'Trees are terrific:' Arbor Day marked at history center

GAINESVILLE - Arbor Day got an official nod from two governmental bodies Friday and area students picked up awards for their drawings of trees.

Feds move deadline for states' water deal

Georgia, Florida and Alabama have been given at least an additional week to reach a settlement on their 18-year water dispute, which largely centers on water from Lake Lanier.

Ex-teacher charged with molestation allegedly flees with daughter

A former Gainesville Elementary School teacher charged with molesting students in the classroom is considered a fugitive after violating conditions of his bond, authorities said Saturday. Jerry Norman Jones, 51, was visiting his 4-year-old daughter Friday morning in Cumming when he left with the girl, in violation of bond conditions that prohibited unsupervised contact, Gainesville Police Lt. Brian Kelly said. Hall County Sheriff's Sgt. Kiley Sargent said officials ...

Two charged in motorcycle shop blaze

Authorities believe Alan Kilgore nearly lost his life for a $1,000 fee.

Jackson County: U.S. 129 traffic to shift Monday

The Georgia Department of Transportation plans to shift traffic on U.S. 129 Monday as it widens the highway from the Jefferson Bypass to Ga. 330 in Jackson County.

Jackson County student gets 3 years for bomb plot

JEFFERSON - Saying he didn't believe Andrew Criswell intended to hurt anyone when he brought a homemade bomb fashioned from black powder and wires into Jackson County Comprehensive High School, a judge sentenced the emotionally troubled teen to three years in prison Thursday.

Mansion fire remains under investigation

Gainesville fire officials are asking for the public's help in the probe of a fire that severely damaged an unfinished $2 million home on Riverside Drive Sunday.

Hall County Humane Society to hold contest

The Humane Society of Hall County has announced a Be Kind to Animals Week art contest for kindergartners through 12th-graders. Themes for the artwork can include kindness to animals, pet adoptions, wildlife conservation or protecting endangered animals.

Atlanta Highway’s new traffic light gets turned on next week

State and local officials say a new signal that will be turned on next week at Hilton Drive and Atlanta Highway will improve traffic at the intersection.

Court ruling throws big wrench into Gainesville's plans for Midtown

Gainesville officials will have to take their plans to use school property taxes on the Midtown redevelopment back to the drawing board following a state Supreme Court ruling Monday.

Memorial set for Medal of Honor recipient

A memorial service in honor of Cpt. Hilliard A. Wilbanks will be held at 11 a.m. Feb. 23 at the Cornelia Community House, which is located at 601 Wyly St. in Cornelia.

Schofield: Education reform needed now

OAKWOOD - Hall County schools Superintendent Will Schofield spoke to South Hall business leaders Thursday morning about the urgency for school reforms.

Hall asks lawmakers for additional State Court judge

Hall County Commissioners approved a resolution Thursday asking state legislators to create an additional judgeship for the State Court of Hall County.

Arbor Day jewel: McEver Elementary students plant a little gem magnolia

A class at McEver Elementary School planted a tree Thursday afternoon in celebration of Arbor Day, which is today.

Companies pledge not to hire illegal immigrants

Among small construction subcontractors in the metro Atlanta area, Dale Jakupca considers his company something of an anomaly.

Postponed development ready to move forward

Plans to build a "town within a town" on about 1,000 acres in Gainesville are heating up again.

Ga. Mountains YMCA leader leaving for NC job

The president and CEO of the Georgia Mountains YMCA is resigning to take a job as executive director of the Siskey YMCA in Matthews, N.C., a suburb of Charlotte.

Motorcyclist killed in overnight crash in Forsyth

Gainesville woman seeks donor match for cancer cure

A Wednesday donor drive could be just the ticket for a young Gainesville woman as she searches for a stem cell donor match - a cure for her cancer.

Teen dies in car surfing accident

A Dawson County teen and star athlete died Monday night after she fell from the hood of a moving vehicle.

Actor Tom Hanks supports Camp Toccoa restoration

Actor Tom Hanks has donated $25,000 to Camp Toccoa at Currahee Inc. for its ambitious restoration of the World War II paratrooper training camp.

Oakwood dips into sewer fund for culvert fixes

Oakwood City Council voted Monday night to pull $490,333 from its sewer fund to pay for emergency repairs related to May 19 floods.

Rain still in forecast, but not as likely

If one drop of rain doesn't fall on Hall County until mid-August, the area would still have a surplus of rain for 2013.

The Local Agenda: Gainesville calls council meeting for Thursday

Gainesville City Council is expected to hold an unscheduled meeting Thursday morning before its regular work session to vote again on amending its code to reduce the advertising requirements for annexations started by a local government.

Medical examiner identifies wreck victim

The victim of a fatal single-vehicle accident early Sunday on Cleveland Highway has been identified as a Gainesville man.

Hall County commissioners to consider closing rail crossing

Hall County commissioners will consider closing a railroad crossing on Tumbling Circle and abandoning the right of way at their Thursday evening meeting.

Theft charges likely for man accused of starting fake newspaper

The Oakwood Police Department is working on a case against a Gainesville man involving a newspaper the department believes he fraudulently created called the Gainesville Observer.

Charges filed in new Lula marijuana case

A second Lula man in less than two weeks has been arrested on charges of manufacturing marijuana.

Nicer weather coming on Tuesday

Two inches of rain has fallen so far today at Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport in Gainesville, and more may be on the way, according to the National Weather Service.

Hall authorities rescue stranded campers

Hall County firefighters rescued four campers stranded on the Chattahoochee River on Monday morning.