Amanda Henry | (TNS) The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

ATLANTA — From an authentic, Bavarian-inspired mountain town to a historic railway journey, here are five noteworthy stops in North Georgia that capture the spirit of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Climb aboard the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway

Embark on a four-hour historic voyage and treat yourself to a blend of old-world charm and abundant scenery. Beginning in downtown Blue Ridge, this 26-mile trip will take you along the Appalachian foothills. Then, explore sister towns McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee, where you have the chance to go shopping, try out their dining options and tour their visitor center. After the layover, you will return right back where you began. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a lover of nature or simply seeking a picturesque getaway, the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway guarantees a memorable journey. Spring rides resume March 2.

Pick apples and other fresh produce at Mercier Orchards

Embrace the rural life at Mercier Orchards and partake in the seasonal tradition of fresh produce picking. The orchards offer a hands-on experience for visitors to select their own fresh produce. Between May and October, guests have the opportunity to pick strawberries, blueberries, blackberries or apples. They also offer blossom tours in April. Seize the chance to engage in the age-old practice of harvesting directly from the source. The stop provides not only a chance to stock up on fresh, locally grown produce, but also serves as a festive outing for all who attend.

Try out German cuisine in Helen

Aerial view of the Chattahoochee River in Helen, Georgia. (Vadim Fedotov/Dreamstime/TNS)

Tourists visit the town of Helen seeking a taste of Bavarian culture and mountain charm. Helen offers visitors an experience reminiscent of a quaint alpine village. Explore its historic streets, indulge in authentic German cuisine and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape. Whether it is enjoying a leisurely stroll along the Chattahoochee River, shopping for souvenirs in the town’s eclectic shops, or savoring a stein of beer at one of the local breweries, a visit to Helen promises a memorable escape into a world of Bavarian-inspired hospitality and adventure.

Go zip-lining at Amicalola Falls State Park

Adventurers and nature enthusiasts converge on Amicalola Falls State Park, eager to explore Georgia’s tallest waterfall and its surrounding wilderness. The park, near Dawsonville, offers visitors an abundance of outdoor activities and scenic wonders. From hiking along trails to camping beneath the towering forest canopy to trout fishing, there is no shortage of opportunities for exploration and relaxation. Zip-lining, 3-D archery and other activities are available for those interested in more daring pursuits. Capture views of the cascading waterfalls, encounter diverse wildlife in their natural habitat or bask in the tranquil surroundings. A visit to Amicalola Falls State Park promises an escape into the heart of nature.

Hike or ride up to Brasstown Bald

Walk the trail or ride a shuttle bus up to Georgia’s highest peak. Brasstown Bald, above Hiawassee, offers visitors an opportunity to experience stunning mountains and the Chattahoochee-Oconee Forest. At the top, enjoy panoramic views of four of the surrounding states and walk around the museum, featuring historical and cultural exhibits about the native Cherokee people. This scenic mountain adventure offers a memorable experience for all who seek outdoor exploration in Georgia’s wilderness, with or without a hiking workout.

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By SEAN MURPHY and JIM VERTUNO (Associated Press)

SKELLYTOWN, Texas (AP) — First, the flames came storming across the vistas of the Texas Panhandle, burning through the grassy plains and scrub land of the region’s cattle ranches.

By Friday, ranchers faced a grim task: Search miles of scorched earth to dispose of the burned corpses of cattle. Others too badly burned and injured in this week’s historic wildfires to survive will be euthanized.

“We’re picking up deads today,” X-Cross-X Ranch operator Chance Bowers said as ranch hands used a bulldozer to move dozens of blackened carcasses into a line on the side of a dirt road. From there, a giant claw hook put them into the back of open trailer.

These cattle were found near a fence line that cut through a vast expanse of charred scrub brush and ash left in every direction after the flames whipped through. They will be sent to a rendering plant rather than buried.

Ranchers and state officials do not yet know the overall number of cattle killed in wildfires that have burned 1,950 square miles (5,050 square kilometers), briefly shut down a nuclear power plant, charred hundreds of homes and other structures, and left two people dead. For some ranches, the impact could be severe, though the effect on consumer beef prices is likely to be minimal.

“These cows you see dead are worth between $2,500 and $3,000 apiece,” Bowers said. “Financially, it’s a massive, massive burden on us.”

Texas is the nation’s top cattle producer. Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has said the number of dead “range” cattle is likely in the thousands. Although the Panhandle has more than 85% of the state’s herd, most are in feedlots and dairies that were not damaged.

The cause of the fires remains under investigation, although strong winds, dry grass and unseasonably warm weather fed them.

Bowers said the X-Cross-X ranch expects to lose at least 250 of the 1,000 cattle it had on three area ranches, either from burns or smoke inhalation.

“We were right in the middle of calving season,” Bowers said. “In a few weeks, we’ll really know what we lost. … This pasture alone, there’s 70 dead.”

The number of cattle in the region fluctuates as ranchers rent pasture for their herds. Plentiful rainfall in recent months meant a lot of grass, leading ranchers to send herds to the area, said Ron Gill, professor and livestock specialist at a Texas A&M University.

Losing all that grass to the flames, and the burning of barns and fences, will also hurt ranchers and surviving cattle, said Jay Foster, special ranger and supervisor for the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association in the Panhandle. A mile of fence can cost $10,000 to replace, he said.

“It’s kind of like a desert here right now,” Foster said. “It’s kind of like your kids sitting at the dinner table wanting to eat, the cattle need to eat and the grass is gone.”

Bill Martin runs the Lonestar Stockyards in Wildorado, where ranchers bring their cattle to auction every week. He said the number of cows in the U.S. was already at a 75-year low because of years of drought.

“There’s a big shortage of cattle, so this is going to impact that immensely,” Martin said.

Ranchers spend years developing the genetics in their cattle, providing them with vaccines and nutrients to keep them from getting sick and supplementing their feed through the winter months to keep them well fed, he said.

“Then to see something like this … some of them lost all their cattle,” Martin said. “Most of them lost some of their cattle.” said.

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Vertuno reporter from Austin, Texas. Ken Miller contributed from Oklahoma City.

By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN (Associated Press)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The first rioter to enter the U.S. Capitol building during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack was convicted on Friday of charges that he interfered with police and obstructed Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory.

Michael Sparks, 46, of Kentucky, jumped through a shattered window moments after another rioter smashed it with a stolen riot shield. Sparks then joined other rioters in chasing a police officer up flights of stairs, one of the most harrowing images from the Jan. 6, 2021, riot.

A federal jury in Washington, D.C., convicted Sparks of all six charges that he faced, including two felonies. Sparks didn’t testify at his weeklong trial. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly is scheduled to sentence him on July 9.

Sparks was the “tip of the spear” and breached the Capitol building less than a minute before senators recessed to evacuate the chamber and escape from the mob, Justice Department prosecutor Emily Allen said during the trial’s closing arguments.

“The defendant was ready for a civil war. Not just ready for a civil war. He wanted it,” Allen told jurors.

Defense attorney Scott Wendelsdorf conceded that Sparks is guilty of the four misdemeanor counts, including trespassing and disorderly conduct charges. But he urged the jury to acquit him of the felony charges — civil disorder and obstruction of an official proceeding.

Wendelsdorf accused prosecutors of trying to unfairly blame Sparks for the violence and destruction perpetrated by other rioters around him. The lawyer said Sparks immediately left the Capitol when he realized that Vice President Mike Pence wouldn’t succumb to pressure from then-President Donald Trump to overturn Biden’s victory.

“Michael Sparks may have started the game, according to the government, but he was out of the game on the sidelines before the first quarter was over,” the defense attorney told jurors.

Sparks traveled to Washington with a group of co-workers from an electronics and components plant in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. They attended Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally near the White House on Jan. 6.

After the rally, Sparks and a co-worker, Joseph Howe, joined a crowd in marching to the Capitol. A cameraman’s video captured Howe saying, “We’re getting in that building,” before Sparks added that if Pence “does his job today, he does the right thing by the Constitution, Trump’s our president four more years.”

Sparks and Howe, both wearing tactical vests, made their way to the front of the mob as outnumbered police officers retreated.

“Michael Sparks was more prepared for battle than some of the police officers he encountered that day,” Allen said.

Sparks was the first rioter to enter the building after Dominic Pezzola, a member of the Proud Boys extremist group, used a police shield to break the window next to the Senate Wing Door. Other rioters yelled at Sparks not to enter the building.

“He jumped in anyway,” Allen said.

A police officer pepper sprayed Sparks in the face as he leaped through the broken window. Undeterred, Sparks joined other rioters in chasing Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman as he retreated up the stairs and found backup from other officers near the Senate chamber.

Sparks ignored commands to leave and yelled, “This is our America! This is our America!”

Sparks believed that he was defending the Constitution on Trump’s behalf and that Pence had a duty to invalidate the election results, according to his attorney.

“His belief was wrong, but it was sincere,” Wendelsdorf said.

Allen said Sparks knew that he broke the law but wasn’t remorseful.

“I’ll go again given the opportunity,” Sparks texted his mother a day after the riot.

Sparks and his co-workers returned to Kentucky on Jan. 7, 2021. By then, images of him storming the Capitol had spread online. On his way home, Sparks called the Metropolitan Police Department and offered to turn himself in, according to prosecutors. He was arrested a few days later.

Sparks and Howe were charged together in a November 2022 indictment. Howe pleaded guilty to assault and obstruction charges and was sentenced in October to four years and two months in prison.