Sheriff’s officials train to detain illegal immigrants

Hall County deputies will soon begin deportation proceedings for any person booked into the county jail who is determined to be in the country illegally. Sheriff Steve Cronic said nine of his deputies began training today for the 287(g) program, a local-federal partnership that gives sheriff's officials new authority in enforcing immigration law. Cronic had been waiting for approval for the program for nearly a year. Hall County ...

Chambliss: Water talks on track

BUFORD - Standing on the shore at Lake Lanier Islands, U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., said Tuesday the record low lake level can be blamed, in part, on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. "They've not done a very good job of managing the water supply we've got," Chambliss said. "When I think back over the past few years, when I've seen situations come up where we had plenty ...

Dawsonville Highway lanes open for your driving pleasure

The Georgia Department of Transportation crossed one big item off of its to-do list Tuesday with the opening of two new lanes on Dawsonville Highway.

Chambliss weighs in on presidential races

U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss' visit to Gainesville concluded long before the polls closed in New Hampshire Tuesday evening. The senator, however, said he was not surprised by last week's showing by his colleague, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., or former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. "When you follow the campaigns as they progress, those two seem to be gaining a lot of strength," Chambliss said. "What ...

Commission chairman wants to explore combining county, city fire services

County commission Chairman Tom Oliver sparked discussion Monday with the county fire chief and other commissioners on merging Gainesville and Hall County fire departments. "The challenge is we see an opportunity here to work with the city to make services a little more uniform to save some money ... and have quicker response times," Oliver said. "I think (the merger) will eliminate the duplication of services." While Hall ...

Hospitals file suit, say rule change will cost them paying customers

Northeast Georgia Medical Center is among a group of 59 nonprofit hospitals that filed suit last week against the Georgia Department of Community Health, claiming that the agency illegally changed its certificate-of-need policy.

After hiker's death, residents say they are shocked, more cautious

A dark and heavy cloud hung over the city of Buford Tuesday as grim details kept emerging about the discovery of Meredith Hope Emerson's remains. Residents of the Atlanta suburb went about business as usual, but some of them said they will never look at their town the same after hearing of the 24-year-old hiker's death.

Suspect charged with murder in hiker case

On New Year's Day, 24-year-old hiker Meredith Emerson disappeared after setting out with her dog for a day of hiking near Union County's Vogel State Park. Three days later, a 61-year-old drifter seen talking to Emerson on the trails bludgeoned her to death, then decapitated her in remote woodlands 50 miles away in Dawson County, officials said Tuesday. What happened in those ...

Thompson Mill Road plans: Residents want more shopping, no more houses

An outdoor shopping mall accompanied by offices and homes is planned at the Village at Deaton Creek active adult community off Thompson Mill Road.

For runners, there is a free lunch, and a YMCA membership

To get people to participate in its March 20 "Get Fit Stay Fit" 5K run/walk, the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce is making an offer that's hard to refuse.

Language academy could be permanent home for much traveled South Hall students

A group of South Hall families who have seen their children moved in and out of three elementary districts over this decade could find a home in Hall County's new World Languages Academy.

New lanes opening on Dawsonville Highway may cause delays

Two new lanes on Dawsonville Highway are set to open today, according to an official from the Georgia Department of Transportation.

Boaters pay so ramp can open again

Lake Lanier's dwindling levels have left boaters with only a handful of operational ramps, but local fishermen and rowers alike have worked together to raise funds that will allow a ramp at Clarks Bridge Park to open on Sunday. On Monday, Lake Lanier Rowing Club donated $1,000 to a ramp extension fundraising effort initiated by bait and tackle store owner Kerry Hicks. Hicks, owner of Smokin' Fisherman near ...

Official touts future of South Hall sewage plant

Hall County officials presented their newest asset, the Spout Springs Reuse Facility, at a press conference Monday in South Hall.

Creative kids tour arts center as reward

GAINESVILLE - Some kids in Hall County took advantage of their last day of winter break by sleeping late and watching television. Others perused the art at the Quinlan Arts Center. On the day before their art debuts at the Lakeshore Mall, about 20 children from the Boys & Girls Clubs toured the Quinlan Arts Center, and some got their first taste of a real art exhibit. <font ...

Rabies clinic set for 9 a.m. on Saturday

The Humane Society of Northeast Georgia is putting on a rabies clinic Saturday at the Gainesville Walmart.

Enota named family-friendly school

Enota Multiple Intelligences Academy has been named a winner of the state Department of Education's Family-Friendly School Partnership School Award.

The Times raises $2,158 for Relay for Life

The Times held a fundraising event Thursday in Gainesville where community members were welcomed to bring documents to shred, with all proceeds benefiting Relay for Life. The "Team Times" Relay for Life Committee collected $2,158 Thursday for the fight against cancer. In addition to people bringing documents to shred, hamburgers and hot dogs were on sale to benefit the cause.

Kids learn lake safety tips before summer ‘trauma season’ begins

Four children sat in a boat on their school's gym floor Thursday as Department of Natural Resources officers shook it and a crowd of their classmates loudly counted down.

4 Gainesville schools went on lockdown Thursday afternoon

Four Gainesville City schools were temporarily locked down Thursday afternoon.

2 Forsyth men charged in $1.6 million theft of 91-year-old

Hot weather health tips

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

Winter weather tips

Braving winter weather