Meals of Hope to package 50,000 meals
Community, News March 10, 2018
YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – Lake Chatuge – Hiawassee Rotary has announced an initiative to provide 50,000 meals for those in need in Towns County. Meals of Hope is an outreach program created to bring communities together to end hunger. Volunteers are requested on Saturday, April 28, from 9 a.m. until noon at the Towns County Recreation and Conference Center in Young Harris to help package the meals.
“We know about the students at school who receive free or reduced-priced lunches, but we might not pause to think that they may have siblings or other family members at home who are hungry as well,” Sheriff Chris Clinton relayed Friday, March 9, at the Mountain Movers and Shakers meeting, “The local rotary is hoping for 120 volunteers who would like to help package 50,000 meals for those in our community.”
According to their website, Meals of Hope began as a food packing organization, and they are the only food packing organization with a priority on keeping the food packed within the United States.
Meals of Hope developed five meals specifically designed for the American palate with added vitamins, minerals and proteins to supplement an unbalanced diet. Most of their packed meals are donated to the Feeding America Food Bank Network.
Over 15,000 volunteers and six full-time staff members assist Meals of Hope in achieving its mission.
Financial sponsorship is also available.
A $25 bronze sponsorship provides 100 meals, a $100 silver sponsorship offers 400 meals, a $250 gold sponsorship supplies 1,000 meals, and a $500 diamond sponsorship shares 2,000 meals.
The Towns County Recreation and Conference Center is located at 150 Foster Park Road in Young Harris.
For more information, contact Kerry Clem at 706-897-0291.
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle Vows to Preserve Georgia’s History
News, Politics August 20, 2017
Hiawassee, GA – Sanctuary Cities. The Second Amendment. Planned Parenthood.
Towns County residents were not shy in asking Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle his stance on the topics they care about.
Casey Cagle, a contender in Georgia’s 2018 Governor’s race, made an appearance at the Sundance Grill in Hiawassee on Friday morning. The cozy cafe was standing room only by the time the Lieutenant Governor arrived.
Sam Fullerton, Co-Founder of Movers and Shakers, the group which hosted the event, opened with remarks on Towns County’s economy. Fullerton announced the local economy is strong, specifying over 700 homes have been sold in the area since the start of 2017. Fullerton noted tourism has produced a $60 million dollar income, two and a half times the amount in comparison to neighboring Union County.
Peyton Barrett, a ninth grader at Towns County High School, was given the honor of welcoming Casey Cagle to the podium. Barrett spoke of Cagle’s background, citing Cagle as the sole Republican elected to the office of Lieutenant Governor in Georgia’s history.
Prior to taking questions from the crowd, Lieutenant Governor Cagle focused on the importance of updated infrastructure and the educational criteria necessary to fill the employment needs of Georgia’s growing economy.
Casey Cagle referenced the I-85 bridge which collapsed in late March and voiced his support for private contractors rebuilding Georgia’s framework.
Cagle went on to inform the attentive audience that there are approximately 150,000 jobs open in the state, citing 25% of the employment opportunities demand a 4-year degree while the remaining 75% require a 2-year degree or industry certification.
The Lieutenant Governor noted that without an adequate education, Georgia’s youth are susceptible to turning to a life of crime or becoming dependant on government.
“All work that is honest work is good work,” Lieutenant Governor Cagle said, quoting words of wisdom passed down from his grandfather.
Cagle went on to say he’s “fed up with the bickering” in Washington D.C. and tired of the establishment’s lack of accountability.
The Republican candidate touched on the recent civil unrest in Charlottesville, Virginia, and assured the crowd that Stone Mountain, a chiseled Confederate monument located on the outskirts of Atlanta, will be preserved should he become the next Governor of Georgia.
“We cannot erase history,” Lieutenant Governor Cagle told attendees, who erupted in an applause of approval.
The self professed conservative went on to condemn “all hate groups” involved in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Lieutenant Governor Cagle wrapped up his visit by taking questions from the audience. The first inquiry concerned sanctuary cities. Cagle stated there are no sanctuary cities or counties in the state of Georgia.The Republican had previously noted Georgia’s immigration laws are the toughest in the nation and signified opposition toward cities elsewhere that defy federal rules..
The subject of Planned Parenthood was raised and the Lieutenant Governor asserted his approval of defunding taxpayer dollars from the pro-choice program.
An attendee asked Lieutenant Governor Cagle where he stood on the Second Amendment.
“Let me reach in my boot and show you where I’m at,” Cagle joked as the crowd responded with laughter. He went on to confirm he is a strong advocate of the right to bear arms.
Towns County Sheriff Chris Clinton shared his thoughts on the Lieutenant Governor’s run for office.
“I’m proud to support the Lieutenant Governor. He’s not about lip service; he’s the man for the job. [Casey Cagle] is the hardest working man in state politics and a good friend,” Sheriff Clinton said.
State Senators Steve Gooch and John Wilkinson accompanied Casey Cagle on his six day, 17 county tour across Georgia.
Focus on Firewise Communities this Friday with Movers & Shakers
Community, Press Release February 12, 2019NEWS FLASH: WE LIVE IN THE FOREST. Fully 70% of Towns County is Federal or State Forest. And when you live in the Forest, you must be aware of Forest Fires. That’s why we are glad to welcome back dear friend Mr. Frank Riley, he of all things Fire Safety related, as he introduces us to Towns County’s new Firewise Communities Coordinator, Mr. Michael Courey. For the un-enlightened, Firewise is the way to be in these Mountains. Teaming with the County, Communities(such as Wood Lake, where I live) get together, remove underbrush, combustibles and such, and generally agree to keep the Community in good order. Towns County is a leader nationally in the number of Communities that are Firewise and Fire Aware. Get to the Sundance Grill early this Friday, February 15 to learn how you can get your Community involved. Be wise, be Firewise.
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Do you belong to a local Organization or are you an Elected Official with information that affects our Community? Then why not join us and fill us in on what’s going on! Everyone is invited to come hear what our weekly Guest Speakers have to say, and we have always had a few minutes for impromptu Speakers with pertinent information. Everyone is invited for Conversation, Information and Breakfast with the Mountain Movers and Shakers. Our Non-Partisan Group meets at 8am every Friday at The Sundance Grill, a great place to meet, and the food is really good and reasonably priced. So come join us… You are sure to find Interesting Speakers, Championship Caliber Youth, and a fine group of Friendly Mountain Folk! The More People Know, the More People Know…
Sheriff Chris Clinton and Colonel Gene Moss address Fourth Amendment
News June 30, 2018
HIAWASSEE, Ga. – The Fourth Amendment was the topic of discussion at Mountain Movers and Shakers on the morning of Friday, June 29, 2018. Towns County Sheriff Chris Clinton and Colonel Gene Moss – a retired law enforcement officer from Forsyth County, Georgia – advised citizens of their constitutional rights pertaining to search and seizure.
Colonel Gene Moss
The Fourth Amendment of the Bill of Rights reads: The right of people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Colonel Moss, who spent over four decades serving in law enforcement, opened the forum by asserting that citizens have the right to an expectation of privacy._
“We’re going to talk a little bit about searches, vehicle searches,” Moss said, adding that vehicle searches tend to be controversial, “First of all, if you’re in law enforcement, you’ve got to have a reason to stop somebody, ok? You’ve got to have a reason…Law enforcement, how far they push this thing to get into your car, to look in your vehicle,” Moss reiterated, “You’ve got to have a valid reason to stop somebody.”
Moss went on to explain that stopping a vehicle for infractions, such as driving with a broken or dim taillight or failure to maintain lane, in itself does not constitute a legitimate reason for a law enforcement officer to conduct a search.
Sheriff Clinton mirrored the colonel’s thoughts. “Anybody that’s been around me very long knows that I’m a liberty guy, a lover of the constitution,” Clinton said, going on to state that only one percent of the population commits crimes, and his office sees no reason to “harass” the other 99 percent.
The sheriff explained that reasonable and articulated suspicion, probable cause, a warrant issued by a judge, or citizen consent is necessary for a lawful search to be conducted. “For my purposes, I require by policy, our deputies have to be able to articulate what it was that lead them to ask for consent to search,” Clinton said, “This garbage about ‘Well, I don’t know you, and you don’t know me, and we’ve got a lot of drugs out here in the world. Mind if I go rifle through your stuff?’ Well if you don’t know me, and I don’t know you, why are you calling me a bad person? Shouldn’t I be observant enough and good enough at my job to know when criminal behavior is afoot?”
Reasonable suspicion is a standard of proof in United States law that is less than probable cause, the legal standard for arrests and warrants, but more than a hunch; it must be based on specific and articulable facts, taken together with rational inferences from those facts, and the suspicion must be associated with the specific individual.
Probable cause is the standard by which police authorities have reason to obtain a warrant for the arrest of a suspected criminal or the issuing of a search warrant. The principle behind the standard is to limit the power of authorities to perform random or abusive searches, and promote the lawful gathering of evidence during criminal arrest and prosecution.
Mountain Movers and Shakers meet Fridays at 8:00 a.m. at Sundance Grill in Hiawassee, with different community speakers each week. Meetings are open to the public, and membership is not required.
Radio host joins Towns County Movers and Shakers as moderator
News January 16, 2018
HIAWASSEE, Ga. – It’s a new year, and the Towns County Mountain Movers & Shakers is off to a fresh start, recently adding EXtreme Carolina radio host Michael Levi Borkman to its list of weekly moderators. The group of concerned citizens meet each Friday morning at 8 a.m. at the Sundance Grill in Hiawassee.
Michael Borkman, a charismatic gentleman who enjoys making newcomers feel welcome, says the group is moving in a positive direction and looks forward to further involvement with the community.
Mountain Movers & Shakers exists to increase local political awareness, address direct concerns from citizens, improve the the community as a whole, and assist the Towns County school system to foster a better climate for youth. While the group describes themselves as “noticeably conservative in philosophy,” they maintain a non-partisan posture. Weekly meetings are open to all political persuasions, religious affiliations, and creeds.
Commissioner Cliff Bradshaw updated the community on the county’s thriving tourism at a recent meeting
Over the years, Movers & Shakers has logged an extensive amount of community service while providing thousands of dollars to fund various community projects. The participants co-sponsored three public candidate forums during the 2016 election cycle, placed poll watchers at voting precincts, improved the appearance of both the east and west entrances into Towns County, raised $4000 for the Future Farmers of America (FFA) along with other high school programs, provided funds for “Quilts for Valor”, and participated in Towns County Clean Sweep week in an effort to curb litter the area. Their contributions also include the provision of expert voluntary personnel at the high school and the development of annual youth leadership speech training which begins a new cycle on Jan. 25.
Movers & Shakers welcomes speakers from all walks of life, encouraging individuals to share what their organization is doing in Towns and surrounding counties. Because there are no officers, a different person acts as the moderator each week conducting the meeting.
Breakfast is available for purchase to enjoy while listening to the scheduled speakers. On occasion, the meeting will be devoted solely to upcoming project discussion.
For additional information, contact Michael Borkman at [email protected]
Featured Photo: Michael Levi Borkman
Grace Howard, of Hamilton Gardens, at a 2017 meeting
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that attracts more than 300,000 page views and 3.5 million impressions per month in Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns, and Murray counties, as well as Cherokee County in N.C. – FYNTV attracts approximately 15,000 viewers per week and reaches between 15,000 to 60,000 per week on our Facebook page. – For the most effective, least expensive local advertising, call 706-276-6397 or email us at [email protected]
UGA agricultural agent lists services provided to community
Community, News July 15, 2018HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Jacob Williams, the newly-hired University of Georgia (UGA) Agricultural-Natural Resource Agent for Towns and Union County, introduced himself to the Mountain Movers and Shakers at Sundance Grill on Friday, July 13, 2018.
Williams, a native of Birmingham, Alabama, and the son of Christian missonaries, spent his younger years overseas, learning appreciation for the position which he now holds. Williams, who graduated from Auburn University in 2016 with a Master’s degree in Agronomy, recalled time spent in North Africa, witnessing and participating in agricultural development, dairy goat projects, and equine clinics, designed to assist locals with self-sufficiency. Williams went on to work a large parcel of land in North Africa, tolling with oxen for wheat production, without the aid of modern machinery. The extension agent relayed that the experience bolstered his respect for the labor associated with agriculture. After acquiring a high school diploma in 2010, and returning to the United States to obtain a post-secondary education, Williams gained employment at Speedling in Blairsville, Georgia, a company which specializes in growning vegetable and flower seed plugs for transplant gardening.
“I heard about this extension position, it came open, and I was very excited so I applied for the position, and I was very excited that I got it,” Williams enthusiastically expressed, “I began June 1st as extension agent for Union and Towns counties. To me, it wasn’t something I was necessarily praying for at the time because I was very happy at Speedling, but it really does feel like I’m where God wants me to be.”
Williams educated the group on several of the services the extension office provides, such as soil and water quality testing, and plant disease identification. Samples are collected and shipped to the University of Georgia labratory in Athens, Georgia, for examination. Soil testing costs $10.00, plant disease determination costs $25.00, and testing of water samples for harmful agents – such as mercury or bacteria – amounts to $46.00.
In addition, the extension office offers plant identification assistance at no charge. Photographs of unknown plants can be emailed to Williams, or the plant can be brought directly to the office. Williams recommended the route of photographing plants that may be potentially poisonous.
Gardening advice is also available at no cost to residents.
Williams will divide his time between Towns and Union County, with the Hiawassee branch open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. until noon.
Towns County Extension Office is located at 67 Lakeview Circle in downtown Hiawassee.
Jacob Williams can be reached by dialing 706-896-2024 or emailing [email protected]