TODAY'S HEADLINES

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

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Elbert County Sheriff's Office reports three felony arrests for the week

news@wsgcradio.com – The Elbert County Sherrif's Office reported three felony arrests, three domestic disputes and five arrests for probation violation over teh past week.

Brian William Brown, 48, of Dewy Rose was arrested on Feb. 10, 2025 and charged with Possession of Fentanyl, Possession of Methamphetamine/Fentanyl, Possession/Use of Drug-Related Objects, and Pedestrian Under the Influence.

Jason Warren Dunn, 38, of Bowman was arrested on Feb. 11, 2025 and charged with Receipt/Possession/Transport of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and also held on Probation Violation charges.

Joseph Wayne Boucher, 43, of Elberton was arrested on Feb. 14, 2025 and charged with Aggravated Battery and Third Degree Cruelty to Children.

The department also responded to three domestic dispute calls and five people were arrested on probation violation charges.

BOE votes to opt out of HB 581; Other Elbert County entities yet to vote

Mark Berryman

mark@wsgcradio.com

After three public hearings over the past two weeks, the Elbert County Board of Education officially voted to opt out of HB 581 by unanimous vote at Monday’s monthly board meeting. HB 581 would have set statewide floating homestead exemptions; offered a new local option sales tax; and implemented property tax procedural changes.

HB 581 would apply only to properties that receive a homestead exemption and would not apply to commercial, industrial, agricultural or rental property.

According to Elbert County Schools Superintendent Robert Wheeler, the exemption would count as local revenue and would adversely affect two funding sources the county receives from the state.

Wheeler also said the bill also contains several unknown factors. First, the bill does not define how the inflation rate will be calculated; Second, the compounded long-term effect on the next generation; and other non-funded mandates and increases.

Wheeler also said the local exemptions already in place benefit homesteaded properties more than HB 581 would and helps protect those over 65 with two exemptions. Both Elbert County and Elbert County Schools passed exemptions enacting a freeze on property values for those 65 and older. Also, those 65 and older also may qualify for a $25,000 exemption for homesteaded properties valued at $250,000 or less.

Elbert County government and the City of Elberton have until March 1 to declare an opt-out if they so choose, however neither have held the required public hearings to do so. The City of Bowman does not currently have a city property tax.

Photo: Superintendent Robert Wheeler at a public hearing on HB581.

Lady Devils host state tournament game tonight; Diamond Devils face tough competition; Elbert golf off to good start

Mark Berryman

mark@wsgcradio.com

The Elbert County Lady Devils basketball team may have had a quick exit in the Region 8 tournament but their season is not over yet. In fact, The Lady Devils will host a first round state playoff game today at 6 p.m. in the Inferno.

Elbert will take on the Chattooga Lady Indians in the opening round game. The Lady Indians finished the season 21-7 and in third place in A D1 Region 7 play.

Only GHSA passes will be accepted, no teacher or True Blue passes will be honored. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased on the GoFan app.

It was a tough weekend for the Elbert County Blue Devil baseball team as they lost all three games in the Georgia Dugout Club Tournament in Emerson, including contests against 4A Allatoona and 6A Peachtree Ridge.

The Diamond Devils fell to Fannin County 15-4, Allatoona 14-6 and Peachtree Ridge in a one-run game 9-8.

Elbert will travel to Hartwell to face the Bulldogs on Friday at 6:30 p.m.

While the Elbert County Blue Devil boys golf team did not crack the top three at the Camden Classic held in Kingsland this past weekend, the team did get off to a good start.

The team of Nolan Henderson, Madden Drake, Kale Kurtz, Landen Adams, Walker Layne, and Carson Amabile shot 7 shots better than in last year's state championship. Nolan Henderson had the low round of 71 and was awarded a spot on the All-Tournament Team. The Blue Devil golf team has lot of new faces and should continue to get better as the season progresses.

Lowndes County won the tournament with an impressive 1 under par team score, followed by Coffee County and Benedictine. 

Community Calendar

Tuesday, February 18

• Blue Devil tennis vs Stephens County, 4 p.m., Home
• Angel Street Auditions, 6-8 p.m., Elberton Arts Center

Thursday, February 20

• Arts & Crafts Meet Up, 3-6 p.m., Elbert County Public Library
• Blue Devil tennis @ Franklin County, 4 p.m., Carnesville

Friday, February 21

• City of Elberton Arbor Day Event, 8:30-10:30 a.m., various locations
• Blue Devil soccer vs White County, girls 5:30 p.m./boys 7:30 p.m.
• Blue Devil baseball @ Hart County, 6:30 p.m., Hartwell
• Paddington in Peru movie, 7 p.m., Elbert Theatre, $7.50

Saturday, February 22

• Blue Devil golf (both) @ Blue Devil Shootout, Arrowhead Pointe
• FHF Pageant & Auction, 4:45 p.m., ECMS Auditorium
• JROTC Drill Team @ Clarke Central
• Paddington in Peru movie, 7 p.m., Elbert Theatre, $7.50

Sunday, February 23

• Jaukeem Fortson/Tugaloo Holler concert, 2-4 p.m., Rock Gym, Free (Donations Accepted for ECPR Youth Sports)
• Paddington in Peru movie, 2 p.m., Elbert Theatre, $7.50