White, Habersham first responders make dangerous river rescue Friday
Press Release March 27, 2021
PRESS RELEASE
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. — White County Fire was dispatched to a river rescue at approximately 9:50 a.m. Friday in the area of Buck Shoals on the Chattahoochee River.
Information received from the caller, who was also the victim, dispatchers had the location by pinging the phone through the Enhanced 911 System. Units arrived on scene, and the caller was actually on the Habersham side of the river hanging on to a tree. The victim advised that there was another person down river that was on the White County side. Habersham Fire was called to assist the victim on their side of the river while Firefighters and DNR walked the river about 1 mile and found the second subject on the bank.
A party of three was actually going down the river together, which was unsafe due to high water levels from previous night’s rainfall. No injuries to the victims or rescuers, and units were on scene for 3.5 hours.
The attached picture was from 2:30 p.m. Friday, and the water has receded since the rescue time.
Man rescued after fall from Yonah Mountain
News September 16, 2019
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. — On Sunday September 15th at approximately 4 p.m. White County firefighters responded to Yonah Mountain to the report of a person that had fallen from the rock face.
White County EMS were first to arrive and advised all incoming agencies of the status of the patient and the location and conditions. White County Fighters had a total of 10 personnel with mutual aid from Lee Arrendale, CERT REHAB team, Department of Natural Resources and the City of Cleveland firefighters. A total of 21 responders were on scene.
While rappelling off the rock face, a 55-year-old male lost his footing and fell down approximately 100 feet landing on the first plateau of the rock face. Although injured, none of his injuries were life threatening.
Rescue teams hiked into the area and set up a rope system and using a stokes basket, pulled the injured man to safety. A helicopter was requested but there would be a 2 hour delay. White County EMS transported the patient to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville. There were no other injuries; the incident lasted 3 ½ hours.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
White County Board of Commissioners meets Monday
News March 23, 2019
CLEVELAND, Ga. – White County Commissioners will conduct three land use application public hearings when they meet in a combined work session and regular meeting Monday at 4:30 p.m.
The first public hearing on the agenda is for Kelli Withrow who has requested that five acres located at 3216 Hwy. 75 South be redistricted from Agriculture Forestry District (A1) to Residential District Seasonal (R3).
The second is for Melo Hairapetian who has requested redistricting of 3.72 acres located at 102 Doc Dorsey Road from Community Commercial District (C1) to Highway Business District (C2).
The third public hearing is for Keith Edsall and Gina Santaniello who have requested that 4.79 acres located at 103 Blackwell Drive be redistricted from Single-Family District (R1) to Residential District Seasonal (R3).
Commission Chairman Travis Turner will read a proclamation in recognition of 911 appreciation week in White County and another that proclaims that April is Child Abuse Prevention month.
The Board will also consider:
- Approval of preliminary road acceptance for Samson Way and Charleston Lane in the reserve at Mossy Creek subdivision;
- Violations of the Mountain Protection Ordinance at 186 Cub Trail and 41 Nugget Drive in Sautee Nacoochee;
- Improvements to the parking/driveway area at the White County Fire Station No. 6 on Hwy. 129 North;
- Various items for the White County Parks and Recreation Department, including hours of operation, fees for White County school students and the Department of Natural Resources annual trout release;
- Purchase of bleachers for Yonah Preserve Recreational Park;
- Revisions to the White County Land Use Ordinance related to required public hearings procedure and short term vacation rentals.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Sixth rabies alert posted in White County
News June 15, 2018
CLEVELAND, Ga. – For the sixth time this year, an animal in White County has tested positive for rabies.
A dog recently had contact with a rabid raccoon in the Danny Palmer Road area. The raccoon was shipped to the Georgia Public Health Lab – Virology Section in Decatur. White County Environmental Health was advised Thursday (June 14) that the raccoon tested positive for rabies.
Positive alert signs have been posted in the area where the rabid raccoon was located. If you live in this area and have concerns of rabid animal exposure, please contact White County Environmental Health at 706-348-7698 during normal business hours.
White County Public Safety Director David Murphy said Friday, “This is actually the second positive rabies at this specific address. The first positive rabies alert for this address was also a raccoon that tested positive in November 2017.”
Murphy said in the most recent incident the resident heard a strange noise in the woods which turned out to be a raccoon. The raccoon was under a log, meowing like a cat. The dog started barking and the raccoon came out from under the log and jumped on the dog. The dog killed the raccoon. The dog is currently on its rabies vaccination and will undergo a 45 day quarantine.
Murphy said pet owners should take the following precautions:
- Make sure your pets are current on their rabies vaccinations;
- Stay away from wild animals and keep your pet away from wild animals;
- If you feed your pet outdoors, take up food as soon as your pet is finished eating. Leaving leftover food outside can attract wild animals;
- If you observe any domestic animal acting abnormally – being unusually aggressive, looking ill, not behaving normally, contact Animal Control and/or White County Environmental Health;
- Do not approach the animal or allow your pet to get near the animal;
- If you observe a wild animal not behaving abnormally, contact Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR);
- If your pet is attacked by a wild animal, contact Animal Control and DNR immediately.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
First Responders Have Busy 72-Hours
Business July 24, 2017
David Murphy
White County first responders answered six calls in less than a 72-hour period beginning last Thursday.
The following is a report filed by White County Public Safety Director David Murphy:
THURSDAY, JULY 20
7:30 P.M. Fire personnel were dispatched to a camper/hiker in medical distress. Fire Chief Norman Alexander requested that DNR be contacted to mobilize their helicopter for assistance in extricating the patient. Fire personnel used their ATV to access the patient which took about 1 hour; EMS evaluated the patient. Fire and EMS prepared the patient to be hoisted by the DNR helicopter to the awaiting White County ambulance then taken to Union General. The entire operation took approximately 6 hours to complete.
FRIDAY, JULY 21
4:30 P.M. Fire personnel were dispatched to the report of a lost hiker on Whitney Gap Shelter. The young hiker had become disoriented and took a slight wrong turn. Fire personnel, along with Department of Natural Resources Officer Anne Wiley, located the hiker and brought him out to the Incident Command location. The operation took approximately 3 hours.
SATURDAY, JULY 22
1:30 P.M. White County Personnel with Automatic Aid from the City of Cleveland responded to an automatic alarm at Gateway Health Center. Residents were being evacuated. Upon arrival, employees advised that they could smell gas. Prior to fire department arrival, employees opened doors and turned off the gas to the facility. Fire personnel used a gas monitor and found no traces of gas. Employees were instructed to have their gas company come and look at the system prior to use.
7 P.M.White County fire units responded with Automatic Aid to the City of Helen Post Office where it was reported that smoke was visible. Upon arrival of the first Helen units, it was discovered that a trash pile had been set on fire. No fire to the actual building.
8 P.M.
White County Fire department along with Automatic Aid from the City of Cleveland responded to the report of a structure fire on Mill Creek Trail. Further information provided was that it was an HVAC fire. The homeowner’s had doused the fire with water and had everyone leave the home. Upon arrival, it was confirmed that an HVAC unit had malfunctioned, There was no fire in the building itself. Fire personnel advised the homeowner that the HVAC would need to be inspected and repaired by a qualified technician prior to any use.
8:15 P.M.
White County Fire along with Automatic Aid from the City of Helen responded to a fire at the Dukes Creek Falls area. After investigation, it was determined that what was thought to be fire was actually steam from the recent rain.
An Angry Board of Commissioners Rejects Bids on Road Rehabilitation Projects
News May 2, 2017
CLEVELAND, Ga. – When four contractors submitted bids for rehabilitation projects on Town Creek Road and two bridges on New Bridge Road, that were nearly triple what they had anticipated based on engineering estimates, White County Commissioners expressed their anger and unanimously rejected all four Monday.
County Manager Michael Melton said the lowest bid came in at $1.8 million. He recommended commissioners reject the bids and give staff a chance to rebid the projects or scale them down.
Chairman Travis Turner said, “We were looking at between $600,000 and $700,000 to do all three projects and we received bids that came in at three times that amount. So, it doesn’t take long to figure out we can’t afford that.”
Turner said the county has not given up on the projects but will be looking for more reasonable estimates.
The Carolina Springs Road improvement project will move forward with the full approval of the Board. The low bidder on the project is a local company, Square Deal Construction with a bid of $478,891. A Local Maintenance Improvement Grant (LMIG) will provide $358,000 for the project and a separate grant from Georgia Department of Transportation could provide up to $150,000.
Commissioners received an update during Monday’s meeting on the proposed Helen to Hardman Heritage Trail and a “thank you” plaque from the Chamber of Commerce for the support the county has provided for the organization.
City and county officials hope the $1.5 million Department of Natural Resources project will draw a large number of visitors and will be an important engine to drive economic development in the area.
Richard Riley told commissioners the 4,400-foot long concrete walkway that runs along the Chattahoochee River gives visitors a chance to breathe fresh, clean mountain air, hear the sounds of the rushing river and appreciate the natural beauty of the area. Signs along the trail paint a picture of the area’s history and no motorized vehicles are allowed that could disturb the tranquility.
The trail that will connect the City of Helen to the Hardman Farm Historic Site will be about 8 to 10-feet wide and feature an impressive natural stone entrance gate. Along the pathway, Riley said, are massive flat stone boulders that serve as benches for visitors to pause and enjoy nature.
The project is being designed by Marietta-based Freedman Engineering Group. It is funded primarily by the state but Riley said he hope to convince local governments that it is a project worthy of their community’s investment.
Riley said the project could be completed as early as the end of this winter.
Commissioners approved several items under the Consent Agenda, including:
- The assignment of a services agreement with Sentinel Offender Services and CSRA Probation Services related to probation services in White County;
- Acceptance of a Jag Byrne Grant in the amount of $86,709 from Franklin County related to the absorption of the North Georgia Drug Task Force by the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office;
- Renewal of the memorandum with the Enotah Judicial District circuit counties to conduct activities for the Enotah Judicial District’s Juvenile Justice project coordinated through Family Connections.
White Co. Firefighters Rescue Lost Hiker
News March 17, 2017
CLEVELAND, Ga. — White County Public Safety Director David Murphy reported that rescuers from White County Fire, the Department of Natural Resources , White County EMS and Lumpkin County Fire worked for more than four hours to locate a lost hiker on the Tesnatee Gap trailhead near Cow Rock Mountain.
They hiked in about 35 minutes on a snow and ice covered trail before locating the unidentified hiker who, Murphy said, is an avid hiker from Rhode Island. She was not injured, but with the trail covered by snow, the hiker lost her way.
Murphy added the hiker was very glad to see rescuers as the temperature was 24 degrees with wind blowing at 12-15 miles per hour and the sun was going down.
All personnel escorted her down the trail.