Cherokee man arrested for dog fighting

Featured Stories

CANTON, GA  – The Cherokee Marshal’s Office executed a search warrant Dec. 6 at a home at 6336 Union Hill Road as part of an animal investigation.

The investigation began with a request for a welfare check on the animals. The Cherokee County Marshal’s Office conducted a welfare check, and probable cause was found to obtain a search warrant. Evidence located during the execution of the search warrant led to the arrest of the resident, Randall Larry Thaxton, 58.  

Thaxton is charged with nine counts of felony dog fighting, and nine counts of misdemeanor cruelty to animals. 

Nine dogs were removed from the property, along with other evidence relevant to the case. With the assistance of the Cherokee Animal Shelter, the animals were removed from the premises. 

The case remains active and ongoing. No further information is available at this time.

Pickens County woman has died due to COVID-19

Health, News
COVID-19

DALTON, Ga. –Pickens County continues to have seven cases of COVID-19, as of 7 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Georgia Department of Health. The health department updates figures at noon and 7p.m. each day.

Pickens County has one death from the virus. A 77-year-old woman with underlying health issues died last week.

Numbers in neighboring episodes:

Gordon: 18; 1 death-78-year-old male with underlying health issues

Whitfield: 14; 1 death-93-year-old male with underlying health issues

Murray: 5

Fannin: 5

 

PREVIOUSLY

A Pickens County woman has died from COVID-19, according to reports from emergency managament. Although no name could be released, John Nicholson, Director of Emergency Management for Pickens County, said the woman was 77-years-old.

“We didn’t transport her, the family did,” said Nicholson.

Another woman in her 60’s, from Cherokee County also died of the disease, which has claimed the lives of 56 Georgians, according to the Georgia Department of Health, which updates it’s numbers at noon and 7 p.m daily. Both women were in an undisclosed hospital.

The North Georgia Health District, which is comprised of Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield counties, has 58 cases, including the two who died. Cherokee County has 46 cases, Whitfield County has six cases, Pickens four, and Fannin two. Statewide, there are 1,643 cases. Of those, 56 have died and 509 are hospitalized.

The Health District works closely with Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) epidemiology to identify close contacts of all confirmed cases and provide the appropriate recommendations.

How the public can help:

  • Do not go to the emergency room unless essential.Emergency rooms need to be able to serve those with the most critical needs.
  • North Georgia Health District is coordinating with healthcare providers to determine if testing requests meet criteria for testing.
  • If you have symptoms like cough, fever, or other respiratory problems, call your doctor first.
  • Stay home when sick.
  • Practice thorough personal hygiene habits, including handwashing, coughing into tissue or elbow, avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth.
  • Avoid large gatherings of more than 10 people and maintain social distancing by keeping at least 6 feet away from others
  • Stay informed. Information is changing frequently. Check the Health District’s website here or follow us on social media.

As we anticipate more cases, the North Georgia Health District will not issue press releases for each individual case. Updates will be posted on the Georgia Department of Public Health COVID-19 Daily Status Report here  at 12 PM and 7 PM and will be shared on the Health District’s social media pages on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

For now, Nicholson encourages everyone to continue self-isolation, social distancing and hand washing.

Previous story

The North Georgia Health District has received notice that residents in Cherokee and Pickens counties, who had previously been listed in the Georgia Department of Public Health COVID-19 Daily Status Report as confirmed cases, have now sadly passed away.

The Cherokee County resident was a female in her 60s, and the Pickens County resident was a female in her 70s. Both were hospitalized at the time of death with underlying health conditions.

These are the first deaths in the North Georgia Health District of residents who had been confirmed as being infected with COVID-19. The Health District is comprised of Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield counties.

At the time of this announcement, county-by-county numbers of confirmed cases so far in the Health District included:

  • Cherokee County: 46 (including the death)
  • Fannin: 2
  • Pickens: 4 (including the death)
  • Whitfield: 6

The Health District works closely with Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) epidemiology to identify close contacts of all confirmed cases and provide the appropriate recommendations.

How the public can help:

  • Do not go to the emergency room unless essential. Emergency rooms need to be able to serve those with the most critical needs.
  • North Georgia Health District is coordinating with healthcare providers to determine if testing requests meet criteria for testing.
  • If you have symptoms like cough, fever, or other respiratory problems, call your doctor first.
  • Stay home when sick.
  • Practice thorough personal hygiene habits, including handwashing, coughing into tissue or elbow, avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth.
  • Avoid large gatherings of more than 10 people and maintain social distancing by keeping at least 6 feet away from others
  • Stay informed. Information is changing frequently. Check the Health District’s website (http://bit.ly/COVID19-Updates-NorthGA) or follow us on social media.

As we anticipate more cases, the North Georgia Health District will not issue press releases for each individual case. Updates will be posted on the Georgia Department of Public Health COVID-19 Daily Status Report at https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-19-daily-status-report at 12 PM and 7 PM and will be shared on the Health District’s social media pages on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

See the press release document here. First Confirmed Coronavirus (COVID-19) Deaths in Health District Cherokee and Pickens County Residents – Press Release

Woman arrested for wreck that killed Jasper woman

Arrest Reports

A Cherokee County woman was arrested in the death of a Jasper woman after a fatal wreck. Investigators with the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office Traffic Enforcement Unit arrested a Canton woman Tuesday afternoon in connection with a fatal accident on I-575 near Ball Ground last Friday that left a Jasper woman dead.

According to police reports:

Ashley Faucet, 25, was killed on Friday, March 13 when she lost control of her vehicle.

woman arrested for fatal wreck

Carolyn Rampley, 60 years old, was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide.

Carolyn Rampley, 60 years old, was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide in the first degree, reckless driving, aggressive driving, and hit and run for her part in the wreck. She is currently being held in the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center without bond.

Working off a tip from a citizen, investigators were able to find Rampley in her home on Friday afternoon. They allege Rampley was involved in a road rage incident that led to the fatal wreck.

This was the third brush with law enforcement since late November for Rampley.  According to police reports, she was charged in February for 14 counts of no proof of rabies inoculation, 14 counts of animal neglect, 10 counts of junk vehicle violation, violation of storage ordinances. She was cited by the Cherokee County Marshalls Office.

She also was arrested for hitting a fire hydrant and leaving the scene of an accident for an incident in November. She was charged with striking a fixed object and leaving the scene of an accident.

For more Pickens County news, visit our site here.

 

Drug ring exposed by CMANS and PCSO

Featured, Police & Government
CMANS

JASPER, Ga – On November 18, 2019, Pickens County deputies and Agents of the Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad (CMANS) executed search warrants at five locations in Pickens County. These warrants were based on a three-month-long investigation into the sale and distribution of methamphetamine in the Jasper area.

The investigation involves a loosely organized group of individuals who were importing methamphetamine into the Jasper area. As CMANS Agents began to follow leads and conduct surveillance on the targets of the investigation, they were able to determine that the criminal enterprise reached from Southern California to Jasper.

CMANS

The three-month investigation located ring actively bringing meth into Pickens County.

Warrants were executed at 236 Martin Road, Jasper; 1186 Bethany Road, Jasper; 231 Salacoa Vista, Jasper; 915 Hill City Road, Jasper and 623 Fuller Mountain Road, Jasper. Officers recovered 7 stolen guns, small amounts of marijuana and pills and about seven ounces of suspected methamphetamine. Law enforcement officers arrested fourteen (14) people on charges filed in Pickens County.

Arrested were; Vicky Ponder, 55 YOA of Jasper for Possession of Methamphetamine;

Robert K. Privette, 55 YOA of Jasper for Trafficking Methamphetamine and Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations (RICO);

Angela Patterson, 39 YOA of Ball Ground for Possession of Methamphetamine;

Kevin Biermann, 64 YOA of Jasper for Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Possession of a Schedule 4 Controlled Substance and Violation of RICO Act;

Marvin Ray Waldroup, 51 YOA of Jasper for Trafficking Methamphetamine and Violation of RICO Act;

Tony Pettigrew, 53 YOA of Jasper for Trafficking Methamphetamine and Obstruction;

Diana Hamby, 48 YOA of Jasper for Conspiracy to Traffic Methamphetamine;

Micheal Smith, 28 YOA of Canton for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute;

Hayden Howard, 28 YOA of Canton for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute;

Dakota Estes. 29 YOA of Jasper for Possession of Methamphetamine;

Amanda Estes, 27 YOA of Jasper for Possession of Methamphetamine;

JoAnn Flowers, 51 YOA of Jasper for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony;

Barry Morgan, 59 YOA of Jasper for Violation of RICO Act;

Anthony Baker, 58 YOA of Jasper for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, Violation of RICO Act, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony and Trafficking Methamphetamine.

CMANSCMANS CMANS

Additional warrants are outstanding for individuals in Cherokee County and in Tennessee.

The Pickens Sheriff’s Office has recently partnered the Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad (CMANS) to conduct drug investigations in Pickens County. CMANS Agents are tasked with the goal of disrupting organizations and sources of supply in the Cherokee/Pickens Area.

The Pickens Sheriff’s Office, the CMANS, the Cherokee/Pickens Multi-Agency SWAT Team and the Georgia State Patrol Aviation Unit worked together to safely execute these warrants all across the county.

As always, all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Photos courtesy of Pickens County Sheriff’s Office.

Flu shots available at county health departments

Press Release

DALTON, Ga. – Flu Shots are now available at NO COST to residents at public health departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield Counties. Healthcare plans will be billed on behalf of clients who have coverage, and there is no charge to anyone who is not under a healthcare plan. No appointment is necessary – “Walk-ins” are welcome. Residents are urged to take advantage of these no-cost to client flu shots while supplies last.
It is not too late to get a flu shot. In fact, the time is crucial. Georgia, along with 48 other U.S. states, is experiencing widespread influenza activity, with 37 flu-related deaths currently reported in Georgia, including four in north Georgia – and those numbers are expected to increase since the flu season has not yet peaked.

The current flu vaccine effectively protects against three of the four influenza virus strains that are circulating.

Locations and phone numbers for the participating north Georgia county health departments are:

  • Cherokee County Health Department: 1219 Univeter Road, Canton, GA 30115, 770-345-7371 and 7545 North Main Street, Suite 100, Woodstock, GA 30188, 770-928-0133;
  • Fannin County Health Department: 95 Ouida Street, Blue Ridge, GA 30513, 706-632-3023;
  • Gilmer County Health Department: 28 Southside Church Street, Ellijay, GA 30540, 706-635-4363;
  • Murray County Health Department: 709 Old Dalton-Ellijay Road, Chatsworth, GA 30705, 706-695-4585;
  • Pickens County Health Department: 60 Health Way, Jasper, GA 30143, 706-253-2821; and
  • Whitfield County Health Department: 800 Professional Boulevard, Dalton, GA 30720, 706-226-2621.

Health officials also remind the public that flu is extremely contagious and can spread easily from person to person; therefore, anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms – such as fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle aches, headaches, fatigue or nausea – is urged to stay home during the severest symptoms and for at least 24 hours after fever is gone. More information about preventing the spread of flu, such as frequent handwashing and covering coughs and sneezes, is on the North Georgia Health District website at http://nghd.org/pr/34-/938-widespread-flu-in-georgia.html.

Author

Jason Beck

Born in Merrillville, Indiana, raised in Cleveland, Tennessee, and currently resides in Copperhill, Tennessee. Graduated from Bradley Central High School in 1996 and attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, eventually earning a B.A. and M.A. in English. Hobbies include hiking, camping and fly-fishing. Interests include baseball, hockey and cliff jumping.

GDOT Continues Asphalt Repair in Cherokee County

Press Release

Georgia DOT Continues Cable Rail Repair Along I-575 in Cherokee

Press Release

Georgia DOT Continues Cable Rail Repair along I-575 in Canton, GA

 
CANTON Ga. – A Georgia DOT Maintenance crew resumes today its work on repairing the cable rail along Interstate 575 in Cherokee County.  Work will proceed daily between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., weather permitting.

It is Georgia DOT position that guardrail and cable rail maintenance and repair are essential to keeping our roadways safe for the traveling public.  Our maintenance workers do their best to keep track of the damage to guard/cable rails and make repairs as quickly as possible in order to preserve road safety.

Each day, hundreds of Georgia Department of Transportation employees and contractors work on dozens of highway, bridge and intersection improvements throughout the state.  Their work often brings them and heavy machinery in close proximity to travel lanes. Fifty-seven Georgia DOT personnel and many more motorists, passengers and contractors’ workers have been killed in highway work zone accidents since 1973.  Please help us prevent these tragedies by slowing down; being especially attentive and cautious as you pass through construction work zones; and always driving responsibly.  Safer Driving; Safer Work Zones; For Everyone.  For information on the Department of Transportation, visit http://www.dot.ga.gov.  You also may follow us on (www.facebook.com/GDOTNW) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/GDOTNW).

TEA PARTY TALK JUNE 19, 2017

Politics

TEA PARTY TALK JUNE 19, 2017

For almost 80 years, since the end of World War II, the United States has been more or less free of the threats of our loss of freedoms that our citizens have enjoyed for close to 250 years. But a new and ominous threat is now raising its ugly head. “THE THREAT OF ISLAMIC JIHAD: THE UNHOLY ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD & THE PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT”. That is the subject of our program for the June 27 th meeting of the Pickens County GA Tea Party.

Our speaker is Lt. Col. David Bores (USA Retired). David Bores retired from the United States Army after twenty-three years with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Col. Bores held numerous commands in the US Army Military Police Corps and Criminal Investigation Division Command where he served with distinction in all aspects military law enforcement to include command, operations, planning, investigations, training, management consulting, and equipment procurement.

After his military career, Mr. Bores entered civilian law enforcement where, over a period of nineteen years, he served in various command staff positions with the Cherokee County, (GA) Sheriff’s Office. Mr. Bores was appointed the Police Chief of Woodstock, GA in 2009 where he remained until his retirement from law enforcement in 2012.

Col. Bores currently serves as the Director of Intelligence for the Defender Group. He is a subject matter expert in the area of international terrorism and radical Islam and is an adjunct instructor on those topics at the Center of Security Policy, Georgia Police Academy, and the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police. In addition, Col. Bores previously served as an adjunct college instructor at Georgia State University, Kennesaw State University, Georgia College and State University, Reinhardt University, and Central Texas State College.

David is the past chairman of State Law Enforcement Certification Committee, Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police; Past Executive Board Member, Georgia Police Accreditation Coalition, and a current member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Mr. Bores holds a M.S. in Criminal Justice from Jacksonville State University, a M.S. in Public Administration from Georgia College, and a B.A. in Government from Norwich University.

Mr. David Bores has made this subject the core of his retirement years—speaking to many Georgia and USA organizations that are concerned about the Islamic threat to the free world. What he has to say is of vital importance to all Americans. Please join us at our next monthly meeting to discuss the Islamic issues with David: Tuesday, June 27, at Chattahoochee Technical College in Jasper—6:30PM Meet and Greet, 7:00PM Meeting and Program begins. For more information, contact [email protected].

 

Body Found on I-575 North Bound under bridge in Ball Ground, GA

Featured, Featured Stories, News

According to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s office a woman’s body was found this morning, May 27th, under Sharpe Mountain Creek Bridge, under I-575 in Ball Ground, GA.

According to Lt. Jay Baker the police received the call at 6:42 am and arrived a few minutes later.  Upon arrival the authorities discovered a body of a 35 year old female deceased under the structure.  The deputies found a vehicle parked on the bridge on the north bound lane of I-575.    The bridge at Sharpe Mountain Creek is located between Exit 24/Airport Drive and Exit 27/Howell Bridge Road.

The deputies were able to speak with a motorist driving by who witnessed the woman jump from the bridge.  The Sheriff’s office is conducting an investigation however  Lt. Jay Baker with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s office said, “There’s no indication of foul play.”   The identity of the woman has not been released at this time.

 

Early morning fire ousts family from home

Featured Stories, News

A fire in the Winchester Oaks subdivision of Nelson woke neighbors with a start this morning. FYN is attempting to determine who made the call to the Pickens 9-1-1 but Cherokee County Fire Chief Tim Prather stated they were notified of the structure fire at 5:47 a.m. (more…)

Nelson Considers Cutting Mayor Position

Featured Stories, News

Will Nelson eliminate the office of mayor? (more…)

Gun Control Group Sues Nelson Over Gun Ordinance

Featured Stories, News

The City of Nelson is being sued over its Home and Family Protection ordinance. (more…)

Nelson Council Member Responds to Mayor’s Exit

Featured Stories, News

See Nelson Council Member Duane Cronic’s Response to Mayor Mike Haviland’s Resignation Below (more…)

Nelson Mayor Resigns, Riles Predecessor in Process

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Nelson Mayor Mike Haviland has resigned. (more…)

Nelson Passes Financial Management Policy

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Aside from all the media hoopla over its Family Protection Ordinance, Nelson City Council addressed other items this week at its regular meeting Monday night. (more…)

Citizen Says Ordinance Offensive, as Nelson Approves Second Reading of Family Protection Act

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Nelson resident Lamar Kellet said he finds the town’s latest Family Protection Ordinance offensive. (more…)

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