At the recent City Council meeting, Faith Mihok, of Faithfully Testify, reiterated that she had done everything that was asked of her to secure the Hancock Park pavilion on Halloween night. Sabrina Walker (left) of Spirits Tavern has hosted an event in the park for two years on the same evening.

At the recent City Council meeting, Faith Mihok, of Faithfully Testify, reiterated that she had done everything that was asked of her to secure the Hancock Park pavilion on Halloween night. Sabrina Walker (left) of Spirits Tavern has hosted an event in the park for two years on the same evening.

City makes decision on Halloween event dilemma

Big changes are on the way to a wooded stretch of land that borders Pinetree Recreation Center and Cottrell Elementary School after the Dahlonega City Council unanimously approved a measure last Monday that will pave the way for a new 125-unit housing development between Pinetree Way and...
Local lifeguards like Summer Smith are ready to keep attendees safe at the Pinetree Recreation Center, as families are ready to dive into the pool this summer.

Local lifeguards like Summer Smith are ready to keep attendees safe at the Pinetree Recreation Center, as families are ready to dive into the pool this summer.

Pool patrol is ready at Pinetree Rec Center

With summertime just getting underway, people are eager to get back in the water as the long days...
The local R-Ranch hosted the 37th annual Mountain Top Rodeo last weekend. Fans packed the stands and top riders from all over attended the event. Pictured: Tate Minor competes in the saddle bronc event.

The local R-Ranch hosted the 37th annual Mountain Top Rodeo last weekend. Fans packed the stands and top riders from all over attended the event. Pictured: Tate Minor competes in the saddle bronc event.

Mountain Top Rodeo returns to R-Ranch

Once every year, the local hills at the R-Ranch awake with the sound of cheers as The Mountain Top...
Jonathon, Sarah, and Jonathon Barge Jr., who goes by “J,” are all smiles having learned that Jonathon Barge won the Winter 2022 Lake Living cover contest for the picture of “J” in the family’s 1972 Alumacraft fishing boat “catching snowflakes instead of fish” on Lake Burton in January 2022. Enoch Autry, publisher of The Clayton Tribune in Rabun County, right, hands the family the $100 prize for winning the contest. (Photo by Megan Broome)

Jonathon, Sarah, and Jonathon Barge Jr., who goes by “J,” are all smiles having learned that Jonathon Barge won the Winter 2022 Lake Living cover contest for the picture of “J” in the family’s 1972 Alumacraft fishing boat “catching snowflakes instead of fish” on Lake Burton in January 2022. Enoch Autry, publisher of The Clayton Tribune in Rabun County, right, hands the family the $100 prize for winning the contest. (Photo by Megan Broome)

Snowflakes instead of fish leads to Lake Living Winter 2022 cover

By Megan Broome / CNI News Service  ---------------  Northeast Georgia offers many picture-perfect...
Cornelia resident Donna Shirley receives her $100 prize money from Alan NeSmith, Community Newspapers Inc. chairman. Shirley’s photograph of the double waterfalls that make up Anna Ruby Falls graces the cover of the 2023 summer edition of The Mountain Traveler magazine. (Photo/Kimberly Brown)

Cornelia resident Donna Shirley receives her $100 prize money from Alan NeSmith, Community Newspapers Inc. chairman. Shirley’s photograph of the double waterfalls that make up Anna Ruby Falls graces the cover of the 2023 summer edition of The Mountain Traveler magazine. (Photo/Kimberly Brown)

Chasing waterfalls leads to winning Mountain Traveler cover photo

By Kimberly Brown  ----------  One of the things Donna Shirley of Cornelia loves most is traveling...
At the recent City Council meeting, Faith Mihok, of Faithfully Testify, reiterated that she had done everything that was asked of her to secure the Hancock Park pavilion on Halloween night. Sabrina Walker (left) of Spirits Tavern has hosted an event in the park for two years on the same evening.

At the recent City Council meeting, Faith Mihok, of Faithfully Testify, reiterated that she had done everything that was asked of her to secure the Hancock Park pavilion on Halloween night. Sabrina Walker (left) of Spirits Tavern has hosted an event in the park for two years on the same evening.

Big changes are on the way to a wooded stretch of land that borders Pinetree Recreation Center and Cottrell Elementary School after the Dahlonega City Council unanimously approved a measure last Monday that will pave the way for a new 125-unit housing development between Pinetree Way and…
The local R-Ranch hosted the 37th annual Mountain Top Rodeo last weekend. Fans packed the stands and top riders from all over attended the event. Pictured: Tate Minor competes in the saddle bronc event.

The local R-Ranch hosted the 37th annual Mountain Top Rodeo last weekend. Fans packed the stands and top riders from all over attended the event. Pictured: Tate Minor competes in the saddle bronc event.

Once every year, the local hills at the R-Ranch awake with the sound of cheers as The Mountain Top Rodeo rolls into town. Against the beautiful back drop of the mountains, aspiring cowboys and cowgirls attempt to stake claim to the top spot across several different events including bull riding,…
The Dahlonega City Council unanimously approved of a measure that will pave the way for a new 125-unit neighborhood off Pinetree Way.

The Dahlonega City Council unanimously approved of a measure that will pave the way for a new 125-unit neighborhood off Pinetree Way.

Big changes are on the way to a wooded stretch of land that borders Pinetree Recreation Center and Cottrell Elementary School after the Dahlonega City Council unanimously approved a measure last Monday that will pave the way for a new 125-unit housing development between Pinetree Way and…
The aging Field 5 concession stand at Parks & Rec will be getting a facelift in the coming months.

The aging Field 5 concession stand at Parks & Rec will be getting a facelift in the coming months.

There will be a spiffy new spot to purchase peanuts and Cracker Jack at Yahoola Creek Park, that’s because plans to refurbish an aging concession stand next to baseball Field 5 are finally ready to proceed to the construction phase.During their May regular session, the Lumpkin County Board of…
Lumpkin County wrestlers Natalie (left) and Mathiel Mendoza share a fun moment ahead of one of their matches.

Lumpkin County wrestlers Natalie (left) and Mathiel Mendoza share a fun moment ahead of one of their matches.

Two local sisters and Lumpkin County High School wrestlers Mathiel and Natalie Mendoza recently traveled with their club team MF Angles to compete at the NHSCA National Duals in Virginia Beach from May 23 to 25. The tournament is known for its intensity and deep talent pool, yet it also offers…
Local lifeguards like Summer Smith are ready to keep attendees safe at the Pinetree Recreation Center, as families are ready to dive into the pool this summer.

Local lifeguards like Summer Smith are ready to keep attendees safe at the Pinetree Recreation Center, as families are ready to dive into the pool this summer.

With summertime just getting underway, people are eager to get back in the water as the long days start to heat up; for the lifeguards at the Pinetree Recreation Center, the season brings excitement but also a renewed sense of responsibility. Before any guard can take on the job of protecting…
Bowen Aiken’s pet lizard Jumpy stares down Nugget reporter Eligha Roper as he prepares to feed him.

Bowen Aiken’s pet lizard Jumpy stares down Nugget reporter Eligha Roper as he prepares to feed him.

It all started with a text message. That’s how most questionable life choices begin.“Hey would you be able to dog/house/cat sit our place May 26 to 31?”I replied with the confidence of a man who had no idea what he was agreeing to: “Shouldn’t be a problem.”A day later came Text No. 2.“Hey also…
Lumpkin County School Nutrition staff recommendations included increasing paid meal prices, transferring money from the General Fund for the first time since 2022 and making some minor tweaks to the service delivery model.

Lumpkin County School Nutrition staff recommendations included increasing paid meal prices, transferring money from the General Fund for the first time since 2022 and making some minor tweaks to the service delivery model.

As the cost of food continues to spike nationwide, students and their parents will also be facing an increased financial burden for school meals in the 2026/2027 school year. At their regular session on May 11, the Lumpkin County Board of Education voted to approve a quarter increase in the…
Local voters cast their ballots at the Lumpkin County Parks & Rec building last week to decide a wide variety of races, many of which must still be decided in the upcoming June 16 runoff.

Local voters cast their ballots at the Lumpkin County Parks & Rec building last week to decide a wide variety of races, many of which must still be decided in the upcoming June 16 runoff.

The final day of reckoning has been extended by a few more weeks for several political candidates after last week’s Primary election failed to produce clear winners in a number of state and local contests.Registered voters may participate in the runoff contests on Tuesday, June 16, with early…
Lumpkin County runners Reagan Long, Maddox Henderson, Kellyn Coffer and Josie Webb broke their previously set school records in the 4x200 event at the State Championships.

Lumpkin County runners Reagan Long, Maddox Henderson, Kellyn Coffer and Josie Webb broke their previously set school records in the 4x200 event at the State Championships.

The Lumpkin County Track Team wrapped up a very successful season at the GHSA State Championships at the University of Georgia’s newly built Spec Towns Track on May 14. This year the squad qualified 22 individual athletes across all events for Sectionals and of those 22, ten advanced onward to…
Long Branch Elementary Assistant Principal Kendra Beckworth will finish out the 2025/2026 school year in her current role before transitioning to Principal of Cottrell Elementary School later this summer.

Long Branch Elementary Assistant Principal Kendra Beckworth will finish out the 2025/2026 school year in her current role before transitioning to Principal of Cottrell Elementary School later this summer.

While many elementary school students are looking forward to acquiring new clothes or supplies ahead of the next school year, Long Branch Assistant Principal Kendra Beckworth will be receiving something even more special: a brand new title.That’s because the long-serving local administrator will…