Towns County to be represented at state Democratic convention

 Tammy Bates of Hiawassee will represent Towns County when Democrats from throughout Georgia meet in Savannah this weekend for the party's annual state convention.

Tammy Bates

Bates is vice chair of the Towns County Democratic Committee and the local party's representative to the Democratic Party of Georgia.

Convening on Saturday, Aug. 1, the state convention is where Democrats from all 159 Georgia counties come together to organize, connect, and build the future of Georgia.  Elected officials, candidates, activists, organizers, labor leaders, community advocates, and grassroots Democrats will be in attendance.

Delegates will have the opportunity during the various caucus, council, and committee breakout sessions to hear from the Democratic candidates on the Nov. 3 general election ballot and learn about the diversity that makes Georgia strong.

Georgia Democrats — including in Towns County — are currently engaged in "Ground Game Georgia," a statewide grassroots campaign and voter outreach program organized by the state Democratic party for the 2026 election cycle. It focuses on field operations, expanding voter registration, and mobilizing communities to vote up and down the ballot. 

A three-time published author, Bates is a retired senior merchandising director with extensive leadership experience at a Fortune 500 company where she oversaw strategic merchandising initiatives.

Locally, Bates supports local non-profit organizations and civic-engagement efforts, bringing her professional background in leadership, strategic planning, and organizational management to bear to inform her work as an advocate for issues affecting the residents of Towns County and the state of Georgia.  She is committed to strengthening the Towns County community through public service and citizen involvement.

A Response to Re: "Broken Promises"

 Published in the Towns County Herald and North Georgia News June 17, 2026

Dear Editor,

A writer last week challenged part of an earlier letter to the editor (“Broken Promises,” May 27, 2026) that stated Trump broke his promise not to start wars (“Re: Broken Promises,” June 10, 2026).  Of course, Trump has used the qualifier “Forever Wars” in his more recent speeches as the writer claims, but he also made the same promise without the qualifier when running for office as he did in June 2024 when he proclaimed his election was a choice between “war or no war.”  

In July 2024 at the Republican National Convention he said, “With our victory in November, the years of war, weakness, and chaos will be over.  I don’t have wars.”

In August 2024 at a rally in Pennsylvania he promised, “Under Trump, we will have no more wars, no more disruptions, and we will have prosperity and peace for all.”

In his victory speech in November 2024, after a win predicated on those earlier promises, he included this statement: “I’m not going to start a war, I’m going to stop wars.”

Trump has a habit of dodging accountability by adding modifiers to earlier unambiguous promises so they seem to fit with his current and contrary actions when he breaks those promises.  The writer picks up on his later statement about “forever wars” while ignoring the times he did promise no wars under his presidency.

Of course, the other problem with the argument presented by the writer is that it is an example of cherry picking one aspect of the earlier letter to undermine the entire point being made, which is that Trump has broken other promises.  Trump’s promise to lower prices mentioned in the earlier letter is obviously broken given inflation is running at 4 percent and the letter writer does not defend Trump on this point.

This other broken promise also finds echoes in the promises above.  Under his presidency we have had nothing but chaos and weakness (Iran has us by the Hormuz).  We see nothing but disruptions and a loss of prosperity in his handling of the economy.  And, if the stories are true about the most recent peace agreement he is making with Iran, he will pay Iran for that peace and earn nothing but a vague promise to deal with whatever nuclear threat the Iranians pose in future negotiations – the very thing the writer accuses Democrats of doing.

Finally, as far as Trump confronting the threat of a nuclear Iran, I remember in his own words he “destroyed” Iran’s nuclear program in June 2025.  Apparently that was one more lie he had to modify to fit his current and contrary actions.

David Plunkett
Young Harris

Towns Democrats to hear about "Roadless Rule" proposed repeal

MountainTrue's Callie Moore will focus on the proposed cancellation of the "Roadless Rule" when Towns County Democrats meet Thursday, June 11, for their monthly meeting at the Towns County Senior Center, 954 North Main Street in Hiawassee.

The meeting will begin with the Democrats' biennial caucus at 5:30 p.m. to elect six members to the 12-member Towns County Democratic Committee. Anyone who is registered to vote and identifies as a Democrat is invited to participate as a candidate or voter in the caucus if they meet the residency, registration, and affirmation requirements of the state party bylaws.

Ms. Moore's program will begin at 6 p.m.

Callie Moore

A U.S. Forest Service proposal would remove protections from Inventoried Roadless Areas nationwide, opening these lands to road building, commercial logging, mining, and other development. In north Georgia, Inventoried Roadless Areas are located exclusively within the Chatttahoochee-Oconee National Forest, totaling up to approximately 64,800 acres of ecologically sensitive ecosystems, iconic hiking routes, and native trout habitats. Tray Mountain Roadless Area is the largest contiguous tract that would be affected, spanning roughly 36,300 acres in Towns, Rabun, Habersham, and White counties.

In western North Carolina, affected areas include South Mills River, the Black Mountains, and Tusquitee Bald. That includes more than 150,000 acres in Pisgah and Nantahala national forests alone. 

The Forest Service adopted the Roadless Area Conservation Rule in 2001 to protect nearly 59 million acres nationwide of national forest lands from road building, logging, and industrial development. The rule safeguards clean drinking water, wildlife habitat, and back-country recreation opportunities.

In June 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced plans to cancel the Rule. If finalized, the rollback would affect nearly one-third of all national forest lands in the United States. This potential repeal threatens up to 88% of Georgia's roadless areas, which could open them up to new road construction, commercial logging, mining, and other developments.

Ms. Moore served as director of the Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition for 17 years until the organization merged in 2019 with MountainTrue, where she is southwestern regional director.  She has a master's degree in water resources from Indiana University and is a graduate of West Carolina University's Environmental Health Program.

Ms. Moore previously worked with the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources as a river basin planner for the Division of Water Quality, during which time she worked extensively in several regional river basins, including Hiwassee, Little Tennessee, and Savannah. Other prior work experience includes water quality monitoring, sediment/erosion control compliance inspections, and environmental education for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the Tennessee Valley Authority. 

Broken Promises

Published in the Towns County Herald May 20, 2026, and North Georgia News May 27, 2026

Dear Editor

    During his campaign for President, Donald Trump promised to lower prices on day one.  Because of his illegal tariffs, prices have gone up.  Trump also promised not to start any new wars.  His war with Iran is costing American taxpayers over a billion dollars a day.  Gas prices are skyrocketing and will stay high for months after the war ends.

    On May 12, President Trump said, "I don't think about Americans' financial situations.  I don't think about anybody."  Does that sound like a President of the United States of America?

    The voters who chose Donald Trump were promised a better economy and no new wars.  He has broken his promises and betrayed his supporters.

Elaine Roberts
Hiawassee, GA

Appeal to Humanity

 Published in the Towns County Herald May 13, 2026

Dear Editor,

    I recently left a Bible study where derogatory comments about Democrats were made at a communal meal.  As the only minority, my perspective was treated as something to be "converted" rather than heard or accepted.  This pressure to conform has turned a place of faith into one of exclusion.

    Am I truly the "evil," "crazy," or "treasonous" person these labels suggest, or am I simply your neighbor? Consider the Parable of the Good Samaritan.  Christ defines our neighbor not by political party, but by our capacity for mercy.  When we dehumanize others or justify violence against those protecting the marginalized, we lose our witness.  If a minor infraction like jaywalking led to you being ripped from your family without due process, would you finally feel empathy?

    The "Eye for an Eye" doctrine was meant to limit vengeance, yet today many seek to escalate it.  I find myself caught between Democrats driven away from the church and Christians who refuse to pray for their "enemies."  What happened to the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount.

    You are my neighbor.  Though you may cast me as an enemy, I pray that when you stand at heaven's gates, you have an answer for how you treated "the least of these."  My heart is breaking, and I believe God's is too.  I appeal to your humanity: bridge the gap with those who look and think differently.  You don't have to be a Democrat to join the protest for mercy, justice, and human rights.

Elaine Kapell
Hiawassee, GA

Consider This

 

Published in the Towns County Herald March 4, 2026

Dear Editor,

          When considering who to vote for in the 2026 Georgia elections for governor and state legislature, I strongly recommend voters seriously scrutinize those candidates who are advocating to drastically cut — or even eliminate — the state income tax and property taxes. The resulting impacts on our public school system could be dramatic.

          Income taxes fund state government, which is the largest source of funding for Georgia public schools, followed by funding derived from local property taxes.

          As you consider your vote, question what these candidates propose to substitute for the missing income and property taxes.  Most likely it will be increased sales taxes, the most regressive tax in our system because it hurts most those who can afford it the least.

          The idea that Georgia property taxes are “insane” is absurd. Property taxes we paid in Fairfax County, Virginia, on a smaller house and smaller lot, were almost four times as high as here in Towns County. But, the public schools there are considered some of the best in the country.

          Funding for Georgia public schools has already been negatively affected by our state legislature approving the diversion of public funds to private schools through vouchers and private charter schools.

          When you hear someone promising to eliminate the state income tax and reduce your property tax, ask yourself these questions: Whose interests are they serving, and what replaces those taxes? Elections have consequences.

Vickie Plunkett
Young Harris, Georgia

Re: Clyde’s “Year In Review”

Published in the North Georgia News Jan. 21, 2026

Dear Editor,

      As we enter a new year, rather than looking forward with great hope and expectations, many Americans are filled with increasing stress and anxiety. During the past year, we have watched thousands of civil service workers lose their jobs through DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency, an appointed group of unelected individuals operating without official congressional approval. These actions weakened government institutions that were established to serve and protect the citizens of this country (NOAA, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; EPA, The Environmental Protection Agency; The US Forest Service; The Department of Education; USAID, the agency for International Development; the Social Security Administration; the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; the National Science Foundation; the CDC, the Center for Disease Control) and more. As this “slash and burn” project played out, the US Congress passed the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” which continued tax cuts for the very wealthy while cutting basic support services for the poor and working-class citizens of this country.

      In his "Year In Review" letter to “the folks of Georgia’s Ninth District”, US representative Andrew Clyde stated, "I proudly voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill, which includes tremendous wins for the folks throughout our Ninth District." Rather than receiving a "Win", I, for one, have experienced only increased costs in groceries, health insurance, home insurance, utility bills, prescription drugs, and every day essential items. Many price hikes are due to increased tariffs, which are really import taxes that have not been authorized or challenged by Congress. Representative Clyde calls himself "a fiscal hawk and a member of both the House Appropriations and Budget Committees", but has he raised an objection to the Administration’s recent attack on Venezuela and increased threats towards Cuba and Greenland? And what about the billions of dollars needed to carry out a regime change in Venezuela and to reclaim and rebuild their oil fields?

      Our country is facing huge challenges, not the least of which is the national debt. As of early January 2026, the US national debt is over $38 trillion, an increase from late 2024’s $35.2 trillion. Basic economics would suggest that cutting taxes for the very wealthy and corporations will only exacerbate this crisis. This country needs clear eyed leaders who put country before greed and power, and who will legislate following our constitution which provides checks and balances over the three branches of government. Congress, which supposedly holds the country’s purse strings, is not doing its job and they should be held accountable. Those who voted “Yes” for the “One Big Beautiful Bill” need to be advised that the American voter and taxpayer is watching.

Jennifer Cordier
Young Harris, Georgia