By Elaine Owen, Editor ~ Friday, Sept. 14, a Fannin County jury awarded nearly $129 million to a family who lost one child in a 2011 Fourth of July wreck that also seriously injured the mother and three other children, including one left permanently paralyzed. Jake Lee was only 16 years old at the time […]
ATLANTA – Amid another active hurricane season and in advance of Hurricane Florence’s landfall, Secretary of State Brian Kemp asks Georgians to remain vigilant when giving to any disaster charities. Potential donors are highly encouraged to research organizations soliciting contributions for aid. “Georgians are always generous with the money we contribute to those in need,” […]
Issued on: September 14, 2018 During Prescription Opioid and Heroin Epidemic Awareness Week, we acknowledge the devastating toll the opioid epidemic has inflicted on our country and its people, and we pledge to raise awareness of the dangers of prescription and illicit opioid abuse. As we continue our work to end this terrible crisis, I […]
By Elaine Owen, Editor The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is testing a new system today (Sept. 20) that allows President Trump to send messages directly to U.S. cellphones. All major wireless firms and more than 100 mobile carriers are participating in the new Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) program that allows for presidential alerts, FEMA […]
By Elaine Owen, Editor The Food and Drug Administration announced a crackdown on makers of electronic cigarettes and said they must come up with a plan to prevent their products from getting in the hands of minors. Responding to an “epidemic of nicotine addiction” among American youths, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday […]
By Elaine Owen, Editor A federal judge ruled Monday (Sept. 17) that Georgia can continue using electronic voting machines in November’s election despite concerns they could be hacked. U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg denied a request for an injunction that would have forced the state’s 6.8 million voters to switch to hand-marked paper ballots. Totenberg […]
BLUE RIDGE, GEORGIA—SEPT. 2018—President of the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce, Jan Hackett, was among the state’s top tourism professionals recognized at the 2018 Georgia Governor’s Tourism Conference in Atlanta, Aug. 29. Jan received The Larry Allen Tourism Leadership Award, which recognizes an individual who demonstrates excellence in leadership skills and abilities. The award is […]
Like cigarettes, vaping is illegal to people under 18 years of age. By Elaine Owen, Editor Appalachian Judicial Circuit District Attorney B. Alison Sosebee warns of dangers of vaping and e-cigarettes. In a press release Sept. 6, 2018, Sosebee said during the last week, several teens in Fannin, Gilmer and Pickens counties have experienced medical […]
NEWS RELEASE – Sept. 5, 2018 Amazon founder and owner of the Washington Post Jeff Bezos is venturing further into the political arena with a $10 million donation to help get more veterans of both parties elected to Congress. Bezos, the world’s richest man, has long shied away from making major political or philanthropic contributions. […]
By Andy Miller, Georgia Health News Hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Georgia are receiving patients evacuating from the Carolinas as Hurricane Florence approaches the Southeastern coast, state officials said Tuesday. Georgia appears likely to escape the brunt of the Category 4 storm as it spins toward landfall. But state health care officials […]
