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Wallace Loudermilk Craven

Wallace Loudermilk Craven

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Craven leaves legacy as first female mayor

News Staff
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
By Zach TaylorMt. Airy’s first female mayor, Wallace Loudermilk Craven, died on Tuesday, May 5, at 83 years of age.Craven also served the town in other capacities, holding the offices of city clerk and councilwoman.
Deputy Nell Goss holds the 1996 Olympic Games Torch, which she carried during the opening ceremony. (Submitted)

Deputy Nell Goss holds the 1996 Olympic Games Torch, which she carried during the opening ceremony. (Submitted)

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Deputy Goss leaves trailblazing legacy

News Staff
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
By Hannah CaudellTo hear the people who know and love her tell it, Nell Goss did it all.From becoming the county’s first female deputy sheriff to carrying the 1996 Olympic Games torch to meeting the president of the United States, Goss lived a life full of experiences perhaps most could only dream...
Myrna Fouts places her fingertips on her lips as she prays during National Day of Prayer at Donald Anderson Park in Cornelia on Thursday. (Landen Todd/Staff)

Myrna Fouts places her fingertips on her lips as she prays during National Day of Prayer at Donald Anderson Park in Cornelia on Thursday. (Landen Todd/Staff)

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Founding faith

News Staff
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
By Samantha SinclairThere’s one face that’s been a fixture of our local  National Day of Prayer for about 40 years.Myrna Fouts, easily identified by her patriotic scarf, seems to try to blend in with the crowd nowadays, but was the force behind the event for decades.She’s sure she did not start...
Habersham County resident Dale Green was the only resident to speak during the Board of Education’s budget public hearings. (Hannah Caudell/Staff)

Habersham County resident Dale Green was the only resident to speak during the Board of Education’s budget public hearings. (Hannah Caudell/Staff)

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BOE passes FY27 proposed budget

News Staff
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
By Hannah CaudellA proposed $129.6 million  budget for Fiscal Year 2027 has been passed by the Habersham County Board of Education.Much of the proposed budget is based on numbers from Fiscal Year 2026; the school system, like others across the state, had not yet received state allotment numbers as...
Alex Robinson

Alex Robinson

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UDO to impact economic development

News Staff
Friday, May 8, 2026
By Zach TaylorHabersham County is fine-tuning its proposed Unified Development Ordinance, a document that will determine how land is used in the county, with a strong emphasis on controlling growth.One of Partnership Habersham’s main goals is workforce development, and keeping people who live in...

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City ends moratorium

News Staff
Friday, May 8, 2026
By Hannah CaudellThe process of annexing property into Cornelia just got a little more comprehensive.Cornelia commissioners put an end to a six-month annexation moratorium early on Tuesday night after unanimously passing a zoning ordinance amendment to add annexation procedures.The new ordinance...
Dr. Fran Chastain shows some of her favorite photos of her 13 children and nine grandchildren in her office at North Georgia Technical College. She has 13 children, 11 of which were adopted. (Samantha Sinclair/Staff)

Dr. Fran Chastain shows some of her favorite photos of her 13 children and nine grandchildren in her office at North Georgia Technical College. She has 13 children, 11 of which were adopted. (Samantha Sinclair/Staff)

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Mom to all

News Staff
Friday, May 8, 2026
By Samantha SinclairWhile growing up, Dr. Fran Chastain never thought she’d have children.That changed after she and her husband Ricky had their first child.“I had one and I fell in love with kids,” she said.But, she didn’t have a healthy pregnancy, so they looked into adoption.
Hope Murray joins in on the conversation surrounding short-term rentals at Tuesday’s Cornelia Commission meeting. (Hannah Caudell/Staff)

Hope Murray joins in on the conversation surrounding short-term rentals at Tuesday’s Cornelia Commission meeting. (Hannah Caudell/Staff)

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Community fights STR growth

News Staff
Friday, May 8, 2026
By Hannah CaudellIf there’s one thing Cornelia residents in the Tower Mountain community don’t want, it’s short-term rentals.Short-term rentals, or STRs, have been a topic of discussion within the city since February, when commissioners had their planning retreat.