Rumors of Evans-Abraham DOT romance surfaced in November, Rep. Carl Rogers says

State Rep. Carl Rogers began hearing it in November.

Hall officials say water restrictions are slowing new developments

A drought response resolution passed by the Gainesville City Council last November is now causing new development in Hall County to slow to a trickle, county officials say. In response to state recommendations, Gainesville council members passed a resolution making water unavailable for new development until the drought situation improves and the state loosens its water-use restrictions. Since Gainesville is the primary water provider in the county, ...

Health department expects loss in revenue

A doctor from the Hall County Health Department divulged a staggering statistic to county officials Monday - the department is estimating a $866,208 loss in revenue this year. During the fourth round of county budget hearings, Dr. David Westfall, District 2 public health director, said the health department is slated to receive significantly less revenues from Medicaid payments since the state adopted a managed health care ...

Man charged with fatal shooting

One Gainesville resident is dead and another is in jail in the first homicide case of 2008 for the Hall County Sheriff's Office. Hugo M. Tepanca is being held in the Hall County Jail without bond on accusations of shooting 23-year-old Jose Vargas to death Sunday evening.

Change of heart: Pearson will seek re-election

State Sen. Eugene "Chip" Pearson, R-Dawsonville, said Monday that he would seek a third term to the state Senate. Pearson was said to be eyeing a bid to fill the 9th District seat on the State Transportation Board. Mike Evans, a former state representative, resigned the post last week. Pearson said he had given some thought to leaving the Senate. Pearson and his ...

Sources for more information or help in dealing with substance abuse

Avita Community Partners (formerly Georgia Mountains Community Services): 678-207-1800 (receives state funding; charges on a sliding scale based on income)Center Point: 770-535-1050Family Recovery: 770-535-1073Laurelwood at Northeast Georgia Medical Center: 770-531-3800 (insurance or self-pay; no state subsidies available)LifeWorks Counseling Services: 770-503-7999New Hope Cimarron Counseling: 770-539-9669Also, for more information, visit www.theantidrug.com.

White Sulphur Elementary joins Riverbend in closing early Wednesday for Tour de Georgia

White Sulphur Elementary School in East Hall will have to close early Wednesday for the Tour de Georgia, a 600-mile bicycle race that started Monday.

Officials aim to keep road closures brief as Tour de Georgia rides through Hall

As more than 100 cyclists ride in Wednesday for one of the nation's premier cycling events, area motorists will have to pump the brakes - or at least take a detour.

Students take a different test: Officials say random drug screens get results in Hall

In the professional ranks, athletes often are put on pedestals. But in Hall County, when it comes to dealing with drugs and alcohol, athletes are put under a microscope. Currently, only student athletes in Hall County schools are subjected to mandatory, random drug tests, and school officials say it seems to be working.

Dahlonega's Bear on the Square Mountain Festival brings out the banjos and fiddles

Break out your banjo 'cause the 12th annual Bear on the Square Mountain Festival in Dahlonega this weekend proved that old time mountain music is still alive and kicking.

Kids get bird’s-eye view of Earth Day

They're so soft!" Emily McGarr said as Rebecca Nelson nodded in agreement about the caterpillar the two had been holding moments before.

Businesses find the green in going green

Earth Day began as a grassroots movement, but these days it's become a marketing opportunity.

Flowery Branch celebrates Georgia Cities Week

Flowery Branch will celebrate Georgia Cities Week next week by offering tours of the City Administration Building, located across from City Hall, from 1-4 p.m. Wednesday.

Authorities report that prescriptions are the drug of choice for teens

The investigator sees it. The paramedic sees it. The coroner sees it. Teen substance abuse, particularly of prescription drugs and alcohol, leads to arrests, overdoses and deaths each year in Hall County. And while alcohol remains the most common substance abused by kids in middle school and high school, pharmaceuticals have overtaken marijuana as the so-called "gateway drug" in today's drug culture, officials say. "For the first time ...

The message gets through: Authorities see fewer drugs on campus

Bo the drug dog sniffed along the lockers of his second home, East Hall High School, but when he came up empty, it was to no one's great surprise. Fewer drug seizures are made in Hall County schools these days, after the county school system and Hall County Sheriff's Office entered into an agreement last year authorizing unannounced drug searches. The drug dogs, two of whom make their ...

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.

South Ga. water project could have impact on Lake Lanier

On the surface, it seems like an obscure water project in a far corner of the state with no impact on the Hall County area.

University of North Georgia holds Dahlonega commencement ceremony

Students at UNG's Dahlonega campus graduated this weekend, with colleges holding separate ceremonies between Friday and today. The College of Arts and Letters ceremony was held Friday night, the College of Science and Mathematics and the Mike Cottrell College of Business held ceremonies separately Saturday. Today, the College of Health Professions and College of Education students will earn their diplomas.

5K race to honor fallen hero raises funds for service members

LULA - Four years ago, Shannon Jenrette wanted to do something to give back to those in the military and honor the memory of her late husband, Maj. Kevin M. Jenrette, who was killed in action June 4, 2009, while serving in Afghanistan.

Nine volunteers cited for work on Linwood trails

Nine AmeriCorps volunteers were honored Saturday afternoon by grateful city groups and environmental conservationists at Linwood Nature Preserve in Gainesville.