News

Mayor Pro Tem Roman Gaddis explains the conditions set forth by the City Council in order to approve 20 new condo units on Alicia Lane.

Mayor Pro Tem Roman Gaddis explains the conditions set forth by the City Council in order to approve 20 new condo units on Alicia Lane.

City Council approves condominiums for Alicia Lane site

Keith Murden
Thursday, January 25, 2024
A new 20-unit condominium development slated for Alicia Lane finally received the green light from the Dahlonega City Council last Tuesday.
Henry Ostaszewski and his staff have seen a steady stream of customers at Blue 42 Market since the downtown business officially opened in November.

Henry Ostaszewski and his staff have seen a steady stream of customers at Blue 42 Market since the downtown business officially opened in November.

Market owner hopes to create sense of community

Matt Aiken
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Henry Ostaszewski knows that his younger staff members probably didn’t grow up watching Must See TV. But when it comes to doing business in Dahlonega, he’s hoping they’ll learn from one particular 1980s sitcom.
Tom Gordineer expresses his opinion about Mountain Top Realty’s proposed development near Pinetree Way during the public comments portion of a recent City Council meeting.

Tom Gordineer expresses his opinion about Mountain Top Realty’s proposed development near Pinetree Way during the public comments portion of a recent City Council meeting.

Pinetree Way housing plan voted down by council

Keith Murden
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Facing pressure from skeptical members of the public, the Dahlonega City Council voted unanimously to deny a request by Mountain Top Real Estate Group for a new mixed-used development that would have added 228 townhomes and 10,000 square feet of commercial space to the city.
Lumpkin County Middle School’s Liz Stroud is the district’s 2025 Teacher of the Year award winner.

Lumpkin County Middle School’s Liz Stroud is the district’s 2025 Teacher of the Year award winner.

Stroud saluted as Lumpkin County’s top teacher

Keith Murden
Wednesday, January 3, 2024
Lumpkin County Middle School Teacher Liz Stroud has been honored as the 2025 system-wide Teacher of the Year. But she’s only interested in talking about one thing: how her big win could help boost visibility and recognition for the special education students she instructs.
Life-long local musicians Carl Jah Haasis (left) and Jerry Piper have joined musical forces to create the improv-friendly rock band known as Clique Bait.

Life-long local musicians Carl Jah Haasis (left) and Jerry Piper have joined musical forces to create the improv-friendly rock band known as Clique Bait.

Local rockers discover musical partnership

Matt Aiken
Wednesday, December 27, 2023
Every so often a Dahlonega band comes along that simply must be taken seriously by all who hear it. This is not that band. “The charm and attraction of Clique Bait is that we have no idea what we’re doing,” said Carl Jah Haasis with a grin.
Local deputies brightend the holidays for local children during the annual Shop with a Cop event sponsored by the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with Wal-Mart and Lumpkin County Family Connection.

Local deputies brightend the holidays for local children during the annual Shop with a Cop event sponsored by the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with Wal-Mart and Lumpkin County Family Connection.

Sheriff’s office spreads Christmas cheer to local children through Shop with a Cop

Keith Murden
Tuesday, December 19, 2023
Employees of the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office and Lumpkin County Family Connection join Santa Claus and the elves at Walmart in Dahlonega. The Sheriff’s Office was able to take 50 students in need the chance to go holiday shopping.
Ark the emu, family pet of the Eatons, wandered away from his home off Camp Wahsega Road on Friday and has since been spotted multiple times in the area. (Submitted photo)

Ark the emu, family pet of the Eatons, wandered away from his home off Camp Wahsega Road on Friday and has since been spotted multiple times in the area. (Submitted photo)

Lost emu spotted in National Forest

Matt Aiken
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Ark the emu enjoys snacking on Cheetos, hanging out with her sister Noah and long walks in the woods. That last emu hobby became a problem on Friday when the 11-month-old flightless bird wandered off the Eaton family farm, into the forest near Camp Wahsega Road and never returned.
North Georgia Community Foundation President Michelle Prater (pictured, from left) presents a grant check in the amount of $60,000 to Community Helping Place to establish a new Mobile Service Unit. Also pictured are CHP Executive Director Melissa Line, Abigail Carter, Paula Payne, Debi Holloway, CHP Board Chair Brian Hinkel and Barbara Williams.

North Georgia Community Foundation President Michelle Prater (pictured, from left) presents a grant check in the amount of $60,000 to Community Helping Place to establish a new Mobile Service Unit. Also pictured are CHP Executive Director Melissa Line, Abigail Carter, Paula Payne, Debi Holloway, CHP Board Chair Brian Hinkel and Barbara Williams.

CHP awarded grant for Mobile Service Unit

Keith Murden
Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Community Helping Place is on a roll. Literally. The local non-profit was recently selected as one of four regional recipients of the Gainesville-based North Georgia Community Foundation’s 2023 Opportunity Grant.
Thousands of visitors and locals filled the downtown area for the lighting of the square on Friday. Local musicians Radford Windham and Chuck Bell filled the night air with holiday music before and after. On hand to perform the ceremonial lighting of the square were UNG President Michael Shannon, Dahlonega Mayor JoAnne Taylor and Lumpkin County Chairman Chris Dockery. (Photo by John Bynum)

Thousands of visitors and locals filled the downtown area for the lighting of the square on Friday. Local musicians Radford Windham and Chuck Bell filled the night air with holiday music before and after. On hand to perform the ceremonial lighting of the square were UNG President Michael Shannon, Dahlonega Mayor JoAnne Taylor and Lumpkin County Chairman Chris Dockery. (Photo by John Bynum)

Huge crowd comes to town for lighting of the square

JOHN BYNUM
Wednesday, November 29, 2023
The Christmas spirit was on full display Friday as thousands of visitors packed the downtown area to celebrate the lighting of the square. Director of Tourism Sam McDuffie estimated at least a 25 percent increase in attendance from last year.  Attendance may have been at least 14,000 he said.
The much anticipated Community Helping Place fundraising ornament was unveiled at the Dahlonega City Council meeting earlier this month. This year's ornament features the golden facade of the Meaders Building. (Photo by Matt Aiken)

The much anticipated Community Helping Place fundraising ornament was unveiled at the Dahlonega City Council meeting earlier this month. This year's ornament features the golden facade of the Meaders Building. (Photo by Matt Aiken)

CHP Christmas ornament is the gift that keeps on giving

SHARON HALL
Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Community Helping Place (CHP) revealed its 2023 official Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Christmas Ornament at last week’s City Council meeting just in time for holiday gifting. The Meaders Bros. Building graces this year’s ornament.