Advocates encourage reporting of elder abuse

In observance of National Victims' Rights Week, the Georgia Department of Human Resources is urging people to report suspected cases of elder abuse.

North Hall soccer teams escape injury in I-85 bus wreck; games canceled

No one was injured aboard a Hall County school bus that was involved in a wreck on Interstate 85 while carrying members of the North Hall High School boys and girls soccer teams, officials said.

Heart surgery on Iraqi boy called a success

The open-heart surgery on a 5-year-old Iraqi boy ended Tuesday and officials at the Medical University of South Carolina are calling the four-hour operation a success. Ammar Muhammad was breathing on his own in a surgical recovery room at the Charleston hospital. He was born with a condition called tetralogy of Fallot, which is normally treated when the child is an infant. However, the surgical procedure to correct the condition ...

Corps issues new water plan

WASHINGTON - The Corps of Engineers on Tuesday proposed a new southeastern water-sharing plan that would allow lower river flows into Florida's Apalachicola Bay during extreme drought - a move that the Corps acknowledged is likely to harm threatened species there.

Tax day brings protesters and procrastinators, but post office lines are shorter

It's the day that many dread. The scramble for lost forms, the need to write a check to the government and just plain old procrastination are the reasons many taxpayers give for waiting until the final hours of the final day to file their annual state and federal returns.

Ex-Delta pilots say Northwest merger is necessary, but won't be easy

Two Gainesville residents who spent decades working as pilots for Delta Air Lines say the merger with Northwest Airlines is necessary for the survival of the airline industry, but they say the creation of the "mega-airline" will definitely take a good bit of tweaking.

16 laptops taken in Davis Middle burglary

Sixteen laptop computers were stolen during a weekend burglary at Davis Middle School in South Hall.

Religion begat recycling: Elachee Nature Science Center, churches push the cause

Liberals have long touted the benefits of recycling, but some traditionally conservative Baptist churches are considering adopting the practice some pastors now call practical - and biblical.

Apartment fire sends man, toddler to Grady burn center

A man and a toddler were flown to the burn center Monday at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta for treatment of burns sustained in an apartment fire at Spring Street Apartments, across from Northeast Georgia Medical Center.

5-year-old Iraqi boy's surgery delayed

The open-heart surgery for a 5-year-old Iraqi boy has been delayed until today, according to a spokeswoman for a Charleston, S.C., hospital. The life-threatening plight of Ammar Muhammad was discovered by Marine Maj. Kevin Jarrard of Gainesville, who with the help of his fellow Marines arranged free care at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Kathleen Ellis, a spokeswoman for the university, said Ammar had two ...

Chilly worries: Growers fear Monday frost could destroy apple blossoms, grape buds, baby peaches

It is the kind of weather where a degree or two can mean the difference between a successful year and total ruin.

Hall County may drug test students who drive to school

The Hall County Board of Education is looking at expanding mandatory, random drug testing to include students who drive to school as early as the fall.

Dogs with curly tails, cute smiles get awards at annual Stray Dog Strut

More than 150 pooches strutted their stuff Sunday afternoon for The Humane Society of Hall County's 17th annual Stray Dog Strut. Held at Lake Lanier Islands, the event benefited abandoned or needy animals and included a 5K run and a 1-mile fun run for dogs and owners.

April showers of snow? Rain, ice mix on today’s forecast

Near freezing temperatures could mean snow flurries for Northeast Georgia early today. National Weather Service meteorologists are calling for a 38-degree low for today and a high of only 53 degrees. Frigid temperatures come on the heels of a warm weekend with highs in the upper 60s.

Hall County officials review budget requests

BY JESSICA JORDAN jjordan@gainesvilletimes.com Hall County finance officials began reviewing department heads' budget requests for the upcoming year on Monday. The county is calling for a flat budget of $94.6 million for fiscal year 2009 in an effort to maintain property tax rates. Projections of little or no revenue growth in the upcoming year are hindering rising operational costs for each department. As ...

Historic Clermont library renovation on track

Volunteers at the Historic Clermont DIP Library opened its one-room library in the town's gym last year, but soon there will be more room to spread out.

Olympic venue group gets update

The Gainesville/Hall '96 Foundation's next life was started Monday, 17 years after playing a large role in creating the 1996 Lake Lanier Olympic Center and maintaining the site's legacy.

Corps hopes to keep dock permit process going

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hopes to forge ahead this spring and summer with issuing dock permits, and not resort to moving employees assigned to that task to covering parks, as it had to do last year.

The Local Agenda: Gainesville to hold focus group meeting on Wednesday

A 10-member focus group giving input to Gainesville's transportation master plan is set to meet at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Fair Street Neighborhood Center, 715 Fair St.

Barn destroyed, horse killed at Coker Road fire

A horse barn was destroyed and one horse killed in a fire Monday afternoon in East Hall County.

Hall school board discusses maintaining morale with tight budget

The Hall County Board of Education discussed ways to maintain employee morale while working within next year's tight budget.

Oakwood looking at sewer project at apartments

Oakwood City Council voted Monday night to apply for a grant to help pay for a sewer system that would serve an apartment complex where a septic drain field has been failing for years.

Ga. 369 closed in Forsyth after striping truck overturns

Organizations looking for volunteers to make sandwiches

Making a sandwich is easy: two slices of bread, some meat and cheese, and voila.

Hall native studying oyster population

A Hall County native is at the forefront of research into oyster populations, a touchy subject for some Lake Lanier advocates who fret over water releases to protect endangered species in the Gulf of Mexico.

Glades funding application places project cost at $130M

Hall County expects to learn the results of its application to the Governor's Water Supply Program for funding the Glades Reservoir later this year.

Mann settling into role as sheriff’s community service officer

Since taking the helm of the Hall County Sheriff's Office, Gerald Couch has instituted changes both structurally and cosmetically, from streamlined command staff to refurbished patrol cars.

Tri-state water feud plays out in Congress

ATLANTA - The water dispute between Alabama, Florida and Georgia is provoking hardball politics in Congress, where Georgia lawmakers derailed a proposal that could restrict metro Atlanta's water supply.

Eyes on the Road: Resolution gets lukewarm OK from governor

Gov. Nathan Deal signed Senate Resolution 293 last week despite reservations over the renaming of Ga. 347 east of Interstate 985 in South Hall County, his office said.

Fire destroys Cleveland Highway convenience store

Fires in different parts of Hall County on Sunday kept firefighters busy on Mother's Day afternoon.