A perfect fit: Playhouse grants wish

Joshua Robbins was one of thousands of people who dropped a raffle ticket into a bucket outside several playhouses displayed on the Gainesville square at Mule Camp Market in October. Local high school construction students spent months carefully crafting each playhouse to be raffled off to benefit Habitat for Humanity, and raised a total of $17,000 for the home-building agency. Students built playhouses inspired by the television ...

County school officials rethink ‘block schedule’

GAINESVILLE - Hall County schools' teachers and administrators are looking at revising the "block schedule," with changes to come possibly as early as next school year. The block schedule initially was put in place "to get kids to more courses, or at least the opportunity to take more courses," said Sally Krisel, the district's assistant director of teaching and learning. However, "we have discovered over the years ...

Annual service honors Confederate Lt. Gen. Longstreet

The life and death of Alta Vista Cemetery's most renowned figure was honored Sunday afternoon with a three-volley rifle salute by Confederate re-enactors.

ITBS scores hold or improve in Hall schools

Early results on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills show that Hall County students in second through eighth grades districtwide improved or stayed at the same level in five of six subject areas.

Search for missing hiker to be scaled back today

The Associated Press The search for a 24-year-old hiker who has been missing for six days will be scaled back today, the same day her accused abductor is scheduled to appear before a judge to face kidnapping charges in her disappearance. Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokesman John Bankhead said on Sunday that the search for Meredith Emerson will not stop, but that only trained search and rescue ...

Forest Service may ban off-road vehicles from trails

Citing environmental concerns, officials with the Chattahoochee National Forest say they want to permanently close an area used by off-road vehicles.

Man dies in wreck after train collision

A Maysville man was killed Friday afternoon when his truck was struck by a train in Commerce.

Modular home builder still battling Gainesville

GAINESVILLE -- Grant Smereczynsky is hoping the third time's the charm in his ongoing battle against the city of Gainesville.

Hall County Teacher of the Year: Joel Aquino

OAKWOOD -- Joel Aquino spent years traveling the world with companies mining in exotic places, including a $13 billion gold and copper find in Laos.

Raising Young Minds: Gainesville, Hall top teachers

Each year, teachers at every school in Gainesville and Hall County pick the best of their peers to be honored for dedication to education. Each teacher was asked to submit information about their jobs, as well as career and educational backgrounds. The following is based on information each one provided and from personal profiles on school Web sites:

Teachers of year cultivate young minds

Each year, teachers at every school in Gainesville and Hall County pick the best of their peers to be honored for dedication to education.

New school board members will be sworn in Monday

GAINESVILLE - A swearing-in ceremony for the Gainesville City School Board of Education's new members is set for Monday. Juvenile Court Judge Cliff Jolliff will swear in Maria Calkins and Sammy Smith at the beginning of the board's monthly work session, which begins at 5 p.m. Calkins will replace Lee Highsmith, who is serving as chairwoman, and Sammy Smith will replace Frank Harben. Highsmith and Harben each ...

More and more shore: Lanier cleanup goes on

It looked more like a dump than a lakeshore. Along the edge of the receded waters of Lake Lanier, countless half-buried cans, bottles and other discarded debris lined the banks in a mud-caked testament to man's capacity to litter. "It's disgraceful, is what it is," said Michael Curtis of Lawrenceville, one of about a dozen volunteers who came to a cove where ...

Gainesville Teacher of the Year: Dawn Barry

GAINESVILLE -- On the first week of school, Dawn Barry takes her kindergartners on a tour of the school with the help of Curious George.

2007 traffic deaths same as last year

The same number of people died on Hall County's public roads in 2007 as the previous year, though it remained a serious reduction from the record number of fatal accidents reached in 2005. According to accident data maintained by the Hall County Sheriff's Office, 20 people died in traffic accidents in the county in the past year, including three fatal accidents in the city of Gainesville. That number does not ...

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.

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.