Clouds keep Gov. Perdue from Gainesville visit

Gov. Sonny Perdue hinted Thursday that Georgia, Florida and Alabama may face a challenge in trying to reach a tri-state water agreement by Feb. 15. "That's optimistic," said Perdue in a telephone interview with The Times.

Residential developments dominate Hall County’s agenda

More residential development is on the agenda for the Hall County Commission meeting today. In December, the Hall County Planning Commission unanimously recommended for approval the roughly 1,507-acre Hagen Creek development plan that calls for 2,736 residential units, a school site and 1,000,000 square feet of commercial and office space in Lula. The county commission will consider the request by the land owner, an Austrian family, to rezone ...

Dyer is one of Georgia's top principals

The Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals has recognized Merrianne Dyer, principal of Fair Street International Baccalaureate World School, as one of its nine Distinguished Principals for 2008.

Magazine says Gainesville is a good place to retire

In its January-February 2008 issue, Where to Retire magazine highlights Gainesville as one of eight towns in the U.S. that have low tax burdens on retirees.

Gainesville gets ready for auction

Gainesville is cleaning out its closets. As they do every year, officials from city departments are planning to auction off and donate their surplus property. Each department has taken inventory of its property and decided which assets have served the department beyond their use.

Hearings set for new World Languages Academy

GAINESVILLE - Public information hearings have been scheduled for the Hall County school system's planned new World Languages Academy.

Police station could transform into hotel and office buildings

GAINESVILLE - Gainesville could earn at least $2 million if the City Council approves a proposed Midtown development.

DA had no knowledge of deal in Hilton case

Dawson County District Attorney Lee Darragh was left out of the loop when other prosecutors struck a deal with Gary Michael Hilton promising not to seek the death penalty against him in order to locate the body of slain hiker Meredith Emerson. Darragh told reporters Wednesday after an initial court appearance for Hilton that he first learned Monday night of the discovery of Emerson's body in Dawson Forest Wildlife ...

Two more school principals to leave at end of 2007-08

Hall County school system principals Wayne Colston of Mount Vernon Elementary and Terry Dover of Lula Elementary have announced they are retiring after this school year.

Hilton considered suspect in Florida slaying

Law enforcement officials in Tallahassee, Fla., want to question Gary Michael Hilton in the case of a Florida woman whose body was found in the Apalachicola National Forest on Dec. 15. Leon County Sheriff's Maj. Mike Wood said Hilton, charged in the abduction and murder of 24-year-old hiker Meredith Emerson, became a suspect after media reports led Florida investigators to run a check of Hilton's license plate. Sheriff's ...

Safe hiking: Trust your instincts

Outdoor recreation experts have been inundated with questions about trail safety ever since hiker Meredith Emerson was abducted and subsequently murdered in the Northeast Georgia mountains last week. "Everyone's afraid now. Even myself," said David Foot, superintendent of Vogel State Park, where authorities and volunteers spent several days searching for Emerson. "This experience has been so intense for us here." But at Amicalola Falls State Park, located near ...

Sheriff’s officials train to detain illegal immigrants

Hall County deputies will soon begin deportation proceedings for any person booked into the county jail who is determined to be in the country illegally. Sheriff Steve Cronic said nine of his deputies began training today for the 287(g) program, a local-federal partnership that gives sheriff's officials new authority in enforcing immigration law. Cronic had been waiting for approval for the program for nearly a year. Hall County ...

Chambliss: Water talks on track

BUFORD - Standing on the shore at Lake Lanier Islands, U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., said Tuesday the record low lake level can be blamed, in part, on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. "They've not done a very good job of managing the water supply we've got," Chambliss said. "When I think back over the past few years, when I've seen situations come up where we had plenty ...

Dawsonville Highway lanes open for your driving pleasure

The Georgia Department of Transportation crossed one big item off of its to-do list Tuesday with the opening of two new lanes on Dawsonville Highway.

Chambliss weighs in on presidential races

U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss' visit to Gainesville concluded long before the polls closed in New Hampshire Tuesday evening. The senator, however, said he was not surprised by last week's showing by his colleague, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., or former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. "When you follow the campaigns as they progress, those two seem to be gaining a lot of strength," Chambliss said. "What ...

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.

Aguilar sentenced to 25 years in prison

A Gainesville man was sentenced Wednesday in Hall County Superior Court to 25 years in prison by Judge Andrew Fuller.

Ridgewood, Green Street intersection will be closed Thursday

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

Dawson County tax official arrested on drug charges

Braselton hospital on pace to open in spring 2015

FLOWERY BRANCH - The beam from Anthony Williamson's laser pointer danced across a map of the planned Northeast Georgia Medical Center Braselton and the area beyond.

Class Notes: Focus group meeting to help find Dyer’s replacement

A focus group composed mostly of community members met Tuesday to talk about what the Gainesville school system should look for in its next superintendent.

Two picked for Florida A&M scholarships

A difficult decision of choosing the right college might be a little bit easier for two Gainesville High School students.

Rained-out First Friday concert rescheduled

The Southern Gentlemen Dixieland Jazz Band will perform a free concert Friday on the downtown square in Gainesville from 5-9 p.m.

Open house set at Gainesville water treatment plant Friday

The Gainesville Public Utilities Department will host an open house Friday from noon to 4 p.m. at Riverside Water Treatment Plant.

Man charged with felony murder in fatal wreck

A Gainesville man has been charged with felony murder in connection with his alleged role in a car crash that left a woman and toddler dead.

Man killed while crossing Ga. 53 on four-wheeler

A 73-year-old Dawson County man was killed Tuesday afternoon when he attempted to cross Ga. 53 on a four-wheeler and was hit by an oncoming pickup truck near Perimeter Road.

City to take over Red Rabbit bus service July 1

The Gainesville City Council unanimously approved Tuesday taking over the Red Rabbit fixed-route bus service starting July 1, while expressing disappointment with Hall County commissioners for putting it in that position.