Home invasion spurs three-hour chase

OAKWOOD - The plan was foiled by an 11-year-old boy's quick thinking. Police said they believe Wayne Adam Shaw, 18, and Jose Luis Bautista-Osorio, 26, both of Gainesville, had targeted the house in the 2000 block of Leland Road in South Hall for a gang-related burglary. The child, home alone sick at the time, hid in a closet when they arrived at about 9 a.m. ...

Challenged Child says design us a T-shirt, and you might win $100

Challenged Child and Friends is holding an art contest to determine the T-shirt design for its 16th Annual 5K and One Mile Fun Run/Walk.

Drug sting nets fifth soldier affiliated with Dahlonega camp

A fifth Army soldier who was stationed at Dahlonega's Camp Frank D. Merrill was arrested Wednesday in connection with a federal drug conspiracy investigation.

Fair Street gets money for garden

Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation has awarded a Toolbox for Education grant to Fair Street International Baccalaureate World School for the development of a "Reading Garden" outside the media center.

Golf growth on the downswing, course pro tells council

GAINESVILLE -- Gainesville City Council members discussed the future of the Chattahoochee Golf Course this morning at their regular work session.

Hilton sentenced to life for murder of Meredith Emerson

DAWSONVILLE - Gary Michael Hilton avoided the possibility of execution with a guilty plea Thursday, but the parents of the young woman he abducted and killed are satisfied that he will "slowly rot" in prison.

Hilton indicted for murder of hiker Meredith Emerson

Suspected serial killer Gary Michael Hilton was indicted on a single count of murder in a specially called session of the Dawson County grand jury this morning, a procedural step further indicating a guilty plea in the case could be imminent. Hilton, 61, is scheduled to appear before Superior Court Judge Bonnie Chessher Oliver at 1 p.m. today. Law enforcement officials have said they were told Hilton would plead guilty in exchange for a life sentence.

Fixing holes in the heart, minus the open heart surgery

The concept of angioplasty seems amazing. A doctor opens a clogged heart vessel by threading a catheter through an artery in the groin.

Doc says if you have warning signs, you might be having a heart attack

Symptoms that could signal a possible heart problem should not be ignored.

Gainesville State College students, faculty vote in pre-primary

OAKWOOD - Local college students threaten to make an appearance at the polls next week. That is, of course, if Gainesville State College's campuswide presidential primary is any indication of the real one. More than 1,000 students, faculty and staff at Gainesville State College voted in a two-day pre-primary primary sponsored by the school's Politically Incorrect Club. All the votes have not been counted, but, as of ...

Official: Hilton may plead guilty to killing hiker

Suspected serial killer Gary Michael Hilton could plead guilty to the murder of abducted hiker Meredith Emerson in a hearing scheduled for this afternoon, officials said. Law enforcement officials confirmed late Wednesday that a guilty plea was expected.

Corps plans to rewrite manual for river system

U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal, R-Gainesville, said Wednesday that the secretary of the Army is preparing to instruct the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin work on the operating manuals for the Apalachicola-

Construction death could cost Gainesville company $54,950

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Hartley Construction Co. of Gainesville following a fatality in August 2007 at a church construction site in Ellijay.

Chamber celebrates centennial with legacy project

The Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce kicked off a yearlong celebration of the business organization's 100th anniversary at a breakfast Wednesday at the Gainesville Civic Center. Plans were announced for the Centennial Legacy project, a 5-year effort to create gateways to the community through landscaping at each of the five interchanges on Interstate 985. Frank Norton Jr., a co-chairman of the centennial committee, said the first project will ...

Public can meet with accrediting team

The public can offer comments about North Georgia College & State University's Department of Nursing when an accreditation team visits next week.

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.

Crews busy fixing roads after floods

Under sunny skies and no trace of rain, area governments worked Monday to fix roads that had been damaged, some seriously, by fierce storms overnight Sunday.

Despite road closures, kids get to school

Though severe weather Saturday night washed out roadways in Flowery Branch, most students in the area made it to school Monday morning.

Business owners slogging through flood damage

Outside The Tire Store and Lakeview Automotive Group on Atlanta Highway in Flowery Branch, workers hauled equipment to dry areas and washed sheets of mud off the pavement.

Hall schools board discusses options to balance budget

The Hall County Board of Education grappled with "philosophical issues" as it discussed ways to continue to function with a tight budget next year.

Fair Street students may use tablet computers next fall

Gainesville's technology director gave City Board of Education members a Kuno tablet computer to play with briefly Monday night.

McEver still closed, fire official reports

Under sunny skies and no trace of rain, area governments worked Monday to fix roads that had been damaged, some seriously, by fierce storms overnight Sunday.

Atheists to put books next to Bibles in state parks