The Outstanding Coalition Award was granted to Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County based on the results of a lead poison prevention program conducted by the coalition in September as well as the coalition’s partnerships with community agencies. The coalition partnered with the Georgia Department of Human Resources Lead Poison Prevention Program to sponsor a continuing medical education program at Northeast Georgia Medical Center for health care and child safety professionals as well as a toy testing and child blood testing event for the community.


Robert Dorsett from Boy Scout Troop 9 in Gainesville has obtained the rank of Eagle Scout. For his project, Robert built two Adirondacks for Victoria Bryant State Park, which are are open-face structures to provide shelter for campers.



Avery Hall of Gainesville has been named to the list of Forty Leaders under 40 by the Triad Business Journal in North Carolina and the University of North Carolina Bryan School of Business and Economics. Hall, a 1989 graduate of Gainesville High School, now lives in Kernersville, N.C. He is the son of Lezora Hall and nephew of the Rev. Linda Jackson of Gainesville.



Army National Guard Pfc. Nick A. Reed has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Sill in Lawton, Okla. Reed is the son of Tony and Neva Reed of Gainesville. The private is a 2001 graduate of North Forsyth High School in Cumming.



Air Force airman Kimberly Savage has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. She is the daughter of Judy and stepdaughter of Lloyd Southwick of Jefferson. Savage is a 2004 graduate of Commerce High School in Commerce.