Tips and Knowledge

Although Hurricane Dorian is not forecast to make landfall until Tuesday, It is important that Georgia residents prepare now. The storm will bring heavy rains and strong winds, which create dangerous driving conditions, with little to no visibility.  AAA urges motorists to heed official warnings and stay off the roads, if possible. "A storm of this magnitude can create significant damage to your home, and endanger the people inside," said Montrae Waiters, spokeswoman, AAA - The Auto Club Group. “It’s important to be prepared, because even if you do not face the brunt of the storm, peripheral winds and rain could knock out power…

While no one is immune from the devastation of a natural disaster, preparing before a storm hits is key to keeping everyone in your family—including your pets—safe. Here are six ideas to keep in mind for your pet as you map out your disaster preparedness plan. • Have your pet microchipped. In the event of an emergency—natural or otherwise—you want to ensure your pet can get back to you if you’re separated. Collars and ID tags, though important, can break or detach. Microchips—computerized and scannable implants about the size of a grain of rice—are more fool-proof since they’re inserted under your pet’s…

It's that time of year again when police departments across the Georgia remind residents that celebratory gunfire is illegal and is not an appropriate way to celebrate a holiday. Let's go over it again for 2019, shall we? In case you are guilty of celebratory gunfire because you aren't certain what it is, the Bibb County Sheriff's office defines it as “shooting a firearm into the air in celebration." That means, don't fire your gun in the air to celebrate Independence Day. Lesson 2: Gravity. What goes up, must come down and that is why firing a bullet into the…

Closing costs are a crucial aspect of buying a home, and in its fifth annual study financial technology company SmartAsset shows where they are lowest. The study measures closing costs as a percentage of median home value at the county level. For a look at how the top counties in Georgia shook out, check out the table below: RankCountyAvg. Closing CostsMedian Home ValueClosing Costs as % of Home ValueClosing Costs Index1Forsyth$4,582$301,1001.5%88.702Fulton$4,304$268,9001.6%87.633Fayette$4,210$255,3001.6%86.974Oconee$4,188$252,0001.7%86.805Cherokee$3,969$220,2001.8%84.906Cobb$3,966$219,7001.8%84.877Morgan$3,887$208,2001.9%84.048Towns$3,759$197,9001.9%83.609Dawson$3,846$202,3001.9%83.5710Bryan$3,842$201,7001.9%83.52 Additional information on the study, including the full methodology, results and interactive map can be found here: https://smartasset.com/mortgage/closing-costs#Georgia

(Family Features) With plans of trips and relaxation on the horizon, it can be easy to give your wellness routine a vacation, too. Before you jet set off on your next adventure, take a moment to be consciously aware of how your mind and body may react to an overly active and jam-packed summer schedule. "As someone with a busy lifestyle, having an intentional, balanced wellness routine helps me be my best self for my job, my friends and my family," said actress and wellness advocate Mandy Moore. Partnering with Nature's Way to celebrate its 50th birthday, Moore shares a…

Congratulations class of 2019! You’ve come a long way. Guess what? You’ve got a long way left to go. Your next journey is adulthood and it is going to challenge everything you’ve learned and everything you think you know. Here are just a few pieces of advice to help you navigate the strange new waters that you are about to be thrown into, whether you are entering the adult world immediately, or making a 4-year stop in college first. AVOID EXTREMESYou are graduating at a time when the country is polarized both socially and politically. The loudest voices you will…

QuickTrip is celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week by giving teachers free drinks from 6 a.m. to noon Friday, May 10. Citing education as one of QuikTrip’s key focus areas for its community contributions, and as a gesture of gratitude to educators, administrators and school staff, the gas station chain is celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week by offering a free beverage with a valid faculty or staff ID. The offer includes any beverage served at the fountain, self-serve coffee and tea, while supplies last. “We wholeheartedly believe that our educators are fundamental to the long-term success of our future generations,” said Mendi Parker,…

If you've logged into Netflix recently, you're probably aware that the streaming provider is about to raise your monthly rate. If you haven't heard, Netflix is raising the price of its standard plan from $10.99 to $12.99 per month. That's not a steep increase, but it may seem unreasonable if you, like many Americans, are finding that the price of everything you buy is going up, but your paycheck remains the same. In the case of Netflix, there is a way for many users to avoid the price increase and actually save money each month. By default, most Netflix users…

If you live in Fulton County and would like to know how your county government operates and how your tax dollars are spent, you have an opportunity to learn more in April. The county will be holding its Citizens University program, which teaches participants how the county government operates, the services provided and how tax dollars are spent. County leaders will provide first-hand information and conduct exercises designed to help class members understand the budgeting process and how the county makes decisions regarding services provided to the community. Registration for Fulton County Citizens University 2019 begins Feb. 19 and closes…

Don't leave your used Christmas tree by the curb after you take it down. Bring it to the annual Bring One for the Chipper event sponsored by Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful and Gwinnett County. You can drop off natural Christmas trees without lights or decorations through Jan. 20 at designated sites in Gwinnett County. BufordFire Station 14, 1600 Highway 23, 30518 Fire Station 24, 2735 Mall of GA Boulevard, 30519 Fire Station 29, 2800 Thompson Mill Road, 30519 Dacula Fire Station 17, 2739 Brooks Road, 30019 Fire Station 27, 2825 Old Fountain Road, 30019 Duluth Fire Station 5, 3001 Old Norcross Road, 30096Fire Station 7, 3343 Bunten…

For many Georgia residents, decorating the home is a favorite part of the busy holiday season. “During the holidays the fire-loading inside a typical single or multi-family dwelling increases,” said Gwinnett Fire Captain Tommy Rutledge. According to the National Fire Protection Association two of every five home decoration fires are started by candles, and nearly half of decoration fires happen because decorations are placed too close to a heat source.   A live tree fills the home with the scent of fresh pine and illuminating beauty, but also poses a serious fire hazard if not properly cared for. When using an artificial…

The Brookhaven Police Dept. is warning residents that the number of stolen packages greatly increases this time of year. However, there are precautions that you can take to make sure presents you have delivered get placed under your tree. “Remember, if we make this easy for the Grinch, he will continue to steal our Christmas,” said Major Brandon Gurley.   Thieves sometimes follow delivery trucks. Once packages are delivered, they swoop in and take the package. Be sure to report any suspicious vehicles or Grinches to police immediately by dialing 9-1-1.  There are other precautions available as well. You can write specific instructions for the…