North Georgia Chairmen urge Kemp to close State Parks

Community, News
Georgia, North Georgia, Governor, Brian Kemp, State Parks, Close, Shut Down, Letter, Chairmen, Habersham, Rabun, Franklin, Towns, White, Gilmer, Dade, Fannin, Union, Lumpkin, Stephens, Banks, Travis Turner, Tim Stamey, Greg James

Blue Ridge, Ga. – Twelve Commission Chairmen from North Georgia counties have joined together and signed a letter asking Governor Brian Kemp to shut down the State Parks.

“It appears that these nonresidents believe our area is a safe haven because of its rural nature. To the contrary, the influx of people into our communities has had a staggering detrimental effect on our resources,” the letter to Kemp read in part.

Georgia, North Georgia, Governor, Brian Kemp, State Parks, Close, Shut Down, Letter, Chairmen, Habersham, Rabun, Franklin, Towns, White, Gilmer, Dade, Fannin, Union, Lumpkin, Stephens, Banks, Travis Turner, Tim Stamey, Greg James

Habersham County Commissioner District 5 Tim Stamey

The letter goes on to outline the resources in our area that have been affected by the out-of-towners looking to seclude themselves, including in these resources are food, dry goods and fuel.

It goes on to inform Kemp that our area is not equipped medically: “Our communities simply do not have enough hospital beds or medical personnel to care for the inflated population.”

Though only serving as a commissioner for a little over three months, Habersham County Commissioner District 5 Tim Stamey felt he needed to be proactive in bringing a solution to this problem: “I am a retired special operator and we don’t sit around talking about things, we get it done.”

Stamey who sits on the County Health Board said, “I’m on the County Health Board and talk to Healthcare workers in my county on a daily basis. They are the heros/heroines in all this. This virus does not spread itself on the wind.”

Moccasin Creek State Park, situated just North of Unicoi State park has been “crazy, 4th of July crazy” for the past three weekends according to Stamey, who has witnessed the impact on his county first hand.

Stamey initially contacted Rabun County Chairman Greg James and White County Chairman Travis Turner.

“I started this by just trying to get border counties on board,” Stamey said and added, “Then Chairmen were like well, did you call such and such, I know they feel the same way. It just kept getting bigger and bigger.”

Stamey said that all Commission Chairmen were helpful, on board, and taking the matter seriously: “I talked to most of them several times and for up to an hour each time.”

Stamey, along with the 12 county chairmen and many residents, is hoping that this letter will get the attention of Kemp. The letter in closing states: “On behalf of the many citizens that live in North Georgia who entrust us as County Commissioners to represent their interests, we respectfully ask you to close all of the state parks located in our area immediately.”

Georgia, North Georgia, Governor, Brian Kemp, State Parks, Close, Shut Down, Letter, Chairmen, Habersham, Rabun, Franklin, Towns, White, Gilmer, Dade, Fannin, Union, Lumpkin, Stephens, Banks, Travis Turner, Tim Stamey, Greg James

Georgia, North Georgia, Governor, Brian Kemp, State Parks, Close, Shut Down, Letter, Chairmen, Habersham, Rabun, Franklin, Towns, White, Gilmer, Dade, Fannin, Union, Lumpkin, Stephens, Banks, Travis Turner, Tim Stamey, Greg James

 

Click Here to read about National Park Closures in our area

RNC Representative Ginger Howard speaks with North Georgia GOP women

Community, Politics
Ginger howard

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – The ladies of Union, Towns, and Rabun Republican parties expressed their support for President Trump through creativity at the inventive Hats off for Trump event on Feb. 27. They also heard from Republican National Committee (RNC) Committeewoman for Georgia Ginger Howard, who brought the Trump 2020 campaign bus.

Held at The View Grill in Blairsville, Ga, more than 90 GOP women gathered, wearing their unique Trump hats in all shapes and sizes – almost as if the Kentucky Derby came to North Georgia.

Howard entertained the audience with stories about the President of the United States, including one about Trump offering Tic-Tacs to RNC committee members.

Ginger Howard

(LtoR) Towns GOP Chair Betsy Young, Union GOP Chair Dena Gooch, RNC Committeewoman Ginger Howard, and Rabun GOP Rep. Kim Gurtler

“I’m so excited to be with a bunch of women who love our President,” exclaimed Howard.

Howard, originally from Waycross, Ga, has served as RNC Committeewoman for the last three and half years but has worked in politics for the past 20 years. Her goal is to make everyone excited to be a conservative, a Republican, and to vote for President Trump. She even joked that she has an “uber ministry” to tell drivers about Jesus and Trump.

“President Trump has done so much for our country,” said Howard. “President Trump is a fighter and he fights for us every single day!”

https://youtu.be/qk_wCRWMr6I

 

Underscoring the fight between socialism and America, Howard encouraged everyone to get out and fight for Trump, and their values, because one person can make a difference.

“Our economy has never been better. Our unemployment rate has never been better. The black unemployment rate, the Asian unemployment rate, the women unemployment rate [have never been better]. God help the man who doesn’t see what President Trump has done for this county and women,” Howard asserted.

Best Overall Hat winner

In the latest jobs report from the Department of Labor, the overall unemployment rate was 3.6 percent, an uptick from 3.5 percent in December 2019.

“Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men (3.3 percent), adult women (3.2 percent), teenagers (12.2 percent), Whites (3.1 percent), Blacks (6.0 percent), Asians (3.0 percent), and Hispanics (4.3 percent) showed little or no change over the month.” – Bureau of Labor Statistics Report

Approximately 183,000 reentered the job force in the January 2020 report, and long-time unemployed made up 19.9 percent of the unemployment numbers at 1.2 million. The labor force participation rate increased by 0.2 percentage points to 63.4 percent. The Department of Labor listed 4.2 million as part-time for economic reasons. These individuals would have preferred full-time positions but couldn’t find a job or experienced a reduction of hours. 1.3 million were marginally attached to the labor force. They weren’t counted in the unemployed because it had been more than four weeks since their last job search. However, they do want to work. Discouraged workers came in around 337,000.

Howard also expressed how the Trump message has resonated with the people. She’s raised over $100,000 for the reelection campaign.

Additionally, the stir the Trump bus created in the local community served as evidence of that fact. Union County Sheriff’s Deputies (UCSO) turned up to take pictures with Keep America Great bus, along with several passersby.

Ginger Howard

UCSO deputies admiring the Keep America Great bus.

After Howard finished speaking, the GOP women gave three awards for best overall, most creative, and GRITS hats. Howard loved the hats and thought this event should go nationwide.

Candidates Speak

One House of Representatives in the Ninth District candidate was in attendance, Maria Stickland. Currently, she’s the lone woman in the crowded field.

A room full of summer hats and Trump supporters.

Fetch Your News asked her if she believed it was time for a woman to represent the Ninth.

“I think so. I’m strong. I’m a hard worker. I’m 26 years in law enforcement, I’m retired,” said Stickland. “I know I can work hard and represent the Ninth District.”

Strickland added she doesn’t come from politics and is a true conservative Republican. It’s time for a strong woman from Georgia to help President Trump accomplish his goals for the country.

“If we keep sending the same career establishment politicians, we’re going to get the same outcome. We need someone new. We need an outsider, like myself. We need me to go up there and get these things done,” affirmed Strickland.

Most Creative Hat Winner

Georgia House District 8 candidate Stan Gunter’s wife also attended the event. Currently, Gunter is running unopposed on the Republican ticket but does have a Democrat opponent. However, this could change since qualifying begins on March 2nd.

Ginger Howard

GRITS hat winner

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