Local News and Weather

Families across Northeast Georgia are invited to enjoy an afternoon of fall festivities while supporting local education programs when the Back Yard Barn Bash returns to Clarkesville on Saturday, November 7. The community festival and fundraiser will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. at Woodland Farms, located at 2607 Rock Ford Creek Road in Clarkesville. Admission is free, and the event is open to everyone, regardless of whether their children attend either of the two participatin

The Soque River Watershed Association (SRWA) is inviting outdoor enthusiasts to explore one of North Georgia's scenic waterfall trails during a guided hike scheduled for Saturday, November 7. The group will hike the two-mile round-trip Hemlock Falls Trail near Lake Burton in Rabun County, traveling through a wooded valley known for its waterfalls and natural beauty. Katie and Gavin Jones, owners of Haggard Hiker Outdoors in Cleveland, will lead the excursion in partnership wi

A cherished holiday tradition will return to Piedmont University next month as the university presents its 38th annual Lessons and Carols on Friday, December 4, and Saturday, December 5. Both performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Piedmont University Chapel in Demorest. The annual event brings together musicians, students, and community members for an evening of Christmas music, traditional carols, and scripture readings celebrating the holiday season. This year's progra

A fire caused significant damage to Wolf Creek BBQ in Clarkesville early Monday morning, with the cause of the blaze now under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Clarkesville Fire Department Chief Jason Poole said firefighters were dispatched at approximately 4:45 a.m. to Wolf Creek BBQ, located at 184 Clarkesville Station. Clarkesville firefighters responded alongside Habersham County Emergency Services Station 9. When crews arrived, fire was visible coming fr

The Clarkesville City Council is expected to take up the city's 2027 budget and set the 2026 property tax millage rate during its regular meeting Tuesday evening. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Nov. 3 and will include a public hearing on the proposed 2027 budget before council members consider its adoption. City administrators are recommending a balanced $4.86 million General Fund budget and a full rollback of the city's property tax millage rate from 13.570 mills to 13.

Demorest property owners will not see the proposed increase in the city's millage rate after the Demorest City Council voted Tuesday to keep the rate at 6.593 mills. The decision came as the council approved the city's fiscal year 2027 budget following weeks of discussion over how much property tax revenue would be needed to fund city operations. City officials had considered increasing the rate to 7.60 mills, approximately 16% above the current rate. Instead, the council una

A coordinated response by White County Fire Services and mutual aid partners contained a residential fire to one bedroom late Wednesday night, preventing the fire from spreading further throughout the home. At 11:14PM on October 28, White County 911 Communications dispatched White County Fire Services to the reported fire on Tom Bell Road. The City of Cleveland Fire Department and City of Helen Fire Department also responded serving through mutual aid, providing additional pe

The community is invited to the Piedmont University String Orchestra concert on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at 7:30 P.M., at the Piedmont University Chapel. The string orchestra will be performing Baroque works by Corelli, Handel, Purcell, and Stamitz. Heather Strachan, Director of the Piedmont University String Orchestra, will be conducting the ensemble. The 40-member string ensemble, comprised of Piedmont University students, faculty, and community, will be joined by comm

Clarkesville city leaders will begin discussions on the city's 2027 budget during a work session Tuesday evening that also includes agreements involving animal control and radio maintenance services. The Clarkesville City Council will meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27. Among the new business items on the agenda is discussion of the city's proposed 2027 budget. The agenda does not provide details regarding the proposed spending plan or indicate that a vote on the budget will tak

Habersham County paramedics will soon have new technology available when responding to heart attacks and other critical medical emergencies after the county received a $500,000 federal grant to purchase 10 new cardiac monitors. Habersham County Emergency Services was awarded the funding through FEMA's Assistance to Firefighters Grant program. The money will be used to purchase 10 LIFEPAK 35 cardiac monitors to replace aging equipment currently used by local emergency medical

The Torch Christian Academy would like to invite all veterans for a Veterans Day Program on Wednesday, November 11, at 8:30 AM in the main sanctuary of The Torch Church, 800 Cannon Bridge Road, Demorest. Doors will open at 8:00 AM. Students will present their artwork to each veteran as a small token of their appreciation. The Torch Christian Academy is honored to recognize and celebrate the brave men and women who have served this country and want to thank veterans for thei

Georgia drivers will continue getting a break from the state's motor fuel tax through the Thanksgiving holiday after Gov. Brian Kemp extended the suspension through Nov. 30. Kemp announced the extension Saturday, citing continued volatility in global fuel markets and elevated gasoline and diesel prices. The decision was made in consultation with Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and House Speaker Jon Burns. The suspension means the state will continue to temporarily stop collecting 33.3 ce