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School board member John Elger has taken extreme precautions to slow spread of COVID-19, but ended up testing positive anyway.

School board member John Elger has taken extreme precautions to slow spread of COVID-19, but ended up testing positive anyway.

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School board member was positive, but asymptomatic

Matthew Osborne
Thursday, September 10, 2020
   Habersham County Board of Education member John Elger has been outspoken about taking the utmost precautions against the spread of COVID-19.
Walter Looney’s Mt. Airy home took more than a decade to renovate.

Walter Looney’s Mt. Airy home took more than a decade to renovate.

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Mt. Airy man renovates beautiful home from ground up

Eric Pereira
Thursday, September 10, 2020
   You may occasionally find Walter Looney eating lunch on the widow’s walk of his home with his four gargoyles keeping a watchful eye over Mt. Airy.     This towering platform is the structural cherry on top to a home which Walter spent more than 10 years renovating. He has lived in Mt.
Anyone who speeds through the school zone near Baldwin Elementary will be issued a ticket via the camera system.

Anyone who speeds through the school zone near Baldwin Elementary will be issued a ticket via the camera system.

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New cameras keep eyes on school zones

Isaiah Smith
Thursday, September 10, 2020
   After the Baldwin City Council approved an Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) system to monitor speeding and traffic violations last September, the system finally went live Tuesday for the first time in the 2020-21 school year.
Bryan Ferguson’s first day as HEMC president and CEO will be Sept. 28, 2020.

Bryan Ferguson’s first day as HEMC president and CEO will be Sept. 28, 2020.

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Habersham EMC gets new president and CEO

Eric Pereira
Thursday, September 10, 2020
   The Habersham EMC Board of Directors announced Bryan Ferguson as President and CEO this week. The decision comes after several months of reviewing resumes and conducting interviews.
Lee Arrendale State Prison has had its share of controversies in 2020, from multiple allegations of sex assaults and abuse to an April riot that involved 11 people.

Lee Arrendale State Prison has had its share of controversies in 2020, from multiple allegations of sex assaults and abuse to an April riot that involved 11 people.

Officials mum about Arrendale prison riot

Matthew Osborne
Thursday, September 10, 2020
   In a year where Lee Arrendale State Prison has struggled with controversies, another has arisen amid news emerging of a prison riot that took place April 17.
The old courthouse in Clarkesville currently has no interested buyers.

The old courthouse in Clarkesville currently has no interested buyers.

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Habersham sees hits, misses on development projects

Eric Pereira
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
   While COVID-19 has made a noticeable impact on businesses across the state and U.S., Habersham County is seeing some new developments. The pandemic has potentially caused some halts on developments moving forward as well.

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Demorest stands firm against Piedmont claims

Eric Pereira
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
   The City of Demorest has declined to move forward with resolving any of the legal claims brought forward by Piedmont College which included but not limited to fraud, racketeering and conflict of interest.
Shawn Weldy (bottom left) used lessons learned young to build a successful career and family, along with wife Laura and sons Tucker and Hayden.

Shawn Weldy (bottom left) used lessons learned young to build a successful career and family, along with wife Laura and sons Tucker and Hayden.

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Mentorship as a youth lifted local man to success

Isaiah Smith
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
   Looking back, Shawn Weldy never imagined his life would end up where it has.     “Before I never would’ve imagined I’d work for a Fortune 500 company, let alone be in a management role,” Weldy said.
Students and staff members at North Georgia Technical College dressed in red and Black Tuesday morning and said a prayer for college president Dr. Mark Ivester, who has been hospitalized with complications due to COVID-19.

Students and staff members at North Georgia Technical College dressed in red and Black Tuesday morning and said a prayer for college president Dr. Mark Ivester, who has been hospitalized with complications due to COVID-19.

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North Georgia Tech community prays for president in COVID-19 battle

Matthew Osborne
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
   Multiple campuses of North Georgia Technical College held gatherings Tuesday morning to offer prayers for the college’s president, Dr. Mark Ivester, who has been battling COVID-19 in the hospital since Aug. 16.
Excited students hurriedly entered Habersham Central High School on Tuesday morning, with one student taking extra precautions against the lingering pandemic.

Excited students hurriedly entered Habersham Central High School on Tuesday morning, with one student taking extra precautions against the lingering pandemic.

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Habersham County students return after six months

Matthew Osborne
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
   The school year began anew Tuesday morning after six months with students gone from school buildings.    School administrators and teachers have been working diligently trying to make school seem as normal as possible, with a few notable changes.