RCut funding causes debate among City Officials
Featured News, Featured Stories June 21, 2021
Blue Ridge, Ga. – The “look of impropriety” fueled debate over the City of Blue Ridge’s recent involvement in improvements to Highway 515.
Previously the University of North Georgia (UNG) had approached the city looking for help in obtaining funds to create an RCut in the median of Hwy. 515. This RCut would allow motorists to make a left hand turn off the highway and into the entrance of the campus.
Almost completed RCut on Hwy. 515 allowing access to the UNG campus.
GDOT (Georgia Department of Transportation) looked into the project and determined there was a need for the RCut due to potential traffic flow and for safety reasons.
“The developer couldn’t pull a DOT permit,” Mayor Donna Whitener stated as to the City’s initial involvement but clarified that the request for the RCut came from UNG.
Councilmember Nathan Fitts stated that he had no issue with the City being a vehicle for obtaining the permit but took issue with taxpayer dollars being spent on the project.
GDOT initially slated $150,000 towards providing the RCut this funding came through LMIG (Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant) and developer, John Kieffer put in approximately $48,000 towards surveying and engineering fees.
The low bid for the project came in at $220,978.61. UNG agreed to contribute $35,000 to the RCut project but this still left a shortfall of $35,978.61.
UNG approached both the City of Blue Ridge and the Fannin County Commissioners asking for funds to cover the shortfall but neither entity would agree to pay with local tax dollars.
“I’ve not even officially got word of that and I’m a councilmember. No one has ever given me notice,” Councilmember Rhonda Haight explained that none of the council was notified that funds to complete the project had been gathered and wanted an explanation as to where and how the funds came about.
The remaining funds came through another LMIG grant from GDOT in the amount of $35,000 and UNG made up the remainder $978.61.
Fitts conveyed his disappointment that the remaining funds came from taxpayers, even if at a state level: “This is a developer expense. It’s always been a developer expense and it is not right for the city taxpayers and in my opinion the state taxpayers to pay for a developer’s entrance.”
The developer is assumed to substantially increase the monetary value of the remaining parcels for sale by obtaining the RCut according to Fitts.
“Me and Rhonda talked to Mr. Keiffer and said that on our watch we would not approve it through the city,” Fitts said, explaining that he didn’t feel tax dollars should be spent for the financial gain of a private developer and that projects of this nature should be at the developer’s expense.
Fitts stated that in private conversation the developer had initially said he would be paying for the expenses but that the narrative changed.
“The college did need it, but the conversation that was told to us was that he (Kieffer) needed help from us because he had lost money on that property he had sold to the college,” Fitts said of the ordeal adding that taxpayers should not be on the hook for a developer’s bad business decision.
Signage advertising remaining parcels for sell in the development.
“It is a look again of impropriety that the City keeps getting itself into, that we all the sudden are paying for a personal developer to have an RCut,” Haight added.
Evidence of the boost to property value and appeal can be seen by a recent sign placed that advertises the RCut coming soon as well as the remaining tracts for sale.
“Are we going to have to pay for all the developers from here on out?” Haight questioned if the City would be setting a precedent for future transactions, and added, “As a state taxpayer I’m a little appalled that my money went to pay for this private RCut.”
The second LMIG in the amount of $35,000 came from the state when Whitener spoke with state level representatives about the issue. This was done without council knowledge according to Haight and Fitts.
“Thanks to Steve Gooch and GDOT. I really appreciate their help,” Whitener said, explaining that the state came in and saw a need for the RCut or would not have given the go ahead on the project.
Whitener also pointed out that LMIG funds could be used anywhere in the state.
“I’m glad that those state tax dollars are being allotted for our area,” Whitener stated, “It is going toward improving safety for the people driving down 515, one of our busiest roads.”
***Featured Image is sign placed by real estate agent representing the developer advertising remaining property and RCut
Author
Delgado case updates with new warrant and suspect
Featured News, Featured Stories, News June 18, 2021
CHERRY LOG, Ga. – New information is continuing to come out from authorities on the April 20, 2021, discovery of the murder of Rosanna Delgado.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigations has issued yet another warrant in the investigation, this time for Maria Katherine Chavez Encarnacion, 28, of Marietta, GA. The warrant was officially issued for murder due to her alleged involvement.
According to authorities, Encarnacion’s last known location is Mexico. They did not say exactly how Encarnacion was involved in the murder.
As always, officials are asking anyone with any information about Encarnacion’s current location to contact the GBI.
Tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS(8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app. If anyone sees Encarnacion, please contact 911.
This case has been ongoing since late April, but it has seen consistent updates as GBI, Homeland Security, and Gilmer Sheriff have supported and continued investigations that started with a welfare check at a Cherry Log Residence. Since then, they have issued seven warrants for arrest, Encarnacion being the seventh. They have also made three arrests of those warrants and one related arrest.
As the investigation nears two months, this latest warrant could indicate new information or changes in the case, as the GBI continues updating us, we will continue to update the story.
Authorities offer statement to warn of possible severe weather conditions
News June 17, 2021
GILMER COUNTY, Ga. – The National Weather Service (NWS), Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA), and Gilmer County Public Safety are alerting citizens to a possible hazardous weather condition over the coming weekend.
According to the statement released, areas of North Georgia could see increased risks of Flooding “Saturday night through Tuesday.” Public Safety told FYN that they receive their information directly from and work closely with these agencies like GEMA in preparing and readying the local response.
Authorities over the North Georgia Region are currently looking for more information to better estimate the exact amount of rainfall. The current information predicts between 3 and 7 inches of rainfall but the NWS did say there remains a large amount of uncertainty regarding the rainfall totals.
The NWS stated, “The combination of a Gulf tropical low and a cold front will create a one-two punch for Georgia beginning late Saturday and continuing through Tuesday. There remains a good deal of model uncertainty with the timing and coverage of the heaviest precipitation and changes to the forecast rainfall totals can be expected with subsequent forecast packages.”
GEMA’s release was also shared by local Public Safety as they are attempting to give citizens information about the possibility. The release stated, “The highest amounts of 5 to 7 inches are expected over portions of north and northeast Georgia where the topography will enhance rainfall activity.”
Part of the reason for concern comes as the recent storms in the area have kept streamflow normal at most river gage locations. The heat and dryness could help soil absorb some rain, but “persistent heavy rainfall over an area will create runoff issues quickly, especially across urban areas and north Georgia’s complex terrain.”
With this advisory, authorities are suggesting that people consider the possibility and prepare by cleaning drainage systems on or around their homes and property. As Gilmer is heavily rural, quickly accumulating rainfall can also produce widespread flooding of smaller, fast-responding creeks in the area.
Stay alert to changing forecasts. “A Flash Flood or Flood Watch may be issued for portions of north and central Georgia in the next 24 to 48 hours if forecast totals remain similar.”
Gilmer has had a number of devastating storms in recent years, many locals know which creeks and rivers will rapidly rise, for those aware and those unaware, Public Safety is sharing information at this point to keep citizens from potentially being caught off guard.
Panter and Fitts give their opinion on recent affordable housing vote
Featured News, Featured Stories June 10, 2021
Blue Ridge, Ga. – Councilmembers Mike Panter and Nathan Fitts are sharing their reasoning behind a recent controversial vote on a proposed housing project presented by the Beverly J. Searles Foundation.
The following are direct statements from Panter and Fitts regarding their votes and opinions on the matter.
From Councilmember Mike Panter
Why I Voted No
To the Citizens of Blue Ridge, I have been asked multiple times sine May 11th, why I didn’t support the rezoning request and the affordable housing development with the Searles Foundation.
Let me begin by saying I do and have always supported the need for affordable housing in the City of Blue Ridge and Fannin County. However, just because you support something doesn’t mean you should automatically vote for something that is going to affect the citizens for the next 50 years. You must be able to support why you believe that this project is best for the city residents. Especially when over 100 citizens who live within a mile of the proposed project have signed a petition against the project.
When you stop and think about an additional 171 rental units being built and 200 additional automobiles daily, between two schools, on a heavily traveled road that has no traffic lights, turn lanes, street lights, sidewalks, roundabouts, any type of traffic study, or a 5-to-10-year strategic growth plan, it doesn’t make sense. You say to yourself there has to be a better location.
This project was started by the Haights on January 28, 2021. The variance application was not applied for until February 26, 2021. It was briefly introduced to the Council April 13, 2021 without any detailed information. It was presented to the zoning and planning board May 2, 2021 and to the council for final vote May 11, 2021. A lot of people didn’t understand that this was a land swap instead of a traditional purchase and sell. In my opinion both boards should have at least 30 days to research and verify their information before voting.
I was the only council member present at the one-hour meeting. Unlike other members of the audience, I was not allowed to speak or ask any questions because I am an elected official. Therefore, the majority of questions I would have asked were not addressed. One member of the Planning Commission was 30 minutes late to the meeting but still felt that they had enough information to make a motion to approve this 20 – 30-million-dollar project.
Is the Searles Foundation the right partner/developer for our city residents if we can only choose one?
- Who are the partners that will be involved in the Searles Project?
- Could the project ever be transferred or sold to another entity? What type of entity?
- Who manages the project? Fairway Management Company? Haight House, LLC? Other?
Even though our current water and sewer is in good shape, the sewer plant was built 23 years ago and is currently in the design phase for a 5-million-dollar rehab. Can it handle another 171 apartments within the Mineral Springs area over the next 3 years?
What effect does President Biden’s 213-billion-dollar proposal for infrastructure and housing have on this project? Will the developer only allow current Fannin County citizens or will they be required to open up the development to qualified candidates within the state, southeast or country?
The following is a list of questions I have for the Foundation and Zoning Board.
- If we are going to have only one development within a 2-3 mile radius of the City, is this the best location?
- Will the current residents be forced to move?
- What is included in the rent? Water, power, cable?
- It has been stated that the Searles Foundation minimum rent is $600/month. The majority of residents are currently paying less than $300/month. Does their rent continue to stay the same?
- What out of pocket expense will the city residents and tax payers be responsible for?
- How do individuals with low to no income currently living in the woods behind businesses, cars, etc. afford the Searles Foundation project?
- What is the time period for construction?
- Will all of the trees be removed on the 15 acres?
- Will a center turn lane be added? If so when will the road be widened?
- Will sidewalks, traffic lights, streetlights or roundabouts be added?
- Who will be our new city residents? And can we have the answer to this question in a contract?
- Offering $40 thousand for road modifications at the end of Mineral Springs will by no means cover the expense. A traffic light and a roundabout would cost in excess of $100,000. Who pays the extra expense? City or County?
- Why is the Housing Authority pushing a 50-year contract when the current residents will be moved to the Searles project? There would be no need for this contract.
- Would the existing housing units be owned by the Haights and turned into personal rental income or torn down and developed into a trailer park?
- Can the Searles Foundation give us a plan or contract of what the current housing authority units will look like in 10 years?
These questions summarize why I requested an additional 2 – 3 days time before I was required to vote. How could I just vote Yes? I believe all of these questions need to be answered before a vote can take place which will affect our community for the next 50 years.
From Councilmember Nathan Fitts
I am extremely disappointed in some of our city elected officials and with the denial of the zoning for the affordable housing at the council meeting last week. To answer some of the outstanding questions I’ve heard and saw I wanted to outline the factual information as a council member. I know there have been some questions on why we didn’t table the vote for the rezoning.
First of all, I don’t know why we would have tabled the vote as that was one of the main objectives of the council meeting that was on the agenda. I am the council member who made the motion to APPROVE the zoning contingent upon all of the conditions that had been recommended to us by the Planning Commission and Zoning Board previously who had already heard the request. At a recent previous zoning hearing, the mayor actually violated the city’s meeting policy by allowing it to be tabled and when the question was raised at the meeting about the legalities of being able to table it, I was not willing to participate in anything other than what I knew to be the law and policy in place. Additionally, I had legal counsel who had advised me that we had to vote. Unfortunately, our city attorney was not present and was not available to provide legal advice at the time, so I made the motion and proceeded by the policy that was set for such which is that we were to vote immediately following the hearing. That rule is outlined on page 4 as Item 5 in the Meeting Rules of Procedures. Additionally, all council members had all of the information to review ahead of time. As a matter of fact, all of them had talked with the developer personally, got questions answered, and had from the zoning hearing time frame to the council meeting date to research and investigate any matters regarding this zoning request so a decision could be made the night of the hearing as required. There have been rumors that this hearing was “rushed” or “pushed” through in a matter of a couple of weeks, and I can attest to the fact that such statements are untrue. The amount of time for it was longer than what was required by law and this has been being discussed for many weeks. If there are any proven facts to the contrary, I have not been privy to it and have no knowledge of such.
What is most disappointing, and heartbreaking is that one of the biggest opportunities in the history of this county, in my opinion, for the local community was lost. The need for affordable housing is real and needed in a bad kind of way. The chance for us as the city council and as the community as a whole to help the “locals” was there and stripped away due to political and personal reasons in my opinion. I might also add from knowing all of the facts and information surrounding this project as a whole, I feel that was the reason and reason alone that the mayor voted no for the project is out of spite as one of the parties involved which is ashamed in my opinion. This was not about her and anything political this was about doing what is needed in the area and doing the right thing for the people, something the mayor has lost sight of over the last few years it seems. The reason the mayor publicly gave as she voted no was because she wished she just had some more information and had some numbers for the sewer. I know my jaw probably dropped open when that was the reason given because the mayor is or should be very aware of the city’s infrastructure information as it was her herself who just a couple of weeks ago quoted the exact information at a city council meeting and also as the previous zoning hearing for another developer that she was now acting like she didn’t know anything about and had questions regarding. Well for the record, the question regarding the sewer, was information that she knows and all of us know and have known. As I made the statement at the meeting, the sewer upgrades the city has to do regardless and already have planned to do. Below is a snapshot of our master infrastructure needs for both water and sewer which you will see both of the items in question on that the mayor didn’t know anything about or have recollection of. Perhaps she forgot this spreadsheet even existed because the Mineral Springs sewer and Aska pump station have been on a list for repair/replacement for quite some time and even talked about publicly in March when this information was provided to the public. The mayor herself even spoke about it at the infrastructure meeting we had in April but now a month later for this situation she knows nothing about it. Very interesting. I would highly suggest going back and watching the meeting or reading the minutes of the meeting on infrastructure and you’ll see her concerns stated for the denial were already addressed and she’s fully aware of that. Please listen to the meeting of the April 21, 2021 meeting and compare it to Tuesday night’s council meeting. One would think it was two different Mayors speaking at each meeting. One sounds highly educated about our sewer/water and the other she sounds like she has not clue as to what is going on with it and is confused with questions. So, what was the real reason??? Is she really just totally out of the loop and neglecting her job duties as CEO of the city or did she just use that as an excuse and play dumb so she could vote against it? Now that everything is being researched and dissected and she’s been caught in lie after lie, I would think she would have learned some valuable lessons, however, it doesn’t seem she has. Each of you can do your own research, watch and listen and you can make your own conclusion.
The water and sewer departments are both departments in which I am over so I can speak with firsthand knowledge of these items. These have been planned to be done and are slated to be completed by 2022 regardless of if this project had gotten approved or denied. The Aska pump station already has a task release number and will be applied for through grant at the beginning of next year. The cost is around $1,000,000. The Mineral Springs storm water problem is estimated at $500,000. It too is slated to be completed and corrected by 2021, but we will know more actually next week. Matt Smith, the city’s engineer from Carter and Slope, said that next week we will run another camera and he thinks the lines will have to be replaced as they are too small. He feels the high end of the project is $500,000. As stated, this is all in the works to be completed according to the plan by 2021 and is and has already been planned. The grant for the Aska Pump station would actually benefit from showing that we could have been adding more customers to this area. It shows we will have more ability to pay for these upgrades. Regardless of the project going forward or not, these two things HAVE TO BE DONE! There is no way around it.
In my opinion whether it be that used for the excuse or something else, there was going to be an excuse to vote no because of the underlying motif behind the denial. I had calls from people prior to the meeting trying to get what the true facts were about this project and the developers behind it as people were stating that they were called from the mayor personally giving information and her opinion on the project that were not even factual and were discrediting parties involved and doing what she’s been known to do best which is creating “chaos” to push her agenda. In addition to a personal vendetta towards some of the parties involved she also has been at odds with and has a strong dislike for the director of the housing authority for years. As a matter of fact, the housing authority as of this very minute still doesn’t have a signed coop agreement from the city that has expired, and they’ve been working diligently on getting done for months and months if not well over a year as I’ve been involved the last few months. Every time we get everything done and ready to vote and sign off on it, there’s another hurdle thrown up or excuse to delay it even further. Again, all power plays and personal dislikes which are putting the citizens and public’s best interest in the crossfire which is shameful and disgusting. For those people who are living in the tents around town, in campers and in tractor trailers, the homeless, and those living with family members because they can’t find housing and affordable housing at that in this area, they are the ones that this effected the most. This could have made an impact on their lives and it was an opportunity lost and only for the reasons for the mayor to flex her muscles for political and personal vendettas. I want to thank all of those people who have put so much time and effort in trying to get affordable housing in this area. It is needed way beyond what most people who live locally even realize. I hope that we can all do our part to help those in need and that there will be a new solution for affordable housing at some point in the near future for the residents of this area.
Author
Delgado case updates with woman’s identity and arrest warrant
Featured News, Featured Stories, News May 26, 2021
CHERRY LOG, Ga. – Investigators have confirmed the identity of, and issued a murder warrant for, a woman previously reported in the Rossana Delgado murder case as a person of interest that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) was seeking to question.
Originally releasing a video of an unnamed woman alongside Rossana Delgado in a Ross store, the GBI requested the public’s help in identifying her. Now, the GBI has released her name. But more than just the name, a murder warrant has been issued for Carolina Jazmin Rodriguez-Ramirez, 28 of Oklahoma, for her involvement in the murder of Rossana Delgado.
The GBI originally stated that the woman, now known to be Rodriguez-Ramirez, was one of the last people to interact with the victim long before authorities discovered the name of the fifth suspect when they arrested three people involved in the murder. Now, investigators have identified Rodriguez-Ramirez as the woman with Rossana Delgado in the Ross and Mercado Fresco video previously released in this case.
The video, taken on April 16, 2021, shows the now sixth suspect allegedly involved in the murder according to the warrant.
The GBI stated, “Rodriguez-Ramirez’ location is currently unknown, but she is believed to be in Mexico with at least one other suspect, Mario Alberto Barbosa-Juarez.”
The GBI press release also stated that additional charges are anticipated in addition to the murder warrant. They have already confirmed involvement and partnerships with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Atlanta, HSI Harlingen, Texas and Attaché Matamoros, Mexico. This was how they coordinated their three previous arrests in the case, all three of which took place in Mexico.
Police and Investigators have continually asked for the public’s help in identifying or finding additional information on suspects allegedly involved in the case, but have not commented specifically on if this identification came from a public tip or through the investigators themselves. More information is continuing to become available from the GBI and will be posted to FYN when available.
Management of City Parking will not go out to bid
City Council, Featured News, Featured Stories May 25, 2021
Blue Ridge, Ga. – Tempers flared again as Blue Ridge City Council voted on whether it would be in the City’s best interest to put the management of municipal parking out to bid.
In a second Special Called Meeting held on Friday, May 21, 2021, Council Member Nathan Fitts proposed that the City release Executive Parking Systems (EPS) from their current contract managing the City’s parking and put the duties of parking management out to bid.
Payment kiosk installed by EPS for 24/7 collections.
Fitts stated his reasoning for his proposal was that by not placing the service out to bid there was a look of impropriety in allowing the contract to continue without any competition and that EPS was in violation of the terms that had been agreed upon.
“The fact that this agreement only applied to special events is further confirmed by the audio of the City Council meeting in October 2019 when the council voted on this issue,” Fitts said, explaining the breach of contract.
According to Fitts the agreement with EPS was for the company to handle Special Events parking only, not day to day collections that the company is currently providing.
Council Member Rhonda Haight played audio clips from a previous meeting between City Council and the Downtown Development Authority where Fitts does clarify that EPS would be used for Special Events only.
Fitts said that EPS continuing to collect money for parking that was not from Special Events was in fact illegal.
Fitts stated, “The council has a duty to the citizens to immediately stop these unauthorized funds that are being collected by Executive Parking.”
During discussion, fellow Council Member Mike Panter referred to an email sent by City Attorney James Balli that stated “In this instance, the parking contract is not required to be submitted to the sealed bid process”.
The current contract between the City of Blue Ridge and EPS states of parking that EPS will furnish duties “as needed or requested by the City” and that EPS would collect “20% of the Net Operating income from each event, which is the total income made per event minus EPS employee expenses”.
EPS had presented the City with an updated contract changing the wording of these two statements to duties furnished would be “24 hours a day/7 days a week/ 365 days a year” and collecting “25% of the Net Operating Income each month from all City Properties, which is the total income made per month per location”.
The updated contract, however, was never approved by council.
“I know what the contract says,” Mayor Donna Whitener expressed when questioned if she understood the contract, “It says as needed and you all needed it.”
Fitts responded to Whitener saying that her opinion is invalid, “You have a conflict of interest because you sold them a piece of property. You’re in violation of the Charter.”
EPS signage located in municipal parking off of Mountain Street.
Shelli Wojohn, General Counsel at Valet Vault & Executive Parking Systems, also spoke up saying, “An event is every time we operate as per stated in the contract.”
“So every day is an event in Blue Ridge?” Haight questioned WoJohn.
As the meeting began to unravel, Whitener tried to adjourn but Haight said adjournment would not take place since a motion had already been made and the Council was in the middle of a vote.
Cesar Martinez, Chairman of the Downtown Development Authority, was asked his opinion since he had been present throughout much of the discussions related to the City’s parking.
“In my opinion, and I am not a lawyer,” Martinez responded, “When we let them put the parking meter up in the city municipal lot that was under the request of the City. They were doing it as needed and requested by the City.”
Panter and Council Member Harold Herndon voted against putting the service out to bid.
“They’ve done a good job. There was a need. Income has been good,” Herndon explained his position, “I don’t think the City at this time of the year can afford a delay or holding up services for any length of time.”
During fiscal year 2020 the City made $65,116.87 in revenues collected by EPS.
With two opposing votes (Panter and Herndon) and two in favor (Haight and Fitts), a tie breaking vote was cast by Mayor Whitener against bidding out parking management. Council Member Robbie Cornelius was not present for the meeting.
Haight went on record that she felt the Whitener’s vote was a direct conflict of interest due to a real estate transaction between the Mayor and EPS.
Haight also stated of EPS continuing to collect revenues everyday and not just for Special Events, “Right now in my opinion they (EPS) are taking money that doesn’t belong to them and that’s theft.”
Author
Three arrested in Delgado murder investigation
Featured News, Featured Stories, News May 17, 2021
CHERRY LOG, Ga. – Three arrests have been made, according to the Georgia Bureau of Ingvestigations (GBI), in relation to the April 20, 2021, murder of Rossana Delgado in Cherry Log, Georgia.
After weeks of searching for the suspects and asking the public for help in identifying persons involved, the GBI released a statement today confirming the capture of three suspects, providing progress to the investigation and refocusing some public support.
The GBI stated, “On Saturday, May 15 2021, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, working in partnership with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Atlanta, HSI Harlingen, Texas and Attaché Matamoros, Mexico coordinated the arrests of Megan Colone, 30, and Oscar Manuel Garcia, 26. The fifth suspect (previously identified in news releases by photographs) in this murder was located with Oscar Manuel Garcia and was identified as Juan Antonio Vega, 25. A warrant was taken for Vega for the murder of Rossana Delgado.”
According to GBI information, Vega is a Cobb County resident.
Megan Colone AKA Grace Beda
Oscar Garcia
The fifth suspect allegedly involved in the Delgado murder has now been identified as Juan Antonio Vega.
Since the murder, Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office, whose deputies discover Delgado as they conducted a welfare check at a residence in Cherry Log, Georgia, have passed the investigation to the GBI who have pursued the case up to these arrests.
All three suspects were apprehended in Mexico. GBI did not state specifically where in Mexico they were located, but did confirm that the suspects have been returned to the United States saying, “HSI Harlingen and Customs and Border Patrol oversaw the transport of the suspects to Texas detention facilities. All three are pending extradition proceedings to Georgia to face murder charges.”
GBI credited all agencies involved in the case as they noted that HSI has worked diligently to assist the GBI and the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office in this case and in these arrests. They stated, “The GBI and the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office are very grateful for the support and efforts of HSI and all agencies involved in affecting these arrests.”
However, with three suspects in custody, the case is still ongoing continuing the search for the additional suspects, Juan Ayala-Rodriguez, 35, of Gainesville, GA, and Mario Alberto Barbosa-Juarez, 29, of Oklahoma City, OK. The GBI and the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office continue to actively investigate this case and the individuals involved in the murder of Rossana Delgado.
Other aspects of this case are still pressing in that investigation as the GBI is still searching for the identity of one of the last people to interact with the victim, Rossana Delgado. Releasing a video of April 16, 2021. As one of the final people to see Delgado, GBI are seeking more information on the woman in the video with Delgado as a person of interest. Any information could be vital to aiding in capturing these suspects or in finding more details of Delgado’s final hours.
The GBI reiterated the push for the additional suspects saying, “A coordinated effort to locate and arrest the other two murder suspects, Juan Ayala-Rodriguez and Mario Alberto Barbosa-Juarez, is active and ongoing. Anyone with information as to the identity of the woman pictured in previous news releases are asked to contact the GBI. Tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS(8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.”
During their original release, the GBI stated that Colone may have been traveling under the alias, Grace Beda and was believed to be traveling with her minor children. They have since confirmed that Colone’s children were safely returned to the United States during these arrests operations.
Council rejects rezoning request on affordable housing development
City Council, Featured News, Featured Stories May 16, 2021
Blue Ridge, Ga. – The proposed affordable housing project to be located on Mineral Springs Drive has come to a halt after a tie breaking vote denied the rezoning request put forward by the Beverly J. Searles Foundation.
Emotions were high in a full room as City Council listened to sides both in support and in opposition of the new project.
The crowd gathered at City Hall on May 11 showed overwhelming support of the proposed affordable housing project, where at the Planning Commission meeting held on May 4, citizens present then were mainly in opposition of.
Despite the opposition, the Planning Commission chose to move forward, recommending rezoning of the area from R2 residential to R3 high density residential, contingent upon suggestions made through the staff analysis.
Proposed plans of affordable housing development in City of Blue Ridge.
Among the supporters present at the City Council meeting were many who work directly with various charitable organizations in Fannin County.
“Without a stable place to call home, it is very difficult for working families to show up for work consistently,” Sherry Morris, Executive Director of Fannin County Family Connection, said of situations that she encounters daily, “I know it seems unbelievable but national statistics show that impoverished citizens work an average of 1.4 jobs. That’s right, it takes a great deal of working hours at service wages just to be poor. Let’s be a caring community and give a hand-up to our citizens.”
Philip Searles, President of the Beverly J. Searles Foundation, was also in attendance to give Council and the public a brief overview of the intended affordable housing units.
Searles took the time to address several of the concerns that had been brought to his attention during the Planning Commission meeting.
Of these concerns, Searles addressed specifically the danger of the intersection at Mineral Springs Drive and Aska Road stating that his foundation was willing to work with the county and offer $40,000 towards a solution to the area, such as a traffic signal.
Searles also addressed nearby residents’ concerns of increased crime once the units were occupied. According to Searles, the units would not be available for occupancy to anyone with a previous felony that is on record. Searles also stated that he had spoken with local law enforcement on the matter.
His foundation proposed that they would install a vehicle tag reader at the entrance of the complex. This reader would have a direct feed to law enforcement and police would be able to monitor whether any vehicle entering the premises is connected to an active warrant.
“I’m not expecting this to buy you all or make you all want me here, I get that, but I want to let you all know that I hear you all and I’m trying to do what I can,” Searles turned and spoke to a group of would be neighboring residents who had expressed concerns during the Planning Commission meeting.
Residents from neighboring properties still spoke in opposition and expressed concerns over the City’s infrastructure as well as decreasing property values.
Council Members discussed their concerns over the project, with Council Member Nathan Fitts stating that his main concern would be with the added traffic to the area.
Council Member Mike Panter questioned Searles over recently passed Federal legislation allowing for Federal Housing to be filled with persons outside of the general area. Searles assured Panter that this would not happen due to the need for the housing in Fannin County.
Crowd storms out of City Hall after rezoning request is denied.
Traver Aiken, Manager of the Blue Ridge Housing Authority, explained that the demand in Fannin County is great for this type of housing. All of the Housing Authority units are currently occupied and according to Aiken there is a waiting list of approximately 70 applicants.
“I’ll be honest with you. I’m not ready to make a decision,” Panter stopped Council Member Nathan Fitts before a motion was made to vote, “We just got the report from the Planning Commission today.”
Discussion began of the legalities of tabling the rezoning request. Tabling would allow Council Members more time to research the topic.
With no clear guidance on whether delaying the vote was within the legal powers of the City Charter, Fitts motioned to accept the rezoning request with prior contingencies in place.
Council Member Rhonda Haight recused herself from the vote as she is the current owner of the property located on Mineral Springs in which the affordable housing complex would be built.
Council Members Nathan Fitts and Herald Herndon voted in favor of the rezoning request and Council Members Mike Panter and Robbie Cornelius voted against.
Mayor Donna Whitener cast the tie breaking vote in opposition of the rezoning request: “I don’t think anybody here is opposed to affordable housing but I just think that if we had had some more information, it would have been a little better. I would have liked to have known what this number is for sewer, so I vote no.”
Featured Image : Crowd gathers at City Hall for Council meeting regarding rezoning request for affordable housing development
Author
Affordable housing project one step closer to coming to Blue Ridge
City Council, Featured News, Featured Stories May 10, 2021
Blue Ridge, Ga. – The Beverly J. Searles Affordable Housing project is one step closer to coming to Blue Ridge. This comes after the Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend moving forward with rezoning of certain acreage to R3 high density residential.
The Beverly J. Searles Foundation, a Georgia based nonprofit that develops affordable housing, has a variety of requests pertaining to properties located along Mineral Springs Drive.
Philip Searles explains to the Planning Commission the plans for the affordable housing project.
Among these requests is for 1.2 acres of the property to be annexed into the City of Blue Ridge. Variances will also be considered for Phase 2 of this project, which will include units for age restrictive (senior) living. These variances are to reduce the number of required parking spaces from two per unit to one per unit and to increase the density from 10 units per acre to 12.
The Planning Commission was present to give recommendation to Blue Ridge City Council on whether the current zoning of the land should be moved from R2 to R3, allowing for a higher density population.
Philip Searles, President of the Beverly J. Searles Foundation, was in attendance to explain more about the project.
According to Searles, the project would be in competition with 90 to 100 other proposed housing developments across the state of Georgia. Ultimately the Georgia Department of Community Affairs would have final say on which of these projects would receive funding to move forward with construction.
“We believe what we have in Blue Ridge would be competitive,” Searles said of the proposed development off of Mineral Springs Drive.
The project consists of two phases with Phase 1 being family units and Phase 2 being restrictive age units (55 years of age and older).
Together 171 new units would be developed, 87 for family units and 84 for restrictive age.
Rent is based on median income of the area and is currently being proposed starting at:
- $603 for one bedroom/one bath
- $655 for two bedroom/one bath
- $722 for two bedroom/two bath
- $822 for three bedroom/two bath
- $900 for four bedroom/two bath
The buildings in the family units section would be three-four story split units, while all buildings in the restrictive age units would be single story.
“We know that affordable housing is a major issue in Blue Ridge. This is why we’re here,” Searles stated of the need for these units in the area.
Traver Aiken, who currently manages the Blue Ridge Housing Authority, will take over management of the affordable housing built by the Beverly J. Searles Foundation and all current residents of the Housing Authority will be relocated into the new units: “All of my units under multi family housing under HUD (United States Department of Housing and Urban Development) will be moving to that facility.”
There are currently 48 residents to be relocated.
Planning Commission Board Member Angie Arp commented on the current cleanliness of the Housing Authority units and questioned if the same care will be taken with the new project.
“Same policies would be in place,” Aiken responded to Arp, and welcomed anyone with concerns to look into his history with Blue Ridge Housing Authority, “I think I run a pretty tight ship.”
Planning Commission Board Members discuss concerns with those present in opposition of the project.
Applicants to the new facility would have to undergo a criminal background check. Aiken stated that applicant’s previous landlords would also be contacted and that there are provisions in the policies for Aiken to even do a current property inspection of an applicant’s living conditions before making the decision on if the applicant would be a good fit for one of the units.
Biannual HUD inspections would also take place of the units as well as inspections for the State of Georgia.
Residents of the area were present in opposition, stating many concerns over the placement of the project on Mineral Springs Drive. A petition with over 100 signatures was also presented in opposition of the new development.
“It’s going to put a burden on the fire department. It’s going to put a burden on the police department. It’s going to put a burden on the roads. It’s going to put a burden against the whole neighborhood,” one resident stated.
Those present in opposition explained that there are concerns of criminal behavior in the area. They also expressed concerns over infrastructure (sewer and water), drainage and traffic along Mineral Springs Drive, stating that the added development would only amplify these already existing issues.
Of major concern is the added traffic to Mineral Springs Drive. The road already sees a number of motorists due to the existing Mineral Springs Apartments (not affiliated with the new project) and many teen drivers from Fannin County High School.
Residents of the area feel that a development of this size would be better suited along Hwy. 515 where the added traffic could be handled.
Both those for and against the proposed development agreed that the intersection of Mineral Springs Drive and Aska Road would be of major concern as its current setup has been the cause of many near miss collisions. The County, however, would have to address this intersection as both roads in that particular area are County roads.
Searles addressed those present in opposition, “As much as it hurts me to say, Nimbyism (NIMBY – acronym for Not In My Backyard) is a true thing. I deal with this everywhere I go, cause everybody says we want affordable housing, we just want it out there.”
Planning, Zoning and Project Manager Jeff Stewart gave the staff analysis of the area, recommending that before any Land Disturbance Permit is issued he would like to have an engineer evaluate the sewer and water. If any updates to these systems must take place the developer would have to cover costs.
Stewart also recommended getting letters of approval for the proposed development from the Fannin County Fire Department and the Fannin County School District.
The Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend rezoning of the area, with completion of the recommendations of the staff analysis.
If approved on a local and state level, The Beverly J. Searles Foundation affordable housing project could begin next year, with Phase 1 (family units) starting in June 2022 and Phase 2 (restrictive age units) starting in June 2023.
City Council is expected to vote on the rezoning at their monthly meeting scheduled for Tuesday, May 11, 2020.
Flyer given out by the Beverly J. Searles Foundation offering explanation of the proposed project.
Author
Ask The Doc! Ascites And Spindle Cell Sarcoma
Community May 2, 2021
This week, the Doctors discuss Ascites in a patient whose lung Cancer is being treated by the Jimmy Carter Immune Therapy. What is it? How is it treated? They also touch on the Spindle Cell Sarcoma. How serious is it? What are the different kinds of Sarcomas? The doctors also give a brief Covid update.
GBI updates investigation with evidence and one connected arrest
Featured Stories, News April 30, 2021
CHERRY LOG, Ga. – The GBI has announced the seizure of two vehicles in relation to the murder of Rossana Delgado alongside an arrest.
“A white Ford F150 and white Buick Regal belonging to two of the five suspects in the murder of Rossana Delgado and Delgado’s red Ford Focus have been recovered. All three vehicles are being processed for evidence in this investigation,” said the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).
Rossana Delgado
In the same press release announcing the seizure of the vehicles, they also announced the arrest of Calvin Harvard, 28, of Covington, Georgia. Charged with tampering with evidence and theft by receiving stolen property, the GBI states that additional arrests are anticipated.
However, the GBI did not specifically state how Harvard is connected to the case or if the vehicles were specifically recovered from his home. However, the release does indicate some connection as part of the agency’s ongoing updates on the Delgado murder.
More information is continuing to come from the GBI and local authorities from the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office in this ongoing investigation. FYN will continue to update the story as more information becomes available.
GBI searches for new person of interest in Delgado murder
Featured News, Featured Stories, News April 27, 2021
CHERRY LOG, Ga. – Today the GBI released a video pointing out a specific person of interest that they are searching for.
The GBI is requesting the public’s assistance in identifying and locating the woman in this video.
According to the GBI’s Press Release, the woman is one of the last people to interact with the victim, Rossana Delgado. This video was noted in other reports and was taken on April 16, 2021. As one of the final people to see Delgado, GBI are seeking more information. The GBI has identified four suspects and has already released information seeking the identity of an unknown fifth suspect.
Now, this person of interest could have vital information on the case, the GBI is asking that anyone with information call the GBI Tipline at 1-800-597-TIPS(8477), report the information online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the mobile app, See Something Send Something.
Council rejects rezoning request on affordable housing development
City Council, Community, News May 14, 2021
Blue Ridge, Ga. – The proposed affordable housing project to be located on Mineral Springs Drive has come to a halt after a tie breaking vote denied the rezoning request put forward by the Beverly J. Searles Foundation.
Emotions were high in a full room as City Council listened to sides both in support and in opposition of the new project.
The crowd gathered at City Hall on May 11 showed overwhelming support of the proposed affordable housing project, where at the Planning Commission meeting held on May 4, citizens present then were mainly in opposition of.
Despite the opposition, the Planning Commission chose to move forward, recommending rezoning of the area from R2 residential to R3 high density residential, contingent upon suggestions made through the staff analysis.
Proposed plans of affordable housing development in City of Blue Ridge.
Among the supporters present at the City Council meeting were many who work directly with various charitable organizations in Fannin County.
“Without a stable place to call home, it is very difficult for working families to show up for work consistently,” Sherry Morris, Executive Director of Fannin County Family Connection, said of situations that she encounters daily, “I know it seems unbelievable but national statistics show that impoverished citizens work an average of 1.4 jobs. That’s right, it takes a great deal of working hours at service wages just to be poor. Let’s be a caring community and give a hand-up to our citizens.”
Philip Searles, President of the Beverly J. Searles Foundation, was also in attendance to give Council and the public a brief overview of the intended affordable housing units.
Searles took the time to address several of the concerns that had been brought to his attention during the Planning Commission meeting.
Of these concerns, Searles addressed specifically the danger of the intersection at Mineral Springs Drive and Aska Road stating that his foundation was willing to work with the county and offer $40,000 towards a solution to the area, such as a traffic signal.
Searles also addressed nearby residents’ concerns of increased crime once the units were occupied. According to Searles, the units would not be available for occupancy to anyone with a previous felony that is on record. Searles also stated that he had spoken with local law enforcement on the matter.
His foundation proposed that they would install a vehicle tag reader at the entrance of the complex. This reader would have a direct feed to law enforcement and police would be able to monitor whether any vehicle entering the premises is connected to an active warrant.
“I’m not expecting this to buy you all or make you all want me here, I get that, but I want to let you all know that I hear you all and I’m trying to do what I can,” Searles turned and spoke to a group of would be neighboring residents who had expressed concerns during the Planning Commission meeting.
Residents from neighboring properties still spoke in opposition and expressed concerns over the City’s infrastructure as well as decreasing property values.
Council Members discussed their concerns over the project, with Council Member Nathan Fitts stating that his main concern would be with the added traffic to the area.
Council Member Mike Panter questioned Searles over recently passed Federal legislation allowing for Federal Housing to be filled with persons outside of the general area. Searles assured Panter that this would not happen due to the need for the housing in Fannin County.
Crowd storms out of City Hall after rezoning request is denied.
Traver Aiken, Manager of the Blue Ridge Housing Authority, explained that the demand in Fannin County is great for this type of housing. All of the Housing Authority units are currently occupied and according to Aiken there is a waiting list of approximately 70 applicants.
“I’ll be honest with you. I’m not ready to make a decision,” Panter stopped Council Member Nathan Fitts before a motion was made to vote, “We just got the report from the Planning Commission today.”
Discussion began of the legalities of tabling the rezoning request. Tabling would allow Council Members more time to research the topic.
With no clear guidance on whether delaying the vote was within the legal powers of the City Charter, Fitts motioned to accept the rezoning request with prior contingencies in place.
Council Member Rhonda Haight recused herself from the vote as she is the current owner of the property located on Mineral Springs in which the affordable housing complex would be built.
Council Members Nathan Fitts and Herald Herndon voted in favor of the rezoning request and Council Members Mike Panter and Robbie Cornelius voted against.
Mayor Donna Whitener cast the tie breaking vote in opposition of the rezoning request: “I don’t think anybody here is opposed to affordable housing but I just think that if we had had some more information, it would have been a little better. I would have liked to have known what this number is for sewer, so I vote no.”
Featured Image : Crowd gathers at City Hall for Council meeting regarding rezoning request for affordable housing development
Author
Council rejects rezoning request on affordable housing development
City Council, Community, News May 14, 2021
Blue Ridge, Ga. – The proposed affordable housing project to be located on Mineral Springs Drive has come to a halt after a tie breaking vote denied the rezoning request put forward by the Beverly J. Searles Foundation.
Emotions were high in a full room as City Council listened to sides both in support and in opposition of the new project.
The crowd gathered at City Hall on May 11 showed overwhelming support of the proposed affordable housing project, where at the Planning Commission meeting held on May 4, citizens present then were mainly in opposition of.
Despite the opposition, the Planning Commission chose to move forward, recommending rezoning of the area from R2 residential to R3 high density residential, contingent upon suggestions made through the staff analysis.
Proposed plans of affordable housing development in City of Blue Ridge.
Among the supporters present at the City Council meeting were many who work directly with various charitable organizations in Fannin County.
“Without a stable place to call home, it is very difficult for working families to show up for work consistently,” Sherry Morris, Executive Director of Fannin County Family Connection, said of situations that she encounters daily, “I know it seems unbelievable but national statistics show that impoverished citizens work an average of 1.4 jobs. That’s right, it takes a great deal of working hours at service wages just to be poor. Let’s be a caring community and give a hand-up to our citizens.”
Philip Searles, President of the Beverly J. Searles Foundation, was also in attendance to give Council and the public a brief overview of the intended affordable housing units.
Searles took the time to address several of the concerns that had been brought to his attention during the Planning Commission meeting.
Of these concerns, Searles addressed specifically the danger of the intersection at Mineral Springs Drive and Aska Road stating that his foundation was willing to work with the county and offer $40,000 towards a solution to the area, such as a traffic signal.
Searles also addressed nearby residents’ concerns of increased crime once the units were occupied. According to Searles, the units would not be available for occupancy to anyone with a previous felony that is on record. Searles also stated that he had spoken with local law enforcement on the matter.
His foundation proposed that they would install a vehicle tag reader at the entrance of the complex. This reader would have a direct feed to law enforcement and police would be able to monitor whether any vehicle entering the premises is connected to an active warrant.
“I’m not expecting this to buy you all or make you all want me here, I get that, but I want to let you all know that I hear you all and I’m trying to do what I can,” Searles turned and spoke to a group of would be neighboring residents who had expressed concerns during the Planning Commission meeting.
Residents from neighboring properties still spoke in opposition and expressed concerns over the City’s infrastructure as well as decreasing property values.
Council Members discussed their concerns over the project, with Council Member Nathan Fitts stating that his main concern would be with the added traffic to the area.
Council Member Mike Panter questioned Searles over recently passed Federal legislation allowing for Federal Housing to be filled with persons outside of the general area. Searles assured Panter that this would not happen due to the need for the housing in Fannin County.
Crowd storms out of City Hall after rezoning request is denied.
Traver Aiken, Manager of the Blue Ridge Housing Authority, explained that the demand in Fannin County is great for this type of housing. All of the Housing Authority units are currently occupied and according to Aiken there is a waiting list of approximately 70 applicants.
“I’ll be honest with you. I’m not ready to make a decision,” Panter stopped Council Member Nathan Fitts before a motion was made to vote, “We just got the report from the Planning Commission today.”
Discussion began of the legalities of tabling the rezoning request. Tabling would allow Council Members more time to research the topic.
With no clear guidance on whether delaying the vote was within the legal powers of the City Charter, Fitts motioned to accept the rezoning request with prior contingencies in place.
Council Member Rhonda Haight recused herself from the vote as she is the current owner of the property located on Mineral Springs in which the affordable housing complex would be built.
Council Members Nathan Fitts and Herald Herndon voted in favor of the rezoning request and Council Members Mike Panter and Robbie Cornelius voted against.
Mayor Donna Whitener cast the tie breaking vote in opposition of the rezoning request: “I don’t think anybody here is opposed to affordable housing but I just think that if we had had some more information, it would have been a little better. I would have liked to have known what this number is for sewer, so I vote no.”
Featured Image : Crowd gathers at City Hall for Council meeting regarding rezoning request for affordable housing development
Author
Council rejects rezoning request on affordable housing development
City Council, Community, News May 14, 2021
Blue Ridge, Ga. – The proposed affordable housing project to be located on Mineral Springs Drive has come to a halt after a tie breaking vote denied the rezoning request put forward by the Beverly J. Searles Foundation.
Emotions were high in a full room as City Council listened to sides both in support and in opposition of the new project.
The crowd gathered at City Hall on May 11 showed overwhelming support of the proposed affordable housing project, where at the Planning Commission meeting held on May 4, citizens present then were mainly in opposition of.
Despite the opposition, the Planning Commission chose to move forward, recommending rezoning of the area from R2 residential to R3 high density residential, contingent upon suggestions made through the staff analysis.
Proposed plans of affordable housing development in City of Blue Ridge.
Among the supporters present at the City Council meeting were many who work directly with various charitable organizations in Fannin County.
“Without a stable place to call home, it is very difficult for working families to show up for work consistently,” Sherry Morris, Executive Director of Fannin County Family Connection, said of situations that she encounters daily, “I know it seems unbelievable but national statistics show that impoverished citizens work an average of 1.4 jobs. That’s right, it takes a great deal of working hours at service wages just to be poor. Let’s be a caring community and give a hand-up to our citizens.”
Philip Searles, President of the Beverly J. Searles Foundation, was also in attendance to give Council and the public a brief overview of the intended affordable housing units.
Searles took the time to address several of the concerns that had been brought to his attention during the Planning Commission meeting.
Of these concerns, Searles addressed specifically the danger of the intersection at Mineral Springs Drive and Aska Road stating that his foundation was willing to work with the county and offer $40,000 towards a solution to the area, such as a traffic signal.
Searles also addressed nearby residents’ concerns of increased crime once the units were occupied. According to Searles, the units would not be available for occupancy to anyone with a previous felony that is on record. Searles also stated that he had spoken with local law enforcement on the matter.
His foundation proposed that they would install a vehicle tag reader at the entrance of the complex. This reader would have a direct feed to law enforcement and police would be able to monitor whether any vehicle entering the premises is connected to an active warrant.
“I’m not expecting this to buy you all or make you all want me here, I get that, but I want to let you all know that I hear you all and I’m trying to do what I can,” Searles turned and spoke to a group of would be neighboring residents who had expressed concerns during the Planning Commission meeting.
Residents from neighboring properties still spoke in opposition and expressed concerns over the City’s infrastructure as well as decreasing property values.
Council Members discussed their concerns over the project, with Council Member Nathan Fitts stating that his main concern would be with the added traffic to the area.
Council Member Mike Panter questioned Searles over recently passed Federal legislation allowing for Federal Housing to be filled with persons outside of the general area. Searles assured Panter that this would not happen due to the need for the housing in Fannin County.
Crowd storms out of City Hall after rezoning request is denied.
Traver Aiken, Manager of the Blue Ridge Housing Authority, explained that the demand in Fannin County is great for this type of housing. All of the Housing Authority units are currently occupied and according to Aiken there is a waiting list of approximately 70 applicants.
“I’ll be honest with you. I’m not ready to make a decision,” Panter stopped Council Member Nathan Fitts before a motion was made to vote, “We just got the report from the Planning Commission today.”
Discussion began of the legalities of tabling the rezoning request. Tabling would allow Council Members more time to research the topic.
With no clear guidance on whether delaying the vote was within the legal powers of the City Charter, Fitts motioned to accept the rezoning request with prior contingencies in place.
Council Member Rhonda Haight recused herself from the vote as she is the current owner of the property located on Mineral Springs in which the affordable housing complex would be built.
Council Members Nathan Fitts and Herald Herndon voted in favor of the rezoning request and Council Members Mike Panter and Robbie Cornelius voted against.
Mayor Donna Whitener cast the tie breaking vote in opposition of the rezoning request: “I don’t think anybody here is opposed to affordable housing but I just think that if we had had some more information, it would have been a little better. I would have liked to have known what this number is for sewer, so I vote no.”
Featured Image : Crowd gathers at City Hall for Council meeting regarding rezoning request for affordable housing development
Author
May 3 Update: 882,074 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Georgia and 974,319 in NC
Feature News, Featured, Featured Stories, News, State & National December 7, 2020
NORTH GEORGIA & WESTERN N.C. – In an effort to keep our readers, up to date with the latest number of cases confirmed in Georgia and N.C., Fetch Your News will continually be updating this article with the most recent updates from the Georgia Department of Health (DPH) and N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS).
Updated May 3, 2021 at 8:15 p.m.
Georgia Data
On May 3, 2021, DPH reported 15 new deaths, 32 new hospitalizations, and 579 new confirmed cases.
DPH confirmed 882,074 cases, 61,702 hospitalized, 10,110 patients in ICU, and 17,593 deaths. The 3 p.m. reported 8,384,277 tests have been completed. Total tests included 515,601 serology (antibody) tests. DPH added a column to the county-by-county tally to include the location of deceased patients from COVID-19. On March 28, the health department also included a breakdown of deaths by county, age, and sex, new deaths.
On April 12, 2020, the report started including non-residents receiving treatment as a separate line item. It made a significant dent into the “Unknown” category.
DPH told Fetch Your News that the “Unknown” number is a result of “clerical errors on the part of the reporting agency – nothing more. We have many new labs reporting, and they are not all as familiar with the system.” The department is working to resolve this issue when the staff has time. A few of the unknowns are also homeless.
On April 8, DPH Commissioner Kathleen Toomey affirmed that the department has the most accurate data, but it’s not real-time data due to backlogs. DPH can’t keep up with press releases from hospitals about new cases because of the delay in processing. Cases confirmed one week might not appear in the reports until the next. Fetch Your News will only report on local cases once, they are confirmed by the DPH or CDC.
In his March 23 press conference, Gov. Kemp mentioned the casualties from the virus, “I am saddened to announce that we have lost twenty-five Georgians to COVID-19. As we mourn, I ask my fellow Georgians to lift up their loved ones in prayer. Please keep them in your hearts and minds.”
DPH released details on the two March 18 deaths, stating the individuals were 42-year-old and 68-year-old women both in an Albany Hospital. They also had underlying conditions along with COVID-19. Please keep all these individuals and families in your thoughts and prayers.
Case location is “based on patient county of residence when known.”
“A confirmed case is defined as a person who has tested positive for 2019 novel coronavirus.” – DPH.
Georgia County – Number of Confirmed Cases and Deaths
| County | Confirmed Cases | Confirmed Cases per 100K | Antigen Positive Cases | Confirmed Deaths | Probable Deaths | Hospitalizations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appling | 1919 | 10338.88 | 386 | 66 | 5 | 175 |
| Atkinson | 783 | 9399.76 | 238 | 18 | 1 | 116 |
| Bacon | 1288 | 11294.28 | 351 | 28 | 8 | 87 |
| Baker | 161 | 5166.88 | 69 | 9 | 0 | 33 |
| Baldwin | 3835 | 8631.94 | 657 | 112 | 16 | 319 |
| Banks | 1632 | 8167.35 | 177 | 33 | 2 | 188 |
| Barrow | 8739 | 10116.57 | 1171 | 132 | 4 | 609 |
| Bartow | 11217 | 10126.3 | 3370 | 207 | 16 | 828 |
| Ben Hill | 1491 | 8957.64 | 591 | 61 | 18 | 154 |
| Berrien | 1057 | 5483.5 | 770 | 32 | 12 | 70 |
| Bibb | 13337 | 8765.69 | 2455 | 405 | 41 | 1762 |
| Bleckley | 800 | 6231.5 | 646 | 34 | 17 | 48 |
| Brantley | 932 | 4853.66 | 679 | 32 | 5 | 80 |
| Brooks | 940 | 5976.98 | 444 | 36 | 11 | 87 |
| Bryan | 2730 | 6975.5 | 887 | 36 | 3 | 174 |
| Bulloch | 5257 | 6615.32 | 1516 | 64 | 49 | 216 |
| Burke | 1778 | 7958.11 | 786 | 37 | 24 | 151 |
| Butts | 2327 | 9243.66 | 787 | 77 | 6 | 126 |
| Calhoun | 446 | 7060.31 | 134 | 15 | 0 | 73 |
| Camden | 3205 | 5943.55 | 726 | 29 | 6 | 135 |
| Candler | 747 | 6893.05 | 192 | 37 | 29 | 62 |
| Carroll | 7407 | 6166.39 | 3893 | 131 | 107 | 311 |
| Catoosa | 5665 | 8237.48 | 616 | 64 | 6 | 252 |
| Charlton | 1072 | 8089.96 | 298 | 25 | 8 | 63 |
| Chatham | 20182 | 6907.48 | 2910 | 427 | 26 | 1616 |
| Chattahoochee | 3334 | 31016.84 | 606 | 13 | 2 | 31 |
| Chattooga | 2238 | 9036.58 | 560 | 63 | 8 | 180 |
| Cherokee | 22338 | 8378.31 | 8451 | 302 | 14 | 1285 |
| Clarke | 12762 | 9833.64 | 2217 | 137 | 7 | 491 |
| Clay | 183 | 6409.81 | 55 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
| Clayton | 23693 | 7772.32 | 2695 | 448 | 21 | 1369 |
| Clinch | 736 | 11057.69 | 234 | 25 | 1 | 66 |
| Cobb | 60618 | 7667.46 | 17274 | 962 | 84 | 3131 |
| Coffee | 4234 | 9836.9 | 1057 | 138 | 34 | 647 |
| Colquitt | 3523 | 7761.11 | 1136 | 78 | 40 | 250 |
| Columbia | 11047 | 6963.96 | 5730 | 160 | 42 | 471 |
| Cook | 1162 | 6663.99 | 654 | 38 | 5 | 107 |
| Coweta | 8667 | 5701.94 | 5350 | 205 | 12 | 350 |
| Crawford | 525 | 4293.42 | 138 | 17 | 2 | 68 |
| Crisp | 1439 | 6456.1 | 638 | 56 | 23 | 162 |
| Dade | 1210 | 7486.7 | 194 | 13 | 1 | 62 |
| Dawson | 2708 | 10021.83 | 317 | 42 | 1 | 246 |
| DeKalb | 57773 | 7283.96 | 7710 | 926 | 74 | 4584 |
| Decatur | 2147 | 8156.68 | 769 | 55 | 15 | 146 |
| Dodge | 1084 | 5317.64 | 1016 | 56 | 46 | 107 |
| Dooly | 786 | 5865.67 | 280 | 32 | 13 | 90 |
| Dougherty | 5548 | 6170.96 | 1953 | 281 | 22 | 1028 |
| Douglas | 11949 | 7866.05 | 3122 | 174 | 41 | 856 |
| Early | 1013 | 9984.23 | 156 | 43 | 5 | 73 |
| Echols | 358 | 9019.9 | 112 | 4 | 5 | 13 |
| Effingham | 3801 | 5936.65 | 769 | 65 | 3 | 248 |
| Elbert | 1527 | 8060.17 | 753 | 58 | 14 | 129 |
| Emanuel | 1734 | 7650.9 | 809 | 53 | 28 | 124 |
| Evans | 758 | 7092.73 | 198 | 17 | 12 | 72 |
| Fannin | 2125 | 8073.71 | 248 | 61 | 10 | 177 |
| Fayette | 6668 | 5672.77 | 2223 | 153 | 15 | 260 |
| Floyd | 9978 | 9986.39 | 1927 | 184 | 39 | 885 |
| Forsyth | 17897 | 7087.72 | 4363 | 182 | 7 | 959 |
| Franklin | 2344 | 10047.58 | 307 | 43 | 10 | 152 |
| Fulton | 81997 | 7459.83 | 14562 | 1276 | 94 | 4934 |
| Gilmer | 2487 | 7916.1 | 449 | 72 | 12 | 217 |
| Glascock | 145 | 4793.39 | 119 | 7 | 12 | 19 |
| Glynn | 6691 | 7775.98 | 1410 | 153 | 19 | 445 |
| Gordon | 6492 | 11183.66 | 1627 | 103 | 11 | 329 |
| Grady | 1546 | 6299.92 | 586 | 47 | 13 | 174 |
| Greene | 1503 | 8030.13 | 314 | 56 | 8 | 136 |
| Gwinnett | 86447 | 8901.55 | 14538 | 1075 | 70 | 5429 |
| Habersham | 4646 | 10144.1 | 398 | 153 | 8 | 474 |
| Hall | 24992 | 12111.52 | 2088 | 439 | 25 | 2365 |
| Hancock | 833 | 10167.22 | 76 | 62 | 3 | 105 |
| Haralson | 1715 | 5582.32 | 908 | 35 | 47 | 74 |
| Harris | 2164 | 6234.16 | 375 | 58 | 1 | 157 |
| Hart | 1707 | 6538.48 | 647 | 37 | 15 | 115 |
| Heard | 643 | 5198.06 | 228 | 16 | 3 | 46 |
| Henry | 19196 | 8002.8 | 5861 | 296 | 27 | 603 |
| Houston | 10063 | 6407.96 | 4452 | 194 | 61 | 755 |
| Irwin | 682 | 7229.94 | 224 | 18 | 10 | 81 |
| Jackson | 8507 | 11388.22 | 1288 | 140 | 11 | 508 |
| Jasper | 679 | 4782.03 | 717 | 18 | 20 | 61 |
| Jeff Davis | 1297 | 8562.19 | 585 | 36 | 8 | 91 |
| Jefferson | 1580 | 10318.03 | 360 | 59 | 7 | 153 |
| Jenkins | 728 | 8488.81 | 125 | 40 | 4 | 83 |
| Johnson | 787 | 8146.15 | 329 | 42 | 7 | 98 |
| Jones | 1577 | 5515.72 | 428 | 53 | 4 | 162 |
| Lamar | 1346 | 6957.15 | 682 | 46 | 11 | 120 |
| Lanier | 500 | 4830.45 | 277 | 9 | 4 | 27 |
| Laurens | 3710 | 7844.22 | 1837 | 144 | 23 | 351 |
| Lee | 1595 | 5321.81 | 1119 | 50 | 8 | 184 |
| Liberty | 3435 | 5548.91 | 536 | 61 | 2 | 222 |
| Lincoln | 510 | 6276.92 | 296 | 24 | 2 | 52 |
| Long | 667 | 3349.23 | 181 | 10 | 1 | 47 |
| Lowndes | 7794 | 6611.92 | 4820 | 141 | 67 | 378 |
| Lumpkin | 2789 | 8250.99 | 148 | 62 | 8 | 285 |
| Macon | 618 | 4758.24 | 252 | 26 | 4 | 83 |
| Madison | 2742 | 9086.39 | 475 | 46 | 10 | 156 |
| Marion | 398 | 4799.23 | 161 | 17 | 2 | 39 |
| McDuffie | 1684 | 7797.38 | 796 | 41 | 7 | 159 |
| McIntosh | 696 | 4777.92 | 161 | 14 | 2 | 57 |
| Meriwether | 1523 | 7245.48 | 469 | 72 | 12 | 138 |
| Miller | 681 | 11814.71 | 171 | 9 | 4 | 40 |
| Mitchell | 1536 | 6964.09 | 535 | 74 | 8 | 230 |
| Monroe | 1866 | 6729.9 | 756 | 87 | 13 | 192 |
| Montgomery | 720 | 7805.72 | 162 | 21 | 2 | 43 |
| Morgan | 1192 | 6228.45 | 909 | 23 | 7 | 85 |
| Murray | 4170 | 10357.42 | 744 | 81 | 5 | 249 |
| Muscogee | 14347 | 7486.98 | 1917 | 397 | 54 | 1165 |
| Newton | 7505 | 6679.78 | 3518 | 218 | 19 | 652 |
| Non-GA Resident/Unknown State | 23709 | 0 | 5621 | 473 | 153 | 1263 |
| Oconee | 3052 | 7312.46 | 942 | 64 | 8 | 129 |
| Oglethorpe | 1189 | 7801.84 | 280 | 28 | 1 | 75 |
| Paulding | 10774 | 6244.28 | 5930 | 165 | 47 | 411 |
| Peach | 1854 | 6772.6 | 772 | 52 | 7 | 221 |
| Pickens | 2531 | 7548.46 | 855 | 64 | 15 | 210 |
| Pierce | 1260 | 6446.66 | 1195 | 42 | 13 | 134 |
| Pike | 1064 | 5641.57 | 1197 | 26 | 14 | 71 |
| Polk | 3940 | 9061.22 | 1670 | 81 | 13 | 379 |
| Pulaski | 610 | 5599.93 | 312 | 32 | 12 | 55 |
| Putnam | 1797 | 8211.1 | 380 | 57 | 0 | 162 |
| Quitman | 82 | 3574.54 | 86 | 2 | 0 | 11 |
| Rabun | 1531 | 9013.31 | 186 | 41 | 8 | 150 |
| Randolph | 468 | 6929.23 | 157 | 33 | 1 | 81 |
| Richmond | 19948 | 9863.53 | 4529 | 413 | 89 | 1348 |
| Rockdale | 6035 | 6355.31 | 1557 | 152 | 19 | 866 |
| Schley | 212 | 4018.96 | 139 | 5 | 0 | 21 |
| Screven | 812 | 5841.73 | 170 | 21 | 10 | 72 |
| Seminole | 751 | 9226.04 | 201 | 18 | 1 | 66 |
| Spalding | 4059 | 5873.25 | 2160 | 155 | 33 | 439 |
| Stephens | 2979 | 11314.95 | 115 | 79 | 2 | 254 |
| Stewart | 791 | 12905.86 | 100 | 25 | 0 | 127 |
| Sumter | 1805 | 6139.66 | 738 | 92 | 9 | 265 |
| Talbot | 384 | 6235.79 | 90 | 18 | 0 | 42 |
| Taliaferro | 101 | 6188.73 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 8 |
| Tattnall | 1845 | 7260.64 | 457 | 46 | 19 | 120 |
| Taylor | 511 | 6421.21 | 286 | 22 | 3 | 74 |
| Telfair | 721 | 4608.8 | 575 | 45 | 12 | 69 |
| Terrell | 567 | 6696.59 | 233 | 45 | 2 | 112 |
| Thomas | 3554 | 7998.92 | 834 | 113 | 10 | 347 |
| Tift | 3427 | 8393.34 | 1438 | 96 | 29 | 414 |
| Toombs | 2929 | 10854.98 | 453 | 98 | 15 | 175 |
| Towns | 1100 | 9140.77 | 119 | 43 | 12 | 127 |
| Treutlen | 625 | 9152.15 | 216 | 24 | 3 | 53 |
| Troup | 5946 | 8444.34 | 1521 | 187 | 38 | 495 |
| Turner | 598 | 7404.66 | 413 | 34 | 5 | 86 |
| Twiggs | 513 | 6344.3 | 203 | 37 | 5 | 100 |
| Union | 2042 | 8060 | 167 | 70 | 3 | 210 |
| Unknown | 2394 | 0 | 805 | 12 | 2 | 44 |
| Upson | 1813 | 6899.57 | 1636 | 107 | 19 | 177 |
| Walker | 6504 | 9343.49 | 877 | 80 | 7 | 287 |
| Walton | 8073 | 8425.7 | 2471 | 235 | 20 | 506 |
| Ware | 3011 | 8398.18 | 1824 | 152 | 25 | 351 |
| Warren | 376 | 7216.89 | 150 | 14 | 3 | 47 |
| Washington | 1619 | 7974.58 | 408 | 62 | 24 | 114 |
| Wayne | 2749 | 9171.28 | 829 | 78 | 10 | 270 |
| Webster | 106 | 4156.86 | 39 | 4 | 0 | 15 |
| Wheeler | 459 | 5803.51 | 168 | 21 | 3 | 35 |
| White | 2975 | 9367.72 | 187 | 67 | 13 | 293 |
| Whitfield | 14830 | 14168.07 | 1947 | 229 | 15 | 752 |
| Wilcox | 476 | 5415.24 | 347 | 29 | 18 | 72 |
| Wilkes | 669 | 6680.65 | 410 | 21 | 6 | 72 |
| Wilkinson | 732 | 8207.2 | 193 | 28 | 0 | 121 |
| Worth | 1190 | 5908.05 | 589 | 61 | 7 | 174 |
NC Confirmed Cases Data
As of May 3, 2021, NCDHHS reported 974,319 cases statewide, 938,740 presumed recovered, 12,691 deaths, and 1,007 hospitalized. The highest concentration is now in Mecklenburg with 110,561 cases and 941 deaths. Cherokee County had the highest 14-day case increase per 100,000 residents. NCDHHS reported 12,504,937 tests have been completed in the state. The confirmed cases report is released each day at 12 a.m.
NC Statistics
NCDHHS has an interactive map for those who want to see the spread of the virus.
DPH, NCDHHS, and the CDC are urging people to practice social distancing to slow the spread of the virus. If our readers are looking for more information on health practices, please visit the CDC website.
President Trump also released guidelines for the next 15 days, which can be read about here.
Georgian’s wondering about Gov. Brian Kemp’s actions and the state’s public health emergency, find out more here.
North Carolinian’s can find updates for Gov. Roy Cooper, here.