Emerson Mayor Al Pallone and his wife Camilla were killed in a deadly car crash in Cherokee County Saturday.
The crash occurred on Knox Bridge Highway Saturday afternoon.
According to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s office, a Calhoun man has been arrested and charged with DUI in the incident, which resulted in a four car pileup.
Two other victims were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Emerson City Manager Kevin McBurnett released the following statement on the mayor’s death.
“Dear Emerson Community,
On Saturday our community suffered a tremendous loss with the passing of Mayor Al Pallone and his beloved wife, Millie. Al and Millie have been a staple of the Emerson community for over 40 years.
Al and I began working together in 2008 at city hall. Al was a proven leader serving the citizens of Emerson as a city councilman for 23 years with the last 15 years as Mayor. Millie was always near providing him support, the framework to his strong leadership.
I would like to extend my condolences to the family and friends of Al and Millie. In addition to working together, Al and I had become good friends and I will miss him. To his family, thank you for sharing him with us. The City of Emerson is a better place because of him.
With heavy heart,
Kevin H. McBurnett”
Thom Chandler
Thom Chandler is the editor of The Georgia Sun and has been writing, editing and managing websites and blogs since 1995. He is a lifelong Georgian and one of those increasingly rare Atlanta natives.