On August 20, 1781, General George Washington sent Continental troops from New York toward Yorktown, Virginia to engage British troops under Gen. Cornwallis.
On August 20, 1906, Gov. Joseph Terrell signed legislation to build a statue of Georgia founding father James Oglethorpe in Savannah and a bill to build a statue of former Confederate General and Georgia Governor John B. Gordon at the State Capitol.
The Georgia Department of Archives and History was created by legislation signed by Georgia Governor Hugh Dorsey on August 20, 1918.
On August 20, 1920, the American Professional Football Association, which would later be renamed the National Football League, was formed in Akron, Ohio.
On August 20, 1923, Georgia Governor Clifford Walker signed legislation requiring state schools teach the United States and Georgia Constitutions and students pass an exam on the documents before being allowed to graduate.
On August 20, 1965, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones was released in the UK.
On August 20, 1974, President Gerald Ford nominated Nelson Rockefeller as Vice President of the United States.
Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections
Governor Brian Kemp is about sick and tired of the liberal media, according to the AJC.
Gov. Brian Kemp accused The Atlanta Journal-Constitution of playing “pandemic politics” and sparking panic at a testy press conference Wednesday, a day after a confidential report from President Donald Trump’s coronavirus task force raised new concerns about his strategy to fight the disease.
“This is what’s so frustrating about pandemic politics and leaked reports. We’re glad to talk about these numbers every day,” Kemp said, adding: “I will tell you that the media only focuses on the bad numbers. They never focus on the good numbers.”
On Wednesday, Georgia reported 2,305 net new cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, and 55 net new deaths. To date, the state has reported 243,982 confirmed cases and 4,849 deaths.
The governor and his aides highlighted metrics that showed a recent 26% decrease in the rolling average in new cases over the past seven days and a roughly 20% decline in the hospitalization rate since the most recent peak at the end of July.
“To scare people with one number is not fair to the general public. You’re not giving them the benefit of the doubt to make good decision based on all the data,” he said. “That’s all I’m saying. I’m not afraid.”
“Look I’m fine if you want to put the per capita numbers out there, I look at them every day … but those numbers have dropped 26%, our hospitalizations have dropped. To scare people with one number is not fair to the general public, not giving them the benefit of the doubt to make good decisions based on all the data.” [said Kemp]
Active COVID-19 hospitalizations have also fallen from a peak of 3,200 on July 30, to 2,626 as of the most recent Georgia Emergency Management Agency report on Tuesday.
That comes to a rate of 24.7 hospitalizations per 100,000 people, a rate that would fall below Florida (25.5) and above Texas (21.4), according to data kept by the COVID Tracking Project. It’s also well below that of Mississippi (36.6), Nevada (29.3) and Alabama (26.1), among the more COVID-hit states.
“All I’m asking is for Georgians to get all the information. If we’re the highest, that’s because Texas and Florida and Arizona that were peaking are on the downclimb, just like we are,” Gov. Kemp said. “But that is not the only number that Georgians need to look at. I will tell you the media only focuses on the bad numbers, they never look at the good numbers.”
In an exclusive interview, Kemp told Channel 2 anchor Justin Farmer that cases, the percent of positive tests and hospitalizations are all down.
“We’re not going to believe everything that we see coming out of some report, whether it’s coming from the White House or public health, or anywhere else. We’re going to make sure that we dig into those numbers and verify those numbers,” Kemp said in response to a White House task force report that recommended Georgia enact a statewide mask mandate.
He said the state’s seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases is down 26%, hospitalizations are down 19% and positive tests are down to 9.4%.
“Our rate [of transmission], which every epidemiologist in the country will acknowledge that it’s if it’s over one, you’re not controlling the spread. If it’s under one, you are controling the spread that has fallen now to 0.85,” Kemp said.
“We are making measurable progress, but the media and radical left continue to attack our state. They don’t care about saving lives, protecting jobs, or safeguarding personal freedom. They just want to play pandemic politics.”
Kemp said his criticism is aimed at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s reporting on the federal task force’s report and how it focuses on the per capita rate — which is the number of new cases per 100,000 residents — was 216 last week, the highest in the United States.
“I just feel like it’s really dishonest for the state’s flagship newspaper not to cover all the numbers and to focus on only the number that will be the worst on the data that they’re seeing that day or that week,” Kemp said.
From the Athens Banner Herald:
Asked about the recent closure of the Cherokee County high schools, Kemp said the spread of the virus “didn’t happen in the schools for the most part. It happened because people came back to school and they already had the coronavirus.”
“So is that the government’s fault? Is that the school’s fault? No, it is not,” Kemp said.
The superintendent of the Lumpkin County School System had refused to give out the coronavirus numbers in time for them to be included in the weekly print edition of The Dahlonega Nugget amid a dispute with the paper over its coverage, the newspaper reported.
In an email Monday to school board members and the newspaper, Superintendent Rob Brown accused the paper of spreading fear in the community.
“The last time we shared data with The Nugget directly, the data was used for an online article with a headline that created unnecessary fear and panic,” Brown wrote in the email, referencing an Aug. 7 story with the headline, “Numerous Lumpkin teachers test positive for COVID-19 as first day approaches.”
In an earlier email, Brown suggested his own headlines for the newspaper.
“A headline such as ‘LC Schools Closely Monitoring COVID Data’ or ‘Less than 5% of the 540 LC Employees Impacted by COVID’ could have shared the same information without causing undue fear and concern,” Brown wrote.
The University of Georgia is planning on allowing 20-25% attendance at football games this year, according to the Athens Banner Herald.
That’s between 18,550 and 23,180 fans per game in a season that would be played during the pandemic.
The Bulldogs sell out their 92,746 seat home stadium in a normal season.
The 20 to 25 percent capacity is along the same lines as others in the SEC, but the numbers at Georgia are considered tentative depending on health conditions. Alabama and Auburn are at 20 percent capacity, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Missouri are at 25 percent.
Instead of season tickets, donors have to opt in or out to get single game tickets. Donors will not be able to receive their exact seat locations as previously.
Those that opt out are still eligible to renew established season ticket locations for 2021.
Tickets will go in blocks of four and be $150 per ticket—which is $75 for the ticket price and $75 for the Hartman Fund contribution requirement. Costs will be deducted from previous payments.
The highest-paying donors will have access to get into more games. Those who donate $250,000 or more can request four tickets to all four games, those who donate $5,000 or more can request four tickets to two games and those up to $5,000 can request four tickets for one game.
Student tickets will remain available but also be reduced down to 20 to 25 percent of its regular total. McGarity said that will be more than 3,000 tickets. Student leaders were to meet with Georgia athletics on Wednesday about the plan.
I can imagine there will be an especially robust secondary market for UGA football tickets this year.
The Georgia Department of Driver Services will now allow residents 64 and older renewing or replacing a driver’s license, according to the Dalton Daily Citizen News.
A recent department rule change allows the required vision exam to be submitted with their application remotely as long as it has been completed by a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist.
“I am pleased that we are able to offer this convenience to our more experienced customers. DDS is constantly working to ensure efficient, safe and customer-friendly options within the law,” said Commissioner Spencer R. Moore.
Georgia law requires that people 64 years of age and older take and pass a vision exam prior to receiving or renewing a driver’s license. All individuals may complete the vision exam at a DDS customer service center.
Fulton County is blaming the City of Atlanta for delays in mailing property tax bills, according to the AJC.
Instead of going out at the end of August, tax notices will be sent weeks late because Atlanta has delayed setting its millage rate, Fulton’s chief financial officer Sharon Whitmore said during a commission meeting.
“That sort of a decision has an impact not only on us but an impact on schools systems, all the other municipalities,” said Fulton Commissioner Bob Ellis.
Whitmore said that notices may go out in early October, meaning payment would be due in December. But if this goes any later, payments could easily stretch in January 2021.
Whitmore said a due date in December, or later, also likely means a lower rate collection not only because of the drastic change but the uncertain economic conditions.
Clayton County adopted a mask requirement, according to the AJC.
In an unanimous vote, the commission said visitors to unincorporated Clayton County must have on face masks in public and in government buildings. The mandate does not include private businesses such as restaurants and retail outlets, which are free to design their own safety protocols.
Individuals may go without a mask in parks and on trails when they can maintain a six-foot buffer between themselves and others as outlined in the coronavirus safety guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the county said. They also can eschew the face coverings for reasons of religion, health, an inability to get them on and off, and for children 2 years old or younger.
Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul on Tuesday mandated face masks while the Alpharetta City Council is expected to take up the matter on Monday.
Statesboro City Council adopted a mask ordinance, according to the Statesboro Herald.
By a 4-1 vote, Statesboro City Council enacted an ordinance Tuesday evening requiring that masks or face shields be worn in public places “at all times where other physical distancing measure may be difficult to maintain from non-cohabiting persons.”
A mask is not required to be worn while eating or drinking or if a person has a medical condition that prevents it.
Otherwise, for the most part, the ordinance specifies that anyone found without a mask in a public place – defined to include businesses that welcome the public – “shall be first given a warning and an opportunity to put on a facial covering or mask, leave the entity, or comply with one of the exceptions ….”
If someone refuses to comply, they can be assessed a civil fine of up to $25 for a first offense and a fine of up to $50 for a second or subsequent offense. Statesboro’s police and code enforcement officers are empowered to enforce the ordinance.
The Bulloch County Board of Commissioners also discussed a mask mandate Tuesday but delayed consideration until its Sept. 1 meeting. Of course, the city’s ordinance applies only within Statesboro’s city limits.
Richmond County Schools will require masks, according to the Augusta Chronicle.
Superintendent Kenneth Bradshaw recommended Tuesday a special called school board meeting Sept. 1 to discuss whether the district should move forward with face-to-face learning the next week. He explained that this decision will be based on up-to-date community COVID-19 spread.
“We’re working with lagging data, meaning it’s Aug. 18 and we’re making a decision for Sept. 8,” Bradshaw said. “I do understand that we want to give our parents as much lead time as possible for planning, but the worst thing we can do is stop and start once we begin face-to-face if we have an outbreak.”
According to the reopening presentation, masks/face coverings will be required by students while they are on school buses and while in public areas/hallways. The same will be required for staff, bus drivers and visitors. The guidelines do not mandate masks within classrooms or while eating in the cafeterias.
Masks will be highly recommended for use in locker rooms, weight rooms and indoor athletic facilities. They will also be recommended for coaches/staff at all times.
The Richmond County Board of Education will see at least one new member this year, according to the Augusta Chronicle.
Richmond County Board of Education Trustee Wayne Frazier has a reelection challenge from JaVonne Jones, a self-employed violinist and violin instructor, while longtime trustee Marion Barnes said Wednesday he is not seeking another term.
Lee Moore will return to office as Mayor of Franklin Springs, according to the Franklin County Citizen.
Lee Moore was the only person to qualify for Franklin Springs mayor in a special election that had been scheduled for November.
With only one qualified candidate, the city will no longer be required to hold an election.
The election will fill Moore’s unexpired term.
In February, Moore announced he would run for the District 50 State Senate seat being vacated by John Wilkinson to run for Congress.
Glynn County District Attorney Jackie Jones hired a private investigator to investigate a potential opponent, according to The Brunswick News.
An Augusta private investigation firm is looking into the procedures used to collect signatures needed to put Keith Higgins, independent candidate for Brunswick Judicial Circuit district attorney, on the November ballot.
On Wednesday, the Republican incumbent candidate for the office, Jackie Johnson, told The News she had hired the private investigation firm of Chilton Gibbs & Associates to look into allegations about the methods in which Higgins and others were gathering signatures.
“Several people have approached me with concerns about tactics that were used to collect petition signatures to place Mr. Higgins on the ballot,” Johnson said. “Because this involves my re-election campaign, I have chosen to look into these concerns as an individual running for public office, and not in my capacity as district attorney.”
I’m ambivalent on this. On one hand, I’d be concerned about the alleged tactics detailed in the article. On the other hand, contesting a petition of someone trying to get on the ballot is done routinely.
Harris County public schools has nearly 50 employees and students quarantining after positive tests or known contacts, according to the Ledger-Enquirer.
Chicopee Woods Elementary School in Hall County has opened new outdoor learning spaces, according to the Gainesville Times.
In addition to more than 3 miles of trails, Chicopee Woods is also installing eight shaded spaces behind the school for outdoor classes. [Principal Jamie] Hitzges said he hopes teachers will use the new outdoor instruction areas “to the greatest extent possible.”
He said the trails and outdoor classrooms will help connect students to nature, while also keeping them as safe as possible from the potential transmission of COVID-19.
The new outdoor learning spaces were produced entirely by volunteer work and donations, with Home Depot, Mincey Marble, Garcia Landscaping and Lunsford Grading and Hauling all supplying funds and materials for the project.
Hitzges said the extra time outside will also provide students with opportunities to take mask breaks, with the large outdoor areas giving them the capability to stay at least 6 feet apart from each other. He said that while the spread of COVID-19 is still a major concern coming into the start of the school year, spending as much time outside as possible should help cut down on cases at Chicopee Woods.
Gainesville City Schools will issue $75 million in bonds for construction projects, according to the Gainesville Times.
To pay off the bonds, the system will make yearly payments of about $5.6 million starting in November 2023 and ending November 2042, for a total of about $111.5 million, including interest, school officials say.
The system can defer payments because collection of the new, 1-cent education special purpose local option sales tax doesn’t start until November 2022, Superintendent Jeremy Williams said.
The education SPLOST will be used to make the bond payments. With the tax expected to bring in between $41 million and $43 million, passage of additional E-SPLOSTs would be needed to fully pay off the bonds, officials have said.
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