A jubilant crowd celebrated the opening of the new Northeast Georgia Medical Center Lumpkin location on Saturday. Pictured (from left) State Senator Steve Gooch, President & CEO of Northeast Georgia Health System Carol Burrell, NGHS Vice President of Regional Hospitals Kevin Matson, and Northeast Georgia Physicians Group board member Jane Taylor were among the many representatives who gathered to mark the beginning of the new era in local healthcare. (Photo by John Bynum / The Nugget)

Lumpkin County Republican Party Chair Katherine James addresses the crowd during a recent nonpartisan candidate debate held at Parks & Rec.

Incumbent Sheriff Stacy Jarrard (right) addresses challenger Matt Cook during last week’s candidate forum as moderator Roger Smith (far left) glances at his notes.

Field 5, near the Senior Center, will receive repairs so that the senior softball teams can resume playing games there next year.

The Lumpkin County Planning Department heard comments from a representative for the developer, as well as area residents regarding a proposal to re-zone 472 acres of the Montaluce subdivision and surrounding property as commercial.

Primary turnout was 18.55 percent, with 4,182 of Lumpkin’s 22,544 registered voters participating in absentee, advance or election day voting.

Last week's Dahlonega Planning Commission meeting turned into a round table talk as attendees discussed possible changes to City sign codes.

Early voting and election qualifying are both taking place this week at the Lumpkin County Elections & Voters Registration Office.

Pictured are (men, left to right): Lew Houser, Jim Carroll, Dave Moore, Brian Towns, Joe Comfort, John Bayne, Bill Morris and Luke Lucarelli. (Women, left to right): Linda Carroll, Ann Moore, Deb Towns, Gail Dowsett, Millie Bayne, Kathy Morris and Diane Houser.

Outgoing Branch Manager Tracey Thomaswick led the Lumpkin Library for over two decades.