Local

(Left to right) Councilman Jimmy Davis, Councilman Donnie Bennett, Mayor Jerry Harkness, and City Manager Mark Musselwhite listen to the new zoning ordinance amendments in the special called meeting on Monday. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

(Left to right) Councilman Jimmy Davis, Councilman Donnie Bennett, Mayor Jerry Harkness, and City Manager Mark Musselwhite listen to the new zoning ordinance amendments in the special called meeting on Monday. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

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Demorest fire talks spark conflict

Zach Taylor
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Conflict over a new ladder truck and a decision to bring city hall up to fire code were among the top events in the Monday special called meeting, which could have resulted in more than $180,000 in spending in Demorest.
Hazel Grove Elementary School Principal Dr. Tim Goss visits a group of students during the school day, all of whom were excited to see him walk through the door. Goss has spent nine nonconsecutive years at Hazel Grove, returning in 2022 to serve as the school’s principal before retirement. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

Hazel Grove Elementary School Principal Dr. Tim Goss visits a group of students during the school day, all of whom were excited to see him walk through the door. Goss has spent nine nonconsecutive years at Hazel Grove, returning in 2022 to serve as the school’s principal before retirement. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

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Seeing success

News Staff
Friday, May 9, 2025
By Hannah Caudell      In the morning, Hazel Grove Elementary School Principal Dr. Tim Goss is often seen helping unload kids from the drop off line while getting to know the families of the children who walk through the school hallways every weekday.
Cornelia’s new park needs a water line replacement after discovering that the line was an old six-inch cast iron water line, inadequate to fill the city’s needs, as the line runs into the eight-inch line on Irvin Street, which feeds the city’s largest manufacturer, Fieldale. FILE

Cornelia’s new park needs a water line replacement after discovering that the line was an old six-inch cast iron water line, inadequate to fill the city’s needs, as the line runs into the eight-inch line on Irvin Street, which feeds the city’s largest manufacturer, Fieldale. FILE

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Park project unveils water line needs

Zach Taylor
Friday, May 9, 2025
Cornelia’s newest project revealed an old cast iron water line that supplied much of the city, including the Train Depot, Clarkesville Street, Chattahoochee Street and Main Street.
The folks from Food 4 Kids pack up some meals for kids in need in the Habersham County community. FILE

The folks from Food 4 Kids pack up some meals for kids in need in the Habersham County community. FILE

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Schools gear up for summer food program

News Staff
Friday, May 9, 2025
By Hannah Caudell      The summer food program through the Habersham County School System is about to be in full swing once again this year.
The Mountain Laurel Festival kicks off with the Lion’s Club Parade on Saturday, May 17 with marchers and floats, like last year’s Volunteers for Literacy float escorting thousands of rubber ducks through downtown Clarkesville. File

The Mountain Laurel Festival kicks off with the Lion’s Club Parade on Saturday, May 17 with marchers and floats, like last year’s Volunteers for Literacy float escorting thousands of rubber ducks through downtown Clarkesville. File

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Festival, duck race set for next weekend

Samantha Sinclair
Friday, May 9, 2025
The longest-running festival in the area will fill downtown Clarkesville with family fun on Saturday, May 17.    The 63rd annual Mountain Laurel Festival begins at 9 a.m. with the Lion’s Club Parade.
Habersham Central basketball stars and All-Regions pick Judge and Paris Wilbanks play cornhole at Crown Athletics’ grand opening ceremony on Saturday. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

Habersham Central basketball stars and All-Regions pick Judge and Paris Wilbanks play cornhole at Crown Athletics’ grand opening ceremony on Saturday. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

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Destined to be

Zach Taylor
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
A merger between two athletic facilities solidified its home in one of Cornelia’s historic buildings this past Saturday.
Dog waste bins are scattered around the Soque Greenway Trail, a solution that might prove useful in the downtown Clarkesville area. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

Dog waste bins are scattered around the Soque Greenway Trail, a solution that might prove useful in the downtown Clarkesville area. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

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Clarkesville council adopts new laws

Samantha Sinclair
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Pet owners will now need to keep their dogs on a leash in the city of Clarkesville.    Leash requirements were among the four new ordinances passed by the Clarkesville City Council during their regular meeting Monday night.
Photo by Kimberly Farmer on Unsplash.

Photo by Kimberly Farmer on Unsplash.

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Mt. Airy OKs $500 for public libraries

News Staff
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
By Hannah Caudell      After a month of consideration, the Mt. Airy Town Council decided not to approve the funding request from Habersham County’s libraries during Monday night’s meeting, but the council also decided that they couldn’t leave the libraries empty-handed.
Habersham County School System Chief Financial Officer Staci Newsome details the new numbers of the projected FY 26 budget, which now includes unofficial numbers for sums like QBE and equalization funding. The system is still waiting on official tax digest numbers from the county before final budget decisions can be made. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

Habersham County School System Chief Financial Officer Staci Newsome details the new numbers of the projected FY 26 budget, which now includes unofficial numbers for sums like QBE and equalization funding. The system is still waiting on official tax digest numbers from the county before final budget decisions can be made. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

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School budget gets real numbers

News Staff
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
By Hannah Caudell      The Habersham County Board of Education held its second public hearing on Monday for its Fiscal Year 2026 budget.
DAV Chapter 15 Commander Amanda Doughty stands next to the KIA/MIA Monument in Clarkesville, a project that she hopes will be one of the larger successes of her tenure serving as DAV Chapter 15 Commander. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

DAV Chapter 15 Commander Amanda Doughty stands next to the KIA/MIA Monument in Clarkesville, a project that she hopes will be one of the larger successes of her tenure serving as DAV Chapter 15 Commander. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

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Getting things done

Zach Taylor
Friday, May 2, 2025
Amanda Doughty is no stranger to getting things done.    After serving seven years in the U.S. Coast Guard, being a small business owner in two cities, and raising a family, she is now undertaking the task of commanding the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 15.