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Chicken Farm Worker Wins $5-Million From Georgia Lottery       ( 9/5/08)

( Cleveland )- A Cleveland woman who works on a chicken farm is celebrating an eggs-cellent $5-Milllion dollar lottery win as part of the Georgia Lottery's 15th Anniversary millionaire Extravaganza instant game.  42-year old Peggy Abernathy, who actually lives in at Turners Corner in Lumpkin County , but has a Cleveland address picked up her prize today at the store where she purchased the scratch off ticket Chattahoochee Grocery East of Cleveland. 

 

The mother of two says she bought the ticket on a whim went out to her vehicle scratched it off and said oh my!  She called her sister, who’s chicken farm she works for, who didn’t believe it until Abernathy brought it to her house and show her the ticket. Abernathy said she and her Husband Jimmy plan to buy a new house and a car.  

 

Store owner Joe Desai said the ticket was the last on the roll and at first Abernathy didn’t want it because she didn’t think it was lucky. According to Abernathy her second grandchild was born on the same day she won the big prize. And what do after you have received a $5-millon dollar check, Abernathy said, got to go back and pick up more eggs, those chickens don’t stop laying.

 

 

Health Department Inspection Scores ( 9/5/08)

 

(Cleveland )- The White County Health Department has released inspection scores following the latest inspection.

 

FOOD SERVICE inspected and their scores:

Black Bear Lodge:    98    

Country Inn & Suites   97    

Altstadter Weinstube & Biergarten:  98   

La Cabana Mexican Restaurant:   92   

Creekside Deli:    95   

Black Bear Resort Commisary:   100   

Black Bear Dinner Theatre:   97   

Union Grove Campground:   99   

Hayloft Tavern, Inc.:   90   

Sunflower Restaurant:    95   

Ma Gooch’s Restaurant:   91   

Scarlett’s Secret:   100   

The New Grind:   100   

Alpine Hot Dog:   96   

WhiteCounty Detention Center :   100   

Over the Top Bar and Grill:   83   

Blue Creek Barbeque Kitchen:    99   

Bigg Daddys Amercian Tavern & Music Club:   97   

Jordano’s Pizza:   98   

Poolside Café:    92  

Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers (Cleveland):    99   

Mossy Creek Elementary School   100    

Sweetwater Coffee House:   100   

Nacoochee Valley Guest House:   92   

Bigg Daddy’s American Tavern & Music Club:   86   

Wendy’s of Helen:   91   

Truett McConnell College :    96 

 

TOURIST ACCOMMODATIONS scores:  

Country Inn & Suites    100

Timberloft Cottages:    99

Timberloft II:    100

Black Forest River Suites:  Score:  100

Town Creek Bed and Breakfast:    100

Rodeway Inn:     97

Gabby’s Country Cottages:   98 

 

 

Woman Charged With Murder In Husbands Death ( 9/5/08)

( Cleveland )- White County authorities have charged a woman with shooting her husband.  White County Sheriff Neal Walden advised 45-year old Donna Boatright has been charged with felony murder in the shooting death of 45 year old Roy Boatright. 

 

According to the sheriff, on Wednesday at approximately 1:15 PM his office responded to a call on Duncan Bridge Road east of Cleveland . Preliminary investigation indicated there was a domestic dispute between the two. 

 

Walden said Mr. Boatright was airlifted to Atlanta Medical Center where he died several hours later. 

 

The case remains under investigation by the White County Sheriff’s Office and Georgia Bureau of Investigation.  

Skelton Completes Basic Training  (9/5/08)

(Undated)- Air Force Airman 1st Class Stefanie L. Skelton has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio , Texas . During the six weeks of training, the airman studied the Air Force mission, organization. In addition, airmen who complete basic training earn credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.  

 

She is the daughter of Theresa and Bryan Hamilton of Duncan Bridge Road , Cleveland . Skelton is a 2004 graduate of White Creek Christian Academy, Cleveland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

White County Sheriff's Office Investigates Shooting ( 9/4/08)

 

( Cleveland )- A White County woman, could be charged later with the shooting of her husband Wednesday east of Cleveland .  White County Chief Deputy John O’Brian said, he didn’t know the identity of the woman who was arrested on unrelated drug charges following the investigation in the shooting that occurred Wednesday afternoon. 

 

The victim, also not identified by O’Brien was shot in the chest and was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center . The incident remains under investigation by the sheriff’s office.  

 

 

Two Injured In Cleveland Accident ( 9/4/08) 

 

 

(Cleveland )- Two people were hurt Wednesday night in a two vehicle accident in the city of Cleveland .  The accident around 7:00 PM happened at the entrance to Ingles on the Helen Highway when a small pickup truck traveling north turned into the path of a south bound car. Two people in the car were injured.  

 

Cleveland Fire Chief Ricky Pruitt said the extend of injuries to a man and woman in the vehicle was not know but not believed to be serious. The driver to the pickup was not injured.

 

 

Cleveland Bypass Project In Limbo  ( 9/4/08) 

 

( Cleveland )- If you were hoping to drive on the proposed Cleveland By-Pass anytime some forget it. White County officials were told Wednesday by state transportation officials that the Cleveland bypass project has been place on hold while the state does a complete review of it’s projects and reprioritize them. 

 

Ninth District DOT board member Steve Farrow, who called the meeting to update local officials on the projects in the area, says Cleveland and White County are not alone this is happening all over the state. 

 

DOT District Pre-Construction engineer Robert Mahoney said they have already acquired 30 parcels in the right-of-way, but that has been halted. 

 

County Manager Alton Brown says this is quite a hardship for the county, especially those who are in the moratorium area and haven’t been able to do anything with their property for ten years. Brown said we need to have an answer about this project. 

 

DOT officials said they hope to have the prioritization work complete next month ad then we will see where the bypass project end up. Farrow isn’t waiting he wants to get a group of city, county and state elected officials together and go meet with DOT Commissioner Gena Abraham. 

 

There was some good news from the meeting yesterday Cleveland Mayor Don Stanley was given approval for a traffic signal for highway 129 south at the entrance to the new Wal-Mart store.

        

Fire Destroys Mobile Home ( 9/2/08)

 

 

( Cleveland )- White County Fire officials report a mobile home burned to the ground Monday morning on Sugar Ridge Drive . Fire Department spokeswoman Ana Newberry said volunteers members from Stations 1 and 6 were dispatched at 8:25AM.  

 

Newberry said, There was no one home at the time of the fire as the resident was on a mini vacation for the Labor Day weekend.  The resident returned late Monday. 

 

The American Red Cross is assisting the family with basic needs.  According to Newberry, as normal procedure, Brian Smith, Arson Investigator, was called to the scene. 

 

 

W.C. Sheriff's Office Monthly Report ( 9/2/08)

 

( Cleveland )- The White County Sheriff’s Office  monthly activities report for July shows the Department had a total of 706 calls during the month, with 14 DUI arrest, 44 traffic accidents, 18 domestic calls, 219 traffic stop made by officers with 118 citations issued. Total number of arrest 138.  

 

The investigative division had the following new investigations 1 death, 1 assault/Battery, 5 burglary, and 20 theft cases.  During July officers spent 291 hours in court and 123 hours in training.  

 

		WHITE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
		MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORT
				Jul-08
	UNIFORM SERVICES					INVESTIGATIONS
14	DUI				1	DEATH INVESTIGATION
5	FELONY ARREST				1	ASSAULT/BATTERY
16	MIS. ARREST				0	FORGERY
44	ACCIDENT REPORT				0	IDENTITY FRAUD
71	ARREST WARRANT				0	CREDIT CARD FRAUD
18	DOMESTIC CALL				0	PERSONS (OTHER)
128	PRISONER TRANSPORT				0	RAPE
4	10-13 TRANSPORT				0	CHILD MOLESTATION
188	CIVIL PAPER SERVED				0	CHILD ABUSE
18	WRITS SERVED				0	FAMILY VIOLENCE
50	SUBPOENAS SERVED				0	SEX OFFENSES (OTHER)
20	TRAFFIC ARREST				5	BURGLARY
219	TRAFFIC STOPS				18	THEFT (OVER $200)
118	CITATIONS ISSUED				2	THEFT (UNDER $200)
276	NUMBER OF REPORTS				0	CRIM. DAMAGE/TRESPASS
306	NUMBER OF MISC. REPORTS				0	ROBBERY
60	NUMBER OF ALARM CALLS				0	ARSON
706	NUMBER OF CALLS				0	THEFT (OTHER)
11	JUVENILE COMPLAINTS				6,000	PROPERTY STOLEN
6	V.G.C.S.A.				6,500	PROPERTY RECOVERED
UNIFORM SERVICES					INVESTIGATIONS
NUMBER ARRESTED			132		NUMBER ARRESTED			6
			COURT HOURS		291
			LEAVE HOURS		381.5
			TRAINING HOURS		123
			TOTAL HOURS		795.5

 

 

Good Response To County Motto/ Logo Contest ( 9/2/08)

 

( Cleveland )- The White County Economic Development office reports the response to the call for entries in the White County Motto and Logo Contest has been overwhelming. Natalie Culp with the economic development office says “we very much appreciate the enthusiasm, creativity, and hard work from the citizens of White County .”  

 

Culp said, We have received numerous entries from the Mossy Creek Elementary School which we felt should be recognized. Those entries are on display in the White County Courthouse and the public is encouraged to stop by and view the student’s work. 

 

All entries will be reviewed and a winner will be chosen within the upcoming weeks.

 

 

Turner And White At Republican National Convention ( 9/1/08) 

 

( Cleveland )- As the Republican National Convention gets under way this week two White Countians are in St. Paul Minnesota for the activities. Josh Turner and Dr. Charles White are among the eight delegates that are representing the 9^th Congressional District.  

 

Josh Turner reported Monday morning that they arrived in town Saturday and settled in. Sunday was filled with activities and a gathering of Georgia Republican delegates. 

 

Turner said he has seen a few demonstrators but security is very good. He also said there a lot of talk about the Gulf Coast and Hurricane Gustav but the big buzz at the convention is the excitement about the selection of Sarah Palin by John McCain as his running mate.   

 

 

900 Lb.  White County Man Dies  ( 9/1/08)

 

(Cleveland)- A 28-year old Cleveland man who suffered with a liver disorder which caused his body to swell and push his weight to 900 pounds, has died.  Many people got to know Shane Bryant following a feature story about him a couple of weeks ago in the White County News. 

 

Bryant’s weight made his life difficult as well as those trying to care for him.  He was recently taken to the Lanier Park Hospital and that’s where he passed away early Sunday morning.  

 

Brian Alexander at Alexander’s Funeral home said there will be a celebration of his life at the funeral home chapel Wednesday at 6:00 PM. 

 

 

Fay  Rain Erases Rainfall Deficit ( 8/27/08)

 

( Cleveland )- Tropical storm Fay dumped a lot of much needed rain over Northeast Georgia the last few days.  As of 7:00 AM Wednesday WRWH weather reporter Bill Kinsland advises the following rainfall amounts for the past three days: 

Blackstock Vinyards 10-point 58 inches; 

Sautee 10-point 08 inches;

Cleveland 8-point 81 inches; 

Turners Corner 7-point 77 inches and 

Helen 7-point 61 inches.  

 

At Sautee Kinsland reports  as a result of the recent rain system the rainfall  deficit, that has been with us since January, is gone.  In fact at Sautee there a point 99 hundredths of an inch surplus for the year. 

 

Lake Lanier had risen almost 1 ½ feet since Tuesday, but still remains 15-point 87 inches below normal.   

 

 

 

Single Vehicle Accident Injures One  ( 8/27/08)

 

( Cleveland )- A one car accident in White County Tuesday, on Duncan Bridge Road near the Habersham County line, seriously injured the driver. 

 

White County Fire Department Spokeswoman Ana Newberry said they were dispatched just after 11:00 PM. The driver lost control of his vehicle, overturning and landing upside down in a ditch.  White County Fire Department personnel removed the driver from the vehicle and he was  transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center with what Newberry described as Non-life threatening injuries.

  

Duncan Bridge Road was closed for approximately 1 1/2 hours while the accident scene was cleared up and the Georgia State Patrol investigated the accident.

 

 

Heavy Rain Causes Flooding In W.C.  ( 8/26/08)

 

 

( Cleveland )-Lots of Rain, wind and a tornado warning kept local officials busy during the day Tuesday. The creek banks in the northern portion of the county began overflowing around noon today from the heavy rains of the past couple of days. White County Emergency Management Agency activated the Emergency Operation Center to handle the possible evacuation of residents in areas where flooding occurred. 

 

The EMA office advises should you feel your safety is threatened call 911 and they will be handled calls on a one by one situation. There are concerns about the level of The Chattahoochee River in Helen. Water levels continue to rise posing a threat to businesses and residents if it overflows its banks. The Chattahoochee River did overflow it’s banks for a brief period Tuesday afternoon at Cool River Tubing, but receded quickly when the rains subsided.

 

Several roads in the county had water across them or trees down causing problems for those trying to travel them.  Ana Newberry with White County Fire Department advises the  following roads are or have been experiencing some road flooding:

Paradise Valley (Campground)

Bean Creek

Sandy Flats

Town Creek

Gene Nix

Dockery Rd (has been reopened)

Poplar Stump (presently barricaded by WC Road Dept)

Adair Mill (has been reopened)

 

A tornado warning was issued just before 4:00 PM Tuesday afternoon by the National Weather Service following an apparent spotting of a funnel cloud in southern Hall County near the Wrigley's plant.   That warning included parts of White County , but expired with no tornado sightings in White County .  

 

Kathy Thomason White County School Transportation Director said they got all the students home safely Tuesday afternoon.  There were two students who live on Thurmond Road where not able to go home because of road conditions and down power lines they were taken back to their school and parents picked them up. 

 

Checking our rainfall in Cleveland since seven o’clock Tuesday morning we have received 2.87 inches of rain, add that to the past two days of rain and a grand total of 8.01 inches has been recorded.

 

 

 

 

Heavy Rain Continues Across Northeast Georgia ( 8/26/08)

 

(UNDATED)- The Northeast Georgia area continues to receive large amounts of rain adding to the rise of the Chattahoochee River which has already prompted some families to leave their homes in Habersham County . Up to 8 inches of total rainfall could be recorded from this system.  

Lake Lanier was up more than a third of a foot early  today from the same time Monday. The torrential rains from Tropical Depression Fay that have soaked the northeast corner of the state - with up to 6 inches in places - have dumped a lot of water into the Lanier watershed, the area that feeds the lake.
The lake level early Tuesday was 1053.68, up from 1053.30 early Monday.

 

Area 24-hour rainfall ending at 7:00 AM  Tuesday  morning include 2.76 inches at Sautee, Helen – 1 point  89 inches, Blackstock Vineyards 2.96  inches,  Turners Corner 2-point 42 inches and here in Cleveland 2-point 28 inches.  Two day totals run from  3-point 44 inches at Turners Corner  to 5-point 29 inches at Blackstock  Vineyards. 

 

Here is a weather summery from WRWH Weather Reporter Bill Kinsland:

 

Tropical Depression Fay Could Bring More Heavy Rain To The Area ( 8/25/08)

 

( Cleveland )- Northeast Georgia is bracing for more heavy rain form Tropical Depression Fay. During the day Monday rain areas have been moving northeast from Alabama and our area could see heavy rain Monday night and early Tuesday. 

 

White County Emergency Management Agency Director David Murphy has been keeping an eye on conditions, he says right now things are OK.  Murphy said, the flash flood watch is in effect through Tuesday evening for our area and will probably be extended.  Here in Cleveland , as of early Monday afternoon, we have received 4-point 12 inches of rain. 

 

According to Murphy there is a significant concern for the Northeast Georgia mountain areas for flooding. The depression as it moves through our area could stall over the mountain areas and dump significant amounts of rainfall, flooding low lying areas and roadways. Murphy urged all residents to prepare for possible weather related problems, such as flooding and power outages.