Local

Andrews wants new jail

Requests for a new jail, a $2 per hour raise for the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office (ECSO), a county elections board and almost $20 million worth of estimated costs for county roads were handed to the Elbert County Board of Commissioners (BOC) at their annual retreat at Bobby Brown State Park Feb....
Kathy Pfaender of Hartwell gets a vaccine from Athens Tech nursing student Alex Higgins at EMH’s drive-through Monday morning. (Photo by Jones)

Kathy Pfaender of Hartwell gets a vaccine from Athens Tech nursing student Alex Higgins at EMH’s drive-through Monday morning. (Photo by Jones)

State lifts TMCE suspension

After a flurry of phone calls and texts with Gov. Brian Kemp’s and Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) Commissioner Kathleen Toomey’s offices Thursday, The Medical Center of Elberton (TMCE)   will be able to resume its vaccination program next month after accepting an offer from DPH.
The Elberton Star logo

The Elberton Star logo

‘The issue is over’

A disagreement on approving the minutes from the City of Bowman’s Jan. 25 return to general session after holding an executive session that included a no-vote to reinstate former city clerk Crystal Duck sparked an outcry from council members and the public at Monday’s regular meeting.
Elberton’s water department’s revenues have benefitted from Georgia Renewable Power’s incinerator plant in Madison County. Since September GRP has had to send wastewater back to Elberton’s two sewage treatment plants to be treated before being released into nearby streams in Elbert County.  (Photo by Jones)

Elberton’s water department’s revenues have benefitted from Georgia Renewable Power’s incinerator plant in Madison County. Since September GRP has had to send wastewater back to Elberton’s two sewage treatment plants to be treated before being released into nearby streams in Elbert County. (Photo by Jones)

Water both ways, Elberton getting paid

When Madison County’s Industrial Development and Building Authority (MCIDBA) approached the City of Elberton about running a water line to the Broad River for the purpose of purchasing water from the city, crunching numbers showed that it would be a good decision for the city to invest in the...
Elberton is currently getting paid to “treat” wastewater coming from this incinerator plant in Madison County. The plant is seeking a permit to allow them to release wastewater into a tributary that empties into Broad River. (Photo by Jones)

Elberton is currently getting paid to “treat” wastewater coming from this incinerator plant in Madison County. The plant is seeking a permit to allow them to release wastewater into a tributary that empties into Broad River. (Photo by Jones)

Local clean water advocates keep eye on permit process

GRP Madison Renewable Energy Facility (GRP) in Colbert is applying for a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit (NPDES No. GA0050283)) from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Environmental Protection Division (EPD).
The Elberton Star logo

The Elberton Star logo

Early voting on school board’s ESPLOST has begun

Early voting for a special purpose local option sales tax for education continuation on March 16 began Monday and School Superintendent Jon Jarvis urged citizens to vote for the school system’s plan for renovating Beaverdam Elementary.
The Elberton Star logo

The Elberton Star logo

‘Trying to get answers’

State Rep. Rob Leverett (R-33rd District) said Monday he is “hopeful” that Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) officials will reverse course and remove sanctions imposed on The Medical Center of Elberton (TMCE).

Duck says ‘I won’t be railroaded’

Former Bowman City Clerk Crystal Duck, who was terminated from the position effective Jan. 27 after a motion from members of the council to reinstate her failed to reach a majority, was given a hearing with the city’s personnel committee Feb. 3 after filing a grievance for her termination.
One of two particularly bad places for illegal dumping and trash disposal in Elbert County, according to Elbert County Community Development and Code Enforcement Manager Allen Hulme, is on Campbell Street Extension, shown here from a photo taken Saturday. The other location is on Mineral Springs Road in areas located all the way from Lexington Highway to Athens Highway. (Photo by Jones)

One of two particularly bad places for illegal dumping and trash disposal in Elbert County, according to Elbert County Community Development and Code Enforcement Manager Allen Hulme, is on Campbell Street Extension, shown here from a photo taken Saturday. The other location is on Mineral Springs Road in areas located all the way from Lexington Highway to Athens Highway. (Photo by Jones)

So, you think no one is watching?

Perhaps you believe there is no way anyone is going to see you throw a bag of trash into a ditch on a secluded county road, or there would be no possibility that anyone could see you throw a fast-food soft drink cup from your car traveling at 55 miles per hour.

DPH seizure

Moments after The Medical Center of Elberton (TMCE) announced it had written a second appeal letter to the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) asking for a public hearing in front of the full DPH board and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, officials representing DPH went into TMCE’s health facility...