Local

Poll Manager Stephanie Martin is ready to assist voters at the Habersham County Elections and Voter Registration Office. (Samantha Sinclair/Staff)

Poll Manager Stephanie Martin is ready to assist voters at the Habersham County Elections and Voter Registration Office. (Samantha Sinclair/Staff)

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Voting opens for city, special elections

News Staff
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
By Samantha Sinclair As early voting opened Tuesday morning, it was quiet in the elections office as a team of optimistic poll workers were eager to serve. One person was ready to vote as the doors opened, and was out as Voter No. 1 within a few minutes.
Cornelia city commissioners approved keeping the millage rate at 9.5 mills during Tuesday’s meeting.

Cornelia city commissioners approved keeping the millage rate at 9.5 mills during Tuesday’s meeting.

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Cornelia commissioners approve millage rate, budget

News Staff
Friday, October 10, 2025
By Zach Taylor Cornelia city commissioners approved keeping the millage rate at 9.5 mills during Tuesday’s meeting. Due to growth and reassessments, there will be a gross 10.29 percent increase in tax revenue, as the digest grew from $333,780,468 in 2024 to $388,641,640 in 2025.
Baldwin resident James Wiese and former Baldwin councilman and mayor Joe Elam are both vying for the Post 4 seat.

Baldwin resident James Wiese and former Baldwin councilman and mayor Joe Elam are both vying for the Post 4 seat.

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Wiese, Elam vie for Baldwin council seat

News Staff
Friday, October 10, 2025
By Hannah Caudell The Baldwin City Council has three seats up for re-election on the November ballot, with contested races for the mayor and Post 4 seats.
Dana Westbrook works on his truck before a Tough Truck Challenge at The BoneYard. (Zach Taylor/Staff)

Dana Westbrook works on his truck before a Tough Truck Challenge at The BoneYard. (Zach Taylor/Staff)

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Crawling in the BoneYard

News Staff
Friday, October 10, 2025
By Zach Taylor Remote control cars are a popular hobby, just like any, but for Greg Underwood, it’s his backyard.
The Demorest Fire Department ladder truck is in disrepair and has been out of service for multiple months. (Zach Taylor/Staff)

The Demorest Fire Department ladder truck is in disrepair and has been out of service for multiple months. (Zach Taylor/Staff)

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Demorest hands fire services to county

News Staff
Friday, October 10, 2025
By Zach Taylor Demorest has taken a step in the fate of its fire department. On Tuesday, the city council voted 3-1 to approve a five-year intergovernmental agreement for Habersham County Emergency Services to provide fire and medical services to the residents of Demorest.
Early voting starts Tuesday, Oct. 14.

Early voting starts Tuesday, Oct. 14.

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Early voting starts Tuesday

News Staff
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
By Samantha Sinclair Early voting for the Nov. 4 election begins next week. Starting Tuesday, Oct. 14, voters may cast ballots in person at the Habersham County Elections and Voter Registration Office, also known as the Habersham South Precinct.
Hazel Grove Fifth Grade Teacher Stephanie Morris teaches her students about different writing genres during a class session on Tuesday morning. Morris is one of many staff members at Hazel Grove that Principal Stefanie Eaton commended on Monday night after Superintendent Patrick Franklin announced Hazel Grove had earned Title I Reward School status. (Hannah Caudell/Staff)

Hazel Grove Fifth Grade Teacher Stephanie Morris teaches her students about different writing genres during a class session on Tuesday morning. Morris is one of many staff members at Hazel Grove that Principal Stefanie Eaton commended on Monday night after Superintendent Patrick Franklin announced Hazel Grove had earned Title I Reward School status. (Hannah Caudell/Staff)

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HGES earns Title I Reward School status

News Staff
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
By Hannah Caudell One of the smallest schools in the Habersham County School System has a big announcement.
Shawn Allen, Patti Davis, Andrew Ferguson and Jim Welborn seek seats on the Demorest City Council.

Shawn Allen, Patti Davis, Andrew Ferguson and Jim Welborn seek seats on the Demorest City Council.

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Four vie for two Demorest seats

News Staff
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
By Zach Taylor Four candidates are running for two at-large seats on the Demorest City Council on the upcoming ballot.
Laurel Camp molds a small tea cup using a pottery technique called throwing off the hump. (Samantha Sinclair/Staff)

Laurel Camp molds a small tea cup using a pottery technique called throwing off the hump. (Samantha Sinclair/Staff)

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‘Wonderful weekend’

News Staff
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
By Samantha Sinclair Families took time out of their Saturday to enjoy family fun, listen to music and learn some history at the Clarkesville Fall Festival and History Harvest Festival.
Multiple sidewalks can now be seen from above in the Anderson Park and Kinetic Amphitheater site. The brick building that backs up to the property will be the new winery for Sweet Acre Farms. (Zach Taylor/Staff)

Multiple sidewalks can now be seen from above in the Anderson Park and Kinetic Amphitheater site. The brick building that backs up to the property will be the new winery for Sweet Acre Farms. (Zach Taylor/Staff)

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Cornelia sells building to winery

News Staff
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
By Zach Taylor Things are starting to take shape in Phase One of the Donald Anderson Park and Kinetic Amphitheater project near the train depot in downtown Cornelia.