Lanier begins summer full pool at highest point since 2003

For the longest time, it seemed like Lake Lanier couldn't reach winter or summer full pool.'

Gov. Deal says he’s not done with criminal justice reforms

Gov. Nathan Deal is expected to sign new juvenile justice reforms Thursday, but he previewed his goals for more criminal justice reform next year Tuesday at an Atlanta Press Club luncheon.

Local student wins state STAR competition and aims to follow in father’s footsteps

Though William Morris is just getting ready to step out into the world, he already knows he wants to make a difference in it.

Jury continues to decide Aguilar's fate

Jurors began deliberations Tuesday afternoon on a Gainesville man charged with rape. Jose Luis Aguilar, 42, is charged with four counts of rape, two counts of aggravated child molestation, one count of aggravated sodomy and seven counts each of incest, aggravated sexual battery and child molestation. In his closing argument, senior public defender Travis Williams urged the jurors to consider all the facts of the case, rather than turn it into a question of he ...

National Day of Prayer events set

National Day of Prayer is Thursday and a couple of events are scheduled in Hall County. At 6:45 a.m., a breakfast will be held at the Gainesville Civic Center, 830 Green St., Gainesville. Gov. Nathan Deal is expected to speak, along with Robert Myers, president of Toccoa Falls College. For tickets, which are $15 a person or $120 for a table of eight, contact Chuck Footit at 770-536-0592. Another event will be held at noon ...

Blue Sky concerts run weekly in May

The biannual Blue Sky Concert Series on the downtown Gainesville square starts today and continues every Wednesday at noon. The artist lineup is as follows:

Hall dogs adopted at New York event

The Hall County Animal Shelter recently transported 31 dogs to a New York adoption event, where they were all adopted.

2 Hall County students released from jail on bond

Two Johnson High School seniors who were arrested Monday made bond that night and were released from the Hall County Jail.

Class Notes: Schools recognized by U.S. News and World Report

U.S. News and World Report recognized several local high schools in its most recent report. The publication examines student-teacher ratio; college readiness, as judged on the number of students taking and passing Advanced Placement exams; and average proficiency in English and math, based on performance on state exit exams. Chestatee High School ranked No. 21 in the state. -East Hall High School: No. 30 -West Hall High School: No. 32 -Gainesville High School: No. 40 ...

Dawson County chairman to lead counties’ group

When Mike Berg moved to Dawson County from Gwinnett years ago, he could have parked a lounge chair on a deck overlooking Lake Lanier and enjoyed retirement.

Northeast Georgia Medical Center honors volunteers at banquet

Dressed in black-and-white server uniforms, the senior administrators of Northeast Georgia Medical Center carried trays of food and refilled glasses as a show of appreciation for the organization's volunteers.

The Guest House to get new hobby shop

The Guest House may be without a hobby shop, but it won't be for long. Two separate companies stepped forward after hearing last week that the nonprofit adult care center had to leave its outbuilding behind after moving to a new location on Oak Street in Gainesville. Dana Chapman, executive director of the organization, said Georgia Power and Padgham Fine Custom Homes volunteered to build a new shop, where Guest House clients can participate in ...

Science, social studies teachers stick to standards under new measuring index

Science and social studies teachers are sticking to the standards they've always taught as more emphasis is now being placed on those subjects in measuring overall school success.

McEver Road intersections closer to getting upgrade

Construction could begin this summer or fall at two major intersections on McEver Road in South Hall County.

Collins talks issues with residents

Life at the U.S. Capitol is crazy, said U.S. Rep. Doug Collins, R-Gainesville, on Monday in his first live town hall meeting.

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.