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Demorest Elementary’s newest school resource officer (SRO), Joe Chastain, looks at classes with Rosemary Couch at the school’s open house on Wednesday. Chastain begins his first day of SRO duties today under the direction of Demorest Assistant Chief of Police James Minutello. (Zach Taylor/Staff)

Demorest Elementary’s newest school resource officer (SRO), Joe Chastain, looks at classes with Rosemary Couch at the school’s open house on Wednesday. Chastain begins his first day of SRO duties today under the direction of Demorest Assistant Chief of Police James Minutello. (Zach Taylor/Staff)

First day

By Hannah Caudell "You can’t just put anyone in the school. You have to have the right person.
Paul Jason York

Paul Jason York

Attorney charged with forgery, fraud

By Hannah Caudell A Cornelia attorney found himself in hot water again after being arrested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) on Aug. 4 for 18 total charges, including first-degree forgery and identity fraud.
Mt. Airy’s town council may vote to approve an annexation of property at 705 Chase Road for a small subdivision project led by Alan Baker, owner of Headwaters Realty in Clarkesville. Nine acres of the property currently reside on county land, and Baker has expressed a want to annex into the town’s limits to provide housing that Mayor Ray McAllister and council feel may be a good addition to Mt. Airy.

Mt. Airy’s town council may vote to approve an annexation of property at 705 Chase Road for a small subdivision project led by Alan Baker, owner of Headwaters Realty in Clarkesville. Nine acres of the property currently reside on county land, and Baker has expressed a want to annex into the town’s limits to provide housing that Mayor Ray McAllister and council feel may be a good addition to Mt. Airy.

‘A great addition to Mt. Airy’

By Hannah Caudell New property may be annexed into Mt. Airy for a small subdivision project in the coming months. The Mt.
As of Aug. 1, Scott Schuler is the new president of the Soque River Watershed Association. Schuler will serve a typical three-year term, and plans to focus the nonprofit’s efforts on community outreach and education while collaborating with individuals, businesses, and city and county government officials to ensure the watershed’s health. (Hannah Caudell/Staff)

As of Aug. 1, Scott Schuler is the new president of the Soque River Watershed Association. Schuler will serve a typical three-year term, and plans to focus the nonprofit’s efforts on community outreach and education while collaborating with individuals, businesses, and city and county government officials to ensure the watershed’s health. (Hannah Caudell/Staff)

Conservation with community

By Hannah Caudell What started out as a quest for a good map of Habersham County in January ended up becoming a calling of sorts for Scott Schuler. He has been called a visionary by former Soque River Watershed Association (SRWA) president Brad Coppedge. As of Aug.
Ga. 365 was closed in both directions as a suspicious item found at a Circle K was investigated.

Ga. 365 was closed in both directions as a suspicious item found at a Circle K was investigated.

Suspicious package shuts down highway

By Hannah Caudell A two-hour investigation on Monday afternoon ended in sighs of relief when a suspicious item found at Circle K in Alto turned out to be an oxygen sensor.  After receiving a tip about a suspicious package in a trash can at the Circle K, located 3951 Ga.
Property owners are asked to focus on the “Net Taxable Value” column on their property tax assessment notice. Those with a homestead exemption will see it marked in the top right corner as in example 1, and those who live within city limits will see a third taxing authority, as in example 2.

Property owners are asked to focus on the “Net Taxable Value” column on their property tax assessment notice. Those with a homestead exemption will see it marked in the top right corner as in example 1, and those who live within city limits will see a third taxing authority, as in example 2.

Property owners get tax notices, welcome to appeal

By Samantha Sinclair Property tax assessment notices were mailed out July 25, and property owners have until Sept. 9 to ask questions and file an appeal with the tax commissioner’s office.
School buses wait their turn for deployment at the Habersham County Schools central office last year. (File)

School buses wait their turn for deployment at the Habersham County Schools central office last year. (File)

Ready for the bell

By Hannah Caudell In two days, students will once again be traversing the hallways of the various schools in the county. Some will be returning to their old stomping grounds; others will be transitioning to a new school.
Georgia Department of Veterans of Foreign Wars Commander Bill Miles throws the first pitch at the Macon Bacon home game on Tuesday. (Lena Shoemaker/Macon Bacon)

Georgia Department of Veterans of Foreign Wars Commander Bill Miles throws the first pitch at the Macon Bacon home game on Tuesday. (Lena Shoemaker/Macon Bacon)

Miles throws first pitch at baseball game

By Zach Taylor Georgia Department of Veterans of Foreign Wars Commander Bill Miles threw out the first pitch at the Macon Bacon game at Luther Williams Field on Tuesday following Military Appreciation Night last Saturday.
Ollie Osborne talks with media specialist Annabelle Wiley about Level Grove Elementary’s Bulldog Broadcast during last year’s open house at the school. (File)

Ollie Osborne talks with media specialist Annabelle Wiley about Level Grove Elementary’s Bulldog Broadcast during last year’s open house at the school. (File)

Schools open houses set for Aug. 6 and 7

By Hannah Caudell This school year, Habersham County School System families will experience a lot of firsts. Next Wednesday and Thursday, Habersham schools will be welcoming back over 7,000 students for the open house events.