• Brent Smith (left) holds the America 250 flag alongside Sons of the American Revolution Joseph Habersham Chapter member Dr. Ed Hendricks (middle) and Lyman Hall Chapter member David Lowden at the Mountain Laurel Festival Parade in Clarkesville. Smith tried to wear what he believed his grandfather would have worn in the war. (Submitted)

    Brent Smith (left) holds the America 250 flag alongside Sons of the American Revolution Joseph Habersham Chapter member Dr. Ed Hendricks (middle) and Lyman Hall Chapter member David Lowden at the Mountain Laurel Festival Parade in Clarkesville. Smith tried to wear what he believed his grandfather would have worn in the war. (Submitted)

    Exclusive Subscriber Content

    Touching the past

    Friday, June 5, 2026

    By Samantha SinclairIt started with the beat of a drum.Brent Smith never really thought much about his family’s tales of an ancestor who played drums in the war.Then, he visited the National Confederate Museum in Tennessee in 2021.
  • Amber Watson of Smudged Academy practices dance moves in Donald Anderson Park where she and Sheila Humphrey will lead a 100 Years of Dance warm-up Saturday morning. (Samantha Sinclair/Staff)

    Amber Watson of Smudged Academy practices dance moves in Donald Anderson Park where she and Sheila Humphrey will lead a 100 Years of Dance warm-up Saturday morning. (Samantha Sinclair/Staff)

    Exclusive Subscriber Content

    Let’s party

    Thursday, June 4, 2026

    By Samantha SinclairCornelia is celebrating 100 years of the Big Red Apple all day Saturday, and one of the opening activities takes event goers through all the decades the monument has stood in Downtown Cornelia.
  • Grady “Junior” Robinson has been an integral part of Baldwin’s Public Works department for 40 years, and has retired from full-time work. He stands in the Junior Robinson Public Works Department, named in his honor. (Hannah Caudell/Staff)

    Grady “Junior” Robinson has been an integral part of Baldwin’s Public Works department for 40 years, and has retired from full-time work. He stands in the Junior Robinson Public Works Department, named in his honor. (Hannah Caudell/Staff)

    Exclusive Subscriber Content

    Overflowing with knowledge

    Friday, May 29, 2026

    By Hannah CaudellGrady “Junior” Robinson knows a thing or two about Baldwin’s water system. Now, he’s learning a thing or two about legacy.Ask anybody who has worked closely with Robinson, and they’ll all call him the same thing: A wealth of knowledge.
  • HCHS graduate Rainlan Hobson walks off the stage after receiving her diploma at Raider Stadium Friday, May 22. (Landen Todd/Staff)

    HCHS graduate Rainlan Hobson walks off the stage after receiving her diploma at Raider Stadium Friday, May 22. (Landen Todd/Staff)

    Exclusive Subscriber Content

    Drenched for the diploma

    Wednesday, May 27, 2026

    By Hannah CaudellAs they weathered varying bouts of rain, Habersham Central graduates walked across the graduation stage in plastic ponchos to receive their diplomas.“Did anybody bring a pontoon?
  • Caden Polley stands outside his home away from home, the TFS Natatorium.

    Caden Polley stands outside his home away from home, the TFS Natatorium.

    Exclusive Subscriber Content

    Being with family

    Friday, May 22, 2026

    By Samantha SinclairSwimming has been important to Caden Polley.He started swimming in 2016, after deciding he didn’t want to continue with soccer as his older brothers had. When his family moved to Habersham County from McDonough when he was in third grade, he started swimming with the Hurricanes.

    Local

    An empty park bench in Cornelia City Park sits unoccupied. It’s similar to the six benches commissioners approved Tuesday night for three city park playgrounds: Jim Smith Park, Cornelia City Park and Oak Street Park. (By Hannah Caudell)

    An empty park bench in Cornelia City Park sits unoccupied. It’s similar to the six benches commissioners approved Tuesday night for three city park playgrounds: Jim Smith Park, Cornelia City Park and Oak Street Park. (By Hannah Caudell)

    Exclusive Subscriber Content

    New rules are set for Cornelia parks

    News Staff
    Friday, June 5, 2026
    By Hannah Caudell and Landen ToddCornelia parks have some new rules as of Tuesday night.
    The signage to Donald Anderson Park still says that it will also be the home of Kinetic Amphitheater. Commissioners decided to terminate discussions with Kinetic after it was acquired by Uniti, another fiber internet company that would not pay the city the $30,000 five-year contractual donation for the naming rights to the amphitheater. (Hannah Caudell/Staff)

    The signage to Donald Anderson Park still says that it will also be the home of Kinetic Amphitheater. Commissioners decided to terminate discussions with Kinetic after it was acquired by Uniti, another fiber internet company that would not pay the city the $30,000 five-year contractual donation for the naming rights to the amphitheater. (Hannah Caudell/Staff)

    Exclusive Subscriber Content

    Cornelia ends naming rights talks with Kinetic

    News Staff
    Friday, June 5, 2026
    By Hannah CaudellCornelia’s new amphitheater no longer has a name.
    more

    Op/Ed

    Our Opinion. FILE

    Our Opinion. FILE

    Exclusive Subscriber Content

    Thumbs up, thumbs down

    News Staff
    Friday, April 3, 2026
       Thumbs up – Living in the Bible Belt and being surrounded by fellow Christians is the biggest...
    more

    Sports

    Camper Greyson Kempey slides head first during the TFS baseball summer camp. (Landen Todd/Staff)

    Camper Greyson Kempey slides head first during the TFS baseball summer camp. (Landen Todd/Staff)

    Exclusive Subscriber Content

    Sliding to TFS baseball

    News Staff
    Friday, June 5, 2026
    By Landen ToddThe Tallulah Falls School hosted its baseball summer youth camp for rising third to...
    Camper Jacob Barnett shows off his skills during the HCHS football youth camp at Raider Stadium. (Landen Todd/Staff)

    Camper Jacob Barnett shows off his skills during the HCHS football youth camp at Raider Stadium. (Landen Todd/Staff)

    Exclusive Subscriber Content

    Future Raiders learn to love football at camp

    News Staff
    Wednesday, June 3, 2026
    By Landen ToddThe rainy weather did not stop Habersham Central High School from holding its youth...
    Mixed Doubles winners: Peggy and Alan Kuniansky (silver); Pam and John Tokarz (gold); Paula Sanders-Benenati and Carl Carothers (bronze) all pose during its fourth annual PickleSham Palooza. (Submitted)

    Mixed Doubles winners: Peggy and Alan Kuniansky (silver); Pam and John Tokarz (gold); Paula Sanders-Benenati and Carl Carothers (bronze) all pose during its fourth annual PickleSham Palooza. (Submitted)

    Exclusive Subscriber Content

    PickleSham Palooza increases reach

    News Staff
    Friday, May 29, 2026
    By Landen ToddHabersham County Pickleball Club hosted its fourth annual PickleSham Palooza on May...
    more

    Videos

    Mayor Barrie Aycock's last Clarkesville City Council meeting

    Mayor Barrie Aycock's last Clarkesville City Council meeting was Dec. 8, 2025. Aycock was elected to the Clarkesville City Council in 2013, with her term starting in January 2014. She resigned in January 2016 to run for mayor in a special election, and began her term as mayor in March 2016.

    Watch more