2 million granted for water and sewer infrastructure improvements.

Featured Stories

DAHLONEGA, Ga. – The Development Authority of Lumpkin County (DALC) and Lumpkin County Water and Sewerage Authority (LCWSA) recently partnered on a grant application to the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

The grant application was successful, and the LCWSA received notice of funding in the amount of $2 million for water and sewer infrastructure.

The project will provide sewer infrastructure to the 400 corridor along Burnt Stand Road and Lumpkin County Parkway, as well as, water system supply and distribution improvements along the 400 corridor and in direct support of the Northeast Georgia Medical Center’s $57 million project currently under construction.

“Providing additional water and sewer infrastructure in these targeted areas supports the county leadership’s vision for economic development,” said LCWSA Executive Director Sean Phipps. “The partnership between the LCWSA and the DALC for this grant application allowed us to submit a project we are proud of and that will result in a big step forward in getting additional infrastructure in this area of Lumpkin County.”

The overall scope of the project includes the following four parts:

  1. Water supply and redundancy improvements
  2. Water distribution improvements by adding water mains for extensions
  3. Sewage collection improvements by adding a sewer collection pump and station
  4. A new community septic system

“This infrastructure project will have a long-term positive economic impact on Lumpkin County,” said DALC Executive Director Rebecca Mincey. “We anticipate this public sector investment will spur private sector investment and create additional jobs in the future.”

TThe project will take approximately 24 months, with a completion of the construction by February 2024.

Lumpkin County Man Charged with Forgery

Community, Police & Government

Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King announced today that Ernest Warren, 48, of Dahlonega, has been charged with two counts of forgery.

In October 2020, our Criminal Investigations Division received a report of suspected fraud from a representative of IAT Insurance, claiming that Mr. Warren submitted by email two forged surety bonds to ER Snell, Inc. so that he could secure contracts for two road work projects.

“Upon investigation, special agents determined that the surety bonds submitted to ER Snell, Inc. were falsified,” said Commissioner King. “An interview with the company’s general counsel and upper management further confirmed that Mr. Warren was a contractor who did traffic signal work for their company, and they indeed received the two forged surety bonds.”

Warrants were taken out against Mr. Warren for two counts of Forgery on September 29th, 2022.

Lumpkin County High School 15th in Georgia in Total SAT Scores

Board of Education, Press Release

LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga.- 2022 SAT scores were published nationwide last week, and Lumpkin County High School ranked 15th in the state of Georgia (out of 182 school districts) for total SAT scores, 10th place for reading and writing, and 22nd place for math.

With a total mean SAT score of 1092 for the Class of 2022, Lumpkin County is an impressive 38 points above the Georgia average and 64 points above the national average. In our regional educational service agency, Pioneer RESA, Lumpkin County’s Class of 2022 outperformed the other 13 school districts in total SAT scores and in evidence-based reading and writing while placing second place behind Rabun County in math.
“The past two and a half school years have been the most difficult in my career as an educational leader. For our teachers in Lumpkin County, I know that sentiment holds true for each and every one of them as well. While many of the schools in our state and our nation have seen a sharp decline in their student achievement due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lumpkin County continues to see the opposite. Our students are resilient! Our students are performing at these unprecedented levels of success because of the exemplary work of our teachers in the classroom, our support staff at every level, and our Board of Education and our leaders who never lowered the bar. Congratulations to the Class of 2022, to Principal Billy Kirk and his staff at LCHS for their hard work, and to every educator at every level who continues to prepare all of our students for a productive and successful life” commented Superintendent Dr. Rob Brown.

Arrest Made after Human Remains Found in Lumpkin County

Community, Featured Stories, Police & Government

Dahlonega, GA (August 26, 2022) – Charles Edward Cates Jr., 55, of Dahlonega, has been arrested and charged with the murder after human remains were found in Lumpkin County.

On Friday, August 26, 2022, the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, along with the Department of Natural Resources, located human remains near the Mill Creek community in Lumpkin County.  The remains are believed to be related to an ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Tony Lamar Cates, 52, of Dahlonega.  The remains have not been identified and will be sent to the Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.

Tony Cates was reported missing in May of 2021.

The investigation is still active and ongoing.  Charles Cates is being held in the Lumpkin County Detention Center.

When the investigation is complete, it will be given to the Lumpkin County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

Board of Commissioner Approve Budget and Millage Rate

Business, Community

LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga.- The Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners voted to approve the budget and millage rate at a special call meeting on Aug. 23.

The Commissioners met with Finance Director Abby Branan and County Manager Alan Ours on July 16 to review the budget and make changes where they could. To view that meeting visit https://lumpkin.fetchyournews.com/2022/07/16/budget-meeting-for-fy23-budget/.

The budget and millage were also placed on the county website for citizens to review. That information can be found at https://www.lumpkincounty.gov/635/2023-Budget.

The millage rate breakdown.

The county has held the three required meetings to give the community time to comment on the proposed budget or millage rate. The millage rate that was approved was incorporated areas 11.280, unincorporated areas 09.389, school district 14.710, reservoir area 00.206, and the planning district 00.452.

This will be a tax increase of 17.95% since the county could not take the full rollback rate of 9.563. The net digest from this millage rate is $249,178,984.

The budget breakdown.

The budget that was adopted is balanced. The expected revenues and expenditures will be $26,477,334. This is a $2,134,769 increase over last fiscal year’s budget.

To review the full breakdown of both the millage rate and the budget please visit http://lumpkincountyga.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1661&Inline=True.

Lumpkin County’s Water & Sewerage Authority Water Quality Reports Available

Community, News
Water & Sewerage Authority Water Quality Reports Available
The 2021 Water Quality Reports/Consumer Confidence Reports for the Lumpkin County Water and Sewerage Authority are now available. Paper copies of the reports are available at the Water & Sewerage Authority’s office at 194 Courthouse Hill, Annex A, Dahlonega. The reports are also available for review online at www.lumpkincounty.gov/water-sewerage-authority.

Lumpkin County authorities searching for Lindsey LeBarron

Business, News

LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. — Authorities are searching for Lindsey Charlene Le Barron who went missing after she failed to appear in Lumpkin County Superior Court on a homicide charge

She is described as a 26-year-old white female last known to be in the Elberton Georgia area.
In addition to the charge of Homicide by Vehicle in the First Degree, she is also charged with Driving Under the Influence, Reckless Driving, Failure to Maintain Lane, and Failure to Wear a Safety Belt.

Authorities are asking anyone with any information on her whereabouts to contact Captain Marcus Sewell at 706-482-2619 or [email protected] or the law enforcement agency directly where Lindsey Charlene Le Barron is located.

Georgia Forestry continues controlled burns

Press Release
Georgia Forestry continues controlled burns.
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. — Earlier in the week, Georgia Forestry began conducting controlled burns that have continued for silviculture purposes.
Georgia Forestry continues controlled burns.

Under specified weather conditions, fire experts perform controlled burns to help restore ecosystems’ health.

Controlled Burn Near John Perry Road
Georgia Forestry is conducting a 120-acre controlled burn near John Perry Road today. According to Goodfire.org, prescribed fire, otherwise known as a controlled burn, safely reduces excessive amounts of brush, shrubs and trees, encourages the new growth of native vegetation, and helps maintain the many plant and animal species whose habitats depend on periodic fire.

Controlled burn could cause smoke in Lumpkin County

Press Release
Controlled burn could cause smoke in Lumpkin County.

LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. – Educating residents on the controlled burn occurring, Lumpkin County Government shared on social media its possible effects:

Georgia Forestry is doing a prescribed burn today in Dawson Forest. It will be around 400 acres, so there is a probability of smoke drifting our way from the west side of the county. While the smoke may be noticeable, Smokeybear.com says “Fire has always been part of the environment, and . . . plays a vital role in maintaining certain ecosystems. Prescribed fires, also known as prescribed burns or controlled burns, refer to the controlled application of fire by a team of fire experts under specified weather conditions that helps restore health to ecosystems that depend on fire.”

Rider Mill Road open but section remaining unpaved

Press Release
Rider Mill Road open following culvert replacement.
DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Following the work which began on Feb. 24, the Lumpkin County Government announced the status of Rider Mill Road on social media:
Rider Mill Road Culvert Replacement Is Complete
The culvert replacement at the Jay Bridge Road end of Rider Mill Road is complete and the road is open. That section of the road will remain unpaved until the weather is more conductive to paving.
FYN previously shared the culvert replacement announcement, which readers can access at https://lumpkin.fetchyournews.com/2022/02/23/culvert-replacement-will-require-road-closure/.

Culvert replacement will require road closure

Press Release
Culvert replacement will require road closure.
Before the culvert replacement begins, the Lumpkin County Government warned residents of the road closure on social media:
Portion of Rider Mill Road Temporarily Closed Beginning Feb. 24
The Lumpkin County Road Department will begin a culvert replacement at the Jay Bridge Road end of Rider Mill Road on Thursday morning, Feb. 24. Rider Mill Road will be closed for replacement of the culvert at the creek crossing on the north end of the road. The closure will begin at 8:00 am Thursday the 24th and may last through late afternoon on Friday the 25th. All addresses on Rider Mill Road and Tome Bell Odom Road may be accessed from Siloam Church Road.

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.

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.

Georgia Power hosting public meeting about transmission line

Press Release
Georgia Power hosting meeting discussing transmission line.

Georgia Power will be hosting a public meeting to inform and educate citizens as to the need for, purpose of, and the location of a 115kV transmission line in Lumpkin County. The Georgia Power open house meeting will be held on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Venue at Farris, 1450 Lumpkin County Parkway, Dahlonega. You may attend at any time during the meeting hours. If you are unable to attend in person, or uncomfortable doing so, you may call 470-426-5372 during the meeting hours with any questions or comments.

For the Lumpkin County Government’s original post, visit https://www.facebook.com/lumpkin.county.government.

Storm drainpipe replacement will require road closure

Press Release
Replacement of storm drainpipe will require road closure.
Before the weekend commences, the Lumpkin County Government warns work on a storm drainpipe will affect commuting:
Tomorrow, Jan. 29, Cain Bridge Road will be closed between Cain Bridge Spur and Chesterra Drive from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for replacement of a storm drainpipe. All addresses between the closure points will be accessible from the Cain Bridge Spur end of the closure.

Sheriff’s office requests public to report vehicle sightings

Press Release
Sheriff requests public to report vehicle sightings.
Sheriff urges citizens to be on lookout for vehicle.

Sheriff Stacy Jarrard urges Lumpkin County to report sightings of the above vehicle.

Be on the lookout for this vehicle. If you see it please contact the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office dispatch at (706) 864-3633.

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