Local

A posthumous exhibit featuring the work of Dr. Alice Sampson-Cordle will start Tuesday, October 28. Joel Cordle said his wife’s “personal favorite photo” was taken at a farm near Bishop, Ga. “Goats get a lot of people’s attention—You don’t see goats in The Nugget every week.”

A posthumous exhibit featuring the work of Dr. Alice Sampson-Cordle will start Tuesday, October 28. Joel Cordle said his wife’s “personal favorite photo” was taken at a farm near Bishop, Ga. “Goats get a lot of people’s attention—You don’t see goats in The Nugget every week.”

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Photography exhibit honors legacy of Dr. Alice Sampson-Cordle

Keith Murden
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
A large trove of unpublished photographs and other artistic expressions from former University of North Georgia faculty member and Georgia Applachian Studies Center founder Dr. Alice Sampson-Cordle will be on display at the historic Vickery House starting on Tuesday, October 28.
A new 3D model of the planned Veterans Memorial Cemetery depicts an entrance off of Blackburn Road.

A new 3D model of the planned Veterans Memorial Cemetery depicts an entrance off of Blackburn Road.

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Donations are making new Veterans Cemetery closer to reality

Keith Murden
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
A major fundraising effort to build a Lumpkin County Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Blackburn Road is picking up momentum, and local Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Stan Kelley wants the public to know that every dollar donated toward the effort effectively counts twice.
Tarpon Towers representative Andy Rotenstreich discusses a proposal that would make way for a new 240-foot cell tower off Hightower Church Road.

Tarpon Towers representative Andy Rotenstreich discusses a proposal that would make way for a new 240-foot cell tower off Hightower Church Road.

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New 240-foot cell tower on the horizon for Lumpkin

Matt Aiken
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
"Can you hear me now" -- if you’re making a call in the Hightower Church Road area, there’s a good chance the answer is no, but that may change soon as the Lumpkin County Planning Commission recently approved a variance request that will pave the way for a new 240-foot cell tower on a 13 acre plot...
Local couple Marvin and JoAnne Martin will preside over this weekend’s Gold Rush Days Festival as 2025 King and Queen.

Local couple Marvin and JoAnne Martin will preside over this weekend’s Gold Rush Days Festival as 2025 King and Queen.

Gold Rush 2025 King and Queen have always loved Dahlonega

Keith Murden
Thursday, October 16, 2025
“It was a big surprise," JoAnne Martin repeated as she recalled the moment she and her husband Marvin found out that they would be Queen and King of this year’s annual Gold Rush Days festival.  “Ms. [Mallory] Odom gave me a call.
Candidates for Dahlonega City County Post 1 Tom Gordineer (left) and Tony Owens share their thoughts in The Nugget’s Q-&-A this week.

Candidates for Dahlonega City County Post 1 Tom Gordineer (left) and Tony Owens share their thoughts in The Nugget’s Q-&-A this week.

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City Council candidates weigh in on local growth

Matt Aiken
Thursday, October 16, 2025
The race for City Council is well underway., and so is early voting. Now that the polls are officially open, The Nugget caught up with Post 1 contenders Tony Owens and Tom Gordineer for a Dahlonega-themed Q-&-A.
Warren Welch, Project Manager for The Overlook development, answers questions from the public about his amended PUD zoning proposal during a packed meeting of the Dahlonega Planning Commission.

Warren Welch, Project Manager for The Overlook development, answers questions from the public about his amended PUD zoning proposal during a packed meeting of the Dahlonega Planning Commission.

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Housing development hearing brings crowd to City Hall

Keith Murden
Thursday, October 16, 2025
Traffic congestion on local highways is getting more and more difficult for residents to ignore, while new residential developments continue to pop up throughout both Dahlonega and Lumpkin County. With no state plan on the horizon to improve Morrison Moore Parkway or the stretch of Hwy.
Henry ‘Doc’ Johnson has been named the 2025 Gold Rush Grand Marshal and will emcee his final festival next week.

Henry ‘Doc’ Johnson has been named the 2025 Gold Rush Grand Marshal and will emcee his final festival next week.

Gold Rush emcee ‘Doc’ Johnson to host one final festival

JOHN BYNUM
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
A 25-year anniversary is usually considered “silver,” but for the emcee of Gold Rush Days, Henry ‘Doc’ Johnson, this one is nothing short of golden. The recognizable face of the festival plans to make this his final run onstage at the annual downtown Dahlonega event.
A downtown crowd braved the misty weather for a ceremony honoring the memory of Charlie Kirk on Sunday night.

A downtown crowd braved the misty weather for a ceremony honoring the memory of Charlie Kirk on Sunday night.

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Tribute for Charlie Kirk draws downtown crowd

Matt Aiken
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Downtown Dahlonega’s Hancock Park played host to an evening of worship, remembrance and a noticeably heightened law enforcement presence last Sunday night.
WWII veteran and Lumpkin resident Arthur Hugh “Pete” Hardy turns 100 on October 14. His unit received a Presidential Citation for extraordinary heroism during the Battle of the Bulge. He is pictured at home with his neighbor and close friend Lee Tidmore. (Far right: an Army photo shows Hardy in France shortly before returning home.)

WWII veteran and Lumpkin resident Arthur Hugh “Pete” Hardy turns 100 on October 14. His unit received a Presidential Citation for extraordinary heroism during the Battle of the Bulge. He is pictured at home with his neighbor and close friend Lee Tidmore. (Far right: an Army photo shows Hardy in France shortly before returning home.)

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100-year-old veteran ‘Pete’ Hardy celebrates milestone birthday

Keith Murden
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
World War II veteran Arthur “Pete” Hardy is commemorating a very special milestone on Tuesday, October 14: that’s when the Lumpkin County resident and Battle of the Bulge survivor will officially turn 100 years old.
Guest speaker Dr. Andrew Leavitt discusses how genealogy led to his own interest in the Bayeux Tapestry.

Guest speaker Dr. Andrew Leavitt discusses how genealogy led to his own interest in the Bayeux Tapestry.

University hosts historic tapestry presentation

Keith Murden
Saturday, October 4, 2025
The University of North Georgia recently hosted, for the third consecutive year, their famous Bayeux Tapestry Replica, the only full-size replica of its kind in the United States.