A dry county? Habersham faces water crisis

Almost every county in North Georgia is at risk of running dry if the historic drought continues through next year. But Habersham County has more reason to worry than most.

Winter set for a comeback this weekend

If you've been basking in this week's warm weather as you've been doing your Christmas shopping, get ready to bundle up again.

School leaders' wish lists for legislators

Here are the issues and projects local government leaders presented to Hall County's state legislature delegation during Friday's meeting at Lanier Technical College in Oakwood.

CASA receives help from teens

The presents were piled high on the hardwood Friday at Flowery Branch High School's gymnasium, the culmination of a two-week toy drive of North Pole proportions. In that short time, the student body of 1,400 was able to make Christmas brighter for some 56 local abused or neglected children, spending between $150 and $250 for each child on the gift list. "We're really proud of our school for ...

Government leaders' wish lists for legislators

Here are the issues and projects local government leaders presented to Hall County's state legislature delegation during Friday's meeting at Lanier Technical College in Oakwood.

Sex offender ruling revised

When the Georgia Supreme Court changed one word this week in a recent ruling on residency restrictions for registered sex offenders, it meant that most won't be able to live wherever they want after all, officials say.

Gainesville State to graduate 280

OAKWOOD - Gainesville State College's graduation ceremonies will return to the campus today in what will be the school's first biannual commencement ceremony. Nearly 280 students who completed their two-year degrees and certificates in the summer and fall semesters of this year are eligible to participate in today's commencement ceremony. For the past 20 years, the school's commencement ceremonies have been held at the Georgia Mountains Center. ...

Multitude of mangers: Church displays 250 crèches

GAINESVILLE -- They are made of every material imaginable - glass, metal, wood, ceramic, fabric and coconut shell. One is even alive.

Legislators hear local leaders’ goals for 2008

The wait was long, as were some of the lists of things wanted.

Gainesville principal returns from education trip to Egypt

Jill Goforth's students couldn't be riding a camel with her in the Egyptian desert, but they could see the pictures she sent back and the descriptions of her exotic trip.

Lt. Gov. Cagle lays state’s water woes at feet of Corps of Engineers

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle blamed the prolonged drought and mismanagement of the state's river systems by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the state's current water crisis.

School board votes to endorse new fieldhouse

The Gainesville school board voted Thursday to OK a document that endorses proceeding with the design of a new fieldhouse at Bobby Gruhn Stadium, home of Gainesville High School's football team.

Rumored meth lab ‘teacher’ sentenced to 25 years in prison

A Sugar Hill man who authorities describe as a "teacher" for meth lab operators throughout Northeast Georgia was sentenced Friday to 25 years in federal prison. Randall Lane Scott, 49, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gainesville following a guilty plea to charges of manufacturing methamphetamine and storing chemicals and equipment for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine. Scott was arrested in April 2002 by state and local ...

South Hall wildfires may be arson, officials say

The acrid smoke keeps drifting down from the woods bordering Donna and Greg Cash's red brick ranch house on Frazer Road. And the fire engines and Georgia Forestry tractors keep coming out to douse the flames and dig fire trenches.

College taking steps to reduce water usage

DAHLONEGA - North Georgia College & State University is taking several measures to reduce water consumption.

3 students suspected in Gainesville High graffiti incident

Gainesville school officials said Tuesday that three students are responsible for overnight vandalism at Gainesville High School.

11-year-old hurt in four-wheeler accident identified

The Georgia State Patrol has identified the 11-year-old boy who was injured Sunday afternoon in a four-wheeler accident in West Hall as Lanny Charles Dunagan.

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.