Challenged mom gets a helping hand

As a mom to two special-needs children, Donna Aldridge is the first to admit that she needs help.

Gainesville food drive hits home today

Today, anyone with a mailbox can be a humanitarian.

Up close and personal: Civilians get new appreciation for Rangers at open house

It was a Disneyland for military buffs young and old Saturday at Dahlonega's Camp Frank D. Merrill, when the 12th annual Camp Merrill Open House allowed the U.S. Army Rangers to show their stuff to a crowd that included family, veterans and especially awestruck children.

A real pain: Local patients struggle with fibromyalgia

Ever have a bad case of the flu that made your muscles ache all over?

Wounded Gillsville soldier out of ICU

After nearly two weeks in various intensive care units, a soldier from Hall County who was critically wounded in Iraq has been moved to a regular hospital room, his mother said Friday.

2 more men charged in West Hall slaying case

Two Gainesville men have been charged with property crimes connected to last week's home invasion shooting death of a West Hall retiree.

Kids have a big day down on the farm

Hall County preschoolers and kindergartners got a feel for farm life Friday in the second annual Hall County Ag Day at Jaemor Farm Market.

Public defender honored by legal colleagues

It's been a good couple of weeks for public defender Brad Morris.

Man charged in video poker raid

A laundromat owner was charged with paying out cash for electronic gambling machine winnings Friday, the first such arrest in several years since a major statewide crackdown on video poker, authorities said.

Brenau graduation speaker guiding relief efforts in Myanmar

If he hadn't been speaking at Brenau University's graduations in Gainesville this weekend, Dean R. Hirsch said he would be in Myanmar.

‘Girls’ have fun for a good cause

The Longstreet Clinic held its third annual fundraiser for Relay for Life Friday with a cook out and guest appearance from a pediatrics doctor who dressed as a cheerleader and sang "Girls Just Want to Have Fun"

Gainesville to mail out water quality reports

Gainesville water customers will be getting something extra with their bill this month.

Drowning victim still missing

The search on Lake Lanier for the body of a presumed drowning victim went for a fourth day without success.

State gives OK to Habersham Career Academy

The Georgia Board of Education has approved the Habersham County school system's request to start the Habersham Career Academy in the fall.

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.

Firefighters battling blaze at home off Lee Land Road

Firefighters are battling a blaze in the 2600 block of Commander Drive, where one person is being evaluated for possible smoke inhalation.

Graduation rates up in local schools

Many of Hall County's schools have exceeded the state graduation rate, which rose to 69.7 percent in 2012 from 67.4 percent in 2011.

Ridgewood Avenue to close at 9 p.m.

Ridgewood Avenue will be closed at 9 tonight until 4 a.m. Wednesday while Georgia Power does work in the area.

The Local Agenda: Germans to come to Hall to study immigration

A group from Germany will be visiting Hall County on Wednesday, looking to learn about American cultural life and political issues but particularly immigration.

Longstreet Clinic moves into expanded office in Oakwood

The staff at The Longstreet Clinic Family Medicine practice in Oakwood hurried to move into its renovated site Monday, hoping to begin working from it today.

Hall County sheriff proposes buying 12-14 patrol cars

To update its aging fleet, the Hall County Sheriff's Office is looking at spending $550,000 to buy 12-14 new patrol cars and refurbish another four or five.

Crews busy fixing roads after floods

Under sunny skies and no trace of rain, area governments worked Monday to fix roads that had been damaged, some seriously, by fierce storms overnight Sunday.

Despite road closures, kids get to school

Though severe weather Saturday night washed out roadways in Flowery Branch, most students in the area made it to school Monday morning.

Business owners slogging through flood damage

Outside The Tire Store and Lakeview Automotive Group on Atlanta Highway in Flowery Branch, workers hauled equipment to dry areas and washed sheets of mud off the pavement.

Hall schools board discusses options to balance budget

The Hall County Board of Education grappled with "philosophical issues" as it discussed ways to continue to function with a tight budget next year.

Fair Street students may use tablet computers next fall

Gainesville's technology director gave City Board of Education members a Kuno tablet computer to play with briefly Monday night.

McEver still closed, fire official reports

Under sunny skies and no trace of rain, area governments worked Monday to fix roads that had been damaged, some seriously, by fierce storms overnight Sunday.

Atheists to put books next to Bibles in state parks

Boil water advisories still in effect for some

A boil water advisory is in effect for those served by Flowery Branch along with 18 homes at the end of Trudy Drive served by Gainesville.

Eyes on the Road: More feet added to Ga. 53 fix in Dawson County

An additional 500 feet of Thompson Road will be closed as part of a Georgia Department of Transportation project to rebuild the road's intersection at Ga. 53 in Dawson County.