Local artist Renee Royal starts painting a crosswalk on Monroe Street Monday morning. (Samantha Sinclair/Staff)
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
By Samantha SinclairMore and more mountain laurels are popping up in Clarkesville.Three crosswalks on city-maintained streets downtown are being repainted with mountain laurel images as a community project funded through the Mountain Laurel Festival.
Habersham resident Sydney Blackburn shows Baldwin City Council members a series of maps showing Gainesville's urban sprawl. She explained that she feared the same for Baldwin — and the county in general — with the newly proposed Cook Construction development. (Hannah Caudell/Staff)
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
By Hannah CaudellResidents took their first opportunity to tell the Baldwin City Council how they felt about Cook Construction's newly proposed development Tuesday night.
Hay bales on Old Athens Highway sit in a field after recently being cut. Recent rain showers in the area have helped to bolster the growth of hay, while also causing some challenges to farmers. (Hannah Caudell/Staff)
Friday, August 14, 2026
By Hannah CaudellThe drought that began late last year may finally be coming to a close, though the Northeast Georgia region isn’t completely out of the woods yet.
Asher June Black and Ada Plum were excited to see they were in Davina Presley’s class when Plum entered the classroom on the first day at Level Grove Elementary. The girls chatted as they colored. (Samantha Sinclair/Staff)
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
By Hannah CaudellOn Aug. 7, Habersham County students shouldered backpacks and headed to class for their first day back to school.For many students and teachers alike, it was a day of firsts.
Alto Chief Financial Officer Lisa Turner discusses insurance numbers with council members during the town’s Tuesday night work session. (Hannah Caudell/Staff)
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
by Hannah CaudellAlto’s Town Council unanimously approved a resolution to authorize an update to the town’s total road mileage with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT).
Cook Construction and Real Estate is seeking to annex five parcels totaling 45 acres into the city for a commercial development, along with another 20.92 acres already in the city limits. (Submitted)
From left, Cristina Simmons and Cornelia City Manager Dee Anderson help clean and pick up trimmed branches at a home in the city during the Helping Hands event on Saturday. (Noah Ansley/Staff)
Jake Fromm speaks to a very crowded Level Grove Baptist Church at the Tailgates and Testimonies event held on Sunday night. (Noah Ansley/Staff)
Our opinion
Our opinion
Our opinion
Habersham Central outfielder Kaylan Barrett (13) throws the ball during the softball game between White County and Habersham Central at Raider Field on Thursday, Aug. 13. (Landen Todd/Staff)
Habersham Central harriers Jadyn Recor and Peter Grieving in action during the cross country practice at Raider Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 6. (Landen Todd/Staff)
Habersham Central sophomore running back Braiden Shook (0) runs during a football scrimmage between Habersham Central and Lumpkin County at Cottrell Field on Friday, Aug. 7. (Landen Todd/Staff)
Kevin Marsteller
Officer Matthew Cook speaks about his use of the Flock system as an employee of the Gainesville Police Department during a townhall-style meeting hosted by Citizens for a Free Lumpkin. (Keith Murden/CNI News Service)
(Adobe Stock Image)
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.
