Girl helped by local Marine leaves hospital

NASHVILLE, Tenn.- Two-year-old Amenah, an Iraqi girl with a complex heart defect, left the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt Friday. She will spend the next 10 days with a host family in suburban Nashville before returning for open heart surgery. The young girl's plight was brought to light by Maj. Kevin Jarrard of Gainesville, who is serving his third tour in Iraq. Jarrard and others arranged for the girl to get the badly needed surgery at Vanderbilt.

Home invasion spurs three-hour chase

OAKWOOD - The plan was foiled by an 11-year-old boy's quick thinking. Police said they believe Wayne Adam Shaw, 18, and Jose Luis Bautista-Osorio, 26, both of Gainesville, had targeted the house in the 2000 block of Leland Road in South Hall for a gang-related burglary. The child, home alone sick at the time, hid in a closet when they arrived at about 9 a.m. ...

Challenged Child says design us a T-shirt, and you might win $100

Challenged Child and Friends is holding an art contest to determine the T-shirt design for its 16th Annual 5K and One Mile Fun Run/Walk.

Drug sting nets fifth soldier affiliated with Dahlonega camp

A fifth Army soldier who was stationed at Dahlonega's Camp Frank D. Merrill was arrested Wednesday in connection with a federal drug conspiracy investigation.

Fair Street gets money for garden

Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation has awarded a Toolbox for Education grant to Fair Street International Baccalaureate World School for the development of a "Reading Garden" outside the media center.

Golf growth on the downswing, course pro tells council

GAINESVILLE -- Gainesville City Council members discussed the future of the Chattahoochee Golf Course this morning at their regular work session.

Hilton sentenced to life for murder of Meredith Emerson

DAWSONVILLE - Gary Michael Hilton avoided the possibility of execution with a guilty plea Thursday, but the parents of the young woman he abducted and killed are satisfied that he will "slowly rot" in prison.

Hilton indicted for murder of hiker Meredith Emerson

Suspected serial killer Gary Michael Hilton was indicted on a single count of murder in a specially called session of the Dawson County grand jury this morning, a procedural step further indicating a guilty plea in the case could be imminent. Hilton, 61, is scheduled to appear before Superior Court Judge Bonnie Chessher Oliver at 1 p.m. today. Law enforcement officials have said they were told Hilton would plead guilty in exchange for a life sentence.

Fixing holes in the heart, minus the open heart surgery

The concept of angioplasty seems amazing. A doctor opens a clogged heart vessel by threading a catheter through an artery in the groin.

Doc says if you have warning signs, you might be having a heart attack

Symptoms that could signal a possible heart problem should not be ignored.

Gainesville State College students, faculty vote in pre-primary

OAKWOOD - Local college students threaten to make an appearance at the polls next week. That is, of course, if Gainesville State College's campuswide presidential primary is any indication of the real one. More than 1,000 students, faculty and staff at Gainesville State College voted in a two-day pre-primary primary sponsored by the school's Politically Incorrect Club. All the votes have not been counted, but, as of ...

Official: Hilton may plead guilty to killing hiker

Suspected serial killer Gary Michael Hilton could plead guilty to the murder of abducted hiker Meredith Emerson in a hearing scheduled for this afternoon, officials said. Law enforcement officials confirmed late Wednesday that a guilty plea was expected.

Corps plans to rewrite manual for river system

U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal, R-Gainesville, said Wednesday that the secretary of the Army is preparing to instruct the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin work on the operating manuals for the Apalachicola-

Construction death could cost Gainesville company $54,950

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Hartley Construction Co. of Gainesville following a fatality in August 2007 at a church construction site in Ellijay.

Chamber celebrates centennial with legacy project

The Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce kicked off a yearlong celebration of the business organization's 100th anniversary at a breakfast Wednesday at the Gainesville Civic Center. Plans were announced for the Centennial Legacy project, a 5-year effort to create gateways to the community through landscaping at each of the five interchanges on Interstate 985. Frank Norton Jr., a co-chairman of the centennial committee, said the first project will ...

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.