Georgia Secretary of State and Commissioner of Securities, Brad Raffensperger, issued an emergency order against Atlanta Discount Home Deals, also known as America’s Discount Home Deals (ADHD), and its founder Mark Jackson. This order restricts their operations and imposes significant civil penalties due to allegations of unregistered securities offerings and fraudulent investment schemes.

The investigation found that Jackson and ADHD sold over $4 million in promissory notes that were improperly secured by nonexistent or wrongly owned properties. The order prevents Jackson and ADHD from operating in Georgia or registering as securities dealers, and includes a $500,000 penalty along with reimbursement for investigative costs.

Individuals affected by ADHD or Mark Jackson are encouraged to report further information to the Georgia Secretary of State’s office. For more details or to report violations, visit the Secretary of State’s website or contact the Securities Division.

(From left) Chef Greg Paulson, program director and instructor of Culinary Arts at GNTC, and his wife Beth laugh with “Family Feud” host Steve Harvey.

Chef Greg Paulson, program director and instructor of Culinary Arts at Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC), will appear this week on “Family Feud.” Paulson, his wife Beth and stepchildren Matthew, Keely and Julie will appear on the national television show on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m. “We had a great time,” Paulson said. “It was one of the top five fondest memories of things our family has ever done together.”

Paulson said on a whim, he applied to compete on the show without telling the rest of his family; then in 2023 they were selected to be interviewed for consideration as contestants. The show was taped in March 2024 and then was edited for broadcast during the current season.

The family’s initial nervousness soon gave way to exhilaration as they played against another family, Paulson said.

When a family wins a game on “Family Feud,” the family returns for the next day’s episode to compete against a new family. If a family wins five days in a row, which is the show’s limit for a family to participate, the family typically receives a larger prize. The current prize is a vacation package and $10,000 cash bonus.

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Wednesday, January 29, 2025:

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Outside of some high clouds moving in from the west, Northwest Georgia is experiencing a quiet late January morning. Temperatures are in the low 30’s, making it one of the warmest early mornings we’ve seen for most of the month of January. The upper level weather pattern is stable, keeping active storm systems mainly to the north, while a low-pressure system over the Southwest will bring rain by Friday as it moves northeast. Today, winds may gust, and we are looking for a high in the low 60s with sunny skies.

For the long-term forecast from Thursday night through Tuesday, rain is expected to arrive towards the end of the workweek, although there is some uncertainty about the timing. Models suggest that the low-pressure system will quickly move east and bring moisture ahead of a front on Friday. Current predictions indicate total rainfall of half an inch to an inch, with low chances of thunderstorms. The polar jet stream will stay to the north, leading to warm weather in the days following the rain on Friday, with highs in the 60s and lows in the 40s and 50s.

After Friday, rain chances will remain low until mid-next week and the weather will remain warm, with high temperatures in the 60s every day until at least mid-next week.

The contentious debate surrounding House Bill 581 shows no signs of cooling off, with Chattooga County’s state senator, Colton Moore, issuing a stern warning to local governments considering opting out of the measure.

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State Rep. Eddie Lumsden (R-Armuchee) has released his weekly legislative report. Following Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the Georgia General Assembly planned to begin “budget week” on January 21, 2025. This week is usually when leaders present budget recommendations, but hearings were postponed due to a State of Emergency declared by Governor Brian Kemp for anticipated winter storms. Despite this, Gov. Kemp shared his official budget report, emphasizing that passing a balanced budget is a key obligation. Gov. Kemp’s main focus is relief for Hurricane Helene’s victims, with over $614 million proposed for recovery efforts. He also highlighted Georgia’s business success and suggested a one-time tax rebate and income tax cuts. The budget includes significant funding for infrastructure, education, healthcare, and public safety. You can read Rep. Lumsden’s complete report below:

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Voters in Chattooga County will soon have the opportunity to make their voices heard as they prepare to head back to the polls in March for a crucial Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) renewal vote. The election is set for March 18, 2025, and residents are encouraged to actively participate in this important decision.

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On Monday evening, a sizable crowd gathered at the Chattooga County Ag Center to discuss a permit issue raised by Commissioner Andy Allen regarding a poultry house in the Gore Community. Some residents surrounding the proposed chicken operation are considering legal action against the county after their lawyers stated a case against a permit given to a Floyd County resident to build poultry houses off Gore-Subligna Road by former Commissioner Blake Elsberry. 

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