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.

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

Boil water advisories still in effect for some

A boil water advisory is in effect for those served by Flowery Branch along with 18 homes at the end of Trudy Drive served by Gainesville.

Eyes on the Road: More feet added to Ga. 53 fix in Dawson County

An additional 500 feet of Thompson Road will be closed as part of a Georgia Department of Transportation project to rebuild the road's intersection at Ga. 53 in Dawson County.

New law to help vets get into workforce

Retired Hall County military veterans Stephen McGruder and Johnny Varner hope a new Georgia law will aid them in helping vets seamlessly transition into the civilian workforce.

Fellowship to help Gainesville student study law at Mercer

Whit Carmon was stepping off the bus after delivering his final term paper at the University of Georgia when his phone rang.

New state law to protect federal park rangers

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Ranger Ken Weiner is still suffering physically from when he was attacked last year at Burton Mill Park.

South Hall flooding causes county to declare emergency

Early Sunday storms rocked Hall County, leaving heavy flooding, collapsed roads and other damage in its wake.

Ga. water negotiator's role may be seen as conflict

Rock in the Spring concert benefits local school

Concertgoers look over items in a silent auction Saturday night at the Rock in the Spring fundraiser at Brenau University ampitheater. Proceeds benefit the local school Challenged Child and Friends, an early intervention center in Gainesville that provides special needs and typically developing children the opportunity to learn together and from each other. Local musicians Mid Life Crisis played at the event. Local musicians Mid Life Crisis perform Saturday night for the audience at the Brenau ...

Riverside Military Academy opens campus home for president

Riverside Military Academy welcomed a new addition to its campus Saturday, something it hasn't had since 2005: A home for the school president.

Powerball: Did these numbers change your life?

Winning numbers: 22-10-13-14-52

Groups gather at Lake Lanier to promote boating safety

In anticipation of the summertime increase in lake recreation, the Lake Lanier Association held a Boating Safety Awareness Day Saturday at Lake Lanier Islands resort.

Nonprofits, state agencies work to help victims of human trafficking

Jennifer Robson sits in front of her laptop computer and scrolls through a list of ads on an adult website, looking for a local woman to call.

Law agencies focus sharp eyes to spot victims

To spot victims of sex trafficking, it takes the keen eye of an expert - one like Brian Johnston, assistant special agent in charge of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Human Trafficking Unit.