Local

The newly christened Clarkesville Community House will be open for the public to enjoy soon. EMMA MARTI/Staff

The newly christened Clarkesville Community House will be open for the public to enjoy soon. EMMA MARTI/Staff

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Clarkesville opens Mary Street building

Emma Marti
Friday, June 30, 2023
Sitting on 157 Mary Street lies a historic home, formerly called the Mary Street Community House. Before the name change, the house was named the Clarkesville Club House. Now, the historic building will give a nod to its original name, with a fresh coat of paint to boot.
Demorest has its new wall almost finished, but the sidewalk above will still be closed during the holiday and beyond while the city waits for materials for the safety handrail. MATTHEW OSBORNE/Staff

Demorest has its new wall almost finished, but the sidewalk above will still be closed during the holiday and beyond while the city waits for materials for the safety handrail. MATTHEW OSBORNE/Staff

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Wall finished in record time

Matthew Osborne
Friday, June 30, 2023
The City of Demorest has waited almost three years for its wall on Central Avenue to be fixed, and that day has finally come – almost. The projection for completion of the wall when the Department of Transportation’s work started in early June was that it would be done by Aug. 31.
Kyra Purdee (left) speaks with Georgia DNR Interpretive Ranger Kathy Church about the Eastern Garter Snake, among other snakes, which were brought out for the Soque River Festival on June 24. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

Kyra Purdee (left) speaks with Georgia DNR Interpretive Ranger Kathy Church about the Eastern Garter Snake, among other snakes, which were brought out for the Soque River Festival on June 24. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

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Soque River Watershed Association undergoing changes

Emma Marti
Friday, June 30, 2023
The Soque River Watershed Association (SRWA) will soon see some structural changes to the non-profit. In order to keep up with the ever changing demands to stay afloat, the organization has re-evaluated what it means to be a “steward” of the Soque River, its watershed and tributaries.
Chanley Joy’s vision of a fire hydrant painted like R2-D2 from Star Wars has come to fruition on Clarkesville Street in Cornelia. VICKI VINSON/Submitted

Chanley Joy’s vision of a fire hydrant painted like R2-D2 from Star Wars has come to fruition on Clarkesville Street in Cornelia. VICKI VINSON/Submitted

Cornelia honors hydrant art contest winners

News Staff
Friday, June 30, 2023
The City of Cornelia Celebrated Drinking Water Week and sponsored a fire hydrant coloring contest. Firemen from Cornelia Fire Dept chose three out of over 100 designs to be re-created onto three of Cornelia’s hydrants downtown.
Habersham County United Way Board members include (from left) Bill Calloway, Candice Holcomb, Carol Perkins, Olivia Schapansky, Michelle Blackburn, Jennifer Burton and Michael Fairbairn. JENNIFER BURTON/Submitted

Habersham County United Way Board members include (from left) Bill Calloway, Candice Holcomb, Carol Perkins, Olivia Schapansky, Michelle Blackburn, Jennifer Burton and Michael Fairbairn. JENNIFER BURTON/Submitted

United Way raises $5K with BBQ sale

News Staff
Friday, June 30, 2023
Habersham County United Way held a Community Wide BBQ Chicken Plate Sale on June 23. This was the first event of this kind held directly by the United Way and it was a tremendous success.
Residents of The Orchard are proud of their neighborhood's natural beauty, and many of them oppose the placement of a radio tower there. MATTHEW OSBORNE/Staff

Residents of The Orchard are proud of their neighborhood's natural beauty, and many of them oppose the placement of a radio tower there. MATTHEW OSBORNE/Staff

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Beauty and the beast

Matthew Osborne
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Residents of The Orchard are not done fighting a radio tower slated for placement in their neighborhood, despite Habersham County being ready to move forward with the project. “I feel like they know we are all against this,” resident Elizabeth Papandreas said.

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County grinds teeth, passes $73M budget

Matthew Osborne
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Three firefighters is what it took to end Monday’s budget stalemate. Habersham County’s Board of Commissioners saw its budget process grind to a halt after two hours of talk Monday night, as Chairman Ty Akins called for a five-minute recess that was more like 20 minutes.
Crews for both Habersham EMC and Georgia Power worked overtime to get the lights back on in Northeast Georgia. LINDA EBERLE/CNI News Service

Crews for both Habersham EMC and Georgia Power worked overtime to get the lights back on in Northeast Georgia. LINDA EBERLE/CNI News Service

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Surprise storm breaks 50 poles

Matthew Osborne
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
A pop-up thunderstorm Sunday afternoon caused an unexpected amount of damage and power outages across Northeast Georgia. Habersham EMC had more than 10,000 customers without power right after the storm, with only around 900 still out across three counties almost 48 hours later on Tuesday.
From left, Ryan Lathem, Bounemy Phongsavanh, Vickie Martin, Debra Franklin and Natalie Ziemba, all of the Habersham Success Academy, were all smiles before the Class of 2023 graduated in May. SUBMITTED

From left, Ryan Lathem, Bounemy Phongsavanh, Vickie Martin, Debra Franklin and Natalie Ziemba, all of the Habersham Success Academy, were all smiles before the Class of 2023 graduated in May. SUBMITTED

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Martin tapped to lead Success Academy

Emma Marti
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Going into her 20th year in education, Vickie Martin will be able to add the title of principal to her resume as the new leader of the Habersham Success Academy.
Mayor Alice Venter shows the Facebook livestream viewers the lack of participants in Friday’s meeting focused on the public hearing of the fiscal year 2024 budget. JOHN DILLS/Staff

Mayor Alice Venter shows the Facebook livestream viewers the lack of participants in Friday’s meeting focused on the public hearing of the fiscal year 2024 budget. JOHN DILLS/Staff

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Baldwin gets little to no feedback on budget

John Dills
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Two meetings held by the City of Baldwin have started and ended without any comment from the public on the budget for fiscal year 2024, which goes into effect July 1.