Account set up for victim’s family

An account has been set up to help the children of William Anthony "Andy" Standridge, who died in an automobile wreck recently.

Oakwood looks to limit illegal immigration

Monday night's Oakwood City Council meeting began looking more like a presidential debate when a hot button issue was raised - illegal immigration. Oakwood City Councilmember Gary Anderson started a discussion on what he called the depleting effect illegal immigrants have upon Oakwood and Hall County resources.

Attorney to seek death for accused: Auburn man indicted for 4 murders, arson

Jackson County's district attorney will seek the death penalty against an Auburn man charged in a 2006 murder-arson that claimed the lives of four people, including the suspect's two young children. Piedmont Judicial Circuit District Attorney Rick Bridgeman filed official notice of intent to seek the death penalty against 34-year-old Henry Lee Stringer on Tuesday in Jackson County Superior Court. Stringer's attorney, public defender Barry King, said he ...

Gainesville High students wrap up Newtown Florist Club upgrades

When members of the Newtown Florist Club needed a hand refurbishing their new headquarters, they knew who to turn to.

Planning board OKs group home

BY ASHLEY FIELDING afielding@gainesvilletimes.com GAINESVILLE - Gainesville's Planning and Appeals Board voted 'yes' on two items of business Tuesday, including a request to build a group home. Once again, the board dealt with the subject of group homes in the city. This time, the request came from Chris Cooley on behalf of the Turning Point Residential Recovery Program. Cooley applied for a special-use ...

CASA holds toy drive

The Hall-Dawson Court Appointed Special Advocates program is having a toy drive for the children it helps.

Hall County: Fire damages home

Hall County Fire deputies responded to a call about a Lee Street home about 6:30 a.m. Monday and found smoke coming from the home. The fire was extinguished with little water, said Hall County Fire Marshal Scott Cagle. Damage, which amounted to about $2,500, was contained to the bathroom, where the fire started, Cagle said. The fire appeared to have started because a towel was left too close to ...

Christmas in July? Chestnuts aren’t the only things roasting

BY DEBBIE GILBERT dgilbert@gainesvilletimes.com With two weeks to go until Christmas, North Georgians weren't exactly in a holiday mood Monday. They sweated in shorts and T-shirts even as radio stations stubbornly played "Let It Snow" and "Winter Wonderland." Many areas of Georgia broke or tied temperature records Sunday and Monday, with highs soaring into the mid-70s. Atlanta, for example, hit 76 degrees Sunday afternoon, ...

Counties may trade land with US Forest Service

CLAYTON - In a complicated land swap involving five Georgia counties, the U.S. Forest Service has proposed to give up 323 acres of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in exchange for receiving 758 acres of privately owned property. Dave Jensen, chief ranger for the forest's Chattooga River District, said swapping land is the only way for the federal agency to acquire property it needs. "Land acquisition money is ...

North Hall High principal retiring

Gary Brown, principal of North Hall High School, is retiring after the 2007-08 school year. The Hall County Board of Education voted Monday night in a meeting at Flowery Branch High School to approve his resignation. Brown has served as principal since 1999. He also served as an administrator at Shiloh, Brookwood and Banks County high schools, according to North Hall's Web site.

Home Town plans to be considered

Although Hall County has undergone staggering growth in recent years, District 2 Commissioner Billy Powell said Monday that North Hall won't see as much development in the near future as originally planned.

Plans don’t please parents: Residents disagree with proposed changes to school districts

FLOWERY BRANCH - They came with different perspectives, but none advocated keeping South Hall school district boundary lines as has been proposed by Hall County school officials. Riverstone Park was one of the most vocal groups at a public hearing on the proposal Monday night.

Officials say former DA not connected to bank robberies

The home of former Piedmont Judicial Circuit District Attorney Tim Madison was searched Friday in connection with Dec. 3 bank robberies in McDuffie and Oconee counties. Madison fit the description of a robber who hit banks in the two counties, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Federal Bureau of Investigation searched Madison's home in Franklin County on Friday, local officials said. John Heinen, special agent in charge ...

DOT: I-985 to shift on Thursday

While no lane closures are planned for the week, traffic on the southbound side of Interstate 985 is scheduled to shift over on Thursday. "The old bridge must be demolished," said Teri Pope, Georgia DOT spokeswoman. "We will be opening an additional left turn lane at the southbound exit ramp onto State Route 53. The new left turn lane will open by Thursday too and will allow more traffic to flow onto ...

Hall County: Man saves neighbor from fire

Hall County firefighters responded to a camper fire at 2932 Pierce Road Monday at about 8:30 p.m.

Flooding hits South Hall, closing roads

More rain is falling and storms may be on their way tonight, piling onto the hardships of many Hall County residents as they try to recover from damage left by fierce overnight storms.

Ga. water negotiator's role may be seen as conflict

Rock in the Spring concert benefits local school

Concertgoers look over items in a silent auction Saturday night at the Rock in the Spring fundraiser at Brenau University ampitheater. Proceeds benefit the local school Challenged Child and Friends, an early intervention center in Gainesville that provides special needs and typically developing children the opportunity to learn together and from each other. Local musicians Mid Life Crisis played at the event. Local musicians Mid Life Crisis perform Saturday night for the audience at the Brenau ...

Riverside Military Academy opens campus home for president

Riverside Military Academy welcomed a new addition to its campus Saturday, something it hasn't had since 2005: A home for the school president.

Powerball: Did these numbers change your life?

Winning numbers: 22-10-13-14-52

Groups gather at Lake Lanier to promote boating safety

In anticipation of the summertime increase in lake recreation, the Lake Lanier Association held a Boating Safety Awareness Day Saturday at Lake Lanier Islands resort.

Nonprofits, state agencies work to help victims of human trafficking

Jennifer Robson sits in front of her laptop computer and scrolls through a list of ads on an adult website, looking for a local woman to call.

Law agencies focus sharp eyes to spot victims

To spot victims of sex trafficking, it takes the keen eye of an expert - one like Brian Johnston, assistant special agent in charge of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Human Trafficking Unit.

Proposed left-turn ban on Green raises a stir

The potential for no left turns on Green Street has raised hackles along the busy, four-lane road, according to one of its most vocal business leaders.

Last school day a chance for partying, fun in Gainesville

With tears in her eyes, second-grade teacher Maria McConnell says goodbye to her class.

Judge to decide best tax distribution between cities and county based on filings

Hall County and Gainesville, on behalf of all the county's municipalities, each submitted their offers on the distribution of local option sales tax revenue Friday morning to visiting Superior Court Judge Frank Mills.

Federal courthouse ceremony welcomes 52 new Americans

Fifty-two foreign nationals from more than 25 countries walked into the federal court in Gainesville at 11 a.m. Friday and walked out as citizens of the United States at noon.

BBQ cooks fire up for Laurel Park competition

Crowds came by both car and by boat Friday to the kickoff for the second annual Hawgin' on Lanier barbecue competition at Laurel Park.

Rove to speak at Republican convention in Athens

As the state GOP convention officially came to order Friday, a small group of tea party and other activists stood outside to announce a large-scale voter outreach effort this year in part because they feel they can't depend on national Republicans to win elections.

Fire damages commercial building off Jesse Jewell

Firefighters were called to a blaze this afternoon at a building off Jesse Jewell Parkway in the 1000 block of Airport Drive.