New superintendent named for Habersham schools

CLARKESVILLE - A Hart County school administrator has been named superintendent of the Habersham County school system.

Ex-councilman gets prison sentence

A former Dawsonville city councilman was sentenced to three years in prison Tuesday for selling prescription morphine tablets in his car during last October's Moonshine Festival.

Out with the old: History Center holds antique show

It is time again for the Northeast Georgia History Center's Antiques Show and Estate Sale, and this year's promises to be bigger and better than in years past.

Rabid skunk caught in North Hall

The Georgia Public Health Lab in Decatur confirmed Monday that a skunk captured in the Wiley Road area of North Hall tested positive for rabies.

More wheels mean more meals

Every weekday, Meals on Wheels delivers some 400 meals to Hall County seniors, but the program's coordinator said more meals could be delivered with more volunteers.

Gainesville, Hall County high school graduation rates are solid

With a 2007 graduation rate of 81 percent, or 10 points above the state average, Gainesville High School has become a destination for some 40 school districts statewide "to learn more about our success," said campus principal Mike Kemp.

Habersham County's new superintendent could start July 1

Application documents are available for viewing for Robert Costley, who has been given the Habersham County school board's OK as its new superintendent.

Parents, students, educators worry that new HOPE rules can leave behind ‘best and the brightest’

Students, parents and educators complained Tuesday night about last year's eligibility changes in the much-coveted HOPE Scholarship and its effects on students taking challenging courses.

Gas station at Seasons on Lanier still a no-go

In the tussle between Seasons on Lanier residents and the bankrupt neighborhood's potential new developer, Easlan Capital of Atlanta Inc. has been granted a timeout.

Former county parks director works in Arcade

Deborah Mockus, who served for five years as director of Hall County Parks and Leisure Services, is now city administrator for the Jackson County town of Arcade. Mockus left Hall County's employment in mid-March. "She was not asked to leave," said County Administrator Jim Shuler, calling her departure "mutually agreed upon." Mockus was given a six-month severance package. Shuler did not elaborate on the reason for the ...

Northeast Georgia Health System says Barrow hospital's lawsuit has no merit

Northeast Georgia Health System officials have denied allegations that they did not follow Georgia's certificate-of-need rules when applying to build a new hospital in Braselton.

Gainesville City Council, school board hold joint meeting

The Gainesville City Council and the Gainesville school board met Monday to discuss matters that affect both.

Church hopes to buy building to house mission

St. Michael Catholic Church has signed a contract to purchase the current building of Emmanuel Baptist Church as a mission. The $1.3 million contract is contingent upon the church's ability to raise $300,000 in donations and pledges by the end of April. Emmanuel Baptist, located at 177 Atlanta Highway, is in a business district that is dominated by businesses owned by or catering to Latino clientele. It backs up to ...

Residents give ideas to improve libraries

A group of nearly 20 Hall County residents and elected officials gathered Monday at Blackshear Place Library in Oakwood to brainstorm improvement ideas for Hall County libraries. Adrian Mixson, Hall County Library System director, said the purpose of the focus group was to determine how library patrons' needs regarding facilities, services and programs might change during the next five years. "This is a growing county. We're asking our ...

Holly tree pruning will block off lane of downtown traffic

GAINESVILLE- It's not Christmas, but they'll still be trimming the holly tree. Gainesville motorists should be advised that the Green Street lane that turns right onto E.E. Butler will be blocked off this afternoon while Jackson EMC prunes the Green Street holly tree.

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.

Kitchen Inspections for April 12-17

April 12

Mother’s Day has special meaning for women who struggle to conceive

Sometimes Allison Zafft said she thinks about the way her family and her life might have turned out if she'd never had her youngest daughter Aleah.

Deal praised for juvenile justice reform

Local legislators and juvenile stakeholders praised Gov. Nathan Deal's signing of a juvenile reform bill.