Investigation continues into the residential fire that occurred this past Sunday in the 4000 block of Rome Road Southwest, with both Gordon County Fire Rescue and the Georgia State Fire Marshal’s Office actively working to determine the cause. Fire crews from Stations 1, 5, and 6 performed a fast entry to rescue an elderly occupant, who was then airlifted to a metro-area burn center where she remains in critical condition. Following the incident, Chief Heath Derryberry joined us on air yesterday to urge all families to check smoke detectors and finalize two distinct emergency exit plans for every household member.
In community health, AdventHealth is offering vital heart screenings this week through its mobile AngioScreen unit. AdventHealth AngioScreen Coordinator Mandy Byars joined us on air to highlight these $85, noninvasive assessments, which are available in Fairmount today at the AdventHealth EMS Station and in Chatsworth this Thursday; appointments can be secured by calling 706-290-8008.
Local government stays busy as the Gordon County Board of Commissioners meets tonight at the Judicial Building, starting with a 5:00 PM work session followed by a 6:00 PM voting session, where they will hold the first public hearing for the Fiscal Year 2027 County Budget. Simultaneously, voters are preparing for the June 16th General Primary Runoff, with the Board of Elections extending early voting hours next week from June 8th through June 12th, 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM.
The runoff ballot features high-stakes contests:
School Board At-Large Post 7: Judy M. Craig, who joined us on air last Friday to discuss her platform, faces Dakota Grogan, who has been invited to the program but has not yet responded to interview requests.
11th Congressional District: Voters will decide between Rob Adkerson and John Cowan.
Statewide Races: The ballot includes critical runoffs for Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State School Superintendent, U.S. Senate, and Public Service Commissioner District 5.
For local families, both Calhoun City and Gordon County schools launched their free Summer Feeding Programs yesterday for children ages 0 to 18. Residents have expressed significant satisfaction with the program, noting that communication was clear and the launch day operations were exceptionally smooth. Calhoun City is operating Monday through Friday, while Gordon County is stationed at Tolbert Elementary and Sonoraville High School Monday through Thursday.
Statewide, drivers should prepare for an immediate hike in pump prices tonight as Governor Brian Kemp’s motor fuel tax suspension expires at 11:59 PM, reinstating the 33-cent gas tax and 37.3-cent diesel tax. Meanwhile, Georgia Power bills are seeing a modest decrease starting this month following a Public Service Commission settlement. While this saves the average household about $4.04 monthly, it follows a period of aggressive rate increases since 2024 that have added nearly $45 to monthly bills. To help offset these costs, residents can access HEAR and HER federal grants through the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority for home efficiency upgrades. Anderson Heating, Air & Insulation is an approved local contractor that has joined us multiple times to explain this program and can assist you in determining the specific amount you qualify for; you can reach them at 706-629-0749.