By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Newsroom staff
NateNewMug22cropped.jpg

Nate McCullough

Group Editor
770-718-3431

Nate joined The Times in 2015 as publications manager and is now group editor for The Times, the Forsyth County News and Dawson County News. He’s been in the business since 1999. He has “always been a news junkie” and “always believed that journalism is a necessary service.”

John Chambliss

John Chambliss

Managing Editor
770-718-3407

John has worked in the newspaper business for 20 years. Most of his news career was spent in Florida where he worked on numerous projects and enterprise stories. When he's not working at The Times, John enjoys hiking, playing tennis and raising his two children.   

Bill Murphy 2021

Bill Murphy

Sports Editor
770-718-3415

Bill, a Hall County native, has been covering local sports at The Times since 2004. He enjoys working with local coaches and seeing the talent and growth of young athletes. 

Rachel Estes

Rachel Estes

Life Editor
770-718-3421

A native of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Rachel came to The Times by way of southwest Arizona, where she reported on the goings-on of local education, public health and everyday life in the Sonoran Desert. She firmly believes that stories are everywhere, sometimes under our very noses or just a hop, skip and a jump down the road. In her spare time, she’s a proponent of the open road and strong coffee.

Michael Buckelew

Michael Buckelew

Night Editor

Michael joined The Times staff in May 2022. He has degrees from the University of Georgia in journalism and geology. Michael spent 13 years with Southern Community Newspapers in Lawrenceville. In his spare time, he follows UGA sports, Atlanta United and seeks out the best tea and coffee.

Samuel Aggrey

Samuel Aggrey

Page Designer

A native to Athens, Samuel's interest in design began in high school. He went on to study graphic design at the University of North Georgia, where he graduated in fall of 2019. His philosophy as a designer is creating simple and effective visual solutions. When he's not working, Samuel enjoys live shows, travel and custom cars.

Ben Anderson 2021

Ben Anderson

News Reporter
770-718-3411

Ben began working for The Times in June 2021 after graduating from Georgia Gwinnett College where he worked as a reporter and served as the editor-in-chief of the campus paper. In his free time, Ben enjoys reading, running and playing guitar. 

David Friedlander cropped

David Friedlander

Sports Reporter
770-535-6394

David, who joined The Times staff in August of 2022, is a native of Atlanta and a veteran of more than 30 years in sports journalism. Except for four years in Louisiana, his entire career has been spent in Georgia covering sports at many levels, including professional and college. However, high school and community sports have been his primary focus.

Jeff Gill

Jeff Gill

News Reporter
770-718-3408

Jeff has been reporting at The Times for more than two decades, so he’s more than familiar with local issues, people and places. He’s covered various topics through the years but now focuses on business, transportation and South Hall. He is a Sunday school teacher at West Hall Baptist Church and enjoys learning about history, whether local or otherwise.

Ethan Howard

Ethan Howard

Page Designer

Ethan grew up in Dahlonega where he also attended the University of North Georgia to study writing. When he is not designing pages for The Times, Ethan enjoys reading science fiction, especially stories by Ray Bradbury. 

Scott_Rogers.jpg

Scott Rogers

Photographer
770-718-3422

Having grown up in North Hall, Scott has a vested interest in telling the stories of the community through his award-winning photos. He’s been shooting photos for The Times since 2000.

Donnell Suggs cropped

Donnell Suggs

Part-time Life Reporter
770-535-6344

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Donnell began his career covering sports for small newspapers throughout Georgia back in 2006. During that time, the husband and father of two has written for The Atlanta Voice, Atlanta Daily  World, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Atlanta Magazine, The Southern Cross (Savannah), Houston Home Journal, Eatonton Messenger, Lake Oconee News and Newnan Times-Herald. A devout Catholic, he often prays for his beloved New York Mets to win a third World Series.

Nick_Watson_.jpg

Nick Watson

News Reporter
770-718-3428

Nick began his career in journalism at The Times in 2014 after graduating from the University of Georgia, where he worked at the Red & Black student newspaper. He reports on public safety issues and works to hold officials accountable for their actions. When he’s not responding to breaking news or digging into data from an open records request, he’s probably winning a trivia game or answering all the questions on “Jeopardy.”

Brian Wellmeier

Brian Wellmeier

News Reporter
770-718-3405

Brian joined The Times staff in September of 2022. A native of Athens, he first became familiar with issues affecting the Gainesville and Hall County communities during his enrollment at the University of North Georgia, where he earned his bachelor of arts degree in communication and multimedia journalism. Outside the office, he writes fiction from late winter to early fall.