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Candida Petite presents her plan for a new farm-friendly development called Mountain Sanctuary Ranch to the members of the Lumpkin County Planning Commission.

Candida Petite presents her plan for a new farm-friendly development called Mountain Sanctuary Ranch to the members of the Lumpkin County Planning Commission.

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Planning Commission approves mini-farm subdivision

Matt Aiken
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Candida Petite says she’s trying to build more than a subdivision: “What I’m trying to do is create a subtle thoughtful place that is living with nature,” said the British native and Dahlonega resident while addressing the Lumpkin County Planning Commission last Monday.
Betsy Franck (pictured) and the rest of Athens-based band Bloodkin are ready to take the stage at the historic Holly Theatre for the first time ever on Friday, March 13. Franck is hopeful that a big turnout will boost the likelihood of other high-profile concerts coming to town.

Betsy Franck (pictured) and the rest of Athens-based band Bloodkin are ready to take the stage at the historic Holly Theatre for the first time ever on Friday, March 13. Franck is hopeful that a big turnout will boost the likelihood of other high-profile concerts coming to town.

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Band aims to boost local music scene

Keith Murden
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
It’s been 40 years since childhood friends and West Virginia natives Eric Carter and Daniel Hutchens played their first gig in Athens, Georgia, under the moniker “Bloodkin.
Sheriff Stacy Jarrard, far left, and Major Doug Cochran, far right, present the LCSO Life Saving Award to Sgt. Tristan Burnett, left, and Deputy Daniel Garguilo during a special meeting last month.

Sheriff Stacy Jarrard, far left, and Major Doug Cochran, far right, present the LCSO Life Saving Award to Sgt. Tristan Burnett, left, and Deputy Daniel Garguilo during a special meeting last month.

LCSO officers honored for life-saving actions

Matt Aiken
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Twelve minutes . . . that’s how long Deputy Daniel Garguilo and Sgt. Tristan Burnett worked to save the life of a Lumpkin County man after he went into apparent cardiac arrest on the front doorstep of his Frogtown home last month.
Chairman Chris Dockery (center) holds up a custom rug modeled after the Lumpkin County seal during his final meeting with the Board of Commissioners. The rug was a parting gift from fellow commissioners (from left) Tucker Greene, Dr. Bobby Mayfield, Jeff Moran and Rhett Stringer.

Chairman Chris Dockery (center) holds up a custom rug modeled after the Lumpkin County seal during his final meeting with the Board of Commissioners. The rug was a parting gift from fellow commissioners (from left) Tucker Greene, Dr. Bobby Mayfield, Jeff Moran and Rhett Stringer.

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Special Elections planned after County shakeup

Keith Murden
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
An unusually complicated local election year gained some new clarity last week, as two members of the Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners stepped down from their seats.
Bartender Victoria Woodall chats with customers as she pours a beer at Johnny B’s on Monday afternoon. The popular local restaurant and watering hole is set to close at the end of this month.

Bartender Victoria Woodall chats with customers as she pours a beer at Johnny B’s on Monday afternoon. The popular local restaurant and watering hole is set to close at the end of this month.

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Johnny B’s building bought by university

Keith Murden
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Residents who long for the taste of beer, thin crust pizza and chicken wings are lamenting the looming closure of popular restaurant and bar Johnny B’s.
Local drivers often keep a close watch on gas prices in Lumpkin County and beyond.

Local drivers often keep a close watch on gas prices in Lumpkin County and beyond.

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Gas prices shift from county to county

Matt Aiken
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Sure, the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, but is the gas always cheaper on the other side of the county line? That seems to be the perception among Lumpkin County drivers who often look to neighboring communities with fuel-related envy. So, is that adage true?
RJ may look serious but he was quick to offer a friendly wag of the tail to fellow warming center residents on Monday morning.

RJ may look serious but he was quick to offer a friendly wag of the tail to fellow warming center residents on Monday morning.

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Local warming center options are limited

Matt Aiken
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
The local Unitarians were bracing for worse, much worse; with Winter Storm Fern approaching, congregation members at the Georgia Mountains Unitarian Universalist Church began to worry that their sanctuary-turned-warming-center might not be able to completely withstand this particular brand of icy...
The ladies of Dahlonega Baptist Church will be lending their substantial culinary skills to the upcoming Soup Bowl on February 1, benefitting local charity Side by Side in Service. Pictured (from left) are Mary Stover, Judy Brown, Beth Hampton, Melanie Pruitt, Judy Wiggins and Dorothy Walsingham.

The ladies of Dahlonega Baptist Church will be lending their substantial culinary skills to the upcoming Soup Bowl on February 1, benefitting local charity Side by Side in Service. Pictured (from left) are Mary Stover, Judy Brown, Beth Hampton, Melanie Pruitt, Judy Wiggins and Dorothy Walsingham.

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Soup Bowl fundraiser is set for kickoff

Keith Murden
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Wintry weather has taken hold in Dahlonega and another classic Super Bowl matchup is on the horizon, and that makes this Sunday, February 1, the perfect time to warm up your stomach (and soul) with hearty bowls of homemade soup, all while benefiting a great local cause.
Representatives of Jackson EMC presented a donation of $10,000 for the Lumpkin County Veterans Cemetery during a recent Board of Commissioners meeting. All local funds raised for the project are being matched, in $50,000 increments, by the Lowell S. and Betty L. Dunn Foundation.

Representatives of Jackson EMC presented a donation of $10,000 for the Lumpkin County Veterans Cemetery during a recent Board of Commissioners meeting. All local funds raised for the project are being matched, in $50,000 increments, by the Lowell S. and Betty L. Dunn Foundation.

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Veterans Cemetery project sees some major progress

Keith Murden
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
As a new year begins, plans for a dedicated Veterans Cemetery in Lumpkin County are gaining fresh momentum.
JoAnne Taylor hands off the gavel to Mayor Sam Norton at City Hall before the meeting in a photo-friendly setting at The Nugget’s request.

JoAnne Taylor hands off the gavel to Mayor Sam Norton at City Hall before the meeting in a photo-friendly setting at The Nugget’s request.

Dahlonega officials sworn in at City Hall

Matt Aiken
Thursday, January 8, 2026
A standing-room-only crowd filled City Hall last Monday as a new wave of officials was sworn in for the new year. JoAnne Taylor officially passed the gavel to Mayor Sam Norton in front of a packed house at Monday night’s City meeting.