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NEWS REPORTING / NEWS RECAP / NEWS ANALYSIS
CARROLL COUNTY, GEORGIA'S ONLY LOCALLY OWNED / LOCALLY OPERATED NEWSPAPER
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SEPTEMBER 12, 2021 • VOLUME 27 NUMBER 9
StarNews monthly traditional print publication /StarNews Online daily local news
www.starnewsgaonline.com
New leadership at Carroll Tomorrow and
the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce
Shown above left and right are Karen Handel and Rhyne Owenby. Handel was
hired in July as the new CEO/president of the Carroll County Chamber of
Commerce and Carroll Tomorrow. Owenby was recently promoted from director of
Business Development at the chamber to vice president. Photo by Sue Horn
Proposed new landfill for Haralson
continues to draw strong opposition
State Representative Tyler Paul Smith: “Let’s call it what it is - a dump”
by Wayne Reynolds
Rhyne Owenby was recently promoted to
the position of vice president of the Carroll
County Chamber of Commerce, joining
Karen Handel as part of the new leadership of
that local organization designed to promote
and protect the interests of area businesses.
Handel was hired in July as president and
CEO of the chamber and Carroll Tomorrow, a
countywide public-private economic develop
ment organization that was formed in 2001.
Owenby had been hired by the chamber in
2019 as the director of Business
Development. Handel replaced presi
dent/CEO Daniel Jackson who retired in
March.
Handel and Owenby sat down for a lengthy
interview with StarNews to discuss the
changes occurring at the chamber, and what
the business community at large may expect
in the near future. The first question asked
was as to how Handel ended up in Carroll
County, considering her wide and varied
career. “I love this community,” said Handel.
“One of the advantages of a statewide politi
cal campaign was that my husband Steve and
I got to travel around the state visiting a vari
ety of communities. We loved Carroll County,
and over the years have developed many
friendships here. So, it is a small world that
we ended up here.
“At the same time it is a professional
opportunity for me,” she continued. “We are
See KAREN HANDEL page 3
by Wayne Reynolds
Concerned Haralson County residents along
with State House Representative Tyler Paul
Smith, District 18 (Carroll and Haralson coun
ties), strongly oppose a new landfill proposal by
Solid Solutions Development. The landfill, with
CoVID fact: risk of
death increases with
absence of CoVID shots
Of the 99 local hospital deaths from
CoVID in last 6 months, 93 had not
received a CoVID shot of any kind
by Wayne Reynolds
Dr. Laura Larson, chair of the Carroll
County Board of Health and Medical Director
of Infection Prevention for Tanner Health
System, was guest speaker at the Wednesday,
August 11th Villa Rica Leadership Luncheon, a
well attended gathering that included many
community leaders. Dr. Larson presented an
See COVID UPDATE page 7
Alzheimer’s Group of
Carroll County: Teepa
Snow to speak live on
October 5th at Villa Rica
First Baptist Church
by Wayne Reynolds
Do you know the signs of Alzheimer’s? Do
you or someone from your church or business
know how you can help? So many people are
impacted by Alzheimer’s, as it has not only a
devastating impact on the patient, but family
and caregivers as well. The Alzheimer’s Group
of Carroll County, Inc has been helping those
affected by Alzheimer’s disease for well over
See ALZHEIMER’S GROUP page 10
a proposed site in the Buncombe area of
Haralson County, would be the largest landfill
in the state of Georgia. While Rep. Smith fights
the landfill on a state level, concerned residents
through the group “Haralson County Alliance
for Responsible Waste Management “, fight on
a local county level.
See HARALSON COUNTY DUMP page 4
Georgia Secretary of State
Brad Raffensperger visits
Carrollton Rotary Club
to discuss election reform
by Wayne Reynolds
Georgia Secretary of State Brad
Raffensperger was guest speaker at the Rotary
Club of Carrollton at the noon in-person meet
ing held Tuesday, August 24, 2021. He began
his presentation by thanking the members of
the club for their accomplishments in the com
munity and worldwide. He then went on to say
with a smile, “Wouldn’t [Washington] D.C.
politicians be more effective if they followed
the Rotary 4-way motto: Is it true?; Is it fair to
be concerned?; Will it build goodwill and better
friendships 9 ; Will it be beneficial to all con
cerned? If we work together, we will get more
done.”
Raffensperger, a Republican, was elected in
See RAFFENSPERGER page 6
Tanner Health System
Upcoming Vaccination Clinics
for individuals needing first or second dose
Register for an appointment by visiting
www.tanner.org/TakeMyShot
Third dose clinics will be announced soon
For replacement of lost vaccination card,
call Tanner Health Information
Management at 770-812-9606
and select Option 2
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