After numerous fundraising efforts collected nearly $43,000, county commissioners voted last week to cover the remaining balance to install an elevator at the Dawson County Senior Center. "The seniors are going to be so happy. I'm so happy for them," said Margie Weaver, center director. Read More

Each member on the Dawson County High School Relay for Life team has a personal reason for supporting the American Cancer Society's signature fundraising effort. "We have so many staff members that have been affected by cancer either directly or indirectly that we all realize that we are in it for the same reason - so no one else has to experience what we have lived," said Beth Swafford, team leader. Read More

A new state champion tree, submitted by Mark Short, was recognized on Arbor Day by the Dawson County Tree Preservation committee. The Chestnut Oak measured 164 inches in circumference and was 96 feet tall, according to Tony Page of the Georgia Forestry Commission. Read More

Local nonprofit groups are invited to showcase their organization's work and volunteer needs Saturday at the Dawson County Library. The community opportunity expo will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon following the Dawson County Homeowners Civic Association's annual membership meeting. Read More

For the price of museum admission, race fans can spend Sunday at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame and watch the 54th running of the Daytona 500 on the museum's big screen. "We had a Daytona 500 party several years ago and it went off pretty good," said Gordon Pirkle, local racing historian and hall president. Read More

The water in Lake Lanier was a brisk, or as some folks said "freezing," 49 degrees Saturday morning for the second annual WEE Books Leap for Literacy. "No, no, I can't," said Pepper Pettit as he rolled up his pants legs and tiptoed into the lake at War Hill Park. "I can't believe I'm doing this ... is there a psychiatrist here?" Read More

Authorities have determined that skeletal remains discovered Sunday afternoon in eastern Dawson County are those of a bear. Dawson County Sheriff's deputies were called to a home on Hwy. 53 about 2 p.m. after reports that the family's dog had found what appeared to be a human hand. Read More

A bill that would allow tastings at Georgia distilleries cleared committee last week and is one step closer to a vote by the state House of Representatives. House Bill 514 would be advantageous to Cheryl Wood, owner of the Dawsonville Moonshine Distillery, which is expected to open in the next few months. Read More

Local sculptor and outdoorsman Allen Ferg and fellow hiker Bob Miller are preparing to begin an enormous undertaking of 2,184 miles. The duos estimated six-month journey from Georgia to Maine along the Appalachian Trail is set to benefit the Dawson County Arts Council, Bowen Center for the Arts and Reading Education Association of Dawson County (READ.) Read More

Aromas of fresh baked cakes, cookies and pastries filled the lobby of the Dawson County Sheriff's Office on Friday as visitors placed bids on dozens of wanted desserts. An American Cancer Society Relay for Life fundraiser, the silent auction netted more than $530 with several cakes fetching as much as $50 and $100 each. Read More

The man credited with founding what has become Dawsonville's Mountain Moonshine Festival died Sunday at age 75. Born in Dawson County in 1936, friends called Fred Goswick a man of vision who recognized that tales of Dawsonville's pioneer heritage and sordid moonshine history had the potential to be something big. Read More

Fellow volunteers are quick to praise Penny Putnam's contributions to the Good Shepherd Clinic of Dawson County. "Although Penny came into our service with no background in the medical field she has learned everything and is doing a superb job," said Doug Powell, treasurer of the nonprofit center that provides free non-emergency health services to uninsured residents. Read More

More than three years after Gold Creek Golf Club closed, the property's overgrowth and expanding nuisance wildlife population have stirred concern from neighbors. Monday night, the Gold Creek Homeowners Association presented a formal complaint about the situation to the Dawsonville City Council. Read More

Volunteers have raised more than $38,000 over the past year for a replacement fire engine at Station 8 in western Dawson County. The donation will be combined with $3,500 from the government of neighboring Pickens County and about $5,700 from Dawson County to buy a used engine. Read More

Despite the downpour outside, the Relay for Life kickoff drew a crowd to Dawson County High School on Thursday night. Feeding off the success of 2011, organizers hope this year to raise $90,000, their largest goal to date. Read More

The Etowah Water and Sewer Authority has announced an election for a seat on its board of directors. After reviewing the nominations in December, the authority chose the only two nominees that qualified: veteran board member Linda G. Townley and newcomer Jere D. Allen. Read More

Veteran Army Reserve Col. Don Brown was sworn in last week as vice president of Veterans Affairs of Dawson County. "As a veteran he brings knowledge and experience to the table," said Veterans Affairs President Pam Hamalainen. "We rely on our veterans to keep us on protocol because we do not want to do anything that is not right. He keeps us on the right path." Read More

Dawsonville residents Frank and Angie Huber know what it is like to personally benefit from the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. After Frank Huber was diagnosed with tonsil cancer known as "squamous cell carcinoma" in August 2010 he was offered a place to stay for his seven week treatment last summer at the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Atlanta. Read More

Authorities are investigating separate fires Saturday night that destroyed a mobile home and damaged a stolen vehicle. The home fire was reported about 10 p.m. by a Dawson County Sheriff's deputy following up on a call about smoke in an area north of Dawsonville on Hwy. 9. Read More

The Dawson County Sheriff's Office is accepting applications for its annual Citizens Law Enforcement Academy. Designed to give residents an inside look at how local law enforcement operates, the free, five-week course begins Feb. 9 with an introduction by Sheriff Billy Carlisle and his administrative staff. Read More

The Dawson County Rotary Club is hosting its inaugural Super Bowl Squares Charity Fundraiser in hopes of using local resident's passion for football to help raise money for nonprofits. The charities that will benefit from the fundraiser include the Dawson County Rotary Scholarship, the senior center, the arts council and WEE Books. Read More

The Bowen Center for the Arts is featuring a new exhibit by celebrated scenic photographer Wayne Robinson titled "True Americana- Bodie Series." The exhibit focuses on Bodie, a Californian ghost town located near the Sierra Nevada mountain range. "Acclaimed as America's best-preserved ghost town, it exists in a state of ‘arrested decay' as a California State Historical Monument high above the tree line," Robinson wrote on his Web site. Read More

The lower 10,000 acres of the Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area in Dawson County are not affected by a recent recreational use fee imposed by the state Department of Natural Resources. Read More

Many people start a new year off with resolutions. For 2012, many local nonprofits hope volunteerism is among their goals. No matter a person's age, gender, interests or skills, nonprofits throughout the area need volunteers to donate their time, services and abilities. Read More

The Georgia Racing Hall of Fame has recently acquired a famed racecar that was thought to be lost until a few years ago. Known as the Dixie Twister, the Huston Platt-owned car had disappeared after a deadly accident on March 2, 1969, that killed 12 and injured more than 40 at the Yellow River Drag Strip in Covington. Read More

In an announcement likely to warm hearts and homes, the Ninth District Opportunity Inc. signaled it will resume its heating assistance program for low-income residents later this month. The nonprofit, which has offered a one-time payment of heating costs for decades, had to postpone its Dec. 1, 2011, launch date due to what appeared to be lack of funds from the federal government. Read More

Despite the sluggish economy, 2011 was a year marked by progress and change across Dawson County. A number of businesses, including Krystal and Varsity Jr., opened along the Ga. 400 corridor. Read More

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Call it superstition, folklore or good ol' Southern heritage, but collard greens, black-eyed peas and hog jowls are a staple of New Year's Day meals in Dawson County and across the South. David and Regina Disharoon were among hundreds of friends and neighbors who enjoyed their lunch Sunday at the Dawsonville Pool Room. Read More

Visiting a jail isn't typically a happy occasion. But last week, the smiles were contagious as Sheriff Billy Carlisle passed out bags of Christmas presents to children coming to see family members at the detention center. Read More

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Long-term substitute teacher Phil Branson was honored last week for his work with special needs students at Riverview Middle School. Branson was selected by peers to be a district-wide ambassador during the March 2, Philip Wright Award ceremony in Cleveland. Seven other Dawson County teachers and school employees were nominated. Read More

Dawson County High juniors and seniors caught a glimpse of various occupational options last week during the high school's annual career day. Hosted by the Dawson County Rotary Club, more than 30 volunteers showed up early Feb. 16 to speak to classes about their jobs and to answer questions. Read More

In light of rising insurance premiums and increasing stress on budgets, Dawson County school officials met recently with leaders from other districts to discuss the possibility of pulling out of government health care. Other north Georgia school systems including Gwinnett, which took part in the meeting at Dawson County Middle School, are reportedly researching the matter. Read More

Devin Nichols admits he is still a bit nervous behind the wheel of his Mustang. "I always wear my seatbelt," said the Dawson County High School junior. Read More

4 p.m. Feb. 23 in the Assembly Room at the Dawson County Government Center L. New business Read More

For the first time, Dawson County voters will be able to cast ballots for an election on a Saturday. Thanks to a new state law, polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday at the Dawson County Board of Elections office, 96 Academy Ave. Read More

Sheriff Billy Carlisle plans to use nearly $8,400 of confiscated drug money to help purchase four new patrol cars. "Some of our patrol cars have 200,000 to 250,000 miles on them, so we've taken several off the road. Now, we're trying to replace the main ones that are out there responding to emergency calls," he said. Read More

Commissioners appear more likely to adopt a master plan for parks and recreation in Dawson County after officials revised the proposal to suit current economic uncertainties. The board postponed the vote in December saying the park's initial plan, which called for improvements to existing amenities and acquiring land for new parks, was ambitious and unrealistic in today's sluggish economy. Read More

Commissioners held their first meeting in the Dawson County Government Center on Feb. 2. The meeting room's new electronic system allows commissioners to cast votes electronically on agenda items. The votes are then displayed on several flat screen monitors inside the board's assembly room on the second floor. Read More