Local

Price Herrin, the inspiration of Price to Play, plays on the current playground in Demorest. (Zach Taylor/Staff)

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Play for all

News Staff

Friday, March 13, 2026

By Zach TaylorPlaygrounds are what memories are made of.From sliding down a hot slide in the summer to learning how to do monkey bars, playgrounds teach. However, not all playgrounds are created for everyone.Demorest Springs Park contains one of the most-utilized playgrounds in the county.

Sheriff Robin Krockum

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Inmate housing tops budget concerns

News Staff

Friday, March 13, 2026

By Hannah CaudellA lot of Habersham taxpayer dollars are going toward housing inmates in other counties.That was a main concern for both Sheriff Robin Krockum and Habersham Board of Commissioner Chairman Bruce Harkness during this week’s budget review meetings as the county prepares for Fiscal Year...

The results of the fire consolidation study by SouthEastern Fire Consulting Company (SEFCCO) were shared at the Habersham County Board of Commissioners’ planning retreat on Feb. 24. (Zach Taylor/Staff)

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Cities see no benefits in consolidation

News Staff

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

By Zach Taylor and Samantha SinclairAfter one year, the results of the fire consolidation study by SouthEastern Fire Consulting Company (SEFCCO) were shared at the Habersham County Board of Commissioners’ planning retreat on Feb. 24, and SEFCCO’s Thad Dixon said the county’s seven cities would meet...

Shelby Ward

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Local United Way names Ward CEO

News Staff

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

By Hannah CaudellGeorgia Foothills United Way has a new president and CEO.After the United Way board assessed four candidates, Shelby Ward will be taking the reins from former president and CEO Candice Holcomb to lead the organization — and the nonprofit agencies that it serves — into the future on...

Election 2026

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Ballot full for primary

News Staff

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

By Samantha SinclairQualifying ended Friday with contested races for both county commission seats in the Republican primary and all school board incumbents running unopposed.No Democrats qualified to run for the local seats.The General Primary Election is May 19.Andrea Harper of Baldwin and Shelley...

Samantha Sinclair/Staff

Good times roll

News Staff

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

After being paused for a year, Clarkesville’s Mardi Gras fundraiser rolled in with New Orleans fun and tastes at North Georgia Technical College Saturday night. Above, Damon and Angela Horne take a look at raffle prizes available before deciding where to drop their tickets.

Justin Ferguson

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Baldwin assistant police chief resigns

News Staff

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

By Hannah CaudellJustin Ferguson is no longer Baldwin’s assistant police chief.After an executive session that lasted over an hour on Monday night, Baldwin’s council tied in a vote to accept or decline Ferguson’s voluntary resignation.

Shelby Ward

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United Way announces new leader

News Staff

Monday, March 9, 2026

Georgia Foothills United Way announced that Shelby Ward has been named its new President and CEO.Ward is retiring after 31 years with North Georgia Technical College, where she most recently served as Dean of Adult Education.Look for details in the Midweek edition of The Northeast Georgian.

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Annexation process stalls due to error

News Staff

Friday, March 6, 2026

By Samantha SinclairCook Construction’s attempts to annex multiple parcels into a city for a major development continue to be plagued with issues.Baldwin had to cancel its public hearing scheduled for Tuesday on the annexation and zoning application for Cook’s Duncan Bridge Project as it did not...

Agents seized contraband including 32 kilograms of methamphetamine, four pounds of fentanyl, numerous diverted pharmaceutical opioids and multiple firearms. (Submitted)

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Investigation leads to 16 RICO arrests

News Staff

Friday, March 6, 2026

By Samantha SinclairA months-long racketeering investigation resulted in 16 arrests throughout the region, including several in Habersham County.Operation Silent Hand was an investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office, in coordination with...