Local

Lt. General James L. Terry speaks with David Quintal and other scouts from Troop 5 after his keynote address. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

Lt. General James L. Terry speaks with David Quintal and other scouts from Troop 5 after his keynote address. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

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Boy Scouts dinner honors Akin, Cantrell, Hayes

Samantha Sinclair
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
   Be Prepared is the motto of Boy Scouts, and Lt. Gen. James L. Terry thinks if we build leaders, we will be prepared.    “If you are prepared, then you don’t have to get ready,” Terry said. “Are we prepared? Are we ready? Are we ready as a nation?
New Superintendent Patrick Franklin fills the superintendent’s seat in the Board of Education meeting room with a new nameplate. Franklin took over former Superintendent Matthew Cooper’s position on Thursday, bringing with him over 20 years of professional experience, all of which has been spent in Habersham County. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

New Superintendent Patrick Franklin fills the superintendent’s seat in the Board of Education meeting room with a new nameplate. Franklin took over former Superintendent Matthew Cooper’s position on Thursday, bringing with him over 20 years of professional experience, all of which has been spent in Habersham County. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

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A servant’s heart

News Staff
Friday, March 14, 2025
By Hannah Caudell      Patrick Franklin’s tenure as superintendent of Habersham County School System began a little sooner than expected as former Superintendent Matthew Cooper said goodbye to faculty and students on Thursday, March 13, a fitting day for a man who has held the superintendent seat...
Alto Councilman Eddie Palmer offers his two cents on the fence issue during Tuesday’s work session. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

Alto Councilman Eddie Palmer offers his two cents on the fence issue during Tuesday’s work session. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

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On the fence

News Staff
Friday, March 14, 2025
By Hannah Caudell      Making the city’s playground safer will have to wait another month.    The fence for the playground at 155 S. Grant St. in Alto was discussed during the Alto City Council work session, including new quotes and pricing.
Councilman Erik Keith and Councilwoman Kerri Davis review paperwork in the Monday Baldwin meeting. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

Councilman Erik Keith and Councilwoman Kerri Davis review paperwork in the Monday Baldwin meeting. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

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Baldwin OKs Fieldale solar farm project

Zach Taylor
Friday, March 14, 2025
   After months of deliberating and public hearings, Fieldale Farms finally received the go-ahead from the City of Baldwin for its solar farm project.
E-911 Dispatcher Kailey Gould starts a conversation with students interested in her line of work. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

E-911 Dispatcher Kailey Gould starts a conversation with students interested in her line of work. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

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Paternship Habersham hosts career day at Ninth Grade Academy

News Staff
Friday, March 14, 2025
By Hannah Caudell      The two gyms at the Habersham Ninth Grade Academy were filled with students congregating at tables organized throughout the rooms, each one showcasing a business within the community looking to inform and potentially recruit for the future.
Chef Inger Smith prepares a meal in the Senior Center’s kitchen. Smith is all about preparing healthy meals for everyone. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

Chef Inger Smith prepares a meal in the Senior Center’s kitchen. Smith is all about preparing healthy meals for everyone. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

Serving seniors

Zach Taylor
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
   The Habersham County Senior Center’s Meals on Wheels program is searching for more volunteers after staffing shortages have arisen in the past few months.    Currently, the Meals on Wheels program has 30 volunteers, with six routes for hot meals to tackle five days each week.
Brooke Whitmire, shown at Ruby Fulbright Aquatic Center just weeks after being hired in 2022, has resigned from her position as the Habersham County Recreation Director. FILE

Brooke Whitmire, shown at Ruby Fulbright Aquatic Center just weeks after being hired in 2022, has resigned from her position as the Habersham County Recreation Director. FILE

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Rec department director resigns

Samantha Sinclair
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
   Habersham County is now looking for a new recreation department director.    Brooke Whitmire’s last day in the position was March 3, according to Interim County Manager Tim Sims, when she submitted her resignation and signed a separation agreement with the county.
Ninth Grade Academy Assistant Principal Maria Waters (left) stands behind up-and-coming Superintendent Patrick Franklin (right) as he voices his recommendation for her new role to the board. Waters was recommended by Franklin and Cooper to take over as principal of the Ninth Grade Academy starting on Thursday, as current Principal David Leenman will assume the assistant superintendent’s role that day, as well. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

Ninth Grade Academy Assistant Principal Maria Waters (left) stands behind up-and-coming Superintendent Patrick Franklin (right) as he voices his recommendation for her new role to the board. Waters was recommended by Franklin and Cooper to take over as principal of the Ninth Grade Academy starting on Thursday, as current Principal David Leenman will assume the assistant superintendent’s role that day, as well. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

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Waters moves to principal role

News Staff
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
By Hannah Caudell      Assistant Superintendent Patrick Franklin doesn’t start his superintendent tenure until Thursday, but that didn’t stop him from bringing his recommendation for a new Ninth Grade Academy principal to the table for board approval: Ninth Grade Academy Assistant Principal Maria...
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.