Local

Anderson steps down as Raider boys hoops coach

Cody Anderson resigned as Habersham Central’s boys’ basketball coach after two seasons leading the Raiders.   Anderson officially stepped aside Tuesday after meeting with HCHS’ administration Monday afternoon.
Habersham County Sheriff's Office: Five most wanted fugitives.

Habersham County Sheriff's Office: Five most wanted fugitives.

Sheriff’s deputies seek five most wanted fugitives

The Habersham County Sheriff’s Office has listed its five most wanted fugitives who have violated probation and are required to surrender themselves to custody. Cody Ray Bennett was arrested last summer on drug charges when he and another man were stopped in Alto shortly after midnight.

Schools to add mental health specialists

Habersham County Schools will open its doors in the fall with two new mental health specialists, bringing the total up to three who will be available to meet the needs of students across all 14 campuses.  The new mental health specialists are Miriam Duncan and Abby Griffin.

Time running out for Baldwin Police to restock their forces

A plan to resolve the potential forthcoming police officer shortage in Baldwin has yet to be announced as the May 12 deadline approaches. By Wednesday of next week, three of Baldwin’s five police officers, including Interim Police Chief Matt Nall, will no longer work for the department.
MATTHEW OSBORNE/Staff

MATTHEW OSBORNE/Staff

Floods wash out Georgia Street

Excessive rains caused a cave-in beneath Georgia Street on the Piedmont Unversity campus in Demorest. The city is working to repair it during a busy week that also saw freak lightning strikes damage water lines.
Demorest’s Downtown Development Authority is looking to expand options for dining customers downtown with an entertainment district ordinance. MATTHEW OSBORNE/Staff

Demorest’s Downtown Development Authority is looking to expand options for dining customers downtown with an entertainment district ordinance. MATTHEW OSBORNE/Staff

Demorest eyes public hearings for entertainment district

Demorest will hold public hearings at the end of May to discuss designating part of downtown as an “entertainment district,” allowing alcohol to be carried outside of an establishment into a designated area.
VFW Bugler Danny Stephens plays during the National Day of Prayer recognition in Cornelia on Thursday morning. BRIAN WELLMEIER/Staff

VFW Bugler Danny Stephens plays during the National Day of Prayer recognition in Cornelia on Thursday morning. BRIAN WELLMEIER/Staff

County pauses for Day of Prayer

Events held in the name of National Prayer Day took place throughout Habersham County on Thursday. The first event happened at 8:30 a.m. around a fire pit just outside Tallulah Falls Student Center. Myrna Fouts, the main coordinator of the event, was there in attendance.
Habersham Medical Center’s dining services department includes (from left) Bruce Johnson, Natalie Allen, Tammy Flaughter, Joel Johnson, Robert Wertz, Irine Erich and Susan West. BRIAN WELLMEIER/Staff

Habersham Medical Center’s dining services department includes (from left) Bruce Johnson, Natalie Allen, Tammy Flaughter, Joel Johnson, Robert Wertz, Irine Erich and Susan West. BRIAN WELLMEIER/Staff

Unsung heroes kept patients eating

Frontline workers like nurses and EMS first responders have sacrificed time in leisure, time with their families and have risked their lives to battle the COVID-19 pandemic and treat the people who fight to survive the virus.
Lifelong Habersham County resident Ernie Garrett, far right, said on Tuesday he has done all he can to stop the erosion on his property from Camp Creek, but he can’t afford to keep taking matters into his own hands. CHAMIAN CRUZ/Staff

Lifelong Habersham County resident Ernie Garrett, far right, said on Tuesday he has done all he can to stop the erosion on his property from Camp Creek, but he can’t afford to keep taking matters into his own hands. CHAMIAN CRUZ/Staff

Resident ready to sue over Camp Creek erosion

Cornelia resident Ernie Garrett went before city commissioners on Tuesday to inform them that his lawyer would soon be presenting the city as well as the county with a lawsuit concerning the erosion on Camp Creek Road.