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Habersham Central's class of 2026 had a graduation rate of 98.2 percent. (File)

Habersham Central's class of 2026 had a graduation rate of 98.2 percent. (File)

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Graduation rates among best in state, region

News Staff
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
By Samantha SinclairHabersham high school students are once again at the top of class in the state.The county’s graduation rate landed at 97.7 percent for the class of 2026, with Habersham Central graduating 98.2 percent of students from the four-year adjusted cohort, and Habersham Success Academy...
HEMC President and CEO Bryan Ferguson, (Leadership Habersham Class of 2015) and daughter Anna Ferguson; Trailwave Fiber Broadband Sales Representative Alice Dover (Leadership Habersham Class of 2014) and daughter Ally Dover; Caroline Horton and mother HEMC Director of Community Relations Mary Beth Horton (Leadership Habersham Class of 2011) celebrate having another generation in their families participating in Leadership. (Submitted)

HEMC President and CEO Bryan Ferguson, (Leadership Habersham Class of 2015) and daughter Anna Ferguson; Trailwave Fiber Broadband Sales Representative Alice Dover (Leadership Habersham Class of 2014) and daughter Ally Dover; Caroline Horton and mother HEMC Director of Community Relations Mary Beth Horton (Leadership Habersham Class of 2011) celebrate having another generation in their families participating in Leadership. (Submitted)

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Leadership Habersham’s new class starts

News Staff
Friday, September 25, 2026
By Samantha SinclairLeadership Habersham, a program of the Habersham Chamber of Commerce, kicked off Wednesday morning. The program identifies potential community leaders and gives them opportunities to develop their skills while learning how the community works.
Habersham School Police Department Chief Murray Kogod laughs while talking with students in the front entrance of Habersham Central High School. (File)

Habersham School Police Department Chief Murray Kogod laughs while talking with students in the front entrance of Habersham Central High School. (File)

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How nonprofit GASROE originated

News Staff
Friday, September 25, 2026
By Hannah CaudellOn the Habersham County School System Board of Education Police Department vehicles, there’s a notable sticker on one of the back windows with an acronym: GASROE.It stands for the Georgia Alliance of School Resource Officers and Educators, and it was created in 2019 in Habersham...
Habersham Central School Resource Officer Victoria Hopper (middle) converses with students before the 8 a.m. bell rings on Thursday morning. (Hannah Caudell/Staff)

Habersham Central School Resource Officer Victoria Hopper (middle) converses with students before the 8 a.m. bell rings on Thursday morning. (Hannah Caudell/Staff)

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SROs, Kogod handle school safety

News Staff
Friday, September 25, 2026
By Hannah Caudell and Samantha SinclairFor decades, there has been some sort of police presence in the Habersham County School System.While they may have not been called School Resource Officers (SROs) at the time, former Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell said that when he was a local student...
Wyatt Swain blows bubbles at the camera while waiting at a booth at last years Big Red Apple Festival. (File)

Wyatt Swain blows bubbles at the camera while waiting at a booth at last years Big Red Apple Festival. (File)

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Big Red Apple Festival returns this weekend

News Staff
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
By Hannah CaudellOne of Habersham County’s biggest events is returning on Saturday, Sept. 26.The Big Red Apple Festival is celebrating its 38th year, and this time, the festival’s home will be nearer to the monument that the event is named after.
As Ken Franklin plays Taps, Dr. Ed Hendricks and Dana McCloud salute. (Samantha Sinclair/Staff)

As Ken Franklin plays Taps, Dr. Ed Hendricks and Dana McCloud salute. (Samantha Sinclair/Staff)

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Keeping a promise

News Staff
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
By Samantha SinclairA small crowd gathered at the gazebo in Clarkesville Friday evening to honor POW/MIA Remembrance Day. The Grant-Reeves Veterans Honor Guard, led by Jim Morgan, hosted the event.“It’s not just another ceremony,” Morgan said.
Hannah Conley gets ready to try her Poly Juice drink as Faith Ross takes photos of the Potter-themed goodies placed before them as “Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets” plays. (Samantha Sinclair/Staff)

Hannah Conley gets ready to try her Poly Juice drink as Faith Ross takes photos of the Potter-themed goodies placed before them as “Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets” plays. (Samantha Sinclair/Staff)

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After all this time

News Staff
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
By Samantha SinclairOn Friday nights this fall, one Clarkesville shop becomes a magical gathering place.Coffee on the Corner has a Harry Potter-themed menu through the season, and is showing a movie from the series each Friday night leading up to Halloween.“We as a family have been doing this every...
The Habersham County Parks and Recreation parcels were split into zones for the project. Zones 3, 4, 6 and 7 are proposed for the LED lighting project. (Submitted)

The Habersham County Parks and Recreation parcels were split into zones for the project. Zones 3, 4, 6 and 7 are proposed for the LED lighting project. (Submitted)

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Ballfield lighting gets grant focus

News Staff
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
By Samantha SinclairWhile county policy usually allows grants to be applied for without prior approval from the board, Finance Director Kiani Holden thought one needed approval due to the matching funds required.
County Finance Director Kiani Holden speaks to Habersham County Board of Commissioners at commission meeting Monday night. (Samantha Sinclair/Staff)

County Finance Director Kiani Holden speaks to Habersham County Board of Commissioners at commission meeting Monday night. (Samantha Sinclair/Staff)

County OKs agreements, potential grant match

News Staff
Monday, September 21, 2026
By Samantha SinclairThe Habersham County Board of Commissioners approved several agreements — two of which it had already approved as one document last month — and agreed to set aside matching funds for a potential grant at its regular meeting Monday night.The board had to approve agreements with...
Election 2026

Election 2026

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Registration deadline approaches for election

News Staff
Friday, September 18, 2026
By Samantha SinclairElection Day is fast approaching with voters deciding on governor, representatives on both the state and federal level, and, locally, a sales tax with the sole purpose of reducing property taxes.Monday, Oct. 5 is the last day to register for the Nov. 3 election.Those wishing to...