Hello Habersham

HELLO Habersham

Habersham County’s County’s 2013 2013 Guide Guide to to People People and Places Habersham

An annual publication of

The Northeast Georgian

in partnership with the Habersham Chamber of Commerce

Automotive

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di er e tudent popu ation i one of t e be t in t e re ion t mo t recent addition i a ne tate-of-t e-art i c oo ac of aber am County e en municipa itie A to a d in C arke i e Corne ia emore t t Airy and a u a a a it o n di tinct per ona ity erita e touri m ite i e y fe ti a fine dinin outdoor recreation and fine art are a ai ab e ere C arke i e t e county eat and Corne ia t e commercia center are bot de i nated eor ia ain Street etter ometo n communitie Piedmont Co e e and ort eor ia ec nica Co e e upport a ready orkforce and are acti e community partner Why choose Habersham County? ecau e it offer a ife ty e and upporti e bu ine en ironment t at on t e -yard ine of t e ood ife

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Chamber of CommerCe

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abersham has it!

Experience Habersham – only a 90-minute drive from Atlanta. If you are looking for outdoor recreation, historic museums and colleges, live music and performances, zip lining, horseback riding or agribusiness at its best, Habersham has it!

Two rivers - raft the “Hooch” or enjoy the best fly fishing east of the Mississippi on the Chattahoochee and Soque rivers Six museums - from “Everything Elvis” in Cornelia to the Mason Scharfenstein Museum of Art in downtown Demorest - history is captured Lake Russell near Cornelia - hiking, camping, swimming, boating and more Tallulah Gorge - 1,000-ft deep and two miles long, once known as the Niagara Falls of the South Award-winning restaurants and quaint shops in Habersham’s seven towns You-pick farms, corn mazes, pumpkin patches, farmers’ markets and more in season Waterfalls, lakes, hiking trails, beautiful scenic drives and a bit of the past Take a day or a week and relax or rejuvenate in this beautiful part of Northeast Georgia. Stay in one of Cornelia’s five hotels, a historic bed & breakfast inn, cabins, golf villas or resort accommodations to experience the area. Known as the gateway to the Blue Ridge Mountains, two four-lane highways provide easy access to Habersham.

Call the Habersham Chamber of Commerce at 706-778-4654, email habchamber@windstream.net or visit habershamchamber.com for more information. We’ll be looking for you with our award-winning hospitality extended.

Judy L. Taylor, Ph.D. | President Habersham Chamber of Commerce 701519w

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Contents Heritage 8 Kollock’s art brings beauty

by Christina Santee

12 Peace Walk Annual act of unity in Northeast Georgia

by Christina Santee

Economic development 16 Downtowns renewed Revitalization programs active

by E. Lane Gresham

30 Habersham Chamber Five-star accreditation earned

by Kimberly Brown

38 Partnering up Archway targets broad spectrum of county’s wants, needs

by Donald Fraser

Education 32 Leaders in education Three new educators come aboard

by Kimberly Brown

About the cover Local artist John Kollock created this year’s cover art – a one-of-akind representation of the gardens at the Historic Mauldin House in Clarkesville, the county seat of Habersham County. His work is also featured on each of the city/ town pages in this edition of Hello Habersham.

Recreation 41 SORBA Working to enhance outdoor recreation

Sports 36 Habersham’s TK King standout in Habersham sports history

by Mark Turner

by Mark Turner

Agriculture 24 Allies in agriculture Extension service partners with Soque Partnership

Public safety 22 Judicial center progress New building set to open summer 2013

by E. Lane Gresham

by Kimberly Brown

Municipalities Alto 47 Baldwin 48 Clarkesville 49 Cornelia 50 Demorest 51 Mt. Airy 52 Tallulah Falls 53

Relocation Guide

Relocation Guide 54 Post Offices 54 Schools and Colleges 54 Recreation Guide 54 lected Officials 55 Emergency Contacts 55

Miscellaneous

Why Choose Habersham? 3 Fast Facts 62 Hospitals and Health Care 61 Habersham County Map 46 2013 Habersham County Festivals and Special Events 58

Business

Business Directory 31 Index of Advertisers 46 5

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One of the walls, covered in photos and artwork, in ohn ollock’s light- lled studio located at his home north of Clarkesville. Photo/Christina Santee

heritage

Kollock’s art brings beauty

T

by Christina Santee

hey say a picture’s worth a thousand words, and John K ollock has created hundreds of them.

A nationally-recognized artist and author of 10 books, who lives with his wife Nancy north of Clarkesville, K ollock realized a creative potential and expressive spirit at a young age. “ I started off drawing. I drew before I could write or read,” K ollock said of his 4-year-old self, though now at 84, his talent has since evolved.

Born in Atlanta, K ollock said although his parents sent him to art schools as a young boy, he wasn’t in-

John Kollock, shown in deep concentration during the 2009 Mountain Laurel Festival, donates his time from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. sketching children from 2 to 10 years of age at the festival held annually in his hometown on the third Saturday in May. Photo/ E.Lane Gresham 8

terested in what was taught in the classroom. “ What [ teachers] taught was boring,” K ollock said. “ I mean, cutting out square pieces of paper and gluing them down … I didn’t think that was fun. I wanted to tell stories.

I wanted to draw.”

A “ back-and-forth” native of North Georgia since he was 6 weeks old, K ollock said he took an interest in cartooning long before the landscape of his own backyard piqued his interest. u ed to ay on t e oor and look at the funny papers (comics) and draw things. … I started cartooning because of that,” K ollock said, which led to cartooning his friend and ater in uenced career choices. “ I cartooned in high school [ and] cartooned while in the [ U.S.] Army for Army Times … ,” K ollock said, “ but I didn’t want to be an artist.”

K ollock said he pursued comic book de i n but difficu ty in e in his work forced him to rethink his interests. “ It was hard to sell comic books in Atlanta,” K ollock said. “ Y ou had to go where the comic book market was in New Y ork, [ N.Y .] , or Chicago, [ Ill.] , … and I didn’t want to leave home. … I was hung on North Georgia, and the mountains and the country life. I just didn’t want to leave it.”

K ollock said at one point, he tried his hand at creating portraits but “ was no good at it.” “ They’d tend to look like cartoons,” K ollock said. “ I’d see the humorous side of the person and that’s what I’d paint. It may not be a kind thing to do for a portrait.”

As a young adult, K ollock attended the University of Georgia where he majored in drama. “ I got interested in theater because that was story-telling, and we’d build sets, so I could build things that I’d [ envisioned] ,” K ollock said. “ Then I went on and they took me in the Army and I was in entertainment theater,” K ollock said of his deployment while stationed overseas. “ So we did camp shows, I did radio programs in Munich (Germany), but I did cartoons and wrote

Paint and other supplies neatly lined up at the home studio of local artist John Kollock. Photo/Christina Santee

articles at the same time. … ” His time spent in Bavaria, K olock aid in uenced future arc itectural endeavors, like designing the city of Helen.

K ollock said if he hadn’t pursued artistry, he would have likely pursued his interest in theater. “ Because I was trained in it, I had a degree in it and I did a lot of theater work,” K ollock said, acting

“ a little bit,” alongside makeup and stage design. “ I enjoyed acting. Little parts, not big leads. But I enjoyed being in a scene now and then because I liked the people. They were nice people … and they were fun … they were crazier than I was.”

After being discharged from the Army in 1952, K ollock worked for various printing companies in At9

picting – including seasons, time of day and weather – is necessary to his craft. “ If [ the place] doesn’t have a feeling, I don’t do it … I can’t do it. It’s got to resonate something,” K ollock said, adding “ a good picture takes a short time, a fair picture take on er a bad picture take ery on and a e to t ro it a ay becau e it ne er come a i e “ Painting the spirit of the mood or the weather and the location, that’s what hangs me up,” K ollock said, who anticipates creating works of art for the rest of his life. o ock book feature i paintin ketc e and t ou t on i tory and ife e a a o co aborated it and inspired other authors. “ I’m an artist. That’s all I do,” K ollock said. o ock a named aber am Countian of t e ear in ecember by t e aber am C amber of Commerce.

Pri ate educationa con u tant udy orbe retired uperintendent of aber am County Sc oo and former c airper on of t e aber am C amber of Commerce board of director de cribed o ock a a po erfu art in uence o a e ped t e community to remain focused on the artistic aspect of Northeast Georgia’s culture. t difficu t to o into any pub ic bui din in aberam County and not ee ome repre entation of i arti tic abi ity orbe aid t a ay remind u of i arti tic abi ity and t e important i tory of our county K ollock will have a show at the Sautee Nacoochee Center in une and i re ea e t o print t i year one in the spring and one later, in the fall. ♦

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lanta, where he met his wife of 54 years, Nancy, through an artist friend in 1958. “ She was opposite from me. She was a calm, quiet person and I was always crazy – taking off on a tangent and creating something,” K ollock said.

They married in 1959 and had three daughters, moving from Atlanta to raise them in Northeast Georgia.

Self-taught, K ollock said his style has developed over years of studying other artists’ techniques. “ Every time I found an artist that I liked, if they’d [ hold] a workshop, a one-week workshop, I would take it o ock aid And fi ured if you come back it one good idea from a week, stir it into your pot, [ then] you got something to work with,” though he insists he’s “ still learning.”

K ollock, who specializes in pencil, pen-and-ink and watercolor landscapes, said although he originally experimented it ot er media e found t em difficu t to u e “ I’ve tried all of them. Oil paint [ takes] too long [ to] dry … acrylic dries too fast and pastel, I get more on me than I do on the painting,” K ollock laughed.

K ollock said when gathering new ideas for an art piece, e paint anyt in t at attract im but continue to appreciate the history of North Georgia. “ I got into the real history of the area,” K ollock said.

And becau e painted it peop e eemed to ike t at So I still do it. I’ll ride around the countryside [ at] different times of [ the year] until I see something that triggers me.” o ock o identifie im e f a a repre entationa artist, said maintaining a connection to the area he’s de-

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More than than 100 people attended the 27th annual Peace Walk in Cornelia Jan. 20, commemorating the life of peace and civil rights activist the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Those at the front of the march included Bishop Ernest Burns, left, Portia Burns and Brianna Hodges, right, holding the banner. Photo/Donald Fraser

heritage

Peace Walk Annual act of unity in Northeast Georgia

F

by Christina Santee

reedom rings throughout the hills of Northeast Georgia each year when the Peace Walk arrives in January.

Since 1983, the Northeast Georgia Peace Council-hosted Peace Walk is a longstanding tradition in Habersham County that remains an outward act of an inner stance on harmony.

Long-time community activist Ann Nicely described the Peace Walk as an effort to re-establish unity within the community while celebrating Martin Luther K ing Jr. Day and Black History Month simultaneously. “ [ MLK said] , ‘ Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,’” Nicely said. “ We celebrate to remind ourselves of the importance of voting and being an active part of our government.”

Nicely added if different ethnicities fail to remember their struggles, they could soon forget where they come from. “ I think it links awareness to everybody. Not just African-Americans, but all Americans in Habersham County,” Nicely said.

According to Northeast Georgia Peace Council member Julianne Wilson, who was also council president for seven years, the Peace Walk was initiated by a group of people who were concerned about the then-existent tension between blacks and whites. “ Particularly after Martin Luther K ing Jr. [ Day] was announced a holiday … there was a lot of resistance to that,” Wilson said. “ So they [ decided to] do something that helps bring people together in joy and offers opportunity for people who live … next to one another, to come together and celebrate and start to build those kinds of bridges in the community.”

Wilson said the event was established to increase the community’s sense of understanding and togetherness, although the Peace Walk faced opposition in its early years. In 1998, the Peace Walk saw the K u K lux K lan (K K K ). “ Our journey in that was never to argue back, but just to be present in a peaceful way and kind whenever we would be hurled anger and insults,” Wilson said. “ Just by doing that, I think it helped to show people that bridges could be built even in the presence of threats and anger.”

Since, the Peace Walk has continued to involve various churches, seeing as many as 350 participants in the 13

munity Association (SNCA) African-American Heritage Site for educationa fie d trip However, the priority remains simple – for members of the community to stand together as one. “ Through the years, it’s had its ups and downs, a lot of people have participated, a lot of people have moved on, and a lot of those faithful [ supporters] have died,” Gober said. “ We just hope it’ll continue for as long as possible.”

Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Bishop Ernest Burns said the Peace Walk continues to remind participants of their culture. The Cornelia church has been the ending point for the walk for many years. “ We do it because it reminds us of our background and who we are as a community,” Burns said. “ There’s not many communities that do what this community does. All the unity that this community has, along with the importance of unity and peace … we need to keep it at the forefront of all that we do.” ♦

half-mile walk and following interfaith service. “ We’ve had speakers and performers of different nationalities come from Atlanta and local communities to partake in the celebration over the years,” Wilson said.

Betty Gober, a longtime supporter of the peace initiative, reiterated the Peace Walk was designed to bring all races of the community together. “ And have a unity of people focused on learning about the history of each individual culture,” Gober said. “ In the genesis of it, we tried to get a cross-culture involved and we had a taste of cultures, where we would come together at schools, and each person would bring [ a native dish] .”

Gober said the focus was then shifted to the history of MLK ’s movement and the struggles associated with the Civil Rights Movement. “ So our children would know the history of what we didn’t have in the ‘ 60s to what we have now – being able to vote and participate in different areas of the government,” Gober said. “ We didn’t want to forget.”

In recent years, Gober said, Peace Walk organizers have also strived to involve the county’s youth more, and each year try to extend awareness to earlier generations. “ Now, we’re at a point where we’re trying to involve the young people in the planning process and be there to support them,” Gober said, since the council has focused on the community’s youth through other projects in years prior. “ The council has done different projects with students, inviting them to participate in songs and dances, and … has also hosted a summer camp at a farm near Hollywood,” Gober said.

Students also have gathered at the Sautee Nacoochee Com-

Linked hands captured during the interfaith service held after the walk at Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Cornelia. Photo/E. Lane Gresham

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Clarkesville resident Jennifer Tench celebrates at the Clarkesville Mardi Gras event held Feb. 9. The first-year event attracted more than 300 people and raised close to $10,000 for the city’s facade grant program. The program provides matching funds for qualified business owners to improve the outward appearance of his or her building or shop with paint, signage, landscaping, awnings and more. Plans are already in the works for the 2014 event.

Photo/E. Lane Gresham

economic development

Downtowns renewed Revitalization programs active

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by E. Lane Gresham

all it better hometown, downtown development or the main street approach – it all adds up to collaboration in Habersham County.

The managers for two active downtown revitalization programs – Better Hometown in Clarkesville and the Downtown Development Authority [ formerly BHT] in Cornelia – work cooperatively throughout the year to offer programs and events that positively affect residents and visitors. In Cornelia, the DDA also works in conjunction with the city’s Hospitality and Tourism Board.

Cornelia, designed as a BHT community through the Georgia Main Street program in 2002, and Clarkesville, designated in 2010, are two cities in a county with seven municipalities.

Mary Beth Horton, Clarkesville’s BHT manager, and Heather Sinyard, Cornelia’s downtown manager, started in their respective roles within a week of each other in

Dave Amends, a ansas City Barbeque Society-certi ed barbecue judge, gets ready to taste meat at the 2012 Cornelia Apple Blossom BBQ Festival. The event, wildly popular last year, returns April 19-20. The event is one of many community events staged by Cornelia’s f ce of Downtown Development. Photo/Christina Santee

December 2010 and have been working together ever since.

The programs operate using the National Main Street approach, a downtown revitalization initiative in place for more than 30 years through the National Trust for Clarkesville Better Hometown Manager Mary Beth Historic Preservation.

Horton, left, and Cornelia Downtown Manager Both cities have volHeather Sinyard collaborate on projects mutually unteer boards which bene cial to Habersham County with their work develop and implement in the respective cities. Photo/E. Lane Gresham a yearly work plan including approved items in four areas of focus – promotion, economic restructuring, design and organization.

The more visible aspects of the work plan feature events such as festivals, outdoor movies, concerts, job fairs, student support events and more. Other initiatives such as the facade grant programs, established in both cities, put funds raised into tangible improvements for 17

Cornelia’s Summer Concert series will continue in 2013 with hometown favorite The John King Band kicking it off May 31. A highlight for 2012 was the Kip Moore concert, shown here, which attracted an estimated crowd of 10,000 people to downtown Cornelia in late August. Photo/Christina Santee

downtown core businesses and shops.

Horton and Sinyard agree momentum has grown exponentially over the years, with community support taking time to establish. “ In the beginning, there are so many skeptics that believe you can’t really turn around main street or downtown,” Horton said. “ [ Using] the [ main street] approach – when people see things are completed, it begins to build the confidence and o you tart turnin t e keptic into be ie er Sinyard said using Cornelia’s downtown development department budget as an example shows how leveraging community support translates into big dividends. “ My department is one of the smallest in the city. … I don’t get a whole lot of money to put on events and create the facade grant so it really is a community effort,” Sinyard said. “ I have a $6,000 program budget that [ we] turn into a $100,000-plus year of stuff that we’ve done. Obviously, it would not be possible without people from the community buying into the concept and the effort.”

New and different individuals and businesses are plugging into the respective programs all the time, she said. “ It seems to have grown into a bigger circle now,” Sinyard said.

One of last year’s success stories was the free Backto-School Bash, with planning started in January 2012 to 18

launch the event, which included free backpacks stuffed with school supplies, health screenings, hair cuts, swimming and movies for county children and youth just before school started. Many local agencies, businesses and the local school system participated in some way. e e ent i et for t e Saturday before t e fir t day of school, Aug. 10, and both Horton and Sinyard are excited about offering the event to the community again.

The BTSB is another way of impacting the community in a targeted area of need, much like the Better Hometown Job Fair and More, which the two programs have co-hosted for the past four years. “ That’s been a good impact, not necessarily a fun event, but something obviously the community needs,” Sinyard said of the job fair. e S i an off oot from t at identified need Sinyard said. “ This kind of grew out of the thinking that if you create good students [ and] happy and healthy students from what we did; hopefully, that translates into a better community,” Sinyard said. “ It turned out to be just a huge thing. It would not have been possible had we not partnered together; that was sort of what made that event successful,” Horton said.

Horton said the BTSB was one of her personal highlights

from 2012. e identified a need e ucce fu y imp emented t i u e pro ect t at ad ne er been done before and it affected o many fami ie and o many tudent e aid t a an emotiona e perience a muc a it a ery impactfu for t e county n addition to ared e ent t e pair cro promote eac ot er communitie t rou eek y mont y emai update o unteer are a ay e come to oin t e co aborati e effort orton and Sinyard aid or more information i it e p orecorne ia com or c arke i e a com See Pa e for a ca endar of e ent and fe ti a ♦

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public safety

Judicial center progress

New facility set to open summer 2013

H

by E. Lane Gresham

process must start over. The new judicial center will help us avoid these issues because of the layout, and will help both the prosecutors and defense counsel focus their efforts on presenting their cases.”

The building will open with occupancy on three out of four e e round oor and oor one t rou t o e top oor will be reserved for future expansion.

The $17.9 million total project price includes construction of the judicial center, renovations to be determined at the existing courthouse and debt service.

A guaranteed maximum price of $15,301,955 for the construction of the new building was issued by Conyers-based Potts Construction. Groundbreaking took place in March 2012, with the project topping out – the last beam placed at the top of the four-story structure – in November 2012. To commemorate t e toppin out Pott orker rai ed a S a ic a later presented to county commissioners.

Progress has continued, mostly on schedule, until February

abersham County will soon boast a brand new judicial center.

Judges, attorneys and other court personnel will settle into fresh space later this year.

The 75,000-square-foot facility, located at the corner of Stanford Mill Road and Lewellyn Street just off Washington Street in Clarkesville, will feature courtrooms slated to provide more appropriate security than what is now available at the current Habersham County Courthouse.

Separate courtrooms will be assigned to magistrate, state and uperior court it e panded office pace a ocated to t e arious judicial support personnel.

Separate elevators will transport prisoners to maintain the integrity of the court process, with holding cells and a sallyport in place to provide adequate security. “ One of the biggest reasons the new judicial center will make our job in the criminal courts much easier is the ability we will have to keep parties from interacting during Judicial center by the numbers trial,” said Mountain Judicial Circuit ■ 31,600 cubic yards dirt moved ■ 321 tons of steel framing being installed District Attorney Brian Rickman.

■ 16,200 cubic yards rock hauled away ■ 32,000 square feet of exterior metal studs “ During a trial, if jurors accidentally being installed ■ 60 tons rebar used overhear defendants and their families ■ 2,236 cubic yards of concrete ■ 110,000 bricks and 18,000 concrete blocks to and witnesses, or victims and their be placed ■ “Couple of miles” of plumbing laid under families and witnesses, talking in the concrete ■ 6,500 square feet of glass being installed hall or talking on the phone, there ■ 1,600-amp electrical service; 10 miles of ■ 222 door frames being installed is the potential for a legal issue to ■ 19,000 square feet of roofing being installed conduit arise and in some cases a mistrial can ■ 27 miles of wire being installed SOURCE: Dave Buser, president, Potts Con■ 1,000-plus light fixtures being installed struction happen. If a mistrial is declared, the 22

Shovels at the ready, Habersham County commissioners, oined by constitutional of cers and court of cials, braved a pending rainstorm March 15, 2012, to of cially break ground for construction of the county’s new udicial center.

The four-story structure will be built on the 12-acre site at the intersection of Stanford Mill oad and Llewellyn Street in Clarkesville, former site of North Habersham High School. Pictured are, from left, Chan Caudell and usty Smith, superior court udges Steve Campbell, state court udge Chad Henderson, Doug Vermilya, Lee Mulkey, Andrea Harper and Sonny ames, commissioners Pam Wooley, probate udge David Wall, clerk of court Brian ickman, district attorney and oey Terrell, sheriff. Photo/Donald Fraser

rainfall delayed the completion timeline a bit. Interior work, including mechanical, electrical rough-in as well as heating, ventilating and air conditioning ducts is continuing.

A mock exterior is in place so passersby can see what the exterior will look like as well as providing a test area for aterproofin te t Masonry work was scheduled to begin in March, according to Pond & Company Vice President K ip Stokes.

Pond & Company is the county’s construction management company.

Stokes noted the masonry work is temperature sensitive and “ we do have to work around the temperature.”

Accordin to Stoke t e first and econd oor i a e a brick e terior topped by a capstone band. The top oor abo e t e cap tone i be co ered it a fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC). The GFRC also goes across the rotunda, where “ Habersham County Courthouse” will be spelled out. “ People will notice the exterior when that goes up,” Stokes said. “ They will block out a spot for the [ Masonic] cornerstone,” Stokes said.

Habersham County commissioners approved the placement of the cornerstone in January.

Despite the rain, Stokes said the con-

tract deadline of turning over the project to the county remains July of this year.

According to Stokes, interior work will increase apace as soon as windows are installed. Another positive, according to Stokes, is the timing of the installation of landscaping to coincide with the growing season.

The courts will not operate in the new space until later in the fall to allow everyone to get settled before scheduling trials and court appearances. “ Y ou want time to move in, iron things out and make sure things are appropriate for a court schedule,” Stokes said.

According to Habersham County Manager Janeann Allison, 20 local firm a e been in o ed in t e pro ect “ Throughout the judicial center project, it has been very important to the county that the contractor use as many local vendors as possible. We wanted to pro ide ork to ua ified bu ine e in Habersham,” Allison said. “ It is also important that our businesses who have had the opportunity to participate in the project have a building they can be proud of and that they can use as an example to gain more business.”

Renovation at the current courthouse will likely not take place prior to employees moving into the new building.

According to Chad Henderson, county commission chairman, improvements to the existing courthouse will depend on how much money is left after the new project is complete. “ We’ve got to put a roof on that building; it’s imperative, we’ve got to replace the air conditioning units,” Henderson said. Current courtroom space at the existing facility will be turned into cubic e office e aid Interior improvements at the existin court ou e i be t e fir t priority ender on aid before any fina decision will be made on the exterior facade. “ If there is any money left over it will probably go toward the aesthetics of that building,” he said. “ Our material completion [ date] is June still,” said Brad Bennett, superintendent with Potts Construction. “ July [ we’ll be] completely out of it. The thing that’s hurting me the worst now is the outside [ work] and the rain stops that.”

Henderson said quality is the top priority as the project heads toward its grand opening, rather than speed of progress. “ We want it right more than we want it fast,” Henderson aid. “ That’s everybody’s sentiment.” ♦ 23

A young donkey named Denny is a valued member of the livestock on Garnett and Jean Hulsey’s Clarkesville farm. Garnett Hulsey says the donkey helps keep coyotes away from the cows.

Photo/Kimberly Brown

agriculture

Allies in agriculture

Extension service partners with Soque Partnership

F

Clarkesville and Cornelia. An important partner is the Habersham County Extension Service and its agent, Steven Patrick Since before t e fir t rant a awarded in 2004, Patrick has worked to facilitate communications between landowners and the partnership to get more than 40,000 linear feet of buffer- and cross-fencing installed to keep livestock out of the streams and to create paddocks on pasture land. “ Phase one was to undertake a watershed assessment, in an attempt to determine the causes and sources of fecal coliform bacteria and excessive sediment,” said Watershed Coordinator Duncan Hughes. “ It was a lot of moni-

by Kimberly Brown

or almost 10 years, the Soque Partnership has worked to ensure the water we drink and play in is clean. A major milestone of that effort was reached in 2012, when a 29-mile stretch of the Soque River was taken off Georgia Environmental Protection Division’s list of impaired streams.

The Partnership is accomplishing this through a series of efforts funded by a federal 319 grant.

The partnership consists of 20 organizations, including the Soque River Watershed Association, North Georgia Technical College and the cities of

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torin a ot of amp in and a ot of fie d work. Steven helped a lot with that, in facilitating relationships with landowners to get access [ to streams] .”

Hughes said if they had to rely on sampling only on public property, the efforts would have been “ severely limited.” “ The point of the whole thing was to characterize water conditions in the watershed,” Hughes said. “ There was recognition that everybody – agricultural community and residential neighborhoods – all have impact on water quality.”

Justin Ellis, executive director of the SRWA, agrees. “ Once we started getting the 319 grant money to implement projects, Steven is the one who sold [ the idea] to the agriculture community, to develop the buy-in we needed people to even consider participating,” Ellis said. “ Steven and the Extension service were so much better positioned to make that appeal than Duncan and I could have been, and he did it in a much more effective way than we could have, because he put it in the perspective that they needed to hear it.”

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“ If one calf falls off a steep creek bank and busts its leg up, you’ve lost maybe $1,200,” he said. “ If a brood cow goes down, you might have lost $2,000.

If you give them a watering trough where the water is clean and pure, you have less pink eye, less soggy foot problems … the health of the animal will get a whole lot better.” “ If [ cows] are standing in the creek, they’re not eating grass,” Patrick continued. “ If they’re not eating grass, they’re not making you money. Y ou’re not in the business of watching cows stand in the creek.

Y ou’re in the business to make money.”

The Soque Partnership received its second 319 grant for 2007-10 and the third grant is from 201113, Hughes said. “ As we’ve gotten more into development of the protection plan, Steven and Cooperative Extension have provided technical assistance and guidance; they’ve sat on an advisory committee with members of other state, federal and local agenHabersham County Extension Service Agent Steven Patrick, left, cies. They’ve been on the steering committee to talks with Clarkesville farmer Garnett Hulsey about Hulsey’s graviprovide input and guidance on how to move forward ty- ow watering system for his cows. The system is like a reverse to implement the watershed protection plan.” septic system” that draws water into the tank through pipes in a u e and i ay anot er u e benefit to a eld. Hulsey has 50 brood cows, and each gave birth to a calf this ing Patrick and the extension service in the Partneryear. He also has three bulls and 10 heifers. Photo/Kimberly Brown ship is the availability of experts from the University of Georgia. rid of fecal coliform in the water is to fence cattle out of “ I might be able to convince an extension specialist to streams, so they won’t “ loaf” in the stream and “ do what come up every once in a while, but having Steven there cows do,” Hughes said. really increases our abilities,” Ellis said. “ We can access Patrick aid keepin co out of tream benefit farmer information for little to no cost, and implement projects that as much as people downstream who want to drink the water. are a lot more detailed.”

THANK YOU HABERSHAM COUNTY INDUS NDUSTRY TR Y OF T THE HE Y EAR NDUST RY

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GlobalTech Industries was named Industry of the Year at the Habersham Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting/Awards Ceremony held Dec. 4. Shown, from left, are James L. Bruce, president; Sam F. Dayton, CFO; Rush Mauney, CEO; with outgoing Chairperson Judy Forbes.

• A pAssion for cAndle mAking.

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Open 7 days for your enjoyment

A cow owned by Garnett and Jean Hulsey of Clarkesville takes a break from drinking from a ball water tank on a February day. Hulsey has three new ball tanks and two gravity- ow tanks on his 84-acre farm. The tanks are the result of a cattle fencing project on the Hulseys’ land completed by the Soque Partnership in 2010. Hulsey says he is “very happy” with the project. Photo/Kimberly Brown

610987w

Hughes said he believes the next milestone will be the delisting of a six-mile segment of the Soque River from state oute to t e con uence of the Chattahoochee. Those water samples have already been run by the city of Clarkesville, but the delisting is only done every two years.

However, he says areas on the impaired streams list aren’t the only ones being monitored and these are “ priority areas” for the Soque Partnership to complete projects.

Patrick said, “ Each person in the partnership has a valuable role that cannot be understated …

The Partnership has come a long way, but our work i not fini ed o matter where you live in the watershed, somebody lives downstream.” ♦

27

Cornelia Come visit us and stay awhile • UPS Shipping • Copies • Fax • Notary Service • Local Authors and Artists • Special Orders • Gifts

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610979-2

•

Seasonal banners welcome residents and visitors to downtown Cornelia. The city’s Office of Downtown Development coordinates events and programs to enhance downtown revitalization.

Sprinkled throughout Habersham County, historic downtowns in seven municipalities provide the backdrop for fun throughout the year. See Page 58 for a calendar of events and festivals.

Photo/E. Lane Gresham

economic development

Habersham Chamber Five-star accreditation earned

T

by Kimberly Brown

he Habersham Chamber of Commerce recently reac ed a i nificant mi e tone t earned a fi e- tar accreditation by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Habersham Chamber President Judy Taylor said t e c amber ad recei ed it four- tar accreditation in but a o c o e to bein fi e- tar at t at time t ey re ubmitted in Accreditation i re-app ied for e ery fi e years, she said. e re on y one of i c amber in t e tate it fi e- tar accreditation] ,” said Chamber Board of Trustees Chairman en Sc ubrin n my opinion at it doe i i e t e c amber more credibi ity e e o n e re capab e of and in anyt in e can compete it a t e c amber ore t an anyt in it i e u e po ure on t e S ide a well.”

Taylor said the Habersham Chamber (with about 500 member i t e on y ma c amber in eor ia it a fi etar ratin Some of t e mea ure e a uated for accreditation inc ude tec no o y economic de e opment financia tabi ity 30

More than 50 people traveled to Atlanta to participate in Habersham County Day. The group included members of the 2012-13 Habersham Chamber Leadership Class, board members and staff. Shown, rst row from left, are District 28 State Rep. Gasaway, Gov. Nathan Deal, Chamber Board President Ken Schubring and District 10 State Rep. Terry Rogers. The group spent the day networking on behalf of Habersham. Photo/E. Lane Gresham

faci itie and o ernment affair Accreditation a idate a c amber t at it i doin t e right things for members, Taylor said. “ What accreditation means is an outside agency has e a uated t i c amber and found e a e t e pro ram and er ice a ai ab e deemed needed to meet t e tandard of a fi e- tar c amber e aid t a about at e re doin for our member at t ey re ettin for t eir in e tment e c amber benefit bu ine e particu ar y ma businesses, in the areas of referrals, networking, credibility, community e po ure di count bu ine upport ad ocacy trainin and member-to-member ad ay or aid et orkin opportunitie are e pecia y important for small businesses, Taylor said. These include Business After Hours, held almost monthly, and a new Business Before Hours, held four times a year. There are also four “ leads roup for member ere member et to et er and are business leads. ead roup member not on y ork for t em e e but t ey ork for e erybody in t at roup ay or aid en they are [ out and about] they’re your eyes and hands and ear ou increa e your e f by t e number of peop e in t e

group] .”

In addition, Schubring said the chamber provides workshops to businesses “ to help them better their business practices.” “ We have ‘ shop local’ campaigns to try to help enhance their businesses and get Habersham County out to the state level, to show what we have in the county,” he said.

In the area of economic development, Taylor said the chamber’s Partnership for Growth “ laid the foundation” for the Archway Partnership. “ Two years prior to Archway becoming Judy Taylor, president of Habersham Chamber of Commerce, works the a reality, we brought community leaders cell phone at the annual Habersham to et er in a ay t at ou d benefit County Day at the Capitol, this year everybody in this county, including our held Feb. 20. Photo/E. Lane Gresham membership,” Schubring said. “ I think we’re going to see very good things come out of that long-term.”

Piedmont College.

The bottom line, Taylor said, is that the chamber promotes “ The chamber is the organization that grooms future the county for economic development and tourism. “ Advoleadership for Habersham County,” Taylor said. “ We have cacy is a big thing for the chamber,” she said. “ The chamber graduates of Leadership Habersham at the state level and all advocates what is good for business and industry.” the way down. By being a chamber member, you participate The chamber sponsors Leadership Habersham, the youth in, and have a voice in, a much bigger picture … It’s a way of leadership program at Habersham Central High School, and having your voice heard.” the Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) proFor more information, visit the chamber’s new website at gram. In addition, the chamber has a business resource center in partnership with North Georgia Technical College and habershamchamber.com. ♦ Acey-Deucey Square Dance Every Thursday Evening at the Old Clarkesville Mill 706-754-8649 aceydeuceysquaredanceclub@gmail.com Boots Etc. Outlet, Inc. 3045 US Hwy. 441S Commerce, GA 30529 706-335-2668 Fax: 706-335-2284 boots-etc.com Western Wear at Its Best!

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education

Leaders in education Three new educators come aboard

L

by Kimberly Brown

ast year, three of the primary legs of education in Habersham County saw new leaders. Dr. Gail Thaxton became president of North Georgia Technical College in April 2012; Dr. James Mellichamp took over as president of Piedmont College in May 2012; and Matthew Cooper became Habersham County school superintendent in June 2012. These leaders have a vision for their own organizations and how the three work together to improve education opportunities for Habersham County students.

Cooper’s philosophy is “ Education is the Great Equalizer.” This concept helped him develop a vision of unity for Habersham County students that became the school system’s mission statement: One team; one mission; success for ALL students. In February, the system received a recommendation for re-accreditation and that statement was praised by the accreditation team.

To help keep high school students focused on the prize – graduation, appropriate post-secondary education and a satisfying career – the school system works with both Piedmont College and NGTC to transition graduates to their next steps. Some college credit can be earned while the student is still in high school, through the system’s joint enrollment program with NGTC and Piedmont College. In this program, Habersham Central High School students take classes on the college campus and they receive both college and high school credit for the course.

Approved in February by the Habersham County Board of ducation for t e fir t time C S tudent i be ab e to take a year of healthcare science courses taught by NGTC on the HCHS campus. “ Students will graduate high school, already having the nur e aide certificate Cooper aid i i a reat t in Also available is an “ articulation program” where a high school student can take a high school class on the HCHS campus that matches in content to a NGTC course. If the student passes the course and a college-administered test, he

From top, Jody Moore, Carson Parker and Kayli Wood hear a story read by Habersham County School Superintendent Matthew Cooper. Middle, Piedmont College President James Mellichamp gives private lessons on the 3,691-pipe Sewell organ to student Taylor Sexton. Mellichamp began teaching at Piedmont College in 1982, and he began the school’s music program. Bottom, Austin Bailey of Clarkesville examines blood samples in the lab at North Georgia Technical College while NGTC President Gail Thaxton watches. Photos/Kimberly Brown 32

receives high school and college credit for the course.

In addition to providing early college credits, these programs allow students to preserve any HOPE grant funds for after they have graduated and are enrolled in college.

In addition to Piedmont College being “ very generous” with scholarships for HCHS graduates, Cooper said the college also funds the Academic Excellence Program, which allows students to receive academic letters for achievement. The college is also the school system’s largest supplier of student teachers.

Cooper has degrees from Augusta State University, Albany State University and Southeastern University in Lakeland, Fla., and he graduated from the Georgia School Superintendent professional development program. He taught and coached in middle and high school in Fitzgerald, and he was an administrator for 10 years in Banks County.

Mellichamp, from Toccoa, was named interim president of Piedmont College in March 2012 and president on May 4, 2012.

Mellichamp started the music program at Piedmont, having taught at the college since 1982. Before being named interim president, he served as dean of the school of arts and sciences, vice president for academic affairs and provost.

Even as president, Mellichamp still gives private lessons on the 3,691-pipe Sewell organ located in the chapel.

Regarding his vision for Piedmont College, Mellichamp said the college has kicked off a broad-based strategic planning initiative called PC125, standing for Piedmont College’s 125th anniversary, coming up in 2022.

“ We’re working on developing a strategic plan that will guide the institution through the next nine years to that milestone,” he said. “ I would be happy to see controlled expansion [ of the school] . I’m particularly interested in growing the residential population at the Demorest campus and growing the undergraduate population at our Athens campus.”

This growth may include building more dorms, and the college breaks ground for a new student center this spring. The school is “ moving forward with new degrees,” including a master of science in nursing, to be launched in the fall, and a bachelor of science in athletic training. In addition, Mellichamp said, “ several programs are on the drawing boards right now.”

Mellichamp believes the three educational legs “ complement each other very nicely.”

There are currently 43 high school students dual-enrolled at Piedmont College, and most of those are Habersham County students.

In addition, he said, “ We’ve worked on ways to offer seamless transfer into the four-year program here for graduates of North Georgia Tech.”

For older students, Mellichamp said the school offers neighborhood grants for about 15 area counties. Students who are 25 or older who have not completed a college degree, can get a 50-percent tuition grant. “ We think that’s part of our mission,” he said. “ Historically, we’ve wanted to serve the people in this area, and we’re able to do that because we have a very healthy endowment that provides excellent scholarship assistance to our students.”

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Right, Clarkesville Elementary School rst graders Cora Nation, Brighton Paul and Dakota Burton demonstrate iPads to Habersham County School Superintendent Matthew Cooper. Below left, Piedmont College President ames Mellichamp sits with his dog, Mamie, in the chapel at Piedmont College.

Mellichamp took over as president of Piedmont College in May 2012. Below right, Avimael Rojas of Mt. Airy shows an electrical box to NGTC President Gail Thaxton. Rojas is learning electrical work in a construction-site house on the NGTC campus.

Mellichamp graduated from Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Ala., and studied two years in Germany on an international scholarship.

He earned a doctor of music degree from Indiana University.

President of North Georgia Technical College since April 2012, 34

Thaxton comes to NGTC from Okefenokee Technical College in Waycross, where she served as president since 2005. She also served as vice president of instruction at Albany Technical College, and was the assistant superintendent for instruction in Grady County.

“ I think what I’ve enjoyed the most in my career is technical education, because of the connection of education and training to work,” she said. “ In our state, it’s normal for graduates of technical college to stay in the area, so you really get to see their accomplishments and what your

Thaxton said NGTC staff works to make sure everything is in place for NGTC credits to transfer to Piedmont College, if a student decides to earn a four-year degree. “ It seems like it’s a no-brainer, but it takes working together and collaboration, and thankfully we have the will to make that happen in this community,” she said.

HCHS is “ a great partner,” Thaxton said. “ It lets us in, lets us promote our programs and our mission to our tudent and m confident t ey make t e ri t c oice I don’t see it as a competition, I see it as a complement of services to our students in the community.” “ There’s an open channel of communication among the three educational partners in this community and you don’t find t at in a ot of p ace e aid t ery pecia and unique to Habersham.” ♦ CUSTOM FRAMING

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work as an administrator or instructor has done for that student, their families and lives. It’s very inspirational, very motivational. It keeps you focused on why you’re here.”

Her vision for NGTC is “ to enroll and graduate more students.”

To accomplish that goal, the college must continue to be accessible, she said. “ We can take a citizen anywhere they happen to be, from a high school dropout to [ someone] being ready for an associate’s degree; we can serve that student’s needs. We work to make sure we’re as affordable as we can possibly be and we have the right program mix.”

With new registered nurse and engineering technology programs, the program mix is “ in good shape,” Thaxton said, but the school is looking at adding programs in early childhood care and healthcare specializations. “ My vision is really about how to serve the communities,” she said. A big part of that will be growing the “ economic development, non-credit side of the college, where we offer more programs and training classes for companies whose employees don’t want to go through the application process of becoming a credit student in college.”

Thaxton sees NGTC, the county school system and Piedmont College as “ three legs of an education platform in this community. We are all committed to high school graduation success … We train students with shorter-length programs to graduate and go to work. Piedmont is preparing the student for a different pathway, typically a fouryear [ degree] pathway. We need to be available to students and their parents, and make sure they make informed, educated choices and know where to go.”

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Tavarres King had 207 receptions for 3,270 yards and 37 touchdowns during his prep career at Habersham Central High School. Photo/File

sports

Habersham’s TK

H

King standout in county sports history

by Mark Turner

abersham Central has been home to a lot of good football players since the school opened its doors in 1970.

But it would be hard to argue that many, if any, have been better than Tavarres K ing.

K ing, a 2008 HCHS graduate, wowed local football fans during his playing days as a Raider, helping the program to a pair of trips to the Class AAAA uarterfina durin i unior and enior seasons. K ing went on to a stellar career at the University of Georgia and is now working out and waiting on the NFL draft, which will take place in April.

36

David Foster, the Raiders’ play-byplay voice on WCON Radio since 1989, believes K ing might be the best player to ever wear the Orange and Blue. “ I can honestly say that there is no doubt that Tavarres K ing is one of the best players we’ve ever had at Haberam Centra o ter aid e u ta great talent and it was thrilling for me to be able to watch every touchdown and every catch that he had. I think he and K evin Ellison are probably the two best players we’ve ever had. He’s always been a very nice, respectable, friendly kid. One of the things that stands out most for me is the quality of his character.”

K ing made his mark in the Raider program during his four-year stint. He

capped off his career as a senior in 2007 by setting the state record for receptions in a single season (100) and receiving yards in a single season (1,641) to go along with 17 touchdowns.

For his HCHS career, K ing had 207 receptions for 3,270 yards and 37 touchdowns. in fini ed an i u triou career at UGA last fall, catching 42 passes for 950 yards and nine touchdowns during the 2012 season, and his average of 22.6 yards per reception was the best in the nation for any player who caught more than 26 passes. K ing played in 56 games during his collegiate career, giving the HCHS product the all-time record for games played by any UGA football

player.

Former HCHS head coach Gene Cathcart, who coached K ing all four years in high school, closely followed K ing’s career at UGA and he’s excited for what the future holds. “ No question, he is one of the very best players I’ve ever coached,” Cathcart said. “ He’s also one of the best people I’ve coached. Coaches aren’t suppose to have favorites but he will always be one of my favorites. He’s got a chance to reach his goal and dream of playing in the NFL and I’m looking forward to watching him play on Sundays.”

K ing was invited to the Senior Bowl earlier this year and participated in the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Ind., in late February.

During the combine, K ing and the other players made the rounds with hordes of national media that covered the event. K ing did an interview on the Players Platform Show on College2Pros. com about the combine and having an opportunity to play in the NFL. ime a o n and m ery e cited about t e opportunitie that I have,” K ing told C2P’s Bo Marchionte. “ I’ve been wanting to do this since I was kid. For my dream to be so close to my grasp, it’s pretty awesome. It’s an exciting time and I’m just trying to enjoy it.”

K ing said in the combine interview that his experiences at Georgia have prepared him for the next level. “ I came from a prostyle offense and ran a pro route tree, so I can run all the routes they Call About Our Energyneed me to run,” K ing Efficient Heat Pumps said. “ I can pick up the • Outstanding No Hassle playbook extremely fast; Replacement™ limited warranty and 10 year parts limited I’m pretty intelligent. warranty protection* But more than that, I • Quiet operation • Energy efficiencies as high as want to be the best. just ‡ ‡ Call Tavarres King played18in 56 SEER and 8.5 HSPFAbout I don’tOur wantEnergyto be a guy games during his collegiate Efficient Heat Pumps in this league, I want to career, giving him the all-time• Outstanding No Hassle be somebody special in limited warranty record for games played by anyReplacement™ and 10this yearleague. parts limited That’s what UGA football player. Photo/Mark warranty protection* pushed me.” ♦ Turner • Quiet operation

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Be sure to mark your calendars for all these great events coming to Cornelia in 2013 April 19 & 20 April-August April - August Aug10 Sept 10 Sept 14 Oct 12 Oct 31 Nov 28-Jan 1 Dec 13-21 Dec 31

Cornelia Apple Blossom BBQ Festival Friday Night Flicks Last Friday of each month- Summer Concert Series Habersham County Back to School Bash w/ Clarkesville Better Hometown Better Hometown Job Expo (Ruby C. Fulbright Aquatic Center) Relaxing at the Apple Car Show 26th Annual Big Red Apple Festival Haunting on Main at the Old Cornelia Bank Building Christmas in the Park–Spectacular Light Display Christmas in Cornelia (Ice Skating, Hayrides, Visits with Santa and More) Apple Drop

For more information, contact Heather Sinyard, Downtown Manager, at 706-778-8585 x 280 or email at bht@corneliageorgia.org All event dates, activities and times are subject to change at any time. For up-to-date info and more details on each event, check out the website address below.

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economic development

t rea y tartin to mo e Story aid e e ecuti e committee a de e oped it ork p an Story aid A pin-off a been creatin ork roup to ork on pecific pro ect ne a ready in p ace i t e orkforce de e opment ork roup Story aid An ear y Arc ay ucce i A facu ty and taff e pin C ar e aber am County e ecuti e director at economic de e opment, with de i n of gateway signage at Habersham Airport ndu tria Park et o signs were erected in ebruary Charles is a o orking with a A tudent team on t e master plan for de e opin t e indu tria park Anot er ort-term pro ect benefitin t e county and Clarkesville – de i n for a pedestrian trail near Habersham Archway Professional Rick Story, left, and the new Habersham Archway Executive Committee Chairman udicia Mike Mixon. Photo/J. Colby Moore center in Clarkeseconomic de e opment touri m and ville, marketin education and orkbet een a in ton and e e yn force de e opment p annin and treet a a co aborati e effort i ionin and ea t care bet een A and C tudent ick Story came aboard in and facu ty i on aid e trai ecember a aber am i create a more in itin and picArc ay Profe iona ture ue a enue t an u t in ta in

Partnering up

Archway targets broad spectrum of county’s wants, needs

H

by Donald Fraser

abersham Archway Partnership is sharpening its pencil and refinin it i t of community c a en e and pro ect intended to better ife in and t e future of aber am County ike i on aber am Arc way Partnership chairman, said he i often a ked on t e treet u t at Arc ay pro ect are e re not doin any pro ect i on aid e e p ot er roup meet t eir oa Archway Partnership is a Univerity of eor ia- pon ored pro ram ic e p oca communitie prioriti e t eir need t en fi ure t e be t ay to de e op o ution Arc ay Partner ip pro ide faci itation acce to A re ource and an Arc ay Profe iona to e p uide t e proce and open door to uni er ity re ource Habersham Archway Partnerip i a tiered or ani ation ic ork it i ue enera y at t e e ecuti e committee e e t en ti ten it prob em- o in focu at t e teerin committee and i ue ork roup e e e aber am C amber of Commerce Partnerip for ro t t o-year initiati e et t e ta e for t e county acceptance into Arc ay ecuti e committee member inc ude repre entati e from county and municipa o ernment i er earnin in titution ort eor ia ec nica Co e e and Piedmont Co e e t e aber am County oard of ducation and aber am edica Center ecuti e committee prioritie and oa for t e near term inc ude 38

a sidewalk. e are definite y be innin to prioriti e our orkroup i on aid Anot er re ati e y ea y pro ect u in Arc ay A re ource cou d be a i tance it up radin and updatin t e county eb ite A new sign, one of two installed at Habersham County Airport Industrial Park, is one of the rst pro ects discussed by the Habersham Archway Partnership. Habersham County Industrial Development Authority’s master plan for the park is also in the works through a collaboration with Archway.

Photo/ E. Lane Gresham

ere a ot oin on i on aid bet een t e ort-term and t e on -term pro ect in t e county ut in i ie a a pro ect or t o ro off one or t o more i ro on Arc ay Partner ip in o ement in pro ect ic i ike y take time to reac a ucce fu conc u ion inc ude for e amp e a tudy of t e to n of a u a a to e p it re ain it an ui ed po ition a a touri m de tination e a u a a pro ect inc ude orkin on a marketin and fea ibi ity tudy of e i tin park and recreation opportunitie a ua or e i a focu of t e effort a e a t e artram and Appa ac ian rai

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A recent twist bodes well for renewed attention to Tallulah Falls and Tallulah or e o n officia are having discussions with Nik Wallenda the great-grandson of K arl Wallenda to recreate his grandfather’s tightrope walk across the gorge and commemorate the 45th anniversary of the July 15, 1970, event.

What may be another longer-term project, which is under way, is a work group takin t e fir t tep to de e op a new healthcare option for low-income patients.

The committee is in the preliminary stages of making an application for federal government funding with the assistance of MedLink of Georgia, to establish a clinic in Habersham County.

The clinic, with its partial federal funding, would offer patients access to services on a sliding scale. ♦

Those signing the Habersham Archway Partnership letter of intent for a Memorandum of Understanding May 31, 2012, included, front row from left: Malcolm Hunnicutt, mayor, Demorest; Mel Garber, director, Archway Partnership; Terry Greene, mayor, Clarkesville; Gary Morris, mayor, Mt. Airy; Gail Thaxton, president, North Georgia Technical College; Judy Forbes, chairwoman, Habersham Chamber of Commerce; Janeann Allison, Habersham County manager; Deb Goatcher, mayor pro tempore, Tallulah Falls; back row, James C. “J.C.” Irby, mayor, Cornelia; Todd Pealock, chair, Habersham County Industrial Development Authority; Dick Dwozan, former president, Habersham Medical Center; Jerry Neace, mayor, Baldwin; James Mellichamp, president, Piedmont College; Allen Kidd, Alto police chief; Steven Patrick, coordinator, Agricultural Extension Service, Habersham County; and Larry Hill, interim superintendent, Habersham County Schools. Each of the 14 entities represented by the signers have an executive committee seat on the Habersham Archway Partnership. Photo/ E. Lane Gresham

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recreation

SORBA

Working to enhance outdoor recreation

by Mark Turner

Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association [SORBA] member Brian Horton is shown blowing leaves off a trail in the Lake Rusell Wildlife Management Area. The group removed debris and downed trees from the trail along with making some other repairs to the trail. Photos/Kenslei Krippner

L

ooking to get outside for a little exercise? Enjoy riding a bicycle? Want to do both things and help maintain some mountain bike trails?

If you are interested in doing any of these things, then becoming a part of the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association (SORBA) might be for you.

SORBA is a member-based, chartered organization devoted to promoting land access, trail preservation and new trail development in order to enhance mountain bike touring, racing, fun and fellowship for all mountain bicyclists in the southeastern United States.

Habersham County is home to a local chapter of SORBA, the Upper Chattahoochee Cycling Club (UC3). “ Mountain biking used to be viewed as a rogue sport, but now mountain bikers are viewed as trail experts,” UC3 Treasurer Joe Elam said. “ We are involved in designing trails, building trails and maintaining them.”

Elam said the local chapter spends a lot of time on trails at the Lake Russell Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and several trails in Rabun County,

A sign indicates an off-road bicycle trail at the Lake Russell Wildlife Management Area in Mt. Airy. Photos/Kenslei Krippner

such as Stonewall Creek Falls. Elam said the group is always looking for opportunities to develop more trails. “ As an organization, we focus on local mountain bike trails,” Elam said.

e are definite y intere ted in de e oping any opportunities, even working with local municipalities to develop biking trails in town.”

S A i t e ar e t nonprofit mountain biking organization in the Southeast. The group works with land managers in Georgia, as well as Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee to design, build and maintain trails and trail systems for mountain bikers. “ This is an organization that is made up of volunteers,” Elam said. “ There is a small fee to become a member and a good bit of the membership fee comes back to the local chapter so we can buy materials or tools that we need to maintain the trails.”

SORBA now partners with the International Mountain Bicycling Association, which includes more than 4,000 members who care for miles of biking trials in the seven-state area.

The southern part of the United States is blessed with some of the best riding conditions anywhere and most of the responsibility for maintaining the mountain trails falls on the volunteers in local organizations such as UC3.

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One example of this group’s work is a recent trail maintenance work day held at the Ladyslipper mountain bike trail at Lake Russell WMA in Mt. Airy.

The group removed debris and downed trees along with making some other repairs to the trail.

Along with helping maintain local trails, UC3 members spend a lot of time riding the trails in and around Northeast Georgia. “ Mountain biking is about living a more healthy lifestyle,” Elam said. “ If you are interested in that, mountain biking is a great avenue for it.”

Taylor Graham, UC3 vice president, said a main focus of the group is to get more people, especially younger riders, involved. “ Y ou look at all the kids, 18 andunder, who are out there not being active,” Graham said. “ One of our biggest goals is to offer a trail system that makes it easy and accessible to everyone. The problem with Lake Russell right now is that you have to be a pretty experienced rider to be able to use the whole area. We want to create a six-mile loop that’s friendly to biking and hiking. We want a beginner loop

that is wide enough and accessible to everyone, then they can move up to a medium or expert trail.

We want something that will make people want to go out and ride.”

Graham also beMembers of the local Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association lieves that [SORBA] held a trail maintenance work day in the Lake Russell improving Wildlife Management Area Sunday, March 2. Shown, from left, the trail are Joey Brown, Taylor Graham, Sammy Ariail, Keith Owen and system in Brian Horton. Photos/Kenslei Krippner Habersham rea y benefit o many peop e and means that’s what we all want. Lake Russell is more tourism dollars for the county. such a beautiful place, we don’t want it “ There are many, many cyclists in to go to waste.” the metro Atlanta area that are always For more information about the lolooking for a place to go and be in the cal biking club, visit the UC3 SORBA wild,” Graham said. “ The trails would page on Facebook. ♦

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riginally called Lulah City, Alto was incorporated in 1895, and the name is derived from an Italian word for “High.” Alto lies partially in Habersham and partially in Banks counties.

One square mile in size and 1,395 feet above sea level, it has a population of approximately 1,172 [2010 census] people.

Alto is home to Lee Arrendale State Prison and adjacent to the 2,800-acre Wilson Shoals Wildlife Management Area for hunting, fishing, hiking, bird watching and picnicking.

Each June, the city has a “Spring Fling” festival with a parade, arts and crafts booths and food vendors. ♦

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 215 • Alto, GA 30510 Town Hall: 162 Grant Street • Alto, GA 30510 Phone: 706-778-8035 • Fax: 706-778-3357 E-mail: altocit all in tream.net Audrey Turner, mayor

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47

Baldwin

T

he City of Baldwin was incorporated Dec. 17, 1896, on 250 acres along the Banks/Habersham County line, resting on the Appalachian Continental Divide. It was originally known as Stonepile because of a large pile of stones that once stood in the center of town.

The stone structure was erected and left behind by the Cherokee Indians who once roamed these lands in abundance. The stone piling’s significance to the Cherokee and why they left it remains a mystery and is now forever lost.

48

Baldwin was named after Joseph A. Baldwin, an Atlanta-Charlotte Air Line Railroad official.

Baldwin’s city limits contain some 4.5 square miles and are located along two major arterial routes: U.S. Highway 441 and state Route 365 – both of which are divided four-lane highways.

Baldwin’s population is 3,279 [2010 census].

Baldwin is home to the Habersham County Airport.

The airport offers a 5,500-feet paved runway at 1,447 feet above sea level. ♦

Contact Information Mailing Address: P. O. Box 247 Baldwin, GA 30511 City Hall: 130 Airport Road Baldwin, GA 30511 Phone: 706-778-6341 Fax: 706-776-7970 Website: cityofbaldwin.org Jerry Neace, mayor

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Clarkesville

larkesville, the county seat of Habersham, received its charter in 1823. The city was named for Gen. John C. Clarke, governor of Georgia in 1819 and 1821, or his father, Gen. Elijah Clarke, a Revolutionary War hero, according to various versions of the city’s history.

Clarkesville was an early tourist spot for Georgia, but long before Clarkesville became a tourist spot, Cherokee Indians inhabited the area. Around 1540, Spanish explorer De Soto passed through what would become the city of

Clarkesville.

It would be many years later, but still long before Clarkesville was created, that white settlers began living in the area.

After the charter was granted in 1823, the city was surveyed and laid out. Streets were named for presidents Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Monroe, and for Benjamin Franklin and generals Greene, Wayne and Marion of the American Revolution.

Clarkesville attracts new residents each year and has a vibrant

downtown, with a full slate of events to entice residents and visitors.

The current population is 1,733 [ 2010 census] . ♌

Contact Information

Mailing Address: P. O. Box 21 Clarkesville, GA 30523 City Hall: 123 N. Laurel Drive Clarkesville, GA 30523 Phone: 706-754-4216 Fax: 706-754-9316 Website: clarkesvillega.com J. Terry Greene, mayor

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Cornelia

C

orne ia a fir t a ett ement around 1860. t a ituated near t e o d boundary ine bet een t e C erokee and Creek ndian tribe n orker of t e C ar otte-Air ine ai road ater Sout ern ai ay in aded t e ir in fore t A roadbed a c eared and raded and track ere aid from aine i e to occoa n t e ue id e and At antic ai road opened a ine t at e tended nort ard from t e C arotte-Air ine to C arke i e and a u a a e a u a ai ay a it came to be ca ed carried pa -

50

en er and frei t from Corne ia to rank in C e i ed App e tand on t e rai ay depot round in do nto n Corne ia e rep ica of t e ort eor ia app e i con tructed of tee and concrete and a mo ded in inc e ter a in Corne ia i a p ea ant picture ue ma to n at t e ate ay to t e ort eor ia mountain t i ocated at t e uncture of S i ay and tate oute and a a popuation of cenu Corne ia i ad acent to ake u e in t e C atta ooc ee ationa ore t it in t e city imit i i-

tor i find numerou attraction uc a t e i toric Corne ia Community ou e and t e recent y re tored a u a a caboo e e re tored rai road depot in t e center of to n i a ai ab e for pub ic and pri ate e ent e C enoceta o er i t e a t rock-con tructed orkin fire ookout to er in t e ea t and a been pre er ed t rou a cooperati e effort bet een t e S ore t Ser ice and oca citi en roup ♦

Contact Information Mailing Address: P. O. Box 785 • Cornelia, GA 30531 City Hall: 181 Larkin Street • Cornelia, GA 30531 Phone: 706-778-8585 • Fax: 706-778-2234 Website: corneliageorgia.org, explorecornelia.com James C. “J.C.” Irby, mayor

Demorest

F

ounded in 1889 as a “ model town,” Demorest is about 1,345 feet above sea level and has approximately 1,823 residents [ 2010 census] .

The “ model” for Demorest was temperance, consequently making, serving or giving away alcoholic beverages was prohibited.

Town founders ensured enforcement through the Demorest Home, Mining & Improvement Company, which purchased the 3,500 acres that would become Demorest. Both the town and company were named for William Jennings Demorest, an internationally-known alcohol prohibition leader.

Land deeds stipulated violating temperance rules meant forfeiting land back to the company.

According to Sarah Gillespie Fenner’s “ Early History of Demorest” in “ The Heritage of Habersham County 18172000,” Demorest initially saw rapid industrial growth, including 10 factories making items such as saddle trees and folding bathtubs.

The city once

had two small lakes, Demorest and South Lake, built to provide waterpower for the factories. Hotels accommodated visitors and a small steamship carried passengers across the lakes.

Demorest was shaken by the Panic of 1893, a national economic depression which included the bankruptcy of the Demorest Home, Mining & Improvement Company and failure of many other businesses.

The city did not regain industry, but the founding of Piedmont College in 1897 was a bright moment.

The college campus has seen improvements in recent years, including the Arrendale Amphitheater and the Swanson Center for Performing Arts and

Communications. Downtown Demorest is now home to Piedmont College’s MasonScharfenstein Museum of Art featuring a permanent collection of more than 100 paintings and rotating exhibits open to the public. The Johnny Mize Athletic Center and Museum, named for the Baseball Hall of Famer and former Piedmont player Johnny Mize, features memorabilia from his career. ♦

Contact Information Mailing Address: P. O. Box 128 Demorest, GA 30535 City Hall: 579 Georgia Street Demorest, GA 30535 Phone: 706-778-4202 Fax: 706-776-6316 Malcolm Hunnicutt, mayor 51

F

ounded in 1874 by a railroad promoter, Mt. Airy is located at the highest point on the railroad line between New Orleans and New Y ork. The site, with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Northeast Georgia, is located at an elevation of 1,545 feet.

Originally a resort town fi ed it ummer cotta e and hotels during the glory days of railroad travel in the 1800s and early 1900s, the town hall is located on the site of the former Monterey Hotel.

In 1877, Swiss Colony was founded and then in t e fir t c oo 52

Mt. Airy

was established. Tourism declined in the 1920s but remnants of the era are seen in the few historic buildings that remain.

Due to the decrease in train travel and the burning of the Monterey Hotel, tourism began to decline in the 1920s. Today, echoes of the past may be found in the residences, churches and

other buildings that remain from its heyday as an exclusive resort town.

Heritage tourism sites include the Mt. Airy School Building and Eastview Cemetery, with gravestones dating from the 1800s.

The cemetery offers a beautiful view of Currahee Mountain to the east beyond the Lake Russell Wildlife Management Area.

Mt. Airy hosts a number

of events, including the annual Cities Day celebration held in April featuring cars, arts and crafts, parade and other entertainment. The town’s population is 1,284 [ 2010 census] . ♦

Contact Information

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 257 Mt. Airy, GA 30563 Town Hall: 869 Dick’s Hill Parkway Mt. Airy, GA 30563 Phone: 706-778-6990 Fax: 706-776-6792 Website: townofmtairy.com Gary Morris, mayor

T

Tallulah Falls

allulah Falls, founded Oct. 7, 1885, is situated in Habersham and Rabun counties. The town is about 1,570 feet above sea level and has a population of just under 168 [ 2010 census] .

The town was a popular resort in Victorian days, with visitors from the hotter, southern part of Georgia coming to town on the Tallulah Falls Railroad.

One of the primary attractions of Tallulah Falls is Tallulah Gorge State Park.

The gorge is two miles long and about 1,000 feet deep.

Tallulah Gorge has six waterfalls: L’Eau d’Or (also known as Ladore, 46 feet),

Tempesta (76 feet), Hurricane (96 feet), Oceana (50 feet), Bridal Veil (17 feet) and Sweet Sixteen (16 feet).

The Tallulah River runs through the gorge, and several times a year, Georgia Power opens the dam for kayakers and aesthetic releases. The park has overlooks on the north and south

rims. A suspension bridge sways 80 feet above the rocky oor of t e or e and a smaller bridge crosses the river at the Short Line Trail.

Exhibits in the park’s Jane Hurt Y arn Interpretive Center highlight the rich history of this Victorian resort town, as well as the rugged terrain and fragile ecosystem of the area.

With swimming, camping, hiking, biking, kayaking and state

park-sponsored events and classes, there is an abundance of activities to enjoy.

The town hosts its own free outdoor bluegrass music jam April through November. ♦

Contact Information Mailing Address: P. O. Box 56 Tallulah Falls, GA 30573 Town Hall: 255 Main Street Tallulah Falls, GA 30573 Phone: 706-754-6040 Fax: 706-754-3779 Carl Seaman, mayor 53

Settling In • Relocation Guide • Requirements and resources for new residents vary by geographic location – Habersham has seven municipalities – please refer to specific city or town for details. Utility company contacts are below: 701690-2

Electricity: Habersham EMC P.O. Box 25 Clarkesville, GA 30523 706-754-2114 Fax 706-754-1460

Ammunition, Firearms Training, Accessories, Custom Gun Work, Shooting Apparel, Guided Hunts 121 Hodges St., Cornelia 706-894-2171 info@sandhilltactical.com

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Georgia Power Co. P.O. Box 786 Cornelia, GA 30531 706-776-4134 Fax 706-776-4119 Natural Gas: Atlanta Gas Light Company 24 Hour Customer Service/ Emergency Service 800-427-5463 4271 Mundy Mill Road Oakwood, GA Phone: 770-532-1256 Telephone, internet service and cable television: Windstream Communications 2000 Communications Blvd.

Baldwin, GA 30511 706-776-4245 Fax 706-778-5684 Habersham EMC P.O. Box 25 Clarkesville, GA 30523 706-754-2114 Fax 706-754-1460

• Post Offices • • Alto Post Office 706-778-7764 • Baldwin Post Office 706-778-2751 • Clarkesville Post Office 706-754-4614 • Cornelia Post Office 706-778-4714 • Demorest Post Office 54

706-778-8479 • Mt. Airy Post Office 706-778-8323 • Tallulah Falls Post Office 706-754-6011 • Turnerville 706-754-6162

• Schools and colleges • Public and private schools Habersham County Board of Education 132 Stanford Mill Road P.O. Box 70 Clarkesville, GA 30523 706-754-2110 habershamschools.com Public elementary, middle and high Faith Christian Academy 2664 Highway 197 South Mt. Airy, GA 30563 706-778-3360 gmcaga.com The Little School 181 Jefferson St. Clarkesville, GA 30523 706-754-8894 tlsacademy.com Tallulah Falls School 201 Campus Drive Tallulah Falls, GA 30573 706-754-0400 tallulahfalls.org Trinity Classical School 231 Harvest Church Road Demorest, GA 30535 706-754-7686 trinityclassical.org Colleges North Georgia Technical College Highway 197 North Clarkesville, GA 30523 706-754-7700 northgatech.edu Piedmont College 165 Central Ave. Demorest, GA 30535 706-778-3000 piedmont.edu

• Recreation Facilities • The Recreation and Aquatic Center has two swimming pools – a recreational pool and an eight-lane fitness pool. Open swimming is allowed daily per the current pool schedule. Two indoor gymnasiums, a fitness and exercise room and two meeting rooms are available.

Outside, there are four tennis courts, two football fields and multiple soccer, baseball and softball fields. All county facilities are available for rental by contacting the Parks and Recreation Department at 706754-3650.

Contact Information Habersham County Parks and Recreation Department Ruby C. Fulbright Aquatic Center Fenton Morris, director email: fsmorris@habershamga. com 120 Paul Franklin Road Clarkesville, GA 30523 Phone: 706-754-3650/706-7543651 Fax: 706-754-5841

• lected Officials • Habersham County Board of Education Gilbert Barrett, chairman, 706778-5712 Dr. Robert Barron, vice chairman, 706-499-3621 Rick Williams, 706-754-9576 Pat Taylor, 706-499-7075 Don Corbett, 706-599-0363 P.O. Box 90 Clarkesville, GA 30523 Phone: 706-754-2110 habershamschools.com Habersham County Commission Chad Henderson, chairman, 706-894-2150 Sonny James, vice chairman, 706-839-7095 Andrea Harper, 706-968-0284 Natalie Crawford, 678-6449829 Ed Nichols, 706-499-5119 555 Monroe St., Unit 20,

Clarkesville, GA 30523 Phone: 706-839-0200 Fax: 706-754-1014 Email: commissioners@ habershamga.com co.habersham.ga.us District 10 Georgia House Rep. Terry Rogers Capitol address: Coverdell Legislative Office Building, Suite 501 Atlanta, GA 30334 404-656-0177 Terry.Rogers@house.ga.gov District address: 2403 New Liberty Road Clarkesville, GA 305323 706-754-0706 District 28 Georgia House Rep. Dan Gasaway Capitol address: 612 Coverdell Legislative Office Building Atlanta, GA 30334 404-656-0326 Dan.Gasaway@house.ga.gov District address: P.O. Box 700 Homer, GA 30547 706-677-5015 Georgia 50th District Sen. John Wilkinson 321-B Coverdell Legislative Office Building Atlanta, GA 404-463-5257 John.wilkinson@senate. ga.gov U.S. House of Representatives Rep. Doug Collins P.O. Box 907908 Gainesville, GA 30501 202-809-2285 U.S. Senate Sen. Saxby Chambliss chambliss.senate.gov/public/ index.cfm?p=Email Washington D.C. Office 416 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Main: 202-224-3521 North Georgia Office 100 Galleria Parkway

Suite 1340 Atlanta, GA 30339 Main: 770-763-9090 Fax: 770-226-8633 Sen. Johnny Isakson isakson.senate.gov/contact. cfm 131 Russell Senate Office

Building Washington, DC 20510 Tel: 202-224-3643 Fax: 202-228-0724 One Overton Park, Suite 970 3625 Cumberland Blvd.

Atlanta, GA 30339 Tel: 770-661-0999 Fax: 770-661-0768

In case of emergency,

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lic afet Administrati e Offices

■ Georgia State Patrol Toccoa Post ......................706-282-4531 ■ Georgia State Patrol Gainesville Post ..............770-535-6922 ■ Central Communications/911 Center .................706-778-3911 ■ Habersham County Emergency Management Agency/Emergency Operations Center ..............706-778-9500 ■ Habersham County Fire Chief’s Office ...............706-754-2822 ■ Habersham Medical Center ...............................706-754-2161 ■ Habersham County Sheriff’s Office ....................706-839-0500 ■ Habersham County Animal Care and Control ...... 706-754-3533 ■ Georgia Department of Natural Resources Emergency Operations Center ..........................................1-800-241-4113

Crisis Numbers ■ Drug Abuse Hotline ....................................1-800-662-HELP ■ Georgia Poison Control Center ....................1-800-222-1222 ■ Habersham Circle of Hope .............................706-776-3406 (24-hour hotline) 706-776-4673 or 800-33-HAVEN (a shelter for battered women and their children)

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Northeast Georgia is beautiful in all seasons. Flowering plants, native trees, pastoral scenes and scenic vistas remind residents and visitors of its appeal.

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2013 festivals and events For details on the events below, visit clarkesvillega.com, explorecornelia.com or habershamchamber.com

April

6 – Tallulah Falls Opry House, bluegrass jam every Saturday night through November, downtown Tallulah Falls 12-14 - Tallulah Fest, whitewater festival with vendors, music and more 19 – Friday Night Flicks – Cornelia Depot – Title TBA (Free outdoor movie, begins at dusk) 19-20 – Cornelia Apple Blossom BBQ Festival 19-21, 25-28 – “The Big Five-OH” – HCT, Clarkesville 20 – Magical Gardens of Mauldin – Mauldin House Gardens, Clarkesville 20-27 – Georgia Cities Week – “Where the Action Is,” Clarkesville 27 – Georgia Cities Day celebration and Mt. Airy Nationals car show, Mt. Airy, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

May 3 – March of Dimes March for Babies, Sam Pitts Park, Clarkesville, 7 p.m.

3 – Friday Night Flicks, Sam Pitts Park, Clarkesville – Title TBA 11 – Burnt Burbon Pottery, Gallery & Studio and Tanyard Branch Heritage Center Spring Art Fest, Cornelia 18 – 51st Annual Mountain Laurel Festival, Clarkesville 31 – Start of the Summer Concert Series, Cornelia Depot, 8 p.m. – the John King Band

28 – Summer Concert Series at the Depot, Cornelia (Performer TBA)

July 4 – Glorious Fourth of July, Demorest

Clarkesville’s Newest Retail Guilty Pleasure Visit Our Themed Rooms For Unique Gifts!

June 1 – Alto Spring Fling – Parade, vendors, activities, entertainment 7-9 – Northeast Georgia Arts Tour, Summer Art Amble – multiple locations 7-9, 13-16 – “The 39 Steps” – HCT, Clarkesville 16 – Soque River Festival, Clarkesville 21 – Friday Night Flicks – Cornelia Depot – Title TBA

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19 – Friday Night Flicks, Clarkesville – Pitts Park – Title TBA 26 – Summer Concert Series at the Depot, Cornelia – The Gasoline Brothers

Aquatic Center, Clarkesville 26 – Batesville Fall Festival, Soque Ramble – Batesville 31 – Trick-or-Treat on the Clarkesville Square 31 – Haunting on Main, Old Cornelia Bank Building, 6-10 p.m.

August

November

10 – Habersham Back to School Bash – Ruby C. Fulbright Aquatic Center (Saturday before school starts) 1-4, 8-11 – “Gypsy” – HCT, Clarkesville 16-18 – Antique Car Show, Habersham County Fairgrounds, Clarkesville 17 – Homemade Jam – Live Concert, Pitts Park, Clarkesville 30 – Final Summer Concert at the Depot, Cornelia – TBA

8-10 – Northeast Georgia Arts Tour, Annual Holiday Road Open House, multiple locations 28* – Christmas in the Park Light Display, Cornelia City Park *through New Year’s Day

December

September

6 – Christmas in Tallulah Falls 7 – Habersham County Christmas Parade, Baldwin 7 – A Downtown Clarkesville Christmas & Holiday Market, 6-8 p.m.

11 – Tree lighting in Demorest 13-21 – Christmas in Cornelia – Ice skating, hayrides through the lights, visits with Santa, elf workshop and more 31 – 10th Annual Apple Drop New Year’s Eve Celebration, Cornelia

7 – Homemade Jam – Live Concert, Pitts Park, Clarkesville 8-16 – Chattahoochee Mountain Fair, Habersham County Fairgrounds, Clarkesville 10 – Better Hometown Job Expo, Ruby C. Fulbright Aquatic Center, Clarkesville 14 – Relaxing at the Apple Car Show, Cornelia 28 – Fourth Annual Taste of Clarkesville

October

For more information, visit habershamchamber.com, explorecornelia. com or clarkesvillega.com.

6 – Worldwide Photo Walk (tentative date), Clarkesville 12 – 26th Annual Big Red Apple Festival, Cornelia 12 – Hills of Habersham Bicycle Ride, Ruby C. Fulbright

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59

The advanced technology of Habersham Medical Center’s 1.5-Tesla MRI increases the quality and speed of studies and makes the diagnostic experience more patient-friendly. Shown is Misty Upchurch, imaging coordinator, and Dee Dillin, director of diagnostic imaging, as they assist one of the rst patients to utili e the new M I technology.

Photo/Submitted

R

Hospitals and healthcare

ecognized The main entrance at Habersham Medical Center throughout lights up the night. the state for innovative patient care, Habersham Medical Center offers Northeast Georgians a full-range of award-winning healthcare services in a newly-expanded modern facility. Its professional team brings a world of healthcare solutions and diagnostic services right to your door.

Located in Demorest, HMC is a 53-bed, not-for-profit acute care facility serving the more than 100,000 residents of Habersham and neighboring counties.

A major economic engine, HMC employs more and 2012 Georgia Hospital Associathan 600 professionals and contribtion’s Circle of Excellence for patient utes more than $80 million into the quality and safety. HMC was also local economy annually. More than awarded AVATAR International’s 40 physicians serve on the medical National Customer Service Award staff, representing multiple specialties for Exceeding Patient Expectations. including orthopedics, gastroenterolA Certified Primary Stroke Center by ogy, obstetrics, urology, ophthalmolThe Joint Commission, the medical ogy, podiatry, gynecology and sports center also receives high marks in medicine, complementing physicians stroke care and was listed under Best in the family practice, internal mediHospitals in U.S. News and World cine and emergency medicine areas.

Report, which evaluates 5,000 hospiHMC offers access to 24/7 emertals annually. gency care, critical care and surgical For more information, visit haberservices and also offers a continuum shammedical.com or call 706-754of care from labor and delivery to 2161. For physician referral, call home health (HCMC Home Care) 706-754-2300. and long-term care (Habersham Home). Other diverse services ofn Prime Care fered by the medical center include Prime Care, HMC’s non-emeran outpatient rehabilitation clinic, gency primary care clinic, is located HMC Rehabilitation Services, as well inside Habersham Medical Center’s as cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitaHealthCheck outpatient services tion, a sleep disorders clinic and Total department.

Fitness, a full-service exercise facilPrime Care treats adults and chility, located in the Ruby C. Fulbright dren with minor illnesses and injuries Aquatic Center in Clarkesville. HMC and is a WorkWise provider, offering also manages Habersham EMS, the occupational health services includambulance service for Habersham ing drug screenings, pre-employment County. physicals and treatment of workers Recent awards and recognition compensation injuries. Prime Care include being named the Georgia is an appointment-only clinic, but Hospital Association’s 2011 Commusame day appointments are availnity Leadership Award recipient and able. Prime Care accepts most private being the only community hospital to health insurance plans, Medicare, be included in the 2008, 2009, 2010

Medicaid and self-pay patients. Prime Care is open from 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m.-noon on Fridays. The clinic is closed from 1-2 p.m. for lunch. Prime Care patients are seen by appointment only; however, same day appointments are usually available. Call 706-754-2161 or 706-7542273. Patients should enter Habersham Medical Center’s main entrance where they will be directed by the information desk staff to Prime Care. n Habersham County Health Department The Habersham County Health Department, located on Scoggins Drive in Demorest, provides services designed to help ensure the health of the public. Appointments are necessary for all programs. Services include: adult health, including family planning, blood pressure clinic and immunizations; children’s health including immunizations, hearing/ vision/dental examinations, general health check; and women’s health including pregnancy testing, presumptive Medicaid, prenatal case management, pregnancy related services, WIC, teen center and lab tests. For more information, visit habershamga. com/physicalhealth.cfm or call 706778-7156. ♦ 61

Habersham County

FAST FACTS

• Land area - 278 square miles • Two rivers - Chattahoochee and Soque • 100-acre Airport Industrial Park • Habersham County Population [2010 Census]: 43,041 Seven municipalities/populations: Alto - 1,172 Baldwin - 3,279 Clarkesville - 1,733 Cornelia - 4,160 Demorest - 1,823 Mt. Airy - 1,284 Tallulah Falls - 168 • Median household income, 2006-2010 County - $40,192 State - $49,347 • Persons below poverty level, 2006-2010 County -19.6 percent State - 15.7 percent • Top Employers Fieldale Farms (2,000) Habersham County Board of Education (1,070) Mt. Vernon Mills (695) Habersham Medical Center (600) Ethicon (550) Lee Arrendale State Prison (500) Windstream (350) North Georgia Technical College (325) GlobalTech Industries (300) TenCate (270) Scovill (230) Walmart (205) Piedmont College (165) Habersham Metal Products (160) Navitor (135) Lowe’s (127) 62

Index of Advertisers

Aaron’s Rental ............................................................................................. 54 Allen Services ............................................................................................. 37 Anderson Carpet One ............................................................................... 11 Arnold Drug. Co. ....................................................................................... 39 BBI Spreaders ....................................................................................... 33, 42 Billy Cain Ford Lincoln ............................................................................... 64 Bluegraphics ................................................................................................ 54 Business Directory ...................................................................................... 31 Carolyn’s Fine Jewelry .................................................................................. 7 City of Clarkesville ..................................................................................... 11 City of Cornelia .......................................................................................... 37 Community Bank & Trust .......................................................................... 10 Cornelia Cleaners ....................................................................................... 19 Country Boy Sports .................................................................................... 43 D&D Bookkeeping and Tax........................................................................ 59 Dermatology Associates of Northeast Georgia ................................... 33, 56 Diamond Jewelry & Loan ........................................................................... 40 Discover Demorest ...................................................................................... 45 Dr. Holly Cantrell ......................................................................................... 7 Duncan & Kitchens..................................................................................... 39 Duplicating Products................................................................................... 45 El Patron Family Mexican Restaurant ....................................................... 15 Ethicon ....................................................................................................... 58 Experience Clarkesville ..........................................................................20-21 Explore Cornelia ........................................................................................ 28 ExpressMed ................................................................................................ 14 Gainesville Dental Group .......................................................................... 42 Gay Davis McCrillis .................................................................................... 40 Georgia Power............................................................................................. 11 Global Tech Industries ................................................................................ 26 Green Mountain Village ............................................................................. 25 Habersham Bicycles .................................................................................... 45 Habersham Chamber of Commerce ........................................................... 4 Habersham County Sheriff ........................................................................ 56 Habersham Electric Membership Corporation .......................................... 27 Habersham Hardware & Home Center .................................................... 40 Hartford House ........................................................................................... 11 Hayes Automotive ........................................................................................ 2 Hotard & Hise ............................................................................................. 35 Initials Inc. .................................................................................................. 54 Ivy Mountain Distillery ............................................................................... 37 Jack Bradley Agency ................................................................................... 11 Level Grove Baptist Church ........................................................................ 56 Magnolia Hills ............................................................................................ 14 Mark of the Potter ..................................................................................... 39 McGahee-Griffin Stewart Funeral Home .................................................. 57 Mill Creek Veterinary ................................................................................. 19 Mickey Piggs BBQ ..................................................................................... 47 Northeast Georgia Veterinary Hospital ..................................................... 55 North Georgia Technical College .............................................................. 10 Office Pros .................................................................................................. 59 Perry Gas .................................................................................................... 59 Piedmont College ....................................................................................... 15 Pro-Green , A Division of Shook’s Enterprise, Inc. .................................... 15 Rainbow International ............................................................................... 15 Renew Dental.............................................................................................. 11 Sandhill Tactical.......................................................................................... 54 Scovill DOT ................................................................................................. 7 Southern Bank & Trust .............................................................................. 15 Springer Mountain Farms ............................................................................ 6 Star Tractor ................................................................................................. 14 Subway ........................................................................................................ 19 Tallulah Falls School ................................................................................... 31 Ten Cate Nicolon ........................................................................................ 19 The Artfull Barn ........................................................................................ 26 The Hollow Log .......................................................................................... 35 The Longstreet Clinic ................................................................................. 63 The Medicine Shoppe ................................................................................ 48 The Wishing Well........................................................................................ 58 Tim’s Pharmacy ......................................................................................... 19 United Community Bank ............................................................................. 3 WCON ....................................................................................................... 14 Whitfield Funeral Home & Crematory ........................................................ 6 Woods Furniture, Inc. ................................................................................ 25

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701683-G

BILLY CAIN www.billycainfl.com

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2013 Ford F-350

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Serving North Georgia since 1991 1039 N. Main Street, Cornelia, GA 30531 • (706) 778-2121 Hours: Sales M-F 8:30 - 6:30, Sat. 9-5; Parts/Service M-F 8-5:30

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2013 Ford Taurus