Local

Photo by Kimberly Farmer on Unsplash.

Photo by Kimberly Farmer on Unsplash.

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Board of Education OKs new budget

News Staff
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
By Hannah Caudell      After two public hearings and months of consideration, the Habersham County Board of Education has officially approved the 2025-2026 budget for all funds.
Jessica and Cody Montgomery of Levi’s Ministries stand with the women who are currently participating in the Levi’s House women’s rehabilitation program. Pictured from left are Amanda Phelps, Leah Farmer, KC Corriera, Cody and Jessica Montgomery, Amanda Dunn-Wall, Kristi Moore, and Misty Woods. Not pictured is Daisy Campbell. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

Jessica and Cody Montgomery of Levi’s Ministries stand with the women who are currently participating in the Levi’s House women’s rehabilitation program. Pictured from left are Amanda Phelps, Leah Farmer, KC Corriera, Cody and Jessica Montgomery, Amanda Dunn-Wall, Kristi Moore, and Misty Woods. Not pictured is Daisy Campbell. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

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Safe haven

News Staff
Friday, June 13, 2025
By Hannah Caudell      Jessica and Cody Montgomery, the owners of the faith-based rehabilitation center Levi’s House, have finally achieved one of their most sought-after goals: opening a rehabilitation center for women.
Law enforcement units are shown near the Kubota side-by-side Jonathan William Harris was seen driving Thursday night prior to his arrest. (Habersham County Sheriff’s Office photo/Rob Moore)

Law enforcement units are shown near the Kubota side-by-side Jonathan William Harris was seen driving Thursday night prior to his arrest. (Habersham County Sheriff’s Office photo/Rob Moore)

Deputy injured in traffic stop

Zach Taylor
Friday, June 13, 2025
On Wednesday morning at approximately 3:30 a.m., a Habersham County Sheriff Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a truck with two flat tires at the end of Juniper Trail in Toccoa.    As the truck, driven by Jonathan William Harris, 34, of Sautee, was stopped, the deputy stepped out of his patrol car.
Baldwin’s city hall was the site of the Baldwin Comprehensive Plan on Wednesday evening, where the stakeholder committee discussed collecting survey data, feasibility studies, and how to bring more business and residents into the city while keeping its small-town feel. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

Baldwin’s city hall was the site of the Baldwin Comprehensive Plan on Wednesday evening, where the stakeholder committee discussed collecting survey data, feasibility studies, and how to bring more business and residents into the city while keeping its small-town feel. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

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Baldwin holds Comprehensive Plan meeting

News Staff
Friday, June 13, 2025
By Hannah Caudell      The city of Baldwin hosted their kickoff meeting for the 2025 Comprehensive Plan that will guide the city’s decisions for the next five years.
The Habersham County Airport Commission is currently over its expenditures for the year, with eight percent remaining in the fiscal year. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

The Habersham County Airport Commission is currently over its expenditures for the year, with eight percent remaining in the fiscal year. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

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Habersham airport commission over budget

Zach Taylor
Friday, June 13, 2025
The Habersham County Airport Commission is sitting at 111 percent of its annual budget expenditures, as per the May financial report presented by Habersham County Financial Director Kiani Holden in Tuesday’s meeting.
Gene Pease weaves on a heddle loom in the new AppalachianGap studio near the Art-Ful Barn’s new location off Ga. 17 in Clarkesville. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

Gene Pease weaves on a heddle loom in the new AppalachianGap studio near the Art-Ful Barn’s new location off Ga. 17 in Clarkesville. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

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Taking a tour through art

Zach Taylor
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Glass, canvas, yarn and other mediums were highlighted in this year’s Northeast Georgia Arts Tour, which had nine available stops in Habersham County.
Baldwin Councilwoman Alice Venter, left, stands to her feet next to Mayor Stephanie Almagno to explain what the public works department does for the city to justify their take-home vehicles, as well as other utility vehicles that are paid for with SPLOST dollars and maintained through public dollars. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

Baldwin Councilwoman Alice Venter, left, stands to her feet next to Mayor Stephanie Almagno to explain what the public works department does for the city to justify their take-home vehicles, as well as other utility vehicles that are paid for with SPLOST dollars and maintained through public dollars. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

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Baldwin FY26 budget talks get tense

News Staff
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
By Hannah Caudell      Residents of Baldwin made their voices heard on Monday night during Baldwin’s regular meeting, where they held a public hearing for the Fiscal Year 2026 budget.
Habersham EMC crews work to repair power lines on Old Cleveland Road on Sunday afternoon. Samantha Sinclair/Staff

Habersham EMC crews work to repair power lines on Old Cleveland Road on Sunday afternoon. Samantha Sinclair/Staff

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Storm takes out trees, power

Samantha Sinclair
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
A powerful storm made its way through North Georgia Saturday evening, leaving a path of destruction and power outages throughout the county.    Many businesses and restaurants had to close early Saturday due to power outages, and remained closed on Sunday.
Stewart Swanson presented the Habersham County Airport Commission with a suggestion to change the signage on the main terminal to the James Tatum Terminal, as was requested in a 2005 resolution that the county adopted before constructing its new terminal in 2018. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

Stewart Swanson presented the Habersham County Airport Commission with a suggestion to change the signage on the main terminal to the James Tatum Terminal, as was requested in a 2005 resolution that the county adopted before constructing its new terminal in 2018. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

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Swanson suggests county airport renaming

Zach Taylor
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Stewart Swanson wants a part of airport history to get the recognition his family deserves.    He spoke at the Habersham County Airport Commission meeting on Tuesday about the airport’s naming in a 2005 resolution approved by the county.
Owner Andy Sudderth stands next to barrels full of whiskey in the new distillery in Mt. Airy, his hand resting on a ceramic jug from the R.M. Rose Distillery in Atlanta in the late 1800s. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

Owner Andy Sudderth stands next to barrels full of whiskey in the new distillery in Mt. Airy, his hand resting on a ceramic jug from the R.M. Rose Distillery in Atlanta in the late 1800s. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

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A rose in the kudzu

Zach Taylor
Friday, June 6, 2025
Mt. Airy has a new draw to its small-town feel.    R.M. Rose and Company Distillery held a grand opening at the new distillery in Mt. Airy Saturday, continuing a legacy of over 150 years.