On July 15, 1864, Sherman’s army began crossing the Chattahoochee River and would take the better part of three days to complete the crossing. Georgia Public Broadcasting has a series on Sherman’s Georgia campaign, and you can watch this week’s episode here.
Major General George Stoneman’s cavalry had come to the area south of Atlanta. On July 15, 1864, Stoneman wrote from camp near Villa Rica, Georgia.
As I indicated to you in my last note, we completed the bridge (Moore’s), and were ready to cross at daybreak yesterday morning, but before we essayed it a report came from Major Buck, in command of a battalion seven miles above, that the enemy had been crossing above him on a boat or a bridge, and that his pickets had been cut off.
Colonel Biddle, who was left with his brigade at Campbellton, reports the enemy quite strong at that point, with two guns of long range in each of the two redoubts on the opposite bluff, which are opened upon him whenever any of his men show themselves.
I was very anxious to strike the railroad from personal as well as other considerations, but I became convinced that to attempt it would incur risks inadequate to the results, and unless we could hold the bridge, as well as penetrate into the country, the risk of capture or dispersion, with loss of animals (as I could hear of no ford), was almost certain.
On July 15, 1870, Georgia was readmitted to the United States, with the signature by President Ulysses Grant of the “Georgia Bill” by the U.S. Congress.
On July 15, 1948, President Harry Truman was nominated at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago to run for a full term as President of the United States.
On July 15, 1964, Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater was nominated as the Republican candidate for President.
On July 15, 2006, a group messaging service called Twttr launched, later changing its name to Twitter. May God have mercy upon their souls.
After Williams asked the team of 14 employees to brainstorm their best ideas for the flailing startup, one of the company’s engineers, Jack Dorsey, came up with the concept of a service allowing users to share personal status updates via SMS to groups of people. By March 2006, they had a working prototype, and a name—Twttr—inspired in part by bird sounds, and adopted after some other choices (including FriendStalker) were rejected. Dorsey (@Jack) sent the first-ever tweet (“just setting up my twttr”) on March 21.
Within six months after the launch, Twttr had become Twitter. Once the service went public, its founders imposed a 140-character limit for messages, based on the maximum length of text messages at the time; this was later expanded to 280 characters.
Governor Brian Kemp attended festivities celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the F.J. Torras Causeway to St Simons Island, according to The Brunswick News.
Governor Brian Kemp said the causeway, which officially opened on July 11, 1924, has long been a driver of commerce and economic prosperity in Coastal Georgia. That was evident in 2020 when Georgia was the first state to reopen during the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic.
“I just think about back when we were coming out of the pandemic, when our state was criticized so much for being the first in the country to open,” Kemp said. “… For a community and for a state that was fighting for small business owners and getting our kids back in the classrooms, this community, and that causeway that brought so many people here, when in other states you could not do that, really in a lot of ways helped start the Great American comeback.”
The causeway contributed to economic statistics in the last five years that Kemp said are impressive. He cited that in Glynn County alone, there have been 13 new economic development projects that have brought hundreds of million dollars to the community. The F.J. Torras Causeway plays a major role in that, he said.
Kemp, U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, who said he recently moved to St. Simons Island, members of the Torras family and sponsors of the days events crossed shortly before the programs began in a motorcade, just as the first group of dignitaries and local leaders had 100 years ago. They traveled Saturday in trolleys, vintage cars and personal vehicles with a police escort from downtown Brunswick, where Mayor Cosby Johnson had addressed the group earlier in the morning after a lights and sirens parade to honor public servants.
Carter, who spoke after Kemp and before the historical pageant began, said Glynn County, and specifically St. Simons Island, would not be the same today without the causeway.
“The families who have come here on vacation, the families who have moved here, all the economic development, all the opportunities that have been created, as the governor just pointed out – generational. That is significant,” Carter said.
Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections
In Ben Hill County Commission District 6, election results from the May Primary Election were set aside by a state judge, according to WALB.
The Superior Court of Ben Hill County has ruled the results of the Board of Education District 6 race are invalid. The candidates who ran against each other in the primary will have to face each other again in November.
That race was between Austin Futch and the incumbent, Kenneth Palmer.
In May, Palmer received 17 more votes than Futch.
However, 26 eligible voters in that district either received or could have received an incorrect ballot.
Only voters who were qualified to vote in May will be able to vote in the race in November.
A new election featuring all the candidates from the May 21, 2024 Primary Election will be held November 4, 2024 at the same time as the General Election.
Local reactions to the attempted assassination of former President Trump, from WTVM:
“I mean, in my opinion, I wasn’t terribly surprised. I mean, I witnessed it firsthand on TV and it didn’t look like a hoax to me,” said Owner of Ruth Ann’s Restaurant in Uptown, Mary Heisey. “I mean, I hope that we get a good, clean investigation from the FBI, but given their history and the way they’ve treated President Trump and his family in the past, I seriously doubt that will happen.”
“You can have your own opinions, you can have your own beliefs, but you shouldn’t have to take it that far,” said Columbus Resident, Steven Lee, in response to the shooter’s actions.
“It was tragic,” said the Mayor of Pooler, Karen Williams.
“I was very upset watching that. That my grandchild watched that. Knowing that he lived through an assassination attempt, there haven’t been that many,” said Mayor Karen Williams
Karen Williams is the mayor of Pooler. She says, as a leader, for her, safety should always be top of mind.
“It is imperative for everyone in our country to feel safe. Safe to go to the movies, safe to go to a rally and just support your candidate,” said Mayor Karen Williams.
Both Mayor Williams and Congresswoman Mace said that violence has no room in our country or in our area.
“We’re better than that. Our nation can be so great, we have to get back to our core values,” said Mayor Williams.
More leaders in our area, including the Savannah Mayor Van Johnson have shared statements online this weekend through social media.
“I am devasted to hear of what is being investigated as an assassination attempt on former President Trump.” [said Johnson.]
“While I am grateful that the suspected gunman was neutralized, my sympathies are extended to family of the person who lost their life today.” [said Johnson.]
“Gun violence is unacceptable everywhere – whether at a campaign rally in PA or on the streets of Savannah. We are better than this.” [said Johnson.]
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene praised former President Donald Trump’s Secret Service detail following the assassination attempt on him.
“Thank God for good guys with guns,” she said.
She also blasted a bill introduced by Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson to strip Secret Service from convicted felons sentenced to prison. Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts in New York, but sentencing has been delayed after the Supreme Court ruled that presidents are “entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts.”
Greene called the bill part of “the Democrats’ weaponized government.”
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp issued a statement reading, “All Georgians join our fellow Americans in mourning the innocent life taken today at the Pennsylvania rally and praying for the attendees still receiving care. I am deeply thankful for the Secret Service’s swift action to keep former President Trump and rally goers safe. This attempt on former President Trump’s life is horrific and contrary to everything our nation stands for. In America, we settle political disagreements peacefully at the ballot box – not through heinous acts of violence. We must stand together to condemn what happened today, and remind ourselves that regardless of how we vote or what we believe, we are all Americans.”
Sen. Raphael Warnock stated on X, “In America, we settle our political differences democratically—not violently. I am deeply saddened by today’s events in Pennsylvania. I condemn any violence aimed at former President Trump in the strongest terms, and pray for him, his family & our nation. We are better than this.”
Sen. Jon Ossoff stated, “I join all Georgian and American in condemning this despicable act of violent and pray former President Trump makes a full recovery. I thank the U.S. Secret Service and law enforcement for their swift response. Political violence is never acceptable and can never be tolerated.
Rep. Rick Allen stated, “Join me and Robin in praying for President Trump and anyone else who may have been injured today in Pennsylvania.”
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr stated, “What happened today is unconscionable. Violence has no place in the American political system. None. This attack and any like it cannot be tolerated. My prayers go to former President Trump and the others who may have been harmed.”
“I just couldn’t believe something like that is happening in our country today,” said Linda Deves, a Trump Supporter. “We all should have the right to vote for whomever we want to vote for, and they should have the right to hold these rallies without worrying about getting shot. You know, and I hope it ends. I hope that really woke up a lot of people.”
About 20 supporters of various ages showed up to the intersection of South Belair and Columbia roads at about 3 p.m. They waved flags, held up signs, and wore a range of T-shirts and hats decorated in red, white, and blue. The group cheered as cars honked in support and laughed when others shouted their disapproval of the rally.
The rally was organized by Joe Edlemon, the chairman of the Columbia County Republican Party Committee. As he watched Saturday’s rally, Edlemon also felt a mix of emotions like anger and concern. He was particularly critical of security meant to keep those in Pennsylvania safe.
“It was an epic failure of our security,” Edlemon said. “The security failed President Trump, failed to protect him, and I think the days ahead are going to show exactly just how poor the security was.”
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger condemned political violence “in all forms.”
“Political violence should be condemned in all forms. A free and fair election demands such. We are praying for the recovery of former President Trump and that the perpetrators are brought to justice swiftly.” [wrote the Secretary.]
U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams, who is also chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia, said it was unacceptable.
“I’m not sure what just happened, but what I do know is that political violence is NEVER acceptable.” [wrote U.S. Rep. Williams.]
Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones called it “unacceptable.”
“I am so thankful President Trump is safe. Jan and I are praying for him and for everyone at the event. It is unacceptable for political disagreements to turn violent. I am praying for our country and stand behind President Trump as he tries to unite the divisions that led to this despicable act.” [wrote LG Jones.]
U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath of Georgia, who lost her 17-year-old son to gun violence in 2012, said “we can and must do better.”
“Nobody is safe from gun violence in our country” [wrote Rep. McBath.] “From a former President to my own son.”
“We cannot allow any place for political violence.” [wrote Rep. McBath.]
”My prayers are with the former President. We can and must do better.” [wrote Rep. McBath.]
Two Republican members of the U.S. House from Georgia spread misinformation and conspiracy theories following the shooting. U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene blamed “Democrats and the media.” U.S. Rep. Mike Collins said “Joe Biden sent the orders.”
9th District U.S. Congressman Andrew Clyde posted a photo of Trump reacting after the shooting with a short caption that read: “Pray for President Trump. Pray for America.”
A political scientist from the University of North Georgia said increasing political polarization may be partly to blame, according to 13WMAZ.
Nathan Price teaches a class on political polarization at the University of North Georgia. None of his students were alive the last time someone tried to kill a president or presidential candidate. He said one can connect the dots from the current political climate to what happened in Pennsylvania.
“This is a byproduct of polarization is that we start to demonize people on the other side, and we all start to think that any means that we can beat them are acceptable,” Price said.
Here in Georgia, following the shooting, the Biden campaign pulled back a plan to open an office in Forsyth County.
Price said the move makes sense because security will be a concern for everyone on both sides of the aisle.
“The people at the front. The ones knocking on doors. The ones working in these offices. I’m really concerned for everybody,” Price said.
Price thinks this latest tragedy will definitely play a factor in the tone of the event.
“The conventions are meant to be red meat for the base, and I expect it to be exactly that,” Price stated.
Governor Brian Kemp issued Executive Order #07.12.24.02, appointing a three-member Commission to consider whether the indictment of Hall County Solicitor General Stephanie Woodard should lead to her suspension from office. The three members are retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Harold Melton, Stephens County Solicitor General Ann Pickett, and Fulton County Solicitor General Keith Gammage.
Woodard was indicted earlier this year after a FOX 5 I-Team investigation. She faces 24 counts, including theft by taking and making false statements. The Georgia Attorney General’s Office sought the indictments after she was accused of using taxpayer dollars for her own purpose.
Gov. Kemp tapped Fulton County Solicitor Keith Gammage, Stephens County Solicitor Ann Pickett and retired Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Harold Melton to consider if Woodard should be removed from office.
Woodard, a Republican, became Hall County’s solicitor in 2008, prosecuting low-level crimes such as DUIs and simple battery. Now, she’s defending herself against far more serious allegations that, while prosecuting misdemeanors, she committed felonies.
The Hall County grand jury accused her of 13 counts of false statements and writings and 11 counts of theft by taking, all felonies. In total, she’s accused of illegally taking nearly $4,200 from public coffers.
Marissa Goldberg and Drew Findling, who represent Woodard, pushed back on the charges. In a statement released earlier this year, they wrote:
“The decision by the Attorney General’s Office to institute charges against her in this absurd indictment is unfathomable and a waste of court time and taxpayer dollars. She absolutely committed no crime, but yet she has been viciously pursued by the GBI for years. They have harassed her family, including her children, during which time the agents were aware of ongoing severe health issues that they were facing.”
The charges by the grand jury track closely with the FOX 5 I-Team’s reporting. In fact, the indictment says the 2018 and 2019 crimes don’t fall outside the statute of limitations because investigators didn’t know about them until a date that matches the date of the I-Team’s first story in 2022.
The panel is expected to return its recommendation to the governor within 14 days.
Kemp issued the executive order Friday afternoon, saying the committee will issue a report to him within two weeks.
“(The committee is) hereby appointed as the review commission to determine whether the…indictment relates to and adversely affects the administration of duties by Ms. Woodard such that the rights and interests of the public are adversely affected thereby,” the executive order said.
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr issued a statement shortly after Woodard’s indictment condemning her actions.
“Those elected to uphold the law must operate honestly, ethically, and transparently, and anything less undermines our system,” Carr said. “Theft of taxpayer dollars and falsifying documents to cover up that theft are entirely unacceptable…As a public official, Hall County citizens trusted Solicitor Stephanie Woodard with their community’s interests.”
Governor Brian Kemp also issued Executive Order #07.12.24.03, appointing interim members of the City of Mulberry government, according to AccessWDUN.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has issued an executive order on Friday appointing interim representatives for the new City of Mulberry in Gwinnett County.
The City of Mulberry was put on the general primary ballot in May by way of State Senate Bill 333 being signed into law on February 13 of this year and has not been without its challenges It received nearly 57% “yes” votes from area residents in the May 21 primary election, but that vote came days after a judge ruled against resident Stephen Hughes in his lawsuit looking to have the cityhood vote removed from that ballot.
Hughes has challenged the constitutionality of the city’s charter that was approved by the state legislature and Kemp. Part of the charter that disallows the city from imposing new property ad valorem taxes, according to Hughes’ representative Allen Lightcap, is “strictly prohibited according to binding precedent of the Supreme Court of Georgia in Peacock v. Georgia Municipal Association.”
The executive order from Kemp on Friday appoints Representatives Chuck Efstration and Derrick McCollum and Senators Clint Dixon, Jerry Hanes, and Chuck Warbington as interim representatives for the city with the elections of a permanent governing authority coming in November.
Former Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine (R-Gwinnett) was sentenced in federal court, according to the Associated Press via the Valdosta Daily Times.
A federal judge on Friday sentenced former Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine to serve three-and-a-half years in prison after Oxendine pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
As [U.S. District Court Judge Steve] Jones noted at a hearing in Atlanta, Oxendine only personally gained $40,000 from the scheme, although Jones ordered him to pay a $25,000 fine and to share in $760,000 in restitution with Dr. Jeffrey Gallups, who pleaded guilty to health care fraud before he could even be indicted.
“I chose to be blind, but it was my own doing,” Oxendine told the judge. “I just sat there; I shut my eyes. I was blind to my actions and the consequences, how other people would suffer.”
Defense attorney Drew Findling asked Jones to sentence Oxendine to no more than two-and-a-half years, compared to the 3 years and 8 months prosecutors sought. Findling argued Oxendine should serve no more time that Gallups, who was sentenced to three years in 2021. Gallups is now asking for his imprisonment to be reduced because he made secret recordings as evidence against Oxendine.
About 60 people submitted letters seeking mercy for Oxendine, including family members, lawyers, former U.S. Rep. Bob Barr and insurance commissioners from other states.
“I know John regrets the choices he made,” Ivy Oxendine, his wife, told Jones through tears. “They were his choices that brought him here today. He has expressed remorse to me and his children.”
But prosecutors said Oxendine misused his position as an attorney and his political “sway” from his four terms as insurance commissioner to commit fraud.
Jones did show some mercy, dropping prosecutors’ requested $700,000 fine to $25,000. And after Huber told Jones that Gallups has paid $197 toward the $760,000 in shared restitution, Jones pledged Gallups would face scrutiny on his payments. Oxendine made an initial $100,000 payment toward the sum on Friday.
The AJC writes about the questionable environmental track record of the company seeking to mine near the Okefenokee Swamp.
Greenfuels subsidiary Twin Pines Minerals is seeking to mine titanium from atop the ancient sand dunes near the edge of the swamp. The plan has pitted the company against environmental groups, residents and scientists who argue the mine will endanger the swamp’s fragile and important ecosystem.
Twin Pines is led by Steven Ingle, who once served as vice president of engineering at two Greenfuels subsidiaries: Georgia Renewable Power and North Carolina Renewable Power. In the face of immense public pressure, including more than 70,000 comments to the Georgia EPD, Ingle has sought to assure critics that Twin Pines can be trusted with protecting the treasured natural resource. Meanwhile, many conservationists fear the mine could be greenlighted by state regulators this summer.
“We expect stringent government oversight of our mining-to-reclamation project, which will be fully protective of the Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge and the region’s environment,” Ingle told the AJC in February.
But a review by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution of hundreds of pages of government records and court documents, along with numerous interviews with experts, environmentalists and residents, reveals a pattern of operational failures and environmental violations by Twin Pines and other Greenfuels subsidiaries.
Those facilities include a Twin Pines titanium processing plant in Florida fined for air pollution violations in 2019 and 2020; a Greenfuels subsidiary’s power plant in North Carolina cited repeatedly by regulators and fined 64 times since 2016; and, at a mineral sands operation in northern California, an unpermitted Twin Pines mining pit that drew the attention of environmental inspectors last year.
The environmental record raises questions about Twin Pines’ claim that the company will be a good steward of one of Georgia’s most treasured natural resources, critics say.
The AJC also profiles Georgia’s delegates to the Republican National Convention.
Macon-Bibb County Mayor Lester Miller is considering running for Governor of Georgia, according to the Macon Telegraph.
Mayor Lester Miller is considering running for governor, he confirmed in an interview with The Telegraph last week.
Miller, who was re-elected as mayor of Macon-Bibb County in May, can’t run for the office again due to term limits. He said he is interested in taking his political career to the state level, and is considering running for governor in 2026 to bring Georgians a moderate candidate who stays away from party politics in either direction of the political compass.
“I really think that our state needs someone that’s a little bit more in the center,” Miller said during the interview. “I think having someone coming from a position of a non-partisan, you can see both perspectives.”
Miller said he would be interested in tackling mental health care in Georgia and excess spending in the state budget.
Miller said he hasn’t decided what party he would run in, although he did say both Republican and Democratic voters have expressed interest in supporting him if he were to seek statewide office. The mayor of Macon-Bibb County is a nonpartisan office.
The gubernatorial race, which is set to take place in 2026, is a wide open field. With Gov. Brian Kemp reaching his term limit, there will be no incumbent running. Several state politicians are already vying for the Republican nomination with Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger both showing interest in the race, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Meanwhile, on the Democratic side, Stacey Abrams, who has been the nominee in the previous two gubernatorial races, is rumored to be considering another run. House Rep. Lucy McBath and DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond have also been reported as possible contenders.
The City of Brooklet is considering hiring Carter Crawford as interim City Manager, according to the Statesboro Herald.
Carter Crawford, who was once Statesboro’s city manager and more recently Metter’s city manager and who has served as interim manager or administrator for other local governments in the area, now has Brooklet calling him to be its interim first city manager.
Brooklet had until this year a mayor-and-council form of government in which the elected mayor could provide oversight of daily operations and council members reported on specific functions assigned to them, such as finance. But after a 3-2 vote of the City Council as it existed on Dec. 21, 2023, to switch to a city manager form of government, a new Brooklet City Charter was introduced as local legislation in the Georgia General Assembly by Rep. Lehman Franklin, passed almost unanimously by the House and Senate in March and signed by Gov. Brian Kemp on May 6.
The last item on the agenda for the Brooklet Council’s called special meeting Thursday evening, July 11 was the appointment of an interim city manager. This followed a brief, closed-door “executive” session.
Council members said Crawford is expected to serve eight to 10 months, helping Brooklet transition to a city manager form of government and in the search for a permanent city manager.
Bryan County Fire Chief Freddy Howell announced his retirement, according to the Savannah Morning News.
“I have faith in God, pray, and trust in His timing,” said Howell. “I believe it is His will for me to step away from public safety and pursue something different for a few years before retiring for good. On July 3, I completed 39 years in public safety with a government agency, and many of my colleagues have already retired or moved on to other opportunities.”
According to a press release by Bryan County, Howell led his department through cleanup efforts resulting from a tornado that tore apart various parts of North Bryan. The press release also says, “Howell oversaw the expansion and modernization of the department’s infrastructure. This included the addition of a new fire station and the renovation of existing stations, resulting in a total of ten stations strategically located across the county. His efforts also secured crucial grants that expanded the department’s team of firefighters from 36 to over 100, enhancing emergency response capabilities.”
Former Georgia Public Safety Commissioner Colonel Sid Miles has died, according to Atlanta News First via WRDW:
Col. Sid Miles previously served as the state’s public safety commissioner. He died today while in hospice in Brunswick.
Gov. Kemp issued a statement on social media calling Miles a true public servant, dedicated to promoting the safety of fellow Georgians.
Miles was 73 years old.
Tybee Island’s first Sea Turtle nest of the season was located, according to the Savannah Morning News.
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