Fair Street gets new neighborhood center

On Sunday, Gainesville Parks and Recreation will celebrate the opening of its Fair Street Neighborhood Center, which offers just another site in Gainesville where residents can let the good times roll. "We've had the Georgia Mountains Center and the Gainesville Civic Center, and now we have the Fair Street Neighborhood Center," said Brenda Martin, manager of the Gainesville Civic Center. The community center will be available for public ...

Citizens take concerns to officials

A community park for Gainesville's south side has been pursued for at least four years, but has gotten nowhere so far because county officials haven't found adequate land, a group of residents was told Saturday. Hall County Commissioner Deborah Mack said that in order for residents who live in the neighborhood running along the Athens Street corridor to have an adequate park, a minimum of 10 acres would be needed. ...

Brenau announces plans to expand

Brenau is poised to embark upon a 15-year strategic plan that, upon completion, school officials hope will make it one of the pre-eminent universities on the East Coast.

Flowery Branch City Council just trying to get along

The five members of the Flowery Branch City Council attended a two-day team-building retreat with city staff members at Lake Lanier Islands this weekend in an effort to improve communication among members of the council. Flowery Branch Mayor Diane Hirling said the retreat is "well-timed," due to recent disagreements that have arisen between members of the council regarding the minutes of a Feb. 6 city council meeting. At ...

Humane Society to hold another rabies clinic

Due to the recent outbreak of confirmed rabies cases in Hall County, the Humane Society of Hall County will be holding another rabies vaccination clinic on April 19 at the shelter.

Jaycees name young woman, man of the year

Larry Baldwin and Jennifer Willers Gottsman may be best known in Gainesville through their professions, but it was their selfless volunteer work for the children of Hall County that won them recognition Saturday as the Gainesville Jaycees' Young Man and Young Woman of the year. Baldwin, Hall County's solicitor-general since 2004, chairs the Boys and Girls Clubs' "duck derby" fundraiser, reads to children and donates books. He also serves on ...

Sardis Elementary could seek charter status

Sardis Elementary School is looking at possibly pursuing charter status as an "enrichment model" school, said Hall County schools Superintendent Will Schofield.

Just plain ol' Knucksie

At the beginning of the speech he gave while being inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997, former Atlanta Braves' pitcher and current Flowery Branch resident Phil Niekro used a telling quote: "If you see a turtle sitting on a fence post, you know it didn't get there by itself."

Columbus shooting puts focus on hospital security

In the wake of a fatal shooting Thursday at a Columbus hospital, many Georgia hospitals are reassessing their own security procedures.

Technology hang-up delays immigration enforcement

When nine Hall County deputies graduated from a federal immigration enforcement training course on Feb. 4, local officials believed it would only be a few weeks at most before they would begin processing for deportation all illegal immigrants booked into the Hall County jail.

School boards to talk money on Monday

With an eye toward the Gold Dome and growth in their backyards, the Gainesville and Hall County school systems are gearing up for budget season.

Cleveland photographer likely slipped to his death, authorities say

A Cleveland man who was reported missing by his wife Wednesday is believed to have fallen to his death at Glade Shoals near Ga. 52 east of Clermont, authorities said after recovering his body Thursday.

County approves South Hall development

Hall County Board of Commissioners approved a rezoning request Thursday for the construction of a 28-acre mixed-use development on the north side of Thompson Mill Road that will be part of a 67-acre lifestyles center straddling the Gwinnett County line.

Saturday will be ‘Great Day’ for hundreds

Early Saturday morning, about 850 people will gather at First United Methodist Church for meditation and communion. Then, wearing shirts emblazoned with "Great Day of Service," they will disperse across Hall County to perform community service projects that vary from painting a church to delivering chicken sandwiches. Saturday will be the second annual Great Day of Service, a community service event in which members of First United Methodist Church will ...

Gainesville one of nation’s fastest growing metro areas

Gainesville was the fourth fastest-growing metropolitan area in the U.S., according to Census Bureau estimates released Thursday.

Hall County completes storm damage assessment

Hall County suffered about $800,000 in storm damage, county Fire Chief David Kimbrell told county commissioners at their meeting Wednesday.

Sheriff's office searching for shooting suspect

Gary Wilson said he never dreamed he would pull up to his father's Lula business "and find crime scene tape."

Hall County students begin their summer vacation

Students across Hall County burst from school doors Thursday, ready to begin their summer vacations.

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.

More than $85,000 in aid to be delivered to Oklahoma

Syfan Logistics received an "overwhelming" amount of donations from the community in response to its relief effort for the Oklahoma tornado victims.

Memorial Day travel to remain busy

If you plan to travel this Memorial Day holiday weekend, you may find things just a little bit less crowded. But don't count on it.

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 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.