By Elaine Owen, Editor Fannin County commissioners designated Sept. 26 as the day for department heads and elected officials to present their budget requests and answer questions the commissioners might have before the budgets were finalized. Commissioners had requested that departments limit salary increases to 2 percent with no increases for elected officials. The Tax […]
The Postal Service is asking for the biggest price jump on stamps in its history. Facing pressure from the Trump administration to address a revenue shortfall, the Postal Service on Wednesday proposed raising the price of 1-oz. letters from 50 cents to 55 cents, which would be a record nominal increase if approved. The price […]
REPORT FROM AGRI-PULSE USDA and state agriculture officials say Hurricane Michael caused billions of dollars in damage to crops, livestock and aquaculture after slamming into the Florida Panhandle Wednesday with 155 mile-per-hour winds and then plowing a path of destruction through Alabama and Georgia. “The fall tomato crop in that part of the state was […]
New cost-of-living adjustment largest since 2012 Social Security benefits will increase 2.8 percent in 2019, the largest cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in seven years. The COLA, announced Thursday, Oct. 11, will increase the average Social Security retirement benefit by $39 a month (roughly $468 a year). The average single retired Social Security recipient is expected to […]
By Elaine Owen, from NEWS REPORTS UN Ambassador Nikki Haley unexpectedly gave her resignation Tuesday morning (Sept. 9). Haley and the president then met in the Oval Office to discuss the resignation. While her reason for resigning wasn’t made clear immediately, President Donald Trump has officially accepted it. Trump called Haley a “very special” person, […]
By Elaine Owen, Editor ~~ Brian Kemp and Stacey Abrams are running for Georgia’s top statewide office. Abrams is seeking to become the nation’s first African-American female governor in history, while Kemp is aiming to maintain the GOP’s stronghold on the office that it’s enjoyed since 2002. National Democrats also hope that Georgia will become […]
By Elaine Owen, Editor NATIONAL SECURITY & DEFENSE Issued on: September 28, 2018 Courageous Americans of every generation have given their last full measure of devotion in defense of our country and our freedom. The families who stood alongside these heroes have paid a price no family should ever have to pay. Gold Star Mother’s […]
By Elaine Owen, Editor ~~ New FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) data shows crime fell in the United States—largely due to continued declines in property offenses—and Georgia saw a downturn in violent crimes. Last week the FBI published its final analysis of “Crime in the United States, 2017,” finding that the estimated number of violent […]
By Elaine Owen, Editor ~~ Georgia Secretary of State and candidate for Governor Brian Kemp was greeted by many eager faces as he stepped off the bus just after 1 p.m. Monday at Cucina Rustica restaurant in Fannin County for the third stop on a week-long campaign tour. Local elected officials, law enforcement and emergency […]
Speaker calls for North Georgia Office of the Center for Rural Prosperity & Innovation STATESBORO, Ga. – Today, at the House Rural Development Council meeting, Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) called for an extension of the term of the House Rural Development Council into the 2019 – 2020 session of the General Assembly. The council […]