North Hall High principal retiring

Gary Brown, principal of North Hall High School, is retiring after the 2007-08 school year. The Hall County Board of Education voted Monday night in a meeting at Flowery Branch High School to approve his resignation. Brown has served as principal since 1999. He also served as an administrator at Shiloh, Brookwood and Banks County high schools, according to North Hall's Web site.

Home Town plans to be considered

Although Hall County has undergone staggering growth in recent years, District 2 Commissioner Billy Powell said Monday that North Hall won't see as much development in the near future as originally planned.

Plans don’t please parents: Residents disagree with proposed changes to school districts

FLOWERY BRANCH - They came with different perspectives, but none advocated keeping South Hall school district boundary lines as has been proposed by Hall County school officials. Riverstone Park was one of the most vocal groups at a public hearing on the proposal Monday night.

Officials say former DA not connected to bank robberies

The home of former Piedmont Judicial Circuit District Attorney Tim Madison was searched Friday in connection with Dec. 3 bank robberies in McDuffie and Oconee counties. Madison fit the description of a robber who hit banks in the two counties, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Federal Bureau of Investigation searched Madison's home in Franklin County on Friday, local officials said. John Heinen, special agent in charge ...

DOT: I-985 to shift on Thursday

While no lane closures are planned for the week, traffic on the southbound side of Interstate 985 is scheduled to shift over on Thursday. "The old bridge must be demolished," said Teri Pope, Georgia DOT spokeswoman. "We will be opening an additional left turn lane at the southbound exit ramp onto State Route 53. The new left turn lane will open by Thursday too and will allow more traffic to flow onto ...

Hall County: Man saves neighbor from fire

Hall County firefighters responded to a camper fire at 2932 Pierce Road Monday at about 8:30 p.m.

Oakwood OKs tax allocation district

The Oakwood City Council unanimously adopted the city's first tax allocation district and redevelopment plan Monday evening that aims to establish a town center. On Sept. 18, Oakwood voters approved the referendum for the tax district, which is an economic tool currently implemented in cities across the country to spur growth and development in areas of a defined district that are underutilized or underdeveloped. Oakwood has joined Gainesville ...

Fans weigh in on Vick sentencing

U.S. District Court Judge Henry E. Hudson on Monday brought some closure to the almost year-long Michael Vick saga ... at least for 23 months.

FDA may soon set limits on amount of salt in commercial foods

It's the most common food additive in the world. It's in just about everything you eat. And it could kill you. The federal Food and Drug Administration is considering limits on the amount of salt allowed in commercially prepared foods.

Hall has a heart for those in need

During the holiday season, families trim Christmas trees, go shopping for gifts and plan dinner parties. But many other families spend their holidays worrying about debt, struggling to put food on the table and wondering how they will provide a Christmas for their children.

Record-setting temperatures won't continue

GAINESVILLE - Don't pack away those winter sweaters just yet; the record-setting heat wave is expected to end by the weekend.

Faye Bush nominated for national award

At 73, Faye Bush has dedicated 55 years of her life to the environmental justice efforts of the Newtown Florist Club. And now she's receiving a bit of recognition for her service as a semifinalist in the national Volvo for Life Awards.

JOURNEY TO VIETNAM: Providing sustenance

DIEN BAN PROVINCE, VIETNAM -- It was supposed to be a trip to rebuild a day care center, but the worst flooding in 42 years made that impossible.

Hall County work session includes two big projects

Two major developments in the northern part of the county that have drawn opposition from several local residents are on the agenda for this afternoon's work session planned by the Hall County Board of Commissioners.

Civic group gives to 450 children

The Gainesville Jaycees wraps up its annual Empty Stocking Fund today, when toys for about 450 needy children will be distributed throughout Hall County. Jaycees members, along with their significant others, gathered at 6 a.m. Dec. 1 at the Gainesville Wal-Mart to do the shopping for students from all but three Hall County elementary schools.

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.