Annual meeting focuses on safety

The annual meeting of the Dawson County's Homeowners Association aimed to educate the community on safety during natural disasters and everyday life. The meeting, held Saturday at the C&S Bank Community Building in downtown Dawsonville, featured guest speakers Billy Thurmond, director of Dawson County Emergency Services, and Sheriff Billy Carlisle.

Arbor Day celebration is Friday

The community is invited to a celebration of trees Friday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Park. The Dawson County Tree Preservation Committee in conjunction with Keep Dawson County Beautiful will meet at 2 p.m. in honor of Arbor Day, held in Georgia on the third week of February each year.

Preparing for emergencies topic of annual meeting

Emergency preparedness will be the topic of discussion Saturday at the Dawson County's Homeowners Civic Association annual membership meeting. Guest speakers Dawson County Sheriff Billy Carlisle and Emergency Services Director Billy Thurmond are scheduled to outline the county's emergency management plans, as well as answer questions.

Crossing topic of luncheon

Transportation is up for discussion Thursday during a Dawson County Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Robert Murphy, senior project manager with the Georgia Department of Transportation, will outline plans for the Hwy. 53-Ga. 400 crossing, which include converting it to a two-legged continuous flow setup.

Police academy seeks participants

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, four-week course begins March 7 with an introduction by Sheriff Billy Carlisle and his administrative staff.

Community mourns local teacher, coach

A local teacher and coach will be greatly missed, but his "legacy of kindness and service" will be kept alive, friends and former colleagues say. Philip Branson III, 59, who passed away Feb. 2 after a lengthy illness, leaves behind a community of family, friends and children whose lives he touched daily.

No charges in shooting

Charges will not be filed in what authorities have ruled an accidental shooting last week at Dawsonville Gun and Pawn on Hwy. 53 near Ga. 400. "It was an accident," said Dawson County Sheriff's Capt. Ray Goodie.

Dawson County Schools closed Friday

Woman shot at gun store

A 58-year-old employee was shot in the upper leg this morning when a firearm discharged at Dawsonville Gun and Pawn, near Ga. 400.

Ninth District keeps those in need warm

While the winter weather may not be shutting down roads and businesses in Dawson County, it is still a danger to those who are unable to keep necessary heating arrangements. Ninth District Opportunity, a private, nonprofit organization, is there to help those in Dawson that need heat with its Low Income Heating Assistance Program.

Super Bowl raffle tickets for sale

Even with the Falcons out of Super Bowl contention, fans still have the opportunity to cash in on football's biggest game of the year. The Rotary Club of Dawson County's annual Super Bowl Squares contest gives players the chance to win between $500 and $2,000 in raffles that are held at the end of each quarter and then at the end of the game.

Snow no show

Area kids were hoping for their first snow day of the season with reports of winter weather rolling into the state last week. What they got instead was a two-hour delayed start for school on Jan. 18.

Winter storm watch issued for North Georgia

Relay kicks off

Smurfs, super heroes, fairies and the Flintstones were the stars of the show Jan. 8 as Dawson County Relay for Life kicked off the 2013 fundraising campaign in an effort to "toon out" cancer. Last year, 30 local teams joined together to raise more than $83,000 for the American Cancer Society.

Dawson County ‘Soldier Boy’ rises in ranks

After a long process and much paperwork, Kenneth "Kenny" Stewart III has been promoted to lieutenant colonel. The honorary rank was conferred Friday on the 11-year-old in an official proclamation signed by Gov. Nathan Deal.

Church to screen film about crime on children

First Baptist Church of Dawsonville will be screening the new film "Finding Faith" Saturday with hopes that parents will take a new look at the dangers of Internet crimes against children. "As grandparents, it's a grave concern of ours," said Debbie Gaines, whose husband Jim pastors the church. "We were interested in alerting the community on this important message for teens and their parents."

Relay for Life holds dinner and more

Cancer survivors, their families and supporters will gather Thursday at Dawson County High School to celebrate survival. Relay for Life of Dawson County will be holding its annual Survivor Dinner Celebration from 6 to 8 p.m. at the high school. According to Andrea Shoemaker, community manager for Dawson County Relay for Life, the 12-year strong event is held to "bring cancer survivors together in celebration of their success in beating cancer."

Dance supports literacy

A fundraiser Saturday night had couples twisting the night away for literacy. The annual golden oldies trivia dinner dance collected more than $5,000 for Reading Education Association of Dawson County's mission to improve lives through literacy in the community.

DCSO offers women’s self-defense course

A free course designed to teach women basic self-defense tips will be taught at Robinson Elementary School. Dawson County Sheriff's Capt. Ray Goodie said the three-hour course, which runs from 9 a.m. to noon April 20, will give women hands-on experience to fight off attackers.

Rabies clinic this weekend

While cases are on the decline, rabies is still a threat to both man and animal. To help fight this threat, the county's annual rabies clinic, sponsored by 4-H, will be held Saturday morning. Veterinarians will offer the low-cost vaccinations at various locations throughout the county beginning at 8:30 a.m.

R.E.A.D. dancing for donations

R.E.A.D. will host its "Oldies but Goodies" trivia and dancing night Saturday and the community is invited to join in for food, fun and trivia. "It is a really fun evening," said R.E.A.D. Executive Director Sandy Lipkowitz. "All of the trivia will be about the oldies goldies music."

Annual golf tournament supports local veterans

There's still time to register a team in Rotary Club of Dawson County's annual golf tournament April 29 at Crystal Falls Golf Club. Early entries for the Ft. Lauderdale scramble run through April 22. Entry fees are $125 for individuals or $500 for a four-player team.

Perren named new president of Lanier Tech

Church continues tradition

Despite having been with New Bethel Baptist Church for only four years, Pastor Bobby Whitmire is continuing a tradition that has spanned more than 30. Whitmire and two church members, Michael Densmore, a deacon, and Yancy Savage, stood on platforms affixed to wooden crosses in front of the church March 29, off of Hwy. 136 East.

Elliott truck series debut Saturday at Martinsville

Dawsonville's Chase Elliott will make his national debut Saturday in NASCAR's Camping World Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia. The 1:30 p.m. race will be televised on Fox Sports and shown on the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame's 24-foot projection screen.

Eggs, food & fun

The football field at Veterans Memorial Park looked like it had been the victim of an Easter shower this weekend as Dawson County residents brought their children to gather chocolate prizes. Sponsored by Dawson County Parks and Recreation, K.A.R.E. for Kids and the church @ War Hill, the 27th annual Easter egg hunt at the park drew a large crowd to hunt eggs, take train rides and get their faces painted. There also was a burger-eating contest.

Egg hunt is Saturday

Easter is this weekend and K.A.R.E. for Kids is ready for its annual egg hunt. The hunt begins at 11:30 a.m. on March 30 at Veterans Memorial Park. The organization invites the community to come out for a lunch of hotdogs and more.

Game benefits cause

A longstanding county rivalry deepened Saturday night when the Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office topped the Dawson County Sheriff's Office in a charity basketball game. After the 51-37 win in Dahlonega, Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard said he was proud to take home the coveted pig-shaped trophy.

R.E.A.D. director honored

Each year, one Certified Literate Community Program director is selected among every other in the state to win the Georgia Press Association Award of Excellence in CLCP award. R.E.A.D. executive director Sandy Lipkowitz has been named the 2013 award recipient.

Charity basketball game benefits Relay for Life

The rivalry between Dawson and Lumpkin counties is expected to heat up Saturday night when sheriff's deputies from each county face off in a charity basketball game. "We've always had kind of a rivalry with the Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office, so this is going to be interesting," said Dawson County Sheriff Billy Carlisle. "It's definitely going to be a competition."