Good morning, Gordon County. Here is a look at your top headlines and community updates for this Wednesday.
The following individuals were booked into the Gordon County Jail on Tuesday, August 11:
Barry Wade Blankenship, 40, of Calhoun, arrested by the Calhoun Police Department on charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and a first-offender probation violation stemming from an original charge of robbery by force.
Michael Dwayne Gann, 51, of Calhoun (homeless), held by the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office for the U.S. Marshals.
Joshua Lamar Howard, 36, of Calhoun (homeless), arrested by the Calhoun Police Department for criminal trespass.
Calhoun City Schools has officially named the Calhoun High School track in honor of legendary coach Mr. R. Lynn Walter, following a unanimous vote by the Board of Education during its August 10 work session. Coach Walter’s career spans over six decades, including 30 years as head coach alongside more than 30 years of volunteer service for the track and cross-country programs. He remains the only coach in Calhoun history to win state championships in three different sports—track and field, cross country, and tennis. His teams captured 16 region titles, featuring a streak of 10 consecutive championships. A formal dedication ceremony will take place on Friday, October 2, 2026, during pre-game festivities at the CHS Homecoming game at Phil Reeve Stadium, with permanent signage to be unveiled during the upcoming track season.
AdventHealth Gordon plans to add a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to its local campus, as announced during yesterday’s public safety hearing. The hospital has filed an official certificate of need to establish the specialized unit, and community members wishing to submit letters of support are encouraged to contact the hospital directly. Additionally, Gordon County EMS will soon equip an emergency vehicle with on-board blood supplies to treat severe trauma, GI bleeds, and obstetric emergencies directly in the field. The new protocol is slated to launch in the first quarter of 2027, significantly expanding local pre-hospital care capabilities.
Gasoline prices are experiencing upward pressure nationwide due to shipping bottlenecks and persistent geopolitical tensions near the Strait of Hormuz. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) has raised its Brent crude forecast to $87 a barrel and projected average U.S. retail gas prices at $3.78 a gallon through late summer.
The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report revealed an unexpected drop of 23,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in July, while combined revisions for the prior two months pulled figures down by another 103,000 jobs. Despite job losses, the national unemployment rate fell to 4.1%, down from 4.3% in July 2025. Average hourly earnings rose 3.2% year-over-year; however, because wage growth lagged behind the national 3.5% inflation rate, real purchasing power for workers declined over the period. Local government education (-50,000) and retail (-19,000) saw the largest cuts, while private sector healthcare gained 30,000 jobs.
A 14-year-old Sonoraville High School student was struck by a vehicle on Highway 53 in front of the school around 3:40 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. According to the Georgia State Patrol, a driver was traveling east in a white Chevrolet Trailblazer when the teenager attempted to cross the roadway outside of a marked crosswalk. The driver was unable to see the teen in time to avoid collision. The student was transported by AdventHealth EMS to Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, and state troopers confirmed no charges are pending.
Checking the weekly grocery deals around Calhoun:
Food Lion features family pack chicken tenderloins and pork chops for $1.99/lb, fresh corn at 4 for $1.00, and BOGO deals on Pepsi products and Keebler cookies.
Kroger offers digital savings including block or shredded cheese for $1.49, butter for $2.99, and Ball Park meat franks for $2.49.
Food City has Value Pack ground beef for $2.49/lb, whole seedless watermelons for $4.99, and 12-pack Coca-Cola products at 3 for $13.
Aldi highlights fresh family pack chicken breasts for $2.29/lb, green grapes for $1.29/lb, and bacon for $3.99.
The Atlanta Braves shut out the New York Mets 4-0 on Tuesday night at Truist Park, powered by a sharp performance that kept New York to just four hits. Atlanta’s offense recorded three total hits, which included a solo home run by Ozzie Albies and a two-run home run by Matt Olson, but no doubles. Up next, the Braves wrap up their series against the Mets tonight, August 12, at Truist Park with first pitch set for 7:15 p.m.
Looking ahead at our upcoming morning program schedule: Gordon County Administrator Jim Ledbetter joins us live in the studio tomorrow morning to answer local government questions and discuss upcoming county projects. On Friday, Gordon County Commissioners Bud Owens and Chad Steward will join us to share community updates and address local issues. Be sure to tune in!