DEMOREST, Ga. – Despite a strong start inside Cave Arena Tuesday, the Piedmont University men’s basketball team was defeated 86-59 by Maryville. The Lions held a 10-point lead early but could not keep pace with the Scots.
In the opening minutes, the Lions were dominant, taking a 22-12 lead with five 3-pointers in the first 10:00 of play, but from there, Piedmont would make just one 3-pointer in the remaining 10 minutes of play.
The Scots used a 14-4 run to tie the game a 26 all with 5:41 to play in the first half. Maryville then capitalized with a steal and a fastbreak 3-pointer on what would have been an over-and-back call on the Lions, but no one gave pursuit.
Piedmont’s final 3-pointer of the half came from Zach Oechsle on the ensuing possession, but that was the last time the Lions tied the game in the first half.
At the half, the Scots held a 42-33 lead shooting 53% from the floor to Piedmont’s 36%. Piedmont did outshoot the Scots from 3-point range making six 3-pointers in the first half to Maryville’s five.
To open the second half, the Scots overpowered the Lions with a 25-4 run to pull ahead 67-37, marking a 55-15 run for Maryville after Piedmont led 22-12 in the first half. Maryville outscored Piedmont 44-26 in the second half.
Up next, the Lions step out of conference action for a contest at Warren Wilson on Thursday at 7 p.m.
TURNING POINT:
–The Scots used a 55-15 run to take control of the contest.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
—Ryan Jolly led Piedmont with 14 points and tied for a team-high six rebounds.
—Zach Oechsle scored a career-high 11 points in the game, going 5-of-7 from the field in 16 minutes off the bench.
NEWS AND NOTES:
–Piedmont is now on a six-game losing streak, all coming in conference play.
The Cleveland City Council has agreed to put the brakes on a decision made last month to purchase a new fire ladder truck and change directions.
During a called meeting Monday, the council heard from Cleveland Fire Chief Ricky Pruitt, who said since the approval of a deal to purchase the new piece of equipment, the company has been uncooperative in fulfilling the deal.
In early December, the council decided to award a contract to Peach State/Smeal Holding, LLC, one of only two companies submitting bids.
Chief Pruitt said they tried to work with the company, but they were not cooperative.
“They were still lacking things that FEMA was requiring, and they wouldn’t agree to it,” commented Pruitt.
Chief Pruitt asked the council to rescind their earlier vote and approve a new deal with Sourcewell cooperative purchasing agency. The new fire truck deal will cost a bit more, but Chief Pruitt said it will be worth it, saying, “much quicker delivery and then the truck itself is what I would call a better grade truck than the one we first chose. “
The new purchase agreement approved Monday night will cost the city $2.1 million – $200,000 more than the previous cost. Cleveland should have its new ladder truck by the first quarter of next year, some three years sooner than the previous contract called for.
The city will use a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant of 952-thousand dollars to help with the purchase. The remainder of the cost will come from SPLOST funds.
Richard “Ricky” Bohannon, age 77, of Cleveland, Georgia, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, January 27, 2024, following an extended illness.
Mr. Bohannon was born on July 31, 1946, in Habersham County, Georgia, to the late Bill Bohannon and Imogene Gailey. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Tracy Knight.
Ricky, a United States Army veteran, began his military service in the Navy and later continued his dedication to the nation as a member of the Army National Guard, where he served with distinction as a mechanic. A true jack of all trades, Ricky’s mechanical skills extended beyond his military service, earning him the reputation of a shade tree mechanic later in life. He approached every task with a tireless work ethic and a commitment to excellence. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Ricky was an avid animal lover, finding joy and companionship in the company of his furry friends. In his leisure time, Ricky was a collector with a passion for coins and knives. His keen interest in these items reflected his appreciation for history and craftsmanship. His collections were a testament to a life rich in experiences and curiosity.
Above all, Ricky was a devoted family man, embodying the qualities of an amazing husband, a wonderful father, and an excellent grandfather and great-grandfather. His grandchildren affectionately knew him as “Papa,” “Pops,” and “Dadna,” a testament to the deep love and connection he shared with each generation of his family. Ricky found true joy in spending quality time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, creating cherished memories that will forever be held close to their hearts.
Survivors include his loving wife of 52 years, Teresa Maney Bohannon, of Cleveland; daughter, Karen Rowell, of Cleveland; son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Jennifer Bohannon, of Demorest; grandchildren and their spouses, Kyle and Jessie Mae Bohannon, of Cornelia; Dalton and Courtney Knight, of Mt. Airy; Danielle Bohannon, of Demorest; great-grandchildren, Kaylee Mae Bohannon, Richard Jayden Bohannon, Bryce James; brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Brenda Bohannon, of Cornelia; sister, Linda Dailey, of Cornelia; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held at 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at the Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel. Interment will follow in the Yonah Memorial Gardens with military honors provided by the Grant Reeves Honor Guard.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at the funeral home prior to the service.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, North Chapel, at 245 Central Avenue, Demorest, Georgia 30535. Telephone: 706-778-1700.
(Georgia Recorder) — A bill aimed at legalizing sports betting in Georgia was approved 8-2 by a state Senate committee on Tuesday.
The Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism voted Tuesday in support of Senate Bill 386, which would legalize sports gambling and has been endorsed by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, Atlanta’s major professional sports franchises, and the Metro Atlanta Chamber.
The proposed legislation bypasses a statewide referendum process for determining the fate of legalized sports betting in Georgia. Some opponents of the bill express doubts as to whether state lawmakers can circumvent the requirement that a constitutional amendment be approved by two-thirds of the Legislature and by Georgia voters in November in order to expand legalized gambling in the state.
Former Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Harold Melton wrote an opinion as a partner with the Troutman Pepper law firm last year that legalizing sports betting in Georgia does not require a statewide ballot referendum if it is incorporated into the state’s lottery system
Under the version of the bill that advanced on Tuesday, 20% of revenue would go toward scholarships for higher education and pre-K funded by the Georgia Lottery. The state would charge a $1 million annual fee to 16 license holders.
The licenses would be awarded to professional sports franchises Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Dream, and Atlanta United, as well as the Augusta National, NASCAR’s Atlanta Motor Speedway, and the Georgia Lottery. The Georgia Lottery would award the remaining licenses to companies.
Nick Fernandez, director of government affairs at the Metro Atlanta Chamber, views gambling as a positive for economic development and education.
“There are a lot of pieces of legislation out there this year that are bolstering pre-K and are looking at additional ways that they can support early childhood education,” Fernandez said.
Stuart Wilkinson, a representative of daily sports fantasy company PrizePicks, suggested adding language to the bill for fantasy sports that he estimated could generate an additional $35 million in revenue.
Mack Parnell, executive director of the Georgia Faith and Freedom Coalition, said on Tuesday that problem gambling has devastating consequences.
Mike Griffin, public affairs representative for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, compared legalized sports gambling to legalized fraud. Griffin said that the bettors must lose in order for the sports gambling industry to thrive.
“This is not about you and your friends sitting around playing poker one night while drinking Coca-Colas and eating peanuts,” he said. “This is state-sponsored predatory gambling.”
Griffin said he believes that Georgians did not have sports betting in mind when they voted to legalize lottery games in 1993.
“There’s a fire blazing in the state of Georgia with sports betting,” he said. “If you legalize it based on data I’ve seen from Europe, who’ve had sports betting longer than anybody, it would be like putting gasoline on a fire instead of water.”
The push for legal sports gambling gained momentum in 2020 when four Atlanta professional sports franchises formed an alliance advocating for sports betting in Georgia. Since May 2018, more than 30 states have legalized sports betting after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a 1992 federal law banning commercial sports betting in most states.
In the last couple of years, Georgia’s legislative sessions have ended with failed attempts to legalize sports betting, horse racing, and casinos in combination or as standalone propositions as legislators were divided on everything from the ills of gambling addiction to how revenue would be distributed, and what forms of gambling to permit.
Rep. Richard Smith, 2019 file photo. (Maggie Lee/Georgia Recorder)
(Georgia Recorder) — The mood was somber inside the Georgia House of Representatives Tuesday morning as lawmakers mourned the sudden death of House Rules Chairman Richard Smith.
Smith, 78, died during the night after battling the flu, according to House Speaker Jon Burns’ office.
Gov. Brian Kemp made a rare visit to the House chamber to praise the man who he said he has counted as a friend for two decades.
“When he was your friend, you knew it,” Kemp said. “There were times when he was standing with me when others were not, but that didn’t bother him; he just did what he thought was right.”
Smith was born in Wrightsville and later moved to Morgan County, where he played quarterback for the state championship football team at Morgan County High School.
Gov. Brian Kemp greets Rep. Alan Powell (R-Hartwell) after eulogizing Rep. Richard Smith in the House. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)
Smith earned degrees from Louisiana State University and the University of Florida and worked for both the University of Florida and University of Georgia extension services. Before being elected to the House, his career in public service included serving as Columbus interim city manager and city councilor.
Burns and Smith both came to the House in 2005, and Burns remembered Smith as a model statesman and a loyal friend.
“My daddy didn’t say someone was a good man about very many people, and I’ll tell you, I’m the same way,” he said. “But in every sense of the word, Richard Smith was a good, good man. He was a friend, and however you want to describe that word, he’d be honest with you, telling you no sometimes but encouraging you to do better and be better and do better for your neighbors.”
As chair of the powerful Rules Committee, which determines which bills will be considered for a House vote, Smith had plenty of opportunities to tell people no.
But Smith was never spiteful and always sought to serve the state, said Rep. Vance Smith, a Republican from Pine Mountain, north of Columbus.
“We all have our own personalities, and Richard had his, but you just had to step past that because, oh, what a big heart he had,” Vance Smith said. “He loved his community, and he loved the state of Georgia. And you better go to him with something good because if not, it’s going in the trash. But that’s what made this state even better, y’all.”
“He spread the good news of the Gospel, and sometimes, he used his words,” Vance Smith added. “He lived it.”
Former Senate Rules Chairman Jeff Mullis spoke about the kindred spirit shared between the gatekeepers of legislation in both chambers. Mullis said that he admired Smith and that it is a sad day to have lost someone who was so important to the state.
Mullis emphasized the importance of Smith having a sense of humor and a steady demeanor while serving as the chairman of a Rules Committee.
“When it comes to rules, it is the pinnacle of your bill, and everybody is on pins and needles, and I always believed it was better to be jovial and make sure everybody was at ease,” Mullis said. “I thought the floor belonged to nobody except a good bill.”
Rep. Debbie Buckner, a Democrat from Junction City east of Columbus, said Smith will be remembered for his dedication to his constituents in a long career during which he served as a county agent, city manager, city councilman and state representative.
“He was my mom and dad’s city councilman. He was my mom and dad’s state representative,” Buckner said. “When he rode by their house and there were too many cars in the driveway, he would call and he would say ‘is your mom and dad alright?’ He could act gruff and almost scary at times to prove a point, to share his feelings, but underneath, he was a really good man.”
Members of the Columbus delegation, from left, Reps. Debbie Buckner, Vance Smith, and Carolyn Hugley eulogize Rep. Richard Smith. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)
Perhaps no other Georgia legislator knew Smith as well as Cataula Republican Sen. Randy Robertson. They were both members of First Baptist Church of Columbus and Smith was the best man at Robertson’s wedding.
Robertson credits Smith’s leadership for creating a strong bond between the local legislative delegation regardless of party affiliation.
Robertson said that Smith embodied strong family values and was adept at sarcastic banter. Smith was also grouchy, which led Robertson to a running joke that if Smith was in a good mood two days in a row, he would need to rush Smith to the hospital.
“He had this great fatherly grumpiness about him that made me love him as much as any man on this planet,” Robertson said on the Senate chamber floor Tuesday. “Everybody says the world’s a little darker, and there’s a vacuum when someone they care about passes away. My mentor passed away, but I know he’s watching over me.”
Columbus Democratic Sen. Ed Harbison said Smith’s contributions to Georgia will be sorely missed. Harbison said that people would never have to second guess where they stood with Smith.
“Mr. Smith was a true gentleman. He was a true statesman. He was a vital cog in our local legislative delegation,” Harbinson said.
“We’re just going to try to march in his footsteps, try to emulate the great path that he blazed in his life,” Harbison said. “We all knew that when we went before the Rules Committee over there, you had to be right or be gone. Richard was about serious business and wasn’t about letting bad bills out of his committee.”
Smith was Georgia’s third House Rules Chair. Rep. John Meadows died in 2018, and Rep. Jay Powell died the following year.
Smith’s replacement as Rules Committee Chair has not been named. Vice Chair Mandi Ballinger, a Canton Republican, has been leading the committee during his illness.
Accident on Habersham Mills Road
Photo by Rob Moore
The Georgia State Patrol Post 7 is investigating an accident where two people were injured after a vehicle wreck in Demorest, Georgia, on Monday night, January 29 around 9:23 p.m.
A dark gray sedan was overturned near the embankment between the curves near the dam on Habersham Mills Road.
The driver was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville with unknown injuries.
The Georgia State Patrol says while the roadway was being cleared at the scene, an additional medical emergency was called. HCES Med 16 was requested for a separate medical emergency and transported that individual to Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville.
Investigators say an outside floodlight started an attic fire at a home in Banks County Monday evening.
The fire broke out around 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 29 at 161 Manor Drive in Commerce.
When firefighters arrived at the single-family structure, smoke was showing from the attic, says Banks County Fire Chief Steve Nichols. He says firefighters were able to quickly locate and contain the fire to its area of origin.
The residents were home when the fire started, but no one was injured. The house sustained moderate damage.
Nichols says the exterior floodlight had an electrical malfunction. Investigators listed the cause of the fire as accidental.
Habersham County Emergency Management Agency, in partnership with the National Weather Service, will observe Severe Weather Preparedness Week Feb. 5-9.
Habersham County residents will be able to equip their homes with necessities before it becomes dangerous in preparation for severe weather.
Citizens should be educated
“We want our citizens to be well informed and educated before any weather event strikes to prevent loss of life and significant property damage,” said Habersham County E-911/Emergency Management Agency Director Lynn Smith. “Spring is traditionally a period where the threat of tornadoes, damaging winds, large hail, and lightning from severe thunderstorms greatly increases.”
As Severe Weather Preparedness Week arrives, Smith urges residents, schools, and businesses to review emergency procedures and prepare for weather-related hazards.
Topics to be addressed
Monday, Feb. 5 – Family Preparedness / NOAA Weather Radio / Wireless Emergency Alerts Day: This is a day to determine whether your home, school, or workplace has a NOAA Weather Radio set to receive severe weather alerts and to ensure that you are signed up for text alerts about impending severe weather dangers. In Habersham County, you can sign up for CodeRed alerts at habershamga.com or by texting HabershamGA to 99411.
Tuesday, Feb. 6 – Thunderstorm Safety: In addition to knowing the difference between a Watch and a Warning, this is a day to learn about the threats and impacts of hail and damaging winds.
Wednesday, Feb. 7 – Tornado Safety: This is a chance for residents, schools, and businesses to practice or think about where they will seek shelter in the event a Tornado Warning is issued. The Statewide Tornado Drill is set for that morning, with a backup day of Friday, Feb. 9.
Thursday, Feb. 8 – Lightning Safety: Lightning strikes can be deadly so continuing outdoor work or activities can place your life at risk.
Friday, Feb. 9 – Flash Flooding and Flood Safety: Habersham County recently experienced flash flooding and saw rising waters again over the weekend. It is important to pay attention to what areas near your home or business flood and how much rainfall usually triggers that.
Further resources
Families, schools, businesses, churches, and other organizations who have questions about being prepared for severe weather can reach out to Habersham County Emergency Management Agency at (706) 778-3911.
There are resources on how you can prepare your home, school, or business for severe weather emergencies and other disasters. Follow @GeorgiaEMAHS on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for preparedness tips and emergency information.
Despite being signed into law in 2023, the state Supreme Court declined to review the rules for the new prosecutors oversight investigatory and hearing panels, stalling the commission’s ability to review complaints. (Stanley Dunlap/Georgia Recorder)
(Georgia Recorder) — A bill that authorizes a new commission to review complaints filed against district attorneys passed the state House chamber 95-75 on Monday.
Following Monday’s vote, Republican-sponsored House Bill 881 heads to the state Senate to decide if it’ll approve the new rulemaking process for a Professional Attorneys Qualifications Commission that has been unable to review cases since the state Supreme Court refused last year to adopt its rules. Those who support the controversial plan say it will provide a mechanism to address rogue prosecutors more promptly, but it has also been criticized as overreaching and creating hurdles for district attorneys elected into office.
Monday’s House vote came three days after the Georgia Senate voted to open an investigation into Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who is pressing a racketeering case against former President Donald Trump and his GOP allies over 2020 election interference.
Dallas Republican Rep. Joseph Gullett, the bill’s sponsor, says his legislation reinforces the high standards of prosecutors who are not above the law by following up on last year’s attempt to create an oversight commission.
“Since then, I’m pleased to report that this commission, with investigation and hearing panels in place and standards and rules established, is poised for action. Once HB 881 is passed, this commission will be be able to do their real work that is bringing accountability to those rogue prosecutors who abuse their office, sexually harass certain employees, and do not show up to work,” Gullett said during Monday’s debate.
This year’s legislation removes the Georgia Supreme Court from reviewing the rules that will determine whether a local prosecutor is found to have committed willful or prejudicial misconduct or should be punished for not bringing cases against low-level offenses. A prosecutor could also be removed if they are found to have mental or physical disabilities that impede the ability to do their job for at least 10 months within a 12-month period.
Rep. Tanya Miller, an Atlanta Democrat, said the proposal is a fatally flawed measure that supports a commission that lacks accountability and transparency. In a November ruling, the state justices expressed “grave doubts” about Georgia’s highest court’s constitutional authority to adopt the commission’s rules and standards.
“As Georgians, we know the phrase muddy waters refers to more than just our treasured rivers. Muddying the waters means that we make a situation more confusing by introducing unnecessary complications,” said Miller, a former prosecutor and current civil rights lawyer. “We all agree that competent, effective and fair prosecutors are key to making our criminal justice system more just in our communities, more safe, we however disagree that his bill in any way serves that noble purpose.”
Miller said that the bill creates a disciplinary process that could be abused by partisan appointees, substitutes the will of an unelected board over local voters, and skirts questions raised by the state Supreme Court.
Miller said that the Office of the Attorney General, the State Bar of Georgia, and the state Legislature already have procedures in place to deal with wayward prosecutors.
“Far from a fix, HB 881 will only further muddy the waters by improperly blurring the lines between the separation of our three branches of government by creating unnecessary and expensive bureaucracy,” she said.
The prosecutors oversight law also requires district attorneys to review individual cases instead of refraining from prosecuting certain low-level offenses on a blanket basis. Athens-Clarke District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez has faced criticism from some Republican officials after she said she would not prioritize low-level marijuana possession charges.
“This commission will give you confidence that each individual case will be reviewed on its own merits rather than dismissed in a written memo that informs the public of specific laws that will not be enforced in certain areas of the state, basically giving criminals the playbook,” Gullett said.
The new oversight commission would allow the local Superior Court and state Supreme Court to handle appeals filed by prosecutors disciplined by the commission. Proponents argue that the oversight commission will provide more teeth to a system that is currently more difficult to navigate.
Common Cause Georgia executive director Aunna Dennis called the measure a politically motivated bill that does not provide a clear roadmap of checks and balances it is supposed to adhere to. A better step would be to correct some of the deficiencies in last year’s bill that established the oversight commission, Dennis said in a statement.
“Prosecutors who defend our state constitution should be able to do so safely,” she said. “How are prosecutors able to defend themselves from challenging corruption in our government without the proper protections?”
Now Habersham invites our readers to submit letters sharing their views on matters of interest to the Northeast Georgia community.
Letters accepted for publication will be published with the author’s name, along with their town and/or county and state of residence. Anonymous letters and those by authors whose identities can not be verified will not be published.
Baldwin city council puts cell tower proposal on hold during Monday night's meeting. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)
A proposed cell tower in Baldwin was put on hold at Monday night’s meeting for a little while longer. Some of the council members expressed wanting time to look through the information they had received from Vertical Bridge, the company that will be erecting the tower.
The proposed 250-foot tower will be located on Traditions Drive, mere blocks from downtown in a residential area and just a block from Baldwin Elementary School. Though the council tabled the matter Monday night, there was some indication that some of the members may not be in favor of the project.
Council member Kerri Davis indicated that she had already started talking to neighbors in that area. She told the council that they were not in favor of the project. Council member Maarten Venter indicated that he was not thrilled with the idea. He and Council member Erik Keith both wanted more time to look over the information.
The council will revisit the proposal at least two more times next month. Chief Administrative Officer Emily Woodmaster explained that they had a public hearing scheduled at the next work session on Tuesday, February 6. Since the council tabled the first reading of the special use permit Monday night, the next available time for the first reading will be on Monday February 12.
We welcome your letters
Now Habersham invites our readers to submit letters sharing their views on matters of interest to the Northeast Georgia community.
Letters accepted for publication will be published with the author’s name, along with their town and/or county and state of residence. Anonymous letters and those by authors whose identities can not be verified will not be published.
Letters may be edited for length and clarity.
For submission guidelines, click here.