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By: Brian Wellmeier A longtime fixture in local athletics was recognized for more than five decades of service to youth sports at Habersham County’s Board of Commissioners meeting Monday, March 16, as community members honored Anthony King for his enduring impact on generations of young athletes. More than five decades after he first stepped into youth officiating, King remains an active presence in local athletics – a rarity in an era where turnover is constant and volunteer

Habersham County officials have announced the selection of Melanie Bellinger as the county’s new Emergency Management Agency (EMA) and 911 Director, bringing nearly three decades of experience in emergency communications and public safety leadership to the role. Bellinger’s career in public safety began in 1998 when she was hired as a Communications Officer. Over the years, she has steadily advanced through the ranks, serving in key positions including Senior Communications O

Photo: Habersham County Sheriff's Office/Rob Moore A press release issued by Ashlyn Brady, Habersham County Public Information Officer, confirmed that one person was hurt Friday afternoon in a single-vehicle wreck at Mile Marker 14 on Ga. 197 North near Batesville. Units from Habersham County Emergency Services and the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched at 3:57 p.m. Friday, with the callers who were passing by and noticed the vehicle down the embankment reporti

The community is invited to attend the Piedmont University String Orchestra’s spring concert on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. at the Piedmont University Chapel. The 30-member string ensemble, made up of Piedmont University students, faculty, and community musicians, will perform a selection of Baroque works by composers including Gluck, Vivaldi, and Valentini. Heather Strachan, director of the Piedmont University String Orchestra, will conduct the performance and also

Photo: Habersham County Sheriff's Office/Rob Moore An Alto man is facing numerous charges in Habersham County after deputies say he led law enforcement on a vehicle pursuit Thursday afternoon, March 19. Zachary Magowan, 32, has been charged with driving under the influence, two counts of fleeing or attempting to elude, too fast for conditions, failure to obey a stop sign, two counts of reckless driving, driving on the wrong side of the road, unsafe vehicle or equipment, impro

Hal Jacobs, Jerry Grillo, Greg White/Nora Almazan Baseball history took center stage in Demorest as community members gathered for a special premiere event celebrating the life and legacy of Hall of Famer Johnny Mize. Held at the Mason-Scharfenstein Museum of Art, Thursday, March 19th, the evening offered guests a first look at a powerful new documentary inspired by the book Big Cat: The Life of Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Mize by author Jerry Grillo. The film, directed by

By: Brian Wellmeier Photo: Habersham County Sheriff's Office Deputies with the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office were involved in a brief vehicle pursuit Thursday afternoon, March 19, that ended without injuries. According to authorities, the pursuit began just before 1 p.m. in Cornelia and continued onto Cannon Bridge Road. Deputies brought the situation to a safe conclusion within five minutes using a PIT (Precision Immobilization Technique) maneuver. Officials said no oth

By: Brian Wellmeier Photo: Habersham County Commissioners/Brian Wellmeier Residents provided input on proposed changes to the current draft of Habersham County’s unified development codes at a public hearing before commissioners Monday, March 16, as five people spoke in opposition. If approved in its current form, the overhaul of Habersham’s land-use regulations would replace the county’s current Comprehensive Land Development Ordinance, originally adopted in 1992, and poten

By: Brian Wellmeier Longtime Habersham Central football coach Benji Harrison has been selected for a new leadership role in athletics, expanding his duties beyond the sidelines as the district’s programs continue to grow. Habersham County’s Board of Education appointed Harrison as assistant athletic director at a regular meeting Monday, March 16, in a move officials say will strengthen day-to-day operations across all sports programs. Harrison will remain head coach of the H

By: Brian Wellmeier A temporary halt on residential development in Habersham County will remain in place through June following action by county leaders this week. The Habersham County Board of Commissioners voted Monday, March 16, to extend its moratorium on large-scale housing development in unincorporated areas. The pause, first enacted to give officials time to complete a comprehensive overhaul of the county’s development regulations, will stay in effect as work on the ne

By: Brian Wellmeier A North Georgia man wanted on multiple felony charges has been returned to Rabun County following his arrest out of state, authorities said. Deputies with the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office traveled to Texas on Monday, March 9 to take custody of 29-year-old Brennan Luke Fogarty under a Governor’s Warrant tied to charges filed by the Sky Valley Police Department. After completing extradition procedures, Fogarty was transported back to Georgia and booked into

White County Fire Services responded Saturday afternoon, March 14, to a reported structure fire in the Fuller Drive area near Cleveland. According to officials, crews were dispatched shortly after 12:00 p.m. after a caller reported a barn on fire behind Mossy Creek Baptist Church off Highway 254. Upon arrival, firefighters found the barn fully engulfed in flames, with a nearby vehicle also burning and a brush fire beginning to spread into the surrounding area. Firefighters qu

Pizza lovers and math enthusiasts alike can celebrate Pi Day at Your Pie on Friday, March 14, with a special offer honoring the mathematical constant π (3.14). Each year, the popular pizza franchise marks the occasion by turning the concept of the perfect circle into a community celebration centered around handcrafted, customizable pizzas. What began as a playful nod to the number 3.14 has grown into one of the brand’s most anticipated annual traditions. To celebrate, guests

By: Brian Wellmeier The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office has established its first in-house Crime Scene Investigations unit, a move officials say will strengthen criminal investigations and speed up the processing of evidence. The newly formed unit will operate within the sheriff’s office's Criminal Investigations Division. Crime Scene Technicians will assist investigators by processing scenes, collecting and preserving evidence and documenting critical details during investi

By: Brian Wellmeier The Habersham County School District could soon update its radio system for buses and facilities to significantly improve communication and student safety. The upgrade would allow the school system to join Habersham County’s existing radio network, enabling schools, buses and other government agencies to communicate on the same system during potential emergencies or day-to-day operations. Approval of the item would permit the purchase 131 radios for school

The White County Board of Education has announced the appointment of Jill Baughman as the new Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning for the White County School System. Baughman brings more than two decades of experience in education, with a strong background in instructional leadership, federal program management, and school administration. She currently serves as the district’s Director of Federal Programs, a role she has held since July 2023. In that position, s

By: Brian Wellmeier Photo: Habersham County Sheriff's Office A man sought in connection with an assault inside a Habersham County home Thursday morning was taken into custody hours later following a daylong manhunt in the Mud Creek community, according to the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities said Jonathan Lee Jordan was arrested around 6:50 p.m. Thursday, March 12, after numerous tips from the public helped deputies track his location. Investigators said multipl

By: Brian Wellmeier Authorities are actively searching for a man accused of assaulting someone inside a home Thursday morning in the Mud Creek Road area, according to the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies say the incident occurred around 7:45 a.m. Thursday, March 12, at a residence in the 3800 block of Mud Creek Road. The suspect reportedly fled the home on foot, prompting a manhunt involving multiple law enforcement units. The suspect is described as a white male w

Photo: Rabun County Detention Center An inmate at the Rabun County Detention Center escaped Monday morning but return approximately 15 minutes later according to the Rabun County Sheriff's Office. Officials state that Richard Jason Crump, 45, was assigned to an inmate work detail on Monday, March 9, when he used a tool shed to climb over a rear section of the facility’s outer perimeter fence shortly after 8:00 a.m. Authorities said that once outside the secure area, Crump tra

The Baldwin Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying three individuals connected to an incident involving fraudulent checks and a hit-and-run accident. According to authorities, the initial incident occurred on Friday, March 6, 2026, at a business located off Willingham Avenue in Baldwin. Police say the suspects were involved in cashing fraudulent checks before leaving the scene. Shortly after departing the business, the suspects were involved in a mot