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Lieutenant Payton Cagle and Interim Fire Chief Jonathan Knight are the lone full-time firefighters for the Demorest Fire Department. CODY ROGERS/Staff

Lieutenant Payton Cagle and Interim Fire Chief Jonathan Knight are the lone full-time firefighters for the Demorest Fire Department. CODY ROGERS/Staff

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Demorest appoints Jonathan Knight interim fire chief

Cody Rogers
Friday, June 11, 2021
The Demorest City Council unanimously voted to appoint Demorest firefighter Jonathan Knight as the new interim fire chief Tuesday night. He has been a member of the Demorest Fire Department since 2019.

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Demorest councilmen: We’re unified

News Staff
Friday, June 11, 2021
Demorest councilmen John Hendrix and Nathan Davis have seen a lot of changes in city leadership since their election in 2019, but they insist the city is headed in the right direction.
County Commissioners Bruce Harkness, Jimmy Tench and Bruce Palmer hold called meeting before executive session. BRIAN WELLMEIER/Staff

County Commissioners Bruce Harkness, Jimmy Tench and Bruce Palmer hold called meeting before executive session. BRIAN WELLMEIER/Staff

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Habersham Board of Commissioners waits to select county manager

News Staff
Friday, June 11, 2021
The Habersham County Board of Commissions held a called meeting Wednesday afternoon to discuss personnel, specifically the position of county manager following the resignation of County Manager Phil Sutton.
Cassie Kemp says she decided to get baptized after starting her recovery from addiction at Freedom Hill in Demorest. Above, Kemp is baptized at Revive Church. BECKY EASLEY/Submitted

Cassie Kemp says she decided to get baptized after starting her recovery from addiction at Freedom Hill in Demorest. Above, Kemp is baptized at Revive Church. BECKY EASLEY/Submitted

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Gainesville native Cassie Kemp finds hope at Freedom Hill

Chamian Cruz
Friday, June 11, 2021
As 29-year-old Cassie Kemp sat inside Freedom Hill last week, a residential recovery program specifically designed for women located in Demorest, she smiled and laughed while she spoke about all of the things that she wants to do in the coming weeks.
GRAVES

GRAVES

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Authorities snag Lee Arrendale escapee

Chamian Cruz
Friday, June 11, 2021
A 2019 escapee from Lee Arrendale State Prison in Alto was rearrested on Tuesday and is now being held at the Habersham County Jail.  Cheryl Alisha Graves, 34, of Cartersville was arrested in her home county of Bartow on June 8.
The Habersham County Board of Education is considering a contract with BusPatrol to equip all of its school buses with cameras to deter drivers from passing stopped school buses. Shown are a fleet of buses at the bus shop in Demorest. CHAMIAN CRUZ/Staff

The Habersham County Board of Education is considering a contract with BusPatrol to equip all of its school buses with cameras to deter drivers from passing stopped school buses. Shown are a fleet of buses at the bus shop in Demorest. CHAMIAN CRUZ/Staff

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County school board considering adding more bus cameras to deter illegal passing

Chamian Cruz
Friday, June 11, 2021
Habersham County Schools runs a fleet of about 110 to 115 school buses every day when school is in session — sometimes more depending on after-school activities — but only 10% of school buses are equipped with stop-arm cameras.
All-Star baseball teams kick off today and tomorrow wearing these blue and orange gradient jerseys. ISAIAH SMITH/Staff

All-Star baseball teams kick off today and tomorrow wearing these blue and orange gradient jerseys. ISAIAH SMITH/Staff

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Baseball all-star teams in postseason action this week

News Staff
Wednesday, June 9, 2021
The Habersham County Youth Baseball and Softball (HCYBS) All-Star teams are scheduled to begin their postseason play this week, as the baseball teams will begin their Georgia Recreation and Park Association (GRPA) district tournaments Wednesday and Thursday.
(Front left-right): Council members Roxie Barron, E. Lane Gresham, Mayor Barrie Aycock, Officers Larry Sheffield and Stanley Lovell, Municipal Court Clerk Elaine Waller, Officers Ryan Ledford and Daniel Clouatre. (Back row left-right): Council members Franklin Brown, Terry Gladden, Steven Ward, Police Chief Brad Barrett, and Officer Jamie Bowden. BRIAN WELLMEIER/Staff

(Front left-right): Council members Roxie Barron, E. Lane Gresham, Mayor Barrie Aycock, Officers Larry Sheffield and Stanley Lovell, Municipal Court Clerk Elaine Waller, Officers Ryan Ledford and Daniel Clouatre. (Back row left-right): Council members Franklin Brown, Terry Gladden, Steven Ward, Police Chief Brad Barrett, and Officer Jamie Bowden. BRIAN WELLMEIER/Staff

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Clarkesville recognizes employees for years of service to police dept.

News Staff
Wednesday, June 9, 2021
Three employees with the Clarkesville city government were recognized for their years of service to the city during a city council meeting on Monday, including Municipal Court Clerk Elaine Waller and police officers Stanley Lovell and Larry Sheffield.
Habersham County Manager Phil Sutton and Habersham County Commissioner Jimmy Tench talk following Monday morning’s airport commission meeting. CHAMIAN CRUZ/Staff

Habersham County Manager Phil Sutton and Habersham County Commissioner Jimmy Tench talk following Monday morning’s airport commission meeting. CHAMIAN CRUZ/Staff

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Market conditions put hangar project on hold at airport

News Staff
Wednesday, June 9, 2021
While all signs point toward continued growth at the Habersham County Airport, labor shortages and high material costs have temporarily halted its project for 10 additional hangars. The airport commission now needs to decide how to move forward.

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Georgia once-a-decade redistricting kickoff set for next week

News Staff
Wednesday, June 9, 2021
ATLANTA - The once-a-decade process of redrawing Georgia’s congressional and legislative district lines is about to begin. The state House and Senate committees in charge of redistricting will hold a joint virtual town hall meeting next week to start gathering feedback from Georgia residents.