Mystery surrounds restored Chestatee River diving bell

It's been a long journey, but a diving bell is finally in the homestretch of its transformation from river junk to historic treasure.

Murrayville resident’s book links scripture and fitness

When Lillian Welch reads the Bible, she isn't doing so just for spiritual gratification. She's also gleaning guidance for maintaining her physical being.

Butter, corn, pork define Southern fare

For the curious onlookers, as defined by Paula Deen of Food Network fame, modern Southern cooking is defined by butter, butter and more butter.

Woman launches crusade to provide needy children with birthday cakes

MINNEAPOLIS - Veronica Descotte believes that all youngsters, no matter how dire their family situation, should be able to feel hopeful at least one day a year.

Learning life's twists and twirls beyond the baton

A river, a past and a people

Being submerged in water symbolically represents purification. But the history bubbling up from the rapids of the Chattooga River has been tainted for some people since the 1970s. That's when Hollywood came a-courting Rabun County as the location for the 1972 movie "Deliverance." The film was based on a book by the same title, written by James Dickey and set along the fictional Cahulawassee River. "Knowing that he was a South Carolinian, everyone knew the ...

Pastors extending a hand

Instead of focusing strictly on Sunday morning sermons, more worship leaders are reaching out to the community to help those around them improve their overall lives.

Hall Library Systems offers a free way to test energy efficiency

These days, most everyone is interested in making sure they're running an energy-efficient home.

With hectic holidays over, simple sounds good.

Although you can find slow cookers on store shelves and kitchen cabinets all year long, many cooks don't give them a second thought until the mercury begins to drop in the thermometer.

Gainesville artist puts life on canvas, despite worsening blindness

The average person may look at the sky and see a solid field of blue. But for an artist, it's a blanket of interwoven shades of aquamarine and cerulean.

Make 2012 the year your family comes together

Although many people think of the beginning of the year as a time to implement resolutions geared toward self-improvement, it never hurts to look at the bigger picture.

Losing income to illness, Gainesville resident gets resourceful

The last few holidays have brought interesting changes to Kelsey's Trusty's life.

Party panache: Be the life of the 2012 bash

As the world prepares to bid farewell to 2011, many folks are busy planning how they're going to usher in 2012.

Host a D-I-Y sushi party for New Year’s Eve

Not a New Year's Eve partier? Me either.

Zipping her fears away

You may find this hard to believe, but I've never been much of a wild child. My version of living on the edge consists of eating a nonbreakfast food as my first meal of the day - here's looking at you sugar cookie smeared in cream cheese icing. I've always been the reserved and cautious type. My mom calls it introspective; on occasion, my friends call it me being a wet blanket. I'm not against ...

Banking fresh food

The recent rain has been very good for the Georgia Mountain Food Bank as the seeds from its first community garden begin to grow and flourish.

Winners of Brenau barbecue contests will advance to world finals

Two teams competing in this year's Brenau Barbecue Championship will also be selling their pork to hungry visitors at the event. But it's almost by accident that either team exists.

Student council collects books for community library

Fifth-grader Heartley Twiggs loves to read fiction books and thinks kids are better off when they read books they enjoy.

Wedding bells, blues and venues

Brittany Evans wanted a storybook wedding but what she got was something more like a movie.

Couple conquers 70 years together

In 1940, C.W. Davis hitched a ride from a driver in a red Ford, ultimately securing a movie date with the woman behind the wheel.

Jehovah’s Witness experiences an influx of hope

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - On the day the Boston Marathon bombing transfixed the world, Mark Watkins of suburban Kansas City, Mo., lay face to face with a crisis of life, death and faith.

Better-for-you BBQ chicken

Barbecue chicken is one of my favorite summertime dishes. I like every part of it - the tomato-based sauce (the spicier the better), the crispy skin, even the bones.

Properly preparing a picnic

The school year is winding down and Memorial Day is just around the corner. Activities such as boating, camping and picnicking are fun ways to experience the great outdoors.

Ask cook: Correct way to cut lettuce

Question: It used to be forbidden to cut lettuce with a knife. Only tearing by hand or cutting with a plastic knife was acceptable. But now I see TV chefs regularly chopping lettuce with a regular knife. What is responsible for this change in thinking?

Singles meet and mingle

For 52-year-old Gina Sweet, it had been awhile since she hit the dating scene. Luckily for her, family members gave her the Cinderella treatment before she ventured out to Cocktails & Conversations, a brand-new speed-dating venture in Gainesville.

Racing to the front

JEFFERSON - It was anything but a regular school day for the 15 local middle schools students who participated in the Jackson Electric Membership Corporation Junior Solar Sprint competition May 3. Using one of the Earth's brightest resources, the sun, students put their hand-built solar sprinters to the test in a fast-paced race competition at Road Atlanta in Braselton.

Perfect pink present for mom

Editor's note: North Hall High School junior Catherine Sartain, 16, wrote this column for her journalism class about Mother's Day.

Her husband is her 'hero'

"It will be a blessed Mother's Day for my kids, my granddaughter, my wife," Grady Nolan said, his voice cracking slightly. "And for me."

Lay leaders lend a loving ear

BATH TOWNSHIP, Ohio - The Stephen Ministry is looking for compassionate men and women who want to help people who are hurting.

Diseases of the dogwood tree

Just the other day I was looking at a dogwood tree at the house and saw it was in pretty good shape overall. However, things can change and it is worth keeping an eye on the tree to see if it becomes infected.