Authorities say they’ve located a 16-year-old Cornelia boy whose family discovered him missing late Tuesday night. They say Bryson Dale Andrews is safe. Officials did not say where he was located or how.
Original story 6am 6/26/19:
Family members told deputies they discovered Andrews was gone when they went to check on him in his room at the family’s Pea Ridge Road residence around 8:40 p.m. June 25.
Brian is a white male with brown hair and blue eyes. He’s six-feet tall and weighs around 200 pounds, according to a posted description on the Haberhsam County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.
Brian was last seen wearing blue jeans, a dark red Levi’s t-shirt and a red Costa hat.
Brian is believed to be walking, possibly carrying a guitar, and may be heading to Nashville, Tennessee, the post states.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Sgt. Richard Stein with the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office through the 24 hour dispatch line at (706) 839-0500 Ext. 0 or the non-emergency 911 phone number (706) 778-3911. You may also leave an anonymous tip by visiting the Sheriff’s Office website at www.habershamsheriff.com
(Cleveland)- An escapee from a work release detail in Gwinnett County has been arrested by White County authorities.
White County Sheriff’s Captain Rick Kelley advised in an email that around 12:30 AM Wednesday morning Deputies responded to a suspicious vehicle at Woodlawn Gardens on Hwy 254. At that location, they were able to recover a Dodge Charger that had been reported stolen from Stephens County.
Kelley also said while at that location deputies took a report on a stolen 2001 Chevrolet truck. A short time later the truck was spotted on E B Road.
Deputies attempted a traffic stop, but the vehicle ran. Deputies chased the vehicle approximately 10 miles and during the chase, the suspect vehicle struck one of the patrol units. According to Kelley the stolen vehicle wrecked at the intersection of Countyline Church Road and Hwy 254.
Captain Kelley said 29-year old Michael Ryan Jones of Dawsonville was taken into custody and is charged with theft by taking, possession of meth, fleeing and attempting to elude and numerous traffic charges. Jones is also wanted for escape from a work release in Gwinnett County.
Jessica Maria Mote, age 30, of Cleveland was also arrested and charged with theft by taking.
Kelley said the case is ongoing and additional charges are possible.
The search continues for a state prisoner who failed to report back to the Lee Arrendale Transitional Center in Alto on June 12.
33-year-old Cheryl Alisha Graves failed to return to the transitional center from her place of employment in Baldwin. “As of today, the GDC Office of Professional Standards is diligently working leads, as this is an on-going investigation,” says Georgia Department of Corrections spokesperson Lori Benoit.
Graves was serving a two-year sentence for making false statements to the government. Online GDC records show she was convicted in October 2018 in northwest Georgia’s Bartow County. The Bartow County Sheriff’s Office told WBHF Radio in Cartersville they were unaware of Graves’ disappearance when the station contacted them early Monday.
Graves is a white female, five-foot-one, weighs 160 pounds, and has brown hair and brown eyes. She also goes by the name of Cheryl Alisha Morales.
Graves previously served time on drug and theft by receiving charges. She was due to be released from Arrendale State Prison in October 2020.
If you see Cheryl Graves or have information about where she is, GDC urges you to call 911.
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School will offer a lacrosse program in the coming years for both boys and girls. During the 2019-20 school year, a developmental program will be offered for students in grades 3-8. The program will progressively grow each year to add developmental and competitive teams reaching a full varsity program by the 2023-24 school year.
A skills-based game, lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in America. According to the NCAA, over 36,000 athletes play lacrosse at the collegiate level. The boys’ and girls’ games are quite similar; however, there are some significant rules and equipment differences. Lacrosse is played in the spring of the year for both boys and girls teams.
Head of the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School Middle School, Bill Rothe, played lacrosse in college and is an avid coach and teacher of the sport. He has offered developmental lacrosse camps for younger students at Rabun Gap to introduce them to the sport. “Lacrosse is team-based sport that is fast and requires a great deal of focus. It is a terrific way for young people to develop a team-oriented mentality.”
The Hall County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the Thursday morning, June 27, deaths of a man and his two-year-old son in a murder-suicide off of Poplar Springs Road.
Sheriff’s deputies initially responded at approximately 12:30 a.m. to 4821 Poplar Springs Road in reference to a man assaulting a 23-year-old woman and leaving the residence with the couple’s two- year-old son.
Deputies began to search the area for the suspect, 24-year-old Christian Castro and the child, Christian Castro Jr. They spotted Castro’s vehicle entering a property at 4799 Poplar Springs Road, which is adjacent to his residence.
“As deputies approached the car on foot, Castro fired several gunshots at them, but no one was injured,” Hall County Sheriff’s spokesman Derreck Booth writes in a press release. “Deputies could see Castro’s son sitting on his lap in the car. A perimeter was then established around the area.”
Castro remained in the car for an extended period of time, driving around in a pasture area. A Sheriff’s Office hostage negotiator made numerous attempts to contact Castro by phone without success.
“At approximately 3:30 a.m., deputies heard gunshots coming from Castro’s vehicle. Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team members immediately approached the car and discovered that Castro had shot and killed his son, then turned the gun on himself.
Out of concern for the safety of the child, no shots were fired by law enforcement during the duration of the incident.
says Booth.
Both bodies were transported to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Laboratory for autopsy. The incident remains under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office.
Second fatal domestic violence incident in Hall County in two weeks
“This tragedy, as well as last week’s fatal shooting, serve as a somber reminder of how serious the issue of domestic violence is in our community,” says Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch. “It is a rare day that an Officer in any jurisdiction works an entire shift without responding to a domestic-related call, many of which involve some form of physical violence. This is why the partnerships we share with agencies and organizations that work to combat domestic violence are critical.”
The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by multiple area agencies including the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, Flowery Branch Police Department, Georgia State Patrol Aviation Division, Gainesville Police Department, Gwinnett County Police Department, Oakwood Police Department.
Couch encourages victims of domestic violence to seek help.
“We want to emphasize that there is hope for those who find themselves in domestic violence relationships, as we have resources available that can be of assistance to victims to help them safely escape the situation, and hopefully avoid a tragedy similar to what we’ve seen today.”
Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch issued the following statement Thursday following the tragic death of a 2-year-old boy shot by his father in a murder-suicide:
“This morning our Deputies responded to a domestic violence call that ended in the worst possible way, with the death of a child. First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers go out to the child’s family, and we ask that our community do the same. During the course of this incident, the perpetrator fired upon the Deputies, who in turn demonstrated remarkable restraint by not returning fire out of concern for the safety of the child. They quickly contained the situation to ensure that no other lives were put at risk, and they undertook efforts to bring the incident to a peaceful resolution. Unfortunately, the perpetrator did not allow that to happen, as he made the decision to take the life of his own son before taking his own,” Sheriff Couch said.
Couch continued, “This tragedy, as well as last week’s fatal shooting, serve as a somber reminder of how serious the issue of domestic violence is in our community. It is a rare day that an Officer in any jurisdiction works an entire shift without responding to a domestic-related call, many of which involve some form of physical violence. This is why the partnerships we share with agencies and organizations that work to combat domestic violence are critical. We want to emphasize that there is hope for those who find themselves in domestic violence relationships, as we have resources available that can be of assistance to victims to help them safely escape the situation, and hopefully avoid a tragedy similar to what we’ve seen today.”
A Clayton woman is charged with second-degree murder after her 18-month old child was allegedly left unsupervised and drowned in a pool, according to authorities.
Officials responded around 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 26, to a residence off Grapevine Lane.
“It was determined that (the) child was found in the pool at the residence after being left unsupervised. The child was transported to a local hospital and later pronounced dead,” Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokesperson Natalie Ammons writes in a press release.
The Rabun County Sheriff’s Office asked the GBI to assist in the death investigation. The GBI Medical Examiner’s Office performed an autopsy on Thursday, June 27, and ruled the death was the result of drowning.
The GBI arrested the child’s mother, 26-year-old Jacklyn Frady, and charged her with murder in the second degree and cruelty to children.
The case is still under investigation and will be provided to the Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney for prosecution once it’s completed, Ammons says.
Irene Wade Pratchard, age 93, of Cornelia, Georgia passed away on Thursday, June 27, 2019.
Mrs. Pratchard was born on September 15, 1925 in Alto, Georgia to the late Sherman and Ola Gailey Wade. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Jeff D. Pratchard; sisters, Elise Wade Holcomb, Imogene Wade Stancil, Betty Ruth Wade, Julen Wade; brothers, Cody Wade, Issac Wade, Vance Wade, Odell Wade, Artis Wade; and great-grandson, Andrew Johnson. Mrs. Pratchard was a member of Baldwin Baptist Church. She was a retired employee of Fieldale Farms with 26 years of service.
Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Dexter and Brenda Pratchard, of Cornelia; sister, Joyce Wade Jordan, of Alto; sister and brother-in-law, Sandra Wade Poole and Donald, of Baldwin; granddaughter and spouse, Celeste Pratchard Johnson and Chad; step-grandsons, Jack Edwards, Thad Edwards; great-grandson, Michael Johnson,
Funeral Services will be held at 4:00 p.m., Saturday, June 29, 2019 at Whitfield Funeral Home, South Chapel with Rev. Anthony Shore officiating. Interment will follow in the Cross Roads Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturday, June 29, 2019 at the funeral home prior to the service.
Former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams told reporters Wednesday that Georgia’s proposed health care waivers are “shortsighted’’ and will leave hundreds of thousands without health insurance.
During last year’s gubernatorial campaign, Abrams pushed for the state to adopt full expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. She was narrowly defeated by Brian Kemp, who sided with fellow Republicans saying such a step would be too costly.
In the recent General Assembly session, Gov. Kemp successfully pushed a bill to have the state pursue a federal waiver that could add more Georgians to the Medicaid rolls. But that enrollment growth, as projected, would not be nearly as much as would come under full expansion.
Kemp and Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan “are essentially not picking winners and losers, they’re picking life and death,’’ Abrams said.
“I absolutely understand the doctors and nurses and facilities saying, ‘Give us half a loaf.’ ”
But with the waiver effort, “We’re going to let the other half of the loaf mold,’’ she said. “It is wasteful, it is economically inefficient, and it is morally suspect.’’
Financially struggling rural hospitals, she said, “will not be saved by a partial acceptance of Medicaid.’’
Abrams, formerly the Georgia House minority leader, said she learned the complexities of health care by her work as a tax attorney with hospital clients. Health care is a key driver for economic development and educational outcomes, she said.
“My deep fear is that [the waiver plan] is going to be an expensive endeavor” that still is not going to meet the health care needs of Georgia, she said.
Those challenges, she said, include a widespread doctor shortage, the highest maternal mortality rate in the nation, and high infant mortality rates.
She said she opposes work requirements for newly eligible Medicaid recipients, as pushed by Republican leaders. Such rules in some other states have been struck down by a federal judge.
Abrams and Carter
Abrams said a newly opened primary care clinic in Plains — aided by the support of former President Jimmy Carter, who is from the town — “is a model’’ for medical services. That type of funding can be obtained through Medicaid expansion, she said.
“I find it a bit suspect that 30,000 people just forgot to respond’’ to notices for renewal, she said. “It demonstrates that for populations we know are vulnerable, a lack of renewal notices could have put 30,000 people into extraordinary health care jeopardy.’’ State officials recently said they would allow the reinstatement of thousands of these Medicaid recipients.
Georgia’s new abortion law will hurt business development in the state as well as discourage OB/GYNs from practicing here, Abrams said. Georgia is already facing challenges in attracting and retaining graduate medical students, she added.
Though their approaches are very different, Abrams did agree with Duncan on Georgia’s potential to make great strides in health care.
“Georgia is exceptionally well-positioned to be the leader’’ on health care, she said, adding that more investment in medical services is needed.
It’s a work in progress and you can watch it unfold. The City of Cornelia has installed a construction camera at the site of its new Municipal Complex and Fire Station.
The city made the announcement on its website, where the time-lapsed images can be viewed. There are 6 different views with each image being updated every 30 minutes.
Tallulah Falls School hosted a week-long youth tennis camp June 3-7.
Conducted by head varsity tennis coach of 17 years Randy Morris and assistant coach of 10 years Scott Davis, the camp is a popular activity for young players.
Rising senior and varsity tennis team captain Taylor McAvoy of Lavonia and rising junior and varsity tennis team captain Hagan Eubank of Tallulah Falls provided instructional support, Morris said.
Twenty-two players, ages 10-15, attended the camp.
“Each young player left the camp with a better understanding of the game and the fundamental aspects as well,” Morris said. “I was extremely proud of our coaching staff, team captains and all campers who participated in this GREAT event. Everyone came together to make this camp special. Even though the camp was shortened two days due to rain, the amount of progress made by each youth was staggering.”
Morris said thanks go to TFS president and Head of School Larry A. Peevy and Athletic Director Scott Neal for providing the opportunity for community outreach to develop the fundamental skills for future players.
Former Habersham Central High students were among those who signed on to study at North Georgia Techincal College. Participants at the Clarkesville signing day ceremony are pictured here. Standing are, from left, Tori Garland, Abigail Tatum, Brandon Bowden, Kenadie Smith, Mason Allison, Kyle Webb, Matthew Fairbairn, Contessa Williams, and Kristopher Stout. Seated are, from left, Carlin Fricks, Brittany Allen, Karrie Roberts and Zoe Rayburn.
North Georgia Technical College recently celebrated its inaugural Signing Day for high school students. Signing ceremonies were held on all three NGTC campuses in Clarkesville, Toccoa and Blairsville, as well as Rabun County High School. Seniors who applied to NGTC beginning fall 2019 were invited to ink their intentions of studying a technical trade skill and training to enter the workforce within two years or less, depending on their program of choice.
“We believe students choosing to enter the career and technical education fields should be applauded,” says NGTC President Dr. Mark Ivester. “They have decided that career training and technical skill certifications can provide a faster track to successful employment, and we are prepared and excited to assist them to achieve their future career goals.”
“We were excited to host this type of event to spotlight our future students,” says NGTC Vice President of Community and College Relations Amy Hulsey. “We have received so much positive feedback from parents, counselors, school administrators, and of course, the students, who agree that technical education students should be recognized among our community leaders. We are already planning for next year’s Signing Days and hoping that the word will spread to encourage more students to choose technical education early in their decision process.”
Students pursue wide range of studies in tech ed
Participants from Habersham Central High School included Tori Garland of Mt. Airy, studying health sciences; Carlin Fricks of Mt. Airy, studying network specialist; Brittany Allen of Mt. Airy, studying medical assisting; Karrie Roberts of Demorest, studying early childhood education; Zoe Rayburn of Commerce, studying early childhood education; Abigail Tatum of Helen, studying nurse aid; Brandon Bowden of Cleveland, studying pharmacy technology; Kenadie Smith of Clarkesville, studying technical specialist; Mason Allison of Mt. Airy, studying engineering; Kyle Webb of Clarkesville, studying criminal justice; Matthew Fairbairn of Cornelia, studying welding; Contessa Williams of Cornelia, studying nursing and Kristopher Stout of Clarkesville, studying criminal justice.
Students who participated in the Rabun County High School signing ceremony include Kaleb Wilburn of Clayton who will be studying business management; Chelsey Abbott of Rabun Gap, studying CNC; Kyndal Dills of Dillard, studying welding; Guillermo Cruz of Clayton, studying technical specialist; Trey McFalls of Tiger, studying environmental technology; Leonardo Barcenas of Tiger, studying horticulture; and Parker Alley of Lakemont, studying horticulture.
At the Currahee Campus one student participated. Isabelle Parrish graduated from Franklin County High School and intends to study nursing at NGTC.
“I’m very thankful that I found North Georgia Tech,” says Parrish. “It’s very affordable, and close to home, which I love. I had originally intended on going to a larger university, but once I looked into NGTC and had the opportunity to tour the college I absolutely fell in love and realized that this was where I was supposed to be.”
Each student was recognized for their intended program of study at NGTC and signed a letter of intent on stage. Each student also received the traditional Signing Day baseball hat and t-shirt.
Students interested in enrolling for fall semester 2019 at NGTC may complete an online application at northgatech.edu. Deadline to submit applications is July 25, 2019.
Piedmont Healthcare is requiring patients who shoulder the entire cost of a non-emergency medical service to pay 25 percent of the bill before they get the care.
The system’s new upfront-payment policy was publicly revealed recently at the Healthcare Financial Management Association conference in Orlando. It was first reported by Modern Healthcare.
The patients who will face the new charge fall into two categories: those who are uninsured and pay for their own care, and those who have insurance with high deductibles.
Piedmont, a fast-growing nonprofit, operates 11 hospitals in Georgia.
A Piedmont executive told GHN on Friday that the pay-upfront policy has existed at certain facilities for a couple of years, but now is system-wide.
“We have plenty of room for exceptions [to the policy] based on patients’ circumstances,’’ said Matt Gove, Piedmont’s chief consumer officer. Uninsured patients automatically get a 70 percent discount, he said. “We have very robust financial aid for patients who don’t have the ability to pay.’’
Piedmont Athens Regional
The health system’s $250.7 million bad-debt expense in fiscal 2018 was about 8 percent of its $3 billion in revenue that year — up from 6.5 percent of revenue the prior year and much higher than the 2 percent national average that the American Hospital Directory calculated in 2017, Modern Healthcare reported.
“We’ve seen patient liability grow significantly over the past three years,’’ said Gove, citing the increase of high-deductible insurance policies.
The growth of those health plans – which trade lower premiums for higher deductibles – often creates situations in which patients have difficulty paying for medical services and hospitals struggle to collect unpaid bills.
Among the 156 million Americans with health insurance through employers, 1 in 5 have deductibles of more than $3,000 for individuals and $5,000 for families, according to a May survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
A Kaiser Foundation poll this month found that one-third of insured adults say it is either “very difficult” or “somewhat difficult” for them to pay their deductible.
Medical bills are an overwhelming problem for many families. The KFF poll found about one-fourth of U.S. adults say they or a household member have had problems paying medical bills in the past year, and about half of this group (12 percent of all Americans) say the bills had a major impact on their family.
Nonprofit hospitals’ bad debt, meanwhile, is expected to increase by 8 percent to 9 percent this year as health care plans place a greater financial burden on patients, according to Moody’s Investors Service.
The pay-upfront policy is often used by physicians’ offices, according to industry experts, who add that Piedmont may be the first system in Georgia to have a system-wide policy for hospital services.
Berneta Haynes of the consumer advocacy group Georgia Watch said Piedmont’s pay-upfront policy “raises red flags’’ as a potential barrier for patients seeking medical care.
Haynes
The policy could deter some patients, forcing the uninsured and those with high deductibles to seek care elsewhere, she said.
For the insured, their hospital networks ‘‘can be so narrow that going to another hospital may not be feasible,’’ Haynes said.
Deductibles have soared, she said, because the Affordable Care Act’s rules on them have been weakened.
Haynes said Georgia Watch wants to make sure that patients are made aware of discounts that are available and that nonprofit hospitals inform patients of their financial assistance programs, which are required under the ACA. She said Piedmont’s providing that help will be crucial for many patients.
Gove said health systems like Piedmont operate on very thin financial margins.
“We believe that asking our patients to pay a portion upfront for non-emergency care is a reasonable approach,’’ he said. “And based on our initial feedback from our patients, [they believe] it is reasonable.”
Chris Kane, a consultant with Progressive Healthcare, said Friday that the Piedmont move “is consistent with trends in revenue cycle management and will likely be adopted by other health systems.’’
Health systems nationwide have been more aggressive with front-end collections, Kane said. When a successful health system may have only a 5 percent operating margin, it is appropriate to evaluate opportunities to enhance collections and therefore cash flows, he said.
Other systems “will watch Piedmont to discern if the policy has improved collections and/or alienated some patients,’’ Kane said.
“Looking ahead, employers are reluctant to continue to raise deductibles and/or premium payments, resulting in higher burdens for employees,’’ he said. “This tactic is not sustainable. Hospitals and physician groups are left to collect the patient portion.”
A couple in Blue Ridge is in trouble with the law after allegedly attempting to get a mother to sign away her parental rights in exchange for a car.
36-year-old Rebecca McClain and her 44-year-old husband, William Ryan McClain, were arrested Thursday, June 27, during a search of their home in Fannin County.
The Fannin County Sheriff’s Office asked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to assist with the case. The investigation revealed the McClains had been caring for the 10-month-old child for several weeks and were interested in adopting the child, according to GBI spokesperson Nelly Miles.
Rebecca McClain is a former employee of the Union County Division of Family and Children Services. Miles says it appears McClain came to know about the child through her position at DFCS.
The McClains were charged with holding out an inducement to a biological parent to part with her child.
The baby was found in good condition and was taken into custody by DFCS and has been placed in foster care.
Miles says the investigation is ongoing and will be provided to the Appalachian Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for prosecution once its completed.
Skeletal remains found stuffed inside a suitcase along a north Georgia highway in 2016 have been identified as those of a missing Pennsylvania woman.
She’s identified as Jessica Ashley Manchini, according to a statement from the Gwinnett County Police Department. Manchini is believed to have been 29 years old when she died. Her remains were found in a suitcase discarded in a wooded area along I-985 on July 29, 2016, the Gwinnett Daily Post reports. Authorities previously said they believed the woman died in early 2016 based on the decomposition of her body.
New technology leads to a break in the case
Detectives were able to identify Manchini using a tag from the suitcase and new technology.
The tag appeared to have faded blue ink that was no longer visible to the human eye, according to GCPD. “Several lighting tests were done in 2016 to try and read the writing, but the ink appeared to have washed away,” the release states.
For three years detectives sought to identify the mystery woman. They released to the public pictures of the type of clothes she was wearing and a forensic artist’s rendering of what they believed she may have looked like. But the investigation stalled, until this month.
Gwinnett Police released to the public a forensic artist’s rendering of the then-unidentified woman and pictures of the style clothes she was wearing. Anyone with information about this case is asked to please contact Gwinnett County Police. (GCPD)
In June 2019, 0fficials re-examined the tag using the new technology and it revealed a partial name and address. That led investigators to a missing person named Jessica Manchini. They used dental and medical records to confirm the remains as hers.
Manchini was originally from Pennsylvania. She spent the last few years of her life in Gwinnett County. Her mother reported her missing in December 2014.
Police seek public’s help with investigation
The cause and manner of Manchini’s death are still under investigation. Police ask anyone with information about this case to contact GCPD detectives at 770-513-5300.
To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.stopcrimeATL.com. Crime Stoppers tipsters can receive a cash reward for information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case. The case number is 16-070200.
Mom’s breakfast menu hardly varies from day to day: maple walnut oatmeal, a protein shake, and, occasionally, a toast and jelly sandwich. Many days, her dinner consists of a yogurt and enough ice cream to disguise her evening meds. (Mom won’t willingly participate in swallowing pills – most often they roll around in her mouth for a long time!)
For many years, her lunch has been whatever is leftover in the fridge. I’ve made lots of grilled cheese sandwiches or heated up a chicken pot pie from the freezer. The last few months, however, we have been blessed to be the recipient of lunch cooked and delivered by Lynn. I might embarrassing her, but I’ll brag on her anyways.
I didn’t know what prompted her to begin, but Lynn has been preparing a feast for us on Mondays. We’ve had a menu of delicious food from meats and veggies to homemade desserts. Today was ham, potato casserole, baked beans, broccoli salad (my favorite!), jello, muffins from her mama’s recipe, and cucumbers from her garden. I’m thrilled she has chosen Monday as her delivery day since I’m always there!
I asked her today why she started this ministry. She told me another woman in her circle of friends had lamented, “We don’t do things like we used to.” It’s certainly true that I don’t visit others the way Mom did. Aside from a few times I’ve gotten involved for a meal train, I don’t cook for others when they are sick or having a baby or bereaved (and maybe that’s a good thing since I’m not much of a chef). I’m not often involved in lay ministry. Lynn and her friend are “doing things” and I’m grateful to be on the receiving end!
Dad has been pretty funny about this whole situation. He couldn’t understand why Lynn had picked us to bless. Lynn told him last week he’d never know how much his godly walk and faithfulness through the years means to her. It was so sweet. I think we all got a bit choked up.
Mom and all her caregivers have benefitted from these delicious meals. Lynn brings enough to feed a small army and we have leftovers to eat for days afterwards. Some days she brings her grandsons along to help with what Dad jokingly calls “meals on wheels.” They speak to Ms. Ruth and Lynn loves on Mom with lots of smiles and hugs.
Monday lunch is now my favorite meal of the week. It’s opening presents with each foil lid. Thank you, Lynn, for loving on us with food!
The 2018-19 fishing season closed with six Tallulah Falls School student anglers competing among the top bass fishing teams in the state of Georgia. According to team captain Russell Williams, there were 102 high school division teams and 25 junior division teams fishing at the Georgia BASS Nation High School state championship held June 7-8 at Clarks Hill Lake.
TFS teams that competed are:
Team Williams – senior Marshall Harrelson of Clarkesville and junior Marshall Williams of Toccoa finished 11th in the high school division.
Team Harrelson – senior Will Jackson of Clarkesville and junior Thomas Harris of Clarkesville finished 42nd in the high school division.
Team James – sixth-grader Haygen James of Cornelia and sixth-grader Koen Eller of Cornelia finished 18th in the junior division.
According to Williams, persistence paid off for Team Williams, ultimately netting the pair a top 20 finish. “At the end of the tournament, they weighed in a two-day total of 23.20 pounds,” Williams said. Additionally, the end of the season marks the end of the Angler of the Year points contest. “There is a cumulative points competition based on team performance throughout the year,” he said. “This determines how a team is ranked statewide.”
Out of 48 junior division teams competing during the 2018-19 season, TFS Team James with Haygen James and seventh-grader Molly Mitchell of Cornelia finished in fourth place and Team Mitchell with sixth-graders Jacob Mitchell and Koen Eller, both of Cornelia finished in eighth place.
In the high school division, 219 teams competed this year. “Team Williams had another strong year, placing 11th in the AOY rankings,” Williams said. Team Harrelson with Jackson and Harris, finished at No 40, he added. First-year freshmen student-anglers George Ketch of Clarkesville and Luke Ferguson of Demorest finished at No. 72 overall. “All of the student-anglers had a great time competing this past season,” he said.
Although unable to fish in the tournament due to scheduling conflicts, junior division student-anglers Jacob Mitchell and Molly Mitchell and high school division student-anglers George Ketch and Luke Ferguson all qualified for state.
Six student-anglers will return for the 2019-20 season, with Harrelson and Jackson graduating this year, Williams said.
For more information about bass fishing at TFS, call 706-839-2024.
Junior Division Team stats
Team James
Day No. 1 – Three fish, 4.02 pounds, 21st place
Day No. 2 – Two fish, 10.02 pounds, 11th place
High School Division Team Stats
Team Harrelson
Day No. 1 – four fish, 8.71 pounds – 52nd place
Day No. 2 – four fish, 9.26 pounds – 42nd place
Team Williams
Day No. 1 – four fish, 11.46 pounds – 21st place
Day No. 2 – four fish 11.76 pounds – 11th place
Last week we had the creepy ventriloquist dolls from Toy Story 4 as well as the remake of Child’s Play featuring the return of Chucky. What’s with all these evil dolls on the big screen?
Anyway, we have this latest addition to the Conjuring Universe and it proves to be largely dull and fright-free which serves as a double-edged sword. It should’ve contained more frightening moments which could’ve easily given it a boost. On the other hand, it’s not nearly as insufferable as The Nun.
Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson reprise their roles from the Conjuring movies, but they’re absent for most of the movie due to the fact that they have to investigate another case. They choose to leave their daughter Judy (McKenna Grace) at home with her babysitter (Madison Iseman) and her friend (Katie Sarife).
The only rule they have while gone is not to go exploring their basement containing all of their supernatural artifacts. How long do you think that will last?
Eventually the girls do find their way inside the basement where they discover the creepy doll Annabelle and it isn’t long before she displays her wicked magic on the girls.
The girls never leave the house and instead we’re subjected to a series of cliches such as false jump scares, inviting the babysitter’s boyfriend over when the parents have strictly forbidden it, and even one of the girls is haunted by demons from her past.
The three young girls the movie centers around do give nice performances, but the material leaves them stranded in a lot of scenes that are mostly quiet until we hear the proverbial noise that either leads to a scare or it doesn’t.
Annabelle Comes Home checks off the list of typical cliches and once we know it’s going to be more routine, the less effective the suspense becomes.
Fans of the Conjuring movies may find it enjoyable, but other horror fans may find it to be a missed opportunity. Annabelle should stay locked up until there’s a more sufficient script to tap into her sinister ways.
If approved, the proposed rate increase would raise the average consumer’s bill by nearly $10 per month
Georgia Power on Friday filed a request with the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) to increase customer rates by approximately 7% in 2020. A press release from the company says the rate increase would “enable the company to continue making investments in Georgia’s energy future.”
In the filing, the company highlights nearly $18 billion in recent and future investments to strengthen the “reliability and resiliency” of the state’s electrical system and to comply with federal regulations. The company is also requesting to rebuild its storm restoration fund after more than 50 severe weather events have impacted its network in recent years, including Hurricanes Michael, Irma, and Matthew, and Ice Storm Pax.
The filing also details the costs of Georgia Power’s environmental compliance programs. Additionally, the company is seeking to extend and expand its current suite of rate plans and enhance its payment options, including continuing to offer the low-income senior citizen discount, adding a Pay-by-Day rate plan and eliminating certain fees.
As outlined in the filing, the typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month would see an increase of $9.78 per month on their bill. A final decision by the PSC is expected in December.
The patients who will face the new charge fall into two categories: those who are uninsured and pay for their own care, and those who have insurance with high deductibles.
Chris Kane, a consultant with Progressive Healthcare, said Friday that the Piedmont move “is consistent with trends in revenue cycle management and will likely be adopted by other health systems.’’