East Hall JROTC cadet wins regional award

GAINESVILLE - An East Hall High School Navy JROTC cadet has been selected as the Outstanding JROTC Cadet from the six JROTC units in Northeast Georgia.

Ex-teacher caught in Tennessee

Jerry Norman Jones spray-painted his white car black and led Tennessee authorities on a car chase topping 100 mph, officials said, but ultimately couldn't elude the manhunt that had been on since he fled North Georgia with his young daughter a week ago.

Corps reviews flow requests

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Thursday that it was reviewing a request from Georgia to reduce the flow of water from Buford Dam on Lake Lanier.

Fathers cut a rug with their little girls

Word of mouth has helped the Daddy Daughter Dance grow in popularity in the ninth year of the event.

Victim of home invasion says ‘justice was served’ with sentences

A victim of a harrowing home invasion robbery on Price Road last July said she was relieved that three defendants were sentenced to lengthy prison terms this week in Hall County Superior Court. "I had waited for that day," said the woman, who is not being named by The Times because she was the victim of a sexual battery. "I felt relieved that it was over and I didn't have ...

A real-life math lesson: City planner teaches students to solve population puzzle

Lisa Plowman's advanced seventh-grade math classes had been learning about proportions, drawing designs of neighborhoods with their prowess. But Matt Tate, Gainesville's principal planner, taught them a lesson on a much bigger scale.

Two women charged with prostitution

Two women were arrested on prostitution charges Tuesday night in Gainesville in a sting operation, according to Lt. Scott Ware with the Hall County Sheriff's department. Amanda Perry, 32, of Tulsa, Okla., brokered a deal for her and Michelle Laughrey, 45, of Norcross to have sex for $400 each, according to authorities. Both the women arrived at a predetermined location on Dorsey Street to find undercover agents waiting to arrest ...

Woman who had child with boy groom to be released from prison

DOUGLASVILLE - A woman who married a 15-year-old boy and later bore his child will be released from prison Friday after serving two years for helping her teenage husband flee from Georgia authorities, state officials said.

Flowery Branch to buy 'temporary fix' to boost sewer pump capacity on Martin Road

Flowery Branch City Council approved the $12,000 purchase of a new 10,000-gallon storage container Wednesday to ease the strain that development has placed on a sewer pump station on Martin Road. Recent commercial development on Martin Road in Flowery Branch and on Winder Highway in Oakwood has placed a burden on the Flowery Branch-owned sewer pump station near Martin Road Elementary, Flowery Branch City Manager Bill Andrew said. <font ...

Mudhole no more: Silt dredging project kicks off at Longwood Park

After years of planning, local and federal officials kicked off the dredging of Longwood Cove in a celebration they dubbed "DredgeFest '08." Local officials from various Gainesville departments as well as current and former members of the Lake Lanier Islands Development Authority gathered Wednesday in a muddy hole off Longwood Park, envisioning its water-filled future. Coincidentally, the future of the mudhole is a return to its ...

Lunch line computer stolen at South Hall Middle

GAINESVILLE - A computer used to check students through the lunch line each day at South Hall Middle School has been stolen, Hall County school officials said.

Gang task force busts drug deal at school

Three teens were caught in the midst of a pot deal by plainclothes investigators Tuesday in the parking lot of a Hall County alternative school just before the school opened for the day, authorities said Wednesday. Hall County Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad Commander Lt. Scott Ware said gang task force investigators were at Lanier Career Academy on Tumbling Creek Road at about noon Tuesday on an unrelated matter when they saw ...

Medicare says hospitals must pay for mistakes

Talk about adding insult to injury.

Lt. Gov. Cagle’s listening sessions to start Friday in Gainesville

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle has announced the first in a series of listening sessions that will be held throughout the state by his field representatives. The first session will take place from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Friday at the Georgia Mountains Center.

Wife: Fugitive husband is no child molester

When Jerry Norman Jones heard early Friday morning that he was wanted by authorities for allegedly violating the conditions of his bond, he told his estranged wife in a phone conversation that he wanted to read the Bible and pray. At the time, Jones was free on $40,000 bond after being charged with molesting four of his third-grade students at Gainesville Elementary School. Sometime in the next ...

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.

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.