Ellijay Police Officers receive Lifesaving Award
City Council March 22, 2022
GILMER, Ga. — Two members of the Ellijay Police Department received awards during Ellijay City Council’s latest meeting. The council also took action to address prior complaints concerning the city website.
Police Chief Edward Lacey presented three awards to two Ellijay officers at the council meeting. Officer Austin McArthur received the Service Award and the Lifesaving Award. McArthur received the Service Award, “The highest award which can be bestowed upon an individual affiliated with the agency, who suffers a wound from a weapon or serious injury in the performance of his duty,” after an encounter with an armed man that left him suffering from an ankle injury that required reconstructive surgery. He also received the Lifesaving Award for performing CPR on a man who collapsed in the parking lot of the East Ellijay Walmart. Officer Trevor McClure received the Lifesaving Award for his action in administering two doses of NARCAN to prevent a drug overdose after responding to a call.
Officer McClure received his award from Police Chief Lacey.
Officer McArthur received two awards at the meeting.
In response to several citizen complaints, especially at the council’s February meeting, Mayor Pro-Tem Sandy Ott presented both the council and those in attendance with a potential solution. She explained the city website would go under a complete overhaul in an attempt to address concerns raised about accessibility and transparency. The cost, Ott said, would be $1,500 a month for an initial three months followed by a monthly cost of $166. She also said the council’s goal is for the website to be “user-friendly, informative, and up to date,” and should be ready for use by July 1, 2022. The council approved the proposal unanimously.
The council also voted to put two projects, a crosswalk on North Main Street and a stop sign at North Avenue and North Main Street, out for bid. Chief Lacey spoke on the proposed crosswalk and expressed his support saying, “In the last six months, and in the last year really, we’ve had an 18% increase in pedestrian accidents in the United States.” Noting that pedestrian accidents are at an all time high, Lacey also suggested that the council consider jaywalking ordinances to enable proper use of the new crosswalk. The council also voted to authorize necessary steps to create an all way stop at the intersection of North Main Street, North Avenue, and College Street.
Ellijay prepares as protesters and police work towards rally tomorrow
News June 3, 2020
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Many rumors and concerns have begun spreading today as citizens have seen social media posts about a rally in Downtown Ellijay tomorrow.
As police and public safety prepare for the event, Captain Grace of the Ellijay Police Department spoke with FYN explaining that the protesters have applied for a permit for the event and that they are working alongside the participants to “provide a safe area” that they can exercise their constitutional right to rally.
Further, the Ellijay Police Department posted today on social media saying, “We are working with a group of local young men and women, many of them students and former students of Gilmer High, who desire to rally in the downtown area. Their stated purpose is to voice their concerns about perceived social injustices. As of this afternoon, they have applied for a permit to rally and it appears at this time that there is no reason to deny them permission to peacefully assemble.”
Police said in their post that they fully expect a peaceful rally. Capt. Grace also shared that he spoke with some of the students involved and that the police have plans to make an area available and to have an increase in police presence to protect citizens and to protect the protesters. Grace even said that should the event participants grow in number past what is expected, the police already have plans to relocate the event to a more open and conducive space so as to provide for those present.
As of now, the Ellijay Police Department and the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office are both coordinating on the event, along with outside agencies, to “ensure that this is a peaceful rally.”
The Ellijay Police stated, “We have two objectives, to ensure that the right to peacefully voice grievances are heard and to ensure life safety and property preservation.”
A few shop owners downtown declined to comment about the rally but many others are voicing concerns on social media after the recent news from Atlanta and other major cities.
Police stated, “We want to provide assurances to all those we serve; the organizers of this event have asked us to help them ensure that no one hijacks their rally by using violence or any other form of disruption. It is our full intent to ensure that this happens.”
Capt. Grace also confirmed that the application request is for the roundabout itself. Currently, it is believe that those involved will be located in the central area by the fountain.
Additionally, the Ellijay Police Department made another post recently on similar issues about the current protests in larger cities. This earlier post was a longer one, in which Chief Edward Lacey, named at the bottom of the post, stated that he wanted to support the people and provide safety in these situations. The post stated, “We understand we serve groups which vary in background, ideology, race, religion, national origin and more. We are committed to holding ourselves to a high standard which ensures justice and equality for all. We also understand that there are many groups who, through a collective voice, stand up against oppression and injustice. We also stand for justice and equality and stand against any type of oppression.”
It continued on to explain how many demonstrations are started legitimately and for one purpose, but others would usurp that purpose through violence and fear for their own reasons and purposes. But they also spoke about the process of permitting and legally gathering to demonstrate upon City Property. It stated, “We represent and serve all citizens regardless of ideology. We ask that everyone know about this process and please allow us to work with you to help you maintain legitimacy for your message.”
The rally is set to begin at 4:00 p.m. tomorrow, June 4, 2020.
A helping-hand gets sanitized amid health concerns
Community April 5, 2020
GILMER COUNTY, Ga. – Many have taken time in the recent weeks to say a special thank you to law-enforcement and emergency workers who are still at risk and cannot always maintain a “social distance” during their work.
Laura Thomas and Green Willow Soap donate hand sanitizer to the Ellijay Police Department.
This week saw another highlight in the community as two business owners stepped up to not only say thank you to those in service, but to provide a real need for them.
Laura Thomas is the owner and founder of Green Willow Soap in Ellijay. Her and her staff have been working hard this week to provide hand sanitizer to the public safety agencies in Gilmer. In fact, Gilmer Fire & Rescue, Ellijay Police, Ellijay Fire, East Ellijay Police, and the Gilmer Sheriff’s Office have all received hand sanitizer for their agents.
Thomas said, “All of the First Responders have received hand sanitizer to help them through their difficult jobs. GOD Bless them and protect them as they serve the people of Gilmer County.”
Laura Thomas and Green Willow Soap donate hand sanitizer to the East Ellijay Police Department.
Heads of these agencies told FYN that the donation has answered a need as they have had difficulties purchasing and providing enough sanitizer during shortages. Creating and supplying the donation, Thomas said “My ladies have been working so hard to make this happen for our community.”
Gilmer County Fire & Rescue has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from our private citizens, as well as our local business leaders. On Wednesday 4/1/2020 Green Willow Soap generously donated around 100 bottles of individual hand sanitizers for each of our fire and rescue crew members. This donation of hand sanitizer will greatly assist with our mission of keeping our hands clean when soap and water may not be readily available at the conclusion of a 911 call. We greatly appreciate them thinking of us during a time when anti-bacterial supplies are in short demand and hard to obtain.”
Danny Postell and Huff’s Drugs donate hand sanitizer to the Gilmer Sheriff’s Office.
But Green Willow Soap is not the only business answering this need. Gilmer Sheriff Stacy Nicholson said that earlier this month, around March 20, Danny Postell and Huff’s Drugs donated handmade hand sanitizer as well.
Sheriff Nicholson stated, “These generous donations of hand sanitizer have been huge in respect to our deputies’ safety. We have had a hard time buying it because of the high demand. But Huffs and Green Willow came through not only with the “product” but provided it in a manner that we could give individual bottles to deputies to keep with them. The donation from both was very much appreciated.”
Kauffman noted another donation for Gilmer Fire & Rescue saying, “We would also like to thank The Majestic Bee Bakery for dropping off boxes of individually wrapped cookies. While it is a small gesture of kindness, the smiles from the crews are huge and show how much they appreciate these care packages.”
Laura Thomas and Green Willow Soap donate hand sanitizer to the Gilmer Fire & Rescue.
In addition to local businesses donating, Kauffman said they have had private citizens show their support in many ways. Some of the items that have been donated to Gilmer County Fire Rescue include; N-95 face masks, surgical face masks, homemade face mask, gift cards, and baked goods. Nicholson also pointed to several donations, the Sheriff’s office have added thank you notes to their social media for donations from Pizza King and Mindy K’s Bakery.
Gilmer’s public safety professionals have said they are very appreciative of our local citizens and businesses thinking of them and supporting them during this crisis.