Scholarship banquet planned for Saturday

The Fourth Annual L. A. Waters Scholarship Banquet is set for 6:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday in Gainesville State College's Continuing Education/Performing Arts Center. Proceeds benefit the college's L.A. Waters Scholarship Fund, named after the late Lee Allen "L.A." Waters, a lifetime supporter of youth and education and particularly a mentor to Gainesville Middle School students. The guest speaker for this year's banquet is ...

Lane closures set for I-985

The Georgia Department of Transportation will have to close lanes on Interstate 985 overnight next week in order to set beams for the Atlanta Highway Bridge.

Federal funds available locally for food, shelter

Ninth District Opportunity Inc. has been awarded $72,847 in federal funds under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program.

Newtown Club holds open house

The Newtown Florist Club Neighborhood Association will be holding an open house all weekend at its newly refurbished offices at 1064 Desota St.

Epileptic patients want law to ban pharmacists from switching seizure medication

A group of epilepsy patients from across Georgia will meet with state lawmakers Wednesday to raise awareness about the needs of people with seizure disorders.

French scholar to discuss US economy at Brenau

GAINESVILLE - Retired French diplomat and Brenau University scholar-in-residence Jacky Musnier plans to discuss the U.S. economy in a lecture set for Thursday. The lecture, open to the public at no charge, is set to begin at 6 p.m. in Thurmond-McRae Lecture Hall.

Rwandan set to speak about peace at Gainesville State

OAKWOOD - A former high-ranking Rwandan government official is scheduled to speak on "A Message of Peace and Reconciliation" on March 12 at Gainesville State College. Joseph Sebarenzi is set to speak at noon in the Continuing Education/Performing Arts Center Auditorium.

Mundy Mill retailers plan to open soon

The numerous retail projects under way in Oakwood suggest development in the city might not hinge solely on the implementation of recently controversial tax allocation districts. Oakwood Planning Director Larry Sparks said multiple retailers on Mundy Mill Road and Winder Highway are planning to open their doors to customers this spring and summer. Sparks said the new Sam's Club located on Mundy Mill Road in the Super Wal-Mart ...

Don't expect big changes at Gainesville's public hearing about impact fees

Gainesville will hold a public hearing on the city's impact fee program this morning at the Georgia Mountains Center.

Gainesville State College sets open houses

OAKWOOD - The Gainesville State College admissions office plans to hold an open house from 9 a.m. to noon on March 29.

Officials say son accidentally shot mother to death

A Gainesville woman died early Tuesday after her teenage son accidentally shot her while preparing to clean a rifle, authorities said.

DOT board Chairman Evans effusive in praise for Hall County

Re-elected chairman of the State Transportation Board Mike Evans thanked the residents, chamber members and officials in Hall County for supporting him in the "bare-knuckled brawl" that nearly kept him from serving another term on the DOT board.

Former Hall tax assessor board members cry fraud against chairman

Two former longtime employees of the Hall County Tax Assessor's Office have accused the chairman of the Board of Tax Assessors of padding his per diem time sheets for more than $47,000 in fraudulent expenses during a five-year span.

Gainesville school board appoints new campuswide principal at middle school

GAINESVILLE - Gainesville High School Freshman Academy principal Ken Martin has been named the new campuswide principal at Gainesville Middle School.

Patrol will investigate deadly wreck

GAINESVILLE - The Georgia State Patrol plans to investigate Sunday's wreck in Dawson County that left a 33-year-old Dahlonega man dead and six people injured. Christopher Sams was headed east on Ga. 53 near War Hill Park Road Sunday afternoon when a Mitsubishi Montero crossed the center line and hit the Buick LeSabre in which Sams, his wife, Tonya, and their child were riding. The Montero, driven ...

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.

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.