Local

TERRY HULSEY/Illustration

TERRY HULSEY/Illustration

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Tallulah Falls puts up roadblock on SPLOST

Matthew Osborne
Friday, July 22, 2022
Just when Habersham County thought it was time to move on from the struggle to balance the budget, another controversy reared its head. County leaders have been gathering signatures to an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) to move forward with a referendum on a Roads & Bridges SPLOST in November.
Coaches at the Raider Soccer Academy encouraged their campers to celebrate goals this week, and Brooks Powell did that and then some with this epic backflip after scoring one of his own. MATTHEW OSBORNE/Staff

Coaches at the Raider Soccer Academy encouraged their campers to celebrate goals this week, and Brooks Powell did that and then some with this epic backflip after scoring one of his own. MATTHEW OSBORNE/Staff

Kids kick it in the summer sun

Matthew Osborne
Friday, July 22, 2022
Raider Soccer Academy had more than 100 participants from Habersham County and the surrounding area this week. The players moved from station to station throughout the day and got to try out all kinds of soccer skills.
Wonder Woman (Judy Bellamy of Habersham County), Batman (Josh Brady of Stephens County), martial artist Todd Besier, Spider-Man (Jack Keane) and Superman (Matt Brady) take time to look heroic with a local youth. JOSH BRADY/Submitted

Wonder Woman (Judy Bellamy of Habersham County), Batman (Josh Brady of Stephens County), martial artist Todd Besier, Spider-Man (Jack Keane) and Superman (Matt Brady) take time to look heroic with a local youth. JOSH BRADY/Submitted

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Heroes walk among us

Matthew Osborne
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Josh Brady grew up loving super heroes, and one day he saw a picture on Facebook of people dressed as heroes carrying the casket of a young child. “That stuck with me for a while, and I decided to contact the guy and find out what he does,” Brady said.
Larry Shedd of Clarkesville (back turned) consults with Commissioners Ty Akins and Bruce Harkness after Monday’s public hearing about the millage rate. MATTHEW OSBORNE/Staff

Larry Shedd of Clarkesville (back turned) consults with Commissioners Ty Akins and Bruce Harkness after Monday’s public hearing about the millage rate. MATTHEW OSBORNE/Staff

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Split board approves mill increase

Matthew Osborne
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
After Paul Guthrie of Cornelia went through a lengthy list of potential budget cuts at Monday’s final hearing, he came to perhaps the most relevant conclusion of his entire presentation.
File

File

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Hospital looks toward post-COVID finances

Brian Wellmeier
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Recent financial data indicates that Habersham Medical Center (HMC) had 6.6 days of cash on hand – which excludes non-operating revenue – at the end of April of this year. Numbers in HMC’s balance sheets also appear to show the hospital’s deficit at around $5.
From left: Ninth Grade Academy’s Dave Leenman, NHMS Adam Bagwell, HCHS Jonathan Stribling, WMS Chris Chitwood, Success Academy’s Ernie Garrett, SHMS Daphne Penick, Woodville Elementary’s BJ Addison, Level Grove Elementary’s Aimee Shedd, Demorest Elementary’s Lana Jones, Fairview Elementary’s Michelle Wilbanks, Clarkesville Elementary’s Georgia Pitts, Cornelia Elementary’s Mary Beth Thomas, Hazel Grove Elementary’s Tim Goss and Baldwin Elementary’s Rodney Long.

From left: Ninth Grade Academy’s Dave Leenman, NHMS Adam Bagwell, HCHS Jonathan Stribling, WMS Chris Chitwood, Success Academy’s Ernie Garrett, SHMS Daphne Penick, Woodville Elementary’s BJ Addison, Level Grove Elementary’s Aimee Shedd, Demorest Elementary’s Lana Jones, Fairview Elementary’s Michelle Wilbanks, Clarkesville Elementary’s Georgia Pitts, Cornelia Elementary’s Mary Beth Thomas, Hazel Grove Elementary’s Tim Goss and Baldwin Elementary’s Rodney Long.

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Franklin tapped as assistant superintendent

Rowan Edmonds
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Patrick Franklin will be the right-hand man of the school system starting this fall after being named assistant superintendent of Habersham County on Monday night.
Tom Hensley, President of Fieldale Farms, presents HCACC Director Madi Nix and former employee Chris Broadway with a $5,000 Donation to the Road to Rescue Campaign. HABERSHAM COUNTY/Submitted

Tom Hensley, President of Fieldale Farms, presents HCACC Director Madi Nix and former employee Chris Broadway with a $5,000 Donation to the Road to Rescue Campaign. HABERSHAM COUNTY/Submitted

Exclusive Subscriber Content

New van could give new hope for animals

Rowan Edmonds
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Habersham County Animal Care and Control (HCACC) ended its campaign for a transport van Monday after a $5,000 donation from Fieldale Farms. The campaign was created to raise funds for a van, and they managed to bring in $88,941, exceeding the $66,000 goal by 35 percent.
MATTHEW OSBORNE/Staff

MATTHEW OSBORNE/Staff

County Recognition

Matthew Osborne
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Habersham County Emergency Services recognized two young men who passed the Next Level Challenge through the county fire department. The new graduates are Conner Brookshire and Mason Ruark, and they were honored by the county commission and members of the emergency services squad.