" L a n d o f L a k e s , M o u n t a i n s , S c e n i c B e a u t y a n d F r i e n d l y P e o p l e " 75 ¢ North News Hometown newspaper of Blairsville, Suches and Union County www.nganews.com Legal Organ of Union County Your Hometown Newspaper Since 1909 Wednesday, May 12, 2021 Woody Gap celebrates students with Homecoming, Prom By Todd Forrest homecoming festivities and everyone that helped put this and third-grade class was North Georgia News the prom in 2020, students and event on. We’ve been looking represented by Devlyn Racine Staff Writer faculty alike have been anxious forward to the time when the and Jackson Kendall. SUCHES – The for a return to normalcy. community could start coming Julianna Johnson and smile on Woody Gap And the brand-new together safely.” Braxton Miller represented Junior Ivre Cantrell’s face was Kennedy Creek Resort in The 2020-21 Pamela Jernigan’s fourth and one of surprise and relief as Suches was happy to oblige, Homecoming festivities got fifth-grade class. The middle she was crowned the school’s rolling out the red carpet for underway at 6 p.m. and were school was represented by 2021 Homecoming Queen Woody Gap School and its a prelude to the Woody Gap eighth-grader Mia Roberts and prior to Saturday night’s high guests May 8. Prom, which began just before seventh-grader Elijah Miller. school prom at Kennedy Creek “This is a great occasion,” dark. Reigning Woody Resort. Resort Owner Jere Wood said. Joining Cantrell on the Gap Homecoming Queen “I was a little surprised “This is the first event in our Homecoming Court were Gretchen Mossinger was also (when they called my name), new pavilion. We’re excited freshmen Haylie Wood and on hand to crown Cantrell. but then I was just really to welcome the school and Jennifer Marsh, along with The resort treated excited and happy,” Cantrell be a part of this wonderful sophomores Molli Tritt and students, faculty and guests to said. “It’s been hectic the last community.” Brooklyn Payne. a patio meal that overlooked the couple of weeks, and there’s Woody Gap Principal Each class from grass runway with a mountain been a lot going on with nails, Carol Knight said that this year kindergarten through eighth sunset providing a beautiful dresses, rehearsals and all that “is extra special for the kids grade was also represented, suppertime backdrop. stuff. I just want to thank God after last year’s cancelations.” beginning with Susan White’s Woody Gap Band and my mom.” “Everyone is ready to get kindergarten and first-grade Director Doug Roberts served With the annual alumni out, spend time together and classes, represented by Zoe as prom DJ, with Coach 2021 Homecoming Queen Ivre Cantrell – pronounced “Ivory” Kendall and Bently Worley. basketball game being canceled have fun,” Knight said. “We See Woody Gap, Page 6A – was joined by her father Timothy Cantrell for her coronation due to COVID-19, as well as appreciate all the support and Stacy Olson’s second on Saturday, May 8. Photo by Todd Forrest Commissioner talks multifamily Covington lands major scholarship to Eastman School of Music dwellings in public hearing By Todd Forrest her education later this year on to fruition a lifelong By Shawn Jarrard North Georgia News the shores of Lake Ontario at dream when she put pen to North Georgia News Staff Writer the prestigious Eastman School paper committing to the school [email protected] Union County High of Music in Rochester, New alongside family, friends, Band Union County Sole School Senior Drum Major York. Director Will Stafford and other Commissioner Lamar Paris held Aliceyn Covington will continue Covington brought See Covington, Page 2A a public hearing May 6 to discuss the proposed ordinance addition for “Minimum Development Standards for Multi-Family Dwellings.” A first reading of the ordinance was held in his April 20 regular meeting at the courthouse, and Paris plans to hold a second reading and adoption of the ordinance in the May 20 regular meeting. Once in place, the ordinance will allow for the development of apartment Lamar Paris See Public Hearing, Page 2A Sole Commissioner Kenney receives Rotary Award

for dedication to community UCHS Senior Aliceyn Covington has made her family proud in committing to Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, pictured here with family members and Band Director Will Stafford. Photo by Todd Forrest Nottely Dam releases water onto spillway during maintenance By Shawn Jarrard North Georgia News [email protected] The Tennessee Valley Authority is conducting routine maintenance on the Nottely Dam, so right now and roughly through the first part of June, residents and visitors can take a trip down TVA Road next to the dam and likely catch the spillway in action. is a testament to the beauty of nature, the ingenuity of man, and the Past District 6910 Governor Gene Windham and Union County Rotary President Ed Sternberg good fortune of a community present Dr. Patricia Schaeflern Kenney with Rotary’s exclusive W. Lee Arrendale Vocational that benefits year-round from Excellence Award. Photo/Submitted having a hydroelectric facility right in its backyard. By Jarrett Whitener organization. The award is named As part of the maintenance North Georgia News District 6910 covers all after the late W. Lee Arrendale, that started at the beginning of Staff Writer Rotary Clubs of Georgia north of who was a highly influential the month and is expected to Rotary International Interstate 20 and Interstate 285, Rotarian and business leader in last about 45 days, TVA has District 6910 has recognized including Union County, and Habersham County. The same shut down the dam’s large Union County Rotarian Dr. each year, the district presents can be said of Dr. Kenney, a generator that usually takes Patricia Kenney with the the award to a deserving member 23-year member of the local care of the reservoir’s bulk prestigious W. Lee Arrendale in one of the clubs. Rotary and a veterinarian and water releases into the Nottely Vocational Excellence As the 2021 recipient, owner of Union County Pet River below the dam. Award, honoring the local Kenney received the award at Hospital. There is a small generator The sight of the Nottely Dam spillway in action will be a much veterinarian for her dedication a virtual district conference on She is also a West Point that releases water at a rate more frequent occurrence this month as maintenance continues to the community and the Saturday, April 24. See Rotary Club, Page 6A See Nottely Dam, Page 3A at the dam into early June. Photo by Shawn Jarrard Prosecution rebuts Heaton’s appeal to overturn conviction By Linda Erbele his case to the Eleventh Circuit 3) The law on this subject sufficient to support the jury’s while receiving prescriptions. Heaton that all three women North Georgia News Court of Appeals. is unconstitutionally vague. finding that he had illegally To establish that had become addicted, though The U.S. Attorney’s As previously reported, On April 26, Assistant dispensed controlled substances Heaton was aware that such he continued to prescribe them Office of the Ninth District of in December 2020, Heaton’s U.S. Attorney Laurel Boatright, to patients “contrary to the relationships were in violation medication anyway, even Georgia has filed a rebuttal to legal team filed a 38-page who helped to try the case standard of care for prescribing of the rules, Boatright referred increasing it for two of those the appeal of former Blairsville brief arguing the court should against Heaton, filed the controlled substances in the court to a “letter of concern” patients, contrary to “the course physician James Heaton, who overturn his conviction for the government’s response to those Georgia.” issued by the Medical Board of professional practice.” was convicted of multiple following reasons: concerns in a 73-page brief. In laying out her rebuttal, to Heaton regarding the Boatright then outlined prescription fraud charges in 1) The evidence presented Boatright contended Boatright first called attention to “boundary with patients” rule the extent of the prescriptions 2019. during the trial was insufficient that, based on Heaton’s the fact that the jury had heard about unprofessional conduct Heaton wrote for his co- Heaton’s conviction to support the conviction. knowledge of the rules and from three women prescribed like sex with a patient. defendant, former Union resulted in a six-year prison 2) The judge’s instruction regulations established by the painkillers by Heaton, including According to Boatright, General Hospital CEO Mike sentence that is slated to begin to the jury was a “misstatement Georgia Composite Medical two who testified to having had the jury also heard evidence Gowder, describing how Heaton June 8, and he has appealed of law.” Board, the evidence at trial was sexual relationships with him that would have indicated to See Heaton, Page 6A

Vol. 112 No. 20 Inside 4 Sections 24 Pages Arrests 5B SPORTS Woody Gap Union County Weather Church 3C TRACK & FIELD Thurs: Cloudy Hi 62 Lo 42 Classifieds 3D Band of Steel Fri: Cloudy Hi 66 Lo 43 Opinion 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS Sat: Sunny Hi 69 Lo 47 Legals 5D May 13 - May 15 Concert NGN Obits 4C Old Unicoi Trail Sports 2B @ McEachern High School May 15 May 22 DAR Awards Powder Springs, GA See page 4B See page 6C See page 2D Page 2A THETHE NORTHNORTH GEORGIAGEORGIA NEWSNEWS MayMay 12, 12, 2021 2021

The proposed section as a property rights advocate, from other comments included ...from Page 1A outlines a variety of restrictions saying his office was looking concerns over too much growth Public Hearing and standards for construction, into ways of balancing property too fast, exacerbated of late complexes and townhomes, and housing for employees of According to the including a maximum building rights with limiting the cutting by people moving from more potentially provide avenues for local businesses who can’t proposed new section of height of 40 feet “as measured of trees. populated areas to the isolated more local families and others afford or find residential spaces the Union County Code of from exterior roof peak to the Since the public hearing greenspaces of the North to find affordable housing in the elsewhere in Union County, Ordinances, a multifamily lowest exposed exterior point was called specifically to Georgia mountains. current extreme seller’s market either for rent or for sale, so dwelling is “a structure that of the structure.” discuss construction standards Paris said he was sensitive for real estate. the development of apartments can house five or more units Among the other for multifamily dwellings, to those issues and wanted to Moreover, multifamily and other such dwellings would but is limited to no more than requirements are specifics Paris said there would be a time retain as much of the character dwellings would serve as support a larger labor pool. 100 units.” regarding setbacks from and place in the future to talk of his birthplace as possible, property lines and other about issues surrounding larger adding that he was encouraged structures, and the creation of developments in the county. that at least half of the land in vegetative or structural buffers “The reason apartments the county was owned by the around the perimeter of such are being dealt with first is, No. federal government, which developments “sufficient 1, for a long time, we didn’t will necessarily limit growth to screen (them) from” have hardly any apartments,” moving forward. neighboring properties. Paris said. “Then all of a “That gives us a bigger Other stipulations include sudden, we got two new ones, buffer than any county other the paving of all roads within and then we had a third or than Rabun County, probably developments, the inclusion fourth that had come to us with in the country until you get out of culverts to prevent undue an interest. West,” Paris said. “So, we’ve flooding, the installation of fire “And that’s when we got a lot of guidelines that hydrants in accordance with realized, hey, we don’t have really help us, but we don’t the International Fire Code, restrictions for height, we don’t have everything. and more. have restrictions on the road “We’ve got to decide, do An emergency – we don’t have restrictions we want everything, or do we moratorium on applications for on any of this stuff that we’re want some things where we multifamily unit developments talking about. We just didn’t try to keep it practical while has been in place since Aug. have it covered, because keeping people’s property 6, 2019, to allow for the normally, apartments are only rights? At the same time, we development of the proposed where there’s public sewer, want to protect your property standards. That moratorium and public sewer 98% of the rights. has been extended several time is in the city limits of “A lot of things to look times, most recently in October Blairsville. at, and we’ll continue to look at 2020. “It didn’t really impact them, but we need to hear from “As more and more us, until we started getting the public about your ideas, so apartment complexes have apartments outside the city thank you for being here and been built here in Union limits of Blairsville. So, that’s bringing that up.” County, it was determined that the first thing we wanted to Prior to the upcoming there needed to be specific address, is the apartment issue, May 20 meeting, people may rules and regulations for their not to stop them, but to make continue to submit comments construction,” Paris said in the sure we got some guidelines to the Commissioner’s Office May 6 public hearing. so that they don’t just pop up for potential inclusion in “This is due to the impact anywhere and we don’t really the proposed standards for they would have on county know where that’s going to multifamily dwellings. roads, and also the impact be. Moving to the second they could potentially have on “Yes, there’s a need for item of business for the May 6 emergency services, especially workforce housing and for a lot public hearing, Paris discussed the Fire Department.” of different things, retirement the removal of Chapter 82, A half dozen residents housing as well, and we are Article II – aka the Speed Zone attended the meeting, with in the process of looking at all Ordinance – from the Union two of them asking questions that and trying to come up with County Code of Ordinances. about clearcutting of trees in ideas.” Paris explained it had the mountains, including in As for landowners been brought to his attention developments not related to the clearing too many trees, Paris by the Georgia Department proposed multifamily dwelling said that the county was “open of Transportation and county standards. to any ideas that anybody has attorney that, since all speed Paris acknowledged about what to do and what we limits are set by the state, that it’s not ideal for people could do differently.” having a local Speed Zone to be clearcutting, in valleys Citing the potential for Ordinance – in place since 1992 or on mountainsides, but he increased traffic, taxes and – was unnecessary, so he would reiterated his long-held position crime rates, a general sentiment simply be removing it. Cruiz-in on the Blairsville Courthouse Square Saturday Welcome to all hot rods, welcome to participate, club classics, customs, trucks, an- member or not. tiques and collector vehicles. The Blairsville Cruis- This is a family friendly car ers Car Club is a 501(c)3 event and everyone is wel- nonprofit. The Cruisers, their come to enjoy the show. sponsors and supporters have Trophy for “Best Interi- contributed to the community or” as well as two “Class Win- since 2007 with scholarships ner” plaques and two “Club and donations to various local The Blairsville Cruisers Choice” trophies will be pre- organizations, especially pro- Car Club will host a Cruiz-in sented. A 50/50 cash drawing grams for needy children and on the Historic Courthouse and door prizes for participat- their families at Christmas and Square in Blairsville Saturday, ing vehicles will be featured. for our local Veterans and Vet- May 15th. Scheduled time for There is no registration fee for erans organizations. the event is 3 - 7 PM. The event entry or for spectators, how- Thank you for support- will honor Armed Forces Day ever a donation to the club for ing our efforts to insure that which falls on Saturday, May our charity programs will be no needy kid goes without at 15th this year. appreciated. All vehicles are Christmas. NT(May12,Z10)CA

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her family on weekends will ...from Page 1A take some getting used to. Covington “I’m excited but also faculty members at the Union “But she is a better leader terrified,” she said with a laugh. County Fine Arts Center on than she is a musician, if that “But I just couldn’t turn down Wednesday, May 5. tells you anything about her. this opportunity. I know I’ll “I wanted to attend a music She’s made our band better, and be homesick for a bit, but I’m school that would fit my career she’s always looking to improve just really excited. path, and Eastman absolutely anything she’s involved in.” “My family has been does that,” Covington said. Covington hasn’t visited super supportive of my music “My goals have always been Eastman, which is part of the career, and Mr. Stafford has to tour and play professionally, larger University of Rochester, been fundamental in helping me and Eastman definitely caters to but everything she’s learned to achieve my goals.” that. So, I decided to audition about the campus has only The soon-to-be high for them, and thankfully, I was solidified her decision in a school graduate has been in accepted.” school that’s been atop her list both band and chorus since Stafford and High School from the very beginning. the sixth grade, and she has Principal C.T. Hussion opened “I auditioned at some taken chorus with her mother, the signing ceremony with a few other schools, but Eastman has UCHS Choral Director Alicia comments regarding Covington always been my No. 1 choice, Covington, since becoming a and her accomplishments. and I never seriously considered freshman. “I was speaking with the anyone else,” she said. Joining her for the signing football coach today and I was Majoring in French that Wednesday were her proud telling him, a musician going horn performance and music father and mother Ray and to Eastman is the equivalent education, Covington sees Alicia Covington, as well as of a football player getting herself either putting her gifts to sister Reagan Covington, a a scholarship to Alabama,” use as a career musician or using freshman at Union County High Hussion said. her leadership skills to produce who performs in theater and As for Stafford, he said and teach music. plays soccer. that Covington’s achievement “Ideally, I would like to Following graduation, was remarkable, but considering join a professional orchestra and Aliceyn will get a taste of New her talent and dedication, he was also start a studio of my own,” York – albeit New York City not surprised “in the least.” she said. “While I’m in school, – when she spends the entire “I expected this to I want to make sure I manage month of July in the Big Apple happen,” Stafford said. “Since my time well and just keep as a participant in the National Day One, Aliceyn marched loving music and not get burned Youth Orchestra Program. in here and became our first out, because I know that I’ll be At the program’s freshman to serve as a section studying it pretty intensely.” conclusion, she will have less leader. She is a natural leader Spending her winters in than a month at home before and has consistently been one western New York was never a returning to the Empire State of the top horn players in the deterrent, though Covington did for her first day of classes at country. say that not being able to visit Eastman on Aug. 25. MayMay 12, 12, 2021 2021 THE THE NORTHNORTH GEORGIA GEORGIA NEWS NEWS Page 3A what’s going on in Nottely.” things are looking good from has a trickle-down effect into Chickamauga Reservoir The lake is at full pool that aspect. through Hiwassee, through and the main-stem Tennessee ...from Page 1A a little earlier this season due “For power generation, , all the way River.” Nottely Dam to all the rain the area has this is all about keeping the been experiencing. People will unit in good working order, so notice that the there’s that component. Flood up past Meeks Park is now control is a component with the Correction:W. Newton Moore, who is effectively lakebed, and may different ways that Nottely Dam In the May 5 edition of the newspaper, the North representing the plaintiffs in the even seem to flow backward can release water. Then there’s lawsuit. This was incorrect. In at times due to wind blowing water quality, (the importance Georgia News misidentified the attorney with whom the City actuality, the city was setting a along the surface. of maintaining) minimum flow meeting with its own attorney, Nottely Dam was built downstream. of Blairsville was setting a meeting to discuss litigation Richard North of Nelson during World War II, with “It’s all part of a big Mullins. construction occurring between puzzle here. What’s going on regarding the Dec. 19, 2018, plane crash outside the That meeting took 1941 and 1942. The structure in Nottely has impacts locally place via teleconference in an is 197 feet high and stretches in the North Georgia and Blairsville Municipal Airport. The newspaper said the executive session during last 3,915 feet across the Nottely Blairsville area, but definitely week’s regular city meeting. River. meeting would be with Attorney “In a year with normal rainfall, the water level in Nottely Reservoir varies about 20 feet from summer to winter to provide seasonal flood storage,” per TVA.com. “The reservoir has a flood-storage In order to complete dam maintenance, TVA workers are capacity of 61,600 acre-feet.” opening several spillway gates at a time to release water from The one generating unit the lake into the Nottely River. Photo by Shawn Jarrard at the dam has what’s known as a “summer net dependable of 60 cubic feet per second, “What’s a little bit unique for Nottely,” Everett capacity” of 19 megawatts. mainly to maintain water Net dependable capacity is the quality downstream, but it can’t said, “is that, in terms of how we can release water from the amount of power a dam can handle the amount of water produce on an average day, needing to be released during project, Nottely really only has a couple options, (including) minus the electricity used by maintenance, so the spillway is the dam itself, according to being used in conjunction with the generating unit through the powerhouse, which is down at TVA. the small generator. This will create ample the base of the dam; we can release through the large unit, accounts for about 10% of opportunities for onlookers to the energy generated by TVA, enjoy the picturesque scene and that carries the bulk of the flow through the dam. and though it’s a relatively of water passing through the small dam, Nottely is one of spillway gates before flowing “But we also have a minimal flow unit that runs 109 hydroelectric units that down the spillway itself at up contributes to supplying power to 400 cubic feet per second anytime that the large unit is not on, and that supplies a constant to roughly 10 million people in and falling more than 100 feet the Tennessee Valley. to cascade over the boulders at minimum flow below the dam that supports water quality and “Hydropower is a very the base of the dam. flexible resource,” Everett said. TVA River Forecast fish and a healthy river system below Nottely Dam.” “The water behind the dam is Center Manager James Everett what turns the turbine, which said that Nottely is one of 29 However, when the main generator is shut down for in turns spins the generator power-generating dams located and produces power. So, it’s a throughout the Tennessee River any stretch of time, in order to supplement the work of very efficient technology, very Watershed, some of which date economical. back to the 1930s. Other nearby the small unit, “the only other method we have of releasing “You’re not talking about hydroelectric dams include a great deal of cost, as the fuel Blue Ridge and Chatuge. water is through the spillway.” “Utilizing the spillway at is free; you’re just using gravity “We do a lot of to use water to spin a turbine inspections, maintenance, all Nottely is not a super rare event, but it is a little bit uncommon to and make electricity, which is the way down from weekly a big part of how TVA helps stuff to monthly, to things that pass water down the spillway, so we want folks to be aware of meet power demand for those happen once a year to every few 10 million people.” years,” Everett said. “There’s that,” Everett said. “If they’re out in that tailwater area or For more information, been some work going on in the visit https://www.tva.com/ spillway at Nottely, and that’s driving by, if they see water coming down the spillway and environment/lake-levels/ going well.” nottely or check out the “TVA Now, TVA employees wonder why, it’s because of the main way of moving water Lake Info” downloadable app, have transitioned to working which can utilize geolocation on the Nottely generating through the dam is out for maintenance. to clue people into the dam unit, which generates nearest them. hydroelectric power for the “And that’s something that does occur every so often, “Nottely is a big system grid, so the generator has had we manage, and we manage it to be temporarily removed where the folks that manage Nottely Dam have to go in there for a lot of different benefits,” from service. The last time the Everett said. “Recreation is generator was taken offline and upgrade equipment or do repairs or inspections on some a benefit that we definitely for similar maintenance was recognize up on the lake, and in 2016. sort of routine basis. So, that’s LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

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Woody Gap held a joint Homecoming and Prom on Saturday, May 8, where students dressed to the nines and got a little foot- Woody Gap School’s 2021 Homecoming Court is Ivre Cantrell, Haylie Wood, Jennifer Marsh, Molli Tritt and Brooklyn Payne, loose on the dance floor. Photo by Todd Forrest pictured here with past Homecoming Queen Gretchen Mossinger. Photo by Todd Forrest the crux of the matter spelled crime by violating a state rule entitled to infer that Defendant other evidence in the case.” ...from Page 1A out as follows: or regulation.” violated the CSA based on A hearing date for the Heaton Heaton was charged with But Boatright rejected this his many, many violations of appeal had yet to be scheduled issuing the prescriptions for notion, again citing precedent the Medical Board’s rules and by press time Monday. controlled substances “outside and writing that “the jury was regulations, along with the the scope of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose.” When U.S. District Judge Richard W. Story explained the law to the jury, he repeatedly said “outside the usual course of practice or for no legitimate medical purpose.” Heaton’s legal team has taken issue with the use of the conjunction “or” versus “and” in the jury instruction, which had the effect of lowering the prosecution’s burden of proof when it came to jury deliberations. However, Attorney Boatright cited several court cases as precedent backing up her claim that “or” was James Heaton in Gainesville, GA the correct verbiage, “holding “supplied more than 15,000 statements by a pain that a licensed physician may pills to Gowder over more than management expert regarding be convicted … for either three years,” which he assisted Heaton’s “shoddy practices and prescribing outside the scope of in filling illegally out of state, lack of recordkeeping.” professional practice or for no all the while forgoing a “paper In the same vein, she legitimate medical purpose.” trail” by not documenting the referenced testimony by another Finally, Boatright refuted prescriptions in Gowder’s doctor “in the same town with Heaton’s claim that the law in patient file. the same kind of practice as question – Section 841(a) of Bolstering her contention Defendant,” who explained to the Controlled Substances Act, that the evidence supported the jury how it was “easy” to or CSA – is “unconstitutionally Heaton’s “convictions comply with Medical Board vague.” for unlawfully prescribing requirements. The appeal stated that controlled substances,” As to whether the judge “there is ‘no definable standard Boatright highlighted trial “misstated” the law to the of what it means to prescribe testimony of his knowledge jury, Boatright argued that medication outside the usual about the Medical Board’s the judge’s instruction was course of professional practice,’ record-keeping requirements appropriate “as established in so (Heaton) had no notice that and pointed to witness this Court’s precedent,” with he was committing a federal serving as a helicopter pilot ...from Page 1A on active duty until November Rotary Club 1989. graduate and U.S. Army veteran, volunteers, including Rotarians, In 1993, Kenney graduated and generally, Kenney fit the to help local families inoculate from the Veterinary School of award evaluation guidelines to a their dogs and cats at a discount. Medicine at Auburn University, T, as evidenced by her “excellence Most recently, she helped opening the Union County Pet in her vocation, achievements in Union General Hospital locate Hospital in 1994, which she the community, and academic much-needed personal protective continues to operate to this day. achievements.” equipment toward the onset Kenney was in the “I joined the Rotary of the pandemic, and she has Reserves until 2002, and she Club because it was a service administered COVID shots at returns to West Point each August organization,” Kenney said. “The the recent Public Health mass to march with the new cadets Rotary Club is true to its motto of vaccine clinics. from their summer camp known ‘Service Above Self.’ Kenney was president as “Beast Barracks.” “We provide our time and of the Rotary Club of Union Presently, she enjoys expertise, and we are one of the County in 2014-15 and is active “working with dogs, cats, nonprofit organizations that has in numerous Rotary projects, both horses, and exotics, including a very high filter-through rate of locally and within District 6910. the odd mouse with delusions what comes in money wise and She was also club secretary from of grandeur,” according to what goes out into the community, 2015 through June 2019 and has biographical information area and the world.” been Assistant District Governor submitted alongside her award The local veterinarian said for Area 3 since July 1, 2019. nomination. it has been a true honor to receive She voluntarily teaches As for the business side the award this year, especially basic medical canine pet care of things, Kenney is happy to considering the stellar quality to inmates at Colwell Probation report that the Pet Hospital is of her fellow Rotarians here in Detention Center; works with doing well, having successfully Union County and around the the Union County High School adjusted during the pandemic to district. Agriculture Department; and keep people and pets safe amid “I am very humbled,” provides internships for students COVID. Kenney said. “We have a lot of interested in veterinary and care And while Rotary was people who are very accomplished careers. unable to host its usual rabies and self-sacrificing, and I am very Additionally, Kenney has vaccination clinic in 2020, the humbled to be in with that group participated in Rotary International club plans to have the event this of people. This means a lot to me Polio Plus inoculation projects in year on Saturday, June 5. that I was chosen amongst a very the Ivory Coast in Africa, and she “We had to skip the rabies accomplished field of people.” is a 12-year member of the local shots last year because of the In terms of volunteerism, Rotary Club’s “Spelling Team,” pandemic, but this year we are for several decades, Kenney has competing annually to raise funds going to have a modified rabies taken it upon herself to organize for adult literacy. clinic, and it is only going to the annual pet clinic to provide She graduated from the be at the one site at the school,” rabies and other shots to pets in United States Military Academy Kenney said. the community, enlisting many at West Point in 1982, afterward VALOR and Veterans Unstoppable service organization in Blairsville We all know that there conducts intensive train- This August 15th through is a great legacy of military ing sessions for military and the 21st, Veterans Unstoppable service in Blairsville and sur- first responders who carry will hold their third semi-annu- rounding areas. What you the weight of service-related al program, right here in Blairs- might not know is that for the PTSD and other related issues. ville. The program gets partici- past year, and organization The program is highly success- pants to identify past trauma called VALOR, Veterans Un- ful, boasting an extremely low and then presents alternatives stoppable, has been getting a recidivism rate. The program to participants which help them foothold. incorporates post training determine how best to deal with The 501(c)3 Veterans PEER to PEER network ses- post-trauma related issues. Service Organization started sions, where participants can The program is open to in Pennsylvania with SGM be heard in a group of their all honorably discharged vet- Mark D. Baylis at the helm. It peers. erans and first responders, and has sprouted many and vari- Anyone with service-re- is not limited to those only re- ous branches throughout the lated PTSD is welcome to join siding in Blairsville. If you, or United States, with one being the PEER to PEER network anyone you know is interested right here in Blairsville. Bob group which meets every third in learning more, or attending, Williams of the Dahlonega Thursday at the Leon Daven- or you would like a speaker for Rangers Association heads up port Center, (gray building be- your group, please contact the the local chapter. hind McDonald’s next to park local liaison for the program, Veterans Unstoppable and ride) from 5-7 pm. Janice, at 706-400-9048.