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Officials in Forsyth County are taking pride in their efforts to keep their recreational parks and facilities in top condition through a recent declaration withing their county’s departments.

During a July 17 meeting, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners proclaimed the month of July 2025 as Parks & Recreation Month to recognize the County’s Department of Parks & Recreation for its commitment to providing the community with safe, clean and inclusive parks and recreation opportunities.

Department of Parks and Recreation Director Kirk Franz said through a release and social media posts, “Parks & Recreation is not just playgrounds or pavilions or recreation centers; it’s a place where kids learn teamwork, families come to gather, families make memories, and seniors stay active, and communities come together. It’s a cornerstone of health, wellness and quality of life.  We’re proud of the role that we play in serving the residents of Forsyth County, and we’re also grateful for the (county’s) Board of Commissioners’ continued support and investment in our mission.”

Forsyth County’s Department of Parks & Recreation operates and maintains 2,900 acres with 16 passive parks and 14 active parks, for a total of 30 parks in the community; as well as over 55 miles of trails, 91 sports fields, 28 pickleball courts, 22 playgrounds, three campgrounds, four dog parks, three recreation centers and 52 pavilions.

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Work crews will be out and about in the city of Winder during the week ahead, creating repairs but causing some road closures that will affect the daily commute for many area drivers.

Crews will be completing stormwater improvements along Highway 81, between Lee Street and May Street. Local businesses will remain accessible, but a portion of Highway 81 will be fully closed to through traffic between 5 a.m. on Wednesday, July 23 and 5 a.m. on Friday, July 25.

A social media post from the City of Winder asks for area businesses and commuters to please plan on using an alternate route or  to allow extra travel time during that 48-hour closure.

Also, the Intersection of Georgia Avenue and East Midland Avenue will be closed off for work crews to replace sewer manholes and installing storm drainage, between Tueday, July 22 and Friday, July 25. Winder officials say a detour route will be in place to direct traffic around the intersection.

More details can be found through the City of Winder Facebook post.

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The Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook page recently announced that the Lumpkin County Health Department will be hosting a “Back-To-School” fair next Saturday to celebrate the beginning of the new school year.

The department will provide free food, games, immunizations, 3,300 screenings, giveaways, and gifts for all kids (as supplies last), along with more activities. 

Join the community at 60 Mechanicsville Rd, Dahlonega, 30533 from 8:30 to 2:30 p.m. to get involved in a fun, family-friendly day to wrap up last-minute school supply needs.

For any questions, please call 706-867-2727.

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UPDATED:  Saturday, July 19, 2025 @ 6:45 a.m.

A damaged, 6-inch water main in White County’s City of Cleveland has been repaired, but a Boil Water Advisory remains in effect for some residents in the city.

The City of Cleveland’s website reported late Friday evening that the damaged pipe was fully repaired and county water supplies were restored to the affected areas isted below:

• Thunder Ridge Dr

• Sunrise Ln

• Misty Ln

• Point Willow Dr

• Vista Dr

• Oak Point Dr

• Mountainview Dr

• Laurel Point

• Leadpole Mtn Ln

• Treetop Dr

• College View

However, city officials continued to advise residents to fully boil water from those areas until further notice, into Saturday morning. Further updates, and more information about the advisory and affected areas can be found through the City of Cleveland’s official website, linked here.

Original Post:  Friday, July 18 at 9:45 a.m.

Cleveland officials have placed a “Boil Water Advisory” into effect for most residents today, following a main water line break.

The City of Cleveland’s Facebook page posted that a 6-inch main burst on Friday morning has left officials to inform residents along several streets south of Clarkesville Highway/State Route 115 about the advisory.

A link to the affected streets can be found at the city’s official website, linked here.

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A narcotics investigation by the Lanier Regional Drug Task Force led to the arrest of a Forsyth County man earlier this month on several drug trafficking and weapons charges.

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation began after the task force received a tip that Martin Ponce was involved in the sale of narcotics in the county.

Ponce was pulled over on Jul. 9 for a traffic violation by a deputy who also serves as an LRDTF agent. The deputy’s K9 partner, Eko, alerted on the vehicle during the stop, prompting a search.

During the search of the vehicle, deputies allegedly found nearly one pound and five ounces of methamphetamine along with a firearm.

Agents then obtained search warrants for Ponce’s home. During the search, authorities confiscated an additional four ounces of meth, 9 ounces of marijuana, 3.5 grams of cocaine, packaging material, drug-related objects, 20 firearms and a black Ram truck.

Ponce was charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of drug-related items, window tint violation and driving while license suspended.

He is being held at the Forsyth County Jail.

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Northeast Georgia Physicians Group President Daniel Tuffy no longer works for the organization. 

Northeast Georgia Health System spokesman Layne Saliba did not provide a reason for Tuffy’s departure but said it was effective Jul. 15.

Saliba added that they will not be hiring a replacement.

“The leadership structure was changed to be a partnership between Dr. Bedri Yusuf, NGPG Chief Physician Executive, and Bobby Norris, NGPG VP of Operations,” Saliba said in a text message.

No other details were provided.

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Syfan logistics is hosting a 5k Friday evening with 400 people registered, all coming together to support Love Your Story, a non profit dedicated to help make life a little easier for families impacted with disabilities.

The race is located at the Midland Greenway in Gainesville. The race begins at 6:15 and registration is available on race day but supplies will be limited on site.

The event raised $50,000 last year for the non-profit The Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research.

More details on the event can be found on its website.

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There’s been an update in former Hall County Solicitor General Stephanie Woodard’s petition for voluntary discipline. 

In May, the Supreme Court of Georgia rejected Woodard’s petition to just receive a public reprimand.

The Supreme Court referenced precedent that for a violation of the State Bar of Georgia’s Rules of Professional Conduct rule 8.4 (a) (3) — which is to be convicted of a misdemeanor involving “moral turpitude” — suspension or disbarment is an appropriate sanction.

“Although the State Bar supports Woodard’s request for a public reprimand, we do not agree that a public reprimand … is sufficient,” the May opinion reads.

Now, Woodard is requesting a self-imposed three to 12-month suspension from practicing law. 

In August of last year, Woodard stepped down amid an indictment of 24 felony counts of theft by taking and giving false statements.

Back in March, the State Bar of Georgia recommended a public reprimand as opposed to suspension or disbarment for Woodard, which was aligned with her petition.

In the May opinion, the court said that there were two cases that Woodard used to support her request for public reprimand. 

The two cases were In the Matter of Cherry and In the Matter of Davis, both from 2019, which the court said is easily distinguishable as neither case involved a lawyer being convicted of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or a lawyer’s misuse of government funds.

Rather, the court said that the case is most similar to In the Matter of Williams from 2008 in which an assistant district attorney filed a petition for voluntary discipline for scheming to obtain money from the county. In that case, the assistant district attorney requested a six month suspension.

Woodard’s attorney, Dennis Cathey, is requesting a three month suspension for Woodard from the new July 10 request.

“The Trial Court recognized that a misdemeanor sentence and a First Offender plea was appropriate and that the system would be properly served by this treatment,” the filing reads. “Petitioner again urges that the suspension be for three months.” 

Cathey went on to say that if the court believes a longer suspension is more appropriate that they start it from Aug. 30, 2024 — roughly three weeks after she resigned. 

“She should not be punished for the incendiary news stories, nor should she be punished for an overcharged 24-count felony indictment, which was later abandoned by the prosecution,” the filing read. “This is not to say that Ms. Woodard is blameless … the conduct was a breach of her duty as a public official…” 

The Supreme Court of Georgia will now make their decision on the new request.

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The City of Oakwood has announced that its proposed millage rate is expected to raise property taxes in the city.

Oakwood officials issued a statement Friday, saying it is keeping its millage rate flat at 4.174 mills, which is expected to raise property taxes by just over 4 percent from the full rollback rate. It marks consecutive years of property tax hikes in the city, after rates raised by nearly 6 percent from Fiscal Year 2024 to Fiscal Year 2025.

By law, the Oakwood City Council will hold three public hearings before voting on the final adoption of the millage rate. All three hearings will be held at Oakwood City Hall on Walnut Circle. The dates and times of those hearings are listed below:

• Tuesday, August 5 at 5:00 p.m.
• Monday, August 11 at 6:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, September 3 at 4:00 p.m.

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Cleveland officials have placed a “Boil Water Advisory” into effect for most residents today, following a main water line break.

The City of Cleveland’s Facebook page posted that a 6-inch main burst on Friday morning has left officials to inform residents along several streets south of Clarkesville Highway/State Route 115 about the advisory.

A link to the affected streets can be found at the city’s official website, linked here.

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According to a press release from Habersham Public Information Officer Rob Moore, the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office ended multiple drug investigations this week with 3 arrests related to drugs and weapons.

A two-week investigation resulted in the arrest of 46-year-old Billy Ray Henson of Demorest on Wednesday. The investigation and eventual arrest involved the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division, the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office, the Habersham County K9 unit, and the Cornelia Police Department.

Henson is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and two counts of possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of a felony. Moore also reports that two pistols and a half-ounce of methamphetamine were seized in the arrest.

Also in the release, Moore reported the Thursday arrest of 50-year-old Toby Whitfield of Mt. Airy at a residence on Keller Road. The investigation and arrest were a combined effort from the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division, Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office, and Habersham County K9 Unit.

Whitfield is charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and possession of methamphetamine. The release also clarifies that four ounces of marijuana and two ounces of methamphetamine were seized from Whitfield.

In that same arrest, the HCSO was able to charge and detain Kimberly Bryson. Bryson is charged with possession of methamphetamine.

Bond and bail for the 3 individuals were not listed in the press release.

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Georgia State Patrol (GSP) officials say an Ellijay woman was taken to a Lumpkin County hospital after her car rear-ended a pickup truck along Georgia 400 in Dahlonega Thursday Morning.

A release from the GSP indicates that the Volkswagen Jetta driven by 22-year old Elizabeth Greiner of Ellijay was travelling northbound along Georgia 400, approaching the intersection with Burnt Stand Road when the vehicle approach a red light signal.  That’s where her car reportedly struck the rear of the Ford F-150 pickup truck driven by 43-uear old James Littlefield of Dawsonville.  Littlefield was stopped for the red light in the Northwest Exterminators truck when the crash occurred.

Greiner was taken from the crash site by Lumpkin County EMS to Northeast Georgia Medical Center-Dahlonega for treatment to undisclosed injuries.

The exact cause for the wreck was not released, while Greiner was cited by the GSP for following too closely.