It is a sweltering start to July, as the National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for Gordon County today from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM EDT, with heat index values expected to reach up to 106 degrees. Residents are urged to stay hydrated, limit outdoor activities, and check on vulnerable populations to prevent heat exhaustion and heat stroke. For the 2.4 million Georgians hitting the road for the 4th of July this week, there is some relief, as Georgia’s average gas price has dropped to $3.58 per gallon for regular unleaded. Meanwhile, the American Red Cross is facing an urgent summer blood and platelet shortage and has issued an appeal for immediate donations.
Across the state, several new Georgia laws take effect today. Key changes include expanding the state’s Safe Haven law for infants up to 45 days old and criminalizing the possession or use of signal jammers. Additionally, pimping, pandering, and gift card fraud are now classified as automatic felonies. Locally, the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office reported several recent arrests. Forty-year-old Christopher Michael Riegel of Calhoun was arrested by the Georgia State Patrol for Fleeing or Attempting to Elude an Officer, Theft by Receiving Stolen Property, Reckless Driving, and Willful Obstruction of Law Enforcement. The Sheriff’s Office also booked 46-year-old Crystal Lea Garner of Calhoun for Possession of Methamphetamine, and arrested 53-year-old Gerald Winston Moore of Calhoun for Driving Under the Influence, Failure to Maintain Lane, and Stop and Yield Sign Violations. In local law enforcement community news, we were joined on air by Gordon County Sheriff Mitch Ralston, Lt. Brian Brannon, and Deputy Eric Ochoa to discuss the CHAMPS program. This initiative is taught through the sheriff’s office to all Gordon County fifth graders, and for more information, residents can contact the office at 706.629.1244.
These local updates come as the national economy faces a “low-hire, low-fire” job market. There are growing fears of stagflation, which is a rare economic condition where prices keep rising while economic growth slows down and unemployment goes up. Persistent inflation is being driven by energy costs, the ongoing Iran war, and confusing signals about where we are in negotiations, complicating the Federal Reserve’s ability to cut interest rates. Locally, we are keeping a close eye on major employers like Mohawk Industries as they navigate these economic headwinds. The company outperformed estimates in the first quarter, but cited challenges with lower sales volumes and cautious consumer spending. We will bring you their full Quarter 2 earnings results as soon as they are officially released later this month on July 23rd.
Looking ahead to the holiday weekend, the newly completed Northwest Georgia Agriculture & Event Center officially opened yesterday. It will make its official event debut this Saturday for the annual Star-Spangled Celebration, featuring free admission, live music, local food trucks, and a massive fireworks display at 9:30 p.m.. For those looking for other local options, the “Light Up the Valley” festive community gathering will also take place at Sugar Valley Baptist Church this Independence Day Weekend, and the Historic GEM Theatre is hosting a free summer movie screening of Journey to the Center of the Earth on July 7. Local families can find plenty of support and activities at the Calhoun-Gordon County Public Library, which is hosting Knit & Crochet, Baby Lapsit, and Dungeons & Dragons today. Other ongoing initiatives include the Fairmount Library Summer Reading Bingo, the United We Read Summer Reading Challenge, and the Silver Sneakers fitness class for seniors. Carol’s Closet is currently in critical need of laundry pods and diapers, and Christian Community Outreach is seeking vendors and food trucks for their July 25 Back-to-School Outreach event. You can also support local agriculture at today’s Ridge Ferry Park Farmers Market in Rome.
Finally, in sports, the Atlanta Braves fell to the St. Louis Cardinals by a score of 5-3 last night. They look to bounce back against the Cardinals again tonight at Truist Park in Atlanta, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:15 PM EDT.