Time to watch the birdies: Many in Northeast Georgia participated in last year's annual count

Northeast Georgia residents are dusting off their binoculars in preparation for the 11th annual Great Backyard Bird Count.

Letters of Love: Hall County couple celebrate golden anniversary on Valentine's Day

BRASELTON

Signs of attraction: Bill would let DOT point way to agri-tourism sites

A bill passed by the Georgia House on Wednesday would allow the Department of Transportation to erect directional signs pointing to the state's agricultural tourism attractions.

Items found in Hilton’s van revealing

The white Astro van where Meredith Emerson was held captive was stuffed with a wardrobe of high-end outdoors clothing, as well as a sling blade, duct tape, air pistols and a hacksaw blade, according to documents filed in DeKalb County Magistrate Court this week.

2-year-old Iraqi girl improves following surgery

A 2-year-old Iraqi girl who underwent open-heart surgery Monday has shown improvement in a Nashville, Tenn., hospital. Amenah Al-Bayati, whose life-threatening plight drew the attention of a Gainesville Marine, has been removed from a ventilator and continues her recovery in an intensive care unit.

Gainesville planning board backs rezoning bid for industrial park

GAINESVILLE - The president of the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce told Gainesville's Planning and Appeals Board the city needs more industrial park space because more industrial park space means more jobs for the community.

Woman gives bulk of assets to Humane Society

Henrietta Wilson was a woman of modest means. She lived a quiet life in North Hall, restricted by a disability, and didn't have much social interaction with people.

Pilot car to be used during Ga. 136 work

The Georgia Department of Transportation Monday began resurfacing parts of Ga. 136 from Ga. 400 in Dawson County to Ga. 60 in Hall County.

Hilton made plans for dog as part of plea deal

Authorities say the drifter who pleaded guilty to killing 24-year-old hiker Meredith Emerson made plans for his dog's future as part of his plea agreement. Dandy, the reddish golden retriever that belonged to 61-year-old Gary Michael Hilton, has been adopted into a new home. The Northern Judicial Public Defender, H. Bradford Morris, says Hilton was concerned that his dog have a good home.

Living history: War veterans meet with students from Gainesville Middle School

GAINESVILLE - They brought old photographs and memorabilia. One veteran brought a model of the bomber he flew during World War II. But most of all, the veterans brought memories of their time spent in the military, during war and peace. "We need to let these kids know what it was like back when," said Van Peeples, a second-class petty officer during the Vietnam War era. "There was a ...

Students, teachers face off in dodgeball

It's not every day that an eighth-grader gets the chance to peg his science teacher with a big white ball; although, he might imagine it on a daily basis. But that's the scenario 11 faculty members at Chestatee Middle School arranged Tuesday afternoon in the form of a student versus faculty dodgeball game. Nearly 250 Chestatee Middle School students filled the school gym stands to watch the competition between 60 student players and Team Ocho, ...

Teens ‘have a lot to tell’ to anti-drug group

"Just say no" just won't cut it anymore. As Hall County volunteers met Tuesday to talk about attacking the problem of teen drug use, several said the simplistic 1980s-era slogan is not enough in the age of text messaging and YouTube.

Brenau receives $200,000 from Regions

Regions Financial Corp. has donated $200,000 to Brenau University, with one of its executives saying that women's business education is central to the company's charitable giving programs.

Jackson, Forsyth schools pull possibly tainted meat from menus

Jackson and Forsyth county school systems are among Georgia school districts that have been ordered to stop serving beef supplied by a California slaughterhouse under federal investigation for mistreating animals.

Snow flurries could fall in Hall tonight

GAINESVILLE - The Hall County area can expect snow flurries tonight, but nothing more, the National Weather Service is reporting.

Probable cause hearing set for slaying suspect

A probable cause hearing is set for later this month after a Gainesville man made his first appearance Tuesday in Hall County Magistrate Court on murder charges.

Motion denied, trial date set in 2012 boating deaths

A Hall County Superior Court judge Tuesday denied a motion to dismiss the case against Paul Bennett, who is charged with eight counts of homicide by vessel in a Lake Lanier accident that killed two Buford boys.

Gainesville City Council faces more opposition to at-large voting at meeting

Gainesville has an ugly history of discrimination and the city's at-large voting system is violating the federal Voting Rights Act, a speaker said at Tuesday's City Council meeting.

Hall County's tax digest drops

Hall County's 2013 final tax digest is down 1.51 percent from last year, according to final numbers from the Tax Commissioner's office, making the county's 2014 proposed budget short by $560,000.

Class Notes: Gainesville City Schools hosting meal program

Deal ‘ready to spend’ state funds to deepen harbor

Gov. Nathan Deal said Tuesday he's willing to use state money to start deepening the Port of Savannah's busy shipping channel without waiting for funding from Washington as long as the federal government promises to pay its share of the $652 million project later.

Blood drive to honor disaster victims

The Hall County Sheriff's Office is teaming up with the North Georgia Detention Center and the American Red Cross to host a blood drive to honor victims of natural disasters both close to home and hundreds of miles away.

Suspect charged with murder in fatal shooting

A man was shot and killed Monday evening in the parking lot outside the Peppers Market off E.E. Butler Parkway in Gainesville.

Flowery Branch named fastest growing city in Hall County

Flowery Branch is Hall County's fastest-growing city, expanding 2.7 percent between July 2011 and July 2012, according to recently released census statistics.

An eXtreme eXperience: Summer camps focus on career offerings

"Do you feel nourished?" That's what rising seventh-grader Christina Antoci asked Adrianna Silva after wiping toner from her face Monday.

The Local Agenda: Gainesville City Council has full agenda

City Council members are scheduled to consider several items at their meeting this evening. On the agenda are raising city water and sewer prices, adopting a West Gainesville-Hall County opportunity zone, setting the 2014 property tax rate for the Gainesville Board of Education and changing the ordinance on annexations initiated by the city.

Taxi driver shot in hand during fight

A Gainesville man was charged with using a gun with a filed-off identification number after a man was shot in the hand outside the J&J Foods on Jesse Jewell Parkway just before midnight Saturday.

Kitchen Inspections for April 12-17

April 12

Hot weather health tips

Here are some tips to help you deal with the summer heat wave.

Winter weather tips

Braving winter weather