Hospital restricts visits from children to stop illness

Until further notice, Northeast Georgia Medical Center has banned children ages 15 years and younger from visiting inpatient units on both the main and Lanier Park campuses.

Officials to discuss city’s goals at retreat

Gainesville officials are going down to the valley today.

GMS eighth-grader wins city system spelling bee

BY JEFF GILL jgill@gainesvilletimes.com GAINESVILLE - Fifth time was the charm for Ryan Griffith. The Gainesville Middle School eighth-grader, who has competed in the city system spelling bee each year since he was in the fourth grade, finally took home the first-place trophy Tuesday morning. "I feel excited to finally win," said Griffith, 14, crowned after spelling "pentathlon" correctly. <font ...

Brenau receives $330,000 for indoor tennis courts

Construction is expected to begin in May on a 14,400-square-foot enclosure for two tennis courts at Brenau University's Smithgall Tennis Complex, thanks to a $333,000 contribution from an anonymous donor.

City’s landscape to change

GAINESVILLE - The Gainesville City Council voted unanimously to approve a zoning request for a $35 million development that promises to kick off the redevelopment of Gainesville's Midtown district.

Hall schools mull transfer students

GAINESVILLE - Students interested in the International Baccalaureate program but attending a Hall County school that's not offering it next year may not be out of luck.

Dahlonega-based soldiers denied bond

A U.S. magistrate judge denied bond late Monday for four Dahlonega-based soldiers charged in a conspiracy to rob cocaine dealers at gunpoint. Carlos Lopez, 30; David Ray White, 28; Randy Spivey, 32; and Stefan Andre Champagne, 28, were denied bond after Judge Alan Baverman heard two days of testimony and arguments in the case, said Patrick Crosby, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office. They remain in the custody of ...

Arrest made in 11-year-old murder

Eleven years and 1,300 miles wasn't enough distance to separate Juan Bayona from the long arm of the law.

Major pot ‘grow house’ busted in North Hall

An overwhelming pungent odor of marijuana emitting from a North Hall home led to the discovery Tuesday of more than 800 pot plants growing inside.

Flowery Branch buys buildings, sets lease

Flowery Branch City Council approved the purchase of two buildings, 5509 and 5511 Main St., for city use at a cost of $300,000 today. The city had been renting the building at 5509 Main for the past two years for use by the city's planning department.

Federal court tosses out Lanier water agreement

A federal appeals court on Tuesday threw out an agreement that Georgia reached with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for water rights to Lake Lanier, handing Alabama and Florida a major victory in the states' water wars. The 2003 agreement with the corps would give Georgia about a quarter of Lake Lanier's capacity over the coming decades and is the foundation of Georgia's long-term plans for supplying drinking water ...

Head Start programs meet federal compliance

The Head Start and Early Head Start programs in 20 North Georgia counties have met full compliance from the federal Office of Head Start in Washington.

Technology fair set for Saturday at Lakeview Academy

About 100 students from five area schools are set to compete Saturday in the Lanier Regional Technology Fair at Lakeview Academy.

Residents say no to proposed retail center in South Hall

A developer's rezoning request for a nearly 10-acre shopping center proposed on Old Winder Highway in South Hall ignited tensions between Hall County residents and developers at a Hall County Planning Commission meeting Monday evening. The applicant, Dunhill Developers LLC, asked the Hall County Planning Commission to consider rezoning 9.9 acres of property adjacent to Mulberry River at the intersection of Old Winder Highway and Howington Road from agriculture and ...

Pieces of peace: Flag display sparks ‘season of nonviolence’

As presidential candidates debate the politics of the war in Iraq, local schools, churches and senior communities have contributed to a display of peace at Lakeshore Mall that is part of a national project called The Peace Quilt. More than 50 people ranging in age from preschoolers to senior citizens helped to create more than 100 squares that were sewn together to make roughly 40 flags declaring a statement for ...

Enota named family-friendly school

Enota Multiple Intelligences Academy has been named a winner of the state Department of Education's Family-Friendly School Partnership School Award.

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.