, Allred knows exactly what he’s doing—and what he wants to leave behind. His résumé includes a celebrated run at the Lake Rabun Hotel, the owner of Fortify Kitchen and Bar in Clayton, and a decade working in Asheville, where he also attended culinary school. He cut his teeth in country clubs and boutique hotels but avoided chains entirely. “I’ve always chased flavor, not formulas,” he said.
That same ethos follows him into the dining room of Holden Oversoul, which opened May 12, 2024. A jewel in the crown of Demorest’s Main Street, the restaurant is named after his favorite Widespread Panic song, a track he describes as a “spiritual awakening.” For Allred, the song maps his own journey—from culinary student to chef, from 18-acre farmer to restaurateur. “It’s the path I’ve taken,” he said. “It all comes together here.”
Not just another eatery
Holden Oversoul in Demorest is not just another mountain-town eatery. (Holden Oversoul/Facebook)
Holden Oversoul isn’t just another mountain-town eatery. It’s a reflection of the person behind the line: intentional, rooted, and deceptively complex. Allred once raised Meishan pigs—a rare Chinese breed with fewer than a hundred ever brought to the United States in 1980—on a farm he named after the same song. That property has since downsized to four and a half acres, but his commitment to local sourcing hasn’t budged. He grows and harvests what he can. What he can’t, he sources from nearby farms. Seafood arrives fresh three times a week. The kitchen runs light on waste and heavy on adaptability. “If we need something, we just reach out and get it,” he explained.
He originally envisioned building the restaurant on his farm, but the costs added up quickly. Cornelia was a contender, but deals fell through. He nearly leased a flower shop up the road before landing on the current space. The location came with perks—and a city willing to collaborate on upgrades like a new patio and façade.
That spirit of collaboration is emblematic of Demorest itself. Over the past five years, this historic college town has quietly transformed its downtown, blending historical preservation with modern revitalization. Founded in 1889 as a temperance town and home to Piedmont University, Demorest’s Main Street has seen a resurgence, with fresh facades, gourmet restaurants, a vibrant coffee shop, and the steady hum of foot traffic once again threading through the square.
Demorest Springs Park
A charity fundraiser will be hosted to raise money for Price to Play. (Carly McCurry/The Cute North Georgian)
Across the street from Holden Oversoul sits Springs Park, a sun-dappled green space that has anchored the town for more than a century. Towering oaks cast sun-dappled shadows over a historic spring that once served as Demorest’s primary source of drinking water. In recent years, the city invested in major renovations, including new drainage systems and a pavilion with public restrooms, completed in late 2023, restoring the park’s function as a gathering space and community landmark.
Allred joins in on the investment, hosting a charity fundraiser for Price to Play. He writes on his event page, “We will raise money to help bring a beautiful, state-of-the-art, inclusive playground to Demorest. Price to Play is a local non-profit founded by a mom wanting to bring playgrounds to our community that all kids with all abilities can enjoy.”
The cookout is for all ages. Tickets are required: 12 and under (donation encouraged), 21 and under $30 (includes $25 donation), and over 21 $50 (includes $40 donation and one drink ticket). The menu includes unlimited whole Meishan Hog roast, raised by Chef Jamie himself, as well as all-beef hot dogs/brats, TexGa Farms beef and Springer Mountain Farm chicken sliders, steamed Rappahannock oysters, various sides, and banana pudding. There will be a cash bar and live music from Ashton Owens with a versatile acoustic sound that blends pop, rock, country, and classic hits.
The evening will also include fun activities for children, including a visit from the Brella Art Studio Art Truck for Kids.
This fundraising event will take place on Sunday, June 8, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Holden Oversoul restaurant, but Allred says they hope to expand to the Demorest Post Office Parking Lot if interest exceeds capacity. Please call the restaurant (762-239-9099) for reservations. Online tickets may be purchased here.
Intentionality as a foundation
Once pleasantly exhausted from soccer in the park, step inside Holden Oversoul for a rest. Once within, you’ll find that nothing is arbitrary. The art on the walls tells personal and cultural stories with quiet nods to the music group Widespread Panic throughout. The space invites diners to relax, but not to disengage. “It’s casual, but elevated,” Allred said. “I want here to be energy in the room.”
That energy shows up each week in the form of themed nights. Thursday is seafood boil, and Wednesday is bang bang night, quickly becoming a local favorite. The community shows up hungry, often ready for the next round. Allred tests discount models, builds loyalty, and refines the rhythm.
He’s not finished. Plans are underway to expand into the old post office next door, where he hopes to add pizza to the menu and extend Holden Oversoul’s footprint. Whether that means new dishes, culinary events, or something in between, the vision remains clear: growth without dilution.
And when guests leave, Allred wants more than compliments. He wants them full of food, of story, of experience. “I want their soul fed,” he said. “We know where this food comes from. We can tell you the story behind it. It’s meant to be a great all-around experience. Tell your friends. Have fun while you’re here.”
Behind the bar, with curls like exclamation marks, Megan—Holden Oversoul’s seasoned bartender—makes sure of that. She began her career at Suwanee Pizza Tavern at 18, worked her way into management, and eventually trained behind the bar. A graduate of LSU, she brings more than a decade of service to the table, with stints in both craft cocktail lounges and sports bars. A community favorite, her philosophy is simple: service makes the difference. “If something goes wrong, great service can still turn the night around,” she said. “That’s how you create regulars.”
With a full bar, a fine-tuned kitchen, and a chef who prefers doing to declaring, Holden Oversoul feels less like a new addition and more like something that’s always been meant to be here. And in a way, it has.
Carly McCurry is the publisher of The Cute North Georgian magazine. Her work appears on NowHabersham.com in partnership with Now Network News.
People walk past the iconic UGA Arch from downtown Athens, GA to North Campus. (Dorothy Kozlowski/University of Georgia Marketing and Communications)
A widespread power outage disrupted operations at the University of Georgia early Monday morning, May 19, after a power transformer near Joe Frank Harris Commons malfunctioned.
Power on UGA’s campus has since been restored.
According to a preliminary investigation, a small animal entered the substation and damaged a circuit breaker, triggering the outage.
The incident occurred shortly after 7 a.m., affecting approximately 60 campus buildings and several traffic lights at key intersections. The University of Georgia Police and the Facilities Management Division worked to restore power and maintain traffic flow. Georgia Power also assisted with the emergency response.
The power failure resulted in a significant surge that tripped redundant breakers across campus, according to officials, and temporarily disrupted internet connectivity.
By 11 a.m., university officials said electricity had been restored to over 20 buildings. Full power was restored later that afternoon.
Executive Director of the Sautee Nacoochee Community Association, Mel Whitehead, left, accepts a $25,000 grant from the Fox Theatre. Presenting the check are, left to right, Fox Community Partnership Director Leigh Burns, Fox Theatre Board of Directors Chair Robin Barkin, and Fox Gives Committee member Carolyn Wills. (Sautee Nacoochee Center)
Last November, the Sautee Nacoochee Center was named the recipient of a $25,000 financial grant as part of the historic Fox Theatre’s 2024-2025 Fox Gives grants program. Last Friday, the center officially received its check in a special ceremony at the Sautee-Nacoochee Gym.
Mel Whitehead, Executive Director of the Sautee Nacoochee Center, said, “Our gymnasium, built in the 1930s, is an important venue for SNC.” He said they will use the funds to help ensure the facility can continue serving for years to come.
Leigh Burns, Community Partnership Director at the Fox Theatre, was present to award the check to Whitehead for the Center. Burns said, “This is one of the most unique building types in the state of Georgia, and that it is used for so many purposes really lent such a lift to the application,” she said. ”This historic gymnasium has a unique representation of decades of shared memories. The preservation and continued use of the building lets the entire community celebrate the performing arts here in Sautee and from the surrounding counties for decades to come.”
The funds will enable a historic preservation specialist and preservation-based architect to study the feasibility and make architectural assessments needed to revitalize the historic gymnasium on the Sautee Nachoochee Center campus.
Whitehead says the money has already been put to use.
”We have paid a historic preservation architect to come in and do a structural analysis, to measure the building, to get everything that’s involved in building the whole (thing), from the ground up, to redo this. And we want to bring it back to not only its former glory, but we want to bring it up to date,” commented Whitehead.
Whitehead said this grant is just the first step; they next plan to apply for a $100,000 Fox Gives matching grant to complete the project. If that grant is approved, they already have a pledge for matching funds.
Since its inception in 2008, Fox Gives has expanded its philanthropic efforts, doubling its financial commitment to preserving historic theaters and venues across Georgia and the Southeast.
Emergency crews worked the scene of a two-vehicle collision at the Jeanette Jamieson intersection of West Currahee Street and the Toccoa Bypass just before 11 a.m. Monday, May 19. All lanes have since reopened to traffic.
Police say at least two individuals have been transported to nearby hospitals with injuries, though their conditions are currently unknown.
According to the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office, deputies alongside Georgia State Patrol, EMS and fire services responded to the crash, which occurred at a major traffic point leading into downtown Toccoa.
At 10:55 a.m., the southbound turn lane from the Toccoa Bypass onto West Currahee Street was closed, while both northbound and southbound lanes of the Bypass remained open. Officials urge drivers to proceed with caution through the area and to remember Georgia’s Move Over Law, requiring motorists to yield to emergency responders.
GSP has taken control of the investigation at the scene.
People walk past the iconic UGA Arch from downtown Athens, GA to North Campus. (Dorothy Kozlowski/University of Georgia Marketing and Communications)
The University of Georgia experienced a widespread power outage Monday morning, May 19, impacting multiple essential campus services, including telephones, internet connectivity and traffic lights, according to school officials.
The cause of the outage isn’t yet known.
University officials confirmed that appropriate service providers are currently on campus working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
As a result of the outage, UGA has paused all first-year housing room selection appointments scheduled for today. The university announced that all students with appointment times this week will be rescheduled.
Officials hope to send updated appointment times later today as systems are restored.
Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available and services return to normal.
Georgia drivers are seeing a modest increase at the gas pump as the state average for regular unleaded gasoline rose to $2.92 per gallon—up 4 cents from last week.
Although slightly lower than a month ago by a penny, prices remain significantly cheaper than this time last year, when drivers were paying 46 cents more per gallon.
Currently, it costs the average Georgia motorist $43.80 to fill up a 15-gallon tank, nearly $7 less than a year ago.
“Nationwide, a surge in gas demand coupled with the climbing cost of crude oil has pushed prices higher at the pumps,” said Montrae Waiters, AAA-The Auto Club Group spokeswoman. “The slump in crude oil costs kept the customary surge in spring gas prices at bay, but now, we find ourselves amid this anticipated increase as the Memorial Day weekend approaches.”
National trends
Across the U.S., gas prices are beginning their usual seasonal climb. The national average rose by 4 cents over the past week to $3.17 per gallon. While this trend is typical heading into summer, it was delayed this year due to previously low crude oil prices. Still, drivers are paying roughly 40 cents less per gallon than they were in 2024.
The uptick in gas prices comes as demand increases ahead of Memorial Day weekend, when AAA predicts a record-breaking 39.4 million Americans will hit the road.
According to the latest data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand increased last week from 8.71 million barrels per day to 8.79 million. Meanwhile, the nation’s total gasoline supply dropped slightly, from 225.7 million barrels to 224.7 million.
Crude oil prices
On the oil front, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude closed last Wednesday at $63.15 per barrel, down 52 cents from the previous session. Despite a 4 million barrel increase in U.S. crude oil inventories, total supplies remain about 6% below the five-year average for this time of year, according to the EIA.
With fuel demand rising and the summer travel season ramping up, experts say motorists should expect continued price fluctuations at the pump in the coming weeks.
A potentially dangerous situation was contained Sunday, May 18, after the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a man attempting to start a fire inside the Target store located at 916 Loganville Highway.
At 11:41 a.m., according to the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office, deputies arrived on scene and soon secured the area to ensure the safety of customers and staff. The store was promptly evacuated, and no injuries were reported.
Authorities confirmed that the individual involved has been identified and is currently in custody, though the person’s identity has not yet been released. The motive behind the incident remains under investigation, according to police.
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith commended the vigilance of Target employees and response from law enforcement personnel in the prevention of a potentially dangerous situation.
“Thanks to the quick response and coordinated efforts, a potentially dangerous situation was contained without harm,” Smith said.
Now Habersham has reached out to the sheriff’s office for more information on the suspect’s identity, alleged motive and charges.
Further details will be released as they become available.
