CUMMING, Ga. — The shooting rampage at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida that killed 17 students and faculty, followed by threats of violence at schools in Dawson, Hall, Gwinnett, White and other Georgia counties this year, has heightened awareness that more needs to be done to protect schools and school children in Dawson […]
Read More »Chemical spill reported in Dawsonville’s Flat Creek
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officials are on the scene of a chemical spill this morning (March 23) at Flat Creek behind Robinson Elementary School. According to a city of Dawsonville press release, the spill of ferric chloride took place Tuesday, March 20, when a 55-gallon drum ruptured at the Gold […]
Read More »Eason defeats Grogan in special election 195-120
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Mayor Mike Eason, a 31-year special agent with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the state’s first inspector general, defeated former Mayor James Grogan 195-120 in a special election Tuesday. Eason, 67, was appointed mayor last December after Dawsonville City Council removed Grogan for alleged violations of the city’s charter. Eason said, […]
Read More »Sheriff had nearly $400,000 left in his 2017 budget when he sued the Board of Commissioners
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Dawson County officials say they do not understand why Sheriff Jeff Johnson sued the Board of Commissioners for a bigger slice of the 2018 budget when he had nearly $400,000 left in the 2017 budget he failed to spend. District 2 Commissioner Chris Gaines said, “He actually had about $500,000 left in […]
Read More »Dawson school safety workshop set Mar. 8
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Following the Feb. 14 shooting death of 17 students and faculty at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, and multiple threats of shootings in Dawson, White, Hall, Forsyth and Gwinnett counties recently, high schools are doubling down on their efforts to provide a safe, secure environment for students. The Dawson […]
Read More »Dawson commissioners to hear multiple annexation requests
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Multiple requests for annexation into the city of Dawsonville are expected to be voted on when the Dawson County Board of Commissioners meets Thursday at 6 p.m. The Dawsonville City Council has notified commissioners that the owners of several single-family dwellings on Gold Bullion Drive in the Gold Creek subdivision have petitioned […]
Read More »Billy Carlisle will not seek commission seat
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Former longtime Sheriff Billy Carlisle stunned Dawson County voters today by announcing that he will not be a candidate for the District 3 seat on the Board of Commissioners. Less than three weeks after announcing his candidacy, Carlisle issued the following statement: “After much prayer and thought, I have decided against qualifying […]
Read More »Crash claims life of Dawson County High student
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – A two-vehicle accident on Hwy. 53 near Buddy Burt Road claimed the life of 18-year-old Grace Elizabeth Sheer Monday morning. Sheer was a senior at Dawson County High School and the 2017 Homecoming Queen. A Georgia State Patrol incident report indicated she was driving a 2002 Honda CR-V west on Hwy. 53 […]
Read More »Sheriff vs. Dawson County heads to courtroom
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – A bitter dispute between Dawson County’s first-term Sheriff Jeff Johnson and the Dawson County Board of Commissioners will finally move into Senior Superior Court Judge Fred A. Bishop’s courtroom tomorrow (Jan. 30). On Dec. 18, Bishop ordered county commissioners to appear before him to show cause why Johnson’s petition for mandamus “should […]
Read More »Wind chill advisory remains in effect through Friday
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. – The National Weather Service issued the latest urgent winter weather message at 12:10 p.m. today. A wind chill advisory remains in effect fro 7 p.m. today until 10 a.m. Friday in the following counties, Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Dade, Walker, Catoosa, Whitfield, Murray, Fannin, Gilmer, Union, Towns, Chattooga, Gordon and Pickens. * […]
Read More »Commission Chair candidate drops bombshell at BOC meeting
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Renee Duren – a recently announced candidate for Dawson County Commission Chairwoman – potentially saved county taxpayers thousands of dollars in lost grants and funding opportunities Thursday when she warned commissioners that Dawson county had already violated state rules and regulations once and was about to do so again. Duren’s announcement came […]
Read More »Powers resigns from council, French accused of ethics violation
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — District 3 City Councilman Jason Powers announced during Monday’s city council meeting that he is resigning his post effective immediately. Powers explained that he and his wife were building a home outside the city limits. Rumors had persisted for more than a year that he had already moved outside his district. In […]
Read More »School Board honors achievement of students, staff
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Much of Tuesday’s school board meeting was dedicated to recognizing the contributions and accomplishments of the students and staff of the Dawson County School System. Dawson County School Superintendent Dr. Damon Gibbs reserved one of the most glowing tributes until the end of the meeting. “We did a monthly report on school […]
Read More »Man wanted in connection with the Bender murder case captured
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Sheriff Stacy Jarrard reported just minutes ago (2 p.m.) that Dawson County Sheriff’s deputies have Jerry Harper in a traffic stop. Thursday, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation issued a arrest warrant for Harper, 78, who they believe is connected to the murder of Hannnah Bender in Lumpkin County. Fetch Your News will […]
Read More »Etowah Village development back before planning commission
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. —Tomorrow (Sept. 17) at 6 p.m., in the Dawson County Administration Building, the Planning Commission will hear a request it has heard once before. Some Dawson County residents are calling it Etowah Village II. Barry Conner, who owns the 518-acre parcel of land where the Etowah Village development was proposed, withdrew his request […]
Read More »Rep. Doug Collins meets with farmers, visits farms
CLEVELAND, Ga. — Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) met with members of the White County Farm Bureau Thursday to discuss challenges facing the local agriculture industry and provide an update on key issues in Washington. During the meeting, Collins answered questions on a variety of issues ranging from compliance to immigration. “Our farmers here in White […]
Read More »