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Jessie Owensby (right), shown talking with Cornelia Mayor John Borrow and City Manager Dee Anderson, was named to the Habersham County Planning commission Monday. FILE

Jessie Owensby (right), shown talking with Cornelia Mayor John Borrow and City Manager Dee Anderson, was named to the Habersham County Planning commission Monday. FILE

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Owensby joins Planning Commission

Emma Marti
Friday, June 23, 2023
The Habersham County Planning Commission has two main purposes, according to its website. The first is to “assess and approve or disapprove subdivision plans” and to “hear variance, map amendment (zoning change), and conditional use requests.”

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Roundabouts still coming to Clarkesville, Demorest

Matthew Osborne
Friday, June 23, 2023
The plans for roundabouts at the intersections of Georgia Highways 105 and 115, and at Highways 197 and 17 in Clarkesville, are slated to move forward. The project at Cannon Bridge Road (105) and 115 in Demorest will get underway later this year.
Lisa Nicholson (right) expresses to the county commission how the grinding and mulching operation could cause additional traffic issues within the area. JOHN DILLS/Staff

Lisa Nicholson (right) expresses to the county commission how the grinding and mulching operation could cause additional traffic issues within the area. JOHN DILLS/Staff

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Commissioners deny grinding permit

John Dills
Friday, June 23, 2023
Fairview School Road is labeled a part of the agricultural district of Habersham County. Jeffrey Gunter, applying for conditional use of a grinding and mulching operation, was denied approval from the county commission at the Monday night meeting.
Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Ernest Burns sings along to the Black National Anthem during Saturday’s festivities. EMMA MARTI/Staff

Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Ernest Burns sings along to the Black National Anthem during Saturday’s festivities. EMMA MARTI/Staff

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Community comes together on Juneteenth

Emma Marti
Wednesday, June 21, 2023
In 2021, President Joe Biden signed a new federal holiday into law – Juneteenth. Despite the holiday being federally recognized for just the last three years, those who celebrate the holiday have been celebrating since 1865.
Habersham County emergency personnel honored Richie Alford on Sunday as his body was transported to a funeral home in Cornelia. HABERSHAM COUNTY/Submitted

Habersham County emergency personnel honored Richie Alford on Sunday as his body was transported to a funeral home in Cornelia. HABERSHAM COUNTY/Submitted

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Hero firefighter ‘a good Christian man’

Matthew Osborne
Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Retired firefighter Richie Alford gave his life to save two others while on vacation in Florida last week. Alford, 52, of Lula was a retired fire captain in Banks County and owner of Habersham Glass in Cornelia. More than that, though, he was a man with a heart for service.

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County unveils budget proposal

Matthew Osborne
Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Habersham County made its first reading of the 2023-24 budget on Monday night, projected the total for the general fund at $37,185,665. That is 11.89 percent up from last year, a similar percentage to what the county leaders believe the tax digest will increase.
Baldwin Councilwoman Stephanie Almagno, Mayor Alice Venter, ReveSolutions Owner Carlos Talbott and Baldwin Chief Administrative Officer Emily Woodmaster take a moment to smell the compost end-product from the Athens-Clarke County Solid Waste Department. JOHN DILLS/Staff

Baldwin Councilwoman Stephanie Almagno, Mayor Alice Venter, ReveSolutions Owner Carlos Talbott and Baldwin Chief Administrative Officer Emily Woodmaster take a moment to smell the compost end-product from the Athens-Clarke County Solid Waste Department. JOHN DILLS/Staff

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Baldwin City Council visits Athens’ solid waste facility

John Dills
Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Some of the City of Baldwin’s administrative staff was able to take the time to visit Athens-Clarke County’s Solid Waste facility, located by the landfill on Lexington Road, on June 15 in preparation for their city’s future composting facility.
Personnel from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division and Habersham County Emergency Services remove the tape the yellow tape that had marked the operational area during Saturday afternoon’s incident in the swimming area at Lake Russell Beach near Mt. Airy. HABERSHAM COUNTY/Submitted

Personnel from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division and Habersham County Emergency Services remove the tape the yellow tape that had marked the operational area during Saturday afternoon’s incident in the swimming area at Lake Russell Beach near Mt. Airy. HABERSHAM COUNTY/Submitted

Youth dies in drowning incident at Lake Russell

John Dills
Wednesday, June 21, 2023
A 12-year-old died of drowning Saturday at Lake Russell Recreation Area. Habersham County EMS responded to a call stating a swimmer had disappeared from view. Brian Ramirez of Cornelia was reportedly within the swimming area of the beach with friends but had disappeared from sight.