Bass and striper ready to bite

Lake temperatures are in the mid 70's. The lake level is 1057.7 feet or less than 13 and half feet below full pool at 1071 feet.

Prep baseball: State Playoff previews

Banks County vs. Holy Innocents When: Game 1, 2:30 p.m. today, Game 2 5:30 p.m.; If necessary, Game 3, 1 p.m. Saturday Where: Atlanta Coaches: Banks County, Joe Lord. Holy Innocents, Dylan Deal Records: Banks County (16-9, No. 3 Region 8-AA); Holy Innocents (21-4, No. 2 Region 6-AA) Key players: Banks County, P/OF Alex Gailey Sr. (.354 ...

Your Views: Gainesville doesn’t need another gas station

According to the article in Wednesday's Times, our learned city council has approved the building of a gas station against the wishes of the people.

Prep soccer: Chestatee players honored

The Georgia State Soccer Coaches Association has announced its award recipients for the 2008 season and Chestatee's Megan Fligg and Lauren Ables are among the honorees. Fligg, who led the Lady War Eagles with 13 goals and six assists in 2008 has been named the Class AAA Player of the Year, while Ables was selected as the Player of the Month.

Braves drop a one-run game to Pirates

PITTSBURGH - Freddy Sanchez insists he doesn't care where he hits in the Pittsburgh lineup.

Prep baseball: Jefferson cruises to a sweep of Trion

Jefferson cruised through the first round of the Class A state playoffs with 10-0 and 18-0 wins against Trion on Friday night in Jefferson.

Baseball state playoffs scoreboard: Falcons, Gainesville earn splits; Lakeview out

On the strength of an 11-run second inning, Class AAA's top-ranked Flowery Branch defeated Riverwood 15-0 Friday in Game 1 of the best-of-three first round playoff series.

Prep golf: White County girls place fifth

The White County girls golf team placed fifth in the Class AAA state tournament on Monday at the Trophy Club in Alpharetta.

Videos say 'thank you' to Hall teachers

To commemorate Teacher Appreciation Week, the Hall County school system has produced videos of teachers in action throughout the district. Teachers from North Hall Middle School, West Hall High School, Lula Elementary School, Friendship Elementary School and Chicopee Woods Elementary School have been profiled so far, and additional schools will be featured as the week continues.

Braves 5, Padres 4: Finally, a one-run win

ATLANTA - The Atlanta Braves waited until the last inning of a memorable homestand to put an end to a streak of one-run futility they hope to forget.

Let the shopping begin: Some retailers open in Forsyth’s outdoor mall

When they held the grand opening for Chocolaterie last week, co-founders Elizabeth and Michael Ashworth thought they would have plenty of promotional truffles for what they anticipated would be a small crowd. After all, The Avenue Forsyth's grand opening isn't until May 17. "We only opened with about 10 other stores," Michael Ashworth said. "It has been going very well, and we're very fortunate to be in The Avenue community." ...

Knight to step down

ATLANTA - Billy Knight says he's leaving the Atlanta Hawks organization "in much better shape than it was in when I took over."

Your views: Church offers help for drug abusers

Thank you for your informative and disturbing articles on drug abuse in teenagers.

Post office to fight hunger

The National Association of Letter Carriers will conduct its 16th annual nationwide Stamp Out Hunger! food drive Saturday. The program is the nation's largest single-day food drive and has netted more than 836 million pounds of food since 1992.

Your Views: Despite claims, DNR doesn’t discriminate

I read with interest and amusement about the Mexican illegal immigrants who were arrested for fishing without a license. I read with disbelief the comments made by the local attorneys about the DNR officers targeting and arresting them for "just a violation of fishing without a license" just because of their race.

Johnson's homer leads Braves past Mets 5-3

ATLANTA - Chris Johnson homered for the first time in more than a month, Kris Medlen overcame a defensive blunder and the Atlanta Braves bounced back from a doubleheader sweep, beating the New York Mets 5-3 Wednesday night.

Gainesville's Ralston ties for 9th at Junior Championship

Rising Gainesville High sophomore Spencer Ralston finished the Georgia Junior Golf Championship tied with five other golfers at ninth overall with a three-round, 10-over par 226 on Wednesday at The Farm in Rocky Face. Ralston carded a 74 in the second round and a 75 in Round 3 to complete the event.

Hit stage with cover band or murder-mystery play

The Holly Theater is in search of singers and actors for its next productions - Agatha Christie's "Mousetrap" and Holly and the Heartbreakers - in July and August.

Mountain Top Rodeo rides into Dahlonega

Mountain Top Rodeo featuring bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc, barrel racing, bull riding, ladies breakaway roping and team roping will be Friday, June 21, and Saturday, June 22, at R-Ranch in the Mountains.

Paddle around lake in canoe or kayak

The Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club will hold a paddle-thon Saturday, June 22, at the Lake Lanier Olympic Venue in Gainesville.

Jackson hoping to help Falcons fix rushing woes

FLOWERY BRANCH - Steven Jackson is still trying to feel his way through his first offseason with the Atlanta Falcons.

Miami wins thrilling Game 6 of NBA Finals, force Game 7

MIAMI - LeBron James shrugged off a poor start to get 32 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, Ray Allen hit a 3-pointer with 5.2 seconds to play to force overtime and the Miami Heat staved off elimination with a 103-100 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday night.

Horse rescued from possible sinkhole

A horse was stuck in an apparent sinkhole last week on the 1300 block of Hugh Stowers Road.

Nominations sought for 2nd Master Craftsmen Awards

Featherbone Communiversity in Gainesville is planning to honor area craftsmen at the second

Man charged with practicing dentistry without a license

Family: Teen not killed by ‘car surfing’

Family members of the teen who died last week in what has been dubbed a "car surfing" accident are convinced the police report is inaccurate.

Clermont robber caught on video

The Hall County Sheriff's Office is searching for a suspect in a May 31 armed robbery at a convenience store in Clermont near the Lumpkin County line.

Braves swept by Mets in doubleheader

ATLANTA - Beaten twice in one day and just plain beat, the first-place Atlanta Braves were ready for some rest.

Gainesville golfer Lasseter tied for ninth at Junior Championship

Gainesville High golfer Grant Lasseter shot a 75 on Tuesday to finish tied for ninth after two rounds of the Georgia State Golf Association Junior Championship at The Farm golf course in Rocky Face.

Dawson County grad happy to be drafted by Los Angeles Dodgers

Kaleb Holbrook was preparing for his second game as a catcher for a summer league in Connecticut on June 8 when his phone began to ring with calls and text messages of congratulations.