The Gordon County Coroner’s Office confirms that Jonathan Silvers, 29, of Oakman, Georgia, was killed in an accident at a commercial property on North Highway 41 in Calhoun on August 19, 2025. The Coroner’s office is coordinating with the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The Coroner’s office wishes to extend its heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr. Silvers.
Yestsrdays meeting of the GCBC Public Safety Committee was an informative discussion of several important items. One, the GCFR Chief Heath Derryberry and Chief Nathan Saylorf Calhoun City Fire and Rescue discussed steps the two agencies are taking to train together and work toward a mutual aid agreement. Of achieved, this inter-county agreement would be one of the steps to lowering our IPO. However, at last night’s meeting of the GCBC, the IPO rating became less likely to change as the already-trim budget lost steam as the board voted four to one to advertise our millage rate at 9.042 mills. That leaves – according to dissenting commissioner Randy Abernathy – no room to fund positions, give raises, or operate expanding departments with an eye on the future. The public hearings on the millage rate are coming in September.
City of Calhoun Fire Chief Lenny Nesbitt and Deputy Fire Chief Terry Mills have been placed on administrative leave. The city, through Administrator Paul Worley and several elected officials have refused to comment. No word on whether the leave is paid or unpaid. The city has not released an updated chain of command during the absences. Worley did confirm that normal operations continue in each city Fire station and the administrative office.
The Georgia Department of Agriculture is warning residents about a rise in unlicensed pest control operators going door-to-door. State officials say 175 violations have already been found this year. Anyone selling or performing pest control services in Georgia must have a valid license issued by the state. Fines can reach up to $10,000 for violators. Consumers are urged to ask for proof of licensure and report unlicensed activity at agr.georgia.gov.
