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Georgia General Assembly in session. Credit/Georgia Public Broadcasting

Georgia General Assembly in session. Credit/Georgia Public Broadcasting

Assembly kicks off new session Monday

   A new session of Georgia’s General Assembly begins Monday in Atlanta, and being the start of Year 2 of a cycle, plenty of bills will already be in play as legislators return to the dome.    “It will start a lot quicker,” Sen. Bo Hatchett said.
Caleb Maddox and Patricia Hall brought Makenzie Renee Maddox into the world Wednesday as Northeast Georgia Medical Center-Habersham’s first baby of 2024. SUBMITTED

Caleb Maddox and Patricia Hall brought Makenzie Renee Maddox into the world Wednesday as Northeast Georgia Medical Center-Habersham’s first baby of 2024. SUBMITTED

Habersham New Year’s baby welcomed to the world

   Northeast Georgia Medical Center Habersham welcomed its first baby of 2024 when Makenzie Renee Maddox, 6 pounds and 3 ounces, entered the world at 11:46 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 3.
Lake Russell recreation area

Lake Russell recreation area

Death at Lake Russell not believed to be foul play

   Personnel from the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office and Habersham County Emergency Services were dispatched at 7:46 a.m. Wednesday to an individual who had been found deceased in a picnic area near Lake Russell Beach.
Habersham Central’s JoJo McCurry gets out on the break at the holiday tournament. LANG STOREY/Staff

Habersham Central’s JoJo McCurry gets out on the break at the holiday tournament. LANG STOREY/Staff

Make it 11 in a row for Raider boys

   The Habersham Central boys closed out a perfect month of December by passing perhaps its toughest test to date. Behind yet another solid backcourt performance, the Raiders took out Athens Academy, 58-48 to extend its win streak to 11 games.
Kyia Barrett shows off her banner commemorating her 1,000th point. SUBMITTED

Kyia Barrett shows off her banner commemorating her 1,000th point. SUBMITTED

Lady Raiders split as Barrett hits 1K

   Following a victory on Thursday, Habersham Central’s girls were back at it Friday for Day 2 of Stephens County’s Battle of the Border Classic.
Carson Crane, Habersham Kiwanis Club President Brad Crane,  Habersham Kiwanis Club Secretary Nellie Snyder and Habersham Kiwanis Club Honorary Member Clay Christie stand behind full shopping carts for a photo. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

Carson Crane, Habersham Kiwanis Club President Brad Crane, Habersham Kiwanis Club Secretary Nellie Snyder and Habersham Kiwanis Club Honorary Member Clay Christie stand behind full shopping carts for a photo. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

Longtime volunteer helps Kiwanis bring smiles to kids

   During the Christmas season, Nellie Snyder, a dedicated member of the Habersham Kiwanis Club, went above and beyond to bring joy and happiness to over 489 kids in need.    The Toys for Kids donation and fundraising drive helps parents in need of Christmas presents for their kids.
Habersham Central Principal Dr. Jonathan Stribling converses with Assistant Principal Donnie Bennett as teachers (from left) Jeff Wilson, Margaret Greenwald, Shane Hotalen and Matt Hudlow grab some breakfast at an appreciation meal put on by parents Tuesday morning at the school. MATTHEW OSBORNE/Staff

Habersham Central Principal Dr. Jonathan Stribling converses with Assistant Principal Donnie Bennett as teachers (from left) Jeff Wilson, Margaret Greenwald, Shane Hotalen and Matt Hudlow grab some breakfast at an appreciation meal put on by parents Tuesday morning at the school. MATTHEW OSBORNE/Staff

WELCOME BACK, TEACHERS

    Habersham Central Principal Dr. Jonathan Stribling converses with Assistant Principal Donnie Bennett as teachers (from left) Jeff Wilson, Margaret Greenwald, Shane Hotalen and Matt Hudlow grab some breakfast at an appreciation meal put on by parents Tuesday morning at the school.
Fentanyl is one of the most dangerous drugs circulating in Northeast Georgia. SHUTTERSTOCK ILLUSTRATION

Fentanyl is one of the most dangerous drugs circulating in Northeast Georgia. SHUTTERSTOCK ILLUSTRATION

Chase suspects charged in fentanyl ring

   Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office (ARDEO) made one final bust in 2023, arresting three people in an alleged conspiracy to traffic fentanyl.
Habersham Central’s Jalen Davis looks to post the basketball during the Raiders’ win over White County on Friday. LANG STOREY/Staff

Habersham Central’s Jalen Davis looks to post the basketball during the Raiders’ win over White County on Friday. LANG STOREY/Staff

Raiders keep stacking wins, streak up to 9

   Habersham Central hoops stayed hot Friday in Cleveland, with the boys running their win streak up to nine straight thanks to a 59-51 victory over White County.
Many Methodist churches are no longer affiliated with the “United”  Methodist Church due to differences in beliefs. Staff

Many Methodist churches are no longer affiliated with the “United” Methodist Church due to differences in beliefs. Staff

Methodist churches face split in disaffiliation

   Four churches in Habersham County have disaffiliated from The United Methodist Church (UMC) in 2023, joining over 200 churches in a departure from the North Georgia United Methodist Conference. This is paired with the nationwide exodus of over 6,000 churches from UMC since 2019.