Principal Coleman says goodbye to friends and school

Mark Coleman and the late Chris Mance spent the last few years preparing for retirement. Both high school principals in Hall County, Coleman at Flowery Branch and Mance at Gainesville, purchased cottages in their hometown of Clayton. "We were going to retire and go back home and enjoy doing all the things we used to do when we were just coach and player," Coleman said of Mance, whom he had as a student early in ...

Hall County schools looking at new visitor identification system

Visitors to Hall County schools could have a new security checkpoint to go through beginning next school year.

German tourists learn about diversity

A Wednesday visit to Hall County by several German tourists served to illuminate a reality prominent in the U.S., and increasingly in the forefront of modern Europe - the tide of immigration.

Ex-bank manager from Murrayville charged in theft

Class Notes: Uzbekistanis visit Lanier Tech

A group of 11 Uzbekistanis, including farmers, businessmen and a representative of the country's Ministry of Agriculture and Water Management recently visited Lanier Technical College to learn about its refrigeration program.

Local political group protests IRS focus

Area residents took to the sidewalk in front of the local Internal Revenue Service office, waving signs and encouraging people driving by to honk in protest of the agency and revelations that some conservative groups have been targeted by IRS agents.

Graduation rates up in local schools

Hall County graduation rates increased in 2012 from 2011. In fact, rates increased more than 2 percentage points across Georgia, to 69.7 percent from 67.4 percent, according to information released Tuesday by the state Department of Education. The jump in Hall County Schools, to 74.4 percent from 72.7 percent, mirrors the state's improvements. "I'm very proud right now," said Joe Gheesling, principal of North Hall High School, which had the highest graduation rate in the ...

Fire destroys home; one treated for smoke inhalation

Gene Jones was outside his Commander Drive home cutting his grass when he saw smoke pouring out to the road.

Gainesville awards bid for convention center study

Gainesville City Council approved awarding the bid for the convention center and hotel feasibility study to consulting firms Key Advisors Inc. and the Bleakly Advisory Group on Tuesday evening.

Flood damage costs start to emerge

Flowery Branch officials are estimating $1.4 million in expenses related to Sunday's historic rainfall, and so far it appears that most of the financial burden is falling on the beleaguered South Hall city.

Norfolk Southern says heavy rains overwhelmed Flowery Branch culverts

Norfolk Southern officials said Tuesday that culverts in Flowery Branch were overwhelmed Sunday by the heavy rains that fell overnight.

Local efforts gather help for Oklahoma tornado victims

Syfan Logistics is working to do its part to help victims of the tornadoes in Oklahoma. The company will provide a truck, driver and trailer to deliver much-needed supplies to those affected by the disaster. Those who wish to donate are asked to bring items such as canned goods or nonperishable dry foods, manual can openers, tarpaulins, hand tools, construction tools, generators, diapers with wipes, Wal-Mart gift cards and monetary donations to assist the victims. ...

Flood causes sewer spill into Flowery Branch Creek

Sunday's historic flood in Flowery Branch has produced another problem for the beleaguered South Hall city - a 200,000-gallon sewer spill into Flowery Branch Creek.

Ridgewood Avenue to close at 9 p.m.

Ridgewood Avenue will be closed at 9 tonight until 4 a.m. Wednesday while Georgia Power does work in the area.

The Local Agenda: Germans to come to Hall to study immigration

A group from Germany will be visiting Hall County on Wednesday, looking to learn about American cultural life and political issues but particularly immigration.

Budget crunch hits corps’ Lanier parks

Faced with shrinking budgets, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is looking at whether it can continue to operate all its recreational areas, including parks.

Flowery Branch discusses how to pay for storm damage

Flowery Branch City Council agreed Thursday to quickly repair damage to its citywide culvert system caused May 19 by heavy storms and flooding.

North Hall rental house destroyed by fire

A rental home on Cleveland Highway in North Hall County was destroyed by fire Thursday morning.

Victim airlifted with injuries after 1-vehicle wreck

One person was injured Thursday and airlifted to an Atlanta hospital after a one-vehicle accident on Cleveland Highway.

Ga. lawmakers seek to block move by Fla., Ala. to limit access to lake

CUMMING - With Georgia's victories in the tri-state water wars aside, and even its legal bills from that entanglement now history, the Gainesville-based Lake Lanier Association now has its eyes on a water reauthorization bill moving through Congress.

Woman not hurt after crashing van into lake

A Cleveland woman was uninjured when her van crashed Wednesday morning into Lake Lanier.

Dawson officials ask for flooding aid

Hall County housing market snapshot: Less construction, fewer foreclosures

Residential and "affordable" housing in Hall County is in short supply because of a decline in construction and strong competition for good deals, Gainesville real estate executive Frank Norton Jr. said.

Dawsonville distillery seeks lawmakers’ help

Driver killed in wreck with dump truck

A wreck killed one just after 9 Wednesday morning on Tanners Mill Road in southeast Hall County.

Storms, showers in area may not be done

Look for a couple of wet days ahead heading into the weekend.

4 plead guilty, fined in N. Hall animal hoarding case

Four people pleaded guilty Wednesday in an animal hoarding case stemming from May that led to the impoundment of 69 animals.

Woman, son dead in Jefferson; father in custody

JEFFERSON - A mother and her 13-year-old son are dead and her 47-year-old husband, the child's father, is in jail on murder charges.

Residents get peek at potential passenger rail service between Atlanta and Charlotte

SUWANEE - Miles Williams is eager to find out whether Suwanee, the North Gwinnett city where generations of his family have lived, will once again be a bustling stop for passenger rail.

Probable cause hearing set for slaying suspect

A probable cause hearing is set for later this month after a Gainesville man made his first appearance Tuesday in Hall County Magistrate Court on murder charges.