County, state agencies to assist with security, traffic at Trump rally in North Georgia
The U.S. Secret Service is in charge of providing security for former President Donald Trump’s visit to the Commerce area on Saturday, but local officials are also beefing up manpower to handle the expected large crowd.
Trump speaks Saturday evening during a political rally at the Banks County Dragway, a track in the Banks Crossing area along the borders of Banks and Jackson counties.
Republican candidate for Senate and former Georgia Bulldogs star Herschel Walker and former Sen. David Perdue, who is running against Gov. Brian Kemp in the May primary, are expected to speak at the rally. Additionally, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Rep. Andrew Clyde and Rep. Jody Hice will deliver remarks, according to the Trump team.
Besides the presence of federal agents, a Georgia State Patrol spokesman said Thursday that troopers will be on site to assist, while the Georgia Bureau of Investigation reported it is bringing in the Special Operations Unit to work the rally.
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Local agencies are also bringing in extra manpower for the crowd that will assemble at the drag strip.
The Banks County Fire and Emergency Services is calling in extra crews to help with the event, Chief Steve Nichols said.
“We’ll have people out in the crowd. We have a first-aid tent set up. Two ambulances will be there and two down the street,” he said, adding that a fire truck will also be on site.
The drag strip is barely a mile out of Jackson County and extra deputies will be working Saturday as well, according to Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum.
“It will affect our county,” Mangum said about the rally. “We’ll have extra deputies working traffic and if they need any backup at the site of the venue, but most of our work will be traffic control.”
Road closures in Banks County
The Banks County Sheriff’s Office posted Friday on Facebook a list of road closures expected for the event. Below is the information from the post:
Before and During the Trump Rally
After the Event
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East Ridgeway to Steven B Tanger – One way only moving toward US 441
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Steven B Tanger to US 441 – One way to US 441 South
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East Ridgeway to Ridgeway Church Rd – Single lane of traffic from event site
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Ridgeway Church Rd to Steven B Tanger – Closed until traffic returns to normal volume
Detours Around Banks Crossing
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Trump rally in Commerce, Georgia: Agencies prep for security, traffic needs
