Turn lanes on Exit 22 will double its capacity

GAINESVILLE - Lane closures started Monday on Interstate 985 and U.S. 129 for a road widening project that should last well into the summer. The Georgia Department of Transportation is adding left turn lanes at Exit 22 of I-985 to make room for more vehicles on the road, said DOT spokeswoman Teri Pope. Once the $1.64 million project is complete, there will be two left-turn lanes for ...

Oakwood City Council votes to increase pay, effective in 2010

Oakwood City Council voted Monday evening to raise council members' salaries, and the $250 per month increase will go into effect Jan. 1, 2010. Before the council's approval to increase council members' pay, Oakwood City Council members received $350 each month for their service, which totals $4,200 annually.

Hospital names doctor to executive post that bridges gap between physicians and administrators

In some hospitals, there's an "us versus them" relationship between administrators and doctors. Officials at Northeast Georgia Medical Center didn't want that to happen here, so they've created a new position: chief medical officer.

Blairsville named part of state’s Main Street program

Blairsville on Wednesday was selected as Georgia's newest Main Street City program participant.

Lane closures on Exit 22 start today

Interstate 985's Exit 22 in Gainesville is set for a makeover, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation.

2 killed in separate wrecks

Two young men were killed early Sunday morning in two separate wrecks in which authorities believe alcohol may have been a factor. Raymond Blake Long of Whiting Road in Gainesville died in a car accident Sunday on Mountain View Road in Oakwood. The Georgia State Patrol responded to the call at 1:05 a.m.

Weekend of events precede annual MLK Day march

Forty years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was preparing to lead a sanitation workers' strike and was assassinated on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tenn.

Flowery Branch’s first hotel going up

Construction on the first hotel in Flowery Branch is well under way. A Hampton Inn & Suites hotel is being built on Holland Dam Road behind the BP gas station in Flowery Branch and will house 84 bedrooms on a two-acre site with 96 parking spaces.

Ruby Brawner celebrates a rosy 75th

The basement of the First Baptist Church on Green Street was decorated with rose-colored napkins and white tablecloths to mark the birthday of one of Gainesville's most treasured citizens.

Extended boat ramp opens today at Clarks Bridge Park

Build it, and they will boat. Kerry Hicks and a team of volunteers saw their grass-roots project to extend the public boat ramp at Clarks Bridge Park realized Saturday, when they successfully pulled a 24-foot pontoon boat from Lake Lanier on a new, 40-foot steel extension.

Hall schools have $10 million technology wish list

GAINESVILLE - The Hall County school system has a $10.6 million technology wish list. Aaron Turpin, who is about to take over as the district's technology chief, talked Saturday with the Board of Education about a variety of projects, some high-dollar and some becoming more urgent than others, throughout the system. A brief summary includes: $3.4 million for laptop computers for high school, elementary and ...

Gainesville to submit charter system application to state

GAINESVILLE - The Gainesville school system is vying to become one of the state's first charter school systems. At its annual retreat Saturday, the City Board of Education voted to submit its application to the Georgia Department of Education.

Retirement deal pays well for Hall County administrator

On Dec. 31, 2006, Hall County Administrator Jim Shuler retired from his job with county government.

Motorcycle shop fire deemed suspicious

Fire officials say a business fire that caused nearly a $1 million in damage at a Buford motorcycle shop late Thursday night is suspicious. Hall County Fire Capt. Scott Cagle said the owners of the Professional V Twin, a motorcycle shop in the 2800 block of McEver Road, have received threats on their business in the past.

Derrer hired for Forsyth County post

A longtime Hall County government employee is the lone finalist for deputy county manager in Forsyth County.

Possible body spotted in lake

A possible body was spotted late Sunday afternoon at Clarks Bridge Park in Gainesville.

Three injured in boat fire at Lake Lanier park

Three people were injured today in a boat fire on Lake Lanier near Buford Dam Park.

Light program spotlights troubled waters

An effort to put solar-powered lights on navigation markers and buoys on Lake Lanier is moving forward with agreement from the previously resistant U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

New Hall fire stations set to open next year

Hall County has taken another step toward relief for North Hall homeowners suffering from skyrocketing insurance rates.

Man found guilty of statutory rape in Forsyth County

Storms likely to hold off for Father’s Day

After what should be a nice Father's Day today, more showers and thunderstorms are likely to greet the last full week of spring.

Black History Society celebrates Emancipation Day

The first celebration of Juneteenth Day in Gainesville, sponsored by the Gainesville-Hall County Black History Society, was held Saturday afternoon at Midtown Greenway & Park in Gainesville.

Hall County needs more foster homes for kids in need

Shawn Russell and his foster daughter have "Daddy Daughter Days," a special time when they hang out and talk or watch movies.

Brenau University in early stages of accepting free online course credits

Online education isn't new, but there has been a recent spike in interest in online college courses - especially free ones.

Campers learn how to handle loss of loved ones at Camp Braveheart

Campers at Camp Braveheart in Gainesville celebrated with plenty of cake and soda on Friday as they finished their week.

Recent heavy rains delay summer crops for local farmers

On a sunny, steamy Friday morning, Glen Cook harvests kale while his wife, Caroline, picks beets in a nearby field.

Gainesville pushes ahead with ‘island’ annexations

Pet shop owner Kenneth Neidenbach said he thinks Gainesville's plan to annex 115 "island" properties in Hall County is a tax grab that could put him out of business.

Man indicted on charges of stealing bronze eagle in Forsyth County

A Forsyth County man found in possession of a stolen bronze eagle statue was indicted this week on one count of theft by receiving.

Local boy scouts honor America on Flag Day

Local Boy Scouts of America Troop 3 scouts ceremoniously cut the stripes from a worn American flag Friday evening at a flag retirement ceremony behind First Presbyterian Church before burning each stripe as the local Col. William Candler Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution looked on.

Citizens' Academy alumni unite to support sheriff’s office

Gainesville resident Luis Santos-Rivas took the Hall County Sheriff's Citizens' Academy as a curious new resident.