Local

Pictured at left: Breedlove Land Planning Project Manager Laurel LaCroix and Principal Landscape Architect Alan Wieczynski present the latest revisions to a planned Native American Park at the corner of Rock House Road and Hwy. 52 East. Also pictured: a 3D SketchUp rendering depicts an open-air pavilion loosely modeled after a Cherokee Seven-Sided Council House. It would be constructed out of peeled lumber, with a synthetic cedar shake roof.

Pictured at left: Breedlove Land Planning Project Manager Laurel LaCroix and Principal Landscape Architect Alan Wieczynski present the latest revisions to a planned Native American Park at the corner of Rock House Road and Hwy. 52 East. Also pictured: a 3D SketchUp rendering depicts an open-air pavilion loosely modeled after a Cherokee Seven-Sided Council House. It would be constructed out of peeled lumber, with a synthetic cedar shake roof.

Exclusive Content

Native American Park plan will see redesign

Keith Murden
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Plans for a new Native American Park at the corner of Hwy. 52 East and Rock House Road are undergoing a redesign, which could cause the County to scrap a previously-accepted bid for site work.The news broke last Tuesday during the Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners’ first work session of the...
Pictured from left: Tidal Wave Auto Spa Manager Mat Conard, Assistant Manager Tim O’Brien ConnectAbility Director of Community Connections Kim Bell and Director of Innovation & Operations Bird Brown are ready to clean up for charity on September 18.

Pictured from left: Tidal Wave Auto Spa Manager Mat Conard, Assistant Manager Tim O’Brien ConnectAbility Director of Community Connections Kim Bell and Director of Innovation & Operations Bird Brown are ready to clean up for charity on September 18.

Exclusive Content

Local carwash makes a splash with fundraiser

Keith Murden
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Tidal Wave Auto Spa is ready to clean up for a great cause right here in Dahlonega during their 18th Annual Charity Day.Each year, the Georgia-based company donates all of the proceeds earned from individual car washes sold at its locations during a single day of fundraising.This year, the event...
Event organizers (pictured, from left) Alana Furney, Linda Sanchez, Paula Payne and Ridge Cole look ahead to CHP’s free Community Health Day on Saturday, September 12.

Event organizers (pictured, from left) Alana Furney, Linda Sanchez, Paula Payne and Ridge Cole look ahead to CHP’s free Community Health Day on Saturday, September 12.

Exclusive Content

LCHS athlete kick-starts community health event

Eligha Roper
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Lumpkin County High School senior Ridge Cole has built a reputation for his success on the soccer field. But during the off‑season, he’s been focused on a different kind of work.
Sam Zamarripa and Leslie Kirschner will soon be delving into all things pawpaw at an upcoming special event at Doghobble Wine Farm.

Sam Zamarripa and Leslie Kirschner will soon be delving into all things pawpaw at an upcoming special event at Doghobble Wine Farm.

Exclusive Content

Pawpaw pride in season at local wine farm

News Staff
Thursday, September 3, 2026
By Natalee Schiffhauer & Matt Aiken / The Nugget ---------  Everyone knows Lumpkin County is the gold capital of Georgia.
University of North Georgia President Mike Shannon has been announced as a finalist by the University of North Florida’s Presidential Search Committee. Shannon remains at UNG currently.

University of North Georgia President Mike Shannon has been announced as a finalist by the University of North Florida’s Presidential Search Committee. Shannon remains at UNG currently.

Exclusive Content

University president may be on the move

Keith Murden
Thursday, September 3, 2026
University of North Georgia President Mike Shannon could be trading the cool, mountain air of Dahlonega for the sandy beaches and ocean waves of Jacksonville.Word quickly spread that Shannon had been officially named a finalist by the University of North Florida’s Presidential Search Committee...
An error in the billing of certain senior homesteads in 2025 led to an approximately $880,000 shortfall in 2026 property tax collections, while a separate 2025 digest error by the Tax Commissioner related to public utilities caused County staff to overestimate 2026 revenues by $485,000.

An error in the billing of certain senior homesteads in 2025 led to an approximately $880,000 shortfall in 2026 property tax collections, while a separate 2025 digest error by the Tax Commissioner related to public utilities caused County staff to overestimate 2026 revenues by $485,000.

Exclusive Content

Tax blunders proving costly for County

Keith Murden
Thursday, September 3, 2026
New information has surfaced regarding two costly errors in the calculation of Lumpkin County’s 2025 property taxes, prompting concerns about the lingering budget implications and why neither error was flagged by the office of local Tax Commissioner Mike Young.On August 12, The Nugget reported on a...
Lumpkin County Finance Directory Abby Branan (center) speaks to the Board of Commissioners during an August 7 special called meeting. Ultimately, the Board settled on a scaled-back 2027 budget of $34,674,700 with a full rollback of the local millage rate used to calculate real estate property taxes.

Lumpkin County Finance Directory Abby Branan (center) speaks to the Board of Commissioners during an August 7 special called meeting. Ultimately, the Board settled on a scaled-back 2027 budget of $34,674,700 with a full rollback of the local millage rate used to calculate real estate property taxes.

Exclusive Content

County budget sets sights on the rollback millage rate

Keith Murden
Thursday, August 27, 2026
Following extensive budget discussions held earlier this month, the Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners has published notice of its intent to rollback the 2026 millage rate for the Unincorporated area of the County to 7.732.
Georgia Film Office Project Manager Craig Dominey addressed members of The Northeast Georgia Mountain Travel Association during an August seminar at The Holly Theatre. “We always encourage community involvement with our industry. If we don’t know what you have, we can’t promote you. That’s the bottom line,” Dominey said.

Georgia Film Office Project Manager Craig Dominey addressed members of The Northeast Georgia Mountain Travel Association during an August seminar at The Holly Theatre. “We always encourage community involvement with our industry. If we don’t know what you have, we can’t promote you. That’s the bottom line,” Dominey said.

Exclusive Content

Local film industry is focus of seminar

Keith Murden
Thursday, August 27, 2026
If you own an interesting or unique property in Lumpkin County that you would like to see featured in an upcoming film or television program, the Georgia Film Office is ready to help.It all starts with the Georgia Film Tax Credit, a 20 to 30 percent transferable credit on one or more of a studio’s...
City Manager Allison Martin discusses the proposed 2026-2027 budget with members of the Dahlonega City Council.

City Manager Allison Martin discusses the proposed 2026-2027 budget with members of the Dahlonega City Council.

Exclusive Content

City Council considers police force increase

JOHN BYNUM
Thursday, August 27, 2026
Chief George Albert is asking for backup, that’s the idea behind a budget request that would allow for two new full-time officers at the Dahlonega Police Department.
Patton Hahn stands at the podium during a packed Lumpkin County Planning Commission meeting last Monday.

Patton Hahn stands at the podium during a packed Lumpkin County Planning Commission meeting last Monday.

Exclusive Content

Residents object to new Verizon cell tower proposal

Matt Aiken
Thursday, August 20, 2026
It was an extra-chair kind of meeting for the Lumpkin County Planning Commission last Monday as the possibility of a new Verizon cell tower loomed over the proceedings.Administrator Martin Durand brought in the additional seating as the room was packed with attendees who were ready, willing and...