5 questions with Reggie Forrester

Reggie Forrester has worn many hats in local government and the legal system. He has served as court administrator for the Northeastern Judicial Circuit since 2006. Prior to that, he was Hall County administrator from 1995-1999, public safety director from 1985-1995, district court administrator from 1982-1985, correctional institute warden from 1979-1982 and investigator for the District Attorney's Office from 1976-1977. Today, we discuss his current position and how he balances the different duties and skills ...

April 29, 2013 | From staff reports | 5 questions

5 questions with Dorothy Shinafelt

Dorothy Shinafelt leads an organization that does much more than just teach people to read. Through its programs, the Gainesville/Hall County Alliance for Literacy helps people become more educated so they can get better jobs, make more money and, ultimately, help provide better skilled workers for local businesses. The alliance's biggest fundraiser, the annual Spelling Bee for Literacy, is Tuesday night.

April 22, 2013 | From staff reports | 5 questions

5 questions with Cheryl Christian

Cheryl Christian leads one of the best "good news" stories in Hall County. As executive director of Good News Clinics, Christian oversees the largest free medical clinic in Georgia, serving more than 1,000 patients a month. A cadre of physicians volunteers at the clinic, which has been held up by Gov. Nathan Deal and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle as a model for the state and nation to follow.

April 15, 2013 | | 5 questions

5 questions with Helen Dunn

Helen Dunn has seen it all - literally - at West Hall High School. She's been the librarian at the school since the doors opened 25 years ago. While a lot has changed since 1988, Dunn says the school in many ways is just the same, a place where faculty and staff truly care about their students and where students help keep her young.

April 07, 2013 | | 5 questions

5 questions with J. David Earnest

J. David Earnest says his job as executive director of Challenged Child & Friends is the job he's worked his entire career to get. He calls the school a "remarkable setting" and marvels at how the facility helps students with special needs get ready to go off to a regular school. And he's grateful for the daily successes - both big and small - that happen in the school.

April 01, 2013 | From staff reports | 5 questions

5 questions with Cece Conrath

Cece Conrath says she's always been a performer at heart, and after watching two different performances of Les Miserables, she was hooked on theater. Now she takes that enthusiasm and shares it with students at Lakeview Academy in Gainesville. Recently, Conrath won the Outstanding Theater Educator Award at the Georgia Thespian Conference in Columbus, an award given annually to just one teacher in the state.

March 25, 2013 | From staff reports | 5 questions

5 Questions for Lee D. Highsmith

Lee D. Highsmith sees Junior Achievement as a way to give young people a vision for their future. As executive director of Junior Achievement of Northeast Georgia, Highsmith oversees a variety of programs that last year touched more than 7,000 students.

March 10, 2013 | | 5 questions

5 Questions for Darla Eden

Darla Eden took office as Hall County's new tax commissioner just as a new law governing motor vehicle taxes was about to take effect. So she's spent much of her first two months in office explaining the law, which took effect Friday, and its impact to taxpayers. But she has big goals in mind for the office - expanded hours and better customer service among them. Today, The Times asks Eden five questions about the ...

March 04, 2013 | | 5 questions

5 Questions for Tim McDonald

Tim McDonald has spent his entire life in Gainesville, so he knows the Northeast Georgia region well. It's knowledge that helps him greatly in his role helping boost economic development here. As Lanier Technical College's vice president of economic development, McDonald is continuing a long tradition of using the college as a catalyst for development.

February 25, 2013 | | 5 questions

5 Questions for Ann Nixon

Ann Nixon started building with Habitat for Humanity of Hall County five years ago, becoming a full-time builder three years ago. Now she's the organization's executive director. Her biggest challenge will be how to not only sustain the program, but to grow it. Habitat will be partnering with Hall County to rehabilitate existing houses for new homeowners.

February 17, 2013 | | 5 questions

Ex-jailer released without having to pay bond

A former Hall County jailer was released on a bond "of his own recognizance," stemming from charges of felony sexual assault.

December 19, 2012 | Emma Witman | 5 questions

5 Questions for Charlotte Sosebee

Tuesday is showtime for Charlotte Sosebee, the director of elections for Hall County. The day on which we choose a president and a new member of the U.S. House, among other races, is the busiest of the year for Sosebee and her team, which must open the polls at 7 a.m., close them 12 hours later, then count the votes cast Tuesday as well as thousands cast during three weeks of early voting. Today, The ...

November 04, 2012 | | 5 questions

5 Questions for John LaForge

Music has been a part of John LaForge's life for as long as he can remember. He was in musical theater in high school, sang in his first opera in college and has taught music to high school students.

October 15, 2012 | From staff reports | 5 questions

5 Questions for Rick Aiken

When Rick Aiken came to work at the local humane society 24 years ago, it was days away from closing. Today, the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia is a thriving organization, having served millions of pets and people in those years. Now Aiken is preparing for retirement, and today, The Times asks him five questions about life as a shelter director and what life in retirement may bring.

October 07, 2012 | | 5 questions

5 Questions for Mitchell A. Hamilton

Mitchell Hamilton is new to this area, coming here just a few months ago to serve as a recruiter for the United States Marine Corps. But already he says he loves it here, calling Northeast Georgia a very patriotic area that fully supports the nation's military.

September 16, 2012 | | 5 questions

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