Your Views: Increased costs for higher education bankrupt future

On July 1, interest rates for direct subsidized federal loans for college students (currently at 3.4 percent) are set to double to 6.8 percent if Congress neglects to act. As expected, there is political gridlock between the parties. While both openly do not want the interest rate hike to occur, they disagree over the approach to prevent it. Democrats want to keep the rate at 3.4 percent while Republicans want to tie it to Treasury ...

Your Views: Councilman’s efforts applauded

George Wangemann, the mayor pro tem of the Gainesville City Council, came to my door this past Saturday to invite and encourage me and the citizens of Gainesville to attend the Tuesday meeting at the Gainesville Public Safety complex.

Sister Hazel takes to stage near Lake Lanier

The second concert of the 2013 summer series at Peachtree Pointe Amphitheater is Gainesville, Fla.,-bred band, Sister Hazel. The band takes the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 22.

Classical tunes float around Hall and Forsyth counties

The North Georgia Chamber Music Festival, hosted by the University of North Georgia, will continue with its final two concerts Saturday, June 22, and Sunday, June 23.

Your Views: Don’t trash your home with TV

Turn off your TV. You have the power to remotely control television programming. You have the power to upgrade the quality of the television industry. Advertisers are not going to pay for darkened TV screens.

Pets to strut around for top honors

The Humane Society of Northeast Georgia will celebrate 100 years in operation Saturday at Lakeview Academy in Gainesville. The humane society was founded in 1913 and is the oldest non-church, nonprofit organization in Northeast Georgia.

Humane society seeks pets for calendar

The Humane Society of Northeast Georgia is looking for pure bred pups to all-American mutts for its 2014 Life Savers Calendar.

Soap opera actor looks to future

"Days of Our Lives" star Chandler Massey, 22, won his second Daytime Emmy on Sunday night for his role as Will Horton. Massey won the outstanding younger actor award. He is the grandson of Gainesville residents Abit and Kayanne Massey and was attending the University of California, Los Angeles, when he was cast as Will Horton.

Zoo animals and magician descend on Aurora Theatre

Aurora Theatre assembles the best children's performers in the region, bringing them to Gwinnett County for the Aurora Children's Playhouse series.

Zombie apocalypse film pays off

"World War Z" might go down in film history as one of the greatest recoveries of all time.

Brenau University hosts International Ballet Intensive Summer Program

The International Ballet Intensive's three-week residential summer dance program, under the direction of Danita Emma and Momchil Mladenov, culminates with a public performance by the elite group of young dancers at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 22, in the Hosch Theatre at the John S. Burd Center for the Performing Arts on Brenau University's Gainesville campus.

Wine festival continues in Dahlonega

Every Saturday and Sunday in June, Three Sisters Vineyards & Winery will present the Georgia Wine Country Festival for its 12th year at the Lumpkin County vineyard.

Fire causes damage to McEver Road home

Unattended cooking appears to be the cause of a fire that damaged a McEver Road home on Wednesday, authorities said.

Hall residential home construction rising, but still far from its peak

Demand is driving new residential housing construction in Hall County, but it will take a few more years to reach prerecession levels.

Gainesville native sings for President Obama in Berlin

A Gainesville native has made it to the big time in her vocal performance career.

Riverbend students receive Little Free Library box

Riverbend Elementary School's Little Free Library was unveiled at the May 17 assembly and students were instructed on how to use the little library.

Riverside yearbook in “Gallery of Excellence”

The 2013 Bayonet yearbook of Riverside Military Academy has been inducted into Walsworth Yearbooks' prestigious "Gallery of Excellence." This award is given to a very small percentage of yearbooks in the nation who have consistently demonstrated superior quality.

Quinlan's Arty Attendance Party

Mount Mount Vernon Exploratory hosts math contest

Mount Vernon Exploratory School hosted its first MathMania competition in March at the school.

Allen recognized among 47 incoming freshmen

VALDOSTA - Misti Allen of Flowery Branch will enter Valdosta State University's Honors College this year with an honors scholarship awarded by the VSU Foundation. Allen is a graduate of West Hall High School.

Jones Elementary renovations almost complete

Sylvester B. Jones Elementary School has undergone extensive renovations to prepare for a future when it could be once again at full capacity.

Oakwood business park buzzing with activity

Thurmon Tanner Parkway in Oakwood is continuing to buzz with activity. The city's planning commission voted last month to recommend approval to rezone and annex nearly 11 acres in the 4000 block of the four-lane road for Aerocom to set up offices. The company is moving from leased space in the Oakwood Industrial South Park off Rafe Banks Drive to slightly larger offices - about 12,000 square feet - in the burgeoning Tanners Creek Business ...

Hall County Sheriff’s Office to upgrade aging fleet

A stagnant motor pool at the Hall County Sheriff's Office will soon be invigorated with several new patrol cars.

Jail doctor gives inmates what they need

Physician Linwood Zoller's first stop Monday through Friday is the Hall County Jail. He practices a different kind of medicine than in his private practice.

Thunderstorms blow through area

Rain returned to the area Sunday night and might settle in for much of today. For the past couple weeks or so, residents have gotten a break in the soggy weather that has characterized the area's weather for most of the year. Thunderstorms blew through the area Sunday, dropping more than a third of an inch of rain at Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport in Gainesville. About 1,000 households in Gainesville served by Jackson Electric Membership ...

Tea party targets Southern Co. power monopoly

ATLANTA - The Southern Co. makes billion-dollar decisions that affect millions of people in Georgia, yet it has attracted little political scrutiny - until now.

Boating accident victim identified

The woman who died Saturday in a Lake Lanier boating accident was identified Sunday by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources as Becky Wallace, 55, of Suwanee.

Eyes on the Road: Paving planned for road that leads to Don Carter State Park

Hall County is gearing up to improve North Browning Bridge Road, which leads to the state's new Don Carter State Park off Lake Lanier.

Late pass lifts Stewart to victory at Dover

DOVER, Del. - With one big move, Tony Stewart put Juan Pablo Montoya and a sluggish season well behind him.

Braves top Nationals 6-3, stretch lead in NL East

ATLANTA - Fredi Gonzalez doesn't want to discuss the NL East standings.