HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Towns County is in the process of enacting the liquor-by-the-pour referendum that won approval on last November’s general ballot. Towns County Commissioner Cliff Bradshaw held a special-called meeting in his courthouse office Thursday, March 7, to deliver the first reading. Bradshaw has been working with Towns County Attorney Robb Kiker on the decree. Revisions were necessary, delaying the adoption.

Business establishments will be permitted to serve spirits from 11 am to 11 pm, Monday through Saturday, once the ordinance takes effect. An exception for New Year’s Eve is cited in the mandate. Off-premises beer and wine sales hours will remain unchanged, 8 am until midnight, Monday through Saturday. Sunday sales are prohibited.

Establishments must serve a 50 percent food-to-alcohol ratio, and sales receipts must be diligently submitted to the commissioner’s office for review. Restaurants must provide a minimum of 35-person seating area for dining in order to qualify for a permit.

Towns County Courthouse

Beer and wine licenses are expected to be set at $1000 per year. Beer-wine-liquor combination licenses were quoted at $3000 per year. An application fee will not be charged. Off-premises sites that sell beer and wine will continue to pay $500 per year for an annual alcohol license. “We’re in line with other counties,” Commissioner Bradshaw noted, in reference to the fees.

Bartenders must be 21 years or older. Alcohol servers must be at least 18  years of age. Person who mix, pour, or serve alcohol must be certified by Rserving.com

Alcohol consumption is listed as prohibited in or within 100 yards of a school, church, and funeral home.

Copies of the extensive requirements are available at the Towns County Courthouse for review.

The final reading of the alcohol decree is expected as early as next week if no delays arise in the process.

HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Towns County Commissioner Cliff Bradshaw introduced the “Adopt-a-Road” program last week, encouraging residents to advance the county’s litter control initiative. Adoptees will receive a roadway sign with their name or organization listed in the designated area that they intend to keep clean.

While the current standard states that a minimun of a mile must be maintained in order to officially adopt a road, Commissioner Bradshaw explained to FYN that he intends to reduce the required length in the very near future. “A mile is a long way,” Bradshaw said, “One road can be divided, especially if it stretches far like Highway 288. It can be split between different people or groups.”

The commissioner said that he believes the signs may make motorists think twice about littering if they see someone’s name or organization attached to an area. Commissioner Bradshaw explained that Highway 76 is not an option for adoption due to safety liability concerns. There is no charge to deposit collected debris at the transfer station and the county will pick up roadside bags if notified by the area adoptee.

“We live in a beautiful county,” Commissioner Bradshaw reminded. “I hope people will join in keeping it that way.”

Simple application forms are available from the Towns County Commissioner’s Office at the courthouse for those interested in the Adopt-a-Road program.

HIAWASSEE, Ga. – A public hearing on the county abandoment of Olin Hughes Road, listed on the Department of Transportation’s mapping system as County Road 38, was held at the Towns County Courthouse, Aug. 20. Towns County Attorney Robb Kiker joined Towns County Commissioner Cliff Bradshaw to discuss the matter.

“There’s two ways that roads become county roads,” Attorney Kiker began.”It’s by dedication which is by deed, or court order, eminent domains, or something of that nature. The other one is called implied access. Implied access is when the public starts using an access and the county starts maintaining that access, and actually, many of our roads have been established that way for public roads. So in a dedication situation, a road is a road is a road. It will always remain a road until such time as there’s a deed coming out of the county, or some other action coming out of the county, to close a road. Implied access only continues so long as the public uses a road and the county maintains a road. Once those matters cease, then that road then becomes subject to closure, being taken off the county road system and the maps for the Department of Transportation. This road meets the second criteria of implied dedication. According to our records, there has not been any maintenance of this road for at least 30 years, both in records and recollection, nor use of the county road by the public or for public purpose at least that long.”

Becky Landress speaks against the road abandonment at the public hearing.

The floor was opened for public comment following Kiker’s explaination. Becky Landress, a property owner with land bordering Olin Hughes Road, opposed county abandoment based on public use. Landress said that a third of her property adjoins Olin Hughes Road, and that allowing the road to be privatized will prevent future access, denying an alternate route to-and-from the residence. Landress claimed that issues arose following the deaths of Olin and Lois Hughes, with the sons of the late couple erecting barriers to restrict travel. “We are the public,” Landress asserted. Landress was accompanied to the meeting by husband, John, who mentioned that the road is traveled by the public to reach Hughes Sorghum Syrup Mill.

Cecil Hughes countered the argument, stating that the road has been solely maintained by the Hughes’ family since adjacent property was purchased in 1957, adding that his father had supplied the needed gravel and culverts. “It’s always been private,” Hughes said. It was noted by Terry Hughes that the road does not have a mail delivery nor school bus route, further implying that the road is not public.

Both Landress and Hughes provided the county with photographs of the area in question to present their opposing stance.

Olin Hughes Road is located in Young Harris.

Towns County Road Superintendent Clyde Shook was briefly questioned by Attorney Kiker, with Shook unable to recall repairs to Olin Hughes Road in his 42 years of county service.

Commissioner Bradshaw tabled a decision, stating that he plans to give the matter additional consideration. Future meetings pertaining to the potential road abandonment will be publicly announced.

Feature Image: (L-R) Towns County Attorney Robb Kiker, Towns County Commissioner Cliff Bradshaw, and Cecil Hughes, a proponent of the road’s abandonment.

HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Frustrated citizens residing on the shores of Lake Chatuge attended the Tuesday, July 16 Towns County commissioner’s meeting to voice their troubled views on a local seaplane, owned and operated by Wing-N It Adventures. The group used adjectives ranging from “annoying” to “unacceptable” to describe what they consider a noise nuisance created by the company’s aerial tours.

Residents added that they believe the operation of the seaplane, which moors at a dock leased by The Ridges Resort on Lake Chatuge, could pose a safety hazard to bystanders on the water and shoreline, based on the flight patterns and maneuvers of the aircraft.

Doug Nelson, a Lake Chatuge area homeowner, publicly addressed Towns County Commissioner Cliff Bradshaw, stating that the group had explored other avenues to remedy their grievances, including contacting Wing-N-It Adventures, in addition to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to no avail. “I hope the county can be proactive,” Nelson said.

Commissioner Bradshaw explained that Lake Chatuge falls under the jurisdiction of TVA, and that the county does not have the authority to enforce proposed regulations on Wing-N-It Adventures. “You’re getting the same answers I’m getting,” Bradshaw stated, referencing past communication with the government agencies.

Other residents spoke of items being blown from docks due to the close proximity of the aircraft’s landing zone, and an account was given of a seaplane appearing to narrowly avoid “clipping” an electrical wire on one occassion. “This ain’t a mountain-lake paradise,” Charles Butler, a meeting attendee, claimed. “It’s a mountain-lake hell if you live on that lake.”

Commissioner Bradshaw expressed sympathy and understanding toward the perturbed citizens, suggesting that the group meet with State Senator John Wilkinson and the commissioner to jointly address the issue in the near future.

FetchYourNews (FYN) contacted Wing-N-It Adventures, explaining that noise complaints and safety concerns had been brought forth by residents, and received the following statement:

“Wing-N-It Seaplane Adventures, in its third year of partnership with The Ridges Resort and Marina, is proud to play a small part in the growth and development of the tourism industry within Towns County. We are contributing by providing a safe and family-interactive experience for both residents and visitors to the Lake Chatuge area. Our highly trained pilots have more than 40,000 hours of combined commercial flight time in addition to obtaining recertification and completing continuing education. We comply with all Department of Natural Resources, Tennessee Valley Authority, and Federal Aviation Administration rules/regulations. We frequently operate in the presence of the DNR while they are conducting their routine patrol on the lake.

“Our main interest is not in generating a large profit. We only desire to help facilitate the growth of tourism within the surrounding areas. As such, we do not operate during especially high-traffic times such as Memorial Day Weekend and Fourth of July Weekend. The purpose of our operation is to create memories and help show off the beauty of the area. As such, we have no intentions of increasing operations on a larger scale of that which we currently perform. Year-to-date in 2019, we have only operated on eight days for a total of 31 tours which all occur between the hours of 11:00 am and 5:00 pm.”

Citizens at Tuesday’s meeting publicly questioned whether Wing-N-It Adventures were Towns County taxpayers. A visit to the Towns County Tax Office revealed no record of the company on file. Elizabeth Dillard, an employee of the county tax office, emailed FYN shortly thereafter. “For the 2019 tax year coming up, there will be a bill released for the business,” Dillard wrote. “However, the plane is apparently not located in Towns County.”

An online search listed Gainesville, GA as Wing-N-It Adventures’ mailing address.

Continue to follow FYN for updates on the complaint situation as they become available.

Feature Image Credit: Wing-N-It Adventures/Facebook

HIAWASSEE, Ga. – William “Scotty” Scott, an advocate for stray animals in the area, is encouraging residents to take a new approach to finding homes for furry friends in need. The first step citizens should take is to contact Mountain Shelter Humane Society, Scott said. “When you contact the Mountain Shelter, if you find a stray animal, please explain to them the situation, and ask them to take the animal or find a home for it,” Scott advised. “If the Mountain Shelter does not take the animal because the shelter is full, the animal is sick, or for another reason, then please contact Commissioner Bradshaw and inform him of the situation.”

Scott relayed that he met with Commissioner Bradshaw on June 18 to discuss the matter. “Commissioner Bradshaw needs to know this,” Scott said. “If we go around this procedure and simply ask people who once were involved in animal rescue to assist in finding a home for the animal, we will never solve this Towns County stray animal opportunity.”

Towns County taxpayers spend roughly $29,000 annually to assist in supporting Mountain Shelter Humane Society. “The Humane Society’s Mountain Shelter greets and provides care for over 800 animals each year,” the organization’s website states. “The shelter houses and feeds everyone, keeps them in a healthy safe environment. and sees to all their medical needs. A few will find their way back to their original owners, but most are placed for adoption.”

For additional information, contact the following:

Moutain Shelter Humane Society: 706-781-3843.

Towns County Commissioner Cliff Bradshaw: 706-896-2276.

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HIAWASSEE, Ga. – FetchYourNews (FYN) sat down with Towns County Sole Commissioner Cliff Bradshaw, May 28, following a recent report exposing Towns as the highest county per-capita for emergency room visits due to opioid overdoses, according to the latest annual statistics from the Georgia Department of Public Health.

Additionally, Opioid & Health Indicators Database shows that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) identified 220 counties at risk for outbreaks of HIV and/or Hepatitis C as a result of the opioid epidemic. Towns County landed in the the top five-percent of counties in the nation based on the factors assessed, scoring 120 on the national rank of at risk counties in the United States. Sharing needles, syringes, or other injection equipment to inject drugs puts users at risk for receiving or transmitting HIV and other infections, the CDC states. Sexual activity between an infected individual and a partner can further transfer the disease.

The CDC ranked Towns as a county vunerable to health risks due to opioid abuse

“The opioid epidemic has been a serious concern, and remains one,” Commissioner Bradshaw said Tuesday morning. “It’s not only concerning for Towns County, but the American people as a whole. It’s a tragedy. Towns County joined in a lawsuit against the opioid industry, and I plan to speak with our county attorney to see what more the commissioner can and cannot do.”

FYN reported on the lawsuit filed by the county in April, 2018. According to statistics provided by Towns County Attorney Robb Kiker, 111 opioid prescriptions per 100 residents were dispensed in Towns County during 2016, the period that the last study was conducted. While all of Towns County citizens are clearly not opioid users, it is indicative of the magnitude of the crippling crisis.

“The crisis in the United States is that opioid abuse is the leading cause of death for people under age 50,” Kiker said. “For the first time in 75 years, the life expectancy for people in the United States declined in 2015 and 2016, and it’s directly attributed to opioid abuse.”