Issued by The National Weather Service
Atlanta, GA

Mon, Sep 17, 2012, 6:39 PM EDT

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 640 IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM EDT TUESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS

IN GEORGIA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 84 COUNTIES

IN CENTRAL GEORGIA

BALDWIN BIBB BLECKLEY BUTTS CRAWFORD CRISP DODGE DOOLY HOUSTON JASPER JONES MONROE PEACH PULASKI PUTNAM TWIGGS WILCOX WILKINSON

IN EAST CENTRAL GEORGIA

GREENE HANCOCK TALIAFERRO WILKES

IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA

BARROW CHEROKEE CLAYTON COBB DAWSON DEKALB DOUGLAS FANNIN FAYETTE FORSYTH FULTON GILMER GWINNETT HALL HENRY LUMPKIN MORGAN NEWTON PICKENS ROCKDALE UNION WALTON

IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA

BANKS CLARKE JACKSON MADISON OCONEE OGLETHORPE TOWNS WHITE

IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA

BARTOW CARROLL CATOOSA CHATTOOGA DADE FLOYD GORDON HARALSON MURRAY PAULDING POLK WALKER WHITFIELD

IN WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA

CHATTAHOOCHEE COWETA HARRIS HEARD LAMAR MACON MARION MERIWETHER MUSCOGEE PIKE SCHLEY SPALDING STEWART SUMTER TALBOT TAYLOR TROUP UPSON WEBSTER

THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF… ABBEVILLE… AMERICUS… ATLANTA… BARNESVILLE… BLAIRSVILLE… BREMEN… BUENA VISTA… BUTLER… CALHOUN… CARROLLTON… CARTERSVILLE… CEDARTOWN… CHATSWORTH… CLEVELAND… COCHRAN… COLUMBUS… COMER… COMMERCE… CONYERS… CORDELE… COVINGTON… CRAWFORD… CRAWFORDVILLE… CUMMING… DAHLONEGA… DALLAS… DALTON… DAWSONVILLE… DECATUR… DOUGLASVILLE… EASTMAN… EATONTON… ELLAVILLE… ELLIJAY… FORSYTH… FORT BENNING… FORT OGLETHORPE… FORT VALLEY… FRANKLIN… GAINESVILLE… GRAY… GREENSBORO… GRIFFIN… HAWKINSVILLE… HIAWASSEE… HOMER… JACKSON… JASPER… JEFFERSONVILLE… LAWRENCEVILLE… MACON… MADISON… MANCHESTER… MARIETTA… MILLEDGEVILLE… MONROE… MONTEZUMA… MONTICELLO… NEWNAN… PEACHTREE CITY… PINE MOUNTAIN… PRESTON… RICHLAND… RIVERDALE… ROBERTA… ROME… SPARTA… STOCKBRIDGE… SUMMERVILLE… TALBOTTON… THOMASTON… THOMASTON… TOOMSBORO… TRENTON… VIENNA… WARNER ROBINS… WASHINGTON… WATKINSVILLE… WEST POINT… WINDER… WINTERVILLE… WOODSTOCK AND ZEBULON.

Young Harris, GA

For more information, please contact Sam Fullerton at (706) 994-4658.

Clarkesville, GA

“Having Georgia Power on our campus added to the energy and excitement of the first day of fall semester,” said NGTC President Dr. Gail Thaxton. “The students were talking about it in the hallways and through our social media. We at North Georgia Tech are committed to being good stewards of energy, and we greatly appreciate the long-standing partnership we have with Georgia Power.”

Georgia Power Key Account Manager, Tsali Bentley and his associate Karen Register were promoting energy efficiency by giving away free CFL light bulbs to students, faculty, and staff and passing along brochures that highlighted ways college students can conserve energy while living in dorms.

Karen Register, Key Account Support, and Tsali Bentley, Key Account Manager for NGTC, continually answered questions on why Georgia Power was concerned about energy efficiency. “The more energy efficient we can make our homes and businesses, the more cost-effective our energy becomes,” said Mr. Bentley.

For more information on programs of study at North Georgia Technical College, contact 706-754-7700 or visit www.northgatech.edu.

Blairsville, GA

The Official Open House is scheduled for Thursday, September 6 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. or when the last person leaves. Everyone is welcome to drop by and “sit a spell”, get to know Charles personally, ask questions, or just to say Hi! Free refreshments will be provided throughout the day.

Staffed with volunteers during the day, citizens of Union County can stop by between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Charles also offers appointments for nights and weekends. It’s a great location to pick up campaigns signs, literature, and drop off campaign donations.

Charles welcomes one and all to stop by and discuss any issues or questions they have about how he plans to help the county as their new commissioner.

“I may not be at our headquarters every hour during the day, because I’ll be out on the road at meetings or going door to door getting to know the residents of Union County. However, if someone wants to give me a call and set up a time, I’m more than happy to arrange my schedule to meet with them,” says Rich.

Charles Rich qualified on the Republican ticket back in May, 2012 to run for the office of Sole County Commissioner and hopes to bring much needed fiscal conservatism and common sense to Union County. Some key components of his platform include: a Strong Fiscal Discipline to Protect Taxpayers, Open/Transparent Government, Support of the Local Economy, and a Referendum for Multiple Commissioners for the public to vote on.

If you’re interested in volunteering, drop by campaign headquarters and sign up or visit our website atwww.votecharlesrich.com where you can sign up online. In addition, if you would like to talk to Charles personally or set up an appointment to meet with him, just call 706-452-1715 or you can email him at charles@votecharlesrich.com.

Young Harris, GA

“We are thrilled to welcome the largest freshman class in Young Harris College history as we also break overall enrollment records for the sixth consecutive year,” said YHC President Cathy Cox.

The previous freshman enrollment record of 406 set in Fall 2008 was surpassed by more than 30 students this fall, and the current overall enrollment represents a 17 percent increase from Fall 2011. Since the transition of YHC to a four-year institution began in 2006, the College’s total enrollment has increased by 72 percent.

“YHC is carrying a lot of momentum right now, and prospective student interest has really skyrocketed as we’ve come into our own as a four-year college,” said Vice President for Enrollment Management and External Affairs Clint Hobbs, ’88. “We have far exceeded our enrollment goals for this year, and I could not be more pleased with our success.”

The academic year officially opened with the annual Academic Convocation on Aug. 14, and the College was buzzing throughout the week as new and returning students enjoyed an exciting lineup of Welcome Week activities, including a barbecue, a comedian, live music on the lawn and a variety of community service events.

On Aug. 12, a new tradition was introduced at YHC as first-year students hiked from the top of Brasstown Bald, the highest mountain peak in Georgia, down to campus, where they were greeted by faculty and staff members. This experience will serve as a bookend for another key tradition—the annual senior trek to the top of Bald Mountain prior to Commencement, where all graduates, their families and College faculty and staff gather for a Vespers Service at sunset.

“To mark our students’ entrance into the campus community, we invited them to ride to the top of the mountain and hike down to campus, entering the ‘Enchanted Valley’ and inaugurating their YHC experience,” explained Interim Vice President for Student Development Bryan Hayse, Ed.D. “This was a very meaningful event for our new students, who will look back on their memories of this experience in four years when they graduate from YHC.”

This month, Young Harris College also opened a second phase of its popular new upperclassmen apartments in “The Village,” adding another 100 beds to accommodate growing enrollment. The College plans to begin construction on new freshman housing this fall as it continues to move toward its enrollment goal of 1,200 students.

Since earning its accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) in 2008 to grant bachelor’s degrees, Young Harris College has been adding baccalaureate majors and academic programs at a rapid pace. As of 2012, YHC now offers 16 baccalaureate majors—art, biology, business and public policy, communication studies, English, early childhood education, history, mathematics, middle grades education, music, music education, outdoor leadership, psychology, religious studies, Spanish and theatre—as well as a full array of minors and teacher certifications.

In addition, Young Harris College has more than doubled the size of its faculty in the last five years and hired additional staff to support the new academic offerings and student programming.

Photo caption: Throughout the summer, new Young Harris College students attended the Students Together for Advising, Registration and Transition (START) student orientation program.

Dahlonega, GA

Speakers for this year’s series include:

• Shirley Powell, executive vice president, The Weather Channel Companies (on Thur., Sept. 6)
• Doug Keith, president of Drive Technologies Division, Siemens (on Thur., Sept. 20)
• David McNeill, president and managing partner, 4th Strand (on Thur., Oct. 4)
• Penny McIntyre, president, Newell Consumer Group, Newell Rubbermaid (on Thur., Oct. 18)
• Rich McKay, president and CEO, The Atlanta Falcons (on Thur., Nov. 1)

“I have been so impressed with the quality and variety of executives that have visited our campus to share their experiences with our students as part of this program,” North Georgia President Bonita Jacobs said.

Topics addressed by the speakers will cover a broad range of subjects, including what it takes to get a job, preparing and executing for what lies ahead, starting and building a successful new business, the easy and the difficult elements of working and winning in international markets, and why the NFL has become the dominant sports league and brand in America.

“We are very pleased with the caliber of this year’s speakers,” Donna T. Mayo, dean of the Mike Cottrell School of Business, said. “This will be an excellent opportunity for students and community members to learn business strategies and tactics from some of the best in the field.”

Presentations are open to the public and free of charge. Each session will be held in the second floor auditorium (room 232) of the university’s Health and Natural Sciences Building at 159 Sunset Drive, Dahlonega. Sessions will begin at 12:55 p.m. and conclude at 1:50 p.m.

For a more complete description of each speaker’s topic please visit www.northgeorgia.edu/cottrellspeakerseries/.

Social Circle, GA

Georgians can vote for the new wildlife tags at www.georgiawildlife.com. Simply click on the “Make Your Vote Count” link, fill out the short survey and cast a vote for your favorite tag design.

A share of purchases and renewals of the new tag will go toward conservation and habitat restoration efforts for the Nongame Conservation Section, the Bobwhite Quail Initiative (BQI) and the Trout Restoration Program of the DNR’s Fisheries Management Section.

“We are excited about the opportunity to allow Georgians to vote on their favorite tag design through our website,” said Wildlife Resources Division Director Dan Forster. “We have many beautiful wildlife designs to pick from and we hope that the switch to a full plate design will excite the public and they will want one on their vehicle.”

Information collected through the voting process will be used to determine which tags will be produced and made available for purchase through the Georgia Department of Motor Vehicle Services. Potential designs for the new wildlife license plates include:

• Nongame wildlife tags, supporting the state’s Nongame Wildlife Conservation Fund – Two designs will be chosen including Blue heron in a shoals river scene; green tree frog; bald eagle soaring above Georgia pines; hummingbird with trumpet creeper; bald eagle with American flag; painted bunting; and North Atlantic right whale.

• Bobwhite Quail Initiative tags, supporting the Bobwhite Quail Initiative – Mother quail and chicks; flushing covey with a white-tailed deer; and turkey and a flushing quail with a white-tailed buck.

• Trout (Trout Unlimited) tags supporting the Fisheries Management Section trout conservation program – Brook trout; rainbow trout; trio including brook, rainbow and brown trout; and a brook trout chasing a fly.

The deadline to vote on the new tag designs is September 15, 2012. The winning designs will then be announced and made available shortly afterward in local tag offices and for on-line renewals. Specialty plates cost $60 (plus ad-valorem taxes and other fees standard for all plates). There is an annual renewal of $35.

Georgia’s Nongame Conservation Section receives no state general funds for its mission to conserve wildlife not legally hunted, fished for or trapped, as well as rare plants and natural habitats in the state. Instead, Nongame Conservation depends on direct contributions, grants, and fundraisers such as the nongame plates, which account for about two-thirds of funds raised. Learn more at www.georgiawildlife.com/conservation/support.

Georgia’s Bobwhite Quail Initiative (BQI) License Plate provides the sole funding source to support habitat restoration efforts on private lands to benefit bobwhite quail and a host of other game and nongame wildlife species. The BQI is a proactive effort directed at restoring quality habitat for bobwhites and other early successional wildlife species on working farms and forestlands.

The Trout Unlimited License Plate benefits Georgia’s trout fisheries. Georgia’s Fisheries Section maintains and manages the freshwater fishery, fish habitat and the recreation supported by these resources to provide quality recreational fishing for the present and future generations, and working with other divisions assure water quality and water quantity is supportive of a healthy freshwater fishery. Georgia TU, part of a national grassroots volunteer organization, is devoted to conserving, protecting and restoring Georgia’s trout fisheries.

Hiawassee, GA

The food pantry located at 1294 Jack Dayton Circle. For more information please call 706-896-4783.

Blairsville, GA

Branches include:
General 4-H
Horse Club
Swine Team
BB Team
Shotgun Team
and more

$5.00 buys a wristband that allows you to play games, and do all activities (1 per activity, additional for extra). So spread the word and come out to support these young ladies and gentlemen!

Hiawassee, GA

In a 2005 survey, the Partnership for a Drug-Free America found that 19% of U.S. teenagers reported taking prescription drugs “to get high”.

Opiate-based narcotics are particularly popular.  University of Michigan in 2005 found that nearly ten percent of 12th-graders had used Vicodin, while more than five percent said they had used OxyContin, in the previous year. Prescription drugs are now more popular among high school seniors than Ecstasy and cocaine, they being abused at an alarming rate. Even drugs you might not associate with “getting high,” such as those used to treat anxiety disorders, such as Xanax and Valium.

Often prescription pills are seen as less dangerous, sometimes they are just easier to get.  Studies show that many teens get prescription drugs from their very own parents’ medicine cabinets.  These prescription drugs are also worth a lot of money to drug abusers. The estimated street value of just one OxyContin pill is about $40.

In May 2002 the Associated Press reported that authorities at a high school in Mahomet, Illinois discovered 16 students distributing Ritalin, OxyContin, and hydrocodone to other students. The school principal was alerted to the students’ activities after he received a phone call from a parent who believed his son might have taken OxyContin from the parent’s medicine cabinet. According to the school superintendent, the students were selling their own medication or medication belonging to their parents or siblings.

The most important thing we as parents can do to prevent our children from misusing prescription medications is to educate ourselves.  Be aware of the medications kids are abusing and share this with other parents, specifically your school administrators, coaches and counselors.  Then, talk to your kids to find out if they are aware of their peers using medications without doctors’ orders.  Make sure they understand the dangers of misusing prescription medications.  Finally, safeguard medications at home.  Pay attention to quantities of medications you have, specifically those with epinephrine, including cough syrups and allergy medications.  Epinephrine is used to treat cardiac arrest and is a bronchodilator for asthma.  The “high” teens get from epinephrine is similar to an adrenaline rush.

Pharmaceutical drugs can be just as dangerous as illicit street drugs. It’s not just a matter of over-dosing, but mixing different drugs, or combining drugs and alcohol; this can be deadly.  Teenagers need to know that it is illegal to use, or to provide someone else with, a prescription drug that has not been prescribed specifically for them.

By working together we can better keep our children safe from the dangers of drug abuse.  I have a deep concern for the young people of Towns County and our sheriff’s office is committed to doing all we can to safeguard our children.  If you have any information about those involved in the distribution of drugs, or you have questions about keeping your child safe, please call us at 706-896-4444.  You may also leave an anonymous message on our tip line at 706/896-3697.

For more information about the Towns County Sheriff’s Office, you can visit online at www.towncountysheriffsoffice.com.