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Officials from the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office said Flock surveillance cameras were able to find the suspect’s vehicle near the scene at the time of the burglary.

Officials from the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office said Flock surveillance cameras were able to find the suspect’s vehicle near the scene at the time of the burglary.

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Drug store burglary suspect is arrested

Matt Aiken
Thursday, July 3, 2025
A suspected drug store burglar was caught by authorities less than 48 hours after allegedly tunneling through the back of a local pharmacy and escaping into the night with thousands of prescription pills in hand, according to officials with the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office.
Lumpkin County Commissioner Rhett Stringer and former Lumpkin Republican Party Chair Katherine James have announced their candidacy for the position of Lumpkin County Commission Chair in the 2026 election.

Lumpkin County Commissioner Rhett Stringer and former Lumpkin Republican Party Chair Katherine James have announced their candidacy for the position of Lumpkin County Commission Chair in the 2026 election.

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ELECTION: County commission chair race unfolds

Keith Murden
Thursday, July 3, 2025
July is ushering in a whole new round of political fireworks.  In exclusive interviews with The Nugget, former Lumpkin County Republican Party Chair Katherine James and current Lumpkin County Commissioner Rhett Stringer have both announced their intentions to compete for County Chair next year.
The Nugget staff returned from the GPA convention with awards for journalism and advertising. Pictured, from left, are Matt Aiken, Keith Murden, John Bynum, Carrie Bennett, Chauna Utterback and Eligha Roper.

The Nugget staff returned from the GPA convention with awards for journalism and advertising. Pictured, from left, are Matt Aiken, Keith Murden, John Bynum, Carrie Bennett, Chauna Utterback and Eligha Roper.

The Nugget takes top honors at Georgia Press Awards

News Staff
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Call it a journalistic two-peat. For the second year in a row The Dahlonega Nugget took top honors at the Georgia Press Association banquet, netting first place for General Excellence while also coming away with 17 individual awards during a well-attended ceremony on Jekyll Island Friday night.
Lumpkin County Middle School students are now eligible for $6,500 in state funds that would assist in the switch to private school.

Lumpkin County Middle School students are now eligible for $6,500 in state funds that would assist in the switch to private school.

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School voucher program could give LCMS students $6.5K for switching

News Staff
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
By Ty Tagami & Matt Aiken  /  Capitol Beat News & The Nugget  -----------------  This fall, thousands of Georgia students will attend a private school or study at home, and state government will help them pay for it.
The local school system is having to look for ways to meet its budget while dealing with increasing costs for health insurance and other needs.

The local school system is having to look for ways to meet its budget while dealing with increasing costs for health insurance and other needs.

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School board passes $57 million dollar budget

Keith Murden
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
In the current state of the economy, it’s costing more to do the same job. And the local school system isn’t immune from the wide-spread increase in costs for goods and services. That was one of the major themes at last Monday’s Lumpkin County Board of Education meeting.
Former Lumpkin County Veterans Affairs Committee Chair Bill Poole was on hand to accept “Paint the Tank” donations in person during this year’s Memorial Day ceremony on May 26.

Former Lumpkin County Veterans Affairs Committee Chair Bill Poole was on hand to accept “Paint the Tank” donations in person during this year’s Memorial Day ceremony on May 26.

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Tank rehab fundraiser is ready to roll

Keith Murden
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
There’s a local damsel in distress named “Lady Lumpkin,” and the Veterans Committee needs your help saving her.  The lady in question just so happens to be an M60A3, a retired military tank that preceded the third-generation M1 Abrams.
The University of North Georgia plans to probe the cause of unusually high thyroid cancer cases in the northeastern portion of the state, with the help of North Georgia Health Systems. Pictured is the UNG Health & Natural Sciences building in Dahlonega.

The University of North Georgia plans to probe the cause of unusually high thyroid cancer cases in the northeastern portion of the state, with the help of North Georgia Health Systems. Pictured is the UNG Health & Natural Sciences building in Dahlonega.

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Local cancer rate leads to further research

Keith Murden
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
A collaborative effort between the University of North Georgia and North Georgia Health Systems is set to explore possible causes of a higher-than-average rate of thyroid cancer in six counties across the northeast Georgia region, including Lumpkin.
Zeke Perkins holds his ground as Aiden Hawkins practices a thunderous kick during Hapkido practice.

Zeke Perkins holds his ground as Aiden Hawkins practices a thunderous kick during Hapkido practice.

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Hapkido is a martial art meant to benefit everyone

Eligha Roper
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
There’s a new martial arts gym on the rise in Dahlonega: Choe’s HapKiDo. Led by instructor Jim Haven, the dojang aims to improve mental and physical toughness while also teaching self-defense.   The Nugget caught up with Instructor Haven to learn more.
Participants in Saturday’s “No Kings” protest included (from left) Lumpkin County Democratic Party Chair Roger Smith, Bobbi Martin, Katherine Russell and Destiny Phagan.

Participants in Saturday’s “No Kings” protest included (from left) Lumpkin County Democratic Party Chair Roger Smith, Bobbi Martin, Katherine Russell and Destiny Phagan.

‘No Kings’ protestors spend day on the square

Keith Murden
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
By Keith Murden The Nugget The designated “Free Speech Zone” in the center of Dahlonega’s historic square was home to a controversial, but peaceful, protest Saturday.
Iraq War veterans Zac Chamblee (left) and Andrew Goldsmith reunited in Dahlonega before Goldsmith, a California native, embarked on a 220-mile, state-spanning trek.

Iraq War veterans Zac Chamblee (left) and Andrew Goldsmith reunited in Dahlonega before Goldsmith, a California native, embarked on a 220-mile, state-spanning trek.

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Veteran’s trek across state departs from Dahlonega

Keith Murden
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
If the only forms of transportation you had available to you were a skateboard and a kayak, where would you choose to travel? Dahlonega was the destination of choice for U.S. Army Ranger and Iraq War veteran Andrew Goldsmith, who decided to make the Peach State the site of his next big adventure.