Hometown fun

Organizers estimate more than 100,000 people converged on downtown Dawsonville over the weekend for the 41st Annual Mountain Moonshine Festival, making the two-day event one of the largest gatherings in north Georgia.

Book reading at library pays tribute to fallen U.S. soldier

Rick and Lucy Harris debuted the book they wrote to honor the memory and service of their son Monday at the Dawson County Library.

Stay safe this Halloween, avoid real-life scares

Whether it's showing off costumes in a Halloween parade or collecting candy while trick-or-treating, Halloween is a holiday-favorite among children and adults.

Time to ’shine

A lot has changed in Dawson County over the past four decades, but people can expect to experience a bit of both old and new during the 41st Annual Mountain Moonshine Festival this weekend.

Event parking available throughout downtown

Thousands of visitors will pour into Dawsonville this weekend to participate in one of the most popular festivals in north Georgia.

Raising the dead to raise money for diabetes

Parker Cantrell hopes raising the dead this weekend will raise a few bucks for diabetes research.

Local veterans selling cook books at festival

The Dawson County Chapter 970 of Vietnam Veterans of America & Associates has assembled a cookbook, consisting of favorite recipes from group members, family and friends.

In the heat of the night

Two men are being hailed as heroes after pulling a 53-year-old Dawsonville woman from a burning apartment Sunday night.

Group makes push to pull pipes

Three local convenience stores asked by a group of residents to stop selling glass pipes, often used as drug paraphernalia, removed displays from their shelves Monday.

Plans roll out for motorsports country club

Imagine cruising a road with no traffic, speed limits or blue lights flashing in the rear view mirror.

Keeping rivers alive

Etowah Water and Sewer Authority organized this year's Rivers Alive event Oct. 2, an annual volunteer waterways cleanup in Georgia.

Dawson teen found dead in north Forsyth home

It could be months before authorities know what caused the death of a 19-year-old Dawson County woman whose body was found Saturday in a northeastern Forsyth County home.

Hurry up and wait

Robert Tolbert will not let the current gas crisis keep him at home.

Resort aimed at sports car enthusiasts

Golf clubs in Dawson County haven't faired well in recent months, but developers hope a new concept in country club living will motor past the competition.

Service of lost veterans remembered

Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 970 honored the nation-wide POW/MIA Day of Remembrance last Friday at Veterans Memorial Park.

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."