Local News and Weather

Habersham County has secured $2.5 million in federal funding toward construction of a new Emergency Operations Center that will bring the county’s emergency management and 911 operations together under one roof. The funding was awarded through the Fiscal Year 2026 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, which has now been signed into law. The federal money will be combined with funding already designated for the project through the county’s Special Purpose Local Option Sales T

Habersham County residents will have several opportunities over the next several weeks to learn more about a proposed new sales tax designed to reduce county and municipal property tax millage rates. County representatives are taking information about the Property Tax Reduction Local Option Sales Tax, or PTRLOST, to community events, civic organizations, municipal meetings and two upcoming town halls as voters prepare to decide the issue in November. PTRLOST, also called the

For some military families, war did not end when the fighting stopped. There was no homecoming. No final goodbye. And, for some, there were questions that continued for years or even generations. On Friday evening, the Northeast Georgia community will have an opportunity to remember those families and the American service members who were prisoners of war or never returned home. The Grant-Reeves Veterans Honor Guard will host a POW/MIA Remembrance Day ceremony at 6 p.m. Frida

Fall planting season is approaching, and North Georgia Technical College is giving area gardeners an opportunity to add something new to their landscapes while supporting students at the same time. The NGTC Horticulture Plant Sale will be held September 28 through October 1 at the college’s Clarkesville campus. The four-day sale will be open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day and will feature a variety of plants suitable for home gardens and landscapes. Shoppers can expect to

An afternoon of professional choral music is coming to Demorest as Lux, Northeast Georgia’s professional treble choir, takes the stage at Piedmont University. The ensemble will present “The Shape of Time” on Sunday, October 4, at 3 p.m. in the Piedmont University Chapel. The concert is free and open to the community. Rather than simply presenting a collection of choral works, the program will explore the different ways people experience time—from memories of the past and anti

By: Nora Almazan There are moments that divide life into before and after. For Cooper Boydstun and his family, that moment came at their home in Macon, during something Cooper had done countless times before. He dove into the family swimming pool. This time, however, the water level was lower than usual. With floats covering portions of the pool, Cooper misjudged the depth. In an instant, the husband and father of two suffered a devastating C6 fracture in his neck. Cooper cou

For seven days this September, Christians across denominations, communities and national borders are joining together with one common purpose: prayer. The Global Week of 24-7 Prayer is underway September 6–13, with organizers seeking to create an unbroken chain of prayer spanning nations around the world. Organized by the international 24-7 Prayer movement, the initiative encourages churches, groups and individuals to establish prayer rooms where participants sign up for diff

Abu, Habersham County Sheriff's Office's newest member (Habersham County) There’s a new four-legged member of the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office preparing to carry on an important job. K9 Abu, an explosives ordnance detection dog from Hungary, is now training alongside experienced EOD handler Lt. Eugene Kemp, stepping into the role held by K9 Roxy since 2018. Roxy officially retired from active duty on August 31, closing out more than eight years of service with the Sherif

Adults looking for a little creative downtime can trade the rush of everyday life for crafting and relaxation this September at Unicoi State Park. The park will host an Adult Only Crafting Hour every Thursday throughout September, offering participants a chance to step away from their normal routine and spend an hour creating, relaxing and enjoying some grown-up time. The crafting sessions will be held from noon to 1 p.m. at the Visitor Center. Organizers describe the weekly

A public hearing concerning a proposed eminent domain proceeding by the City of Demorest has been rescheduled. The hearing, originally scheduled for September 1 at 7 p.m., will now be held Wednesday, September 16, at 6 p.m. in the Demorest City Council Chambers at 250 Alabama Street. The hearing concerns a proposal to use eminent domain as part of an effort to expand the City of Demorest’s water system. According to the city's public notice, the property involved is identifie

The Baldwin City Council will consider an annexation and rezoning request from Cook Construction when members meet Tuesday, September 1. The council meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the Baldwin Municipal Courtroom, 155 Willingham Avenue. A public hearing on the Cook Construction annexation and rezoning petition is scheduled during the meeting, providing an opportunity for public input before council members consider the matter. The agenda does not provide additional information ab

Cornelia city leaders will meet Tuesday with decisions involving property taxes, land-use regulations and city property on the table. The Cornelia City Commission’s September 1 meeting will include a public hearing giving residents an opportunity to comment on the city’s proposed millage rate before commissioners take further action. The meeting agenda does not list the proposed rate, leaving details about what Cornelia property owners could see in the coming year to be prese