The Times honored by the Associated Press

The Times' ongoing coverage of the drought has won first place for community service in the Georgia Associated Press Association awards competition, one of 16 awards won by the newspaper. The Times took home more awards than any newspaper of any size in Georgia, including six first-place awards for writing and photography. The winners were honored Saturday at a luncheon in Atlanta.

Free estimates for book repairs will be given at library next week

Book lovers who want to bring new life to their favorite dog-eared copies can get free estimates for repairs at Bible and Old Book Repair Day set for Tuesday at the Hall County Library System's headquarters.

Neighbor: Elderly neglect reported

A neighbor and a relative of Gladys Smallwood both insist they called social service agencies to get help for the 79-year-old woman prior to her death from suspected neglect, but officials with both the state Division of Family and Children Services and Division of Aging Services say they could find no record of those calls.

Stray Pet Strut is Sunday

The Humane Society of Hall County presents its 17th annual Stray Pet Strut and 5K Run on Sunday, with all of the proceeds going to benefit the organization.

GSC pays tribute to students and faculty at Honors Day

At its annual Honors Day event Wednesday, Gainesville State College honored more than 200 students who were nominated for various academic and service awards.

National Geographic travel magazine to publish maps of North Georgia driving tours

SAUTEE - State and regional officials unveiled a collection of specialized maps for self-guided driving tours of mountain and regional destinations.

Saving the environment via the Bible

Do we have a moral obligation to protect the Earth?

Storm rips roof off of mobile home

A line of strong storms that moved across Hall County at about 8 p.m. ripped the roof off a mobile home on Clarks Bridge Road and knocked down trees in several areas.

Woman injured in grease fire

A Buford woman was airlifted to an Atlanta hospital Friday with serious burns after a grease fire erupted at her home on Thompson Mill Road.

Forsyth woman killed in collision with logging truck

CUMMING - Authorities are still trying to determine what caused a log truck to collide with a pickup Thursday in Dawson County, killing a 33-year-old Forsyth County woman.

Federal grand jury indicts 3 on tax fraud

Several people were indicted this week in federal tax fraud cases, including a Gainesville woman and a Cumming man, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Atlanta announced Friday.

Touchdown Drive finished in time for school to restart

The widening of Touchdown Drive at Century Place was completed this week as planned, just in time for school to get back in session Monday after spring break.

In full bloom: Vendors tout drought-resistant plants at expo

A breezy Friday didn't deter gardening enthusiasts - or those looking for tips to become one - from the Sixth Annual Spring Garden Expo.

Weather to get cooler after today’s expected storms

Gainesville residents can expect some finicky weather throughout the weekend with high chances of rain today and through the evening and then clear skies Saturday afternoon.

GB&T employees will be offered jobs with SunTrust

Officials with SunTrust and Gainesville Bank & Trust on Thursday revealed their branch configuration following the planned merger of the two financial institutions.

Dogs available for adoption after seized in hoarding case

Some dogs are already in new homes since being seized May 16 in an animal hoarding case, with the rest being prepared for adoption.

Hall's cities report slight bumps in population

Hall's cities all showed a slight bump in population between 2011 and 2012 according to the estimates released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sheriff's office searching for shooting suspect

The Hall County Sheriff's Office is searching for a suspect in an armed robbery this morning that injured a 59-year-old woman.

Hall leaders discuss library budget request

Hall County commissioners heard two budget requests for 2014 at their meeting Wednesday afternoon from the Hall County Library System director and Superior Court clerk.

Veterans killed in action remembered

Members of the American Legion Post 7, Unit 7, in Gainesville, along with area Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, were busy Wednesday ahead of the Memorial Day holiday. Legion members and scouts were placing flowers on veterans' graves in observance of the holiday, celebrated on the last Monday in May to recognize Americans who have died while serving.

Gainesville pedestrian bridge to close temporarily

The pedestrian bridge in downtown Gainesville will close Tuesday through May 31 for sidewalk repairs on the City Hall side.

Buford: Burglaries reported in county’s flooded areas

The Hall County Sheriff's Office is checking out reports of burglaries and entering auto incidents near flooded areas in the area of the Hall and Gwinnett county line in Buford.

Driver succumbs to injuries in wreck

Covington: Fox bites students attending school

Principal Coleman says goodbye to friends and school

Mark Coleman and the late Chris Mance spent the last few years preparing for retirement.

Hall County schools looking at new visitor identification system

Visitors to Hall County schools could have a new security checkpoint to go through beginning next school year.

German tourists learn about diversity

A Wednesday visit to Hall County by several German tourists served to illuminate a reality prominent in the U.S., and increasingly in the forefront of modern Europe - the tide of immigration.

Ex-bank manager from Murrayville charged in theft

Class Notes: Uzbekistanis visit Lanier Tech

A group of 11 Uzbekistanis, including farmers, businessmen and a representative of the country's Ministry of Agriculture and Water Management recently visited Lanier Technical College to learn about its refrigeration program.

Local political group protests IRS focus

Area residents took to the sidewalk in front of the local Internal Revenue Service office, waving signs and encouraging people driving by to honk in protest of the agency and revelations that some conservative groups have been targeted by IRS agents.