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Baldwin Mayor Stephanie Almagno and City Councilmembers Nancy Lehman and Maarten Venter listen attentively to residents’ concerns about their water bills. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

Baldwin Mayor Stephanie Almagno and City Councilmembers Nancy Lehman and Maarten Venter listen attentively to residents’ concerns about their water bills. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

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Water issues lead Baldwin comments

Zach Taylor
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
   Three Baldwin residents spoke at Monday’s regular meeting with concerns over water bills and outages in their area, with one resident citing her water was shut off for eight weeks due to being unable to pay the city’s late fees.
HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff Superintendent Matthew Cooper holds up a new kind of business card, one that suggests he won’t be available anytime soon after Thursday. Cooper has served the Habersham County School System for 13 years as superintendent, the longest-acting superintendent in the school system’s history. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff Superintendent Matthew Cooper holds up a new kind of business card, one that suggests he won’t be available anytime soon after Thursday. Cooper has served the Habersham County School System for 13 years as superintendent, the longest-acting superintendent in the school system’s history. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

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A legacy of excellence

News Staff
Friday, March 7, 2025
By Hannah Caudell      On Thursday, the school system will say goodbye to its longest-acting superintendent, Matthew Cooper, who has spent 13 years serving the faculty, staff, and students of Habersham County schools.
David Branch of Artisan Land Companies presents a plan for an annexed property to be developed into a retail and medical park. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

David Branch of Artisan Land Companies presents a plan for an annexed property to be developed into a retail and medical park. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

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Demorest takes first step in annexation

Zach Taylor
Friday, March 7, 2025
   During Tuesday evening’s work session, the City of Demorest heard from CEO David Branch of Artisan Land Companies about a property at Highway 365/Highway 441 and Highway 17/Highway 123 intersection, also known as Tom Arrendale Interchange.
The Cornelia Amphitheater project is underway. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

The Cornelia Amphitheater project is underway. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

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Davenport voices concerns over amphitheater

News Staff
Friday, March 7, 2025
By Hannah Caudell      During the monthly Cornelia City Commissioners meeting public comment, Audrey Davenport, a small business owner and local activist, spoke before the commissioners to voice the concern shared by her and her neighbors about the amphitheater project.
Demorest Mayor Jerry Harkness reviews paperwork on the grants. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

Demorest Mayor Jerry Harkness reviews paperwork on the grants. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

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Demorest receives grant for playground

Zach Taylor
Friday, March 7, 2025
   Demorest Funding Coordinator Brad Day has been hard at work over the past few months and came back to the Demorest City Council Tuesday with some good news about the potential new playground.
Photo by PTTI EDU on Unsplash.

Photo by PTTI EDU on Unsplash.

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More work needed for non-certified workers

News Staff
Friday, March 7, 2025
By Hannah Caudell      With an estimated population of 46,031 residents in Habersham County per the 2020 census, it may come as a surprise that the county actually “exports” more residents to jobs outside of the county than it retains.
Assistant Superintendent Patrick Franklin reads to Emilee Waldon’s third grade class. SUBMITTED

Assistant Superintendent Patrick Franklin reads to Emilee Waldon’s third grade class. SUBMITTED

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Branching out with reading

News Staff
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
   Level Grove Elementary School concluded Read Across Levelw Grove Week with 27 business professionals from around Habersham County visiting and reading to students. Annabelle Wiley, who organized the event for the school, said the theme this year at Level Grove is Branching Out.
Blaine Wasden spoke before the Cornelia Board of Commissioners on Thursday to express his thoughts on whether the city opted in or out of House Bill 581. Wasden said that he didn’t know whether the bill would be as much of a benefit to citizens as they believe it will be. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

Blaine Wasden spoke before the Cornelia Board of Commissioners on Thursday to express his thoughts on whether the city opted in or out of House Bill 581. Wasden said that he didn’t know whether the bill would be as much of a benefit to citizens as they believe it will be. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

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Last man standing

News Staff
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
By Hannah Caudell      After a short public hearing last week, the city of Cornelia voted to opt into House Bill 581, along with the six other cities in the county. Cornelia was the last Habersham County municipality to do so.    The deadline to file documents to opt out was March 1.
The right side of the Dollar Tree storefront in Clarkesville is boarded with plywood after Friday’s crash, when a motorist accidentally drove into the building. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

The right side of the Dollar Tree storefront in Clarkesville is boarded with plywood after Friday’s crash, when a motorist accidentally drove into the building. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

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Motorist drives into storefront in Clarkesville

News Staff
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
By Hannah Caudell      On Friday, a motorist accidentally drove an SUV into the Dollar Tree storefront in Clarkesville. One pedestrian was transported to the hospital for minor or visible injuries, according to a Georgia State Patrol motor vehicle crash report.
Councilman Don Nix reviews a plot map for a property on Robertson Loop Road. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

Councilman Don Nix reviews a plot map for a property on Robertson Loop Road. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

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Clarkesville to change millage rate assessment

Zach Taylor
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
   Clarkesville is changing the way it assesses its millage rate, but the taxes will stay the same.    “We’re not changing what you pay in taxes. We’re just changing the formula to match the surrounding communities and the way we do our millage rate,” City Manager Keith Dickerson said.