Counties throughout the state honored the lives who were lost on September 11, 2001 as part of Patriot's Day ceremonies. County public safety personnel played a key role in these events, remembering the firefighters and law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty.

Habersham County EMS designed and sold 9/11 memorial t-shirts to recognize the 20th anniversary. Over 500 t-shirts were sold, with the proceeds benefiting Habersham County EMS.

Cobb County Chairwoman Lisa Cupid spent time with DOT crews surveying the damage from across the county after an unexpected storm dumped nearly five inches of rain early Wednesday. The storm flooded more than two dozen roads, caused fallen trees to block roadways, and the floodwaters displaced more than a dozen families. Cobb EMA and the American Red Cross helped the impacted families find places to stay.

Cherokee County officials broke ground this week for the construction of the new L.B. Ahrens Recreation Center at Cherokee Veterans Park. The first phase of the center, known in short as "The Buzz" in honor of former Commission Chairman L.B. "Buzz" Ahrens, includes a double gym, open fitness area, climbing wall, two classrooms, aerobics/dance studio, a large meeting hall with a catering kitchen, and an office suite. The recreation center is a $10.4 million project.

The Walker County Health Department recently hosted a COVID-19 vaccination event at the Rossville Athletic Center gym to improve access to residents in the northern part of the county. A second event will be held next week. Commissioner Robert Blakemore, pictured here getting his second shot, helped to organize these events.