Account set up for victim’s family

An account has been set up to help the children of William Anthony "Andy" Standridge, who died in an automobile wreck recently.

Oakwood looks to limit illegal immigration

Monday night's Oakwood City Council meeting began looking more like a presidential debate when a hot button issue was raised - illegal immigration. Oakwood City Councilmember Gary Anderson started a discussion on what he called the depleting effect illegal immigrants have upon Oakwood and Hall County resources.

Attorney to seek death for accused: Auburn man indicted for 4 murders, arson

Jackson County's district attorney will seek the death penalty against an Auburn man charged in a 2006 murder-arson that claimed the lives of four people, including the suspect's two young children. Piedmont Judicial Circuit District Attorney Rick Bridgeman filed official notice of intent to seek the death penalty against 34-year-old Henry Lee Stringer on Tuesday in Jackson County Superior Court. Stringer's attorney, public defender Barry King, said he ...

Gainesville High students wrap up Newtown Florist Club upgrades

When members of the Newtown Florist Club needed a hand refurbishing their new headquarters, they knew who to turn to.

Planning board OKs group home

BY ASHLEY FIELDING afielding@gainesvilletimes.com GAINESVILLE - Gainesville's Planning and Appeals Board voted 'yes' on two items of business Tuesday, including a request to build a group home. Once again, the board dealt with the subject of group homes in the city. This time, the request came from Chris Cooley on behalf of the Turning Point Residential Recovery Program. Cooley applied for a special-use ...

CASA holds toy drive

The Hall-Dawson Court Appointed Special Advocates program is having a toy drive for the children it helps.

Hall County: Fire damages home

Hall County Fire deputies responded to a call about a Lee Street home about 6:30 a.m. Monday and found smoke coming from the home. The fire was extinguished with little water, said Hall County Fire Marshal Scott Cagle. Damage, which amounted to about $2,500, was contained to the bathroom, where the fire started, Cagle said. The fire appeared to have started because a towel was left too close to ...

Christmas in July? Chestnuts aren’t the only things roasting

BY DEBBIE GILBERT dgilbert@gainesvilletimes.com With two weeks to go until Christmas, North Georgians weren't exactly in a holiday mood Monday. They sweated in shorts and T-shirts even as radio stations stubbornly played "Let It Snow" and "Winter Wonderland." Many areas of Georgia broke or tied temperature records Sunday and Monday, with highs soaring into the mid-70s. Atlanta, for example, hit 76 degrees Sunday afternoon, ...

Counties may trade land with US Forest Service

CLAYTON - In a complicated land swap involving five Georgia counties, the U.S. Forest Service has proposed to give up 323 acres of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in exchange for receiving 758 acres of privately owned property. Dave Jensen, chief ranger for the forest's Chattooga River District, said swapping land is the only way for the federal agency to acquire property it needs. "Land acquisition money is ...

North Hall High principal retiring

Gary Brown, principal of North Hall High School, is retiring after the 2007-08 school year. The Hall County Board of Education voted Monday night in a meeting at Flowery Branch High School to approve his resignation. Brown has served as principal since 1999. He also served as an administrator at Shiloh, Brookwood and Banks County high schools, according to North Hall's Web site.

Home Town plans to be considered

Although Hall County has undergone staggering growth in recent years, District 2 Commissioner Billy Powell said Monday that North Hall won't see as much development in the near future as originally planned.

Plans don’t please parents: Residents disagree with proposed changes to school districts

FLOWERY BRANCH - They came with different perspectives, but none advocated keeping South Hall school district boundary lines as has been proposed by Hall County school officials. Riverstone Park was one of the most vocal groups at a public hearing on the proposal Monday night.

Officials say former DA not connected to bank robberies

The home of former Piedmont Judicial Circuit District Attorney Tim Madison was searched Friday in connection with Dec. 3 bank robberies in McDuffie and Oconee counties. Madison fit the description of a robber who hit banks in the two counties, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Federal Bureau of Investigation searched Madison's home in Franklin County on Friday, local officials said. John Heinen, special agent in charge ...

DOT: I-985 to shift on Thursday

While no lane closures are planned for the week, traffic on the southbound side of Interstate 985 is scheduled to shift over on Thursday. "The old bridge must be demolished," said Teri Pope, Georgia DOT spokeswoman. "We will be opening an additional left turn lane at the southbound exit ramp onto State Route 53. The new left turn lane will open by Thursday too and will allow more traffic to flow onto ...

Hall County: Man saves neighbor from fire

Hall County firefighters responded to a camper fire at 2932 Pierce Road Monday at about 8:30 p.m.

New scores released for area schools

School leaders said they are glad more factors are being considered in rating schools, but the scores released Tuesday still don't paint an accurate picture of what's going on in schools with high numbers of students learning the English language.

Mayor: Ban on left turns could be good for Green Street

Gainesville Mayor Danny Dunagan said Tuesday he wants the Georgia Department of Transportation to look at banning left turns on Green Street.

Man killed crossing Ga. 53 on 4-wheeler

Arrest made in Oakwood rape case

A Gainesville man was arrested Friday on rape charges by Oakwood police.

The Local Agenda: Gainesville to hold budget hearing for 2014

The Gainesville City Council is scheduled to hold a hearing on its 2014 proposed budget during tonight's City Council meeting.

Frozen food giveaway happening Wednesday

Caring Hands Ministries will hold a frozen food give away Wednesday in Clermont.

Gainesville City Schools projects increases in both revenue, spending

The Gainesville City School Board heard the final departmental budget presentations for fiscal year 2014 at its work session Monday night.

Hall planning board members narrowly deny commercial zoning request

Hall County commissioners will determine the ability of LL Farms to use its barn for special events after Hall County Planning Commission members narrowly denied the commercial zoning request.

Gender-based classes seem to be effective at Lyman Hall Elementary

Fifth-graders Brandon Murillo and Emilio Ochoa prefer not having girls around while they learn in class.

Work moving ahead for poultry lab in North Hall

Area and state officials, including Gov. Nathan Deal, gathered Monday in drizzle and cold to mark the start of construction on the Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network headquarters in North Hall.

Strawberries in season at Jaemor

Strawberries are ripe for the picking, if you can make your way to them through the mud and saturated ground.

Former Gen. Petraeus to serve on Camp Toccoa board

David H. Petraeus, the former four-star U.S. Army general who commanded coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, has agreed to serve on the Camp Toccoa at Currahee Board of Trustees.

Red Rabbit bus service faces pivotal week

The fate of the Red Rabbit fixed-route bus service may be decided this week as the city of Gainesville and Hall County are both expected to vote on an agreement to keep it operating.

Eyes on the Road: New Clarks Bridge work to start in the fall

Work could start a few months later than expected on an $8.7 million effort to replace the 55-year-old Clarks Bridge on Ga. 284/Clarks Bridge Road at Lake Lanier.

Canada gosling injured by fishing line on mend

Fishing line was wrapped around a Canada gosling's leg, digging close to the bone when the bird was brought to Denise Funk's veterinarian office.