Wigington pleads guilty; sentencing in May

NO-APPOINTMENT CLINICS CONTINUE

At ALL Health Dept COVID-19 Clinic Sites in North Georgia: April 26 – 29!

North (GA) - Georgians 16 and older still have the opportunity to walk in to one of our COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics with NO Appointment! Public Health Departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield counties will take clients with no appointment at their current COVID-19 vaccine clinic sites April 26TH thru 29TH from 9 AM to 3 PM. There is NO Cost to clients.*  Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine will be offered, as available. Teens ages 16 to 18 are only permitted Pfizer vaccine and must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Pfizer is most reliably available in Whitfield County.  Addresses for the county public health COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics are as follows:

Pickens County:  Pickens County Recreation Department, 1329 Camp Road, Jasper, GA 30143

Cherokee County:  Canton First Baptist Church, 1 Mission Point, Canton, GA 30114

Fannin County:  Kiwanis Club of Blue Ridge, 124 Jones Street, Blue Ridge, GA 30213

Gilmer County:  Piedmont Community Center, 824 Industrial Blvd., Ellijay, GA 30540

Murray County:  Murray County Parks & Recreation Dept, 651 Hyden Tyler Rd, Chatsworth, GA 30705

Whitfield County:  Whitfield County Health Department, 800 Professional Blvd, Dalton, GA 30720

*Health insurance accepted IF presented, but there is NO out-of-pocket expense to clients!

By Dave Williams
Bureau Chief
Capitol Beat News Service
    ATLANTA - The Georgia Lottery is coming off the most successful quarter in its 27-year history.
   The lottery raised more than $415.8 million in profits for education during January, February and March, an all-time record for a quarter, the Georgia Lottery Corp. reported Thursday.
   “The Georgia Lottery’s extraordinary results have a wide-reaching impact on Georgia’s students, families and communities,” Gov. Brian Kemp said.

Office closed with no certified staff available

The elections office on Pioneer Road closed Monday. An emergency called meeting of the elections board may determine when it reopens.

     Elections Supervisor Julianne Roberts, an almost 20-year employee of county government, resigned Friday saying she is being unfairly blamed for problems with voting last November and that efforts to reorganize the board are mostly political.

Her abrupt departure, coupled with medical leave for the office’s second employee, has forced the office to temporarily close. The current election board, running shorthanded and only in power until the end of June, is expected to hold an emergency called meeting this week and take guidance from the secretary of state’s office. Technically, only certified election workers can do many of the tasks in the office.

     See full story in print or online editions. 

photo/Angela Reinhardt

City of Jasper fire trucks and emergency vehicles on the backside of the Georgia Public Safety Training Center on East Church Street, where they are operating from temporarily. 

Jasper firefighter quarters have been temporarily relocated after an inspection found mold at the Jasper Fire Station on Burton Street. As of press time, mold remediation efforts were underway and it was anticipated the crew would be moved back to the station by the end of the week.  

Firefighters were relocated to Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) on Church Street, in the old Pickens High School building.  

The initial inspection was paid for by firefighters who felt like they were working in unsafe conditions. Firefighters told the Progress the city refused to conduct a test after they were approached about the issue. All 12 firefighters split the $395 cost of a professional