Early voting enters its final days through this Friday, October 30th. With Georgia already surpassing 1 million early ballots and shattering historical turnout records, Friday marks the last chance to cast a ballot before Election Day on Tuesday, November 3rd. Voters should check the Georgia Secretary of State’s My Voter Page for their exact poll locations and hours.
According to the latest JAIL_MEDIA_PHOTO.pdf report, two individuals were booked over the past 24 hours:
Justin William Brannon, 46, Calhoun. Arresting Agency: Gordon County Sheriff’s Office. Charges: 2 counts (Battery-Family Violence, Cruelty to Children).
Bryant Lee Evans, 55, Dalton. Arresting Agency: Gordon County Sheriff’s Office. Charges: 1 count (Reckless Conduct).
AdventHealth Gordon’s NICU expansion has hit a roadblock, facing legal challenges from Atrium Health Floyd and Vitruvian Health Hamilton. The out-of-town competitors have filed formal appeals against the hospital’s state-approved Certificate of Need for a Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Hospital President Justin Birmele noted the importance of keeping specialized newborn care in Gordon County, but the state’s appeals process will cause significant delays for local families.
The Calhoun City Council is upgrading internet capacity, approving a 36-month contract with Accelecom to double the city’s bandwidth from 3 to 6 gigabits per second for an additional $1,410 monthly. Meanwhile, a key water and wastewater bond resolution was tabled to give the legal team more time to finalize financing details with the Davenport Group. The Council also held a public hearing on new commercial zoning guidelines that would require new non-residential buildings to feature brick, stone, wood, or stucco on at least 50 percent of their front and side facades.
Also from the City of Calhoun, two public information sessions have been set regarding local data centers. The first session will be held on Tuesday, November 17th at 7:00 PM to focus on community priorities. The city has hired an advocate for building these centers to serve on a subject-matter expert panel, answering public concerns regarding the economics, water use, noise, and employment impacts of digital infrastructure. A second session is set for Wednesday, December 9th at 7:00 PM to build on that discussion, exploring site visioning and potential “good neighbor agreements” for future projects.
[ LIVE AD-LIB: Talk about yesterday’s Development Authority meeting at the Chamber of Commerce here ]
On the national front, working families are feeling a severe economic squeeze from rising inflation and interest rates this fall. Headline inflation has ticked back up to 3.7%, and weekly grocery bills reflect a 26% cumulative price spike over the last five years. While natural gas costs may drop 9% this winter, households using electricity face a 4% increase, and those relying on heating oil face a 21% surge. With borrowing costs still high—the Fed funds rate near 4% and the prime loan rate anchored at 7%—stagnant real wages are struggling to keep pace with basic housing, utility, and food costs.
Community Events
Youth basketball registration is climbing, with Parks and Recreation Director Kim Townsend reporting 189 boys and girls ages 7 to 12 currently signed up—an increase of 8 players compared to the 2025-2026 season.
Downtown Calhoun merchants will host Trick or Treat on Main Street this Friday, October 30th, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
The City of Calhoun’s official Halloween observance follows on Saturday, October 31st, featuring neighborhood trick-or-treating for kids ages 12 and under from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM.