Flowery Branch’s first hotel going up

Construction on the first hotel in Flowery Branch is well under way. A Hampton Inn & Suites hotel is being built on Holland Dam Road behind the BP gas station in Flowery Branch and will house 84 bedrooms on a two-acre site with 96 parking spaces.

Ruby Brawner celebrates a rosy 75th

The basement of the First Baptist Church on Green Street was decorated with rose-colored napkins and white tablecloths to mark the birthday of one of Gainesville's most treasured citizens.

Extended boat ramp opens today at Clarks Bridge Park

Build it, and they will boat. Kerry Hicks and a team of volunteers saw their grass-roots project to extend the public boat ramp at Clarks Bridge Park realized Saturday, when they successfully pulled a 24-foot pontoon boat from Lake Lanier on a new, 40-foot steel extension.

Hall schools have $10 million technology wish list

GAINESVILLE - The Hall County school system has a $10.6 million technology wish list. Aaron Turpin, who is about to take over as the district's technology chief, talked Saturday with the Board of Education about a variety of projects, some high-dollar and some becoming more urgent than others, throughout the system. A brief summary includes: $3.4 million for laptop computers for high school, elementary and ...

Gainesville to submit charter system application to state

GAINESVILLE - The Gainesville school system is vying to become one of the state's first charter school systems. At its annual retreat Saturday, the City Board of Education voted to submit its application to the Georgia Department of Education.

Retirement deal pays well for Hall County administrator

On Dec. 31, 2006, Hall County Administrator Jim Shuler retired from his job with county government.

Motorcycle shop fire deemed suspicious

Fire officials say a business fire that caused nearly a $1 million in damage at a Buford motorcycle shop late Thursday night is suspicious. Hall County Fire Capt. Scott Cagle said the owners of the Professional V Twin, a motorcycle shop in the 2800 block of McEver Road, have received threats on their business in the past.

Derrer hired for Forsyth County post

A longtime Hall County government employee is the lone finalist for deputy county manager in Forsyth County.

Two hurt in construction accident

Two construction workers are recovering after an accident Thursday morning at Northeast Georgia Medical Center.

State EPD may keep pools dry this summer

For many people, a summer without swimming pools is unthinkable. But it may come to that, if Georgia's extreme drought does not abate. Under the Level 4 drought restrictions currently in place in 61 North Georgia counties, outdoor swimming pools cannot be filled or "topped off" with municipal water.

Defying the odds: Flowery Branch man overcomes brain trauma

FLOWERY BRANCH As part of his job, emergency medical technician Kyle Brown sometimes transported patients to Shepherd Center, the Atlanta hospital that treats serious brain and spinal injuries.

Man sought in sexual assault, home invasion

Forsyth County Sheriff's Office investigators want to question a man in connection with a sexual assault and robbery that took place Jan. 5 in South Forsyth County near Strickland Road and Ga. 9.

Weather Channel to visit Lake Lanier

The Weather Channel will be broadcasting live from Lake Lanier next week as part of the network's weeklong series from locations across the Southeast affected by the drought. The series asks the question: What happens when H20 becomes H2-No?

Brenau hosts famed children’s author

Book author and storyteller Carmen Agra Deedy will be featured in a Saturday evening program at Brenau University.

Hall commissioners OK Hagen Creek development

Hall County Commission gave the final approval for a 2,736-home North Hall subdivision Thursday that will include a 20-acre school site, 1,000,000 square feet of commercial space and possibly an 18-hole golf course.

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.

New law to help vets get into workforce

Retired Hall County military veterans Stephen McGruder and Johnny Varner hope a new Georgia law will aid them in helping vets seamlessly transition into the civilian workforce.

Fellowship to help Gainesville student study law at Mercer

Whit Carmon was stepping off the bus after delivering his final term paper at the University of Georgia when his phone rang.