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.

An exercise in auctioneering: Uptown Fitness equipment sold to pay taxes

They came in search of the elusive bargain, and some found it Tuesday as Gainesville and the Hall County Tax Commissioners office sold some of the equipment at the former Uptown Fitness on Bradford Street.

Car theft, chase lead to arrest of Talmo teenager

An 18-year-old Talmo resident is being held in the Hall County Jail without bond after he allegedly fired a gun at someone, stole a car and fled from deputies Sunday morning.

Uptown Fitness Center equipment up for auction

The Hall County Tax Commissioners Office and the city of Gainesville will host an auction from 8 to 10 a.m. today at the former site of Uptown Fitness Center at 131 Bradford St.

Forum on HOPE set for tonight

A forum on changes made last year in HOPE scholarship grade-point average calculations is set for 7 tonight at the Hall County school system offices at 711 Green St. Daniel McGrail, a Johnson High School senior, has organized the meeting with help from school system officials. McGrail, the Student Teacher Achievement Recognition student at Johnson this year, has invited officials from the ...

Gainesville braces for less money in budget

GAINESVILLE - The city of Gainesville may be running on a slimmer budget in the coming fiscal year than in years past. A lag in construction and an uncertain economy has Gainesville's financial experts projecting revenues for this fiscal year to be less than had been expected. But Gainesville City Manager Brian Shuler insists the outlook is not so grim. "I don't think there's any department in ...

14 arrested for underage drinking at Buford party

Two Buford residents have been charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and keeping a disorderly house after 14 teenagers were arrested for underage drinking at their home early Sunday morning.

Sardis Elementary examines whether charter school status could help close academic achievement gap

Principal Jan Hughes sees a wide academic achievement gap between "children of poverty and children of wealth" at Sardis Elementary School.

Fair Street center's grand opening gives Southside a boost

The Fair Street Neighborhood Center officially opened for business Sunday with a dedication ceremony and ribbon-cutting.

Kidney transplant patient rides his bike for charity

Peter Kite has battled adversity since the day he was born. But now the Dawsonville resident is focused on making life easier for others. Kite, 39, has endured two consecutive kidney transplants. A congenital defect caused his kidneys to fail by the time he was 13, when he received a living donor transplant from his mother.

Lawyers sponsor run for a good cause: helping those in the court system to recover

As a run up to Law Day, Gainesville lawyers are running for a cause.

Shearing day gets woolly

Despite gray skies and chilling temperatures, more than 300 people flocked to Wauka Valley Farm near Cleveland on Saturday and Sunday to celebrate the spring shearing of Lynn Johnson's 59 sheep. For the seventh year, Johnson invited the public to her 40-acre farm that rests under the steadfast watch of Wauka Mountain.

The Times raises $2,158 for Relay for Life

The Times held a fundraising event Thursday in Gainesville where community members were welcomed to bring documents to shred, with all proceeds benefiting Relay for Life. The "Team Times" Relay for Life Committee collected $2,158 Thursday for the fight against cancer. In addition to people bringing documents to shred, hamburgers and hot dogs were on sale to benefit the cause.

Kids learn lake safety tips before summer ‘trauma season’ begins

Four children sat in a boat on their school's gym floor Thursday as Department of Natural Resources officers shook it and a crowd of their classmates loudly counted down.

4 Gainesville schools went on lockdown Thursday afternoon

Four Gainesville City schools were temporarily locked down Thursday afternoon.

2 Forsyth men charged in $1.6 million theft of 91-year-old

Recharged waters threat to low lying areas during upcoming hurricane season

The rain has been good, but the approaching hurricane season could put Georgia at risk for flooding and other trouble if it continues to rain, weather experts say.

Standoff suspect makes first appearance in court

A Gainesville man charged with terroristic threats, criminal damage to property and reckless conduct had his first appearance before a Hall County magistrate judge on Wednesday.

State to privatize its lodge parks by July 1

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is moving to privatize lodge parks in the state, as part of fulfilling a state mandate to become, among other things, more self-sufficient.

Red Rabbit to continue operating

The saga of the Red Rabbit fixed-route bus service ended Wednesday with the Hall County Board of Commissioners approving an agreement with Gainesville, but it didn't end quietly.

Army Rangers in training perform safety exercises on Lake Lanier

About 100 Rangers in training from Camp Frank D. Merrill in Dahlonega parachuted into Lake Lanier at War Hill Park in Dawsonville on Wednesday.

Residents speak out against city’s at-large voting system during council meeting

Two Gainesville residents spoke against the city's at-large voting system at Tuesday's City Council meeting.

City holds first transportation public meeting

Upon moving to Gainesville in February, Tricia Terrell soon discovered that in-town travel - at least by foot or bicycle - was more than a little tricky.

Lumpkin County Superintendent: Prayer encouraged as long as it doesn’t disrupt class

A week after a student-led prayer resulted in more than 50 Lumpkin County High School students skipping classes, the system's superintendent said no action will be taken other than working to educate teachers and students about the law pertaining to prayer in school.

Dawson County chief tax assessor facing drug charges

Dawson County's chief tax appraiser was arrested at his office Tuesday afternoon on misdemeanor drug charges.

Shred Away Cancer event set for today

The Times and Document Destruction Services Inc. are teaming up for a document shredding event today to benefit Relay for Life.

Ridgewood, Green Street intersection to close today

Ridgewood Avenue will be closed at its intersection with Green Street from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today.