Murray County changes contributions to employees’ 401k
Featured, Featured Stories, News, Police & Government June 23, 2020
Murray County’s Sole Commissioner, Greg Hogan, took steps to help employees plan for retirement on Tuesday at a special called meeting.
Hogan signed a resolution and amendment to change the vestment schedule of the county’s 401k retirement plan.
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The amendment allows employees to become vested after three years, instead of five. An employee becomes vested when the county begins to contribute to their plan.
“It was taking five years for employees to become vested in the program,” said Hogan. “This way, they get the county contributing a little bit quicker.”
Hogan said he hopes the move will encourage more employees to sign up for the 401K plan.
In other Murray County, Hogan said the county would stop picking up storm debris from the April tornadoes on June 29, 2020.
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Northwest Elementary may not be ready for school in September
Board of Education April 16, 2020
Northwest Elementary School may not ready by the time schools re-open in the fall was the general consensus of the Murray County Board of Education at Thursday’s meeting. Two tornadoes,
Northwest Elementary School suffered extensive damage after a tornado ripped through Murray County Easter Sunday.
which killed seven people, ripped through Murray County Sunday evening, with one tearing the roof off the elementary school.
“Right now, we just don’t know,” Steve Loughridge, Superintendent of Murray County Schools said. He added that he and the insurance adjuster had been to the site several times since Tuesday. “We are working to get Northwest back in shape as quickly as possible. We just don’t know how long that will take.”
Loughridge said part of the delay was the fact they had to make certain Northwest Elementary School was structurally sound before going in and after it was cleared, they were able to get a more accurate view of the damage.
The roof was torn off the gym and older part of the school which was built in the 1950’s. Glass was busted out in the large windows.
“There was extensive damage to the gym, the upper elementary wing, and the media center,” he said.
He said that all carpet, electrical and flooring will have to be replaced in the most severely damaged areas since they were underwater and electrical is housed in the roof. The newer side where lower elementary classes are had less damage, but Loughridge hopes they can replace the entire roof.
That’s the damage to the building. Most of the technology left in the school was ruined.
“Technology went in first and got all the computers out. They will be recycled and, of course, we documented everything,” he said.
Laughridge said a temporary roof has been installed so the drying out process can continue and will continue non-stop until it is dry.
“The biggest issue was power, but the company brought generators,” he said. “Fortunately, power was able to restored to parts of the school and by the end of the week, it should be as dry as it can get,” he said.
Loughridge said he was able to arrange through Governor Brian Kemp’s office permission for teachers to return to the school to retrieve personal belongings. The schools have been closed since March 13 to stem the COVID-19 pandemic.
The biggest issue, he said, is mold developing in the warm, wet school.
“The cleaning company cleans Emory Medical Center, so when they told me that, I felt confident they could handle Northwest Elementary,” he said.
Woodlawn Elementary and Bagley Middle School
While Northwest sustained the most damage, it wasn’t the only school to fall victim to the storms.
Bagley Middle School, which opened post-storm as a shelter, had roof damage and water damage. Insurance adjusters have come out and Loughridge estimates the damage to be around $100,000.
Woodlawn Elementary, which is beside Bagley, lost their sign and Loughridge estimates replacing it will be less than $20,000.
Shelter in the storm
According to weather reports, Chatsworth has an 80-percent chance of thunderstorms on Sunday, just one week after the storms that caused damage to more than 100 homes. While early reports do not indicate this front to be severe, Loughridge said Bagley Middle School will be open for shelter.
The school opened post-storm Sunday and had as many as 250 people seeking refuge.
The school currently serves as the drop off point and volunteer registration point.
Loughridge said they are currently talking to local churches about the best way to coordinate relief efforts. Even after clean-up, the needs are huge for families.
On Tuesday, Sparky Roberts, a member of the board, said about 750 people were fed from Bagley Middle School, all with donated food.
“I’m proud to be from Murray County,” Loughridge said.
UPDATED 4/18: Information for storm victims.
Community April 15, 2020Storm victims: there are sites set up throughout the community with food, toiletries, water. Please go to these sites to pick up these items donated to you.
Sites: Deer Park (back side), Welcome Valley Baptist on Fullers Chapel, Ridge View Lane @ Brandon Circle, Ridgeview Lane @ Ridgeview Circle, Zion Hill Baptist, Twin Lakes
4/16
Volunteers:Registration for volunteers will begin at 8:30 at the main entrance of Bagley Middle School. Please go register to get your assignments. Bagley will be available from 8:30-6 Friday.
Victims: We are still offering our services to you. If you are in need of essential items such as non perishable foods, diapers, toiletries, etc. you can pick up those items from 8:30-6. Items will be brought to your vehicle at the cafeteria entrance.
Donations: Our donation site at Bagley is well stocked with items. If you have already made arrangements to bring those donations to Bagley you can still do so. However, monetary donations will be best at this time. Rockbridge in Chatsworth will be available for donations Friday (11 am-7 pm) as well. Please no clothing.
Monetary donations: cash/checks can be taken at the registration desk at Bagley (8:30 am-6pm), Rockbridge in Chatsworth (11am-7pm), or the office at Holly Creek Baptist Church (Fri. 9 am-12pm).Checks need to be made out to Murray Disaster Relief 2020. If you would like to mail cash/check, please mail to 422 Holly Creek Cool Springs Rd. Chatsworth, Ga 30705
Information for volunteers and victims in Murray’s tornado relief
Murray County EMA has provided important information fort hose impacted by the tornadoes or those wanting to help. Here is the message put out by the Murray County EMS Facebook page.
A house on Hwy. 286 had the roof blown house. Relatives said no one was hurt as the family made it to the basement shortly before the tornado came through.
Tomorrow 4/16/2020:
Volunteers: registration will be at the main entrance of Bagley Middle starting at 8:30 am. You must sign in with the registration desk before volunteering in the morning!
For victims: a food pickup line will be at the Bagley cafeteria entrance ( the side closer to 286.) please let someone outside know and we will bring food out to you. Do not come in the building
If you are looking to donate money towards the tornado relief in Murray county, donations can be made at the
registration desk at Bagley middle school(8:30-6),Rockbridge in Chatsworth (11-7),or the office at Holly Creek. Checks are preferred. Checks need to be made out to Murray Disaster Relief 2020. A PayPal account is in the process of being made for online donations as well.
More than one hundred homes were impacted by the storm, including 35 that were completely demolished.
More than 250 volunteers show up to clean up tornado destruction
Community April 14, 2020
According to her daughter, Dina Rios, 66, was among those injured when the tornado came through this neighborhood in Murray County Sunday night.
More than 250 volunteers showed up at Bagley Middle School on Tuesday to help the community recover from two tornadoes that ripped through Murray County on Easter Sunday. More than 150 homes were impacted by Sunday’s tornadoes in Murray County. Dewayne Bain, Director of Emergency Management for Murray County said 35 homes were completely wiped out. Seven people were killed and 23 hospitalized as a result of a severe storm pattern that crossed the southeast.
“The damage assessment of was higher than we expected,” he said.
Affected homes, those with any type of issues such as missing shingles or trees toppled, were 57, homes with minor damage were 53, homes with major damage were 23 and destroyed were 35. Power remained off for a little more than 800 residents, he said, based on numbers from North Georgia EMC. It did not include numbers from Georgia Power, but Bain said the area hit did not have many Georgia Power customers and the number wouldn’t be affected too much.
The overnight April 12 storms whipped through North Georgia and the Western Carolinas
Dewayne Bain, Director of Emergency Management for Murray County.
leaving approximately 75,000 without power and seven deaths. Reports indicated that the area experienced winds of 60 mph and two tornadoes in Murray County. Crews worked all day on April 13 to clean up the damage. Northwest Georgia took the brunt of the storm and received a visit from Gov. Brian Kemp, who declared a statewide emergency.
“We came out of rescue mode into recovery this morning in full force,” he said.
He said they have started a Facebook page to help keep everyone informed.
Volunteer efforts
Gale Buckner, second from left, talks to volunteers at Bagley Middle School.
Bain put out the word that volunteers should register at Bagley Middle School and the community did not hesitate.
Volunteers showed up at Bagley Middle School to register starting at 8 a.m. By Tuesday afternoon, the smell of barbeque from a food truck drifted through the air, mingling with the smell fo cut wood. The line to register was backed down a hallway, leading into the cafeteria where they registered and supplies were doled out. Cases of water were stacked on tables and several tables held food — sandwiches, fruit, and cupcakes..
“The outpouring has been unbelievable,” he said, adding that they had to start turning away
Volunteers bring in cases of water to give to volunteers and victims of Sunday’s tornadoes.
some volunteers.
Gale Buckner, who is in charge of the volunteer efforts said there will be plenty of work for more than a week. The issue was safety.
“We’ve had a wonderful turnout, we just had too many people inside the most impacted area,” she said.
Buckner estimated more than 250 volunteers have come through the doors. “At least,” she emphasized.
She said volunteers will be needed the rest of the week and although they hope to have the area cleaned by Friday, the work won’t stop.
“We have so many without homes who need help with transportation, medication, medical expenses, funeral expenses,” she said.
One of their biggest needs at the moment is laundering services or volunteers.
More than 250 people showed up to help their friends and neighbors clean up after two tornadoes tore through Murray County.
“So many people have pulled their clothes out of the mud and they need to wash them,” she said.
What is needed
Gloves (leather and cloth)
Large garbage bags
Cleaning supplies
Water
Non-perishable snacks
Clothing donations can be made to Eton Baptist Church and Faith Worship Center, which are hosting clothes closets.
Toiletries can be donated to Rockbridge Church on Hwy. 76 and First Baptist Church of Chatsworth.
The Salvation Army is also helping with donations collections.
Buckner added donations can be brought to Bagley Middle School and they will pick up donated items.
Bain said they are also in the process of starting a fund for people to make monetary donations to in order to provide financial assistance to those impacted by the storms.
Bagley Middle School ground zero for recovery efforts
Community April 14, 2020Bagley Middle School became ground zero for rescue efforts after two tornadoes tore through Murray County late Sunday night and will continue to serve in the aftermath of Easter’s deadly storms.
Dewayne Bain, Director of Emergency Management for Murray County.
Dewayne Bain, Director of Emergency Management for Murray County, said at Monday afternoon’s press conference he’s received numerous calls about volunteering to help clean the parts of the county that were damaged.
“Our efforts are switching to recovery and clean-up,” he said, adding that so far, everyone is accounted for as those reported missing have been located. In all, seven people died and 23 were hospitalized as a result of the two tornadoes.
Greg Hogan, Sole Commissioner of Murray County.
Greg Hogan, Sole Commissioner for Murray County, said in a live Facebook post Tuesday that there were still power lines down creating safety hazards.
“If anyone has Bobcats or excavators, go to the homes of some our elderly and help clean up,” he said.
Bain said he and his staff will revisit the damage on Tuesday morning and start a volunteer effort at Bagley Middle School for those wanting to help to sign up.
Volunteers should meet at Bagley Middle School at noon.
The school opened up last night around 10 p.m. after the roof was ripped off the apartment buildings across from the school.
A house on Hwy. 286 had the roof blown house. Relatives said no one was hurt as the family made it to the basement shortly before the tornado came through.
Mike Pritchett said they opened the doors to the middle school after Bain asked if they could.
At the height of the relocation, Pritchett said they had 150-200 people in the school. Bain said about 40 of those were residents of the apartments. The American Red Cross had those displaced by the two tornadoes in hotel rooms by late morning.
“We provided transportation for the last seventeen,” said Pritchett.
The cafeteria at Bagley began getting breakfast and lunches together for emergency crews. Paul’s Drive-thru donated food and as the day went on, donations of water, sodas and food poured in from Lowe’s, Family Dollar, Dollar General and individuals.
But, it’s not just emergency crews, Pritchett said.
Northwest Elementary School suffered extensive damage after a tornado ripped through Murray County Easter Sunday.
“They are preparing bag breakfasts and lunches for students as well,” he said, adding those alone were about 1,800 meals.
Lowes of Dalton donated buckets, gloves, contractor trash bags, and tarps to help with relief efforts.
Governor Brian Kemp flew in to survey damages and speak with local officials about the damage and recovery efforts. He declared another state of emergency for Georgia, the first for the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the nation and the second for the rash of storms that swept through Georgia on Sunday and Monday. He asked if Bagley experienced any damage.
“ Yes,” Steve Loughridge answered. “We have some roof damage.”
Governor Brian Kemp arrived at Bagley Middle School Monday to drive through the devastation caused by two tornadoes Sunday night.
Harder hit was Northwest Elementary School on Hwy. 225.
“About 60-percent of the roof is gone,” said Loughridge.
Loughridge told Kemp he went to Northwest Elementary early this morning to shut off the propane tanks.
“There was a fireman there who asked if I knew how to do it. I did, so he went to join the search and rescue,” Loughridge said.
Lois HIckman has worked at Northeast Elementary School as an assistant PE teacher for 24 years. She said the damage to the school was “eye-opening” but her main concern was for the children impacted by Easter’s tornadoes.
While some have questioned Bain’s decision to not open the school until after the storm passed, he said he there is no way of knowing where the tornadoes will strike and felt people would be safer sheltering in place. While Bagley had some damage, it was minimal, compared to Northwest Elementary, which lost at least 60-percent of it’s roof.
Several faculty and staff were on hand at Northwest, inspecting the damage. Glass littered the parking lot from the large windows and the roof was peeled away, exposing rafters.
“I’ve worked here for 24 years,” said Lois Hickman, who came to see the damaged school. “It can be replaced, but I worry about the students. We’ll have a lot displaced from here.”
One woman worked cleaning up her mother’s trailer. Her mother was one of the injured. “She had surgery this morning,” said the woman, who only wanted to be identified by her first name, Angel. “We can’t even see her because of the restrictions in place.”
Angel said her mother’s injuries, though serious, weren’t life-threatening. “Her Harley is okay and her dogs, but everything else is gone.”
She said the front of the trailer was totally destroyed and the back of it was flipped upside down.