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LEFT: Lumpkin County Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Bill Poole has worked with community partners to bring The Wall That Heals traveling memorial to Dahlonega this week. RIGHT: Poole is pictured in Vietnam with some local allies.

LEFT: Lumpkin County Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Bill Poole has worked with community partners to bring The Wall That Heals traveling memorial to Dahlonega this week. RIGHT: Poole is pictured in Vietnam with some local allies.

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Veteran recalls stories from service in Vietnam

Keith Murden
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
The fundraising targets have been met and exceeded. All of the necessary volunteer slots have been filled. And The Wall That Heals, a traveling three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., is finally set to roll into the City of Dahlonega on Wednesday.
Megan Carden has been selected as the 2025 Teacher of the Year representing the local school district. Carden teaches seventh grade math and coaches cheerleading at Lumpkin County Middle School.

Megan Carden has been selected as the 2025 Teacher of the Year representing the local school district. Carden teaches seventh grade math and coaches cheerleading at Lumpkin County Middle School.

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Carden named school system Teacher of the Year

Keith Murden
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Lumpkin County Middle School math teacher and cheerleading coach Megan Carden has been selected as the 2025 Teacher of the Year, not only for LCMS but for the entire Lumpkin County School System.
Manager Phil Sarnowski oversees last minute Monday afternoon preparations at the long-awaited Publix on Maxwell Lane.

Manager Phil Sarnowski oversees last minute Monday afternoon preparations at the long-awaited Publix on Maxwell Lane.

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New Publix now open in Lumpkin County

Matt Aiken
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Lumpkin County has officially gained a new grocery store. The long-awaited grand opening ceremony of Publix was scheduled, after press-time, for Wednesday morning at 7 a.m.
Senator Steve Gooch reads aloud the text of Senate Resolution 609, which codifies the legend of a Cherokee woman named Trahlyta and authorizes the DOT to erect and maintain its own signage at Stone Pile Gap.

Senator Steve Gooch reads aloud the text of Senate Resolution 609, which codifies the legend of a Cherokee woman named Trahlyta and authorizes the DOT to erect and maintain its own signage at Stone Pile Gap.

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Stone Pile dedication shines light on local legend

Keith Murden
Wednesday, October 23, 2024
A recent dedication ceremony for Princess Trahlyta Circle in Dahlonega has rekindled talk of a local legend while simultaneously kick-starting a broader effort to embrace the area’s Native American history and heritage.
LEFT: “Donut Dollie” Liz Mangum served the troops in Vietnam for a year as part of the American Red Cross. RIGHT: Mangum said the Red Cross always held a ribbon-cutting when a new recreation center opened, like this one for the First Air Cavalry Division in An Khê, Vietnam.

LEFT: “Donut Dollie” Liz Mangum served the troops in Vietnam for a year as part of the American Red Cross. RIGHT: Mangum said the Red Cross always held a ribbon-cutting when a new recreation center opened, like this one for the First Air Cavalry Division in An Khê, Vietnam.

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Red Cross volunteer recalls Vietnam service

Keith Murden
Wednesday, October 23, 2024
Dahlonega resident Liz Mangum made a critical contribution to the American war effort in Vietnam, but not in any of the branches of the armed forces.
Robb Nichols, the Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director and Lumpkin County Development Authority Director, addresses the crowd at last week’s event. He said a book by retired General Stanley McChrystal called Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World has influenced his philosophy on economic development.

Robb Nichols, the Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director and Lumpkin County Development Authority Director, addresses the crowd at last week’s event. He said a book by retired General Stanley McChrystal called Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World has influenced his philosophy on economic development.

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Development authorities discuss local growth

Keith Murden
Wednesday, October 23, 2024
It seems like growth is an inescapable word in nearly any conversation about the future of Dahlonega these days, and that proved to be the case once again last Thursday during the annual State of Economic Development luncheon held at the University of North Georgia Banquet Hall.
Georgia Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch explains a proposed statewide constitutional amendment that would cap future property tax assessment increases.

Georgia Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch explains a proposed statewide constitutional amendment that would cap future property tax assessment increases.

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Tax changes could lead to homestead exemption

Keith Murden
Thursday, October 17, 2024
As early voting in the November 5 general election kicks off in Georgia this week, recent public meetings have begun to shed light on one of two proposed constitutional amendments appearing on the ballot.
Early voting is underway at the Lumpkin County Elections Office at 56 Short Street. The last day of early voting will be Friday, November 1 before election day on Tuesday, November 5 at Parks & Rec.

Early voting is underway at the Lumpkin County Elections Office at 56 Short Street. The last day of early voting will be Friday, November 1 before election day on Tuesday, November 5 at Parks & Rec.

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Voting starts, local election supervisor steps down

Matt Aiken
Thursday, October 17, 2024
Early voting is now underway in Lumpkin County, but Brittani Conner won’t be overseeing it after the Election Supervisor and Chief Registrar stepped down last week.
LEFT: Retired U.S. Army Colonel Hal Williams is pictured outside of the historic Holly Theater, where he served as an original board member. RIGHT: A page from Williams’ journal, titled “Memory of South Vietnam,” depicts the charismatic officer interacting with the local population.

LEFT: Retired U.S. Army Colonel Hal Williams is pictured outside of the historic Holly Theater, where he served as an original board member. RIGHT: A page from Williams’ journal, titled “Memory of South Vietnam,” depicts the charismatic officer interacting with the local population.

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Wall That Heals will honor Vietnam veterans

Keith Murden
Thursday, October 17, 2024
By Keith Murden The Nugget Holly Theater Chairman Emeritus and Vietnam veteran Hal Williams knows full well the high cost of military service, both in lives and treasure. Williams, an Army Special Forces officer, was fortunate enough to retire from service as an O-6 full colonel.
Sheriff Stacy Jarrard and volunteer relief organizer Donald Hupp are pictured in front of their second hurricane supply trailer last Thursday. By Monday, the same trailer was completely filled and headed for a church in Asheville, North Carolina.

Sheriff Stacy Jarrard and volunteer relief organizer Donald Hupp are pictured in front of their second hurricane supply trailer last Thursday. By Monday, the same trailer was completely filled and headed for a church in Asheville, North Carolina.

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Community pitches in for hurricane help

Keith Murden
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
The local community has come together with a true sense of purpose to assist Hurricane Helene victims in North Carolina. The effort was kicked off in earnest by Lumpkin County Schools bus driver Donald Hupp, who faced major flooding himself when he lived in West Virginia years ago.