News

Phil Sutton of Sutton Consulting LLC presents an HB581 PowerPoint to Demorest city officials. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

Phil Sutton of Sutton Consulting LLC presents an HB581 PowerPoint to Demorest city officials. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Sutton sums up bill

Zach Taylor
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
   The City of Demorest hosted a special called meeting on Monday to discuss House Bill 581.    Phil Sutton of Sutton Consulting LLC presented a PowerPoint on the bill, describing the nuances of the potential Floating Local Option Sales Tax (FLOST) homestead exemption and tax reform statutes.
From left, Director of Elementary Schools Dr. Susan Davis, Woodville Elementary School student Wiley Colston, Hilliard A. Wilbanks Middle School student Khamla Laosalie, and Assistant School Superintendent Patrick Franklin stand on the stage after the Habersham County School System spelling bee competition for photos. Laosalie won first prize after multiple rounds, and Colston earned the runner-up spot. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

From left, Director of Elementary Schools Dr. Susan Davis, Woodville Elementary School student Wiley Colston, Hilliard A. Wilbanks Middle School student Khamla Laosalie, and Assistant School Superintendent Patrick Franklin stand on the stage after the Habersham County School System spelling bee competition for photos. Laosalie won first prize after multiple rounds, and Colston earned the runner-up spot. HANNAH CAUDELL/Staff

Exclusive Subscriber Content

V-i-c-t-o-r-i-o-u-s

News Staff
Friday, January 10, 2025
By Hannah Caudell      The stage was set on Thursday morning for the Habersham County School System Spelling Bee. After several rounds of increasingly complicated diction, Khamla Laosalie of Hilliard A.
Icicles hang from a street light with snow accumulating on the post from high winds in recent years. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

Icicles hang from a street light with snow accumulating on the post from high winds in recent years. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

Exclusive Subscriber Content

County prepares for snowy weekend

Zach Taylor
Friday, January 10, 2025
   Habersham County is gearing up for wintry weather beginning today and lasting through the weekend.    The National Weather Service forecasted at 2:48 p.m. Thursday for snow to fall before 2 p.m. Friday and sleet to begin after 4 p.m.
Baldwin Mayor and Council discussed HB 581 at its work session on Tuesday. JULIANNE AKERS/Staff

Baldwin Mayor and Council discussed HB 581 at its work session on Tuesday. JULIANNE AKERS/Staff

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Cornelia hears potential effects of House Bill 581

News Staff
Friday, January 10, 2025
By Julianne Akers and Hannah Caudell      Two more cities discussed their options when it comes to House Bill 581 Tuesday night.
Probate Judge Pamela Wooley, left, shakes hands with Superior Court Judge Chan Caudell in a swearing-in ceremony in December. HABERSHAM COUNTY/Submitted

Probate Judge Pamela Wooley, left, shakes hands with Superior Court Judge Chan Caudell in a swearing-in ceremony in December. HABERSHAM COUNTY/Submitted

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Caudell steps down from Superior Court

Samantha Sinclair
Friday, January 10, 2025
   Judge Chan Caudell is stepping down from serving the Mountain Judicial Circuit as Chief Superior Court Judge. His last day on the bench will be Jan. 31.    He was reelected to the position last year, and was first appointed to serve the Mountain Judicial Circuit by Gov.
City Manager Mark Musselwhite, left, discusses the plan for the City of Demorest to hire Jessie Owensby of Civic Enhancement Strategies to develop the city’s Land Use Ordinance further. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

City Manager Mark Musselwhite, left, discusses the plan for the City of Demorest to hire Jessie Owensby of Civic Enhancement Strategies to develop the city’s Land Use Ordinance further. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Owensby to review Demorest’s land use ordinance

Zach Taylor
Friday, January 10, 2025
   Demorest’s land use ordinance is getting fresh eyes.    On Tuesday, the City of Demorest voted to hire Jessie Owensby of Civic Enhancement Services (CES) to review the new land use ordinance established in November and develop the details of the city’s minimum development standards.
Level Grove Elementary School Teacher Daniel Medders helps mentor young boys with an afterschool program. SUBMITTED

Level Grove Elementary School Teacher Daniel Medders helps mentor young boys with an afterschool program. SUBMITTED

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Gearing up for good

Julianne Akers
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
   January is National Mentoring Month, and an initiative led by Daniel Medders, a fifth-grade teacher at Level Grove Elementary School is helping guide young boys at the school.
Clarkesville Councilwoman Angelia Kiker vies for a letter of intent to be sent to the county for purchasing the courthouse property. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

Clarkesville Councilwoman Angelia Kiker vies for a letter of intent to be sent to the county for purchasing the courthouse property. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Clarkesville wants to buy courthouse

Zach Taylor
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
   During Monday night’s work session, the City of Clarkesville voted to send a letter of intent to purchase the old courthouse property and pay for its demolition.
Clarkesville Mayor Barrie Aycock listens in on the HB581 discussion. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

Clarkesville Mayor Barrie Aycock listens in on the HB581 discussion. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Clarkesville calls for county-wide meeting on HB581

Zach Taylor
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
   Clarkesville is calling on the rest of the cities for a meeting on House Bill 581.    The City of Cornelia was the first of the Habersham County municipalities to consider opting out of the bill to host public hearings on the matter.
A train struck a Lincoln sedan at the railroad crossing on Main Street in Cornelia. No injuries were reported, with the sole occupant of the vehicle refusing medical care from Habersham’s Med 12. The crushed car is seen approximately 200 feet from the impact location. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

A train struck a Lincoln sedan at the railroad crossing on Main Street in Cornelia. No injuries were reported, with the sole occupant of the vehicle refusing medical care from Habersham’s Med 12. The crushed car is seen approximately 200 feet from the impact location. ZACH TAYLOR/Staff

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Monday trainwreck results in no injuries

Zach Taylor
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
   A train hit a Lincoln sedan on Monday afternoon at approximately 12:25 p.m. when Norfolk Southern alerted emergency services that one of their trains had struck a vehicle.