Ivy and siblings wandered onto a Good Sam’s property when they were young pups. The family worked on socialization and, ultimately, getting the pups to ORHS. The babies spent their first week simply getting used to being inside and around people. We’re venturing towards getting used to leash walking! Ivy is a very special puppy who needs a special adopter who has the willingness and ability to continue his socialization journey.
Meet Dyson! His rescuers discovered early on that Dyson had a severe heart murmur. He pulled through his neuter surgery and visited a cardiologist who diagnosed him with an Atrial Ventral Septal Defect (AVSD). His poor little heart is working overtime and his future is uncertain. Dyson takes a beta-blocker daily, and will eventually need additional medications. For now, the doctor said Dyson can live an ordinary life. We’re looking for someone to give Dyson an EXTRAORDINARY life for as long as he’s with us. Dyson is a sweet, special boy who hops out of bed every morning excited for the day. He is currently being fostered by the rescue group’s Dog Director and tags along to work to be spoiled by the rest of our staff and volunteers.
Meet Pattycakes, the sweetiepie! Pat is about 10 months old and 45 pounds. Pat still quite puppyish, and is working on basic manners, like not jumping up or pulling on leash. But, she is treat motivated and ready to learn!
Having undertaken, for the Glory of God, and advancements of the Christian faith and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic; for our better ordering, and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
“Let every man fly to arms! Remove your negroes, horses, cattle, and provisions from Sherman’s army, and burn what you cannot carry. Burn all bridges and block up the roads in his route. Assail the invader in front, flank, and rear, by night and by day. Let him have no rest.”
The Rotary Club of Albany hosted an annual event for hunters with disabilities, according to WALB.
The event allows people living with motor disabilities the opportunity to hunt deer in the fresh air and amongst friends.
“I love the outdoors and no matter if we are in a chair or not, it doesn’t matter because you know God, God gives us a way to do things. And that’s what we’ve, that’s what we’re out on earth to do,” said Charlie Mizell, a Social Security Administration employee.
“The event is a sportsman’s hunt that we do for hunters that are handicapped or in wheelchairs. And this is the 11th year that we’ve been doing it here at the Leach property. We’ve got six hunters that are participating this year,” said Chad Hancock, a member of the Albany Rotary Club.
“It gets us out, it gets us doing things. I mean people in wheelchairs, we have different opportunities and just different angles on life, but we can still do the same thing,” said David Thomas, a college student.
“It makes you understand how much these guys put into their day-to-day activities, just to be able to do something. But these guys do not let their limitations stop them, they come out, enjoy it,” said Hancock.
It was difficult to write the intro to that story without making it sound like people with disabilities were the game being hunted. Kudos to the Rotary Club of Albany.
Sparky is a super sweet wiggly puppy. He is neutered and up to date on shots. Unfortunately, this sweet boy has been diagnosed with Megaesophagus, which means that he will need a special chair to eat and be upright for at least ten minutes after eating. The rescue group will provide the chair. He does require a special owner, but luckily his case seems to be pretty mild. His only treatment is upright eating and sitting in his chair or being held upright for about 10 minutes after eating.
Meatball is an absolute doll! This chunk is a typical puppy that can be a little timid in new situations. He knows how to walk on a leash and is excited to start his new life!
Efficient rail transportation demanded a more uniform time-keeping system. Rather than turning to the federal governments of the United States and Canada to create a North American system of time zones, the powerful railroad companies took it upon themselves to create a new time code system. The companies agreed to divide the continent into four time zones; the dividing lines adopted were very close to the ones we still use today.
Most Americans and Canadians quickly embraced their new time zones, since railroads were often their lifeblood and main link with the rest of the world. However, it was not until 1918 that Congress officially adopted the railroad time zones and put them under the supervision of the Interstate Commerce Commission.
President Richard Nixon, Secretary of the Navy John Warner, Carl Vinson, Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird on November 18, 1973. John Warner would later be the namesake of USS John Warner, a Virginia-class nuclear submarine.
These two sweet seniors are Sassy (black Lab-looking dog) and Nick. Sassy and Nick are available for adoption at Lifeline’s Community Animal Center in Atlanta, on the north side is the Chamblee/Doraville area.
I can’t imagine a better way to celebrate the holidays than by fostering these two sweethearts. I bet the shelter would love to have a foster for these two while they look for their forever home.
Sassy may have been ‘sassy’ in her youth, but senior Sassy is as sweet as can be. At 10 years old, she’s seen her fair share of life and has decided that she would like to spend her retirement in a comfortable bed and with a never-ending fountain of treats. Sassy came to Lifeline’s Community Animal Center because her owner passed away. As you can imagine, coming to a shelter after a happy life at home must be intimidating and scary. Even so, Sassy is happy to enjoy the little things in life. Will you be Sassy’s new life companion?
Nick may not be winning any agility awards at the ripe ‘ole age of 13, but he will definitely win over your heart! Nick came to Lifeline’s Community Animal Center because his owner passed away. As you can imagine, coming to a shelter after a happy life at home must be intimidating and scary. Even so, Nick will stand by you as you give him long, slow pets, and you can visibly see his apprehension shedding off with each stroke. Will you be Nick’s new companion?
Foster is a sweet loving 2 year old male mutt. He is a loyal buddy and wants a person. He will follow you everywhere (literally) and be your best friend. He loves other dogs. He loves kids and people but does take a moment to work up to some men occasionally (twice sincehe has been in rescue). Would be a great dog for anyone looking for a constant companion. He loves to go for walks and is such a great listener. He is so sweet and if you are on couch he will just lay his head on you and chill. He has to be with someone or another animal constantly. He will go lay his head on the other dogs in the house or sit so close he is touching them.
Richard Nixon declared before a television audience, “I’m not a crook,” on November 17, 1973.
Journey and Billy Idol headline the “Fund my Retirement” tour, hitting State Farm Arena in April 2022. From the AJC:
Journey and Billy Idol have teamed up for a national tour that comes to State Farm Arena in Atlanta on April 25, 2022.
Tickets go on sale Friday, Nov. 19. Ticket prices have not yet been released.
Journey, a classic rock staple that has been touring arenas for decades, was last seen live in Atlanta at what was then called SunTrust Park in 2018 and is now Truist.
The band, which includes Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain and Randy Jackson, has relied on lead singer Arnel Pineda, who was found on YouTube and has been touring with the band since 2007. Steve Perry, who sang their primary hits, hasn’t toured with the band in 23 years.
He looks pretty good in that 2016 clip, even if he can’t hit the high note in “Eyes Without a Face.”
Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections
Albany Ward 3 will host a runoff election on November 30, 2021, according to WALB.
Incumbent BJ Fletcher is running against Challenger Vilnis Gaines. In the Nov. 2 election, Fletcher garnered 397 votes and Gaines got 435 votes.
Early voting starts on Nov. 22 and lasts until Nov. 24. Early voting will be at the Candy Room at the Riverfront Resource Center, 125 Pine Avenue, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
The deadline to submit an absentee ballot is Nov. 19. Absentee ballots can be submitted at UPS, FedEx or the absentee ballot drop box location, 222 Pine Ave., 2nd floor, Suite 220.
Good golly, Miss Molly!! This pretty brindle 3 year old girl is hoping for her fur-ever family to find her. Molly is an active yet quiet girl, who will sit by your side and loves for belly rubs. She is affectionate and just wants to be loved. She has passed basic obedience training and loves to please. She knows sit, down, and leave it – she sometimes gets a bit excited and doesn’t “leave it” as long as she should becasue she wants to be near her human. Molly would do best in a home with older children, she likes other dogs but may be fearful of larger dogs, walks well on a leash, but would enjoy a back yard in which to run and play. Molly Ann weighs approximately 40lbs, is spayed, microchipped, up to date on vaccinations, crate & house trained.
Hello there! My name is Porkins! I was dumped on a dirt road in the middle of cold January with my momma and siblings.Don’t let my size fool you I am a chubby little baby. I love to be the center of attention but I do get along well with other dogs. I love love treats all shapes and sizes. Rub my belly and I will be your best friend forever. I have such big feet you know I am going to be a big boy! My foster momma says I have a cinnamon roll butt!
My name is Casanova and I am an old fashioned lover boy. I was dumped on a dirt road in the middle of cold January and have been staying with my foster parents since. My favorite thing to do is to snuggle up against you and gaze lovingly into your eyes. I am around 10 months old and am already big so you know I’m going to be a big boy. Did you see my coloring? Isn’t it gorgeous?
I love wrestling with my brother and momma so if I have a playmate they should be near my size. I don’t mind being the only pup though but know you will be my world and I need to be the center of attention. Couples and older kids encouraged because I have been known to rough house from time to time.
Hello! I’m Caramel, and I’m as sweet as my name! I love people, cuddling, and exploring. I’m playful too, I have lots of energy so maybe I could go on adventures with you! I’m originally from Animal Control, but Paws brought me here to help me find my forever home. I can’t wait to meet you and maybe join your family!
Hey everyone! I’m Jinx, a wonderful, sweet boy with a heart of gold. I’m from Animal Control originally but I’m happy to be at Paws to wait for my forever family. I can seem shy at first, but I promise I just want lots and lots of love! I also have a bunch of energy and like to run around and have a good time with people and other dogs! And bonus: I walk well on a leash and harness. I know I’ll make an excellent family dog for someone, maybe it’s you!
PAWS Humane Society in Columbus collected more than 40,000 pounds of pet food it will distribute to local pet owners, according to WTVM.
CEO of Paws Humane Society Tricia Montgomery says they received 40,000 pounds of animal food to give out to people in the community.
The animal pantry had different types of animal foods from cats all the way to horses. They also gave away animal supplies such as dog crates, toys, and gates.
Montgomery says they typically serve more than 300 families in the community. She says a big reason the food pantry exists is because people sometimes abandon or surrender their animals because they can’t afford to feed them.
“Whether that’s providing food, or litter, or crates, or anything that helps them lessen the cost and lessen their own ability to put out their own money, we want to be able to do that,” Montgomery explained. “Our goal is to keep pets in the home. Our goal is not to have animals come in and out of the shelter.”
Congress was a single house, with each state having one vote, and a president elected to chair the assembly. Although Congress did not have the right to levy taxes, it did have authority over foreign affairs and could regulate a national army and declare war and peace. Amendments to the Articles required approval from all 13 states. On March 2, 1781, following final ratification by the 13th state, the Articles of Confederation became the law of the land.
On November 15, 1815, Patriot leader Stephen Heard died in Elbert County, GA. Heard served on Georgia’s Executive Council during part of the American Revolution and as its President from 1780 to 1781. He later served in the Georgia House of Representatives, as a judge in Elbert County, and as a delegate to Georgia’s 1975 Constitutional Convention. The above portrait of Conan O’Brien Stephen Heard hangs in the basement (pied a terre) level of the Georgia Governor’s Mansion.
On November 15, the army began to move, burning the industrial section of Atlanta before leaving. One witness reported “immense and raging fires lighting up whole heavens… huge waves of fire roll up into the sky; presently the skeleton of great warehouses stand out in relief against sheets of roaring, blazing, furious flames.” Sherman’s famous destruction of Georgia had begun.
Vengeance aside, the real objective of Sherman’s march was to cut the Confederacy in two, cripple Southern industrial capacity, destroy the railroad system and compel an early Confederate surrender. It was also intended to break Southern morale — in Sherman’s words, to “make Georgia howl.”
Sherman was vilified for his barbarism, but the Union commander was a realist, not a romantic. He understood — as few of his contemporaries seemed to — that technology and industrialization were radically changing the nature of warfare.
It was no longer a question of independent armies meeting on remote battlefields to settle the issue. Civilians, who helped produce the means for waging modern war, would no longer be considered innocent noncombatants. Hitting the enemy where he ate and breaking him psychologically were just as important to victory as vanquishing his armies in the field.
Sherman grasped this and, though he wasn’t the first military proponent of total war, he was the first modern commander to deliberately strike at the enemy’s infrastructure. The scorched-earth tactics were effective. The fragile Southern economy collapsed, and a once-stout rebel army was irretrievably broken.
Meanwhile, the marshals of Europe watched Sherman’s progress with fascination. And they learned.
The Confederate monument in Hanover Square is under wraps — literally — to prevent what happened last year after a video showing the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery went public.
Brunswick Mayor Cornell Harvey said the plastic shroud that covers the monument, which has stood in the square since 1902, was placed there by people who want to protect it from further vandalism.
Harvey said the city still intends to remove the monument from the square at some time in the near future.
“We want to protect it before it gets removed,” he said. “There is someone who wants it. We’re trying to facilitate the move.”
It’s probably a good thing they didn’t use a white sheet to cover it.
Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections
Today, flags on state buildings and properties fly at half-staff by order of Governor Brian Kemp in in honor and memory of Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy Lena Nicole Marshall.
Law enforcement officers from throughout the region will gather Monday at the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office in Jefferson for a procession that will travel to Braselton to honor Deputy Lena Nicole Marshall who was killed in the line of duty.
Marshall, 49, of Jefferson was shot while on a domestic call on the evening of Nov. 5. She died three days later from the wound.
Marshall is survived by two daughters and a son, but also had another son who had passed away.
The procession of law enforcement vehicles will leave the sheriff’s office at noon Monday and proceed down Georgia Highway 15 and Highway 11 to Highway 124 and then to Georgia Highway 53, where it ends at Free Chapel in Braselton.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating the details of what happened when Marshall and another deputy arrived at a home in Hoschton in response to a 911 call. The residents wanted a person removed from their home, according to the report.
When the officers arrived, they encountered a woman at the front door, who pulled a firearm and pointed at the deputies, the GBI said.
Governor Brian Kemp announced that the Georgia Ports Authority had completed a rail project, increasing throughput and hit a new monthly record for container moves, according to a Press Release.
Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced that the Georgia Ports Authority has completed and is now operating the second set of nine new rail tracks for a total of 18 tracks at its Mason Mega Rail Terminal. The expansion immediately increases intermodal capacity to and from the Port of Savannah by more than 30 percent.
“The massive new Mason Mega Rail yard is coming online at the perfect time to help address the influx of cargo crossing the docks at the Port of Savannah,” said Governor Kemp. “The added rail capacity, along with new container storage on and off terminal, are already serving as important tools to resolve the supply chain issues for Georgia and the nation. What we are doing in Georgia is working, and I am proud that we’re helping identify solutions for hardworking Georgians and Americans.”
Since Sept. 1, GPA has seen a 60 percent reduction in the amount of time containers are on terminal, as major retailers have begun moving cargo off-terminal at a faster pace. The improved flow of cargo and additional space at Garden City Terminal has allowed the Port of Savannah to expedite vessel service, reducing the number of ships waiting at anchor by 40 percent.
In addition, GPA and its two Class I rail providers are working in tandem to open temporary container yards to expedite cargo flow at the Port of Savannah. As soon as Monday, the GPA will open its first off-terminal overflow container yard less than five miles from the port.
“We’re setting up multiple inland locations that will be connected via truck or rail to the Port of Savannah,” said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch. “We’re working with both CSX and Norfolk Southern to provide inland and off-dock locations to move these long-dwell imports off the facility. We think this will make a huge difference for both importers and exporters as we clear out our yard.”
GPA’s South Atlantic Supply Chain Relief Program is funded in part by reallocated federal dollars. The effort will begin with Norfolk Southern’s Dillard Yard in Garden City and the CSX Hulsey Yard, in Southeast Atlanta.
“This is the relief we needed in order to regain terminal efficiency and speed up vessel service,” said GPA Board Chairman Joel Wooten. “By reclaiming this space on terminal, we can begin to reduce the backlog of vessels at anchor. This groundbreaking partnership between cargo owners and logistics providers should serve as a model for the entire nation as we work to address supply chain challenges.”
Also on Friday, GPA announced it had, for the first time in its history, handled more than 500,000 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in a single month. “We couldn’t be moving a half-million TEUs per month without the combined effort of GPA employees, the International Longshoremen’s Association, and the cargo owners who are clearing containers,” said Lynch.
The Port of Savannah handled 504,350 TEUs in October, an increase of 8.7 percent or 40,250 TEUs over October 2020. The performance surpassed GPA’s previous all-time record of 498,000 TEUs set in March.
Starting Dec. 1, GPA’s Peak Capacity project begins coming online in phases, delivering 820,000 TEUs of additional annual capacity by March 2022. Another 18 acres now under development will add 400,000 TEUs of capacity by July, for a total of 1.2 million TEUs of additional space. GPA is also building a new big ship berth at Garden City Terminal to accommodate additional 16,000-TEU vessels.
Georgia Ports Authority Director, Griff Lynch says the mega rail will shorten that time. “We’re moving most containers off ships onto trains within a day and a half to two days, which is world-class,” Lynch said. According to Lynch, six mega rail trains can be on-site at the same time, and he expects the overall efficiency to double. “We are now capable, because of what you see here, of moving one million-plus containers a year,” he said.
This growth will create 172 new jobs in the Savannah area alone, and Governor Kemp says he is optimistic about the future of Georgia’s ports. “I believe that it is a great time to be a Georgian, and there is no doubt that The Port of Savannah and The Georgia Ports Authority is the engine that keeps that economic success going here in The Peach State.”
Kemp also shared updates about pop-up container sites which will house the goods transported by the mega rails. He said this project will provide extra space for cargo that comes in at the ports and the first site is in Savannah. “As soon as this Monday, The Georgia Ports Authority will open its first off-terminal overflow container yard less than five miles from where we are standing today,” Kemp said.
According to Kemp, another pop-up container yard in Atlanta will be ready for use as early as next month. These supplemental sites are a part of the president’s plan to ease the supply chain released by which includes additional funding for The Georgia Ports Authority.
“The 85-acre well yard is the largest of its kind for a port terminal in North America. It will allow the Port of Savannah to build and receive six 10,000 foot long trains at the same time. In other words, there’s nothing else like this in United States. This means an immediate 30 percent increase in capacity,” Gov. Kemp said.
Master Pilot Trey Thompson, with Savannah Bar Pilots, has been in the business 30 years, and explained last month how the backlog at the ports has slowed business for the bar pilots.
“From our end, we’ve slowed down because they’re taking longer at the dock to unload. They’re bigger ships carrying more containers, so they take longer to unload and load. So, we’ve slowed down in actually moving ships back and forth,” Thompson said.
As of Friday, Nov. 1, there were 27 ships at sea, according to marinetraffic.com. So, the number has leveled off, not budging much from where it was a month ago.
Some perspective to what we’re seeing right now. Under normal trade conditions, the master bar pilot says there would only be one or two ships waiting at sea.
Now his campaign is returning to the airwaves with a minute-long TV ad released Monday that seeks to shore up support with both conservatives and independents.
“The last three years, Georgia’s been tested in ways we could never imagine,” the ad’s narrator said. “And it fell to Gov. Brian Kemp to successfully lead us during these troubling times.”
The ad reinforces Kemp’s campaign trail messaging about his law-and-order stances, support for a far-reaching election overhaul and aggressive economic approach during the pandemic. That narrative factors into the squeeze he’s facing from both sides of the aisle headed into 2022.
Among those who are encouraging Perdue to run is former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who said Sunday that he worries Kemp couldn’t beat Abrams.
In a blog post, the ex-Georgian said that Trump’s feud with Kemp has “virtually guaranteed that a Kemp nomination will lead to an Abrams governorship – and all the fighting and alienation that kind of radical administration would bring with it.”
“Like Youngkin, Perdue’s natural instinct is to solve problems and bring people together,” Gingrich said. “Like Youngkin, Perdue can bring together the Trump base and those Republicans, independents, and moderate Democrats who will find Abrams too radical.”
Gwinnett County schools Superintendent Calvin Watts said he opposes state legislation to make Gwinnett County Board of Education seats nonpartisan, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post.
“Gwinnett County Public Schools has serious concerns about the manner in which Senate Bill 5EX was introduced, the lack of input by the Gwinnett Legislative Delegation and affected Board members, the confusion the proposal would raise for voters and the impact this proposed legislation would have on the district,” Watts said in a statement on Friday.
“We urge lawmakers to allow our duly elected Board members the opportunity to work within the established process to recommend new Board maps that fairly and appropriately reallocate residents, based on the 2020 Census.”
“We hope that the matter of redistricting Gwinnett County Board of Education districts may be deferred until the General Assembly meets in January, and that when it does occur, it is based on a process that is fair and inclusive,” Watts said.
Dixon said he heard from constituents in his Senate district who wanted changes made to the school board after the board voted to terminate former Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks’ contract 11 months early. He said he does not plan to stop at making the school board elections nonpartisan, however.
“Another one of my legislative priorities this next session is banning (Critical Race Theory) statewide,” Dixon said. “We’re vetting several bills and just protecting our children from potential indoctrination.”
House Bills 8EX and 9EX would disband the current [Floyd County] three-member elections board and create a five-member board — with four of the members drawn equally from lists submitted by the Floyd County Republican and Democratic parties. They are backed by the county’s full legislative delegation.
Several congressional district maps are on the table, although Republicans hold the majority needed to push their version through.
Proposals for next session are still being hashed out behind the scenes. But lawmakers and advocates say they are pressing for both funding increases and legislatives fixes for mental health and substance use disorder treatment gaps that were worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. The regular legislative session starts in January.
“I would like to make a prediction today: I think this is going to be a big legislative year for mental health. So, stay tuned,” state Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick, a Marietta Republican, said.
State Rep. Sharon Cooper, a Marietta Republican who chairs the House Health and Human Services Committee, said state leaders “really must get down to work, help and put the resources behind our words.”
Advocates have called the rising number of people experiencing mental health and substance use disorder after this extended period of isolation and disruption the next pandemic, urging state leaders to ramp up services and tackle barriers to treatment.
Overdose deaths in Georgia jumped 37% last year, claiming about 1,900 lives here. And the state’s Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities has reported an increase in people turning to their services.
But budget writers also will have to factor in the rising costs for fuel and other expenses. Auburn Republican state Rep. Terry England, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, says the cost of doing business for the state may take one of the largest jumps seen in recent history.
“Many folks just think, ‘Hot dog, we’re flush with cash. Ain’t a thing to worry about. We need to either spend it or give it back,’” England said in an interview. “And I’m trying to tell them no, it’s just like in your business or home, the things you were buying for $2 last year, that had not increased in 25 years but from $1.89 is now $2, all of a sudden jumped to $3 this last year.”
Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Herschel Walker campaigned in the Augusta area, according to WRDW.
He hosted a meet-and-greet at the Columbia County Republican headquarters.
Walker was pushed to run by his ally former President Donald Trump, who continues to claim that he lost his re-election bid in Georgia due to election fraud. That claim has not been proven.
A problem of this kind was first reported last week, on Thursday, Nov. 4. In a statement posted on the Jenkins County Elementary School and Jenkins County Middle-High School pages on Facebook that afternoon, Jenkins County Superintendent of Schools Tara Cooper stated that a few teachers and students at the middle school had received a message, apparently sent late the night before, demanding $5,000 “in a threatening manner.”
School officials met with law enforcement that day, Nov. 4, to assess the threat and then decided to put the school on lockdown. Noting the “threat was for a specific time,” Cooper reported that students had been allowed to leave school with parents but that “the time came and went” and the school day had continued.
But an additional threat had been received by Monday evening, according to [a] statement that Cooper posted then on the schools’ social media pages.
However, Tuesday did not bring a resolution, and she issued another statement that evening, indicating that school would be closed again Wednesday and that the Sheriff’s Department and GBI had conducted interviews and were tracing phones and continuing the investigation.
The Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) met in Savannah, according to WTOC.
Clarke County School District Superintendent Xernona J. Thomas announced her retirement effective December 31, 2022, according to the Athens Banner Herald.
Statesboro City Council and the Mayor will hear proposed rules for liquor stores following a referendum approving of package sales, according to the Statesboro Herald.
City Attorney Cain Smith is scheduled to deliver information on options for rules on the location and operation of liquor stores in Statesboro to the mayor and council during a 3:30 p.m. work session Tuesday, Nov. 16.
This follows approval by 74% of participating voters in the Nov. 2 city election of a “package shop” referendum. No action will be taken on the topic this Tuesday, since it does not appear on the agenda for the 5:30 p.m. regular meeting. But the 3:30 p.m. work session, with reports to be presented on several topics, is also open to the public, in the council chambers at City Hall.
“Really, the material I’m going to provide is a survey of other cities’ liquor store laws,” Smith said Friday. “The majority of them just defer to state standards, but a lot of them do have local enhancements.”
Among other things, some cities choose to regulate the distance between liquor stores, the total number of stores allowed and the size of the stores, in addition to restricting them to certain zones and certain hours of operation. What Statesboro will do remains for the elected council members and mayor to decide, in compliance with state law, Smith said.
Members of the Dalton City Council and the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners are still working to finalize the 2022 budgets. Officials say they expect to present draft proposals to the public before the end of November or in early December.
The city’s 2021 budget is $34.4 million.
Commissioners and council members both said inflation is complicating their budget planning.
“Oh, it’s definitely going to have an impact,” said Dalton Mayor David Pennington. “The price of everything we buy is going up.”
Wages are also growing. Average national wages grew 1.5% in the third quarter. City Council members said that’s also putting pressure on the budget.
“We aren’t just competing against other governments for employees,” said council member Gary Crews. “For example, we hire truck drivers. They have to have a CDL (commercial driver’s license). Well, there’s a shortage of CDL truck drivers, so the pay is going up. If you’ve got a CDL, it’s a golden ticket.”
Pennington said he expects the 2022 city budget will contain a “pretty significant” pay increase for city employees though he said City Council members haven’t decided on an exact number.
She became involved with the city in 2008 when she was appointed to the Rome-Floyd Planning Committee. Appointed by city commissioners, she spent five years listening to the concerns of Rome citizens and presenting solutions to the City Commission.
When her term ended in 2013, Beeman was elected to the Rome City School Board. Seeing a gap in education for students with learning disabilities, she spent eight years fighting to ensure these children were learning at the same rate as everyone else.
As her second term on the board was coming to a close, Beeman leaped at the opportunity to become a city commissioner. Because of her property management skills and passion for children to receive a quality education, Beeman believed she possessed the skills necessary to land the position.
