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Demorest Police Chief Casey Chastain takes the stand in an alcohol license revocation hearing involving Chevron Food Mart. (Zach Taylor/Staff)

Demorest Police Chief Casey Chastain takes the stand in an alcohol license revocation hearing involving Chevron Food Mart. (Zach Taylor/Staff)

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City allows store to keep selling alcohol

News Staff
Friday, January 16, 2026
By Zach TaylorThe Chevron Food Mart in Demorest will be able to continue selling alcohol as long as it meets conditions set as the result of a hearing held Wednesday.
Discovery Teacher Hannah DeMore hands a lock to one of her students, who wishes to see if she broke the code during a class exercise. (Hannah Caudell/Staff)

Discovery Teacher Hannah DeMore hands a lock to one of her students, who wishes to see if she broke the code during a class exercise. (Hannah Caudell/Staff)

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Boosting students’ skills

News Staff
Friday, January 16, 2026
By Hannah CaudellIn one class, students rush up to the teacher’s desk, hoping that they’ve solved the breakout box puzzle through their creative thinking exercise.
Matt Vrahiotes (right) and Joe Godfrey, the director of sales and marketing at RM Rose and Company Distillery in Mt. Airy, stand before stacks of whiskey barrels in the distillery building. (Hannah Caudell/Staff)

Matt Vrahiotes (right) and Joe Godfrey, the director of sales and marketing at RM Rose and Company Distillery in Mt. Airy, stand before stacks of whiskey barrels in the distillery building. (Hannah Caudell/Staff)

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Mt. Airy OKs farm winery license

News Staff
Friday, January 16, 2026
By Hannah CaudellAfter a long awaited decision by Mt. Airy’s town council, Matt Vrahiotes of Sweet Acre Farms can now apply for a farm winery license within the town. Council approved the addition of the farm winery license and a $750 annual licensing fee for one year, to be reconsidered in 2027.
Habersham County Fire and EMS is running a bit low on personnel before a new class of recruits replenishes its roster. (Zach Taylor/Staff)

Habersham County Fire and EMS is running a bit low on personnel before a new class of recruits replenishes its roster. (Zach Taylor/Staff)

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Habersham County Fire examines staffing challenges, ISO

News Staff
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
By Zach TaylorStaffing remains a challenge for Habersham County Fire and Emergency Services, but Emergency Services Director and Fire Chief Jeff Adams contends that coverage of the area is good.
Water rises in the river Saturday afternoon. (Zach Taylor/Staff)

Water rises in the river Saturday afternoon. (Zach Taylor/Staff)

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Storm floods roads, causes power outages

News Staff
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
By Samantha SinclairThe water of the Soque River will typically rise during a rainstorm, but not like it did Saturday, according to Mark of the Potter owner Chad Peck.“It was crazy,” Peck said.
Daphne Penick

Daphne Penick

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Penick to retire from SHMS

News Staff
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
By Hannah CaudellThe room of educators, administrators and community leaders stood in applause for South Habersham Middle School Principal Daphne Penick, who announced her retirement at Monday night’s Habersham County Board of Education meeting with the help of Superintendent Patrick Franklin.
Riley Hembree walked through the doors at El Patron for his surprise party last Saturday. His family and friends celebrated his 17th birthday and the fulfillment of his Make-A-Wish trip to Hawaii. (Zach Taylor/Staff)

Riley Hembree walked through the doors at El Patron for his surprise party last Saturday. His family and friends celebrated his 17th birthday and the fulfillment of his Make-A-Wish trip to Hawaii. (Zach Taylor/Staff)

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A wish comes true

News Staff
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
By Zach TaylorSurviving the leading cause of death by disease in children is a moniker that Riley Hembree can be proud of as his Make-A-Wish dreams come to fruition.On March 24, 2025, Hembree was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer that attacks the tissues and muscles of the body.

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City to consider revoking alcohol license

News Staff
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
By Zach TaylorAfter conducting a sting operation with its police department, the City of Demorest is hosting a public hearing on the potential revocation of the Chevron Food Mart’s alcohol license at 1 p.m. today at the Demorest City Hall Building, 250 Alabama St.
Daphne Penick

Daphne Penick

SHMS principal announces retirement

News Staff
Monday, January 12, 2026
After over 30 years at South Habersham Middle School, Principal and Counseling Coordinator Daphne Penick is retiring at the end of May 2026. Penick has held many roles in her three decades with South Habersham: student, teacher, counselor, administrator.