Gainesville, Hall County high school graduation rates are solid

With a 2007 graduation rate of 81 percent, or 10 points above the state average, Gainesville High School has become a destination for some 40 school districts statewide "to learn more about our success," said campus principal Mike Kemp.

Habersham County's new superintendent could start July 1

Application documents are available for viewing for Robert Costley, who has been given the Habersham County school board's OK as its new superintendent.

Parents, students, educators worry that new HOPE rules can leave behind ‘best and the brightest’

Students, parents and educators complained Tuesday night about last year's eligibility changes in the much-coveted HOPE Scholarship and its effects on students taking challenging courses.

Gas station at Seasons on Lanier still a no-go

In the tussle between Seasons on Lanier residents and the bankrupt neighborhood's potential new developer, Easlan Capital of Atlanta Inc. has been granted a timeout.

Former county parks director works in Arcade

Deborah Mockus, who served for five years as director of Hall County Parks and Leisure Services, is now city administrator for the Jackson County town of Arcade. Mockus left Hall County's employment in mid-March. "She was not asked to leave," said County Administrator Jim Shuler, calling her departure "mutually agreed upon." Mockus was given a six-month severance package. Shuler did not elaborate on the reason for the ...

Northeast Georgia Health System says Barrow hospital's lawsuit has no merit

Northeast Georgia Health System officials have denied allegations that they did not follow Georgia's certificate-of-need rules when applying to build a new hospital in Braselton.

Gainesville City Council, school board hold joint meeting

The Gainesville City Council and the Gainesville school board met Monday to discuss matters that affect both.

Church hopes to buy building to house mission

St. Michael Catholic Church has signed a contract to purchase the current building of Emmanuel Baptist Church as a mission. The $1.3 million contract is contingent upon the church's ability to raise $300,000 in donations and pledges by the end of April. Emmanuel Baptist, located at 177 Atlanta Highway, is in a business district that is dominated by businesses owned by or catering to Latino clientele. It backs up to ...

Residents give ideas to improve libraries

A group of nearly 20 Hall County residents and elected officials gathered Monday at Blackshear Place Library in Oakwood to brainstorm improvement ideas for Hall County libraries. Adrian Mixson, Hall County Library System director, said the purpose of the focus group was to determine how library patrons' needs regarding facilities, services and programs might change during the next five years. "This is a growing county. We're asking our ...

Holly tree pruning will block off lane of downtown traffic

GAINESVILLE- It's not Christmas, but they'll still be trimming the holly tree. Gainesville motorists should be advised that the Green Street lane that turns right onto E.E. Butler will be blocked off this afternoon while Jackson EMC prunes the Green Street holly tree.

An exercise in auctioneering: Uptown Fitness equipment sold to pay taxes

They came in search of the elusive bargain, and some found it Tuesday as Gainesville and the Hall County Tax Commissioners office sold some of the equipment at the former Uptown Fitness on Bradford Street.

Car theft, chase lead to arrest of Talmo teenager

An 18-year-old Talmo resident is being held in the Hall County Jail without bond after he allegedly fired a gun at someone, stole a car and fled from deputies Sunday morning.

Uptown Fitness Center equipment up for auction

The Hall County Tax Commissioners Office and the city of Gainesville will host an auction from 8 to 10 a.m. today at the former site of Uptown Fitness Center at 131 Bradford St.

Forum on HOPE set for tonight

A forum on changes made last year in HOPE scholarship grade-point average calculations is set for 7 tonight at the Hall County school system offices at 711 Green St. Daniel McGrail, a Johnson High School senior, has organized the meeting with help from school system officials. McGrail, the Student Teacher Achievement Recognition student at Johnson this year, has invited officials from the ...

Gainesville braces for less money in budget

GAINESVILLE - The city of Gainesville may be running on a slimmer budget in the coming fiscal year than in years past. A lag in construction and an uncertain economy has Gainesville's financial experts projecting revenues for this fiscal year to be less than had been expected. But Gainesville City Manager Brian Shuler insists the outlook is not so grim. "I don't think there's any department in ...

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.

German tourists learn about diversity

A Wednesday visit to Hall County by several German tourists served to illuminate a reality prominent in the U.S., and increasingly in the forefront of modern Europe - the tide of immigration.

Ex-bank manager from Murrayville charged in theft

Class Notes: Uzbekistanis visit Lanier Tech

A group of 11 Uzbekistanis, including farmers, businessmen and a representative of the country's Ministry of Agriculture and Water Management recently visited Lanier Technical College to learn about its refrigeration program.

Local political group protests IRS focus

Area residents took to the sidewalk in front of the local Internal Revenue Service office, waving signs and encouraging people driving by to honk in protest of the agency and revelations that some conservative groups have been targeted by IRS agents.

Graduation rates up in local schools

Hall County graduation rates increased in 2012 from 2011.

Fire destroys home; one treated for smoke inhalation

Gene Jones was outside his Commander Drive home cutting his grass when he saw smoke pouring out to the road.

Gainesville awards bid for convention center study

Gainesville City Council approved awarding the bid for the convention center and hotel feasibility study to consulting firms Key Advisors Inc. and the Bleakly Advisory Group on Tuesday evening.

Flood damage costs start to emerge

Flowery Branch officials are estimating $1.4 million in expenses related to Sunday's historic rainfall, and so far it appears that most of the financial burden is falling on the beleaguered South Hall city.

Norfolk Southern says heavy rains overwhelmed Flowery Branch culverts

Norfolk Southern officials said Tuesday that culverts in Flowery Branch were overwhelmed Sunday by the heavy rains that fell overnight.

Local efforts gather help for Oklahoma tornado victims

Syfan Logistics is working to do its part to help victims of the tornadoes in Oklahoma.

Flood causes sewer spill into Flowery Branch Creek

Sunday's historic flood in Flowery Branch has produced another problem for the beleaguered South Hall city - a 200,000-gallon sewer spill into Flowery Branch Creek.

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.