Local

Election 2025

Election 2025

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Early voting turnout low in its first week

News Staff
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
By Samantha Sinclair In the first week of early voting, only 396, or 1.3 percent of voters, had cast ballots in Habersham County. Early voting started Tuesday, Oct. 14 for the Nov. 4 election and continues through Oct. 31.
Cornelia’s historic Scout Hut is set to get a restoration from the city, Habersham Kiwanis Club and Boy Scout Troop 24. (Zach Taylor/Staff)

Cornelia’s historic Scout Hut is set to get a restoration from the city, Habersham Kiwanis Club and Boy Scout Troop 24. (Zach Taylor/Staff)

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Cornelia agrees to Scout Hut restoration

News Staff
Friday, October 17, 2025
By Zach Taylor Cornelia’s Oct. 7 meeting began with a young man’s voice leading the Pledge of Allegiance, marking another drop of ink in the history books for the city.
Ellie Van Doornum

Ellie Van Doornum

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Chamber president, staff resign Thursday

News Staff
Friday, October 17, 2025
By Samantha Sinclair The Habersham County Chamber of Commerce is looking for a new person to lead it. The chamber’s board of directors accepted the resignation of its president, Ellie Van Doornum, effective Thursday.
Chad White (left), a retired captain with the Hall County Sheriff’s Office and a police historian, stands with Clarkesville Police Chief Danny Clouatre at the grave of Charles Arthur Vick, a Habersham County Sheriff’s Office and Clarkesville Police Department officer who lost his life in the line of duty in 1962. (Hannah Caudell/Staff)

Chad White (left), a retired captain with the Hall County Sheriff’s Office and a police historian, stands with Clarkesville Police Chief Danny Clouatre at the grave of Charles Arthur Vick, a Habersham County Sheriff’s Office and Clarkesville Police Department officer who lost his life in the line of duty in 1962. (Hannah Caudell/Staff)

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Agencies seek to honor officer

News Staff
Friday, October 17, 2025
By Hannah Caudell On the night of July 15, 1962, Habersham County lost an officer by the name of Charles Arthur Vick. He was a part-time police officer with the Clarkesville Police Department and a deputy sheriff with the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office when he passed.
Jackson Savage holds a fish after being guided by Seth Underwood during the fly fishing festival on Sunday. (Zach Taylor/Staff)

Jackson Savage holds a fish after being guided by Seth Underwood during the fly fishing festival on Sunday. (Zach Taylor/Staff)

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New generation of stewards

News Staff
Friday, October 17, 2025
By Hannah Caudell and Zach Taylor B atesville’s Fly Fishing Festival saw some of the newest faces of the Tallulah Falls School Youth Fly Fishing and Water Patrol Club, where they learned new techniques in what is arguably one of the fly fishing capitals of the world: the Soque River.
Alex Robinson

Alex Robinson

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Partnership Habersham selects director

News Staff
Friday, October 17, 2025
By Samantha Sinclair Partnership Habersham has a new executive director. Chairman Rope Roberts announced Alex Robinson was approved for the position by the board Thursday morning, and will start in the position Nov. 1.
Demorest began its pursuit of TAD powers to complement a future development off of Tom Arrendale Interchange. (Zach Taylor/Staff)

Demorest began its pursuit of TAD powers to complement a future development off of Tom Arrendale Interchange. (Zach Taylor/Staff)

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Demorest residents to vote on TAD

News Staff
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
By Zach Taylor Demorest residents will have the opportunity to vote on whether or not to give Demorest leaders Tax Allocation District (TAD) powers on the ballot in November.  Early voting began Tuesday and Election Day is Nov. 4.
County Manager Tim Sims shares information about the Tier 1 project, the new county jail, during the Lunch and Learn Town Hall on Oct. 6 at The Ruby Fulbright Aquactic Center. (Samantha Sinclair/Staff)

County Manager Tim Sims shares information about the Tier 1 project, the new county jail, during the Lunch and Learn Town Hall on Oct. 6 at The Ruby Fulbright Aquactic Center. (Samantha Sinclair/Staff)

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SPLOST helps fund county essentials

News Staff
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
By Samantha Sinclair Habersham County has a way to fund essential needs, like new fire trucks and road improvements, without placing the burden solely on those who live here. It’s through a one cent sales tax, commonly known as SPLOST.
HUB of Habersham Executive Director Todd Colwell officiates the election forum for the City of Demorest. (Zach Taylor/Staff)

HUB of Habersham Executive Director Todd Colwell officiates the election forum for the City of Demorest. (Zach Taylor/Staff)

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Candidates speak on city issues at forum

News Staff
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
By Zach Taylor Last Thursday, Demorest candidates for the two at-large city council seats gathered at City Hall for an open forum to present their ideas to residents. The event was officiated by Todd Colwell of HUB of Habersham and Chamber President Ellie Van Doornum.
Local historian Jim Betz stands at the final stop on his Haunted Habersham ghost tours, the Old Clarkesville Cemetery. (Samantha Sinclair/Staff)

Local historian Jim Betz stands at the final stop on his Haunted Habersham ghost tours, the Old Clarkesville Cemetery. (Samantha Sinclair/Staff)

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Historic hauntings

News Staff
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
By Samantha Sinclair T here’s stories around every corner in Clarkesville, and Jim Betz is spending October weekends sharing some of the spookiest ones. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, he leads groups of people through town for Haunted Habersham ghost tours.