White County schools on 3-hour delay today
News March 18, 2021
White County Schools will operate on a three-hour delay today (Thursday, Mar. 18) due to the potential for strong storms today.
White Co. schools will close for one week starting Monday, March 16
News March 13, 2020
Superintendent Dr. Laurie Burkett has announced that in response to Gov. Brian Kemp’s call to action regarding coronavirus (COVID-19) White County schools will be closed beginning Monday, Mar. 16, through Friday, Mar. 20. Burkett said school officials will re-evaluate Thursday, Mar 19 for the following week.
Burkett said there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the school system. The district will continue to post updates on its website and will communicate additional information with families and employees as it becomes available. Tomorrow, March 13, students will be given information and material to minimize loss of instruction during the upcoming week.
White County schools will be closed Friday
News February 20, 2020
Due to the Winter weather and icy roads, White County Schools will be closed Friday, February 21st.
White County after-the-storm assessment
News January 22, 2018
Public Safety Dir. David Murphy
CLEVELAND, Ga.—White County Public Safety Director David Murphy provided an after-the-storm assessment, following last week’s inclement weather.
“I don’t know if drivers realized the effects of the snow melt, causing a layer of ice under the snow,” Murphy said. “Salt and pre-treatment causing the melt, with temperatures being so cold, it froze as a layer of ice. You cannot scrape ice off the roadway. This particular snow was dry in comparison to the snow back in December. The snow was more like pellets than flakes and most likely contributed to the quick freeze into an ice layer.”
Murphy reported more than 25 motor vehicle accidents. Some included multiple vehicles, but only minor injuries were reported and none required transport to hospitals. There were also 14 reports of vehicles that could not move due to icy conditions.
Road closures included the west side of Westmoreland Road, Town Creek Road, Hwy. 129 south between Industrial Drive and Collins Road, Hwy. 115 east between the Habersham County line and Hwy. 254.
The White County School system was closed on Wednesday and Thursday due to icy conditions and wind chill advisories. Government offices were closed and delayed openings due to icy conditions.
White County Public Works Department pre-treated bridges and problem areas while spreading over 150 tons of material in response to icy conditions. All county fire stations were manned from late Tuesday through Wednesday afternoon.
Murphy added that no power outages were reported, no requests were made for made for comfort shelters and no fires were reported during the period.
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. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Winter storm warning closes White Co. schools
News December 10, 2018
CLEVELAND, Ga. – The National Weather Service at Peachtree City has extended the Winter Storm Warning for White County and most of Northeast Georgia until today (Dec. 10) at noon. Forecasters say light snow with additional accumulation of 1 inch or less, except above 3,000 feet where 1 to 2 inches can be expected.
White County Schools will be closed today.
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
All White County school classes canceled Tuesday
News January 28, 2019
CLEVELAND, Ga. — Due to the winter weather watch, all White, Lumpkin and Dawson County schools will be closed Tuesday, Jan. 29.
White County Teacher Charged With Sexual Assault
News September 6, 2017
CLEVELAND, Ga. – Leonard Amos Jones, a teacher at White County Middle School, was arrested Monday after allegedly having inappropriate contact with a student. Jones, 54, faces multiple criminal charges including three counts of aggravated child molestation, three counts of sodomy, three counts of sexual assault and three counts of reckless conduct.
White County Chief Deputy Bob Ingram said Wednesday that Jones was arrested after a parent reported that there had been inappropriate sexual contact between a teacher and student at the school. According to Ingram, Jones does not have an attorney yet and has not had a first hearing in Magistrate Court. He remains confined in White County Detention Center. No bond has been set.
Dr. Jeff Wilson, Superintendent of White County Schools, said Wednesday that Jones is on leave without pay. “What I can say is that he will never be back in a White County School. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement. There is a legal process we have to go through before we can terminate him and we don’t want to do anything that could in any way jeopardize the investigation.”
Wilson said he has not spoken to Jones since his arrest but that he would encourage him to cooperate with law enforcement “and not put our kids through another devastating situation if there are other victims.”
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. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
More school closings announced for today
News January 8, 2018
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. — Expected icy road conditions have led to more school closings today.
White County School Superintendent Dr. Jeff Wilson announced Sunday that schools will be closed Monday, Jan. 8, for students and staff due to the Winter Weather Advisory and threat of freezing rain. School will be closed for students and staff.
Lumpkin County schools will be closed Monday, Jan. 8, due to the threat of icy conditions. However, 12-month employees should report if it is safe to do so.
Dawson County schools will also be closed. However, 12-month staff should report when conditions are safe to do so.
Truett-McConnell University classes are delayed until 10 a.m. Monday.
All University of North Georgia campuses are delayed until 1 p.m. Monday
Watch for FYN updates throughout the day.
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. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
White, Lumpkin, Dawson schools closed Monday
News January 7, 2018
Fetch Your News understands the serious impact that extreme weather can have on our readers. That is why our reporters work around the clock to bring you the most up-to-date information on school closings, road closings, power outages and the availability of emergency shelters.
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. –- The National Weather Service in Peachtree City has issued a winter weather advisory that will go into effect from 1 a.m. until 1 p.m. Monday.
* WHAT — Light freezing rain expected. Total ice accumulations of around one-tenth of an inch or less are expected.
* WHEN AND WHERE – The first advisory will go into effect for far northwest Georgia at 1 AM until 11 AM. The second advisory will go into effect for north-central Georgia at 5 AM until 12 AM. The third advisory will go into effect at 6 AM until 1 PM for northeast Georgia.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS…The ice will result in difficult travel conditions, including during the morning commute on Monday. Total ice accumulations of one-tenth of an inch or less are expected.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS — Winter Weather Advisory means that periods of freezing rain will cause travel difficulties. Be prepared for slippery roads. Slow down and use caution while driving.
SCHOOL CLOSINGS
White County School Superintendent Dr. Jeff Wilson announced today that schools will be closed Monday, Jan. 8, for students and staff due to the Winter Weather Advisory and threat of freezing rain. School will be closed for students and staff.
Lumpkin County schools will be closed Monday, Jan. 8, due to the threat of icy conditions. However, 12-month employees should report if it is safe to do so.
Dawson County schools will also be closed.
Watch for FYN updates throughout the day.
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. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
County Officials Attend Sunday Briefing on Irma; Supt. Announces Schools Will Close Monday
News September 10, 2017
CLEVELAND, Ga. – A tropical storm watch is in effect for most of north Georgia, including White County for the next 48 hours.
The track of the storm shifted farther west Saturday evening but a noon briefing Sunday at the White County Emergency Operation Center indicated that the county is still very much under the gun and could receive up to seven inches of rain, sustained winds of 50 miles per hour and gusts up to 70 mph when tropical storm conditions begin arriving early Monday morning.
White County School Superintendent Jeff Wilson attended the meeting Sunday and, following a discussion with school superintendents from surrounding counties, announced that all White County public schools will be closed on Monday. A decision about Tuesday closing will be made early Monday morning.
Other area school closings include Lumpkin County, Habersham County, the University of North Georgia, Truett McConnell University and Piedmont College.
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. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Cleveland Fire Chief Reports First Use of NARCAN in suspected drug overdose
News August 8, 2017
Cleveland Fire Chief
CLEVELAND, Ga. – During Monday’s Cleveland City Council meeting, Fire Chief Ricky Pruitt reported his department had a very busy month, responding to 86 calls in the city and 35 in the county, including one in which the recently-purchased NARCAN potentially saved the life of a drug overdose patient.
“Firefighters were called to assist White County EMS with an overdose patient,” Pruitt said. “They administered two doses of NARCAN and brought them back around. So, there is definitely a need for it in the city.”
NARCAN is the only FDA-approved nasal form of naloxone which is used for the emergency treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose.
Pruitt added that his firefighters have been trained in the use of NARCAN and his firetrucks are now equipped with it.
Police Chief John Foster reported that his department has been extremely busy. “It’s amazing how many calls we’re having to answer,” he said. “Walmart reported to us the other day that they have had 13-14 instances of shoplifting by the same group of people and we’re working on that now.”
City Council unanimously approved the first reading of an increase in the occupational tax license and the addition of an administration fee at Monday’s meeting. If approved on second reading, the increase would be $15 per employee up to 50 employees and $10 for each employee over 50.
Council also approved renewal of the School Resource Officer (SRO) agreement with the White County School Board. That agreement calls for the school system to pay $50,000 annually for one SRO to be on duty from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. during the 180-day school calendar. Additionally, the Cleveland Police Department can, at the discretion of the Police Chief, provide SRO services outside the scope of this agreement at a rate of $35 per hour.
Council also agreed to provide $300 for the city attorney to attend a city/county attorney seminar sponsored by the Carl Vincent Institute of Government at the University of Georgia in Athens.
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. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
School Bus Involved in Minor Accident but no Injuries
News February 1, 2017
CLEVELAND, Ga. — A White County school bus transporting students home from Mossy Creek Elementary School was involved in a minor accident at about 3:17 p.m. Wednesday. The accident took place on South Main Street near Tractor Supply.
White County School Superintendent Dr. Jeff Wilson reports that a car pulled out onto Hwy 129 and sideswiped the bus. “There were two students on the bus but the good news is that no one was injured,” he said.
There was little damage to the bus which had to remain on the scene until Georgia State Patrol could investigate and the students were transported the rest of the way home by another bus.