News

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.
The Lumpkin County High School JROTC displays the flags during the Veterans Day Parade in Dahlonega.

The Lumpkin County High School JROTC displays the flags during the Veterans Day Parade in Dahlonega.

Dahlonega cheers its veterans

JOHN BYNUM
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Dahlonega’s patriotic spirit was on display last week.  The Veterans Day Parade made its way through downtown on Saturday as community organizations, local clubs, and students joined in.  This week The Nugget is also saluting veterans in our 16-page special section!
Candidates, from left, Dan Brown, Lance Bagley and Johnny Ariemma were the big Election Night winners in Dahlonega on Tuesday evening.

Candidates, from left, Dan Brown, Lance Bagley and Johnny Ariemma were the big Election Night winners in Dahlonega on Tuesday evening.

ELECTION UPDATE: Bagley, Brown win contested City posts

Keith Murden
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
Note: the following article has been revised to include corrected voter participation numbers. Lance Bagley and Dan Brown were the big winners Tuesday night after City residents went to the polls on Election Day with two contested Council seats up for grabs.
Candidates for Dahlonega City Council participate in a public forum at the local library. Pictured are (from left) current Council members Johnny Ariemma and Lance Bagley, James T. Guy, Tom Gordineer, Dan Brown and appearing via Zoom video, Melanie Dunlap.

Candidates for Dahlonega City Council participate in a public forum at the local library. Pictured are (from left) current Council members Johnny Ariemma and Lance Bagley, James T. Guy, Tom Gordineer, Dan Brown and appearing via Zoom video, Melanie Dunlap.

Candidates debate City vs. County lawsuit

Keith Murden
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
The ongoing City-vs-County lawsuit was a hot topic that was discussed and debated at the Lumpkin County Library last Tuesday, as six Dahlonega City Council hopefuls met for a non-partisan candidate forum.