Local

Photo by Masjid MABA on Unsplash.

Photo by Masjid MABA on Unsplash.

BOE invites public to first budget hearing

By Hannah Caudell      The school system’s budget for the next fiscal year will be the focus of the Habersham County Board of Education meeting on Thursday night. The meeting, including the first public hearing on the FY26 budget, will be held at 4:30 p.m.
Scotlynn Taylor and Rynlee Leviner enjoy Tummy Yummies and sort their candy after the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church Easter Egg Hunt. The church held several different egg hunts for different age groups, including a tinsel-filled kid's pool for babies to hunt Easter eggs in. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

Scotlynn Taylor and Rynlee Leviner enjoy Tummy Yummies and sort their candy after the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church Easter Egg Hunt. The church held several different egg hunts for different age groups, including a tinsel-filled kid's pool for babies to hunt Easter eggs in. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

Churches, businesses host Easter activities

   Habersham hops into the Easter season as local churches and businesses gear up to host their annual Easter egg hunts and Easter bunny picture sessions.
The Baldwin Fire Department is in its rebuilding era, which is reflected in the budget recommendations from CAO Emily Woodmaster after it lost its chief and assistant chief in a same-day resignation a couple of weeks ago. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

The Baldwin Fire Department is in its rebuilding era, which is reflected in the budget recommendations from CAO Emily Woodmaster after it lost its chief and assistant chief in a same-day resignation a couple of weeks ago. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

Coming down the pipe in Baldwin

   Strip clubs, casinos, reducing positions and fire consolidation were discussed on Thursday at the Baldwin retreat as hypothetical revenue streams and balancing for a hypothetical budget presented in the thought-provoking exercise.
Engineering Management Inc President and Baldwin City Engineer Fletcher Holliday presents a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) to the Baldwin City Council during their retreat last week. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

Engineering Management Inc President and Baldwin City Engineer Fletcher Holliday presents a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) to the Baldwin City Council during their retreat last week. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

Coming down the pipe in Baldwin

By Hannah Caudell      During the City of Baldwin’s retreat on Friday, much of the early morning conversation was dominated by one concern: water.
Photo by PAN XIAOZHEN on Unsplash.

Photo by PAN XIAOZHEN on Unsplash.

Dare to dream

By Hannah Caudell      When she got the acceptance letter, beat up in the mail and three weeks late, Callie Cueva couldn’t believe it. Out of over 15,000 applicants, she had been selected as a Class of 2025 Disney Dreamer.
Photo by Daniel McCullough on Unsplash.

Photo by Daniel McCullough on Unsplash.

No new construction

   The City of Clarkesville passed a 60-day moratorium on new construction to perform zoning and facade reviews.
At Alto’s Lee Dorsey Cook playground, the old fence stands in the background of the attractions. The Alto Town Council just elected to replace the fence with black chain link, costing the town a total of $21,215. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

At Alto’s Lee Dorsey Cook playground, the old fence stands in the background of the attractions. The Alto Town Council just elected to replace the fence with black chain link, costing the town a total of $21,215. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

Alto OKs fence project

By Hannah Caudell      It’s official: Alto’s Lee Dorsey Cook playground is getting a new fence.    After months of deliberation, the Alto Town Council has approved a new fence for the playground with Southern Fence Company for a total of $21,215.
Owen and Isaac Crawford smile for a photo with the Easter Bunny behind the Mauldin House in Clarkesville. FILE

Owen and Isaac Crawford smile for a photo with the Easter Bunny behind the Mauldin House in Clarkesville. FILE

Local churches, businesses to host egg hunts, festivities

   Habersham hops into the Easter season as local churches and businesses gear up to host their annual Easter egg hunts and Easter bunny picture sessions.
The airport business park in Baldwin is the hub of industrial growth in the county, but may also face some obstacles when it comes to assessment rates. Local economic experts are looking to build the industrial-commercial tax base of the county to relieve resident property taxes. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

The airport business park in Baldwin is the hub of industrial growth in the county, but may also face some obstacles when it comes to assessment rates. Local economic experts are looking to build the industrial-commercial tax base of the county to relieve resident property taxes. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

Diversification crucial to relieve tax burden

By Hannah Caudell      Go to any economic development meeting in the county, whether that be one hosted by Partnership Habersham or the county’s development authority, and folks will hear an often repeated phrase: tax diversification.
With the introduction of Clarkesville’s new parking policy, retail owners, visitors and city residents will be more careful about parking habits in the square. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

With the introduction of Clarkesville’s new parking policy, retail owners, visitors and city residents will be more careful about parking habits in the square. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

Clarkesville OKs new parking rules

   The City of Clarkesville decided to implement a new parking policy in its work session on Monday, with the changes taking effect once the city acquires new signage and cameras in the coming weeks.