Calhoun Times

11/08/2025

11/07/2025

🎄✨ There’s something for everyone this season in Calhoun-Gordon County!

From dazzling displays at the Harris Arts Center's 21st Annual Festival of Trees and special Veterans Day events (including the Calhoun Schools–sponsored Veterans Day Parade) to live music and family films at the Friends of Calhoun's GEM Theatre, there’s no shortage of ways to celebrate community, culture, and creativity.

📬 Don’t miss a moment—subscribe to the "What’s Going On in Calhoun-Gordon County" newsletter for the latest events and happenings! (Link in comments.)

11/07/2025

Don't freeze, take action now!

The first widespread freezing temperatures of the season are expected across Georgia early next week. Impacts to outdoor or cold sensitive plumbing and to cold sensitive vegetation are likely.

Now is the time to prepare so that your family, pets, plants and pipes all stay safe and warm. Please monitor updates from your local National Weather Service and reliable media outlets this weekend and next week.

*There is a typo in the graphic below. Under Protect Pipes, it should say to cover outdoor pipes and let INDOOR faucets slowly drip to prevent freezing and breaking.*

11/07/2025

11/06/2025

It’s officially “deck the streets” season in Downtown Calhoun! Wreaths, garlands, ribbons and bows are all are going up, and that holiday magic is starting to fill the air!💫

Huge thanks to our City of Calhoun Maintenance Department. These guys work tirelessly behind the scenes to make our streets shine for the holidays. Their hard work often goes unseen, but it’s what brings the holiday season to life downtown.

Next time you see them out working, give them a wave or a thank you — they’ve earned it! ❤️👏

11/06/2025

11/05/2025

11/05/2025

FULL LOCAL ELECTION RESULTS: With two local council seats up for grabs in Gordon County, Tuesday's election ended with one incumbent unseated and the other winning another term.

Meanwhile, three ballot referendums were passed by local voters with one continuation of a sales tax, one new sales tax, and one modification to Calhoun and Gordon County homestead exemption.

In Calhoun, former Gordon County commissioner Bruce Potts unseated longtime council member and incumbent Ray Denmon 964 to 739 for the Post 4 seat.

A total of 1,763 of Calhoun's 10,974 registered voters cast a ballot for a turnout in the city limits of just over 16%. The race was the only contested seat on the City of Calhoun ballot this election.

In Fairmount, the council will maintain a familiar look come January, as incumbent Joanna Brannon defeated challenger Thomas York in the town's only contested race for Post 3.

Brannon garnered 88 votes in the race, while York had 36. The election drew 129 of the town's 576 registered voters for a 22.4% turnout.

All local elections on the ballot were non-partisan.

A pair of sales tax proposals -- one continuation, one new -- were approved by local voters, with the passing of both a Sales and Use Tax for Educational Purposes, as well as a Floating Local Option Sales Tax.

The education tax, to continue collections already in place for local school capital projects, has aided both local school districts with a host of additions, renovations, and facility improvements in recent years. That measure passed 3,072 votes to 2,172.

Meanwhile, the FLOST is meant to offset local millage rates with the intent to reduce property taxes imposed by Gordon County and the cities of Calhoun, Plainville, and Fairmount. The FLOST vote passed 3,456 to 1,771 votes. The 1% FLOST will be imposed for a five year period once collection begins.

Also on the ballot, added homestead exemption referendums were passed by both Calhoun and Gordon County voters -- 1,478 to 251 in the city, and 2,960 to 530 in the county.

These homestead referendums aim to increase exemptions for residents between 65 and 69 to $50,000 of assessed value; $115,000 for ages 70-74; and $125,000 for ages 75 and older.

Two local municipal elections were canceled, in both Plainville and Resaca, due to having no contested races.

Below is a list of vote totals in local uncontested races that did appear on ballots:

City of Calhoun City Council Post 3
♦ Ed Moyer (Incumbent): 1,453

Calhoun City School Board Post 1
♦ Andy Baxter (Incumbent): 1,314

Calhoun City School Board Post 2
♦ Rhoda K. Washington (Incumbent): 1,395

Calhoun City School Board Post 3
♦ Stephen King (Incumbent): 1,369

Fairmount City Council Post 1
♦ Mike Young (Incumbent): 106

In the statewide races for Public Service Commission, a pair of Democrats took those seats. Alicia Johnson and Peter Hubbard unseated Republican incumbents Tim Echols and Fitz Johnson.

Republicans still have a 3-2 majority on the PSC, the state agency responsible for regulating utilities and setting consumer rates. The PSC board is expected to play a significant role in planning for future needs of electricity-hungry data centers.

Locally, voters in Gordon County heavily favored both Republican incumbents in the PSC race, voting 3,808 to 1,383 for Echols, and 3,797 to 1,378 for Johnson.

With two local council seats up for grabs in Gordon County, Tuesday's election ended with one incumbent unseated and the other winning another term.

11/05/2025

EDUCATION, FLOST TAXES PASS: A pair of sales tax proposals -- one continuation, one new -- have been passed by Gordon County voters.

In Tuesday's election, local voters approved both the Sales and Use Tax for Educational Purposes, as well as Floating Local Option Sales Tax.

The education tax, to continue collections already in place for local school capital projects has aided both local school districts with a host of additions, renovations, and facility improvements in recent years. That measure passed 3,072 votes to 2,172.

Meanwhile, the FLOST is meant to offset local millage rates with the intent to reduce property tax bills for local governments. The FLOST vote passed 3,456 to 1,771 votes.

Also on the ballot, added homestead exemption referendums were passed by both Calhoun and Gordon County voters -- 1,478 to 251 in the city, and 2,960 to 530 in the county.

Ballot questions read in full as follows:

1. Sales and Use Tax for Educational Purposes

“Shall a one percent sales and use tax for educational purposes be imposed in Gordon County for a period of time not to exceed 20 calendar quarters and for the raising of not more than $112,000,000, (1) up to approximately $67,005,120 (59.826%) of which shall be received by the Gordon County School District for the purposes of (a) the acquisition and installation of digital resources and improvements to technology throughout the Gordon County School District; (b) acquisition and installation of safety and security improvements throughout the Gordon County School District; (c) acquisition and equipping of uses; (d) expansion and improvements of parking lots; (e) renovations and modifications at Sonoraville High School, Sonoraville Elementary School, Red Bud Middle School, Fairmount Elementary School, Belwood Elementary School, Tolbert Elementary School, Swain Elementary School, Ashworth Middle School, Gordon Central High School, Red Bud Elementary School, Central Office, and CTAE Pathway Facilities; (f) acquisition, construction, equipping, renovation, and expansion of athletic fields and facilities; (g) acquisition, construction, and equipping of new auditoriums; and (h) acquisition of any property, both real and personal, and equipment necessary for future schools, facilities, administrative offices, support services, and other purposes of the Gordon County School District and (2) up to approximately $44,994,880 (40.174%) of which shall be received by the City of Calhoun School System for the retirement of previously incurred general obligation debt or refunding or replacement debt, incurred for middle/high school construction, in the maximum of $10,442,400, and for the following capital outlay purposes: (a) acquisition/installation of computers and new technology and digital resources throughout the system; (b) land acquisition around all school facilities for potential enrollment growth and parking; (c) HVAC replacement/repairs throughout the district; (d) acquisition and equipping of school buses; (f) renovations/modifications, construction, improvements, and additions to and equipment for existing academic and athletic facilities and the infrastructure supporting these facilities including security systems, painting, carpet and/or tile replacement, furniture, and lighting on all campuses throughout the City of Calhoun School System? If imposition of the tax is approved by the voters, such vote shall also constitute approval of the issuance of general obligation debt of the Gordon County School District in a principal amount not to exceed $41,050,000 for the above purposes.” [YES or NO]

2. Floating Local Option Sales Tax (FLOST)

“Shall a special one percent (1%) sales and use tax be imposed for five years within the special district of Gordon County with the proceeds used exclusively to reduce property taxes imposed by Gordon County ad the Cities of Calhoun, Plainville, and Fairmount?” [YES or NO]

3. Homestead Exemption — Act 352, HB 861

“Shall the Act be approved which increases the homestead exemption from City of Calhoun independent school district ad valorem taxes for educational purpose for certain residents of that school district who are: (1) Between 65 and 69 years of age to $50,000.00 of the assessed value of such homestead; (2) Between 70 and 74 years of age to $115,000.00 of the assessed value of such homestead; (3) 75 years of age or older to $125,000.00 of the assessed value of such homestead?” [YES or NO]

A pair of sales tax proposals -- on continuation, one new -- have been passed by Gordon County voters.

11/05/2025

In Fairmount, the City Council will maintain a familiar look come January, as incumbent Joanna Brannon has defeated Thomas York in the town's only contested race.

Brannon garnered 88 votes in Tuesday's election, while York had 36. The election drew 129 of the town's 576 registered voters for a 22.4% turnout.

In Fairmount, the City Council will maintain a familiar look come January, as incumbent Joanna Brannon has defeated Thomas York in the town's only contested race.

11/05/2025

It appears the Calhoun City Council will have a new face come January, with longtime member Ray Denmon having been unseated by former Gordon County Commissioner Bruce Potts.
According to a Gordon County Board of Elections and Voter Registration report just before 8 p.m. Tuesday, Potts won with 964 votes to Demon's 739.

A total of 1,763 of Calhoun's 10,974 registered voters cast a ballot for a turnout in the city limits of just over 16%.

The race was the only contested seat on the city ballot this election.

It appears the Calhoun City Council will have a new face come January, with longtime member Ray Denmon having been unseated by former Gordon County Commissioner Bruce Potts.

11/05/2025

Ahead of Veterans Day next week, Gordon County’s Board of Commissioners heard Tuesday night from Calhoun Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 5376 Commander John Brown about the impact that organization is having in the community.