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Update published on Sept. 1, 2025 @ 12 p.m.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has updated its Labor Day weekend boating under the influence (BUI) numbers.

The tally is now up to 10 BUI arrests for the Gainesville region, with no incidents or injuries so far for the holiday weekend.

There are 13 BUIs reported for the entire state, with the other three reported out of the Acworth, Albany, and Thomson regions.

Nine of those 10 in northeast Georgia occurred on Lake Lanier. The DNR will release an updated report on Tuesday.

Original story published on Aug. 31, 2025 @ 9:25 a.m.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources reports a handful of boating under the influence arrests and no incidents so far on Georgia waterways over the holiday weekend.

Mark McKinnon with DNR said the Lanier region recorded 4 BUI arrests with 7 total across the state.

DNR will release an updated report on Monday.

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Update published on Sept. 1, 2025 @ 10 a.m.

The suspect in Sunday’s stabbing incident in Clarkesville has been identified.

According to the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office’s inmate listings, Ethan Blue Brooks of Mt. Airy was the person arrested.

Brooks was charged with three counts of felony aggravated assault and is being held without bond after injuring three people Sunday afternoon on Canterberry Trail.

Original story published on Aug. 31, 2025 @ 2:35 p.m.

A victim is in critical condition and two others were also hurt in a stabbing incident Sunday afternoon in Clarkesville.

According to the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office, they were called to a reported fight on Canterberry Trail at around 1 p.m. 

While en route, dispatchers notified deputies that multiple people had been stabbed.

The male suspect reportedly barricaded inside of a camper on the property.

A deputy arrived, and determined there were three victims with stab wounds and provided cover so Clarkesville Police and other first responders could provide aid and evacuate the injured.

All were taken by ambulance for treatment, while the male suspect was arrested by Habersham deputies and taken to the Habersham County Detention Center.

No other details about those involved have been released at this time as the investigation is ongoing.

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Could today be the day you no longer have to labor for your daily finances?  Players of the nationwide Powerball drawing-including in Georgia-hope to make that dream become reality for Labor Day.

The Georgia Lottery Corporation website page shows that no one was able to match all six numbers from Saturday’s national Powerball Jackpot drawing, meaning tonight’s scheduled drawing is worth an estimated $1.1 billion. With a “B”.

Saturday’s drawing results of 03 18 22 27 and 33, with a Power Ball of 17 did not have all numbers matching any tickets, leaving the big jackpot open for another draw for the holiday night.

Odds of winning the national drawing are 1 in 292.2 million according the Powerball officials. 

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Travel along the roadways of Georgia remain a concern for public safety department officials heading into Labor Day.

Recent numbers from the Department of Public Safety (DPS) indicate that more than 340 DUI arrests have been made across the state between Friday, August 29 and Sunday, August 31.  During that same timeline, more than 385 distracted drivers have been stopped and cited, while over 570 commuters have been found to violate seatbelt requirements during their travels.

The post on social media by the Georgia DPS shows that there have been five fatalities reported from the more than 190 crashes across the state–incluidng one in Hall County on Sunday–along with 97 injuries as of late Sunday night, August 31.  Among the 191 total crashes reported by law enforcement agencies, 28 of those are allegedly with drivers under the unfluence of alcohol or drugs.

“The Georgia DPS urges motorists to prioritize safety by buckling up, obeying speed limits, avoiding distractions, and designating a sober driver if consuming alcohol,” said Colonel William W. Hitchens, III, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety through a press release on their website.  A link to their website report also lists tips for drivers to practice safe and responsible driving through the holiday weekend, including:

• Observe the posted speed limit. When you exceed the speed limit, you reduce the amount of time needed to avoid a traffic crash.
• Observe all traffic laws and signals. Traffic laws and signals exist for your safety; failure to obey them can result in crashes that may cause serious injuries or fatalities.
• Do not drive impaired. Designate a sober driver, call a taxi, rideshare service, friend, or family member to help you get home safely.
• Make sure everyone in the vehicle wears a seatbelt. Also, properly install child safety seats. Georgia law requires children under eight-years-old should ride in either a car seat or booster seat suitable for their age, weight, and height.
• Show common courtesy to other motorists and pedestrians on the roads. Be mindful of your fellow road users, especially the most vulnerable, pedestrians and cyclists.
• Do not drive distracted. Refrain from performing any activity that may take your focus off the road, such as texting while driving. Effective July 1, 2018, the Hands-Free Georgia Act prohibits all drivers from using hand-held cell phones while driving. The full law can be found on the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety’s website at www.gahighwaysafety.org.

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North Georgia Technical College held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday for the reopening of Purcell Hall, now the home of the college’s Electrical Systems program.

Under the direction of instructor Gary Hosemann, students in the program will train in the newly renovated facility, gaining hands-on experience for high-demand electrical careers across the region.

Originally constructed in 1969, Purcell Hall has long served as a cornerstone of the NGTC campus. The building formerly housed the college’s Precision Machining program before it was relocated to the Industrial Technology Center in 2019.

Renovations to the facility were funded through $4.75 million in state appropriations, allowing the space to be modernized and adapted for today’s workforce training needs.

Named in honor of Dr. Claude Purcell, a former Georgia state school superintendent known for his impact on public education, the hall continues its legacy of supporting technical education and workforce development.

Friday’s ceremony brought together NGTC faculty, staff, Electrical Systems students and members of the NGTC Board of Directors and Board of Trustees. 

“Purcell Hall has been an important part of North Georgia Technical College for more than 50 years, and we are excited to see it continue serving our students in this new way,” said NGTC President John Wilkinson. “This building represents both the proud history and the bright future of technical education at NGTC.”

The reopened facility is expected to enhance the college’s ability to meet regional industry demands by providing students with the tools and environment needed to succeed in technical careers.

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A small residential fire Sunday morning in south Gainesville remains under investigation.

According to Hall County Fire Rescue (HCFR), crews responded to Smallwood Road at around 4 a.m. to reports of the fire.

When they arrived, units found fire in the attic. It was contained to a single room, and crews quickly put it out.

No one was hurt, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Hall County Fire Marshal’s Office.

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According to an X post from the Georgia Department of Public Safety, the Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) investigated a single-vehicle fatal accident on Sunday.

The accident reportedly occurred at Southers Road at Ledan Road north of Gainesville.

No other details have been provided as of yet from the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) or HCSO.

This article will be updated as details become available.

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The City of Gainesville announced that it has canceled the municipal general election scheduled for Nov. 4 pursuant to Georgia law.

The unopposed candidates will be deemed elected, and the election superintendent will certify them as elected in the same manner as she certifies other candidates.

Candidates include Zack Thompson, Mayor, C. Danny Dunigan Jr., City Council Ward 1, Abigail Guzman, Ward 4, Callie Martin Hughs, Board of Education District 1 and Heather W. Ramsey, BOE District 4.

The special election scheduled for Nov. 4, for Gainesville City Council, Ward 2, and Gainesville City Board of Education, District 2, seats will proceed as called.

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The Banks County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents of scammers and fraudulent contractors targeting communities hit by natural disasters.

The sheriff’s office stated that these scammers frequently target affected communities, particularly older homeowners, by offering inexpensive, rapid “repairs” that they may never complete.

Residents should take time to review their insurance coverage and be careful when hiring help. Always verify contractors by checking their business name, contact details and state license number. 

Use trusted resources like the Better Business Bureau to confirm that businesses are legitimate.

Sheriff’s office officials advised asking questions and staying cautious, as not everyone who shows up after a storm has good intentions.

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The Interactive Neighborhood for Kids, or “INK,” recently held its soft opening on Thursday for its new location in Oakwood.

INK announced its plan to move to Oakwood back in 2021.

The new location is at 3906 Main Street in Oakwood, right across from Oakwood City Hall.

Executive Director for INK, Charlie Bramwell, spoke about a couple of the exhibits that over 375 attendees got to experience at the soft opening.

“We have our train exhibit, airplane, let there be rocking for school, for music. We also have the media center, and we also have a preschool paradise for the three-and-under children, he stated.”

Standard operating hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Sunday, and from 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Admission is $12 per person, with children under the age of two admitted for free. 

A full grand opening date has not been announced, but is expected to be towards the end of the year.

You can learn more about the Interactive Neighborhood for Kids by visiting this link. 

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The Gainesville Department of Water Resources stopped a sewer spill into a Limestone Creek tributary earlier in the week.

The city said Friday that the spill was located and remedied Thursday, Aug. 28.

At approximately 5:05 p.m. Aug. 28, a City of Gainesville employee discovered a discharging sanitary sewer manhole near the 700 block of Memorial Drive. The discharge entered an unnamed tributary of Limestone Creek and was determined to be caused by grease buildup in the sewer line. The grease blockage was cleared by 7:35 p.m. and flow restored to the sanitary sewer line.

DWR estimates approximately 1,500 gallons of sewage spilled. The area of the spill was assessed and no dead or stressed aquatic life were found. All field parameters for water quality was within state water quality standards, according to a release from the department..

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division was notified Aug. 28 and signs were posted.

DWR reminds the public not to dispose of cooking grease and oils down the drain.

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The University of Georgia said that Friday night reports of an armed shooter near its main library turned out to be false. 

UGA officials said the initial “hoax” report just before 9 p.m. shared similar characteristics with other swatting incidents occurring nationwide. UGA police responded to the scene and determined there was no threat to the public upon further investigation. An all-clear update was issued to the campus at 10:40 p.m. 

The report also caused a delay for the Jefferson High School -Clarke Central High School football game in Athens. 

Similar false reports were also reported at Clark Atlanta University and the University of West Georgia. Reports at both schools were also determined to be inaccurate. 

“We strongly condemn hoax reports and swatting attempts,” UGA said in a statement Saturday. “These false reports cause unnecessary fear and divert critical emergency resources. Making such a false report is not a harmless prank—it is a dangerous and unlawful act.” 

The university said it will continue to investigate the incident in cooperation with state and federal law enforcement. School officials urged anyone with information about the false report to contact UGA police at 706-542-5813.