Today’s local news and community updates from the WJTH broadcast desk cover regional economic impacts, county tax updates, and a busy schedule of upcoming fall events.
Morning Broadcast Guests
AdventHealth Event Preview: Emily Tarpley, Garrett Nudd, and Mike Rabuka joined the show to discuss the upcoming cancer screening family event taking place at Pickleball 706 on September 27.
CFL Flooring Community Gifts: Brandon Banks and Daisy Wang detailed the company’s recent charitable contributions supporting students and programs at Sonoraville High School and the George Chambers Resource Center.
United Way Unity Run: Gordon County United Way Director Claire Norman shared previews and registration details for the 33rd annual Bettye Butler Memorial Unity Run.
Local & State News
Property Tax Rates: The Gordon County Board of Commissioners is tentatively setting the maintenance and operations millage rate at 7.7 mills, while the Gordon County Board of Education is taking the full rollback rate to ensure property tax bills remain matched with last year’s levels. Public hearings are scheduled for Tuesday, September 15, at noon and 6:00 PM, with a final hearing on October 6 at noon. Tax bills are expected to be mailed in mid-October.
City of Calhoun Hiring: The city is accepting applications for a Building Inspector in the Community Development Department. Applicants need a valid Georgia driver’s license, a high school diploma, and five years of construction experience. Applications are at City Hall or cityofcalhoun-ga.com.
Yellow-Legged Hornet Eradication: The Georgia Department of Agriculture located 1,090 invasive yellow-legged hornets and destroyed 60 nests in August. Agents are monitoring 8,000 traps statewide and ask residents to report sightings to yellow.legged.hornet@agr.
Labor Day Travel Safety: The Georgia Department of Public Safety reported 5 traffic fatalities during the holiday weekend, a significant drop from 15 last year. Troopers investigated 352 crashes resulting in 139 injuries and 364 DUI arrests. DNR wardens reported zero boating fatalities.
Economy & Trade
Fuel & Energy Markets: Gordon County diesel averages are holding near $5.34, while the Georgia average for regular unleaded is $3.89. Global markets are reacting to a drone strike on Saudi Arabian energy infrastructure that knocked out 5.7 million barrels of daily crude production, sending Brent crude soaring nearly 20%.
Federal Reserve Outlook: Following an August report showing 162,000 jobs added, markets are pricing in a 60 percent probability of a quarter-point interest rate hike at the mid-September Fed meeting.
Trade Tensions & Local Impacts: Upcoming U.S. import bans on Canadian dairy, alcohol, and motorcycles take effect September 29, following U.S. tariffs on $28 billion in Canadian goods. Locally, flooring manufacturers like Mohawk Industries, Shaw, and Engineered Floors face 8% price increases on imported raw materials. Regional agriculture is also squeezed, with fertilizer costs up 10% to 15% due to potash tariffs, while retaliatory measures hit Georgia pecans, cotton, and poultry.
Sports
Atlanta Braves: The Braves dropped their series opener last night, falling 7-1 to the Tampa Bay Rays. The offense managed just five singles with no extra-base hits. Game two of the series is tonight at Truist Park at 7:15 PM.
Upcoming Community Events
Voluntary Action Center (VAC) Food Needs: The pantry urgently needs cheese, butter, sour cream, and canned goods.
Calhoun-Gordon County Public Library: Today features a Stretchband Workout with Nancy at 10:00 AM and Board Games & Cards at 10:30 AM.
Annual Northwest Georgia Fair: Running September 11–19 at the Northwest Georgia Agricultural and Event Center, featuring midway rides, livestock shows, and nightly concerts.
Bettye Butler Memorial Unity Run 5K: Scheduled for September 22 in Downtown Calhoun, featuring an “Under the Big Top” theme.
Georgia DNR Hunter Education Course: September 23–24 from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM at Sonoraville High School.
AdventHealth Maternity Fair: Sunday, September 27, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at AdventHealth Gordon, featuring vendor booths, expert panels, and tours of The Baby Place.
Pickleball 706 Cancer Screening Event: Hosted by AdventHealth on September 27.
Fields of Faith: Wednesday, October 7, at 6:30 PM at Sonoraville High School.
Drive Out Domestic Violence Car Show: Saturday, October 10. Email [email protected] for vendor info.
Calhoun Elks Lodge Bingo: Every Thursday evening; doors open at 5:30 PM, calling begins at 6:30 PM.
Young Farmers Hay Bale Animals: Pre-orders are open for decorative fall hay bales to support the Gordon County Young Farmers.
Gordon County Arrests Report
Megan Gaddis Bailey, 49, Calhoun, Calhoun Police Department, Hold for other agency.
Seth Jeremiah Brown, 38, Talladega, AL, Calhoun Police Department, Unlawful conduct during 911 call.
Tammy Brock Martin, 62, Rome, Gordon County Sheriff’s Office, Hold for Cobb County.
Laura Faye Rutledge, 57, Calhoun, Calhoun Police Department, DUI of alcohol less safe, failure to maintain lane, and failure to stop at stop sign.