State EPD may keep pools dry this summer

For many people, a summer without swimming pools is unthinkable. But it may come to that, if Georgia's extreme drought does not abate. Under the Level 4 drought restrictions currently in place in 61 North Georgia counties, outdoor swimming pools cannot be filled or "topped off" with municipal water.

Defying the odds: Flowery Branch man overcomes brain trauma

FLOWERY BRANCH As part of his job, emergency medical technician Kyle Brown sometimes transported patients to Shepherd Center, the Atlanta hospital that treats serious brain and spinal injuries.

Man sought in sexual assault, home invasion

Forsyth County Sheriff's Office investigators want to question a man in connection with a sexual assault and robbery that took place Jan. 5 in South Forsyth County near Strickland Road and Ga. 9.

Weather Channel to visit Lake Lanier

The Weather Channel will be broadcasting live from Lake Lanier next week as part of the network's weeklong series from locations across the Southeast affected by the drought. The series asks the question: What happens when H20 becomes H2-No?

Brenau hosts famed children’s author

Book author and storyteller Carmen Agra Deedy will be featured in a Saturday evening program at Brenau University.

Hall commissioners OK Hagen Creek development

Hall County Commission gave the final approval for a 2,736-home North Hall subdivision Thursday that will include a 20-acre school site, 1,000,000 square feet of commercial space and possibly an 18-hole golf course.

Hall, Gainesville school boards set for retreats

GAINESVILLE - The Gainesville City and Hall County boards of education plan to meet separately Saturday for annual retreats, a time when board members typically focus on big-picture issues. The Gainesville board will talk about its "mission, visions and beliefs," and Hall County will conduct Georgia School Boards Association training. Both also will have hot- button issues to discuss. The Gainesville school board plans to ...

Officials: Hilton was in Gainesville on night Emerson abducted

Gary Michael Hilton was at a Gainesville ATM trying to use a bank card belonging to Meredith Emerson the night she was abducted, officials said. Hilton is believed to have spent about 20 minutes at a Bank of America ATM in Gainesville around 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 1, Forsyth County Sheriff Ted Paxton said this week, citing information provided to him by agents with the Georgia ...

Cold to move in, rain to move out

Don't expect a return of balmy temperatures any time soon. The rain and fog that hovered over Hall County is going to be followed this weekend by cold weather, according to the National Weather Service. "(Say) goodbye to the spring-type temperatures," said Shirley Lamback, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Peachtree City. Expect today's high only to hit the lower 50s, with Saturday's warm and sunny ...

'You can’t pledge to a flag when you don’t have a flag'

GAINESVILLE - All East Hall High School students now have a flag to salute when they say the Pledge of Allegiance in the morning. "When I taught here, everybody had a flag in their room. But, for whatever reason through time, the (flags) kind of dwindled away," said principal Jeff Cooper. He and school resource officer Earl Roach went class to class Thursday morning, pushing a metal ...

Hall County to lift burn ban

The longest outdoor burning ban in recent Hall County history will be lifted today, though it may be back in effect again soon, officials said. Hall County Fire Marshal Scott Cagle said beginning today, residential burning of small tree limbs and leaves and land clearing burns of natural debris will be allowed with a permit. It will be the first time since March 31 that the outdoor burns have been ...

Lights on! Switch for Communiversity sign flipped

County and city officials joined educators amidst a cloud of fog Thursday morning for a ceremonial lighting of the sign at Featherbone Communiversity.

Quadruple murder defendants plead not guilty

Two of the three defendants charged in a March 2006 massacre at a Forsyth County farmhouse entered formal not guilty pleas in a Thursday court appearance. The arraignment of Jason McGhee, 27, and Marcin Sosniak, 23, was held in front of Bell-Forsyth Superior Court Judge David Dickinson. The two men did not speak. Their pleas were entered by their attorneys, Josh Moore of the Georgia Office of the Capital Defender ...

COMING SUNDAY: The Best of 2007

During 2007, our reporters and photographers produced great stories and pictures about the people and events of Northeast Georgia. Sunday, The Times will reprint a few of our favorite stories in a special keepsake edition called "The Best of 2007."

Florida officials preparing to charge Hilton with murder

A Florida prosecutor says he has enough evidence to charge Meredith Emerson's accused killer with a murder in that state.

Covington: Fox bites students attending school

Principal Coleman says goodbye to friends and school

Mark Coleman and the late Chris Mance spent the last few years preparing for retirement.

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.