Updated - April 30, 2009 - 3:01pm - Georgia Swine Flu Patient Was In Mexico

LAGRANGE, Ga. -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed a case of swine flu Thursday at West Georgia Medical System Hospital in LaGrange in Troup County.

“Today’s confirmed case of the H1N1 flu in Georgia is a reason for precaution, not panic. I want to stress that it is an isolated case," said Gov. Sonny Perdue.
"The State of Georgia has worked diligently over the past several years to prepare for a situation like this, and we are partnering with local and federal officials to respond appropriately," Perdue said.

The patient, a 30-year-old female, is from Kentucky, but was visiting family members in LaGrange after returning from a trip to Cancun, Mexico on April 21. She has been hospitalized in LaGrange since April 26.

Mexico has been identified as the source of the swine flu outbreak.
Channel 2 Action News reporter Jeff Dore interviewed Jerry Fulks, CEO of West Georgia Medical System Hospital, live on Action News at Noon and Fulks said the patient was put into isolation on April 26 and was still there Thursday.

"The staff that works with her are using masks, gowns and other protection devices," said Fulks.
He said the hospital is not under quarantine.
"Our hospital is open; there has been no lockdown," Fulks said. "We continue to serve the needs of our patients."

Fulks said the patient's family in LaGrange has been checked and tested negative for swine flu.
Troup County health officials said Wednesday night during a public meeting that a sample from the patient was sent to the CDC for testing. The sample came back positive for swine flu.
The CDC lists cases of swine flu in at least 11 other states including Arizona, California, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, and Texas.
In Alabama, officials shut down schools for about 31,000 students in Madison County because of two probable cases of swine flu.

Some schools also closed in California, Michigan and New York.

This article is provided by Channel 2 Action News - WSBTV.com - Atlanta GA

April 29, 2009 - 5:52pm - World Health Organization raises pandemic alert to phase 5

World Health Organization raises pandemic alert to phase 5

Current level of influenza pandemic alert raised from phase 4 to 5

Based on assessment of all available information and following several expert consultations, Dr Margaret Chan, WHO's Director-General raised the current level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 4 to 5. She stated that all countries should immediately activate their pandemic preparedness plans. At this stage, effective and essential measures include heightened surveillance, early detection and treatment of cases, and infection control in all health facilities.
Swine influenza - update 5

29 April 2009 -- The situation continues to evolve rapidly. As of 18:00 GMT, 29 April 2009, nine countries have officially reported 148 cases of swine influenza A/H1N1 infection. The United States Government has reported 91 laboratory confirmed human cases, with one death. Mexico has reported 26 confirmed human cases of infection including seven deaths.

The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths - Austria (1), Canada (13), Germany (3), Israel (2), New Zealand (3), Spain (4) and the United Kingdom (5).
Further information on the situation will be available on the WHO website on a regular basis.
WHO advises no restriction of regular travel or closure of borders. It is considered prudent for people who are ill to delay international travel and for people developing symptoms following international travel to seek medical attention, in line with guidance from national authorities.
There is also no risk of infection from this virus from consumption of well-cooked pork and pork products. Individuals are advised to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water on a regular basis and should seek medical attention if they develop any symptoms of influenza-like illness.

LARRY LaPRADE ESTATE AUCTION

Clarkesville GA - LARRY LaPRADE ESTATE AUCTION - April 24,25 & 26, 2009. Friday's Auction will be for hard to Find Classic Car parts. And On Saturday and Sunday will be the Big Classic Car Auction for some cars you would not believe still run and Look GREAT!!!!!.

Here are some Photos of Cars and parts that will be for Auction.

For More Info and Flyer for this Event, Please Click the Link Below

http://www.gorescorvettes.com/events.htm

Habersham County 911 Over-the-Air System Back up

The Habersham Dispatch Over-the-Air System for Law Enforcement is back on the Air. No Reason at this time for the outage.

Habersham County 911 Over-the-Air System Down

Habersham County 911 Over-the-Air Communications went down around 12:45am, April 20, 2009. The part of the system that went down is the Law Enforcement Channel which includes Habersham County Sheriff Office. The Fire/EMS is still up and running. The Phone Portion of the 911 Emergency System never had a Problem and is still working.

Habersham Hills Cinemas Announces 2009 Summer KidFlix Schedule

Please Click on the Following Link for more Info:

http://www.hometownmovies.com/kidflix/

April 10, 2009 - A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM

..A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM EDT FOR RABUN AND
NORTHERN HABERSHAM COUNTIES.

AT 600 PM EDT.NATL WEATHER SVC DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR BATESVILLE.OR ABOUT 9 MILES NO. OF
CLARKESVILLE.MOVING NE AT 35 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR.
NACOOHE LAKE BY 610 PM EDT.
LAKEMONT & LAKE RABUN BY 615 PM EDT.
TIGER BY 620 PM EDT.
CLAYTON BY 625 PM EDT.
MTN CITY BY 630 PM EDT.
PINE MTN BY 645 PM EDT.

MOBILE HOMES & VEHICLES SHOULD BE ABANDONED FOR STURDIER SHELTER.
OTHERWISE.GO TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST LEVEL OF YOUR HOME
OR PLACE OF BUSINESS. MAKE SURE THERE ARE AS MANY WALLS & FLOORS
BETWEEN YOU & THE OUTSIDE AS POSSIBLE.

April 10, 2009 - TORNADO WATCH ISSUED AT 3:10pm

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a
Tornado Watch for portions of

      central and eastern Alabama
      northern Georgia
      far western North Carolina

Effective this Friday afternoon and evening from 340 PM until
1000 PM EDT.

...This is a particularly dangerous situation...

Destructive tornadoes...large hail to 3 inches in diameter...
thunderstorm wind gusts to 70 mph...and dangerous lightning are
possible in these areas.

The Tornado Watch area is approximately along and 70 statute
miles east and west of a line from 55 miles west northwest of
Asheville North Carolina to 30 miles southeast of Anniston
Alabama.  For a complete depiction of the watch see the
associated watch outline update (wous64 kwns wou4).

Remember...a Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
and possible warnings.

Other watch information...continue...ww 131...ww 132...ww 133...

Discussion...intense mid/upper level system and associated jets will
continue to focus outbreak of supercells ewd across ww this evening.
Very favorable environment in place for large...damaging hail along
with potential for long-tracked/damaging tornadoes.  Tornado threat
will be enhanced along and south of wedge surface front over GA/al
counties within ww.

Aviation...tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
surface and aloft to 3 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface
wind gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to
500. Mean storm motion vector 25040.

April 10, 2009 - The NWS has Issued a SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
northern Habersham County in northeast Georgia
Rabun County in northeast Georgia
northwestern Oconee County in upstate South Carolina

* until 215 PM EDT

* at 134 PM EDT...National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a
severe thunderstorm capable of producing nickel size hail.  This
storm was located 8 miles northwest of Clarkesville...or about 5
miles south of Batesville...and was moving northeast at 45 mph.

* The severe thunderstorm will be near...
Batesville by 140 PM EDT...
nacoohe lake by 145 PM EDT...
Lake Rabun and Turnerville by 150 PM EDT...
Lakemont and Tallulah Falls by 155 PM EDT...
Clayton by 200 PM EDT...

although large hail to the size of nickels is the main threat with
this severe thunderstorm...brief damaging winds could also occur.

To report damaging winds...large hail...or flooding...through our
automated reporting system...call our toll f

Bank Robbed in Commerce Georgia

COMMERCE - A branch of United Community Bank was robbed Thursday morning in Commerce.

Commerce Police Chief John Gaissert said it happened about 9:30 at the UCB branch on Homer Road.

Gaissert said the robber was a black man, 5'8"-5'10" tall, weighing 220-240 pounds, wearing a black sweatshirt and "what looked like gauze" over his face.

He said the suspect may have fled in a "red vehicle." Investigators are not sure of that, however, but witnesses told police they saw a red vehicle leaving the area around the bank at a high rate of speed about the time of the robbery, heading toward Commerce and there was no other information on the vehicle, such as make and model.

Gaissert said not one was injured in the holdup and the robber escaped with an undisclosed amount of money.

April 2, 2009 - Wind Advisory in effect from midnight tonight to 6 PM EDT

...Wind Advisory in effect from midnight tonight to 6 PM EDT
Friday...

The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued
a Wind Advisory...which is in effect from midnight tonight to
6 PM EDT Friday.

As a cold front crosses the area Friday morning...winds will
increase immediately along the front especially over the southern
Escarpment and south facing slopes. Behind the front...westerly
winds will become gusty on Friday. Winds across the North Carolina
and Georgia mountains will generally reach 15 to 25 mph with gusts
as high as 40 mph during the greatest period of mixing in the
afternoon. These winds combined with the wet ground conditions
caused by recent rainfall will create a situation favorable for
isolated trees and power lines to fall. Wind speeds and gusts will
diminish quickly after sunset across most of the mountains except
for locations in the northern mountains and Escarpment which will
hang on to some lingering wind gusts.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A Wind Advisory means that winds of 35 mph are expected. Winds
this strong can make driving difficult...especially for high
profile vehicles. Use extra caution.