As we’ve been discussing on New Ellijay News over the past few months, the State of Georgia has been removing tens of thousands of people from its Medicaid rolls since the Federal government declared an end to the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency earlier this year. With that in mind, we’re going to take a deeper dive into Medicaid to raise awareness of how the program works, its eligibility requirements, and how to keep you and your family covered.
Ellijay Gilmer County Water & Sewage Authority to Raise Utility Rates July 1st
Expect higher rates for water and sewage if your provider is the Ellijay Gilmer County Water & Sewage Authority.
All rates and fees for water and sewage services will be increasing starting July 1st, 2023. Fees for new accounts, deposit transfers, and disconnections will all be doubling from $25 to $50, while fees for re-connection will go up 50% from $50 to $75 for business hours re-connection and $100 to $150 for off-hours re-connection.
“Stop Cop City” Protests Continue
Protests continued in Atlanta this week over the proposed cop city project. The plan aims to construct an Atlanta police training facility in one of the last forested areas inside the Atlanta perimeter. This initiative has faced strong opposition from within the community, as well as from activists who argue that it will perpetuate the kind of militarized policing Atlanta PD is known for. The plans include military-grade training facilities, a mock city to practice urban warfare, dozens of shooting ranges, and a Black Hawk helicopter landing pad. Funding for the project is a mix of taxpayer funds and donations to the Atlanta Police Foundation from prominent Atlanta-based corporations such as UPS, Chick-fil-a, Home Depot, and JP Morgan Chase, among others.
Nearly 3 million Georgians to be reassessed for Medicaid eligibility
The end of the Federal Public Health Emergency for Covid-19 on May 11th 2023 could lead to millions across the country being removed from Medicaid rolls. Under temporary COVID-19 rules established at the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, state level Medicaid administrations ceased reassessing and removing recipients of Medicaid, so as to not leave people uninsured during the pandemic. With these rules no longer in place at the Federal level, the state of Georgia’s temporary provisions regarding Medicaid eligibility are coming to an end.
Google to purge inactive accounts
Edited May 17- Google has amended their original announcement and added the following: “Additionally, we do not have plans to delete accounts with YouTube videos…
Default or no Default, Economic Pain Likely to Come
Once again, the US is approaching its self-imposed “debt ceiling”, and once again, it looks like a last-minute deal will be the only way to avoid a default. Unlike previous debt ceiling near-misses, this time House Speaker Kevin McCarthy seems unlikely to accept a deal to raise the debt ceiling that doesn’t include deep, draconian across-the-board cuts in federal spending.
Cowabunga, Dudes: Video Rental is Back in Ellijay!
In a nostalgic turn of events, video rental has made a comeback in Ellijay. As streaming options become more limited, some local residents are taking it upon themselves to provide an alternative. Cowabunga Video, located inside Mountain Town Antiques, is offering VHS, DVD, and Blu-ray titles for both sale and rental. Swing by and rediscover the joy of browsing physical movies.
51 Miles from Nowhere… a Modern Epic Recorded in Ellijay
Ellijay record label Analog Revolution is proud to announce the release of the first record from Doctor Deathray and her Implements of Destruction. Their highly anticipated album, “51 Miles from Nowhere” is now available in various formats, including CD, cassette, LP, at businesses around Ellijay including the Ellijay Coffeehouse and Mountain Town Antiques.
The album was recorded at Magic Mountain Studios inside the Ellijay Makerspace, and can be streamed on popular platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, and more. Don’t miss out on this electrifying release!
Ellijay Farmer’s Market is Back in Season!
The Farmer’s Market is now open every Saturday, offering a wide variety of fresh produce and local products all summer. Featuring an assortment of diverse vendors including up-and-coming local coffee roasters Mountain Town Coffee Roasting, ceramics from Ecology Ceramics, fresh tea from local tea seller Bonsabi, and a variety of fresh produce, crafts, and more. The farmers market runs from 8:30 – 12:30 Rain or Shine ever Saturday for the duration of the summer.
Make sure to mark your calendars and support our local vendors at this fantastic community event.