AC repair inTownsend, GA

Now the 33-man Scotland squad for the Rugby World Cup has been named, attention turns to Scotland’s final match of The Famous Grouse Nations Series against Georgia a week on Saturday (26 August, kick-off 5.30pm).

The game at Scottish Gas Murrayfield will not only be the squad’s final match before the Rugby World Cup, but will also be their final home game of 2023 with no Autumn internationals this year.

Speaking at yesterday’s squad announcement, Head Coach Gregor Townsend says he aims to field as strong a side as possible against the Georgians.

He said: “We’ll go as strong as we believe we can. That will be adjusted on where players are in training, whether they have any niggles, any combinations we want to see more of, what we want to see from the bench. There were a couple of guys who have small issues from last weekend’s game, but we believe everyone is available for selection just now.

“If we don’t put a group out that might be similar to the group that plays South Africa, it’s going to be a month where they’ve not played a game. I don’t think that’s the best preparation for a Test match.

“The more our strongest group of players get to play together, the better we’ll be for that South Africa game. The players want that too: everybody wants to play that Georgia game.

“We understand there will be a group of players who haven’t played much rugby going into the World Cup, but our goal will be to get that group that is most likely to be involved against South Africa to get those connections in a Test-match environment.

“The players have been magnificent in training, but training doesn’t replicate what you’re going to get in a game. The Georgia game will be very important for us in how we continue to improve and progress before we play South Africa.”

Townsend also revealed Ben White is progressing well after coming off in the home match against France at the start of the month and could feature next weekend.

He added: “Ben’s good. He had a meeting with the specialist on Monday and that was positive.

“He ran on Tuesday, which was the first time he’d run in 10 days, so we’ll see over the next two or three days if he’ll be available for next week’s game – that’s the target.

“It would be nice to have him available for next week but if he doesn’t come right for that, we know he’ll be available for South Africa.”

Tickets are £21 for adults (buy before midnight on Sunday 20 August to avoid match-week prices). Children under 12 go free with a paying adult until midnight on Thursday 24 August (T&Cs apply).

Come along and give the squad a big send-off!

TOWNSEND - Georgia will be a little dimmer this Christmas because the lights aren't on in one little corner.For the first time in years, many Townsend residents aren't decorating their homes, trees and any immobile object with Christmas lights.It wasn't the economy, global warming or those other things that lead the newscasts. It's just that some people got sick or old, lost loved ones or just needed a rest.Once a year, the neighbors were amazing overachievers, turning this McIntosh County community into a mini-version of Las Vegas without the underlayer of crud.By day, the sun shone on a collection of modest dwellings, mobile homes, sheds and dog pens, the kind of place hard-working people live. But on nights between Thanksgiving and New Year's, the place lit up like, well, a Christmas tree. The residents strung lights everywhere, promoting anything with limbs - from an oak to a rose bush - to a Christmas tree. Lights dripped from eaves, twink-led from mailboxes, twined around porch posts. If a pickup truck wouldn't crank, it could at least glow.On a foggy night, the sky above the little side road that carried traffic through the community glowed like the Eulonia Borealis. Those who couldn't drive at night could in Townsend. You wonder if astronauts looked down from the space shuttle and said, "What the ... ?''Nobody said it was time to stop, but Glenda Davis said dark gaps began developing. She doesn't light her own house and yard, but decorates for her father and mother, Harlis and Iona Ryals, since her dad had knee surgery.Because, like her mother always said, "It's not Christmas without them.''The Ryals family, one of Townsend's linchpin clans, weren't the only ones to decorate. Everyone did. Now you wonder who was the first to blink.With no play on words intended, Nellie Ryals said, "I think everybody was getting kind of burned out.''Perhaps because of gas prices, traffic thinned in recent years and Nellie Ryals wondered if it was worth all the work if people weren't coming. So maybe it was time for a break.That break will put a few hundred bucks back in some pockets this Christmas. She figures her power bill jumped about $225 a month during lighting season. Maybe that's why some folks call it the light bill.And some lights have gone out in Nellie Ryals' life. She lost her husband, J.L. Ryals, and her father, J.F. Willis.Like most husbands, hers grumbled throughout the whole process. Then he'd back off bathed in the glow of his and Thomas Edison's work. A lot of people enjoyed that view, inching down the road bumper-to-bumper in this little place 10 miles and two left turns from nowhere with a backseat full of open-mouthed, wide-eyed kids.That's what made it worth the dozens of trips up the ladder, the light bills and the gridlock."The biggest joy," she said, "was standing out in your yard and hear young and old alike just gasp and others say, 'Thank you.' "

Taylor Townsend is a singles champion on the USTA Pro Circuit once again. The American claimed her second title of October on Sunday by winning the W80 in Macon, Ga., three weeks after taking the trophy at the W60 in Templeton, Calif. Her success continues a rich stretch of form that began with a run to the US Open third round.

The top seed at both Pro Circuit events, Townsend dropped just one set across her two title campaigns. In Macon, she won all 10 sets she played. The 27-year-old beat compatriot Katie Volynets, 6-3, 7-6(4), in the semis and Hungarian Panna Udvardy, 6-3, 6-4, in the final to win the 14th ITF singles title of her career.

Townsend grew up in nearby Atlanta, adding further significance to her triumph. The Macon event, played on outdoor hard courts at the John Drew Smith Tennis Center, has now had an American champion in seven of the past eight years.

The title moved Townsend up to No. 66 in the WTA rankings, her highest position since she achieved a career high of No. 61 in 2018. She was outide the top 130 before her run to the US Open third round—her first trip to that stage at a major in four years. The Chicago native is also the world No. 6 in doubles, having won three WTA titles this season along with a runner-up finish at Roland Garros.

Since giving birth to her first child, Adyn, in March 2021, Townsend has won four ITF singles titles (two each in 2022 and 2023) in addition to her three WTA doubles crowns.

Those doubles titles were all won with different partners, two in Adelaide (with Asia Muhammad and Luisa Stefani) and one at the WTA 1000 in Cincinnati (with Alycia Parks)—the biggest tile of Townsend's career. Her run to the Roland Garros final also came with a different parter, 2021 US Open singles finalist Leylah Fernandez, with whom she also paired to reach this year's US Open quarterfinals.

In Macon, Townsend joined Volynets and Kayla Day to make it three American singles semifinalists. Americans Makenna Jones and Alexa Noel reached the quarters, while Sofia Sewing was a doubles finalist alongside Anastasia Tikhonova.

At the USTA Pro Circuit W15 event in Jackson, Tenn., Carolyn Ansari reached the singles quarterfinals and Taylor Catladi made the quarters. Adeline Flach was a doubles finalist.

There was more American success at the USTA Pro Circuit M15 in Las Vegas, where Thai-Son Kwiatkowsi reached the singles final, Alexander Razeghi advanced to the quarters and William Grant made the doubles final.

We’re lucky enough to live in a state that has a slice of geography smack dab on the Atlantic Ocean. Not every state in the country is lucky enough to be right on the ocean, or even surrounded by great bodies of water such as the Altamaha River. It’s important to highlight the tiny towns along the coast that are the bread and butter of what makes Georgia’s coastline so special. This tiny beach town in Georgia, for instance, you may have never heard of — but after learning all about it, a visit may be in order. It may not be on the ocean, but its riverfront location gives it that beach and waterfront charm that this area of the state is known for. Here are the best things to do in Darien, Georgia.

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Most People Don't Know That Kenny Rogers's Gravesite Is Found Right Here In Georgia

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Have you ever been to this small beach town in Georgia? Share with us your experience! Otherwise, if you’re looking to learn a little bit more about Altie, Darien’s own Loch Ness monster, check out our article about the mythical creature in Georgia.

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Marisa Roman | September 27, 2020

What is the oldest city in Georgia?

The oldest city in Georgia is Savannah, which was established in 1733 right along the banks of the Savannah River. The city itself has changed over the years, but it still is filled with history and beauty throughout. Make sure you check out these 10 fascinating things you probably didn’t know about Savannah before you visit.

What is the smallest town in Georgia?

The smallest town in Georgia is Edge Hill. With a population of around 24 people back in 2010, we doubt that this town has increased in size by too much in the last decade. If you want to keep going on the small town list, then check out these 10 super tiny towns in Georgia that you might not have known existed.

Are there any beach towns in Georgia?

The best beach towns in Georgia are:

Ready for a beach getaway in Georgia? Looking to spend the weekend on the coast but don’t know which town to visit? Don’t worry, we have a few to choose from. Since Georgia is one of the few states with direct access to the Atlantic, there are a few towns right on the water that deserve a visit. St. Simons Island in Georgia is filled with history and a relaxed community spirit. Meanwhile, St. Mary’s is known as one of the oldest spots in the entire country! Jekyll Island in Georgia is another gem where you can spend a weekend right on the beach. If you want to know more, then check out these charming waterfront towns in Georgia.

Without explanation, the Georgia State Patrol on Tuesday cleared a sheriff's deputy who ran a stop sign and caused a fiery crash in Hall County.

“No charges will be filed,” the GSP said in an email to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Traffic citations are written at the discretion of the trooper.”

About 7:50 a.m. Monday, Whitfield County sheriff’s Deputy Rosalia Pacheco-Hernandez was driving eastbound on Ga. 52 with inmates Amanda Nicole Townsend, 33, of Tunnel Hill, and Hillary Marie Mchan, 30, of Dalton. Pacheco-Hernandez, 23, was taking Townsend and Mchan to Arrendale Prison in Alto, the GSP said.

Steven and Renee Gallo, both 57, of Lakeworth, Fla., were traveling north on Ga. 284 in a Dodge pickup truck that was pulling a toy hauler camper. The eastbound patrol car “failed to stop at a stop sign and struck the toy hauler camper that the Dodge was pulling,” the GSP said shortly after the crash.

The camper disconnected from the Dodge and overturned on its right side, the GSP said. The patrol car caught fire after the collision.

According to a crash report, Pacheco-Hernandez admitted not seeing the stop sign and told investigators she wasn’t familiar with the area.

A witness also told the GSP he was following behind the camper and noticed Pacheco-Hernandez was not stopping and eventually ran the stop sign. The witness also said the deputy pressed on the brakes before the car crashed into the camper.

WITNESS video of a fiery crash involving a Deputy. 2 prisoners & deputy injured live at 12 @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/fhk4ho17JK

— Liz Artz Hayes (@LizArtzHayes) October 17, 2016

Steven Gallo told Channel 2 Action News that officials scrambled to get the shackled inmates out of the burning patrol car.

“There was just a rush to get everybody away,” Gallo said.

Driver hit by deputy describes what happened @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/xZPYYVTzHI

— Liz Artz Hayes (@LizArtzHayes) October 17, 2016

Pacheco-Hernandez, Townsend and Mchan were taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.