VA clinic coming to Jasper

Pickens school starts August 1 -- All the back to school information you need.

 Drivers, Parents -- Major traffic change at Jasper Middle School. See description of new student drop off plan in special section.

Cherokee Sheriff Press Release

Updated -- Cherokee County, Ga. July 28,  Kenneth Michael Williams 37 years of age, who is currently being housed in the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center, has been charged with Vehicular Homicide 1^st degree and Vehicular Homicide 2^nd degree due to the death of a passenger in the vehicle accident that occurred Tuesday, July 25, 2017.  The passenger, Sandra Potts 37 years of age, died Thursday, July 27, 2017 as a result of the injuries sustained in the accident on Tuesday. 

Original story -- Cherokee County, Ga. July 26, 2017. Cherokee Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched Tuesday, July 25, 2017at 3:10 p.m. to a motor vehicle accident on Upper Bethany Rd at Damascus Road involving two vehicles. 

   The preliminary investigation showed that a white Ford Ranger, driven by Kenneth Williams 37 years of age of Ellijay, failed to yield at the intersection and was struck by an oncoming black Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Blake Sears 29 years of age of Ball Ground. 

Not going anywhere - Animal advocates say they intend to keep the pressure on with more protests and attendance at public meetings until changes are made at the county shelter.

There was no shortage of emotion at the July commissioners’ meeting, where animal rights advocates rallied around a former shelter employee and chided the board about what they say are “deplorable” conditions at the facility.

Unrest about the Pickens County Animal Shelter has been steady since assistant director Judy Moody was fired by commission chair Rob Jones on June 20th. Jones, who the animal activists accuse of cronyism, utilized the law in Georgia that allows employers to fire someone without giving reason. Jones simply said that Moody’s services were “no longer needed.” 

Read complete story and what our reporter found during a trip to the shelter in our print or e-edition this week.

 Mark Miller listens as the judge cautions him on conditions of his negotiated guilty plea last week in Pickens Superior Court.

 “Economic downturn. Lack of self control. An addiction to money. Stupidity.”

These are the reasons former attorney Mark Miller gave the judge when asked during his sentencing last week why he had stolen over $1 million dollars from his clients, something he admitted to doing during a plea agreement. The plea deal let both the defense and state avoid a trial that both sides previously acknowledged would be difficult and likely to last three weeks or more. Read complete story in our print or e-editions this week.

See Previous coverage 

Miller moved to Cobb jail after he files numerous complaints on local conditions April 2017

Mark Miller arrested for numerous fraud, theft charges -- (no subcription needed) - June 2016

Attorney Mark Miller jailed for contempt of court-- original story (no subscription needed) - June 2016