Avoid C.L. Moss Parkway and Red Bud Road as first responders are on the scene of a two-vehicle accident.
Highway 41 remains closed today between East Line and Red Bud Road as crews continue roadway repairs at the corner of U.S. 41 and E. Line St. A detour is currently in place, and the work and road closure are expected to be completed by 6 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, September 30.
Gov. Brian Kemp has suspended Georgia’s motor fuel tax for 30 days under a state of emergency to combat high gas prices, effective today through October 29. The executive order also suspends state weight limits on commercial vehicles to help lower the cost of transporting goods. While the state average for regular gas sits at $4.19, immediate relief at the pump is unlikely because fuel currently sitting in station holding tanks has already had the tax paid. This month-long suspension guarantees a substantial loss of state tax revenue, and lifting commercial weight limits introduces potential problems like accelerated road wear and increased safety risks from heavier trucks requiring longer stopping distances.
The latest Gordon County jail media report includes the following recent arrests:
Chuck Allen Belcher, 55, Ringgold, CPD, Driving under the influence, marijuana-possess less than 1 oz., possession and use of drug related objects, stop signs and yield signs.
Tierney Nicole Millard, 28, Fairmount, GCSO, Marijuana-possess less than 1 oz., possession and use of drug related obj, possession of methamphetamine.
Kimberly Marlene Chapman, 69, Calhoun, CPD, Criminal trespass.
In local government news, the City of Calhoun held public hearings yesterday regarding a proposed 2026 property tax millage rate of 2.25 mills. This proposed rate is a 1.25-mill reduction from the 2025 rate of 3.50 mills, making it the lowest city millage rate since 2017. The decrease is largely driven by a 1% Floating Local Option Sales Tax (FLOST), which is restricted by law to reducing property taxes. Because the 2.25 mills rate is higher than the state-calculated rollback rate of 1.344 mills, state law required the city to advertise the change as a 67.36% property tax increase. Despite the mandatory legal wording, the average $250,000 home with a homestead exemption is estimated to see a combined city and school tax bill reduction of $647 this year. This rate balances tax relief with maintaining services, including a 5% employee pay increase, growing police and fire staffing, and infrastructure projects like the new Recreation Center and Curtis Parkway improvements.
The Calhoun City Council also held its regular meeting last night. The Council addressed a resolution to issue up to $50 million in Water and Sewer Revenue Bonds to finance the first phase of system improvements and address drinking water regulations. Importantly, these bonds are secured strictly by water and sewer revenue and are not dependent on tax dollars, reflecting the city’s excellent financial shape and virtually debt-free status. Other key agenda items included the submission of a new Procedures Public Comments Policy that would limit the total public comment period to 15 minutes and require speakers to sign up in writing at least five days in advance, along with the first reading of an ordinance to amend zoning regulations to incorporate new Design Guidelines and Standards for nonresidential districts.
In education, Gordon County Schools announced a 95.7% graduation rate for the Class of 2026. This district-wide average exceeds the state average of 88.5% by 7.5 percentage points. Individually, Sonoraville High School reported a 95.9% graduation rate, while Gordon Central High School reported a 95.3% rate, continuing a decade-long streak of the district outperforming state averages.
For our local legal feature, we sat down with Calhoun attorney Giles Jones to discuss pressing legal questions affecting our community. We asked Jones about the most frequent zoning disputes arising from recent local development and how residents can formally oppose rezoning requests. We also explored the primary differences between defending cases in federal versus state courts, the crucial importance of establishing a Georgia advance directive for healthcare, and how an unpaid Super Speeder citation triggers an automatic license suspension.
In community health events, AdventHealth Gordon is hosting a “Light the Hospital Pink” event tomorrow, Wednesday, September 30, at 7:30 p.m. to support breast cancer awareness. This kicks off the month-long “Light Your Porch Pink” campaign, with pink light bulbs available at various AdventHealth locations.
Finally, in sports, the Atlanta Braves open their NL Wild Card series against the Philadelphia Phillies today, with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at Truist Park.