Lumpkin County Elementary Students Meet Police Officers

Community, Police & Government

The kindergarten students at Lumpkin County Elementary School learned the letter “P” today and got to meet a few Police Officers. They learned about the different jobs they do in the different agencies. In attendance were Lt. Brett Roach and Trey McConnell with Hall County Investigations, Trooper Allen with the Georgia State Patrol, GBI Special Agents, Jamie Abercrombie and Elaina Honea and Mark Sutton and his K9 Semmy. Thank you Lumpkin Elementary for allowing us to be a part of your day!

Sheriff’s office increases reward in armed robbery case

Police & Government, Press Release
Sheriff's office increases reward in armed robbery case.
Since the original offering, the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office raised the reward for information.
The reward for the arrest and conviction of the suspect or suspects involved in the armed robbery at Crisson Gold Mines on February 3, 2022 has been increased to $10,000.

Reward offered for information on armed robbery

Police & Government, Press Release
Sheriff's office increases reward in armed robbery case.

Following the recent robbery, Sheriff Stacy Jarrard announced a reward on social media:

A $1000 Reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the suspect or suspects involved in the Crisson Gold Mine Store Armed Robbery.

For initial coverage on the robbery, visit https://lumpkin.fetchyournews.com/2022/02/04/crisson-gold-mine-store-robbed-at-gunpoint/.

Accident reports result in person rescued from vehicle

Press Release
Accident reports result in rescue.

Following reports of an accident, Sheriff Stacy Jarrard addressed the public:

We have had many calls this morning about an accident that occurred near Torrington Drive and Morrison Moore Parkway West. A vehicle landed in the creek and emergency personnel were able to remove the person from the car and remove the car from the river. We are unsure of injuries at this time but the person was rescued from inside the vehicle.

Accident leads to many calls to Sheriff's Office.

The Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office updated its Facebook page with the current information known about the accident.

Body of hiker recovered

Featured News, Featured Stories, News

LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. – The body of University of North Georgia student Lucas Baxter, last seen Oct. 22, has been recovered. No foul play is suspected, but the investigation continues.

In a social media post, Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard asked for thoughts and prayers for Baxter’s family and friends.

An experienced hiker, he was believed to have gone hiking in the Springer Mountain area over the weekend. Search crews combed the Woody Gap to Preacher’s Rock to Dockery Lake and volunteers talked to others hikers but no sightings were reported.

Jarrard thanked volunteers that were known to the family for help in locating him. “I would also like to thank our Lumpkin County Investigators, Lumpkin County Fire and EMS, Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, the University of North Georgia Police, GA DNR, USFS and Georgia Defense for working together in this case,” he said.

Authorities have not released where his body was found.

 

 

 

Annual block party marred by fights, report of sexual assault

News

Greg Williams

LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. – An annual block party that marks the start of a new semester at the University of North Georgia got out of hand Saturday, leading the property owner to call police and ultimately to several arrests for assault and one claim of sexual assault.

UNG Public Safety Director Greg Williams and Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard posted a video account of the event to appeal to parents to talk to their teens about attending large, unauthorized gatherings.

Sherriff Stacy Jarrard

Williams said, “Parents, as we told you when we first brought your child to the university, we are committed to providing a safe environment for them to learn, work and play in. That may include holding people accountable for their actions when necessary.”

The party took place off campus at University Heights on Roberta Drive and was not sanctioned by the university.

Sheriff Stacy Jarrard stated, “In the future there will be more arrests. Our only objective is to keep people safe. It is unacceptable to have younger people assaulted and sexually assaulted and others where there are fights involved. We can’t tolerate that.”

 

“Armed and dangerous fugitive” is in custody

Business

LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. – Shortly after noon today (Monday, July 12), a multi-agency group of law enforcement officers captured Gerardo Jonathan “Jerry” Flowers, following a dangerous all-night manhunt during which Lumpkin County deputies came under fire from the fleeing fugitive.

Flowers was captured near some abandoned buildings and sheds near Colonel Stringer Road and Hwy. 52 East.

The incident began with a domestic violence call from the Waffle House in Dahlonega where Flowers broke several windows and slashed the tires on his girlfriend’s car. When officers arrived, he fled in a car but crashed and then fled, shooting at the officer.

He faces charges of aggravated assault on a police officer and attempting to flee. Flowers also has outstanding warrants in Hall and Habersham counties.

Sheriff Stacy Jarrard

In addition to Lumpkin County investigators and deputies, Georgia State Patrol, Department of Natural Resources, Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement, and FBI Gang Task Force participated in the search.

“I want to thank everyone for the job they did,” Sheriff Stacy Jarrard said. “They stayed out all night working. Some of them still haven’t gone home yet. I’m thankful they are all safe and I hope we can get this man some help.”

Christmas With Santa canceled due to COVID but other programs continue

News

LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. — Sheriff Stacy Jarrard announced Monday the annual program Breakfast with Santa has been canceled due to the risk from COVID-19.

“It saddens me to do that for the kids in our community,” he said. “We really enoy doing that each year but I just feel we need to be safe and to do everything we can to protect the kids.”

Jarrard said if anything changes with Breakfast with Santa, he will inform the public in advance.

The Sheriff’s Office still offers many opportunities for Lumpkin Countians to brighten the Christmas for those less fortunate.

“We still have our bicycle program,” Jarrard said. If you have a gently used bicycle or would like to purchase a new bicycle for kids, just drop it off as the Sheriff’s Office. “We already have a lot of requests,” he added.

The Shop With a Cop will continue this year, although the date is yet to be determined and the Sheriff’s Office lobby will serve as a drop off point for the Toys for Tots program.

For those so inclined, there are many opportunities to make sure no child is forgotten at Christmas time.

 

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

 

 

Sheriff’s hunter safety course set Dec. 1 and 3

News

LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. — The fall-like mornings North Georgia residents have enjoyed the last few days signal the beginning of an annual ritual for those who love the outdoors — hunting season is right around the corner.

Actually, the archery season is already underway but the youth firearms season won’t begin until Oct. 10 and the grownups can get in the game a week later on Oct. 17.

Usually Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard, an avid hunter, hosts a hunter safety course by now. However, the COVID-19 restrictions have thrown a monkey wrench into the course.

Jarrard said recently that the State of Georgia has approved the hunter safety course for his office and the Department of Natural Resources to be held on Dec. 1 and Dec. 3 at the Lumpkin County Parks and Recreation Center. While deer and bear season will be well underway by then, it is never too late to learn hunter safety and there are other species’ seasons that have many days left to run.

The courses begin at 5:30 p.m. both nights and continue until 9:30 p.m. You must pre-register online at the Department of Natural Resources website.

“This is scheduled to happen unless something else happens with the virus or a new governor’s order,” Jarrard said. “We look forward to seeing you those nights if you need the course.”

 

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

 

Sheriff’s Gun Show set Oct. 11-12

News

LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. — Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard announced recently the 7th Annual Sheriff’s Gun Show will be held on Sat Oct. 11 and Sun. Oct. 12 at StruXure Outdoor, 154 Ethan Allen Drive.

Operating hours are Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Guns, ammunition and accessories will be on sale to benefit the Georgia Sheriff’s Association Youth Homes. Jarrard said this year, proceeds from the sale will also benefit D.A.R.E. and the Dahlonega Lions Club purchase of a vision machine.

“Come see us Oct. 10 and 11,” Jarrard said. “There will be a lot of firearms there and a lot of vendors. We look forward to seeing you.”

 

Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office receives state re-certification

News

LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. — The Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office recently received recognition by the Georgia Chiefs of Police for being a State Certified Sheriff’s Office.

This re-certification marks the 12th year of Lumpkin County being a certified agency. In order to remain in compliance the agency must maintain 367 standards and sub-standards.

Sheriff Stacy Jarrard recognized Lt. Alan Roach for his work in making sure the sheriff’s office stays in compliance with the state.

“Thank you to all the employees at the Sheriff’s Office,” Jarrard said. “It is because of your professionalism that we continue to set the standards high.”

Only 27 of Georgia’s 159 county sheriff’s offices have been awarded the certification.

 

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

 

 

Sheriff’s Office blood drive set Friday

News

LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. — Some consequences of COVID-19 are readily apparent. Twice a day the Georgia Department of Health reports how many people have contracted the disease, how many have been hospitalized and how many have died.

But some consequences are not as apparent. For example, health experts say the pandemic has led to thousands of blood drive cancellations as Americans shelter in place. The nation’s blood supply is dwindling even though the need for emergency surgeries has not declined. In America alone, 32,000 pints of blood are needed daily to perform life-saving operations. Each pint donated can save up to three lives.

Surgeon General Jerome Adams, MD, MPH, expressed the need for blood donations on the organization’s website. “You can still go out and give blood,” he said. “We’re worried about shortages in the future. Social distancing does not mean social disengagement.”

One local organization is doing it’s part to donate life-saving blood. The Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office has a LifeSouth Community Blood Center blood drive scheduled Friday (Apr. 24) from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Blood collection agencies like LifeSouth take extra precautions to ensure the safety of donors and employees. Employees and donors will be required to wear masks. Staff will disinfect the blood mobile between each donation and distancing requirements will be in place.

Jarrard experienced first-hand the importance of blood donations after being diagnosed with cancer in 2013. “I’m thankful for the people who donated blood when I needed it,” he said. “When they put in a call for blood, they had to have three buses come up here to collect it.”

The Sheriff’s Office has been sponsoring blood drives since 2013. More than 25 people have signed up to donate blood at Friday’s drive. No more can be accepted at this time, however, Jarrard said they are already in the process of scheduling another drive soon.

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lumpkin Co. Deputy who contracted coronavirus may return next week

News

Sheriff Stacy Jarrard

LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. – Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard said Thursday (April 9) the deputy who was confirmed with COVID-19 is doing fine and could be back to work as early as next week.

“He’s doing well,” Jarrard said. “He was first diagnosed with strep throat but he had a cough that wouldn’t go away so they tested him in March for coronavirus at his doctor’s office and it came back positive. He never had to go to the hospital.”

Jarrard added that the deputy is going through the virus protocol that requires a patient to be in isolated for three days after the cough and fever leaves.

He declined to provide the deputy’s name, age or gender due to the HIPPA Privacy Rule which establishes national standards to protect individuals’ medical records and personal health information.

 

Lumpkin County candidate qualifying: Day 2

News
Commission Chairman Chris Dockery qualifies for re-election Monday

LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. The following is a list of candidates who have qualified to run for political offices at the county, state and federal levels through Tuesday:

COUNTY RACES

Sheriff — Stacy Jarrard (I)

County Commission Chairman — Chris Dockery (I)

District 1 — County Commissioner David Miller (I)

District 2 — Commissioner Bobby Mayfield (I)

District 1 — Board of Education Mera Turner (I), Ryan Scott

District 3 — Board of Education JimMcClure (I)

Clerk of Superior Court Rita Harkins (I)

Coroner — Jim Sheppard (I)

Tax Commissioner – Mike Young

Non-Partisan

Probate Judge Michael Chastain (I)

Chief Magistrate Judge Randall Pruitt (I)

 

STATE RACES

District 9 State Rep. — Clint Smith, Will Wade, Steven Leibel, Zack Tumlin

FEDERAL RACES

Ninth District U.S. Congress –Michael Boggus, Andrew Clyde, Matt Gurtler, Maria Strickland, Kevin Tanner, Ethan Underwood.

Qualifying will continue through March 6 at noon. Continue to read fetchyournews.com for daily updates until qualifying ends.

 

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

 

 

BOC discusses 2nd Amendment Sanctuary resolution

News

LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. — The Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners discussed joining a growing number of Georgia counties in adopting a Second Amendment Sanctuary resolution during Tuesday’s work session. A vote is expected at the next regular meeting.

The movement to declare sanctuary counties started in Virginia when Gov. Ralph Northam introduced a package of gun-control legislation, including red flag laws, universal background checks and a limit of one gun purchase per month.

That movement quickly spread to Georgia where many counties have already adopted Second Amendment Sanctuary resolutions or are considering doing so. But passing any form of gun control would be a lot more difficult in Georgia with a Republican governor and a Republican-controlled Legislature.

Lumpkin County commissioners (Chairman Chris Dockery was absent due to an illness) expressed support for the Second Amendment Tuesday, but questioned whether the resolution was necessary of merely symbolic.

Sheriff Stacy Jarrard addressed the Board saying, ”I can tell you we have a Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office that is very pro-Second Amendment. We have a skeet shoot every year. I teach hunter safety and firearm safety. We open the gun range to the public. I hold a gun show yearly and a fundraiser. I don’t know how much more pro-gun rights I can actually be.”

Georgia has very specific laws to protect gun owners. “O.C.G.A. 38-3-37 states rules regarding the right to carry will not be changed by declaring a state of emergency,” Jarrard stated. “Any person from the government, including the National Guard, is prohibited from seizing any firearm or ammunition in the possession of a license holder. So what does it really do, becoming a sanctuary county? “If someone came to me and told me I would have to collect people’s firearms that would be the day I would resign. I could not fulfill that obligation and by not fulfilling that obligation, I could be arrested.”

Commissioner Bobby Mayfield proposed passing a “pro-Constitution county proclamation” rather than the Second Amendment resolution. “Fortunately, we live in a state where our Second Amendment rights are not at risk,” he said. “Many of our other rights are being challenged as well – freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to assemble, freedom of life. If we are going to do something, I suggest doing something similar to what our friends in Floyd and Hart counties have done and that is to pass a pro-Constitution proclamation. That really makes a statement about our commitment to uphold our Second Amendment rights but also the rest of the Constitution and its amendments.”

During the public comment period, two speakers rose in support of the resolution. Zane Doles said, “This is about being proactive and getting ahead of the rash of bills that will be introduced. Let’s make it clear that the representatives of Lumpkin County stand with the citizens, side-by-side in their intent to make Lumpkin County a Second Amendment Sanctuary county.”

Other issues discussed during the work session that will be voted on during the regular meeting include the following:

RESOLUTIONS

Veteran’s Affairs Advisory Committee name change request

Reappoint members to Development Authority

Reappoint Member to Public Building Authority

Reappoint Members to Hospital Authority

Identity Theft Prevention Program Update (Finance Director Abby Branan)

2020 – 09 – Georgia Fund 1 – General Fund Account (Finance Director Abby Branan)

2020 – 10 – Georgia Fund 1 – 2020 SPLOST Account (Finance Director Abby Branan)

2020 – 11 – Georgia Fund 1 – 2019 TSPLOST Account (Finance Director Abby Branan) •

CONTRACTS/AGREEMENTS

GMRC Addendum to the CDBG Senior Center Expansion Project Contract (Finance Director Abby Branan)

GMRC Regional Pay Study Agreement (Community and Employee Services Director Alicia Davis)

GEMA Statewide Mutual Aid and Assistance Agreement (EMA Director David Wimpy)

LMIG Road Resurfacing Contract Award (Public Works Director Larry Reiter)

TSPLOST Road Resurfacing Contract Award (Public Works Director Larry Reiter)

UGA Cooperative Extension and Lumpkin County MOU (Special Projects Director Allison Martin)

Community Center Gymnasium Goal Lift System Bid Award (Special Projects Director Allison Martin)

Ratify Contract for Land Purchase (Special Projects Director Allison Martin)

Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Contract Extension – North GA Consulting Group LLC (EMS Director David Wimpy)

OTHER ITEMS

2020 SPLOST Work Plan (Special Projects Director Allison Martin)

2020 SPLOST Work Plan (Special Projects Director Allison Martin)

Road Maintenance & Improvement Tax 2020 Work Plan (Special Projects Director Allison Martin)

TSPLOST Bond (Trey Monroe)

Abandonment of George Avery Road (Public Works Director Larry Reiter)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPDATE: Lumpkin County officer involved shooting

News

LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. – Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard released a tearful statement this afternoon on today’s (Nov. 20) officer involved shooting on the Sheriff’s Office facebook page.

“I am familiar with a lot of people involved in this situation,” he said. “The officer, I have known all my life. The other people involved I am well familiar with that family. My prayers go out for all involved. I would ask that everybody remember them in prayer. I will release more as I can.”

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