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Annette Lee (left) and Sandra Deal applaud a speaker during the open house event Thursday evening for the Habersham County Boys & Girls Club. BRIAN WELLMEIER/Staff

Annette Lee (left) and Sandra Deal applaud a speaker during the open house event Thursday evening for the Habersham County Boys & Girls Club. BRIAN WELLMEIER/Staff

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Habersham Boys & Girls Club opens doors for local children

News Staff
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
The Habersham County Boys and Girls Club opened its doors to the public Thursday, as the Habersham Advisory Committee and other members of the community gathered to recognize the official naming of the club after Tim Lee.
Lew Oliver gestures toward the square he plans to redevelop in downtown Clarkesville. BRIAN WELLMEIER/Staff

Lew Oliver gestures toward the square he plans to redevelop in downtown Clarkesville. BRIAN WELLMEIER/Staff

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Oliver has ambitious plans for Clarkesville

News Staff
Friday, June 18, 2021
“If you can imagine that restored square that’s revitalized, with bistros anchoring it, and this courthouse at night beautifully lit up, it can transform this downtown.
Bigg Daddy’s bartender Mary Childers serves patrons at the bar. While Bigg Daddy’s has a solid staff for now, other local restaurants are still seeking more staff as the pandemic abates. BRIAN WELLMEIER/Staff

Bigg Daddy’s bartender Mary Childers serves patrons at the bar. While Bigg Daddy’s has a solid staff for now, other local restaurants are still seeking more staff as the pandemic abates. BRIAN WELLMEIER/Staff

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Labor shortage stings service industry

News Staff
Friday, June 18, 2021
Unshackled by the financial restraints and burden of the pandemic, businesses across the U.S. have resumed operations as they were before COVID-19. A national labor shortage, however, has emerged as a new challenge plaguing almost every sector of the economy.

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School system finalizing $105.6 million budget

Chamian Cruz
Friday, June 18, 2021
Habersham County’s Board of Education approved a final draft version of its $105.6 million budget for all funds for the fiscal year 2021-22 at its regular meeting on Monday.  The proposed budget is an increase from $91.9 million last year or 14.91%.
Baker (left) Johnson (right)

Baker (left) Johnson (right)

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Couple found raiding Cornelia home

Chamian Cruz
Friday, June 18, 2021
A Cornelia woman had been visiting her mother on Monday when she returned home to find an alleged burglary in progress.  Renee Jackson told Cornelia police she arrived home with Michael Shawn Johnson, 23, of Alto and Katelyn Baker of Clermont still inside.
Former Hazel Grove Elementary School Principal Fran Blackburn celebrates Lily Contreras’ student achievement with a pizza party. FRAN BLACKBURN/Submitted

Former Hazel Grove Elementary School Principal Fran Blackburn celebrates Lily Contreras’ student achievement with a pizza party. FRAN BLACKBURN/Submitted

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‘Shaping the world’

Chamian Cruz
Friday, June 18, 2021
From the moment Fran Blackburn became principal at Hazel Grove Elementary School, she already had it in her mind that she planned to love students first and teach them second and that she would always consider what was best for them.
BELFORD

BELFORD

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Deputies arrest Clarkesville mom found with child, drugs in vehicle

News Staff
Wednesday, June 16, 2021
Habersham County Sheriff’s deputies allege they could still smell the odor of marijuana while conducting a welfare check on a 3-year-old boy when they discovered 2 grams of methamphetamine and 6 grams of marijuana.  Two deputies were dispatched to a home in Clarkesville on Thursday at around 3 p.m.