A major day of events and emotional experiences has come to a close. Wayne Schroyer, a friend and member of my church, Hollywood Baptist, was buried yesterday, July 9, 2019. He was the husband of Lois Woods Schroyer, who was one of the founding members of the church. The church was packed with folks as befitted the passing of a fine, caring man.

When I wrote articles in a couple of weekly newspapers on the WW II veterans and later the Korean vets, I learned that Wayne was a veteran and was able to write his story. Wayne, a retired doctor, was completely unassuming, a true gentleman and a kind, thoughtful person. After he married Lois, Wayne was in my Sunday School class when I was teaching adult men at Hollywood.

“Life goes on but it will not be the same.”

We became friends and that friendship never wavered because Wayne was that kind of a person. Wayne was a quiet man but a deep thinker and sensitive person. I might add he was a humble man but had strong will and purpose. I cannot name a single instance of discourtesy or arrogance in his behavior. Wayne was unassuming and willing to let the other guy have the limelight and the glory.

Now that Wayne is in heaven the angels are singing but he will be sorely missed down here. Pray for Lois and family members. Life goes on but it will not be the same.

A Boil Water Advisory has been issued for Clarkesville City water customers in the area of Grant Street between Asbury Street and Hawg Wild.

The advisory area also includes Brightwell and Mary Street, according to a notice from the City of Clarkesville.

Water service for this area will also be interrupted for a fire hydrant to be repaired.

Once service resumes, people in these areas are advised to boil their water before drinking, cooking, or preparing baby food with it. Water should be boiled for at least one minute after its brought to a rolling boil.

The Boil Water Advisory remains in effect until further notice.

Myrtle Louise Dozier Brigmond, age 84, passed away Wednesday, July 3rd, 2019 at home surrounded by her loving family and under the care of Hospice of Cincinnati.

She was born on October 12th, 1934 in Brunswick, GA. and lived most of her life in Blackshear, Georgia. After 33 years of service, she retired from CSX Transportation to become a full-time grandmother. She was and continues to be an inspiration to her grandchildren and to all who knew her as she lived by example. She will be forever remembered by her smile, her kind words, and her giving heart.

Myrtle was preceded in death by her father Tully Clyde Dozier, her mother Idella Inez Harrison Dozier, two sisters Idella Inez Dozier Newham and Evelyn Mae Dozier Willoughby, her four brothers Tully Clyde Dozier Jr., John Harold Dozier, Wilson Eugene Dozier and James Kenneth Dean Dozier.

She is survived by her children Leisa An. Brigmond Crawford of Hortense, GA., Lonnie Allen Brigmond (wife Charlene) of Blackshear, GA., Lynn Allison Brigmond Kerr (husband Bob) of Cincinnati, OH., Lorie Anita Brigmond McGovern (husband Allen) of Toccoa, GA., her grandchildren Brian Arnold Blunt Jr., John Michael Harrison Blount, Clayton Garrett Brigmond, Lonnie Ashton Williams, Robert Cullen Kerr, Timothy Bailey Holbrook (wife Brandi), William Duncan Holbrook, Brigmond Riley Holbrook (wife Lillie), Peyton Victoria Holbrook, and many nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, July 20th at Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel in Demorest, Georgia.

Arrangements are in the care of Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, North Chapel, 245 Central Avenue, Demorest, Georgia 30535.

James Maurice Albert Carroll, age 76 of Marietta, Georgia passed away on Tuesday, July 09, 2019.

A native of Clarkesville, Georgia, James was born on October 15, 1942, a son of the late Albert James and Flora Welborn Carroll. He was a 1960 graduate of North Habersham High School and served his country proudly in the United States Air Force. He married Delores Skelton on October 12, 1963 and together they enjoyed 55 years of marriage. James retired from Lockheed-Martin after 44 years of dedicated service. While working at Lockheed-Martin, he served in several capacities including Vice President and later President of the Local Lodge #709 for 22 years. In his spare time, James enjoyed woodworking, gardening, travel and photography. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his granddaughter, Taylor.

Survivors include his loving wife, Delores Skelton Carroll of Marietta, GA; daughter and son-in-law, Kimberly Carroll Stone  and Ron Stone of Hiawassee, GA; son, Chad Carroll of Doraville, GA; granddaughter, Taylor Nicole Stone of Hiawassee, GA; brothers and sisters-in-law, Jerry and Gertrude Carroll of the Batesville Community, Clarkesville, GA; Ron and Karen Carroll, Donald and Sharon Carroll, all of Clarkesville, GA; sister, Betty Gean Carroll Carraway of Charlotte, NC; several nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 PM Sunday, July 14, 2019 from the Hillside Memorial Chapel. Interment will follow in the Hillside Gardens Cemetery with full military honors provided by the United States Air Force, Grant Reeves VFW Post # 7720, Habersham County American Legion Post # 84, and Rabun County Disabled American Veterans Chapter # 15.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 12:00 Noon until the service hour on Sunday.

An online guest book is available at www.hillsidememorialchapel.com.

Arrangements by Hillside Memorial Chapel, Clarkesville, Georgia (706) 754-6256

North Georgia Technical College culinary arts instructor Chris Bladowski was recently named Atlanta Educator of the Year for the American Culinary Federation. The American Culinary Federation is a nation-wide professional organization for chefs and cooks across the U.S.

“It is a great honor to be recognized by the American Culinary Federation,” says Bladowski. “To be rewarded for the work that NGTC does for the local and state community is fantastic.”

Bladowski got his start in the culinary world as a dishwasher at age 13. He notes that it was there he received his first taste of “excitement, adrenaline, flames, chaos, and order of the kitchen.”

“Culinary arts is something I have always done.”

After graduating from both the University of Georgia and the Culinary Institute of America, he moved to France to continue his culinary training. When he returned to the United States, Bladowski became the chef at SWISSOTEL Buckhead, SWISSOTEL Drake New York City and the Grand Hyatt Buckhead.

Bladowski notes his greatest achievement and challenge was opening his restaurant, Fisherman’s Cove, on Lake Hartwell with his brother, Alex. Chris has been a culinary arts instructor at NGTC since 2006.

“Culinary arts is something I have always done. I would constantly train employees on new culinary techniques while I worked to stay current on food trends. It was natural to move from production to education when I came to teach students at NGTC,” he says.

Tickets are now on sale for Habersham Community Theater’s upcoming production of the classic Rodgers and Hammerstien musical Oklahoma!

Set in the Oklahoma Territory in the early 1900s, this musical tells the story of farm girl Laurey Williams and her two rival suitors. Curly is a cowboy who has trouble admitting his feelings to Laurey. Judd is the hired hand who tries to come between them. Meanwhile, Laurey’s friend Ado Annie is torn between Will, a cowboy who has strong feelings for her, and Ali Hakim, a peddler who’s a ladies’ man and doesn’t want to marry her.

The original Broadway production opened on March 31, 1943. It was a box-office smash and inspired an Academy Award-winning film in 1955 starring Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones (in her film debut).

Rodgers and Hammerstein won a special Pulitzer Prize for Oklahoma! in 1944.

The HCT production is co-directed by Susan Watson and Lindsey Brackett. LeAnne Challenger is musical coordinator and Amber Miller is choreographer.

The show opens August 1. Performances are Aug. 1-3 and Aug. 8-10 at 7:30 p.m. and Aug. 4 & 11 at 2 p.m. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling the box office at 706-839-1315.

Thousands of people, including law enforcement from all over Georgia, are expected in Hall County today for the funeral of slain Hall County Sheriff’s Deputy Nicolas Blane Dixon.

Dixon died Monday after being shot during a foot chase with burglary suspects. Four teenagers were arrested in connection with the shooting.

Several main roads in Gainesville will be closed just before and during Deputy Dixon’s funeral procession. If you’re traveling through the area the sheriff’s office urges you to use alternate routes.

The Hall County Sheriff’s Office headquarters, North and South precincts will be closed so that officers and staff may attend the funeral. Officials say the closure will not affect law enforcement service in the county. All emergency and non-emergency phone lines will be staffed.

Funeral and procession

Deputy Dixon’s funeral is scheduled to begain at 11 a.m. at Free Chapel Worship Center at 3001 McEver Road. Law enforcement will then escort his body to his final resting place at Memorial Park Cemetery in Gainesville.

Parking at Free Chapel will begin at 9 a.m. Lots on the campus have been designated for family, law enforcement, media and the public. Additional public parking will be available at the Hall County Government Center lot that is closest to Free Chapel.

After the funeral, a procession will leave the church at 3001 McEver Road for Memorial Park Cemetery. Law enforcement patrol vehicles with flashing blue lights will line each side of the roadway along the route. The procession, including the funeral caisson, will pass through the center on its way to the cemetery.

The Hall County Sheriff’s Office welcomes members of the community to line the procession route to celebrate the life and contributions of Deputy Dixon.

The procession will turn right onto McEver Road/GA 53 from the church parking lot. It will then turn right onto Browns Bridge Road/GA 369. From there, the procession will proceed to Memorial Park Drive and turn right into the cemetery.

Roadways used during the funeral procession will be completely closed from approximately 11:45 a.m. until the procession ends.

Because of space constraints at the cemetery, graveside honors will be live-streamed to Free Chapel for members of the public in attendance at the funeral.

The Habersham County Grand Jury this week indicted a Cornelia mother accused of shaking her baby to death back in April.

Elba Maureen Santiago was indicted on multiple charges including two counts of felony murder, two counts of first-degree cruelty to children, and aggravated battery in the death of her 3-month-old daughter, court records show.

Santiago is accused of violently shaking her daughter, causing permanent brain damage. The indictment also states Santiago caused “cruel and excessive physical pain by squeezing said child causing rib injury.”

Disturbing 911 call

The alleged incident happened on April 2, 2019, at the AppleTree Inn in Cornelia.

In a 911 call to Habersham County Dispatch, a man identifying himself as the baby’s father tells the dispatcher the child “isn’t acting right”. He says he was on his way home from work when his wife called him to say their daughter’s “eyes were not straight.” As the two talk, a child can be heard in the background. The dispatcher asks the caller how long the baby’s been like this and he responds “I don’t know. I have been at work all day and my wife says that she just woke up and she was acting this way.”

“This case has shocked the conscience of everyone involved…” – Cornelia Police Chief Chad Smith

Cornelia police and fire personnel along with Habersham EMS responded to the scene. An ambulance transported the child, who the indictment also refers to as Elba, to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville. From there she was life-flighted to Scottish Rite Hospital in Atlanta.

Santiago was arrested on April 10, two days after her baby died at Scottish Rite.

The Department of Family and Children Services took custody of Santiago’s other child who was 18-months-old. Cornelia Police Chief Chad Smith said at the time the case “shocked the conscience of everyone involved.”

Santiago, who was 25 at the time of her arrest, remains in jail without bond. She’s scheduled to be arraigned on July 25 in Habersham County Superior Court.

There’s a potential hurricane brewing in the Gulf of Mexico and it could bring some wet weather our way over the next couple of days.

Forecasters say tropical moisture across the Southeast could lead to some locally heavy rain and isolated flooding over the next several days.

The forecast currently calls for a 60% chance of rain Thursday, increasing to 70% Thursday night. Rain chances remain high for Habersham and surrounding counties through Saturday.

Stay alert to changing weather conditions. For updated Five-Day forecasts click HERE.

Albert R. McFall, age 65 of Clarkesville, passed away on July 6, 2019.

Born in Demorest, Georgia on October 30, 1954, to the late Marshall Franklin McFall and Mary Elizabeth Ramey Collier. Mr. McFall worked for Hardman Farms doing construction and farming.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Cathy Bryson; half-brother, Ronald Carroll.

Surviving are his sister, Judy Marie Smith of Clarkesville; sister-in-law, Linda Carroll of Turnerville.

No formal services are planned at this time.

An online guest register is available and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinandstewart.com.

McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home of Cornelia, Georgia (706/778-8668) is in charge of arrangements.

Habersham County Sheriff’s Deputy Dakota Foster stands next to fallen Deputy Nicolas Blane Dixon’s patrol car outside of Free Chapel in Gainesville prior to Dixon’s funeral. This is the car Dixon was riding in the night he was fatally shot. (photo courtesy of Jeff Lovell)

It’s a day of mourning and remembrance in Hall County as thousands have gathered to pay their last respects to Hall County Sheriff’s Deputy Nicolas Blane Dixon.

The 28-year-old Dixon died Monday after being shot by a suspect during a foot chase.

Law enforcement officers are now escorting Deputy Dixon’s body on a caisson from Free Chapel to Memorial Park Cemetery in Gainesville.

Habersham County Sheriff’s Deputy Dakota Foster was among the hundreds of law enforcement officers who attended the funeral for Hall County Deputy Nicolas Blane Dixon. Here Foster is seen standing beside Dixon’s patrol car outside of the Free Chapel worship center in Gainesville where Dixon’s funeral was held on July 11, 2019.

(photo courtesy of Jeff Lovell)

A state fire investigator will try to determine what caused a house fire to break out Thursday evening in Demorest.

Habersham County 911 received a call at 6:58 p.m. from a next-door neighbor about a possible structure fire in the 200 block of Pheasant Drive. The caller reported seeing smoke coming from the house, according to Habersham County Emergency Services Director Chad Black.

Habersham 911 dispatched Habersham County Engines 13, 14, Medic 21, Battalion 1, Captain 1, Demorest and Lee Arrendale Fire Departments.

When units arrived, they found a 1,000-foot, wood-frame, single-story house with smoke and fire showing. Upon entering the house, firefighters discovered two rooms were burning. They launched an aggressive interior attack and managed to contain the blaze. Fire damage was limited to those two rooms. Black says the rest of the house sustained smoke damage.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known and the State Fire Marshall’s Office was called in to investigate.

Members of the Tallulah Falls School middle school basketball team competed in the Mountain Madness Team Camp June 17-18 in Young Harris.

The Indians competed in three games each day against some tough competition, gaining valuable game experience and setting the tone for an off-season full of hard work, according to coach Anthony Cox.

“Last season, our ‘A’ team was comprised of all eighth-grade players. The boys did a fantastic job playing against an older team during this camp,” said coach Tom Tilley. “It’s been more of a learning experience working with our younger players this summer. They are getting familiar with the physical nature of this level of play. I am proud of the heart the team showed and how they listened to instructions to get better each game.”

The middle school basketball programs compete in the Tri-State Middle School Conference. The regular season for both the boys ‘A’ and boys ‘B’ teams takes place November through February, culminating in the Tri-State Championship for the ‘A’ team in early February.

Shown, front row, from left, are Rylee Smith of Turnerville, Tanner Davis of Cornelia, Merrick Carnes of Cornelia, Tate Turpin of Eastanolee and TJ Cox of Cornelia; back row, from left, coach Anthony Cox, KC Respress-Young of Cleveland, Elijah Barker of Eastanolee, Teryk Tilley of Tallulah Falls, Sam Ketch of Clarkesville, Jackson Carlan of Baldwin and coach Tom Tilley.

Photo courtesy of Tallulah Falls School

Camper Jerry Chastain practices CPR techniques with help from NGTC students. (NGTC)

North Georgia Technical College LEGO campers recently participated in a week of building engineering skills and creativity centered around LEGO bricks. The camp was open to kids ages 6-12.

Campers also had the opportunity to tour various programs on the Clarkesville Campus including welding, emergency medical systems and CNC machine tools.

Welding Instructor Dusty Bolman spoke to the group about the importance of welding in our community, and NGTC students gave a demonstration on cutting metal with a plasma torch.

EMS students demonstrated CPR and gave campers a chance to practice hands-on CPR training. They also toured the NGTC ambulance and learned about patient safety.

Following a tour of the new CNC lab, campers watched as NGTC students demonstrated their skills by creating spinning tops for the campers to take home as souvenirs.

Northeast Georgians are again preparing to say goodbye to another local law enforcement officer. Habersham Deputy Patrick Mayfield will be buried tomorrow.

Mayfield died July 5 in North Carolina. His family will receive visitors today, July 12, from noon-2 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at Moss-Stovall-Neal Funeral Home in Toccoa. His funeral will be held Saturday, July 13, at 2 p.m. in the auditorium at Habersham Central High School in Mt. Airy.

Mayfield was a School Resource Officer with the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office. He previously worked with the police department in his hometown of Toccoa.

The 52-year-old Mayfield was well-known within the local community for his work in law enforcement and with youth. He coached many years at many different levels, according to his obituary, and he currently worked as Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach at HCHS.

Toy drive set up in his honor

SRO Mayfield was a beloved member of the sheriff’s office and Habersham County community, as evidenced by the hundreds of tributes that have been posted online in his memory. He was known for his infectious laugh and contagious smile.

“His big heart was filled with generosity and kindness. He was a gadget guy always wanting to show his toys to the kids, or awe them by turning his patrol lights on,” says his family.

His family and colleagues hope to harness that love to help local children. They’ve set up a toy drive at the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office in honor of Mayfield.

You may drop off toys with Miranda Kemp or Kelly Duncan from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The donated toys will be given to children who need them at Christmas.

Deputy Patrick Mayfield obituary

Margaret Williams Galloway, age 75, of Mt. Airy, Georgia passed away on Thursday, July 11, 2019, at her residence following an extended illness.

Mrs. Galloway was born on October 27, 1943, in Clarkesville, Georgia to the late Shubert and Australia Blair Williams. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Edgar “Eddy” Joe Galloway, Jr. Mrs. Galloway was a member of Crossroads Baptist Church and was retired from Ethicon. Margaret, known as “Granny” was a loving and dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother.

Survivors include her loving husband of 55 years, Joe Galloway, of Mt. Airy; daughter and son-in-law, Laura and David Kytle, of Mt. Airy; daughter and son-in-law, Caryl and Steve Loudermilk, of Mt. Airy; grandson, Kyle Gunn, of Mt. Airy; granddaughter and husband, Kiara and Joe Mealor, of Alto; granddaughter and friend, Kelli Campbell and Justin Oliver, of Alto; grandson and wife, Steven and Madi Loudermilk, of Clarkesville; sister, Annie Mae Crawford, of Mt. Airy; brothers and sisters-in-law, Carl and Beth Williams, of Toccoa; Rick and Joan Williams, of Clarkesville; Howard and Marcia Williams, of Mt. Airy; Curtis and Lynn Williams, of Clarkesville; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Curtis and Angie Galloway, of Alto; and a great host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, July 14, 2019, at Whitfield Funeral Home, South Chapel with Rev. Austin Kelley officiating. Interment will follow in Yonah Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday, July 13, 2019, at the funeral home.

The following gentlemen will serve as pallbearers: Randy Galloway, Tony Galloway, Barry Galloway, Steven Loudermilk, Justin Oliver, Joe Mealor, and Kyle Gunn will serve as an honorary pallbearer.

Flowers will be accepted or memorial donations may be made to St. Jude’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105, or Hospice of Northeast Georgia. 2150 Limestone Parkway, Suite 222, Gainesville, GA 30501

Arrangements are in the care of Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, North Chapel, 245 Central Avenue, Demorest, Georgia 30535.

A Demorest man accused of slashing his brother’s throat and killing him will be arraigned later this month on murder charges. The Habersham County Grand Jury this week indicted Dennis Wayne Taylor for malice murder, felony murder, and aggravated assault in the April 26, 2019, death of Donnie Taylor.

The two men lived together in a residence at 2880 Highway 115 in Demorest.

Authorities say Dennis Taylor called Habersham County 911 on the day of the alleged murder and reported that his brother was dead. When officers arrived they found his 47-year-old brother’s body.

Dennis Taylor, who was 53 at the time, was arrested and booked in the Habersham County jail. He remains in jail without bond. He’s scheduled to be arraigned in Habersham County Superior Court on July 25.

Taylor is the second person from Habersham indicted this week in connection with a family member’s death. On July 8 the Grand Jury handed down indictments against Elba Santiago who’s charged with murdering her infant daughter.

Cornelia Police are asking for the public’s help to find a woman who’s been missing now for almost two weeks.

29-year-old Sara Kathleen Williams, who goes by the name “Katie”, was last seen in Cornelia on July 2, 2019. Police say they believe she was headed to Gainesville.

Someone using Williams’ Facebook profile commented on the police department’s post about her disappearance, but police say they can’t be sure it was her. As of now, they still consider her to be missing.

“At this time we can’t verify if it’s actually her so the case will remain active until we make physical contact with her and make sure she is okay,” Sgt. Shane Adams tells Now Habersham.

Williams has brown hair and blue eyes. She’s 5’7″ tall, weighs 125 pounds, and has a tattoo of an eighth note on her shoulder blade.

Information released by CPD says Williams has contacts in Athens, Gainesville, Buford, Atlanta, and Jacksonville, Florida. Cornelia Police ask if you know where she is or have information about her whereabouts to please call them at 706-778-4314 or Habersham County E-911 at 706-778-3911.

During a tense standoff last year, deputies say Joshua Libby refused their commands and threatened them with a knife when they tried to arrest him at his home in Mt. Airy.  Libby holed up in the house after he allegedly ran his Dodge Ram pickup truck into a neighbor’s chicken house. Deputies say he was drinking.

The standoff lasted more than two hours and finally ended after deputies used a pepper launcher and bean bag round to get Libby to surrender. They arrested him and charged him with multiple offenses.

Now, Libby’s headed to court to answer to the charges against him.

On July 9, the Habersham County Grand Jury indicted Libby for obstruction of an officer, second-degree criminal damage to property, DUI, and reckless driving.

In the indictment, Libby is accused of threatening Habersham County deputies Kris Hall, Zach Oxner, Matt Wurtz, and Floyd Canup on May 23, 2018.

In a press release issued after the alleged incident, Lt. Wurtz said, “Every time Libby crossed in front of the doorway where deputies could see him he would wave a knife at the deputies.”

The Habersham  County Sheriff’s Office held a press conference after Libby’s arrest to demonstrate the non-lethal weapons used to successfully de-escalate the situation.

Libby’s arraignment is scheduled for July 25 in Habersham County Superior Court.