CHRISTINA SANTEE/Staff At a Wednesday afternoon pep rally at Fairview Elementary School held in honor of Austin Sprayberry, a Habersham Central High School junior who was diagnosed with leukemia in October 2011, Sprayberry, shown with his family, is given a T-shirt and after, a new baton. Sprayberry hopes to return to HCHS for his senior year as well as to the band as head drum major. Shown, from left, are Lexie Sprayberry, sister; Greg Sprayberry, father; Austin; and Lisa Sprayberry, mother.

JONATHAN ARENA/Staff The Mountain Judicial Circuit NCIS team raided this residence on Pless Road, just north of the Hall County line, early Wednesday morning and found components for cooking methamphetamines. The NCIS team removed the meth components, displayed on plastic outside the house, and cooking equipment from the residence for cleanup and disposal. Eight people were taken into custody from the residence.

CHRISTINA SANTEE/Staff As Sunday’s 26th Annual Northeast Georgia Peace Walk kicks into high gear, Anthony Quilliam, left, and Patrick Burns, lead an enthusiastic crowd to Shady Grove Baptist Church while carrying a banner that reads, “We live the dream of [equality] Dr. King!” Also pictured is Sharmain Dooley, right.

SUBMITTED Cornelia’s Bark Park, an off-leash dog park project located adjacent to the Cornelia Community House, is progressing toward a March 31 ribbon cutting.

E. LANE GRESHAM/Staff Hair style and make-up demonstrations, a bridal gown fashion show, music, samples of cake and catering menu offerings added interactive elements to the 2012 Weddings Unveiled event, hosted by the Northeast Georgia region of Community Newspapers Inc., held Saturday at the Cornelia Community House. Wendy Bailey of Toccoa volunteers to model for Sidney Wise, owner of Sidney’s Hair Salon.

SUBMITTED Jesse Abbott of Demorest won first place in the Mountain Laurel Festival 50th anniversary poster design contest.