Birthday Trip Turns into Hurricane Watch

A birthday trip to Jamaica held a surprise of its own for Atlanta native Donna Lee Gordon: a hurricane in October.

“I’ve been in Jamaica for the last six, seven, eight years in October. So it did catch me as a shock as soon as I got here. I was mental, like, ‘Listen, a hurricane is coming, a hurricane is coming,'” she said ahead of the storm’s arrival on Tuesday.

Gordon planned to ride out the storm in her hotel, reassured by the manager that the building was storm-proofed and equipped with backup generators and a three-day emergency water supply.

The hurricane battered communities in western Jamaica for hours, with sustained winds and heavy rain flattening homes, downing power lines, and washing out roads. The prime minister declared the entire island a disaster area.

  Charges Filed in Sheriff Misconduct Probe

A Towns County grand jury indicted the county’s sheriff and a former deputy on charges related to the then-deputy’s claim that a gunshot wound he suffered on Dec. 13 was not self-inflicted.

Austin Bradburn, a deputy at the time, reported the injury was the result of an attack during a traffic stop, leading multiple law enforcement agencies to rush to the scene to assist.

At the scene, Sheriff Kenneth Henderson allegedly berated and shoved Hiawassee Police Officer José Carvajal in part over Carvajal’s securing of Bradburn’s gun as possible evidence.

The sheriff, recently suspended by Gov. Brian Kemp, faces charges of battery and violating his oath of office. The former deputy faces charges of filing a false report and violating his oath of office.

State Lawmaker Resigns

State Rep. Marcus Wiedower, R-Watkinsville, resigned from his state House District 121 seat, adding to a string of vacancies this year. 

Wiedower said growing demands from his work with a national real estate firm would prevent him from fully representing his district, which includes parts of Oconee and Clarke counties.

He served on a budget subcommittee and also chaired a study group on sports betting legislation.

Gov. Brian Kemp is expected to call a special election to fill the seat.

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➤ Bartow County: Jason Broce, the husband of state Division of Family and Children Services Director Candice Broce, was arrested on suspicion of DUI, hit and run, and child endangerment after a two-vehicle crash. (More)

➤ Albany: South Georgia voters will decide races for mayors and local council seats in Tuesday’s election. (More)

➤ Fulton County: Investigative journalist Richard Belcher and University of Georgia journalism school dean Charles Davis received awards from the Georgia First Amendment Foundation. (More)

➤ Statewide: Georgia launched a Chop, Look, Listen campaign to prevent toddler choking deaths, following daycare fatalities in Alpharetta and Brunswick. (More)

➤ Newton County: Julie Freeman of Covington, a store owner accused of embezzling $5 million and wage theft, was arrested in Florida after allegedly fleeing Georgia to avoid charges. (More)

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➤ Kennesaw State football beat UT-El Paso 33-20, improving its record to 6-2 and making the team bowl-game eligible. (More)

➤ NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal’s custom Range Rover was stolen in transport through Georgia earlier this month, and the company that customized the SUV is offering a $10,000 reward for information about the theft. (More)

➤ Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris said he’s hopeful quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will play in Sunday’s game against New England. Penix is recovering from a bone bruise in his left knee. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NCAAF | NBA | NHL | Soccer | Tennis

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➤ Delta Airlines launched nonstop Atlanta-to-Marrakech flights, marking its first route to Morocco with festive send-offs, cultural celebrations, and three weekly departures. (Watch)

➤ Gov. Brian Kemp visited Japan to bolster Georgia’s $8 billion-a-year trade ties, meeting with leaders and honoring partnerships with companies such as TOTO and Kubota. (More)

➤ Publix opened its first Bainbridge store with a ribbon-cutting, giveaways, and eager shoppers lining up before dawn. (More)

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➤ Peak fall colors are approaching, expected to reach North Georgia by Monday and South Georgia about a week later. (See Map)

➤ J Presso in Atlanta and Bitty & Beau’s in Savannah earned spots on a Yelp list of top 100 U.S. coffee shops. (More)

➤ Georgia Tech student Radu Casapu won the 2025 GeoGuessr World Championship in Denmark, using sharp observation skills to outplay 15 global geography experts. (More)

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Yesterday’s Results:

Did you ever see The Allman Brothers Band in person?

1. Yes: 36%
2. No: 64%

Which product topped Georgia’s list of imports last year?

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