Issued by The National Weather Service
Atlanta, GA
3:18 am EST, Fri., Jan. 30, 2009

… WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON FOR MUCH OF NORTH GEORGIA…

A WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE AREA GENERALLY NORTH OF A LINE FROM FRANKLIN TO MCDONOUGH TO MADISON TO CRAWFORDVILLE.

STRONG HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING IN FROM THE WEST WILL CREATE WINDY CONDITIONS FRIDAY AFTERNOON. NORTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH WILL BE LIKELY BEFORE DROPPING QUICKLY AROUND SUNSET.

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT SUSTAINED WINDS OF 20 MPH OR WIND GUSTS OF AT LEAST 35 MPH ARE EXPECTED. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT… ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION.

Residents of Cherokee County Alabama experienced a power outage yesterday morning. The affected area was from Gaylesville to Cloudland.  Officials with the Cherokee Electric Cooperative discovered a large tree that had blown across the power lines north of the Gaylesville sub-station.  Reports of the power outage began around 9 AM (EST) yesterday morning.

Chattooga County Tax Commissioner Kathy Vanpelt Brown is warning Chattooga County residents that if the legislature fails to pass a bill today that would renew the governor and legislatures added tax exemption for property owners, she may have to re-bill county residents for added property taxes this year.

The Georgia Legislature is slated to vote today on a measure that would extend the tax credit to homeowners that have homestead exemption.  Tax Commissioner Brown said that the average homeowner in Chattooga County could see an additional tax bill of anywhere from $30 -$300 depending on the value of their property should the legislature fail to pass the bill today.

Chattooga County would be facing a shortfall of close to $750,000 if the legislature does not come through with the money.  Brown told AM 1180 Chattooga County radio that she hopes the tax exemption gets funded for the 2008 tax period so she does not have to re-bill county residents, but that the outlook for the 2009 additional tax credit for homestead exemption does not look good.

Brown is urging area residents to call Representative Barbara Massey Reece and State Senator Jeff Mullis and urge them to vote for the money to fund the tax credit

The list of recalled peanut products linked to a national salmonella outbreak just keeps growing.

Already more than 400 kinds of cakes, cookies and other goods have been pulled off the shelves in one of the largest product recalls.

At the center of the investigation is a Georgia peanut processing plant where federal inspectors reported finding roaches, mold, a leaking roof and other sanitary problems.

Managers at the Blakely, Ga., plant owned by Peanut Corp. of America continued shipping peanut products even after they were found to contain salmonella.

Peanut Corp. expanded its recall Wednesday to all peanut products produced at the plant since Jan. 1, 2007. The company is relatively small, but its peanut paste is an ingredient in hundreds of food products, from ice cream, to Asian-style sauces, to dog biscuits.

A senior lawmaker in Congress and Georgia’s agriculture commissioner called for a criminal investigation of the company, but the Food and Drug Administration said such a step is premature while its own food safety investigation continues.

More than 500 people have gotten sick in the outbreak and at least eight may have died as a result of salmonella infection. The plant has stopped all production.

Rome News Tribune

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One of the major issues on the minds of some Chattooga County residents is the safety of the bridges in the county.  One concerned Lyerly resident spoke at last night’s county commissioners meeting about the Lyerly Dam Bridge Closing.  The resident was not sure as to the necessity of the Georgia D.O.T. decision in closing the bridge.  Commissioner Winters assured those in attendance at the meeting that there were liability issues with the bridge and the county had no choice but to close the bridge.  Winters did point out that the bridge was built out of heavy material and that both he and the D.O.T. believe that the bridge is repairable.   Winters has accepted an agreement between the county and Engineer Hatch Mott MacDonald to provide engineering services for the rehabilitation of the bridge at Lyerly Dam Road.  Winters said “We are hopeful that with careful planning to be able to repair the bridge.”  Winters promised to have more information at the next commissioners meeting in February.

The Courtroom at the Chattooga County Courthouse Annex was packed last night for the first monthly County Commissioner’s meeting.  A large crowd turned out to hear Commissioner Jason Winters explain the business of the county over the past four weeks. Winters reviewed several proclamations that had been adopted since he took office, two of which dealt with appointments made by Winters.  The Commissioner said that he had appointed Butch Eleam, Scott Tucker and Eddy Ellenburg to the Board of Directors of the Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority.  Also the Commissioner told of his recent appointments to the Water District Board. 

Winters also spoke of contracts that the county has entered into over the past several weeks.  The Commissioner renewed a contract with Farrar and Corbin to represent the county in legal matters, and entered into a new agreement with Chrysan Thomas, CPA to provide audit service for the county.

AM 1180 Chattooga County Radio will broadcast the County Commissioners meeting this afternoon at 1 PM and again this weekend on Saturday beginning at 10:30 AM and on Sunday afternoon at 4:30 PM.

The Trion, Hays and Summerville fire departments responded to a house fire on 11th street in Trion this morning.  According to reports the Trion and Hays Fire Departments were able to contain the structure blaze.  The house suffered extensive smoke damage from the blaze.

Rep. Katie Dempsey was named Wednesday by Rep. Bill Hembree of District 67 as the subcommittee chair that oversees the Technical College System of Georgia issues that come before the House Higher Education.

ATLANTA (January 29, 2009) – State Senator Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) has introduced legislation defending Georgia workers’ ability to vote by secret ballot in union organizing elections. Johnson proposed a state constitutional amendment to protect Georgians from a national attempt to end the use of the secret ballot called The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA).  Sen. Johnson filed his constitutional amendment today, which secures the right to a secret ballot for nearly all elections, including those for union representation. 

“A voter’s right to a secret ballot is an essential and fundamental principle in our society. Without the ability to vote secretly, individual political freedom will decline and be subject to threats and intimidation by those who want voters to pursue a specific course of action or ideology.”

If EFCA becomes federal law it would forego secret ballot union votes and implement a practice commonly known as “card check.” Card check is where workers are encouraged to sign a membership card which then serves as a favorable vote for unionizing. Once a union organizer has enough cards signed by the majority of workers, an employer is required to recognize all employees as a union

“Replacing a worker’s private vote with a piece of paper that is potentially signed under harassment is a travesty. Card check is nothing more than a power grab by union bosses that will come at the expense of hardworking Georgians,” said Johnson.

Sen. Johnson is responsible for introducing the Senate’s version of this measure, while a similar House Resolution is making its way through the Industrial Relations Committee.  Both measures have received bipartisan support. 

This initiative is just one of a number that are being introduced in several other states across the nation.  The proposed amendment states, “The right of individuals to vote by secret ballot is fundamental. Where local, state, or federal law requires elections for public office or public votes on initiatives or referenda, or requires designations or authorizations of employee representation, the right of individuals to vote by secret ballot shall be guaranteed.” 

If passed by the General Assembly, the measure will appear on the 2010 ballot for consideration.

For more information on the Georgia State Senate, please visit www.senate.ga.gov.

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Sen. Eric Johnson of the 1^st Senate district serves as the chairman of the Ethics Committee. He represents Bryan County and portions of Chatham and Liberty counties.  He may be reached at 404.656.5109 or via e-mail at eric.johnson@senate.ga.gov.